Arrange the following major advances in Indian Epigraphy in chronological order, beginning with the earliest to the most recent.

(A) Alexander Cunningham published a set of Ashokan inscriptions

(B) James Prinsep deciphers Ashokan Brahmi

(C) First issue of Epigraphia Indica

(D) First issue of Epigraphia Carnatica

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Option 1 -> (A), (B), (C), (D) - Incorrectly places Cunningham before Prinsep and Epigraphia Indica before Epigraphia Carnatica.

Option 2 -> (A), (B), (D), (C) - Incorrectly places Cunningham's publication before Prinsep's decipherment.

Option 3 -> (B), (A), (C), (D) - Correctly starts with Prinsep and Cunningham, but incorrectly places Epigraphia Indica (1892) before Epigraphia Carnatica (1886).

Option 4 -> (B), (A), (D), (C) - Follows the correct chronological sequence: Prinsep's decipherment (1837) → Cunningham's publication (1870s) → Epigraphia Carnatica (1886) → Epigraphia Indica (1892).

Hence, Option 4: (B), (A), (D), (C) -> James Prinsep's groundbreaking decipherment of Brahmi in 1837 enabled all subsequent epigraphic work, followed by Cunningham's systematic publication of Ashokan inscriptions in the 1870s. Epigraphia Carnatica, focused on Karnataka inscriptions, was launched in 1886, while the more comprehensive Epigraphia Indica began publication in 1892 -> correct