India has a long and scenic coastline of about 7,500 kmWestern Coastal Plains (between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats) and the Eastern Coastal Plains (between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats). The western side is narrow and broken into three parts: the Gujarat Coast, the Konkan Coast (Maharashtra–Goa) and the Malabar Coast (Kerala). The east is wider—on average about 120 km—and includes the Coromandel Coast and Northern Circars. Many east-flowing rivers form fertile deltas.

Ports and harbours make the coasts important for trade and transport. Major ports include Mumbai on the Konkan Coast and Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Paradip on the east. Lighthouses along the Konkan Coast guide ships at night. The western coast gets heavy rain during the south-west monsoon, while the eastern coast experiences cyclones and rain from the north-east monsoon too.

India also has two island groups. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (over 500 islands) lie in the Bay of Bengal; the southernmost point of India, Indira Point, is in the Nicobars. Their capital is Port Blair. The Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are coral islands with about 30–36 small islands; the capital is Kavaratti. The main occupations on the islands are fishing, agriculture and tourism.

Thus, the coastal plains and islands support India’s economy through ports, shipbuilding, fishing and tourism, while their beaches, backwaters and marine life add to our country’s natural beauty.

भारत की तटरेखा लगभग 7,500 किमी लंबी है। इसे दो भागों में बाँटा जाता है—पश्चिमी तटीय मैदान (अरब सागर और पश्चिमी घाटों के बीच) और पूर्वी तटीय मैदान (बंगाल की खाड़ी और पूर्वी घाटों के बीच)। पश्चिमी तट सँकरा है—गुजरात तट, कोकण तट और मालाबार तट में बँटा है। पूर्वी तट अपेक्षाकृत चौड़ा है—औसत 120 किमी—और इसमें कोरोमंडल तट व नॉर्दर्न सर्कार शामिल हैं। यहाँ नदियाँ विशाल डेल्टा बनाती हैं।

तटीय क्षेत्रों में बंदरगाह व हार्बर होने से व्यापार और यातायात को बढ़ावा मिलता है। कोकण तट पर मुंबई और पूर्वी तट पर चेन्नई, विशाखापत्तनम, परेडीप प्रमुख बंदरगाह हैं। जहाज़ों को दिशा देने के लिए कोकण तट पर कई लाइटहाउस बने हैं। पश्चिमी तट पर दक्षिण-पश्चिम मानसून से भारी वर्षा होती है, जबकि पूर्वी तट पर उत्तर-पूर्वी मानसून और चक्रवातों का प्रभाव भी पड़ता है।

भारत के दो प्रमुख द्वीप-समूह हैं—अंडमान-निकोबार (बंगाल की खाड़ी) जिनमें 500 से अधिक द्वीप हैं और दक्षिणतम बिंदु इंदिरा प्वाइंट भी यहीं है; इनकी राजधानी पोर्ट ब्लेयर है। लक्षद्वीप (अरब सागर) प्रवाल द्वीपों का समूह है; राजधानी कवरत्ती है। द्वीपों पर मुख्य आजीविका मछली पालन, कृषि और पर्यटन है।

इस प्रकार तटीय मैदान और द्वीप भारत की अर्थव्यवस्था में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं तथा प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य और जैव-विविधता को समृद्ध करते हैं।

1) Where do the Western Coastal Plains lie?

Between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, stretching from Gujarat to Kerala.

2) Why are lighthouses built along the Konkan Coast?

To warn and guide ships at night or during storms so they can avoid rocks and reach harbours safely.

3) What is a port? Name any two large ports.

A port is a place where ships load/unload goods and passengers. Examples: Mumbai and Chennai.

4) Why are Eastern Coastal Plains fertile?

Several rivers form broad deltas and deposit rich alluvial soil, making the land fertile.

5) What are the main occupations of people on the islands?

Fishing, coconut farming and tourism-related work.

6) What is an archipelago? Name two in India.

A group of islands; Andaman–Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

7) Which monsoon brings heavy rain to the west coast?

The south-west monsoon.

8) Mention one use of a lighthouse.

It acts as a navigational aid to mark coasts and harbours for ships.

9) Give the capitals of the two island groups.

Port Blair (Andaman–Nicobar) and Kavaratti (Lakshadweep).

10) Name any two important ports on the east coast.

Chennai and Visakhapatnam (also Paradip).

1) Where do the Western Coastal Plains lie?

They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, running from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south.

2) Why do we see lighthouses along the Konkan Coast?

Because the coast is rocky and busy with sea traffic. Lighthouses warn ships and guide them safely to harbours at night.

3) What is the purpose of a port? Name two of India’s largest ports.

Ports are used for loading/unloading goods and passengers and for international trade. Two large ports are Mumbai and Chennai (also Visakhapatnam/Paradip).

4) What are the climatic conditions in the Eastern Coastal Plains?

Hot and humid most of the year; receives rain from the south-west and the north-east monsoons, and sometimes cyclones.

5) What are the main occupations of people in the islands?

Fishing, coconut farming and tourism-related services; some people also work in small boat-building and government services.