The correct answer is: c) The British Raj.
Before India’s independence, Punjab comprised numerous princely states owing allegiance to the British Raj. The British Raj was the period of British rule in India from 1858 to 1947. It was the culmination of a long period of British expansion in India, which began in the early 17th century. The British Raj was a period of great change for India. The British introduced many new ideas and technologies to India, and they also had a profound impact on Indian culture. However, the British Raj was also a period of great hardship for many Indians. The British often exploited Indian resources and labor, and they also discriminated against Indians. The British Raj came to an end in 1947, when India gained independence.
The other options are incorrect. The Mughal Empire was an Islamic empire that ruled over much of India from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The Sikh Empire was a Sikh empire that ruled over much of Punjab from the 18th to the 19th centuries. Independent local rulers ruled over many parts of India before the British Raj, but they did not rule over Punjab.