WBCS Prelims 2020 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

The phrasal verb "deal in" means to buy and sell a particular product or to trade in a specific commodity as a business. In this context, because cosmetic goods represent a commercial commodity being traded, the preposition "in" is used.

Explanation

A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and at least one dependent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction. In this transformation, the prepositional phrase during Christmas celebration is converted into the dependent adverbial clause of time, When Christmas celebrations occur. This dependent clause is joined with the independent clause, everyone is happy, while perfectly maintaining the present tense of the original simple sentence.

Explanation

In English grammar, when a measurement, quantity, or monetary value is used as a compound adjective to modify a noun, the singular form of the noun in the modifier is used, and the words are typically hyphenated. In the given sentence, the phrase modifies the noun note. Therefore, the plural rupees is changed to the singular rupee, and the components are connected by a hyphen to form the compound adjective five-hundred-rupee.

Explanation

The sentence specifies a precise moment in the present, indicated by the phrase "It is nine o'clock in Darjeeling in the morning". To denote an ongoing action happening at this exact moment of speaking, the present continuous tense is used. The structure of the present continuous tense consists of the auxiliary verb "is" followed by the present participle "snowing", making "it is snowing" the grammatically correct choice to complete the description of the current weather situation.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression 'pull yourself together' means to regain composure, recover control of one's emotions, or calm down by oneself after experiencing a period of strong emotion such as anger, panic, sadness, or anxiety.

Explanation

The expression "am afraid" is idiomatically used in English to introduce unwelcome, unfortunate, or sad news. In this context, predicting that a patient will die represents highly unfortunate news, making "am afraid" the grammatically and semantically correct choice to convey this apprehension with regret.

Explanation

The sentence refers to a specific completed action in the past, indicated by the definite past time marker last night. In English grammar, when an action is completed at a specific time in the past, the simple past tense is used. The simple past tense form of the verb take is took, which correctly completes the sentence.

Explanation

The phrasal verb look down upon means to regard someone or something with contempt, disdain, or a feeling of superiority. In this sentence, it is used to advise against viewing or treating marginalized sections of society as inferior.

Explanation

The term genocide was coined by Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944. It is a hybrid word combining the Greek prefix genos, which means race, nation, or tribe, with the Latin suffix cide, which means killing. Thus, genocide denotes the deliberate and systematic killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group, nation, or race, making racial killing its most accurate definition.

Explanation

The preposition "by" is used when referring to a timepiece to mean "according to" or "as measured by". In English grammar, "by your watch" is the standard idiomatic expression used to ask for the time shown on a person's watch.

Explanation

The sentence follows the rule of the sequence of tenses, where a past tense verb in the main clause, "was", requires the subordinate clause to also use a past form. When expressing a future action from the perspective of the past, the past tense modal "would" is used as the past equivalent of "will".

Explanation

The word impassioned describes someone or something characterized by intense emotion, deep feeling, or great passion. Ardent shares this exact meaning, representing a state of being very enthusiastic, passionate, or burning with intense feeling. Both terms are direct synonyms that represent strong emotional intensity and fervor.

Explanation

The word climactic is derived from climax, which refers to the most intense, exciting, or important point of something. Culminating describes reaching a climax or point of highest development. Therefore, culminating is the appropriate synonym as both terms convey reaching a peak, final, or decisive point in a series of events.

Explanation

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, if the direct speech contains a universal truth, habitual action, or scientific fact, the tense of the verb in the reported speech remains unchanged. Since grass is green is a universal truth, the verb is remains in the simple present tense.

Explanation

The sentence contains a quasi-passive verb (or middle verb) where the structure is in the active form but conveys a passive meaning. To convert such sentences of the form Subject + Verb + Adjective into the passive voice, the standard rule is: Subject + helping verb (is/are) + Adjective + when + past participle of the verb. Applying this rule, Orange tastes sour becomes Orange is sour when tasted.

Explanation

The sentence expresses a universal truth or a general fact about infant behavior. General facts and habitual actions are always expressed using the simple present tense. Because the subject of the sentence is "Babies," which is a plural noun, it requires a plural verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. In the simple present tense, plural subjects take the base form of the verb, which is "cry."

Explanation

The word analogous is derived from the Greek analogos, which means proportionate or equivalent. It is used to describe two or more things that share a similarity, resemblance, or relation in certain aspects, which makes them comparable to one another. In various contexts, such as biology, logic, or linguistics, analogous structures or terms perform similar functions or hold similar positions, allowing a direct comparison to be drawn to clarify a concept.

Explanation

In compound nouns containing a prepositional phrase, the plural is formed by adding the plural suffix to the principal noun. In the compound noun daughter-in-law, daughter is the principal noun, so its plural form is daughters-in-law. The presence of the plural auxiliary verb are in the sentence requires a plural subject, making daughters-in-law the grammatically correct choice to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The prefix dis- is added to the root word embark to form the word disembark, which functions as its direct antonym. While embark means to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle to begin a journey, disembark means to leave or go ashore from a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle at the end of a journey.

Explanation

The phrasal verb cope with is the standard grammatical construction used to mean managing, handling, or dealing successfully with a difficult situation or pressure. In this sentence, the preposition with directly connects the verb cope to the noun phrase this pressure, completing the meaning of managing the stress or burden.

Explanation

The most direct and neutral way to convert a positive declarative sentence into an interrogative sentence is by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb. In "Honesty is the best policy," "Honesty" is the subject and "is" is the verb. Option (a) "Is honesty the best policy?" directly applies this rule, forming a simple yes/no question. Options (b) and (c) introduce negation, which changes the nuance of the question, while (d) changes it to an information-seeking question ("wh-question"), neither of which is the simplest conversion.

Explanation

The word lecherous refers to a person having or showing excessive, offensive, or unrestrained sexual desire. The word chaste means abstaining from sexual relations or remaining pure, modest, and virtuous in thought and conduct. Because chaste represents the direct opposite of being lustful or morally unrestrained, it serves as the precise antonym for lecherous.

Explanation

The preposition in is used with the shade of a tree because shade represents an enclosed, three-dimensional area or volume of space shielded from direct sunlight. While one sits under a tree, one sits in the shade of a tree because they are positioned inside that shaded area.

Explanation

The word late functions as an adverb of time modifying the verb reach. In this context, it correctly denotes that the arrival at home will occur after the expected, usual, or standard time.

Explanation

In this sentence, an adjective is needed to modify the noun problem. The word hard functions as an adjective meaning difficult or challenging, making it the grammatically correct choice to describe the nature of the problem.

Explanation

Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated directly between the deltas of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. The lake acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two river basins, is fed by seasonal streams such as the Budameru and Tammileru, and is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Explanation

India is the largest producer of milk in the world, a position it has maintained since 1998. Benefiting from the legacy of the White Revolution (Operation Flood), India contributes more than 22 percent of the global milk production. The dairy sector in India is a major source of livelihood for millions of rural households, driven largely by cooperative societies and a massive population of milch animals, including both cows and buffaloes.

Explanation

In November 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lok Sabha that the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) project is planned to go live and start functioning by 31st December 2020. NATGRID is an ambitious counter-terrorism program conceptualized following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It is designed to act as an integrated intelligence master database structure that connects databases of core security agencies of the Government of India to study and analyze data using technologies like Big Data and analytics.

Explanation

The Constitution of India was drafted, debated, and adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India. Formed in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan, the Constituent Assembly consisted of indirectly elected representatives from the provinces and nominated members from the princely states. After rigorous deliberations spanning nearly three years, the Assembly formally adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, which is celebrated as Constitution Day in India, before it officially came into force on 26 January 1950.

Explanation

The English East India Company established its first permanent factory at Surat in 1613. Captain William Hawkins had visited the Mughal court of Jahangir in 1608 to obtain trading concessions, which were initially resisted due to Portuguese influence. Following Captain Thomas Best's victory over the Portuguese in the naval Battle of Swally in 1612, Emperor Jahangir was impressed and issued a imperial farman in January 1613, granting the English permission to establish a permanent warehouse and factory at Surat.

