The question pertains to the history of higher education in India, specifically the introduction of the present system of affiliation of colleges to universities. Let's analyze the information:

The affiliation system, where colleges are formally associated with a university for the purposes of offering degrees and conducting examinations, was introduced in India with the establishment of the first three universities in 1857.

These universities were set up in the cities of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay (now Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai). This was a significant development in the Indian education system as it marked the formal beginning of structured higher education similar to that in Britain.

Let's examine the given options to confirm the correct answer:

• 1857: This is the year when the first universities in India were established, thus marking the introduction of the college affiliation system.
• 1948: This year relates more to the post-independence education reforms and the Radhakrishnan Commission.
• 1928: This year does not correspond to any major educational reform or the introduction of the university affiliation system.
• 1966: This year is irrelevant to the initiation of the university affiliation system as it was already in existence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1857.

In conclusion, the present system of affiliation of colleges to the universities in India was introduced in the year 1857 with the inception of the first three modern universities in the country, establishing a structured system for higher education.