Who represented India at the Little Miss Universe 2017 international beauty pageant?

Introduction / Context:
International children's beauty and talent pageants provide a platform for young participants from many countries to showcase their skills. Little Miss Universe is one such event. In 2017, a young girl from India received media attention for representing the country at this competition. This question tests whether you can recall her name from current affairs coverage related to children's achievements on global stages.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is Little Miss Universe 2017.
• India sent a representative to this international pageant.
• The options list four female names: Vinita Sayal, Nandita Das, Rajeshwari Dyal and Padmalaya Nanda.
• We must identify which one was the Indian representative.

Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to connect recent current affairs with the names provided. In 2017, Padmalaya Nanda, a young girl from Odisha, was widely reported in Indian news for representing India at the Little Miss Universe pageant and for winning titles and special awards there. The other names in the options either belong to adults with different careers or are not associated with this event. Recognising Padmalaya Nanda as a child prodigy from Odisha helps in selecting the right answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall news stories about a girl from India competing in Little Miss Universe in 2017. Step 2: Remember that this participant was frequently identified in reports as coming from Odisha and that her name was Padmalaya Nanda. Step 3: Note that she gained recognition not only for participating but also for winning certain titles at the pageant. Step 4: Compare the options. Nandita Das is a well known adult film actress and director, not a child beauty pageant contestant. Step 5: Vinita Sayal and Rajeshwari Dyal are not known in connection with this competition. Step 6: Therefore, the only option that matches the remembered reports is Padmalaya Nanda.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by remembering that newspapers and news channels highlighted that an Indian girl from Odisha became the first from her state to participate in this global contest. The name Padmalaya Nanda was repeated across multiple sources in that context. This consistency in media mentions, combined with the absence of the other names in such reports, confirms that she was the Indian representative at Little Miss Universe 2017.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vinita Sayal: Not associated with Little Miss Universe 2017 in widely available news sources.
Nandita Das: A famous Indian actress and filmmaker, but an adult who has no link to this children's beauty pageant.
Rajeshwari Dyal: Not known for representing India in this event.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to select a name that seems familiar, such as Nandita Das, simply due to recognition, without checking whether the person fits the description of a child pageant contestant. Another pitfall is to forget the year and assume the question relates to a general beauty pageant instead of a children's competition. Carefully noting that the event is called Little Miss Universe and recalling the media focus on Padmalaya Nanda avoids such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The girl who represented India at Little Miss Universe 2017 is Padmalaya Nanda.