Explanation

To determine the relationship between P and A, we construct the family tree from the given statements. Since C and Q are sisters and Z is Q's mother, Z is also the mother of C. P is the son of Z, which means P is the brother of C and Q. Since A is the son of C, P is the brother of A's mother, making P the maternal uncle of A.

Explanation

Act III of 1872, commonly known as the Special Marriage Act or the Civil Marriage Act, was a major social reform legislation enacted in British India. The law was passed largely due to the reformist efforts of Keshub Chandra Sen and the Brahmo Samaj. It legally recognized marriages solemnized outside traditional religious boundaries, making inter-caste and inter-religious marriages possible. The act also introduced critical social reforms by outlawing polygamy and setting the minimum age of marriage at 14 years for girls and 18 years for boys.

Explanation

Philosophy is a discipline in the humanities that focuses on the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. It employs critical, generally systematic approaches and relies on rational argument rather than empirical scientific experimentation. The other disciplines are branches of biological and life sciences that study living organisms, their functions, and structures through empirical research.

Explanation

Lala Hansraj founded the first Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) school on June 1, 1886, in Lahore, which later developed into a prominent college. He was a committed disciple of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and a leading figure of the Arya Samaj movement. Lala Hansraj dedicated his life to education, serving as the honorary principal of the institution for twenty-five years without accepting any salary, thereby laying the foundation for a network of institutions that integrated traditional Indian Vedic values with modern Western scientific education.

Explanation

Darjeeling tea became the first Indian product to receive the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India during the year 2004-2005. The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, came into force in September 2003, and Darjeeling tea was awarded the protection status soon after to safeguard its unique aroma, flavor, and regional identity associated with the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

Explanation

According to the 2011 Census, the overall literacy rate of West Bengal is 76.26 percent, which is approximately 77 percent. This represents an upward trend from the 68.64 percent recorded in the 2001 Census. In West Bengal, the male literacy rate stands at 81.69 percent while the female literacy rate is 70.54 percent.

Explanation

Kurukh is a North Dravidian language primarily spoken by the Oraon tribal community in eastern India. In February 2017, the West Bengal government officially recognized Kurukh as an additional official language of the state to support its preservation and promotion. The language is categorized as vulnerable on UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger due to a declining number of active speakers and the threat of language shift. It has its own script called Tolong Siki and is mostly spoken by the tribal population residing in the Dooars region of North Bengal.

Explanation

Depreciation of the Indian Rupee means that its value decreases relative to the U.S. dollar, requiring more rupees to purchase a single dollar. Consequently, foreign buyers need fewer dollars to purchase the same amount of Indian goods, which makes Indian exports cheaper and more competitive in the international market. On the other hand, Indian buyers must spend more rupees to acquire the same value of foreign goods, which increases the cost of purchasing foreign commodities and makes imports costlier in domestic terms.

Explanation

Sir C. V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the inelastic scattering of light, famously known as the Raman Effect. When light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes wavelength and frequency due to the interaction of photons with the vibrational or rotational states of the molecules in the medium. This discovery proved that the energy of a photon can be transferred to or from the matter it interacts with, providing crucial experimental evidence for quantum theory.

Explanation

Neel-Darpan, written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858–1859 and published in 1860, is a landmark Bengali play that vividly portrays the brutal exploitation and misery faced by indigo cultivators under the oppressive system enforced by European indigo planters in Bengal. The play depicts how the peasantry was coerced into cultivating indigo instead of food crops like rice, trapping them in a cycle of debt and physical abuse. This powerful literary work played a crucial role in highlighting the plight of the farmers, gathering public support, and fueling the Indigo Revolt of 1859. It was subsequently translated into English by Michael Madhusudan Dutt and published by Reverend James Long, which drew international attention to the colonial atrocities.

Explanation

Given that the integers assigned to the letters are from 1 to 9, we are given P = 4.

The absolute difference between P and T is 5, represented as |P - T| = 5. Since the integers must lie within the range of 1 to 9, T must be 4 + 5 = 9, because 4 - 5 = -1 is invalid.

The absolute difference between N and T is 3, represented as |N - T| = 3. Using the value of T as 9, N must be 9 - 3 = 6, because 9 + 3 = 12 falls outside the allowed range of 1 to 9.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi was elected as the President of the All India Khilafat Conference held at Delhi on 23rd November 1919. He viewed the Khilafat movement, which was launched by Indian Muslims to protest the treatment of the Ottoman Caliphate by the British after World War I, as a unique opportunity to foster Hindu-Muslim unity and build a united national struggle. Under his presidency, the conference resolved to launch a non-cooperation campaign if the Khilafat demands were not met, which eventually merged with the broader Non-Cooperation Movement.

Explanation

To find the day when the caterpillar first reaches the top of the pole, we subtract the final day's climb from the total height to determine the height it must reach before its last ascent.

Total height of the pole H = 75 inches Daily upward climb U = 5 inches Nightly downward slide D = 4 inches Net progress per day-night cycle = U - D = 5 - 4 = 1 inch

Before the final climb of 5 inches on the last day, the caterpillar needs to reach a height of at least: H - U = 75 - 5 = 70 inches

Since the net daily progress is 1 inch, the caterpillar takes 70 / 1 = 70 full day-night cycles to reach a height of 70 inches. At the end of the 70th night, it is at exactly 70 inches. On the following day, which is the 71st day, it climbs 5 inches to reach the top of the pole at 75 inches.

Explanation

Sayyid Amir Ali authored the highly acclaimed book The Spirit of Islam, first published in 1891. He was an eminent Indian jurist, political leader, and Islamic scholar who played a key role in the modern education and political mobilization of Indian Muslims. In this seminal work, he presented a rationalist and progressive interpretation of Islam, detailing the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and highlighting the compatibility of Islamic principles with modern values, science, and social progress.

Explanation

The International Day of the Tropics is officially observed annually on June 26th. This day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the unique challenges and opportunities faced by tropical nations.

Explanation

The Charter Act of 1813, also known as the East India Company Act 1813, was the first legislative measure by the British Parliament that made a financial provision of one lakh rupees per year for the encouragement of education, literature, and science among the inhabitants of the British territories in India. This clause, specifically Section 43 of the Act, marked the beginning of state responsibility for education in India under the British administration and paved the way for future educational developments and debates, such as the Orientalist-Anglicist controversy.

Explanation

The Somasila Dam, frequently written as Somalia Dam in various competitive examinations, is located near Somasila village in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Constructed across the Penna River, it serves as the largest storage reservoir in the Penna River basin, playing a critical role in providing irrigation and drinking water to the Nellore, Kadapa, and Chittoor districts.

Explanation

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as the Frontier Gandhi, founded the Khuda-i-Khidmatgar movement in 1929 in the North-West Frontier Province. This society, whose name translates to Servants of God, was a non-violent nationalist movement committed to resisting British colonial rule and promoting social reform. The members of this group became widely recognized as the Red Shirts due to the distinctive red-dyed uniforms they wore during their peaceful protests and community service activities.

Explanation

West Bengal shares its domestic borders with five Indian states. These states are Odisha to the southwest, Jharkhand and Bihar to the west, Sikkim to the north, and Assam to the northeast.

Explanation

Bharatendu Harishchandra is widely recognized as the father and creator of modern Hindi literature and Hindi theatre. He played a pivotal role in transitioning Hindi literature from medieval devotional and courtly poetry to modern prose and socially relevant themes. Representing the bridge between the traditional and modern eras, the period of his literary contributions is celebrated as the Bharatendu Yug in Hindi literary history. He successfully championed the adoption of Khariboli as the standard medium for Hindi prose, laying the foundation for modern Hindi journalism, essay writing, and drama.

Explanation

The Madras State was officially renamed as Tamil Nadu on 14 January 1969, coinciding with the auspicious festival of Pongal. Under the leadership of Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, the Madras Legislative Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution to rename the state on 18 July 1967. Subsequently, the Parliament of India enacted the Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act in 1968, which officially came into force on 14 January 1969 to formalize the name change.

