Among the coastal states of India, which of the following has the longest coastline along the sea?

Introduction / Context:
India has a long coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, and several states lie along this coast. Knowing which state has the longest coastline is a standard question in Indian geography because it relates to ports, fisheries, and maritime trade. This question asks you to identify the state with the longest coastline among the given options, all of which are coastal states.

Given Data / Assumptions:

We are comparing the lengths of coastlines of Indian coastal states.
Options are Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
We assume accepted measurements of coastline length used in textbooks and official statistics.
The correct answer is the state with the maximum coastal length among these four.

Concept / Approach:
Gujarat lies on the western side of India along the Arabian Sea and has an extensive, highly indented coastline that includes the Gulf of Kachchh and the Gulf of Khambhat. This makes its total coastal length the longest among Indian states. Andhra Pradesh has a long coastline along the Bay of Bengal, but it is still shorter than that of Gujarat. Maharashtra and Karnataka have comparatively smaller coastlines. By recalling which state includes large gulfs and a very irregular shoreline, we can identify Gujarat as the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Gujarat is located in western India and touches the Arabian Sea with two major gulfs. Step 2: Understand that the presence of gulfs and irregular shorelines increases the total length of the coastline. Step 3: Note that Andhra Pradesh lies on the east coast and has a long but more regular coastline. Step 4: Remember that Maharashtra and Karnataka also border the Arabian Sea but occupy smaller segments compared with Gujarat. Step 5: Conclude that Gujarat has the longest coastline among the given options.

Verification / Alternative check:
A verification method is to remember that many exam guides and atlases explicitly state that Gujarat has the longest coastline among the states of India. They often show maps where Gujarat projects far into the sea with long shorelines around Kachchh and Saurashtra. Andhra Pradesh, although long on the east coast, lacks such deep indentations. When official data are presented, Gujarat usually appears at the top of the list of coastal states by coastline length, confirming this conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Andhra Pradesh is wrong because its coastline, while significant along the Bay of Bengal, is shorter than that of Gujarat. Maharashtra is wrong because its coastline is limited mainly to the Konkan region and a small part near Mumbai. Karnataka is wrong because it has a relatively narrow strip of coast between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, much shorter in length compared with Gujarat. None of these states surpass Gujarat in coastal length.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes select Andhra Pradesh simply because they remember that it has many coastal districts on the east coast. Others may guess Maharashtra due to the prominence of Mumbai as a major port. These choices arise when attention is focused on economic prominence rather than actual coastline length. To avoid confusion, it is useful to memorise that Gujarat leads in coastline length, followed by other states, and that gulfs add substantial length to its shore.

Final Answer:
Among the coastal states listed, the one with the longest coastline is Gujarat.