According to Indian political geography, West Bengal shares its international boundaries with how many different countries?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the political geography of India and specifically the international boundaries of the state of West Bengal. Indian states that lie along international borders sometimes share boundaries with more than one country, and these facts are frequently tested in competitive examinations. Knowing how many countries border a particular state helps in understanding strategic location, cross border trade, and regional connectivity.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The state in question is West Bengal in eastern India.
• We must count the number of different countries that share international boundaries with West Bengal.
• The options offered are 2, 1, 3, and 4.
• We assume current generally accepted political boundaries as used in standard textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
West Bengal stretches from the Bay of Bengal in the south to the Himalayan foothills in the north. It is known to share borders with multiple neighbouring countries. Specifically, West Bengal shares international boundaries with Bangladesh along most of its eastern side, with Bhutan in the northern hilly part, and with Nepal around the Siliguri corridor region. Thus, the total number of distinct countries that border West Bengal is three. The approach is to list these neighbouring countries and then simply count them.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that West Bengal borders Bangladesh on its east over a long stretch. Step 2: Remember that in its northern region, West Bengal shares a border with Bhutan. Step 3: Also recall that West Bengal touches Nepal in the area near the narrow Siliguri corridor. Step 4: Count these three distinct neighbours, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. Step 5: Compare with the options and note that three matches option representing the correct count.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick cross check with a political map of India will show West Bengal touching Bangladesh along a major part of its eastern border, Bhutan along its northern edges, and a small but important stretch with Nepal. No other country directly touches West Bengal. Maps used in school atlases and exam guides consistently show this pattern. Therefore, the answer three is reliable and matches the commonly accepted geographic information.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
2: This would mean one of Bangladesh, Bhutan, or Nepal is not counted, which is not correct according to political maps.
1: This would be true only if West Bengal touched a single country such as Bangladesh, but it actually shares borders with more than one neighbour.
4: There is no fourth country directly bordering West Bengal, so this option overstates the number of neighbours.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to overlook the relatively narrow border segments with Bhutan and Nepal and to remember only the long border with Bangladesh. Another pitfall is confusing state boundaries with international ones, which may lead to miscounting. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to regularly revise the map of India, focus on border states, and memorise which countries they touch, particularly in the northeast and eastern region where the borders are more complex.

Final Answer:
The correct choice is 3, because West Bengal shares international boundaries with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.