What is the total length of India’s coastline?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

DSSSB PGT Chemistry (Female) Official Paper (Held On: 06 Jul, 2018 Shift 1)

Answer 1

The correct answer is 7417 km.

Key Points

India's coastline has a total length of 7,417 kilometers, encompassing both the mainland and its islands.
The mainland coastline covers approximately 5,422 kilometers, while the remaining length belongs to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands.
The coastline touches nine Indian states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
India’s coastal areas are strategically important for trade, tourism, biodiversity, and national security.
The coastline plays a critical role in supporting marine ecosystems and livelihoods of millions of people dependent on fishing and related industries.

Additional Information

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):
- India has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 2.37 million square kilometers, extending up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline.
- The EEZ is crucial for marine resource exploration, energy production, and fishing rights.
Coastal Biodiversity:
- India’s coastline is home to diverse ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and lagoons.
- The Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ports in India:
- India has 13 major ports and over 200 minor and intermediate ports along its coastline.
- Some of the major ports include Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, and Cochin.
Coastal Protection Initiatives:
- The Indian government has launched initiatives like the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) program to protect coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Efforts are being made to mitigate coastal erosion, which affects approximately 36% of India's coastline.