Which Indian state government recently declared monkeys as vermin in certain areas, allowing stricter control measures?

Introduction / Context:
In wildlife law, the term “vermin” is used for species that can be legally controlled more strictly because they cause significant damage to crops, property, or public safety. Declaring an animal species as vermin in specific areas is a controversial step, because it changes its level of protection. The question asks which Indian state government declared monkeys as vermin in certain regions, a decision that attracted attention in environmental and legal news.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The animal involved is the monkey.
• The state took the step of classifying monkeys as vermin in some areas.
• This allows stricter control measures such as culling under specific rules.
• Options are Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

Concept / Approach:
States in the Himalayan region, where monkeys can cause considerable crop and property damage, have sometimes requested changes in wildlife status. Himachal Pradesh, suffering from serious crop losses and human wildlife conflicts due to monkeys, moved to declare them as vermin in certain districts for a specified period. While other hill states also face similar issues, the widely reported declaration under this label was associated with Himachal Pradesh, not the other states listed in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the decision to declare monkeys as vermin was in news mainly from a hill state. Step 2: Recall that Himachal Pradesh frequently reported damage to orchards and crops caused by monkeys. Step 3: Connect that public debate to the state’s request and move to classify monkeys as vermin in certain areas. Step 4: Compare this recollection with the options and note that Himachal Pradesh appears among them. Step 5: Select “Himachal Pradesh” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about petitions and news headlines that discussed how farmers in Himachal Pradesh demanded relief from monkey related crop damage. These reports often mentioned the term “vermin status” and referred to notifications for specific districts in that state. Although states like Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh also face monkey related issues, they were not as prominently associated with this particular legal classification in the same time frame, confirming Himachal Pradesh as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Uttar Pradesh: While monkeys are common in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, the major reported declaration of vermin status for monkeys came from Himachal Pradesh, so this option is incorrect.
Uttarakhand: This hill state also experiences monkey problems but was not cited in the specific legal step described in this question.
Gujarat: Does not fit the context of Himalayan monkey conflict and was not linked with a high profile vermin declaration for monkeys in the same way.
Rajasthan: Though it has wildlife management issues of its own, it was not the state referenced in the news regarding monkeys being classified as vermin.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to answer based on general knowledge that monkeys cause trouble in many temples and pilgrim towns, and then to pick a state randomly. Another is to confuse public complaints or local measures with an official declaration of vermin status under wildlife law. Understanding that the question refers to a formal legal step and remembering the central role of Himachal Pradesh in that debate allows you to avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
Monkeys were declared vermin in certain areas by the government of Himachal Pradesh.