Reasons for Calling India as Sub Continent
Class 9 Geography - Chapter 1: India - Size & Location
India lies in the southern part of the Asian continent. Though India is a country it is often called a subcontinent. India is often called a subcontinent because it is a distinct landmass, not just a country.
A country which is having features of a great geographical extent, huge population, diversified geographical and socio-cultural features is called a subcontinent. Although India is not treated as a continent it has the features of a continent. It is called a subcontinent due to the following reasons:
1 Large Area:
India has a large area of 3.28 million square kilometres, taking seventh place in the world.
2. Large Population:
India has a population of 121 crores according to 2011 census (now approx. 128 crores), attaining a second place in the world.
3. Diversified Physiographic divisions:
India has diversified physiographic conditions with a variety of landforms like the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic plains, plateaus and coastal plains etc.
4. Climate:
India has a distinctive monsoon type of climate. Extremes in climatic conditions like temperature, rainfall, sunshine, humidity etc can be observed.
5. Soils:
A variety of soils like Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite etc are found.
6. Land of Many Religions:
The religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc are being practised.
7. Land of Diversity:
It is a land of diversity having varied modes of living, culture etc. There is the Aryan culture in North India and Dravidian culture in South India.
8. Tropic of Cancer:
The tropic of cancer runs half-way through the country. The southern half of the country lies within the tropics and experiences a tropical climate.
9. Historical Perspectives:
Indian subcontinent does not constitute only India, but it also constitutes other SAARC countries that are Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Maldives. This group of countries are combined together to be called Indian subcontinent as once in History, they were a part of India.
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