Explanation:

Here’s what’s going on with national highways as per 2017 data:

- Uttar Pradesh actually tops the list for the longest stretch of national highways in India, not Maharashtra. It’s got the kind of reach that connects huge population centers and multiple states.

- Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka both have extensive networks too, but they don’t surpass Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra in sheer highway length as per the official stats.

- Maharashtra’s highway network is impressive, thanks to its economic importance and big cities, but the official numbers still show Uttar Pradesh edging it out by several hundred kilometers.

So, bottom line:

Option 1: Uttar Pradesh is the correct answer.