CDS General Knowledge 18 Nov 2018 Official Paper (Previous Year Paper)

• Magnesium Carbonate reacts with Hydrochloric Acid to give Magnesium Chloride and Carbonic Acid.
• MgCO₃ + HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂CO₃
• But H₂CO₃ is unstable in the lowest part of the atmosphere - Troposphere.
• Lower Stratosphere, just above the Troposphere decomposes Carbonic Acid giving Water and Carbon dioxide.
• It is this Carbon dioxide which results in the limewater turning milky.

Explanation: -

First, we need to find the limiting reagent

As per the balanced equation

1:1/2 : 1:2

This means for 1/2 mole of O₂, we need = 1 mole of CH₄

Therefore, for 2 moles of O₂ as given in the question, we need 4 moles of CH₄

But since the question mentions that we are given only 2 moles of CH₄

Thus CH₄ is our limiting reagent.

So, to find the quantity of CO,

Since 1 mole of CH₄ gives 1 mole of CO

Therefore, 2 moles of CH₄ will give 2 moles of CO.

Hence, 2.0 is the correct answer.

• General equation: Metal + acid → Salt + hydrogen
• Magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid and produces Magnesium Chloride and Hydrogen Gas.
• Magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen
• Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
• Copper reacts with dilute Nitric Acid to produce Copper Nitrate Salt which is deep blue in color.
• Calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid react to form Calcium Chloride, Water, and Carbon dioxide.
• Zinc and Nitric Acid react to form Zinc Nitrate.

Nitrogen (N, Element 7), Oxygen (O, Element 8), Elemental Hydrogen (H, Element 1), Carbon dioxide (CO2) are all gases at room temperature.

• All the elements given in options are found as diatomic molecules (H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, Cl₂, CO₂)
• Carbon dioxide is Triatomic.
• All of them are colorless.
• None of them have the same reactivity.

Using the subscripts present, we can tell how many atoms are present in the given compound.

• In this compound, for example, we see that there are 7 atoms of Carbon, 7 atoms of Hydrogen, 1 atom of Nitrogen, and 2 atoms of Oxygen.
• So, in total, there are 17 atoms in one molecule of the compound.
• So, Option 1 is the correct answer.

Saturated hydrocarbons are those molecules, having only one bond. The saturated hydrocarbons consist of one carbon atom bonded with a maximum number of hydrogen atoms.

• Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons.
• The general formula of saturated hydrocarbons is C_n H_{2n + 2} where n is the number of carbon atoms present.
• Methane is the first member of the alkane family.
• An unsaturated hydrocarbon is such that the carbon atoms are either doubly or triply bonded. Ethylene and Propene are such hydrocarbons.

Consider the acceleration of the particle as a m/s²

According to Newton's Second Equation of Motion,

S_nth = u + 1/2 a(2n − 1)

Now u = 0, hence

S = at²/2

Displacement at the end of 5th second,

S₅ = 0 + 1/2 a(2 × 5 – 1) = (9/2) a

Displacement at the end of 6th second,

S₆ = 0 + 1/2 a(2 × 6 – 1) = (11/2) a

Thus, the increase in displacement,

S = (11/2) a - (9/2) a = a

Hence the percentage increase in displacement

= (a/(9/2)a) x 100

= 22%

Hence, the percentage increase in displacement during the 6th second compared to that in 5th second is 22%

CONCEPT:

• The relation between mass, density, and volume is given by

⇒ mass = density × Volume

⇒ m = d × V

EXPLANATION:

Given that both the fluids have the same volume. Let it is V.

The density of first fluid = P1

Mass of first fluid = m1 = V P1 ................(i)

The density of second fluid = P2

Mass of second fluid = m2 = V P2 ................(ii)

• Now after mixing the fluids.

\(\Rightarrow Density of mixture = {Total~mass \over Total ~volume}\)

\(\Rightarrow Density of mixture = {m_1+m_2 \over V+V}\)

From eq (i), and (ii)

\(\Rightarrow Density of mixture = {V P_1 + V P_2 \over 2V }\)

\(\Rightarrow Density of mixture = { P_1 + P_2 \over 2 }\)

Concept:

• Instantaneous velocity: ${\rm{\vec v}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{{\rm{d\vec r}}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}}$
• Acceleration: ${\rm{\vec a}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{{\rm{d\vec v}}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}}$

Calculation:

Given: Position vector of a particle,

$\vec r = 2{t^2}\hat x + 3t\hat y + 4\hat z$

Instantaneous velocity:

${\rm{\vec v}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{{\rm{d\vec r}}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{\rm{d}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}}\left( {2{{\rm{t}}^2}{\rm{\hat x;}} + {\rm{;}}3{\rm{t\hat y}} + {\rm{;}}4{\rm{\hat z}}} \right)$

$\Rightarrow {\rm{\vec v}} = {\rm{;}}4{\rm{t\hat x;}} + {\rm{;}}3{\rm{\hat y}}$

We can see the Component of Instantaneous velocity are only x and y

Hence Instantaneous velocity lies on xy-plane

Acceleration:

${\rm{\vec a}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{{\rm{d\vec v}}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}} = {\rm{;}}\frac{{\rm{d}}}{{{\rm{dt}}}}\left( {4{\rm{t\hat x;}} + {\rm{;}}3{\rm{\hat y}}} \right)$

$\Rightarrow {\rm{\vec a}} = {\rm{;}}4{\rm{\hat x}}$

We can see the Component of acceleration along the x-axis.

Hence acceleration lies along the x-direction.

