Coastline Paradox:
The coastline paradox reveals more than a peculiar measurement challenge: it underscores how science evolves with better tools.
- In December 2024, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs made an important announcement as part of its 2023-2024 annual report.
- It said the length of India’s coastline had increased from 7,516.6 km to 11,098.8 km, and that the length is also currently under review.
- The 7,516.6 km figure was first recorded in the 1970s based on measurement techniques available at the time.
- The new revised figure wasn’t prompted by any territorial expansion through new land/island annexation or geological upheaval, like tectonic activity stretching the shores.
- The root of the discrepancy lies in geometry, in a problem called the coastline paradox.
