In Indian general knowledge, which one of the following famous Indians is actually a Nobel Prize-winning laureate?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests basic general knowledge about famous Indian personalities who have received the Nobel Prize. India has produced many distinguished scientists and leaders, but only a few have been honoured with a Nobel Prize. Knowing which Indian figures are Nobel laureates is a frequent topic in competitive exams, especially in the general-knowledge and awards section.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question lists four famous Indians: Vikram Sarabhai, APJ Abdul Kalam, S. Pancharatnam, and C. V. Raman.
• All of them are associated with science and technology in some way.
• We must identify which one actually received a Nobel Prize.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to recall which Indian scientists or leaders have been awarded a Nobel Prize. C. V. Raman received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his pioneering work on the scattering of light, known as the Raman Effect. Vikram Sarabhai is remembered as the father of the Indian space programme but did not receive a Nobel Prize. APJ Abdul Kalam, popularly called the Missile Man of India and former President of India, also did not receive a Nobel Prize. S. Pancharatnam was an important Indian physicist but not a Nobel laureate. Therefore, we must connect each name with historical facts about major international awards.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that C. V. Raman made a landmark discovery in physics related to the scattering of light. Step 2: Remember that this discovery is known worldwide as the Raman Effect and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Step 3: Note that Vikram Sarabhai, although a great space scientist and institution builder, did not receive a Nobel Prize. Step 4: APJ Abdul Kalam made major contributions to India's missile and space programmes and later became President, but he was never awarded a Nobel Prize. Step 5: S. Pancharatnam contributed in optics and phase concepts in physics but was not a Nobel Prize winner. Step 6: Therefore, among the given options, only C. V. Raman is a Nobel Prize-winning Indian.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by checking standard general-knowledge books or reliable reference sources. They clearly list C. V. Raman as a Nobel laureate in Physics from India, while the other three personalities are highly respected but are not on the official Nobel Prize list. This cross-check confirms that our identification is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vikram Sarabhai: A pioneering space scientist and founder of ISRO, but he did not receive a Nobel Prize.
APJ Abdul Kalam: A renowned scientist and former President of India, honoured with many Indian awards but not with a Nobel Prize.
S. Pancharatnam: An important physicist known for work on geometric phase, but he was never awarded a Nobel Prize.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse national awards like Bharat Ratna or Padma awards with the Nobel Prize. Another common error is assuming that every very famous scientist or President might be a Nobel laureate. For the exam, it is important to memorise the relatively short list of Indians who have actually received Nobel Prizes and not rely only on fame or reputation.

Final Answer:
Thus, the only Nobel Prize-winning Indian among the options is C. V. Raman.