Test: Indian Coastal Plains & Islands - UPSC MCQ

Let's analyze the given statements to determine their correctness and relationship:

Statement I: India’s offshore and deep-sea fish catch is very poor considering the marine potential.
- This statement is true. India has significant marine potential, but the offshore and deep-sea fish catch is not as high as it could be. Factors such as inadequate infrastructure, technology, and investment contribute to this.

Statement II: Indian coast does not have many gulfs, bays, estuaries and backwaters.
- This statement is false. The Indian coastline is quite diverse and features many gulfs, bays, estuaries, and backwaters. Examples include the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Bay of Bengal, and the extensive network of estuaries and backwaters in Kerala.

Given this analysis, the correct answer is:

1. Statement I is true but Statement II is false

Coromandel Coast of India is situated between the Krishna delta and Cape Comorin. Coromandel coast is the southeastern coast region of India.

Statement 1 and 2 are correct.

• Andaman and Nicobar islands enjoy the equatorial type of climate.
• Baren island in Northern Andaman has India's only active volcano.
• Coral beds are found not just here but also in the Lakshadweep islands and in few coastal areas in India.

• The Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the eastern end of Réunion Island, rises more than 2,631 m (8,632 ft) above sea level and is sometimes called a sister to Hawaiian volcanoes because of the similarity of climate and volcanic nature.

• It has erupted more than 100 times since 1640, and is under constant monitoring, most recently erupting on 2 April 2020. The hotspot that fuels Piton de la Fournaise also created the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues.

Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea. It is the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia. The island along with the rest of the Andamans is the the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and lies some 135 kms northeast of the territory's capital, Port Blair.

Lakshadweep is about 220 to 440 Kms away from the coast of Kerala, lying one of the world’s most spectacular tropical Islands systems in a scattered group of 36 coral islands. All these islands have been built up by corals and have fringing coral reefs very close to their shores.

Saddle Peak is the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It has a height of 732 metres.