Which is the largest (longest) glacier of India?

The Siachen Glacier, about 76 km long, is the longest glacier in India and the longest in the Karakoram range. It is the second longest glacier in the world outside the polar regions, after the Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.

Location:

• It lies in the eastern Karakoram range in Ladakh, just north-east of the point NJ9842, where the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan ends.
• It lies between the Saltoro Ridge to the west and the main Karakoram watershed to the east.
• Its name is often explained as "the place of wild roses", from the Balti language, because of the wild roses that grow in the valley.
• Its meltwater is the main source of the Nubra river, which joins the Shyok, a tributary of the Indus.

Strategic importance:

• In April 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot and its troops took control of the Siachen Glacier and the main passes of the Saltoro Ridge, such as Sia La and Bilafond La.
• Siachen is known as the highest battlefield in the world, with posts at heights of over 6,000 metres.
• More soldiers have died there from extreme weather, avalanches and altitude sickness than from enemy fire.
• 13 April is observed by the Indian Army as Siachen Day.

Other important glaciers of India:

Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand): about 30 km long, the source of the Bhagirathi at Gaumukh. It is among the largest glaciers of the Himalayas.

Zemu Glacier (Sikkim): the largest glacier of the Eastern Himalayas, at the base of Kangchenjunga; it feeds the headwaters of the Teesta.

Milam Glacier (Uttarakhand): the source of the Gori Ganga, in the Pithoragarh district.

Pindari Glacier (Uttarakhand): source of the Pindar river.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Gangotri is the largest glacier of Uttarakhand and one of the largest in the Himalayas, but shorter than Siachen.
• ✗Zemu is the largest glacier of Sikkim and the Eastern Himalayas.
• ✗Milam is a much smaller glacier in Kumaon.