Explanation

A composite number is defined as a positive integer that has more than two distinct positive divisors. The number 4 is the first positive integer that meets this criterion, as its divisors are 1, 2, and 4. Since the preceding positive integers 1, 2, and 3 do not qualify as composite numbers, 4 is the smallest composite number.

Explanation

The West Dinajpur district of West Bengal was bifurcated into two separate districts, namely Uttar Dinajpur (North Dinajpur) and Dakshin Dinajpur (South Dinajpur), on 1 April 1992 to facilitate better administrative efficacy and governance.

Explanation

The North Koel River rises on the Ranchi plateau in Jharkhand and flows in a northerly direction. It passes through the northern part of the Betla National Park, which is situated in the Latehar and Palamu districts of Jharkhand. After traversing a course of about 260 kilometers, the river joins the Son River, making it an important right-bank tributary of the Son River.

Explanation

Boghazkoi, located in modern-day Turkey, is of immense historical and archaeological importance due to the discovery of clay tablet inscriptions dating back to around 1400 BCE. These inscriptions record a peace treaty concluded between the Hittite king Subbiluliuma and the Mitanni king Mattiuaza. To solemnize and safeguard the agreement, the treaty invokes several deities as witnesses, specifically mentioning the Vedic gods Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and the Nasatyas (Ashvins). The depiction of these Rigvedic deities in an ancient West Asian treaty provides crucial historical evidence regarding the timeline, migration, and cultural lineage of the Indo-Aryan people.

Explanation

The Alai Darwaza was built by Sultan Alauddin Khilji in 1311 AD. Located within the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi, it serves as the southern gateway to the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It is celebrated as a masterpiece of early Indo-Islamic architecture, being one of the first structures in India to feature a true dome and true arches. The gateway is constructed of red sandstone and beautifully adorned with white marble inlays and geometric patterns.

Explanation

Let the heights of the five people be represented by their respective initials A, B, C, D, and E.

From the given statements, we can establish the following relations: D is taller than C and E, which gives D > C and D > E. A is not as tall as E, which means E > A. C is taller than A, which means C > A. D is not as tall as B, which means B > D.

Combining these relations, we get the combined order B > D > {C, E} > A. This sequence establishes that B is the tallest person, making D the second tallest person.

Explanation

The Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees combined with its revolution around the Sun causes seasonal changes and specific solar events. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice occurs on June 21st, when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, marking the longest day of the year. The Winter Solstice occurs on December 22nd, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the Sun, marking the shortest day of the year. The Equinoxes occur when the Sun is directly above the equator, resulting in equal duration of day and night globally. The Spring Equinox falls on March 21st, and the Autumn Equinox falls on September 23rd.

Explanation

According to the Census of India 2011, West Bengal ranks fourth in terms of total population among all the states in India. The state recorded a population of approximately 9.13 crores (91,276,115), which constitutes about 7.54 percent of the country's total population. The only states with a larger population than West Bengal are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, which occupy the first, second, and third ranks respectively.

Explanation

The Civil Disobedience Movement was formally launched on March 12, 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi commenced the historic Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Accompanied by 78 of his trusted followers, Gandhi marched 241 miles over 24 days to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. On April 6, 1930, he ceremonially broke the salt law by manufacturing salt from seawater, which served as the official trigger for the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement against British colonial rule.

Explanation

The given recurrence relation is xᵢ + xᵢ₊₁ = 100 for all i.

By writing the consecutive terms in terms of x₁, we obtain: x₂ = 100 - x₁ x₃ = 100 - x₂ = 100 - (100 - x₁) = x₁ x₄ = 100 - x₃ = 100 - x₁

From this pattern, the terms of the sequence alternate: xᵢ = x₁ for all odd indices i xᵢ = 100 - x₁ for all even indices i

Since the index 10 is even, we can write: x₁₀ = 100 - x₁

Given that x₁₀ = 1, substituting this value yields: 1 = 100 - x₁ x₁ = 100 - 1 = 99

Explanation

The Bikaner Canal, also known as the Gang Canal, was constructed under the patronage of Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner and completed in 1927. It originates from the Satluj River at Hussainiwala near Ferozepur in Punjab. This landmark irrigation project was designed to divert water from the river to transform the arid, desert lands of northern Rajasthan into fertile agricultural fields, primarily benefiting the Sri Ganganagar and Bikaner regions.

Explanation

Cyclone Bulbul was a very severe cyclonic storm that originated in the Bay of Bengal and made landfall near Sagar Island in West Bengal on November 9, 2019. The storm brought destructive winds reaching speeds of 110 to 120 km/h, gusting up to 135 km/h, accompanied by torrential rainfall. It caused widespread devastation to agricultural lands, houses, and infrastructure across the coastal districts of the state, particularly impacting South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and East Medinipur, as well as the Sundarbans region.

Explanation

Let the date of the first Monday of the month be x. The subsequent Mondays in that month will fall on dates x + 7, x + 14, x + 21, and x + 28 (if applicable). Since adding 7 changes the parity of the date from even to odd or vice versa, the Mondays will alternate between even and odd dates.

To have three Mondays with even dates, the first Monday must fall on an even date x, making the three even Mondays fall on x, x + 14, and x + 28. For x + 28 to be a valid calendar date in a month, it must satisfy x + 28 ≤ 31, which simplifies to x ≤ 3. Since x must be an even positive integer, the only possible value is x = 2.

This means the Mondays of this month fall on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. Since the 16th of the month is a Monday, the preceding day, which is the 15th, must be a Sunday.

Explanation

Teachers' Day is celebrated in India on September 5 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was a prominent scholar, philosopher, and the second President of India. Since 1962, this day has been dedicated to honoring his contributions to education and acknowledging the vital role played by teachers in shaping society.

Explanation

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949. This landmark date is recorded in the Preamble of the Constitution, which states that the people of India, in the Constituent Assembly, did on this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, adopt, enact, and give to themselves this Constitution. The adoption marked the successful completion of the drafting process led by the Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, with several provisions such as those relating to citizenship, elections, and provisional parliament coming into force immediately on this day.

Explanation

The military strength of the Vijayanagar Empire depended heavily on its cavalry. To maintain a superior army against the Deccan Sultanates, the rulers of Vijayanagar imported high-quality horses in vast numbers from Arabia and Persia. This trade was of paramount strategic importance, initially dominated by Arab merchants and later controlled by the Portuguese after their conquest of Goa. The state spent enormous wealth on importing these war horses, making them the single most valuable and significant item of import in the empire's trade profile.

Explanation

The FACT Check Module was established by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to identify and curb the spread of fake news on social media and digital platforms. The primary objective of this module is to protect and insulate the Government of India and its various agencies from malicious and misleading information. It operates round-the-clock on four core principles: Find, Assess, Create, and Target (FACT).

Explanation

Kalhana wrote Rajatarangini, a legendary metrical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, in the Sanskrit language during the 12th century CE, specifically around 1148–1149 CE. The title Rajatarangini translates to the River of Kings. It is highly regarded as one of the earliest and most reliable historical accounts written in ancient India, detailing the political history, dynasties, and socio-cultural aspects of Kashmir from ancient times up to the reign of King Jaisimha.

Explanation

The economic reform measures in India, famously known as the Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation reforms, were formally introduced in July 1991. Prompted by a severe balance of payments crisis, the Union Government under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presented a path-breaking Union Budget and announced the New Industrial Policy on July 24, 1991. This policy effectively ended the License Raj, drastically reduced import tariffs, deregulated domestic industry, and opened up various sectors of the economy to foreign direct investment.

Explanation

India's first cotton textile mill was established in 1818 at Ghusuri, near Fort Gloster in Kolkata. Although this initial venture was commercially unsuccessful and closed down shortly after its establishment, it marked the beginning of modern cotton manufacturing in India. The industry later found sustainable commercial success with the establishment of the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Company in Mumbai in 1854.

