UKPSC Prelims 2021 General Studies Paper I with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding the disqualification of members of Parliament and State Legislatures on the ground of defection, which was added by the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985.

Explanation

The Public Accounts Committee consists of a total of 22 members, out of which 15 members are elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 members are elected from the Rajya Sabha every year. Therefore, the number of members elected from the Lok Sabha is 15.

Explanation

The Indian National Congress adopted the historic Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution at its Lahore Session in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. This session officially declared complete independence as the goal of the Congress, leading to the observance of January 26, 1930 as Independence Day.

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Hindi version of Jana-Gana-Mana as the National Anthem on 24 January 1950. This decision was made during the final session of the Constituent Assembly, just two days before India officially became a Republic.

Explanation

Justice Ranganath Misra served as the first Chairperson (President) of the National Human Rights Commission of India from October 12, 1993 to November 24, 1996. He was also a former Chief Justice of India.

Explanation

Girish Chandra Murmu was appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of the newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019. Radha Krishan Mathur was the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, while Satya Pal Malik was the last Governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir before its reorganization.

Explanation

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) acts as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister of India on all Tri-Services matters. Additionally, the CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs within the Ministry of Defence.

Explanation

The International Labour Organisation was established in October 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations. Therefore, 1919 is the correct year of its creation.

Explanation

The Right to Property was originally a Fundamental Right under the Indian Constitution but was removed by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act in 1978. It is now recognized as a legal right (constitutional right) under Article 300A.

Explanation

The Union Home Minister of India is the ex-officio chairman of all the Zonal Councils, which are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The Chief Ministers of the states in each zone act as Vice-Chairmen of the respective council by rotation for a period of one year.

Explanation

According to Article 243E of the Constitution of India, in the event of the dissolution of a Panchayat, elections to constitute the new Panchayat must be completed within a period of six months from the date of its dissolution.

Explanation

The second SAARC Summit, held in Bangalore, India, from November 16 to 17, 1986, was the first time India hosted the summit.

Explanation

The 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2018 granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by inserting Article 338B into the Indian Constitution.

Explanation

The State Legislative Council is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution, but its members are elected for a tenure of six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.

Explanation

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India when the country's nuclear doctrine, which formally established the 'No First Use' policy, was adopted in January 2003 following the Pokhran-II tests in 1998.

Explanation

National Civil Services Day is celebrated in India on April 21 every year to commemorate the address of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the first batch of civil servants at Metcalf House in Delhi in 1947, where he famously referred to them as the steel frame of India.

Explanation

The Central Information Commission of India was established on 12 October 2005 under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It was set up to act upon complaints and appeals from individuals who have not been able to submit information requests to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer.

Explanation

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in 1981 to prevent, control, and abate air pollution. This legislation came into force on May 16, 1981.

Explanation

The list matches the Indian states with their respective number of seats in the Rajya Sabha. Jharkhand has 6 seats (4), Uttarakhand has 3 seats (3), Chhattisgarh has 5 seats (2), and Punjab has 7 seats (1), which gives the correct code sequence of 4 3 2 1.

Explanation

According to Article 88 of the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India has the right to speak and take part in the proceedings of either House of Parliament, any joint sitting of the Houses, and any committee of Parliament of which they may be named a member. However, they do not have the right to vote in these proceedings.

Explanation

The Uttaranchal (Change of Name) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in December 2006 to rename the state of Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand. The Act officially came into existence in the year 2006, taking effect from January 1, 2007.

Explanation

The state of Uttarakhand was officially formed on 9 November 2000 as the 27th state of the Republic of India, when it was carved out of the northern districts of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, the date 9-11-2000 is the correct answer.

Explanation

Trivendra Singh Rawat, during the state assembly session at Bhararisain (Gairsain) on March 4, 2020, announced that Gairsain would be the summer capital of Uttarakhand. This decision received the Governor's assent later in June 2020, making it official.

Explanation

George William Traill, who served as the second commissioner of Kumaon from 1816 to 1835, introduced the Patwari system in 1819. Because of the low crime rate in the hill regions, he vested these revenue officials with policing powers, thereby establishing the Revenue Police system.

