UPSC Express

Which of the following countries fall to the west of the International Date Line?
1. Kiribati
2. Samoa
3. Tuvalu
4. Fiji
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A.
1, 3 and 4
B.
1 and 2
C.
3 and 4
D.
1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation :
Samoa moved from east of the IDL to the west in 2011 to align the islands’ time with Asia-Pacific trading partners.
The date line switch came 119 years after US traders persuaded local Samoans to align their islands’ time with nearby US-controlled American Samoa to assist their trading with California. But this meant Samoa was nearly a full day behind Australia and New Zealand, which are increasingly important trading partners.
Cauvery tributaries or flow.
The date line is not mandated by any international body. By tradition, it runs roughly through the 180-degree line of longitude, but it zigzags to accommodate the choices of Pacific nations on how to align their calendars.