SSC
The highest mountain in Bhutan, also regarded as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, is:
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Answer: Option D — Gangkhar Puensum
Detailed Solution
Gangkhar Puensum, about 7,570 metres high, is the highest mountain in Bhutan and is widely considered the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
Location:
- It lies in the Himalayas, on or near the border between Bhutan and the Tibet region of China.
- The exact border position of the summit is disputed; Chinese maps place the summit on the border, while Bhutanese maps place it within Bhutan.
Meaning of the name:
"Gangkhar Puensum" means "White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers" in the Dzongkha language.
Why it remains unclimbed:
Bhutan opened its mountains to climbing only in 1983. Four expeditions attempted Gangkhar Puensum in 1985 and 1986, but all failed, partly because of poor maps and difficult weather.
In 1994, Bhutan banned climbing mountains higher than 6,000 metres, out of respect for local spiritual beliefs, since mountains are considered the homes of gods and spirits.
In 2003, mountaineering was banned completely in Bhutan.
A Japanese expedition in 1998 climbed a subsidiary peak, Liankang Kangri, on the Tibetan side, but not the main summit.
Other high peaks of the Bhutan Himalaya:
- Jomolhari (about 7,326 metres): a sacred mountain on the Bhutan-Tibet border, called the "bride of Kangchenjunga".
- Kula Kangri (about 7,538 metres): on or near the border, in Tibet.
Highest peaks in India's neighbourhood:
- Mount Everest (8,849 metres): on the Nepal-China border; highest in the world.
- K2 (8,611 metres): in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the China border; second highest.
- Kangchenjunga (8,586 metres): on the India (Sikkim)-Nepal border; third highest in the world and the highest peak in India.
Bhutan's environment:
Bhutan is one of the world's most mountainous countries, with elevations from about 100 metres in the south to over 7,500 metres in the north.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Kangchenjunga is on the India-Nepal border.
- ✗Jomolhari is a sacred peak in Bhutan, but lower than Gangkhar Puensum.
- ✗Nanda Devi is in Uttarakhand, India.
Quick tip
Remember: Gangkhar Puensum (about 7,570 m) = Bhutan's highest peak, highest unclimbed mountain in the world; Bhutan bans climbing high peaks.
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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.