Question

Consider following statements about the location of India

1) In Indian territory, the distance measured from north to south extremity is 2933 km and that from east to west is 3214 km

2) India’s standard meridian is 82 degree 30 minute East and Srilanka and Nepal also have the same standard time zone

Choose the correct options

1. Only 1
2. Only 2
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Neither 1 nor 2

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

• In Indian Territory, the distance measured from north to south extremity is 3214 km and that from east to west is 2933 km. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• India with its area of 3.28 million sq km accounts for 2.4 % of the world’s land surface area and stands at 7^th position with respect to area-wise largest countries in the world.
• Also, note that India has a mainland coastline of 6100 km while its entire geographical coast of the mainland plus island groups Andaman and Nicobar located in Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea is 7517 km.
• Further, India’s standard meridian is 82 degrees 30 minutes east. Note here that Srilanka has also the same standard meridian i.e 82 degrees 30 minutes east but the standard meridian of Nepal is longitude 86°20'E. It passes through Mount Gauri Shankar. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• Standard Meridian passes through Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Also, note down standard meridians of neighboring countries of India are as follow:
  • The standard meridian of Pakistan is longitude 74 degrees, 22' east
  • The standard meridian of Bangladesh is 90.00° E
  • The Bhutan time is consistent with UTC +6.