Manipur shares its state boundaries with which combination of neighbouring Indian states?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding how the north eastern states of India share boundaries with each other is important for both political geography and questions on regional integration. This question focuses on Manipur and asks which combination of states share common boundaries with it. Visualising the north east as a cluster of interconnected states helps in answering such questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Manipur is the reference state whose neighbours are being asked about.
• The options list combinations of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Assam.
• We assume the standard political map in which Manipur shares boundaries with specific Indian states and with Myanmar to the east.
• International boundaries are not part of the options; only neighbouring Indian states matter here.

Concept / Approach:
Manipur is located in the central part of the north eastern region. To its north lies Nagaland, to its west lies Assam, and to its south lies Mizoram. To the east, Manipur shares an international boundary with Myanmar. The correct approach is to mentally position Manipur and then tick off the Indian states that touch its borders, ignoring those that are close but do not directly meet it, such as Meghalaya and Tripura.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place Manipur in the mental map of the north east, with the hill ranges on its northern and southern flanks and the central Imphal valley.Step 2: Recall that Nagaland lies directly to the north of Manipur, sharing a boundary along the hill region.Step 3: Remember that Assam lies to the west of Manipur, providing a link to the broader Indian mainland through connecting districts.Step 4: Note that Mizoram is to the south of Manipur and shares a boundary, whereas Meghalaya and Tripura do not directly touch Manipur, which makes Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram the correct combination.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check using a large scale political map of the north eastern states will show Manipur bordered by Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram on three sides, with Myanmar forming the eastern boundary. Exam oriented atlases often mark these boundary relationships clearly in diagrams or simplified sketches, which confirms that the given combination is accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The combination Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura is incorrect because Manipur does not share a boundary with either Meghalaya or Tripura. Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya is wrong because it leaves out Assam, which clearly borders Manipur to the west. Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura is incorrect since both Meghalaya and Tripura lie further west and south west and do not directly touch Manipur's borders.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse neighbouring states in the north east because the region appears crowded on small maps. It is easy to think that if two states are close geographically, they must share a boundary, even when a thin strip of another state lies between them. Spending some time tracing each state's outline and marking its neighbours can significantly reduce such errors in future questions.

Final Answer:
Manipur has common boundaries with the states of Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram within India.