Correct Option
India has a mainland coastline extending approximately 6,100 km. A total of nine states share this coastline. These states are:
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Goa
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Odisha
- West Bengal
Incorrect Options
Options (a) and (b) are incorrect as they state a number lower than the actual nine coastal states of India.
Option (d) is incorrect because it overstates the number of coastal states. While India has a total of nine coastal states, the inclusion of Union Territories such as Puducherry, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep would increase the count of coastal administrative units, but not the number of states.