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Q79 (IAS/2024) Geography › World Human & Economic Geography › World political geography Official Key

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The longest international land border in the world is between Canada and the United States, measuring 8,893 km in total length[2]. This makes option A the correct answer.

The second longest land border is between Kazakhstan and Russia at 7,644 km[3], making option D incorrect. The third longest border is between Chile and Argentina at 6,691 km[4], which eliminates option B. Option C (China and India) is also incorrect as the China-Russia border is 4,133 km and the Bangladesh-India border[5] is 4,142 km, indicating that the China-India border would be even shorter and not among the world's longest borders. The Canada-US border's exceptional length is due to the vast geographical extent of both countries across the North American continent.

Sources
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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Out of everyone who attempted this question.
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got it right
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. The longest border between any two countries in the world is between : [A] Canada and the United States of America [B] Chile and Argent…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10

This is a classic 'Atlas Superlative' question. While standard textbooks (NCERT/Majid Husain) focus heavily on India's borders (India-Bangladesh being #1 for India), they rarely explicitly list the global ranking. This question rewards the 'curious mapper' who checks the 'World Statistics' appendix in their Oxford/Blackswan Atlas rather than just reading text.

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
Is the land border between Canada and the United States the longest land border between any two countries in the world?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"## 1. Canada–United States - 8,893 km [Canada], the world’s second largest country, shares the longest international land border with the United States."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly labels Canada–United States as #1 on a ranked list of longest land borders.
  • Gives a specific length (8,893 km) and states it is the longest international land border.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Canada and the U.S. share the longest international land border in the world — 5,525 Miles in total."
Why this source?
  • Directly states Canada and the U.S. share the longest international land border in the world.
  • Provides the total length in miles (5,525) and explains the border is in two sections (Alaska/continental).
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The longest land border in the world is between Canada and the United States (US). The total length of the border between the US and Canada is 8,893 km."
Why this source?
  • States the longest land border in the world is between Canada and the United States.
  • Provides a numeric length (8,893 km) for the Canada–US border.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Strength: 5/5
“Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. The longest border of India is with Bangladesh (4096 km), followed by China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. The shortest border of India is with Afghanistan being only 80 km (Table 16.2).”
Why relevant

Gives a concrete example of a very long international land border (India–Bangladesh = 4096 km), establishing a benchmark for 'very long' bilateral land borders.

How to extend

A student could compare known lengths of other long borders (e.g., Canada–USA) against this 4096 km benchmark using a world map or reference to judge which is longer.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
Strength: 5/5
“India's border with China is 3917 km. which is about 26% of the total land border of the country. Five Indian states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share the border with China (Fig. 16.2). This boundary is the product of Manchu policy, Chinese Republican policy, and the British policy. Since the topographical features are rugged folded mountains, and the climate harsh, it was not possible to demarcate the boundary on the ground. The boundary was, however, demarcated on the maps. The boundary remained peaceful till India achieved Independence in 1947, and the Communist takeover of China on October 1, 1949.”
Why relevant

Provides another large border length (India–China = 3917 km) and frames border length as a measurable attribute of countries.

How to extend

Use this numeric example as a second comparison point when assessing whether any other bilateral border (such as Canada–USA) exceeds these lengths.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > India-Nepal Boundary > p. 46
Strength: 3/5
“India's border with Nepal is 1752 km. Five states of India, namely, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim touch the border of Nepal (Fig. 16.7). India-Nepal border, mainly runs in a westeast direction almost along the foothills of the Siwalik Range. A treaty between British and Nepal government was signed in 1814–15. This treaty was ratified in March 1916. Under the terms of the Treaty, the Himalayan districts of Nainital, Almora, Garhwal, Dehra Dun, and Shimla were annexed by the British. (Karan, et.al. 1963). The eastern tracts were given to Sikkim. The present boundary between India and Nepal is the boundary demarcated in 1858.”
Why relevant

Supplies a mid-range border length (India–Nepal = 1752 km), demonstrating variation in border lengths and helping to contextualize what 'long' means.

How to extend

A student can place this value among other known border lengths to form a ranked sense of border magnitudes before checking the Canada–USA figure externally.

Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Displacing Indigenous Peoples > ACTIVITY 1 > p. 142
Strength: 3/5
“The countries that are known as Canada and the United States of America came into existence at the end of the eighteenth century. At that time they occupied only a fraction of the land they now cover. Over the next hundred years they extended their control over more territory, to reach their present size. Large areas were acquired by the USA by purchase – they bought land in the south from France (the 'Louisiana Purchase') and from Russia (Alaska), and by war – much of southern USA was won from Mexico. It did not occur to anyone that the consent of natives living in these areas should have been asked.”
Why relevant

Notes the large territorial expansions of Canada and the USA over the 18th–19th centuries, implying they are geographically large contiguous states likely to share an extensive boundary.