Explanation

Uttarakhand has 5 Lok Sabha constituencies, meaning 5 members are elected from the state to the lower house of India's Parliament. These constituencies are Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, Almora, Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, and Haridwar.

Explanation

The Tobin Tax is a levy proposed by Nobel laureate economist James Tobin, designed to penalize short-term currency speculation. It is specifically charged on foreign exchange transactions to stabilize currency markets.

Explanation

Agricultural markets in India are regulated by the respective state governments through the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act enacted by each state. This is because agriculture and markets are state subjects under the Constitution of India.

Explanation

The National Development Council (NDC) was established in August 1952 by an executive resolution of the government, making it an extra-constitutional and non-statutory body. Therefore, the statement that it is a statutory body is incorrect.

Explanation

In the history of the Indian Lok Sabha, the lowest number of women members of Parliament was recorded in the 6th Lok Sabha elections held in 1977, when only 19 women were elected to the house. This was lower than the 24 women elected in the first general elections of 1952 and the numbers in subsequent elections.

Explanation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides financial assistance and loans exclusively to its member countries that are facing actual or potential balance of payments difficulties. It does not lend to non-member countries or restrict its lending solely to developing nations.

Explanation

Currency appreciation is defined as an increase in the value of one currency relative to another in the foreign exchange market. Therefore, a rise in value corresponds to an appreciation of the currency, while a decrease is referred to as depreciation.

Explanation

Inflation benefits debtors because they can pay off their debts with money that has less purchasing power than when they borrowed it. On the other hand, inflation hurts bondholders and fixed-income groups because the real value of their fixed returns and income decreases.

Explanation

After the economic reforms of 1991, India opened up its economy, which led to a massive surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Additionally, India's foreign exchange reserves increased dramatically from a critical level of around 1.2 billion USD in 1991 to hundreds of billions of dollars in the subsequent decades, while the share of agriculture in GDP actually declined.

Explanation

Sweat equity shares are equity shares issued by a company to its employees or directors at a discount or for consideration other than cash. This is done to reward them for providing intellectual property rights, know-how, or other value additions to the company.

Explanation

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched by the Government of India in 2007 to increase the production of rice, wheat, and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement. Therefore, all the given commodities are covered under this mission.

Explanation

India's tax system is classified as degressive because it combines progressive and proportional taxation. The tax rate increases with income up to a certain limit, after which it remains constant at a flat rate for all higher income levels, as seen in the Indian income tax slab structure.

Explanation

The Rolling Plan was introduced by the Janata Party government in 1978 as the Sixth Five Year Plan (1978-1983), terminating the Fifth Plan a year early. When the Congress government returned to power in 1980, they rejected this rolling plan and launched a new Sixth Five Year Plan (1980-1985).

Explanation

Net National Product (NNP) is calculated by subtracting depreciation from Gross National Product (GNP), making statement (a) mathematically and economically correct. Statement (b) is incorrect because GNP already includes net income from abroad and the expression lacks proper mathematical operators.

Explanation

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) focused on rapid and inclusive growth, aiming specifically at poverty reduction, employment generation, and reducing gender inequality. Strengthening the capital market is a general financial sector development objective and not a component of the targeted inclusive growth strategy.

Explanation

The World Trade Organization actually possesses a highly structured and active Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve trade conflicts among member nations. Therefore, it is not criticized for having no way to solve trade disputes, making this statement the correct exception.

Explanation

Primary deficit is defined as the fiscal deficit (which represents the total borrowing requirements of the government) minus interest payments. Therefore, if the primary deficit is zero, the fiscal deficit or borrowing must be exactly equal to the interest payments.

Explanation

The Gender Inequality Index was introduced by the United Nations Development Programme in the 2010 Human Development Report to measure gender disparities across three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.

Explanation

According to the Human Development Report 2020 released by the United Nations Development Programme, India was ranked 131st among 189 countries. This represented a drop of two positions from its 129th rank in the 2019 report.

Explanation

The latest classification of MSMEs in India was introduced under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package in 2020 and became effective from July 1, 2020. This new classification composite criteria of investment and annual turnover for both manufacturing and service enterprises.

