Indian Ocean

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Malacca Strait is the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Deepening the strait would allow ships with a deeper draft (heavier cargo) to pass through, which is currently an issue for very large vessels ("Malaccamax"). However, deepening the existing path does not shorten the geographical distance or reduce the time required to travel the route; the path remains the same length. Statement 2 is Correct: The Kra Isthmus is the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand. A proposed canal here (often called the Thai Canal) would link the Andaman Sea directly to the Gulf of Siam. This canal would allow ships to bypass the long detour through the Malacca Straits, reducing the navigation distance by approximately 1,200 km and the travel time by about 72 hours.

Sumatra is the geographically closest island to Great Nicobar. Great Nicobar is part of the Nicobar Islands of India, located north of Sumatra (Indonesia).  Borneo is a much larger island further east in Southeast Asia. Java is another large island in Indonesia, but further west compared to Sumatra. Sri Lanka is a separate island nation south of India, significantly farther away than Sumatra. Therefore, the answer is (A) Sumatra.

* **Statement 1: Correct.** The Red Sea is located in a desert region with very high temperatures and low humidity. This leads to very little rainfall or any form of precipitation. * **Statement 2: Correct.** Due to its location, no major rivers are flowing into the Red Sea. The water in the Red Sea comes primarily from the inflow of saltier water from the Gulf of Aden through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.  **Hence, both statements (1 and 2) are correct.**