RAS question
The Chilika Lake is:
Correct answer: (B) The largest coastal lagoon in India (in Odisha).
Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and is located in Odisha.
Explanation
Chilika Lake is identified with Odisha and the east coast of India, so the option describing it as India’s largest coastal lagoon in Odisha is the match. The exam-relevant classifiers are that it is a brackish-water coastal lagoon, not an inland freshwater lake, and it is also noted as the second largest lagoon in the world. Its Ramsar wetland status, spread of about 1,100 sq km, migratory birds, flamingos and Irrawaddy dolphin habitat make it a standard biodiversity-and-wetlands example. Chilika Development Authority describes Chilika as a brackish or salt-water lagoon on the east coast, in coastal Odisha, and as a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Chilika is not a freshwater lake in Kashmir; it is a brackish coastal lagoon associated with Odisha.
- (C) Chilika is not an artificial reservoir in Madhya Pradesh, because it is a natural coastal lagoon.
- (D) Chilika is not a river delta in Bengal; the tested feature is its lagoon character on the Odisha coast.
Concept
This tests the Indian geography theme of important lakes, lagoons and wetlands, especially their location and ecological classification. It recurs in RAS because Ramsar wetlands, coastal landforms and biodiversity sites are frequent map-based and environment-linked facts.