Question

Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian of India ?
1. 83°30'E
2. 82°30’ E
3. 82°30' W
4. 83°30' W

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 82°30’ E

The correct answer is 82°30’ E.

• In India, the longitude of 82º30’ E is treated as the Standard Meridianknown as the Indian Standard Time (IST).
  • The earth has been divided into twenty -four timezones of one hour each. Each zone thus covers 15º of longitude.
  • Some countries have a great longitudinal extent and so they have adopted more than one standard time. For example, in Russia, there are as many as eleven standard times.

• Longitudes of the Earth:
  • The line of reference running from the North pole to the South Pole is called meridians of longitude.
  • The distance between them is measured in degrees. Each degree is further divided into minutes, and minutes into seconds.
  • They are semi-circles and the distance between them decreases steadily towards the pole.
  • The parallels of latitude are unequal in length and all the meridians are equal in length.
  • The meridian which passed through Greenwich (near London), where the British Royal Observatory is located is called the Prime Meridian. Its value is 0º.
  • The prime meridian divides the earth into two halves, the Eastern Hemisphere (E) and the Western Hemisphere (W).