Which one of the following water bodies separates the Andaman and the Nicobar islands ?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a major archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, consisting of approximately 572 islands [3]. These islands are geographically divided into two broad categories: the Andaman group in the north and the Nicobar group in the south [3]. The water body that separates these two distinct groups is the Ten Degree Channel [3]. This channel is approximately 150 km wide and is named after its location on the 10°N latitude line [2]. In contrast, the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait are located between India and Sri Lanka [2]. Other regional channels include the Eight Degree Channel, which separates Minicoy from the Maldives, and the Nine Degree Channel, which separates Minicoy from the main Lakshadweep archipelago. The Ten Degree Channel remains the critical maritime boundary between the Andaman and Nicobar island groups [3].

Sources

1. [3] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Structure and Physiography > The Islands > p. 15
2. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Islands of the Bay of Bengal > p. 66
3. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar (Population: 380,581–2011) > p. 90