Our Country — India
1. Location of India
India is a large country in SOUTH ASIA.
'India is called a SUBCONTINENT because it is a large landmass that is part of a continent but has its own distinct identity.'
Key Facts about India's Location:
- Lies in the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.
- Lies EAST of the Prime Meridian.
- The TROPIC OF CANCER (23.5°N) passes through the MIDDLE of India.
- India extends from the SNOWY HIMALAYAS in the north to the OCEAN in the south.
Geographical Boundaries:
| Direction | Boundary |
|---|---|
| North | Himalayas (mountains) |
| South | Indian Ocean |
| East | Bay of Bengal |
| West | Arabian Sea |
2. India's Size
| Statistic | Number |
|---|---|
| Area | About 3.28 million sq km |
| Rank in the world (by area) | 7th largest |
| North-South distance | About 3,200 km |
| East-West distance | About 2,900 km |
| Length of coastline | About 7,500 km |
'India is the SEVENTH largest country in the world by area — after Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, and Australia.'
3. States and Union Territories
India has 28 STATES and 8 UNION TERRITORIES.
Some Major States and Their Capitals:
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| Bihar | Patna | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Maharashtra | Mumbai |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter) | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | West Bengal | Kolkata |
Union Territories and Capitals:
| Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
4. Neighbouring Countries
India shares its land borders with 7 countries.
| Country | Direction from India |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | North-West |
| China | North |
| Nepal | North |
| Bhutan | North-East |
| Bangladesh | East |
| Myanmar | East |
| Afghanistan | North-West (very small border) |
Maritime Neighbours:
- Sri Lanka — South of India (separated by the Palk Strait).
- Maldives — South-West of India.
'India's closest neighbour across the sea is SRI LANKA. The PALK STRAIT separates India from Sri Lanka.'
5. Diversity of India
INDIA is known for its UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
'In India, people speak DIFFERENT languages, follow DIFFERENT religions, eat DIFFERENT foods, and celebrate DIFFERENT festivals — yet we are ONE NATION!'
Languages:
- India has 22 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution).
- Hindi is the most widely spoken language.
- English is used for official and administrative purposes.
- Other major languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia.
Religions:
- Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism.
- India is the BIRTHPLACE of four major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
Food Diversity:
- North India: Wheat-based (roti, paratha), rich curries.
- South India: Rice-based (idli, dosa, sambhar).
- East India: Rice and fish (machher jhol).
- West India: Dal, bati, and sweet dishes.
6. National Symbols
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| National Flag | Tricolour (Saffron, White, Green) with Ashoka Chakra |
| National Emblem | Lion Capital of Ashoka (from Sarnath) |
| National Anthem | 'Jana Gana Mana' (written by Rabindranath Tagore) |
| National Song | 'Vande Mataram' |
| National Animal | Bengal Tiger |
| National Bird | Peacock |
| National Flower | Lotus |
| National Tree | Banyan Tree |
| National Fruit | Mango |
| National River | Ganga |
| National Currency | Indian Rupee (₹) |
The National Flag:
- Saffron at the top → Courage and sacrifice.
- White in the middle → Peace and truth.
- Green at the bottom → Faith and prosperity.
- Ashoka Chakra in the centre → The wheel of LAW.
7. Common Mistakes
- Confusing the number of states and UTs: 'India has 28 STATES and 8 UNION TERRITORIES (as of 2025). Jammu & Kashmir is a Union Territory, NOT a state.'
- Thinking New Delhi is a state: 'New Delhi is the CAPITAL of India and is part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi — a Union Territory.'
- Calling India an island: 'India is a PENINSULA — it is surrounded by water on THREE sides but connected to land on the NORTH.'
- Confusing National Anthem and National Song: '"Jana Gana Mana" is the National Anthem. "Vande Mataram" is the National Song. They are DIFFERENT!'
8. Key Facts to Remember
- 'India is the 7th LARGEST country in the world by area.'
- 'India has 28 states and 8 union territories.'
- 'India shares borders with 7 countries.'
- 'The National Flag has three colours and the Ashoka Chakra.'
- 'India is known for UNITY IN DIVERSITY — many languages, religions, and cultures living together in harmony.'
9. Self-Test
Q1: How many states and union territories does India have?
Q2: Name the seven countries that share a land border with India.
Q3: What is the capital of: (a) Maharashtra (b) Karnataka (c) Kerala
Q4: What are the three colours of the Indian National Flag? What does each represent?
Q5: What is the National Animal and National Bird of India?
Q6: Which strait separates India from Sri Lanka?
Q7: What is the total length of India's coastline?
Q8: Name two neighbouring countries to the NORTH of India.
Answers:
A1: 28 states and 8 union territories. A2: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan. A3: (a) Mumbai (b) Bengaluru (c) Thiruvananthapuram. A4: Saffron (courage and sacrifice), White (peace and truth), Green (faith and prosperity). A5: National Animal — Bengal Tiger. National Bird — Peacock. A6: Palk Strait. A7: About 7,500 km. A8: China and Nepal. (Also Bhutan and Pakistan.)
