RAS question
National Mathematics Day is observed on December 22 to honour which mathematician?
Correct answer: (A) Srinivasa Ramanujan.
National Mathematics Day is observed on 22 December to honour the legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan on his birth anniversary.
Explanation
National Mathematics Day falls on 22 December because that date marks the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan. The official PIB release states that the day is celebrated each year on 22 December and specifically links it to Ramanujan, describing him as a legendary Indian mathematician. This is why the question is not asking for a general ancient Indian mathematics figure or a famous calculating prodigy, but for the person whose birthday is commemorated by the observance. The same PIB release also frames the day as a moment to recognise the contribution of Indian scientists and mathematicians to nation-building, which explains why Ramanujan’s name is central to this current-affairs-style science and technology fact.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Aryabhata is an important Indian mathematician, but the cited PIB release links National Mathematics Day on 22 December specifically to Srinivasa Ramanujan's birth anniversary.
- (C) Brahmagupta is not the figure named by the official source for this observance; the PIB release identifies Srinivasa Ramanujan as the mathematician honoured on 22 December.
- (D) Shakuntala Devi is a well-known mathematics-related public figure, but the observance in the official source is tied to Srinivasa Ramanujan, not to her.
Concept
This tests the science and technology current-affairs theme of national observances linked to Indian scientists and mathematicians. It recurs in RAS because such days connect factual recall with the broader syllabus emphasis on scientific temper and Indian contributions to knowledge.