In Indian political geography, which city is popularly known as the "City of Prime Ministers" because several Prime Ministers of India, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Indira Gandhi, have had close associations with it?

Introduction / Context:
Indian cities often carry nicknames that reflect their history, culture, or political importance. One such nickname is the City of Prime Ministers, used for a city that has produced or is closely associated with several Prime Ministers of India. This question checks your awareness of that nickname and your ability to match it with the correct city in Uttar Pradesh that has been a political stronghold for many national leaders.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the phrase City of Prime Ministers.
• It gives examples of Prime Ministers such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Indira Gandhi who are linked to this city.
• Options include Allahabad, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and New Delhi.
• We assume the learner knows that Allahabad has now been officially renamed Prayagraj, which can appear in modern questions.

Concept / Approach:
Allahabad, now officially called Prayagraj, has been home or constituency to several Prime Ministers of India. The Nehru Gandhi family had strong roots there, and the city has played a central role in national politics. The approach for this question is to connect the nickname City of Prime Ministers with Allahabad and to distinguish this from other major cities that might be associated with specific leaders but not with multiple Prime Ministers in the same way.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the clue that several Prime Ministers, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, are associated with the city in question. Step 2: Recall that Allahabad has been a major political centre for the Nehru family and other leaders, resulting in the nickname City of Prime Ministers. Step 3: Examine the options and identify Allahabad (now Prayagraj) as the one that fits this description. Step 4: Eliminate other cities that have political importance but not this specific nickname, and select Allahabad as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that many general studies books explicitly list Allahabad as the City of Prime Ministers due to its association with leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, and others. Varanasi is a spiritual centre and a recent Lok Sabha constituency of a Prime Minister, but it is not widely known by this nickname. Checking lists of city nicknames in exam preparation material will confirm Allahabad as the correct city.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Varanasi is called the spiritual capital of India and is associated with temples and ghats on the Ganga, not specifically called City of Prime Ministers. Hyderabad is known as the City of Pearls and for its information technology industry. Ahmedabad is associated with textile mills and industrial growth in Gujarat. New Delhi is the national capital and the seat of the central government, but the nickname in question refers to the birthplace or political home of several Prime Ministers, not the city where they worked. None of these alternatives match the specific phrase.

Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to select New Delhi just because the Prime Minister works there and it is the political capital. Another mistake is to choose Varanasi since it is associated with the current Prime Minister, ignoring the historical context of multiple leaders. To avoid confusion, remember the clear mapping: Allahabad, now Prayagraj, is the City of Prime Ministers due to its deep connection with several national leaders over time.

Final Answer:
The city popularly known as the City of Prime Ministers is Allahabad (now Prayagraj).