Explanation

Surya Sen, popularly known as Masterda, was the chief strategist and leader of the Chittagong Armoury Raid on 18 April 1930. A school teacher by profession, he organized a group of dedicated young revolutionaries under the banner of the Indian Republican Army, Chittagong Branch. Under his guidance, they planned and executed the raid on the police and auxiliary forces armouries in Chittagong, aiming to cut off communication links and challenge British colonial rule.

Explanation

The demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 banknotes was officially announced by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during a live televised address to the nation on 8 November 2016. This policy decision declared that these high-denomination banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series would cease to be legal tender from midnight of the same day. The primary objectives behind this initiative were to combat black money, curb corruption, eliminate counterfeit currency, and target the funding of illegal activities.

Explanation

The first non-Congress government at the Center was formed in 1977 following the general elections held after the lifting of the Emergency. It was led by Morarji Desai, who took office as the Prime Minister on March 24, 1977, leading the Janata Party coalition. This marked the first time since India's independence in 1947 that a party other than the Indian National Congress formed the government at the federal level.

Explanation

Nirmala Sitharaman was appointed as the Minister of Finance of India on 31 May 2019 in the second Modi cabinet. She is the first full-time female Finance Minister of India and holds the portfolio through the year 2020.

Explanation

Angular momentum is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and a specific direction. It represents the rotational equivalent of linear momentum. Mathematically, the angular momentum L of a particle relative to a given origin is defined as the cross product of its position vector r and its linear momentum vector p, given by the formula L = r × p. Because it is defined by a vector cross product, its direction is perpendicular to the plane containing the position and momentum vectors, determined by the right-hand rule, which characterizes it as an axial vector.

Explanation

Mehergarh, located on the Kachi Plain of Balochistan in Pakistan near the Bolan Pass, is widely recognized for providing the earliest evidence of agriculture and settled pastoral life in the Indian subcontinent, with its Neolithic occupation dating back to approximately 7000 BCE. Archaeological excavations at the site have yielded clear evidence of early farming practices, specifically the cultivation of crops such as barley, einkorn wheat, emmer wheat, and bread wheat, alongside the domestication of cattle, sheep, and goats.

Explanation

On November 13, 2019, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, delivered a landmark judgment ruling that the Office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Court observed that judicial independence and accountability are complementary, and thus the office of the CJI falls under the purview of the transparency law, while maintaining appropriate safeguards for confidentiality and the right to privacy of judges.

Explanation

Using the formula for time, t = ᵈ⁄ᵥ, where d is the average distance from the Sun to the Earth and v is the speed of light. The average distance is approximately 1.496 × 10¹¹ meters and the speed of light is approximately 3 × 10⁸ meters per second.

Substituting these values into the formula gives: t = 1.496 × 10¹¹ m{3 × 10⁸ m/s} ≈ 499 seconds

Converting this duration into minutes yields approximately 8.3 minutes, which is closest to 8 minutes.

Explanation

The Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 29, 2019, on the occasion of National Sports Day at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. The campaign was conceptualized as a nation-wide movement to encourage citizens to incorporate physical activities and sports into their daily lives in order to stay healthy and fit.

Explanation

Let the three brothers be ordered from oldest to youngest.

According to the first statement, Aries is the oldest. This leaves two positions, the middle and the youngest, to be shared between John and Joseph.

The third statement states that John is not the youngest. Since Aries is already the oldest, John must occupy the middle position.

By elimination, Joseph must occupy the remaining position, making him the youngest of the three brothers.

Explanation

The slogan 'Garibi Hatao, Desh Bachao' (Remove Poverty, Save the Country) was coined by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during her general election campaign in 1971. This highly popular slogan aimed to bypass local dominant castes and intermediaries, appealing directly to the marginalized rural and urban poor, which contributed significantly to her decisive victory in the 1971 elections. The slogan subsequently became the core focus of India's Fifth Five-Year Plan.

Explanation

The Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project is a 624 MW run-of-the-river power project situated on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is being implemented by the Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, which is a joint venture of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. The project incorporates a 135-meter-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse designed with four 156 MW turbine units.

Explanation

The nationalisation of 14 major commercial banks took place on July 19, 1969, under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The government promulgated the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969, to nationalise banks that held deposits of 50 crore rupees or more. This landmark policy decision aimed to expand the reach of banking into rural areas, ensure credit flow to priority sectors such as agriculture and small-scale industries, and reduce the concentration of economic power in a few hands.

Explanation

Homi Jehangir Bhabha played a pioneering role in formulating India's nuclear program. Under his leadership, the Atomic Energy Commission of India was established on August 10, 1948, under the Department of Scientific Research, to facilitate the development and utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes in India. Bhabha was appointed as its first Chairman.

Explanation

Nuclear sizes and the distances between nucleons inside an atomic nucleus are on the order of 10⁻¹⁵ meters. The unit of length equivalent to 10⁻¹⁵ meters is the fermi (also known as the femtometer, abbreviated as fm), named after the pioneering physicist Enrico Fermi. This makes it the standard unit of measurement used in nuclear physics to express the dimensions of atomic nuclei.

Explanation

The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) was originally established in 1995 as the National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM). It was set up at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi under the nodal Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation. The centre was subsequently upgraded and re-designated to its current status as the National Institute of Disaster Management in October 2003, following the transfer of disaster management responsibilities to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and later received statutory status under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

Explanation

The demand for Purna Swaraj, meaning complete independence, was officially adopted during the historic Lahore session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929. This session was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. The passage of the Purna Swaraj resolution marked a paradigm shift in the Indian national movement, transitioning the goal of the Congress from seeking dominion status to achieving complete independence from British colonial rule. To commemorate this declaration, the Indian National Congress hoisted the tricolor flag on the banks of the Ravi River on 31 December 1929 and observed 26 January 1930 as Independence Day.

Explanation

The Wonder That Was India was written by the eminent Indologist and historian Arthur Llewellyn Basham, first published in 1954. The book is a highly acclaimed, comprehensive study of the history, culture, religion, society, and administration of the Indian subcontinent from the Indus Valley Civilization until the coming of the Islamic rulers in the thirteenth century.

Explanation

Allotropes are different physical forms in which a single chemical element can exist. Carbon exhibits allotropy, and graphite and diamond are its two most common crystalline allotropic forms. In diamond, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms in a rigid, three-dimensional tetrahedral structure, which makes it extremely hard. In graphite, carbon atoms are arranged in flat, hexagonal layers that can slide over one another, making it soft and lubricating. Because these substances are different structural arrangements of the same element, carbon, they are classified as allotropes.

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore was awarded a knighthood by King George V in 1915. He renounced this honour in May 1919 to protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab. During this tragic event, British troops under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on a large, unarmed gathering of civilians who had assembled peacefully. In a letter to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, Tagore expressed his profound grief and solidarity with his countrymen, writing that the badges of honour made their shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation, and he wished to stand, shorn of all special distinctions, by the side of his people.

Explanation

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. To commemorate this landmark event and promote constitutional values, 26 November is celebrated annually as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) in India. Adding 70 years to the adoption year (1949 + 70 = 2019) establishes that India celebrated its 70th Constitution Day on 26 November 2019.

Explanation

Samvidhan Divas, also known as National Law Day or Constitution Day, is celebrated in India on 26th November every year. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India, which subsequently came into effect on 26th January 1950. In 2015, the Government of India declared 26th November as Constitution Day to promote constitutional values among citizens and to honor the invaluable contribution of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee, on his 125th birth anniversary.

Explanation

A Non-performing Asset (NPA) is a classification used by financial institutions for loans and advances on which the principal or interest payment remains overdue for a specified period. In India, commercial banks classify an asset as non-performing when it ceases to generate income for the bank, which standardly occurs when payments of interest and/or principal installments are overdue for more than 90 days. NPAs represent those loans that have not been repaid by borrowers within the stipulated timeframe, indicating a default or near-default status.

