Class 9 Social Geography Chapter 3 Geography of India
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Part II: Geography
Geography of India
Lesson-Based Questions &Answers
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Write about the geographical location of India.
Ans: India is a vast country of the world. It is located in the Northern Hemisphere and in the southern part of the continent of Asia. To its north lie the lofty Himalayan mountain range and China. To the south are the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka. To the east are the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar. To the west are the Arabian Sea and Pakistan. The territory of India extends from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in the north–south direction and from the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh to Saurashtra in the east–west direction. From north to south, India is about 3,214 kilometers long and from east to west about 2,939 kilometers wide. India lies between 8°4’28” north latitude and 37°17’53″north latitude, and between 68°7’33” east longitude and 97°24’47” east longitude. The Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) passes almost through the middle of India.
2. What is the total length of the coastline of India?
Ans: The total length of the coastline of India is 6,100 kilometers.
3. What is the total length of the land boundary of India?
Ans: The total length of the land boundary of India is 15,200 kilometers.
4. Write a short note on the land of India.
Ans: India is a vast country. In terms of land area, it ranks seventh in the world. India occupies about 2.4 percent of the total land area of the world. To its north lies the lofty Himalayan mountain range. To the south, there are mountain ranges such as the Aravalli, Vindhya, Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats,
and others. In southern India, there is a large plateau. Several major rivers, such as the Brahmaputra, Ganga, and Indus flow through the land and have formed extensive plains. In the western part of India, in Rajasthan, lies the Thar Desert.
5. Write four main differences between the rivers of North India and South India.
Ans: There are some characteristic differences between the rivers of North India and South India, such as:
(a) The rivers of North India originate from snow-covered high mountains, so they have water throughout the year. But the rivers of South India originate from lower mountains or plateaus, so they almost dry up during the dry season.
(b) The rivers of North India frequently change their courses and have wide floodplains. On the other hand, the rivers of South India flow through hard rocky plateau regions along fixed courses and do not change their paths. Their floodplains are narrow.
(c) The rivers of North India have upper, middle, and lower courses. But such distinct stages are not clearly seen in the rivers of South India.
(d) The valleys of North Indian rivers are wide and flow slowly through plains, making them navigable. But the valleys of South Indian rivers are narrow and mostly non-navigable.
6. What are the major physiographic divisions of India?
Ans: The major physiographic divisions of India are mainly four: (a) The Northern Himalayan Mountain Region (b) The Northern Plains (c) The Deccan Plateau Region and (d) The Coastal Region.
7. Write the characteristics of the Himalayan Mountain Region of North India.
Ans: To the north of India lies the vast Himalayan mountain region, which is the highest mountain range in the world. It extends from Nanga Parbat in Kashmir to the eastern boundary of Arunachal Pradesh in an east–west direction. It is about 2,500 kilometers long and 240 to 500 kilometers wide. It’s area is about 500,000 square kilometers. Its height is more than 8,000 meters above sea level. The Himalayan region is mostly snow-covered, and its high peaks remain covered with snow throughout the year. The Himalayas are divided into three parallel ranges: the Greater Himalaya, the Lesser Himalaya, and the Outer Himalaya.
8. Write the characteristics of the Northern Plains of India.
Ans: The vast plain lying between the Himalayan region in the north and the plateau region in the south is known as the Northern Plains of India. It extends about 2,400 kilometers from Assam in the east to the border of Pakistan in the west. It is mainly known as the Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain. The width of the Indus-Ganga plain ranges from 240 to 320 kilometers, while the Brahmaputra plain has an average width of about 80 kilometers. Altogether, the Northern Plains cover about 700,000 square kilometers.
9. Write the characteristics of the Deccan Plateau Region.
Ans: The Deccan Plateau lies to the south of the Northern Plains. Its shape is triangular. It is made of hard rocks. The Deccan Plateau is formed by the Malwa Plateau in the north and the Chotanagpur Plateau in the northeast. The Vindhya, Satpura, Mahadeo, and Maikal ranges divide this plateau into northern and southern parts. The Western Ghats lie on its western boundary, and the Eastern Ghats lie on its eastern boundary.