How to extend

Combine this historical-geographic hint with a world map to infer that a long shared frontier is plausible and should be checked against numeric border-length data.

Statement 2
Is the land border between Chile and Argentina the longest land border between any two countries in the world?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Meanwhile, the third longest border is among South American nations, which is Chile and Argentina. The border between them is 6,691 km long."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names the Chile–Argentina border and gives its length.
  • States its position among the longest borders (third longest), implying there are longer ones.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the world that is 6,691 km long. ## 2. Kazakhstan–Russia - 7,644 km ## 1. Canada–United States - 8,893 km"
Why this source?
  • Lists the Chile–Argentina border length (6,691 km) in the same ranked list as other borders.
  • Shows two longer borders: Kazakhstan–Russia (7,644 km) and Canada–United States (8,893 km), so Chile–Argentina is not the longest.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Strength: 4/5
“Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. The longest border of India is with Bangladesh (4096 km), followed by China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. The shortest border of India is with Afghanistan being only 80 km (Table 16.2).”
Why relevant

Gives an explicit example of ranking international land borders by length (India's longest border with Bangladesh = 4,096 km).

How to extend

A student could use this as a benchmark: compare the Chile–Argentina border length (from a map or atlas) against known long borders like 4,096 km to judge if it is the longest.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
Strength: 4/5
“India's border with China is 3917 km. which is about 26% of the total land border of the country. Five Indian states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share the border with China (Fig. 16.2). This boundary is the product of Manchu policy, Chinese Republican policy, and the British policy. Since the topographical features are rugged folded mountains, and the climate harsh, it was not possible to demarcate the boundary on the ground. The boundary was, however, demarcated on the maps. The boundary remained peaceful till India achieved Independence in 1947, and the Communist takeover of China on October 1, 1949.”
Why relevant

Provides another measured border length (India–China = 3,917 km), showing that bilateral borders are commonly compared numerically.

How to extend

Use this example to compile a small list of long borders (e.g., India–Bangladesh, India–China) and then compare those lengths to Chile–Argentina using a reliable map or dataset.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 8: Convergent Boundary > Formation of The Andes > p. 119
Strength: 3/5
“• Ojos del Salado active volcano on the Argentina-Chile border in the Andes is the highest active volcano on earth at 6,893 m. (Olympus Mons (27 km) on Mars is the highest volcano in the solar system.• Mount Aconcagua (6,960 m, Argentina) in the Andes is the highest peak outside the Himalayas and the highest peak in the western hemisphere. It is an extinct volcano.”
Why relevant

Notes that many high Andes features (e.g., Ojos del Salado, Aconcagua) lie on the Argentina–Chile border, implying a long, continuous mountainous frontier.

How to extend

Combine this geographic pattern (a long Andes frontier) with a world map measurement to infer that Chile–Argentina is a long border — then compare its measured length to other long borders.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Railways RailwaysRailways > p. 58
Strength: 2/5
“Only Chile, among the remaining countries has a considerable route length linking coastal centres with the mining sites in the interior. Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela have short single-track rail-lines from ports to the interior with no inter-connecting links. There is only one trans-continental rail route linking Buenos Aires (Argentina) with Valparaiso (Chile) across the Andes Mountains through the Uspallatta Pass located at a height of 3,900 m. In Asia, rail network is the most dense in the thickly populated areas of Japan, China and India. Other countries have relatively few rail routes. West Asia is the least developed in rail facilities because of vast deserts and sparsely populated regions.”
Why relevant

Mentions a trans-Andean route linking Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Valparaiso (Chile), implying significant cross-border connectivity along a long shared boundary.

How to extend

Treat this as evidence of substantial bilateral contact across a long frontier, and verify by measuring the border length on a map and comparing with other long borders listed in atlases or datasets.

