Need advice: Gujarati language proficiency + choosing state for exams

I need some guidance regarding language eligibility and state preference.

I am originally from Himachal Pradesh, but I can speak Gujarati at a decent level. I can communicate comfortably in Gujarati in daily conversations, but I am not very strong in written Gujarati.

The reason I know Gujarati is because my grandfather (Nana) was posted in Gujarat, and I used to visit him often. That’s where I picked up the language naturally.

Now I have a few questions:

1. If I appear for the 8th class exam through Gujarat Board (open schooling) and clear it, will I still need to give a Language Proficiency Test (LPT)?
2. Will passing this exam be considered sufficient proof of Gujarati language proficiency?
3. Is Gujarat a good option for exams (considering cut-offs, competition, etc.), or should I consider other states as well?

I’m a bit confused about whether I should go ahead with Gujarat or explore other states with possibly lower cut-offs.

Any advice or personal experiences would really help!