10. Write the characteristics of the Coastal Region.
Ans: The coastal region of India lies along the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west, along the edges of the Deccan Plateau. Its elevation ranges from 30 to 50 meters above sea level. The coastal plains of India are long and narrow. They can be divided into the Eastern Coastal Plain and the Western Coastal Plain. The Eastern Coastal Plain lies between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats and extends from the mouth of the Ganga to Kanyakumari. The Western Coastal Plain lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats and extends from the Gulf region in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
11. Write the characteristics of the climate of India.
Ans: India is a vast country, and its climate varies from region to region. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India. The northern part lies in the temperate zone, and the southern part lies in the tropical zone. Therefore, North India is relatively cooler, while South India is warmer. India’s land consists of mountains, plateaus, plains, and deserts, leading to variations in climate, temperature, rainfall, humidity, and air pressure. The Himalayan mountains block cold winds and protect the country from severe cold. Although South India lies in the tropical zone, its climate is influenced by the Deccan Plateau and remains moderate.
12. Write a note on the influence of monsoon winds in India.
Ans: India is a monsoon-dominated country. Monsoon winds greatly influence its climate, weather, and agriculture. During summer, the southwest monsoon winds bring moisture from the Arabian Sea and cause heavy rainfall on the Western Ghats. The Konkan and Malabar coasts receive more than 300cm of rainfall annually. A branch of this monsoon crosses the Western Ghats and moves over the Bay of Bengal, bringing heavy rainfall to Assam and then the northeastern region, especially the Meghalaya hills. Cherrapunji in Meghalaya receives about 1,250 cm of rainfall annually. In winter, the northeast monsoon winds pass over the Himalayas and enter India, collect moisture from the Bay of Bengal, and cause rainfall on the Coromandel Coast.
13. Give an overview of the distribution of rainfall in India.
Ans: India is a vast country with diverse physical features, so rainfall varies across regions. Heavy rainfall occurs in the foothills of the northeastern Himalayas, the southern part of the Meghalaya Plateau, and the western side of the Western Ghats. Arunachal Pradesh also receives heavy rainfall. In contrast, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana receive low rainfall. The Thar Desert in Rajasthan gets very little rainfall. Similarly, the northwestern part of the Deccan Plateau and Gujarat receive less rainfall. The Brahmaputra Valley and the Northern Plains receive moderate rainfall.
14. Into how many types are the vegetation of India divided?
Ans: Due to variations in climate and soil, different types of vegetation grow in India. The vegetation can be broadly divided into six types:
(a) Evergreen vegetation
(b) Monsoon (deciduous) vegetation
(c) Thorny desert vegetation
(d) Grassland vegetation
(e) Delta vegetation and
(f) Mountain vegetation.
15. What are the characteristics of evergreen vegetation in India?
Ans: Evergreen vegetation grows in regions where annual rainfall exceeds 200 cm and the average annual temperature ranges between 25°C and 27°C. Since India is a monsoon country, many regions receive heavy rainfall, leading to the growth of evergreen forests. The leaves of these trees do not fall
seasonally. Valuable trees such as teak, sal, rubber, and sandalwood are found in these forests. Evergreen vegetation is abundant in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, the foothills of the Himalayas, the western slopes of the Western Ghats, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
16. Write the characteristics of mountain vegetation of India.
Ans: India has a considerable extent of mountainous regions, and various types of vegetation are found in those areas. However, the variation in vegetation depends on factors such as altitude of the mountains, slope, amount of rainfall, and temperature. The main characteristics of mountain vegetation in India are as follows:
(a) In regions of India having an average altitude of about 1000 meters and influenced by monsoon winds, valuable Sal trees, along with various kinds of bamboo, grow. Such vegetation is found abundantly, particularly in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and the foothills of the Himalayas.
(b) In regions having an altitude between 1000 meters and 2000 meters, broad-leaved oak trees and coniferous evergreen trees are found. In the northeastern region of India, such coniferous trees grow in large quantities.
(c) At altitudes between 1,600 meters and 3,000 meters, forests of coniferous trees like Deodar are found. These trees grow extensively in regions suchas Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, and Sikkim.
17. What is the present population of India? What is its density?
Ans: India ranks second in the world in terms of population, next to China. According to the Census of 2011, the population of India is 1,21,01,93,422. According to the 2011 Census, the population density of India is 382 persons per square kilometer.
