WBCS Prelims 2016 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

The auxiliary verb would is used to express past habitual actions, routines, or characteristic behavior in the past. In this context, it indicates a regular or repeated activity of the subject spending hours listening to the wireless in the past, carrying a meaning similar to used to.

Explanation

The sentence is a famous quotation from John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, specifically from Book I, Line 262. In this passage, Satan delivers his legendary speech asserting his pride and independence, declaring, "To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." The infinitive "To reign" grammatically acts as the subject of the sentence and accurately completes this literary quote.

Explanation

The relative pronoun which is used to introduce a relative clause that refers back to a whole preceding clause, action, or state of affairs rather than a single noun. In this sentence, the pronoun relates to the entire fact that he is here. When a relative pronoun is used to comment on a whole situation described in the independent clause, which is the grammatically correct choice and is always preceded by a comma.

Explanation

The idiom gift of the gab, sometimes written or printed as gift of the gap, refers to the ability to speak with eloquence, fluency, and persuasiveness. Edmund Burke was an eighteenth-century British statesman and orator celebrated for his magnificent public speaking and rhetorical skills, which perfectly exemplifies this talent for eloquent speech.

Explanation

The phrase weather permitting is a widely used nominative absolute construction where the noun weather is followed by the present participle permitting. This idiomatic expression functions adverbially to mean if the weather is suitable or if the weather allows. In this construction, the noun weather acts as the subject of the participle permitting, forming an independent phrase that grammatically modifies the entire main clause.

Explanation

The word nearest is the superlative form of near, which refers to the shortest physical distance or proximity. In standard English grammar, it is used to denote the object that is located at the minimum spatial distance from a specified reference point, which in this context is the house.

Explanation

The word farther is used to indicate physical distance or geographical space. In this sentence, walking involves physical movement over a measurable distance, making farther the grammatically correct choice to indicate that the speaker cannot walk any additional physical distance.

Explanation

The idiom no love lost between them indicates a state of mutual dislike or ill-feeling between two people. When there is no love lost between two individuals, it means they do not like each other and are not on good terms, as no affection existed between them to begin with.

Explanation

The word forbidding is used to describe an appearance or manner that is unfriendly, hostile, threatening, or unwelcoming. The direct antonym of forbidding is friendly, which describes a demeanor or appearance that is kind, pleasant, approachable, and welcoming.

Explanation

The idiom to lose ground means to lose support, influence, or popularity, thereby becoming less widely accepted. In the given sentence, it indicates that the belief in witchcraft is declining in acceptance and influence among people.

Explanation

The interjection Ha is commonly used in English to express a sudden feeling of surprise, wonder, triumph, or suspicion. It represents an instinctive vocalization made upon a sudden discovery or unexpected realization.

Explanation

The word mellifluous is derived from the Latin roots mel, meaning honey, and fluere, meaning to flow. Literally translating to flowing like honey, the term is used to describe a sound, voice, or piece of music that is sweet, smooth, and highly pleasing to the ear.

Explanation

The present participle creaking functions as an adjective modifying the noun door. A participle is a verb form ending in -ing (present participle) or -ed/-en (past participle) that is used to describe a noun. The sound of a creaking door is a noisy, high-pitched squeak, which provides the logical cause for awakening the dog.

Explanation

The idiom to take stock of means to make an appraisal, estimate, or survey of a situation, resources, or prospects. It involves carefully assessing or examining a scenario to make a decision or plan for the future, which is synonymous with surveying.

Explanation

The word aboard functions as a preposition meaning on, in, or into a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle. In this context, it correctly relates the subject (the crew) to the object (the ship) to show that they were on the ship for the duration of a month.

Explanation

The word ecstasy refers to a state of overwhelming happiness, joyful excitement, or extreme delight. Its opposite is despondency, which refers to a state of low spirits, dejection, or sadness caused by a loss of hope or courage.

Explanation

A smooth sea provides ideal conditions for sailing. The participle phrase "The sea being smooth" indicates the favorable state of the sea, which logically allows or encourages going for a sail. The other options describe conditions that are less suitable or contradictory for sailing.

Explanation

Quintessential means representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. Therefore, "most typical example" is the correct meaning among the given alternatives.

Explanation

"Cast aside" means to reject, disregard, or get rid of something, often carelessly. In the context of "a moment of hurry," it perfectly conveys that Hamilton quickly or carelessly put away or dismissed the files. The other options do not fit the meaning.

Explanation

The correct preposition to use with "prevail" when it means "to persuade someone" is "on" or "upon." "I prevailed on him to join our group" means I persuaded him to join our group. "On" is a grammatically correct and common choice for this context.

Explanation

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system. Therefore, they deal with eyes.

Explanation

Memorabilia refers to objects collected or preserved because of their association with famous people, historical events, or significant past occurrences. Option C accurately describes these as objects collected because of their links with people or events, which is the core meaning of the term.

Explanation

An imbroglio refers to a complicated, embarrassing, or confusing situation. Option (c) "A confused situation" directly matches this meaning. Options (a), (b), and (d) are unrelated in meaning.

Explanation

The phrase "as though" correctly completes the sentence, meaning "as if" or "in a way that suggests." It implies that he spoke to his horse in a manner that indicated the horse could understand his grief, even if it was not literally true.

Explanation

A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind in general. Option (b) "dislikes other people" accurately describes this characteristic, encompassing a general aversion to humanity. The other options are too specific and do not capture the full meaning of the term.

Explanation

The Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa, written by Vishakhadatta, vividly portrays the political intrigues and diplomatic efforts of Chanakya (Kautilya) in orchestrating the downfall of the Nanda dynasty and establishing Chandragupta Maurya as the new ruler. The other options deal with different subjects or historical periods.

Explanation

Menander I Soter, also known as Milinda in Indian texts, is widely considered the most famous Indo-Greek ruler due to his extensive kingdom, his conversion to Buddhism, and his philosophical dialogues with the Buddhist sage Nagasena recorded in the Milindapanho.

Explanation

Article 12 of the Constitution of India defines "the State" for the purposes of Part III (Fundamental Rights). This definition includes the Union and State governments, Parliament and state legislatures, and all local and other authorities, thereby providing a working definition of the Indian State.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi wrote "Hind Swaraj" in 1909 while travelling by ship from England to South Africa. He penned it in Gujarati aboard the SS Kildonan Castle, completing it between October and November of that year.

Explanation

Each corresponding letter position in the terms follows a consistent pattern of decreasing by 4. First letters: Z(26) -> V(22) -> R(18) -> N(14) -> J(10). So the first letter is N. Second letters: X(24) -> T(20) -> P(16) -> L(12) -> H(8). So the second letter is L. Third letters: Y(25) -> U(21) -> Q(17) -> M(13) -> I(9). So the third letter is M. For the fourth letters, starting from the second term: S(19) -> O(15) -> K(11) -> G(7). The first term's 'M' is an outlier in this internal sequence. So the fourth letter is K. Combining these, the missing term is NLMK.

Explanation

Dharmapala, a powerful king of the Pala Dynasty, founded the Vikramashila University in the late 8th or early 9th century CE. It became one of the most important centers of Buddhist learning in ancient India.

Explanation

Article 17 of the Constitution of India explicitly abolishes 'untouchability' and forbids its practice in any form, making it a punishable offence. This article is a fundamental right ensuring social equality.

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 consisted of three British Cabinet members: Sir Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty). Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of India at the time, but he was not a member of the Cabinet Mission itself.

Explanation

Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, authored by Ziauddin Barani, is a significant historical account that covers the period of the Delhi Sultanate from the reign of Ghiyas ud din Balban up to the early years of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Therefore, it provides an extensive account of the Balban period.

Explanation

The shortest distance from the starting point can be found by calculating the net horizontal and vertical displacements and applying the Pythagorean theorem.

The man moves 4 km South and then 12 km North, resulting in a net vertical displacement of: 12 - 4 = 8 km North

The horizontal displacement is 6 km East.

Using the Pythagorean theorem, the straight-line distance d from the starting point is: d = √(8² + 6²) = √(64 + 36) = √(100) = 10 km

Explanation

Article 19 of the Constitution of India guarantees six basic democratic freedoms to the citizens of India. Under Article 19(1)(a), the Constitution specifically secures the right to freedom of speech and expression. This fundamental right allows citizens to express their views, opinions, beliefs, and convictions freely by word of mouth, writing, printing, pictures, or any other mode of communication. It serves as a cornerstone of democratic governance, although it is subject to reasonable restrictions outlined in Article 19(2) for interests such as the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, public order, decency, or morality.

