WBCS Prelims 2018 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

Ornithology is the branch of zoology that focuses on the scientific study of birds, including their physiology, classification, ecology, behavior, and conservation. An ornithologist is a scientist who specializes in this field, studying avian species in their natural habitats or controlled environments to understand their evolution and role in ecosystems.

Explanation

The term indefatigable is derived from the prefix in- meaning not and the Latin verb defatigare meaning to tire out. An indefatigable person is characterized by persistent, tireless, and untiring energy, showing an inability to be fatigued or exhausted even after prolonged effort.

Explanation

The noun "preference" is followed by the preposition "for" to indicate the favored choice (preference for tea). When comparing this favored option to an alternative, the preposition "over" is used to introduce the rejected option (preference for tea over coffee). Thus, the complete grammatically correct sentence is: "He has a preference for tea over coffee."

Explanation

The preposition by is idiomatically used to indicate accordance with a specific instrument, standard, or source of measurement. When referring to the time displayed on a personal timepiece, the correct and standard English phrasing is by my watch, signifying according to the time shown on my watch.

Explanation

The interjection Alas! is traditionally used in English grammar to express sorrow, grief, pity, or regret. It typically introduces a statement that describes an unfortunate, disappointing, or regrettable event or state of affairs.

Explanation

The word notwithstanding functions as a preposition meaning in spite of or despite. In this sentence, it is correctly placed before the noun phrase his humiliation to indicate that the action of attending the function occurred despite the humiliation he experienced.

Explanation

Serenity refers to a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. The antonym of serenity is agitation, which denotes a state of anxiety, nervous excitement, or physical disturbance.

Explanation

Marble is a metamorphic rock that has been a highly prized medium for carving and creating three-dimensional artistic forms since antiquity. Due to its relative isotropy, homogeneity, softness when freshly quarried, and resistance to shattering, it is classically and widely used in the creation of sculptures.

Explanation

The phrasal verb "call up" means to recall or recollect something from memory, bringing back past events, images, or knowledge into one's mind. For example, a photograph can call up vivid memories of childhood. In this context, it is synonymous with "recollect".

Explanation

The phrase "in all probability" indicates a very high level of likelihood or near-certainty. To express a strong future prediction or certainty following such an adverbial phrase, the auxiliary verb "will" is grammatically appropriate. It indicates a definite future action or occurrence that is expected with high confidence.

Explanation

The modal-like expression "had better" is always followed by the bare infinitive (base form) of a verb, not a past-tense form, and it gives advice or a strong recommendation. The only completion that is both grammatically correct and meaningful here is the base verb "leave," producing the natural sentence "She had better leave the room." The other choices either are wrong tense forms or do not fit the sense of advising someone to depart from a place.

Explanation

The phrasal verb takes after means to resemble a parent or an older relative in appearance, character, or temperament. In the given sentence, it is the grammatically and contextually correct choice to indicate that the girl resembles her mother.

Explanation

The word latter is used to refer to the second of two things or people that have been mentioned. In this sentence, two plans are being compared, and the comparative word better indicates a preference for the second of the two options. Therefore, the adjective latter correctly fits the context to specify the second plan.

Explanation

The idiom "in hot water" refers to a situation where someone is in significant trouble, difficulty, or disgrace, typically as a consequence of their own actions or behavior. The phrase metaphorically compares the discomfort and danger of being in trouble to being scalded by boiling water.

Explanation

The word classic is defined as something of the first or highest class or rank, representing the highest quality and serving as an established standard or model of excellence.

Explanation

The past participle excited is used here to initiate a participle clause that modifies the subject John. A participle clause can describe the state of the subject or express the cause behind the action in the main clause. In this sentence, the participial phrase Excited about dinner functions as an adjectival modifier explaining John's feelings and the reason he ran the whole way home.

Explanation

The phrasal verb take up means to begin or start dealing with something, such as a task, topic, hobby, or course of study. In this context, it indicates that the teacher will start teaching or discussing a new chapter tomorrow.

Explanation

In English grammar, when a sentence begins with a restrictive adverbial expression containing "only" (such as "only occasionally"), it triggers subject-auxiliary inversion. This inversion is represented in the sentence by the verb "is" preceding the subject "there" ("is there"). The adverb "occasionally" denotes that the action of rumbling in the sky happens infrequently or from time to time, completing the restrictive adverbial structure "only occasionally" to make the sentence grammatically correct and semantically logical.

Explanation

The idiom Hobson's choice refers to a situation where a person is offered a choice that seems free but actually presents only one option, meaning they must either take what is offered or get nothing at all. The phrase originates from Thomas Hobson, a 16th-century stable owner in Cambridge, England, who required his customers to take the horse closest to the stable door or none at all.

Explanation

An altruist is a person who exhibits selfless concern for the well-being and happiness of others, prioritizing their needs and interests above their own. Altruism represents the practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the welfare of other people.

Explanation

The idiomatic phrase run short of means to have an insufficient or scarce supply of something. In this sentence, of is the correct preposition that completes the standard expression, indicating that the person has very little time remaining.

Explanation

The word bow in this context refers to a rainbow, which is a meteorological phenomenon that appears as a colourful arc in the sky. Since a rainbow consists of a spectrum of various colours caused by the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light in water droplets, the adjective multicoloured is the most appropriate and logically fitting word to describe it.

Explanation

The idiom "a bolt from the blue" is used to describe a sudden, unexpected, and shocking event or piece of news, typically one that brings about a disaster or a major crisis. The phrase draws a comparison to a lightning bolt striking unexpectedly from a clear, cloudless blue sky, where there is no prior warning of an impending storm.

Explanation

The phrase To err is human, to forgive divine is a well-known English proverb originating from Alexander Pope's poem An Essay on Criticism, written in 1711. In this context, the infinitive to err means to make a mistake or be incorrect, expressing the idea that it is natural for human beings to make mistakes.

Explanation

An ophthalmologist is a specialist medical doctor who focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye. They are trained to perform eye examinations, diagnose and treat eye conditions, prescribe medications, and perform eye surgeries.

Explanation

The Chotonagpur Plateau is a continental plateau representing the northeastern projection of the Indian Peninsula. It is geologically very ancient and primarily composed of Precambrian or Archaean rocks, which are more than 540 million years old. The structural basement of this plateau consists of a vast complex of Archaean granite and gneiss, specifically the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex, which has undergone multiple phases of intense metamorphism, tectonic deformation, and igneous intrusion over geological time.

Explanation

Abhinav Bharat Society, also known as the Young India Society, was founded as a secret revolutionary organization by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904. The society originated from Mitra Mela, which was initially established in Nasik in 1899. Inspired by Giuseppe Mazzini's Young Italy movement, Abhinav Bharat aimed to overthrow British colonial rule in India through armed rebellion, organizing a network of revolutionaries and facilitating the procurement of weapons and revolutionary literature.

Explanation

Using the rule of alligation on the proportion of the first liquid in each mixture, the fraction of the first liquid in the first mixture is ²⁄₂₊₃ = ⅖ .

The fraction of the first liquid in the second mixture is ⁵⁄₅₊₄ = ⁵⁄₉ .

The required fraction of the first liquid in the final mixture is ¹⁄₁₊₁ = ½ .

The ratio in which the two mixtures must be mixed is given by the formula:

(Quantity of first mixture)/(Quantity of second mixture) = (5)/(9) - ½{½ - ⅖}

Evaluating the numerator: ⁵⁄₉ - ½ = (10 - 9)/(18) = ¹⁄₁₈

Evaluating the denominator: ½ - ⅖ = (5 - 4)/(10) = ⅒

Taking the ratio of these values: ¹⁄₁₈ : ⅒ = 10 : 18 = 5 : 9

Explanation

To find the time shown by the mirror image of a clock, the standard relation is to subtract the actual time from 11:60.

Using this formula:

Mirror Time = 11:60 - Actual Time

Substituting the given time of 4:25 into the equation:

Mirror Time = 11:60 - 4:25 = 7:35

Explanation

National Highway 35 (NH-35), also historically referred to as part of the Jessore Road, connects Kolkata (via Barasat) with Bongaon and the Indo-Bangladesh border at Petrapole. It stretches over a length of approximately 61 kilometres and acts as a critical trade and transportation corridor between India and Bangladesh. In the revised highway numbering system, this route is designated as National Highway 112.

Explanation

A bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways. The term originated historically when physical insects caused malfunctions in early electromechanical computers, and it is now universally used in software engineering to describe programming defects. The process of identifying, tracing, and fixing these errors is known as debugging.