Statement 3
Is the land border between China and India the longest land border between any two countries in the world?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"However, the longest land border in the world is between Canada and the United States (US). The total length of the border between the US and Canada is 8,893 km."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states which bilateral land border is the longest worldwide.
  • Gives the Canada–United States border length (8,893 km), showing a pair longer than any China–India claim.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"## 1. Canada–United States - 8,893 km"
Why this source?
  • Lists the top-ranked longest international land borders and shows Canada–United States as #1 with 8,893 km.
  • Provides the #2 border (Kazakhstan–Russia at 7,644 km), further indicating other pairs exceed typical China–India lengths.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"## 6. China–Russia - 4,133 km ## 5. Bangladesh-India – 4,142 km"
Why this source?
  • Lists multiple long bilateral borders (e.g., China–Russia 4,133 km; Bangladesh–India 4,142 km), indicating many long borders exist and that the longest is larger than these.
  • Provides context that other country pairs have multi-thousand-kilometer borders, supporting that China–India is not identified as the longest.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
Strength: 5/5
“India's border with China is 3917 km. which is about 26% of the total land border of the country. Five Indian states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share the border with China (Fig. 16.2). This boundary is the product of Manchu policy, Chinese Republican policy, and the British policy. Since the topographical features are rugged folded mountains, and the climate harsh, it was not possible to demarcate the boundary on the ground. The boundary was, however, demarcated on the maps. The boundary remained peaceful till India achieved Independence in 1947, and the Communist takeover of China on October 1, 1949.”
Why relevant

Gives a concrete length for the China–India land border (3,917 km), a necessary numeric fact to compare with other bilateral borders.

How to extend

A student can compare this 3,917 km figure with known lengths of other country–country borders (from a world map or reference) to judge whether it is the longest.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Strength: 4/5
“Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. The longest border of India is with Bangladesh (4096 km), followed by China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. The shortest border of India is with Afghanistan being only 80 km (Table 16.2).”
Why relevant

States that India’s longest border is with Bangladesh (4,096 km) and that the China border is next, implying China–India (3,917 km) is shorter than at least one other bilateral border involving India.

How to extend

Use this pattern (Bangladesh–India > China–India) plus other known long borders to infer that China–India is unlikely to be the world’s longest without being the longest even for India.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Middle Sector > p. 33
Strength: 3/5
“The middle sector boundary between India and China is about 625 km long which runs along the watershed from Ladakh to Nepal. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand touch this border with Tibet (China). The boundary of Himachal Pradesh follows the water parting between the Spiti and Para Chu rivers and continues along the watershed between the eastern and the western tributaries of the Satluj. The Uttarakhand boundary is demarcated by the watershed”
Why relevant

Breaks the India–China border into sectors and gives the middle-sector length (about 625 km), showing the overall border is a sum of distinct long segments.

How to extend

A student can add up sectoral or segmental lengths from detailed maps/sources to verify the total 3,917 km and then compare with totals for other country pairs.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > India-Myanmar Boundary > p. 48
Strength: 2/5
“The boundary between India and Myanmar is 1458 km. long which runs from India-China-Myanmar tri-junction in the north to the southern tip of Mizoram (Fig. 16.9). This boundary runs roughly along the watershed between the Brahmaputra and Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy). This border passes through the thickly forested hills”
Why relevant

Provides another India bilateral border length (India–Myanmar 1,458 km), giving context that multiple India borders vary widely and some exceed 1,000 km.

How to extend

A student can use these varied India border lengths as a reminder to check many bilateral border lengths globally (some considerably longer) before accepting the statement.

INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: India — Location > EXERCISES > p. 6
Strength: 2/5
“• 1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. • (i) Which one of the following latitudinal extent is relevant for the extent of India's area? • (a) 8°41'N 35°7'N (c) 8°4'N 35°6'N• (b) 8°4'N 37°6'N (d) 6°45'N 37°6'N• (ii) Which one of the following countries shares the longest land frontier with India? • (a) Bangladesh (c) Pakistan• (b) China (d) Myanmar• (iii) Which one of the following countries is larger in area than India? • (a) China (c) France• (b) Egypt (d) Iran• (iv) Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian for India? • (a) 69°30'E (c) 75°30'E (b) 82°30'E (d) 90°30'E• 2.”
Why relevant

Includes a textbook exercise asking which country shares the longest land frontier with India, implying cross-checking border-length rankings is a standard factual task.

How to extend

A student motivated by such exercises would consult authoritative border-length lists or maps to compare China–India length against other country pairs worldwide.

