MPSC Prelims 2017 General Studies Paper I with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

Anga represents modern East Bihar, covering the districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr, with its capital at Champa.

Magadha corresponds to modern South Bihar, particularly the districts of Patna, Gaya, and parts of Shahabad, with its initial capital at Girivraja.

Vajji was situated in modern North Bihar, north of the Ganges, with its capital at Vaishali.

Malla was located to the north of Vajji, representing modern Gorakhpur and Deoria districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh, with major centers at Pava and Kusinara.

Explanation

Harappa is matched with Dayaram Sahni who led the excavations at the site in 1921.

Mohenjodaro is matched with Rakhaldas Banerji who discovered the ruins of the city in 1922.

Chanhudaro is matched with Gopal Majumdar who first excavated the site in 1931.

Lothal is matched with Ranganath Rao who discovered and excavated this port city in 1954.

Explanation

Steatite, commonly known as soapstone, is a soft talc-schist metamorphic rock that was the primary material used for making seals in the Indus Valley (Sindhu) Civilization. Due to its softness, craftsmen could easily carve intricate depictions of animals, deities, and script symbols onto it. Once the carving was complete, the seals were baked at high temperatures to harden the stone and give them a durable, glazed white finish.

Explanation

During the 6th century BCE, the Indian subcontinent was divided into sixteen powerful kingdoms known as Mahajanapadas.

Kosala was ruled by King Prasenjit, who was a contemporary and patron of Gautama Buddha.

Magadha was ruled by Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty, who expanded his empire through strategic matrimonial alliances and conquest.

Vatsa was ruled by King Udayana (Udyan), a legendary ruler famous for his romance with Vasavadatta, which inspired several classical Sanskrit plays.

Avanti was ruled by King Candapradyota (Pradyot), a powerful and fierce monarch whose kingdom was centered around Ujjain.

Explanation

The Anguttara Nikaya, a Buddhist scripture belonging to the Sutta Pitaka, contains the earliest and most well-known list of the sixteen great kingdoms, known as the Mahajanapadas, which existed in ancient India during the sixth century BCE. This text describes the political landscape of northern and central India, listing kingdoms such as Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vriji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.

Explanation

Tolaka Pear refers to Tolkappiyar, who authored Tolkappiyam, the oldest extant Tamil work on grammar and poetics, belonging to the early classical Sangam literature.

Valluvar refers to Thiruvalluvar, the legendary poet-philosopher who composed the Tirukkural, a masterpiece on ethics and morality that forms part of the Pathinenkilkanakku (Eighteen Lesser Texts) of late Sangam/post-Sangam literature.

Elangoadigal refers to Ilango Adigal, a Chera prince and poet who composed Silappatikaram, one of the Five Great Epics of the classical Tamil literary tradition.

Sittalaisittanur refers to Seethalai Sathanar, a grain merchant and poet who composed Manimekalai, which serves as the companion epic to Silappatikaram.

All four figures are foundational authors and poets whose contributions define the classical Sangam and post-Sangam literary tradition of ancient South India.

Explanation

The description refers to Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, a leading figure of the Bengal Renaissance. He was an outstanding Sanskrit scholar who advocated for a synthesis of traditional Indian learning with Western thought. He participated actively in the Tattwabodhini Sabha, which was founded by Debendranath Tagore. As the Principal of Sanskrit College, he restructured the curriculum to include Western education and science alongside Sanskrit, while also opening the college to non-Brahmin students. Additionally, he famously cited the Parashara Smriti and other ancient Hindu scriptures to prove that widow remarriage was religiously sanctioned, a campaign that directly led to the passage of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856.

Explanation

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was an eminent nineteenth-century reformer, educator, and politician who pioneered modern education for the Muslim community in India. In 1864, he established the Translation Society at Ghazipur, which was later renamed the Scientific Society of Aligarh, with the aim of translating Western scientific and historical works into Urdu. Recognizing his contributions, the British government honored him in 1869 with the Companion of the Star of India, which represents the third class of this prestigious order. In 1875, he founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental School in Aligarh to combine Western scientific education with Islamic values, an institution that later evolved into the Aligarh Muslim University. He strongly opposed the nationalist political stance of the Indian National Congress, advocating instead that Muslims should prioritize modern education and maintain cooperative relations with the British administration rather than participating in political agitation.

Explanation

Vidyapati Thakur of Mithila was a highly influential Maithili and Sanskrit poet whose work deeply impacted the development of medieval Bengali literature, leading many in Bengal to claim him as one of their own. He wrote extensively in Abahatta, Maithili, and Sanskrit, and is renowned for his love songs depicting Radha and Krishna. Vidyapati flourished under the patronage of several Hindu kings of the Oiniwar dynasty in Mithila, including Deva Simha, Kirti Simha, and Shiva Simha. Additionally, his literary contributions were highly regarded and patronized by the Muslim Sultans of Bengal, such as Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, whom he mentions with praise in his writings. This dual patronage of both Hindu rulers and Bengal Sultans highlights his widespread cultural and literary appeal across regions.

Explanation

During the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Indian business community overwhelmingly supported the nationalist cause rather than the colonial government. Prominent industrialists and merchants, organized under bodies like the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, actively opposed colonial economic policies that restricted domestic business. They demanded protection against foreign imports, refused to buy or sell imported goods, and provided substantial financial assistance to the Congress. Therefore, the statement that the business community supported the government is false.

