The first large solar pond in India, the Bhuj Solar Pond project, is being constructed in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Solar energy projects are an important part of India's strategy to increase clean and renewable power generation. A solar pond is a large, shallow pool of salt water that collects and stores solar energy as heat. The Bhuj Solar Pond project is frequently referred to in Indian geography and general knowledge questions as the first major solar pond project in the country. Knowing in which state it is located tests familiarity with India's western states and key renewable energy locations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The project mentioned is the Bhuj Solar Pond project.
• It is described as the first large solar pond in India.
• The options list four Indian states: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
• The task is to identify the state where Bhuj and this pioneering solar pond project are located.

Concept / Approach:
The question combines physical geography and renewable energy. The key idea is that Bhuj is a well known town in the Kachchh (Kutch) region of western India. A student who can correctly place Bhuj on the map can easily select the correct state. The concept is therefore simple recall of the location of Bhuj and some awareness that the arid and semi arid regions of Kutch offer good conditions for solar energy projects, including solar ponds.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Bhuj is a district headquarters town in the Kachchh region in western India.Step 2: Remember that Kachchh district and Bhuj town are parts of the state of Gujarat.Step 3: Note that the Bhuj Solar Pond project is named after Bhuj because it is constructed near this town.Step 4: Therefore, the first large solar pond project referred to in the question is located in the state of Gujarat.Step 5: Cross check that none of the other listed states contain a town called Bhuj that is associated with a major solar pond project.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify the answer is to think about the map of India. Gujarat lies to the west of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and borders the Arabian Sea. The Kachchh region of Gujarat is famous for the Rann of Kutch and for experimental projects in salt affected and semi arid landscapes, including solar ponds. When competitive exam books list early Indian solar pond research and demonstration sites, they consistently associate Bhuj Solar Pond with Gujarat, not with the other states in the options. This geographic cross check confirms that Gujarat is the correct state for this project.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajasthan: Although Rajasthan also has a hot and dry climate and many solar power projects, Bhuj is not located in Rajasthan, so this choice does not match the project name.
Maharashtra: Maharashtra has important energy projects along its western coast, but Bhuj is not a town in Maharashtra and there is no famous Bhuj Solar Pond in that state.
Andhra Pradesh: This coastal state on the Bay of Bengal is far from the Kachchh region, and it is not the location of the Bhuj Solar Pond project mentioned here.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes pick Rajasthan because they associate deserts and high solar radiation with that state and do not carefully link the name Bhuj with Gujarat. Another common mistake is to guess based only on which state is more often mentioned in solar energy news rather than recalling the specific geography of Kachchh. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to connect project names directly to the towns and districts they reference and to visualise their position on the state level map.

Final Answer:
The Bhuj Solar Pond project, noted as the first large solar pond in India, is being constructed in the state of Gujarat.