Explanation

Gilt-edged securities are high-grade financial instruments issued by governments or sovereign bodies, characterized by a very low risk of default. They are called gilt-edged because the original certificates issued by the British government had gilded edges.

Explanation

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is a member of the World Bank Group, established in 1988 to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries by offering political risk insurance and credit enhancement. The World Bank Group consists of five closely associated institutions, of which MIGA is one.

Explanation

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax that subsumed several state and central indirect taxes in India, including the Value Added Tax (VAT). Direct taxes such as Property Tax, Corporation Tax, and Income Tax were not abolished by GST and continue to exist separately.

Explanation

Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) is located in Roorkee, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has a major presence with key institutes in Dehradun, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has a large manufacturing unit in Haridwar, all situated in Uttarakhand. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is headquartered in Bengaluru and does not have any manufacturing plant or facility in Uttarakhand.

Explanation

The purchase of bonds or stocks issued by an overseas company is classified as foreign portfolio investment (FPI) rather than foreign direct investment (FDI), as it represents a passive investment without direct control or management over the foreign enterprise. The other options involve active management, ownership of physical assets, or establishing a physical presence abroad, which are characteristic of FDI.

Explanation

During the year 2020-2021, the Tea Development Programme in Uttarakhand was implemented in 9 hill districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, and Tehri.

Explanation

According to the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) Uttarakhand and the Uttarakhand Economic Survey for 2020-2021, the Regional Rural Banks (Uttarakhand Gramin Bank) had the lowest number of branches with 286 branches, compared to 294 branches of District Co-operative Banks, 322 branches of Private Sector Banks, and over 1,000 branches of Nationalised/Public Sector Banks. Therefore, Regional Banks is the correct answer.

Explanation

Gregor Johann Mendel is widely recognized as the father of genetics for his pioneering work on pea plants, through which he discovered the fundamental laws of inheritance. His experiments laid the foundation for the modern science of genetics.

Explanation

Ramsar Sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, which is an international treaty signed in 1971 for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

Explanation

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Benjamin List and David MacMillan for their development of asymmetric organocatalysis. The other options list Nobel laureates of the same year in Physics (A), Physiology or Medicine (B), and Literature (D).

Explanation

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-26) was held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from October 31 to November 12, 2021. It was hosted by the UK in partnership with Italy.

Explanation

The logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the Giant Panda. This iconic symbol was inspired by Chi Chi, a giant panda that was transferred to the London Zoo in 1961, the same year WWF was founded.

Explanation

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India, instituted in 1954 to recognize exceptional service of the highest order. The next highest civilian awards in descending order of precedence are Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

Explanation

Remote sensing technology relies on detecting and measuring reflected or emitted radiation from the Earth's surface across various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as visible light, infrared, and microwaves. Therefore, electromagnetic waves are the primary medium used in these applications.

Explanation

Jhoom (or Jhum) refers to a traditional system of shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture practiced extensively by tribal communities in the North-Eastern states of India. Under this method, land is cleared by burning the vegetation, cultivated for a few years, and then left fallow to regenerate its fertility.

Explanation

Conductors are materials that possess a high density of free electrons, allowing electric charge to flow through them easily with minimal resistance. This characteristic distinguishes them from insulators and semiconductors, which have much higher resistance.

Explanation

Uttarakhand implemented the Value Added Tax (VAT) with effect from April 1, 2005. Therefore, 2005 is the correct year of its introduction in the state.

Explanation

Earthworms are referred to as the 'ploughers of the soil' because their burrowing activity helps in aerating and loosening the soil. This process enhances soil fertility and structure, facilitating better plant growth.

Explanation

Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is essential for the synthesis of collagen in the body. Without sufficient Vitamin C, collagen production is impaired, leading to symptoms such as bleeding gums, weakness, and skin spots.

Explanation

Semen used for the artificial insemination of cattle is stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius. This method of cryopreservation keeps the sperm viable for a long period of time without damaging its quality.

Explanation

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, specifically a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of glucose units. It is an organic compound that serves as an important structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants.

