Which of the following Indian medical professionals was appointed as a Deputy Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017?

Introduction / Context:
The World Health Organization is the principal United Nations agency responsible for international public health. Senior appointments at WHO, especially of Indian experts, often make news and are therefore important for current affairs based general knowledge. This question specifically asks about the Indian medical professional who was appointed as a Deputy Director General at WHO in 2017, a milestone that reflects India growing role in global health leadership.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The post mentioned is Deputy Director General at the World Health Organization.
• The year of appointment referenced is 2017.
• The options list four names, of which one is a widely known Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist.
• We assume that the candidate keeps track of major international appointments of prominent Indian figures.

Concept / Approach:
In 2017, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, a noted Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist with extensive research experience in tuberculosis and HIV, was appointed as a Deputy Director General at WHO. Her appointment was widely reported in Indian and international media, highlighting her previous role as Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Therefore, recognizing her name among the options is the key to solving this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall significant news about Indian scientists and doctors taking up senior positions in international organisations in 2017.Step 2: Remember that Dr. Soumya Swaminathan was appointed as a Deputy Director General at WHO in that year.Step 3: Scan the options to locate her name exactly as it appears.Step 4: Note that the other names listed do not correspond to widely known senior WHO appointments.Step 5: Select Dr. Soumya Swaminathan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A candidate can verify this answer by recalling follow up news that later described her role as Chief Scientist at WHO, a position she took after serving as Deputy Director General. Biographical notes about her emphasise this progression. The repeated mention of her work in tuberculosis research and her leadership within the Indian Council of Medical Research also reinforce her prominence, making it unlikely that any of the other options is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Rajat Nandan, is wrong because this name is not associated with a Deputy Director General position at WHO in 2017.Option C, Prof. Dr. Vikash Jha, is wrong since he is not known for holding this specific WHO post in the year mentioned.Option D, Sunil Narayan, is wrong for the same reason; there is no widely reported appointment of this person as WHO Deputy Director General in 2017.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may sometimes be confused by multiple choice options that look formal or include academic titles such as Professor or Doctor, and may guess based on how impressive a name appears. Another pitfall is weak follow up of current affairs, especially in the health and science sectors, leading to uncertainty about such appointments. To avoid this, aspirants should maintain notes on major appointments of Indians to international posts across sectors like health, economic policy, and diplomacy.

Final Answer:
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan