Identify the correct sequence (from earliest to latest) of the universities established in the early years of the twentieth century India:
A. Osmania University
B. Aligarh Muslim University
C. SNDT Women’s University
D. Nagpur University
E. Patna University
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is C, E, A, B, D — meaning the chronological order from earliest to latest is: SNDT Women's University → Patna University → Osmania University → Aligarh Muslim University → Nagpur University.

To understand why this sequence is correct, let us examine the founding year of each institution one by one.

C. SNDT Women's University (1916)
The Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women's University was founded in 1916 by the social reformer Dhondo Keshav Karve (also known as Maharshi Karve) in Pune. It holds the distinction of being the first women's university in India and Asia, making it the earliest institution in this list. It was established with the sole aim of providing higher education to women at a time when their access to formal education was severely restricted.

E. Patna University (1917)
Patna University was established in 1917 under the Patna University Act. It was one of the first universities in the Bihar and Orissa region and played a vital role in spreading higher education in eastern India. Its founding came just one year after SNDT, placing it second in the sequence.

A. Osmania University (1918)
Osmania University in Hyderabad was founded in 1918 by the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It was a landmark institution because it was the first university to use Urdu as the medium of instruction for all subjects, including sciences and arts. It was established just one year after Patna University, placing it third in the sequence.

B. Aligarh Muslim University (1920)
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was formally established in 1920 through an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly. It was built upon the foundation of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, which had been set up by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875. The conversion to a full university with degree-granting status happened in 1920, placing it fourth in this sequence.

D. Nagpur University (1923)
Nagpur University was established in 1923 under the Nagpur University Act of the Central Provinces. It was the youngest of these five universities, making it the last in the chronological sequence.

Summarising the founding years in a clear order:

C → SNDT Women's University: 1916
E → Patna University: 1917
A → Osmania University: 1918
B → Aligarh Muslim University: 1920
D → Nagpur University: 1923

This confirms that the correct sequence from earliest to latest is C, E, A, B, D. All five universities were founded within a span of just seven years (1916–1923), reflecting a period of significant expansion in higher education across British India in the early twentieth century.