Explanation

Sir Sayyed (Sir Syed Ahmad Khan) strongly opposed the Indian National Congress from its inception in 1885. He believed that the interests of Indian Muslims were distinct from those of the majority community represented by the Congress. Fearing that a representative democratic system would lead to the marginalization of Muslims, he advised his community to stay away from the Congress and instead focus on modern western education and cooperation with the British administration. To actively counter the influence of the Congress, he also established the United Patriotic Association in 1888.

Explanation

The first session of the Indian National Congress (INC) was held in Bombay from December 28 to 30, 1885, presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee. During this maiden session, the Congress discussed and adopted nine key resolutions outlining their primary administrative, fiscal, and political demands.

Resolution I demanded the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the functioning of the Indian administration, with adequate representation of Indians.

Resolution II called for the complete abolition of the Council of the Secretary of State for India in London, arguing that it acted as an obstacle to responsive governance.

Resolution VI advocated for a significant reduction in the British military expenditure, which consumed a vast portion of India's revenues.

Resolution VII strongly protested against the British annexation of Upper Burma and opposed its proposed incorporation into the administration of India.

Explanation

Dhumketu matches with I (Kolkata) because it was a progressive Bengali weekly launched by Kazi Nazrul Islam from Kolkata in 1922.

Navayuga matches with II (Guntur) as it was an influential left-nationalist journal published from Guntur in the early 1920s.

Socialist matches with III (Mumbai) because S.A. Dange started this weekly newspaper, considered India's first socialist journal, from Mumbai in 1922.

Vanguard of Indian Independence matches with IV (Berlin) since it was a fortnightly political organ published by M.N. Roy from Berlin in 1922 to propagate communist ideas in India.

Explanation

Sant Gadge Maharaj, a revered social reformer and saint from Maharashtra, extensively used Kirtan as a traditional medium of mass communication to reform society. His Kirtans were highly interactive, structured in a question-and-answer format, and delivered in local dialects to easily connect with the common people. Through these performances, he strongly campaigned against social evils such as caste discrimination, untouchability, animal sacrifice, blind faith, and alcohol addiction, while emphasizing the importance of cleanliness, self-reliance, and education.

Explanation

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was a pioneering social reformer from Maharashtra who completed his education at the Scottish Mission School in Pune. During his time at the school, the teachings of Christian missionaries and exposure to western liberal thoughts deeply influenced him, helping him realize the vital importance of education, social reforms, and universal humanism. These principles motivated him to challenge the orthodox caste system and work towards the upliftment of marginalized sections of society. He strongly advocated for women education, openly supported widow remarriage, and actively fought against the practice of female infanticide by establishing the Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha in 1863 to provide shelter to pregnant widows and protect their children.

Explanation

Immanuel Kant proposed the Gaseous Hypothesis in 1755, which suggested that the solar system and Earth formed from cold, stationary solid particles that collided under gravity, generating heat and rotation.

Laplace modified this view in 1796 with the Nebular Hypothesis, proposing that a pre-existing hot, rotating gaseous nebula cooled, contracted, and shed concentric rings of matter that subsequently condensed to form planets.

Chamberlin, along with Moulton, introduced the Planetesimal Hypothesis in 1905, asserting that the gravitational pull of a passing star drew out gaseous filaments from the sun that condensed into small, solid bodies called planetesimals, which later accreted into planets.

James Jeans, along with Jeffreys, formulated the Tidal Hypothesis in 1919, explaining that a massive passing star caused a large tidal pull on the sun, detaching a cigar-shaped filament of matter that eventually cooled and broke into individual planetary bodies.

Explanation

The temperature inside the Earth increases with increasing depth. This geothermal gradient is primarily driven by the heat generated from the radioactive decay of isotopes like uranium, thorium, and potassium in the Earth's crust and mantle, as well as the residual heat left over from the planet's accretion and formation. In the upper crust, the temperature rises at an average rate of about 25°C to 30°C per kilometer of depth.

Explanation

Condensation is the phase change where water vapor converts into liquid water. During this transition from a gaseous state to a liquid state, heat energy is released into the surrounding environment. This thermal energy, which is released or absorbed by a substance during a change in its physical state without altering its temperature, is known as latent heat. In this specific process, it is called the latent heat of condensation, which warms the surrounding air and plays a crucial role in powering weather systems and atmospheric circulation.

Explanation

Vernal Equinox matches with March 21 because the Sun is directly above the equator, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summer Solstice matches with June 21 because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the Sun, resulting in the longest day of the year.

Winter Solstice matches with December 22 because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the Sun, resulting in the shortest day of the year.

Autumnal Equinox matches with September 23 because the Sun is directly above the equator, marking the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Explanation

The seismic focus, also referred to as the hypocenter, is the point of origin within the Earth where an earthquake rupture begins. It is the location where geological strain energy stored in the crust is suddenly released along a fault line, generating seismic waves that travel outward in all directions and eventually reach the surface.

Explanation

The Bora is a cold, dry, and extremely gusty katabatic wind that blows from the north-northeast. It originates over the cold inland plateaus of the Dinaric Alps and sweeps down towards the warm coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea. This meteorological phenomenon occurs when a cold high-pressure system establishes itself over the interior mountains of Europe while a low-pressure system forms over the warmer Adriatic Sea, causing the cold, dense air to rush down the steep mountain slopes under the influence of gravity.

Explanation

Sublimation refers to the direct transition of a substance between the solid and gaseous phases without passing through the liquid phase. In meteorology and physical geography, the process where water vapour in the atmosphere directly transforms into ice crystals or frost under sub-freezing temperatures is classified as sublimation.

