Q. Consider the following pairs :

1. Namcha Barwa - Garhwal Himalaya
2. Nanda Devi - Kumaon Himalaya
3. Nokrek - Sikkim Himalaya

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 2022)
Answer: 2 only
Notes: The correct answer is [B] 2 only. This question tests the geographic distribution of key Himalayan peaks and their corresponding regional divisions.

• Namcha Barwa – Arunachal Himalaya (Pair 1 – Incorrect): Namcha Barwa is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the border of Arunachal Pradesh. It marks the eastern syntaxial bend where the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) enters India. The Garhwal Himalayas are located much further west, primarily in Uttarakhand.
• Nanda Devi – Kumaon Himalaya (Pair 2 – Correct): Nanda Devi is the highest peak situated entirely within India. It is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand within the Kumaon (or Garhwal-Kumaon) division of the Himalayas.
• Nokrek – Garo Hills (Pair 3 – Incorrect): Nokrek is the highest peak of the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, not the Sikkim Himalaya. It is part of the Shillong Plateau and is a designated Biosphere Reserve. The Sikkim Himalayas are characterized by peaks like Kanchenjunga.

The regional classification of the Himalayas traditionally divides them into Punjab, Kumaon, Nepal, and Assam Himalayas based on river boundaries (Indus, Satluj, Kali, Teesta, and Brahmaputra). Nanda Devi sits between the Satluj and Kali rivers, placing it firmly in the Kumaon region.