Why is India's north-south distance greater even though its latitudinal and longitudinal extents are almost similar in degrees?

Correct answer: Because the actual distance of latitude degrees remains almost constant

The governing concept is that degrees of latitude and longitude do not represent distance in the same way. One degree of latitude measures a nearly constant north-south distance because the parallels are almost equally spaced; it is close to 111 km. The spacing between meridians, however, depends on latitude and becomes smaller toward the poles, approximately following the cosine of latitude. India’s comparable degree ranges therefore produce a larger kilometre value in the north-south direction than in the east-west direction. Option A captures the essential reason: latitude-degree distance remains almost uniform. Option B is false because longitude differences do indicate distance, although that distance varies. Options C and D deny basic coordinate or area principles and are irrelevant.