In which year did India successfully launch its first lunar mission Chandrayaan 1?

Introduction / Context:
Chandrayaan 1 was India first unmanned lunar mission and a major milestone in the Indian Space Research Organisation journey into deep space exploration. Knowing the launch year of this historic mission is a common requirement in space science and Indian achievement related general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The mission in question is Chandrayaan 1, India first lunar probe. - We are asked in which year it was successfully launched. - The options provided are 2008, 2006, 2010 and 2013. - We assume standard historical timelines for ISRO missions.

Concept / Approach:
Chandrayaan 1 was launched by ISRO on board a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in October 2008. The mission successfully entered lunar orbit and played a key role in confirming the presence of water molecules on the Moon surface. Later missions such as Chandrayaan 2 and other planetary projects came in subsequent years, but the first Chandrayaan launch is firmly placed in 2008.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the timeline of major ISRO achievements, including the first lunar mission, the Mars Orbiter Mission and later Chandrayaan attempts. Step 2: Remember that Chandrayaan 1 launch took place in late 2008, an event widely celebrated in India and covered by global media. Step 3: Note that 2006 is too early and does not match the widely known launch date. Step 4: Recognise that 2010 and 2013 are associated with other missions and subsequent developments, not with the original Chandrayaan 1 launch. Step 5: Therefore, select 2008 as the correct year.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any reliable chronology of ISRO missions lists Chandrayaan 1 launch in October 2008. School textbooks, competitive exam manuals and science outreach materials all reference 2008 as the year India joined the group of nations that had sent spacecraft to the Moon. These sources confirm that 2008 is the correct answer for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
2006 predates the actual launch and does not correspond to the mission date in official ISRO records. 2010 falls after the Chandrayaan 1 mission and is not associated with the first lunar launch. 2013 is closer to later missions and other achievements but again does not match the start of Chandrayaan 1.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Chandrayaan 1 with Chandrayaan 2 or mix up the dates of India Mars Orbiter Mission and its lunar missions. Another pitfall is to remember only the decade and then guess between multiple nearby years such as 2008 and 2010. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to memorise a simple timeline of ISRO landmark missions with their specific launch years.

Final Answer:
India successfully launched its first lunar mission Chandrayaan 1 in the year 2008.