As part of the Swachh Bharat cleanliness mission, which Indian state among the following was officially declared an Open Defecation Free (ODF) state, achieving full coverage of toilets and improved sanitation?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to public health and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Several Indian states have been declared Open Defecation Free after achieving near universal access to toilets and promoting behaviour change. Competitive exams often ask which states reached ODF status at different stages of the campaign.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks which state was declared Open Defecation Free.
• The options are Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
• We assume this refers to an official declaration under Swachh Bharat when the state completed targets for rural sanitation.

Concept / Approach:
States achieving ODF status did so after building toilets, improving waste management, and running awareness campaigns. The question focuses on Uttarakhand, which was among the early states to be declared ODF. Remembering lists of ODF states and their order of declaration helps in answering such current affairs based questions correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Himalayan and North Eastern states such as Sikkim and Uttarakhand were among the earlier achievers in ODF declarations.Step 2: Remember that Uttarakhand was officially recognised as ODF after meeting sanitation targets in rural areas.Step 3: Compare this with Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, which had different timelines and were not the specific focus of this question.Step 4: Connect Uttarakhand with news reports and government announcements about early ODF status.Step 5: Select Uttarakhand as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government press releases, Swachh Bharat dashboards, and PIB (Press Information Bureau) updates list states declared ODF along with dates. These sources confirm Uttarakhand’s status under this programme. Current affairs compilations summarising achievements of Swachh Bharat also list Uttarakhand among the early ODF states, making verification straightforward.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Arunachal Pradesh: A North Eastern state with its own sanitation progress, but not the one highlighted here.Maharashtra: A large state that also worked on ODF targets but is not the answer in this particular question.Uttar Pradesh: A populous state with major sanitation challenges and a different ODF timeline.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may confuse which state achieved ODF first, second, or in later phases. Without a clear mental timeline, they may guess based on familiarity with state names. Preparing a simple table of important Swachh Bharat milestones and revising it regularly can prevent such confusion in the exam hall.

Final Answer:
The state declared Open Defecation Free as referred to in this question is Uttarakhand.