CAPF AC 2022 Q103: Geography – Indian Political Geography & Borders
- (a) Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh
- (b) Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana
- (c) Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana
- (d) Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (b) Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana
Explanation
States with neither coast nor foreign border
How to think: a state qualifies only if it has no sea coast and no international boundary.
Knock out an option as soon as it has one state that fails.
| State | Sea coast? | International border? | Qualifies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | No | No | Yes |
| Haryana | No | No | Yes |
| Jharkhand | No | No | Yes |
| Madhya Pradesh | No | No | Yes |
| Telangana | No | No | Yes |
| Andhra Pradesh | Yes, Bay of Bengal | No | No |
| Himachal Pradesh | No | Yes, China | No |
So the set is Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
Answer: (b).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Andhra Pradesh has a long coast on the Bay of Bengal.
- (b) CORRECT. All five states are landlocked and touch no foreign country.
- (c) Incorrect. Himachal Pradesh shares a border with China.
- (d) Incorrect. It has both Andhra Pradesh (coast) and Himachal Pradesh (China border).
Key point
Only five states are landlocked with no international border: Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Telangana. India has 9 coastal states and 17 states and UTs touching foreign countries.
Remember
Five inner states: Haryana, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that Andhra Pradesh kept the coast when Telangana was carved out.
- Thinking Himachal Pradesh has no foreign border; it touches Tibet (China).
- Leaving out Jharkhand or Telangana from the list of five.
Exam tip
Educated guess: strike any option with Andhra Pradesh (coast): (a) and (d) go. Then strike any with Himachal Pradesh (China): (c) goes.
Sources
- NCERT Class IX Geography — Contemporary India I, Chapter 1: India: Size and Location
- Survey of India — Political Map of India