“Mann Ki Baat”, the Indian radio programme in which the Prime Minister addresses the nation, was officially launched in which year?

Introduction / Context:
“Mann Ki Baat” is a popular Indian radio programme where the Prime Minister addresses citizens directly, sharing thoughts on social issues, government initiatives, and inspirational stories. It has become a regular feature in India's media landscape and is often cited in current affairs questions. This question asks you to recall the year in which the programme was officially launched and first broadcast on All India Radio.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the launch year of “Mann Ki Baat.”
• The options are four consecutive years: 2015, 2014, 2017, and 2016.
• We assume the question refers to the first broadcast of the programme after a general election year.
• The programme features the Prime Minister of India speaking to the public via radio.

Concept / Approach:
The key to answering this question is to connect the start of “Mann Ki Baat” with the formation of a new government in 2014. Soon after taking office, the Prime Minister launched the radio programme as a way to engage with citizens beyond traditional speeches and rallies. The first episode of “Mann Ki Baat” was broadcast in October 2014. Therefore, the correct approach is to associate the programme's launch with the year 2014, not with later years when it simply continued.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a new central government took office in 2014 following general elections.Step 2: Remember that “Mann Ki Baat” was introduced soon afterward as a flagship communication initiative from the Prime Minister to the people.Step 3: Specifically note that the first broadcast of “Mann Ki Baat” took place in 2014.Step 4: Compare the year 2014 with the given options and confirm that it is listed as option B.Step 5: Select 2014 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling that news reports about the inaugural episode of “Mann Ki Baat” highlighted it as a new initiative of the recently formed government in 2014. Subsequent episodes continued in later years, but those years mark the continuation of the programme, not its launch. Many general knowledge books explicitly state that “Mann Ki Baat” started in 2014, confirming the correctness of this answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (2015), option C (2017), and option D (2016) all refer to years in which the programme was already running. While episodes were certainly broadcast in those years, they do not mark the initial launch. The question is specifically about the year of official launch, which is why these later years are incorrect in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse the launch year with a year in which they personally started listening to or hearing about the programme, leading them to choose 2015 or 2016. Others may not link the programme to the change of government in 2014 and instead guess among the available options. To avoid mistakes, it is helpful to anchor the memory of “Mann Ki Baat” to the year immediately after the general elections, which is 2014.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is 2014, the year in which the radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” was officially launched.