Who among the following eminent economists is the author of the influential book titled 'Development as Freedom'?

Introduction / Context:
Books written by Nobel Prize winning economists often shape how policymakers, students, and the public think about growth, poverty, and human wellbeing. 'Development as Freedom' is a landmark work that challenges narrow views of development focused only on income and instead argues that development should be seen as an expansion of people's freedoms and capabilities. This question asks you to identify the economist who authored this influential book.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The book title is 'Development as Freedom'.
• The options list well known Indian economists and policymakers: M. S. Swaminathan, C. Rangarajan, Y. V. Reddy, and Amartya Sen.
• We assume basic familiarity with major works of these figures.

Concept / Approach:
Amartya Sen is a Nobel Prize winning economist whose work on welfare economics, capabilities, and human development has been extremely influential. In 'Development as Freedom', he argues that development should be evaluated through the lens of expanding substantive freedoms such as education, health, political participation, and economic opportunities. M. S. Swaminathan is known as the father of India's Green Revolution and has authored works on agriculture. C. Rangarajan and Y. V. Reddy are prominent central bankers and policymakers, associated with monetary policy and financial regulation rather than this particular book. Therefore, the correct answer is Amartya Sen.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the central theme of 'Development as Freedom' that links development to human capabilities and freedoms. Step 2: Identify Amartya Sen as the economist most closely associated with the capability approach and with this title. Step 3: Compare this with the contributions of M. S. Swaminathan, who focuses on agricultural science and food security, not the broader philosophical treatment of development as freedom. Step 4: Note that C. Rangarajan and Y. V. Reddy have authored books and reports on monetary policy, banking, and economic reforms but not this particular work. Step 5: Conclude that Amartya Sen is the only option that correctly matches the book 'Development as Freedom'.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard reading lists for development economics courses and UPSC general studies syllabi frequently mention 'Development as Freedom' and attribute it to Amartya Sen. Additionally, popular summaries of Amartya Sen's work highlight this book as one of his key contributions accessible to a general audience. By contrast, the other figures are associated with different domains, confirming that Sen is the correct author.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
M. S. Swaminathan is renowned for his role in increasing agricultural productivity in India and for his work on food security, but not as the author of this particular book. C. Rangarajan and Y. V. Reddy are respected for their leadership in the Reserve Bank of India and contributions to macroeconomic policy; their writings focus more on monetary and financial issues. None of them wrote 'Development as Freedom', so choosing any of them would be incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse Amartya Sen with other economists or pick a name they recognise without recalling the specific title. Another common error is to assume that the author must be someone directly involved in policy administration, rather than an academic economist. Remembering the association between Amartya Sen, the capabilities approach, and 'Development as Freedom' will help you answer correctly in exams.

Final Answer:
The book 'Development as Freedom' was written by Amartya Sen.