From which approximate year did the modern Internet become widely available to the general public, moving beyond limited academic and military use?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to general science and technology history. The Internet began as a research and military network, but over time it became accessible to ordinary users. Competitive exams often ask about the approximate decade or year when the Internet became widely available to the public, signalling the start of the modern online era.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the approximate year when the Internet became available to the public.
• The options are 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000.
• We interpret this as the point when public access and commercial use started expanding noticeably, not the initial research-only phase.

Concept / Approach:
The earliest forms of the Internet, such as ARPANET, were operational in the late 1960s and 1970s, but they were restricted to government and academic use. The 1980s saw further development, but broad public access started around 1990, when the World Wide Web and user-friendly browsers began to appear. Therefore, 1990 is the best representation of when the Internet became available to the public in a way that resembles modern usage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that 1970 is far too early for mass public access; this era relates more to experimental research networks.Step 2: Understand that 1980 precedes the World Wide Web and general consumer adoption.Step 3: Recall that around 1990, the web was developed and internet service providers began offering access to individuals and businesses.Step 4: Realise that by 2000 the Internet was already widely used, so 2000 would be too late as a starting point.Step 5: Conclude that 1990 is the most appropriate answer among the choices.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can confirm this by reading brief histories of the Internet, which typically highlight the early 1990s as the time when the World Wide Web, public dial-up services, and early browsers triggered a rapid expansion of public use. Technology timelines and encyclopaedia entries reinforce 1990 as the turning point from purely academic networks to widespread consumer access.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1970: Refers to the early days of ARPANET and is too early for public use.1980: Still largely limited to institutions; consumer-level access was not yet common.2000: By then, the Internet was already well-established and widely used worldwide; it cannot be the starting point.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse invention dates with popularisation dates. The Internet as a concept and network infrastructure existed earlier, but the question is clearly about when it became available to the public. Always distinguish between initial invention, experimental deployment, and mass adoption when answering such timeline questions.

Final Answer:
The modern Internet became widely available to the general public around the year 1990.