In early Portuguese rule over the Indian Ocean, the so called Blue Water Policy was introduced by which Portuguese leader as part of his naval strategy?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of the early phase of European presence in India, specifically the Portuguese expansion in the Indian Ocean. The Blue Water Policy is an important concept that describes a particular naval based strategy adopted by the Portuguese. Exams on Indian history and general knowledge often ask which individual introduced this policy, so remembering the correct leader is essential.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to a policy known as the Blue Water Policy.
- It asks which Portuguese leader introduced this policy.
- The options include well known Portuguese figures and some other European traders active in India.
- We assume the term refers to a naval centric strategy rather than territorial conquest on land.

Concept / Approach:
The Blue Water Policy is associated with the idea that the Portuguese should control the sea routes and build a strong navy to dominate trade in the Indian Ocean, rather than focusing primarily on extensive land conquests. This policy is linked to Francisco de Almeida, who served as the first Portuguese Viceroy in India. The approach for solving the question is to match famous policies and strategies with the correct historical personalities: Francisco de Almeida with Blue Water Policy and Afonso de Albuquerque with later territorial expansion and fort building.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the Blue Water Policy emphasizes sea power and naval dominance to control trade routes. Step 2: Recall that Francisco de Almeida was appointed as the first Portuguese Viceroy in India around the beginning of the sixteenth century. Step 3: Remember that he is commonly associated in textbooks with the Blue Water Policy, focusing on building a strong Portuguese navy in the Indian Ocean. Step 4: Note that Afonso de Albuquerque is better known for capturing Goa and strengthening Portuguese land bases, not for formulating this specific naval policy. Step 5: Eliminate other names that do not belong to the early Portuguese viceroyal period in India, and choose Francisco de Almeida as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is to pair each leader with a key achievement: Francisco de Almeida with Blue Water Policy, Afonso de Albuquerque with Goa and consolidation of Portuguese power, Vasco da Gama with discovering the sea route to India, and later traders like Francis Caron and Francis Martin with Dutch or French activities in India. Only Francisco de Almeida is consistently connected with a naval centric Blue Water Policy in standard history references, confirming that he is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Afonso de Albuquerque: Known for capturing Goa and strengthening Portuguese land power in India, not specifically for the Blue Water Policy.
Vasco da Gama: Famous for discovering the sea route to India, but he did not administer a formal Blue Water Policy as a viceroy.
Francis Caron: A Dutch official associated with the Dutch East India Company, not with Portuguese policy.
Francis Martin: Linked with French commercial activities in India, not with early Portuguese naval strategies.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse Francisco de Almeida with Afonso de Albuquerque because both were important Portuguese figures in India. Another common error is to pick Vasco da Gama simply because he is the most familiar Portuguese name, even though he was an explorer and not the viceroy who administered the policy. Mixing up Europeans from different nations, such as Dutch or French traders, is another source of mistakes. Keeping a clear mental map of who did what and which empire they served helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
Therefore, the Portuguese leader who introduced the Blue Water Policy was Francisco de Almeida.