Manduadih railway station, which was renamed as Banaras, is located in which state?

1. Bihar
2. Jharkhand
3. Uttarakhand
4. Uttar Pradesh

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has recently approved the renaming of the Manduadih railway station in Uttar Pradesh to "Banaras". This decision was made after the Uttar Pradesh state government requested the change. The Home Ministry discussed it with the Ministry of Railways, Department of Posts, and the Survey of India, and then gave a no-objection certificate.

Varanasi—also known as Banaras or Benares—is a famous city in Uttar Pradesh, located on the banks of the Ganges River, about 320 km south of Lucknow and 121 km east of Allahabad (Prayagraj). It is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism and Jainism and is also important in the history of Buddhism and Ravidassia.

The city is well-connected by Varanasi Junction railway station and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, both situated near National Highway 2.

Varanasi is known for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory carvings, and sculptures. It is believed that Lord Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath, near Varanasi, in 528 BCE, marking the beginning of Buddhism. Later, in the 8th century, Adi Shankara helped make Shiva worship more prominent in the city.

So, the correct answer is Option 4 – Uttar Pradesh.