Which is the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of Indian geography, specifically major lakes and their classification. Lakes can be freshwater or brackish water bodies, and exam questions often focus on superlatives such as the largest or highest. Distinguishing between freshwater and brackish lakes is crucial for arriving at the correct answer.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is asking about the largest freshwater lake in India.
• Four important lakes are provided as options.
• The candidate must know which of them is both freshwater and the largest by surface area.

Concept / Approach:
Wular Lake, located in Jammu and Kashmir, is widely recognised as one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and the largest freshwater lake in India. Chilika Lake in Odisha, although larger in total area, is a brackish water lagoon connected to the Bay of Bengal. Dal Lake and Loktak Lake are significant but smaller freshwater lakes. Therefore, identifying the type of water body and comparing area sizes leads to the correct response.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Separate the given options into freshwater and brackish water bodies. Step 2: Recall that Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, not a pure freshwater lake. Step 3: Note that Dal Lake and Loktak Lake are freshwater lakes but smaller in surface area. Step 4: Remember that Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is known as the largest freshwater lake in India. Step 5: Select Wular Lake as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard Indian geography textbooks and competitive exam guides list Wular Lake under freshwater lakes and highlight its large surface area. They also describe Chilika as a brackish lagoon famous for migratory birds, making it ineligible for this question. This classification based on salinity and lake type serves as a reliable check that the answer is Wular Lake.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chilika Lake: Largest coastal lagoon and brackish water body in India, not a freshwater lake.
Dal Lake: A famous lake in Srinagar, but smaller in area than Wular Lake.
Loktak Lake: Known for its floating phumdis in Manipur, yet not the largest freshwater lake in the country.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates quickly choose Chilika Lake because they recall it as the largest lake in some context but forget that it is brackish. Others may be distracted by the popularity of Dal Lake in tourism promotions. The key is to focus on the term freshwater in the question and link it specifically to Wular Lake based on geography facts.

Final Answer:
Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India.