'Electoral Bonds' scheme was launched in

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) January 2018

Explanation:
• The Government of India legally notified the rigorous Electoral Bond Scheme on January 2, 2018.
• The financial instrument was primarily designed to cleanse the system of political funding by allowing donors to anonymously purchase bonds through specified branches of the State Bank of India (SBI).

Information Booster:
• The bonds were physically available in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh, and Rs. 1 crore.
• In February 2024, the Supreme Court of India officially struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme as unconstitutional, citing that anonymous donations violate the citizen's Right to Information.

Additional Knowledge:
April 2018 (Option b)
• While bonds were heavily utilized throughout 2018, the official notification and launch occurred in January.
April 2019 (Option c)
• This month coincides with the massive 2019 Indian General Elections where the bonds were extensively used, not launched.
December 2019 (Option d)
• Incorrect timeline.
None of the above/More than one of the above (Option e)
• Incorrect, as January 2018 clearly hits the correct historical marker.

So the correct answer is (a)