Explanation

Jagdeep Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in July 2019 and assumed office on July 30, 2019. He served as the Governor of the state of West Bengal throughout the year 2020.

Explanation

During the early Vedic period, the tribal king (Rajan) was assisted by popular assemblies. The Sabha was a smaller body of elders and elites that performed judicial and administrative tasks, while the Samiti was a larger folk assembly where the entire community gathered to discuss and decide on crucial tribal affairs, including the election of the king. Both assemblies played a vital role in the democratic governance of Rig Vedic society.

Explanation

The term Lokpal is derived from the Sanskrit words Lok, meaning people, and Pala, meaning caretaker or protector. Thus, the literal meaning of Lokpal is caretaker of the people. This term was coined by Dr. L.M. Singhvi in 1963 to represent the anti-corruption ombudsman institution in India, which acts on behalf of the public to investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

Explanation

Alang, located in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, is home to the world's largest ship recycling and ship-breaking yard. Established in 1983 along the Gulf of Khambhat, this coastal town possesses unique geographical features such as a high tidal range, a gently sloping beach, and firm clayey soil, which make it exceptionally suited for beaching massive marine vessels. The Alang Ship Breaking Yard handles a major share of the global ship-breaking volume, salvaging millions of tons of steel and equipment annually, which plays a vital role in India's secondary steel production and recycling industry.

Explanation

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar authored the book "The Indian War of Independence" in 1909. In this work, he presented a detailed nationalist analysis of the Revolt of 1857, describing it as a planned, unified uprising aimed at throwing off British colonial rule, rather than a mere sepoy mutiny. Because of its highly revolutionary potential, the British administration banned the book even before its official publication.

Explanation

The word Ghadar is derived from Urdu and Arabic, meaning revolt, rebellion, or mutiny. The term became highly prominent in Indian history through the Ghadar Movement, which was an international revolutionary initiative founded by expatriate Indians in North America in 1913 to overthrow British colonial rule in India. The movement took its name from its weekly nationalist newspaper, Ghadar, which explicitly advocated for a violent armed revolt against the British administration, drawing inspiration from the Mutiny of 1857.

Explanation

The Richter scale is a mathematical scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake, which corresponds to the amount of seismic energy released at its source. Developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935, it functions as a logarithmic scale where each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of the seismic waves and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. This scale uses seismograph recordings to provide an objective, scientific measurement of the size and strength of seismic events.

Explanation

Lord Ripon served as the Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884 and was responsible for the introduction of the Ilbert Bill in 1883. Proposed by the law member of his council, Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the bill aimed to remove judicial disqualifications based on racial discrimination by permitting senior Indian magistrates and sessions judges to try European British subjects in criminal cases. This measure provoked intense opposition and organized protests from the European community in India, resulting in a major political controversy that eventually forced Ripon to compromise and modify the bill.

Explanation

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index that measures average achievements in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Introduced in 1990 by economists Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen, the index is compiled and published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of its Human Development Report.

Explanation

We simplify the given expression using the rules of exponents:

LHS = 216²^/³ ÷ (p²/9)⁻³^/²

First, simplify the first term:

216 = 6³ = (2 × 3)³

216²^/³ = ((2 × 3)³)²^/³ = (2 × 3)² = 2² × 3²

Next, simplify the second term:

(p²/9)⁻³^/² = (9/p²)³^/² = ((3/p)²)³^/² = (3/p)³ = 3³ × p⁻³

Now, divide the first term by the second term:

LHS = (2² × 3²) ÷ (3³ × p⁻³)

LHS = (2² × 3²) × (3⁻³ × p³)

LHS = 2² × 3²⁻³ × p³

LHS = 2² × 3⁻¹ × p³

Comparing this with the right-hand side of the given equation:

2² × 3⁻¹ × p³ = 2ˣ 3ʸ pᶻ

By comparing the exponents of corresponding bases on both sides, we get:

x = 2

y = -1

z = 3

Explanation

The differences between consecutive terms in the sequence form an arithmetic progression. Computing the difference between successive numbers:

11 - 6 = 5 21 - 11 = 10 36 - 21 = 15 56 - 36 = 20

The sequence of differences is 5, 10, 15, 20, which increases by 5 at each step. Following this pattern, the next difference must be 25. The next term is calculated as:

56 + 25 = 81

Explanation

The call for the boycott of British goods was first suggested and declared by the nationalist leader Krishna Kumar Mitra in his Bengali weekly newspaper, Sanjiboni (also spelled Sanjivani), on July 13, 1905. This declaration was published in reaction to the British government's proposal to partition Bengal. Sanjiboni played a crucial role in mobilizing public opinion during the anti-partition agitation, helping the initial protest evolve into the widespread Swadeshi and Boycott movement.

Explanation

The Chumbi Valley is a strategically crucial, V-shaped valley situated in the eastern Himalayas. It is controlled by China as part of Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, projecting southwards from the Tibetan plateau. Geographically, it is located on a narrow protrusion of Tibetan territory that intervenes directly between the Indian state of Sikkim to its west and the Kingdom of Bhutan to its east. The valley is historically and strategically connected to Sikkim through the high-altitude mountain passes of Nathu La and Jelep La.

Explanation

The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) was initially constituted as the National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) in 1995 under an Act of Parliament. Under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, which received assent from the President of India on January 9, 2006, NIDM was formally re-designated and established as a statutory organization.

Explanation

The total number of times the digit 7 is used in writing numbers from 10 to 100 can be found by analyzing its occurrences in the units place and the tens place separately.

In the units place, the digit 7 appears in the numbers 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67, 77, 87, and 97, contributing 9 occurrences.

In the tens place, the digit 7 appears in the numbers from 70 to 79, which are 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, and 79, contributing 10 occurrences.

Adding these together, the total number of times the digit 7 is used is 9 + 10 = 19.

Explanation

The First Battle of Tarain was fought in 1191 A.D. near Taraori in modern-day Haryana. This historic clash took place between the Rajput forces led by Prithviraj Chauhan and the invading Ghurid army led by Muhammad Ghori. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for Prithviraj Chauhan, who successfully defended his territory and forced the Ghurid forces to retreat after Muhammad Ghori was severely injured during the engagement.

Explanation

Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) is a powerful oxidizing agent widely used in water treatment. It functions by transferring oxygen to dissolved impurities such as iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, converting them into insoluble precipitates that can be easily filtered out. This strong oxidizing action also disrupts the cellular membranes of bacteria, algae, and organic contaminants, destroying them and effectively disinfecting the water.

Explanation

Pakistan became the first country in the world to introduce the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) into its routine immunization programme in November 2019. The vaccine, Typbar TCV, is developed and manufactured by the Hyderabad-based Indian company Bharat Biotech and received prequalification from the WHO in January 2018. It was initially rolled out in Pakistan's Sindh province in response to an outbreak of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid.

Explanation

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in India by the then Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He presented the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha in December 2014. Following extensive deliberations and consensus-building with various state finance ministers, the historic tax reform was passed by Parliament and received presidential assent as the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act in 2016. This unified indirect tax regime was officially implemented nationwide on July 1, 2017.

Explanation

Under Section 22 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Reserve Bank of India has the sole right to issue banknotes of all denominations except the one-rupee note. While the one-rupee note is issued by the Ministry of Finance and signed by the Finance Secretary, all other higher denomination currency notes, including the 100-rupee note, are issued by the Reserve Bank of India and bear the signature of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Explanation

Debendranath Tagore founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha on 6 October 1839 in Calcutta. Originally named the Tattvaranjini Sabha, it was established to promote a systematic study of Upanishadic monotheism and to foster rational, reformist ideals. The organization played a crucial role in the Bengal Renaissance, particularly through its widely read journal, the Tattvabodhini Patrika, which advocated for social reform and discussed theological matters.

