India's first rural telephone exchange was established in which state?

Introduction / Context:
Telecommunications development is an important part of India's infrastructure history. The installation of telephone exchanges, particularly in rural areas, marked significant steps in connecting villages to the rest of the country. This question asks you to identify the state where India's first rural telephone exchange was located, a fact that often appears in general awareness questions on technology and infrastructure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on India's first rural telephone exchange.
• The options list several Indian states: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• We assume the learner can distinguish between states known for early telecom initiatives.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to match early telecommunications initiatives with the correct state. Historical notes on telecom development mention that India's first rural telephone exchange was set up in Karnataka. This reflects the state's pioneering role in certain aspects of rural connectivity. The other states listed have also expanded telecom infrastructure, but they are not credited with hosting the first rural telephone exchange in the country.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is asking about the very first rural telephone exchange in India. Step 2: Recall from GK notes that Karnataka is mentioned as the location of this pioneering rural exchange. Step 3: Compare this with the other options, which do not have the same specific historical association. Step 4: Eliminate states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, which are not cited as hosting the first rural exchange. Step 5: Select “Karnataka” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting telecom history summaries or competitive exam question banks, many of which explicitly state that India's first rural telephone exchange was located in Karnataka. Multiple independent GK sources repeat this point, making it a reliable fact. Since no other state is consistently credited with this first rural exchange, Karnataka remains the accepted answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Andhra Pradesh: Although it has important telecom hubs, it is not recorded as hosting the first rural exchange.
Kerala: Known for high literacy and social indicators, but not specifically for the first rural telephone exchange.
Uttar Pradesh: A large state with extensive telecom expansion, but not associated with this first installation.
Tamil Nadu: An industrially advanced state, yet the pioneering rural exchange is not attributed to it.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes guess a state based on its perceived level of industrial or IT development, such as Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh. Others simply pick their home state or a state they associate with early technology growth. To avoid this, remember the specific pairing of rural telephone exchange first and Karnataka as a fixed GK item.

Final Answer:
India's first rural telephone exchange was located in the state of Karnataka.