∴ Option 4 is correct

Let T be the tension in the rope:

⇒ 2Tcosθ = mg --------- Where θ = 90° , T = mg/2cos90, cos90 = 0

⇒ Tension = mg/2cos90 = mg/0 = ∞ , 𝐓 = infinite(∞) 

Hence tension will be infinite.

• Lighting of a candle is a chemical change in which chemical energy is converted into light and heat energy.
• All the other options are using electrical energy and converting it into light energy. Hence, option 1 is the correct option.

Some Examples of Energy Conversion:

Roots are the absorbing organs that absorb salt, mineral, and water from the soil.

• Major Organs of most plants include roots, stems, and leaves.
• A root is a complex organ consisting of several types of tissue absorbing water and minerals.
• Thin-walled epidermal cells and root hairs are well suited to absorb water
• Leaf helps in Photosynthesis and the exchange of gases.
• Bark helps in protecting the plants by conserving water and protecting it from the attack of insects and pests.

Conduction of food and water is the function of Vascular tissues. Example Xylem and Phloem.

• Xylem helps in the conduction of water from under the soil.
• Phloem is a transport tissue found in vascular plants that is responsible for transporting food in plants.
• Conduction of food and water is not a primary function of green leaf.
• Green Leaf helps in the manufacturing of food by the process of photosynthesis, the exchange of gases by the help of stomata, and evaporation of water (transpiration).

True fruit develops from the ovary of the flower after fertilization.

• True fruit is the fruit that is formed from the fertilized ovary of the flower and ovules get transformed into seeds
• Pseudo or False fruit germinate from other parts of the plant.
• So, when the thalamus of the flower, receptacle of flower, or calyx of a flower develops into a fruit, it is called a false fruit.

Guttation is the process of secretion of water droplets from the stomata or the pores of the plant present in the leaf.

• Guttation takes place when the stomata are closed. While transpiration occurs when the stomata are open.
• So, Guttation happens in the early morning or at night when the weather is cold. Transpiration, on the other hand, takes place during dry heat.
• Excretion in plants involves the removal of waste in a very small amount. The Waste product of plants includes Carbon dioxide, Oxygen, and Water Vapor.
• Secretion is the process of transfer of metabolites from one place to another.

• Transportation of water and other such solutes from the soil to the plants will be affected.
• It is because Xylem is a Vascular tissue that helps in the transportation of solutes and water.
• The exchange of gases takes place through the leaves.
• Xylem is a transport tissue in vascular plants and it is responsible for transporting water from the roots to the various parts of the plant.
• Phloem is a transport tissue found in vascular plants that is responsible for transporting food in plants.

Fungus actually feeds on the decaying organic matter in the soil, and a fungus formed on a plant means that it is not being watered properly, or the potting soil is inappropriate.

• Fungus doesn't help in propagation of plants through seed dispersal.
• The dislocation of the parent seed through different mediums helps in growth of the plants in different region.
• Fungi play an important role in energy cycling within, and between, ecosystems.
• Fungi are found in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments, and are part of a diverse community of “decomposers” that break down dead plants and animals.
• Seeds of Calotropis is dispersed through wind.
• Seeds of Rafflesia is dispersed through elephant.
• Seeds of Lotus is dispersed through water.

Light is the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

• The most known form of electromagnetic waves is the visible rays.
• It is that part of the spectrum which is visible by human eyes.
• It runs from 4 × 10¹⁴ Hz to 7 × 10¹⁴ Hz.
• The visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.
• Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is called visible light or simply light. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 380 to 700 nanometers.

The population density of Indian according to the Census 2011 has increased from 324 to 382 per square kilometer.

• Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest record of population density having just 17 per square kilometer.
• Bihar is the most densely populated state in India with a population density of 1106 per square kilometer.
• Himachal Pradesh - 123 per sq km
• Sikkim - 86 per sq km
• Mizoram - 52 per sq km
• Arunachal Pradesh - 17 per sq km

India's population growth declined to 17.64% between 2001-2011 as compared to 21.15% between 1991-2001.

Except for Tamil Nadu, the other states registered a decline in growth rate.

Coral Reefs can grow only in the clean salt water of oceans, which lack any kind of instability.

• Corals thrive in tropical water with a temperature between 23°C-25°C.
• A fair amount of sunlight for survival.
• Ideal depth between 45 m to 55 m.
• No marine pollution.
• Corals need saltwater to survive and require a certain balance in the ratio of salt to the water. This is why corals don’t live in areas where rivers drain freshwater into the ocean.

Punjab has the highest concentration of Scheduled Caste population, with 28.9% of the population belonging to the SC Community.

• Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal follow with 25.2% and 23.5% of the population belonging to the SC Community.
• Uttar Pradesh has the lowest among the given options with 20.7% population belonging to the SC Community.
• Mizoram is the state with the lowest percentage of SC population percentage at 0.03%.
• Chandigarh is the Union Territory with the highest percentage of SC population at 17.5%.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli has the lowest percentage population of SC among Union Territories at 1.9%.

The correct answer is Tamil Nadu.

Key Points

• Tamil Nadu has three major ports namely Chennai Port, Tuticorin Port, and Ennore Port.
• Ennore Port, now formally renamed as Kamarajar Port Limited, is the first major port in India.
• It is the second-largest port in the state of Tamil Nadu and one of the largest container terminals in India after Chennai Port.
• Chennai Port is one of the oldest ports in the country. This port, situated on the Coromandel Coast of India.
• Maharashtra has two major ports - Jawaharlal Nehru Port & Mumbai Port.
• The major port in West Bengal is Kolkata (including Haldia) Port.
• The major port in Odisha is Paradip Port.

