UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 48
If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B
Explanation: A minimum domestic road route can pass Nagaland → Assam → West Bengal → Odisha → Andhra Pradesh → Tamil Nadu → Kerala, totaling seven states including the endpoints.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - Six states are insufficient on the described domestic road corridor.
B: Correct - Correct-seven states suffice on a suitable east-coast route.
C: Incorrect - Eight states are possible on other routes but not minimal.
D: Incorrect - Nine states are also avoidable by choosing a shorter state sequence.
Review Note: This is the standard minimum-state-count interpretation, not a claim about shortest driving distance.