Question

The oldest inhabitants of India are considered to be:
A) Mongoloids
B) Negritoes
C) Indo-Aryans
D) Mediterraneans

Answer 1

Hint: Every major religion is represented in India, as are four major language families (Indo-European, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, and Sino-Tibetan languages), as well as two language isolates (the Nihali language spoken in parts of Maharashtra and the Burushaski language spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmir)).

Complete answer:
Negritoes settled in Kerala's hilly regions and the Andaman Islands. Kerala's Kadar, Irula, and Puliyan tribes have a lot in common with the Negritos. They have ties to Africa, Australia, and the islands that surround them. Black (dark) skin, shaggy hair, a large and flat nose, and slightly protruding jaws characterise the Negritos.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Mongoloids: This option is incorrect because they are not the oldest inhabitants of India. Mongolia was this race's initial homeland (China). The Mongoloids arrived in India via the northern and eastern mountain passages. These people live in the Himalayan foothills, such as Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and other parts of north-eastern India.
B) Negritoes: This is the correct option. The Negritoes are thought to be India's ancient residents. They may have been the first racial tribe to arrive in India.
C) Indo-Aryans: This option is incorrect because they are not the oldest inhabitants of India. Between 1800 and 1500 BCE, northerners are thought to have migrated to India and lived in the Indus Valley and Ganges Plain. The most notable of these groups, known as Aryans, spoke Indo-European languages.
D) Mediterraneans: This option is incorrect because Negritoes are the oldest inhabitants of India. They arrived in India from Southeast Asia. Paleo-Mediterraneans, Mediterraneans, and Oriental-Mediterraneans are the three groups they belong to. The Paleo-Mediterraneans were the first people from the Mediterranean to arrive in India.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (B) i.e, Negritoes.

Note: The Negritos were among the first racial tribes to arrive in India. The Proto-Australoid race arrived shortly after the Negritos, and their origins can be traced back to Australian aborigines. The Mongoloids arrived in India via the northern and eastern mountain passages. From south-west Asia, the Mediterraneans arrived in India.