UPSC Prelims 2003 Q25: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders
Which one among the following States is smallest in area?
- (a) Andhra Pradesh
- (b) Gujarat
- (c) Karnataka
- (d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: (d) Tamil Nadu
Explanation
Smallest State by area among the options
| State | Area |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | About 130,058 sq km |
| Karnataka | About 191,791 sq km |
| Gujarat | About 196,024 sq km |
| Andhra Pradesh | About 275,045 sq km (before 2014) |
Among the four options, Tamil Nadu is the smallest State in area, while Andhra Pradesh (before its 2014 bifurcation) was the largest of them.
Answer: (d) Tamil Nadu.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Andhra Pradesh was the largest of these (before 2014).
- (b) Incorrect. Gujarat is larger than Tamil Nadu.
- (c) Incorrect. Karnataka is larger than Tamil Nadu.
- (d) CORRECT. Tamil Nadu has the smallest area of these.
Key point
Area ranks: Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, Karnataka, AP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, TN.
Remember
Tamil Nadu is the smallest of these four States by area.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Gujarat or Karnataka by guesswork.
- Ignoring that Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014.
- Mixing area with the population of a State.
Exam tip
TN is smaller than Karnataka and Gujarat, although more populous than both.
Sources
- Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India — Census of India 2001: Provisional Population Totals (area of States)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Tamil Nadu