The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is a prestigious Indian award given in which field?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, one of India's most prestigious awards. It is important in the context of national honours and recognitions. Competitive examinations often test knowledge of prominent awards, including the field in which each prize is given. Understanding that the Bhatnagar Prize honours achievements in Science and Technology highlights the value a country places on research, innovation, and scientific excellence.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The award mentioned is the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. • The options include Peace, Music and dance, Science and Technology, and Fine arts. • Only one field correctly corresponds to the purpose of this prize. • The question concerns the general area of recognition, not specific disciplines or individual winners. • We assume a basic familiarity with major Indian national awards.

Concept / Approach:
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is conferred by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in India. It recognises outstanding research contributions in various branches of Science and Technology, including disciplines like physical sciences, chemical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, and more. The method here is to recall that this prize is not related to peace, arts, or performance but specifically to scientific research. Once this association is clear, you can confidently select Science and Technology from the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the name "Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar" and connect it to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a major Indian research organisation. 2. Recall that the prize named after him honours outstanding Indian scientists and engineers. 3. Examine option c, Science and Technology, which directly matches the domain supported by CSIR and by the award. 4. Consider option a, Peace, which refers more to international peace prizes and national awards like the Gandhi Peace Prize, not the Bhatnagar Prize. 5. Consider option b, Music and dance, areas typically covered by awards such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, but not by this prize. 6. Consider option d, Fine arts, which may relate to awards for painting, sculpture, or visual arts, again separate from this scientific honour. 7. Conclude that Science and Technology is the only correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification comes from remembering that recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize are usually scientists whose work has advanced knowledge in areas like physics, biology, mathematics, engineering, or medicine. News reports and official announcements always describe the award as India's prime recognition in Science and Technology. In contrast, separate government institutions and academies handle awards for peace, performing arts, and fine arts. None of those contexts refer to the Bhatnagar Prize, which confirms that option c is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Peace is recognised through awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize and certain national honours, but not through the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize. • Music and dance have their own dedicated awards and academies; this scientific prize does not relate to performing arts. • Fine arts refers to visual art forms and is rewarded through separate cultural institutions, not via this science focused award.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse the Bhatnagar Prize with other national honours because they memorise names but not the fields associated with them. Another error is to assume that any Indian award could be related to peace or arts if the name does not clearly indicate a scientific field. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to create a simple table mapping major awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, and others to their respective domains and organising bodies.

Final Answer:
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is awarded in the field of Science and Technology.