Explanation

India's earliest contact with Islam occurred through the Arab merchants who frequented the Malabar coast of Kerala for trade. Long before the rise of Islam, active maritime trade existed between the Arabian Peninsula and the southern coast of India, particularly for spices. When Islam emerged in Arabia in the early seventh century, these Arab traders embraced the new faith and brought it to the coastal regions of India. This peaceful interaction led to the establishment of Muslim communities and the construction of the Cheraman Juma Mosque in Kerala, which is traditionally dated to 629 AD, making it the first mosque in the Indian subcontinent and marking India's initial contact with Islam.

Explanation

Romesh Chunder Dutt (R. C. Dutt) is widely regarded as a pioneer of economic nationalism in India due to his seminal contributions to the economic critique of British colonial rule. A former Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer and a former president of the Indian National Congress, Dutt meticulously documented how colonial policies systematically impoverished the Indian economy.

His monumental two-volume work, The Economic History of India (published in 1902 and 1904), provided a detailed, data-driven analysis of the Indian economy under British administration. In this work, he examined the causes of India's crippling famines and widespread poverty, attributing them to high land revenue demands, the systematic de-industrialization of traditional Indian crafts, and the continuous drain of wealth from India to Great Britain. Dutt's scholarly and persuasive arguments laid the intellectual groundwork for the economic critique of colonialism, helping shape the early nationalist movement's demand for economic autonomy and self-rule.

Explanation

The six persons A, B, C, D, E, F consist of three married couples. Since A, C, E are husbands, the wives must be B, D, F.

The problem states that B, C, D are cousins. Under standard family relationship rules, a person does not marry their cousin. Since C is a husband and B and D are his cousins, C cannot be married to either B or D. This leaves F as the only possible wife for C.

With C married to F, the remaining wives are B and D, and the remaining husbands are A and E. Since B is not the wife of A, B must be married to the remaining husband, E. Therefore, the husband of B is E.

Explanation

The Tripartite Struggle was a major conflict that took place during the 8th to 10th centuries for the control of Kannauj, the prized capital of northern India which symbolized imperial sovereignty. This struggle involved three major contemporary dynasties: the Palas of Bengal, the Gurjara-Pratiharas of Malwa, and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan. Kannauj was highly valued for its strategic location in the fertile Indo-Gangetic plains, making it a lucrative hub for trade and agriculture. The intermittent warfare among these three empires weakened all of them over nearly two centuries, ultimately contributing to their decline.

Explanation

Article 26 of the Constitution of India guarantees the freedom to manage religious affairs. Under this Article, subject to public order, morality, and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof is granted the fundamental right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes. It also protects their rights to manage their own affairs in matters of religion, to own and acquire movable and immovable property, and to administer such property in accordance with the law. This collective freedom is designed to safeguard the autonomy of religious groups and organizations in the country.

Explanation

The Swaraj Party, established as the Congress-Khilafat Swarajya Party on January 1, 1923, by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru, was formed with the primary objective of entering the legislative councils to wreck the reforms from within and obstruct British administration.

To achieve this, the party participated in the legislative council elections held in November 1923, where they won 42 out of 104 elected seats in the Central Legislative Assembly and secured a clear majority in the Central Provinces. They subsequently contested the next round of general elections held in November 1926.

Explanation

The largest five-digit number is 99999. To find the greatest five-digit perfect square, we calculate the square root of 99999, which is approximately 316.22. The largest integer whose square does not exceed 99999 is 316.

Squaring this integer gives:

316² = 99856

Explanation

The first Muslim incursion into the Deccan took place in 1296 AD during the reign of Jalaluddin Khalji. Alauddin Khalji, who was the governor of Kara and the nephew of Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji, led a highly successful and unauthorized military expedition against Ramachandra, the Yadava ruler of Devagiri in the Deccan. This raid yielded immense wealth and marked the beginning of Delhi Sultanate's expansion into southern India.

Explanation

The total number of chairs in the row is 15.

Since P is at the middle, its position from the left is: Position of P = (15 + 1)/(2) = 8

The position of Q is 12th from the right. To find its position from the left, we use the formula: Position from left = Total chairs - Position from right + 1 Position of Q = 15 - 12 + 1 = 4

The number of chairs in between P (8th position) and Q (4th position) is calculated as: Chairs in between = 8 - 4 - 1 = 3

The chairs between them are at the 5th, 6th, and 7th positions.

Explanation

Article 28 of the Constitution of India deals with the freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions. Specifically, Clause (1) of Article 28 explicitly mandates that no religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution that is wholly maintained out of State funds, thereby safeguarding the secular character of state-funded education.

Explanation

Hampi, located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, was the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, Hampi became a grand metropolis and a vital hub of trade, culture, and architecture. The extensive ruins spread across the site feature iconic monuments like the Virupaksha Temple, Vitthala Temple with its famous stone chariot, and various administrative and military structures. These monumental ruins represent the height of the Vijayanagara architectural style and have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explanation

The Moplah rebellion, also known as the Malabar rebellion of 1921, was an armed uprising by the Mappila Muslims of the Malabar region in Kerala. It was directed against both the British colonial authorities and the local feudal landlords. The movement was closely linked to the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements, which galvanized local peasants against unfair agrarian policies, high rents, and lack of security of tenure in the region.

Explanation

Based on the given relationships, we can determine the gender of each of the six family members:

A is the father of E, which makes A male. Since A and B are a married couple, B must be female. C is the brother of A, which makes C male. D is the only son of C, which makes D male. E is the granddaughter of F, which makes E female. F is a widow whose husband has died, which makes F female.

The male members of the family are A, C, and D, which gives a total of 3 male members.

Explanation

Under the Cultural and Educational Rights in Part III of the Constitution of India, Article 29 safeguards the protection of interests of minorities. Specifically, Article 29(2) explicitly provides that no citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language, or any of them. This provision ensures equality of opportunity in state-maintained or state-aided educational institutions, prohibiting discrimination against any citizen based on these specific criteria.

Explanation

The Din-i-Ilahi (literally, the Religion of God) was a syncretic religious philosophy propounded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1582 AD. Akbar formulated this spiritual program in an attempt to bridge the differences among various religious communities of his empire, combining elements of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. The order attracted very few followers, with historical accounts identifying only around 18 or 19 formal adherents. Raja Birbal, one of Akbar's closest advisers, military commanders, and one of the nine jewels (navaratnas) of his court, was the only Hindu who accepted and adopted this system.

Explanation

The area of a circle is given by the formula A = π r², where r is the radius of the circle.

If the ratio of the radii of two circles is r₁ : r₂ = 5 : 4, the ratio of their areas A₁ : A₂ is calculated as:

A₁ / A₂ = (π r₁²) / (π r₂²) = (r₁ / r₂)²

Substituting the given ratio:

A₁ / A₂ = (5 / 4)² = 25 / 16

Thus, the ratio of their areas is 25 : 16.

Explanation

Article 40 of the Constitution of India, enshrined under the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV, directs the State to take active steps to organize village panchayats. It mandates that these panchayats be endowed with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. This provision reflects the Gandhian philosophy of decentralization of power and strengthening grassroots democracy, laying the constitutional foundation for local self-governance in rural India.

Explanation

Taccavi refers to short-term agricultural loans or advances extended by the state to peasants in medieval and British India. These loans were primarily provided during times of distress, such as famines, droughts, or natural calamities, to help farmers purchase seeds, equipment, and cattle, or to dig wells and improve their land. First systematically implemented during the Delhi Sultanate and later expanded under the Mughal Empire and the British administration, the system aimed to encourage cultivation, ensure agricultural productivity, and safeguard the state's land revenue collection.

Explanation

J. B. Kripalani, popularly known as Acharya Kripalani, was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Meerut session in November 1946. He remained in this position through the transition of power, serving as the Congress President when India achieved independence on 15 August 1947, before resigning from the post later in November 1947.

Explanation

The cost price of the article is calculated using the formula CP = SP / (1 + g/100), where SP is the selling price and g is the profit percentage. Substituting the initial values:

CP = 30 / (1 + 0.25) = 30 / 1.25 = 24

If the article is sold for Rs. 33.60, the new profit obtained is:

Profit = New SP - CP = 33.60 - 24 = 9.60

The new profit percentage is calculated using the formula (Profit / CP) * 100:

Profit Percentage = (9.60 / 24) * 100 = 40%

Explanation

Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV, explicitly directs the State to endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India. This directive aims to establish a common set of personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens, irrespective of their religion, to promote national integration and gender justice.

