64th BPSC Prelims (Held on 16 Dec 2018) Official paper (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is More than one of the above.

• Pure water - pH 7
• Neutral solution - pH 7
• Basic Solution - pH more than 7
• Acidic Solution - pH less than 7

Important Points

• Acidity and alkalinity are measured with a logarithmic scale called pH.
• pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration: pH = −log [H⁺]
• The square brackets around the H⁺ mean "concentration" relative to pure water.
• A pH less than 7 is acidic and a pH greater than 7 is basic.
• An acid is a substance that donates hydrogen ions.
• An acid is dissolved in water, the balance between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions is shifted.
• There are more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions in the solution which makes the solution is acidic.
• A base is a substance that accepts hydrogen ions.
• A base is dissolved in water, the balance between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions shifts the opposite way.
• Because the base "soaks up" hydrogen ions, the result is a solution with more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions and makes the solution alkaline.

Key Points

The correct answer is Hydrogen.

Key Points

• The hydrogen (H) atom does not have any neutrons in its tiny nucleus.
• It has only one electron (-ve charged) and one proton (+ve charged).
• The first isotope of Hydrogen called Protium has no neutron in its atom.
• Neutrons are the particles in an atom that has a neutral charge.

Important Points

• Oxygen atomic number 8.
• Normally it has 8 (2, 6) electrons, 8 protons, and 8 neutrons.
• It belongs to Group 16 (Chalcogens group).
• Nitrogen atomic number 7.
• Normally it has 7 (2, 5) electrons, 7 protons, and 7 neutrons.
• It belongs to Group 15 (Pnictogen group).
• Copper atomic number 29.
• Normally it has 29 (2, 8, 18, 1) electrons, 29 protons, and 35 neutrons.
• It belongs to Group 11.
• Deuterium is a hydrogen atom with an extra neutron and tritium has two extra created by nuclear fusion.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Wavelength.

• Angstrom (Å) is a SI unit of wavelength of light.
• 1 Angstrom (Å) = 10⁻¹⁰ metre, or 0.1 nanometer.
• It is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström.
• This unit is also used for chemical bond length and the size of microscopic structures.

Additional Information

• The wavelength can be defined as the distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave.
• Energy is defined as the ability or capacity for doing work.
• It may be potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear, or various other forms.
• The law of conservation of energy states that energy can be converted in form, but not created or destroyed.
• SI Unit: joule (kg m² s⁻²).
• Other units: kW⋅h, BTU, calorie, eV, erg, foot-pound.
• Velocity is defined as a vector measurement of the rate and direction of motion of an object.
• Velocity formula when an object moving in a straight line: r = d / t
• r is the rate or speed, d is the distance moved, t is the time it takes to complete the movement.
• SI unit: meter/second.
• Other units: mph, ft/s, Km/h.

Key Points

• X-ray wavelength values typically range from 1 to 10 Å.
• The number of waves that pass through a given point in one second is called the frequency.
• Unit is cycles per second called Hertz.
• Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength.

The correct answer is hertz.

• Frequency refers to the number of occurrences of a periodic event per unit of time.
• It is measured in cycles/second or hertz.
• The frequency is mainly classified into two categories:
• Angular Frequency: the number of revolutions at the fixed interval of time.
• Spatial Frequency: It depends on the spatial coordinate.
  

It is inversely proportional to the wavelength.

It measures the characteristic of the structure that is periodic in space.

Important Points

The correct answer is None of the above.

Mistake Points 

• DNA was discovered by Friedrich Miescher in 1869.
• Watson and Crick Propose the Double Helix structure of DNA with the two strands connected by hydrogen bonds in 1953.

Key Points

• DNA is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code.
• It holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies and function of living things.
• In the cell nucleus, the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes.
• A chromosome (microscopic structure) is made up of DNA tightly coiled many times around proteins called histones that support its structure.
• A chromosome has two arm - p arm (short arm) and q arm (long arm), joined in the location of the centromere.
• The information in DNA (double helix structure) is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
• DNA has two base pairs, A-T and G-C, attached to a sugar-phosphate backbone.

Important Points

• A single chromosome contains only one DNA molecule and so many genes.

The correct answer is Fat.

Important Points

• Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood.
• A triglyceride is composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.
• Triglycerides and cholesterol are different types of lipids that circulate in the blood.
• Triglycerides store unused calories and provide energy to the body.
• Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones.

Key Points

• Triglycerides are an important measure of heart health.
• High triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (arteriosclerosis).
• It increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart disease, and acute inflammation of the pancreas.
• Triglycerides fall into a healthy range:
• Normal: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per litre (mmol/L).
• Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L).
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL (2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L).
• Very high: 500 mg/dL or above (5.7 mmol/L or above).

The correct answer is Brain.

• An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used to find problems related to the electrical activity of the brain.
• An EEG tracks and records brain wave patterns.
• EEG can differentiate between a true acute encephalopathy and epileptic states or psychiatric conditions.

Important Points

The correct answer is the hypothalamus.

Important Points

Key Points

• Pathways are called white matter tracts to connect areas of the cortex.
• Messages can travel from one gyrus to another, from one lobe to another, from one side of the brain to the other, and structures deep in the brain.
• Hypothalamus: It is located on the floor of the third ventricle and is the master control of the autonomic system.
• It plays a role in controlling behaviours such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and sexual response. It also regulates body temperature, blood pressure, emotions, and secretion of hormones.
• Pituitary gland: It lies in a small pocket of bone at the skull base called the sella turcica.
• The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus of the brain by the pituitary stalk. Known as the “master gland”.
• It controls other endocrine glands in the body. It secretes hormones that control sexual development, promote bone and muscle growth, and respond to stress.
• Thalamus: It serves as a relay station for almost all information that comes and goes to the cortex.
• It plays a role in pain sensation, attention, alertness, and memory.
• Limbic system: It is the centre of our emotions, learning, and memory. Included in this system are the cingulate gyri, hypothalamus, amygdala (emotional reactions), and hippocampus (memory).

The correct answer is the Wavelength of red light is more than violet light.

• The wavelength can be defined as the distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave.

Important Points

• Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other.
• The human eye can detect wavelengths from 380 to 700 nanometers, this range of wavelengths is called visible light.
• Microwaves are used by artificial satellites for communication.
• Gamma rays, electromagnetic waves are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.
• Electromagnetic waves in order from longest to shortest wavelength: television, infrared, visible light, X-rays.

Key Points

• The number of waves that pass through a given point in one second is called the frequency.
• Unit is cycles per second called Hertz.
• Red has the longest wavelength (620 - 750nm) and violet has the shortest wavelength (380 - 450 nm).
• X-ray wavelength values typically range from 1 to 10 Å.

The correct answer 104 °F.

