The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why

CENTRAL LOCATION OF INDIA:
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The Indian landmass has the central location between the East and the West Asia.

1. The Trans Indian Ocean routes connect the countries of Europe in the west and the countries of East Asia.
2. The Deccan Peninsula in the Indian Ocean helps to establish close contacts from the western coastal plains
and the eastern coastal plains.
3. The long coastline of the country in the Indian Ocean gives it an eminent position which justifies the name
of the ocean. Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, India’s distance from Europe has been reduced by
7,000 km.

The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance because:

(a) It has given India a strategic advantage due to the Trans Indian ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia.
(b) This helps India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the Western coast and with the Southeast and East Asia from the Eastern coast.
(c) The vast coastline and the natural harbours have benefitted India in carrying out trade and commerce with its neighbouring and distant countries since ancient times.
(d) It has given India a distinct climate than the rest of the Asian Continent.
(e) No other country has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which has given the name of an Ocean after it.

• The Indian landmass is centrally located between east and west Asia. 
• The part that is attached to the Asian continent connects India (through land routes and mountain passes) to the various countries lying to its north, west and east. 
• The part that protrudes into the Indian Ocean connects India (through the trans Indian Ocean routes) to Europe, west Asia and Africa in the west and the countries of east Asia. 
• The strategic location of India has contributed to the exchange of ideas and commodities, through land and sea, since ancient times. 

This is the reason why its location at the head of the Indian Ocean is significant.