In Indian geography, the latitudinal extent of the mainland of India lies between which of the following pairs of latitudes?

Introduction / Context:
This Indian geography question checks whether you remember the exact latitudinal span of the mainland of India. Knowing the correct latitudinal extent is important because it explains India's climate, length of day and night, and the variation in temperature from north to south. Many competitive exams frequently ask this fact in slightly different wordings, so being clear about the precise values is very helpful.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is only about the mainland of India, not including islands.
• Latitude is measured in degrees (°) north or south of the Equator.
• The options give different possible pairs of starting and ending latitudes.
• We assume standard school-level geography facts for India.

Concept / Approach:
Latitude lines run east–west and measure the angular distance north or south of the Equator. India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, so its mainland latitudes must be expressed as degrees north (N), never south (S) or west (W). The commonly accepted latitudinal extent of mainland India is from about 8°4' N near Kanyakumari to about 37°6' N in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, we look for the option that correctly uses N for both limits and matches these approximate values.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that mainland India lies entirely north of the equator. Step 2: The southernmost point of mainland India lies near 8°4' N latitude. Step 3: The northernmost point of mainland India lies close to 37°6' N latitude. Step 4: Check each option and select the one that uses 8°4' N and 37°6' N as the pair. Step 5: Confirm that no option with W or S can be correct because India is not in the Western or Southern Hemisphere.

Verification / Alternative Check:
A quick way to verify is to remember that Kanyakumari region is around 8 degrees north and northern Jammu and Kashmir is near 37 degrees north. Many school atlases show this explicitly on the India map. You might also recall that the commonly quoted latitudinal extent in textbooks is “8°4' N to 37°6' N and 68°7' E to 97°25' E” for longitude, which reinforces the numbers. Since only one option matches these values exactly with N for both, the answer is reliable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b (8°4' W and 37°6' W) is wrong because W indicates west of the Prime Meridian, whereas India lies east of it. Option c (8°4' E and 37°6' E) incorrectly uses E, which refers to longitude, not latitude. Option d (8°4' S and 37°6' S) is incorrect because S would place India in the Southern Hemisphere, which is not true geographically.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to mix up latitude and longitude symbols, selecting an option with E or W instead of N or S. Another pitfall is to forget which hemisphere India lies in and accidentally pick an option with S. Some learners also confuse mainland values with those of island territories, but the question clearly focuses on the mainland only. Keeping a clear mental picture of India on the globe helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The latitudinal extent of the mainland of India lies between 8°4' N and 37°6' N.