Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?

The answer is Maharashtra, which declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor), a swallowtail butterfly found in the Western Ghats and parts of the Konkan, as its State Butterfly. Reports at the time presented it as the first such declaration by any state, which is why the question was framed this way.

Why the others fail:

• Arunachal Pradesh: Rich in butterfly diversity in the eastern Himalaya, but the question's 'first' declaration does not fit it.
• Himachal Pradesh: Has no such first-of-its-kind designation in this context. Do not confuse state symbols like the state animal or bird with butterflies.
• Karnataka: Its state butterfly is the Malabar Banded Peacock, a different species. Aspirants often pick it because it is also a state-level butterfly, but it is not the answer to this question.

Core concept: state symbols are notified by state governments to support biodiversity conservation and public awareness. This links to the Environment and Ecology section, and to Mains questions on biodiversity conservation and the role of states in it.

Trap: Aspirants tend to match 'state butterfly' with the first state they remember, usually Karnataka. Read whether the question asks for the first declaration or any declaration.