Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the first COVID-19 vaccine that was developed indigenously in India. "Indigenous" means developed and manufactured within the country.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
COVAXIN: This vaccine was developed by Bharat Biotech, an Indian biotechnology company, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV). It is a wholly indigenous vaccine.
COVISHIELD: This vaccine was developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. It was manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India, but the development was not indigenous.
SPUTNIK-V: This is a Russian vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
MODERNA: This is an American vaccine, developed by Moderna, Inc.
Based on this, COVAXIN was the first vaccine to be developed entirely in India.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed in India was COVAXIN.