Bhutan shares its international border with several Indian states. Which one of the following states of India does Bhutan not share a border with?

Introduction / Context:
Political geography questions often test your ability to visualise borders between Indian states and neighbouring countries. Bhutan is a landlocked Himalayan kingdom that touches several Indian states. Knowing exactly which states share a boundary with Bhutan is important for both map work and general awareness.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The country in question is Bhutan. • The Indian states listed are West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. • The task is to identify the state that does not share a border with Bhutan.

Concept / Approach:
Bhutan lies to the north of the Indian states of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Its southern boundary touches the plains and foothills of these states. Meghalaya, however, lies further south and mainly borders Bangladesh, not Bhutan. Thus, among the options given, Meghalaya is the state that does not have a common boundary with Bhutan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the north eastern map of India and mark the approximate location of Bhutan between Tibet to the north and Indian states to the south. Step 2: Recall that Sikkim lies to the west of Bhutan and shares a short but important border with it. Step 3: Remember that Arunachal Pradesh lies to the east and north east of Bhutan, also sharing an international boundary. Step 4: Note that the narrow northern part of West Bengal, the so called Chicken's Neck area, also touches Bhutan along its southern foothills. Step 5: Recognise that Meghalaya is located south of Assam and mainly touches Bangladesh to its south, with no direct border with Bhutan to the north.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official maps of India and Bhutan show the international boundary clearly, indicating that Bhutan shares borders with Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. They also show Meghalaya located further south, separated from Bhutan by the state of Assam, confirming that it does not share a boundary with Bhutan.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (West Bengal) does share a northern border with Bhutan in its narrow northern corridor. Option B (Sikkim) shares its eastern border with Bhutan and is directly adjacent to the kingdom. Option D (Arunachal Pradesh) shares a border with Bhutan to the east of the country's territory.

Common Pitfalls:
• Students sometimes confuse Assam and Meghalaya when thinking about north east India and may incorrectly assume that Meghalaya touches Bhutan. • Others may overlook the narrow northern part of West Bengal that reaches up to Bhutan and mistakenly believe that West Bengal does not border it.

Final Answer:
Bhutan does not share its border with Meghalaya.