Siachen Glacier is situated to the
- (a) East of Aksai Chin
- (b) East of Leh
- (c) North of Gilgit
- (d) North of Nubra Valley ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The Siachen Glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram, north of the Nubra Valley in Ladakh; the Nubra river rises from its snout — option (d).
• It lies west of Aksai Chin, north of Leh and east (not north) of Gilgit.
• At about 76 km it is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions (second to the Fedchenko in Tajikistan) and the world's highest battlefield, held by India since Operation Meghdoot (1984).
• Hence option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) East of Aksai Chin
- Siachen lies west/north-west of Aksai Chin, not east.
- (b) East of Leh
- Siachen is far to the north-east of Leh, not simply east.
- (c) North of Gilgit
- Siachen is east of Gilgit, not north.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, held on 4 October 2020. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.