Zoroastrianism, one of the world oldest known monotheistic religions, is traditionally practiced in which of the following countries?

Introduction / Context:
This question touches on cultural and religious geography. Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion that has had a major influence on the religious history of West and Central Asia. It is important in general knowledge to know where this faith originated and where its followers live today, especially because exam questions often ask about the presence of Zoroastrian communities in India and Iran.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The religion referred to is Zoroastrianism.
• The options are India, Iran, Both A and B, None of the above, and Only in Central Asia.
• We assume familiarity with the historical origin of Zoroastrianism in ancient Persia and the migration of Zoroastrians to India.
• We also recognise that the Parsi community in India is a well known Zoroastrian group.

Concept / Approach:
Zoroastrianism originated in ancient Persia, which corresponds largely to modern Iran, and the prophet Zoroaster is associated with that region. Over centuries, due to changes in political and religious conditions, some Zoroastrians migrated from Persia to India, where they formed communities known as Parsis, especially in western India. As a result, Zoroastrianism has a historical and present day presence in both Iran and India. Therefore, among the options, Both A and B correctly captures the fact that the religion is practiced in both of these countries.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Zoroastrianism is historically linked to ancient Persia, and Persia is now largely represented by the modern state of Iran. Step 2: Remember that many Zoroastrians migrated to India centuries ago and formed the Parsi and Irani communities, which still practice the faith. Step 3: Recognise that because of this, Zoroastrianism continues to be practiced both in Iran and in India, especially in regions such as Mumbai and parts of Gujarat. Step 4: Evaluate the options India and Iran separately and realise that neither alone fully represents the current distribution of followers in the context of the question. Step 5: Choose Both A and B as the correct comprehensive description.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this through standard religious geography references and encyclopaedia entries on Zoroastrianism. These sources describe Iran as the original homeland of the faith and mention that small communities still exist there. They also highlight the Parsi community in India, which has played a significant role in commerce, industry, and philanthropy within India while maintaining Zoroastrian religious practices. None of these references restrict Zoroastrianism exclusively to Central Asia or claim that it is not practised in either India or Iran.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing only India or only Iran ignores the fact that Zoroastrian communities exist in both countries. None of the above is wrong because there clearly are countries in the list where Zoroastrianism is practised. Only in Central Asia is inaccurate because, although there may be historical links to Central Asian regions, the main traditional centres mentioned in modern discussions are Iran and India. Therefore, the only accurate option in this question is Both A and B.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to associate Zoroastrianism solely with ancient Persia and select only Iran, forgetting about the Parsi community in India. Another pitfall is to focus only on Indian Parsis and choose only India, overlooking the religion continuing to be practised in Iran. To avoid such mistakes, remember that Zoroastrianism has two key modern centres of practice: Iran as the land of origin and India as the main diaspora centre, which is why Both A and B is the correct choice.

Final Answer:
Both A and B