Class 4 - EVS - India Our Country

Learning Objectives

Know the location of India, its capital, states, and union territories.
Learn about India's neighbouring countries.
Understand the physical features of India: mountains, plains, plateaus, and coasts.
Know the major rivers and national symbols of India.

Let Us Begin!

India is our motherland. It is a large and beautiful country in South Asia. India is the seventh largest country in the world by area and the second most populated. From the snow-covered Himalayas in the north to the blue oceans in the south, India has many different landforms, languages, and cultures. Let us learn more about our wonderful country.

India on the Map

The official name of our country is the Republic of India (Bharat). The capital of India is New Delhi.

India is shaped roughly like a triangle. It is surrounded by water on three sides: the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

India has 28 states and 8 union territories.

Some Important States and Their Capitals

State	Capital
Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow
Maharashtra	Mumbai
Tamil Nadu	Chennai
West Bengal	Kolkata
Karnataka	Bengaluru
Rajasthan	Jaipur
Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram
Gujarat	Gandhinagar

Some union territories: Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

India's Neighbours

India shares its borders with seven countries:

Neighbouring Countries

Pakistan -- to the north-west

China -- to the north

Nepal -- to the north

Bhutan -- to the north-east

Bangladesh -- to the east

Myanmar -- to the east

Sri Lanka -- an island country to the south, separated by the Palk Strait

Think about it: Sri Lanka is not directly connected to India by land. It is an island separated by a narrow strip of sea called the Palk Strait.

Physical Features of India

India has many different types of landforms:

1. The Himalayas (Mountains) -- The mighty Himalayan mountain range lies in the north. It is the highest mountain range in the world. Mount Everest, the tallest peak, is on the border of Nepal and China.

2. The Northern Plains -- South of the Himalayas lie the vast, flat plains. These plains are formed by rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna. The soil here is very fertile, making it ideal for farming.

3. The Plateaus -- The Deccan Plateau covers most of southern India. It is a raised, flat area of land. The soil here is good for growing cotton and sugarcane.

4. The Coasts -- India has a long coastline. The western coast faces the Arabian Sea and the eastern coast faces the Bay of Bengal. Coastal areas are known for fishing and trade.

Key Words

Key Word	Meaning
Capital	The main city where the government works. India's capital is New Delhi.
State	A large division of a country with its own government. India has 28 states.
Union Territory	An area directly governed by the central government. India has 8 UTs.
Neighbour	A country that shares a border with another country.
Plateau	A raised, flat area of land.
Coastline	The land along the edge of the sea.

Major Rivers of India

Rivers are very important for India. They provide water for drinking, farming, and daily use.

River	Flows Through	Important Fact
Ganga	Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, West Bengal	The longest river in India; considered sacred.
Yamuna	Uttarakhand, Delhi, UP	A major tributary of the Ganga; flows past the Taj Mahal.
Brahmaputra	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam	One of the largest rivers; originates in Tibet.
Godavari	Maharashtra, Telangana, AP	Called the "Dakshin Ganga" (Ganga of the South).
Kaveri	Karnataka, Tamil Nadu	Important for farming in South India.

National Symbols of India

Symbol	Name
National Flag	Tiranga (Tricolour) -- saffron, white, green with Ashoka Chakra
National Emblem	Lion Capital of Ashoka (Satyameva Jayate)
National Anthem	Jana Gana Mana (written by Rabindranath Tagore)
National Song	Vande Mataram (written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay)
National Bird	Peacock
National Animal	Bengal Tiger
National Flower	Lotus
National Fruit	Mango
National River	Ganga

Key Points to Remember

India is in South Asia. Its capital is New Delhi.
India has 28 states and 8 union territories.
India's neighbours: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
Physical features: Himalayas (north), Northern Plains, Deccan Plateau, and long coastlines.
Major rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, and Kaveri.
India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
National symbols include the Tiranga, peacock, Bengal tiger, lotus, and mango.

Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

The capital of India is .
India has states and union territories.
The mountain range lies in the north of India.
The river is called the "Dakshin Ganga."
Sri Lanka is separated from India by the .

B. Multiple Choice Questions

Which sea is to the west of India?
(a) Bay of Bengal(b) Arabian Sea(c) Indian Ocean
The national bird of India is the:
(a) parrot(b) peacock(c) sparrow
Which country is to the north-east of India?
(a) Pakistan(b) Sri Lanka(c) Bhutan
The Deccan Plateau is in:
(a) northern India(b) southern India(c) eastern India

C. Match the Following

River	Flows Through
1. Ganga	(a) Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
2. Brahmaputra	(b) Maharashtra, Telangana
3. Kaveri	(c) Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar
4. Godavari	(d) Arunachal Pradesh, Assam

1 -- , 2 -- , 3 -- , 4 --

D. Short Answer Questions

Name any four neighbouring countries of India.
What are the three bodies of water that surround India?
Why are the Northern Plains good for farming?

Fun Activity -- Know Your Country

Write the name of the state you live in and its capital. Then write the names of two states that are next to your state.

My state: Capital:

Neighbouring state 1: Neighbouring state 2:

Write one national symbol and why you think it was chosen to represent India.

Science / EVS -- Class 4

Science / EVS -- Class 4 (continued)