Neighbors — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Ladakh (UT)

• **Ladakh (UT)** = shares the longest border with China among all Indian states and UTs, with a boundary approximately 1,597 km long. • **1,597 km** — Ladakh's border with China, the longest single-region stretch of the LAC; before 2019, this distinction belonged to Jammu & Kashmir state. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Arunachal Pradesh: shares ~1,126 km with China; Himachal Pradesh: shares only ~200 km with China; Sikkim: shares the shortest section with China at ~220 km.

Correct Answer: D. Bangladesh

• **Teesta River water dispute** = a bilateral issue between India and Bangladesh over the equitable sharing of Teesta River waters during the lean (dry) season. • **West Bengal** — the Indian state through which the Teesta flows before entering Bangladesh; the dispute has been unresolved since a 2011 draft agreement stalled. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nepal: water disputes with India involve the Kosi, Gandak, and Mahakali rivers; China: no Teesta dispute with India; China diverts Brahmaputra tributaries; Bhutan: shares rivers with India but no major Teesta-related dispute.

Correct Answer: A. Lipulekh Pass

• **Lipulekh Pass** = a high-altitude pass in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand connecting India with Tibet (China), used by Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims. • **~5,334 m** — the altitude of Lipulekh Pass; it is also situated near the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China, a disputed region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nathu La: connects Sikkim with Tibet, not Uttarakhand; Shipki La: connects Himachal Pradesh with Tibet; Jelep La: connects Sikkim with Tibet, near Nathu La.

Correct Answer: D. West Bengal

• **West Bengal** = is the only Indian state that simultaneously shares borders with Bangladesh (east), Bhutan (north), and Nepal (northwest). • **3 countries** — West Bengal uniquely borders three foreign nations, giving it exceptional geopolitical and trade importance in the eastern Himalayan region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Arunachal Pradesh: borders China, Myanmar, and Bhutan, not Bangladesh or Nepal directly; Assam: borders Bangladesh and Bhutan but not Nepal; Sikkim: borders China, Nepal, and Bhutan, not Bangladesh.

Correct Answer: A. China

• **Pangong Tso** = a long narrow high-altitude lake in Ladakh that extends between India and China (Tibet), with about one-third in India and two-thirds in China. • **134 km long** — the total length of Pangong Tso; the lake has been a site of repeated India-China military standoffs along the LAC. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Pakistan: Siachen Glacier and LoC are India-Pakistan flashpoints, not Pangong Tso; Bhutan: Doklam plateau is the India-China-Bhutan flashpoint; Nepal: Kalapani-Lipulekh is the India-Nepal dispute area.

Correct Answer: B. China

• **Friendship Highway** = connects Kathmandu in Nepal to the Chinese border at the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge, linking further to Lhasa in Tibet. • **Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge** — the border crossing at Kodari/Zhangmu where the Friendship Highway terminates; it is a vital Nepal-China trade route. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Pakistan: has no direct road link to Kathmandu; China-Pakistan are connected via the Karakoram Highway; Bhutan: has limited connectivity with Nepal and no Friendship Highway; India: connected to Nepal via multiple road crossings like Raxaul-Birganj, not the Friendship Highway.

Correct Answer: D. Uttar Pradesh

• **Uttar Pradesh** = does NOT share a border with China; its only international border is with Nepal to the north. • **5 regions** — Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh (states), and Ladakh (UT) are the five Indian regions that border China. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sikkim: shares ~220 km of border with China (Tibet) in the east and north; Uttarakhand: shares ~350 km border with China including the Nathu La and Lipulekh areas; Himachal Pradesh: shares ~200 km border with China via Shipki La.

Correct Answer: B. Pakistan

• **Rann of Kutch** = a salt marsh border region in Gujarat that was subject to a boundary dispute between India and Pakistan, arbitrated in 1968. • **1968** — the year an international tribunal arbitrated the Rann of Kutch dispute; the related Sir Creek section remains unresolved to date. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sri Lanka: dispute with India involves Kachchatheevu island in the Palk Strait; China: disputes involve Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh; Bangladesh: maritime dispute involved New Moore Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Correct Answer: B. Bhutan

• **Bhutan** = is India's smallest land-neighbouring country by area, covering approximately 38,394 sq km. • **38,394 sq km** — Bhutan's total area; Maldives is smaller in total area but is a maritime neighbour, not a contiguous land neighbour. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nepal: area ~147,181 sq km, much larger than Bhutan; Sri Lanka: area ~65,610 sq km, also larger than Bhutan; Bangladesh: area ~147,570 sq km, significantly larger than Bhutan.

Correct Answer: A. Bangladesh

• **Bangladesh** = shares the longest land border with India at approximately 4,096.7 km, touching five Indian states. • **4,096.7 km** — the India-Bangladesh border length, longer than India's borders with China (~3,488 km) or Pakistan (~3,323 km). • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Pakistan: India-Pakistan border is ~3,323 km; Nepal: India-Nepal border is ~1,751 km; China: India-China LAC is ~3,488 km.