18. How many types of migration are there and what are they?
Ans: The movement of people from one place to another, either permanently or temporarily, is called migration. Migration is mainly divided into two types: international migration and internal migration. Migration from one country to another country is called international migration. On the other hand, Migration within a country from one place to another is called internal migration.
19. What impact has migration had on India?
Ans: India is a beautiful and diverse country of the world. Since ancient times, it has attracted people from foreign lands. Therefore, at different periods of history, people of different races have migrated to India from various countries and regions of the world. This migration is still continuing. Generally, migration from countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan has increased the population of India significantly, leading to a population explosion in the country. However, migration has also increased social and cultural diversity, giving India a distinct identity in the world.
20. Write the main characteristics of the Indian economy.
Ans: The main characteristics of the Indian economy are:
(a) Agriculture-based economy
(b) Low per capita income
(c) Poverty
(d) Slow growth of per capita income
(e) Increasing unemployment problem
(f) Planned development
21. How many Union Territories does India have and what are they?
Ans: India has 7 Union Territories. These are: (a) Delhi (b) Chandigarh (c)Andaman and Nicobar Islands (d) Dadra and Nagar Haveli (e) Daman and Diu (f) Puducherry and (g) Lakshadweep.
22. How many states does India have at present?
Ans: At present, India has 28 states.
Note: The correct number of states in India is 28 (after the reorganization in 2019).
23. Which is the most recently formed state of India? What is its total area and population?
Ans: The most recently formed state of India is Telangana. Its total area is 1,14,840 sq. km.
Additional Questions and Answers
1. What is the name of the lake in Manipur, India?
Ans: Loktak Lake.
2. Which is the most populous state of India?
Ans: Uttar Pradesh.
3. In which era was the Himalayan mountain range formed?
Ans: In the Tertiary era. Earlier, there was a sea in this region.
4. The place now occupied by the Himalayas was once a sea. What was the name of that sea?
Ans: Tethys Sea.
5. Where is the source of the river Ganga?
Ans: The Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
6. Which country is referred to as a subcontinent?
Ans: India.
7. What is the shape of the Deccan Plateau?
Ans: Triangular.
8. How many natural divisions does India have?
Ans: 5.
9. What percentage of the world’s total population lives in India?
Ans: 17.5%.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What is the latitudinal extent of India?
(a) 8°4’N to 37°6’N
(b) 6°4’N to 40°6’N
(c) 10°4’N to 35°6’N
(d) 5°4’N to 30°6’N
Ans: (a)
2. What is the longitudinal extent of India?
(a) 68°7’E to 97°25’E
(b) 60°7’E to 90°25’E
(c) 70°7’E to 100°25’E
(d) 65°7’E to 95°25’E
Ans: (a)
3. Which Tropic passes almost through the middle of India?
(a) Tropic of Cancer
(b) Tropic of Capricorn
(c) Equator
(d) Prime Meridian
Ans: (a)
4. Which is the southernmost point of India?
(a) Indira Point
(b) Kanyakumari
(c) Lakshadweep
(d) Andaman
Ans: (a)
5. Which mountain range forms the northern boundary of India?
(a) Aravalli
(b) Himalayas
(c) Vindhya
(d) Satpura
Ans: (b)
6. Which is the longest river of India?
(a) Yamuna
(b) Ganga
(c) Brahmaputra
(d) Godavari
Ans: (b)
7. Which plateau is located in southern India?
(a) Chotanagpur Plateau
(b) Deccan Plateau
(c) Malwa Plateau
(d) Meghalaya Plateau
Ans: (b)
8. Which desert lies in the western part of India?
(a) Sahara Desert
(b) Thar Desert
(c) Gobi Desert
(d) Kalahari Desert
Ans: (b)
9. Which is the highest peak of India?
(a) Kanchenjunga
(b) Nanda Devi
(c) Mount Everest
(d) K2
Ans: (a)
10. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar”?