Explanation

The official language of the Mughal court and administration was Persian. While Babur, the founder of the empire, wrote his memoirs in his native Chagatai Turkish, Akbar later institutionalized Persian as the primary language of the state, empire-wide administration, and culture. All official documents, chronicles, and court proceedings were maintained in Persian, making it the dominant vehicle of statecraft and elite intellectual life throughout the Mughal era.

Explanation

Let the incomes of A and B be 3x and 2x, respectively. Let their expenditures be 5y and 3y, respectively.

Since Saving = Income - Expenditure, we can write the equations for A and B as:

3x - 5y = 1000

2x - 3y = 1000

To find B's income, which is 2x, we eliminate y from the equations. Multiplying the first equation by 3 and the second equation by 5 gives:

9x - 15y = 3000

10x - 15y = 5000

Subtracting the first of these new equations from the second gives:

(10x - 15y) - (9x - 15y) = 5000 - 3000

x = 2000

B's income is 2x = 2 × 2000 = 4000 rupees.

Explanation

In its Annual Report for 2014-15, the Reserve Bank of India outlined specific short-term macroeconomic priorities, which included bringing down inflation in line with the target path, working with the government and banks to resolve distressed projects, and ensuring banks have sufficient capital to support new lending. Ensuring credit to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) was not part of these listed short-term priorities.

Explanation

The Du-Aspah Sih-Aspah system was introduced by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir as a modification to the Mansabdari system. Under this system, selected mansabdars could maintain a larger quota of sawars, or cavalrymen, without any increase in their personal zat rank. Specifically, du-aspah meant a trooper with two horses, and sih-aspah meant a trooper with three horses. This allowed the emperor to enhance military capability and mobilize a larger and more effective cavalry force during military campaigns without incurring the administrative and hierarchical changes that would normally accompany a promotion in the zat rank.

Explanation

The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association of Upper India was established in December 1893 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Sir Syed founded this association to advocate for Muslim political interests and foster close, loyal relations between Muslims and the British administration. The primary objectives of the association were to discourage Muslims from participating in the nationalist activities of the Indian National Congress and to safeguard the community's political representation and educational development under British rule.

Explanation

Let x be the number of questions answered correctly. Since the student answered all 100 questions, the number of incorrectly answered questions is 100 - x.

The total marks obtained is given by the formula: Total Marks = (Correct Answers × 2) - (Incorrect Answers × 1)

Substituting the given values into this relation: 80 = 2x - 1(100 - x)

Solving for x: 80 = 3x - 100 3x = 180 x = 60

Explanation

Raja Todarmal was the finance minister of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and is credited with introducing a highly systematic land revenue system known as the Zabti or Dahsala system. Under the Zabti system, lands were surveyed and measured, and the average produce and prices of various crops over the preceding ten years were calculated. One-third of this average produce was fixed as the state's share, which was then converted into cash based on local prices. This system brought stability to the imperial treasury and relief to the peasantry by preventing arbitrary taxation.

Explanation

During the financial year 2013-14, Singapore overtook Mauritius to become the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment equity inflows into India, with inflows of about US5.98 billion as per Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) data. Mauritius slipped to the second position with roughly US4.85 billion, having previously held the top spot for years. The United States, Japan and the UAE ranked lower, contributing smaller shares of FDI during this period. Thus Mauritius stood second in FDI flow to India in 2013-14.

Explanation

Sir Richard Stafford Cripps was a prominent British politician who joined the Labour Party in 1930. He was elected as the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol East in 1931 and served as the Solicitor General. Representing the left-wing faction of the Labour Party, he later served as a key minister in the postwar Labour government of Clement Attlee, holding the offices of President of the Board of Trade and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Explanation

To find the least number to be added to 1500 to make it a perfect square, we determine the perfect square immediately greater than 1500.

By evaluating the squares of consecutive integers: 38² = 1444 39² = 1521

Since 1500 lies between 1444 and 1521, the next perfect square is 1521. The number to be added is the difference between this perfect square and 1500: 1521 - 1500 = 21

Adding 21 to 1500 gives 1521, which is the perfect square of 39.

Explanation

The English East India Company established its first permanent factory on the Indian mainland at Surat. Following the English victory over the Portuguese fleet in the Battle of Swally in 1612, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir issued an imperial farman in early 1613 allowing the English to set up a permanent trading post at Surat. This factory served as the primary headquarters for English commercial operations on the western coast of India, managing the trade of valuable commodities such as cotton textiles, indigo, and spices.

Explanation

During 2014-2015, the aggregated Manufacturing sector received the highest FDI inflows in India. While the Services Sector (which includes financial and non-financial services) is often highlighted, a comprehensive aggregation of all manufacturing sub-sectors shows it attracted more FDI during this period compared to other listed options. Financial services, while significant, is only a component of the broader services sector and was not the highest overall.

Explanation

The coding scheme represents each letter of the word by its two-digit alphabetical position, where A = 01, B = 02, C = 03, and so on.

Applying this logic to the word BENGAL: The letter B is the 2nd letter of the alphabet, represented as 02. The letter E is the 5th letter of the alphabet, represented as 05. The letter N is the 14th letter of the alphabet, represented as 14. The letter G is the 7th letter of the alphabet, represented as 07. The letter A is the 1st letter of the alphabet, represented as 01. The letter L is the 12th letter of the alphabet, represented as 12.

Combining these codes in sequence gives 020514070112.

Explanation

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born into the family of Maha Singh, who was the chief of the Sukerchakia Misl. Upon his father's death in 1792, Ranjit Singh succeeded him as the leader of the Sukerchakia Misl at the age of twelve. From this base, he went on to conquer and unite the various independent Sikh misls, capturing Lahore in 1799 and establishing the unified Sikh Empire.

Explanation

Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a British Indian army officer who served as the political aide-de-camp to the Secretary of State for India, was assassinated by the Indian revolutionary Madan Lal Dhingra. The assassination took place on July 1, 1909, during an event hosted by the National Indian Association at the Imperial Institute in London. Dhingra was a student and a member of the revolutionary group based at India House in London. He carried out the assassination to protest against the British colonial rule and the execution of Indian nationalists back home.

Explanation

To find the remainder when 17²⁰⁰ is divided by 18, we can use modular arithmetic.

First, express the base 17 in terms of modulo 18: 17 ≡ -1 18

Now, raise both sides of the congruence to the power of 200: 17²⁰⁰ ≡ (-1)²⁰⁰ 18

Since the exponent 200 is an even number, we have: (-1)²⁰⁰ = 1

Therefore: 17²⁰⁰ ≡ 1 18

This shows that the remainder when 17²⁰⁰ is divided by 18 is 1.

Explanation

The given sequence follows the recurrence relation where each term is obtained by doubling the preceding term and adding 2.

T_n = 2T_n-1 + 2

Using the given terms of the sequence: T_1 = 4 T_2 = 2(4) + 2 = 10 T_3 = 2(10) + 2 = 22 T_4 = 2(22) + 2 = 46

Following this pattern, the next term is calculated as: T_5 = 2(46) + 2 = 92 + 2 = 94

Alternatively, the difference between consecutive terms doubles with each step, the progression of differences being 6, 12, and 24. The next difference must be 48, which gives the next term as 46 + 48 = 94.

Explanation

Lord Linlithgow served as the Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943. The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee on 8 August 1942. Linlithgow was the head of the British administration in India at this time and immediately initiated a massive crackdown, arresting key leaders of the Indian National Congress under Operation Zero Hour and declaring the party illegal to suppress the nationalist movement.

Explanation

The final defeat and death of Tipu Sultan occurred during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799. Lord Wellesley, serving as the Governor-General of India, initiated the military campaign against Mysore after Tipu Sultan refused to accept the Subsidiary Alliance and sought alliances with Revolutionary France. The British forces successfully besieged the fortress of Seringapatam, leading to the breach of the city walls and the death of Tipu Sultan on May 4, 1799, effectively ending the independent power of Mysore.

Explanation

X-rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with extremely short wavelengths, typically ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometers. In the electromagnetic spectrum, they possess higher energy and shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light but lower energy and longer wavelengths than gamma rays. This high energy and short wavelength allow them to penetrate various materials, making them highly valuable in medical imaging, radiography, and crystallographic research.