• By using the formula of C/5 = (F-32)/9
  

we get (40°C × 9/5) + 32 = 104°F

Important Points

• The Celsius scale and the Fahrenheit scale coincides at -40°, which is the same for both.
• The formula conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius is: C/5 = (F-32)/9

Key Points

• 0°C is equal to 273.15 Kelvins. The basic formula is °C + 273.15 = K.
• To convert Fahrenheit degrees into Kelvins, (°F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15 = K.
• Absolute zero is 0 Kelvins. This is the lowest temperature of any substance.
• Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius or 32 Degrees Fahrenheit, or 273.15 Kelvins.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 373.15 Kelvins.

The correct answer is the watt.

Important Points

Key Points

• Coulomb's law states that the electrical force between two charged objects is directly proportional to the product of the quantity of charge on the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the separation distance between the two objects.
• Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points.
• It describing how voltage, current, and resistance interrelate: V = IR, where V = voltage, I = current, R = resistance.

The correct answer is electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy.

• A motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
• The motor works on "Fleming’s left-hand rule".
• Fleming's left-hand rule: When current flows through a conducting wire, and an external magnetic field is applied across that flow, the conducting wire experiences a force perpendicular both to that field and to the direction of the current flow (i.e. they are mutually perpendicular).
• The Thumb represents the direction of the Thrust on the conductor/Motion of the Conductor.
• The Forefinger represents the direction of the Magnetic Field.
• The Centre finger represents the direction of the Current.

Important Points

• Heat is converted into electrical energy: thermoelectric generator (TEG) or a Seebeck generator.
• It is solid-state semiconductor devices that convert a temperature difference and heat flow into a useful DC power source.
• Seebeck Effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature difference between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two substances.
• Electrical energy is converted into heat: Electric heater.
• The electrical energy in a resistor through which current passes (W = I² R  t) is converted, into heat energy.
• Mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy: A Generator.
• It works on "Fleming's right-hand rule".
• Fleming's right-hand rule: It shows the direction of induced current when a conductor attached to a circuit moves in a magnetic field. It can be used to determine the direction of current in a generator's windings.
• The thumb is pointed in the direction of the motion of the conductor relative to the magnetic field.
• The first finger is pointed in the direction of the magnetic field. (North to south).
• Then the second finger represents the direction of the induced or generated current within the conductor.

The correct answer is about 70% water.

Important Points

• The Top Four Elements Found in the Human Body: oxygen (65%), carbon (18.5%), hydrogen (9.5%), nitrogen (3.2%).
• The other trace elements (less than 0.01%) are boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), fluorine (F), iodine (I), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn).
• The six major nutrients are carbohydrates (CHO), lipids (fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals, water.
• The functions of water in the human body:
• Water carries nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body.
• Water is required for breathing.
• Water regulates your body temperature.
• Water protects and cushions vital organs.
• Water cushions joints.
• Water removes waste.

Key Points

• Calcium (Ca) is the most abundant mineral in the body and is essential for a number of vital functions.
• Also helps muscles relax and contract, important in nerve functioning, blood clotting, blood pressure regulation, immune system health.
• Iron (Fe), Part of a molecule (haemoglobin) found in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the body, needed for energy metabolism.
• Iodine found in thyroid hormone, which helps regulate growth, development, and metabolism.
• Chromium works closely with insulin to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels.

The correct answer is an ammeter.

• An ammeter is an instrument that is used to measure the current in the circuit.
• Measure either direct or alternating electric current, in amperes (A).
• It has a set of coils with very low resistance and inductive reactance.
• This allows for very low impedance, the force that opposes electric current.

Important Points

Key Points

• Galvanometers detect the strength and direction of minuscule currents in circuits.
• Converting galvanometer into ammeter: connecting a low resistance called shunt resistance in parallel to the galvanometer.
• Converting galvanometer into voltmeter: connecting a high resistance called multiplier in series to the galvanometer.

The correct answer is More than one of the above

Key Points

• Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases.
• They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere.
• The greenhouse gases are **Carbon dioxide(**CO2) methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Fluorinated gases, ozone (O3), water vapour (H2O). Hence option 5 is correct.
• The main gas of greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement).
• Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.
• Fluorinated gases like hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes.
• Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs), and halons).
• These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases ("High GWP gases").

Additional Information

• Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation (net heat energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiating it back to Earth’s surface.
• In 1992, The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The correct answer is the photoelectric effect.

• Albert Einstein received his Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.
• When light shines on a metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface of the metal in a phenomenon known as the photoelectric effect.
• This process is also known as photoemission.
• The electrons that are ejected from the metal are called photoelectrons.
• Einstein proposed that light behaved like a stream of particles called photons with an energy of E=hν.

Important Points

• The Relativity theory was given by Albert Einstein in 1905.
• The speed of light in a vacuum was independent of the motion of all observers. This was the theory of special relativity.
• This theory proposed new concepts of space and time.
• This relationship between mass and speed is often expressed as a relationship between mass and energy: E=mc², where E is energy, m is mass and c is the speed of light.
• This phenomenon is also known as mass-energy equivalence.
• Mass–energy equivalence states that all massive objects have intrinsic energy in the form of mass, even when they are stationary.
• For the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), Eric A. Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle, and Carl. E. Wieman earned Nobel Prize in Physics.
• A Bose-Einstein condensate is a state of matter or a group of atoms cooled to within a hair of absolute zero.
• When they reach that temperature the atoms are hardly moving relative to each other; they have almost no free energy to do so. At that point, the atoms begin to clump together and enter the same energy states.

The correct answer is the mitochondrion.

• Mitochondria are two membrane-bound organelles (semi-autonomous) found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
• It is responsible for cellular respiration and the production of most ATP in the cell.
• Mitochondria also contain extranuclear DNA that encodes a number of rRNAs, tRNAs, and proteins.
• Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol while the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation occur in the mitochondria.
• Oxidative phosphorylation consists of two parts: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. It is this final stage that produces the bulk of the ATP in the respiration process.

Important Points

The correct answer is virus.

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks a part of the immune system.
• AIDS is a late stage of HIV infection.
• This virus targets white blood cells called CD4 (T cells).
• They are needed to fight off infections and other diseases.
• Low levels of CD4 cells make it harder for the body to stop or control infections and diseases.

Key Points

• HIV is most commonly spread through:
• Sexual contact with an HIV-infected person, especially vaginal or anal sex.
• Transfer of HIV from a mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
• HIV-contaminated needle.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Hygrometer.

Key Points

• A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure relative humidity.
• A psychrometer is an example of a hygrometer.
• A psychrometer uses two thermometers to measure relative humidity, one measures the dry-bulb temperature, and the other measures the wet-bulb temperature.
• Humidity is the measure of the amount of moisture in the air.

Important Points

Additional Information

• Hydrometer operates based on the Archimedes principle that a solid body displaces its own weight within a liquid in which it floats.
• A pyrometer is an instrument that measures temperature remotely by measuring the intensity of radiation from the object, without having to be in contact.
• It has two categories - optical pyrometers and infrared / radiation pyrometers.
• The specific gravity of milk is determined using the lactometer, an instrument that sinks to a definite point in pure milk.
• It consists of a test tube and a meter blub.
• The most abundant proteins in bovine milk are caseins and some of the whey proteins, namely beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin.

