Which one of the following statement is wrong ?

The correct answer is Option (4) → Electrostatic field lines form closed loops.

Electric field lines are drawn so that the tangent at any point gives the direction of the field there, and the electrostatic field is conservative.

Option (1) Electric field lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges — True statement. Field lines begin on positive charges and end on negative charges (or go to infinity).

Option (2) In a charge free region, electric field lines can be taken to be continuous without any breaks — True statement. In a region with no charge, field lines are continuous curves without breaks.

Option (3) Two field lines never cross each other — True statement. If two lines crossed, the field at that point would have two directions, which is impossible.

Option (4) Electrostatic field lines form closed loops. — Wrong statement. The electrostatic field is conservative, so the work done round any closed path is zero. A closed field line would give non-zero work round it, so electrostatic field lines never form closed loops. This is the statement asked for.

NCERT (2026-27):
Electric Field Lines – “… The field lines follow some important general properties: (i) Field lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges. … (ii) In a charge-free region, electric field lines can be taken to be continuous curves without any breaks. (iii) Two field lines can never cross each other. … (iv) Electrostatic field lines do not form any closed loops. This follows from the conservative nature of electric field (Chapter 2).”