Which one of the following states of India receives the first sunshine of the day because it lies farthest to the east?

Introduction / Context:
The timing of sunrise across India varies from east to west because of the Earth s rotation and the country s longitudinal extent. Areas located farther to the east experience sunrise earlier than those in the west. Examinations often ask which state gets the first rays of the sun each day. This question connects basic astronomical concepts with the map of India and tests whether students can identify the easternmost state among the options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question is about the earliest sunshine within India. - The options are Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. span style="display:block;">- The state that lies farthest to the east among these will logically receive sunrise first. - The reasoning is based on longitude and the daily rotation of the Earth from west to east.

Concept / Approach:
As the Earth rotates from west to east, locations to the east experience sunrise earlier than those to the west. Within India, the easternmost states in the north east receive the sun before the plains of North India and before states further west. Arunachal Pradesh extends to some of the easternmost longitudes in India. Therefore, towns in Arunachal Pradesh see the first sunshine of the day within Indian territory, which is why the state is sometimes called the Land of the Rising Sun in India. The approach is to compare the relative longitudinal positions of the states listed.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by looking at the map of India that marks longitudes or highlights the easternmost and westernmost points. The eastern tip of Arunachal Pradesh clearly lies east of all the other states mentioned in the options. Many geography textbooks also explicitly state that Arunachal Pradesh is the state where the sun first rises in India. This repeated statement across different sources confirms that it is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
West Bengal, although located in eastern India, does not extend as far east as the north eastern hill states such as Arunachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh lies in the north western Himalayas and is clearly west of Arunachal Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmir is located even farther to the west and therefore gets sunrise later relative to the north eastern region. None of the above is incorrect because one option, Arunachal Pradesh, clearly fits the description of being farthest east.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may choose West Bengal because they think of it as eastern India without visualising the distinct group of north eastern states beyond it. Others may focus on latitude rather than longitude and mistakenly consider Himalayan states further north as receiving the sun first. Remembering that sunrise depends mainly on east west position, not simply on being far north, helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
The Indian state that receives the earliest sunshine of the day among the given options is Arunachal Pradesh.