The cities which are included in ‘Golden Triangle’ of India Tourism, are

The correct answer is A. The Golden Triangle is the classic foreign-tourist circuit linking Delhi, the national capital, Agra, home to the Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983), and Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and the Pink City. The circuit is promoted under the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India campaign.

• B is wrong: Agra is in the triangle, but Mathura and Gwalior are not. Mathura belongs to the Braj circuit, and Gwalior is in Madhya Pradesh with its own fort-based circuit.
• C is wrong: Kanpur and Lucknow are major Uttar Pradesh cities, but they are not part of the Golden Triangle. Lucknow features in the Awadh and UP circuits.
• D is wrong: Option A correctly lists the three cities.

For Mains, tourism circuits link to employment, foreign exchange, and the carrying capacity debate. Pollution around the Taj Mahal and the Supreme Court's monitoring of the Yamuna and Taj Trapezium Zone are good examples to keep in mind.

Trap: Many aspirants choose B because Agra is the only well-known name there and Mathura and Gwalior are famous heritage towns nearby. Remember that the Golden Triangle is defined by Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, not by nearby pilgrimage or fort cities.