Which one of the following is the longest National Highway in India under the old highway numbering system?

Introduction / Context:

Before the renumbering of National Highways in India, certain highway numbers became very famous due to their length and the major cities they connected. Questions in general knowledge examinations often still refer to the old numbering system. This question asks which National Highway, using the older numbers, was the longest in India, so it checks both transport geography and memory of important transport routes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options provided are NH2, NH5, NH7, and NH8.
• We are considering the older numbering scheme of National Highways.
• We assume that this is the standard information previously used in many exam oriented books.
• NH7 is known to connect Varanasi in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.

Concept / Approach:

The central concept is that NH7, under the old numbering system, was the longest National Highway in India. It ran from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh down to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, passing through several states and covering a very large north south distance. NH2 connected Delhi to Kolkata, NH5 ran along the east coast, and NH8 connected Delhi to Mumbai, but their lengths were shorter than NH7. Therefore, when exam questions ask about the longest National Highway by old number, NH7 is the standard correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Verification may be done by looking at older transport geography tables or official National Highways Authority of India data compiled before the renumbering exercise. These sources list NH7 as the longest highway by old number, with a length of over 2300 kilometres. In contrast, NH2, NH5, and NH8 were all shorter in total length. This consistent listing across multiple references supports the choice of NH7 as the correct answer in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

A common pitfall is to confuse significance with length. Candidates sometimes pick NH2 or NH8 because they connect very major metropolitan cities. Others may be confused by the renumbering of highways and forget the earlier classification. To avoid errors, specifically remember that in the old system NH7 gained recognition in textbooks as the longest National Highway, running from Varanasi to Kanyakumari across multiple states.

Final Answer:

The longest National Highway in India under the old numbering system was NH7.