Explanation

The Ghadar Party was an international political movement founded by expatriate Indians in 1913 to overthrow British rule in India. Lala Har Dayal was one of the key founding leaders and served as the General Secretary of the party. He played a central intellectual and organizational role in mobilizing Indian immigrants, particularly in the United States and Canada, and was the driving force behind the publication of the party's weekly revolutionary newspaper, Ghadar, which propagated nationalist sentiments.

Explanation

The headquarters of the Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways is located at Fairlie Place in Kolkata. Formed in April 1952, this zone is one of the oldest and most important zones of the Indian Railways, administering major divisions including Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, and Malda. Kolkata also uniquely hosts the headquarters of two other railway zones, namely the South Eastern Railway and the Metro Railway.

Explanation

Neel Darpan, which translates to The Indigo Mirror, is a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858–1859. The play vividly portrays the severe oppression, economic exploitation, and misery inflicted upon the local peasantry by European indigo planters in Bengal during the Indigo Revolt. The publication of this work played a monumental role in raising social awareness and mobilizing public opinion against the coercive indigo plantation system, which eventually compelled the British government to appoint the Indigo Commission in 1860 to investigate the grievances of the cultivators.

Explanation

The bleaching action of chlorine takes place in the presence of moisture, where chlorine reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid (HClO) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). This reaction is represented as:

Cl₂ + H₂O → HCl + HClO

Hypochlorous acid is unstable and decomposes to yield nascent oxygen ([O]):

HClO → HCl + [O]

This nascent oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent that reacts with colored organic matter, oxidizing it into colorless compounds. Since the removal of color occurs through this transfer of oxygen, the bleaching action of chlorine is entirely due to oxidation.

Explanation

Chilika Lake, located in the state of Odisha on the east coast of India, is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world. It is classified as a saltwater lake because it is an estuarine lagoon that maintains a continuous connection with the Bay of Bengal, allowing marine water to enter and mix with freshwater inflows from rivers such as the Daya River.

Explanation

The relationship in the analogy is based on the place of manufacture. A mint is the specialized industrial facility where coins are produced, and similarly, a kiln is the specialized furnace or oven used for baking and manufacturing bricks.

Explanation

Plaster of Paris, chemically known as calcium sulfate hemihydrate, is produced by heating gypsum, which is calcium sulfate dihydrate, to a temperature of 373 K or 100 degrees Celsius.

Upon heating, gypsum undergoes a dehydration reaction and loses three-fourths of its water of crystallization, converting into Plaster of Paris according to the following chemical equation:

CaSO₄ · 2H₂O Δ CaSO₄ · ½H₂O + ³⁄₂H₂O

If gypsum is heated to temperatures higher than 373 K, it loses all of its water of crystallization to form anhydrous calcium sulfate, which is also called dead burnt plaster and does not set like Plaster of Paris when mixed with water.

Explanation

The Krishak Praja Party was founded by A. K. Fazlul Huq in 1936, evolving from the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti which he had established earlier in 1929. Popularly known as Sher-e-Bangla, Huq established the party to advocate for the rights of tenant farmers, peasants, and agricultural laborers against the oppressive zamindari system in Bengal. Under his leadership, the party gained significant traction and emerged as a major political force in Bengal, leading to Huq becoming the first Prime Minister of undivided Bengal in 1937.

Explanation

Odisha is the leading state in India in terms of manganese ore reserves and is historically one of the top producers of the mineral. According to the Indian Minerals Yearbook, Odisha holds the largest share of India's total manganese reserves, accounting for approximately 44% of the country's total resource base. The primary manganese ore deposits in Odisha are concentrated in the districts of Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Bolangir, and Kalahandi. Manganese is a vital metallurgical raw material, primarily used in the smelting of iron ore and the production of steel alloys.

Explanation

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

In a single 12-hour cycle, the clock strikes from 1 to 12 times. The total number of strikes in one 12-hour period is: S₁₂ = (12 × (12 + 1))/(2) = 6 × 13 = 78

A standard day consists of 24 hours, which is equivalent to two 12-hour cycles. Consequently, a period of 2 days contains four 12-hour cycles.

The total number of strikes in 2 days is calculated by multiplying the strikes of one cycle by the total number of cycles: Total strikes = 78 × 4 = 312

Explanation

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a synthetic plastic polymer produced by the polymerization of the monomer vinyl chloride (CH₂=CHCl). It is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, valued for its durability, chemical resistance, and versatility. In its rigid form, PVC is extensively used in construction for pipes, doors, and windows, while its flexible form finds application in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, and medical tubing.

Explanation

Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, maintained close diplomatic and military relations with the French to counter British expansion in India. He sought an alliance with Napoleon Bonaparte and the French authorities in Mauritius and Paris, sending emissaries to secure French military assistance. Deeply influenced by the ideals of the French Revolution, Tipu Sultan became a member of the Jacobin Club of Mysore and planted the Tree of Liberty at his capital, Seringapatam, in 1794. Additionally, he employed French military officers to train and modernize his army, adopting French-style military organization, tactics, and weaponry.

Explanation

The peak K₂ is officially named Mount Godwin-Austen in honor of Henry Godwin-Austen, an English geographer and geologist who was one of the first surveyors to explore and map the Karakoram region in the mid-nineteenth century. Located in the Karakoram range, K₂ is the second-highest mountain in the world and is recognized as the highest peak in India.

Explanation

Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj in 1875, gave the historic call "Back to Vedas" to reform Hindu society. He believed that the Vedas were infallible and contained the pure, original teachings of Hinduism, free from the later social evils, superstitious practices, idol worship, and rigid caste system that had crept into the religion over centuries.

Explanation

The given series is composed of two alternating sub-series.

The first sub-series consists of the terms at the odd positions: 3, 6, ?. This sequence follows an arithmetic progression with a common difference of 3, where 3 + 3 = 6 and 6 + 3 = 9.

The second sub-series consists of the terms at the even positions: 8, 14, 20. This sequence follows an arithmetic progression with a common difference of 6, where 8 + 6 = 14 and 14 + 6 = 20.

Explanation

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the body, which are vital for maintaining healthy bone development. A deficiency of Vitamin D in children leads to rickets, a condition characterized by soft, weak bones, delayed growth, and skeletal deformities such as bowed legs and knock knees due to inadequate bone mineralization.

Explanation

Banwali is an important Indus Valley Civilization site located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, India. It lies on the dry bed of the ancient Sarasvati River and was excavated by Ravindra Singh Bisht in 1974. The site is well-known for yielding a rich harvest of barley grains, a terracotta model of a plough, and typical Harappan pottery, confirming its geographical location in Haryana rather than Gujarat.

Explanation

In West Bengal, major hubs for manufacturing and repairing railway wagons, coaches, and rolling stock are located at Liluah, Kanchrapara, and Dum Dum. Liluah features a major Carriage and Wagon Workshop under the Eastern Railway. Kanchrapara has one of the oldest railway workshops in India, specializing in the repair and overhaul of locomotives, coaches, and wagons. Dum Dum has been home to industrial manufacturing units like Jessop and Co., which historically manufactured railway wagons, passenger coaches, and heavy equipment.

Explanation

Jyotiba Phule wrote the book Ghulamgiri in 1873. The title translates to Slavery, and Phule dedicated this work to the African-American movement in the United States that fought to abolish slavery, establishing a link between the struggles of the lower castes in India and those of Black Americans. As a pioneering social reformer from Maharashtra, Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in the same year to secure social justice and equal rights for the marginalized sections of society.

Explanation

The International Day of Peace is observed globally on 21 September each year. In 2017, the United Nations selected the theme 'Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All'. This theme was chosen to align with the TOGETHER initiative, a global campaign launched by the United Nations to promote diversity, non-discrimination, respect, safety, and dignity for refugees and migrants worldwide who have been forced to leave their homes.

Explanation

Let the ages of Rohit and Axar be represented as 3x and 5x respectively, based on the given ratio of 3:5.

The difference between their ages is given as 12 years. This can be expressed mathematically as: 5x - 3x = 12

Simplifying the equation: 2x = 12 x = 6

By substituting the value of x back, the age of Axar is: 5x = 5 × 6 = 30 years

Explanation

The active delta of the Ganga River in India is situated in the southernmost portion of West Bengal, comprising the districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. Geographically, the Bengal Delta is classified into three distinct zones based on the stage of river and land formation: the moribund delta, the mature delta, and the active delta. In the active delta zone, delta formation is a continuous, ongoing process where the rivers still carry large amounts of silt and regularly deposit sediments. This leads to the creation of new landmasses and islands along the coastal belt and estuarine areas of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas.

