Which of the following countries lies to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India?

Introduction / Context:

Map based questions that ask about the relative positions of countries and islands are common in Indian geography. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a Union Territory situated in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Knowing which neighbouring countries lie to their east, west, north, or south helps in understanding India's strategic location in the Indian Ocean region. This question tests basic orientation skills using the Andaman and Nicobar group as a reference point.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which country lies to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The options are Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and an option suggesting all of these.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie southeast of mainland India in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
• We assume a standard north oriented map and typical school atlas positions.

Concept / Approach:

The key is to visualise the approximate longitudes and relative positions. Sri Lanka lies to the south of the Indian mainland, west of the Andaman and Nicobar region. Thailand lies to the east and slightly north east across the Andaman Sea, and parts of Indonesia lie to the south and south east of the Nicobar Islands. When exam resources ask which country lies to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, they usually refer specifically to Thailand on the eastern side of the Andaman Sea, not Sri Lanka on the western side. Therefore, Thailand is the best fit for an eastern neighbour in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

An atlas that includes political borders and latitude and longitude lines shows the Andaman and Nicobar Islands around 92 to 94 degrees east. Thailand's west coast lies further east than these islands. Sri Lanka, however, is closer to 80 degrees east and is located to the southwest of the main Andaman group. Indonesia's Sumatra runs generally south and slightly east of the Nicobar Islands. Exam oriented references typically simplify this by stating that Thailand lies to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands across the Andaman Sea.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Students who do not have a clear mental image of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea region may assume that all listed countries are simply nearby and choose the all of these option. Confusion can also occur because both Thailand and Indonesia have coasts on the same sea. The safest approach is to look at the main direction from the island group and remember that Thailand lies to the east across the Andaman Sea, whereas Sri Lanka lies much further west.

Final Answer:

The country that lies to the east of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Thailand.