WBCS Prelims 2014 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

The French phrase tour de force translates literally to a feat of strength. In English, it is used to describe an exceptional achievement, creation, or performance that is executed with outstanding skill, talent, or ingenuity. Because it represents a brilliant stroke or a supreme achievement in a person's work, it is synonymous with a masterpiece.

Explanation

The word insipid is an adjective that describes something lacking flavor, vigor, or interest. In a figurative sense, it refers to things that are flat, lifeless, or unimaginative, making dull its precise synonym.

Explanation

The phrasal verb look up means to search for information in a reference book, database, or directory. In this context, searching for a telephone number in the yellow pages, which is a business directory, requires the use of look up to indicate finding specific information from a compiled list.

Explanation

The word lucid is derived from the Latin word lucidus, which means bright, shining, or clear. In English, it is used to describe something that is expressed clearly and is easy to understand, or a mind that is rational and clear-thinking. Therefore, clear is the precise synonym of lucid because both words share the definition of being easily understood, transparent, and free from obscurity.

Explanation

The idiom to give someone a piece of one's mind means to express one's anger, sharp disapproval, or strong dissatisfaction directly to someone because of their behavior. It is used when someone speaks frankly and angrily to a person who has done something wrong, which aligns with expressing anguish or strong displeasure.

Explanation

The idiom "the gift of the gab" refers to the ability to speak easily, eloquently, and persuasively. It denotes a natural talent for speaking and effective communication that allows a person to easily convince or entertain others through their speech.

Explanation

The word rite refers to a formal, solemn, or religious ceremony or act. In the given sentence, the context refers to traditional or ceremonial acts, such as funeral services or final ceremonies, which are commonly referred to as last rites (or a last rite). This makes it the grammatically and semantically correct choice for the context of being performed by family members.

Explanation

An extrovert is defined as an outgoing, socially confident person who enjoys interacting with others and thrives in social environments. This term, derived from psychological concepts of personality traits, directly describes individuals who direct their interests and energy outward toward other people and external activities rather than inward.

Explanation

The idiom under the weather is used to describe someone who is feeling slightly sick, indisposed, or unwell. The phrase has nautical origins, where sailors who felt seasick or ill during rough seas would go below the deck to protect themselves from the elements, thus literally going under the weather to recover. Over time, it transitioned into everyday language to denote minor illnesses, exhaustion, or not feeling up to one's usual health.

Explanation

Kleptomania is a mental health disorder characterized by an ongoing, uncontrollable urge to steal items that are not needed for personal use or monetary gain. An individual who is afflicted with this obsessive-compulsive impulse control condition is known as a kleptomaniac.

Explanation

The word inadvertent is defined as something done without intention, deliberate planning, or care. It is derived from the prefix in- meaning not and the Latin verb advertere meaning to turn attention to. Thus, an inadvertent action is one that occurs accidentally or due to oversight, making unintentional its precise synonym.

Explanation

The word incognito originates from the Latin prefix in- meaning not and cognitus meaning known. It is used to describe a state in which a person has their true identity concealed, hidden, or disguised to avoid being recognized or to prevent public attention.

Explanation

To embezzle means to secretly and fraudulently misappropriate or take money or property that has been entrusted to one's care. This act of dishonest acquisition is fundamentally a form of theft, making steal its closest synonym.

Explanation

To elude means to escape from or avoid a pursuer, danger, or difficulty, typically in a skillful or cunning way. In this sentence, the verb describes the subject successfully escaping or avoiding capture by the police.

Explanation

The phrasal verb hold on, when combined with the preposition to, means to keep, retain, or maintain possession of something. In this sentence, since the preposition to is already provided directly after the blank, inserting hold on completes the phrase hold on to. This conveys the meaning that the speaker intends to keep or stay in their job until May.

Explanation

The verb cite means to refer to or quote a passage, book, author, or legal case as evidence, proof, or a precedent in support of an argument. In this sentence, referencing a past case as a precedent requires the usage of this specific spelling.

Explanation

The phrasal verb put up with means to tolerate, endure, or bear patiently someone or something that is unpleasant or annoying. In this sentence, the context requires a term that expresses the boss's inability to tolerate the employee's inefficiency any longer, which makes this phrasal verb the correct fit.

Explanation

The preposition "on" is used to indicate participation in a phone call or the use of a communication device. The idiomatic phrase "on the phone" means currently speaking to someone using a telephone.

Explanation

The word cacophony refers to a harsh, discordant, and chaotic mixture of loud sounds. The most appropriate opposite in meaning is silence, which represents the complete absence of sound, noise, or disturbance.

Explanation

The word imminent refers to an event, typically something unwelcome, that is about to happen, impending, or fast approaching in time. The direct antonym of imminent is remote, which means distant, far off in time or space, or highly unlikely to occur in the near future.

Explanation

The preposition "for" is used to denote a period or duration of time. In this sentence, "several minutes" represents the duration for which the action of holding the breath was sustained, making "for" the appropriate choice.

Explanation

The word abundant refers to something that is available in large quantities, plentiful, or more than sufficient. Its antonym is scarce, which describes something that is insufficient for the demand, limited in supply, or hard to find.

Explanation

The collective noun used to describe a social group of lions is a pride. A pride typically consists of several related adult females, their offspring of both sexes, and a small coalition of resident adult males who defend the territory and breed with the females.

Explanation

Crickets are orthopteran insects belonging to the family Gryllidae. They are characterized by cylindrical bodies, round heads, and long antennae. They are well-known for the distinctive chirping sound produced by males rubbing their wings together, a process known as stridulation.

Explanation

Historically, a page (or page boy) refers to a young male attendant or servant, particularly in medieval noble or knightly households. These boys served as personal attendants or messengers to nobles, lords, or knights. This servant role often functioned as the first stage of an apprenticeship toward achieving knighthood.

Explanation

The Bahmani Sultanate was founded in 1347 CE by Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah, who was originally known as Zafar Khan. He was a noble in the army of the Delhi Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq. After leading a successful rebellion against the Delhi Sultanate due to its oppressive policies, he established an independent kingdom in the Deccan region and chose Gulbarga as his capital, taking the title of Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into force on April 24, 1993, provided constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions in India. This historic amendment added Part IX to the Constitution of India, titled "The Panchayats", and inserted the Eleventh Schedule containing twenty-nine functional items to empower local self-governments at the village, intermediate, and district levels.

Explanation

Kranti was a revolutionary socialist weekly journal published in Marathi from Maharashtra, starting in 1927. It was founded and edited by prominent early Indian communist and trade union leaders, including S. S. Mirajkar, K. N. Joglekar, and S. V. Ghate. The journal served as a key mouthpiece for the Workers and Peasants Party in Bombay, advocating for the rights of the working class and propagating socialist ideas during the Indian national movement.

Explanation

The required value can be calculated directly by converting the percentage and fraction into mathematical operations:

Value = ⅖ × 60% × 320

We simplify 60% to ⅗ :

Value = ⅖ × ⅗ × 320

Value = ⁶⁄₂₅ × 320

Multiplying both the numerator and denominator by 4 to convert the fraction into a decimal base:

Value = ²⁴⁄₁₀₀ × 320 = 0.24 × 320 = 76.8

Explanation

The Second Battle of Panipat was fought on 5 November 1556 between the Hindu king Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also known as Hemu, and the forces of the Mughal Emperor Akbar under the leadership of his regent Bairam Khan. The battle ended in a decisive Mughal victory, securing Akbar's control over Delhi and Agra and firmly re-establishing the Mughal Empire in northern India.

Explanation

Disguised unemployment refers to a situation where more people are engaged in an activity than are actually required. In this state, the marginal productivity of the surplus workers is zero, meaning their individual contribution to the total product is nil. Consequently, withdrawing these workers from employment has no impact on production and does not create any output loss. This phenomenon is highly characteristic of the agricultural sector in developing economies, where family members often work on small, fragmented landholdings that could be efficiently managed by fewer hands.

