NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS CLASS – 11
GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY-INDIA PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER- 1 INDIA : LOCATION
Question 1.
What are two geographical features which have played a great unifying role
in strengthening Indian people?
Answer:
The two features are:
1. The great mountainous wall of Himalayas on the north,
2. The peninsular part of India, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of
Bengal on the south.
These are the two geographical features acted as a physical barrier and kept Indian
culture in a unified nature.
Question 2.
What is the position of India in the world in terms of size, area and
population?
Answer:
India is the 7th largest country in the world having an area of 32,87,263 PQ. km. It is the
second-largest country in population. The population of India is 103,00,00,000 next to
China. India has 2% of the total area of the world while the population is 16% of the world.
Question 3.
Why India (subcontinent) show a distinct geography? Give reason in support
of your answer.
Answer:
The Indian subcontinent has considered a distinct geographical unit. Because it is
separated from the rest of the Asia continent by Hindukush in the north-west and in the
north by Himalayan ranges. On the southern side, it is isolated by the Indian ocean from
the rest of the world.
It has a distinct type of climate which is not found beyond the Himalayas.
It shows unity in diversity which is quite unique.
Question 4.
What do you mean by MacMohan line? What does it signify?
Answer:
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The MacMohan line is a dividing line between India and China realms. Between India and
China, the crest of Himalayas stand. It separates China and India. This crest of high
Himalayas is known as the MacMohan line. It is to the East of Bhutan.
Question 5.
There is a difference of two hours in local time between the easternmost part
and the westernmost part. Give reason.
Answer:
The difference in local time between the easternmost part and the westernmost part is for
two hours. Because there is a longitudinal distance of 30° longitudes. This distance makes
a difference of 2 hours. Hence, when it is 6 a.m. in Arunachal Pradesh (eastern part) the
local time at Saurashtra (western part) is supposed to be behind 2 hours as compared to
Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, it is correct that when the sun has already risen in
Arunachal Pradesh, it is still night in Saurashtra.
Question 6.
What is a subcontinent? India is a subcontinent. Prove it.
Answer:
India has a well-knit independent geographical unit. A subcontinent is a vast independent
geographical unit. India is separated from the main continent. It is a vast country that
produces diversity in economic, social and cultural conditions.
It is a land of towering mountains, beautiful valleys, magnificent culture and birthplace of
numerous religious faiths. Geographically it stretches from the Himalayas in the north to
the Indian Ocean in the south, but in terms of its cultural, economic, political influences,
it has an emphatic presence in the south and southeast Asia and at the international level.
India is the only land with a vast diverse geographic culture which is woven by the strong
bond of nationhood and belongingness. India is described as a subcontinent. Other
countries that are included are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the
Maldives. Many factors which prove that India is a subcontinent are:
1. Natural frontiers of India.
2. India is surrounded by the major realness of Asia on all sides. The% great mountain
wall gives it an independent shape.
3. India is the 7th largest country in the world in area.
4. India is a land of rivers but it has cultural unity behind this diversity.
5. Monsoon climate determines the life of people and the economic development of the
country. It givei^a a distinct character of the subcontinent to this landmass.
Question 7.
Explain the term unity in diversity.
Answer:
In India, many diversities are found but India exhibits a high degree of unity in diversity.
The factors which are responsible for this unique feature of the Indian polity are much
large geographical spread of the subcontinent provides fertile grounds for germination
and blossoming of regional diversities in the social setup. Differentiation in the physical
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landscape has contributed to the emergence of different ways and pattern of human
interaction with nature. People led to the concentration of diverse elements in different
regions.
The factors which are responsible for the unity of social character in the country are:
1. Monsoonal season.
2. The horizontal spread of cultural and socio-economic attributes from different parts
of the country.
The strong bond generated by nationhood and belongingness. The development of
regional linkages and emergence of a regional home market during the British rule in
India.
Question 8.
How the central position of India is beneficial to us? Explain it.
Answer:
Geographically India occupies a central position in the Asia continent.
This position is beneficial to us in many ways:
1. India is located on the Eastern hemisphere, Europe and Eastern part of America are
at equal distance from India.
2. The tropic of cancer passes through the centre of India. So that India is a tropical
country.
3. India has a long coastline which provides many deep and natural harbours.
4. Indian ocean provides a favourable route for international trade.
5. The natural boundaries are favourably located from a different point of view.
6. Indian ocean is the origin of monsoons.
7. The chain of towering Himalayas acts as a climatic barrier. It protects northern
India from polar cold winds and forces the monsoon to give rainfall.
Question 9.
What are the three major physical divisions of India? Describe one of them in detail:
(i) The great mountain of north.
Answer:
The great mountains of the north: This physical part lie between the great mountains of
the north and the peninsular plateau. It has been built by the deposition of the sediments
brought by the rivers. It is alluvial and extremely level. It extends from east to west, about
2,500 km! in length.
(ii) The great plains.
Answer:
The plains consist of the two river basins – Indus and the Ganga- Brahmaputra basins.
The Indus and its tributaries The Jhelum, The Chenab, The Ravi, The Beas and the Sutlej
flow into The Arabian sea through Pakistan.
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(iii) The great plateau Of peninsular India.
Answer:
The Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries flow into the Bay of Bengal. Indus and
Brahmaputra originated beyond the Himalayas.
The entire plain region is very fertile and the major occupation of the people is
agriculture. A large number of industries come up in the region. This region has a dense
network of transport. This region is densely populated.
Question 10.
Describe the changing pattern of human activities in India.
Answer:
The human activities in India have developed in stages. Because many racial stocks came
to India at different periods of history and they influence the human activities in India.
They had developed various human activities from food gathering to the modem
industries. This oldness and continuity of changing human activities of cultural and
civilisation areas:
(a) The Negritos represented the food gatherer of the stone age. They had led their life
completely on nature. They are still surviving in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(b) The Dravidian presented the farmer. They came from the Mediterranean lands. They
started agriculture and led a settled life. They tilled their land with ordinary instruments
and produced various crops. They loved their motherland.
(c) The Aryans represented the artisans and handcraftsman. They started cottage
industries. They were more civilised people and knew the art of iron smelting. They made
canals from the rivers. They developed cities on the lands of Ganga and Yamuna. They
prepared the multicoloured cloth from the silk-threads.
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