Explanation

Andhra Pradesh is a premier tobacco-producing state in India, accounting for a major share of the country's total tobacco production. The state is highly suited for the cultivation of high-quality Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, which is predominantly grown in regions like Guntur, Prakasam, and Nellore. Due to its favorable agro-climatic conditions and well-drained loamy soils, Andhra Pradesh consistently ranks as a leading producer and exporter of tobacco.

Explanation

In a single-elimination knock-out tournament with N participants, each match played results in the elimination of exactly one participant. To determine a single winner, all other N - 1 participants must be eliminated. Since each match eliminates exactly one participant, the total number of matches required to find the winner is always N - 1, irrespective of the structure of the tournament bracket or the distribution of byes. Substituting N = 22 into the formula, we get the total number of matches as 22 - 1 = 21.

Explanation

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which was appointed by the Constituent Assembly on August 29, 1947, to prepare the draft constitution. Through his meticulous legal acumen and leadership, he guided the entire drafting process and successfully steered the draft constitution through the assembly debates, earning him the designation of the chief architect and Father of the Indian Constitution.

Explanation

Soil serves as the primary reservoir of essential mineral nutrients required for plant growth and development. Plants absorb these inorganic nutrients, including macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, in ionic forms dissolved in soil water. This uptake occurs through the root system via active and passive transport mechanisms, distributing the nutrients throughout the plant body to support vital metabolic and physiological processes.

Explanation

Superconductivity is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where certain materials exhibit exactly zero electrical resistance when cooled below a characteristic critical temperature. In this state, an electric current can flow indefinitely through the superconductor without any energy loss or heat generation. Additionally, superconductors expel magnetic fields from their interior, a phenomenon known as the Meissner effect.

Explanation

The speed of sound v through a material medium is directly proportional to the square root of its elasticity and inversely proportional to the square root of its density, represented by the formula v = √((Y)/(ρ)), where Y represents the Young's modulus of elasticity and ρ represents the density of the medium. Solids possess very strong intermolecular forces and highly rigid structures, giving them an exceptionally high modulus of elasticity. Since this elastic factor dominates significantly over density, mechanical sound waves travel fastest through solids as the closely packed particles transmit vibrational energy extremely rapidly to neighboring particles.

Explanation

The Amrita Bazar Patrika was established on February 20, 1868, by the brothers Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh in the village of Amrita Bazar in the Jessore district of undivided Bengal. Sisir Kumar Ghosh served as its first editor. Initially launched as a Bengali weekly to champion the cause of peasants against oppressive indigo planters, the paper relocated to Calcutta in 1871. It is particularly famous for abruptly transforming into an English-language weekly overnight in March 1878 to bypass the restrictive Vernacular Press Act introduced by Lord Lytton. Under his editorial leadership, the publication became a powerful organ of the Indian nationalist movement.

Explanation

The Hindu College in Calcutta was founded on January 20, 1817. It was established by prominent figures of the Bengal Renaissance, including Raja Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Radhakanta Deb, and Sir Edward Hyde East, to provide modern western-style education in English literature, European sciences, and humanities to the youth of Bengal. This made it one of the earliest institutions of modern higher education in Asia.

Explanation

The formula to find the total number of people in a row when a single position's rank is known from both the left and right ends is:

Total = Position from Left + Position from Right - 1

Initially, B is in the 10th position from the right. When A and B interchange their positions, A takes over B's original position.

According to the given information, A's new position is 18th from the left. This means B's original position is 18th from the left and 10th from the right.

Substituting these values into the formula:

Total = 18 + 10 - 1 = 27

The total number of persons in the row is 27. The question asks for the number of persons in the row other than A and B. Excluding these two individuals from the total count:

Number of other persons = Total - 2 = 27 - 2 = 25

Explanation

The FACT Check Module was established by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India to identify, flag, and counter fake news on digital and social media platforms. The module operates round-the-clock on four core principles forming the acronym FACT. First is Find, which involves identifying fake news or misleading information from online sources. Second is Assess, which evaluates the potential impact and scale of engagement of the content. Third is Create, which focuses on generating accurate factual content to correct and re-balance the narrative. Fourth is Target, which ensures the corrected content is directed to the audience so that the official version is highly visible and accessible.

Explanation

The Arundhoti Swarna Yojana aims to provide financial assistance (gold) to brides who meet certain conditions. A primary condition and objective of the scheme is to ensure that the bride has attained the legal age of marriage (18 years), thereby discouraging child marriage and encouraging families to marry off their daughters only after they are adults. While encouraging marriage registration is also an objective, promoting the legal age of marriage is a significant social reform goal of the scheme.

Explanation

Under Article 64 and Article 89(1) of the Constitution of India, the Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). This constitutional provision means that whoever holds the office of the Vice President automatically assumes the role of the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and presides over its sessions, performing functions similar to those of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.

Explanation

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928, a major peasant movement against the unjust hike in land revenue by the British colonial government in the Bardoli taluka of Gujarat, was led by Vallabhbhai Patel. Under his leadership, the peasants refused to pay the revised taxes despite government repression, land confiscation, and intimidation. The success of this non-violent struggle forced the British administration to reach a compromise, reducing the tax hike to just over six percent and returning seized properties. It was during this struggle that the women of Bardoli bestowed the title of Sardar, meaning leader, upon Vallabhbhai Patel, cementing his role as a prominent national figure.

Explanation

At the 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa in November 2019, the special Icon of Golden Jubilee Award was conferred upon the legendary actor Rajinikanth. The Government of India instituted this award to commemorate the milestone fiftieth edition of the festival, recognizing the actor's outstanding and unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema over a career spanning more than four decades.

Explanation

Lord Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, is known as the father of Indian Railways. Under his administration, the first passenger train in India ran between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thane on April 16, 1853, covering a distance of 34 kilometres. His famous Railway Minute of 1853 laid down the blueprint for the development of a trunk railway network connecting the major ports and inland regions of the country.

Explanation

The National Hydrology Project was approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme. It is being implemented on a pan-India scale with financial and technical assistance from the World Bank.

Under the framework of this project, provision was made to set up the National Water Informatics Centre as an independent organization. The center acts as a national repository for hydro-meteorological data and is responsible for maintaining, updating, collating, and disseminating water resources information.

The core objective of the project is to improve the overall extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information across the country, while also strengthening the capacity of targeted water resources management institutions in India to facilitate better planning and decision-making.

Explanation

Under Article 80 of the Constitution of India, the representatives of each State in the Council of States, also known as the Rajya Sabha, are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of that State. This election is conducted in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. This constitutional design ensures that the Rajya Sabha acts as a representative body for the states of the Union at the federal level.

Explanation

The Chandrabhaga beach, located on the Konark coast of Odisha, became the first beach in Asia to receive the prestigious Blue Flag certification on World Environment Day, June 5, 2018. This globally recognized eco-label is awarded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beaches that meet stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria, spanning 33 different parameters. Chandrabhaga beach achieved this recognition by establishing high standards in cleanliness, beach safety, solid waste management, and environment-friendly tourist amenities.

Explanation

India has historically maintained a positive, single-digit inflation rate, especially after transitioning to an flexible inflation targeting framework in 2016. Under this framework, the Reserve Bank of India is mandated to keep the Consumer Price Index inflation at 4 percent with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 percent, meaning the target range is between 2 percent and 6 percent. This structured monetary policy ensures that the price levels rise at a moderate, manageable pace, keeping inflation firmly within positive single-digit territory to support sustainable economic growth while maintaining price stability.

Explanation

Radiocarbon dating relies on the decay of the radioactive carbon-14 isotope (¹⁴C) present in organic materials. Living organisms continuously absorb carbon from the atmosphere, maintaining a constant ratio of ¹⁴C to stable carbon isotopes. Once an organism dies, this absorption stops, and the ¹⁴C undergoes radioactive decay with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years. Measuring the remaining quantity of ¹⁴C in organic remains such as bones, wood, charcoal, and other fossils allows scientists to calculate the time elapsed since the death of the organism, accurately estimating its age.