The weight which will furnish 1 mole of H+ or 1 mole of OH- ions is called the Equivalent weight.

Ba(OH)₂ = Ba²⁺ + 2OH^-

i.e 1 mole of Ba(OH)₂ will produce 2 moles of OH^-

The molar mass of Ba(OH)₂ is

1(137.3) + 2(16) + 2(1) = 171.3 gm/mole

Ba(OH)₂ = Equivalent Weight = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠/𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜r = 171.3/2 = 85.7 g/eq

Oxidation state of oxygen = -2

Let the oxidation state of Nitrogen be x

Option 1

NO = x + (-2) = 0

Thus, x = Oxidation state of Nitrogen = +2

Option 2

NO₂ = x + (-2 × 2) = 0

Thus, x = Oxidation state of Nitrogen = +4

Option 3

N₂O = 2x - 2 = 0

Thus, x = Oxidation of Nitrogen = +1

Option 4

N₂O₅ = 2x + 5(-2) = 0

Thus, x = Oxidation of Nitrogen = +5

Hence, Option 4 is the correct option.

• Graphite has sp² hybridization of carbon and has a free electron which makes more conjugation.
• Diamond has sp³ hybridization of carbon and has no free electrons, hence lesser conjugation.
• Delocalization helps to make graphite stronger compared to diamonds.
• This makes graphite thermodynamically more stable as compared to diamond.
• As a result of the free electron, graphite, though a non-metal, is able to conduct electricity while diamond cannot.
• Diamond is a poor conductor of electricity but is a good conductor of heat while Graphite is a good conductor of heat and electricity.

We Know that,

⇒   n = w/m, where n = number of moles and m = atomic mass

In the first equation

⇒   CH₄ + H₂O → CO + 3H₂ gives us

⇒   (12 + 4 = 16) gm + 1 gm = 6 gm

Since 16 gm will produce 6 gm of H₂

Therefore 1 gm will produce 6/16 = 0.375 gm of H₂

In the second equation

⇒   CO + H₂O → CO₂ + H₂

⇒   (12 + 16 = 28) gm + 1 gm = 2 gm

Since 28 gm will produce 2 gm of H₂

Therefore 1 gm will produce 2/28 = 0.0714 gm of H₂

In the third equation

⇒   $C{H_4} + \frac{1}{2}{O_2} \to CO + 2{H_2}$

⇒  (12 + 4 = 16) gm + 1 gm = 4 gm of H₂

Since 16 gm will produce 4gm of H₂

Therefore 1 gm will produce 4/16 = 0.25 gm of H₂

In the fourth equation

(144 + 24 = 168) gm + 1 gm = 24 gm of H₂

Since 168 gm will produce 24 gm of H₂

Therefore 1 gm will produce 24/168 = 0.142 gm of H₂

Let I be the real image and O be the object, D be the distance between the image and the object.

If the distance of the image from the lens is X, then the distance between the object and the lens would be (D-X)

Then, u = - (D-X) and v = +X

Using the Lens formula

1/v - 1/u =1/f

Thus, we have -

[1/X] -[1/-(D-X)] = 1/f, solving which we get the binary equation

X² - XD - fD = 0

For real image, X must be real. This means the root of the equation must be real. So solving the equation we get,

D ≥ 4f

Hence, the minimum distance between the object and the real image would be four times the focal length of the convex lens.

A three-dimensional vector is used to specify the direction of the magnetic field at any location of the surface of the earth.

• A compass is used to determine the Magnetic North.
• Using this, and the angle formed by the magnetic north relative to the true north is called the Variation or Deviation.
• The angle formed by the Magnetic North with the horizontal is called the Magnetic Dip or Inclination.
• Intensity is proportional to the force exerted by the magnetic field on the magnet.

Let the number of bulbs = y

⇒  Current = I = 5 Ampere.

⇒  Resistance = 220 V

⇒  Power × Number of bulbs = Voltage × Current

⇒  100 × y = 5 × 220

⇒  y = 11 bulbs

Boiling water can extinguish the fire more quickly.

• The hot water sprinkled on the burning material is not only for cooling but also for reducing the oxygen around it with converted steam.
• Coldwater to absorb a lot of heat. As others mentioned already, heat is one of the components to remove to extinguish a fire.

The inside of the bulb has a vacuum. The transfer of heat from the filament of the bulb takes place through radiation and not convection.

• Boiling of water takes place through convection when the bottom layer of water receiving direct heat moves above and is replaced by the colder surface water.
• Land and Sea Breeze occur due to the continuous heating and cooling of air above land and sea surface.
• Circulation of Air in a Blast Furnace follows convection of the air from the bottom layer to the top layer.

Key Points

Stem helps in providing structure and support to the plant, as well as helps in conduction. Some of the types of stem modification include.

• Underground Stem Modification - In plants like ginger and potato, the stem stores large amounts of food and remains under the soil.
• Sub-Aerial Modification - In grass and pumpkin, the stem lies horizontally and helps in vegetative propagation.
• Aerial-Stem Modification - Auxiliary buds get transformed to tendril for protection in plants like Pea, Rose.

Explanation:

• The presence of 'eye' on potato represents the nodes of a stem.
• Nodes are a unique feature of stem only and is not found in other plant parts.
• Therefore, presence of eye in potato is an indication for modification of stem of a plant.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Maturation of sperms occurs in Epididymis, while the vas deferens help in the motility of sperms.

