2017 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 98: Geography

Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar ?

aSumatra
bBorneo
cJava
dSri Lanka

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar group, and Indira Point at its southern tip is only about 150 km from Sumatra in Indonesia, the closest of the four landmasses named. Java and Borneo lie further south-east, and Sri Lanka lies to the west of the Nicobar Islands, far across the Bay of Bengal. Remember: Indira Point, India's southernmost point, is in Great Nicobar.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: Sumatra is about 150 km from Indira Point on Great Nicobar.
  • (b) Wrong: Borneo is much further away.
  • (c) Wrong: Java is further south-east than Sumatra.
  • (d) Wrong: Sri Lanka is more than a thousand kilometres away.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.