Which Indian company became the first Indian corporate entity to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in the United States?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Indian economy and corporate history. It asks you to identify the first Indian company that achieved a listing on NASDAQ, a major stock exchange in the United States that focuses on technology and growth companies. This reflects the globalisation of Indian firms, especially in the information technology sector.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the first Indian company listed on NASDAQ.
• Options list four prominent Indian companies from different sectors.
• We assume basic familiarity with India's top corporate names and their global presence.
• The exchange mentioned is specifically NASDAQ, not the New York Stock Exchange.

Concept / Approach:
Infosys, an Indian IT services company, became the first Indian firm to be listed on NASDAQ. It symbolised the rise of India's software and IT services industry on the global stage. Other companies listed in the options, such as Reliance Industries Limited, Tata Consultancy Services and Bharti Airtel, are very large corporations but did not precede Infosys in obtaining a NASDAQ listing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that NASDAQ is known for listing technology and growth companies. Step 2: Among the options, identify Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services as major IT companies, more likely candidates than the others. Step 3: Recall from business news that Infosys was widely reported as the first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ. Step 4: Confirm that TCS, though huge, was listed later and on other exchanges, but not as the first on NASDAQ. Step 5: Eliminate Reliance Industries Limited and Bharti Airtel, whose primary listings and global exposure have been through other exchanges.

Verification / Alternative check:
Business history books and news reports on India's IT boom in the 1990s and early 2000s highlight Infosys as a pioneer in listing on NASDAQ. This listing boosted its global profile and is often mentioned as a milestone in the story of Indian IT exports. No standard reference describes the other listed companies as the first Indian NASDAQ listers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Reliance Industries Limited: A diversified conglomerate with major listing on Indian stock exchanges and international fund-raising through other instruments, not recorded as the first on NASDAQ.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): A leading IT company but it did not precede Infosys as the first Indian company to list on NASDAQ.

Bharti Airtel: A major telecom company whose core listings and depository receipts are on other exchanges, not the first Indian company on NASDAQ.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse TCS with Infosys because both are IT giants. Some may also assume that a large conglomerate like Reliance would have been first. The safe approach is to remember the specific pioneering role played by Infosys in gaining a NASDAQ listing.

Final Answer:
The first Indian company to be listed on NASDAQ was Infosys.