Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to sea by a long navigational channel?

The correct answer is D (Rajasthan). Rajasthan is landlocked, so an inland port there would need a long navigational channel to reach the sea. The state explored a proposal along these lines, linking a dry-port site in the western desert region to the coast through a canal or channel, which is the idea the question tests.

• A) Andhra Pradesh: It has a long coastline with major ports such as Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Krishnapatnam. It has no need for an artificial inland port joined to the sea.
• B) Chhattisgarh: It is landlocked, but the state has not been linked to this proposal. Its logistics planning focuses on rail and road corridors to the eastern and western ports.
• C) Karnataka: It has a coastline with ports like New Mangaluru and Karwar, so the sea is already accessible.

The core concept is the inland waterway and port network, which ties into the Sagarmala and national waterways agenda and the Mains theme of connectivity and logistics costs. Check any later updates on the project's status, as proposals of this kind change.

Trap: Aspirants often reason that a landlocked state cannot have a port-related proposal, or they pick Andhra Pradesh simply because it has many ports. Read the question for the idea of an artificial port connected to the sea by a channel.