The correct answer is Newton/sq. meter.

• For pressure, the SI system's basic unit is Pascal (Pa), which is N/m² (One Newton per square meter, while Newton is kg m/s²).
• Pascal is a very small pressure unit. For example, the standard atmospheric pressure is 101325 Pa absolute.
• The most frequently used units of pressure are pascal (Pa), kilopascal (kPa), megapascal (MPa), psi (pound per square inch), torr (mmHg), atm (atmospheric pressure), and bar.

Important Points

• Newton-meter (N.m) is a SI unit of torque.
• 1 Nm = 1 Kg m²/s²
• One newton meter is equal to approximately 0.738 pound-feet.
• Newton Per Meter (N/m) is a unit in the category of Surface tension.
• Surface tension is the property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of the water molecules.

The correct answer is Kazakhstan.

• Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman was on a three-day visit to Astana, Kazakhstan from October 02, 2018, at the invitation of Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Nurlan Yermekbayev.
• India and Kazakhstan agree to boost Defence and Military-Technical Cooperation.

Key Points

• Troops of Indian and Kazakhstan Armies are undertaking the Indo-Kazakhstan joint annual military exercise, 'KAZIND 2019' in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh.

The correct answer is Canada.

• Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on October 3, 2018, became the first person to be stripped of the honorary Canadian citizenship for her role in gross human rights violations against the Rohingya people.
• In 2007, the Canadian Senate formally revoked the symbolic honour that was bestowed on Suu Kyi.

Key Points

• Myanmar passed its Citizenship Law in 1982.
• In that first law, recognized eight races and 130 minority groups but it excluded the minority Rohingya Muslims from citizenship.
• In the second law that limited the Rohingya Muslim residence to two townships in the western state of Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh.
• The Rohingya people, a Muslim ethnic minority group, are a stateless Indo-Aryan people from the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The correct answer is Great Britain.

Important Points

• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America on January 1, 1994.
• With the coming into force of the NAFTA, the world's largest free trade area was formed.
• The goal of NAFTA is to eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers of trade and investment between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The correct answer is France.

• India and France on September 6, 2018, signed an implementation agreement on 'Mobilise Your City' (MYC) in New Delhi.
• It supports three Indian cities (Nagpur, Kochi, and Ahmedabad) to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.
• It helps urban transport by implementing urban mobility plans at the local level and national level to improve their sustainable transport policy.

Important Points

• The MYC agreement was signed by Mukund Kumar Sinha, OSD & Ex-Officio Joint Secretary in the Urban Affairs Ministry and the Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AfD), Nicolas Fornage.

Key Points

• 21st Conference of Parties (COP21): Popularly known as the Paris Agreement.
• In 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol (CMP 11).
• It aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The correct answer is Mauritius.

• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated "Panini Language Laboratory" at Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) at Port Louis (Capital) in Mauritius.
• The Lab has been gifted by the Government of India and it will help MGI in the teaching of all Indian languages in Mauritius.

Important Points

Key Points

• The Prime Minister of Mauritius is Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.
• 11th World Hindi Conference held in Mauritius.

The correct answer is the United Kingdom.

• On August 5, 2018, The UK government announced new plans to change the law for organ and tissue donation to address the urgent need for organs within Indian-origin communities in the country.

Important Points

• The report titled - 'Organ Donation: Breaking Taboos Amongst British BAME Communities', commissioned by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, was aimed at studying the low levels of donation among the BAME communities in the UK.
• The main objective is to make it easier for people to record and share their decision on organs and tissue donation with friends, families, and to the NHS staff as well as Organ Donor Register (ODR).
• This will be known as Max’s Law after Max Johnson, a 10-year-old boy who was saved by a heart transplant.
• This will come into effect in England in 2020 as part of a drive to help black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) people desperately waiting for a life-saving transplant.

The correct answer is Zimbabwe.

• Zimbabwe's electoral commission has declared Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF candidate) president with 50.8 per cent of the vote in 2017.
• Nelson Chamisa is the leader of the opposition Democratic Change (MDC) party.

Important Points

The correct answer is Turkey.

• Turkey's state of emergency which was imposed after the failed 2016 coup came to an end on 20th July 2018.
• The emergency was imposed in Turkey after a failed 2016 coup.
• The measure, which normally lasts three months, was extended seven times.
• President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared the state of emergency on July 20, 2016, five days after warplanes bombed Ankara and bloody clashes broke out in Istanbul in a doomed putsch bid that claimed 249 lives.

Important Points

Key Points

• The Prime Minister of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
• The Republic Day of Turkey is celebrated on 29 October.

The correct answer is Papua New Guinea.

• On 26 June 2018, a National Emergency was declared by the Government of Papua New Guinea.
• The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Response was activated the day after.
• According to the WHO, Polio has no cure and can lead to irreversible paralysis.
• Polio mainly affects children who are under five. It can only be prevented by giving multiple vaccine doses to children.

Important Points

Key Points

• As per the WHO, in 2017, there were about 20 cases of polio globally. All these cases occurred in only two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Polio remains endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.

The correct answer is Seven times.

• 14 editions of the Asia Cup have been played and India has managed to win the tournament seven times.
• In 2018, India went on to win the tournament after defeating Bangladesh in the finals.

Important Points

• In 2018 Asia Cup Final:
• Player of the Match: Liton Das.
• Liton Kumar Das is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He is a right-handed opening batsman and wicket-keeper.
• Location: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Key Points

• India hosted the Asia Cup only 1 time.
• Mahela Jayawardene has had most Asia Cup appearances.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal adjudged man-of-the-tournament at the 2018 Under-19 Asia Cup cricket tournament.
• Afghanistan U-19 cricket team has clinched the 2017 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cup tournament by defeating Pakistan.

The correct answer is 15-24-30-69.

Key Points

• The 18th Asian Games were held in Indonesia.
• It was held in two cities Jakarta and Palembang.
• Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and Palembang is the capital of Indonesia’s province of South Sumatra.
• Mascots of 2018 Asian Games were Bhin Bhin (bird of paradise), Kaka (one-horned rhino) and Atung (deer).
• China topped the medal tally with 132-92-65-289 respectively.
• India was at 8^th place.

Additional Information

• The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951.
• The 2022 Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China.

The correct answer is SpiceJet.

• Spicejet was the first Indian airline company that used biofuel as ATF in August 2018.

Key Points

• The flight was flown between Dehradun and Delhi.
• The fuel was a mixture of jatropha seeds and aviation turbine fuel.
• The mixed bio-jet fuel and ATF has the potential to reduce fuel costs by 15-20%.
• The fuel is greenhouse gas neutral, carbon-neutral, reduces air pollution.

