The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through which of the following states of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Tropic of Cancer is an important latitude at about 23.5 degrees north. In India it passes through several states from west to east, and many exam questions test your knowledge of these states. This question asks you to identify which state among the options does not have the Tropic of Cancer crossing it, even though it may lie relatively close to that latitude.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The geographic feature in focus is the Tropic of Cancer.

- Options include Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

- The standard list of Indian states crossed by the Tropic of Cancer includes Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.

- You must compare the options with this list to find which one is missing.

Concept / Approach:
The Tropic of Cancer enters India in Gujarat, then passes through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, continuing through Jharkhand and West Bengal, and finally through Tripura and Mizoram before leaving Indian territory. Odisha lies to the south of the Tropic of Cancer and is not on the list of states that this latitude crosses. Therefore, among the options provided, Odisha is the state through which the Tropic of Cancer does not pass.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from your notes the list of Indian states that the Tropic of Cancer crosses: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Step 2: Check each option against this list. Step 3: Gujarat is clearly on the list, so the Tropic of Cancer passes through it. Step 4: Rajasthan is also on the list, so the Tropic of Cancer passes through it as well. Step 5: West Bengal appears in the list, so this state is also crossed by the Tropic of Cancer. Step 6: Chhattisgarh is in the list of states through which the Tropic passes. Step 7: Odisha does not appear in the list, and lies south of this latitude, so the Tropic of Cancer does not pass through Odisha.

Verification / Alternative Check:
As an alternative, you can mentally trace the path of the Tropic of Cancer on the map: it enters in Gujarat, slants across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, crosses the central part of Chhattisgarh, then passes through Jharkhand and West Bengal before touching the northeastern states Tripura and Mizoram. If you visualise Odisha on the map, you see that it lies further south along the Bay of Bengal, below the Tropic of Cancer line. This geographic check confirms that Odisha is not intersected by the Tropic of Cancer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gujarat is one of the western states where the Tropic of Cancer first enters Indian territory. Rajasthan is crossed by the Tropic in its southern part. West Bengal is on the path of the Tropic of Cancer as it moves towards the northeast. Chhattisgarh lies in central India and is also intersected by the Tropic of Cancer.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse the Tropic of Cancer with the Equator or the Arctic Circle and therefore misjudge its position. Others may think Odisha is just another central state similar to Chhattisgarh and incorrectly include it in the path. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to memorise a short mnemonic or phrase that includes the names of the states the Tropic of Cancer passes through. With this list firmly in mind, picking out the state that does not belong becomes straightforward.

Final Answer:
The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through the Indian state of Odisha.