In the context of the December 2012 UGC NET examination, which of the…

Concept

Circulation is the average number of copies distributed or sold during a stated audit period. A circulation ranking is therefore meaningful only for the same publication category and time period.

For a previous-year factual question, the examination date and its official answer key fix the intended historical frame; a present-day ranking must not be substituted.

Application

This item is from UGC NET Paper I, December 2012. In the official Paper I answer key, Question 4 for the booklet order matching these options is keyed to The Times of India.

Contrast

• The Times of India was the circulation leader among the listed English-language dailies in the relevant period.

• The Indian Express was a national English-language daily, but it did not lead this listed group in the relevant circulation comparison.

• The Hindu was a major national English-language daily, but its circulation was below the leader in this listed comparison.

• Deccan Herald was an English-language daily with a strong Karnataka base, but it was not the circulation leader in this listed group.

Cross-check

Contemporaneous Audit Bureau of Circulations reporting for July-December 2012 also recorded The Times of India in the top slot among English dailies, which agrees with the official examination key.

Therefore, the answer in the December 2012 examination context is The Times of India.