Barren Island, which contains the only active volcano in India, is situated in which region?

Introduction / Context:
This question concerns the physical geography and geology of India. Barren Island is famous because it hosts the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian territory. Examinations often test whether you can correctly locate such unique features on the map, and Barren Island location is a classic fact to remember.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The feature mentioned is Barren Island, known for an active volcano.
• The options are Rajasthan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Lakshadweep, and Tamil Nadu coast.
• We assume knowledge that India active volcano is not on the mainland but on an island in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean.
• We also know that Lakshadweep islands are coral atolls and do not have volcanoes.

Concept / Approach:
Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, as part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands group administered by India. It lies to the east of the main Andaman Island chain. The island contains a stratovolcano that has shown intermittent eruptive activity in recent decades. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are inland states on the Indian mainland, Tamil Nadu coast lies on the Bay of Bengal but has no active volcanic islands directly off its shoreline, and Lakshadweep consists of coral islands on the Arabian Sea, formed from biological accumulation, not from volcanic activity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Barren Island is often mentioned together with the term Andaman Sea and is part of the Andaman and Nicobar group. Step 2: Visualise the map of India extended eastwards into the Bay of Bengal where the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located. Step 3: Remember that the only active volcano of India is on this island and not anywhere on the mainland. Step 4: Eliminate Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as they are landlocked or inland states with no volcanoes. Step 5: Eliminate Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu coast because they are on the western and eastern coasts respectively and do not host the Barren Island volcano. Select Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the correct region.

Verification / Alternative check:
Geography textbooks and encyclopaedia style resources list Barren Island under the Andaman and Nicobar administration. Maps of the Andaman Sea show Barren Island east of the main Andaman archipelago. Reports about volcanic eruptions in Indian territory repeatedly mention Barren Island and include coordinates placing it well within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. No credible source associates an active volcano with Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Lakshadweep, or the Tamil Nadu coastal plain.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajasthan is part of the Thar desert and the Aravalli range but has no active volcanoes. Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state in central India known for mineral resources and forests, not volcanic islands. Lakshadweep is made up of coral atolls formed by biological processes on an oceanic ridge and has no volcanic peaks breaking the surface. The Tamil Nadu coast does not feature active volcanoes; any volcanic activity in nearby oceanic regions is not identified as Barren Island. Thus, only the Andaman and Nicobar Islands match the description in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse Barren Island with volcanic formations near other countries or assume that any island group could contain the active volcano. Another mistake is to pick Lakshadweep simply because it is also an island group, without recalling the difference between coral and volcanic origin. To avoid such errors, fix in memory the phrase Barren Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the location of India only active volcano.

Final Answer:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands