The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
India has several marine protected areas that safeguard coral reefs, mangroves and marine biodiversity. The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is especially important as one of the first marine parks in the country. Exam questions frequently ask in which state this park is located to test knowledge of coastal conservation geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The park is described as being in the Gulf of Kutch. • Four coastal states are offered as options: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. • We assume familiarity with the location of the Gulf of Kutch on the Indian map.

Concept / Approach:
The Gulf of Kutch is an inlet of the Arabian Sea located along the coast of Gujarat in western India. Therefore, any marine national park in the Gulf of Kutch must lie within the state of Gujarat. The other options correspond to different coastal regions and seas, not to the Gulf of Kutch.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the map of India and identify the Gulf of Kutch on the north western coast along Gujarat. Step 2: Recall that India's first Marine National Park, with coral reefs and mangroves, was established in this gulf along the Gujarat coast. Step 3: Match this information with the options and select Gujarat as the correct state.

Verification / Alternative check:
Geography and environment reference books clearly describe the Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch as located in Jamnagar district of Gujarat. The other states listed are associated with different marine areas such as the Gulf of Mannar or the Bay of Bengal, not with the Gulf of Kutch.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Tamil Nadu) lies on the south eastern coast near the Bay of Bengal and the Palk Strait and is associated with the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, not the Gulf of Kutch. Option C (Kerala) faces the Arabian Sea further south but does not contain the Gulf of Kutch or this specific marine national park. Option D (West Bengal) borders the Bay of Bengal and contains the Sundarbans, which is a mangrove forest area rather than the Gulf of Kutch.

Common Pitfalls:
• Some learners may confuse the Gulf of Kutch with other marine protected areas in Tamil Nadu or the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. • Others may only remember that it is a marine park and guess states randomly without anchoring themselves on the exact location of the gulf.

Final Answer:
The Marine Gulf of Kutch National Park is situated in Gujarat.