Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India in New Delhi, was formally inaugurated in which year?

Introduction / Context:
Rashtrapati Bhavan is one of the most important political buildings in India. It serves as the official residence of the President and stands at the western end of Rajpath in New Delhi. Understanding when it was formally inaugurated helps students connect the construction of New Delhi as the imperial capital with the later transition to independent India. This question therefore tests knowledge of both architectural history and the broader timeline of colonial rule.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The building referred to is Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
• We are asked about the year of its formal inauguration.
• Options provide several years spread across the twentieth century.
• Only one of these years matches the historical inauguration date.

Concept / Approach:
The approach here is to place the construction of New Delhi within the overall timeline of British rule. After the decision to shift the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, a new imperial complex was planned, including the Viceroy's House, which later became Rashtrapati Bhavan. Construction took many years and the complex was inaugurated in the early 1930s. Remembering that it was opened in 1931, along with the formal inauguration of New Delhi as the new capital, leads directly to the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in the early twentieth century. Step 2: Remember that a new city, New Delhi, was designed by architects like Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, including the Viceroy's House, which is now Rashtrapati Bhavan. Step 3: Note that the construction of this massive building took many years and was completed around the end of the 1920s. Step 4: Recognise that New Delhi and the Viceroy's House were formally inaugurated in 1931. Step 5: Among the options, identify 1931 as the year that matches this event and select it as the answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting history or general knowledge books that discuss the making of New Delhi. Many sources mention that New Delhi was formally inaugurated in 1931, and the Viceroy's House, now known as Rashtrapati Bhavan, formed the centrepiece of this new imperial capital. Official government and tourism websites that describe the building also mention its inauguration around this date. Since none of the other years in the options correspond to this major event, the choice of 1931 is firmly supported.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The year 1910 is too early, because the decision to shift the capital was announced in 1911 and the design and construction started later. The year 1927 falls during the construction phase, before formal inauguration. The year 1947 is associated with Indian independence and the end of British rule, not with the original opening of the building. The year 1986 has no connection with the initial inauguration and is only a distractor. Therefore, these years do not match the historical fact tested by the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse the date of decision to shift the capital, the period of construction, and the formal inauguration. Some may pick 1910 or 1911 because they loosely remember the capital shift, while others may choose 1947, associating Rashtrapati Bhavan only with independent India. To avoid such mistakes, it is useful to remember the sequence: decision in 1911, construction during the 1910s and 1920s, and formal inauguration of New Delhi and the Viceroy's House in 1931. Keeping this simple timeline in mind helps in answering many related questions.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is 1931.