• Two glands storing and producing the fluid that makes up the semen are called the seminal vesicles.
• The fluid from the seminal vesicles gets expelled to the ejaculatory duct during ejaculation.
• The fluid then mixes with the sperm.
• The prostate secretes a fluid that protects and nourishes the sperm.
• Spermatogenesis occurs in the seminiferous tubules.
• Seminiferous tubules are located in the male testes.

Colostrum or the first milk just after giving birth to a baby by a lactating mother in the late pregnancy is the most important component for the development of immunity in a newborn baby.

• Colostrum in both humans and bovine are thick, yellowish, and sticky.
• Colostrum in humans has high concentration of antibodies and nutrients.
• As a newborn baby finds it difficult to digest fat, colostrum is high in protein, carbohydrates, and antibodies.

New viral genetic variants are constantly created due to the lack of proofreading activity of the RNA Virus polymerases.

• RNA viruses mutate faster as compared to DNA viruses as enzyme RNA that depends on RNA Polymerase for synthesis does not perform proofreading.
• On the other hand, DNA polymerase perform the same activity.
• Hence, while the wrong bases get inherited in RNA, the same suit is not followed in DNA.
• The mutation rate and evolution are faster in RNA Viruses.

Goa has one of the highest percentage of urban population with 62.17% of the total population living in urban areas. The data according to Census 2011 is mentioned below

• Mizoram - 51.51%
• Kerala - 47.72%
• Maharashtra - 45.23%

Mangaluru lies on the windward side of the Western ghats and hence receives more than average rainfall.

• Leh is located on the leeward side of the Trans-Himalayan range.
• Bengaluru falls on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.
• Pune lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, while Mumbai falls on the windward side.

Both South Arcot and Ramanathapuram are located in Tamil Nadu and receive the 50 percent annual rainfall due to the winter rains from North-East Monsoon.

• North-East Monsoons cause rainfall in the Southern states, mainly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and some parts of Telangana and Karnataka.
• South-West Monsoons are the reason for 75% of the rainfall in India.
• The Bay of Bengal branch of summer monsoons causes rainfall in Myanmar and South-east Bangladesh.
• A sub-part of this Bay of Bengal branch of summer monsoons cause rainfall in North-East, particularly in the Garo region of Meghalaya.
• Western Disturbances cause winter rainfalls in the northern parts of India.

Eight Degree Channel separates Lakshwadeep and Maldives.

• India and Sri Lanka are separated by the Palk Strait.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands are separated by the Ten Degree Channel.
• Six Degree Channel separates the Indira Point from Indonesia.
• Entire Lakshadweep Island has been divided by eleven-degree channel, North of which has Amini Island and the South part has Canannore island.
• Lakshadweep Island's capital is Kavaratti and Maldives capital is Male.

• Bhilai in Chattisgarh is an industrial town.
• Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh is a Transport Town.
• Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh is a Mining Town.
• Ambala in Haryana is a Cantonment town.

According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), India recorded an overall jump of 1% in the area under forest. So, the 1st statement is incorrect.

• The increasing involvement of the service sector and manufacturing in the Indian Economy means that the area under non-agricultural use is increasing.
• Further, the decrease in the barren and wastelands, and areas and under pasture and tree crops can be explained due to the pressure of agricultural land.
• Expansionary policies in cultivation and increasing rate of illegal encroachments on the common pasture lands and tree cropping area to feed the increasing population has led to an overall decline.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

The use of High-Yield Variety (HYV) seeds only started after the Green Revolution in the mid-60s.

• The First-five year plan also called the Dober-Mahalanobis Model, focused on the primary sector, agriculture, irrigation, and power projects.
• Increasing intensive cropping over cultivated land, bringing fallow land under the plough, and switching from cash crops (for example Indigo Cultivation and the related Tinkathia Movement against the cultivation of cash crops) were a part of the first five-year plan.

The Narmada is a major west-flowing river in the Peninsular region.

• The Narmada rises in the Maikala range in the Eastern Madhya Pradesh region.
• Amarkantak is the place from where the Narmada river originates.
• The Narmada, along with the Tapi river, flows through the faults in the Vindhya and Satpura range, instead of the valley.
• The Narmada enters the Gulf of Khambat, just below Baruch.

Major West-flowing rivers

• Indus, Narmada, Tapi, Sabarmati, Mahi, Ghagghar, Luni, Sarasvati, Pumba, Periyar, Bharatpuza.

Major East-flowing rivers

• Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery, Vaigai, Subarnarekha.

Khasi language forms a part of the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austro-Asiatic sub-family.

Key Points

• It is spoken in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of the State of Meghalaya.
• Khasi is one of the only Mon-Khmer languages spoken outside South-East Asia.
• Santhali and  Khasi (Spoken Mostly in Meghalaya) are the languages in India that belong to the Austro-Asiatic language family.
• Austro stands for "south" in Greek, so the name Austro-Asiatic.
• The languages that belong to this family are mostly spoken in Southeast Asia.
• The Austro-Asiatic family includes total 168 languages.
• They are further divided into two branches: Mon-Khmer - 147 languages, and Munda - 21 languages
• Munda branch of the Austro-Asiatic sub-family includes languages like Santhali, Ho, Mundari, Korku, Bhumij.
• North Assam branch of Sino-Tibetan family includes languages like Mandarin, Wu, Xiang, Hakka, Yue, Cantonese.
• Assam-Myanmari branch of Sino-Tibetan family includes languages like Lushai, Tibetan, Kachin, Garo.

The correct answer is Kolkata.

Key Points

• Metro Railway Zone is located in Kolkata.
• Further, the headquarters of Eastern and South-Eastern Railways too is located in Kolkata.
• The headquarters of Western and Central Railways is located in Mumbai.