Explanation

Badruddin Tyabji was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress during its third annual session held in Madras in December 1887, making him the first Muslim to hold this prestigious position. A distinguished lawyer and one of the founding members of the Bombay Presidency Association, his leadership during this session played a crucial role in shaping the inclusive, multi-faith character of the early Indian national movement.

Explanation

Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting of water and acetic acid, which has the chemical formula CH₃COOH. It is typically produced through a two-step fermentation process where sugars are first converted into ethanol, and then acetic acid bacteria oxidize the ethanol into acetic acid. Standard household vinegar generally contains a concentration of 5% to 8% acetic acid by volume, making it a dilute solution of acetic acid.

Explanation

The Global Wildlife Programme conference, hosted by India in New Delhi in October 2017, served as the platform for launching key national environmental initiatives. During the inaugural day of this conference, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released both the third National Wildlife Action Plan for the period 2017 to 2031 and the SECURE Himalaya project. The National Wildlife Action Plan outlines the strategic roadmap for wildlife conservation by adopting a landscape-level approach and integrating climate change mitigation. Simultaneously, the SECURE Himalaya project was launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme to ensure the conservation of high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems, protect endangered species like the snow leopard, and secure sustainable livelihoods for local communities in the region.

Explanation

The Dogras are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group whose traditional homeland, known as the Duggar region, is located in the Jammu division. This region geographically extends from the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal Range in the north to the edge of the Punjab plains in the south. The Dogra people predominantly speak the Dogri language, which is one of the recognized languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and have a rich cultural and martial heritage in this specific geographic belt.

Explanation

Subhash Chandra Bose founded the All India Forward Bloc on May 3, 1939. This political party emerged as a faction within the Indian National Congress after Bose resigned from the Congress presidency following the Tripuri session due to mounting ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the conservative leadership. The faction was created to unite all left-wing and progressive elements within the nationalist movement, aiming to rally the masses for a more radical and uncompromising struggle against British colonial rule.

Explanation

Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016, during a ceremony held at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Having dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and was previously honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. Her path to sainthood was completed after the Vatican officially recognized two miraculous healings attributed to her intercession.

Explanation

To determine the seating arrangement, we can place the 8 persons on a circle with positions numbered 1 to 8 in a clockwise direction. Since all persons face the centre of the table, a clockwise movement represents the left direction, and a counter-clockwise movement represents the right direction.

Let F be seated at position 1.

D is second to the left of F, which means moving 2 positions clockwise from F. Thus, D is at position 3.

D is third to the right of H, which means H is three positions clockwise from D. Thus, H is at position 6.

A is second to the right of F, which means moving 2 positions counter-clockwise from F. Thus, A is at position 7. This is consistent with A being an immediate neighbour of H (at position 6).

F (at position 1) is third to the right of B, which means B is three positions clockwise from F. Thus, B is at position 4.

C is second to the right of B, which means moving 2 positions counter-clockwise from B. Thus, C is at position 2.

At this point, positions 5 and 8 are vacant. G is not an immediate neighbour of F, so G cannot occupy position 8 (which is adjacent to F at position 1). Therefore, G must be at position 5, leaving E to occupy position 8.

The final clockwise seating arrangement starting from F at 1 is: F (1), C (2), D (3), B (4), G (5), H (6), A (7), and E (8).

The person to the immediate left (clockwise direction) of A (position 7) is E (position 8).

Explanation

According to the Census of India 2011, North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal is the second most populated district in the country, recording a population of 10,009,781. The most populated district in India is Thane in Maharashtra, which recorded a population of 11,060,148 in the same census.

Explanation

The Lahore Resolution, adopted on March 24, 1940, during the three-day general session of the All India Muslim League in Lahore, is widely known as the Pakistan Resolution. This historic declaration formally demanded the creation of independent sovereign states for Muslims in the northwestern and eastern zones of British India, where Muslims were in a demographic majority. Presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq and championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the resolution marked a decisive shift from seeking constitutional safeguards for Muslims within a united India to demanding a separate, sovereign nation-state, which eventually led to the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

Explanation

On January 6, 2016, North Korea announced that it had successfully conducted its first miniaturized hydrogen bomb test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. The announcement marked a major escalation in the country's nuclear weapons program. This was subsequently followed by another thermonuclear test on September 3, 2017, in which North Korea claimed to have successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Explanation

The first premise states that Tanushree is a dancer. The second premise states that all dancers are young ladies. By combining these two statements, since Tanushree is a member of the category of dancers, and every dancer is a young lady, it logically follows that Tanushree is a young lady. Therefore, she is a young lady dancer.

Explanation

The Lushai Hills, also known as the Mizo Hills, are a mountain range in the northeastern states of Mizoram and Tripura in India. These hills form an integral part of the Patkai-Arakan Yoma mountain range system, which serves as a natural and geopolitical boundary separating India and Myanmar.

Explanation

The Mountbatten Plan, announced on June 3, 1947, provided a concrete framework for the partition of British India and the transfer of power to two independent dominions: India and Pakistan. The primary political goal of the Muslim League was the establishment of a separate, sovereign homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Since the plan formally conceded this demand by outlining the creation of Pakistan, the Muslim League accepted it.

Explanation

Buddha Charita, an epic biography of Gautama Buddha written in the form of a Sanskrit Mahakavya, was composed by the eminent philosopher, poet, and dramatist Ashvaghosha in the early second century CE. The text beautifully narrates the life of Siddhartha Gautama from his birth to his attainment of ultimate liberation. Ashvaghosha lived during the Kushana period and served as a spiritual advisor to the great Emperor Kanishka, contributing significantly to the literature of Mahayana Buddhism.

Explanation

In the evening before sunset, the sun is in the West, which means all shadows are cast towards the East. Since Amal's shadow is exactly to his right side, his right side must be pointing towards the East. A person whose right side points East is facing North. Since Ajoy and Amal are talking face to face, they face opposite directions, meaning Ajoy is facing South.

Explanation

The Dhaka Anushilan Samiti was founded in November 1905 under the leadership of Pulin Behari Das (Pulin Das) as a branch of the main Anushilan Samiti. Following a promotional tour of East Bengal by barrister Pramatha Nath Mitra and nationalist leader Bipin Chandra Pal, Pulin Das stepped forward to lead the Dhaka division.

Under his leadership, the Dhaka branch became highly organized and grew rapidly, eventually establishing over 500 branches across Eastern Bengal. It focused on recruiting and training youth in physical culture, lathi play, sword fighting, and revolutionary ideologies to challenge British colonial rule.

Explanation

Rohilkhand is a historical and geographical region located in northern and northwestern Uttar Pradesh, lying on the upper Ganges alluvial plains. It is named after the Rohilla Pathans, an Afghan tribe that established control over the area in the 18th century. The region is bounded by the Ganges River to the south and west, and the Himalayan foothills to the north. It traditionally comprises major districts such as Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Bijnor, Budaun, Pilibhit, and Shahjahanpur.

Explanation

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2015 was conferred upon the veteran actor and director Manoj Kumar. He received this prestigious honour, which is India's highest award in cinema presented annually by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for lifetime contribution, at the 63rd National Film Awards ceremony held in 2016. Popularly known as Bharat Kumar, he is widely recognized for his patriotic roles and significant contributions to the Indian film industry through landmark films such as Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.

Explanation

Let the first pipe be A and the second pipe be B. The rates of filling for pipes A and B are 1/20 and 1/30 of the cistern capacity per minute, respectively.

Let the first pipe A be turned off after t minutes. During these first t minutes, both pipes A and B work together. After pipe A is turned off, pipe B works alone for 10 more minutes to fill the remaining part of the cistern.

The sum of the work done in both phases equals the total capacity of the cistern, which is represented by 1:

t ( ¹⁄₂₀ + ¹⁄₃₀ ) + 10 ( ¹⁄₃₀ ) = 1

t ( (3 + 2)/(60) ) + ⅓ = 1

⁵ᵗ⁄₆₀ = 1 - ⅓

ᵗ⁄₁₂ = ⅔

t = (2 × 12)/(3)

t = 8 minutes

Explanation

Begum Hazrat Mahal led the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow. After the British annexed the kingdom of Awadh in 1856 and exiled Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, she took charge of the affairs of the state. She crowned her minor son, Birjis Qadr, as the Nawab of Awadh and actively organized the uprising against the British forces in Lucknow, leading the troops in person and holding out against the siege for several months.

