In 1916, which Indian university was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya with the support of Annie Besant?

Introduction / Context:
The foundation of major Indian universities during the freedom movement is a favourite theme in history and general knowledge exams. Knowing who founded which university, in which year, and with whose support, shows awareness of the educational dimension of the national struggle. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya is closely associated with one major central university in Varanasi that combined modern education with Indian culture, and Annie Besant also played an important role in its establishment.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The year mentioned in the corrected historical context is 1916. • The founders named are Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant. • The options list well known Indian universities. • The question asks which university they helped to found.

Concept / Approach:
Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the largest and most respected residential universities in Asia. It was conceived by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya as a temple of learning that would blend science, technology, and Indian culture. Annie Besant had earlier established the Central Hindu College in Varanasi. With the cooperation of Malaviya and several princes and leaders, that college formed the nucleus of Banaras Hindu University, which was formally founded in 1916. Therefore, when a question links Malaviya and Besant together as co founders in this period, it is pointing to Banaras Hindu University.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the names Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant, both active in the national movement and in education. Step 2: Recall that Malaviya is almost always associated with Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. Step 3: Remember that Annie Besant had set up the Central Hindu College, which later became part of the new university structure. Step 4: Look at the options and identify Banaras Hindu University as the only one that matches this combination of founders and place. Step 5: Confirm mentally that other universities such as Delhi University, Punjab University, and Aligarh Muslim University have different founding histories.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical accounts and the official website of Banaras Hindu University state that the university was established in 1916 through the efforts of Malaviya, working closely with Annie Besant and several other patrons. They describe how the Central Hindu College formed the base on which BHU was built, and how Malaviya envisioned the institution as a national university for India. No such association is claimed by Delhi University, Punjab University, the University of Madras, or Aligarh Muslim University, which confirms that BHU is the correct answer when both Malaviya and Besant are named together.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Punjab University traces its origins to Lahore and does not list Malaviya and Besant as its founders. • Delhi University was established later, in 1922, and has a different legislative and institutional history. • The University of Madras is one of the three Presidency universities created in 1857 and predates Malaviya's BHU initiative. • Aligarh Muslim University evolved from the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College under the leadership of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, not Malaviya and Besant.

Common Pitfalls:
• Confusing the foundation of BHU with the founding of the existing college system in Varanasi before 1916. • Mixing up different founders because many universities were created around the same broad period. • Ignoring the strong and unique association between Malaviya and Banaras Hindu University in exam questions.

Final Answer:
In 1916, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, with the support of Annie Besant and other leaders, founded Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi.