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CONCEPT:

Foundation of the Sikh Empire

• The Sikh Empire was a major political entity that existed in the Indian subcontinent during the first half of the 19^th century.
• It was formed through the unification of independent Sikh confederacies known as Misls, which were sovereign states governed by various Sikh chieftains.

EXPLANATION:

• Maharaja Ranjit Singh: He was the leader of the Sukerchakia Misl who successfully unified the fractured Sikh groups. He captured Lahore in 1799 and was proclaimed the 'Maharaja of Punjab' in 1801, marking the formal beginning of the Sikh Empire.
• Guru Gobind Singh: He was the tenth and final human Sikh Guru. While he established the Khalsa (the community of initiated Sikhs) and provided the spiritual and military framework for the Sikh resistance, the political empire was established long after his time.
• Banda Singh Bahadur: He was a military commander who led the Sikhs against the Mughal Empire and established a temporary Sikh rule in parts of Northern India, but he did not establish the unified Sikh Empire.
• Maharaja Hari Singh: He was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, reigning much later, from 1925 to 1947.

Therefore, the Sikh Empire was founded by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

CONCEPT:

Geographical Area of Indian States

• India consists of 28 states and 8 union territories, each varying significantly in geographical size.
• The ranking of states by land area is a key geographical fact, where Rajasthan is the largest and Goa is the smallest.

EXPLANATION:

• Comparing the areas of the states provided in the options:
• Goa: It covers an area of approximately 3,702 km², making it the smallest state in India by land area.
• Sikkim: It covers an area of approximately 7,096 km². While it is the smallest state by population, it is the second smallest by area.
• Tripura: It covers an area of approximately 10,486 km², ranking as the third smallest state.
• Mizoram: It covers an area of approximately 21,081 km², which is significantly larger than the others mentioned.
• Geographically, Goa is situated on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan.

Therefore, the smallest state of India in terms of area is Goa.

CONCEPT:

River Systems in India

• The length of a river is determined by the total distance it flows from its source to its mouth.
• In the context of the longest river of India, the measurement usually refers to the total length of the river that flows through the Indian territory.

EXPLANATION:

• The lengths of the major rivers mentioned in the options are as follows:
• Ganga: It is the longest river in India, with a total length of approximately 2,525 km. It originates from the Gangotri glacier and flows through the plains of Northern India into the Bay of Bengal.
• Godavari: It is the second-longest river in India and the longest in Peninsular India, with a length of about 1,465 km. It is often referred to as 'Dakshina Ganga'.
• Yamuna: A major tributary of the Ganga, it flows for about 1,376 km.
• Brahmaputra: While its total length is around 2,900 km, most of its course is in Tibet and Bangladesh. Only about 916 km of the Brahmaputra flows within India.

Therefore, the Ganga is the longest river of India.

CONCEPT:

The Rani of Jhansi Regiment

• The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was the women's wing of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj.
• It was established in 1943 by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to involve women in the armed struggle for India's independence from British rule.
• The regiment was named after Rani Lakshmi Bai, the legendary Queen of Jhansi who fought in the Revolt of 1857.

EXPLANATION:

• The regiment was led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (born Lakshmi Swaminathan).
• She was a medical doctor by profession who met Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore and volunteered to lead the women's unit.
• Under her leadership, the regiment received military training, including drill, use of firearms, and bayonet charges.
• Regarding the other options:
• Rani Durgavati was the ruling Queen of Gondwana in the 16^th century who fought against the Mughal Empire.
• Ahilyabai Holkar was the Maratha Queen of the Malwa kingdom in the 18^th century, known for her administration and building temples.
• Rani Avantibai was the Queen of Ramgarh (present-day Madhya Pradesh) who led an army against the British during the 1857 rebellion.

Therefore, the Jhansi Regiment was led by Captain Lakshmi.

CONCEPT:

National Flag of India (Tiranga)

• The Indian National Flag is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion.
• The design and specifications of the flag are defined by the Flag Code of India.
• The flag must always be rectangular in shape.

EXPLANATION:

• According to the Flag Code of India, the standard dimensions of the flag follow a specific proportion.
• The ratio of the width (height) of the flag to its length is specified as 2:3.
• The question asks for the ratio of length to width.
• Based on the official specification:
• Width : Length = 2 : 3
• Length : Width = 3 : 2

Therefore, the ratio of length and width of the Indian flag is 3:2.

CONCEPT:

Space Missions and Astronaut Records

• Space missions involve astronauts staying aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for extended periods to conduct scientific experiments and maintenance.
• Records are tracked for individual mission duration and cumulative time spent in space to study the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body.

