Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is associated with which of the following Indian classical musical instruments?

Introduction / Context:
Indian classical music has many legendary instrumentalists, and competitive exams frequently test the ability to match artists with their main instruments. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is one of the most famous names in Hindustani classical music, and his instrument is a key fact that aspirants should know.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which musical instrument Ustad Amjad Ali Khan plays.- Options list several major Indian classical instruments.- Standard music references describe him as a master of a particular plucked string instrument.

Concept / Approach:
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is world renowned as a sarod maestro. The sarod is a fretless string instrument used in Hindustani classical music, noted for its deep and resonant sound. To answer correctly, candidates must connect his name with sarod and avoid mixing him up with artists associated with sitar, violin, veena or santoor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
- Step 1: Recall that Amjad Ali Khan belongs to a famous family of sarod players and has performed globally.- Step 2: The sarod is central to his identity, often appearing alongside his name in concert posters and news reports.- Step 3: Among the options, sarod is the only instrument that matches this association.- Step 4: Confirm that sitar is more closely linked with musicians such as Ravi Shankar and Vilayat Khan, while santoor is associated with Shivkumar Sharma.- Step 5: Therefore, mark sarod as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An easy verification technique is to remember a few standard pairings: Ravi Shankar and sitar, Bismillah Khan and shehnai, Hariprasad Chaurasia and flute, Shivkumar Sharma and santoor, and Amjad Ali Khan and sarod. Repeating these pairs during revision ensures quick recall. If one can confidently recite this mental list, then it becomes clear that sarod is the correct choice for Amjad Ali Khan.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Violin is used in Indian classical music, especially in Carnatic tradition, but Amjad Ali Khan is not primarily associated with violin performance.Sitar is a famous Hindustani instrument, yet its foremost ambassadors are artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar; Amjad Ali Khan is not described as a sitar player.Veena is more common in Carnatic music and in ancient depictions of the goddess Saraswati; it is not the main instrument of Amjad Ali Khan.Santoor is a hammered dulcimer type instrument associated with Shivkumar Sharma and others, not with Amjad Ali Khan.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up sarod and sitar because the names sound somewhat similar and both are string instruments. Another mistake is to simply guess an instrument that seems familiar without actually linking it to a musician. To avoid confusion, aspirants should deliberately memorise a small table of prominent musicians and their instruments.

Final Answer:
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is associated with the Indian classical instrument called the sarod.