RAS question
The Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, is located in which state?
Correct answer: (A) Odisha.
Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, is located in Odisha on the east coast of India.
Explanation
Chilika Lake is in Odisha, making Odisha the correct state. The Government of Odisha's tourism page describes Chilika Lake as a brackish water lagoon spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha on India's east coast. Two exam-relevant identifiers further support this: Chilika was designated India's first Ramsar site in 1981, and it is associated with the Irrawaddy dolphin. Together, these clues make the location unambiguous for RAS Geography: Chilika is an east-coast lagoon of Odisha, not a lake of peninsular south India.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Tamil Nadu is wrong because the Government of Odisha places Chilika Lake in Odisha, specifically across Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts.
- (C) Kerala is wrong because Chilika is an east-coast lagoon in Odisha, not a Kerala backwater or lagoon.
- (D) Andhra Pradesh is wrong because Chilika is located in Odisha on India's east coast.
Concept
Chilika Lake belongs to Indian physical geography, especially major lakes, lagoons and Ramsar sites. It recurs in RAS because such water bodies link location, ecology and conservation status.