Explanation

Penganga River originates in the Buldhana (Budhana) range of the Ajanta hills in Maharashtra. Krishna River rises from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. Tungabhadra River, formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers, has its source at Gomantak Peak (Gangamoola) in Karnataka. Cauvery River originates in the Brahmagiri range (Talakaveri) in Karnataka.

This aligns with the sequence: a-II, b-IV, c-I, d-III.

Explanation

The 10 Degree Channel (a) matches with III as it is a water body in the Bay of Bengal that lies on the 10-degree latitude, separating the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands.

The 8 Degree Channel (b) matches with IV as it lies on the 8-degree latitude, separating the island of Minicoy from the Maldives.

The 9 Degree Channel (c) matches with II as it lies on the 9-degree latitude, separating Minicoy from the main group of Lakshadweep islands.

The Duncan Passage (d) matches with I as it is a strait that separates Rutland Island (part of Greater Andaman) from Little Andaman.

Explanation

Salsette Island is the landmass on which the city of Mumbai is situated, which historically developed from a group of seven islands.

Sriharikota is a barrier island off the coast of Andhra Pradesh that houses the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India's primary rocket launching site.

Wellington Island is a major artificial island in Kochi, Kerala, that serves as an important naval station hosting the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Wheeler Island, located off the coast of Odisha and renamed Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, serves as India's main missile launching centre.

Explanation

A Central Business District (CBD) is the commercial, retail, and financial heart of a city, characterized by intensive land use, high land values, and high accessibility. Due to these high land costs, development in a CBD typically scales upward rather than sideward, resulting in a high concentration of multi-story office buildings and shops. Consequently, residential areas are generally excluded from the CBD core and are instead situated in suburban fringes or residential zones surrounding the commercial center, making the residential area designation not applicable to a CBD.

Explanation

The correct sequence represents the seas arranged from the lowest salinity to the highest salinity.

The Baltic Sea is a brackish water body with a very low salinity ranging between 7 and 15 parts per thousand (ppt), primarily due to massive freshwater inflows from rivers and low evaporation in a cool climate.

The Andaman Sea has a moderate salinity of around 31 to 33 ppt, which is slightly lower than typical open oceans because of heavy monsoon precipitation and massive river discharges from the Irrawaddy and Salween rivers.

The Caribbean Sea has a higher salinity typical of tropical open oceans, averaging about 35 to 36 ppt due to strong solar radiation and high evaporation rates.

The Dead Sea is an inland hypersaline lake with an extreme salinity of approximately 337 ppt, caused by intense evaporation in an arid region and the absence of any natural outflow.

Explanation

In Spanish, La Niña literally translates to the little girl, whereas El Niño translates to the little boy. During a La Niña event, stronger equatorial trade winds push warm surface water westward toward Asia and Australia. This process enhances upwelling in the eastern Pacific Ocean, causing cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to rise to the surface. This cooling of the equatorial Pacific ocean temperatures alters global atmospheric circulation patterns, typically strengthening the Indian summer monsoon and bringing above-normal rainfall to the Indian subcontinent. Conversely, during an El Niño event, the trade winds weaken or even reverse, allowing the warm water pool in the western Pacific to move eastward toward the coast of South America.

Explanation

Kedarnath: The devastating cloudburst and subsequent flash floods in the Mandakini valley occurred on 16th June 2013, leading to a catastrophic natural disaster in Uttarakhand.

Leh-Ladakh: A massive cloudburst struck the Leh region of Ladakh on 6th August 2010, resulting in severe flash floods and mudslides.

Mumbai: The metropolis experienced unprecedented torrential rains and subsequent flash flooding on 26th July.

Chirgaon: A highly destructive cloudburst occurred in Chirgaon in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh on 15th August 1997.

Explanation

Under Rule 8 of the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999, the minimum thickness of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastics must not be less than 20 microns. This rule mandates a thickness of at least 20 microns, rendering the specified limits of less than 10, 15, or 20 microns incorrect.

Explanation

Himachal Pradesh is on its way to becoming India's first and the world's second carbon-free state. Under its master plan Policy and Strategy on Climate Change and Harnessing Carbon Credits, the state government has mandated environmental audits for all its departments. The state focuses on minimizing its carbon footprint through clean and renewable energy, specifically leveraging its massive hydroelectric power potential, efficient waste management, and extensive afforestation efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.

Explanation

The Western Ghats mountain range is recognized globally as one of the world's eight hottest biodiversity hotspots. Stretching over an area of 160,000 square kilometers along the western coast of the Indian peninsula, it exhibits an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. It is home to thousands of species of flowering plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, a significant portion of which are found nowhere else in the world. Due to rapid urbanization, agricultural expansion, and forest fragmentation, this ecologically sensitive region faces severe anthropogenic pressure, meeting the critical criteria of high endemism and extreme habitat threat required for its designation as a premier global biodiversity hotspot.

Explanation

The Antarctic ozone hole was first discovered and reported in 1985 by British Antarctic Survey scientists Joseph Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin. Their findings, published in the scientific journal Nature in May 1985, detailed a massive, unprecedented decline in stratospheric ozone concentrations over Antarctica during the southern hemisphere spring. This crucial discovery provided empirical evidence of ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons and played a decisive role in the global mobilization that led to the signing of the Montreal Protocol.