Explanation

The combustion of fossil fuels, which primarily consist of hydrocarbons, involves a chemical reaction with oxygen. In a complete combustion process, the carbon present in these fuels reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water vapor, along with the release of energy. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted directly through this process, contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect as it traps heat in the Earth atmosphere.

Explanation

Wood's Despatch of 1854, referred to as the Magna Carta of English Education in India, recommended the establishment of a regular system of education from the primary level to the university stage. It specifically recommended setting up universities in the presidency towns of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, modeled on the pattern of the University of London. In pursuance of this recommendation, the University of Calcutta was incorporated on 24 January 1857, making it the first modern university in the Indian subcontinent.

Explanation

Cartosat-3, an advanced third-generation earth-observation satellite with high-resolution imaging capabilities, was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on November 27, 2019. The satellite was launched aboard the PSLV-C47 rocket from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

Subhas Chandra Bose founded the All India Forward Bloc on May 3, 1939. After resigning from the presidency of the Indian National Congress at the Tripuri session in 1939 due to ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the conservative faction of the Congress, Bose formed the Forward Bloc as a left-wing faction within the party. The primary objective of the group was to bring all radical and progressive elements of the nationalist movement together to wage an uncompromising struggle against British colonial rule.

Explanation

Both Surkotada and Dholavira are prominent Indus Valley Civilization sites located in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Surkotada is situated in Rapar Taluka and is well-known for the discovery of horse remains and a stone-fortified citadel. Dholavira is located on Khadir Bet island in Bhachau Taluka and is celebrated for its highly advanced water management system, massive stone fortifications, and unique division into three distinct parts: the citadel, the middle town, and the lower town.

Explanation

Lord William Bentinck enacted the Bengal Sati Regulation, XVII of 1829, which declared the practice of Sati illegal and punishable by criminal courts. Serving as the Governor-General of Bengal at the time, Bentinck was heavily supported in this reformative legislation by the prominent Indian social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who had long campaigned against the cruel practice of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their deceased husbands.

Explanation

Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was deeply influenced by the ideals of the French Revolution. To demonstrate his solidarity with the French Republic, he founded a Jacobin Club at Seringapatam in 1794 and planted the Tree of Liberty at his capital. This act symbolized his close diplomatic ties with France and his shared opposition to British colonial expansion in India.

Explanation

Queen Victoria's Proclamation was officially issued on 1 November 1858. It was read by Lord Canning, who became the first Viceroy of India, at a grand Durbar held in Allahabad. This proclamation announced the transfer of the governance of India from the British East India Company directly to the British Crown, following the Revolt of 1857. It outlined the future policy of British rule in India, promising to respect the rights of princely states, abstain from territorial expansion, and ensure religious tolerance and equal protection under the law for Indian subjects.

Explanation

The services sector is the dominant contributor to India's economy. In various national and international database reports, including those by NITI Aayog and the CIA World Factbook, the contribution of the services sector to India's Gross Domestic Product is estimated at approximately 61.5% to 62%. This sector includes vital sub-sectors such as financial services, real estate, professional services, trade, hotels, transport, communication, and public administration, making it the principal engine of the nation's economic growth.

Explanation

The Zabti system, also known as the Dahsala system, was a major land revenue assessment method introduced during the Mughal period under Emperor Akbar by his finance minister, Raja Todar Mal. Under this system, the state's revenue demand was determined based on the average yield of different crops and their prevailing prices over the preceding ten years. The land was measured and classified according to its cultivation frequency, and the final tax was calculated and collected in cash based on these crop yields.

Explanation

The Queen Pineapple is the official state fruit of Tripura, having been declared so by President Ram Nath Kovind in June 2018. Known for its distinct sweet aroma, spiny golden yellow skin, and rich juice, it is one of the most famous crop varieties of the region. The Tripura Queen Pineapple received its Geographical Indication (GI) tag on March 25, 2015, under the agricultural category (Certificate Number 227), through the facilitation of the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation.

Explanation

Dhondo Keshav Karve founded the Indian Women's University in Pune in 1916, which was later renamed as Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University. It was the first women's university in India and Southeast Asia, established to promote higher education and empowerment for women. Karve was a pioneering social reformer who dedicated his life to women's education, widow remarriage, and gender equality in India.

Explanation

DEFCOM is a prominent international seminar and exposition on military communications. It is organized jointly by the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army and the Confederation of Indian Industry (C.I.I.). This platform facilitates collaboration among the armed forces, academia, research and development organizations, and the domestic industry on matters relating to advanced information and communication technologies (ICT) to build robust network-centric capabilities for defense forces.

Explanation

The numbers 27, 64, and 125 are perfect cubes of integers, since 27 = 3³, 64 = 4³, and 125 = 5³. In contrast, 81 is a perfect square (81 = 9²) but is not a perfect cube of any integer, making it the odd one out.

Explanation

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, contain a specialized iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. Each hemoglobin molecule contains four heme groups, each of which can reversibly bind to one molecule of oxygen (O₂). This binding allows red blood cells to efficiently transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues throughout the body and release it where needed.

Explanation

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) is an act of the Parliament of India aimed at preventing and prohibiting child marriages. Under this legislation, child marriage is defined as a marriage where either of the contracting parties is a child, meaning a female below 18 years of age or a male below 21 years of age. The act provides provisions for declaring child marriages voidable, provides maintenance and residence for the female contracting party, and prescribes strict punishments for those who perform, abet, or solemnize such marriages. It came into force on November 1, 2007, replacing the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.

Explanation

The total number of seconds in one day is calculated as: 24 hours/day × 60 minutes/hour × 60 seconds/minute = 86400 seconds

The distance traveled by the ant in one day is the product of its speed and the total time: Distance = 75 cm/second × 86400 seconds = 6480000 cm

To convert this distance from centimeters to meters, we divide by 100 because 1 meter equals 100 centimeters: Distance = (6480000 cm)/(100) = 64800 m

This gives a total daily distance of 64800 m/day.

Explanation

Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar (popularly known as Muhammad Ali) was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement, an influential journalist, and a key figure in the Indian independence movement. He was one of the primary founders of Jamia Millia Islamia when it was established at Aligarh in 1920, and he served as the institution's very first Vice-Chancellor.

Explanation

When you pass the runner who is in second place, you take over that runner's position in the sequence of the race. The person you just passed falls back to third place, while you assume the second-place spot. The leader of the race remains in first place, ahead of you.

Explanation

Bankura district lies in the western undulating and lateritic zone of West Bengal, which is drought-prone with relatively lower soil fertility, resulting in a lower total rice production. Murshidabad district is situated in the fertile Gangetic alluvial plain with favorable irrigation, yielding a higher rice output than Bankura. East Barddhaman is widely recognized as the rice bowl of West Bengal due to its exceptionally fertile alluvial soil, extensive canal irrigation system provided by the Damodar Valley Corporation, and intensive agricultural practices, making it the highest rice producer of the three. This establishes the ascending sequence of rice production from Bankura to Murshidabad, and ultimately to East Barddhaman.

Explanation

The Salt Satyagraha commenced on March 12, 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi. The 24-day march was a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly. On April 6, 1930, Gandhi violated the salt laws by picking up a lump of natural salt at Dandi, which officially inaugurated the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in March 1946. Sent by the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the high-powered mission consisted of three British Cabinet ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. Its objective was to negotiate the terms for the transfer of power to Indian leadership, devise a mechanism to frame a constitution for independent India, and set up an interim government.

Explanation

The Governor of the State of West Bengal serves as the ex-officio Chancellor of all state-run public universities as per the provisions of the respective state university acts. In this capacity, the Governor acts as the titular head of these educational institutions and holds key administrative powers, including appointing Vice-Chancellors, presiding over university senate or court meetings, and conferring honorary degrees during convocations.

Explanation

Mitashara is a celebrated legal treatise on the ancient Hindu law of inheritance and property succession. Written by Vijnanesvara in the late eleventh century, it is structured as a running commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti. The treatise established one of the two main schools of Hindu law, governing property inheritance rights across most of India, with the notable exception of Bengal and Assam where the Dayabhaga system prevailed. Under the Mitashara school, male descendants acquire an inherent coparcenary right in ancestral property by birth.

