Up to and including the London 2012 Games, at which Summer Olympics had India won its highest total number of medals?

Introduction / Context:
India s performance at the Olympic Games has improved over time, and certain editions stand out because of higher medal counts. Up to and including the London 2012 Games, one particular Olympics marked India s best overall medal haul. This question asks the learner to identify that edition from among recent Olympic Games.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time frame is up to and including the London 2012 Olympics.
• Options given are Rio 2016, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Athens 2004.
• We focus on the total number of medals won by India in each of these Games.
• We assume the official medal table counts for India.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to remember India s medal tallies in these specific Olympic years. In Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 India won relatively few medals. In London 2012, India achieved its then best tally with multiple medals across shooting, wrestling, boxing and badminton. Rio 2016 came later and is not part of the "up to London 2012" time frame used in the question wording. Thus, London 2012 is the edition with the highest medal count within the range specified.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in Athens 2004 India won only a single Olympic medal.Step 2: In Beijing 2008 India improved but still collected only a small number of medals.Step 3: In London 2012, India won its then highest Olympic medal tally, including medals from shooters, wrestlers, a boxer and a badminton player.Step 4: Rio 2016 occurred after London 2012 and is outside the time frame "up to and including London 2012" specified in the question.Step 5: Therefore, within the allowed time frame, London Olympics 2012 is the edition with the highest medal total for India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Olympic statistics show that India won a record number of medals, for that time, at London 2012. This achievement is often highlighted in media summaries as India s best performance up to that point. Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 medal counts were lower. Rio 2016 is mentioned only in the options to test whether the learner pays attention to the time frame condition in the question. This comparison confirms that London 2012 is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Athens 2004 had a smaller medal tally and therefore cannot be the best performance. Beijing 2008 improved on Athens but still did not match the number of medals achieved in London 2012. Rio 2016, although mentioned, lies outside the range "up to and including London 2012" and so is not considered when applying the question s condition. As a result, none of these options is correct except London 2012.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners might automatically choose Rio 2016 because it is more recent, without noticing the explicit cut off in the question. Others may not remember the exact medal totals but recall that India did better in London than in Beijing and Athens. For exam success, it is important to read the phrase "up to and including the London 2012 Games" carefully and to connect London 2012 with India s then highest medal tally.

Final Answer:
Up to and including the London 2012 Games, India won its highest total number of medals at the London Olympics 2012.