UKPSC Prelims 2012 General Studies Paper I with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

The earliest written reference to the magnetic compass in the Islamic world and the Indian Ocean is found in Jawami ul-Hikayat (Jawamilul Hikayat), a Persian collection of stories written by Sadiduddin Muhammad al-Awfi around 1232–1233 AD. This work describes the use of a magnetized iron fish as a compass during a voyage.

Explanation

Humayun was the first ruler after the fall of the Delhi Sultanate to issue gold coins, which were minted in the Timurid style of Mithqal standard. While Babur issued silver coins, it was Humayun who introduced gold issues before the later extensive gold coinage of Akbar.

Explanation

The correct matching is: Double dome is associated with Sikandar Lodi (iv), Octagonal tomb is associated with Sher Shah (i), True arch tomb is associated with Balban (iii), and Gol Gumbad is associated with Muhammad Adil Shah (ii). This corresponds to the sequence iv, i, iii, ii, which is option b.

Explanation

Akbari Mahal is located inside the Agra Fort in Agra, whereas the Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai Palace, and the Golden Palace (Sunehra Makan or Mariam's Palace) are all situated within the palace complex of Fatehpur Sikri.

Explanation

Phoenix Settlement, located near Durban in South Africa, was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1904, making it the oldest among the options. Sabarmati Ashram was founded later in 1917, Sadaqat Ashram in 1921, and Sevagram Ashram in Wardha in 1936.

Explanation

Sir Elijah Impey was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Calcutta, which was established under the Regulating Act of 1773.

Explanation

Neel-Darpan is a famous Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858-1859, which vividly portrayed the plight of indigo farmers and the brutality of British indigo planters in Bengal.

Explanation

Azimullah Khan was the prime minister and advisor to Nana Saheb, the Peshwa of Bithoor, and played a key role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He had also traveled to London to plead Nana Saheb's case for his pension before the British authorities.

Explanation

Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotirao Phule (Jotiba Phule) in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24 September 1873 to promote social justice, education, and rights for the underprivileged sections of society.

Explanation

Muzaffar Ahmad, S.A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, and Nalini Gupta were arrested and prosecuted in the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case of 1924. They were charged with conspiring to overthrow the British government in India and establish a communist organization, resulting in four years of imprisonment for each.

Explanation

The Gangotri Glacier is the longest glacier in Uttarakhand, with a length of approximately 30 kilometers. It is located in the Uttarkashi district and is the primary source of the Ganges River.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, Almora and Pauri Garhwal were the only two districts in Uttarakhand that recorded a negative population growth rate during the 2001-2011 decade. Almora registered a growth rate of -1.28 percent, making it the correct option among the choices provided.

Explanation

Duns are longitudinal, flat-bottomed structural valleys formed between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwalik Range as a result of tectonic activity. Dehradun is the most well-known example of such a structural valley in Uttarakhand.

Explanation

Gobindghat is a town in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga (also known as Bhyundar Ganga or Bhyundar Gad) rivers. It serves as the starting point for pilgrimages to Hemkund Sahib and treks to the Valley of Flowers.

Explanation

Nanda Devi is a designated biosphere reserve located in the state of Uttarakhand, established in 1988 and later recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme. While the other options are national parks in Uttarakhand, they are not classified as biosphere reserves.

Explanation

Deep sea plains, also known as abyssal plains, are the most extensive part of the ocean floor, covering approximately 75 to 76 percent of the total oceanic area. In contrast, continental shelves, continental slopes, and deeps cover much smaller percentages of the ocean basin.

Explanation

Grenada is an island country located in the southern Caribbean Sea, at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain.

Explanation

The telegram was sent from Greenwich (0 degrees longitude) at 12:00 Noon and took 12 minutes to transmit, meaning it arrived at 12:12 p.m. GMT. Since the local time at the destination was 6:00 p.m. when it arrived, the local time is 5 hours and 48 minutes ahead of GMT. Converting this time difference into degrees of longitude (15 degrees per hour and 1 degree per 4 minutes) gives 87 degrees East.

