Little Andaman is separated from the Nicobar Islands by the:

The Ten Degree Channel is a stretch of sea about 150 km wide that separates Little Andaman (the southernmost large island of the Andaman group) from Car Nicobar (the northernmost island of the Nicobar group). It is named after the 10 degree North parallel of latitude, which runs through it.

Connection between seas:

• The channel connects the Bay of Bengal on the west with the Andaman Sea on the east.
• It is an important shipping route between India's east coast and South-East Asia.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

The Union Territory consists of about 836 islands, islets and rocks, of which only around 30 to 40 are inhabited.

The capital is Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), on South Andaman. It was renamed in 2024.

The northern group is the Andaman Islands and the southern group is the Nicobar Islands.

The islands are the exposed peaks of a submerged mountain range, an extension of the Arakan Yoma range of Myanmar.

Southernmost point of India:

Indira Point, on Great Nicobar Island, is the southernmost point of India.

Other channels and straits around the islands:

• Coco Channel: between the Coco Islands (Myanmar) and North Andaman.
• Macpherson Strait: between South Andaman and Rutland Island.
• Nine Degree Channel: in the Arabian Sea, in the Lakshadweep group.

Strategic importance:

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are close to the Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
• India's only tri-service command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, was set up at Port Blair in 2001.

Environment:

• The islands have rich rainforests, coral reefs and mangroves.
• They are home to indigenous tribes such as the Jarawa, Onge, Shompen, Great Andamanese and Sentinelese.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Coco Channel lies north of the Andamans.
• ✗The Nine Degree Channel lies in the Lakshadweep islands.
• ✗The Macpherson Strait lies within the Andaman group.