Additional Information

• Jatropha is a drought-resistant perennial plant that can grow in marginal or poor soil.
• Its seeds have an oil content of 37% which be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame.
• The fuel was developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The correct answer is Rs. 6,000 crore.

• In June 2018, the World Bank approved Rs.6,000 crore amount for 'Atal Bhujal Yojana', an ambitious scheme of India.

Key Points

• Atal Bhujal Yojana: 
• It is a central sector scheme for sustainable management of groundwater.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The funding of the scheme is done by the Government of India and the World Bank on 50 : 50 basis.
• The identified priority areas are Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Additional Information

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti was earlier known as Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

The correct answer is 900 years.

• According to the report of IIT, Kharagpur study group, continuous low rainfall for 900 years was the cause of fall of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Key Points

• IIT Kharagpur team mapped a 5000-year monsoon variability in the Tso Moriri lake in Leh Ladakh.
• The displaced people migrated towards the Ganga-Yamuna valley towards eastern and central Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal in the east and Madhya Pradesh, south of Vindhyachal and south Gujarat in the south.

​

Additional Information

• Indus Valley Civilization: 
• John Marshall was the first scholar to use the term ‘Indus Valley Civilisation’.
• The Indus Valley Civilisation belongs to the Protohistoric Period (Chalcolithic Age/Bronze Age).
• Dayaram Sahni first discovered Harappa Civilisation in 1921.
• R.D. Banerjee discovered Mohenjodaro or Mound of the Dead in 1922.
• The Indus Valley Civilisation was spread over Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Uttar Pradesh and Northern Maharashtra.

The correct answer is None of the above.

• According to Indian Forest Status Report released February 2018, 21.54% area in of India is covered by forests.

Key Points

• According to the report, the total forest cover is 7,08,273 sq. km, which is 21.54% of the total geographical area of the country.
• Forest and tree cover combined is 8,02,088 sq. km which is 24.39% of the total geographical area.
• According to the report, India has also increased by 1.36% of forest cover as compared to 2015.
• India ranked 10^th in the world, with a total of 24.4% of land area under forest.
• In terms of area under forest cover, top 5 states are Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra.
• In terms of percentage of the total geographical area, Top states are Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
• Forest Survey of India releases the report it is an organisation under the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
• The report is released after every two years.

The correct answer is Sikkim.

• In January 2018, Sikkim State allowed people to establish a humanitarian relationship with trees, i.e. brother-sister.

• State Forests Department issued notification titled Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity & Reverence) Rules 2017 which allowed people to establish a humanitarian relationship with trees, i.e. brother-sister.

• The traditional practice is locally known as Mitini or Mith/Mit.

• In this scheme a person can also adopt or preserve them in remembrance of a departed relative in which case tree shall be called smriti tree.

• According to the Forest Survey of India, 2015 forest cover of Sikkim is 47.80 % of State’s total geographical area**.**

The correct answer is Satara-Maharashtra.

• Satara district of Maharashtra achieved the first position as per 'Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2018.

Key Points

• Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2018 -
• Satara achieved the first position as per 'Swachh Survekshan Grameen followed by Rewari (Haryana) and Pedapalli (Telangana) respectively.
• The States with maximum citizen participation were Uttar Pradesh (1st), Gujarat (2nd) and Maharashtra (3rd).
• The Districts with maximum citizens’ participation were Nashik (Maharashtra), Solapur (Maharashtra) and Chittorgarh (Rajasthan).
• Swachh Survekshan Grameen-2018 were had commissioned by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

The correct answer is Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana.

• Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana was recognized as the world's largest insurance scheme launched in India in September 2018.

Key Points

• The health insurance scheme is set to cover some 500 million poor people.
• The scheme is widely known as Ayushman Bharat.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana offers a sum insured 5 lakh per family for secondary care.
• The insurance cost is shared by the centre and the state mostly in the ratio of 60:40.

Additional Information

• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)​.
• PM-JAY is a visionary scheme which aims at the fulfilment of the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which is a Sustainable Development Goal 3-Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The correct answer is Indian National Rail Academy-Vadodara.

• The first Indian Railway University established in Indian National Rail Academy-Vadodara in September 2018.

Key Points

• It is named as the National Rail and Transportation Institution (NRTI).
• The university will be a deemed university which will offer professional courses in technology and management of transportation networks.
• Ashok Lohani has been named the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
• The Railway university is the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The correct answer is the Japan-India Maritime Exercise.

• JIMEX 2018 relates to Japan-India Maritime Exercise.

Key Points

• JIMEX is a biennially conducted naval exercise between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
• The JIMEX 2018 was conducted at Visakhapatnam, India.
• The exercise comprised a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase of four days each.
• The Japanese fleet was represented by JMSDF Ships Kaga, an Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer; and Inazuma, a Guided Missile Destroyer.
• India was represented by INS Satpura; Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, Missile Corvette INS Kadmatt and the Fleet Tanker INS Shakti.

​

Additional Information

• Military Exercise with Japan:
• 'Dharma Guardian' - Joint land military exercise
• 'Shinyuu Maitri' - Joint Air Force exercise
• Trilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar with the USA.

The correct answer is Delhi.

• In Delhi, the air pollution control system 'WAYU' installed in September 2018.

Key Points

• The full form of WAYU is Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit.
• The device was installed for traffic junctions at ITO intersection and Mukarba Chowk in New Delhi.
• ​Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated air pollution control device WAYU.
• The device works by sucking in particulate matter and release fresh air.

Additional Information

• The device was developed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute which comes under the aegis of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The correct answer is Vikas Samiksha Yatra.

• Under Vikas Samiksha Yatra, Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar launched more than 750 development schemes at Begusaria and Khagaria districts on 6th January 2018.

Key Points

• 'Vikas Samiksha Yatra', began from Gauchhari Kataha village in Khagaria, where he flagged off 294 projects worth Rs 236 crore.
• At Chamera village in Ekangarsarai, the Nitish Kumar dedicated 132 projects worth Rs 97.63 crore in addition to the 114, worth Rs 698.65 crore to the public.
• Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar said that the agriculture in Bihar is will show a boost as part of his government’s “third roadmap” for 2017-2012 which was launched by the President Ram Nath Kovind.
• A total of six districts were covered the second phase of the state-wide yatra Nitish Kumar.

The correct answer is Patna.

• In Patna city, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sushil Modi inaugurated Bihar's first 'Start-up Hub' on 16th March 2018.

Key Points

• The startup hub will provide workstation and office space equipped free of cost and a "plug and play" facility to be made available for nearly 31 startup companies.
• Under this scheme, the state government is committed to providing necessary assistance to youths to set up startups in the state.
• The startup hub will be developed as a common facility center.

Additional Information

• Startup India Scheme:
• The scheme was launched on 16th January 2016.
• It comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
• It will provide funding support and incentives to the various start-ups of the country.

The correct answer is Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu.

• On 22nd March 2018, Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the book, Neel Ke Dhabbe on the occasion of 106th Bihar Day in Patna.