Explanation

Pramathanath Mitra, widely known as P. Mitra, established the Anushilan Samiti in Calcutta on March 24, 1902. Serving as its first president, he played a pioneering role in organizing this prominent revolutionary secret society in Bengal. The organization aimed to foster physical culture, moral development, and nationalistic fervor among the youth to challenge British colonial rule through revolutionary means.

Explanation

During the provincial elections of 1937 held under the Government of India Act of 1935, Punjab did not see the formation of a Congress Ministry. In Punjab, the Unionist Party, led by Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, emerged victorious and formed the government in alliance with the Khalsa National Party and the Hindu Election Board. This non-Congress coalition successfully governed the province of Punjab during this period, keeping the Indian National Congress out of power in this region.

Explanation

The coding scheme uses the reverse alphabetical position of each letter, where the sum of the positions of the original letter and its coded counterpart is always 27.

For the word CABLE coded as XZYOV: C (3) maps to X (24), since 3 + 24 = 27 A (1) maps to Z (26), since 1 + 26 = 27 B (2) maps to Y (25), since 2 + 25 = 27 L (12) maps to O (15), since 12 + 15 = 27 E (5) maps to V (22), since 5 + 22 = 27

Applying this inverse positional rule to decode the code YZXP: Y (25) maps to B (2), since 27 - 25 = 2 Z (26) maps to A (1), since 27 - 26 = 1 X (24) maps to C (3), since 27 - 24 = 3 P (16) maps to K (11), since 27 - 16 = 11

This yields the decoded word BACK.

Explanation

For a constant distance, the time taken is inversely proportional to the speed, which is expressed by the formula:

t ∝ ¹⁄ₛ

Given the ratio of the speeds of the three cars is s₁ : s₂ : s₃ = 2 : 3 : 4, the ratio of the time taken by them to cover the same distance is:

t₁ : t₂ : t₃ = ½ : ⅓ : ¼

To convert this fractional ratio into an integer ratio, we multiply each term by the least common multiple of the denominators 2, 3, and 4, which is 12:

t₁ : t₂ : t₃ = (½ × 12) : (⅓ × 12) : (¼ × 12) = 6 : 4 : 3

Explanation

The word astronomy is derived from the Greek words astron, which means star, and nomos, which means law or culture. Etymologically, astronomy refers to the law of the stars or the study of the stars. It is the natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe, focusing on the observation, positioning, and physical properties of stars and other stellar bodies.

Explanation

Using Jurin's law, the height h to which a liquid rises in a capillary tube is given by: h = (2 T cos θ)/(ρ g r) where T is the surface tension of the liquid, θ is the contact angle, ρ is the density of the liquid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and r is the radius of the capillary tube. The upward movement is driven by capillary action, which occurs when the adhesive forces between the liquid and the solid inner wall of the tube are stronger than the cohesive forces within the liquid. This molecular interaction creates surface tension, forming a curved meniscus that pulls the liquid column upward against gravity.

Explanation

The Theosophical Society was officially founded in New York, United States, on 17 November 1875 by Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, along with Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and others. Madame Blavatsky was a Russian immigrant who played a key role in introducing Eastern spiritual and philosophical concepts, including Hinduism and Buddhism, to the Western world. Under her guidance, the society aimed to promote the universal brotherhood of humanity and investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the latent psychic powers in human beings. In 1882, the international headquarters of the society were relocated to Adyar, near Madras (now Chennai) in India, where its influence on the Indian national awakening grew significantly.

Explanation

A plane mirror forms a virtual and erect image. When light rays from an object strike the flat surface of a plane mirror, they reflect off the surface according to the laws of reflection. To an observer, these reflected rays appear to diverge from a point behind the mirror where they seem to intersect. Since the actual light rays do not physically meet but only appear to do so when projected backwards, the image is virtual and cannot be captured on a screen. Furthermore, the image maintains the same vertical top-to-bottom orientation as the object, meaning it is erect. The image also possesses lateral inversion and is of the same size as the object, located at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.

Explanation

The gross fiscal deficit of India for the financial year 2014-15 was budgeted at 4.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the data released by the Ministry of Finance, the actual fiscal deficit for 2014-15 was contained at 4.0 percent of the GDP, driven by fiscal consolidation measures and expenditure rationalization.

Explanation

The weekly Bengali newspaper Somprakash, also referred to as Shome Prakash, was launched on November 15, 1858, based on a plan originally conceived and initiated by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He established the paper to provide a platform for progressive social reforms, such as women's education and widow remarriage, and to voice strong political opinions against oppressive British policies and local zamindars. While Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan, a professor at the Sanskrit College in Calcutta and a close associate of Vidyasagar, served as its main editor, Vidyasagar remained the primary advisor and guiding force behind its publication.

Explanation

The core of the Sun has extremely high temperature and pressure, which allows nuclear fusion to take place. During this process, lighter hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form heavier helium nuclei. This fusion reaction leads to a loss of mass, which is converted into a vast amount of energy in accordance with Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation:

E = Δmc²

This released energy is radiated outwards, supplying the light and heat that sustains life on Earth.

Explanation

At the time of India's independence and partition in 1947, the subcontinent consisted of British Indian provinces under direct British rule and numerous princely states under indirect rule through subsidiary alliances. According to official British records, including the findings of the Butler Commission, there were 562 such princely states. Under the Indian Independence Act of 1947, British paramountcy over these states lapsed, giving them the legal option to join either the Dominion of India or the Dominion of Pakistan, or to remain independent. The vast majority of these 562 princely states subsequently acceded to India through the diplomatic and political efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon.

Explanation

To find the number of 9's sandwiched between 6 and 7, we look for occurrences of the patterns 697 and 796 in the sequence:

696996676979669779667

Analyzing the sequence from left to right, we locate the following segments containing 9:

First, in the segment 697 at indices 8 to 10: 69699667(697)9669779667

Second, in the segment 796 at indices 10 to 12: 696996676(9796)69779667, where the 9 at index 11 is flanked by 7 and 6.

Third, in the segment 697 at indices 13 to 15: 6969966769796(697)79667

Fourth, in the segment 796 at indices 16 to 18: 6969966769796697(796)67

There are exactly 4 instances where the digit 9 is sandwiched between 6 and 7.

Explanation

The electrical resistivity ρ of a pure (intrinsic) semiconductor as a function of absolute temperature T is given by the relation:

ρ = ρ₀ e^(E_g / (2k_B T))

where E_g is the energy band gap, k_B is the Boltzmann constant, and ρ₀ is a constant.

As the temperature T increases, the exponential term decreases, which causes the resistivity ρ and consequently the resistance of the semiconductor to decrease. Physically, providing thermal energy to the semiconductor allows more valence electrons to gain sufficient energy to cross the band gap into the conduction band, creating free electron-hole pairs. This substantial increase in the concentration of charge carriers vastly dominates over any minor decrease in carrier mobility caused by thermal lattice vibrations, leading to enhanced electrical conductivity and reduced resistance.

Explanation

The formal introduction of decentralized planning in India was made by the Planning Commission during the Seventh Five Year Plan (1985–1990). This implementation was guided by the recommendations of the Working Group on District Planning, headed by C. H. Hanumantha Rao, which submitted its report in 1984. The Seventh Plan integrated these suggestions to lay the groundwork for formulating developmental plans at local and district levels.

Explanation

Following the assassination of Peshwa Narayan Rao in 1773, Nana Phadnavis organized the Council of Barabhaish, also known as the Barbhai Council or the Council of Twelve. This was a regency administration composed of twelve prominent Maratha chiefs and statesmen. The council was established to protect the interests of the posthumous legal heir, Sawai Madhavrao, and to govern the Maratha Empire on his behalf while frustrating the Peshwaship ambitions of Raghunathrao. This collective leadership successfully handled state administration and diplomatic affairs, securing the core of the Maratha state during a highly turbulent period.

Explanation

Frictional force is a non-conservative force because the work done by friction depends on the actual path taken during motion rather than just the initial and final positions. When an object moves along any path, friction always opposes the relative motion, resulting in a continuous dissipation of mechanical energy into non-recoverable forms of energy such as heat and sound. Consequently, the net work done by friction over a closed path is non-zero, which is the defining characteristic of a non-conservative force.

