In the history of the Indian press, which publication is widely regarded as the first newspaper printed in India?

Introduction / Context:
The history of newspapers in India begins during the late 18th century under British colonial rule. Knowing which publication is considered the first newspaper printed in India is a common general knowledge topic, connecting media history, colonial history, and the evolution of public opinion in the subcontinent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks about the first newspaper printed in India.
• The options include Peking Gazette, Kashmir Times, Dainik Jagran, and Bengal Gazette (Hicky's Gazette).
• We assume the learner knows roughly that the first Indian newspaper appeared in the late 1700s in Calcutta (Kolkata).

Concept / Approach:
The publication generally recognised as the first newspaper printed in India is the Bengal Gazette, also known as Hicky's Bengal Gazette or the Calcutta General Advertiser. It was started by James Augustus Hicky in 1780 in Calcutta. Peking Gazette is an old Chinese official bulletin, not an Indian newspaper. Kashmir Times and Dainik Jagran are much more recent publications from the 19th and 20th centuries respectively, and therefore cannot be the earliest newspaper in India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the rise of newspapers in India is linked to British presence in cities like Calcutta and Madras. Step 2: Remember that James Augustus Hicky launched the Bengal Gazette in Calcutta in 1780, making it the earliest printed newspaper in India. Step 3: Recognise that Peking Gazette relates to Chinese history and is not connected with Indian print beginnings. Step 4: Note that Kashmir Times and Dainik Jagran are modern newspapers established many decades or even centuries later. Step 5: Conclude that Bengal Gazette (Hicky's Gazette) is the first newspaper in India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard histories of the Indian press universally mention Hicky's Bengal Gazette, launched in 1780, as the first printed newspaper in India. It is described as a weekly publication that sometimes criticised the East India Company and the British administration. No other publication in India predates it as a regular newspaper. This consistent account in academic and exam sources confirms Bengal Gazette as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Peking Gazette: An ancient Chinese official bulletin, not an Indian newspaper.
• Kashmir Times: A regional newspaper from North India founded much later; it does not have the distinction of being the first Indian newspaper.
• Dainik Jagran: A major modern Hindi daily newspaper started in the 20th century; far removed in time from the beginnings of Indian print media.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may pick any familiar sounding Indian newspaper like Dainik Jagran simply because they recognise the name, without considering the historical period. Others might confuse the idea of the first newspaper in the world or in Asia with the first in India specifically. To avoid errors, remember that the key phrase for India is Hicky's Bengal Gazette or Bengal Gazette, launched in 1780 in Calcutta.

Final Answer:
The first newspaper printed in India was the Bengal Gazette (Hicky's Bengal Gazette).