NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science (Exploring Society) Chapter 2: Oceans and Continents (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 solutions cover Oceans and Continents from Exploring Society: India and Beyond, the new NCF textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme India and the World: Land and the People and explains why the Earth is called the ‘blue planet’, how water and land are distributed between the hemispheres, the names and sizes of the five oceans and seven continents, what islands are, and how oceans shape climate, support marine life and affect human history. Below you get step-by-step answers to all questions in Questions, activities and projects, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 6 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter: 2 Theme: India and the World: Land and the People Session: 2026–27
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Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 2 – Overview

Chapter 2, Oceans and Continents, begins with the view of Earth from space — mostly blue, because almost three-fourths of its surface is covered by water, which is why astronauts lovingly call it the ‘blue planet’. The largest water bodies are oceans, while a large continuous expanse of land is a continent. Water and land are not distributed equally: the Northern Hemisphere has more land than the Southern Hemisphere. The chapter names the five oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic) and explains that they are all connected. It shows how continents can be counted in different ways — from four to seven — with seven being the most widely used count, and introduces islands such as the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep groups. Finally, it explains how oceans send rain, produce more than half the world’s oxygen, support rich marine life, and have shaped human migration, trade and culture — while also causing disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis, and now facing serious pollution.

Key Concepts & Terms

Blue planet: a loving name for the Earth, used by early astronauts because almost three-fourths of its surface is covered with water, making it appear mostly blue from outer space.

Ocean: the largest water bodies we see on the globe. The oceans together hold most of the water on the planet, but this seawater is salty and unfit for most land animals to drink.

Landmass & continent: a large body of land is a landmass, and a large continuous expanse of land is a continent. Land covers a little over one-fourth of the globe.

The five oceans: the Pacific Ocean (largest), the Atlantic Ocean (second), the Indian Ocean (third), the Southern or Antarctic Ocean (fourth) and the Arctic Ocean (smallest). The oceans are all interconnected; their dividing lines on a map are only conventions.

Sea, bay and gulf: smaller extensions of the oceans that have various names — such as the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the two parts of the Indian Ocean on either side of India.

The seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America — the most widely adopted count. Continents may also be counted as four, five or six landmasses (e.g. Eurasia, Africa-Eurasia).

Island: a smaller piece of land surrounded by water on all sides. Greenland is the largest island in the world; India has more than 1,300 small islands.

Marine, flora and fauna: marine means related to the oceans and seas; flora is the plant life (algae and seaweeds) and fauna the animal life (fish, dolphins, whales) of a region or period.

Tsunami: a huge and powerful wave usually caused by a strong undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption; it can travel thousands of kilometres and submerge coastal areas. The 26 December 2004 tsunami affected India and 13 other countries.

Other key terms: Freshwater (the small proportion of water in glaciers, rivers, lakes, the atmosphere and groundwater), cyclone (a violent storm with extreme rainfall or strong winds), and the ‘planet’s lungs’ (the oceans, because their flora produces more than half the world’s oxygen).

“Questions, activities and projects” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions, activities and projects section. Answers are original, written in clear, exam-ready style for Class 6.

1. Explain the following terms: (a) Continent (b) Ocean (c) Island

ANSWER (a) Continent: A continent is a large continuous expanse of land. The Earth’s land is divided into continents; the most widely used count is seven — Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. Continents cover a little over one-fourth of the Earth’s surface. (b) Ocean: An ocean is one of the largest water bodies we see on the globe. The five oceans — Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic) and Arctic — together hold most of the water on the planet. They are all interconnected, and their water is salty. (c) Island: An island is a smaller piece of land that is surrounded by water on all sides. Continents are also surrounded by water, but because they are so large they are not called islands. Greenland is the largest island in the world.

2. Let us draw – Without looking at the maps in this chapter, draw the continents free hand on a sheet of paper and colour them. Then compare your drawing with the map of oceans and continents in the chapter.

ANSWER This is a drawing activity, so the work must be done by you on paper. From memory, sketch the seven continents in their rough positions and colour them, then check your work against Fig. 2.3 in the textbook. A helpful guide while drawing and comparing: place North America and South America on the left (west), joined by a thin strip; put the large block of Europe and Asia (Eurasia) across the top-right, with Africa below Europe in the centre; show Australia as a small continent to the lower right; and draw Antarctica as a white, ice-covered land at the very bottom. After drawing, compare the shapes, sizes and positions with the map and note where your free-hand sketch was different. (Self-drawing activity — your own coloured map is accepted.)