Explanation

Raja Rammohan Roy was a pioneering social reformer of the Bengal Renaissance who advocated for the introduction of modern Western education, science, and English language in India. In 1817, in close collaboration with the Scottish philanthropist David Hare, he played a central role in establishing the Hindu College in Calcutta to impart secular, modern education to Indian students. He also actively supported and assisted the Scottish missionary Reverend Alexander Duff in establishing educational foundations in Calcutta, including helping him secure premises for the General Assembly's Institution in 1830.

Explanation

Under simple interest, the interest accrued remains constant every year.

Let the principal amount be P and the simple interest for one year be I.

The amount after 4 years is given by: P + 4I = 1240

The amount after 10 years is given by: P + 10I = 1600

Subtracting the first equation from the second gives the interest accrued over the 6-year period: 6I = 1600 - 1240 = 360

This yields the interest for one year: I = ³⁶⁰⁄₆ = 60

Using this yearly interest, the interest for 4 years is: 4I = 4 × 60 = 240

Substituting this back into the equation for the 4-year amount to find the principal: P = 1240 - 240 = 1000

Explanation

Nitrous oxide, chemically represented as N₂O, is commonly known as laughing gas due to the exhilarating and euphoric effects it produces when inhaled. Discovered in 1772 by Joseph Priestley, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas with a slightly sweet odor and taste. In medicine and dentistry, it is widely utilized as a safe and effective sedative and analgesic agent to reduce pain and anxiety during minor surgical and dental procedures.

Explanation

Following the completion of the Third Five-Year Plan in 1966, India experienced a Plan Holiday due to severe economic crises. The primary causes of this economic strain were the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and consecutive years of severe drought during 1965-1966 which led to an acute food shortage. To stabilize the economy, the government suspended the formulation of the Fourth Five-Year Plan and instead implemented three consecutive Annual Plans spanning from 1966 to 1969.

Explanation

The British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award on 16 August 1932. This award was introduced to grant separate electorates in British India for various minority communities, including Muslims, Sikhs, Europeans, Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians, and the depressed classes. The award was a direct outcome of the failure of the Indian communities to reach an agreement on minority representation during the Second Round Table Conference held in London.

Explanation

Let the cost price of 1 mango be x.

According to the question, the selling price of 3 mangoes is equal to the cost price of 4 mangoes.

Therefore, the selling price of 3 mangoes is 4x, while the cost price of 3 mangoes is 3x.

The profit obtained from selling 3 mangoes is calculated as: Profit = Selling Price - Cost Price = 4x - 3x = x

The profit percentage is given by the formula: Profit Percentage = (Profit)/(Cost Price) × 100

Substituting the values into the formula: Profit Percentage = ˣ⁄₃ₓ × 100 = ¹⁰⁰⁄₃% = 33⅓%

Explanation

The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, was caused by the accidental release of highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas. Methyl isocyanate is an extremely hazardous and volatile organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃NCO, used primarily as an intermediate in the production of carbamate pesticides. Its sudden exposure to water in a storage tank triggered an exothermic reaction, resulting in a massive leak that led to thousands of immediate fatalities and severe, long-term health complications for hundreds of thousands of people.

Explanation

To find the unit digit of 232³³, we only need to determine the unit digit of 2³³ because the units digit of any power of a number depends solely on the units digit of its base.

The unit digit of powers of 2 repeats in a cycle of 4, which is 2, 4, 8, 6.

To find the position of the exponent 33 in this cycle, we divide 33 by the cycle length of 4:

33 4 = 1

Since the remainder is 1, the units digit of 232³³ is the same as the first number in the cycle, which is 2¹ = 2.

Explanation

To select a captain and a vice-captain from a team of 11 players, we need to choose and arrange 2 distinct positions from 11 available players. Since the order of selection matters (the roles of captain and vice-captain are distinct), we use the permutation formula:

P(n, r) = (n!)/((n - r)!)

Substituting n = 11 and r = 2:

P(11, 2) = (11!)/((11 - 2)!) = (11!)/(9!) = 11 × 10 = 110

Alternatively, by the fundamental counting principle, there are 11 choices for the position of captain. Once the captain is selected, there are 10 remaining players available for the position of vice-captain. The total number of ways to select both is 11 × 10 = 110.

Explanation

The sum of the first n natural numbers is given by the formula Sₙ = (n(n + 1))/(2).

In a standard 12-hour clock cycle, the total number of strikes is the sum of the integers from 1 to 12. Using the formula for n = 12:

S₁₂ = (12 × 13)/(2) = 78 strikes

Since a single day has 24 hours, it contains two complete 12-hour cycles. Thus, the number of strikes in one day is:

2 × 78 = 156 strikes

For a period of 2 days, the total number of strikes is:

2 × 156 = 312 strikes

Explanation

The heat of the sun reaches the Earth through radiation. Radiation is the transfer of heat energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, primarily infrared waves, which do not require any physical or material medium to travel. Because outer space is a vacuum, thermal energy can only travel from the sun to the Earth across this vast empty space via these electromagnetic waves.

Explanation

The Nilgiri Hills, also known as the Blue Mountains, are located at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala in southern India. They serve as the critical geographical junction point where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats mountain ranges converge. This region forms a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is characterized by a unique ecosystem where the moist forests of the Western Ghats blend with the drier forests of the Eastern Ghats. The highest peak in the Nilgiri Hills is Doddabetta, rising to an elevation of 2,637 meters.

Explanation

The Dandi March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, was a major non-violent protest campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi. It commenced on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram and concluded on April 6, 1930, at the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. By picking up a handful of salt at Dandi, Gandhi broke the British salt monopoly law, which formally inaugurated the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.

Explanation

Chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis in plants, contains a central magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) coordinated within a porphyrin ring. This magnesium-centered porphyrin structure is highly efficient at absorbing light energy, primarily in the blue and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The presence of magnesium is critical for stabilizing the complex and facilitating the transfer of electrons required to convert light energy into chemical energy.

Explanation

For any number X lying in the interval 0 < X < 1, its square root √X also lies within the same interval, meaning 0 < √X < 1. At the same time, the reciprocal of X, which is 1/X, is always strictly greater than 1. Combining these inequalities, we get 1/X > 1 > √X, which directly establishes that 1/X > √X.

Explanation

The Gujarat coast possesses the greatest potential for tidal power generation in India due to its highly favorable geographical features, specifically the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay) and the Gulf of Kutch. These gulfs experience exceptional tidal amplification with a maximum tidal range of up to 10 to 11 meters and very strong tidal currents. Of the estimated total tidal power potential in India, which ranges between 8,000 MW and 10,000 MW, the Gulf of Khambhat accounts for approximately 7,000 MW, while the Gulf of Kutch contributes around 1,200 MW. This makes the Gujarat coast the dominant region, representing over 90 percent of the country's total tidal energy capacity.

Explanation

The manufacture of Vanaspati ghee from vegetable oils involves the chemical process of hydrogenation. Vegetable oils are liquid at room temperature because they contain unsaturated fatty acids with carbon-to-carbon double bonds. Passing hydrogen gas through these oils at high temperatures in the presence of a nickel catalyst converts the unsaturated liquid fats into saturated solid or semi-solid fats.

Explanation

During the First Five-Year Plan, which spanned from 1951 to 1956 and was based on the Harrod-Domar model, India's national income increased by 18%. This expansion exceeded expectations and was largely driven by excellent monsoon seasons that boosted agricultural yields, alongside the initiation of major irrigation projects like the Bhakra, Hirakud, and Damodar Valley dams. Over the same period, the net domestic product rose by 15% and the per capita income grew by 11%.

Explanation

Saifuddin Kitchlew was a prominent nationalist leader, a barrister, and the President of the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee who played a critical role in the Indian freedom struggle, including the anti-Rowlatt Act protests. He strongly opposed the 1947 partition of India on communal lines. When the All India Congress Committee accepted the partition resolution, Kitchlew vocally condemned the decision, describing it as a blatant surrender of nationalism in favour of communalism, as he believed that partition would divide and weaken the subcontinent.

Explanation

Rajasthan has the largest area under wasteland among all the states in India. According to the Wastelands Atlas of India published by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development and the National Remote Sensing Centre, Rajasthan has approximately 84,929 square kilometers of land classified as wasteland. This extensive area constitutes nearly 24 percent of the state's total geographical area and accounts for around 18 percent of the total wasteland area of the country. The prominent categories of wastelands in this region include desertic sands, degraded pastures, and land with scrub, primarily due to the arid climatic conditions, low rainfall, and severe water scarcity in the western part of the state.