Explanation

Saudi Arabia is not a member of the BRICS grouping, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. India, China, and Brazil are all original member nations of this group.

Explanation

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock, whereas sandstone, limestone, and shale are all types of sedimentary rocks. Therefore, gneiss does not belong to the same geological group as the others.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, Mizoram has the highest literacy rate among the options provided, with a literacy rate of 91.33 percent, which is the second highest in the country after Kerala.

Explanation

Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve is located in Sikkim, bordering Nepal to the west and Tibet to the north-west. Rest is correctly matched.

Explanation

The correct matching is: Fertilizer is produced in Sriganganagar, Glass industry is located in Jaipur, Cement works are in Udaipur, and Synthetic Silk (Rayon/Nylon) is manufactured in Kota. This corresponds to the code sequence iv, iii, ii, i, which is option a.

Explanation

The Sardar Sarovar Project is a major gravity dam built on the Narmada River near Navagam in Gujarat, India. It is one of the largest water resource projects in India, benefiting the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Explanation

Going from east to west, the correct sequence of the mountain peaks based on their longitudes is Kanchenjunga (approx. 88 degrees E), Mount Everest (approx. 86.9 degrees E), Annapurna (approx. 83.8 degrees E), and Dhaulagiri (approx. 83.5 degrees E).

Explanation

The correct sequence of these states in descending order of their geographical area is Chhattisgarh (135,192 sq km), Jharkhand (79,716 sq km), Himachal Pradesh (55,673 sq km), and Uttarakhand (53,483 sq km). This matches the sequence given in option c.

Explanation

The Son river is a major right-bank tributary of the Ganga, originating from the Amarkantak plateau, while the Gomati, Ghaghra, and Kosi are all left-bank tributaries.

Explanation

Alleppey is a well-known port town located in Kerala (iii), Ennore is a major port in Tamil Nadu (i), Paradip is situated in Odisha (ii), and Kakinada is an anchorage port in Andhra Pradesh (iv). This gives the correct matching sequence of iii, i, ii, iv, which corresponds to option a.

Explanation

The basaltic lava rocks of the Deccan Plateau, known as the Deccan Traps, were formed due to massive volcanic eruptions that occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago.

Explanation

Smt. Hansa Mehta was the first Indian representative on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which was established in 1946. She served on the commission from 1947 to 1952 and played a key role in changing the language of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from "all men are born free and equal" to "all human beings are born free and equal".

Explanation

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed in 1991 between the USA and the USSR. Although START II was signed in 1993 between the USA and Russia (the successor state of the USSR), option A is the most appropriate choice among the given options.

Explanation

The Protection of Human Rights Act in India came into force on September 28, 1993. This legislation led to the constitution of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commissions to protect and promote human rights.

Explanation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was established alongside the World Bank during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in July 1944. This landmark agreement, known as the Bretton Woods Agreement, aimed to set up a framework for international economic cooperation and prevent a repeat of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression.

Explanation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on December 8, 1985, when its charter was formally adopted in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This makes 1985 the correct year of its foundation.

Explanation

Members of the State Legislative Assembly participate in the election of the President of India, the members of Rajya Sabha, and the members of the State Legislative Council. They do not participate in the election of the Vice-President of India, which is conducted by an electoral college consisting only of members of both Houses of Parliament.

Explanation

Shri Surjit Singh Barnala served as the first Governor of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) from its formation on November 9, 2000, until January 7, 2003. He was followed by Shri Sudarshan Agarwal as the second governor of the state.

Explanation

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 granted constitutional status to urban local bodies (municipalities) by adding Part IXA and the 12th Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Explanation

Under Article 138 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament is empowered to enlarge the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court by enacting a law. This allows the Parliament to confer additional jurisdiction and powers on the Supreme Court with respect to any of the matters in the Union List.

Explanation

According to Article 75(3) of the Constitution of India, the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha (the House of the People). This collective responsibility means that the government remains in power only as long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority in the Lok Sabha.

