Which of the following States of India has the longest coastline?

Gujarat has the longest coastline among Indian states. Commonly cited government figures put its mainland coast at about 1,214 km, the largest of any state. The length is boosted by the Kutch and Saurashtra peninsulas and the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat indentations. Counting island territory raises India's total to about 7,516 km, which is why figures vary across sources.

Why the others fall short:

• Andhra Pradesh (about 975 km): a long Bay of Bengal coast, but shorter than Gujarat.
• Maharashtra (about 720 km): the Konkan coast is shorter than both.
• Kerala (about 590 km): the Malabar coast is well known, but it is the shortest of the four.

Core concept: India's coastline geography and the role of indentations in coastline length. Mains link: coastal states, port-led development, fisheries and the blue economy, where coastline length matters for planning.

Trap: Aspirants pick Kerala or Maharashtra because those coasts are familiar, or they confuse coastline length with the number of coastal districts. Coastline figures also get revised with survey methods, so check the source if the question asks for a specific number.