Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?

Answer: (d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat

Arunachal Pradesh (~97°E) is the easternmost; Gujarat (Kachchh, ~68°E) is the westernmost.

The idea

East and west are compared by longitude. A State’s extreme boundary can extend farther than its capital or most of its territory. Use the full Government of India outline, including Arunachal Pradesh and the western projection of Kachchh.

Why the others are wrong

(a) Assam is not the easternmost; Rajasthan is not the westernmost.

(b) Rajasthan is not the westernmost.

(c) Assam is not the easternmost.

The trap

Rajasthan feels like the west edge, but Kachchh sticks out farther.

Elimination technique

Kachchh projects west of Rajasthan, which removes the two Rajasthan options. Arunachal Pradesh extends east of Assam, resolving the remaining pair.

Also know

India uses the 82°30′E standard meridian for IST. Earth rotates through 15 degrees of longitude per hour, so the eastern edge experiences sunrise earlier in local solar time. Indira Point is the southern island extremity, while Kanyakumari marks the southern mainland tip.