Who is the author of the visionary book "India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium"?

Introduction / Context:
"India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium" is a well known book that sets out a developmental roadmap for transforming India into a developed nation. It is authored by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam along with co author Y.S. Rajan. This question is a straightforward test of authorship, checking whether candidates can connect this influential vision document with the former President and renowned scientist who inspired many students and professionals.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title is "India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium".
• The book outlines long term goals and strategies for national development.
• The options are A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Shashi Tharoor, Narendra Modi and Arun Shourie.
• We assume general awareness of Kalam's role in popularizing a science driven vision for India's future.

Concept / Approach:
The conceptual approach is simple factual recall. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President and aerospace scientist, co authored "India 2020" to articulate his ideas about education, technology, infrastructure and economic growth. The other options are also political or intellectual figures, but they did not write this particular book. Shashi Tharoor wrote works like "An Era of Darkness", while Arun Shourie authored various political and economic critiques. Narendra Modi has written on different themes, not this specific vision document. Recognizing this helps identify the correct answer easily.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the central theme of "India 2020", which is to present a comprehensive plan to transform India into a developed nation by the year 2020. Step 2: Remember that A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as a scientist and later as President, frequently spoke about this vision in speeches and interactions with students. Step 3: Connect this vision book with his co authored work with Y.S. Rajan, which carries the title "India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium". Step 4: Compare with Shashi Tharoor, who focuses more on historical and political analysis rather than a scientific vision plan under this title. Step 5: Observe that Narendra Modi and Arun Shourie are related to politics and commentary but are not credited as authors of this book. Step 6: Conclude that A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling how frequently "India 2020" is mentioned whenever Kalam's speeches on youth and development are discussed. Many exam preparation books explicitly state that this vision document was authored by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan. Book covers, motivational posters and educational materials often pair his face with the title "India 2020". None of the other listed figures are linked to this title in such a consistent way, confirming that option A is factually correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shashi Tharoor is a prolific author but his key titles include political satire and historical critique, not this particular development vision, so option B is incorrect. Narendra Modi has produced writings and poetry but is not credited for "India 2020", making option C wrong. Arun Shourie is known for critical works on politics and policy and does not share authorship of this book, so option D is also incorrect. Only A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in option A, matches the real authorship of "India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium".

Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to confuse "India 2020" with other books about India's future written by politicians and thinkers, leading to random guesses among high profile names. Another is to overlook the scientific and technological emphasis of the book, which clearly aligns with Kalam's background. To avoid such confusion, candidates should remember that when they see "India 2020" in a question, it almost always signals A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and his dream of a developed India. This simple association is useful across many exams and interviews.

Final Answer:
APJ Abdul Kalam