Previous Year Question
With reference to India which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
India is the sixth largest country of the world.
India occupies about 2.4% of the total area of the world.
Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country dividing it into two latitudinal halves.
India is completely in tropic zone.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
1 और 2
2 और 4
3 और 4
2 और 3
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect. India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area, not the sixth. The six countries larger than India are Russia, Canada, China, the United States, Brazil, and Australia. India's total geographical area is approximately 3.287 million square kilometres. Its global ranking by area is seventh, whereas its ranking by population is different.
Statement 2 is correct. India occupies approximately 2.4% of the world's total land area. Its mainland extends from 8°4′ N to 37°6′ N latitude and from 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E longitude, entirely within the Northern Hemisphere. This geographical extent contributes to regional variations in India's natural conditions, climate, and duration of day and night.
Statement 3 is correct. The Tropic of Cancer, at 23°30′ N latitude, passes approximately through the middle of India, dividing the country into two nearly equal latitudinal parts. It passes through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Tropic of Cancer forms an important geographical boundary between India's tropical and subtropical regions.
Statement 4 is incorrect. India does not lie entirely within the tropical zone. The region south of the Tropic of Cancer lies in the Tropical Zone, whereas the northern part lies predominantly in the Subtropical Zone. Higher elevations in the northern Himalayan region also experience temperate and mountain climates. Consequently, India exhibits both tropical and subtropical climatic characteristics.