Figure-based activity: this question asks you to draw and then compare with the chapter map, so the answer is given as guidance rather than a fixed solution.

3. Let us do – On the outline map of the world given below, label all the continents and oceans.

ANSWER This is a map-labelling activity to be completed on the outline map in your textbook. Write the names neatly in the correct places using this key: Continents to label: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica. Oceans to label: Pacific Ocean (the largest, on both sides of the map — west of the Americas and east of Asia/Australia), Atlantic Ocean (between the Americas and Europe/Africa), Indian Ocean (south of Asia, between Africa and Australia), Southern or Antarctic Ocean (around Antarctica at the bottom) and Arctic Ocean (the smallest, at the top around the North Pole). Tip: mark the Arabian Sea to the west of India and the Bay of Bengal to the east, as these are the two parts of the Indian Ocean around India.

Figure-based activity: the labelling must be done on the outline world map provided in the textbook.

4. Solve this crossword Across 1. Abundantly produced by the oceans 3. A large expanse of landmass 6. A large continent of which India is a part 8. A major source of pollution of the oceans 10. The coldest continent Down 2. The largest island on Earth 4. A huge destructive wave from the ocean 5. The smallest continent 7. The largest body of water on the Earth 9. A landmass (but not a continent) surrounded by the sea or ocean

ANSWER The completed crossword answers are:
ClueDirectionAnswer
1. Abundantly produced by the oceansAcrossOxygen
3. A large expanse of landmassAcrossContinent
6. A large continent of which India is a partAcrossAsia
8. A major source of pollution of the oceansAcrossPlastic
10. The coldest continentAcrossAntarctica
2. The largest island on EarthDownGreenland
4. A huge destructive wave from the oceanDownTsunami
5. The smallest continentDownAustralia
7. The largest body of water on the EarthDownPacific
9. A landmass (but not a continent) surrounded by the sea or oceanDownIsland

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why is the Earth called the ‘blue planet’?

ANSWERThe Earth is called the ‘blue planet’ because almost three-fourths of its surface is covered with water. When seen from outer space, all this water makes the Earth appear mostly blue, so early astronauts lovingly gave it this name.

Q2. Name the five oceans in order from the largest to the smallest.

ANSWERFrom the largest to the smallest, the five oceans are: the Pacific Ocean (largest), the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern (or Antarctic) Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean (smallest).

Q3. Which two parts of the Indian Ocean lie on either side of India?

ANSWEROn either side of India there are two parts of the Indian Ocean — the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east.

Q4. What is a tsunami and how is it caused?

ANSWERA tsunami is a huge and powerful wave that originates in the ocean. It is generally caused by a strong earthquake or a volcanic eruption at the bottom of the ocean. Tsunamis can travel thousands of kilometres and submerge coastal areas, causing widespread damage.

Q5. Why are oceans called ‘the planet’s lungs’?

ANSWEROceans are called ‘the planet’s lungs’ because more than half of the world’s oxygen is produced by the flora (plants such as algae) living in the oceans. Just as lungs supply oxygen to the body, the oceans supply much of the oxygen we breathe.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain how continents can be counted in different ways, and state the count that is most widely used.

ANSWERThe number of continents is not fixed because the same land can be grouped in different ways, so we may list between four and seven continents. North and South America are usually two continents but can be seen as one joined landmass. Europe and Asia clearly form a single landmass and geologists call it ‘Eurasia’, yet they are often counted as two for historical and cultural reasons. Africa and Eurasia are usually two but sometimes treated as one. This gives four continents (Africa-Eurasia, America, Antarctica, Australia), five (Africa, America, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia), six (Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, South America) or seven. In practice, the list of seven continents — Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America — is the one most widely adopted and used.

Q2. Describe the many ways in which oceans affect life on Earth, including human life.

ANSWEROceans affect almost every aspect of life. They send rain to the continents as part of the Earth’s water cycle — the monsoon rains India waits for each summer originate in the ocean; without them there would be no rainfall and the Earth would become a desert. The oceans’ flora produces more than half the world’s oxygen, so they are called ‘the planet’s lungs’, and they help regulate the climate. Oceans support a rich variety of marine life, from tiny algae and seaweeds to colourful fish, dolphins, whales and deep-sea creatures. For humans, oceans have long been routes for migration, trade and military campaigns, and a source of food through fishing; they have also shaped the cultures, tales and legends of coastal people. However, oceans can also cause disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis, and today they are seriously threatened by plastic pollution and overfishing.

Q3. Why is water scarcity a problem even though there is so much water on the planet, and how can we save water?

