Explanation: The concept of a coastline is fundamental in geography and refers to the boundary where land meets the sea. In the context of Indian states, the length of the coastline can vary significantly due to the geographical location and shape of the state.
Goa, a small state located on the western coast of India, has a coastline that is approximately 160 kilometers long. This makes it the state with the shortest coastline among the options provided. The coastline of Goa is relatively short due to its compact size and the fact that it is entirely surrounded by the Arabian Sea on one side and the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka on the other sides.
In contrast, the other states listed have much longer coastlines. Maharashtra, which is a larger state, has a coastline of approximately 720 kilometers. Kerala, another state on the western coast, has a coastline of about 590 kilometers. Tamil Nadu, located on the southeastern coast of India, has the longest coastline among the options, stretching approximately 1,076 kilometers.
The length of a coastline can have significant implications for the state's economy, particularly in terms of fishing, tourism, and maritime trade. However, in this question, the focus is solely on the geographical fact of the coastline length. Understanding the relative lengths of coastlines is important for students of geography and those preparing for competitive examinations that test knowledge of Indian geography.
To summarize, Goa has the shortest coastline among the given options, making it the correct answer. This is due to its small size and the fact that it is entirely surrounded by the Arabian Sea on one side, resulting in a coastline that is significantly shorter than those of the other states listed.