Statement 4
Is the land border between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation the longest land border between any two countries in the world?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"## 2. Kazakhstan–Russia - 7,644 km The second longest land border in the world is the Kazakhstan–Russia border that is 7,644 km in length. ## 1. Canada–United States - 8,893 km"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly labels Kazakhstan–Russia as the second longest international land border and gives its length.
  • Directly compares it to the Canada–United States border, which it lists as longer.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The border between Kazakhstan and Russia is the second-longest in terms of total length, but it’s also the longest continuous international land border anywhere in the world."
Why this source?
  • States Kazakhstan–Russia is the second-longest in total length.
  • Clarifies it is the longest continuous international land border, distinguishing total vs continuous length.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"However, the longest land border in the world is between Canada and the United States (US). The total length of the border between the US and Canada is 8,893 km."
Why this source?
  • Identifies the Canada–United States border as the longest land border worldwide with a longer length (8,893 km).
  • Provides a clear alternative showing Kazakhstan–Russia is not the single longest bilateral land border.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Strength: 5/5
“Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. The longest border of India is with Bangladesh (4096 km), followed by China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan. The shortest border of India is with Afghanistan being only 80 km (Table 16.2).”
Why relevant

Gives a concrete example of a very long international land border (India–Bangladesh = 4096 km) as a comparative scale.

How to extend

A student can compare any claimed Russia–Kazakhstan border length against 4096 km (and other known long borders) using a map or reference to judge plausibility.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
Strength: 4/5
“India's border with China is 3917 km. which is about 26% of the total land border of the country. Five Indian states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh share the border with China (Fig. 16.2). This boundary is the product of Manchu policy, Chinese Republican policy, and the British policy. Since the topographical features are rugged folded mountains, and the climate harsh, it was not possible to demarcate the boundary on the ground. The boundary was, however, demarcated on the maps. The boundary remained peaceful till India achieved Independence in 1947, and the Communist takeover of China on October 1, 1949.”
Why relevant

States the India–China land border length (3917 km), providing another long-border datum point to contextualize what counts as 'very long'.

How to extend

Use this value as a second benchmark to see whether the Russia–Kazakhstan border exceeds other known long borders.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Middle Sector > p. 33
Strength: 3/5
“The middle sector boundary between India and China is about 625 km long which runs along the watershed from Ladakh to Nepal. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand touch this border with Tibet (China). The boundary of Himachal Pradesh follows the water parting between the Spiti and Para Chu rivers and continues along the watershed between the eastern and the western tributaries of the Satluj. The Uttarakhand boundary is demarcated by the watershed”
Why relevant

Breaks a long international border into sector lengths (middle sector ~625 km), illustrating that total border length is the sum of sector segments and can be estimated from map segments.

How to extend

A student could use maps to segment the Russia–Kazakhstan boundary, measure or estimate each segment, and sum them to test the 'longest' claim.

Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Indi External Relations > The Chinese invasion, 1962 > p. 62
Strength: 3/5
“The main dispute was about the western and the eastern end of the long border. China claimed two areas within the Indian territory: Aksai-chin area in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and much of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in what was then called NEFA (North Eastern Frontier Agency). Between 1957 and 1959, the Chinese occupied the Aksai-chin area and built a strategic road there. Despite a very long correspondence and discussion among top leaders, these differences could not be resolved. Several small border skirmishes between the armies of the two countries took place. Around this time, while the entire world's attention was on the Cuban Missile crisis involving the two superpowers, China launched a swift and massive invasion in October 1962 on both the disputed regions.”
Why relevant

Discusses the extensive disputed India–China frontier and its multiple regions, reinforcing that very long borders often consist of distinct named sectors.

How to extend

Suggests the method of checking named sectors or administrative regions along the Russia–Kazakhstan frontier on maps or gazetteers to compile total length.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > SOVIET CONSTITUTION > p. 686
Strength: 2/5
“These units of the Soviet Federation were Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia,”
Why relevant

Lists Kazakhstan and Russia among former Soviet units, implying geographic adjacency and historical connection (hints they share a border without giving length).

How to extend

Use this as a prompt to inspect contemporary maps to confirm adjacency and then measure/compare their shared border length to other long borders.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC is reviving 'Old School' GK. Do not rely solely on conceptual books; ensure you scan the 'Tables and Appendices' of your Atlas for lists of longest rivers, borders, and mountain ranges.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. This is foundational General Knowledge (GK). If you missed this, you are neglecting the 'World Statistics' section of your Atlas.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: World Political Geography > International Boundaries > Global Superlatives (Longest, Largest, Highest).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the Global Top 5: 1) Canada-USA (~8,893 km), 2) Kazakhstan-Russia (~7,644 km), 3) Argentina-Chile (~5,300 km), 4) China-Mongolia (~4,677 km), 5) India-Bangladesh (~4,096 km).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Contextual Learning. When you read in NCERT that 'India's longest border is with Bangladesh (4,096 km)', your immediate reflex must be: 'Is this the longest in the world? If not, who holds the record?' This comparative curiosity solves the question.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Comparative land-border lengths
💡 The insight

Determining which bilateral border is longest requires direct comparison of numeric land-boundary lengths between country pairs.

