Question (Identify what is NOT correct)
Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are NOT correct?
1
Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States.
2
Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States.
3
Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State.
A1 only
B1 and 2
C2 and 3 — Both are NOT correct
D3 only
Each Statement — Verified Against Facts
1
Statement 1 is factually TRUE → does NOT qualify as “not correct”
Uttar Pradesh borders the maximum number of states and UTs in India — a well-established geographic fact.
UP shares boundary with highest number of Indian States
✓ This IS correct — so NOT in the answer
UP’s 9 neighbours (8 states + 1 UT):
Uttarakhand (N)
Himachal Pradesh (NW)
Delhi UT (NW)
Haryana (W)
Rajasthan (W)
Madhya Pradesh (S)
Chhattisgarh (SE)
Jharkhand (E)
Bihar (E)
✓ Statement 1 IS correct
UP = 8 states + 1 UT = 9 neighbours. Highest in India. Statement 1 is correct, so it does NOT belong in the “not correct” answer.
2
Statement 2 is factually WRONG → qualifies as “not correct”
The actual ranking of states by international border length:
Rajasthan = longest international border
✗ NOT correct — West Bengal has the longest
West Bengal 🏆
2,509.7 km
Arunachal Pradesh
1,817 km
Rajasthan
1,170 km
Rajasthan only borders Pakistan (1,170 km) — significantly shorter. Statement 2 is factually wrong.
✗ Statement 2 is NOT correct
West Bengal = longest (2,509.7 km) · Borders Bangladesh + Nepal + Bhutan. Rajasthan = only 1,170 km (Pakistan only). Rajasthan is not even second — Arunachal Pradesh (1,817 km) is.
3
Statement 3 is factually WRONG → qualifies as “not correct”
The word “only” is the killer. Sikkim indeed touches just one Indian State (West Bengal). But Sikkim is not the only such state — Meghalaya also touches just one Indian State (Assam).
Sikkim is the “only” state with one Indian State neighbour
✗ NOT correct — Meghalaya also fits
Both Sikkim and Meghalaya are in the same category:
🏔️ Sikkim
Indian State border: West Bengal (S)
International: Nepal (W) · Bhutan (E) · China/Tibet (N & NE)
🌿 Meghalaya
Indian State border: Assam (N & E)
International: Bangladesh (S & W)
✗ Statement 3 is NOT correct
Sikkim (→ West Bengal only) AND Meghalaya (→ Assam only) both touch just one Indian State. “Sikkim is the ONLY” is false.
Key Reference Facts — Indian States Boundaries
| Category | State | Key Detail |
| Most state neighbours | Uttar Pradesh | 8 states + 1 UT (Delhi) = 9 neighbours. Second: Assam (7) |
| Longest intl. border | West Bengal 🏆 | 2,509.7 km — Bangladesh + Nepal + Bhutan |
| 2nd longest intl. border | Arunachal Pradesh | 1,817 km — China + Myanmar + Bhutan |
| 3rd longest intl. border | Rajasthan | 1,170 km — Pakistan only |
| Touches only 1 Indian State | Sikkim + Meghalaya (both) | Sikkim → West Bengal · Meghalaya → Assam |
| Fewest intl. borders | Nagaland | 125 km (Myanmar only) |
| UP’s 9 neighbours | Uttarakhand · HP · Delhi (UT) · Haryana · Rajasthan · MP · Chhattisgarh · Jharkhand · Bihar | |
| West Bengal’s intl. borders | Bangladesh (2,216 km) + Nepal (~100 km) + Bhutan (~183 km) = 2,509.7 km total | |
Memory Trick — Never Confuse These Again
🧠 Remember It This Way
Statement 2 trap — “Rajasthan = Pakistan border”: Students confuse “longest Pakistan border” with “longest international border overall.” Rajasthan does share the most Pakistan border among states (~1,170 km) — but West Bengal borders Bangladesh (2,216 km) + Nepal + Bhutan, totalling 2,509.7 km. West Bengal wins overall.
Statement 3 trap — “only” is the lie: Sikkim touching only West Bengal is a well-known fact. But so is Meghalaya touching only Assam. Any time a UPSC statement says “only state to…” — verify whether another state also qualifies. Here both Sikkim and Meghalaya qualify. “Only” = false.
The two island states: Sikkim (touches West Bengal + 3 foreign countries) and Meghalaya (touches Assam + Bangladesh) are geographically “islands” within India — surrounded mostly by foreign countries rather than other Indian states.
West Bengal’s triple international border: West Bengal is unique in India — it borders Bangladesh + Nepal + Bhutan = three countries. This combination makes its total international border length (2,509.7 km) comfortably the longest of any Indian state.