Explanation

Lord Willingdon served as the Viceroy and Governor-General of India from 18 April 1931 to 18 April 1936, directly succeeding Lord Irwin whose term concluded in April 1931. Major historical events during Lord Willingdon's administration included the Second and Third Round Table Conferences, the resumption of the Civil Disobedience Movement, the announcement of the Communal Award, the signing of the Poona Pact, and the passage of the Government of India Act of 1935.

Explanation

The Council of Barabhaish, also known as the Barbhai Council, was organised by Nana Phadnavis in 1774. Following the assassination of Peshwa Narayanrao, his uncle Raghunathrao attempted to usurp the position of Peshwa. In response, Nana Phadnavis along with other prominent Maratha chiefs formed a regency alliance consisting of twelve members to administer the Maratha state. The council successfully recognized Narayanrao's posthumous infant son, Madhavrao II, as the rightful Peshwa and safeguarded the Peshwaship from Raghunathrao's designs.

Explanation

Let the ages of Riju and Rivu be represented as 3x and 5x respectively, based on their ratio of 3:5.

The difference between their ages is given as 12 years. This can be expressed as:

5x - 3x = 12

2x = 12

x = 6

To find Rivu's age, we calculate:

5x = 5 × 6 = 30 years

Explanation

Indian agriculture is overwhelmingly dominated by small and marginal farmers. According to the Agriculture Census of 2010-11, small and marginal operational holdings, which are defined as land holdings of less than 2 hectares, constitute around 85 percent of the total operational holdings in the country. The average size of an operational holding in India is less than 1.15 hectares and has been continuously declining due to the high population pressure on land, family subdivisions, and the inheritance laws that lead to the fragmentation of land holdings over generations.

Explanation

Goa became the primary seat of Portuguese power and the capital of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da India) in 1510. Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor, captured Goa from the Sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, recognizing its strategic harbor and position for controlling maritime trade in the Indian Ocean. It served as the central administrative, military, and commercial hub for all Portuguese territories and fortresses in Asia.

Explanation

Dadabhai Naoroji first propounded the Drain of Wealth theory in 1867 to explain how India's wealth was systematically transferred to Britain under colonial rule. This theory was subsequently elaborated and expanded upon by other early nationalist economists, most notably Mahadev Govind Ranade (M.G. Ranade) and Romesh Chunder Dutt (R.C. Dutt). Ranade built on Naoroji's work by analyzing how the drain of capital and colonial free-trade policies created a structural scarcity of capital in India, thereby restricting industrialization and keeping the Indian economy underdeveloped and stagnant.

Explanation

If every number in a dataset is multiplied by a constant k, the arithmetic mean of the dataset is also multiplied by k.

Let the five numbers be x₁, x₂, x₃, x₄, and x₅. Their average is given by the formula:

(x₁ + x₂ + x₃ + x₄ + x₅)/(5) = 50

When every number is multiplied by 2, the new numbers become 2x₁, 2x₂, 2x₃, 2x₄, and 2x₅. The new average is calculated as:

New Average = (2x₁ + 2x₂ + 2x₃ + 2x₄ + 2x₅)/(5)

Factoring out the common multiplier 2:

New Average = 2 × (x₁ + x₂ + x₃ + x₄ + x₅)/(5)

Substituting the original average of 50 into the equation:

New Average = 2 × 50 = 100

Explanation

Sufism entered the Indian subcontinent in the eleventh century, primarily driven by the migration of Sufi saints and scholars from Central Asia and Persia. A prominent early figure of this period was Al-Hujwiri, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, who arrived and settled in Lahore in 1039 CE. His influential treatise on Sufism, Kashf al-Mahjub, which was written in Lahore, established a foundational theological and spiritual framework for Sufi practices in India, marking the formal beginning of Sufism's presence in the region.

Explanation

Bargadars are sharecroppers in West Bengal who cultivate land owned by another person on the condition of delivering a share of the harvest to the landowner.

The land reform measures implemented in West Bengal, particularly through the West Bengal Land Reforms Act of 1955 and the subsequent "Operation Barga" launched in 1978, aimed to record and institutionalize the rights of these sharecroppers. This initiative provided bargadars with legal protection against arbitrary eviction and guaranteed them permanent, hereditary cultivation rights. It also regulated crop-sharing arrangements, ensuring that bargadars received a higher, legally protected share of the agricultural produce. These changes drastically improved their economic stability, income security, and overall social standing, making them the primary beneficiaries of the state's land reform policies.

Explanation

The Educational Despatch of 1854, drafted by Sir Charles Wood who was the President of the Board of Control of the East India Company, is widely recognized as the Magna-Carta of English Education in India. This landmark document formulated the first comprehensive plan for the spread of education across the country. It recommended a system of education from primary schools using vernacular languages to high schools and colleges using English as the medium of instruction. It also proposed the establishment of departments of public instruction in provinces, the creation of universities in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras modeled after the University of London, and a system of grants-in-aid to foster private participation in education.

Explanation

The speed of the stream is calculated using the formula:

w = (D - U)/(2)

where D represents the downstream speed and U represents the upstream speed.

Substituting the given values into the formula:

D = 35km/hr U = 17km/hr

w = (35 - 17)/(2) = ¹⁸⁄₂ = 9km/hr

Explanation

Lord Canning served as the Governor-General of India from 1856 to 1862. During his administrative tenure, the historic Indian Rebellion of 1857 broke out. Following the suppression of the revolt, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1858, which abolished the East India Company's rule and transferred the governance of India directly to the British Crown. Under this new Act, Lord Canning was also appointed as the first Viceroy of India.

Explanation

Let the two natural numbers be x and y such that x > y.

According to the given condition, the difference of their squares is: x² - y² = 19

This can be factored as: (x - y)(x + y) = 19

Since 19 is a prime number, its only natural number factors are 1 and 19. Because x and y are natural numbers, x + y must be greater than x - y. Therefore, we have: x - y = 1 x + y = 19

Solving these two equations by adding them yields: 2x = 20 x = 10

Substituting x = 10 back into the first equation gives: 10 - y = 1 y = 9

The sum of the squares of these numbers is: x² + y² = 10² + 9² = 100 + 81 = 181

Explanation

The tertiary sector of the economy, commonly referred to as the service sector, involves the provision of services to businesses and consumers rather than the production of tangible goods. Infrastructure services, which encompass essential services such as transportation, communication, banking, insurance, and trade, are classified under the tertiary sector because they facilitate the distribution of goods and support the overall functioning of the primary and secondary sectors.

Explanation

Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society on January 15, 1784, in Calcutta. As a renowned philologist and a puisne judge at the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William, he established the society to encourage and systematize the study of Asian history, scriptures, languages, and cultures. Under his leadership, the institution played a pivotal role in translating classical Sanskrit and Persian texts into English, laying the foundation for modern Oriental studies and comparative linguistics.

Explanation

The book 'Eighteen Fifty Seven' was written by the eminent Indian historian Dr. Surendra Nath Sen (S.N. Sen). Published in 1957, this work was commissioned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, to mark the centenary of the Revolt of 1857. Sen utilised a vast array of official and unofficial historical records to present an objective, detailed, and balanced academic analysis of the causes, course, and nature of the uprising, which remains one of the most authoritative accounts of this pivotal event in Indian history.

Explanation

When a wire is bent into a new shape its total length is unchanged, so the original circular wire's circumference equals the perimeter of the rectangle. Letting the sides be 6x and 5x, the perimeter is 2(6x + 5x) = 22x, which equals the wire length. Solving makes the longer side 144 cm and the shorter side 120 cm, keeping the required 6:5 ratio. Hence the smaller side measures 120 cm.

Explanation

Plan finance refers to the financial resources utilized to fund developmental projects and schemes outlined in the government's plans. When the government is unable to meet these planned expenditures through traditional avenues like taxation or borrowing from the public, it may resort to deficit financing. Borrowing from the central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, is a form of deficit financing also known as monetization of the deficit. When the Reserve Bank of India provides loans to the government, it creates new money (high-powered money) by printing fresh currency or creating bank reserves. This injection of fresh money into the financial system directly leads to an increase in the overall money supply in the economy.