Additional Information

Given below is the list of all railway zones and their headquarters:

Banas is a tributary of the Chambal River. Chambal is itself a tributary of the Yamuna river.

• Luni is a west-flowing river located entirely in Rajasthan.
• It is also known as the Sagarmati River.
• It rises near Ajmer and flows southwest into the Rann of Kutch.
• The major left bank tributaries of the Luni River include Jawai, Khari, Sukri, Sugai, Mithri, and Bandi.
• The Right Bank tributaries of the Luni River is Jojri.

Major Dams and their locations/states are as follows -

• Cheruthoni Dam is located in the Idukki District of Kerala. It is a 138m tall concrete gravity dam.
• This dam was constructed as part of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project along with two other dams at Idukki and Kulamavu.
• Indira Sagar Dam is a multipurpose project of Madhya Pradesh on the Narmada River in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh in India.
• The Krishna Raja Sagar Dam was built across river Kaveri for the Mysore and Mandya districts in Karnataka in 1932.
• The Dam is the creation of one of the greatest engineers that India had produced, Sir M. Vishweshwaraiah.
• The Mettur Dam is one of the largest dams in India and the largest in Tamil Nadu, located across the river Cauvery.

Among the Union Territories mentioned, Chandigarh has a mere 15 km length of National Highway which it shares.

• Delhi - 79 km
• Daman and Diu - 22 km
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli - 31 km
• The total length of National Highways has been enhanced from about 91,287 km as on 31.03.2014 to about 1,31,326 km at present.
• The aggregate distance of the road network is of 4.7 million km.
• The longest National Highway in India is NH 44. It was previously known as National Highway 7.
• This highway passes through the 11 Indian states.
• States connected by NH 44 - Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• The overall length of the Golden quadrilateral Highway is 5,846 km.

Major highlights of the Golden Quadrilateral.

• It is the largest highway project completed in India.
• It is the fifth-longest highway project in the world.
• The overall length of the Golden quadrilateral is 5,846km.
• The Golden Quadrilateral passes through 13 states of India.
• The Golden Quadrilateral constitutes only the national highways of the country and not state highways and rural-urban roadways.
• The project was estimated to cost INR 600 bn but was one such project which was completed at about half of the estimated costs at INR 308.58 bn.

• Located in the Aksai Chin region, Lanak La connects Ladakh and Lahasa.
• It is on the southeastern boundary of the Aksai Chin region that is controlled by China.
• Burazil Pass connects Gilgit to Srinagar in Kashmir.
• Babusar Pass connects Gilgit Baltistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Khyber Pass connects Kabul to Peshawar.

According to the RBI Report analyzing the State Finances - A Study of Budgets, which was released in July 2018, rural development has the highest capital spending. The following is the data on capital spending (in billions) for 2018-19

• Rural Development - 425.9
• Education, Culture, Sports, and Art - 208
• Water Supply and Sanitation - 356.9
• Urban Development - 250

Ease of Doing Business Report 2018, released by The World Bank, ranked India at 100 among the 190 countries.

• Previously, India was ranked at 130 in the rankings of 2017.
• Of the 10 indicators assessed, India improved its rankings in 6.
• India's rankings improved in Paying Taxes (172 to 119), Resolving Insolvency (136 to 103), Getting Credit (44 to 29), Enforcing Contracts (172 to 164), Protecting Minority Investors (13 to 4), and Construction Permits (185 to 181).

Finance Commission, under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution, is required to be set up for five years.

• Y.V Reddy, former RBI Governor, was the chairman of the 14th Finance Commission.
• The Finance Commission was set up for a period between 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2020.
• The percentage devolution of the Union Taxes to the state was increased from 32% to 42%.
• The parameters considered for distribution of tax proceeds include Income Distance, Population (Census 1971), Demographic Change, Area, and Forest Cover.
• Weightage given to each of the parameters includes Income Distance (50%), Population Census 1971 (17.5%), Area (15%), Demographic Change (10%), and Forest Cover (7.5%)

The 'natural rate of unemployment hypothesis' was advocated by Milton Friedman.

• According to this hypothesis, a minimum level of unemployment was important to prevent a continuous rise in inflation levels.
• This would ensure lesser demand in the market because of the decreasing purchasing power capacity of the potential workforce, which is still unemployed.
• Philips Curve, on the other hand, also finds a relationship between unemployment levels and inflation.
• According to it, when the inflation level increases, unemployment levels will decline and vice-versa.
• According to the Phillips curve as the Inflation rate increases, they show the relationship between economic growth and inequality rate of Unemployment decreases which means there is an inverse relationship between the Unemployment rate and inflation rate.

Kot Diji forms a part of the Harappan Civilization. It is nearest to Mohenjo-Daro.

• It is an ancient flood channel located on the bank of the Indus River.
• Consists of a stone rubble wall.
• Surrounds a citadel.
• Dated 3500 B.C - Early Harappan Period.
• Mohenjo-Daro lies on the bank of the Indus river in the Larkana district of Sindh Province of Pakistan.
• Mohenjo-Daro was discovered by Mr. R D Banerji in 1922 and it was designated as UNESCO's World heritage site in 1980.
• Mohenjo-Daro does mean 'Mound of the dead'. The modern name for the site has been interpreted as "Mound of the Dead Men" in Sindh interpreted as "Mound of the Dead Men" in Sindhi.

The Jataka tales were written in the Pali language. The stories mostly deal with Buddha from previous births.

• Gandatindu Jataka was written in Pali Language.
• One of the stories describes how a wicked king went into disguise to know what his subjects taught of him.
• Each of the subjects he met in disguise cursed him for his miseries.
• They escaped, abandoning villages, and living in the forest as a result.