Key Points

• Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu also released three more books on the occasion namely ‘Ek Tha Mohan’, ‘Bapu Ki Chiththi’, ‘Champaran Ki Kahani’.
• ‘Champaran Satyagrah: Centenary Year’ is the theme of the 106th Bihar Day.

Additional Information

• Moving On... Moving Forward: A Year In Office is written by Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu.
• Jyotipunj and Exam Warriors is written by Shri Narendra Modi.
• Jyotipunj is known as 'the spheres of light'.
• Sakshi Bhaav is a collection of poems written by PM Modi.

The correct answer is 12000 HP.

• The capacity of India's most powerful electric locomotive engine made in Madhepura Locomotive Factory is 12000 HP.

Key Points

• The electric locomotive engine was manufactured by Madhepura Electric Loco Factory situated in Bihar.
• The engine started operation by Indian Railways from Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn Station.
• The engine was named WAG12 with Number 60027.
• India became the sixth country in the world to join the elite club of producing high horsepower locomotive indigenously.

The correct asnwer is Motihari.

• On 10th April 2018, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed 'Swachhagrahis National Convention' in Motihari.

Key Points

• While launching the centenary celebration of the Mahatma’s Champaran Satyagraha, Prime Minister also revived the sanitation drive ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ and reframed it as ‘From Satyagraha to Swachagraha’.
• The Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan was launched in 2014.
• On the occasion, PM Modi also launched various important development projects worth over Rs 6600 crore.
• He also launched the Bettiah Nagar Parishad Water Supply Scheme.
• India's first 12000 horsepower electric locomotive was also launched from Madhepura locomotive factory of Bihar.

The correct answer is LNJP - Patna.

• In LNJP - Patna airport, NDMA conducted a mock drill based on CBRN emergency in April 2018.

Key Points

• The full form of NDMA is National Disaster Response Authority.
• It conducted its first mock exercise which was aimed at enhancing preparedness of Airport Emergency Handlers (AEHs) to respond to CBRN emergencies at airports.
• CBRN emergencies are threats emanating due to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear material.

Additional Information

• Patna airport is also known as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport Patna.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is a statutory body under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• It was established in 2009.

The correct answer is First.

• ​According to a report, Patna city topped among 20 cities as per availability of 4G signals between December 2017 to February 2018.

Key Points

• Patna city has 4G availability of 92.6%.
• It was followed by Kanpur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Bhopal and Lucknow respectively.
• The study showed that all Indian cities were able to achieve 4G availability of over 80%.
• Navi Mumbai topped the spot in terms of 4G speed with an average speed of 8.72 Mbps.

The correct answer is Darbhanga.

• In Darbhanga, Bihar,​ Sulabh International launched the cheapest drinking water project 'Sulabh Jal'.

Key Points

• The price of the one-litre bottle will be 50 paise as per the 'Sulabh Jal' project.
• The project converts contaminated pond and river water into safe drinking water.
• Sulabh International introduced the concept of 'Sulabh Sauchalya' in India.

The correct answer is Every girl child will receive total Rs.60,000 from her birth to graduation level education.

• Every girl child will receive total Rs.60,000 from her birth to graduation level education is not true about Bihar's Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana.

Key Points

• The scheme aims to inspire girls towards education and provide them financial help from their birth till they get graduated through which the girls may get a better life.

Additional Information

• Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana:
• The ambitious 'Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana' will be run by three departments - education, health and social welfare.
• On the birth of a girl child, the family would get Rs 2000. After preparation of her Aadhaar card, the family would get an additional amount of Rs 1000.
• If the family completes the whole range of immunisation within two years of a girl's birth, it will get a sum of Rs 2000.
• On clearance of Secondary School Certificate, a sum of Rs 10,000 will be given to encourage her to pursue higher education. For this, only unmarried girls are eligible.
• A sum of Rs 7221 crore will be spent in a year on the programme.

The correct answer is Mehrgarh.

• The earliest evidence of animal domestication and agriculture in India has come from Mehrgarh.

Key Points

• Mehrgarh is the oldest settlement in the Neolithic age.
• The Neolithic Age is also called the New Stone Age.
• Mehrgarh is located on the Bolan River which is a tributary of the Indus.
• People of this age built carved objects from wood Shelters and tombs and made pottery.
• They made mud-brick houses and places of worship at specialised jobs created more complex tools out of Copper and bronze.
• Aryans were known because they domesticated dogs and cows.

Additional Information

• Indus Valley Civilisation:
• John Marshall was the first scholar to use the term ‘Indus Valley Civilisation’.
• The Indus Valley Civilisation belongs to the Protohistoric Period.
• Dayaram Sahni first discovered Harappa Civilisation in 1921.
• R.D. Banerjee discovered Mohenjodaro or Mound of the Dead in 1922.
• Mohenjodaro is the largest site of Indus Valley Civilisation.
• Rakhigarhi is the largest Indian site of Indus Valley Civilisation.

The correct answer is Rajgriha (Rajgir).

• After the Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha, the first Buddhist council was held at Rajgriha (Rajgir).

Key Points

• Mahakassaapa was the chairman of the first Buddhist Council.
• The idea of the councils was to preserve Buddha’s teachings i.e. Sutta and rules for disciples Vinaya.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Vima Kadphises.

• Vima Kadphises, Kushana ruler was the first to issue gold coins on a large scale.

Key Points

• Kushanas issued mostly gold coins and numerous copper coins which are found in most parts of north India up to Bihar.
• The Gold Dinara's or Suvarnas were based on the Roman denarius.
• Many Indian gods and goddesses depicted on Kushana coins besides many Persian and Greek deities.

Additional Information 

• Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Buddhist stupa at Bharhut (in MP) was built during the reign of Sungas.
• The coins of Vima Kadphises bear the figure of Shiva standing beside a bull.
• Menander or Melindo was the most famous Indo-Greek ruler.
• He had his capital at Sakala
• Gautamiputra Satakarni revived the Satavahana power and defeated the Saka Ksatrap Snehapana.
• He was the greatest Satavahana ruler.
• The study of coins is called Numismatics.

The correct answer is Aryabhatta.

• Aryabhatta was the first to explain that the rotation of the earth on its own axis accounts for the daily rising and setting of the sun.

Key Points

• Aryabhatta was born in India in 476 AD.
• He also stated that the Earth was a spherical ball.
• It takes around 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds to rotate on its own axis.

Additional Information

• India's first satellite was named after Aryabhatta.
• It was launched with the help of USSR.
• Rohini was the first satellite which was launched by India onboard SLV-3.

The correct answer is Balaputradeva

• Balaputradeva founded a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda and requested Devapala through his ambassador to grant five villages for its maintenance.

Key Points

• Balaputradeva was a king of Sailendra dynasty.
• Devapala was also a patron of Buddhism.
• Devapala extended the kingdom to Assam, Odisha and Kamarupa.
• Devapala defeated the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha.