Explanation

The economic planning strategy in India during the earlier period, particularly from the Second Five-Year Plan onwards under the Nehru-Mahalanobis model, was heavily anchored on the development of heavy and basic industries. This strategy aimed at creating a sound base for long-term growth by investing in basic infrastructure, power, and transport. It assigned a very high priority to rapid industrialization as the prime driver to modernize the economy and transition away from an agrarian structure. Within the industrial sector, the planning strategy laid specific emphasis on establishing capital goods and heavy industries, such as iron, steel, and machine-building, to build domestic capacity and achieve self-reliance. Conversely, the development of large-scale consumer goods industries was not prioritized, as the production of consumer goods was largely left to cottage, village, and small-scale sectors. Therefore, only aspects a, b, and c were part of the early planning strategy.

Explanation

The Plan Holiday was implemented from 1966 to 1969 due to the failure of the Third Five-Year Plan. This failure was primarily caused by the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and consecutive severe droughts that led to a massive food crisis. Because of these economic and agricultural disruptions, the government of India postponed the formulation of the Fourth Five-Year Plan and instead introduced three successive Annual Plans during this three-year period to stabilize the economy.

Explanation

Under the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) methodology developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and the United Nations Development Programme, a household is identified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty if its weighted deprivation score is 20% or more but less than 33.3%. Households with a deprivation score of 33.3% or more are classified as multidimensionally poor, while those with a score of 50% or more are considered to be living in severe multidimensional poverty.

Explanation

LPG stands for Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation, which represents the core strategy of the New Economic Policy launched by the Government of India in 1991. This model was introduced to address a severe balance of payments crisis, modernise the country's economic system, and integrate the domestic economy with the global market. Liberalisation reduced government regulations and licensing requirements, privatisation transferred ownership or management of state-run enterprises to the private sector, and globalisation opened up the economy to foreign investments, international trade, and global competition.

Explanation

The Twelfth Five Year Plan of India (2012–2017) outlines multiple dimensions of inclusiveness in its framework.

Inclusiveness as poverty reduction ensures that growth delivers tangible benefits to the poor and marginalized to significantly reduce poverty levels.

Inclusiveness as group equality focuses on ensuring that the growth process is fair to different socio-economic groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women.

Inclusiveness as regional balance targets reducing disparities between States and ensuring that backward regions also benefit from development.

The focus on income inequality addresses the need to keep economic disparities within acceptable limits to promote social cohesion.

Explanation

The Expert Group to review the methodology for estimation of poverty was constituted by the Planning Commission of India in 2005 under the chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar [1]. The committee submitted its report in December 2009 [1]. It recommended moving away from the previous calorie-consumption-based estimation of poverty lines and instead proposed a poverty line based on monthly per capita consumption expenditure on a broader basket of goods, which explicitly included private expenditures on health and education [1].

Explanation

The demographic dividend refers to the economic growth potential resulting from shifts in a population's age structure. It primarily occurs when a decline in birth rates leads to a reduction in the proportion of young dependents. Consequently, this shifts the overall age structure, resulting in a larger proportion of the population entering their adult, productive, working ages (typically defined as ages 15 to 64) relative to the dependent younger and older cohorts. This lower dependency ratio frees up resources for economic investment and boosts overall per capita productivity.

Explanation

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007 - 12) was prepared under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The core theme of this plan was Towards faster and more inclusive development (often referred to as Towards faster and more inclusive growth).

This plan aimed to accelerate the rate of economic growth while simultaneously making it more inclusive. It focused heavily on social sectors, such as education, health, and agriculture, to ensure that the benefits of developmental growth reached the marginalized and poorer sections of society, thereby reducing poverty and regional disparities.

Explanation

The National Population Policy, 2000 set down several national socio-demographic goals to be achieved. Among these targets, it aimed to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to below 100 per 1 lakh (100,000) live births and the infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births. It also aimed at the prevention and control of communicable diseases to improve overall public health and child survival.

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a national mission for financial inclusion launched by the Government of India on August 28, 2014. The scheme aims to ensure affordable access to financial services, including banking savings and deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, and pension for the underprivileged sections of society. Under this initiative, individuals can open a basic savings bank account with zero balance requirement.

Explanation

Improving service delivery standards, empowering urban local bodies, and reducing urban poverty are the core objectives of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission II (JNNURM II). The mission focuses on the modernization and upgrade of infrastructure, water supply, sanitation, and urban transport, which directly improves service delivery standards. Empowering and building the capacity of urban local bodies ensures effective governance, financial sustainability, and the local management of assets. Furthermore, the provision of basic services to the urban poor and the generation of sustainable livelihoods help directly in reducing urban poverty. Slowing down the rate of urbanization is not an objective of such missions, as urbanization is recognized as a natural and positive driver of economic growth; the objective is to manage urban growth efficiently through planned development rather than slowing it down.

Explanation

Urbanization in India faces several socio-economic challenges that prevent it from fully translating into balanced and equitable economic development.

The neglect of slums in urban areas during the planning process leads to severe deficiencies in basic infrastructure, sanitation, and housing, which severely limits the productivity and living conditions of a major portion of the urban population.

The vast majority of the urban workforce is absorbed by the unorganised sectors, where workers are vulnerable to intense exploitation by capitalists, landlords, and contractors due to a lack of regulatory protection, job security, and fair wages.

Modern urban development often prioritizes capital-intensive technologies over labour-intensive ones, restricting job creation for low-skilled migrants and aggravating unemployment and underemployment.

Consequently, the benefits of economic growth remain unequally shared, concentrated largely in the hands of a skilled and wealthy minority, while the broader urban populace remains marginalized. Together, all these structural factors prevent urbanization from fostering inclusive economic development.

