Which notable water body is located to the south of the Mahanadi Delta on the Eastern Coastal Plains of India?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

Explanation

Chilka Lake is a large brackish water lagoon located on the east coast of India in the state of Odisha.
Its geographical position is on the Eastern Coastal Plains, directly to the south of the Mahanadi River delta.
It is renowned as the largest coastal lagoon in India and serves as a major wintering ground for migratory birds.

Option A: Dal Lake is a freshwater lake located in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, which is in the northern part of India, far from the Eastern Coastal Plains.
Option B: Vembanad Lagoon is located in Kerala, on the southwestern coast of India (Malabar Coast), not the eastern coast.
Option D: Sambhar Salt Lake is an inland saline lake located in Rajasthan, in western India. It is not a coastal water body and is not on the Eastern Coastal Plains.

Visual 1: Map of India - A map highlighting the locations of Chilka Lake, Dal Lake, Vembanad Lagoon, and Sambhar Salt Lake to provide a clear visual contrast of their geographical positions relative to the Mahanadi Delta and the Eastern Coastal Plains.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Geography of India's major water bodies as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical topic, general knowledge of national geography is part of a holistic education for professionals in India.
Understanding regional geography can be relevant in community health settings, especially concerning water-borne diseases endemic to specific areas (e.g., cholera in coastal regions).
What if? If the question had asked for the longest lake in India, the answer would change to Vembanad Lagoon in Kerala.

How to Approach the Question

Step 1: Identify the key geographical markers in the question: 'south of Mahanadi Delta' and 'Eastern Coastal Plains'.
Step 2: Recall or deduce that the Mahanadi River and the Eastern Coastal Plains are located on the east coast of India, primarily in the state of Odisha.
Step 3: Evaluate each option based on this specific location.
Step 4: Eliminate Dal Lake (North India), Vembanad Lagoon (South-West India), and Sambhar Lake (West India) as they are not on the Eastern Coast.
Step 5: Conclude that Chilka Lake, which is famously located in Odisha, is the only option that fits the precise geographical description provided in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.