(a) Ganga
(b) Kosi
(c) Yamuna
(d) Brahmaputra
Ans: (b)
11. Which state has the highest population in India?
(a) Bihar
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) West Bengal
Ans: (c)
12. What type of climate does India have?
(a) Tropical monsoon
(b) Desert
(c) Polar
(d) Mediterranean
Ans: (a)
13. Which is the largest state of India by area?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Uttar Pradesh
Ans: (a)
14. Which is the smallest state of India by area?
(a) Goa
(b) Sikkim
(c) Tripura
(d) Manipur
Ans: (a)
15. Which river originates from the Gangotri Glacier?
(a) Yamuna
(b) Ganga
(c) Brahmaputra
(d) Indus
Ans: (b)
16. Which is the largest plateau in India?
(a) Malwa Plateau
(b) Deccan Plateau
(c) Chotanagpur Plateau
(d) Shillong Plateau
Ans: (b)
17. Which is the main occupation of people in India?
(a) Industry
(b) Agriculture
(c) Trade
(d) Mining
Ans: (b)
18. Which natural division is known as the “Granary of India”?
(a) Plateau
(b) Northern Plains
(c) Desert
(d) Mountains
Ans: (b)
19. Which is the wettest place in India?
(a) Mawsynram
(b) Cherrapunji
(c) Shillong
(d) Guwahati
Ans: (a)
20. Which ocean lies to the south of India?
(a) Pacific Ocean
(b) Atlantic Ocean
(c) Indian Ocean
(d) Arctic Ocean
Ans: (c)
21. Which is the largest delta in the world?
(a) Nile Delta
(b) Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta
(c) Amazon Delta
(d) Mississippi Delta
Ans: (b)
22. Which river flows through Assam?
(a) Ganga
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Yamuna
(d) Narmada
Ans: (b)
23. Which is the capital of India?
(a) Mumbai
(b) Kolkata
(c) New Delhi
(d) Chennai
Ans: (c)
24. Which type of soil is best for growing cotton?
(a) Alluvial soil
(b) Black soil
(c) Red soil
(d) Laterite soil
Ans: (b)
25. Which is the eastern coastal plain called?
(a) Konkan Coast
(b) Coromandel Coast
(c) Malabar Coast
(d) Northern Coast
Ans: (b)
26. Which river flows westwards into the Arabian Sea?
(a) Ganga
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Narmada
(d) Yamuna
Ans: (c)
27. Which is the largest island group of India?
(a) Lakshadweep
(b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) Maldives
Ans: (b)
28. Which forest is found in high rainfall areas?
(a) Thorn forest
(b) Evergreen forest
(c) Desert vegetation
(d) Grassland
Ans: (b)
29. Which is the main language spoken in India?
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Tamil
(d) Bengali
Ans: (a)
30. Which mineral is known as “Black Gold”?
(a) Coal
(b) Petroleum
(c) Iron
(d) Gold
Ans: (b)
31. Which physiographic division of India is the oldest landmass?
(a) Northern Plains
(b) Himalayan Region
(c) Peninsular Plateau
(d) Coastal Plains
Ans: (c)
32. Which river system forms the largest drainage basin in India?
(a) Indus
(b) Ganga
(c) Brahmaputra
(d) Godavari
Ans: (b)
33. Which wind system is responsible for rainfall in India?
(a) Trade winds
(b) Monsoon winds
(c) Westerlies
(d) Polar winds
Ans: (b)
34. Which type of soil is formed by the deposition of rivers?
(a) Black soil
(b) Red soil
(c) Alluvial soil
(d) Laterite soil
Ans: (c)
35. Which state has the largest coastline in India?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra
Ans: (a)
36. Which is the deepest river valley in India?
(a) Ganga Valley
(b) Brahmaputra Valley
(c) Narmada Valley
(d) Indus Valley
Ans: (b)
37. Which is the most important factor influencing the climate of India?
(a) Latitude
(b) Longitude
(c) Monsoon winds
(d) Soil
Ans: (c)
38. Which region receives rainfall from both southwest and northeast monsoons?
(a) Kerala
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Punjab
Ans: (b)
39. Which plateau is rich in minerals?
(a) Deccan Plateau
(b) Malwa Plateau
(c) Chotanagpur Plateau
(d) Meghalaya Plateau
Ans: (c)
40. Which river does not form a delta?
(a) Ganga
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Mahanadi
(d) Narmada
Ans: (d)