Explanation

Tenancy reforms are a major component of land reforms in India, aimed at improving the contractual terms and economic position of tenants who cultivate leased land. These reforms comprise three specific measures:

Regulation of tenancy rent: Restricting rent to a fair and reasonable level (typically fixed at one-fifth to one-fourth of the gross produce) to prevent exploitation by landlords. Security of tenure: Protecting tenants from arbitrary eviction and ensuring they can cultivate the land with stability, which encourages long-term agricultural investment. Conferment of ownership rights on tenants: Legally transferring land ownership to the actual tillers, bringing them into a direct relationship with the state.

In contrast, imposing a ceiling on the maximum size of a cultivation holding is categorized under land ceiling and redistribution laws (reorganization of agriculture), which is a separate class of land reforms distinct from tenancy-specific regulations.

Explanation

Direct Benefit Transfer is a major reform initiative launched by the Government of India on 1 January 2013. This mechanism aims to transfer subsidies and benefits directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, thereby streamlining the delivery system, reducing leakages, eliminating intermediaries, and ensuring accurate targeting of government welfare schemes.

Explanation

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was formally established as an operating entity of the financial mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010 during the COP 16 summit held in Cancun, Mexico. Headquartered in Songdo, South Korea, its primary mandate is to support developing countries in limiting or reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change by mobilizing funding for low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways.

Explanation

The horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field is related to the total magnetic field by the formula:

H = B cos(θ)

where H is the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field, B is the total magnetic field of the Earth, and θ is the angle of dip.

Substituting the given values into the formula:

0.26 = B cos(60°)

Since cos(60°) = 0.5, this simplifies to:

0.26 = B × 0.5

Solving for B:

B = 0.26 / 0.5 = 0.52 units

Explanation

The total downward force acting on the elevator is the sum of the gravitational force and the frictional force opposing the motion.

The gravitational force is: F_gravity = m × g = 1800 kg × 10 m/s² = 18000 N

Since the elevator is moving upward, the frictional force opposing the motion acts downward: F_friction = 4000 N

The total downward force to be overcome by the motor is: F_total = F_gravity + F_friction = 18000 N + 4000 N = 22000 N

To maintain a constant speed, the upward force exerted by the motor must balance this total downward force. The minimum power delivered by the motor is given by the relation: Power = Force × Velocity Power = 22000 N × 2 m/s = 44000 W

To convert the power from watts to horsepower, we use the conversion factor 1 hp = 746 W: Power in hp = 44000 / 746 ≈ 58.98 hp

This is approximately 59 hp.

Explanation

The Lens Maker's Formula relates the focal length of a lens to its refractive index and the radii of curvature of its two surfaces:

1/f = (μ - 1) × (1/R₁ - 1/R₂)

For a double convex lens, the first surface is convex with a positive radius of curvature, and the second surface is concave with a negative radius of curvature:

R₁ = +50 cm R₂ = -50 cm μ = 1.50

Substituting these values into the formula:

1/f = (1.50 - 1) × (1/50 - (-1/50)) 1/f = 0.50 × (1/50 + 1/50) 1/f = 0.50 × (2/50) 1/f = 1/50 f = 50 cm

Explanation

By definition, distance is the product of speed and time:

Distance = Speed × Time

In the new system of units, the speed of light is 1 unit per second.

The time taken by light to travel from the Sun to the Earth is 8 minutes and 20 seconds. Converting this total time into seconds:

Time = (8 × 60) + 20 = 480 + 20 = 500 seconds

Substituting the speed and time into the distance formula:

Distance = 1 unit/second × 500 seconds = 500 units

Explanation

The relation between speed, frequency, and wavelength of a wave is given by the formula v = f × λ, where v is the speed of the wave, f is its frequency, and λ is its wavelength.

Given values: v = 336 m/s λ = 3 cm = 0.03 m

Substituting these values into the formula to solve for frequency: f = v / λ f = 336 / 0.03 f = 11200 Hz

The range of audible frequencies for the human ear is between 20 Hz and 20000 Hz. Since the calculated frequency of 11200 Hz lies within this range, the sound wave is audible.

Explanation

The formulas for the total resistance of two resistors connected in series and parallel are: Series resistance: R_s = R₁ + R₂ Parallel resistance: R_p = (R₁ × R₂) / (R₁ + R₂)

We are given: R_s = 45 Ω R_p = 10 Ω

Substituting these values into the equations: R₁ + R₂ = 45 (R₁ × R₂) / 45 = 10 R₁ × R₂ = 450

Substituting R₂ = 45 - R₁ into the multiplication equation: R₁(45 - R₁) = 450 45R₁ - R₁² = 450 R₁² - 45R₁ + 450 = 0

Factoring the quadratic equation: (R₁ - 15)(R₁ - 30) = 0

This yields the individual resistance values: R₁ = 15 Ω and R₂ = 30 Ω (or vice-versa).

Explanation

Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. It is synthesized exclusively by bacteria and other single-celled microorganisms. Animals obtain this vitamin either by consuming food contaminated with these bacteria or through their own internal symbiotic bacterial synthesis. Consequently, animal-derived foods such as meat, fish, and liver serve as excellent dietary sources of vitamin B-12. In addition, the symbiotic bacterial flora residing in the small intestine of humans and other animals also synthesize vitamin B-12.

Explanation

The one gene - one enzyme hypothesis was proposed by George Beadle and Edward Tatum in 1941. Through their genetic experiments on the red bread mold Neurospora crassa, they demonstrated that metabolic pathways are controlled by a series of successive steps, with each step catalyzed by a specific enzyme. By exposing the mold to X-rays to induce genetic mutations, they isolated nutritional mutants that lacked the ability to synthesize specific essential nutrients, such as vitamins or amino acids. This established a direct link between genes and biochemical reactions, showing that a mutation in a single gene leads to the loss of function of a single enzyme. Their work laid the foundation for molecular genetics and earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958.

