The correct answer is option 3: 1699. This is the year when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and final Guru of the Sikhs, created the Khalsa Panth. The formation of the Khalsa Panth was a significant event in Sikh history. Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Khalsa by baptizing five Sikhs, known as the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones), who pledged to follow the principles of Sikhism. He then declared that the Khalsa would be the embodiment of the collective consciousness of the Guru and the Sikh community. The Khalsa Panth was established to defend the principles of Sikhism, protect the innocent, and fight against injustice. It serves as a unified body of Sikh believers, promoting equality, justice, and righteousness.