Explanation

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated Child Rights Week from 16th to 20th November 2017 under the name Hausla, 2017. India celebrates National Children's Day on 14th November and International Child Rights Day is celebrated on 20th November. The period between these two significant days was observed as Child Rights Week to host an inter-Child Care Institution (CCI) festival, allowing children residing in these institutions across the country to showcase their talents in events like Bal Sansad, painting, athletics, football, chess, and speech writing.

Explanation

Squinting is a physical movement or action specifically associated with the eye, where the eyelids are partially closed to improve focus or adapt to bright light. Similarly, squeezing is a physical action performed primarily using the hand, where one grips and applies pressure with the fingers and palm. Therefore, the relationship between squeeze and hand corresponds exactly to the relationship between squint and eye.

Explanation

India secured the first rank in the 16th Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) published by the global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney in 2017. Titled "The Age of Focus", the index ranked the top 30 developing countries for retail investment worldwide. India overtook China to claim the top position, driven by a rapidly expanding economy, relaxation of foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, and a consumption boom fueled by a growing middle class and rapid urbanization. Additionally, government initiatives supporting cashless transactions and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) contributed significantly to boosting India's retail sector attractiveness.

Explanation

Rashbehari Bose founded the Indian Independence League in 1942 at a conference in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was established to mobilize Indian expatriates, particularly those living in East and Southeast Asia, to support the struggle for India's independence from British colonial rule. Rashbehari Bose served as its president and later invited Subhas Chandra Bose to East Asia, subsequently handing over the leadership of the League as well as the Indian National Army to him in 1943.

Explanation

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2017 was awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro. The Swedish Academy praised his work, stating that in novels of great emotional force, he has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world. He is highly acclaimed for his masterpiece novels such as The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go.

Explanation

The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949. This landmark date is explicitly mentioned in the Preamble, which states that the members of the Constituent Assembly adopted, enacted, and gave to themselves the Constitution on this day. While some specific provisions relating to citizenship, elections, provisional parliament, and temporary measures came into force immediately on November 26, 1949, the remaining provisions of the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950. To commemorate the historical adoption, November 26 is celebrated annually across the nation as Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas.

Explanation

Let P, Q, and R be the three values. According to the given conditions, P is 60% greater than Q and 30% greater than R. This can be represented mathematically as:

P = 1.6Q ⟹ Q = (P)/(1.6)

P = 1.3R ⟹ R = (P)/(1.3)

The ratio of Q to R is given by:

(Q)/(R) = ((P)/(1.6)) / ((P)/(1.3)) = (1.3)/(1.6) = 13/16

Multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by 10 simplifies the ratio of Q and R to 13:16.

Explanation

Acharya J. B. Kripalani presided over the Meerut session of the Indian National Congress in November 1946 and remained in office as the Congress President through the transfer of power on August 15, 1947. He served as the head of the party during this critical juncture of India's independence, holding the post until his resignation in November 1947.

Explanation

The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is an extra-constitutional post that has no mention in the Constitution of India. It is created by the government of the day for political expediency, stability in a coalition, or to signify the high ranking of a senior cabinet minister. The individual appointed to this post takes the oath of office as a Union Minister of the Cabinet rank and does not possess any specific constitutional powers or responsibilities distinct from other cabinet ministers.

Explanation

Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate in Economics, authored the book "The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity", published in 2005. The book is a collection of essays discussing India's history and identity, focusing heavily on the country's long-standing traditions of public debate, intellectual pluralism, and heterodoxy. Sen outlines how this argumentative nature of Indian discourse has historically shaped its democratic institutions, secularism, and social development.

Explanation

Megasthenes was a Greek ethnographer and diplomat who was sent as an ambassador by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, in Pataliputra around 302 BC. During his stay in India, he compiled his observations of Indian society, administration, and geography in his famous work Indica, which provides one of the earliest and most detailed foreign accounts of ancient India.

Explanation

Article 40 of the Constitution of India, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, directs the State to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. This article embodies the Gandhian principle of self-rule and grassroots democracy, laying the foundation for local self-governance in India.

Explanation

A is the father of B, and F is the sister of B, which implies F and B are siblings. Therefore, A is the father of F. Since C is the brother of F's father A, C is the paternal uncle of F. This establishes the relationship between F and C as niece and uncle.

Explanation

Let the true cost price of the goods be Rs. 1 per gram.

When the dealer defrauds the seller by 20%, he uses a forged weight to take 1200 grams of goods while paying for only 1000 grams. Therefore, the actual cost price of 1200 grams is Rs. 1000.

When the dealer defrauds the buyer by 20%, he uses a forged weight to give only 800 grams of goods while charging for 1000 grams. Therefore, the selling price of 800 grams is Rs. 1000, which means the selling price of 1 gram is Rs. 1.25.

The dealer sells the entire 1200 grams of goods he acquired. Total Selling Price of 1200 grams = 1200 × 1.25 = Rs. 1500.

The dealer's true gain percentage is calculated as: Gain Percentage = (Total Selling Price - Total Cost Price)/(Total Cost Price) × 100 Gain Percentage = (1500 - 1000)/(1000) × 100 = 50%

Explanation

The institution of Ombudsman officially originated in Sweden in the year 1809. The Swedish Parliament created the office of Justitieombudsmannen, or Parliamentary Ombudsman, as an independent authority to supervise how judges, government officials, and other public servants applied the laws. This establishment served to protect the rights of citizens against administrative abuses, negligence, and malpractices, setting a precedent for administrative accountability that was subsequently adopted by many countries globally.

Explanation

According to the data compiled by the Market Research Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Tamil Nadu emerged as the top tourist destination in the country for both domestic and foreign tourists in 2016.

The state recorded the highest number of domestic tourist visits as well as the highest number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2016, driven by its rich cultural heritage, famous temple towns, historical monuments, and scenic hill stations.

Explanation

To find the red covered new law report book, we determine which book satisfies all three conditions:

Cover color: Books B, C, and E have blue covers, which means the remaining books A, D, and F have red covers.

Age: Books D and F are specifically mentioned as new books.

Subject: Books A, C, and D are specified as law reports.

By identifying the book common to all three groups, we see that book D has a red cover, is a new book, and is a law report.

Explanation

Under Article 280(1) of the Constitution of India, the Finance Commission is established by the President of India and consists of a Chairman and four other members. These members are appointed by the President and hold office for such period as specified by the President in the order. Parliament has the authority to determine the qualifications of the members of the Commission and the manner in which they are selected, which it did through the Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951.

Explanation

To compare decimal numbers, we can align their decimal points and equate the number of decimal places by appending trailing zeros to the right of each number. This allows for a direct comparison of their place values.

Expressing each of the given numbers with three decimal places, we obtain: 2.002 2.020 2.200 2.222

By comparing the digits in the tenths, hundredths, and thousandths places from left to right, we find that: 2.002 < 2.020 < 2.200 < 2.222

This gives the correct ascending order as: 2.002 < 2.02 < 2.2 < 2.222

Explanation

The ancient kingdom of Magadha was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of ancient India. Its core territory lay south of the Ganges, covering the modern-day districts of Patna and Gaya in Bihar. The region benefited immensely from the fertile alluvial plains of the Ganges and Son rivers, which supported agriculture and dense populations. Magadha's first capital was Girivraja or Rajgriha (modern Rajgir), which was fortified by hills, and its capital was later moved to Pataliputra (modern Patna) during the reign of Udayin due to its strategic and commercial advantages.

Explanation

Sanjoy Kothari, a retired 1978-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, was appointed as the Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind in July 2017. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared his appointment. Prior to this role, Kothari served as the Chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board and has also served as the Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

Explanation

According to the given instructions, the mathematical operations are substituted as follows: stands for multiplication

• stands for division × stands for addition ÷ (represented as ÷ in the text) stands for subtraction

Substituting these operators into the equation: 36 - 6 + 3 × 5 ÷ 3 = 74

The equation becomes: 36 × 6 ÷ 3 + 5 - 3

Applying the BODMAS rule, division is performed first: 6 ÷ 3 = 2

The expression becomes: 36 × 2 + 5 - 3

Next, multiplication is performed: 36 × 2 = 72

The expression becomes: 72 + 5 - 3

Finally, performing addition and subtraction from left to right: 72 + 5 - 3 = 77 - 3 = 74

Explanation

Halimah Yacob was sworn in as the eighth President of Singapore on September 14, 2017. She became the country's first female President, following her declaration as president-elect in a walkover as she was the sole qualifying candidate. Prior to this landmark achievement, she had also served as Singapore's first female Speaker of Parliament from 2013 to 2017.

