Detailed Summary
This section provides an overview of India's geographical size and location. It highlights that the Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two parts, presenting the geographical context of India’s coordinates lying entirely in the Northern hemisphere, spanning from latitude 8°4'N to 37°6'N and longitude 68°7'E to 97°25'E. The total land mass is 3.28 million sq km, making it the seventh largest country in the world, covering approximately 2.4% of the Earth's total surface area.
India's coastline measures 7,516.6 km, while its land boundaries extend to 15,200 km. Geographically, India includes island groups such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea. The significance of India’s central location in the Indian Ocean is emphasized for international maritime trade routes. Additionally, the text discusses the implications of latitudinal extent on climate and time variations across the country.