Explanation

Escherichia coli is extensively used as a host for cloning and expressing recombinant DNA, while Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely utilized for introducing foreign genes into plants. Therefore, these two bacteria are indispensable tools in genetic engineering experiments.

Explanation

An ecotone is a transition area between two biological communities or biomes where they meet and integrate. Classic examples of ecotones include estuaries, salt marshes, and the transition zone between a forest and a grassland.

Explanation

An OR gate is a digital logic gate that outputs a HIGH (1) signal if at least one of its inputs is HIGH (1). Therefore, if any one input is 1, the output of the OR gate will also be 1.

Explanation

IP addresses are used at the Network Layer (Layer 3) of the OSI reference model to facilitate routing and logical addressing of data packets across different networks.

Explanation

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the primary memory of a computer system as it is directly accessed by the CPU to store data currently in use. Hard disks, compact disks, and pen drives are secondary storage devices used for permanent data storage.

Explanation

The Control Unit of the CPU is responsible for fetching, decoding, and managing the execution of program instructions. Storing programs is the function of computer memory, while performing logical operations is the function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).

Explanation

Light travels at its maximum speed of approximately 300,000 kilometers per second in a vacuum because there are no atoms or molecules to obstruct its propagation. In other media, such as air or water, the interaction of light with matter slows it down.

Explanation

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) commissioned a Doppler Weather Radar at Mukteshwar in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand on January 15, 2021, to improve weather forecasting in the hilly region. This radar helps in monitoring severe weather events like heavy rainfall, landslides, and cloudbursts.

Explanation

The Forest Research Institute was established in 1906 as the Imperial Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of forestry research in India.

Explanation

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, was established in 1972 with the primary objective of conserving the endangered Himalayan Musk Deer. Located in the Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts of Uttarakhand, it is the largest protected area in the Western Himalayas.

Explanation

Buransh, scientifically known as Rhododendron arboreum, is designated as the State tree of Uttarakhand. It is known for its vibrant red flowers and thrives in the Himalayan region at altitudes between 1,500 and 4,000 meters.

Explanation

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 was jointly awarded to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

Explanation

Priyanka Mohite from Satara, Maharashtra, became the first Indian woman to scale Mt. Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain peak in the world, on April 16, 2021.

Explanation

Lata Mangeshkar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in the year 2001 for her extraordinary contribution to music. She became only the second vocalist, after M. S. Subbulakshmi, to receive this prestigious award.

Explanation

Mitali Express is a passenger train service that connects Dhaka, Bangladesh, with New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, India. It was inaugurated jointly by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh in March 2021.

Explanation

The book titled The World Beneath His Feet is the biography of Pullela Gopichand, the former Indian badminton player and Chief National Coach for the Indian badminton team. It was authored by Sanjay Sharma and Shachi S. Sharma.

Explanation

Writing with Fire, directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 94th Academy Awards (Oscars 2022). This marked a historic moment as it was the first Indian feature-length documentary to receive an Oscar nomination in this category.

Explanation

The Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) 2.0 was launched by the Gujarat state government in January 2022. The policy aims to support student-led innovations and startups across higher education institutions in the state.

Explanation

The Maiti Movement was initiated in Uttarakhand in 1995 by Kalyan Singh Rawat, an environmentalist and teacher, to promote environmental conservation by planting saplings during weddings.

Explanation

Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan won the World Rapid Chess Championship in December 2021 by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in a tiebreak playoff. At 17 years old, he became the youngest ever World Rapid Champion.

Explanation

World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is celebrated annually on 16th September. This date commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which aimed to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Explanation

The New York Times won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its exceptional and courageous coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their reporting exposed racial and economic inequities as well as government failures in the United States during the crisis.

Explanation

Bajrang Punia won a Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the men's freestyle 65 kg wrestling category, not a Silver medal. All other players are correctly matched with the respective medals they won at the event.

Explanation

Major Dhyan Chand Sports University is being established in Salawa village, located in the Sardhana town of Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone for this state-of-the-art sports university was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2022.

Explanation

In December 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland for six more months by declaring the entire state as a disturbed area under Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958.

