The scheme called Dulari Kanya, launched to reduce infant mortality among girl children, belongs to which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about a state level welfare scheme named Dulari Kanya, targeted at improving the survival and well being of girl children. Many Indian states have launched specific schemes to tackle issues such as high infant mortality, malnutrition, and gender based discrimination. Identifying which state launched Dulari Kanya is a matter of current affairs and social welfare awareness, particularly for exams that focus on governance and public policy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scheme is named Dulari Kanya, which literally suggests beloved daughter.
• It aims to bring down infant mortality and support girl children.
• The options given are Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The question asks which state government launched this particular scheme.

Concept / Approach:
Arunachal Pradesh, a state in the northeastern part of India, launched the Dulari Kanya scheme to provide financial assistance at the birth of a girl child and to encourage institutional deliveries and proper care. The scheme is designed to address infant mortality and gender bias. While Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have their own programmes to support girls and improve health outcomes, they do not use the specific name Dulari Kanya for their flagship schemes. Therefore, the correct answer is Arunachal Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that Dulari Kanya is a scheme concerned with girl child welfare and infant mortality reduction. Step 2: Recall that Arunachal Pradesh announced Dulari Kanya as a scheme providing financial incentives to families with girl children. Step 3: Note that other states in the options have different scheme names for similar objectives, such as separate girl child and health programmes. Step 4: Conclude that the state associated with Dulari Kanya is Arunachal Pradesh.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reports on state budget announcements and official state government releases from Arunachal Pradesh describe Dulari Kanya as a scheme for girl children. These sources highlight cash incentives and its link to reducing infant mortality. There is no parallel reference to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, or Madhya Pradesh using this exact scheme name in their welfare portfolios, confirming the association with Arunachal Pradesh.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have launched various schemes focusing on girl child education, nutrition, or financial support, but these programmes have different names such as Ladli schemes or state specific initiatives. None of them is known as Dulari Kanya. Selecting any of these states would therefore not match the specific scheme mentioned in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may guess based on states that are more often in the news for gender based initiatives in northern India and overlook the northeastern states. Another pitfall is assuming that similar sounding schemes in different states share the same name, which is usually not the case. Keeping a separate list of schemes by state, especially those with unique names, can help avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
Dulari Kanya is a girl child welfare scheme launched by the state of Arunachal Pradesh.