Looking for the most authentic, 100% textbook-grounded DAV Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Solutions: India – My Motherland? Based strictly on the prescribed DAV CMC textbook We and Our World, this comprehensive master guide provides complete answers for Section A (Tick the correct option with detailed reasons), Section B (Fill in the blanks), Section C (Match the following table), Section D (Short Answer Questions), Section E (Detailed Long Answer Questions with structured headings), Value-Based Questions (VBQ), HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills), multi-column comparison tables (Himalayan vs Peninsular Rivers, Western vs Eastern Ghats, Western vs Eastern Coastal Plains), and authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024) with official marking schemes.
Section A: Tick (✓) the Correct Option
1. The southernmost tip of the mainland of India is:
(a) Indira Point
(b) Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)
(c) Rameswaram
(d) Thiruvananthapuram
Answer: (b) Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)
Detailed Justification: Kanyakumari (located at 8°4′ N latitude in Tamil Nadu) is the southernmost point of the continuous mainland of India. In contrast, Indira Point (located at 6°45′ N latitude in the Great Nicobar Island) is the southernmost tip of the entire Indian Union territory.
2. Which country is not a neighbouring country of India?
(a) Myanmar
(b) Bhutan
(c) Nepal
(d) Iran
Answer: (d) Iran
Detailed Justification: India shares its land boundaries with seven neighbouring countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan to the northwest; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. Iran does not share any land or immediate maritime border with India.
3. Which one of the following states is not located along the coast of the Arabian Sea?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Goa
Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu
Detailed Justification: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala are situated along the western coast facing the Arabian Sea. Tamil Nadu is situated on the south-eastern coast facing the Bay of Bengal (along the Coromandel Coast) and the Indian Ocean.
4. The oldest fold mountain range of India is:
(a) The Himalayas
(b) The Aravalli Range
(c) The Vindhya Range
(d) The Satpura Range
Answer: (b) The Aravalli Range
Detailed Justification: The Aravalli Range running across Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi is the oldest relict fold mountain range in India, having undergone extensive weathering and erosion over billions of years. The Himalayas are young fold mountains.
5. Which one of the following rivers falls into the Arabian Sea?
(a) Mahanadi
(b) Godavari
(c) Narmada
(d) Krishna
Answer: (c) Narmada
Detailed Justification: The Narmada and the Tapi are the two major peninsular rivers that flow westwards through tectonic rift valleys (between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges) and empty into the Arabian Sea, forming estuaries rather than deltas. Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal.
Section B: Fill in the Blanks
- The area lying in the north of Tropic of Cancer is called the Sub-tropical zone (or North Temperate Zone).
- The standard meridian of India is 82°30′ E (82½° E longitude passing near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh).
- The northernmost range of the Himalayas is known as Himadri (or the Great Himalayas).
- The plateau which lies between the Aravalli and the Vindhya range is the Malwa Plateau.
- Lakshadweep islands are situated in the Arabian Sea (and are coral islands in origin).
Section C: Match the Following
| Column A (Geographical Landmark) | Column B (Correct Match) | Geographical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The highest peak of the Himalayas | (d) Mount Everest | Located in Nepal, Mount Everest stands at an elevation of 8,848.86 metres above sea level as the highest point on Earth. |
| 2. The longest tributary of River Ganga | (a) Yamuna | Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas, the Yamuna flows parallel to Ganga and merges with it at Prayagraj (Sangam). |
| 3. Southernmost tip of Indian Territory | (b) Indira Point | Situated at 6°45′ N in the Great Nicobar Island, Indira Point marks the extreme southern territorial boundary of the Indian Union. |
| 4. Coastal strip along Tamil Nadu | (e) Coromandel | The southern stretch of India’s eastern coastal plain along Tamil Nadu and southeastern Andhra Pradesh is called the Coromandel Coast. |
| 5. Range famous for ‘duns’ | (c) Shivalik | The southernmost outer range of the Himalayas (Shivaliks) features longitudinal structural valleys called ‘duns’ (e.g., Dehradun, Patlidun). |
Section D: Answer the Following Questions in Brief
Question 1: What is the area and size of India in respect to the world?
Answer:
India is a vast country with the following global dimensions:
- Total Geographic Area: Approximately 3.28 million square kilometres (32,87,263 sq. km).
- Percentage of World Land Area: India accounts for about 2.42% of the world’s total land area.