Explanation

Switzerland is India's largest source of gold imports, consistently accounting for the highest share of the country's total imported gold by value. Switzerland serves as the premier global refining hub for precious metals, from which India imports refined gold bullion to meet its high domestic consumer demand for jewelry and investment.

Explanation

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthday is celebrated on January 23. In the leap year 2000, February had 29 days. To find the day on Independence Day (August 15, 2000), we calculate the total number of odd days between January 23 and August 15.

The number of remaining days in each month and their corresponding odd days (days modulo 7) are: January: 8 days (31 - 23 = 8), which gives 8 7 = 1 odd day February: 29 days, which gives 29 7 = 1 odd day March: 31 days, which gives 31 7 = 3 odd days April: 30 days, which gives 30 7 = 2 odd days May: 31 days, which gives 31 7 = 3 odd days June: 30 days, which gives 30 7 = 2 odd days July: 31 days, which gives 31 7 = 3 odd days August: 15 days, which gives 15 7 = 1 odd day

Summing the odd days: 1 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 16 odd days

Reducing this modulo 7: 16 7 = 2 odd days

Adding 2 odd days to Wednesday (the day of January 23) results in Friday.

Explanation

The Tenth Session of the India-Jordan Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC) was held in New Delhi on July 4 and 5, 2017. The conference was co-chaired by Nirmala Sitharaman, the then Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and Yarub Qudah, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply of Jordan. During the meeting, both countries signed a revised Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement to promote and diversify bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

Explanation

Saddle Peak is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, rising to an elevation of approximately 732 meters. Situated on North Andaman Island, it is surrounded by the Saddle Peak National Park, which is renowned for its lush tropical evergreen forests and diverse endemic species of flora and fauna.

Explanation

Bina Agarwal, an eminent Indian economist and professor of development economics and environment, was awarded the prestigious International Balzan Prize in 2017 under the Gender Studies category. She was recognized for her pioneering work challenging traditional economic concepts through a gender lens, particularly by highlighting the critical yet often invisible role and contribution of women in Indian agriculture. Her extensive research has deeply analyzed gender inequality, women's property and land rights, and agricultural development in India.

Explanation

By analyzing the statements, we can determine the attributes of each individual. According to statement (ii), the hardworking individuals are Tom, Brown, and Jack. According to statement (iv), the ambitious individuals are Tom, Dick, and Jack. Since Harry is not mentioned in either of these statements, he is neither hardworking nor ambitious.

Explanation

In August 2017, the parliament of Tajikistan passed amendments to the law on streamlining traditions, celebrations, and ceremonies, which legally mandated that citizens stick to traditional national clothes and culture. This legislative move by the secular government of the Muslim-majority Central Asian nation was designed to curb the wearing of Islamic garments, particularly the hijab, which the state authorities characterized as promoting an alien culture contrary to traditional Tajik customs.

Explanation

Karst landforms are formed by the chemical weathering and dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone and dolomite. In West Bengal, the Buxa and Jainti hills in the Jalpaiguri district contain extensive dolomite and limestone formations belonging to the Buxa Series. Under the influence of heavy rainfall, rainwater reacts with the atmospheric carbon dioxide to form weak carbonic acid, which slowly dissolves the dolomitic rocks. This process creates distinctive karst features like caves, sinkholes, and underground drainage channels.

Explanation

According to Maxwell's equations and the theory of electromagnetism, all electromagnetic waves travel at the exact same constant speed in a vacuum, regardless of their frequency or wavelength. This speed is a fundamental physical constant, denoted by c, and is approximately equal to 3 × 10⁸ m/s (exactly 299,792,458 m/s). The speed is determined solely by the properties of the medium of propagation, and for a vacuum, it is given by the formula c = (1)/(√(μ₀ ε₀)), where μ₀ is the permeability of free space and ε₀ is the permittivity of free space.

Explanation

Gross National Product is the total market value of all final goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a given period. Under the expenditure method, it is calculated using the formula GNP = C + I + G + (X - M) + NFIA, where C represents private consumption, I represents private investment, G represents government purchases of goods, (X - M) is net exports, and NFIA is the net factor income from abroad or net foreign investment. Per capita income is a derived metric obtained by dividing the total national income by the population of the country. It is a measure of average income per person rather than an input or component required to calculate the Gross National Product itself.

Explanation

The code is determined by direct letter substitution from the given examples. By comparing the letters in the source words to their coded equivalents:

From DEVICE: D maps to B E maps to A V maps to R I maps to E

From ORNATE: O maps to Z

Applying this substitution to the word VIDEO: V becomes R I becomes E D becomes B E becomes A O becomes Z

This yields the code REBAZ.

Explanation

Dolphin's Nose is a massive, prominent rocky headland located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, that resembles the shape of a dolphin's snout. Projecting into the Bay of Bengal, this geographical feature acts as a powerful natural barrier and shield, protecting the inner harbour of Visakhapatnam Port from intense cyclonic winds, heavy gales, and storm surges. This natural protection creates a calm and stable basin, which was instrumental in the establishment and successful growth of the Visakhapatnam Port, as well as the Hindustan Shipyard Limited and the shipbuilding industry in the region.

Explanation

The speed of sound in a medium is determined by the formula v = √((E)/(ρ)), where E represents the elastic modulus of the medium and ρ represents its density. In solids, the constituent atoms or molecules are closely packed and bound by strong intermolecular forces, which gives solids a very high elastic modulus (stiffness). This high stiffness vastly outweighs the effect of density, resulting in a significantly larger ratio of elasticity to density. Since sound is a mechanical longitudinal wave that propagates through the successive collisions and vibrations of adjacent particles, these strong bonds and tight packing in solids allow the acoustic energy to transfer extremely rapidly from particle to particle.

Explanation

The Hindoo Patriot was an English-language weekly newspaper published from Calcutta. Harish Chandra Mukherjee joined the newspaper soon after its establishment in 1853 and became its editor in 1855, serving until his death in 1861. Under his courageous editorship, the newspaper became renowned for its fearless journalism and active support of the peasantry, particularly during the Indigo Revolt of 1859–1860, where it consistently exposed the exploitation and brutality of European indigo planters in Bengal.

Explanation

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on January 1, 2015, through a resolution passed by the Union Cabinet. It replaced the Planning Commission, which had been created via a similar cabinet resolution in 1950. Because it was established by an executive order of the government rather than through a constitutional amendment or an Act of Parliament, NITI Aayog is a non-statutory, extra-constitutional body that functions as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India.

Explanation

Barren Island, situated in the Andaman Sea, is the only active volcano in India and the only active volcano along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar. It is located about 138 kilometers northeast of the union territory's capital, Port Blair. The volcano lies along the active tectonic boundary where the Indian Plate subducts beneath the Burmese Plate. It has recorded several eruptions since its first documented eruption in 1787, with significant volcanic activity occurring in recent decades, including a major eruptive phase in 2017.

Explanation

The concentration of water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere is highly variable. It ranges from nearly 0 percent in extremely cold and dry polar regions to about 4 percent in warm, humid tropical zones. On a global scale, the average concentration of water vapor in the air at sea level is approximately 1 percent (and about 0.4 percent over the entire vertical column of the atmosphere).

Explanation

In September 2017, the cabinet of the Rajasthan state government approved the Policy for Public Private Partnership in School Education, 2017. Under this policy, the state government aimed to hand over the management and operations of 300 secondary and senior-secondary government schools to private partners on a pilot basis to improve the quality of education and leverage private sector expertise.

Explanation

In the landmark judgment of Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010), the Supreme Court of India ruled that the involuntary administration of lie-detector tests, brain mapping, and narco-analysis violates the fundamental rights of an individual. The Court held that forcing a person to undergo these scientific techniques violates the right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) because it compromises the choice of remaining silent and compels the subject to convey personal knowledge. Furthermore, the Court established that such coercive procedures violate the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, which encompasses the right to privacy, mental integrity, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Explanation

After attaining enlightenment, Gautama Buddha traveled to Sarnath, located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. It was in the Deer Park of Sarnath that he delivered his first sermon to his five former companions. This pivotal event is known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, or the Turning of the Wheel of Law, which established the foundations of the Buddhist teachings (Dharma) and the monastic community (Sangha).