Explanation

Lichens represent a symbiotic, obligate mutualistic association between a fungus (the mycobiont) and a photosynthetic partner, which is usually a green alga or a cyanobacterium (the phycobiont). In this relationship, the fungus forms the main structural body of the lichen, protecting the alga from environmental stress while absorbing moisture, water vapor, and essential inorganic minerals from the substrate and atmosphere. It provides these vital resources directly to the algal cells. In return, the chlorophyll-containing alga performs photosynthesis to manufacture organic food and carbohydrates, which it shares to nourish the non-photosynthetic fungal partner.

Explanation

Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that plays a key role in regulating and promoting the ripening of fruits. It triggers the physiological and biochemical changes associated with ripening, such as the softening of cell walls through enzymatic activity, the conversion of complex starches into simple sugars, the breakdown of chlorophyll leading to color changes, and the production of volatile compounds that give fruits their characteristic aroma.

Explanation

Pholas, Pila, and Cuttlefish form a taxonomically consistent group because they all belong to the phylum Mollusca. Pholas is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs, commonly known as piddocks. Pila is a genus of freshwater snails belonging to the class Gastropoda. Cuttlefish belong to the class Cephalopoda, which is also a class of molluscs. Since all three organisms are members of the same phylum, they share a unified taxonomic classification.

Explanation

Creatine is an organic compound synthesized from amino acids that serves as an essential energy reserve in muscle tissues, primarily in the form of phosphocreatine. It is highly retained by the body to help supply energy for muscle contraction. Rather than being excreted directly, creatine is metabolized into creatinine, which is then filtered and eliminated as a waste product in urine. Thus, creatine itself is not considered a nitrogenous excretory waste product under normal physiological conditions.

Explanation

The testes initially develop in the abdominal cavity of the male fetus. During embryonic and fetal development, under the influence of hormones such as testosterone, the testes gradually migrate downward. This migration occurs through the inguinal canal and into the scrotal sac, typically beginning around the 28th week of gestation and completing by the 36th week. Consequently, in normal, full-term male infants, the testes have fully descended into the scrotum by the time of birth.

Explanation

Biology is broadly categorized into pure biology and applied biology. Pure biology deals with the fundamental study of living organisms to understand basic life processes. This includes core branches such as botany, zoology, and microbiology, which focus on theoretical knowledge of plant, animal, and microbial systems.

Applied biology involves the practical application of this biological knowledge to solve real-world challenges and develop useful products for human welfare. Agriculture applies plant and soil biology to cultivate crops and raise livestock. Pharmacy uses biological insights into how organisms react to chemical compounds to formulate, prepare, and standardize medications. Medical science applies anatomical, physiological, and pathological principles to diagnose, treat, and prevent human illnesses. Thus, agriculture, pharmacy, and medical science are branches of applied biology.

Explanation

Faraday's second law of electrolysis states that when the same quantity of electricity is passed through several electrolytes, the masses of the substances liberated or deposited at the electrodes are directly proportional to their chemical equivalent weights. This relationship is mathematically represented as W ∝ E, where W represents the mass of the substance and E represents its chemical equivalent weight (defined as atomic weight divided by valency). This law establishes a direct relationship between the quantity of electricity used and the equivalent weight of the substance involved in the electrochemical reaction.

Explanation

Isotones are nuclides that possess the same number of neutrons but have different atomic numbers and different mass numbers. The number of neutrons in a nucleus is determined by the formula N = A - Z, where N is the neutron number, A is the mass number, and Z is the atomic number. When both Z and A vary in such a way that the difference A - Z remains constant, the nuclides are classified as isotones. Since they have different atomic numbers, they belong to different chemical elements.

Explanation

The Van der Waals equation of state for real gases is:

(P + an²/V²)(V - nb) = nRT

In this equation, the correction term for intermolecular forces is an²/V², which represents correction to pressure and must have the same units as pressure (P).

Therefore, we can write the relationship for the units as:

Unit of an²/V² = Unit of P

Rearranging this relationship gives:

Unit of a = (Unit of P × Unit of V²) / Unit of n²

Substituting the standard units of pressure in kilopascals (kPa), volume in decimeters cubed (dm³), and amount of substance in moles (mol):

Unit of a = (kPa × (dm³)²)/mol² = kPa dm⁶ mol⁻²

Explanation

The SI prefix exa represents the multiplier 10¹⁸, denoted by the capital letter E. It was adopted in 1975 under the International System of Units to signify a scale of one quintillion.

Explanation

The isoelectric point is the specific pH at which a protein colloid carries no net electrical charge, existing as a neutral zwitterion. When the pH of the medium is below this point, the protein gains protons and becomes positively charged. Conversely, when the pH is above this point, the protein loses protons and carries a net negative charge. The transition through this pH value represents the reversal of the net electrical charge on the protein colloid.

Explanation

According to Le Chatelier's principle, if a system at equilibrium is subjected to a change in temperature, pressure, or concentration, the system will adjust to counteract that change and re-establish equilibrium.

For the exothermic reaction N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ + Heat, heat is released in the forward direction. Decreasing the temperature (low temperature) shifts the equilibrium to the right to produce more heat, thereby favoring the formation of ammonia.

Additionally, the reactant side has 4 moles of gas (1 mole of N₂ and 3 moles of H₂), whereas the product side has only 2 moles of gas (2 moles of NH₃). Increasing the pressure (high pressure) shifts the equilibrium toward the side with fewer gas molecules to reduce the pressure, which drives the reaction to the right to form more ammonia.

