The correct answer is: A. 1973
The Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands were renamed Lakshadweep by the Lakshadweep Islands (Change of Name) Act, 1973. The Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 12 December 1973 and came into force on 1 November 1974.
The Act was passed to give the islands a more distinctive and unified identity. The name Lakshadweep is derived from the Sanskrit words laksa (thousand) and dwipa (island), and means “thousand islands”. The islands are located in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India. They are a group of about 360 islands, of which only 10 are inhabited. The islands are known for their white-sand beaches, clear blue waters, and coral reefs.
The Act also provided for the establishment of a new Union Territory of Lakshadweep, with its headquarters at Kavaratti. The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is one of the 28 states and 7 union territories of India. It is located in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala. The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has a population of about 64,000 people. The official languages of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep are Malayalam and English.