The Indian national football team made its first appearance at the Olympic Games in which year?

Introduction / Context:
India has a long history in international football, and the Olympic Games were once an important stage for national football teams. Knowing when the Indian national football team first appeared at the Olympics provides insight into the early development of the sport in the country. This question asks you to recall the year of India's first Olympic football appearance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the Indian men's national football team.
• The event is the Olympic Games football tournament.
• We are asked for the first year in which India participated.
• Options include 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960.

Concept / Approach:
India's football team first played in the Olympic Games at the 1948 London Olympics. This appearance is often remembered for the fact that many Indian players played barefoot or with minimal footwear against strong European teams. The 1936 Games occurred before this development in Indian football, and later years such as 1952 and 1956 represent subsequent participations. Therefore, 1948 is the correct year for India's first Olympic football appearance.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the London Olympics after World War II were held in 1948.Step 2: Remember that India's football team first made news there, playing against European opposition.Step 3: Recognise that 1936 is too early for an Indian football Olympic appearance, and 1952 and 1956 are later participations.Step 4: Compare the remembered year with the options given.Step 5: Select 1948 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A verification approach is to think about the timeline of Indian football achievements. The 1948 London Olympics are often mentioned in histories of Indian football as a major early international exposure, followed by later Olympic appearances and Asian Games successes. Many exam guides specifically state “India first played Olympic football at London 1948,” which confirms the year.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The year 1936 corresponds to the Berlin Olympics, which did not feature India in the football competition. The 1952 and 1956 Olympics (Helsinki and Melbourne) were later tournaments where India also participated, but they were not the first appearance. The 1960 Rome Olympics are even further in the future. Therefore, all these years are incorrect for the specific milestone requested in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners mix up the first Olympic appearance with later, more successful campaigns, such as performances at the Asian Games or other international tournaments. Others may misremember the London event as 1952 instead of 1948. Keeping a simple memory link that “post independence, first Olympic football appearance = London 1948” helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The Indian national football team first appeared in the Olympic Games football tournament in 1948 at the London Olympics.