Explanation

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, have an average lifespan of 120 days in the human circulatory system. During this period, they continuously transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. As they age, their cell membranes become fragile and less flexible, making them susceptible to rupture as they pass through tight capillary networks. Senescent red blood cells are ultimately recognized and destroyed by macrophages in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow through the process of phagocytosis, allowing their constituent elements like iron to be recycled for the production of new cells.

Explanation

The district-wise execution of the Green Revolution in India was built upon two major intensive programs: the Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP, referenced as IADA in the options) and the Intensive Agricultural Area Programme (IAAP).

Launched in 1960–61, the IADP introduced a concentrated package approach to agriculture by supplying modern inputs, technical advice, and credit to selected districts with assured irrigation. To expand this success, the government initiated the IAAP in 1964–65 to cover additional areas and districts across the country. These twin initiatives laid the localized, district-level framework of input-intensive farming, which paved the way for the nationwide adoption of High-Yielding Variety seeds and the official onset of the Green Revolution.

Explanation

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 added Part IX to the Constitution of India, which is entitled as The Panchayats. It also added the Eleventh Schedule, consisting of 29 functional items of the Panchayats. This landmark legislation provided constitutional status and protection to the Panchayati Raj institutions, establishing a three-tier system of local self-government at the village, intermediate, and district levels across the country.

Explanation

Germany won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup by defeating Chile 1-0 in the final match played at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on July 2, 2017. The decisive goal was scored by Lars Stindl in the 20th minute of the match. This victory marked Germany's first and only FIFA Confederations Cup title in the history of the tournament.

Explanation

When a non-volatile solute like salt is added to pure water, it lowers the vapor pressure of the solvent. For a liquid to boil, its vapor pressure must equal the external atmospheric pressure. Because the vapor pressure of the salt solution is lower than that of pure water at any given temperature, a higher temperature is required to raise its vapor pressure to equal the atmospheric pressure. This phenomenon is known as boiling point elevation, a colligative property described by the formula Δ T_b = i K_b m, where Δ T_b is the increase in boiling point, i is the van 't Hoff factor of the solute, K_b is the ebullioscopic constant of the solvent, and m is the molality of the solution. Adding salt increases the concentration of solute particles, which directly causes the boiling point of the water to increase.

Explanation

The Ring Road in New Delhi serves as a critical bypass route designed to streamline traffic flow across the national capital. By circling the core areas of the city, it allows commuter and transit traffic to circumvent the highly congested main city crossings. Furthermore, it ensures that heavy commercial vehicles and long-distance transport can travel across different parts of the region without having to enter the densely populated city centre, thereby significantly mitigating inner-city traffic congestion, transit delays, and vehicular pollution.

Explanation

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), financial inclusion is a comprehensive process that goes beyond simply providing banking access. It aims to ensure that appropriate financial products and services are accessible to all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and low-income groups, at an affordable cost in a fair and transparent manner.

Under the RBI framework, a sustainable financial inclusion ecosystem is built upon three crucial pillars. First, greater consumer protection is essential for newly included customers to shield them from financial fraud and exploitative practices. Second, an easily accessed and speedy grievance redressal process is necessary to resolve customer complaints swiftly and build systemic trust. Third, expanded efforts on financial literacy are critical to educating the public about financial planning and safe banking habits, making the inclusion process robust and meaningful.

Explanation

Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, was referred to as Sandrocottus in classical Greek accounts, including the works of historians like Strabo, Megasthenes, Arrian, and Plutarch. In 1793, Sir William Jones first identified the Greek name Sandrocottus as Chandragupta Maurya, which provided a crucial chronological anchor sheet for dating events in ancient Indian history in relation to Greek historical records.

Explanation

Mongolia launched its first-ever satellite, MongolSat-1, in April 2017. Under a co-branding agreement with the satellite operator Asia Broadcast Satellite, Mongolia acquired capacity on the ABS-2A satellite to expand its telecommunications, broadband, and digital satellite television services. It also assists the landlocked country in map-making, disaster preparedness, and scientific space research.

Explanation

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission is a major city-modernization scheme launched by the Central Government to improve urban infrastructure and governance. Because it is exclusively an urban renewal program, its funding and development projects are strictly confined to cities, with no provision for rural areas or villages. The scheme heavily focuses on upgrading urban transport systems and infrastructure within cities.

Explanation

The second meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog was held on July 15, 2015, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. During this meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized the eradication of poverty by stating that the Centre and the States must move together to end poverty. Furthermore, he reiterated the vision of his government that state units should be the focus of all development efforts as part of the Team India initiative. These key points underscore the double focus on cooperative federalism and poverty elimination.

Explanation

Humans are diphyodont, meaning they develop two sets of teeth during their lifetime. The first set of temporary teeth is known as deciduous teeth, primary teeth, or milk teeth. The dental formula representing these milk teeth in each half of the upper and lower jaw is given by:

(2, 1, 0, 2)/(2, 1, 0, 2) × 2 = 20

In this formula, the numbers represent incisors, canines, premolars, and molars respectively. This indicates that each quadrant of the mouth contains 2 incisors, 1 canine, 0 premolars, and 2 molars, resulting in 5 teeth per quadrant. Multiplying this by the 4 quadrants of the mouth yields a total of 20 milk teeth, which eventually fall out and are replaced by the permanent adult teeth.

Explanation

India achieved the 100th position in the FIFA rankings in February 2018, which was a "latest" position around the exam year. While India's ranking fluctuated, 100th was a significant and recent position for India during that period. 94th was India's highest-ever ranking, achieved in 1996, not a "latest" ranking in 2018.

Explanation

A dry port, also known as an inland port, is an inland terminal directly connected to a seaport by road or rail, acting as a center for transshipment of cargo to inland destinations. In West Bengal, these major dry ports and inland container depots are established at Kolkata and Haldia. They facilitate container handling, warehousing, and customs clearance, thereby streamlining the movement of goods and relieving the logistical pressure on maritime ports.

Explanation

Defence expenditure is classified as non-development expenditure because it does not directly lead to the creation of productive economic assets or immediate social development. In public finance, non-development expenditure consists of essential spending required for the general maintenance, administration, security, and debt-servicing of the state. This includes expenses on defence, interest payments, pensions, and administrative services, distinguishing them from developmental outlays that directly enhance economic or social infrastructure.

Explanation

By mapping the digits directly to their corresponding letters based on the given words:

From PURCHASE represented by 73429186: 7 matches P 4 matches R 2 matches C 8 matches S 6 matches E

From ORDER represented by 54064: 5 matches O

Applying these mappings to the code 7452688: 7 becomes P 4 becomes R 5 becomes O 2 becomes C 6 becomes E 8 becomes S 8 becomes S

Combining these letters in sequence gives the word PROCESS.

Explanation

The circle is the odd one out because it is a closed curved shape with no straight sides or vertices. It represents a continuous curve defined by a set of points equidistant from a central focus, which distinguishes it geometrically from rectilinear figures or polygons that are constructed entirely from straight line segments joined at corners.

Explanation

Place the six persons at positions 1 to 6 in a clockwise order around the hexagonal table. Since Arup is opposite Belal, let Arup be at position 1 and Belal at position 4. Belal is between Chirag and Derek, which means Chirag and Derek must occupy positions 3 and 5. Arup is between Ela and Farook, meaning Ela and Farook must occupy positions 2 and 6. For Ela to be to the left of Derek when facing the center of the table, Derek must be at position 3, making his immediate left position 2. Thus, Ela is at position 2, Farook is at position 6, and Chirag is at position 5. The opposite positions are 1 and 4, 2 and 5, and 3 and 6, meaning Chirag at position 5 faces Ela at position 2.

Explanation

The Kosi river is infamous for its frequent course changes and massive sediment load. This large amount of silt is carried downstream into the Ganga river system, contributing significantly to siltation in the Hooghly river, which is crucial for the navigability of Kolkata Port. Increased siltation reduces the depth of the channel, making it difficult for large ships to access the port, thus contributing to its decline.

Explanation

The Breakdown Plan was proposed by Viceroy Lord Wavell in 1946 as a contingency strategy for the British withdrawal from India. Amidst the political deadlock and growing communal tensions between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, Wavell formulated this plan to ensure an orderly, phased retreat of British administrative and military personnel. The proposal suggested handing over the southern, Hindu-majority provinces to the Congress first, while maintaining British control in the northern, Muslim-majority provinces before a final exit. Although the British Government in London ultimately rejected the Breakdown Plan, it highlighted Wavell's efforts to manage the transfer of power under highly volatile conditions.

