UPSC Prelims 2008 · General Studies
Question 142: Geography
In India, how many States share the coastline?
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Nine States share India's coastline: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the west and south, and Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal on the east. Telangana, formed in 2014, has no coast, so the count is still nine. Union Territories with a coast, such as Puducherry, are not counted.
How you could have got this
No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Seven undercounts the coastal States.
- (b) Eight misses one of the nine coastal States.
- (c) Nine States share the coastline.
- (d) Ten overcounts the coastal States.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2008, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.