Q85 · UPSC Prelims 2018 · Set A · Geography

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Consider the following statements:1.The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.2.Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.3.The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A 1 only
B 2 and 3
C 3 only
D 1 and 3

Correct answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation

  1. A

    1 only

    (a) 1 only. Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is India’s only confirmed active volcano, so statement 1 is true. It lies east of Middle Andaman / Port Blair, not about 140 km east of Great Nicobar, so statement 2 is false. It has erupted several times after 1991 (including the 2017 episode), so statement 3 is false. Only 1 stands. This option is the official key.

  2. B

    2 and 3

    (b) 2 and 3. Both the Nicobar distance and the “inactive since 1991” claim are wrong. This option is not the key.

  3. C

    3 only

    (c) 3 only. Post-1991 eruptions disprove inactivity. This option is not the key.

  4. D

    1 and 3

    (d) 1 and 3. Statement 1 is true, statement 3 is not. This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (a) 1 only. Barren Island is an active volcano in Indian territory in the Andaman arc. It is far from Great Nicobar; the usual locator is ~140 km from Port Blair, not from Great Nicobar. Eruptions continued after 1991. Statements 2 and 3 therefore fail, leaving statement 1 and option (a).

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When UPSC asked this

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