Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Maihar

Key Points 

• In Ustad Allauddin Khan honor, a Sangeet Samaroh is organized annually in Maihar, Satna
• It is organized by the Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Sanskriti Parishad.
• Allauddin Khan Sangeet Samaroh of Maihar is a three-day festival.
• Allauddin Khan totally reshaped Indian classical music's Maihar Gharana.
• Allauddin Khan was also known as Baba Allauddin Khan.
• He was an Indian sarod player.

The correct answer is:France and Switzerland

Key Points

• The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) used in the CERN project is a particle accelerator located on the border between France and Switzerland
• The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a particle accelerator located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.
• It is the world's largest and most powerful particle collider, used to study the properties of elementary particles and the forces that govern their interactions.
• The LHC works by accelerating particles to very high energies and then colliding them at extremely high speeds to create new particles and study their properties

The Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang, visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana.

Key Points

• Hiuen Tsang, also known as Xuanzang, was a Chinese traveler who visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana.
• Hiuen Tsang is renowned for his significant contributions to the documentation of India's history, culture, and Buddhist heritage.
• During the 7^th century, Hiuen Tsang embarked on a perilous journey from China to India with the primary purpose of visiting the holy Buddhist sites and studying Buddhist philosophy and scriptures.
• Hiuen Tsang arrived in India around 630 CE, during the reign of Harshavardhana, who was a prominent ruler of the North Indian kingdom of Thanesar.
• Harshavardhana was a patron of Buddhism and welcomed scholars and travelers from various regions.
• During his stay in India, Hiuen Tsang traveled extensively across different parts of the country, visiting major Buddhist centers, universities, and monasteries.
• He spent several years in places such as Nalanda, the renowned center of learning, and Bodh Gaya, the site of Buddha's enlightenment.
• One of the significant contributions of Hiuen Tsang was his collection of Buddhist scriptures.
• He painstakingly translated numerous texts from Sanskrit into Chinese, preserving and disseminating Buddhist teachings and philosophy in East Asia.
• His translations played a crucial role in the development and spread of Buddhism in China and other regions.

Hence, the correct answer is Chinese traveller.

The correct answer is Prakrit

Key Points

• The Ashokan edicts were inscribed in Prakrit language.
• Prakrit was the vernacular language during Ashoka's reign and was used for communicating with the common people.
• The script used for the inscriptions is known as Brahmi.

The correct answer is Fali S. Nariman.

In News

• Fali S. Nariman's legal insights were central to the book "Beyond the Courtroom" by Subhash Sharma.

Key Points

• Fali S. Nariman's speeches and articles on constitutional law are featured in the book "Beyond the Courtroom".
• The book covers Nariman's perspectives on democracy, judicial roles, and the Indian Constitution.
• Nariman’s views on the dynamic nature of the Constitution and its interpretation by the judiciary are highlighted.
• The book also offers advice for young lawyers and discusses ethical considerations in law practice.

Additional Information

• Fali S. Nariman
• Renowned Indian jurist, instrumental in shaping constitutional law in India.
• His contributions to the legal field include advocating for judicial independence and the protection of fundamental rights.
• Fali Sam Nariman (10 January 1929 – 21 February 2024) was an Indian jurist.
• He was a senior advocate to the Supreme Court of India from 1971 and was the President of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010.
• He was honoured with the 19^th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2018.
• Nariman was awarded the Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2007) and Gruber Prize for Justice (2002) and was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament of India for a term (1999–2005).
• Basic Structure Doctrine
• A doctrine established by the Supreme Court in 1973, asserting that Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution.
• The Role of Judiciary
• Fali Nariman emphasized the judiciary's role in interpreting the Constitution and ensuring its dynamism in evolving social contexts.

​The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Schedules of the Indian Constitution:

The Correct Answer is Rajendra Prasad.