Explanation

Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal was redeveloped under the Public-Private Partnership model and inaugurated in November 2021 with world-class, airport-like amenities. It is India's first railway station to be modernised under this model.

Explanation

Northeast Frontier Railway launched Plan Bee to prevent trains from colliding with wild elephants. This unique strategy involves installing devices near railway tracks that amplify the buzz of swarming honeybees, a sound that elephants naturally avoid.

Explanation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, on November 25, 2021. Upon completion, it is envisioned to be Asia's largest and India's first net-zero emissions airport.

Explanation

The Gangasagar Mela is a highly popular annual Hindu pilgrimage and fair celebrated on Sagar Island in West Bengal, where the Ganges River meets the Bay of Bengal. It is held during the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti in mid-January.

Explanation

The Power of the Dog, directed by Jane Campion, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Drama) at the 79th Golden Globe Awards in 2022.

Explanation

Bharatanatyam is the classical dance of Tamil Nadu (A-2), Kathak is from Uttar Pradesh (B-1), Kuchipudi belongs to Andhra Pradesh (C-4), and Mohiniattam originates from Kerala (D-3). This correct mapping corresponds to the code 2 1 4 3, which is option B.

Explanation

The mapping for option (b) 2 1 3 4 is: A. Google → 2. Sunder Pichai; B. Microsoft → 1. Satya Nadela; C. Twitter → 3. Parag Agarwal; D. Adobe → 4. Shantanu Narayan.

Explanation

The first Jain Council was held at Patliputra (modern-day Patna) in the 3rd century BCE, under the leadership of Sthulabhadra. This council resulted in the compilation of the 12 Angas of Jainism.

Explanation

Harshavardhana was a patron of learning and himself a talented author who wrote three Sanskrit plays: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali, and Nagananda. Harshacharita and Kadambari were written by his court poet Banabhatta, while Devichandragupta was written by Vishakhadatta.

Explanation

Rudrama Devi was one of the most prominent rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty, ruling the Deccan Plateau from 1263 to 1289 CE. She was one of the few women to rule as a monarch in India and was designated as a son by her father, King Ganapatideva, to succeed him.

Explanation

Bhaskara II, also known as Bhaskaracharya, was an outstanding 12th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer. His famous work Lilavati is a seminal treatise on arithmetic and geometry.

Explanation

The Milindapanho, a Buddhist text containing dialogues between King Menander I and the sage Nagasena, describes various aspects of contemporary life including seventy-five occupations and specifically details the eight different stages or phases of agricultural work.

Explanation

During the Shaka-Kshatrapa period, as recorded in the Nasik cave inscription of Ushavadata, the exchange rate between the gold coin (Suvarna) and the silver coin (Karshapana) was established at 1:35. This epigraphic evidence confirms that one gold coin was equivalent in value to thirty-five silver coins.

Explanation

Gadhaiya was a type of silver or copper coin prevalent in medieval western India, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan, during the 7th to 12th centuries. These coins were inspired by Indo-Sasanian coinage and featured a highly stylized bust of the king on one side and a fire altar on the other.

Explanation

Uthiyan Cheralathan, also known as Udiyanjeral, was the first renowned ruler of the Chera dynasty during the Sangam period of ancient South India. Thus, he belongs to the Chera dynasty.

Explanation

The Kailasa temple at Ellora, one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples, was built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I in the 8th century. Option d, despite a minor typographical error, correctly identifies Krishna I as the builder.

Explanation

In the Mauryan administration, Pranaya (or Pranayam) was an emergency tax levied by the state on its citizens during times of financial crisis or treasury deficits, as described in Kautilya's Arthashastra.

Explanation

Rashtrakuta King Govinda III (Govind-IIIrd) defeated the Gurjara-Pratihara ruler Nagabhatta II during his campaign in northern India. This victory was a major event in the tripartite struggle for control over Kanauj.

Explanation

Malik Kafur, a prominent general of the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji, was known as Hazar-Dinari because he was acquired by Nusrat Khan for a sum of one thousand (hazar) dinars.

Explanation

Malik Altunia was the governor of Bhatinda who rose to prominence and rebelled during the reign of Razia Sultana, the daughter of Iltutmish. Tajuddin Yeldoz, Nasaruddin Kubacha, and Ali Mardan were all active rivals of Iltutmish during his own reign.

