In which one of the following Indian states is Loktak Lake, famous for its floating phumdis, situated?

Introduction / Context:
Loktak Lake is an iconic freshwater lake known for its unique floating islands called phumdis. It is environmentally and culturally significant, supporting local livelihoods and biodiversity. Questions about Loktak Lake often appear in Indian geography and environment sections because it is closely associated with a particular state in the north east. This question simply asks you to recall which state hosts this famous lake.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Four states are listed: Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya. - Loktak Lake is identified as a famous lake with floating phumdis. - We must choose the state where this lake is actually located. - We assume standard geography references for India's important lakes.

Concept / Approach:
Loktak Lake is located in the north eastern state of Manipur. It is often called the lifeline of Manipur because it supports fishing and agriculture and houses the Keibul Lamjao National Park, a floating national park. Sikkim and Meghalaya have their own notable water bodies, and Himachal Pradesh is known more for high altitude lakes and rivers in the western Himalayas. The approach is to associate the name "Loktak" and "phumdis" specifically with Manipur and eliminate the other states that do not match this well known pairing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Loktak Lake is often mentioned alongside Manipur in geography texts and environmental news. Step 2: Remember that phumdis are floating mats of vegetation, soil and organic matter unique to Loktak Lake. Step 3: Note that Keibul Lamjao National Park, home of the endangered sangai deer, lies on a phumdi in this lake, further reinforcing the link with Manipur. Step 4: Recognise that Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya are not commonly associated with Loktak Lake in any standard reference. Step 5: Conclude that Loktak Lake is situated in Manipur.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling that the Keibul Lamjao National Park, mentioned in many environment questions, is located in Manipur and is described as a floating national park on Loktak Lake. Also, "Loktak" often appears in north east focused questions and news about conservation of the sangai, which is the state animal of Manipur. None of the other listed states share this specific combination of lake, floating islands and endemic deer species.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sikkim is wrong because it is more closely associated with high altitude lakes like Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, not Loktak.

Himachal Pradesh is wrong since its famous water bodies include lakes such as Dal Lake near Dharamshala and high mountain lakes, not the lowland freshwater Loktak Lake.

Meghalaya, while rich in rainfall and rivers, is not the state where Loktak Lake with phumdis is found.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to loosely associate all north eastern geographic features with any north eastern state, leading to random guessing among Sikkim, Meghalaya and Manipur. Another pitfall is confusion between Loktak Lake and other important lakes like Chilika in Odisha or Wular in Jammu and Kashmir. To avoid such confusion, create strong mental links: Loktak Lake, phumdis, Keibul Lamjao and sangai all belong together in Manipur.

Final Answer:
Loktak Lake is situated in the state of Manipur.