Correct option is D
The correct answer is (D) Kanchenjunga
Explanation:
• Kanchenjunga is the highest mountain peak located entirely or partially within territory actively administered by India, standing at an elevation of 8,586 meters.
• It is situated on the international border between the Indian state of Sikkim and neighboring Nepal, forming a magnificent part of the Great Himalayas.
• It is recognized globally as the third highest mountain peak in the entire world, trailing behind Mount Everest and Mount K2.
• Official educational content in India, including standard NCERT Geography textbooks for Classes 9 and 11, strictly designates Kanchenjunga as India's highest summit within its undisputed borders.
• The surrounding region is protected under the Khangchendzonga National Park, which was declared a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage site due to its unique biological and cultural values.
Information Booster:
• Mount K2 (also known as Godwin-Austen) stands at 8,611 meters and is technically the highest peak in the entire geographic region of India, but it lies in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is currently under Pakistani administration.
• The name Kanchenjunga translates locally to 'The Five Treasures of Snows', referring to the five distinct high summits that comprise its massive mountain mass.
• The local indigenous communities of Sikkim hold the mountain sacred, and early mountaineering expeditions traditionally stopped just short of the actual summit to respect these religious beliefs.
Additional Knowledge:
• Mt. Everest (Option A): Standing at 8,848.86 meters, it is the absolute highest peak on planet Earth, located completely on the border between Nepal and Tibet (China), not in India.
• K 1 (Option B): Also known as Masherbrum, it is a prominent peak located in the Karakoram range of Pakistan, separate from India's highest peaks.
• Nanda Devi (Option C): At 7,816 meters, it is the highest mountain peak situated completely and unconditionally within Indian territory (in Uttarakhand), without sharing borders with any other nation.