Explanation

In the Rigveda, the largest number of hymns, approximately 250, are dedicated to Indra, who is the god of thunder, rain, and war. Agni has the second-highest number of hymns dedicated to him, with about 200 hymns.

Explanation

The book Khazain-ul-Futuh, also known as Tarikh-i-Alai, was written by the famous court poet Amir Khusrau. This historical work describes the military campaigns and conquests of Alauddin Khalji, particularly his campaigns in the Deccan.

Explanation

The Nurjahan Junta, which dominated the Mughal court during the reign of Jahangir, consisted of Nurjahan, her father Itimad-ud-daulah, her brother Asaf Khan, and Prince Khurram. Mahabat Khan was a prominent Mughal military commander who was not a member of this faction and was actually a rival to Nurjahan's influence.

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission, which arrived in India in 1946, consisted of three British cabinet members: Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. Sir John Simon was not a member of this mission, as he is known for leading the Simon Commission of 1928.

Explanation

Lord Mayo introduced the process of financial decentralization in India in 1870 by transferring the control of certain local departments like education, sanitation, and medical services to provincial governments with a fixed grant. This was the first step towards administrative and financial devolution in British India.

Explanation

Gangaram and Kheemdev were two brothers from the Sult region of Almora, Uttarakhand, who were martyred when British police opened fire on protesters on September 5, 1942, during the Quit India Movement. Their sacrifice in the Sult area led Mahatma Gandhi to call the region the Bardoli of Kumaon.

Explanation

Raja Rammohan Roy wrote Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin (A Gift to Monotheists) in 1803 in the Persian language, which was the diplomatic and literary language of the time in India. The book also featured an introduction written in Arabic.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi spent two weeks at Kausani in Uttarakhand in June 1929, during which he completed his translation and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, titled Anasakti Yoga. The place where he stayed is now known as the Anasakti Ashram.

Explanation

Maharaja Manvendra Shah was the last ruling monarch of the princely state of Tehri Garhwal, reigning from 1946 until its merger with the Indian Union on August 1, 1949.

Explanation

Sudarshan Shah was the first ruler of the princely state of Tehri, establishing his capital at Tehri on December 28, 1815, after the British defeated the Gurkhas. He ruled the state of Tehri Garhwal from 1815 to 1859.

Explanation

Kalu Mahra is considered the first freedom fighter from Uttarakhand, who played a significant role in the Revolt of 1857. He formed a secret organization called Kranti Sangathan to revolt against the British rule in the Kumaon region.

Explanation

Babarnama, the autobiography of Babur, does not contain any reference to the history or rulers of Uttarakhand. In contrast, Tarikh-i-Badauni, Jahangirnama, and Shahjahannama provide significant historical accounts and details about the kingdoms of Kumaon and Garhwal during the Mughal era.

Explanation

The equator passes through 13 countries across South America, Africa, and Asia, including Brazil, Kenya, and Indonesia. It does not pass through Mexico, which is located in the Northern Hemisphere and is instead intersected by the Tropic of Cancer.

Explanation

Yakshagana is a traditional theatre-dance form of Karnataka that originated and developed during the Vijayanagara Empire between the 14th and 16th centuries. The art form received significant patronage from the Vijayanagara rulers, and its earliest epigraphical evidence dates back to the mid-16th century.

Explanation

The Andes mountain range is the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching over 7,000 kilometers (4,300 miles) along the western coast of South America. It is significantly longer than the Rockies, Himalayas, and Alps.

Explanation

The Nilgiri Hills are located at the junction of the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats in southern India, making them the meeting point of these two mountain ranges.

Explanation

The Benguela current (spelled as Banguelia in the options) is a cold ocean current that flows in the South Atlantic Ocean along the west coast of southern Africa, while the Gulf Stream, Norwegian, and Florida currents are all located in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Explanation

Greenland is the largest island in the world, while New Guinea is the second largest with an area of approximately 785,753 square kilometers. It is located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean and is followed by Borneo and Madagascar in size.

