Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Nagpur

In News

• Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, inaugurated India's first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch on NH-44 in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Key Points

• The highway stretch was developed using lignin-based bio-bitumen technology by Praj Industries, in collaboration with CSIR - Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Oriental.
• The use of lignin, a sustainable binder, is a breakthrough in flexible pavement technology, helping address bitumen scarcity and reducing dependency on imports, which currently constitutes 50% of the total bitumen supply in India.
• This development contributes to global sustainability goals, generating revenue for bio-refineries, mitigating stubble burning, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to fossil-based bitumen.
• The initiative also leverages India's abundant lignocellulosic biomass, supporting the country's vision for sustainable industrial growth.
• Gadkari emphasized that promoting green technologies and fostering industrial sustainability aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• The innovation supports large-scale domestic production, contributing to a self-reliant and sustainable future for India.
• Gadkari also highlighted 400 projects in India focused on producing CNG from biomass, especially rice straw or parali, which reduces pollution and benefits farmers by creating value from waste.
• CNG production is seen as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to petrol, contributing to pollution reduction and energy savings for farmers.
• The initiative also aims to create value from waste and offers benefits to farmers, particularly those in Punjab and Haryana, where stubble burning contributes to air pollution.

The correct answer is Atlantic Ocean

In News

• Scientists drilled 4,160 feet below the Atlantic seabed to obtain the sample.

Key Points

• The sample was taken from the Atlantis Massif, providing insights into the Earth's mantle composition.
• The core, 2,907 feet long, is the largest continuous mantle rock sample ever recovered.
• The sample, taken from the Atlantis Massif, provides insights into mantle composition and interactions with seawater, potentially linked to the origins of life.

The correct answer is ​Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

• The meridians of longitude, also called meridians, are imaginary lines that divide the Earth.
• They run north to south from pole to pole, but they measure the distance east or west.
• They are spaced farthest apart at the equator and converge at a point at each pole.
• Unlike the parallels of latitude which are circles, the meridians of longitude are semi-circles that converge at the poles.
• If opposite meridians are taken together, they complete a circle, but, they are valued separately as two meridians.
• The meridians intersect the equator at right angles.
• For the convenience of numbering, the meridian of longitude passing through the Greenwich observatory (near London) has been adopted as the Prime Meridian by an international agreement and has been given the value of 0°.
• The sunrises in the east and sets in the west.
• The rotation of the earth over its axis takes 24 hours to complete one circle or 360° of longitudes.
• As 180° of longitudes fall both east and west of the Prime Meridian, the sun thus takes 12 hours to traverse the eastern and western hemispheres.
• In other words, the sun traverses 15° longitudes per hour or one degree of longitude every four minutes of time.
• It may further be noted that the time decreases when we move from west to east and increases with our westward movement.
• The rate of the time at which the sun traverses over certain degrees of longitudes is used to determine the local time of an area with respect to the time at the Prime Meridian (0°Longitude). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Latitude is an angle (defined below) that ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° (North or South) at the poles.
• Lines of constant latitude, or parallels, run east-west as circles parallel to the equator.
• Latitude is used together with longitude to specify the precise location of features on the surface of the Earth.
• The value of the equator is 0° and the latitude of the poles are 90°N and 90°S.
• All latitudes are parallel to the equator. On a globe, parallels of latitudes appear as circles.
• The latitudes from the equator to the poles are used to demarcate time with reference to temperature zones, i.e. 0° to 23 ½° north and south as the torrid zone, 23 ½° to 66 ½° as the temperate zone, and 66 ½° to 90° as the frigid.
• The length of daylight varies by latitude and by the time of year. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Areas on the Equator have a constant 12 hours of daylight all year round. As latitude increases to 80° (polar circles - north or south), day length can be seen to increase to 24 hours or decrease to zero (depending on the time of year).

The correct answer is Urs.

Key Points

• Urs is an annual event commemorating the death anniversary of a Sufi saint.
• This event is typically held at the saint's dargah or shrine, attracting devotees from various regions.
• Urs is derived from the Arabic word for "wedding," symbolizing the union of the Sufi saint with the Divine.
• Devotees participate in Qawwali (Sufi devotional music), prayers, and other rituals during the event.
• Urs ceremonies are an important part of Sufi culture and heritage, fostering a sense of spiritual connection and community among followers.

Additional Information

• Dargah
• A dargah is a shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint.
• Dargahs are places of pilgrimage where people come to seek blessings and offer prayers.
• Qawwali
• Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music that originates from the Indian subcontinent.
• Performed during Urs, Qawwali aims to induce a state of spiritual ecstasy among listeners.
• Sufism
• Sufism is a mystical form of Islam that emphasizes the inward search for God and shuns materialism.
• Sufis seek to attain spiritual closeness to God through practices like meditation, chanting, and music.
• Celebrations and Rituals
• During Urs, devotees engage in prayers, recitations, and communal meals known as langar.
• The rituals and celebrations reflect the teachings and legacy of the Sufi saint being honored.