Explanation

The Preamble is described as the soul of the Indian Constitution by various constitutional experts and scholars, including Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava. While Dr. B. R. Ambedkar described the Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) as the heart and soul of the Constitution, the Preamble is generally regarded as the soul of the Constitution in a broader context.

Explanation

The Lok Sabha Secretariat is an independent body that functions under the direct control and overall supervision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. This administrative setup ensures the independence of the legislature from the executive branch of the government.

Explanation

Judges of a High Court are appointed by the President of India under Article 217 of the Constitution, although the Governor of the state is consulted during the process. In contrast, the Chief Minister, Members of the State Public Service Commission, and the Advocate General are directly appointed by the State Governor.

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly of India was formulated in November 1946 under the recommendations of the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. This plan proposed the structure, composition, and method of election for the assembly that would draft the Constitution of India.

Explanation

According to Article 79 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament of the Union consists of the President and the two Houses, namely the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Thus, these three components together constitute the Indian Parliament.

Explanation

According to Article 118(4) of the Constitution of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha presides over a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides.

Explanation

Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and the relevant statutes, the Chief Election Commissioner of India holds office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Explanation

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) can be filed in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution, as well as in the High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution. Thus, PILs are maintainable in both the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Explanation

The Bhotia tribe of Uttarakhand traditionally inhabited the high-altitude Himalayan regions and maintained active trans-Himalayan trade relations with Tibet until the Indo-China war of 1962 led to the closure of the border passes.

Explanation

Sridev Suman established the Garhdesh Seva Sangh in Delhi in 1938 to oppose the princely rule in Tehri Garhwal and raise a voice for the rights of the people of the hills. The organization was later renamed the Himalaya Seva Sangh.

Explanation

Prof. Devi Datt Pant (D.D. Pant), the former Vice-Chancellor of Kumaon University, was elected as the first President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal when it was founded in Mussoorie in July 1979.

Explanation

Indramani Badoni is popularly known as the Gandhi of Uttarakhand for his leading role in the Uttarakhand statehood movement using peaceful, non-violent methods. He was a prominent politician and social activist who advocated for a separate state of Uttarakhand.

Explanation

According to Article 243F of the Constitution of India, the minimum age required for a person to contest elections to the Panchayats (local self-government bodies) is 21 years. This is lower than the minimum age required for contesting Legislative Assembly elections, which is 25 years.

Explanation

The 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2005 enabled the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes regarding their admission to educational institutions. This amendment paved the way for the 27 percent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions.

Explanation

According to Article 159 of the Constitution of India, the oath of office and secrecy to the Governor of a state is administered by the Chief Justice of the High Court of that state, or in his absence, the senior-most judge of that court.

Explanation

Maharashtra was the first state in India to establish the institution of Lokayukta in 1971 under the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act. Although Odisha was the first state to pass the Lokayukta bill in 1970, it did not establish the institution until 1983.

Explanation

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its sixth report titled Local Governance recommended the creation of an independent Local Body Ombudsman to investigate complaints of corruption and maladministration against local body officials and elected representatives.

Explanation

The Dinesh Goswami Committee was set up in 1990 to recommend electoral reforms in India. The other three committees listed are all associated with the Panchayati Raj System in India at the central or state level.

Explanation

Article 15(5) was introduced by the 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2005, which enables the state to make special provisions for the reservation of seats in admission to educational institutions, including private and unaided institutions (except minority institutions), for SCs, STs, and OBCs. Article 15(4) allows for reservation in general, but Article 15(5) specifically extends this to private, unaided educational institutions.

Explanation

The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, inserted Article 21A to make the Right to Education a fundamental right, but the legislative Act to implement this (the RTE Act, 2009) and the constitutional amendment itself formally came into force on 1 April 2010.

Explanation

Roopkund Lake is known as the Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake of Uttarakhand due to the discovery of hundreds of ancient human skeletons at its edge. It is a high-altitude glacial lake located in the Chamoli district.

Explanation

Wheat occupies the largest sown area among all food crops cultivated in Uttarakhand, followed by rice. According to agricultural statistics of the state, wheat consistently covers the maximum acreage in both the hilly and plains regions.