Explanation

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are synthetic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. When released into the atmosphere, they migrate to the stratosphere where they are broken down by strong ultraviolet radiation. This photolysis releases highly reactive chlorine free radicals. These chlorine radicals act as catalysts in a chain reaction, breaking down ozone (O₃) molecules into oxygen (O₂) molecules, which leads to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Explanation

When a value is r% more than another, the percentage by which the second value is less than the first is given by the formula:

Percentage less = (r)/(100 + r) × 100

Substituting the given value r = 30 into the formula:

Percentage less = (30)/(100 + 30) × 100 = ³⁰⁄₁₃₀ × 100 = ³⁰⁰⁄₁₃ ≈ 23.07%

Explanation

Shifting cultivation, locally known as Jhum cultivation, is the primary agricultural practice in the hilly tracts of Nagaland. Under this system, forest patches are cleared and burned to cultivate crops. In the past, the land was left fallow for fifteen to twenty years to allow the forest and soil nutrients to regenerate. However, due to increased land pressure, this fallow cycle has drastically reduced to just three to five years. Consequently, the vegetation and soil do not get sufficient time to recover, leading to widespread deforestation, severe soil erosion, loss of topsoil, and the gradual transformation of the lush green mountains of Nagaland into barren hills.

Explanation

The religious and social reform movements of the nineteenth century were instrumental in shaping and strengthening the spirit of nationalism in India. The Brahmo Samaj pioneered rationalism, individual liberty, and social reform, which helped awaken political consciousness and modern scientific thinking among the educated class. The Arya Samaj fostered a robust sense of self-reliance, patriotism, and pride in indigenous heritage, with its founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati being among the first to call for Swaraj. The Ramakrishna Mission, through Swami Vivekananda, preached spiritual nationalism, universal brotherhood, and active service to the nation, which deeply inspired the youth and early nationalist leaders to dedicate themselves to the country's freedom. Together, these movements restored self-respect and cultural confidence among Indians, laying a solid foundation for the national movement.

Explanation

Poly Vinyl Chloride, commonly abbreviated as PVC, is a widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. It is synthesized through the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomers, represented by the chemical formula (C₂H₃Cl)ₙ. PVC is highly versatile and is extensively utilized in pipes, electrical cable insulation, medical devices, and construction materials due to its durability, chemical stability, and flame-retardant properties.

Explanation

The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was introduced to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. The primary objective of this amendment was to facilitate the fast-track setting up of new nuclear power projects in India by allowing the involvement of public sector undertakings (PSUs) in joint ventures. Under the original 1962 Act, only the central government or government companies where all shares were held by the central government were permitted to produce and develop nuclear power. The amendment expanded the definition of a government company to allow joint ventures between different PSUs, thereby enabling entities like National Thermal Power Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation to partner with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited to mobilize resources and accelerate nuclear power expansion.

Explanation

Alfred Weber's theory of industrial location utilizes isodapanes to find the optimal location for a manufacturing plant. Isodapanes are lines of equal total transport cost, which are drawn around the point of minimum transport cost. By calculating the additional transportation costs represented by these lines, Weber's model determines whether a factory should be relocated from the least-transport-cost site to an alternative location with cheaper labor costs, which is viable if the labor savings exceed the increase in transport costs represented by the isodapane.

Explanation

When a pure red-flowered plant is crossed with a pure white-flowered plant and the heterozygous F1 shows an intermediate pink colour, the trait is blended rather than one allele masking the other. This happens because a single dose of the pigment-producing allele cannot generate full red colour, giving an intermediate phenotype. The phenotypic ratio in F2 becomes 1 red : 2 pink : 1 white, matching the genotypic ratio. In true co-dominance both alleles would express fully and separately (for example red and white patches together), not blend into pink. The blending of phenotype seen here defines incomplete dominance.

Explanation

During the historic Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted the resolution for Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence). Alongside this goal, Nehru championed social-democratic principles. In his presidential address, he declared himself a socialist and a republican, emphasizing that political freedom would be incomplete without economic and social equality. The session officially integrated social-democratic objectives with the national struggle for independence.

Explanation

Tank irrigation is highly popular in the Peninsular region of India, where Tamil Nadu is one of the leading states. Among the given options, Tamil Nadu has the highest percentage of its net irrigated area under tank irrigation. This is primarily because of the undulating relief and hard, impermeable rock structure of the Deccan Plateau in the state, which makes digging wells and canals difficult but provides excellent natural depressions for constructing mud embankments to collect and store rainwater. Tanks contribute significantly to Tamil Nadu's total irrigation network compared to other states like West Bengal, Kerala, and Karnataka.

Explanation

Short-day plants flower only when they are exposed to a photoperiod or day length that is shorter than their specific critical day length. Since this plant has a critical day length of 14 hours, it requires a light duration of less than 14 hours to induce flowering. A day length of 12 hours satisfies this condition, triggering the physiological mechanisms required for floral initiation.

Explanation

During the Governor-Generalship of Lord Cornwallis (1786–1793), the Indian Civil Service was reformed, modernised, and structured into a highly organised administrative system. Lord Cornwallis implemented key administrative reforms to curb corruption, which included prohibiting private trade, banning the acceptance of presents or bribes by East India Company officials, and raising their salaries to ensure integrity. Due to these systematic efforts to rationalise and establish the civil services, he is widely regarded as the Father of Civil Service in India.

Explanation

During the decade 1911–1921, West Bengal experienced a negative decadal population growth rate of -2.91%. This significant decline in population was primarily caused by the widespread outbreak of the influenza pandemic (Spanish Flu) of 1918, along with recurring famines and other severe epidemics such as cholera and plague. This demographic trend aligned with the broader national pattern, as India as a whole recorded its only negative decadal growth rate of -0.31% during this same period, making 1921 the Year of the Great Divide.

Explanation

Dadabhai Naoroji, famously known as the Grand Old Man of India, formulated the Drain of Wealth theory. He presented this economic critique of British rule in India through his papers and his classic book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, published in 1901. In this work, he systematically analyzed how Indian resources and wealth were being drained out of the country to Britain without any equivalent economic or material return, which he identified as the primary cause of India's poverty and economic stagnation under colonial administration.

Explanation

Synchytrium is a genus of simple, unicellular, holocarpic chytrid fungi that are obligate endobiotic parasites. An endobiotic fungus is one that lives entirely inside the cells or tissues of its host organism. Synchytrium endobioticum, a well-known species of this genus, infects the epidermal cells of potato plants, causing potato wart disease, where its entire life cycle and vegetative structure remain confined within the host tissues.

Explanation

Cooch Behar is the largest tobacco-producing district in West Bengal. The sandy loam soil and sub-tropical pre-humid climate of the Terai agro-climatic region in Cooch Behar are exceptionally suitable for growing various types of tobacco, primarily the Jati and Motihari varieties. Following the partition of Bengal, which left traditional tobacco-growing regions in Bangladesh, Cooch Behar emerged as the key region for domestic cigar and country tobacco. The ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute established a dedicated research station in Dinhata, Cooch Behar, in 1951 to support and improve local tobacco farming.

Explanation

The tropopause is the atmospheric boundary layer that separates the troposphere and the stratosphere. It marks the transition where the environmental lapse rate changes from decreasing temperature with altitude in the troposphere to a stable or increasing temperature profile in the stratosphere. This boundary acts as a lid, limiting major convective upward mixing of air from the troposphere into the stratosphere.

Explanation

A gynobasic style is a characteristic botanical feature where the style arises directly from the base of the deeply lobed ovary or from the central depression between its lobes, rather than from the apex. This is a distinguishing diagnostic feature of the family Labiatae, which is also commonly known as Lamiaceae, the mint family. In this family, the ovary is typically deeply four-lobed, and the style emerges from the center at the base of these lobes.

Explanation

S. Jaishankar was appointed as the Foreign Secretary of India on January 28, 2015, succeeding Sujatha Singh after the government decided to curtail her tenure. He was a veteran diplomat who had previously served in critical roles, including as India's Ambassador to the United States and to China, before taking over as the administrative head of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer, located at approximately 23° 30' N latitude, passes through the middle portion of West Bengal. Within the state, it traverses the Nadia district, passing directly through prominent locations such as Krishnanagar and Dhubulia.

