'Largest Natural Port' in India is _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Vishakhapatnam
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, the answer given by NTA appears to be incorrect: Mumbai, not Visakhapatnam, is described as India’s largest natural port, so Option (1) is the correct answer, as explained below. The map points to Mumbai, but in this paper the answer key points to Visakhapatnam.
A natural port grows around a natural harbour: deep water sheltered by the shape of the coast, so that ships can anchor safely without large man-made breakwaters.
Option (1) Mumbai — Should have been correct. Mumbai is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour, on the west coast in Maharashtra.
Option (2) Vishakhapatnam — Correct as per NTA; however, it is not the largest natural port. Visakhapatnam, on the east coast in Andhra Pradesh, is known as the deepest landlocked and well-protected port of India, not the largest.
Option (3) Gujarat — Incorrect. Gujarat is a state, not a port.
Option (4) West Bengal — Incorrect. West Bengal is a state, not a port.