Explanation

As per the provisional figures of the 2011 Census released around the time of the exam in 2012, the literacy rate of Uttarakhand was recorded as 79.63 percent. Although the final census data later adjusted this figure to 78.82 percent, option A represents the official provisional figure widely used at the time.

Explanation

Nanda Devi is the highest mountain peak in Uttarakhand and the second-highest peak in India, with an elevation of 7,816 meters. Kamet is the second-highest peak in the state at 7,756 meters, while Chogori (K2) is located in the Karakoram range and not in Uttarakhand.

Explanation

The Tehri Dam and Hydro Power Project is constructed at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers in the state of Uttarakhand. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Explanation

South Africa was officially inducted into the BRIC group in December 2010, transforming the acronym to BRICS. Among the given options, it is the most recent member to join the association.

Explanation

The Bretton Woods Conference of 1944 led directly to the creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The United Nations was established by its own charter in 1945, while the World Trade Organization was established much later in 1995.

Explanation

The Human Development Report is an annual report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assess and measure human development across different countries. It has been published by the UNDP since 1990.

Explanation

The International Development Association (IDA) is the member of the World Bank Group that provides concessional loans (called credits) and grants to the world's poorest developing countries to support economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living conditions.

Explanation

When the exchange rate changes from 1 Dollar = 60 Rupees to 1 Dollar = 58 Rupees, fewer Rupees are required to purchase one Dollar, meaning the Rupee has appreciated in value. Simultaneously, one Dollar now buys fewer Rupees, meaning the Dollar has depreciated in value. Thus, statements I and II are correct.

Explanation

According to Thomas Malthus' Theory of Population, human population grows in a geometrical progression (such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16), whereas food supply increases only in an arithmetic progression (such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Therefore, population increases in a geometrical progression.

Explanation

The Phillips Curve is an economic concept developed by A. W. Phillips showing that inflation and unemployment have a stable and inverse relationship. It suggests that lower unemployment is typically associated with higher inflation, and vice versa.

Explanation

R.G. Hawtrey propagated the Pure Monetary Theory of Trade Cycle, arguing that business cycles are purely monetary phenomena caused by changes in the flow of money and bank credit.

Explanation

The book 'The Accumulation of Capital' was written by the prominent British economist Joan Robinson and published in 1956. She is widely recognized for her contributions to post-Keynesian economic theory, including this seminal work on growth and capital accumulation.

Explanation

John Maynard Keynes advocated for government intervention and the use of fiscal policy, such as increased government spending and lower taxes, to stimulate demand and pull economies out of the Great Depression of 1929-30. His theories laid the foundation for modern macroeconomics and Keynesian economics.

Explanation

The Committee on Financial Sector Reforms was set up by the Planning Commission of India in 2007 and was chaired by Raghuram Rajan. The committee submitted its final report, titled "A Hundred Small Steps", in 2008.

Explanation

According to the provisional data of the 2011 Census of India released around the time of the exam in 2012, the sex ratio of India was recorded as 940 females per 1000 males. Although the final census data later updated this figure to 943, 940 remains the correct choice among the given options.

Explanation

The Planned Development Model in India was initiated with the launch of the First Five-Year Plan, which officially commenced on 1st April 1951. This marked the beginning of structured economic planning under the Planning Commission of India.

Explanation

The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Development Council, which was established in August 1952 to promote economic development and cooperation between the states and the center.

Explanation

Kerala is the leading producer of natural rubber in India, accounting for the vast majority of the country's total production. The state's warm, humid climate and well-distributed rainfall provide the ideal conditions required for successful rubber cultivation.

Explanation

Fiscal policy refers to the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy. Therefore, tax policy is a direct component of fiscal policy, while interest rate policy is a part of monetary policy managed by the central bank.

Explanation

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was officially renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on October 2, 2009, to honor Mahatma Gandhi on his 140th birth anniversary.

Explanation

The Indian rupee was made convertible on the current account in March 1994, with full current account convertibility formally established in August 1994 under Article VIII of the IMF. Capital account convertibility in India remains only partially liberalized.