Explanation

Megasthenes was a Greek ethnographer and diplomat sent as an ambassador by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I Nicator to the court of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra. During his stay in India, he compiled his observations of the Mauryan Empire's administration, social structure, geography, and economy in his book titled Indica. Although the original manuscript of the book has been lost to time, numerous fragments of his work have survived in the form of quotations and summaries by later classical Greek and Roman writers.

Explanation

When two articles are sold at the same selling price, one at a gain of x% and the other at a loss of x%, the overall transaction always results in a net loss. This net loss percentage is calculated directly using the standard formula:

Loss % = (x²)/(100)

Given that the gain and loss percentage x = 16:

Loss % = (16²)/(100) = ²⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀ = 2.56%

This direct relationship yields the overall loss percentage of 2.56% for the entire transaction.

Explanation

An increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) forces commercial banks to keep a higher percentage of their deposits with the Reserve Bank of India in the form of liquid cash. Because a larger portion of their funds is locked with the central bank, the reserves available with commercial banks for lending are reduced. This contraction in bank credit leads to a decrease in the overall money supply in the economy, reducing aggregate demand and helping to control inflationary price rise.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 by Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the law member of the Viceroy Council, during the tenure of Viceroy Lord Ripon. The bill aimed to remove racial discrimination in the judicial system by enabling Indian district magistrates and sessions judges to try European and British subjects in criminal cases. This proposal provoked massive outrage, protest, and organized opposition from the Anglo-Indian community and European residents in India. They formed the Defence Association to protect their privileges, asserting that Indian judges were unfit to try Europeans, which eventually forced the British administration to compromise and modify the bill.

Explanation

The Associated Press of India (API) was the first domestic news agency of India, established in 1910. It was founded by Keshav Chandra Roy, a prominent Indian journalist who is often regarded as the father of news agency journalism in India. Roy created the agency to establish a dedicated domestic news gathering and distribution network across major Indian cities like Calcutta, Bombay, and Delhi, reducing reliance on foreign-controlled media like Reuters. Though Reuters eventually took over its operations in 1915, the Associated Press of India holds the distinction of being the first national news agency initiated in the country.

Explanation

Let the number be x. The difference between 78% of the number and 59% of the same number is given as 323.

Using the percentage difference: (78 - 59)% of x = 323 19% of x = 323

To find 1% of the number: 1% of x = ³²³⁄₁₉ = 17

To find 62% of the number: 62% of x = 62 × 17 = 1054

Explanation

During the 1991 economic reforms, India transitioned away from the inward-looking, protectionist trade regime of the previous decades. Instead of increasing import restrictions, the government actively reduced tariff rates, dismantled quantitative restrictions, and simplified import licensing to integrate the domestic economy with the global market. Thus, increasing import restrictions is the false statement regarding the path of India's structural reforms.

Explanation

The tomb of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir is situated in Shahdara Bagh, a suburb of Lahore, Pakistan. Constructed along the banks of the Ravi River, the mausoleum was built by his son Shah Jahan and completed in 1637. The tomb is renowned for its exquisite Mughal architecture, featuring extensive fresco paintings, detailed Pietra dura inlay work, and four prominent octagonal minarets, all set within a large walled garden (Charbagh).

Explanation

The population of the city grows at a compound rate. The formula for the population after n years is:

A = P (1 + (R)/(100))ⁿ

Here, the initial population at the end of 2009 is P = 4000, the annual growth rate is R = 15%, and the time period from the end of 2009 to the end of 2011 is n = 2 years.

Substituting these values into the formula:

A = 4000 (1 + ¹⁵⁄₁₀₀)²

A = 4000 (1.15)²

A = 4000 × 1.3225

A = 5290

Explanation

Black money represents unaccounted income that escapes the taxation system, leading to a massive concentration of wealth in the hands of a few tax evaders, hoarders, and corrupt individuals. This concentration deprives the state of crucial tax revenue that would otherwise be used to fund public welfare, education, healthcare, and developmental schemes aimed at uplifting the poorer sections of society. Consequently, the presence of a parallel underground economy widens the wealth gap and significantly increases the inequality of income in the nation.

Explanation

Qutubuddin Aibak founded the Delhi Sultanate and established the Mamluk Dynasty in 1206 AD. Originally a Turkish slave and a trusted military general of Muhammad Ghori, he assumed independent control over the northern Indian territories after Ghori's assassination. Ruling until his death in 1210 AD, Aibak laid the sovereign foundation of the Sultanate in India and initiated major architectural projects, including the Qutb Minar in Delhi.

Explanation

The Leader was an English-language daily newspaper published from Allahabad. Founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1909, it was famously edited by the prominent liberal politician C. Y. Chintamani from 1909 to 1934. The paper served as an influential voice and the primary mouthpiece for the National Liberal Federation of India (the Liberals), advocating moderate, liberal nationalist views, constitutional reforms, and progressive policies during the Indian freedom struggle.

Explanation

The volume of a cylindrical rod is given by the formula V = π r² h, where r is the radius of the cylinder and h is its length.

First, convert the dimensions to the same unit of meters. The diameter of the rod is 4cm, which gives a radius of r = 2cm = 0.02m. The length of the rod is h = 14m.

The volume of one iron rod is: Vᵣₒ_d = ²²⁄₇ × (0.02m)² × 14m Vᵣₒ_d = 22 × 0.0004m² × 2m Vᵣₒ_d = 0.0176m³

To find the number of rods that can be made out of 0.88m³ of iron, divide the total volume of iron by the volume of a single rod: Number of rods = (0.88m³)/(0.0176m³) = 50

Explanation

Taxila, located in the ancient region of Gandhara, was a renowned center of learning and a primary hub for the development of Gandhara Art. This unique art form flourished from the first century BCE to the fifth century CE, characterized by the fusion of Greco-Roman artistic styles with Indian Buddhist iconography. The archaeological excavations at Taxila have yielded numerous stupas, monasteries, and exquisite stone sculptures that exemplify this Greco-Buddhist artistic tradition.

Explanation

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is designed to ensure that global trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible. To achieve this, it directs developing and least developed countries to increase trade liberalisation by reducing both tariff and non-tariff barriers, facilitating freer market access, and enhancing international cooperation in the foreign trade sector. This aligns with the fundamental objective of integrating member economies into the multilateral trading system to promote global economic growth.

Explanation

The Nehru Report of 1928 was prepared by a committee of the All Parties Conference to draft a constitution for India. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, an eminent lawyer and statesman, was a key member of this committee and represented the National Liberal Federation. His expertise in constitutional law played a crucial role in drafting the proposal for dominion status and a federal structure for India.

Explanation

The pattern followed in the given series involves multiplying each preceding number by 2 and then subtracting consecutive integers starting from 1.

The first term is 8. The second term is 8 × 2 - 1 = 15. The third term is 15 × 2 - 2 = 28. The fourth term is 28 × 2 - 3 = 53.

Following this rule, the fifth term is 53 × 2 - 4 = 102.

This is confirmed by checking the subsequent term, which is 102 × 2 - 5 = 199.

Explanation

Peshwa Baji Rao I, who served as the Prime Minister of the Maratha Empire from 1720 to 1740, propounded and popularized the ideal of Hindu Pad Padshahi, which translates to the establishment of a Hindu Empire. To achieve this goal, he pursued a policy of rapid northward expansion into the territories of the declining Mughal Empire. By projecting the Marathas as champions of a Hindu political resurgence, Baji Rao I sought to secure the cooperation and support of various Rajput and other regional Hindu chiefs against Mughal authority, successfully extending Maratha influence deep into Central and Northern India.

