The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
The Indian Subcontinent is a distinct geographical region in South Asia, physically separated from the rest of the Asian continent by high mountain ranges in the north and bounded by oceans in the south.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Indian Subcontinent is a distinct geographical entity comprising Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India. These countries are physically separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, and the Arakan Yoma ranges.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Himalayas act as a formidable physical barrier in the northern part of the subcontinent, separating it from the Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia. The southern part of the subcontinent is bounded by the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, not by the Himalayas.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: While passes such as the Khyber and Bolan in the northwest facilitated trade, migration, and invasions, they did not "remove all physical barriers." The mountain ranges remained a significant obstacle to movement; the passes merely provided specific, often difficult, routes through them.
Key Takeaway:
The Indian Subcontinent is defined by the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south, creating a unique geographical and climatic unit distinct from the rest of Asia.