Among the Indian languages, the language spoken the most in the world after Hindi is Bengali (Option 3). Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. It is also spoken by significant populations in various other countries.

Here`s the detailed reasoning for why Bengali is the correct answer:

1. Population: Bengali has a large number of native speakers. According to estimates, there are over 250 million Bengali speakers worldwide. This makes it the second most widely spoken Indian language after Hindi.

2. Geographic Distribution: Bengali is primarily spoken in the Indian state of West Bengal and the neighboring country of Bangladesh. West Bengal has a population of over 90 million people, while Bangladesh has a population of over 160 million people. Bengali is also spoken in the Indian states of Assam, Tripura, and Jharkhand, as well as in some parts of Myanmar (Burma) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

3. Influence and Diaspora: Bengali has a significant diaspora in various parts of the world. People of Bengali origin have migrated to different countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. In cities like London, New York, and Toronto, there are substantial Bengali-speaking communities. This global presence further contributes to the widespread usage of Bengali.

4. Literary Tradition: Bengali has a rich literary heritage and a long history of literature. Prominent Bengali writers and poets like Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature, have significantly contributed to the language`s cultural significance. Bengali literature is highly regarded, and the language has a strong presence in the fields of poetry, novels, and drama.

5. Official Status: Bengali is an official language of Bangladesh and is recognized as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. It is used extensively in government, administration, education, media, and literature in both countries.

In comparison to the other options:

- Telugu (Option 1): Telugu is one of the major Dravidian languages spoken in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While it has a substantial number of speakers (around 80 million), it is not as widely spoken globally as Bengali.

- Tamil (Option 2): Tamil is another Dravidian language and is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. It also has a large number of speakers (around 75 million). However, its global presence is not as extensive as Bengali.

- Malayalam (Option 4): Malayalam is a Dravidian language primarily spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. It has around 38 million speakers. Although it has a significant presence in Kerala and among the Malayali diaspora, it is not as widely spoken worldwide as Bengali.

In conclusion, Bengali is spoken the most among the Indian languages after Hindi, considering factors such as population, geographic distribution, influence, literary tradition, and official status.