Explanation

Financial structural reforms are designed to restore macroeconomic stability, improve fiscal discipline, and ensure external sector viability. A primary objective of these reforms is to reduce the balance of payments deficit and stabilize foreign exchange reserves, rather than allowing the deficit to increase. An increasing balance of payments deficit represents a widening gap between a nation's total payments to other countries and its total receipts, which indicates growing economic instability and is contrary to the goals of structural economic reforms.

Explanation

Using the distributive law of multiplication over addition, the given expression can be simplified by factoring out the common term 879:

a × b + a × c = a × (b + c)

Substituting the values from the expression:

879 × 439 + 879 × 321 = 879 × (439 + 321)

First, add the terms inside the parentheses:

439 + 321 = 760

Now, multiply 879 by 760:

879 × 760 = 668040

Explanation

Swami Vivekananda (born Narendranath Datta) was a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is renowned as the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. While he briefly associated with the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in his early youth, he did not serve as an active leader of the organization. He eventually embraced monastic life under Ramakrishna's guidance and founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission to spread his guru's teachings and carry out social service.

Explanation

The Khilafat Movement was initiated by Indian Muslims to protest against the dismantling of the Ottoman Caliphate and the harsh terms imposed on the Turkish Sultan by the Treaty of Sevres after World War I, which was widely referred to as the Khilafat Wrong. Mahatma Gandhi sought to bridge Hindu-Muslim unity by championing this cause. In June 1920, the Central Khilafat Committee meeting in Allahabad officially resolved to launch a campaign of non-cooperation against the British government starting from August 1, 1920. Gandhi subsequently successfully persuaded the Indian National Congress to adopt this non-cooperation platform, making the redressal of the Khilafat Wrong the direct precursor and immediate catalyst for launching the nationwide Non-Cooperation Movement.

Explanation

The total number of boys in a row can be determined using the ranking formula: Total = Position from the left + Position from the right - 1

Initially, Venkat is 12th from the right. When Syamantaka interchanges positions with Venkat, Syamantaka occupies Venkat's original position. Consequently, this specific position is now 22nd from the left end and remains 12th from the right end.

Substituting these values into the formula: Total = 22 + 12 - 1 Total = 33

Explanation

Let the first number be x and the second number be y.

According to the given condition: 48% of x = 60% of y

This can be written in algebraic form as: ⁴⁸⁄₁₀₀ x = ⁶⁰⁄₁₀₀ y

By simplifying, we get: 48x = 60y

To find the ratio of the first number to the second number, we rearrange the equation: (x)/(y) = ⁶⁰⁄₄₈

Dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 12, gives: (x)/(y) = ⁵⁄₄

The ratio of the first number to the second number is 5:4.

Explanation

The August Offer was announced by Viceroy Lord Linlithgow on 8 August 1940 to secure Indian cooperation in the Second World War. The central proposal of this offer was the explicit promise of Dominion Status for India after the war, which was the first time the British government officially recognized this goal for India's constitutional progress.

Explanation

Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor and builder of the Taj Mahal, fell seriously ill in 1657, triggering a war of succession among his sons. Aurangzeb emerged victorious and deposed his father in 1658, confining him to the Agra Fort. Shah Jahan remained a prisoner there, cared for by his daughter Jahanara, until his death on 22 January 1666 A.D. He was buried beside his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal.

Explanation

Sound waves in air are longitudinal waves because the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction in which the wave propagates. As a sound source vibrates, it pushes and pulls on the surrounding air molecules, creating a series of alternating high-pressure regions called compressions and low-pressure regions called rarefactions. This disturbance travels through the air in the same dimension as the particle displacement, allowing the acoustic energy to be transmitted through the medium.

Explanation

Lord Mountbatten was appointed as the Viceroy of India in March 1947 with the specific mandate to oversee the transition of British India to independence. He proposed the June 3 Plan, which laid down the partition of the subcontinent. He served in this viceregal capacity until August 15, 1947, making him the final British Viceroy of India.

Explanation

Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, broadcasted a plan in June 1945 to resolve the political deadlock between the British administration and Indian leadership. This proposal, known as the Wavell Plan, recommended the reconstitution of the Viceroy's Executive Council with equal representation for Caste Hindus and Muslims, except for the Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief. To discuss and finalize these proposals, Lord Wavell summoned a conference of Indian political leaders at Shimla on June 25, 1945, representing the immediate and complete outcome of the plan.

Explanation

Acre is a standard unit of area used to measure land in the imperial and US customary systems. One acre is defined as 43,560 square feet or approximately 4,047 square metres, representing two-dimensional space. It is the odd one out because it measures area, whereas the other options are standard units used exclusively for measuring one-dimensional linear distance or length.

Explanation

The numbers 8, 125, and 343 are perfect cubes of integers, where 8 = 2³, 125 = 5³, and 343 = 7³. The number 1381 is not a perfect cube of any integer, making it the odd one out in this group.

Explanation

The given sequence follows the pattern Tₙ = n³ - 1 for consecutive integers starting from n = 2.

For n = 2, the term is 2³ - 1 = 7. For n = 3, the term should be 3³ - 1 = 26. For n = 4, the term is 4³ - 1 = 63. For n = 5, the term is 5³ - 1 = 124. For n = 6, the term is 6³ - 1 = 215. For n = 7, the term is 7³ - 1 = 342. For n = 8, the term is 8³ - 1 = 511.

In the given sequence, the number 28 is written instead of 26.

Explanation

RADAR, which stands for Radio Detection and Ranging, is an electromagnetic system designed to detect, locate, and track objects such as aeroplanes, ships, and spacecraft. It operates by transmitting high-frequency radio waves or microwaves into the surrounding space. When these electromagnetic waves strike an obstacle, they are reflected back to the radar receiver. By measuring the time delay between the transmission of the signal and the reception of the echo, along with the direction of the returned signal, the system calculates the exact distance, speed, and position of the object.

Explanation

Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was the first president of the Indian National Congress. He presided over the inaugural session of the Congress held at Bombay in December 1885, which was attended by seventy-two delegates.

Explanation

Gamma rays have the highest penetrating power among all the given radiations due to their high frequency and lack of electric charge or mass. Unlike alpha and beta particles, which can be stopped by thin barriers like paper or aluminum, gamma rays can easily penetrate deeply into human tissues, bone, and internal organs. This high penetration ability makes them extremely dangerous as an external radiation source, as they can cause severe cellular damage, mutate DNA, and lead to cancers throughout the body.

Explanation

Education is included in the Concurrent List under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Originally, education was a State subject, but it was transferred to the Concurrent List through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. This inclusion empowers both the Parliament of India and the State Legislatures to enact laws regarding education, ensuring a coordinated national approach between the Union and the States for educational planning, policies, and standards across the country.

Explanation

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad served as the President of the Indian National Congress from 1940 to 1946, making him the longest-serving Congress President in the pre-independence era. In this official capacity, he led the Congress delegations and conducted negotiations on behalf of the party with the Cripps Mission in 1942 and with Viceroy Lord Wavell during the Simla Conference in 1945.

Explanation

A light-year is a unit of distance used to measure astronomical distances. It represents the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year, which is equivalent to approximately 9.46 × 10¹⁵ meters or 9.46 × 10¹² kilometers. This is calculated using the formula for distance, d = v × t, where v is the speed of light (2.998 × 10⁸ meters per second) and t is the duration of one Julian year (3.15576 × 10⁷ seconds).

Explanation

The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC between the Macedonian king Alexander the Great and King Porus of the Paurava kingdom. This historic battle took place on the banks of the Hydaspes River, which is the ancient Greek name for the Jhelum River.

Explanation

Let the two consecutive odd numbers be x - 1 and x + 1, where x is the intermediate even number.

The product of these two numbers is given by: (x - 1)(x + 1) = 6723

Applying the algebraic identity (a - b)(a + b) = a² - b²: x² - 1 = 6723 x² = 6724 x = √(6724) x = 82

The two consecutive odd numbers are: Smaller number: x - 1 = 81 Greater number: x + 1 = 83

Explanation

Liquid Crystal Display is a flat-panel display technology that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to produce images. Liquid crystals do not emit light directly; instead, they modulate a backlight or reflector to create color or monochrome images in devices such as computer monitors, televisions, instrument panels, and handheld devices. This technology allows displays to be significantly thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient than traditional cathode-ray tube displays.

