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Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel'?

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Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel, about 150 km wide.[1] The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south, and they are separated by a waterbody which is called the Ten degree channel.[2]

The Ten Degree Channel is a strategic waterbody in the Bay of Bengal that derives its name from its location near the 10°N latitude line. This channel serves as a natural divider between the two major island groups of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. The other options listed – Nicobar-Sumatra, Maldives-Lakshadweep, and Sumatra-Java – are separated by different waterbodies altogether. This question tests basic knowledge of India's island geography, which is an important topic for UPSC Prelims, particularly regarding the strategic location of Indian territories.

Sources
  1. [1] 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
  2. [2] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Structure and Physiography > The Islands > p. 15
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Q. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel'? [A] Andaman and Nicobar [B] Nicob

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Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a 'Bread and Butter' question. It comes directly from the first chapter of any standard Indian Geography book (NCERT Class XI or Majid Husain). If you miss this, you are statistically out of the race. It requires zero current affairs—just fundamental mental mapping of India's physical features.

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
Does the Ten Degree Channel separate the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
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
Presence: 5/5
“There are 556 islands in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Out of these 36 are permanently inhabited. Most islands are in the Andaman group, 26 of which are inhabited. The Nicobar islands comprises 22 main islands (10 inhabited). The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel, about 150 km wide. The total area of Andaman Islands is about 6408 sq km, and that of Nicobar Islands approximately 1841 sq km. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are endowed with tropical rainforest. These forests consists of a mixed flora with elements from Indian, Malaysian, and Myanmarese floral strains.”
Why this source?
  • Explicit statement: 'The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel.'
  • Provides quantitative detail: channel is 'about 150 km wide', reinforcing a clear physical separation.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Islands of the Bay of Bengal > p. 66
Presence: 5/5
“The main islands of the Bay of Bengal are the Andaman and Nicobar groups. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel. The shortest distance of the Andaman Islands from the mainland (Bay of Bengal Head) is about 2000 km and the extreme southern point is the Indira Point—the southern most point of the Great Nicobar Island (Fig. 2.23).”
Why this source?
  • Direct assertion that the Andaman and Nicobar islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel.
  • Places this separation in the context of the main Bay of Bengal island groups, confirming relevance.
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Structure and Physiography > The Islands > p. 15
Presence: 5/5
“There are two major island groups in India – one in the Bay of Bengal and the other in the Arabian Sea. The Bay of Bengal island groups consist of about 572 islands/islets. These are situated roughly between 6°°N-14°°N and 92°°E -94°°E. The two principal groups of islets include the Ritchie's archipelago and the Labrynth island. The entire group of island is divided into two broad categories – the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. They are separated by a waterbody which is called the Ten degree channel. It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains.”
Why this source?
  • States the two island groups (Andaman in the north, Nicobar in the south) 'are separated by a waterbody which is called the Ten degree channel.'
  • Provides locational context (lat-long range) that supports the north–south division separated by the channel.
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2021 · Q28 Relevance score: 5.74

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

CDS-I · 2019 · Q69 Relevance score: 5.11

The Andaman group of islands and the Nicobar group of islands are separated by which one of the following latitudes?

CDS-II · 2018 · Q40 Relevance score: 5.04

The Eight Degree Channel separates which of the following?

CDS-I · 2022 · Q72 Relevance score: 4.03

Ten Degree Channel is found between :

CDS-II · 2009 · Q116 Relevance score: 3.74

The channel separating the Andaman Island from the Nicobar Islands is known as