Additional Information

• Gopala founded the Pala dynasty in 750 AD.
• He built the monastery at Odantapuri, Bihar.
• He is considered the first Buddhist king of Bengal.

The correct answer is None of the above.

• William H Schoff wrote the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.

Key Points

• The book was written in Koine Greek language.
• The book is also known by a Latin name as the Periplus Maris Erythraei.
• It describes navigation and trading opportunities from Roman Egyptian ports like Berenice along the coast of the Red Sea, and others along with Africa and the Sindh and India.

Additional Information

• The Geography book was written by Ptolemy.
• The Indica was written by Magasthenes
• The natural history is a book written by Pliny.

The correct answer is Tabaqat-i Nasiri.

• The earliest description of Bakhtiyar Khilji's invasion of Bihar is in Tabaqat-i Nasiri.

Key Points

• Minhaj-i-Siraj, a Persian historian composed Tabaqat-i-Nasiri.
• The book is written in the Persian language for Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud.
• Bakhtiyar Khilji was one of the Military Generals of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
• He destroyed the universities of Nalanda, Vikramashila, and Odantapuri.

Additional Information

• Tarikh-i Hind was written by Abu Rayhan al-Biruni.
• The book Taj-ul-Maasir was composed by Hasan Nizami in the Turkish language.
• Taj-ul-Maasir is the first official history of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi wrote Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shah.
• Tarikh-i-Mubarakshahi is a history of India of the sultanate period.

The correct answer is Alauddin Khilji.

• Alauddin Khilji demanded half the crops on land after measurement as revenue.

Key Points

• Alauddin Khilji measured the cultivable land and fixed the land revenue.
• Bishwa was declared to be the standard of measurement.
• All goods for sale were brought to the open market called ‘Sarai Adi’.
• He established the market control department under a minister called diwan-i- Riyasat.

Additional Information

• Alauddin Khilji also constructed the Alai Darwaja.
• Iltutmish was a slave of Qutubuddin Aibak and occupied the throne of Delhi in 1211 AD after deposing Aram Baksh.
• Balban established the military department Diwan-i-Arz.
• He introduced zaminbosi or practice of sijda.

The correct answer is Suhrawardi Silsilah.

• Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria belonged to Suhrawardi Silsilah.

Key Points

• It was founded by Shaikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi it was popular in Multan, Lahore and Sindh.
• This silsilah is considered as more orthodox than Chisti.
• Baha-ud-din Zakaria was the greatest saint of this silsilah.
• Baha-ud-din Zakaria invited Iltutmish to attack Qubacha in Multan and was given the title of Shaikh-ul-Islam by Iltutmish.

Additional Information

• The Chisti order was founded by Khwaja Abdal Chisti in Heart.
• It was brought to India by Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti.
• Shah Niamatullah Qadri was probably the first notable saint of Qadariya order to enter India but it was Syed Muhammad Jilani, who organised it on an effective basis.
• Sheikh Nuruddin began the rishi movement in Kashmir which was a synthesis of Kashmiri Shaivism and Islamic thought.
• Sheikh Badruddin of Samark first established Firdausi Silsila in Delhi, but later on, it moved to Bihar and became the most influential mystic older.

The correct answer is Islam Shah.

• Islam Shah maintained the efficiency of the army by introducing some new reforms.
• He re- modelled the cavalry by fixing regular grades in the service.
• The troops were divided into units of 50, 200, 250 and 500.
• The army was organised into larger divisions of 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers.
• Islam Shah also strengthened the artillery.
• He also added to the defence of the Empire by building 5 more fortresses, viz., Shergarh, Islamgrah, Rashidgarh, Firozgarh, and Mankot.
• Hence, 4th option is correct.

Key Points

• Sher Shah Suri was succeeded by Islam Shah.
• The original name of Islam Shah was Jalal Khan.
• The real name of Sher Shah Suri was Farid.

Additional Information

• Sher Shah Suri usurped the throne as ‘Hazarat-i-Ala’.
• He fought Battle of Chausa in 1539 AD and captured Chausa from Humayun.
• The land was measured using the Sikandar-gaz.
• Sher Shah Suri introduced silver Rupiya.

The correct answer is William Finch.

Important Points

• William Finch was an English merchant in the service of EIC and he travelled along with Captain Hawkins.
• He travelled during the reign of Jehangir.
• He stated that five thousand to twenty thousand men worked for forty years to build the palace of forty pillars at Allahabad in Akbar's time.
• In 1612, Jehangir confirmed the privileges to Finch and Hawkins and EIC in that year established the first factory at Surat.
• Note also that William Finch is one among the traveller, cited by Supreme Court in Ayodhya Verdict Case.
• Finch visited Ayodhya between 1608 and 1611 and did not find any building of importance of Islamic origin.

Additional Information

• Niccolo Manucci was an Italian traveller who wrote writings about Mughal Era, his famous work was 'Storia do Mogor'.
• Tavernier was a French traveller. In 1676 he published his two-volume Les six voyages de Jean Baptiste Tavernier.
• Abdul Hamid Lahori was a traveller and historian during the period of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who later became a court historian of Shah Jahan.

The correct answer is Sultan Zainul Abidin.

Important Points

Sultan Zaimul Abidin was reputed to be 'Akbar of Kashmir'.

• Zainul Abidin was the eighth sultans of Kashmir.
• Rajtarangani of Kalhan mentions details of his reigns.
• He abolished Jaziya on the Hindu minority of Kashmir and patronage Sanskrit literature.
• He was succeeded by his son Haji Khan, who took the title of Haidar Kha.

Additional Information

• Also, note that Shah Mir is considered as first Muslim ruler of Kashmir who established his own dynasty in 1339.
• Sultan Sikandar was also referred to as 'Butshikan'. He saved Kashmir from plunder by Timur.
• Sher Ali died in 1386 and he was succeeded by Sikandar Qutubuddin who in turn succeeded by his son Sultan Sikandar in 1396.

The correct answer is Haji Shariatullah.

Important Points

Faraizi Movement was started by Haji Shariatullah.

• Faraizi movement was a 19th-century Islamist revivalist movement.
• It was founded in 1818 with an aim to spread newfound realizations fo Shariatullah about Islam and following the Fard.
• After the death of Haji Shariatullah, his son Ahmad Dudu Miyan became the leader of the movement.
• In 1938, under his leadership, followers disobeyed the dictates of indigo planters and refused to pay taxes.
• Dudu Miyan's headquarters were at Bahadurpur.
• He invoked new awareness among peasants by uniting them against zamindars and indigo planters.

Additional Information

Some other Muslim socio-religious movements of the 19th century were- 

• Wahabi movement- by Shah Wallullah
• Ahmadiya Movement- in 1889 by Mirza Gulam Ahmad
• Aligarh Movement- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

The correct answer is Dadabhai Naoroji.

Dadabhai Naoroji wrote the book 'Poverty and Un British Rule in India'.