Explanation

Chara is a genus of freshwater green algae belonging to the class Charophyceae, commonly known as stoneworts. It exhibits an advanced type of oogamous sexual reproduction characterized by highly specialized, multicellular, and jacketed reproductive structures. The male sex organ is known as the globule, which is spherical and yellow to red in color. The female sex organ is known as the nucule, which is oval-shaped, greenish, and situated directly above the globule at the nodes of the branches of limited growth.

Explanation

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its ex-post facto approval in December 2015 for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and the United Kingdom on cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement, originally signed during the Prime Minister's visit to the UK in November 2015, establishes an enabling framework for strategic cooperation covering technical, policy, research, and commercial aspects of energy sector development. Major areas of cooperation under this MoU include electricity market reforms, grid integration of renewable energy, energy efficiency policies, smart grids, tidal energy, and capacity building of renewable energy institutions.

Explanation

During World War II, the Japanese forces occupied the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In November 1943, during the Greater East Asia Conference in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo announced that Japan would hand over the administration of these islands to the newly established Provisional Government of Azad Hind led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Netaji visited Port Blair in December 1943, where he officially hoisted the Indian national flag and appointed Lieutenant Colonel A.D. Loganadhan as the Chief Commissioner of the territory. Subsequently, the Andaman Islands were renamed as Sahid Island, representing martyr, and the Nicobar Islands were renamed as Swaraj Island, representing self-rule.

Explanation

West Bengal experiences a tropical monsoon climate due to its geographical location in the eastern part of India. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the state, imparting a predominantly tropical character to its climate. This region is heavily influenced by the seasonal reversal of winds, particularly the Southwest Monsoon, which brings major rainfall to the state from June to September. The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers, a distinct wet monsoon season, and relatively mild winters, which are the defining features of a tropical monsoon system.

Explanation

Spindle fibres are highly dynamic polymeric structures that form the mitotic spindle during cell division. These fibres are composed of microtubules, which are macromolecular cylinders assembled from heterodimers of alpha and beta tubulin proteins. During mitosis and meiosis, the polymerization of tubulin dimers allows spindle fibres to elongate, attach to the kinetochores of chromosomes, and subsequently depolymerize to pull sister chromatids apart toward opposite poles of the dividing cell.

Explanation

World Consumer Rights Day is observed globally on 15th March every year to raise awareness about consumer rights and needs. This day was inspired by US President John F. Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, formally addressing the issue of consumer rights and becoming the first world leader to do so. The consumer movement first marked this date in 1983, and it is now utilized annually to promote the basic rights of all consumers, demanding that these rights are respected and protected.

Explanation

The Indian National Army (I.N.A.) was officially organized in September 1942 under the leadership of Captain Mohan Singh in Singapore. Following the capitulation of the British forces at Singapore in February 1942, approximately forty-five thousand Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese. With the assistance of the Japanese military administration, specifically Major Iwaichi Fujiwara, Captain Mohan Singh mobilized these soldiers to form an armed force aimed at liberating India from British colonial rule.

Explanation

In November 2015, GAIL (India) Limited, in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), launched the Bhuvan-GAIL portal. This innovative surveillance geo-portal utilizes space technology and satellite-sensing applications to monitor the Right of Use (RoU) of GAIL's extensive natural gas pipeline network, enhancing safety and security through live satellite surveillance.

Explanation

Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer, originating in the epithelial tissues that cover the external surfaces of the body, line internal organs and cavities, and form glands. These cancers develop from epithelial cells which are responsible for protection, secretion, and absorption throughout the body. Examples of carcinomas include breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancers.

Explanation

The National Institution for Transforming India, also known as NITI Aayog, was established by a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015, replacing the 65-year-old Planning Commission. Renowned economist Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the first Vice-Chairman of this premier policy think tank of the Government of India, taking charge in January 2015.

Explanation

During the state visit of the Prime Minister of India to Tajikistan in July 2015, both countries exchanged a Note Verbale outlining India's commitment to set up computer laboratories in 37 schools across Tajikistan. This initiative was designed to support the government of Tajikistan in its human resource development, information technology education, and capacity-building efforts. The project was successfully implemented and completed in August 2016.

Explanation

Subhas Chandra Bose made his legendary Great Escape from house arrest at his ancestral residence on Elgin Road in Calcutta on the night of January 16-17, 1941. Disguised as a Pathan insurance agent named Ziauddin, he traveled by car to Gomoh, from where he took a train to Peshawar, eventually reaching Berlin, Germany, via Kabul and Moscow to seek international support for India's independence.

Explanation

Skeletal muscles are attached to the bones of the skeleton and are responsible for body locomotion and posture. These muscles are innervated by the somatic nervous system, which allows their contraction and relaxation to be consciously and voluntarily controlled by an individual. Under microscopic examination, these muscle fibers display a characteristic pattern of alternating light and dark bands called striations, which are formed by the highly organized arrangement of actin and myosin proteins. Because they possess these structural stripes and are under conscious control, they are classified as striated voluntary muscles.

Explanation

The flight path from Trivandrum to Delhi traverses the Indian subcontinent from south to north, crossing several distinct vegetation zones in sequence:

Trivandrum is located in the wet coastal strip of Kerala, which receives very high rainfall from the monsoon, supporting dense tropical wet evergreen forests.

Moving northwards into the interior of the Deccan Plateau, the region falls into the rain-shadow zone of the Western Ghats, where semi-arid conditions support savanna and scrub-like open grasslands.

Further north into central India, the climate becomes drier, which is dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests.

Finally, approaching northern India and the Indo-Gangetic plains towards Delhi, the vegetation shifts to tropical deciduous forests, which are characteristic of the wider northern plains.

Explanation

The Hon'ble Supreme Court's landmark order on December 16, 2015, directed all taxis operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) to convert to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by a transitional deadline of March 1, 2016. There was no immediate, absolute prohibition on the day of the ruling preventing non-CNG taxis from plying, as they were granted a grace period to complete the mandatory conversion.

Explanation

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Survey on Computer Software and Information Technology Enabled Services Exports: 2014-15, India's total exports of computer services and ITES/BPO services, excluding commercial presence, registered a growth of 14.8% in USD terms over the previous fiscal year. The total value of these exports was estimated at 82 billion USD (or 5,014 billion INR) during the 2014-15 fiscal year. Computer services and ITES/BPO services accounted for 72% and 28% of the total software services exports respectively during this period.

Explanation

The Western Ghats act as a major orographic barrier to the moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds. The western windward slopes receive exceptionally high rainfall, typically exceeding 250 cm, which supports dense tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. In contrast, the eastern leeward slopes lie in a pronounced rain shadow region and receive much lower rainfall, often less than 100 cm. This drastic reduction in precipitation results in a transition to dry deciduous forests and thorny scrub vegetation, creating two highly distinct and dissimilar types of vegetation on its two slopes.

Explanation

NITI Aayog, or the National Institution for Transforming India, was established on 1 January 2015 through an executive resolution of the Union Cabinet. It replaced the Planning Commission of India. Because it was created by a resolution of the Cabinet rather than a constitutional amendment or a legislative statute, it functions as a non-constitutional, non-statutory, and extra-constitutional policy think tank for the Government of India.

Explanation

The Amarkantak plateau acts as a major watershed in central India, located at the junction of the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. The Narmada River originates from the Narmada Kund on this plateau and flows westward through a rift valley before emptying into the Arabian Sea. The Mahanadi River, which drains the eastern portion of this highland tract, flows eastward through Chhattisgarh and Odisha before draining into the Bay of Bengal. This makes them the two primary rivers flowing in opposite directions (West and East) from the Amarkantak region.

Explanation

The Sutlej River is classified as an antecedent river because its origin predates the uplift of the Himalayan mountain range. During the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, as the Himalayas slowly rose, the Sutlej maintained its pre-existing course by continuously eroding and downcutting its channel at a rate matching the mountain uplift. This intense vertical erosion led to the formation of deep gorges, most notably at Shipki La, where the river cuts through the Zaskar range to enter India from its source near Lake Rakshasthal in Tibet. This geological process confirms that the river is older than the mountain ranges it cuts through.

Explanation

Zaina Erhaim is a Syrian journalist and activist who was awarded the Reporters Without Borders Prize in 2015. She was honored for her extraordinary courage and determination in covering the Syrian civil war from within the war-ravaged city of Aleppo. Additionally, she has been recognized for her extensive efforts in training around one hundred citizen journalists, a significant portion of whom are women, thereby helping to establish independent local media outlets to report on the conflict.

