Which of the following statements about the Union territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is INCORRECT in the context of their colonial history and constitutional changes?

Introduction / Context:
This question combines geography, colonial history, and constitutional amendments. The western coastal region of India includes territories that were under Portuguese control before their integration into India. Understanding which European power ruled which area and how these regions were reorganised under the Constitution is important for many general studies exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question lists statements about Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
- You have to identify which statement is incorrect.
- The statements refer to statehood, geographical features, constitutional amendments, and colonial rulers.
- We assume familiarity with basic timelines of decolonisation on the western coast of India.

Concept / Approach:
Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli were all under Portuguese rule, not French rule, before they joined the Indian Union. Goa attained full statehood in 1987. Diu is indeed an island near the coast of Gujarat in the Gulf of Khambhat. The Fifty Sixth Amendment of the Constitution in 1987 separated Daman and Diu from Goa when Goa became a state. Therefore any statement claiming that Dadra and Nagar Haveli were under French colonial rule is historically incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate statement a. Goa became a state on 30 May 1987, which is correct. Step 2: Evaluate statement b. Diu is a small island off the coast of Gujarat in the Gulf of Khambhat, so this statement is correct. Step 3: Evaluate statement c. The Fifty Sixth Amendment dealt with granting statehood to Goa and making Daman and Diu a separate Union territory, so this statement is also correct. Step 4: Evaluate statement d. Dadra and Nagar Haveli were enclaves under Portuguese rule, not French rule. Therefore this statement is incorrect. Step 5: Evaluate statement e. It is correct that these territories were formerly Portuguese possessions before integration with India.

Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, remember that French colonial possessions in India included Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Chandernagore. Portuguese control extended over Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli. Dadra and Nagar Haveli were liberated from Portuguese rule in 1954 by local freedom fighters and later integrated into India. No part of Dadra and Nagar Haveli was under French administration, which confirms that statement d is wrong.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is a true statement about Goa statehood, so it cannot be the incorrect one.
Option b correctly states the geographical location of Diu as an island in the Gulf of Khambhat.
Option c correctly mentions the Fifty Sixth Amendment as the constitutional change that separated Daman and Diu from Goa when Goa became a state.
Option e accurately notes that these territories were Portuguese, not French, before integration into India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse French and Portuguese colonial regions because both countries had enclaves in India. Another common mistake is to forget which constitutional amendment granted statehood to Goa and reorganised the territories. A simple way to remember is to list French enclaves separately and associate Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli exclusively with Portuguese rule. Doing so makes the incorrect statement in this question easy to spot.

Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is Dadra and Nagar Haveli were under French colonial rule till 1954, because they were actually under Portuguese rule until their liberation and subsequent integration with India.