‘The Jataka’, related to Buddhism, refers to stories of Buddha’s Birth.

• Jataka in Pali and Sanskrit means Birth.
• A Buddhist scholar, Buddhagosa is said to have gathered about 550 Jataka stories.

Note:

• Buddhism is World's fourth-largest religion and its followers are known as Buddhists.
• Buddhist traditions have the goal of overcoming worldly suffering and the attainment of Nirvana(Enlightenment).
• The Buddhist religion is attributed to the teachings of Gautama Buddha.

According to the Tamil Sangam texts -

• Vellalar were the large landowners.
• Uzahavars were ordinary ploughmen.
• Adimai and Kadaisiyar were landless laborers.
• Gahapatis or Grihapati were small landowners.
• Dasa Karmakaras were slaves who worked under the Gahapatis.
• Gram-bhojakas were village headmen.

Manusmriti declares seven means of acquiring wealth for men, while six means for acquiring wealth for women.

• For men - Inheritance, Finding, Conquest, Purchase, Investment, Work, and acceptance of gifts from good people.
• For women - Streedhana (at the time of marriage)/Bridal Processions, Token of Affection (Whatever she got from her brother, mother, or father), subsequently a gift acquired after marriage from her husband, yet again, as a token of affection.

Based on the Buddhist Text Majjhima Nikaya which has been written in Pali, the story if about a dialogue that took place between Avantiputta and Kachchana.

• While Avantiputta was the king, Kachchana was the disciple of Buddha.
• The text reveals the kind of attitude that King had towards the Varna system.
• Samyutta Nikaya is the third volume of Sutta Pitaka and deals with subjects like 'What is a Buddha' and 'What is a Tathagata'
• Anguttara Nikaya deals with the philosophical teachings of Buddha.
• Ambattha Nikaya talks about denouncing the caste system, as well as the pretensions of Brahmins.

India and Rome traded in luxury goods and not articles of daily use.

• Romans imported Spices from South India.
• Precious stones, including gems and pearl stones, were imported by Rome from Central and South India.
• Iron goods and Cutlery formed the part of India's export to the Roman Empire.
• Romans were extremely fond of Indian Pepper, called Yavanpriyai.
• Spikenard was actually fragrant and was used by the wealthy in Rome. It was imported from India.
• According to Moti Chandra, Romans were really fond of the tortoiseshells from the Indian Ocean, however, the most significant ones were from Suvamadvipa.
• Nutmeg didn't form a part of exports from India to Rome.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

1. The British Crown assumed sovereignty over India from the East India Company.

• ✅ Correct
• The Government of India Act, 1858 formally ended the rule of the East India Company.
• Sovereignty and administration of India were transferred to the British Crown.

2. The British Parliament enacted the first statute for the governance of India under the direct rule of the British.

• ✅ Correct
• This Act was the first major law passed by the British Parliament to establish direct Crown rule in India.

3. This Act was dominated by the principle of absolute imperial control without any popular participation in the administration of the country.

• ✅ Correct
• The Act strengthened centralized and autocratic control.
• There was no representation of Indians in administration or legislation.
• All authority rested with the Crown, the Secretary of State for India, and the Governor-General.
• Final Answer: 1, 2, and 3 (All statements are correct)

Additional Information

The Government of India Act, 1858 is also known as the Act for Better Government of India.

• It changed the designation of Governor-General of India to Viceroy of India.
• The administration of India was taken from the East India Company and placed directly under the British Crown.
• Thus, the country was kept under the direct rule of the British and the Cabinet.
• A new post called 'Secretary of State' was added who would be directly responsible to the British Cabinet and also a part of it.
• The act also ended the double government which was started by the Pitts India Act,1784.
• A 15-member advisory council to the Secretary of State was formed.

Indian Councils Act, 1861 provided for the following -

• A fifth member was added for executive functions of the Council.
• Portfolio system was added by the then Viceroy and Governor-General, Lord Canning.
• Three Indians were added to the Viceroy Council as non-official members.
• These were Raja of Benaras, Sir Dinkar Rao, and the Maharaja of Patiala.
• The nominated non-official members were confined exclusively to the legislative proposals placed before by the Viceroy.
• They could not discuss financial matters.
• Further, with the ordinance-making power, the Secretary of State could overrule any legislative decision taken by the Governor-General.\
• Assent of the Governor-General was necessary on legislative matters.

The Objectives Resolution was moved by Nehru before framing of the Indian Constitution in 1946.

• The ideas of Equality, Democracy, Liberty, Fraternity were drawn from this Objective Resolution.
• The Objective Resolution also talked about the different parts within India being autonomous units in itself.
• It focused on drawing all the power and authority from the people.
• Justice - Social, Economic, Political - enshrined in the Preamble have been inspired by the Objective Resolution.
• Equality before Law and Equal Protection from Law, along with other Fundamental Rights like the Freedom of Speech and Expression, have been derived from the Objective Resolution.
• Other safeguards like those given to the minorities of the country under Article 28-30 have been derived from them.

The inaugural India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue was held on 6th September 2018.

• Minister of Defence Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj welcomed the Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis to India.
• The talks focussed on reaffirming India's designation as the Major Defense Partner.
• The talks also reaffirmed the support to India's proposed United Nations Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

The Defence Planning Committee (DPC) a new institutional mechanism to drive the security and military strategy of the country.