• Dadabhai Naoroji was popularly known as 'Grand Old Man of India'.
• He is the first Indian to become a member of the British Parliament.
• He helped found London Indian Society and East India Association.
• In 1885, Naoroji became a vice-president of the Bombay Presidency Association.
• He was Congress president thrice, in 1886, 1893, and 1906.

Additional Information

Major writings of Dada Bhai Naroji were as follows-

• Poverty in India
• The manners and customs of the Parsees
• Condition of India
• Admission of educated natives into the ICS
• The wants and means of India

The correct answer is 1885.

Important Points

• Bengal Tenancy Act was enacted for recognition of peasant rights in 1885.
• The root lies in the Permanent Settlement of 1793 which gave absolute rights to Zamindars and deprived tenants of their rights.
• In 1873, the agrarian league was formed in Pabna district to oppose the exploitation of Zamindars.
• Gradually Pabna Uprising grows with little violence but peasants arrested on a large scale.
• Eventually British Tenancy Act, 1885 was passed to fulfil the promise of protecting tenants from the worst aspects of Zamindari oppression.

Additional Information

Major farmer revolts of the 19th century are as follows-

• Indigo Revolt - 1859-60
• Rangpur Dhing - 1783 in Bengal
• Kol Rebellion - 1832  in Chota Nagpur area
• Mappila Rebellion - In 1841-1920 in Malabar region
• Deccan Uprising - 1875 in Maharashtra and Karnataka region

The correct answer is 1912.

Important Points

• On 22 March 1912 'Bihar and Orissa' carved out as separate province through The Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and Assam Laws Act, 1912.
• On 22 March 1912, it was carved out, hence March 22 is celebrated as Foundation Day of Bihar.
• On 1 April 1936 Bihar and Orissa became separate provinces from the Government of India Act, 1935.
• On 1 April 1936, Sir James David Sifton appointed the first governor of Bihar whereas Muhammad Yunus was declared the first Prime Minister of state.
• In 2000, Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar.

The correct answer is Raj Kumar Shukla.

Ram Prasad Shukla invited Gandhiji to Champaran.

• Champaran issue and Gandhiji.
• Champaran was a district in Bihar, and in 1914-16, farmers of this region agitated and protested against the harsh British atrocities.
• Gandhiji was invited here in 1917, he established Ashram here.
• Babu Braj Kishore Prasad, Angarh Narayan Sinha and Dr. Rajendra Prasad were leaders present there.
• This satyagraha was against the 'Teen Kathiya System' of farm tax. Under this system 3 of every 20 parts of land production was to be given to the British as Lagaan.

Result of Champaran Satyagraha

• Tin Kathiya System was abolished.
• Legal documents signed between tenants and the British for the rational tax system.

Additional Information

• The Champaran Satyagraha was the first to be started, but the word Satyagraha was used for the first time in Anti Rowlatt Act agitation.

The correct answer is Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Pandit Jwaharlal Nehru raised the Flag of Independence at the Congress Session of 1929.

• This was a significant event in history of nation, because in this session INC declared its aim as 'Poorna Swaraj'.
• 26 January to be observed as 'Independence Day'.
• JL Nehru unfurled the Flag of India's Independence on the banks of River Ravi in Lahore.
• Poorna Swaraj pledge was drafted by Mahatma Gandhi.

​

Additional Information

Some other important congress sessions after 1929-

• 1931- Karachi Session presided by V Patel, endorses Gandhi Irwin Pact.
• 1939- Tripuri Session presided by R Prasad, SC Bose relected but had to resign.
• 1946- Merut session presided by JB Kripalani and it was last session before Independence.

The correct answer is 1931.

Important Points

Bihar socialist party was formed in 1931.

• Bihar Socialist Party was formed by Ganga Sharan Sinha, Rambriksh Benipuri and Ramanand Mishra.
• Bihar congress socialist party was formed in 1934 in Anjuman Ismalia Hall, Patna.
• It was formed by Jaiprakash Narayan.
• Archarya Narendra Dev was the first president and Jai Prakash Narayan was made General Secretary.

The correct answer is Shri Krishna Sinha.

Important Points

Sri Krishna Sinha was the leader of the first Congress Ministry in Bihar.

• Sri Krishna Sinha was the first chief minister of state and Anugrah Narayan Sinha was the first Deputy Chief Minister of State.
• He was known as Bihar Kesari.
• He is regarded among the 'Architects of Modern Bihar'.
• Mahamaya Prasad Sinha was the fifth CM of state and first non congress of Bihar. He belonged to Jan Kranti Dal.
• In  A.N.Sinha's essay 'Mere Shri Babu' wrote that, "Since 1921, the History of Bihar has been the history of the life of Shri Babu"

The correct answer is Hungary.

Important Points

Hungary is a landlocked country.

• A landlocked country is a country that is not connected to an ocean or sea or does not have a coastline.
• Hungary is bordered by Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.
• Its capital is Budapest and is a member of the European Union.
• Belgium is bordered by Netherlands, Germany, Luxemburg, France and the North Sea.
• Romania is bordered by Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Moldova and the Black Sea.
• Ukraine is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and the Black Sea.

Additional Information

• Note that Africa continent has largest number of landlocked countries in world.

The correct answer is Borneo.

The Largest Islands in the World

1. Greenland (836,330 sq miles/2,166,086 sq km)
2. New Guinea (317,150 sq miles/821,400 sq km)
3. Borneo (288,869 sq miles/748,168 sq km)
4. Madagascar (226,756 sq miles/587,295 sq km)
5. Baffin (195,928 sq miles/507,451 sq km)
6. Sumatra (171,069 sq miles/443,066 sq km)

Key Points

The correct answer is Pampas.

Key Points

• The climate of the Pampas is generally temperate, gradually giving way to a more subtropical climate in the north and a semiarid climate on the western fringes (like San Luis Province and western La Pampa Province).
• Summer temperatures are more uniform than winter temperatures, generally ranging from 28 to 33 °C (82 to 91 °F) during the day.
• Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate: wet and cool winters, dry and warm summers.
• The annual average temperature in Cape Town is a delightful 17 degrees.
• The climate of Central Chile is of temperate Mediterranean type, with the amount of rainfall increasing considerably and progressively from north to south.
• Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), with mild wet winters and hot dry summers.

Additional Information

• Mediterranean climate is found between 30-40 degrees N-S Latitudes and gets its name from climate near the Mediterranean Sea.
• It receives most of their precipitation in winters and days are excessively warm in the interiors and prolonged droughts are common.
• The best-developed form of this climatic type is found in central Chile.
• It is divided into 5 loristic biome subtypes-

1. Mediterranean - Areas around Mediterranean sea
2. Californian - Around San Francisco
3. Chilean - Central Chile
4. Capensic - Cape Town, Africa
5. Australian - Southern and Western Australia

The correct answer is China.

• China's silk production accounts for 75% of global raw silk production and 90% of the world export market.
• China is also first in Rice production in the world. It is cultivated in 25% of the total cultivated area.
• China is the largest producer of Buckwheat, Wheat, Onion, Green pea in the world.
• Major silk-producing areas in China are the province of Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong.