Explanation

The second meeting of the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council, held in New Delhi on September 11, 2017, was co-chaired by India's then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani (Sahabddin Rabbai). During this meeting, both nations agreed to strengthen security cooperation, enhance connectivity, and embark on a new development partnership involving various infrastructure and capacity-building projects.

Explanation

Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, who served as the Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943, sent a personal telegram to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 31, 1942. In this communication, he described the Quit India Movement as by far the most serious rebellion since 1857, noting that its gravity and extent had been concealed from the world for reasons of military security during World War II. The movement witnessed widespread civil disobedience, sabotage of communication networks, attacks on railway lines and police stations, and massive popular participation including violent peasant uprisings, which threatened British colonial rule in an unprecedented manner.

Explanation

The Bhagirathi river, which is a major distributary of the Ganges, flows from north to south through the Murshidabad district, effectively bisecting it into two distinct physical and geographical halves. The region to the west of the Bhagirathi river is known as Rarh, which is characterized by high, undulating land composed of hard clay and lateritic red soil. The region to the east of the river is known as Bagri, which consists of low-lying, fertile alluvial plains that are prone to seasonal inundation.

Explanation

In the additive color system, which applies to light emitted directly from a source, red, green, and blue are the primary colors. Additive color mixing starts with darkness and adds light of different wavelengths to create colors. When red, green, and blue light of equal intensity are projected together and superimposed, they cover the entire range of the visible spectrum. This combination simultaneously stimulates all three types of color-receptive cone cells in the human eye, resulting in the perception of white light.

Explanation

Kitab-ul-Hind was written by the Persian scholar Al-Biruni in Arabic during the 11th century. He accompanied Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni to the Indian subcontinent, where he spent years studying Sanskrit, Hindu philosophy, literature, and scientific texts. His work, Kitab-ul-Hind (also known as Tahqiq-i-Hind), is a detailed and objective account divided into 80 chapters, covering Indian sciences, mathematics, astronomy, social customs, religion, laws, and philosophy.

Explanation

Education was placed under the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. This amendment transferred education from the State List to Entry 25 of the Concurrent List. As a result of this constitutional classification, both the Parliament of India and the state legislatures have joint jurisdiction to enact laws concerning education, including technical education, medical education, vocational training, and universities.

Explanation

Germany launched its Cyber and Information Space Command (KdoCIR) in April 2017, marking its first dedicated military cyber division. This unit was established with the mandate for both defensive and offensive cyber operations, including against foreign threats and terrorist groups like ISIS.

Explanation

The largest arsenic de-contamination and purification plant in West Bengal is located at Farakka, situated in the Murshidabad district.

Groundwater arsenic contamination is a major ecological and public health concern in West Bengal, severely affecting several districts along the Ganga-Bhagirathi river system. To address this crisis, a large-scale water treatment and purification facility was established at Farakka. This plant treats and purifies contaminated water to deliver safe, arsenic-free drinking water to the local population, mitigating the risk of chronic arsenic poisoning and associated health issues in the surrounding region.

Explanation

Varahamihira was a distinguished ancient Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain during the Gupta era. He authored the Brihatsamhita, an encyclopedic Sanskrit work that systematically covers a vast range of subjects of human interest, including astronomy, planetary movements, eclipses, weather forecasting, agriculture, architecture, gemology, and domestic relations.

Explanation

Sikkim officially joined the Indian Union as a full-fledged state on 16 May 1975. This was accomplished through the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1975, which amended the First Schedule of the Constitution of India to include Sikkim as the 22nd state, following a historic referendum where the Sikkimese electorate voted overwhelmingly to abolish the monarchy and integrate with India.

Explanation

Short-sightedness, or myopia, is a vision defect in which a person can see near objects clearly but distant objects appear blurry. This occurs because the eyeball is too long or the lens system of the eye is too strong, causing light rays from distant objects to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. A concave lens, which is a diverging lens, is used to correct this condition. The concave lens diverges the incoming light rays before they enter the eye, thereby shifting the focal point further back so that the image is formed precisely on the retina.

Explanation

Under the old National Highway numbering system of India, traveling between Kolkata and Mumbai via Agra involves two major trunk routes. The first leg from Kolkata to Agra is covered by NH-2, while the second leg connecting Agra to Mumbai is designated as NH-3. NH-3, historically referred to as the Agra–Bombay Road, is the crucial highway linking Agra to Mumbai on this route.

Explanation

The British author J. K. Rowling, widely known for her Harry Potter fantasy series, was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour on December 12, 2017. She was presented with the prestigious award by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, during an investiture ceremony held at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her outstanding services to literature and philanthropy. Founded by King George V in 1917, the Order of the Companions of Honour is an exclusive distinction limited to just 65 members at any one time, recognizing individuals who have made a major, lasting contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government.

Explanation

Skandagupta, who ruled the Gupta Empire from circa 455 to 467 CE, successfully repulsed the devastating invasion of the Hunas during the early years of his reign. This monumental military achievement is recorded in the Bhitari pillar inscription located in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. The inscription describes how Skandagupta fought valiantly to defeat the Hunas, thereby safeguarding the empire and restoring the shaken fortunes of the Gupta dynasty.

Explanation

Fiscal Deficit is defined as the total borrowing requirement of the government. Primary Deficit is defined as Fiscal Deficit minus interest payments. Therefore, Fiscal Deficit is equal to Primary Deficit plus Interest Payments (C). Option A is incorrect because it represents (non-debt receipts - total expenditure), which would be the negative of the fiscal deficit. Option B is also a correct way to define fiscal deficit by listing its financing components (Budget Deficit refers to the portion financed by the central bank/cash balances, combined with market borrowings and other liabilities). However, since option A is incorrect, option D "All of the above" cannot be the correct answer. Between B and C, C is a direct and unambiguous algebraic identity derived from the definition of primary deficit, making it a fundamentally correct and widely used relationship.

Explanation

The Appiko movement was launched in September 1983 in the Sirsi taluk of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, under the leadership of Pandurang Hegde. Inspired by the Himalayan Chipko movement, the term Appiko in Kannada means to hug, representing the practice of hugging trees to protect them from being felled by forest contractors. The movement aimed to protect the remaining tropical forests of the Western Ghats, restore the green cover, and promote the rational use of forest resources.

Explanation

During vigorous physical activity, the oxygen demand of the muscles exceeds the available oxygen supply, forcing muscle cells to switch to anaerobic respiration. In this anaerobic pathway, pyruvic acid is converted into lactic acid. The buildup of lactic acid in muscle fibers increases acidity by lowering the intracellular pH. This acidic environment inhibits key enzymes involved in energy production and impairs the binding of calcium ions to troponin, which restricts muscle contraction and leads to muscle fatigue.

Explanation

Lord Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, is widely regarded as the Father of Indian Railways. In his famous Railway Minute of 1853, he advocated for the rapid introduction and construction of a network of trunk railway lines connecting the major presidency towns and internal regions of India. His vision was driven by both strategic military advantages for rapid troop movement and economic interests to transport raw materials like cotton to ports for export. Under his administration, the first passenger train in India ran from Bombay to Thane on April 16, 1853, marking the beginning of the railway era in India.

Explanation

The third Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Distinguished Indologist Award for the year 2017 was conferred upon Japanese Professor Hiroshi Marui. The award was presented by President Ram Nath Kovind in November 2017 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It recognized his outstanding contribution to the study of Indian philosophy and Buddhist studies over a career spanning more than forty years, as well as his leadership as the President of the Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies.

Explanation

The book "I do what I do: On Reform, Rhetoric and Resolve" is written by Raghuram G. Rajan, who served as the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Published in September 2017, the book is a collection of his speeches, essays, and commentary delivered during his tenure as governor, explaining complex economic concepts and articulating his vision for India's financial system and economic reforms.

Explanation

Government expenditure in India was historically classified into plan and non-plan expenditure. Non-plan expenditure refers to the routine, developmental, and non-developmental expenditures of the government that are not covered under the five-year plans. It represents the obligatory, ongoing operational expenses required to run the state machinery and maintain existing assets. Expenditure on public administration, which includes administrative services, salaries of government employees, pensions, and office maintenance, constitutes a core component of non-plan expenditure as it is essential for day-to-day governance rather than the creation of new plan projects.

Explanation

Ram Sharan Sharma, popularly known as R. S. Sharma, was an eminent Indian historian who specialized in ancient and early medieval India. Following a Marxist historiographical approach, his pioneering research made critical contributions to the study of early Indian social structure, economic history, and state formation.

His notable publications include Sudras in Ancient India, Indian Feudalism, and Material Culture and Social Formations in Ancient India. He was also the founding Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and wrote the widely acclaimed textbook on ancient Indian history, which remains a standard reference for competitive exams.