ANSWERAlthough the oceans hold most of the water on the planet, this seawater is salty and unfit for drinking by most land animals, including humans. Freshwater — the kind we can use — makes up only a very small proportion of the planet’s water and is found in glaciers, rivers, lakes, the atmosphere and as groundwater. Because this usable water is so limited and unevenly available, there is much talk of ‘water scarcity’ or a ‘water crisis’, especially as population and pollution grow. We can save water by closing taps when not in use, fixing leaks, harvesting rainwater, reusing water for plants and cleaning, watering gardens early in the morning or evening, and avoiding the pollution of rivers and lakes. Saving freshwater is everyone’s responsibility at home, in school and in our village, town or city.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Almost what proportion of the Earth’s surface is covered with water?

(a) one-fourth    (b) one-half    (c) three-fourths    (d) nine-tenths

2. Which is the largest ocean on Earth?

(a) Atlantic Ocean    (b) Indian Ocean    (c) Arctic Ocean    (d) Pacific Ocean

3. Which is the smallest of the five oceans?

(a) Southern Ocean    (b) Arctic Ocean    (c) Indian Ocean    (d) Atlantic Ocean

4. The two parts of the Indian Ocean on either side of India are the:

(a) Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal    (b) Red Sea and the Black Sea    (c) Caspian Sea and the Dead Sea    (d) North Sea and the Baltic Sea

5. Which is the most widely used count of the number of continents?

(a) four    (b) five    (c) six    (d) seven

6. Which is the largest island in the world?

(a) Greenland    (b) Madagascar    (c) Sri Lanka    (d) Andaman

7. A huge and powerful wave caused by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption is called a:

(a) cyclone    (b) tsunami    (c) tide    (d) monsoon

8. The oceans are called ‘the planet’s lungs’ because they:

(a) hold salty water    (b) produce more than half the world’s oxygen    (c) cause storms    (d) connect the continents

9. Which hemisphere has more land than water?

(a) Southern Hemisphere    (b) Eastern Hemisphere    (c) Northern Hemisphere    (d) Western Hemisphere

10. On which date in 2004 did a powerful tsunami strike India and 13 other countries?

(a) 15 August    (b) 2 October    (c) 26 December    (d) 1 January

Answer key: 1-(c), 2-(d), 3-(b), 4-(a), 5-(d), 6-(a), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: The Earth is called the ‘blue planet’.

Reason: Almost three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, which makes it appear mostly blue from space.

A-R 2. Assertion: The five oceans are completely separate from one another.

Reason: The lines that divide the oceans on a map are only conventions, and seawater constantly flows across different oceans.

A-R 3. Assertion: Seawater cannot be used for drinking by most land animals.

Reason: Seawater is salty, while the freshwater we can use forms only a very small proportion of the planet’s water.

A-R 4. Assertion: Oceans bring rainfall to the continents.

Reason: The monsoon rains and the clouds that water the continents originate over the oceans as part of the water cycle.

A-R 5. Assertion: Antarctica has a warm and pleasant climate.

Reason: Since 1981 the Indian Antarctica Programme has been studying the continent’s climate and environment.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the five oceans in size order (Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic) and the seven continents in alphabetical order. Remember the key fractions — water covers about three-fourths and land a little over one-fourth of the Earth. For definition questions (continent, ocean, island), give a one-line meaning plus one example. Practise labelling a blank world map with all continents, all five oceans, and the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal around India. Use the textbook’s own facts — Greenland as the largest island, the 2004 tsunami, the oceans as ‘the planet’s lungs’, and World Oceans Day (8 June) — to make answers complete.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Saying there are “seven oceans” — there are five oceans but seven continents.
  • Calling the oceans separate — they are all interconnected; the dividing lines are only conventions.
  • Confusing the largest ocean (Pacific) with the largest island (Greenland).
  • Mixing up a continent (a very large landmass) with an island (a smaller land surrounded by water).
  • Forgetting that the Northern Hemisphere has more land than the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Leaving drawing or map-labelling activities (Q2 and Q3) blank — complete them neatly on paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 2 of Class 6 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 2, Oceans and Continents, explains why the Earth is called the ‘blue planet’, how water and land are distributed between the hemispheres, the names and sizes of the five oceans and seven continents, what islands are, and how oceans shape climate, support marine life and affect human history.

How many oceans and continents are there?

There are five oceans — the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic) and Arctic. Continents can be counted as four, five, six or seven, but the most widely used count is seven: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

What is the exercise heading for Chapter 2 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 2 is headed Questions, activities and projects and contains 4 items, all answered step by step on this page.

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