- Global Ranking: India is the seventh largest country in the world by land area (after Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, and Australia).
- North-South & East-West Extent: From Kashmir to Kanyakumari it measures about 3,214 km, and from Arunachal Pradesh to Rann of Kachchh it spans about 2,933 km.
Question 2: Name the physical divisions of India.
Answer:
India is divided into six major physiographic units:
- The Northern Mountains (The Himalayan Mountain Range).
- The Northern Great Plains (Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plains).
- The Peninsular Plateau (Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau).
- The Great Indian Desert (The Thar Desert).
- The Coastal Plains (Western Coastal Plain and Eastern Coastal Plain).
- The Island Groups (Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Question 3: Name any four tributaries of river Indus.
Answer:
Four prominent left-bank tributaries of the River Indus flowing across northwestern India and Punjab are:
- Jhelum
- Chenab
- Ravi
- Sutlej (and Beas)
Question 4: Name the water bodies that surround the Indian Peninsula.
Answer:
The Indian Peninsula is bounded by three major water bodies:
- The Arabian Sea on the west and southwest.
- The Bay of Bengal on the east and southeast.
- The Indian Ocean on the south.
Question 5: Name the two groups of islands of India.
Answer:
India possesses two major archipelagos:
- The Lakshadweep Islands: Located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala; these are small coral islands formed by polyp accumulations.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Located in the Bay of Bengal; these are larger, elongated chains of islands representing submerged peaks of submarine mountain ranges (some of volcanic origin, like Barren Island).
Section E: Answer the Following Questions in Detail
Question 1: State any four main features of the Himalayan mountains.
Answer:
The Himalayas (meaning “Abode of Snow”) are young fold mountains extending in an arc of about 2,400 km from the Indus gorge in the west to the Brahmaputra gorge in the east.
Four Main Features:
- Three Parallel Mountain Ranges:
- Himadri (Great or Inner Himalayas): The highest, northernmost, continuous range with average elevation above 6,000 metres, perpetually snow-clad (Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga).
- Himachal (Lesser or Middle Himalayas): Middle range with elevations between 3,700 and 4,500 metres; famous for scenic hill stations (Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling).
- Shivalik (Outer Himalayas): Southernmost range with elevations between 900 and 1,200 metres, composed of unconsolidated sediments; famous for longitudinal valleys called duns (e.g., Dehradun).
- Perennial Source of Rivers: Massive Himalayan glaciers (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Siachen) give birth to perennial rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Brahmaputra) that sustain millions of people.
- Climatic Barrier: The Himalayas block freezing Siberian winds from entering the Indian subcontinent in winter and force moisture-laden summer monsoon winds to shed heavy rainfall over India.
- Strategic and Economic Value: They provide rich forest resources, medicinal herbs, mineral reserves, hydro-electric potential, and secure northern frontiers.
Question 2: Write four main features of the Peninsular Plateau.
Answer:
The Peninsular Plateau is a massive, triangular elevated tableland lying south of the Northern Plains, representing the oldest and most stable geological landmass of India.
Four Main Features:
- Ancient Crystalline Structure: Composed of ancient crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, formed during the breaking and drifting of the ancient Gondwanaland continent.
- Division into Two Main Regions:
- The Central Highlands: Lies north of the Narmada River, comprising the Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau (drained by Chambal, Betwa, and Son).
- The Deccan Plateau: A triangular plateau south of the Narmada, bounded by the Satpura Range in the north, the Western Ghats in the west, and the Eastern Ghats in the east.
- Rich Mineral Storehouse: The plateau (especially Chhota Nagpur) holds India’s richest deposits of minerals including coal, iron ore, bauxite, mica, and manganese.
- Black Soil (Deccan Trap): The northwestern part of the Deccan Plateau is made of volcanic basalt lava rocks that have weathered into mineral-rich black soil (regur), ideal for cotton and sugarcane cultivation.
Question 3: Describe the Coastal Plains of India.
Answer:
The Peninsular Plateau of India is flanked by narrow coastal strips on both sides, known as the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains.
1. The Western Coastal Plains:
- Location: Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
- Width: Narrow strip of land (average width 50 km).
- Sub-divisions:
- Konkan Coast: Northern section extending from Gujarat and Maharashtra to Goa.
- Kannada (Kanara) Coast: Central stretch along Karnataka.
- Malabar Coast: Southern stretch along Kerala, famous for scenic backwaters (kayals) and lagoons.
