The correct answer is: a) Austroasiatic speakers.
The Meitei people are an ethnic group native to the Indian state of Manipur. They are the largest ethnic group in Manipur, making up about 50% of the state’s population. The Meitei people speak the Meitei language, which is an Austroasiatic language.
The Austroasiatic languages are a language family that is spoken by about 120 million people in Southeast Asia, India, and China. The Austroasiatic languages are thought to have originated in southern China, and they spread to Southeast Asia and India over time.
The Meitei people are believed to have originated in southern China, and they migrated to Manipur in the 1st millennium AD. The Meitei people have a rich culture and history, and they are known for their martial arts, music, and dance.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Option b) Tibeto-Burman groups is incorrect because the Tibeto-Burman languages are spoken by peoples who are native to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and China. The Meitei people are not native to these areas.
- Option c) Dravidian populations is incorrect because the Dravidian languages are spoken by peoples who are native to India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The Meitei people are not native to these areas.
- Option d) Austronesian seafarers is incorrect because the Austronesian languages are spoken by peoples who are native to Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Madagascar. The Meitei people are not native to these areas.