The correct option is All four pairs
Explanation
India occupies a central position in South Asia, sharing land boundaries with seven countries and maritime boundaries with two island nations. These boundaries are distributed across specific cardinal directions.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Pair 1 is correctly matched: India shares its land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest. The border with Afghanistan touches the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
- Pair 2 is correctly matched: In the north, India shares its borders with China, Nepal, and Bhutan. These boundaries generally run along the Himalayan ranges.
- Pair 3 is correctly matched: In the east, India shares land borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Bangladesh shares the longest land border with India.
- Pair 4 is correctly matched: The southern neighbors across the sea consist of two island countries, namely Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, while the Maldives are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.
Key Takeaway: India shares land borders with seven countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh) and has two maritime neighbors (Sri Lanka, Maldives) in the Indian Ocean.