Confusion Points

• The Constituent Assembly started its work on 9^th December 1946 with Dr. Sachhidanand as its interim President.
• Two days later, on 11^th December 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

Key Points

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected president, and Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, a Christian from Bengal and former vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, was elected vice-president.
• Mookerjee was appointed governor of West Bengal after India became a republic, and he also chairs the assembly's Minorities Committee.
• B. N. Rau, a lawyer who drafted the initial draught of the constitution and later became a judge at The Hague's Permanent Court of International Justice, was appointed constitutional advisor to the assembly.
• The Constituent Assembly of India was chosen to draft the Indian Constitution.
• The 'Provincial Assembly' selected it. Its members acted as the nation's first Parliament since India gained independence from the British government in 1947.
• M. N. Roy, a pioneer of the Indian Communist movement and a proponent of radical democracy, suggested the concept of a Constituent Assembly in 1934.
• It became an official demand of the Indian National Congress in 1935, and on 15 November 1939, C. Rajagopalachari made the demand for a Constituent Assembly based on adult franchise, which the British approved in August 1940.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar(Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar) chaired the Constitutional Drafting Committee.

The correct answer is Nicobar pigeon.

Key Points

• Endemic species are those species of plants and animals that are found exclusively in a particular area or specific habitat.
• They are not naturally found anywhere else. A particular type of animal or plant may be endemic to a zone, a state, or a country.
• The destruction of their habitat, increasing population, and introduction of new species may affect the natural habitat of endemic species and endanger their existence.
• Examples - Sal and wild mango are endemic flora of the while Bison, Indian giant squirrel, Nicobar pigeon, and flying squirrel are endemic fauna.

Additional Information

Some of the important Endemic species of India are:

• Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest.
• Nilgiri Tahr in Nilgiri Hills.
• Sangai Deer in Loktak Lake.
• Purple Frog in the Western Ghats.
• Kashmir Stag in Kashmir Valley.
• Lion-Tailed Macaque in the Western Ghats.
• Pygmy Hog in Assam.
• Malabar Civet in the Western Ghats.

The correct answer is  Large number of stomata.

Key PointsFeatures of Xerophytes

• Xerophytes are plants adapted to survive in environments with very little water, such as deserts.
• Smaller leaves: Xerophytes often have smaller leaves to reduce the surface area for water loss through transpiration. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Waxy cuticle: These plants typically have a thick, waxy cuticle on their leaves and stems to minimize water loss. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Stomata in pits: The stomata (pores for gas exchange) are often located in pits to reduce water loss. This adaptation helps to trap moisture and reduce the rate of transpiration. Hence, statement 4 is correct.
• Large number of stomata: Xerophytes generally have fewer stomata to minimize water loss. Having a large number of stomata would increase water loss, which is not a characteristic feature of xerophytes. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Xerophytes are a type of plant that has adapted to survive in an environment with little available water, such as deserts or ice- or snow-covered regions in the Alps or the Arctic.
• Some examples of xerophytes include cacti, succulents, and some types of grasses.
• Adaptations of xerophytes include:
• Thickened leaves or stems to store water.
• Deep root systems to access water from deeper soil layers.
• Leaf modifications such as spines to reduce water loss.
• CAM photosynthesis (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) allows them to take in CO2 at night, reducing water loss.
• Understanding the adaptations of xerophytes is crucial for agricultural practices in arid regions, as these plants can inform the development of drought-resistant crops.

The correct answer is Bahlol Lodi.

Key Points

• Bahlul Lodhi was the founder of the Lodhi dynasty.
• He ​was the chief of the Pashtun Lodhi Tribe.
• He became sultan in 1451.
• He was the first Afghani King.
• He introduced new copper coins called Bahloli Coins.
• He conquered Gwalior, Santhal, Sakit, and Mewat.
• He ruled over Delhi till 1489.

Additional Information

• Sikander Lodhi
• He was the son of Bahlol Lodhi who conquered Bihar and Western Bengal.
• He founded the city of Agra and moved his capital from Delhi to Agra.
• He introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari of 32 digits for measuring cultivated fields.
• Ibrahim Lodhi
• He was the last ruler of Lodhi as well as Delhi Sultanate who ruled from 1517 to 1526.
• He was the son of the second ruler of the Lodhi dynasty Sikander Lodhi.
• He was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
• Khizr Khan was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty.