Who was the first Indian woman to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world?

Introduction / Context:
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth and has become a symbol of human courage and endurance. Many exam questions in general knowledge focus on milestone achievements related to Everest. This question tests awareness of a major achievement by an Indian woman mountaineer who created history by reaching the summit and becoming an inspiration for later climbers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The focus is on the first Indian woman, not the first Indian person overall.

- The achievement is specifically the successful ascent of the summit of Mount Everest, not merely participation in an expedition.

- The time frame refers to the historic first achievement, which remains fixed even if many climbers have followed later.

Concept / Approach:
The key to answering this question is to recall landmark achievements by Indian women in sports and adventure. For Everest, the name that appears in almost every Indian general knowledge book is Bachendri Pal. She reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984 as part of an Indian expedition and became the first Indian woman to stand on the top of the world. Other women listed in the options are also famous mountaineers, but they achieved different records and did so later.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the event: a successful summit of Mount Everest by an Indian woman. Step 2: Recall that Bachendri Pal reached the summit in 1984 during an Indian expedition organised by national mountaineering bodies. Step 3: Recognise that Santosh Yadav is known for being the first woman in the world to climb Everest twice, which is a different record. Step 4: Note that Premlata Agarwal and Arunima Sinha are famous Indian women mountaineers who achieved later milestones in high altitude climbing and inspirational feats. Step 5: Since the question asks specifically for the first Indian woman to reach the summit, select Bachendri Pal as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Multiple independent sources such as biographies, mountaineering histories, and school reference books consistently mention Bachendri Pal as the first Indian woman to summit Everest. Her achievement earned her several awards and recognitions, including the Padma Shri, which further confirms the historic importance of her climb. These cross checked references verify that no other Indian woman reached the summit before her, confirming the correctness of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Santosh Yadav is celebrated for climbing Everest twice, but she was not the first Indian woman to reach the summit. Premlata Agarwal is known for completing the Seven Summits challenge, which is different from this specific first ascent record. Arunima Sinha is admired for climbing Everest after losing a leg, making her a symbol of courage, but her climb was achieved long after Bachendri Pal. Therefore, all three are notable climbers but do not match the exact requirement of being first.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse different kinds of records related to Everest, such as first climb, first double ascent, completing the Seven Summits, or climbing with a physical disability. This can lead to mixing up names and choosing a famous climber rather than the historically first achiever. It is important to read the key words in the question carefully and focus on the first Indian woman to reach the summit. This focus helps avoid errors.

Final Answer:
The first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest is Bachendri Pal.