How did the geography affect political and economic development of India?

This answer can be looked at many different ways, because a countries geography makes a huge difference.

1. The Himalayan mountains in the north of India act as a natural buffer from China. This is important, because China to the North has been a powerful country in history.  The natural break has caused both nations to be separate and free from war.

2. The Ganges river is one of the longest in the world and has been used to cultivate crops. The Ganges is the 7th longest in the world.

3. The Ganges river becomes all the most important, because India is also home to huge stretches of deserts. The Thar is also the 7th largest desert in the world.

4. Another important point is that India is not landlocked. So, it has had good contact with other people groups and developed a fishing industry.

5. India also have some good natural resources - oil, metals and natural gasses.