India: An Introduction

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India is a vast country India is a vast country in South Asia, forming a peninsular subcontinent,  known for its diverse geography, ranging from towering mountains to expansive plains and coastal regions. It is the seventh-largest country by land area and the second-most populous in the world.

 

India has been variously been named as Hindustan, Bharat, Aryavarta. The word India means the Land of Indoi in Greek Literature. Both the Greek and the Persians extended the name Sindhu (land of Hindus) in West Asian languages to include all the countries east of the Indus.

 

India’s Geographical unit

 

• Location: India is located latitudinally in the Northern Hemisphere and longitudinally, in the Eastern Hemisphere.
• Geographical Diversity: Includes the Himalayas in the north, Indian Ocean in the South, Deserts in the West and Hills and forests in the East.

 

 

• Northern most point of India is Indra Col located at Karakoram range in Ladakh and Southern most point is Indra Point located at Andaman and Nicobar Island (previously known as the Pygmalion Point). Southern most point in Mainland in India is Cape Comorin in Tamil Nadu.
• Eastern most point of India is Kibithu, located at Arunachal Pradesh and Western most point is Guhar Moti/ Mota in Gujarat.

 

Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extension

 

Table 1: Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extension of India

 

 

• Tropic of Cancer: 23 ½ degree passes through almost middle of the country, dividing India into almost two equal parts. It passes through Eight state: Gujarat – Rajasthan – Madhya Pradesh – Chhattisgarh – Jharkhand – West Bengal – Tripura – Mizoram.
• The latitudinal extent gives us the difference in climate and time zones across India.

 

Time Zone

 

• India uses Indian Standard Time (IST): UTC +5:30.
• 82° 30' E longitude passes almost through the mid-way of the country and considered the Standard Meridian of the country. It passes through 5 states of India which includes Uttar Pradesh – Madhya Pradesh - Chhattisgarh – Odisha – Andhra Pradesh.
• It passes through Mirzapur near Allahabad. It is 5 hours 30 minute ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is taken as the Standard Time of India, popularly known as IST.
• The Time difference between easternmost and westernmost parts is 2 hours. Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours. So, it takes 4 minutes to move 1 degree longitude. (24 hours = 1440 minute then, 1440/360 = 4 minute).

 

Geological and Demographic size

 

Geographical Size

 

• India is 7th largest country in the World by area. (Russia > Canada > China > USA > Brazil > Australia > India > Argentina).
• The geographical area of India is 32,87,263 sq. Km.
• Covers 2.4% of Earth’s total land area.

 

Boundary and Coastline of India

 

• The land frontier of India is 15, 200 km and the length of the Coastline of the mainland is 6100 km.
• The length of total coastline, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Island is 7,516.6 km.
• Hence, the total length of Indian frontiers is 22,716.6 km (15, 200 + 7516.6).
• Due to its peninsular shape, India is surrounded by Bay of Bengal in the East, Arabian Sea in the West and Indian Ocean in the South.
• The Indian peninsula is wide in the North and has been gradually sloping towards South from 22-degree North.

 

Table 2: Coastal States and Union territories of India.

 

 

• Longest Coastline: Andaman and Nicobar Islands > Gujarat > Andhra Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Maharashtra > Kerala > Odisha > Karnataka > West Bengal > Lakshadweep > Goa > Daman and Diu > Puducherry.
• The Indian UT Andaman and Nicobar has the longest coastline in India with the length of 1962 km.
• Indian UT Puducherry has the smallest coastline in India with the length of 31 km.
• Gujarat has the longest coastline (among the states) about 1214 km and the Indian state Goa has the smallest coastline.

 

Demographic Size

 

• India holds the Second position in the population worldwide after China (as per UN estimates 2023: India is the most populous country surpassing China). Expected population (as per 2023 projections): Over 1.43 billion.
• India Contributes about 17.76% of the world’s population.
• Most populous State in India is Bihar.
• Least populous State in India is

 

Political and Administrative Divisions

 

• India is a Union of States governed by the Constitution of India. It consists of 28 States and 8 Union Territories (as of 2025).

 

Table 3: Indian State and UTs with their Capital, Official Language and State Re-organization

 

 

• Largest State by Area: Rajasthan.
• Smallest State by Area: Goa.
• Largest UT by Area: Ladakh.
• Smallest UT by Area: Lakshadweep.
• States are divided into districts (over 700 + districts in India).

 

• Key Facts:
  • Area wise the Four largest States in decreasing order: Rajasthan > Madhya Pradesh > Maharastra > Uttar Pradesh.
  • Union Territories (UTs): Directly governed by the Central Government, with some exceptions like Jammu & Kashmir (now a Union Territory with Legislative Assembly).

 

Water Bodies of India

 

India’s coastlines are bordered by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, making it a strategic maritime nation.

 

1. Arabian Sea (West Coast): Covers Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka Kerala.
2. Bay of Bengal (East Coast): Includes West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
3. Indian Ocean (Southern Coast): Southern parts of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts.

 

Indian Water bodies have been classified into 3 parts: Territorial Sea or Maritime Belt, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

 

 

• Territorial Sea or Maritime Belt: It is 12 Nautical Miles (NM) from the base line of the coast. Indian Sovereignty in Sea extends upto 12 NM.

 

• Contiguous Zone: It is extension lies between 12 NM and 24 NM. Laws relating to immigration, customs, environmental cleanliness and fascial rights are applicable in this area.

 

• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Its extension beings 176 NM lies between 24 NM and 200 NM. This special area remains under complete acquisition of the country and India is authorized to use sea resources keep vigil on animals, conserve the natural resources, minerals resources and conduct research activities.

 

India and its Neighbouring Countries

 

India is the largest country of South Asia in terms of both area and population. The 7 countries sharing their boundary with India and India share maritime boundaries with Sri Lanka and Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

 

1. China
2. Bangladesh
3. Pakistan
4. Afghanistan
5. Nepal
6. Bhutan
7. Myanmar

 

Table 4: Length of International boundaries of India with allied states.

 

 

• Key Facts:
  • India shares longest land boundary border with Bangladesh.
  • India shares smallest land boundary border with Afghanistan.
  • The boundary line between India and Pakistan is an example of Superimposed boundary.

 

India: An Overview

 

Table 5: National Symbols of India