- Rivers: Swift-flowing short rivers that form estuaries (Narmada, Tapi, Periyar).
- Location: Stretches between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
- Width: Much broader, gentler, and level plain (average width 100 to 120 km).
- Sub-divisions:
- Northern Circars: Northern part extending between Mahanadi and Krishna rivers.
- Coromandel Coast: Southern part along Tamil Nadu.
- Rivers and Deltas: Large east-flowing rivers (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery) have formed expansive, fertile alluvial deltas, creating the ‘Rice Bowl of South India’.
Question 4: Why are Northern Plains densely populated?
Answer:
The Northern Great Plains of India (extending across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal) support one of the densest human populations on Earth due to the following favorable geographic factors:
- Extremely Fertile Alluvial Soils: Deposition of rich silt (khadar and bhangar) by the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus river systems over thousands of years ensures exceptional agricultural crop yields.
- Perennial Water Supply: Abundant snow-fed rivers provide perennial water for drinking, domestic use, intensive canal irrigation, and inland fishing.
- Flat and Level Topography: The gentle, level land facilitates inexpensive construction of extensive transport networks (railways, highways, expressways), dense settlements, and massive industrial factories.
- Favorable Climate: A moderate climate without extreme alpine freezing temperatures supports round-the-year double and triple agricultural cropping cycles (Kharif, Rabi, Zaid).
Question 5: Explain the longitudinal extent of India and its impact on time.
Answer:
1. Longitudinal Extent:
India extends longitudinally from 68°7′ E in Gujarat (in the west) to 97°25′ E in Arunachal Pradesh (in the east).
This spans an angular longitudinal extent of nearly 30° (97°25′ – 68°7′ ≈ 29°18′).
2. Impact on Local Time:
- The Earth rotates 360° on its axis in 24 hours (1,440 minutes). Therefore, 1° of longitude corresponds to a time difference of 4 minutes (1,440 ÷ 360 = 4 minutes).
- For India’s 30° longitudinal extent, the time difference between its easternmost and westernmost limits is:30° × 4 minutes = 120 minutes = 2 hours
- Consequently, the Sun rises approximately 2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than it does in Gujarat.
If every locality followed its own local solar time, train schedules, flight timetables, television broadcasts, and government administrative coordination across India would face utter chaos. To avoid this confusion, the central meridian of 82°30′ E (82½° E) passing through Mirzapur (Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh) was chosen as the Standard Meridian of India. The local time along this meridian is accepted as the uniform Indian Standard Time (IST) for the entire nation (5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time: GMT+5:30).
Core Geographical Comparison Tables
1. Himalayan Rivers vs Peninsular Rivers
| Feature / Parameter | Himalayan Rivers | Peninsular Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Source of Origin | Glaciers and snowfields in the high Himalayas. | Plateau highlands and Western Ghats. |
| Nature of Flow | Perennial (flow all year fed by both melting snow and monsoon rain). | Seasonal (rain-fed; discharge reduces drastically in dry summer months). |
| Length & Course | Long courses through high mountains, deep gorges, and wide plains. | Shorter, shallower, and fixed courses over hard rocky beds. |
| Drainage Features | Form huge meanders, oxbow lakes, and colossal deltas (Sundarbans). | Straight courses, steep waterfalls, and estuaries (west) or deltas (east). |
| Major Examples | Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Yamuna. | Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi. |
2. Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats
| Feature | Western Ghats (Sahyadris) | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Continuity | Continuous wall-like chain; can be crossed only through passes (Thal, Bhor, Pal Ghats). | Discontinuous, irregular, cut through by large east-flowing rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery). |
| Average Height | Higher; averages between 900 and 1,600 metres. | Lower; averages around 600 metres. |
| Highest Peak | Anamudi (2,695 m) in the Anaimalai Hills. | Mahendragiri (1,501 m) / Jindhagada (1,690 m). |
| Rainfall | Receives very heavy orographic rainfall (> 250 cm) on its western slopes. | Receives moderate to low rainfall, mainly from retreating northeast monsoons. |
Value-Based Questions (VBQ)
Question: India’s rich physical diversity – ranging from snow-capped Himalayas and golden deserts to fertile plains and tropical coasts – is reflected in the rich linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity of its people. How does our geographic landscape inspire the national ideal of ‘Unity in Diversity’?