The correct answer is ​Bengaluru

In News

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been upgraded to 'Maharatna' status, announced by the Department of Public Enterprises on October 12, 2024, after approval from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Key Points

• HAL becomes the 14^th Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India, joining other notable PSUs like BHEL, BPCL, Coal India, GAIL, HPCL, Indian Oil, NTPC, ONGC, Power Grid, SAIL, Oil India, REC, and PFC.
• The upgradation is expected to enhance HAL's operational autonomy and financial powers, allowing for greater independence in decision-making.
• The proposal for HAL’s upgradation was previously recommended by two high-level committees: the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), led by the Finance Secretary, and the Apex Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
• For the financial year 2023-24, HAL reported an annual turnover of ₹28,162 crore and a net profit of ₹7,595 crore.
• To qualify for Maharatna status, a CPSE must meet specific financial criteria: an average turnover of over ₹25,000 crore, an average net worth exceeding ₹15,000 crore, and an average net profit greater than ₹5,000 crore over the previous three years.
• Maharatna status provides significant operational autonomy, allowing PSUs to incur capital expenditures on new purchases or replacements without any monetary limit, and operate independently without relying on government guarantees.
• In comparison, Navratna status grants companies the ability to invest up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project without prior government approval, but with more restrictions than Maharatna.

The correct answer is Bryophytes and Thallophyta.

Key Points

• Cryptogams are plants that reproduce through spores and do not produce flowers, seeds, or fruits.
• Bryophytes include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, and are considered non-vascular cryptogams as they lack true vascular tissue.
• Thallophyta includes algae, fungi, and lichens; they exhibit a simple body structure without differentiation into roots, stems, and leaves.
• The absence of seeds, flowers, and vascular tissues categorizes both Bryophytes and Thallophyta under cryptogams.
• Unlike Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (seed-producing plants), cryptogams are primitive plant groups primarily found in moist and shaded environments.

Additional Information

• Thallophyta:
• These are the simplest plants, mostly aquatic (e.g., algae) and non-vascular.
• The body of Thallophyta is called a "thallus" due to its undifferentiated structure.
• Bryophytes:
• Known as "amphibians of the plant kingdom" as they require water for fertilization.
• They show alternation of generations between gametophyte (dominant) and sporophyte phases.
• Pteridophytes:
• These are vascular cryptogams with true roots, stems, and leaves but reproduce through spores, not seeds.
• Phanerogams:
• This category includes seed-producing plants: Gymnosperms (naked seeds) and Angiosperms (enclosed seeds).
• They are the most advanced and diverse group of plants.
• Cryptogams vs. Phanerogams:
• Cryptogams reproduce through spores and lack seeds or flowers, while Phanerogams reproduce through seeds and produce flowers.

The correct answer is Nagarjuna Sagar.

Key Points

• Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is built across the Krishna River between the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in India.
• It is one of the largest and tallest masonry dams in the world, standing at a height of approximately 124 meters (407 feet).
• The construction of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam started in 1955 and was completed in 1967, making it one of the earliest major irrigation projects in India.
• This dam plays a crucial role in providing irrigation water to the arid regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, benefiting millions of farmers.

Additional Information

• Sardar Sarovar Dam
• It is constructed on the Narmada River in the state of Gujarat, India.
• The dam is a part of the Narmada Valley Project, which aims to provide water for irrigation, drinking, and hydroelectric power generation.
• It is one of the largest dams in the world in terms of volume and surface area.
• Indira Sagar Dam
• It is constructed on the Narmada River in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.
• The dam is primarily used for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
• Indira Sagar Dam has one of the largest reservoirs in India in terms of water storage capacity.
• Hirakud Dam
• It is constructed on the Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha, India.
• Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world, stretching over 25.8 kilometers (16 miles).
• The dam provides irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.
• Krishna River
• The Krishna River is one of the major rivers in India, flowing through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• The river is around 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) long and is a crucial water source for agriculture, drinking water, and industrial use in the region.
• Several major dams and reservoirs, including Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Srisailam Dam, and Almatti Dam, have been constructed on the Krishna River to harness its water resources.

Given:

Calculations:

Agriculture expenditure is 45%.

Please note that 100% is 360°.

According to the question,

45% of 360

= 0.45 × 360

= 162°

Hence, The Required value is 162°.

Given:

Average of 7 numbers = 39

Average of 3 of them = 27

Formula used:

Average = Sum of observation / Number of observations

Solution:

Let the sum of 3 numbers = m

\(\dfrac{m}{3}\) = 27

⇒ m = 27 x 3

⇒ m = 81

Let, the average of rest 4 numbers = n

 \(\dfrac{m+n}{7}\) = 39

⇒ 81 + n = 39 × 7 = 273

⇒ n = 273 - 81 = 192

The average of other 4 numbers = \(\dfrac{n}{4}\) = \(\dfrac{192}{4}\) = 48

∴ The average of other 4 numbers is 48.

Given,

The candidate has got = 60% 

Won -19840 votes

 Calculation

Let the total votes = x

⇒ the total winning candidate = 6x/10

⇒ total losing candidate = 4x/10

Now,

⇒ 6x/10 – 4x/10 = 19840

⇒ 2x/10 = 19840

⇒ 2x = 19840 × 10

⇒ x = 19840 × 5

⇒ x = 99,200

Then total losing candidate = 4 × 99200/10 = 39,680 

∴ The total losing candidate = 39680