Q. Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar? (UPSC Prelims 2017)
Answer: Sumatra
Notes: The correct answer is [A] Sumatra. This question tests your knowledge of India's maritime geography and the proximity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Southeast Asia.

• Great Nicobar and Sumatra (Statement A – Correct): Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of India. The distance between Indira Point (the southernmost tip of Great Nicobar) and Acheh Head in Sumatra, Indonesia, is only about 145 km to 150 km. They are separated by the 6 Degree Channel.
• Sri Lanka (Statement D – Incorrect): While Sri Lanka is a close maritime neighbor to mainland India (Tamil Nadu), it is significantly further from the Great Nicobar island, located approximately 1,200 km to the west.
• Java and Borneo (Statements B & C – Incorrect): These Indonesian islands are much further east and south. Java is roughly 1,600 km away, and Borneo is even more distant, separated from the Nicobar chain by the Malay Peninsula and the South China Sea.

The strategic importance of Great Nicobar is immense due to its proximity to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. This proximity is the primary reason for the development of the International Transshipment Terminal at Great Nicobar.