Consider the following statements : 1. The Barren Island volcano is

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.
  • 2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.
  • 3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 and 3
3 only
1 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
The correct answer is A) 1 only.
Let’s evaluate each statement about Barren Island volcano:
1. **The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory:** This statement is correct. Barren Island is India’s only active volcano and is located in the Andaman Sea, part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. **Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar:** This statement is incorrect. Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, roughly 135-140 km northeast of Port Blair (South Andaman Island). Great Nicobar Island is located much further south, over 400 km from Barren Island.
3. **The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then:** This statement is incorrect. While there was a significant eruption in 1991 after nearly two centuries of dormancy, the volcano has erupted several times since then, including in 1995, 2005-06 (linked to the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake), and most recently exhibiting eruptions in 2017 and subsequent years. It is considered active.
Barren Island is a sub-aerial part of the volcanic arc that extends from Sumatra to Myanmar. It is uninhabited by humans. The recent eruptions highlight the ongoing volcanic activity in the region.