Explanation

The Indian Councils Act, 1909 is matched with III because it introduced separate electorates for Muslims for the first time in India.

The Government of India Act, 1919 is matched with IV because it introduced the system of dyarchy, or dual rule, in the provincial executive.

The Government of India Act, 1935 is matched with II as it provided for the establishment of dyarchy at the central level.

The Indian Independence Act, 1947 is matched with I as it ended British rule and declared India an independent sovereign nation, meaning the British Crown was no longer the source of authority.

Explanation

Under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, the President can issue a proclamation of National Emergency only after receiving a written recommendation to this effect from the Union Cabinet, which consists of the Prime Minister and other Ministers of cabinet rank. This safeguard was introduced by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978. In contrast, statement 'a' is incorrect because the proclamation of emergency must be approved by a resolution of both Houses of Parliament (the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha) within one month from the date of its issue, rather than by the Lok Sabha alone.

Explanation

In the landmark judgment of I.R. Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007), a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that there can be no blanket immunity from judicial review for laws inserted in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The Court held that any law placed in the Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973 (the date of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment) is open to judicial review and can be challenged if it violates the basic structure of the Constitution or destroys any of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21. Consequently, judicial review is applicable to laws incorporated in the Ninth Schedule.

Explanation

Article 239AA of the Constitution of India contains special provisions with respect to Delhi. It was inserted by the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991, and came into effect on 1 February 1992. Under clause 1 of this article, the Union Territory of Delhi was officially designated as the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and its administrator appointed under Article 239 was designated as the Lieutenant Governor. The article also provides for the establishment of a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers for the territory.

Explanation

The 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill, commonly referred to as the Women's Reservation Bill, aimed to reserve one-third (33%) of all seats in the Lok Sabha and in all State Legislative Assemblies for women.

The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha and was passed by the Upper House on 9th March 2010.

After being passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Bill was sent to the Lok Sabha. However, due to a lack of political consensus, the Lok Sabha never voted on the Bill during its tenure.

Under Article 107(5) of the Constitution of India, a Bill that has been passed by the Rajya Sabha but remains pending in the Lok Sabha lapses upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Consequently, the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.

Explanation

Article 51A of the Constitution of India prescribes the Fundamental Duties of every citizen of India. Under Article 51A(d), it is the duty of every citizen to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so. These duties were incorporated into the Constitution via Part IVA by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976.

Explanation

Statement a is incorrect because under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, if a person is elected simultaneously to both Houses of Parliament and fails to intimate within 10 days in which House they wish to serve, only their seat in the Rajya Sabha becomes vacant. Their seat in the Lok Sabha remains intact, rather than both seats becoming vacant.

Explanation

The committee responsible for recommending the appointment of the Chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission consists of six members. These members are the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, and the Union Minister of Home Affairs. While the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is included in this committee, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is not a member.

Explanation

Article 262 of the Constitution of India empowers the Parliament, rather than the President of India, to provide by law for the adjudication of interstate river water disputes. Under this constitutional provision, the Parliament enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, which grants the Central Government the authority to constitute a tribunal for the adjudication of such disputes. Therefore, statement b is incorrect.

Explanation

Under Article 156 of the Constitution of India, the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President. The Constitution does not prescribe any specific grounds or structured procedure, such as impeachment, for the removal of a Governor. The President can remove the Governor from office at any time, making the process entirely dependent on presidential pleasure with no constitutional procedure detailed for such removal.

Explanation

Zonal Councils are statutory bodies created by the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, meaning they are not constitutional bodies. Additionally, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 divided India into five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern) and created five Zonal Councils, not seven. A separate statutory body, the North-Eastern Council, was set up later under the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971 to address the specific problems of the north-eastern states.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 distinguishes between compulsory (obligatory) provisions and voluntary (discretionary) provisions. Compulsory provisions are legally binding on all state governments to implement in their respective Panchayati Raj acts, whereas voluntary provisions are left to the discretion of individual state legislatures.

Direct elections to all seats in Panchayats at the village, intermediate, and district levels, as well as establishing 21 years as the minimum age for contesting Panchayat elections, are mandatory compulsory provisions. Since these are compulsory, they do not fall under the category of voluntary provisions.

Conversely, granting financial powers to Panchayats to levy, collect, and appropriate taxes, duties, tolls, and fees, along with providing representation to Members of Parliament and State Legislatures in Panchayats, are voluntary provisions that states may or may not choose to adopt.

Explanation

According to Article 55 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, all questions brought before the Court are decided by a majority of the judges who are present. In the event of an equality of votes among the participating judges, the President of the Court, or the judge who acts in their place, has a casting vote to resolve the matter.

Explanation

The 17th Asian Games, held in Incheon, South Korea in 2014, saw China top the medal tally with 151 gold, 109 silver, and 85 bronze medals, for a total of 345. The host country, South Korea, finished in second position with 79 gold medals, while Japan secured third place. India finished in eighth position with a total of 57 medals, including 11 gold, 10 silver, and 36 bronze.

Explanation

Scotland is known as the Land of Cakes because of its famous traditional oatmeal cakes.

The Netherlands is called the Land of Canals due to its extensive historic canal network.

Finland is referred to as the Land of Thousand Lakes because it is home to around 188,000 lakes.

Thailand is designated as the Land of White Elephants because these animals are historically sacred symbols of royal power in Thai culture.

