Part of: Miscellaneous Indian Gk set 56

What bearing is New Delhi from Kolkata?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Hint: Consider the map of India and the relative positions of New Delhi and Kolkata.

Correct Answer: A) 307$^circ$

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, Railways

Difficulty: Moderate

Explanations:

Geographical bearings are a fundamental concept in geography and navigation, used to describe the direction of one place from another. Bearings are measured in degrees clockwise from the north, and they are particularly useful in determining the relative positions of cities or landmarks on a map.

In this question, we are asked to determine the bearing of New Delhi from Kolkata. To understand this, we need to consider the relative positions of these two cities on a map of India. New Delhi is located to the west of Kolkata. Bearings are measured in a clockwise direction from the north, so the bearing from Kolkata to New Delhi will be in the western quadrant.

The western quadrant spans from 270$^\circ$ to 360$^\circ$. Given that New Delhi is to the west of Kolkata, the bearing will be closer to 270$^\circ$ but not exactly 270$^\circ$ because New Delhi is slightly north of due west. The correct bearing is approximately 307$^\circ$, which places New Delhi in the western quadrant, slightly north of due west from Kolkata.

It is important to note that bearings are always measured from the reference point (in this case, Kolkata) to the target point (New Delhi). This means that the bearing from Kolkata to New Delhi is different from the bearing from New Delhi to Kolkata. The bearing from New Delhi to Kolkata would be in the eastern quadrant, approximately 127$^\circ$.

Understanding geographical bearings is crucial for various applications, including navigation, cartography, and competitive examinations that test geographical knowledge. It is essential to practice with maps and compasses to develop a strong grasp of how bearings work and how to calculate them accurately.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This is the correct answer. The bearing from Kolkata to New Delhi is approximately 307$^\circ$, which is in the western quadrant. This bearing is measured clockwise from the north, placing New Delhi to the west of Kolkata.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect. A bearing of 127$^\circ$ would place New Delhi in the southeast direction from Kolkata, which is not the correct relative position.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect. A bearing of 277$^\circ$ would place New Delhi in the west-southwest direction from Kolkata, which is not accurate for the relative positions of the cities.
  • Option D: This option is incorrect. A bearing of 342$^\circ$ would place New Delhi in the northwest direction from Kolkata, which is not the correct relative position.

Mnemonic: N-E-W-D-E-L-H-I: North-East-West-Delhi-East-Latitude-Horizontal-India

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