पुढील दोन विधानांपैकी कोणते योग्य आहे ?
(a) स्वातंत्र्यानंतर भारताचे एकीकरण मोठे कठीण होते. 'गोवा पोर्तुगालचा भाग आहे' ह्याला फ्रान्सने खंबीर दुजोरा दिला व मदतीला मनुष्यबळ व यंत्रसामग्री पाठविली.
(b) पोर्तुगिजांनी 1961 मध्ये गोव्याचा ताबा सोडला व त्यानंतर आफ्रिकेतील त्यांच्या अधिपत्याखालील भागांनीही स्वातंत्र्य मिळविले.

The correct answer is Option B (Only (b)).

Key Points:
• Liberation of Goa and Portuguese Decolonization (1961):
• 🇫🇷 French Policy vs Portuguese: Statement (a) is incorrect. France peacefully negotiated the transfer of its Indian territories (Pondicherry, Chandannagar, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam) to India in 1954 and never supported Portugal with military troops or machinery against India.
• Operation Vijay (1961) & African Colonies: Statement (b) is correct. Indian armed forces liberated Goa, Daman, and Diu through Operation Vijay in December 1961, forcing Portuguese Governor Manuel António Vassalo e Silva to surrender. The liberation of Goa dealt a huge blow to the Salazar dictatorship, directly catalyzing anti-colonial liberation movements across Portuguese African colonies (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde), which gained full independence following the 1974 Carnation Revolution in Lisbon.
• Hence, only statement (b) is correct (Option 2).
• Key Takeaway: Portugal surrendered Goa in December 1961 via Operation Vijay, sparking the subsequent independence of Portuguese African colonies.