Explanation

Blotting paper is a highly porous material composed of thousands of tiny, microscopic channels and spaces between its cellulose fibers. These small, interconnected spaces act as fine capillary tubes. When ink comes into contact with the blotting paper, capillary action causes the liquid to be drawn into these tiny channels. This movement is driven by adhesive forces between the ink molecules and the solid paper fibers, which overcome the cohesive forces within the liquid, allowing the ink to rise and spread throughout the paper against gravity.

Explanation

Malik Kafur, a prominent military general of the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji, was appointed as the commander of the imperial forces for the southern expeditions. Between 1308 and 1311, Kafur led the Delhi Sultanate armies deep into the Deccan and South India. He successfully subjugated major kingdoms of the region, including the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Kakatiyas of Warangal, the Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra, and the Pandyas of Madurai. These campaigns resulted in the submission of these southern rulers, who agreed to pay annual tributes, and yielded immense booty in the form of gold, jewels, elephants, and horses for the Delhi treasury.

Explanation

During the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929, the historic Purna Swaraj resolution was passed under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. The Congress issued a declaration of independence and called upon the people of India to celebrate 26th January, 1930, as the first Independence Day (Purna Swaraj Diwas) by hoisting the tricolor flag and taking a pledge to strive for complete independence from British rule.

Explanation

The Mula-Mutha River is formed by the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers in Pune, Maharashtra. The city of Pune is situated along the banks of this river, which later merges with the Bhima River, a major tributary of the Krishna River.

Explanation

Let the starting point, Radhika's house, be represented by the origin (0, 0) on a coordinate plane where the positive y-axis represents North, negative y-axis represents South, positive x-axis represents East, and negative x-axis represents West.

Going 50m south brings Radhika to the coordinates (0, -50).

Turning left from South means she faces East. Walking 20m east brings her to the coordinates (20, -50).

Turning north and walking 30m brings her to the coordinates (20, -20).

To return to her house at (0, 0) from her current position of (20, -20), her movement vector must be (-20, 20). This movement represents traveling towards the north and the west, meaning she is walking in the North-West direction.

Explanation

Henri Becquerel discovered natural radioactivity in 1896. While studying the phosphorescence of uranium salts, he placed a sample of potassium uranyl sulfate on a photographic plate wrapped in black paper and stored them in a dark drawer. He discovered that the uranium salts emitted a continuous, spontaneous radiation that could penetrate the paper and expose the photographic plate without any external energy source such as sunlight. This marked the discovery of natural radioactivity.

Explanation

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, is widely recognized as the Father of the Indian National Congress. In 1885, he played a crucial role in bringing together educated Indian elites to form a national-level political organization, culminating in the first session of the Indian National Congress in Bombay. He served as the General Secretary of the party from its establishment until 1906, guiding its early growth and organizational structure.

Explanation

The Mughal Emperor Akbar constructed the Ibadat Khana, also known as the House of Worship, at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 A.D. It was initially established as a meeting house for theologians and scholars of Islam to debate and discuss religious matters. Later, in 1578 A.D., Akbar opened the doors of the Ibadat Khana to theologians and representatives of other religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Buddhism, to foster interfaith dialogue and understand the core tenets of different belief systems. This extensive interaction and theological debate eventually led him to formulate the syncretic philosophy of Din-i-Ilahi.

Explanation

James Augustus Hicky, an Irish journalist, started India's first English newspaper, Hicky's Bengal Gazette, on January 29, 1780, in Calcutta. Also known as the Original Calcutta General Advertiser, this weekly publication laid the foundation of journalism in India and was known for its independent and critical stance against the British East India Company administration.

Explanation

Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃), historically referred to as Chile saltpeter, is an inorganic salt that serves as an efficient nitrogenous fertilizer. Nitrogen is a critical macronutrient required by plants for the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, and chlorophyll, which are essential for vegetative growth. When applied to the soil, sodium nitrate readily dissolves to release nitrate ions (NO₃⁻), which are highly bioavailable and easily absorbed by plant root systems to enhance crop yields.

Explanation

The Lokpal logo figuratively depicts different aspects of the anti-corruption ombudsman through various shapes. In this design, the Ashoke Chakra is styled to form an eye-pupil, which represents vigilance. Other elements in the logo include a judges' bench representing the ombudsman, three human figures representing the people, an orange book representing the law, and two hands representing the judiciary in a unique balance.

Explanation

The Census of India is conducted once every ten years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The 15th national census of India was successfully conducted in 2011, making it the most recent completed census of the Indian population.

Explanation

The Gangani region, located near Garhbeta in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, is widely known as the Grand Canyon of Bengal. This area features a unique badland topography formed along the banks of the Shilabati River, which has deeply eroded the underlying red laterite soil. Laterite soil is rich in iron and aluminum oxides, giving the canyon walls their distinctive reddish-brown hue and rugged appearance.

Explanation

Farmers' suicide in India is primarily viewed as a socio-economic manifestation of deep-rooted agricultural distress. This distress is caused by a combination of systemic issues including high levels of indebtedness, rising costs of cultivation, unpredictable monsoon patterns causing crop failures, and unremunerative prices for agricultural produce. Due to a lack of widespread access to formal institutional credit, small and marginal farmers often fall into a vicious debt trap driven by informal local moneylenders. When faced with crop losses or low market prices, they are unable to repay these loans, leading to severe financial stress and psychological pressure that culminates in suicides.

Explanation

Thanjavur is widely recognized as the granary of South India due to its highly fertile deltaic soil formed by the Cauvery River and its tributaries. The region possesses an abundant water supply and rich alluvial deposits, making it exceptionally suited for agriculture, particularly the intensive cultivation of paddy. Historically and culturally, this area has served as the major rice-producing hub of Tamil Nadu and the broader southern region.

Explanation

The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station is a nuclear power plant operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Located in the Tapi district of Gujarat, the facility is situated along the banks of the Tapi River, approximately 80 kilometers from the major city of Surat, making Surat the closest primary urban center to the atomic station.

Explanation

Sher Shah Suri introduced the Patta and Kabuliyat system as part of his extensive land revenue reforms to bring stability and transparency to agricultural administration. Under this system, the Patta was a formal title deed granted to the peasant detailing the exact measurement of their land holding, its quality, and the specified tax rate payable to the state. In return, the peasant signed the Kabuliyat, which was a deed of agreement or acceptance acknowledging these terms and committing to pay the designated revenue. This dual system protected the peasantry from arbitrary exploitation by intermediary revenue officials and secured the revenue collection for the state.

Explanation

A hydrogen bomb is based on the principle of nuclear fusion, where lighter atomic nuclei, specifically isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium (²₁H) and tritium (³₁H), combine at extremely high temperatures and pressures to form a heavier helium nucleus (⁴₂He) along with a neutron. This process releases an immense amount of energy due to the mass defect, which is converted into energy according to Einstein mass-energy equivalence relation E = Δ m c². To overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged hydrogen nuclei and initiate fusion, an extremely high temperature on the order of millions of kelvins is required, which is achieved by utilizing an atomic fission trigger within the device.

Explanation

Birjis Qadr (also known as Birjis Kader) was the son of Wajid Ali Shah, the last ruler of Oudh (Awadh). During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, following the deposition and exile of his father by the British East India Company, the young prince was crowned as the Nawab of Oudh at Lucknow by the rebel forces, with his mother Begum Hazrat Mahal acting as his regent. Under her leadership, the administration of Awadh resisted British rule during the uprising until Lucknow was recaptured, after which they sought refuge in Nepal.

Explanation

Professor Amartya Kumar Sen was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his groundbreaking contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory. His research focused on famine, human development theory, welfare economics, the underlying mechanisms of poverty, and gender inequality, which significantly redefined the way developmental issues are evaluated. This achievement made him the first Indian as well as the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize in this category.