Answer:
India’s physical geography is the cradle of our shared civilizational heritage:
- Complementary Interdependence: Northern plains feed the nation with food grains, the southern plateau supplies minerals and energy, the coastal strips connect us to global maritime trade, and the Himalayas supply life-giving water. Each region depends on the others for survival, fostering mutual respect.
- Inclusivity and Tolerance: Living amidst varied physical terrains has taught Indian society to embrace differences in food, attire, architecture, and languages while celebrating our unified identity as proud citizens of Mother India.
- National Brotherhood: When natural disasters strike – whether landslides in the hills or floods on the coasts – citizens across all states unite unconditionally to offer aid and solidarity.
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
Question 1: Why do the Narmada and Tapi rivers flow westward into the Arabian Sea, whereas almost all other major Peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery) flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal?
Answer:
The general slope of the Peninsular Plateau tilts gently from west to east, which is why Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery flow eastward. However:
- The Narmada and Tapi do not flow over the normal plateau gradient; they flow through deep linear tectonic rift valleys formed by faults created during the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian plate.
- These narrow rift valleys have a distinct westward gradient, forcing the Narmada (between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges) and the Tapi (south of the Satpura range) to flow westwards into the Arabian Sea.
Question 2: Why was 82°30′ E chosen as the Standard Meridian of India instead of 80° E or 85° E?
Answer:
82°30′ E was chosen for two critical scientific and administrative reasons:
- Geographical Centrality: India’s total longitudinal extent is 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E. The midpoint is: (68°7′ + 97°25′) ÷ 2 ≈ 82°46′ E. Choosing 82°30′ E places the standard meridian almost exactly down the mathematical center of the country, minimizing local solar time deviation to within 1 hour on either extreme.
- International Multiplicity Standard: By international geographical agreement, standard meridians across all nations are chosen in multiples of 7°30′ (7½°), ensuring the standard time difference from Greenwich is an exact multiple of 30 minutes (82°30′ = 11 × 7°30′ = 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT).
Authentic DAV Board Examination Previous Years’ Questions (2018-2024)
Q1 [DAV Mid-Term Exam 2023, 3 Marks]: Why is the southern part of India called a peninsula? Name the three water bodies surrounding it.
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Definition of Peninsula [1.5 Marks]: A peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides while connected to a larger landmass on one side.
2. Three Surrounding Water Bodies [1.5 Marks]: The Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south.
Q2 [DAV Annual Exam 2022, 3 Marks]: Give three points of distinction between the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Location [1 Mark]: Lakshadweep is situated in the Arabian Sea, whereas Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Origin [1 Mark]: Lakshadweep islands are of coral origin formed by polyps, whereas Andaman and Nicobar are elevated submerged volcanic mountain peaks.
3. Size and Number [1 Mark]: Lakshadweep is smaller (consisting of 36 islands covering 32 sq km), while Andaman & Nicobar is a much larger chain comprising over 572 islands.
Q3 [DAV Annual Exam 2020, 2 Marks]: Why are delta regions of River Ganga and Brahmaputra called ‘Sundarbans’?
Official Answer & Marking Scheme:
1. Naming Reason [1 Mark]: The delta gets its name from the abundant mangrove tree species called Sundari (Heritiera fomes), which thrives in its coastal brackish water swamps.
2. Distinct Feature [1 Mark]: It is the world’s largest, fastest-growing delta and the natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
DAV Class 6 Social Science: Complete Chapter Solutions Navigation
Access 100% textbook-authentic solutions for all 24 chapters of DAV Class 6 Social Science (We and Our World):
| Unit | Chapter Number & Title | Direct Solution Link |
|---|---|---|
| Geography (The Earth: Our Habitat) | Ch 1: The Planet Earth and the Solar System | Read Ch 1 Solutions → |
| Ch 2: Representation of the Earth | Read Ch 2 Solutions → | |
| Ch 3: Locating Places on the Earth | Read Ch 3 Solutions → | |
| Ch 4: The Motions of the Earth | Read Ch 4 Solutions → | |
| Ch 5: The Realms of the Earth | Read Ch 5 Solutions → | |
| Ch 6: India – My Motherland | Current Chapter | |
| Ch 7: India – The Land of Monsoon Climate | Read Ch 7 Solutions → | |
| All 24 Chapters Master Solutions Index | DAV Class 6 SST Solutions Hub → | |