Explanation

According to Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India holds office until they attain the age of 65 years. The Constitution also provides that any dispute or question regarding the age of a Supreme Court judge shall be determined by such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

Explanation

The Indian National Army (INA), led by Subhas Chandra Bose, was heavily dependent on the Japanese Empire for military, financial, and logistical support during its campaign against the British in Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent Soviet invasion of Manchuria, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces in August 1945. The collapse and surrender of Japan directly cut off all support and resources for the INA, forcing its soldiers to surrender to the British forces shortly thereafter.

Explanation

Thermal capacity, also known as heat capacity, is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a given body by 1 K (or 1 degree Celsius).

The formula for thermal capacity is: C = (dQ)/(dT)

Here, dQ represents the heat energy supplied to the body and dT represents the change in temperature. It is a characteristic property of the entire body, depending on both the mass of the object and the material from which it is made.

Explanation

Tej Bahadur Sapru was an eminent Liberal leader who attended the First Round Table Conference held in London between November 1930 and January 1931. He represented the Indian Liberals and advocated for dominion status and a federal structure for India during the deliberations with the British government.

Explanation

O is the husband of P, which makes P the wife of O. Since M is the son of P, and O and P are a married couple, M must be the son of O.

Explanation

Argon is the most abundant rare or noble gas in the Earth's atmosphere, making up approximately 0.93% of the atmosphere by volume. This makes it the third most abundant gas in the atmosphere overall, behind only nitrogen and oxygen. The high abundance of argon compared to other noble gases is due to the radioactive decay of potassium-40 in the Earth's crust, which continuously releases argon-40 into the atmosphere.

Explanation

Under the Indian parliamentary system, the Prime Minister acts as the head of the government and presides over the meetings of the Union Cabinet. The President of India is the ceremonial head of state and does not participate in or preside over these Cabinet meetings.

Explanation

The Rigveda is the oldest sacred text of Hinduism and one of the oldest surviving texts in any Indo-European language. Composed in an ancient form of Sanskrit, known as Vedic Sanskrit, its core text is believed to have been compiled between 1500 BCE and 1200 BCE during the early Vedic period. It is a collection of 1,028 hymns arranged in ten books, known as Mandalas, dedicated to various deities such as Indra, Agni, and Soma.

Explanation

The proportion A : B :: C : D is mathematically defined by the relation (A)/(B) = (C)/(D).

Given the expression: 60:15::*:1 / 4

Substituting the respective terms into the proportion formula gives: ⁶⁰⁄₁₅ = (*)/(1){4}

Simplifying the left-hand side of the equation: 4 = * × 4

Solving for *:

• = ⁴⁄₄ = 1

Explanation

Gold is the most malleable metal known. Malleability is the physical property of a metal that allows it to be hammered, rolled, or pressed into thin sheets without cracking or breaking. Gold can be beaten into extremely thin leaves, often referred to as gold leaf, measuring only a few millionths of an inch in thickness. This high degree of malleability is due to its unique face-centered cubic crystal structure and the relatively low strength of its metallic bonds, which allow the metal atoms to easily slide past each other when force is applied, without fracturing the overall crystal lattice.

Explanation

By Pythagoras theorem, in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. In triangle ABC, which is right-angled at B, AC is the hypotenuse.

AC² = AB² + BC²

Substituting the given values AB = 24 mm and BC = 7 mm:

AC² = 24² + 7²

AC² = 576 + 49

AC² = 625

AC = √(625) = 25 mm

Explanation

The measure of each interior angle of a regular polygon with n sides is given by the formula:

Interior Angle = ((n - 2) × 180°)/(n)

A regular hexagon has n = 6 equal sides and 6 equal interior angles. Substituting n = 6 into the formula gives:

Interior Angle = ((6 - 2) × 180°)/(6) = (4 × 180°)/(6) = 120°

Alternatively, the sum of all exterior angles of any polygon is 360°. For a regular hexagon, each exterior angle is:

(360°)/(6) = 60°

Since the interior and exterior angles at each vertex are supplementary, each interior angle is:

180° - 60° = 120°

Explanation

For two lines a₁ x + b₁ y + c₁ = 0 and a₂ x + b₂ y + c₂ = 0 to be perpendicular, the product of their slopes must be -1, which simplifies to the condition:

a₁ a₂ + b₁ b₂ = 0

Comparing the given line equations with the general forms:

For 5x + 3y + 2 = 0, we have a₁ = 5 and b₁ = 3.

For 3x - Ky + 6 = 0, we have a₂ = 3 and b₂ = -K.

Substituting these coefficients into the perpendicularity condition:

5(3) + 3(-K) = 0

15 - 3K = 0

3K = 15

K = 5

Explanation

Domestic electric wiring is designed in a parallel connection to ensure that every appliance receives the same constant voltage from the power supply, which is typically 220 V in India. In a parallel circuit, the potential difference across each parallel branch remains equal to the source voltage, allowing all household appliances to operate at their rated capacity. Additionally, this arrangement allows each appliance to have its own independent switch and circuit path. If one appliance is switched off or stops working due to a fault, the electric circuit for the other appliances remains unbroken, ensuring they continue to function without interruption.

Explanation

The Subarnarekha River originates near Nagri village in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It flows through the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, eventually emptying directly into the Bay of Bengal near Talasari. Because it discharges directly into the sea rather than joining the Ganga or any of its auxiliary channels, it functions as an independent river basin and is not a tributary of the Ganga.

Explanation

The Simon Commission, appointed in November 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon, was tasked with reviewing the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and recommending further constitutional reforms for India. However, the commission consisted entirely of British members of parliament and did not include a single Indian. This total exclusion of Indians from a body that was meant to decide the political and constitutional future of their own country was viewed as a deliberate negation of the principle of self-determination. The Indian National Congress and other political organizations boycotted the commission because they asserted that Indians had an inherent right to determine their own constitutional destiny.

Explanation

Optical fibers transmit data using light pulses through a thin strand of glass or plastic. This transmission relies on total internal reflection, which occurs when light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index (the core) to a medium with a lower refractive index (the cladding) at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle. Under these conditions, the light is entirely reflected back into the core rather than passing through the cladding, allowing the signal to propagate along the fiber with minimal loss of strength over long distances.

Explanation

Let the six positions around the circular table be numbered 1 to 6 in a clockwise direction. We can place E at position 1. Since E is opposite to D, D must be at position 4. A is placed in between E and F, which gives two possible arrangements for A and F: either A is at position 2 and F is at position 3, or A is at position 6 and F is at position 5.

In the first arrangement where A is at position 2 and F is at position 3, the remaining unoccupied positions for B and C are 5 and 6. Since C cannot sit next to E, C cannot be at position 6. Thus, C must be at position 5, leaving position 6 for B. In this layout, B at position 6 is opposite to F at position 3.

In the second arrangement where A is at position 6 and F is at position 5, the remaining unoccupied positions for B and C are 2 and 3. Since C cannot sit next to E (position 1), C cannot be at position 2. Thus, C must be at position 3, leaving position 2 for B. In this layout, B at position 2 is opposite to F at position 5.

In both valid configurations, F is sitting opposite to B.

Explanation

The Western Plateau of West Bengal forms the easternmost continuation of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Purulia is the only district in the state that lies entirely within this undulating upland and rocky terrain. The region is composed of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks, notably granite and gneiss, featuring a rolling landscape dotted with isolated residual hills known as monadnocks, such as the Ajodhya Hills and Joychandi Pahar.

Explanation

Washing soda is the common name for sodium carbonate, chemically represented as Na₂CO₃. It is an inorganic salt that typically crystallizes as a decahydrate with the formula Na₂CO₃ · 10H₂O. This white, water-soluble solid is widely used as a domestic cleaning agent, an industrial water softener to remove hardness, and a key raw material in the manufacture of glass, soap, and paper.

