On issues of religious and social reform principles, the Arya Samaj movement in India split into two branches in which year?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the history of modern Indian reform movements. Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, worked for religious reform, social change, and the promotion of Vedic values. Over time, differences arose within the movement about how strictly to interpret its principles and how to apply them in practice. The question asks when this led to a formal split into two branches, making it a factual recall item from the timeline of Indian social reform.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The movement in focus is Arya Samaj in India.
- The split was based on principles related to reform ideas and their application.
- Four years are given as options: 1893, 1895, 1903, and 1913.
- We assume standard modern Indian history textbooks as the reference, where this year is mentioned in the context of internal divisions in Arya Samaj.

Concept / Approach:
Arya Samaj aimed to return to the authority of the Vedas while opposing social evils. However, members differed on how to interpret religious texts and how to engage with society and other communities. These tensions eventually produced two main branches, often described as the more moderate and the more orthodox segments. The fact that the split is recorded in history allows us to treat the question as a direct date recall. The key is to remember that this division took place in 1893, not in the later years offered as distractors.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the approximate period of Arya Samaj activity, mainly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Step 2: Remember from history notes that internal disagreements in Arya Samaj about doctrine and strategy led to a split. Step 3: Associate this split with the year 1893, as given in standard exam oriented summaries of the movement. Step 4: Compare with the other options 1895, 1903, and 1913, which do not match the recorded date of the division. Step 5: Select 1893 as the final answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by reviewing timelines of reform movements that list important events such as the founding year of Arya Samaj, key campaigns, and the internal split. Reliable history guides and exam preparation books mention 1893 as the year when the organisation divided on principles. Cross checking more than one source strengthens confidence in this date and helps distinguish it from the other late nineteenth and early twentieth century years.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1895: Close in time to the correct answer but not the recorded year of the split, making it a tempting distractor.
1903: Falls in the early twentieth century, a period of continued reform activity but not the date of the initial division on principles.
1913: Much later than the split and unrelated to the specific internal division mentioned in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is confusion between multiple important dates related to the same movement, such as founding, major conferences, and later campaigns. Students may also misplace the split into the early twentieth century because they associate Arya Samaj with national movement activities, which gained momentum then. To avoid this, maintain a clear chronological list for each reform movement, including founding date, splits, and partnerships with nationalist causes.

Final Answer:
The Arya Samaj movement split into two branches over questions of principles in the year 1893.