In world geography, India lies entirely in which pair of Earth's hemispheres based on latitude and longitude?

Introduction / Context:

Geography questions about hemispheres test how well a learner understands the global position of a country on the Earth. India is often described in school atlases and competitive exam books in terms of latitude and longitude, and from that information we can decide in which hemispheres it falls. Knowing this helps in understanding India's climate, time zone, seasons, and its relation with other continents and oceans on the globe.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• India extends roughly from about 8 degrees north to 37 degrees north in latitude.
• India extends roughly from about 68 degrees east to 97 degrees east in longitude.
• The equator divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• The prime meridian at 0 degrees longitude divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Concept / Approach:

The key idea is to compare India's latitude values with the equator and its longitude values with the prime meridian. If all latitudes are north of the equator, the country lies in the Northern Hemisphere. If all longitudes are east of the prime meridian, it lies in the Eastern Hemisphere. By combining both, we identify the correct pair of hemispheres that describes India's location.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Another way to verify this is to look at any political or physical map of the world that includes a graticule (grid) of latitudes and longitudes. India always appears in the upper right quadrant when the equator and prime meridian are drawn as reference lines. This quadrant corresponds to the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, confirming that India lies entirely in that combined region.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Some learners confuse the presence of the Indian Ocean south of India and assume that the country must partly lie in the Southern Hemisphere. In reality, the landmass of India is entirely north of the equator. Another common mistake is not remembering that the prime meridian passes through Greenwich in the United Kingdom, far to the west of India, so India cannot be in the Western Hemisphere.

Final Answer:

The correct pair of hemispheres in which India lies is Northern and Eastern Hemispheres.