The book Social Exclusion and Justice in India was written by which Indian author and policy expert?

Introduction / Context:
Social Exclusion and Justice in India is a specialised work dealing with issues of marginalisation, inequality and the legal and policy framework for justice. Questions about such books are common in exams related to public policy, social justice, civil services and general knowledge because they connect social science with influential writings. Knowing that P. S. Krishnan wrote this book allows learners to link an important civil servant and activist with a detailed study of exclusion and inclusive policies in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title given is Social Exclusion and Justice in India.
• Options list names of Indian public figures and politicians.
• We must identify which person is the author of this work, not just a commentator on the topic.
• We assume the book is the widely cited policy oriented text used in discussions on social justice and reservations.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested here is recognition of important non fiction writings on social policy. P. S. Krishnan was a senior civil servant and strong advocate for the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. He wrote extensively on social justice and reservations, and Social Exclusion and Justice in India is a significant work that reflects his experience and viewpoints. Other options, such as M. Venkaiah Naidu, are political leaders who may speak on similar topics but are not the primary authors of this book.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the theme of the book, which clearly relates to social exclusion and justice within the Indian context. Step 2: Recall the contributions of P. S. Krishnan as a civil servant known for designing and defending policies for disadvantaged groups. Step 3: Connect this background with the authorship of Social Exclusion and Justice in India, a serious analytical book rather than a political speech. Step 4: Compare the other names given, noting that Rakesh Kumar and Arun Singh are generic names without a widely recognised connection to this title, while M. Venkaiah Naidu is more known as a political leader and former Vice President than as a policy author of this specific book. Step 5: Conclude that P. S. Krishnan is the correct and most logical author.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of who is usually quoted in discussions on reservation policies, social justice commissions and constitutional provisions for marginalised communities. P. S. Krishnan s name appears repeatedly in policy documents, interviews and scholarly references. Many exam preparation sources and articles on reservations mention Social Exclusion and Justice in India by P. S. Krishnan as a key text. The other options do not match this level of association with the topic in written book form, confirming the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rakesh Kumar does not correspond to a widely known author of this particular book, and the name likely functions as a distractor. Arun Singh is also not recognised as the writer of Social Exclusion and Justice in India in standard reference materials. M. Venkaiah Naidu is a senior politician and former Vice President, but he is not credited as the author of this specific work.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to guess based on high profile political roles instead of who actually wrote the book. Many candidates see a familiar political name and select it without recalling whether that person has any major publications on the topic. Another mistake is to assume that any senior public figure associated with social justice debates must have authored the text. In reality, policy experts and civil servants like P. S. Krishnan often write these detailed works. Carefully connecting subject matter with the professional profile of the individual prevents such confusion.

Final Answer:
Hence, the book Social Exclusion and Justice in India was written by P. S. Krishnan.