Additional Information

• There are 5 types of silk of commercial importance, this are-Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.
• In India, all these commercial varieties are produced but Mulberry silk is produced mainly here.
• Karnataka is the largest producer in India, Andra Pradesh stands at the second position.

The correct answer is 'Saudia Arabia'.

Key Points

• Saudi Arabia is one of the major oil producer countries.
• Saudi Arabia, is the world’s largest oil exporter, accounting for 10 per cent of global oil supply.
• As of 2019 data, USA is the largest oil producer with 15043000 bbl/day and Saudi Arabia stands at second position with the production of 120000000 bbl/day.
• Russia has the largest known natural gas reserves in the world, along with the second-largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects that Canada will be third in oil production growth until 2040, after Brazil and Iraq.

Important Points

• As of 2021, World's Largest Oil producers:

Additional Information

OPEC -Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries-

• It is a permanent intergovernmental organization.
• It was founded in 1960.
• Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela were founding members.
• Its headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.
• As of 2022, OPEC has a total of 13 Member Countries.

The correct answer is 'Bhuban Hills'

• Bhuban Hills are located in Cachar district in the Barak Valley of Assam District.
• The Bhuban Hills is located in the southeast of Barak Valley bordering Manipur and Mizoram, is a popular pilgrimage destination.
• The three major hill ranges of Meghalaya are as follows-

1. **Garo Hills-**Garo tribal people live here, and Nokrek Peak, Tora Peak, Napak Peak and Balpakram Peaks are major peaks in these ranges.
2. Khasi Hills- They are located on Shillong Plateau in Meghalaya. Purvanchal and Patkai Ranges are major ranges here.
3. Jayantiya Hills- Jaomtoa. Pnars, Bhois and Biates tribes reside here.

Additional Information

• Major hill ranges of NE India are as follows-
• Patkai Range- consists of the three major hills, the Patkai-Bum, the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia and Lushai Hills.
• Lushai Hills is also known as Mizo Hills, spread across Tripura and Mizoram.
• Blue Mountain is the highest peak of Lushai Hills.
• The Naga Hills are actually part of the Indian Territory mountain ranges of Arakan Mountains between western Burma and the Naga Hills district.

The correct answer is 'None of the above'.

The heights of given passes is as follows-

• Khardung La - 5,359 m
• Nathu La Pass - 4310 m
• Rohtang Pass - 3978 m
• Zoji La Pass - 3528 m
• Khyber Pass - 1070 m

Important Points

Some important passes of India are as follows-

• Khardung La Pass- connects Leh and Siachen Glacier
• Nathu La Pass - connects Sikkim to China
• Shipki La Pass - connects Himachal and Tibet
• Jelep La Pass- connects Sikkim to Lhasa
• Aghil Pass - connects Ladhak with Xinjiang province of China
• Lanak La- connects Ladhak and Lhasa

The correct answer is 'Kashmir Himalayas'.

• Karewas are thick deposits of glacial clay found in regions of Kashmir and are highly important for the cultivation of Saffron, hence statement 1 is correct.
• Karewas are lacustrine deposits in Kashmir valley and Bhadarwah valley of Jammu Division.
• They are flat-topped mounds and characterised by fossils of mammals.

Important Points

• On the basis of relief, alignment of ranges and other geo-morphological features, the Himalayas can be divided into following subdivisions-

1. Kashmir or North-western Himalayas- Karakoram, Ladhak, Zaskar and Pir Panjal ranges are its parts.
2. Himachal and Uttrakhand Himalayas- Lies between Ravi and Kali Rivers, Duns formations are unique here, Some important duns located in Himachal and Uttranchal Himalayas are- Chandigarh-Kalka dun, Nalagarh dun, Dehra dun and Kota dun etc. Hence statement 2 is correct.
3. Darjiling and Sikkim Himalayas – located between Nepal in the west and Bhutan in East, Lepcha tries resides here. And Bhotia tribes reside in Himachal and Uttrakhand Himalayas, Hence option 3 is incorrect.
4. Arunanchal Himalayas- Extends from Bhutan in the west to Diphu pass in East, Kangu and Namcha Barwa are important peaks here. And Kameng is an important river here.

The correct answer is '31'.

Major highlights of Census 2011 are as follows-

• The literacy rate in India was 74%.
• Male and Female literacy was 82 and 65% respectively.
• The population of India is 1,210,854,977 with 623, 724, 248 males and 586,469, 174 females.
• Goa is the most urbanized state with 62.17% of the population living in urban areas.
• Ludhiana is the most populated district in the state of Punjab.

Additional Information

• Bhils contribute to 37.7% of the total ST population.
• Bengali is the second most spoken language in India.
• C M Chandramauli was the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India for the 2011 Indian Census.
• Bihar is the state with the largest population density.
• Kerala and Bihar are the largest and lowest literacy rates in India.

The correct answer is 'National Institution for Transforming India'.

Key Points

• In 2015, NITI Ayog replaced the old Planning commission of India.
• Prime Minister is the chairperson of NITI Ayog and it has Regional and Governing Councils.
• The composition of NITI Ayog has the following components-

1. Governing Council - CMs and Lt Governors
2. Regional Councils- Formed on a need basis
3. Members- the full-time basis
4. Part-time basis- Maximum 2
5. Ex Officio members- Maximum 4 from Council of Ministers, nominated by PM
6. Special Invitees-Expert, specialists, practitioners with domain knowledge
7. Chief Executive Officer- Appointed by PM for a fixed tenure
8. Secretariat- as deemed necessary

The correct answer is '1956'.

The Linguistic reorganization of States happened in following manner-

• In 1948, SK Dhar Commission was appointed. It recommended the reorganization of states based on administrative convenience rather on linguistic basis.
• In 1950, JPV Commission was formed and it also recommended the same thing as of Dhar Commission.
• States Reorganization Commission 1953 recommended the formation of states on a linguistic basis.
• Andra Pradesh was the first state to be formed on linguistic basis.

Important Points

• States Reorganization Commission of 1953 also known as Fazl Ali Commission.
• States Reorganization Act of 1956 provided for 14 states and 6 centrally administered territories.
• Potti Sriamulu died after a protest of 58 days for a separate demand of Andra Pradesh. After this Nehru appointed SRC in 1953.

The correct answer is 'Uttar Pradesh'.

• Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of Sugarcane in India.
• It has about 38.61% share in overall sugarcane production as per the year 2013-14.
• India stands at the second position in the world in the production of sugarcane after Brazil.
• India produced 33 million metric tons in 2017/2018.
• Rangarajan committee (2012) was set up to give recommendations on the regulation of the sugar industry.

Additional Information

• Note that for sugarcane crops, **Fair and Remunerative Price is given by GOI (**same concept as MSP).
• It is recommended by Commissions for Agricultural Costs and Prices.