• The committee will also spearhead the defence equipment acquisitions.
• The chairman of the Defence Planning Committee is the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
• Defence Planning Committee would be a permanent body that will prepare the draft national security strategy.
• The composition includes Foreign Secretary, Chairman Chiefs of the Staff Committee (COSC), Secretary (Expenditure) in the Finance Ministry, Defence Secretary, and service chiefs.

Tejas is a Light Combat Aircraft.

• It is the smallest and the lightest Multi-Role Supersonic Fighter Aircraft.
• It is a tailless, single-engine, compound-delta wing, that is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Agency, along with Hindustan Aeronautical Limited as the principal partner.
• The various other partners include the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), BEL, DRDO, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance(DGAQA), and IAF.
• This ensures that the variety of needs of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are met.

Under the automatic route, 49% of Foreign Direct Investment is allowed.

• Above 49% requires prior approval from the Government of India.
• The reason for FDI above 49% may include access to modern technology.
• The defense industries are subject to two laws - Arms Act, 1959 dealing with the manufacturing of small arms and ammunition.
• The next law is Industrial License under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.

A policy on Strategic Partnerships in Defense Sector was finalized by the Government of India.

• It was promulgated as a part of the Defense Procurement Policy (DPP) 2016.
• The policy envisions increasing private participation in the manufacturing activities of defense equipment.
• Four segments have been identified under Strategic Partnership Route for acquisition.
• These include Fighter Aircraft, Helicopter, Armored Fighting Vehicles/Main Battle Tanks, and Submarines.
• Artillery Guns are not part of the four segments.

CAATSA is a United States federal law.

• It imposed sanctions on North Korea, Iran, and Russia.
• It also engages in sanctions against the country that engage in any kind of a transaction with Russia vis-a-vis defence deals and intelligence sharing.
• Under CAATSA, the US President can impose up to 5 of the listed 12 sanctions on anyone who engages in any type of significant transaction with Russia.

Arbind Modi will be the convenor of the eight-member committee, who is a member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

• Arvind Subramanian would be a permanent special invitee in the Task Force.
• Girish Ahuja would be a member of the Task force.

The registered increase in the MSP has been the highest in Bajra since 2009-10 (37%)

• The increase in MSP of Ragi has been 53%.
• The increase in MSP of Sunflower seed has been 31%.
• The increase in MSP of Niger Seeds has been 45%.
• The increase in MSP of long-staple cotton has been 26%.

According to RBI Reports, the overall fiscal deficit of the states in the FY 2017-18 came down to 2.7%, which was at 3.5% for the FY 2016-17.

• Hence, the first statement is wrong.
• The Special Category States, the run-up to a higher level of fiscal deficit in 2017-18 as compared to 2016-17.
• While the fiscal deficit of FY 2016-17 was at -1.2%, it deteriorated to 0.6% in the FY 2017-18.
• Hence, while the second statement is correct.

According to the CEIC data, the savings rate fell sharply from 37.8% in 2008-09 to 32.2 in 2015-16.

• One of the biggest factors leading to the fall in savings rate is the fall in household and public savings. Hence, Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
• India's Gross Savings Rate is measured at 30.1% in 2019-20, a fall from the previous year's 32.4%.
• However, the fall in savings rate has not registered a continuous downward trend, with preliminary reports from RBI between 2013-14 to 2015-16 showing a marginal rise in savings rate from 7.3% in the former, to 7.5% in the latter.
• Still, household savings rates have continued to be low due to the lower returns on invaluable and assets, leading to an overall decline in household savings.

The correct answer is option b.

Key Points

• According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, the private investments in India severely lacked in research as compared to public investments in research.
• In comparison, countries like the US and China, private investments were a major source of research activities being carried out in the country.
• The Survey, however, states that public investment in research has been stagnant at 0.6-07% of GDP over the past two decades.
• One of the major reasons is the small role played by universities in research activities in the country.
• While public universities like IITs and IISERs invest in research activities, private universities lack behind in this feat too.

Agriculture sector continues to employ nearly half of the workforce in the country.

• Still, the sector's contribution to GDP remains as low as 17.5% (Current Prices 2015-16)
• Agriculture's GDP contribution fell from 50% of GDP in the 1950s to 15.4% in 2015-16 (Constant Prices).
• The growth rate in Agriculture has been fairly volatile over the past decade.
• The growth rate ranged from 5.8% in 2005-06 to 0.4% in 2009-10.
• In the year 2014-15, the agricultural growth rate decreased to -0.2%.

Niccolo Manucci, a versatile traveler from Venice, Italy, settled in India till his last in Chennai, 1720.

• Over the time of his stay in India, he worked for the Portuguese, British, and also worked as free-agent many times.
• Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese traveller who wrote details on the life and trade in South India.
• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a french-jeweller who travelled to India six-time and compared India to the empires in Ottoman and Iran.
• Francois Bernier was a Frenchman, a political philosopher, a historian, and a doctor who came to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities.
• He worked with Dara Shikoh and later with Danishmand Khan, an Armenian noble.

Amar Nayakas were military commanders in the Vijayanagara empire.

• They were given territories to govern by the Raya/King.
• Taxes and dues were collected from the peasants, traders, and craftspersons of the area.
• A part of the revenue was used for personal use, and to maintain a fixed contingent of elephants and horses.
• The contingent of elephants and horses helped the Raya with effective offensive capabilities in a war-like situation.
• Some of the revenue collected was also used to maintain the irrigation infrastructure and maintenance of temples.
• They also offered gifts and precious tributes to the King personally.
• Lands were called amaram.

Tarikh-i-Akbari is a well-known chronicle written on Akbar and an important source of the Mughal Administration during the rule.

