Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Chennai
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, usually written as HIV, was first officially detected in India in the mid nineteen eighties. Competitive exams often ask about the specific city where the very first confirmed case was reported, because this fact marks the beginning of the documented HIV epidemic in the country. Remembering this detail helps candidates link health history, epidemiology and basic general knowledge about India in one integrated concept.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to recall basic facts from Indian medical history. In nineteen eighty six, the first series of HIV positive cases in India were detected among female sex workers in the southern metropolis then called Madras, which is now known as Chennai. This makes Chennai the correct answer, while the other large cities listed are important urban centres but not associated with the first officially documented cases.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question asks specifically about the first officially reported HIV case in India in nineteen eighty six.Step 2: Recall that medical teams working with high risk groups in the then Madras city identified the earliest confirmed HIV positive cases in the country.Step 3: Recognise that Madras is the former name of Chennai, so among the options only Chennai matches the historical record.Step 4: Conclude that Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad are incorrect because they reported cases later, not the first documented ones.
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard public health sources on the history of HIV in India agree that the earliest confirmed cases were detected in the mid nineteen eighties among sex workers in Madras, now called Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu. If a candidate cross checks with textbooks or reliable articles on the HIV timeline in India, the same city and year are usually highlighted. This cross verification confirms that Chennai is the only option that fits the description of the very first reported case in nineteen eighty six.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bangalore is a major city in Karnataka that did report HIV cases later, but it was not the site of the first confirmed detection at a national level. Delhi is the capital of India and an important centre for later HIV surveillance and policy making, yet the initial cases were not discovered there. Hyderabad is another large southern city, but again it is not linked to the first official reporting in nineteen eighty six. Therefore these three cities do not match the specific historical detail asked in the question.
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners guess Delhi simply because it is the national capital and appears frequently in exam questions. Others pick any large southern city without remembering the older name Madras, which can create confusion. Another pitfall is to think about which city currently has more HIV awareness programmes, instead of focusing on the historical first detection. To avoid such mistakes, candidates should associate the phrase first HIV case in India with Chennai or Madras in nineteen eighty six and revise it as a fixed fact before exams.
Final Answer:
The first officially reported HIV positive cases in India in nineteen eighty six were detected in the then Madras, now known as Chennai, so the correct option is Chennai.
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