Explanation

The Statute of Westminster 1931 formally established the legislative independence of the self-governing Dominions, marking the official formation of the British Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth operates as a voluntary association governed by non-binding declarations, such as the Singapore Declaration of 1971 and the Harare Declaration of 1991, rather than a formal or legally binding constitution.

Rwanda joined the organization in November 2009, making it the newest member as of 2017.

The Maldives formally withdrew from the association in October 2016, making it the most recent country to depart before 2017.

Explanation

India's first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List were Agra Fort, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, and Taj Mahal, which were designated in 1983 during the seventh session of the World Heritage Committee. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments was inscribed later in 1986, while the Red Fort Complex in Delhi was inscribed in 2007.

Explanation

Tehri Dam, constructed on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand, is the tallest dam in India with a height of 260.5 meters. It is not the highest dam in the world. Multiple other dams exceed its height, such as the Jinping-I Dam in China at 305 meters and the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan at 300 meters.

Explanation

The Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari Vivek Express (Train No. 22503 / 22504) is the longest train route in India by both distance and travel time. Introduced to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, this superfast express train covers a distance of approximately 4189 kilometers. It starts from Dibrugarh in Assam and terminates at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, traversing through eight Indian states with over 55 halts during its journey of about 74 hours and 35 minutes.

Explanation

Mrinalini Sarabhai was a legendary Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She is celebrated worldwide for her pioneering contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, having founded the renowned Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad to promote these traditional art forms. She is not an exponent of Kuchipudi, making this pair mismatched.

Explanation

The Sarhul festival is the tribal New Year festival celebrated primarily in the state of Jharkhand. It marks the arrival of the spring season and is celebrated during the Hindu month of Chaitra. The festival is observed with great enthusiasm by major tribal communities in the region, such as the Oraon, Munda, and Ho. The word Sarhul literally translates to the worship of trees, particularly the Sal tree, which is considered highly sacred as the abode of the protector deity Sarna Maa. During the celebrations, tribal people perform traditional rituals, offer Sal flowers to deities, and participate in community dances and songs to show gratitude to nature.

Explanation

The correct matches are based on the recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 in their respective languages:

a. Munawwar Rana received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his Urdu poetry collection Shahadaba.

b. Jaswinder was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his Punjabi ghazal collection Agarbatti.

c. Asha Mishra received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for her Maithili novel Uchat.

d. Nanda Hangkhim won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his Nepali short story collection Satta Grahan.

Explanation

The given countries and their respective total land areas are Argentina with 2.78 million square kilometers, India with 3.29 million square kilometers, Brazil with 8.51 million square kilometers, China with 9.60 million square kilometers, and Russia with 17.10 million square kilometers. Arranging these values in ascending order (smallest to largest) yields the sequence of Argentina, India, Brazil, China, and Russia. This translates to the order d, b, a, c, e.

Explanation

Dar es Salaam served as the capital of Tanzania from its independence until 1974, when the capital designation was officially moved to Dodoma. Despite this administrative change, it remains the preeminent commercial and financial hub of the country, as well as its main transport node with major road, rail, and aviation connections. The city is built around a highly sheltered, deep natural harbor on the Indian Ocean, making it one of the most important and busiest maritime ports in East Africa.

Explanation

Exercise Shakti is a bilateral army exercise conducted between the armed forces of India and France to enhance defense cooperation and counter-terrorism capabilities.

Exercise Indra is a joint military exercise conducted between India and Russia to promote defense coordination and mutual security interests.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas is a bilateral military training exercise conducted regularly between the armies of India and the United States of America.

Exercise Mitra Shakti is a joint military exercise conducted between India and Sri Lanka to build strong bilateral relations and tactical interoperability.

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed the opening of an Islamic window in conventional banks to gradually introduce Sharia-compliant, interest-free banking in India. This recommendation was aimed at promoting financial inclusion by attracting individuals who do not participate in the conventional banking system due to religious prohibitions against interest. The proposal also aimed to tap into potential institutional and infrastructure investments from foreign countries, particularly the Gulf region.

Explanation

The eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, who passed away in November 2016, was appointed by the Central Government in October 2010 to head a three-member group of interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir. The committee, which also included academician Radha Kumar and former Central Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari, was tasked with conducting a sustained dialogue with all sections of the public, political parties, and civil society groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The primary goal of this group was to address the grievances of the local population and design a comprehensive roadmap for peace and stability in the region. The group submitted its final report, outlining recommendations for devolution of powers and confidence-building measures, to the Union Home Ministry in 2011.

Explanation

GSAT-7, also known as Rukmini, is an advanced multi-band military communication satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was successfully launched on August 30, 2013, using an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. Designed primarily to serve the Indian Navy as its first dedicated military communication satellite, it facilitates secure, real-time voice, data, and video transmission between naval warships, submarines, aircraft, and land-based maritime operation centres across the Indian Ocean Region.

Explanation

The book One Life is Not Enough is the autobiography of former Indian diplomat and politician Kunwar Natwar Singh (K. Natwar Singh). Published in 2014, the memoir provides a candid account of his thirty-one-year career in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) followed by his journey in politics, which culminated in his service as the Union Minister of External Affairs. The book offers an insider's perspective on modern Indian diplomacy, his close associations with key political figures of the Nehru-Gandhi family, and his eventual exit from the cabinet in the wake of the Volcker Report controversy.

Explanation

In 2016, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest civilian award, upon Saina Nehwal to recognize her exceptional achievements in badminton. She had previously been honored with the Arjuna Award in 2009, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2010, and the Padma Shri in 2010.