What is the newly revised official length (in km) of India's coastline?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Recently, the length of India's coastline has been revised, according to the 2023-24 Annual Report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, and data released in April 2025 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
Old length: 7,516.6 km (based on old 1970s scales).
New revised length: 11,098.81 km
Reason for change: This increase is not due to any geographical expansion, but rather due to improved mapping technology (GIS, satellite imagery, and drone mapping) and the use of a higher-resolution scale (1:250,000).
This is also known as the 'coastline paradox,' where more accurate measurements lead to increased length.
Key figures:
Mainland: 7,870.51 km
Island area: 3,228.30 km
State with the longest coastline: Gujarat (over 2,340 km).
Union Territory with the longest coastline: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.