1.4. India and the World

The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the West Asia. India is a southward extension of the Asian Continent. The Trans Indian Ocean routes provide a strategic

1 As of Jan 2013 Telangana is in process.

central location to India. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which justifies the

naming of an Ocean after it.

India is part of Indian sub-continent and shares boundary with every country of this region. Land neighbours of India include Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Most of our boundary with Pakistan and Bangladesh is almost man-made while boundary with other countries largely form a natural boundary. Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries located in the Indian Ocean, which are our neighbours. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait.