Who is widely known as the father of the Green Revolution in India for his pioneering work in developing high-yielding crop varieties?

Introduction / Context:
The Green Revolution was a landmark phase in India's agricultural history, marked by a sharp increase in the production of food grains, particularly wheat and rice, during the 1960s and 1970s. This transformation helped India move from chronic food shortages to relative self sufficiency. A key Indian scientist played a central role in adapting and promoting high yielding varieties of crops suitable for Indian conditions. This question asks you to identify that scientist, who is popularly known as the father of the Green Revolution in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The topic is the Green Revolution in India. - The focus is on the person known as its father in the Indian context. - Options include Jayanth V. Narlikar, Amartya Sen, R. K. Pachauri and M. S. Swaminathan. - We assume general familiarity with major Indian scientists and economists.

Concept / Approach:
M. S. Swaminathan, an agricultural scientist and plant geneticist, worked closely with international scientists like Norman Borlaug to introduce and further develop high yielding varieties of wheat and rice suited to Indian soils and climate. He was instrumental in establishing agricultural research institutions and in promoting policies that supported the Green Revolution. Narlikar is a renowned astrophysicist, Amartya Sen is a Nobel Prize winning economist and R. K. Pachauri is associated with climate change and environmental issues, not directly with Green Revolution plant breeding. Therefore, M. S. Swaminathan is clearly the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Connect the term Green Revolution with increased crop yields due to improved seeds, fertilisers and irrigation in the 1960s and 1970s. Step 2: Recall that M. S. Swaminathan was the Indian scientist most responsible for bringing high yielding wheat and rice varieties to Indian farmers. Step 3: Recognise that he led important agricultural research programmes and advised the government on agricultural policy. Step 4: Identify Jayanth V. Narlikar as a scientist in the field of astrophysics, unconnected with agricultural revolutions. Step 5: Note that Amartya Sen is an economist known for work on poverty, famines and welfare economics, not on crop breeding. Step 6: Observe that R. K. Pachauri was linked with climate change research and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, not with the original Green Revolution. Step 7: Conclude that the correct choice is M. S. Swaminathan.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most summaries of modern Indian agriculture explicitly state that Norman Borlaug is called the father of the Green Revolution globally, while M. S. Swaminathan is considered the father of the Green Revolution in India. Government publications, biographies and school textbooks repeat this designation and often credit Swaminathan with helping India avoid severe food shortages and dependence on imports. Cross checking these sources makes it clear that none of the other options is associated with this specific title in the Indian context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jayanth V. Narlikar is wrong because he is a noted astrophysicist and cosmologist, not an agricultural scientist involved in crop breeding.

Amartya Sen is wrong as he is a Nobel Prize winning economist known for work on famines, inequality and development, not for work on high yielding seeds.

R. K. Pachauri is wrong because he is associated with climate change studies and the IPCC, and not with the original Green Revolution that transformed Indian agriculture in the 1960s.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates may confuse global and Indian contexts and recall only the name of Norman Borlaug. Others may be misled by the presence of well known intellectuals such as Amartya Sen and assume that any famous name could fit. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to remember a simple pairing: Norman Borlaug for global Green Revolution and M. S. Swaminathan for the Indian Green Revolution. This clear mental association will enable you to answer questions on this topic quickly and confidently.

Final Answer:
The person widely known as the father of the Green Revolution in India is M. S. Swaminathan.