Explanation

The Bora is a cold, dry, northeasterly wind that blows in the Adriatic region, particularly Croatia and Italy, and is not associated with Siberia. The other options correctly match the local winds with their respective geographical areas.

Explanation

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, with a length of approximately 6,400 kilometers, trailing only the Nile River. It is also the world's largest river by water volume.

Explanation

Dolomite is a sedimentary rock (specifically a carbonate rock) composed primarily of the mineral dolomite, whereas quartzite, marble, and gneiss are all examples of metamorphic rocks.

Explanation

The Malwa Plateau is geographically situated in west-central India, bounded by the Aravali Range to the northwest and the Vindhya Range to the south. Therefore, it lies directly between these two prominent mountain ranges.

Explanation

Cuba is traditionally referred to as the Sugar Bowl of the World because of its historically vast sugar industry and high production capacity. Although production has declined in recent decades, the title remains famously associated with the country.

Explanation

Ravi is a tributary of the Chenab River, whereas Baspa, Spiti, and Beas are all tributaries of the Sutlej River. Therefore, Ravi is not a tributary of the Sutlej.

Explanation

Vladimir Koppen made the statement that vegetation is the true index of climate, using it as the primary basis for his climate classification system. He believed that the boundaries of vegetation zones correspond closely to specific temperature and precipitation values.

Explanation

The homosphere is the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, extending up to about 80 km, and includes the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere where the gaseous composition is uniform. The ionosphere lies mainly within the thermosphere above 80 km, which is part of the heterosphere where gases are stratified by molecular weight.

Explanation

Guyana is located in northern South America, whereas Gabon, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau are all countries situated on the continent of Africa.

Explanation

Jamshedpur is known as the Pittsburgh of India because it is the first industrial city in India established by Jamsetji Tata and is a major hub for steel production, similar to Pittsburgh in the United States.

Explanation

Matatila Dam is located on the Betwa River in the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Constructed in 1958, this multipurpose dam provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation to the region.

Explanation

The HVJ (Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur) pipeline has major compressor and gas pumping stations located along its route, including at Vijaipur (in Guna district), Auraiya, and Aonla. Babrala is a major delivery point and terminal supplying a fertilizer plant, but it does not have a gas compressor or pumping station.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, Tamil Nadu has the highest sex ratio among the given options with 996 females per 1000 males. In comparison, Andhra Pradesh has a sex ratio of 993, while Karnataka and Goa both have a sex ratio of 973.

Explanation

Tilanchong is an island located in the Nicobar district of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, whereas Agatti, Kavaratti, and Kalpeni are all part of the Lakshadweep (Laccadive) archipelago.

Explanation

Koppen's climate classification uses the term Cwg to represent the monsoon type climate with dry winters, which is characteristic of the Great Plains of India (Ganga Plains). The other options represent different climatic regions of India, such as the western coast (Amw), Coromandel coast (As), and the peninsular plateau (Aw).

Explanation

Uttarakhand shares its international borders with China and Nepal. Five districts of the state touch these borders: Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh share a border with China, while Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar share a border with Nepal.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census of India, the two districts of Uttarakhand that recorded negative population growth during the 2001-2011 decade were Pauri Garhwal (-1.41%) and Almora (-1.28%). All other districts in the state recorded positive population growth during this period.

Explanation

Govind National Park, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, encompasses the source and catchment region of the Tons River, which is formed by the Rupin and Supin rivers. Specifically, the Supin river originates from the glaciers located within the park boundaries.

Explanation

SIIDCUL (State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited) has developed Integrated Industrial Estates at Selaqui, Haridwar, and Sitarganj, among other locations. Roorkee is not one of the locations where an Integrated Industrial Estate has been established by SIIDCUL.

Explanation

Khair (Acacia catechu) is a deciduous tree commonly found in sub-tropical dry forests, particularly in the outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks) and drier parts of the Indian subcontinent. It thrives in the dry and warm climatic conditions characteristic of sub-tropical forest zones.

Explanation

Kodarma district in Jharkhand is world-famous for its abundant deposits of high-quality mica, earning it the title of the Mica Capital of India.