Explanation

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) was established as a statutory body on April 19, 2000, following the enactment of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. Therefore, April 2000 is the correct time of its setup.

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India is responsible for regulating currency, credit, and managing the country's foreign exchange reserves, but the regulation of foreign trade is managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Explanation

In cyber law and cybersecurity terminology, DOS (often written as DoS) stands for Denial of Service, which refers to a cyberattack aimed at making a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users. While DOS can also mean Disk Operating System in general computing, Denial of Service is the specific meaning within the context of cyber law.

Explanation

Multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media, which typically includes a combination of graphics, animation, video, music, and voice to convey information. This makes option B the most comprehensive and correct definition of what multimedia can contain.

Explanation

E-mail bombing is an abuse technique where a single email address is targeted with a massive volume of identical email messages, aiming to overwhelm the recipient's inbox or mail server. This is distinct from spamming, which targets many recipients with unsolicited mail, and spoofing, which involves falsifying sender headers.

Explanation

A computer virus is a malicious program designed to infect other programs by inserting its own code into them and making copies of itself to spread further. Unlike worms, which are standalone programs that spread across networks, a virus requires a host program to replicate and survive.

Explanation

Multimedia is the integration of multiple forms of media, such as text, graphics, audio, video, and animation, within a single computer application or system. This allows users to interact with and consume information through various sensory channels simultaneously.

Explanation

One carbon credit is a permit that allows the holder to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Since one metric ton is equal to 1000 kilograms, one carbon credit is equivalent to 1000 kg of CO2.

Explanation

The Kedar valley disaster of June 2013 was caused by a cloudburst and extremely heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the Mandakini River, which led to devastating flash floods in Kedarnath and downstream areas.

Explanation

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which occurred in December 1984, was caused by the accidental release of highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide pesticide plant.

Explanation

Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning, which was first discovered in Minamata City, Japan, due to the release of industrial wastewater containing methylmercury.

Explanation

Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum population size of a species that a specific environment can sustainably support over time, given the available resources like food, water, and habitat. Therefore, option B is the correct term for this ecological concept.

Explanation

Nanoparticles are scientifically defined as particles that have at least one dimension sized between 1 and 100 nanometers. This scale is crucial because materials at this size often exhibit unique physical and chemical properties compared to their bulk counterparts.

Explanation

Biodiversity increases from the poles towards the equator because tropical regions receive more solar energy and moisture, which supports higher primary productivity and a greater variety of species. Consequently, the highest levels of biodiversity are found near the equator.

Explanation

Bacillus thuringiensis is a soil-dwelling bacterium that produces proteins toxic to specific insects, making it widely used as a biological insecticide to control agricultural pests without harming the environment.

Explanation

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities and is the largest contributor to global warming, accounting for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Explanation

The Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease, whereas smallpox is caused by the Variola virus, making this pair incorrectly matched. All other options represent correct matches of technologies/concepts and their applications or definitions.

Explanation

Uranium-235 is a fissile isotope of uranium that can sustain a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction, making it the primary fuel used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.

Explanation

Biogas is primarily composed of methane, which typically makes up 50% to 75% of its volume, making it the main constituent and the primary source of its energy.

Explanation

Silicon is a semiconductor that is widely used in the manufacturing of solar cells because of its excellent photoelectric properties and abundance. It efficiently converts sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.

Explanation

Caprolactum is an organic compound that serves as the monomer in the synthesis of Nylon-6, whereas Nylon, Teflon, and Polystyrene are all synthetic polymers. Therefore, Caprolactum is not a polymer.

Explanation

Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of blood clotting factors such as prothrombin in the liver. A deficiency in Vitamin K leads to a delay in blood coagulation and increased bleeding.

Explanation

The filament of an electric bulb is made of tungsten because it has a very high melting point and high resistivity, which allows it to glow brightly at high temperatures without melting.

Explanation

The energy of a quantum of radiation is inversely proportional to its wavelength, according to the Planck-Einstein relation (E = hc/λ). Therefore, the shortest wavelength range, which is 200 - 280 nm, corresponds to the highest energy per quantum.

