The Tropic of __________ passes almost halfway through India and divides the country into two nearly equal parts.

Introduction:
Lines of latitude and longitude are important in understanding world maps and climate zones. India lies in the northern hemisphere and is crossed by one of the major tropical latitudes. This question asks which specific tropic passes almost through the middle of India and is repeatedly mentioned in Indian geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The line in question passes almost halfway through India.
• It divides the country into two nearly equal parts.
• Options mention Capricorn, Cancer, Equator, Prime Meridian, and Arctic Circle.
• We assume knowledge of basic world latitudes and longitudes.

Concept / Approach:
The Earth has two important tropical lines of latitude: Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere and Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. India lies between roughly 8 degrees north and 37 degrees north latitude. The Tropic of Cancer is at about 23 and a half degrees north and passes through several Indian states. The Equator lies to the south of India, while the Prime Meridian is a longitude and does not divide India east west. Therefore, the line passing across India is the Tropic of Cancer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Tropic of Cancer lies in the northern hemisphere at about 23 and a half degrees north latitude.Step 2: Note that India is entirely north of the Equator, so the Equator cannot pass through its middle.Step 3: Recognise that Tropic of Capricorn and Arctic Circle lie in the southern hemisphere and high northern latitudes respectively, far from India.Step 4: Understand that the Prime Meridian is a longitude at zero degrees and runs through Europe and Africa, not through the centre of India.Step 5: Conclude that the Tropic of Cancer is the correct line that passes almost halfway through India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps of India in school atlases clearly show the Tropic of Cancer crossing states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. It is often marked with a dashed line labelled Tropic of Cancer. The Equator and Tropic of Capricorn are marked far away from India, which confirms that they do not divide the country into two halves.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tropic of Capricorn lies in the southern hemisphere and passes through countries like Australia and South Africa, not India. The Equator is at zero degrees latitude and passes through countries closer to the middle of the globe, south of India. Prime Meridian is a north south line of longitude and cannot be a tropical latitude. Arctic Circle is a polar latitude near the North Pole and is far north of India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse north and south tropics or mix up latitude with longitude. A helpful memory aid is that India lies in the northern tropics, so the relevant line is the Tropic of Cancer. Remembering that the Equator never touches India also helps eliminate wrong options quickly.

Final Answer:
Correct option: Cancer