Explanation: To understand the percentage of Indian land mass covered by the state of Assam, we need to consider the total area of Assam and the total area of India. The state of Assam is located in the northeastern part of India and is known for its diverse geography, including the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak Valley.
The total area of Assam is approximately 78,438 square kilometers. The total land area of India is about 3,287,263 square kilometers. To find the percentage of Indian land mass covered by Assam, we use the formula:
\[ \text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{Area of Assam}}{\text{Total Area of India}} \right) \times 100 \]
Substituting the values:
\[ \text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{78,438}{3,287,263} \right) \times 100 \]
\[ \text{Percentage} = 0.02386 \times 100 \]
\[ \text{Percentage} = 2.386 \]
Rounding to two decimal places, we get 2.39%. Therefore, the state of Assam covers approximately 2.39% of the total land mass of India.
This calculation is important for understanding the geographical distribution of states within a country and is often tested in competitive exams such as the UPSC, State PSC, and Geography Olympiad. It is crucial to remember the exact percentage and understand the scale of Assam's land mass relative to the entire country to avoid common misconceptions and errors in calculations.