Which neighbouring country of India lies directly to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea?

Introduction / Context:
India is surrounded by several neighbouring countries and important island groups in the Indian Ocean region. The Lakshadweep Islands lie off the south western coast of India in the Arabian Sea. Knowing which country lies south of these islands is an important part of understanding regional geography and strategic maritime positions. This question tests spatial awareness of India's maritime neighbourhood and island geography in the Arabian Sea.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Lakshadweep is an Indian Union Territory consisting of small coral islands in the Arabian Sea.
• The question asks which neighbouring country lies directly to the south of these islands.
• The options given are Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Maldives.
• We assume standard north south map orientation and commonly accepted political boundaries.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to visualise a map of the Indian Ocean, especially the Arabian Sea. Lakshadweep lies off the Kerala coast. We must recall which country lies further south in the same general maritime region. Bangladesh and Myanmar are to the east of India near the Bay of Bengal. Indonesia lies further southeast, near the equator and beyond the Andaman Sea. Maldives is a chain of atolls stretching north south in the central Indian Ocean, to the southwest of Kerala and directly south of Lakshadweep.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate Lakshadweep on a mental map as lying off the southwestern coast of India in the Arabian Sea. Step 2: Recall that Bangladesh is east of India along the Bay of Bengal and does not lie near the Arabian Sea. Step 3: Recall that Myanmar is situated further east of Bangladesh and again is associated with the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Step 4: Note that Indonesia is a large archipelago in Southeast Asia, lying southeast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and not directly south of Lakshadweep. Step 5: Remember that Maldives is a small island nation composed of atolls running north south in the Indian Ocean just south of Lakshadweep, making it the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
You can verify this by imagining shipping routes and flight paths from Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram to Maldives, which travel almost due south or southwest over the Arabian Sea. Maps in school atlases or digital maps clearly show Maldives positioned south of Lakshadweep, while Bangladesh and Myanmar are on the opposite, eastern side of India. Indonesia is farther away and linked more with the Strait of Malacca and Java Sea, confirming that Maldives is uniquely the country directly south of Lakshadweep.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bangladesh is wrong because it lies to the northeast of the Bay of Bengal, bordering India and Myanmar, and has no connection with the Arabian Sea. Myanmar is wrong because it lies further east and borders the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, not the Arabian Sea. Indonesia is wrong because, although an island nation, it is located far southeast of India and does not lie directly south of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea region.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse general Indian Ocean geography and assume any island country could be south of Lakshadweep. Others mix up the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, placing Bangladesh or Myanmar incorrectly to the south. Another mistake is not differentiating between the relative positions of island nations like Sri Lanka and Maldives; Sri Lanka lies south of mainland India, but Maldives lies south of Lakshadweep. Carefully distinguishing each water body and island group avoids these errors.

Final Answer:
The neighbouring country of India that lies directly to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands is Maldives.