Who among the following Indian chefs was honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2017 specifically for his outstanding contribution in the field of culinary arts?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your knowledge of recent civilian honours, especially the Padma awards, and the increasing recognition given to professionals from non traditional fields such as culinary arts. Knowing which chef received the Padma Shri in 2017 for culinary contribution is a typical example of current affairs based on awards that feature in many government and banking examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award in focus is the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.
• The year is 2017.
• The field mentioned is culinary, that is, professional cooking and food related contributions.
• All options are well known Indian celebrity chefs.

Concept / Approach:
Padma awards are conferred each year on the eve of Republic Day and widely covered in news. To answer this question, you must recall which chef from television and restaurant fame was recognised with the Padma Shri in 2017 for culinary excellence. Since all four names are familiar, elimination based on known achievements and media coverage becomes important.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sanjeev Kapoor is one of the earliest and most famous Indian television chefs, associated with the long running show Khana Khazana and with his own food channel. Step 2: In 2017, he was in the news for being included in the official Padma awards list and later receiving the Padma Shri for his contribution to culinary arts. Step 3: Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar, and Kunal Kapur are also popular chefs, but they did not receive the Padma Shri in 2017. Step 4: Therefore the only option that matches the award, year, and field correctly is Sanjeev Kapoor.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this answer by referring to the official Padma awards list for 2017 or to reliable news portals. They clearly mention Sanjeev Kapoor as a Padma Shri awardee that year in the category linked to culinary work, highlighting his impact on Indian cuisine, television shows, books, and promotion of Indian food globally.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vikas Khanna is a Michelin starred Indian chef based in the United States, but he did not receive the Padma Shri in 2017. Ranveer Brar is a popular chef and television host, yet the Padma Shri for culinary contribution in 2017 was not conferred on him. Kunal Kapur is a noted chef and food show host, but he was not part of the 2017 Padma Shri awardees list in the culinary field.

Common Pitfalls:
Many aspirants simply pick any famous chef they like or have seen recently on television and ignore the specific year mentioned in the question. Another pitfall is mixing up various honours, such as television awards or international recognitions, with national civilian awards like the Padma series. Careful reading of both the year and the wording related to the award category helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The chef who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017 for his contribution to culinary arts is Sanjeev Kapoor.