Who was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics?

Introduction / Context:
The Nobel Prizes are among the most prestigious international awards in various fields, including Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics. India has produced several Nobel laureates, and examination questions frequently ask about "the first" person from India to win a Nobel in a particular category. This question focuses on the first Indian Nobel laureate in Physics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The category is Physics.
• The options list C. K. Naidu, Ranganath Mishra, Amartya Sen, C. V. Raman and Homi J. Bhabha.
• Only one of these individuals actually received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
• We assume knowledge of major Indian scientists and Nobel Prize winners.

Concept / Approach:
Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, commonly known as C. V. Raman, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect, which relates to the scattering of light. He is historically recognised as the first Indian (and one of the earliest Asians) to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics. The others in the list either belong to different fields or did not receive a Nobel in Physics at all. Therefore, the key is to pair the correct scientist with the Physics Nobel.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the names of Indian Nobel laureates and their categories: for example, C. V. Raman (Physics), Rabindranath Tagore (Literature), Amartya Sen (Economics), Kailash Satyarthi (Peace), and so on.Step 2: Focus specifically on Physics and remember that C. V. Raman won for the Raman effect.Step 3: Examine the options: C. K. Naidu was a cricketer; Ranganath Mishra was a judge; Amartya Sen is an economist and Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, not Physics; Homi J. Bhabha was a pioneering nuclear scientist but never received a Nobel Prize.Step 4: Confirm that C. V. Raman is the only person in the list who matches the description.Step 5: Select "C. V. Raman" as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that the Raman effect is a standard topic in Physics textbooks and that the unit "Raman scattering" is named after him. Nobel Prize records clearly list 1930 as the year when C. V. Raman received the award in Physics. Amartya Sen is listed under Economic Sciences, while Tagore, not present in this question, is listed for Literature. These details confirm that C. V. Raman is the first Indian to receive the Physics Nobel.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
C. K. Naidu is known for captaining the Indian cricket team and has no link with Nobel Prizes. Ranganath Mishra served as Chief Justice of India and later as a Member of Parliament but was not a Nobel laureate. Amartya Sen is indeed a Nobel laureate but in Economics, not Physics. Homi J. Bhabha was a key architect of India's nuclear programme but did not receive a Nobel Prize. Thus, none of these options satisfy the condition of being the first Indian Nobel winner in Physics.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates confuse Nobel categories and may choose Amartya Sen simply because they recognise him as a Nobel laureate, forgetting that his prize is in Economics. Others might mistakenly assume that a famous scientist like Homi Bhabha must have received a Nobel. The best way to avoid such confusion is to memorise a small chart linking each Indian Nobel laureate with the correct category and year, ensuring that C. V. Raman is firmly tied to Physics and 1930.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is C. V. Raman.