Which state government in India became one of the first to withdraw the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), thereby barring the CBI from entering the state without prior approval?

Introduction / Context:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's premier central investigating agency. Normally, it operates in a state with that state's general consent under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. In recent years, some states have withdrawn this general consent, which means the CBI must seek specific permission before starting investigations in those states. This question checks knowledge of Indian federal relations and current affairs by asking which state was among the first to take such a step.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The subject is general consent for CBI operations in Indian states.
- The question focuses on the withdrawal of such consent, effectively restricting CBI entry without prior approval.
- Four states are given as options: Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
- Only one of these was among the first states to withdraw general consent in a widely discussed move.

Concept / Approach:
In 2018, Andhra Pradesh was one of the first states that announced the withdrawal of general consent granted to the CBI. This meant that the agency could not automatically investigate cases in the state without case specific approval from the state government. This step was seen as significant in the context of centre state relations and raised debates about investigative independence and federalism in India. Therefore, recalling this development points to Andhra Pradesh as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand what withdrawing general consent means. It does not ban the CBI outright, but it requires the agency to obtain state permission for each case. Step 2: Recall news reports from 2018 when Andhra Pradesh announced that it was revoking the general consent earlier given to the CBI. Step 3: Recognise that this move was widely reported and discussed as a rare and bold step by a state government. Step 4: Look at the options and identify Andhra Pradesh among the states listed. Step 5: Confirm that other listed states did not take this particular step as early as Andhra Pradesh in the timeframe referred to by the question. Step 6: Select Andhra Pradesh as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A further cross check is to remember that some other states later followed a similar path, but Andhra Pradesh and one or two others were highlighted in early news articles as first movers in revoking general consent. Competitive exam materials of that period emphasised Andhra Pradesh as a key example, which supports choosing it as the correct response here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Telangana: Although it has its own law and order issues and relations with central agencies, it was not among the first states to withdraw general consent in the way described in the question.
Uttar Pradesh: This state did not lead this particular development in the same timeframe.
Tamil Nadu: While it has had political debates on centre state relations, it was not the state highlighted as an early example of withdrawing CBI general consent.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical mistake is to guess based on states that are frequently in the news for political reasons without recalling the specific policy action in question. Another pitfall is to confuse later developments or other kinds of disputes with the specific act of revoking CBI general consent. To avoid such errors, students should link Andhra Pradesh with this notable step in federal relations during the relevant period.

Final Answer:
Hence, the state government that barred the CBI from entering the state without prior approval by withdrawing general consent was Andhra Pradesh.