Explanation

The National Development Council (NDC) was established on August 6, 1952, through an executive resolution of the Government of India on the recommendation of the First Five Year Plan. It was set up to strengthen and mobilize the effort and resources of the nation in support of the Plan, to promote common economic policies in all vital spheres, and to ensure the balanced and rapid development of all parts of the country.

Explanation

The eminent Indian geographer Professor Shiba Prasad Chatterjee (S. P. Chatterjee) coined the name Meghalaya, which means the abode of clouds in Sanskrit, in 1936 to refer to the Shillong Plateau region. During his doctoral research on this physiographic block comprising the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills, he proposed this term to highlight the region's climatic characteristics. When the autonomous state was carved out of Assam, the Government of India adopted this name, which officially became a full-fledged state in 1972.

Explanation

The Damodar Valley Corporation, established in July 1948 as the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India, was designed and modeled after the Tennessee Valley Authority of the United States of America. Created in 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority was a highly successful regional development initiative focused on flood control, navigation, land reclamation, and electricity generation, which served as a blueprint for managing the Damodar river basin.

Explanation

The decision of the British colonial government under Lord Curzon to partition Bengal in 1905 served as the immediate and direct trigger for the rise of Extremism within the Indian National Movement. This highly unpopular move deeply hurt the nationalist sentiments of Indians and shattered their faith in the peaceful, constitutional methods of the Moderates, such as petitions and prayers. The widespread resentment galvanized the masses and led directly to the Swadeshi and Boycott movements, which provided a platform for extremist leaders to advocate for assertive methods of struggle like passive resistance and non-cooperation to achieve Swaraj.

Explanation

On December 9, 2015, the Union Cabinet approved the Real Estate (Regulation | Development) Bill, 2015, as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha. This landmark legislation was designed to protect the interests of consumers, institutionalize transparency and accountability, and ensure the timely execution of both commercial and residential projects by establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

Explanation

The highest peak of West Bengal is Sandakphu, which stands at an elevation of 3636 meters. This peak is located in the Singalila Range, a north-south mountain ridge situated on the border between West Bengal and Nepal. This range separates the state of West Bengal from Nepal and contains some of the highest peaks in the region, including Phalut.

Explanation

The Public Accounts Committee is a standing parliamentary committee constituted every year to audit the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India. It consists of a total of 22 members, out of which 15 members are elected by the Lok Sabha and 7 members are elected by the Rajya Sabha. The election of these members is done from amongst the members of the respective Houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

Explanation

The Paris Agreement on climate change, adopted at the COP21 summit in December 2015, was agreed upon by 195 negotiating countries (parties to the UNFCCC), not 200 countries.

Explanation

West Bengal shares the longest international land border with Bangladesh among all the bordering Indian states. The length of this international boundary is approximately 2217 km, which is represented as 2272 km in various state and national level examinations. This extensive border constitutes more than half of the total 4096.7 km long India-Bangladesh international boundary.

Explanation

According to the India State of Forest Report 2015, published by the Forest Survey of India, the total forest cover of the country increased by 3,775 square kilometers between the 2013 and 2015 assessments. Tamil Nadu registered the highest increase in forest cover among all states, gaining 2,501 square kilometers. Kerala followed with the second-highest increase, recording a gain of 1,317 square kilometers during the same two-year period. Both states experienced substantial growth in green cover primarily driven by successful conservation measures, plantation activities, and agroforestry practices.

Explanation

The Padma Vibhushan was presented to Dilip Kumar at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, on December 13, 2015, by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The legendary actor was unable to travel to New Delhi to receive the honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony held earlier in April 2015 due to his ill health. Therefore, the statement claiming that the award was bestowed upon him in Delhi on December 14, 2015, is incorrect.

Explanation

The Damodar River is the longest river in Western West Bengal. It originates from the Chota Nagpur Plateau at Khamarpat Hill in the Latehar district of Jharkhand. The river flows eastward for a total length of approximately 592 km before joining the Hooghly River in West Bengal. It drains a large portion of the western plateau and hill regions of the state, including the districts of Purulia, Bankura, Bardhaman, and Hooghly. Known historically as the Sorrow of Bengal because of its devastating seasonal floods, it remains the most prominent and longest watercourse in the western physiographic region of West Bengal.

Explanation

India's Finance Commissions are constituted under Article 280 of the Constitution. The First Finance Commission was set up in 1951, and successive commissions have followed roughly every five years. The Fourteenth Finance Commission, chaired by Y. V. Reddy, submitted its report in December 2014, with recommendations covering the period 2015 to 2020. Therefore, by 2016, fourteen Finance Commissions had been constituted and had submitted their reports.

Explanation

On December 7, 2015, NIIT entered into a strategic educational partnership with IT major HP (Hewlett-Packard) to offer a Post Graduate Certificate Program in software testing. This collaborative program was designed to equip IT students and graduates with critical software testing skills and hands-on expertise using HP testing tools, addressing the growing global demand in the software testing market.

Explanation

The Suez Canal serves as the shortest maritime route connecting Europe and Asia, rather than Asia and Africa. By linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, it allows vessels to bypass the long journey around the southern tip of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Since Asia and Africa share a direct land border at the Isthmus of Suez, the canal does not serve as a sea-link between them. Therefore, the statement claiming it is the shortest sea-link between Asia and Africa is factually incorrect.

Explanation

Singalila National Park is situated on the Singalila Ridge in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, at an elevation of more than 7,000 feet above sea level. Initially declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986, the region was officially designated as a national park in 1992. It is highly regarded for its rich biodiversity, featuring dense bamboo, oak, and rhododendron forests, and serves as a vital habitat for endangered species such as the red panda and the Himalayan black bear. The park also contains Sandakphu, which is the highest mountain peak in West Bengal.

Explanation

Human Rights Day is observed globally on 10 December every year to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The theme for Human Rights Day in 2015 was "Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always". This theme served to promote and raise awareness of the International Bill of Human Rights, which comprises the UDHR and two landmark international treaties: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The 2015 observance also launched a year-long campaign commemorating the 50th anniversary of the adoption of these two foundational covenants in 1966.

Explanation

The Concurrent List, which is List III in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, originally contained 47 subjects. Both the Parliament of India and the State Legislatures possess joint jurisdiction to legislate on these matters. While the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List, raising the total number of operational subjects to 52, the numbering of the entries in the Seventh Schedule continues to run from 1 to 47. The newly added subjects were incorporated using sub-headings and alphabetical additions like 11A and 17A, keeping the final numbered entry as 47.

Explanation

Article 1 of the Constitution of India defines both the name and the territory of the Union. It specifies that India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States. It further outlines the territory of India as comprising the territories of the States, the Union territories specified in the First Schedule, and any other territories that may be acquired by India at any time.

Explanation

Goa was selected as a host state for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, which was hosted by India. The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, located in Fatorda, Margao, Goa, was chosen as one of the six venues to host matches of this international football tournament. The venue has a rich history of football in India and was refurbished to meet international standards to host Group C games along with key knockout stage matches.

Explanation

The eminent Indian jurist and constitutional scholar Durga Das Basu (D. D. Basu), in his landmark work Introduction to the Constitution of India, characterized the nature of the Indian polity as a unique blend of different governance systems. He observed that the Constitution of India is neither purely federal nor purely unitary but is a combination of both. He noted that while it incorporates essential federal characteristics like the division of powers between the Union and the States, a written constitution, and an independent judiciary, it also contains strong unitary features such as emergency provisions, single citizenship, and a unified judicial structure to ensure that the national interest remains paramount.

Explanation

A grub is the larval stage of a beetle, which belongs to the insect order Coleoptera. Beetles undergo a complete metamorphosis process consisting of four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is commonly called a grub, typically characterized by a soft, thick, C-shaped, whitish or cream-colored body with a hardened, brownish head capsule and three pairs of legs located near the front of the body. These larvae generally live underground in the soil or within decaying wood, where they feed on organic matter and plant roots before transitioning into the pupal stage.

Explanation

The Kuch region in Gujarat is characterized by an arid to semi-arid climate with extremely low annual rainfall and high rates of evaporation. Under these dry environmental conditions, the local flora has developed specialized adaptations to minimize water loss and store moisture, such as deep root systems, succulent stems, and leaves reduced to spines. These anatomical and physiological adaptations are the defining features of xerophytic vegetation, which dominates the landscape of this saline and water-stressed region.