Explanation

Under Article 109 of the Constitution of India, a Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Council of States has highly restricted powers regarding Money Bills, as it cannot reject or amend them. Once a Money Bill is passed by the Lok Sabha, it is sent to the Council of States, which must return the bill within a mandatory period of 14 days with or without recommendations. The Lok Sabha is free to accept or reject any of these recommendations, and if the bill is not returned within 14 days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form passed by the Lok Sabha. This makes the statement that the Council of States has power over a money bill factually incorrect.

Explanation

Jawaharlal Nehru was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and a strong advocate of socialist ideas, but he never formally joined the Congress Socialist Party (CSP). When the CSP was founded in 1934 as a socialist faction within the Indian National Congress, Nehru welcomed its establishment and supported its radical goals. He chose not to officially join the party because he believed that his leadership role required him to remain a unifying figure within the mainstream Congress, bridging the gap between various factions like the right-wing, centrists, and the left-wing, rather than aligning himself formally with a specific sub-group.

Explanation

The plains at the foot of the Darjeeling Himalayas are divided into two distinct zones by the Teesta River. The region lying to the west of the Teesta River is known as the Terai. Since the plains in the Darjeeling district, specifically situated in the Siliguri subdivision, lie to the west of the Teesta, this region is designated as the Terai. It is characterized by moist, marshy, and low-lying alluvial plains created by the downstream flow of Himalayan rivers.

Explanation

A neutral hydrogen atom H has an atomic number of 1, indicating that it possesses one proton and one electron. When it undergoes ionization to form the hydrogen cation H⁺, it loses its sole valence electron. Consequently, the H⁺ ion consists of only a proton in its nucleus and contains zero electrons.

Explanation

Let us trace the family relationships from the given statements.

Q's mother is the sister of P and the daughter of M. This means P and Q's mother are siblings, and both are the children of M.

S is the daughter of P and the sister of T. This means S and T are siblings, and both are the children of P.

Since P is the child of M, and T is the child of P, M is the grandparent of T. Because the gender of M is not specified in the information provided, M can be either the grandmother or the grandfather of T.

Explanation

West Bengal stretches from the Himalayan mountains in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The maximum geographical length of the state from its northern tip to the southern coast is about 620 kilometres, which is approximately 600 kilometres. By contrast, the east-to-west width of the state is much smaller, with its narrowest bottleneck at Islampur measuring only 9 kilometres in width.

Explanation

Acharya Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani, popularly known as Acharya Kripalani, presided over the 54th session of the Indian National Congress held at Meerut in November 1946. He continued to hold the office of the Congress President through the crucial transition of power and was at the helm of the party during India's independence on August 15, 1947. He resigned from the post in November 1947 due to differences regarding the relationship between the party wing and the government.

Explanation

The fraction of the initial quantity of a radioactive isotope remaining after a time t is given by the radioactive decay relation:

(N)/(N₀) = (½)ⁿ

where n is the number of half-lives elapsed, calculated as:

n = (t)/(T₁_/₂₎

Given the half-life T₁_/₂ = 2 hours and the elapsed time t = 6 hours, the number of half-lives is:

n = ⁶⁄₂ = 3

Substituting this value into the decay relation:

(N)/(N₀) = (½)³ = ⅛

Explanation

The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 was officially launched by the Government of India in January 2013, specifically on January 9, 2013. This date aligns with option A.

Explanation

The Damodar River originates from the Chhotanagpur Plateau, specifically near Chandwa in the Latehar district of Jharkhand. It flows in an easterly direction through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal before eventually joining the Hooghly River.

Explanation

Clove is the dried, aromatic, unopened flower bud of the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum, which belongs to the Myrtaceae family. These buds are harvested green and pink, then dried in the sun until they turn brown and hard, preserving their rich essential oil, eugenol.

Explanation

The Federal Court of India was established under the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935. It was formally inaugurated on October 1, 1937, with its seat in Delhi. The court possessed original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction over disputes involving provinces and federal authorities, functioning as India's highest judicial body until it was succeeded by the Supreme Court of India in 1950.

Explanation

The Survey of India, established in 1767, is the national survey and mapping organization of the country under the Department of Science and Technology. It is the oldest scientific department of the Government of India and is uniquely mandated to produce and maintain all topographical maps, geodetic data, and aeronautical charts of the country to facilitate defense, development, and administrative planning.

Explanation

An apple is classified as a false fruit, also known as an accessory fruit or pseudocarp, because its major fleshy edible portion develops from the thalamus of the flower rather than the mature ovary. In a true fruit, the edible portion develops strictly from the ovary wall after fertilization, but in the case of an apple, the ovary forms the tough inner core containing the seeds while the surrounding succulent tissue is formed by the enlargement of the receptacle.

Explanation

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Frontier Gandhi, founded the Khudai Khidmatgar organisation in 1929 in the North-West Frontier Province. Meaning Servants of God, this movement was a powerful non-violent struggle against British colonial rule, deeply aligned with Mahatma Gandhi's principles of Satyagraha. The volunteers of the organization wore red-dyed shirts as uniforms, which led to them being widely referred to as the Red Shirts or Surkh Posh. The organization played a monumental role in politically mobilizing the Pashtun community and actively participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Explanation

The Bokaro Steel Plant, located in Jharkhand, was established in 1964 with the technical and financial assistance of the Soviet Union. It was incorporated as a limited company and was India's fourth public sector integrated steel plant. The plant was designed to maximize the use of indigenous equipment, materials, and expertise, and it was later merged with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

Explanation

During the Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress in March 1931, presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the landmark Karachi Resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme was passed. This resolution, drafted primarily by Jawaharlal Nehru, defined what Swaraj (self-rule) would mean for the masses, establishing a core charter of civil liberties, social equality, and progressive economic policies that later laid the foundation for the Constitution of India.

Explanation

Kwashiorkor is a severe form of protein-energy malnutrition that occurs due to a lack of sufficient protein in the diet, despite an adequate intake of carbohydrates and total calories. It primarily affects children in regions experiencing food insecurity, leading to symptoms such as edema, characterized by swelling in the ankles, feet, and abdomen, as well as muscle wasting, delayed growth, and a fatty liver.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, the sex ratios for the districts are: Darjeeling (970), Hooghly (961), and Murshidabad (958). Option C presents these districts in the correct descending order of sex ratio: Darjeeling (970) > Hooghly (961) > Murshidabad (958).

Explanation

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who represents the Argentina national football team at the international level. Born in Rosario, Argentina, he joined the national team's youth ranks before making his senior international debut in August 2005.

Explanation

Dermatitis refers to the inflammation of the skin, and several types of dermatitis are caused by fungal infections. For example, dermatophytosis (commonly known as ringworm or tinea) and seborrheic dermatitis are caused by fungi such as dermatophytes and Malassezia species, which thrive on the keratin of the skin and cause inflammatory reactions.

Explanation

The Centenary (100th) session of the Indian Science Congress was held from January 3 to 7, 2013, in Kolkata. The event was co-hosted by the University of Calcutta and the Bose Institute. It was inaugurated by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and presided over by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who also served as the General President of the Indian Science Congress Association for this historic centenary year. The focal theme chosen for the centenary session was Science for shaping the future of India.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, the geographic areas of these districts of West Bengal are as follows:

South 24 Parganas has an area of 9,960 square kilometers. Paschim Medinipur has an area of 9,345 square kilometers. Burdwan (prior to its 2017 bifurcation) has an area of 7,024 square kilometers.

This order aligns with the correct descending sequence of their respective areas.

Explanation

AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly known as HIV. This virus targets and infects cells of the immune system, particularly helper T cells, which are crucial for fighting off infections. As the virus replicates and destroys these immune cells, the body becomes highly vulnerable to opportunistic diseases and infections, a state defined as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Explanation

Chandigarh was declared India's first slum-free city under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), which was the "Slum Free India Scheme". This status was achieved around 2013-2014 through rehabilitation projects.

