Which pair of countries shares a maritime boundary with India?

The correct answer is Option (3) → Maldives and Sri Lanka

Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, the question has two possible answers, i.e. both Option (1) and Option (3), as explained below.

India shares a maritime boundary (a boundary at sea) with seven countries: Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

Option (3) Maldives and Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka lies across the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar; the sea boundary was settled by the agreements of 1974 and 1976

• Maldives lies south of Lakshadweep, across the Eight Degree Channel; the boundary was settled in 1976

• Neither country has any land border with India, so this is the only pair whose only boundary with India is at sea

Option (1) Pakistan and Myanmar

• Pakistan meets India in the Arabian Sea off the Sir Creek in Gujarat; the line there is still disputed, but the two countries do share a sea boundary

• Myanmar meets India in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea; the boundary was settled by an agreement in 1986

• Both countries also have a land border with India

Advice for the exam: When a question has two possible answers, mark the one you worked out yourself. If NTA’s answer key gives a different answer, challenge it when NTA opens the window for challenges.