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Q41 (IAS/2014) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Indian coastal geography Official Key

Which of the following have coral reefs? 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2. Gulf of Kachchh 3. Gulf of Mannar 4. Sunderbans Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A (1, 2 and 3 only).

The four major coral reef areas identified for intensive conservation and management in India are: Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[3] Fringing reefs, the most common reef form, are found in Andamans.[4] Patch reefs are seen in the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mann and Gulf of Kachchh.[4] Barrier reefs are seen in Nicobar and Lakshadweep.[4]

The Sunderbans, however, is not mentioned in any of the documents as having coral reefs. The Sunderbans is characterized by mangrove forests[5], which are different ecosystems from coral reefs. Mangroves thrive in muddy, brackish water environments typical of deltaic regions, while coral reefs require clear, shallow, saline waters—conditions not found in the Sunderbans.

Therefore, coral reefs occur in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Gulf of Kachchh (2), and Gulf of Mannar (3), but not in Sunderbans (4).

Sources
  1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 53
  2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 53
  3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 53
  4. [4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.9.3. Classification and their location > p. 51
  5. [5] https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/IND170494.pdf
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Q. Which of the following have coral reefs? 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2. Gulf of Kachchh 3. Gulf of Mannar 4. Sunderbans Select the c…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a foundational 'Geography x Environment' overlap question. It tests a single core concept: the physical conditions required for coral growth (clear, saline water) versus the conditions of a river delta (turbid, fresh water). If you know the Sunderbans is a massive sediment-heavy delta, this question solves itself.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do coral reefs occur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.9.3. Classification and their location > p. 51
Presence: 5/5
“• The coral reefs are classified depending on their locations into fringing, patch, barrier and atoll. • The fringing reefs are contiguous with the shore and they are the most common by occurring reef form, found in Andamans. • The patch reefs are isolated and discontinuous patches, lying shoreward of offshore reef structures as seen in the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mann and Gulf of Katchchh. • Barrier reefs are linear offshore reef structures that run parallel to coastlines and arise from submerged shelf platforms. The water body between the reef and the shore is termed as lagoon. Barrier reefs are seen in Nicobar and Lakshadweep. • Atolls are circular or semi-circular reefs that arise from subsiding sea floor platforms as coral reef building keeps ahead of subsidence.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names fringing reefs as the most common reef form and states they are found in the Andamans.
  • Provides a classification of reef types and directly links one type (fringing) to the Andaman group.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 53
Presence: 5/5
“The four major coral reef areas identified for intensive conservation and management are: (i) Gulf of Mannar, (ii) Gulf of Kutch, (iii) Lakshdweep, and (iv) Andaman and Nicobar Islands.”
Why this source?
  • Lists Andaman and Nicobar Islands among the four major coral reef areas identified for conservation and management in India.
  • Positions the islands as a nationally recognized coral region, implying significant reef presence.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > corAl reefs. > p. 54
Presence: 5/5
“Reef ecosystems are vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, marine pollution and bleaching epidemics, which may cause mass mortality of corals. Human stress such as pollution and increase in sediment load, have damaged reefs in many areas. Recently, there has been much speculation over the future impact of global warming and climatic change on coral reefs. Te main coral reefs of India about 19,000 sq km are: (i) Gulf of Mannar, (ii) Lakshadweep Islands (iii) Rann of Kachchh, and (iv) Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Te National Coral Reef Research Centre has been established at Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).”
Why this source?
  • States that the main coral reefs of India include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Notes establishment of the National Coral Reef Research Centre at Port Blair, indicating institutional recognition of reefs there.
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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

NDA-I · 2017 · Q66 Relevance score: 5.38

Which of the following are the majdr coral reef areas of India ? L GulfofKachchh 2. Gulf of Mannar 3. Lakshadweep 4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Select the correct answer using the code given below:

CAPF · 2018 · Q37 Relevance score: 3.85

Which one of the following sites does not have coral reef formation?

CDS-I · 2005 · Q59 Relevance score: 1.80

Consider the following statements 1. The Lakshadweep Islands represent coral islands. 2. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent detachc' parts of the continental blocks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-II · 2019 · Q102 Relevance score: 1.29

Coral reefs are not found in which one of the following regions?