The novel The Inheritance of Loss, which received the Man Booker Prize, is authored by which Indian origin writer?

Introduction / Context:
International literary prizes like the Man Booker Prize are strongly emphasised in competitive examinations, especially when they are won by authors of Indian origin. The Inheritance of Loss is one such prize winning novel. This question checks whether the learner can correctly associate the title with its author, Kiran Desai, and distinguish her work from those of other famous Indian or Indian origin writers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title of the book is The Inheritance of Loss.
• The novel has received the Man Booker Prize.
• Four options list different Indian or Indian origin authors.
• We assume standard literary information regarding major prizes and novels.

Concept / Approach:
The underlying concept is mapping a famous award winning book to its correct author. The key is to remember which author among the options actually wrote The Inheritance of Loss. Awareness of the timeline of Man Booker winners and their national backgrounds provides additional support. Kiran Desai, the daughter of writer Anita Desai, is the known author of this novel and received the award for it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the book title The Inheritance of Loss and that it has won the Man Booker Prize. Step 2: Recall that Kiran Desai won the Man Booker Prize for this novel in the mid 2000s. Step 3: Vikram Seth is associated with novels like A Suitable Boy, not with The Inheritance of Loss. Step 4: Salman Rushdie is famous for works such as Midnight Children and The Satanic Verses. Step 5: V S Naipaul is another Nobel and Booker related author, but his prize winning work was In a Free State, not The Inheritance of Loss. Step 6: Therefore, the only correct match of author and book among the options is Kiran Desai.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to look up a list of Man Booker Prize winners. It clearly shows that The Inheritance of Loss is by Kiran Desai. Libraries and book sellers also catalogue the book under her name. Multiple competitive exam guides specifically mention this pairing, since it is a frequent objective question in general knowledge sections on literature.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Vikram Seth: Highly regarded novelist and poet, but not the author of The Inheritance of Loss.
Salman Rushdie: Booker winning author, but his award winning titles are different and do not include this novel.
V S Naipaul: A Nobel and Booker laureate, but associated with other titles and not with The Inheritance of Loss.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all options are important Indian or Indian origin authors, many students may confuse which prize winning novel belongs to whom. A typical error is to tick Salman Rushdie or V S Naipaul due to their fame with awards. To avoid such confusion, learners should memorise a small table of Booker winners of Indian origin, matching each author to the specific awarded title.

Final Answer:
The novel The Inheritance of Loss is authored by Kiran Desai.