Explanation

IRNSS-1A, the first satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), was launched on July 1, 2013, onboard the PSLV-C22 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

Android is an operating system for mobile devices, not a technology specifically or uniquely defined by voice input. The other three options represent well-established, correct scientific and astronomical pairings.

Explanation

The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) is a premier institute for research, higher education, and training in the field of remote sensing, and it is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It was established in 1966 and operates under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space.

Explanation

Sushil Kumar won the gold medal in the men's freestyle 74 kg wrestling category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by defeating Pakistan's Qamar Abbas in the final match.

Explanation

Eminent scientist and chemist C.N.R. Rao was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, for the year 2013. He is renowned for his work in solid-state and materials chemistry.

Explanation

The Great Himalayan National Park is located in the Kullu region of the state of Himachal Pradesh. It was established in 1984 and was formally added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under the criteria of outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation.

Explanation

The headquarters of the North-Central Railway Zone of Indian Railways is located in Allahabad (officially renamed Prayagraj in 2018). This railway zone was formed in 2003 and comprises three divisions: Allahabad, Jhansi, and Agra.

Explanation

In the Union Budget of 2014-15, the Union Government of India announced the launch of an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission called Namami Gange to clean and protect the river Ganga.

Explanation

According to the National Youth Policy 2014 of India, the definition of youth is individuals in the age group of 15 to 29 years. This policy targeted this specific age bracket to optimize resource allocation and focus on the development of the younger population.

Explanation

The International Day of Non-violence is observed on 2nd October, which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement and a pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. This day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to spread the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.

Explanation

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched by the Government of India in December 2014 with the primary objective of conserving and developing indigenous bovine breeds, especially cows, in a scientific and holistic manner. It focuses on enhancing milk productivity and propagating genetic merit of these indigenous breeds.

Explanation

The question contains a typographical error, referring to the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act of 2012 as the POSCO Act. This act is aimed at protecting children from offenses of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography.

Explanation

Ajit Kumar Doval was appointed as the 5th National Security Advisor of India in May 2014 and has been serving in this role since then. This makes option d the correct answer.

Explanation

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, was the Chief Guest at India's 65th Republic Day parade on January 26, 2014.

Explanation

Bashar al-Assad won the Syrian presidential election held in June 2014, securing his third consecutive seven-year term as president. The other candidates listed held political offices in Egypt, Libya, and Iraq respectively.

Explanation

The Marrakesh Treaty is an international agreement administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that aims to facilitate the creation and transfer of books in accessible formats for blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled individuals. India became the first country to ratify this treaty in June 2014.

Explanation

The Turkish film Winter Sleep, directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Explanation

Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt served as the United Nations Secretary-General from 1992 to 1996, making him the first person from the African continent to hold the position. Kofi Annan of Ghana, who succeeded him, was the second.

Explanation

Akash is an indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile that was successfully test-fired as part of user-evaluation trials from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, in May 2014.

Explanation

The museum inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 25, 2014, to mark his two years in office, was established in the restored heritage building known as 'The Stables' within the Rashtrapati Bhavan estate.

Explanation

Saurav Kothari won his maiden Asian Billiards Championship title in 2014 by defeating Alok Kumar in the final match held in Taipei.

Explanation

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen won the Wimbledon Under-19 Junior Badminton Championship in 2014 at the age of 13. He defeated top-seeded players to secure the title in London.

Explanation

The Kishau Dam is a proposed multipurpose project on the Tons River, which forms the boundary between Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It is a joint venture of these two states, which will equally share the 660 MW of electricity generated, making them the primary beneficiaries.

Explanation

Mamta Sharma served as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (Rashtriya Mahila Ayog) from 2011 to 2014, making her the chairperson during the exam year of 2012.

Explanation

The Nanda Devi Raj Jat pilgrimage of Uttarakhand in 2014 was held from 18 August to 6 September 2014. This historic, sacred journey is organized once every 12 years and covers a distance of around 290 km over 19 days.