High-yield for geography and current-affairs questions that ask which countries share the longest/shortest borders. Links to map-reading, data interpretation, and elimination of distractors in MCQs that give competing length figures.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Canada and the United States the longest land border ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Distinguishing land borders from maritime boundaries
💡 The insight

Only terrestrial (land) boundaries count when evaluating claims about the 'longest land border'; maritime separations are excluded.

Essential for correctly answering questions that contrast land and sea boundaries, territorial waters, and island-state relationships. Helps avoid conflating coastal separations with land-border length questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
  • FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Border Roads > p. 57
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Canada and the United States the longest land border ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Effect of boundary demarcation and disputes on reported lengths
💡 The insight

Unsettled demarcation and contested claims can change which measured length is reported for a bilateral border.

Important for UPSC answers on border disputes, geopolitics, and administrative geography; explains why different sources may report different border lengths and underpins caution when citing single figures.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > Sir Creek > p. 40
  • Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Indi External Relations > The Chinese invasion, 1962 > p. 62
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Canada and the United States the longest land border ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Comparative land-border lengths
💡 The insight

Numeric land-border lengths are required to verify claims about which bilateral frontier is the longest.

High-yield for geography and polity questions: exam items often ask which countries share the longest/shortest borders or require elimination using known border lengths. Mastering common bilateral lengths (and how to compare them) links to map interpretation, geopolitics, and boundary disputes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Sino-Indian Border Dispute > p. 29
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Chile and Argentina the longest land border between a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Borders follow natural features (mountains and watersheds)
💡 The insight

Mountain ranges and watersheds commonly determine the course and length of international land boundaries.

Useful for map-based and boundary-demarcation questions; helps explain why some borders are long and sinuous (increasing length) versus short and straight. Connects physical geography (Andes, watersheds) with political boundaries and infrastructure planning.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 8: Convergent Boundary > Formation of The Andes > p. 119
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Middle Sector > p. 33
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > India-Nepal Boundary > p. 46
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Chile and Argentina the longest land border between a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Territorial claims beyond continental landmasses affect perceptions of national frontiers
💡 The insight

Overlapping or extra-continental claims (for example on Antarctica) change how nations conceive of territory, which can influence comparative statements about borders and territorial extent.

Important for questions on sovereignty, international law and polar geopolitics; understanding claims clarifies why simple bilateral border-length claims may omit contested or claimed areas.

📚 Reading List :
  • Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Environment and Natural Resources > ANTARCTICA > p. 85
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 8: Convergent Boundary > Formation of The Andes > p. 119
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between Chile and Argentina the longest land border between a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Ranking of India's international land borders by length
💡 The insight

Knowing which country shares the longest land frontier with India explains that the India–China border is not India's longest bilateral border.

High-yield for questions on India’s foreign boundaries and comparative geography; helps answer prompts asking for longest/shortest frontiers and supports understanding of regional geopolitics and border disputes. Links to topics on neighbouring countries, border management and historical boundary issues.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Is the land border between China and India the longest land border between any t..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Continuous' Trap: While Canada-USA is the longest *total* border, the border between Kazakhstan and Russia is the longest *continuous* land border in the world (since Canada-USA is split between the 49th parallel and Alaska).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Alaska Factor' Visualization. Visualize the map: Russia and Kazakhstan share a long line, but Canada and the USA share the entire width of the continent *plus* the massive vertical border of Alaska. The Alaska addition mathematically pushes option A past option D. China-India (Option C) is visually interrupted by Nepal and Bhutan, making it impossible to be #1.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-3 (Border Management): Link border length to security challenges. A longer border (like Canada-USA) allows for 'Soft Borders' due to friendly relations, whereas shorter but hostile borders (India-Pakistan) require 'Smart Fencing' and CIBMS. Length dictates the budget for border guarding forces.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2012 · Q14 Relevance score: 0.79

The country that shares longest border with India is—

CDS-I · 2008 · Q105 Relevance score: -2.47

With which one of the following countries, India shares maximum length of the-border?

CDS-II · 2007 · Q116 Relevance score: -2.51

With which one of the following countries, India shares maximum length of the border?

CAPF · 2013 · Q55 Relevance score: -3.28

The Wallace’s Line distinguishes or separates the flora and fauna between

CDS-II · 2006 · Q59 Relevance score: -3.46

Which one of the following is the most populous country after China and India ?