Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 3200000 sq.km
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Area and population rankings are among the most basic facts tested in Indian and world geography. India is often described as the seventh largest country in the world by area and the second most populous by population. Knowing its approximate total geographical area helps you answer various MCQs about size comparisons and demographic density.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
India's total geographical area is usually rounded to approximately 3.28 million square kilometres in geography textbooks. In MCQ options, this is often simplified to 3.2 million or 3.3 million square kilometres, depending on the pattern used. Among the given options, 3200000 sq.km is the closest approximation to 3.28 million sq.km. The other values, 2.7 million, 3.0 million, and 3.6 million sq.km, deviate more from the accepted figure and therefore are not correct.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the standard figure for India's area is about 3.28 million sq.km.
Step 2: Convert this idea into approximate options: 3.28 million sq.km is closer to 3.2 or 3.3 million than to 3.0 or 3.6 million.
Step 3: Examine the options: 2700000, 3000000, 3200000, and 3600000 sq.km.
Step 4: Note that 3200000 sq.km equals 3.2 million sq.km, which is nearest to 3.28 million sq.km.
Step 5: Therefore, 3200000 sq.km is the best approximate value and hence the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you refer to NCERT textbooks or standard geography references, they state India's area as about 3.28 million sq.km, constituting roughly 2.4 percent of the world's land area. Many exam guides simplify this to “about 3.28 million sq.km (approximately 3.3 million sq.km).” Among the provided options, 3200000 sq.km is closer to these values than any other option, which confirms the correctness of our choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
2700000 sq.km: This is significantly lower than India's recognised area and would place India much lower in world rankings.
3000000 sq.km: Although closer, it still underestimates India's area by a noticeable margin compared to the standard 3.28 million sq.km figure.
3600000 sq.km: This value overestimates India's area and would place it closer to countries like China or the United States, which is incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes remember only “around 3 million sq.km” and may mistakenly choose 3000000 sq.km without considering the more accurate figure. Another issue is mixing up India's area with those of other large countries. To avoid such mistakes, memorise the approximate area as 3.28 million sq.km and associate it with “about 3.2 to 3.3 million sq.km” in simplified options. This will help you consistently choose the closest correct value in different exams.
Final Answer:
India, the seventh largest country in the world by area, covers approximately 3200000 sq.km of geographical area in rounded terms.
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