Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?

1. A

   Sumatra

   Great Nicobar’s southern tip (Indira Point) faces Sumatra across a short stretch of the Indian Ocean / Malacca approaches. Sumatra is the nearest of the four landmasses listed. That is why (a) is the official key.

2. B

   Borneo

   Borneo (Kalimantan) lies much farther east, beyond Sumatra and the South China Sea approaches. It is not the closest. This option is not the key.

3. C

   Java

   Java lies south of Sumatra, farther from Great Nicobar than Sumatra itself. This option is therefore wrong.

4. D

   Sri Lanka

   Sri Lanka is west of the Nicobar line, across a much greater distance of Bay of Bengal. This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (a) Sumatra. Great Nicobar is the southernmost large island of the Andaman and Nicobar chain. Indira Point is only on the order of 150 km from Sumatra, far closer than Java, Borneo or Sri Lanka. Six Degree Channel separates Little Andaman from Nicobar, not Nicobar from Sumatra. Only Sumatra is geographically closest.