Explanation

Sumitra Mahajan is the only woman parliamentarian in India to have won Lok Sabha elections eight consecutive times from the same constituency, representing Indore from 1989 to 2014.

Explanation

The book "Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age" was written by George Brock, a professor of journalism at City University London. Published in 2013, the book examines the history and future of journalism and the newspaper industry in the digital era.

Explanation

In July 2012, the Maharashtra government appointed veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador for its horticulture sector to promote fruit production in the state. He accepted the proposal made by the state's agriculture and horticulture ministry to promote various schemes.

Explanation

According to the IAEA report of July 2014, Iran successfully fulfilled its commitment under the Joint Plan of Action interim agreement by eliminating or diluting its entire stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium. This verification confirmed a significant reduction in Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

Explanation

Emma Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014 and served as the face of the HeForShe campaign, delivering a widely acclaimed speech to launch the initiative in September 2014.

Explanation

Shweta Choudhari won India's first medal, a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event, on the opening day of the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.

Explanation

According to the Fortaleza Declaration of the 2014 BRICS Summit, the New Development Bank was established with an initial authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, while the initial subscribed capital, which was equally shared among the founding members, was 50 billion U.S. dollars.

Explanation

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) officially declared India polio-free on March 27, 2014, after the country successfully went three years without a single new case of wild polio. This certification was issued by the South-East Asia Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication of the W.H.O.

Explanation

Almora coins, which belong to the ancient Kuninda kingdom of the Uttarakhand region, bear the names of local rulers Sivadatta, Sivapalita, and Haridatta. These unique copper coins are preserved in collections such as the British Museum and are key historical sources for the region's early history.

Explanation

Som Chand, the founder of the Chand dynasty of Kumaon, established his capital at the Raj Bunga fort in Champawat. The other options are incorrectly matched, as Kanakpal's capital was Chandpur Garh, Ajaypal ruled from Devalgarh and Srinagar, and Man Shah's capital was Srinagar.

Explanation

Rani Karnavati of Garhwal, the wife of King Mahipat Shah, was known as Nakati Rani (the nose-cutting queen) because she defeated the invading Mughal army of Shah Jahan and ordered the noses of the surviving soldiers to be cut off.

Explanation

Garhwal Sarvadalita Board was established in 1928 by the social reformer Jayanand Bharti to work for the upliftment of marginalized communities and to fight against social evils like the Dola-Palki system in Uttarakhand. His efforts played a pivotal role in bringing social equality to the Garhwal region.

Explanation

The Tehri State Praja Mandal was established in Dehradun in January 1939 under the leadership of Sridev Suman and others. Its primary objective was to liberate the people of Tehri from the autocratic administration and misrule of the Tehri Kingdom, aiming for a representative government.

Explanation

Both statements are historically correct. The sixth century B.C. is widely recognized as the Axial Age, a period of major spiritual and philosophical developments globally, while in India, the Vedic religion had become highly ritualistic and complex, paving the way for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.

Explanation

The Garuda pillar inscription at Besnagar, erected by the Greek ambassador Heliodorus around 113 BCE, is the earliest known epigraphic evidence of Bhagavatism. In this inscription, Heliodorus dedicates the pillar to Vasudeva (Vishnu) and describes himself as a Bhagavata.

Explanation

The Buddhist text Milindapanho (meaning Questions of Milinda) is a dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Menander I (referred to as Milinda in Pali) and the Buddhist sage Nagasena. This text details the king's philosophical queries about Buddhism and his subsequent conversion to the faith.

Explanation

The term Varna is mentioned for the first time in the Rigveda, where it was initially used to distinguish between Arya varna and Dasa varna based on color and social categorization. It later evolved into the system of four social classes described in the Purusha Sukta of the tenth Mandala of the Rigveda.

Explanation

The Gupta empire declined by the mid-sixth century AD, whereas the Arab invasions of India took place much later, starting in the eighth century AD with the invasion of Sindh. The other factors, including the Huna invasions, the rise of feudatories, and the pacifist influence of Buddhism on later rulers, all contributed to the weakening and ultimate fall of the empire.