EXPLANATION:

• Sunita Williams is a distinguished NASA astronaut of Indian origin who has completed multiple missions to the International Space Station.
• In her first mission (Expedition 14/15), she was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery with the STS-116 mission on December 9, 2006.
• She served as a flight engineer and set a record at that time for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
• She returned to Earth on June 22, 2007, aboard the shuttle Atlantis (STS-117).
• The total duration of her stay in space during this mission was 195 days.

Therefore, Sunita Williams remained in space for 195 days during her record-breaking first mission.

CONCEPT:

Gallantry Awards in India

• Gallantry awards are honors instituted by the Government of India to recognize acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces, and civilians.
• These awards are classified into two main categories:
• Wartime Gallantry Awards: For conspicuous acts of bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Peacetime Gallantry Awards: For courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.

EXPLANATION:

• The wartime gallantry awards, in order of precedence, are:
• Param Vir Chakra (PVC): It is India s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valor during wartime. The name translates to 'Wheel of the Ultimate Brave'.
• Maha Vir Chakra (MVC): It is the second-highest gallantry award.
• Vir Chakra: It is the third-highest gallantry award.
• The peacetime gallantry awards, in order of precedence, are:
• Ashoka Chakra: The highest peacetime gallantry award (equivalent to the Param Vir Chakra).
• Kirti Chakra: The second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
• Shaurya Chakra: The third-highest peacetime gallantry award.
• As the question asks for India s highest gallantry award overall (typically referring to the highest wartime honor unless specified), the answer is the Param Vir Chakra.

Therefore, the Param Vir Chakra is India s highest gallantry award.

CONCEPT:

National Motto of India

• 'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth Alone Triumphs) is the national motto of India.
• It is inscribed in Devanagari script at the base of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which serves as the National Emblem of India.

EXPLANATION:

• Origin of the Phrase:
• The phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.
• The Mundaka Upanishad is one of the primary (Mukhya) Upanishads and is associated with the Atharvaveda.
• Significance and Adoption:
• The complete mantra is: 'Satyameva jayate nanrtam', which translates to 'Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood'.
• It was adopted as the national motto of India on 26 January 1950, the day India became a Republic.
• The motto was popularized by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya during the Indian independence movement.

Therefore, the phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.

CONCEPT:

Missile Man of India

• The title 'Missile Man of India' is a popular designation given to the scientist who spearheaded the development of indigenous ballistic missiles and launch vehicle technology in the country.
• This recognition is primarily due to leadership in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and contributions to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

EXPLANATION:

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: He was an Indian aerospace scientist who served as the 11^th President of India. He played a crucial role in the development of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) and led the IGMDP, which resulted in the creation of missiles like Agni and Prithvi. Due to these monumental contributions, he is widely known as the Missile Man of India.
• Homi J. Bhabha: He is known as the 'Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme'.
• Vikram Sarabhai: He is considered the 'Father of the Indian Space Programme'.
• C.V. Raman: He was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for the discovery of the Raman Effect.

Therefore, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is called the Missile Man of India.

Ans: (1)

Key Points

Agamas – Sacred Scriptures of Jainism

1. What are Agamas?

• Agamas (or Agam Sutras) are the canonical texts of Jainism, containing the teachings of the Tirthankaras.
• Primarily preserved by the Svetambara sect, though Digambara sect has its own scriptural tradition.
• Compiled by Ganadharas, the chief disciples of Mahavira, the 24^th Tirthankara.

2. Contents of the Agamas:

• Philosophical Teachings – Concepts like karma, soul (jiva), and liberation (moksha).
• Cosmology – Detailed descriptions of the universe and time cycles.
• Ethical Conduct – Rules for monks, nuns, and lay followers.
• Religious Narratives – Stories of past lives, saints, and moral lessons.
• Scientific Concepts – Includes knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and logic.

3. Types of Jain Literature:

• Canonical Works: Core texts (e.g., Twelve Angas) forming the religious foundation.
• Non-Canonical Works: Commentaries, narratives, and texts on rituals and philosophy.

4. Languages Used:

• Ardhamagadhi Prakrit – Primary language of early Jain scriptures.
• Others include Sanskrit, Apabhraṃśa, Tamil, and Kannada in later literature.

5. Key Jain Texts:

• Shatkhand-agam and Kasay-pahud – Important to the Digambara sect.
• Tattvārtha-sūtra – The only text accepted by both Svetambaras and Digambaras.
• Twelve Angas – Regarded as the oldest and most authoritative texts.

6. Oral Tradition and Memorization:

• Monks and nuns traditionally memorized the Agamas due to restrictions on writing or owning texts.
• This oral transmission helped preserve Jain teachings over centuries.