The McMahon Line separates India from which neighbouring country on its north eastern frontier?

Introduction / Context:
International boundaries involving India often feature in competitive exams because they connect geography with current affairs and strategic studies. The McMahon Line is one of the most discussed boundaries in modern Asian geopolitics. This question checks whether you know which country lies across this line from India and why the line is important in the context of the eastern Himalayan region and boundary disputes.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The specific boundary mentioned is the McMahon Line. • It is described as separating India from a neighbouring country. • The options list Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Myanmar. • We assume the reference is to the de facto boundary in the north eastern sector.

Concept / Approach:
The McMahon Line was drawn during the Simla Convention of 1914 by Sir Henry McMahon to demarcate the boundary between British India and Tibet. In the present day, India treats this line as its legal boundary in the eastern sector with the Tibetan region, which is under the control of the People's Republic of China. As a result, the McMahon Line functions as the de facto border between India and China in Arunachal Pradesh, though China disputes its legal status and refers to the area as part of what it calls South Tibet. Understanding this historical context helps to correctly link the line to China rather than to any other neighbouring state.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the McMahon Line is associated with the eastern Himalayas and the India Tibet China region. Step 2: Recall that this line is not connected with the western borders involving Pakistan or Afghanistan, nor with the low lying borders near Bangladesh. Step 3: Remember that the line was drawn between British India and Tibet and is now treated by India as the boundary with China in the north east. Step 4: Among the options, select China as the country separated from India by the McMahon Line. Step 5: Cross check mentally that no official source links the McMahon Line to any of the other options listed.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard geography references and civil services preparation materials clearly state that the McMahon Line forms the de facto boundary between India and China in the eastern sector. They also explain that the line runs along the crest of the eastern Himalayas and has been at the centre of disputes between India and China, especially regarding Arunachal Pradesh. Multiple reliable sources specifically mention that this boundary was drawn between British India and Tibet but today is taken as the border between India and China. This consistent description verifies that China is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Bangladesh shares a long boundary with India, but it is not defined by the McMahon Line; it is a lowland riverine border in the east. • Afghanistan touches India only indirectly through the narrow Wakhan corridor and is not connected with the McMahon Line. • Pakistan borders India in the west along lines such as the Radcliffe Line and the Line of Control, not the McMahon Line. • Myanmar borders India to the east, but that boundary is defined by different treaties and not by the McMahon Line.

Common Pitfalls:
• Confusing the McMahon Line with the Radcliffe Line, which separates India and Pakistan. • Mixing up different contested borders in the Himalayas and assuming the line might relate to Nepal or Bhutan. • Forgetting that the line was drawn with Tibet but is now effectively the India China boundary in that sector.

Final Answer:
The McMahon Line separates India from China on the north eastern frontier.