• Also known as Muzzaffar Nama, the work was compiled by Muhammad Arif Qandhari with the help of Muzaffar Khan.
• After completion, he was conferred a Khilat.
• He worked under Bairam Khan and Muzzafar Khan.
• Later in his life, he was made the diwan of Punjab.

Aristocrat Muqarrab Khan was the great favorite of Jahangir.

Key Points

• According to Irfan Habib, despite being a physician, who generally were not regarded as a part of the Mughal Aristocracy, Muqarrab Khan was respected with high regard during the rule of Jahangir.
• It was because of his likeliness for Muqarrab Khan, that Jahangir gave him the title Shaikh Hasan Hassu.
• He attained a high mansab of 5,000 Zats and 5,000 Swadr.
• He was also appointed as the governor of three provinces during Jahangir's reign.
• Famous ruler chronologically are-

Babur (1526 - 1530), Humayun (1530 - 1540), Akbar (1556 - 1605), Jehangir (1605 - 1627), Shah Jahan (1628 - 1658), Aurangzeb (1658 - 1707).

Nawaab Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (AD 1722-1739) founded Awadh as an autonomous state.

• He was appointed as governor by Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah.
• He was made the king of Awadh to negotiate with Nadir Shah.
• Safdar Jung/ Adbdul Mansur (AD 1739-1754) took part in the Battle of Manpur against Ahmed Shah Abdali.
• Shuja-ud-doula (AD 1754-1775) was the son of Safdar Jung and an ally of Ahmed Shah Abdali.

The correct answer is brick and stone.

Key Points

• Houses in Varanasi in the 17th century were constructed with mud and stone.
• Jean Baptiste Tavernier came to Varanasi in 1655.
• He wrote extensively about the art and culture of Varanasi.
• He also wrote about the river Ganga and pointed out the concern of the pollution in the river.
• He was a French Gem merchant who bought the Hope diamond.
• He has given detailed account in his book 'Travels of India.'

• The duties of the Governor as a constitutional Head of the State do not become the subject matter of questions or debate in the Parliament.
• The Constitution makes it clear that if any question arises whether a matter falls within the governor’s discretion or not, the decision of the governor is final and the validity of anything done by him cannot be called into question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Governor has some Discretionary Powers conferred by the Constitution.
• These include Constitutional Discretion and Situational Discretion.
• On matters of, let's say a time when the Government in power in a state falls because the majority cannot be proven on the floor of the house, the power to appoint a Chief Minister can be done by the discretion of Governor. He is not liable to answer the Parliament.
• However, his decisions are subject to Judicial Review as per the S.R Bommai Case. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Article 371B enables the President to provide for the Constitution, as well as the functions of the committee of the State Legislative Assembly to consist of members elected from the tribal areas of Assam. 

• Article 371A provides for the special provision to the state of Nagaland.
• Article 371C provides for the special provision to the state of Manipur.
• Article 371D provides for the special provision to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Article 370 provides for a special status for the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

• In accordance with the provision of Article 370, Parliament needs the concurrence of the state government to apply any law except those on subjects related to
• Defense
• Foreign Affairs
• Communications
• Finance
• Further, no citizen from outside the state can buy a land in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Provision of dual citizenship.
• Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties of the Indian Constitution don't apply to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Note - Currently, Article 370 stands repealed and the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated to the two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Sixth schedule under the Indian Constitution provides for 10 Autonomous District Councils in 4 states.

• The states are Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
• Article 244 deals with the administration of tribal areas in states under the sixth schedule.
• The Fifth Schedule is concerned with Scheduled Areas as declared by the President - Article 244(1)
• The Fourth Schedule is concerned with the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha.
• The Third Schedule is concerned with the Oath and Affirmations for Union and State Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, etc.

• DEFEXPO India is an exhibition of naval, international land, and internal security.
• The 2018 edition was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• The exhibition helps in displaying India as a brand which can export strategic defence systems and components required for all the three services.
• It is the 10th edition.
• This will be the first time that the defence expo would be held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Until now, all the DEFEXPO was held in Delhi, except for the 2017 edition, held in Goa.

The finance minister in his budget speech of 2018-19 announced the setting up of two Defence Industrial Corridors in India.

• It was thus decided that the two corridors would be set up in the state of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• In pursuance to this, six nodes have been identified in Uttar Pradesh, and five nodes have been identified in the Tamil Nadu corridor.

INS Vikrant is the first indigenously developed Aircraft Carrier in India.

• It has a carrying capacity of 40,000 tonnes.
• The gross displacement is greater than INS Viraat but lesser than INS Vikramaditya.
• Being constructed at Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• INS Viraat was an aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 1959 as the Royal Navy's HMS Hermes.
• INS Vaibhav is a Vishwast class offshore patrol vessel inducted by the Indian Coast Guard in 2013.
• INS Varaha is the 51st offshore patrol vessel designed indigenously by Larsen and Turbo.

Dhanush is an upgraded version of Swedish 155-mm Bofors Howitzers.

• These Swedish 155-mm Bofors Howitzers were procured in the mid-1980s by India.
• Has a 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery gun.
• Is developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata.
• The design is based on the requirements of the Indian Army.
• It has been manufactured by Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur.
• Strike range of 38 km.
• First indigenous long-ranged artillery gun.

A smiling and futuristic looking Miraitowa is the official mascot of Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

• Soohorang was the official mascot of the South Korean Winter Olympics held in 2018.
• Vinicius, named after the Brazilian lyricist Vinicius de Moraes, was the official mascot of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games held in Brazil.
• The Hare, the Polar Bear and the Leopard were the mascots in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, 2014.