Explanation

The oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is determined by the concentration of hemoglobin. Under normal physiological conditions, 1 gram of hemoglobin can bind with approximately 1.34 ml of oxygen. Since normal human blood contains about 15 grams of hemoglobin per 100 ml, the total oxygen carried by 100 ml of fully oxygenated human blood is calculated using the relation:

Oxygen content = Hemoglobin concentration × Oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin

Substituting the normal physiological values:

Oxygen content = 15 g/100 ml × 1.34 ml O₂/g ≈ 20.1 ml O₂

This demonstrates that 100 ml of pure, oxygenated blood normally carries approximately 20 ml of oxygen.

Explanation

Canara Bank launched its first digital branch, named CANDI, at Spencer Towers in Bengaluru. Designed to provide an end-to-end digital banking experience, this futuristic branch features advanced technology such as a humanoid robot to assist customers with queries, an instant selfie card-printing kiosk, and digital interactive walls. The initiative aims to promote paperless banking and enhance customer convenience through self-service channels.

Explanation

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on October 31, 1920, in Bombay to coordinate the activities of labor unions across India and represent working-class interests. Lala Lajpat Rai, a prominent leader of the Indian national movement, presided over this historic inaugural session and was elected as the first President of the organization. His association with the labor movement helped integrate trade unionism with the broader struggle for Indian independence.

Explanation

Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola, meaning the Chola who conquered the Ganga, to commemorate his successful military expedition to Northern India. His forces marched up to the Ganges river and defeated the Pala ruler, Mahipala. To celebrate this victory, he established a new capital city named Gangaikondacholapuram and constructed a grand temple dedicated to Shiva, filling its temple tank with the holy water of the Ganges brought from the north.

Explanation

The 2017 BWF World Championships were held in Glasgow, Scotland. Nozomi Okuhara of Japan clinched the women's singles title after defeating India's P.V. Sindhu in an exceptionally competitive and historic final match. The encounter lasted for 110 minutes, ending with a scoreline of 21-19, 20-22, 22-20, securing Okuhara her maiden World Championship gold medal.

Explanation

Aurobindo Ghosh authored the series of articles titled New Lamps for Old, which were published in the Bombay-based daily journal Indu Prakash between 1893 and 1894. In this series, he launched a systematic and sharp critique of the early Indian National Congress and its moderate leadership. He criticized their moderate methods of prayers, petitions, and protests as political mendicancy, arguing that such approaches were ineffective and disconnected from the masses of the country, thereby advocating for a more radical and self-reliant path towards national freedom.

Explanation

Whales are marine mammals belonging to the order Cetacea. Like all mammals, they are warm-blooded and breathe atmospheric oxygen rather than extracting dissolved oxygen from water. Consequently, whales possess well-developed lungs as their primary respiratory organs. To breathe, they must periodically surface to the water level and inhale air through their blowholes, which are modified nostrils located on the top of their heads. This air travels directly to their lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Explanation

Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj on September 24, 1873, in Pune, Maharashtra. The primary objective of this social reform society was to liberate the Shudra and Ati-Shudra communities from the socio-religious exploitation and dominance of the priestly and upper-caste classes. It actively promoted education among the marginalized sections, advocated for women's rights, and worked towards establishing a society based on equality and rationalism.

Explanation

The resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme was adopted during the Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress held in March 1931. This session was presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The draft of the resolution, prepared by Jawaharlal Nehru, outlined the civil liberties and socio-economic policies that would form the bedrock of future governance in independent India, marking a major milestone in the freedom struggle.

Explanation

Ghiyasuddin Balban, upon ascending the throne of Delhi, recognized that the powerful faction of forty Turkish nobles known as the Chahalgani posed a severe threat to the authority of the Sultan. Because Balban had originally been a member of this elite group, he understood their capacity for intrigue and king-making. To consolidate his sovereign power and restore the prestige of the crown, Balban systematically eliminated the influential nobles of the Chahalgani through execution, exile, and poisoning, successfully dismantling the oligarchy and establishing an absolute monarchy.

Explanation

The volume of a cylinder is given by the formula V = π r² h, where r is the radius and h is the height of the cylinder. Since the height h is kept constant, the volume V is directly proportional to the square of its radius, meaning V ∝ r².

Let the initial radius of the cylinder be r. An increase of 300% in the radius means the new radius r' is: r' = r + 3r = 4r

The initial volume of the cylinder is: V₁ = π r² h

The new volume of the cylinder with the increased radius is: V₂ = π (4r)² h = 16 π r² h = 16 V₁

The percentage change in the volume of the cylinder is calculated as: Percentage Change = (V₂ - V₁)/(V₁) × 100 Percentage Change = (16 V₁ - V₁)/(V₁) × 100 = 15 × 100 = 1500%

Explanation

Lord Dufferin, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, famously ridiculed the Indian National Congress by describing it as representing only a microscopic minority of the Indian population. Speaking at a St. Andrew's Day dinner in Calcutta in November 1888, he dismissed the demands of the early nationalists, arguing that the vast majority of the Indian people had no interest or representation in the Congress and that the British administration was better suited to protect the interests of the masses.

Explanation

The 2017 International Puppet Festival, also known as Puppets Unite Neighbours, was hosted in Kolkata at Mohor Kunja from October 26 to October 31, 2017. The festival aimed to revive and regenerate the heritage and emotions attached to the ancient art of puppetry. It featured artists and puppeteers from several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Peru, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore, and India, who showcased diverse puppetry styles such as glove, shadow, rod, string, giant, and human puppetry.

Explanation

The National Planning Committee was established in 1938 by the Indian National Congress at the initiative of the Congress President Subhas Chandra Bose. Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as the President of this committee, which was tasked with drawing up a comprehensive developmental plan for India. The committee emphasized industrialization, state control of key industries, and the overall economic planning of the nation to eradicate poverty and build self-reliance.

Explanation

Alauddin Khalji introduced the Market Control Policy to maintain a massive standing army at minimal cost to safeguard his empire against Mongol invasions. He fixed the prices of all essential commodities, ranging from food grains and sugar to cloth, horses, and slaves. To strictly enforce these prices and prevent hoarding, he established an elaborate administrative system overseen by high-ranking officials such as the Shahna-i-Mandi (market superintendent) and Diwan-i-Riyasat (department of commerce).

Explanation

Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, arrived at Calicut on the Malabar Coast of India on May 20, 1498. This historic voyage successfully established a direct sea route from Europe to India via the Cape of Good Hope, allowing the Portuguese to monopolise the highly lucrative spice trade. They established their first trading station at Cochin, followed by major strongholds in Goa, Daman, and Diu, making them the pioneer European power to establish direct maritime trade relations with India.

Explanation

E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker was an influential Indian social activist and politician who championed the cause of the downtrodden, advocated for women's rights, and fought against caste-based discrimination in South India. He initiated the Self-Respect Movement and founded the Dravidar Kazhagam. The title Periyar, which translates to the respected one or elder in Tamil, was conferred upon him in 1938 at the Tamil Nadu Women's Conference held in Madras in recognition of his relentless struggle for gender equality and social justice.

Explanation

USB storage devices, such as flash drives, are classified as secondary storage because they provide non-volatile memory that retains stored data even when the device is powered off or disconnected. Unlike primary memory which is directly accessible by the central processing unit for active operations, secondary storage is used for long-term data retention, backup, and external data transfer, requiring input/output channels to load data into the primary memory before it can be processed.

Explanation

The Indian Postal Department released a special stamp cover titled Golden Girls of India - Pride of the Nation to honor the outstanding performances of gymnast Dipa Karmakar, wrestler Sakshi Malik, and badminton player P.V. Sindhu at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This commemorative cover was issued to celebrate the sporting achievements of these three athletes, who were also conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2016.

Explanation

Jaswant Singh of Marwar ruled Jodhpur from 1638 to 1678 CE. He was born in 1626 CE, long after Akbar's death. His career flourished during the reigns of Akbar's successors, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, where he served as a major noble and military commander. Because Akbar's reign lasted from 1556 to 1605 CE, Jaswant Singh belongs to a completely different generation and was not a contemporary of Akbar.

Explanation

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya propagated the slogan 'Hind-Hindi-Hindu' to foster cultural nationalism and linguistic unity. As a key leader of the Indian national movement and the founder of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, he strongly advocated for the recognition of Hindi in the Devanagari script and worked towards the rejuvenation of Hindu cultural identity across India.