Explanation

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was established on October 31, 1920, in Bombay, primarily through the pioneering efforts of Narayan Malhar Joshi (N.M. Joshi). Joshi was a prominent social reformer and labor leader who played a crucial role in organizing the Indian working class, serving as the first general secretary of the organization to unite and coordinate various trade unions across the country.

Explanation

El Nino is characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, particularly off the coast of Peru and Ecuador. It represents the oceanic phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle, where the weakening of easterly trade winds allows a warm band of ocean water to develop and spread eastward, suppressing the normal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich deep water along the South American coast.

Explanation

Monocotyledonous plants, commonly referred to as monocots, typically bear flowers that are trimerous. This means that the floral organs, such as petals, sepals, stamens, and carpels, are arranged in groups of three or multiples of three. This symmetrical organization is a primary morphological characteristic used in botany to classify and identify monocots.

Explanation

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as the Toy Train, is a narrow-gauge railway constructed between 1879 and 1881. It connects New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal. On 5 December 1999, UNESCO inscribed the railway on the World Heritage List under cultural criteria, celebrating it as an outstanding example of an innovative transportation system that significantly influenced the region's socio-economic development. It was the first mountain railway in India, and the second in the world, to receive this prestigious recognition. This designation was later expanded to include other scenic lines under the collective listing of the Mountain Railways of India.

Explanation

Nabagopal Mitra, widely known by the moniker National Mitra, was a pioneering figure in the promotion of patriotic and nationalist ideas in India during the late nineteenth century. He believed in the cultivation of physical, mental, and intellectual strength to foster national consciousness. To this end, he established the National Paper in 1865, which was an English weekly journal. He later went on to set up the National Gymnasium in 1867 to encourage physical training and martial spirit among youth, and the National School in 1872 to offer national education. His efforts, alongside the founding of the Hindu Mela in 1867, popularized the concept of nationalism in Bengal and across British India.

Explanation

The Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 was celebrated in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, at the Triveni Sangam, which is the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. This mega religious gathering commenced on January 14, 2013, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, and concluded on March 10, 2013, on Maha Shivratri. Based on astronomical and astrological calculations, the entire festival spanned a duration of 55 days.

Explanation

A compound microscope is an optical instrument that uses a combination of two lens systems to achieve high magnification. These two essential lens systems are the objective lens, which is placed close to the specimen and forms a primary magnified real image, and the eyepiece (or ocular) lens, which further magnifies this intermediate image to form a highly enlarged virtual image for the observer. This dual-lens configuration allows the compound microscope to achieve much higher magnification than a simple microscope, which utilizes only a single magnifying lens.

Explanation

National Voters Day is celebrated across India on 25th January every year. This day was instituted in 2011 to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, which was established on 25th January 1950. The primary objective of this celebration is to encourage, facilitate, and maximize the enrollment of new voters, particularly young citizens, and to spread awareness about the importance of active participation in the democratic process.

Explanation

Petro Poroshenko was elected as the President of Ukraine in May 2014, following the Ukrainian revolution that resulted in the removal of the previous administration. He served as the country's president from 2014 to 2019.

Explanation

The Ulgulan, which translates to the Great Tumult, was a prominent tribal uprising led by Birsa Munda in the Chotanagpur region between 1899 and 1900. The rebellion was directed against the exploitative British colonial policies, Christian missionaries, and intermediaries like landlords and money-lenders who disrupted the traditional Khuntkatti land tenure system of the Mundas. Birsa Munda urged his followers to stop paying rent and taxes, aiming to establish an independent Munda Raj.

Explanation

During anaphase, the sister chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibers toward opposite poles of the dividing cell. As the centromere leads the movement and the chromosome arms trail behind, chromosomes assume characteristic shapes based on their centromeric position. Metacentric chromosomes form a V-shape, sub-metacentric chromosomes form an L-shape, acrocentric chromosomes form a J-shape, and telocentric chromosomes form an I-shape.

Explanation

The Sundarban region of West Bengal, situated in the active delta of the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, is characterized by frequent tidal inundations from the Bay of Bengal. This constant flooding by seawater introduces high amounts of soluble salts into the soil, while the slow-moving tidal waters deposit fine sediment particles. Consequently, the soil of this coastal mangrove ecosystem is predominantly clayey in texture and highly saline in nature.

Explanation

The MV Sewol ferry disaster occurred on 16 April 2014 when the vessel capsized and sank off the southwestern coast of South Korea while traveling from Incheon to Jeju Island. Out of the 476 passengers and crew on board, 304 people lost their lives. The vast majority of the victims were sophomore students from Danwon High School in Ansan who were on a school-organized field trip, making it one of the deadliest peacetime disasters in the history of the country.

Explanation

Rituparno Ghosh won 12 National Film Awards during his career. His highly acclaimed films and screenplays earned him wide recognition, beginning with Unishe April in 1994, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. His other personal National Film Awards include Best Screenplay for Dahan, Best Direction for Utsab and Abohoman, and Best Feature Film in Bengali for Asukh, Chokher Bali, Shubho Mahurat, Shob Charitro Kalponik, and Abohoman. He also secured National Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Raincoat, Best Feature Film in English for The Last Lear, and a Special Jury Award for Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish in 2012.

Explanation

The Forest Research Institute (FRI) of India is a premier institution in the field of forestry research in India. Established in 1906 as the Imperial Forest Research Institute, it is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It functions under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and is recognized for its research, training, and majestic Greco-Roman colonial style architecture.

Explanation

The right to adequate means of livelihood is classified as a Directive Principle of State Policy under Article 39(a) in Part IV of the Constitution of India. This article directs the State to secure for its citizens, both men and women equally, the right to an adequate means of livelihood. Unlike Fundamental Rights, which are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution and are justiciable in a court of law, Directive Principles are non-justiciable guidelines meant to assist the government in governance and policy formulation.

Explanation

Jalpaiguri town is situated on the banks of the Tista and Karala rivers. The Tista River, a major Himalayan river, flows along the edge of the city. The Karala River, which is a tributary of the Tista, runs directly through the middle of the town and bisects the urban area. Because it flows through the heart of the city, the Karala River is nicknamed the Thames of Jalpaiguri.

Explanation

The Indira Gandhi Canal, originally known as the Rajasthan Canal, is one of the largest canal projects in India, designed to carry water from the Harike Barrage at the confluence of the Satluj and Beas rivers to the arid regions of northwestern Rajasthan.

The canal has successfully transformed the desert ecology of Rajasthan by ensuring a sustained and increased availability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. Therefore, a decline in water supply is not a problem associated with this command area. On the contrary, the excessive supply of water and intensive irrigation have caused several environmental problems: Progressive waterlogging due to continuous seepage from unlined canals and the presence of impermeable subsurface hard pans. Increase in soil salinity and alkalinity, because rising groundwater tables bring dissolved salts to the surface through capillary action, leaving saline crusts behind upon evaporation. Aeolian setting of the canal, where high-velocity winds in the Thar Desert blow sand into the canal, causing siltation and choking of the channels.

Explanation

Aleppo is the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, which is the most populous province in Syria. During the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, the province and its capital city became one of the primary battlegrounds and a key stronghold for various armed opposition groups and rebel forces fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Explanation

The new agricultural strategy, initiated in the mid-1960s as part of the Green Revolution, focused on a package of capital-intensive inputs such as High Yielding Variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and sophisticated irrigation systems. Since these inputs required substantial capital investment and access to institutional credit, the benefits of this strategy were disproportionately reaped by big capitalist farmers. These affluent landowners possessed the financial capacity, large landholdings, and resources necessary to adopt the new technologies, thereby leading to increased agricultural productivity and income concentration mainly among this group.

Explanation

Tuticorin, officially known as Thoothukudi, is a prominent port city located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the southeastern coast of India along the Gulf of Mannar, which forms a key part of the Coromandel Coast. Known traditionally as the Pearl City due to its historical pearl fishing industry, it serves as a major hub for marine fishing, shipping, and salt production.

