Explanation: To understand the context of the question, it is essential to know the geographical layout of the northern states of India. Haryana is a state located in the northern part of India, bordered by Punjab to the north, Rajasthan to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the east, and Delhi to the south. It is a landlocked state, meaning it does not have any coastline and is entirely within the borders of India.
Punjab, on the other hand, shares a border with Pakistan, making it an international boundary. This is a crucial distinction when answering the question. The question specifically asks for a state that is close to Punjab but does not share an international boundary. This eliminates Punjab itself and any state that shares a border with Pakistan.
Himachal Pradesh, while close to Punjab, does not share a direct border with it. Instead, it is located to the north and shares a border with Jammu & Kashmir, which does have an international boundary with Pakistan. Therefore, Himachal Pradesh does not meet the criteria of the question.
Jammu & Kashmir is another state that shares a border with Punjab, but it also shares an international boundary with Pakistan. This makes it unsuitable for the question as it does not meet the requirement of not sharing an international boundary.
Haryana, being a landlocked state that borders Punjab but does not share an international boundary, is the correct answer. It is entirely within the borders of India and does not have any international borders, making it the only state among the options that fits the criteria of the question.
In summary, the question tests the geographical knowledge of the states in northern India and their respective borders. Haryana is the only state among the options that is close to Punjab and does not share an international boundary, making it the correct answer.