RAS question
The Malabar Coast is in:
Correct answer: (C) Kerala (southwestern coast).
The Malabar Coast is the south-western coast of India, associated primarily with Kerala.
Explanation
The Malabar Coast is identified with India’s south-western coastline, primarily Kerala. Kerala Tourism’s Malabar page places Malabar in Kerala, wedged between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, and describes it as a land of spices, coir and coconuts that attracted traders from across the world for centuries. This matches the standard geography explanation: the region lies on the south-western coast, receives heavy rain from the south-west monsoon, and is known for backwaters, spices and maritime trade. So, among the options, Kerala is the only state that correctly matches the Malabar Coast.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Tamil Nadu belongs to the Coromandel Coast side in this standard coastal classification, not the Malabar Coast.
- (B) Karnataka is identified with the Kanara coast, so choosing it confuses a neighbouring western-coast segment with Malabar.
- (D) Maharashtra is associated with the Konkan coast, which is distinct from the Kerala-centred Malabar Coast.
Concept
This tests India’s coastal physiographic divisions and their state-wise location. It recurs in RAS because west-coast names such as Konkan, Kanara and Malabar are often used to test precise map recognition.