Explanation

Irrigation in India is primarily a state subject under the Constitution of India, meaning that the development, ownership, and maintenance of major and medium irrigation infrastructure are under the control of state governments. Because irrigation infrastructure requires massive capital investment and provides essential public goods, the state undertakes these projects. The provision and distribution of water through canal systems and reservoirs function as a public utility and service sector managed by public departments or state-run enterprises. This ensures equitable distribution and management of water resources as a vital public service.

Explanation

The provincial elections in British India were held in January and February of 1937 under the provisions of the Government of India Act 1935. The Indian National Congress secured a resounding victory, winning clear majorities in five provinces and emerging as the largest party in several others. Following assurances regarding the limited use of special discretionary powers by the provincial governors, the Congress decided to accept office, and the Congress Ministries formally assumed power and started functioning in July 1937 across eight provinces.

Explanation

INS Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 2013. Originally built as Baku for the Soviet Navy and later renamed Admiral Gorshkov, the vessel was extensively refurbished and refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia before being officially inducted into service, becoming the flagship of the Indian Navy.

Explanation

The Western Ghats are not fold mountains of the Palaeozoic era. Instead, they represent the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau, classifying them geologically as block mountains. They were formed during the late Mesozoic and early Cenozoic eras as a result of tectonic fracturing, rifting, and the subsequent tilting of the western coast of the Indian landmass during the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Explanation

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the apex development bank in India, established on 12 July 1982 under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. It was set up based on the recommendations of the B. Sivaraman Committee to oversee policy, planning, and operations in the field of credit for agriculture and other economic activities in rural areas. As the nodal agency for rural credit, it provides refinance assistance to cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and other financial institutions to support agricultural development and rural prosperity.

Explanation

Exercise Garuda is a bilateral air force exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force. The fifth edition of this military cooperation program, Garuda-V, was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, from June 2 to June 13, 2014. The exercise focuses on enhancing operational interoperability, practicing simulated combat scenarios, and sharing tactical knowledge and best practices between the air forces of India and France.

Explanation

The iron and steel industry is a weight-losing heavy industry, meaning the raw materials used are bulky, heavy, and lose weight during the manufacturing process, making proximity to raw material sources the primary locational determinant.

Among these resources, high-grade coking coal is highly restricted in its geographical distribution in India, found almost exclusively in the Gondwana coalfields of the Damodar Valley (mainly Jharia in Jharkhand). Due to its relative scarcity and the immense volume required for smelting, coking coal serves as the most critical and decisive locational factor.

Iron ore, while required in larger physical quantities than coal, is much more widely distributed across India (including Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka), making its availability the second most important factor.

Limestone, used as a fluxing agent to remove impurities, is needed in smaller quantities than iron ore and coal, and is also widely available.

Manganese, used as an alloy to strengthen steel, is required in the smallest proportion (around 10 kg per ton of steel), representing the least critical constraint among the four key minerals.

Consequently, the locational pattern of integrated steel plants in India historically reflects this hierarchy of raw material availability, beginning with coking coal, followed by iron ore, limestone, and finally manganese.

Explanation

The Agni missile series represents India's primary family of medium-range ballistic missiles, developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Specifically, Agni-I (with a range of 700–1,250 km) and Agni-II (with a range of 2,000–3,000 km) are classified as Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) designed for strategic surface-to-surface deterrence.

Explanation

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted the organization's work in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention, which seeks to ban the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, and its crucial role in destroying chemical arsenals, particularly during the disarmament operations in Syria.

Explanation

Cochin Shipyard Limited, located in Kochi, Kerala, is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India in terms of both building capacity and physical area. Incorporated in 1972, the shipyard has the design and manufacturing capabilities to construct vessels up to 110,000 deadweight tonnage and repair ships up to 125,000 deadweight tonnage, making it the leading marine facility in the country.

Explanation

Under the structural financial sector reforms initiated in India in 1991, following the recommendations of the Narasimham Committee, major changes were proposed to enhance the efficiency and profitability of the banking sector. A key recommendation was the rationalization of directed credit programs, which included cutting down on easy or heavily subsidized loans to priority sectors. The committee emphasized that the timely availability of credit to agriculture and small industries is far more critical than low interest rates or subsidized terms, which had previously distorted the pricing of credit and weakened bank balance sheets.

Explanation

Ajit Doval, a highly decorated retired Indian Police Service officer of the 1968 batch and former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, was appointed as the fifth National Security Adviser of India on 30 May 2014. He succeeded Shivshankar Menon in this role, serving as the chief advisor to the Prime Minister on national security policy and international affairs.

Explanation

Oliver Stone is an acclaimed American filmmaker who has won three Academy Awards during his career. He won his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Midnight Express in 1978, and subsequently won two Academy Awards for Best Director for the seminal war dramas Platoon in 1986 and Born on the Fourth of July in 1989.

Explanation

The angle or altitude of the Pole Star in the sky above the horizon is equal to the geographical latitude of the observer. Falut is located at approximately 27 degrees 12 minutes 29 seconds N latitude, which represents the northernmost coordinate of these locations. Because Falut lies at the highest latitude, the Pole Star is observed at the highest angle in the sky from this place.

Explanation

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 was a scheduled international passenger flight that disappeared on 8 March 2014. The aircraft departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and was on its planned route to Beijing Capital International Airport in China when it lost contact with air traffic control over the South China Sea.

Explanation

Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the power to levy and collect taxes is divided between the Union and the State Governments. Entry 46 of the State List (List II) vest the authority to levy and collect taxes on agricultural income exclusively with the State Governments. Meanwhile, Entry 82 of the Union List (List I) empowers the Central Government to tax income other than agricultural income, leaving agricultural income tax entirely within the jurisdiction of the States.

Explanation

Disinvestment policy refers to the action of the government selling or liquidating its shareholding in public sector enterprises. In India, this policy involves diluting the government's stake in public sector undertakings (PSUs) by selling their equity shares in the open capital market to private entities, financial institutions, or the general public. This measure is aimed at reducing the fiscal burden on the state exchequer, raising financial resources for developmental programs, and introducing market discipline and professional management into these public enterprises.

Explanation

R.M. Lodha was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on April 27, 2014, making him the "new" Chief Justice in the year 2014. A. Sathasivam retired in April 2014, having been appointed in 2013.

Explanation

In India, direct taxes, which mainly comprise corporate tax and personal income tax, have constituted the larger portion of the total central tax revenue since the financial year 2007–08. For the fiscal year 2013–14, direct tax collections stood at over 53% of the gross tax revenue of the central government. The steady growth of corporate and income taxes over the years established direct taxation as the major source of tax revenue for the government.

Explanation

Nerve cells, also known as neurons, are the longest cells in the animal kingdom. They are specialized to transmit electrical and chemical signals over long distances throughout the body. The elongated part of a neuron, known as the axon, can extend significantly to connect different regions of the nervous system. In humans, some axons in the sciatic nerve can reach lengths of over one meter, extending from the base of the spine to the tips of the toes. In larger mammals like giraffes or blue whales, these individual nerve cells can stretch several meters long to facilitate rapid communication between the brain and distant limbs.

Explanation

The Rourkela Steel Plant, located in the Sundargarh district of Odisha, is situated near the confluence of the Koel and Sankh rivers, which join at Vedavyas to form the Brahmani River. The Brahmani River serves as the primary source of water required for the various industrial processes and operations of this steel plant, which was established in 1959 with West German collaboration as the first public sector integrated steel plant in India.

Explanation

Female literacy has a direct inverse relationship with the fertility rate and birth rate. As female education levels rise, women tend to marry at a later age, which naturally limits their reproductive span. Educated women have greater awareness of and better access to family planning resources, healthcare, and modern contraceptive methods. Furthermore, higher literacy enhances women's opportunities in the labor force, increasing the opportunity cost of child-bearing and encouraging a preference for smaller family sizes, which ultimately leads to a decline in the birth rate.