Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Jamui.

Key Points

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development projects worth Rs 6,640 crore in Jamui district of Bihar.
• The event was held to mark the 150^th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal leader and freedom fighter.
• The development projects aimed to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, and socio-economic growth in the region.
• Bhagwan Birsa Munda is celebrated for his contributions to tribal rights and his fight against British colonial oppression.
• The inauguration aligns with the government’s focus on promoting regional development and honoring historical figures.

Additional Information

• Bhagwan Birsa Munda:
• Born on 15^th November 1875, Birsa Munda was a tribal freedom fighter and religious leader.
• He led the Munda Rebellion (Ulgulan) against British colonial rule and exploitation of tribal communities.
• His efforts led to the recognition of tribal land rights under the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908.
• He is regarded as a symbol of tribal identity and resistance in India.
• Jamui District:
• Located in Bihar, Jamui is known for its historical and cultural significance.
• The district is rich in mineral resources, including mica and limestone.
• It is home to several temples and pilgrimage sites, contributing to its tourism value.
• Development Projects:
• Projects typically include infrastructure upgrades like roads, railways, schools, and healthcare facilities.
• Such initiatives aim to reduce regional disparities and improve the quality of life.
• They align with the government’s vision of inclusive development.
• Government’s Focus on Tribal Welfare:
• Various schemes and programs are launched to support education, healthcare, and economic empowerment of tribal communities.
• Events like the commemoration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary highlight tribal heritage and contributions.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs oversees policies and initiatives for tribal welfare in India.

The Correct Answer is Panini.

Key Points

• Ashtadhyayi, Sanskrit Aṣṭādhyāyī("Eight Chapters"), a Sanskrit grammar treatise written by the Indian grammarian Panini in the 6^th to 5^th century BCE. The linguistic standards for Classical Sanskrit were set by this work. The science of phonetics and grammar that had developed in the Vedic religion was summed up in 4,000 sutras. His work was divided into eight chapters by Panini, each of which is further divided into four chapters.
• Ashtadhyayi distinguishes between use in the spoken language and use that is unique to the language of the sacred texts, beyond describing the morphology and syntax of the Sanskrit language.

Important Points

• An ancient Sanskrit philologist, grammarian, and a respected scholar in ancient India were Pānini, variously dated between the 4^th century BCE and the 6^th to 5^th century BCE.
• Pānini has been considered the "first descriptive linguist" and also labelled as "the father of linguistics" since the discovery and publication of his work by European scholars in the nineteenth century.

Additional Information

• Bāṇabhaṭṭa was a Sanskrit prose writer and poet from India in the seventh century.
• Shudraka was the king and playwright of India. He is ascribed to three Sanskrit plays - Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), Vinavasavadatta, and Padmaprabhritaka, a bhana (short one-act monologue).
• In ancient India, Patañjali was a sage who was thought to be the author of a number of Sanskrit works.

The Indian state Odisha established on 1 April 1936.

• The organization Utkal Sammilani was formed in 1903 to demand the unification of Odia-speaking regions into one state.
• The Province of Bihar and Orissa was formed on 1 April 1912.
• Bihar and Orissa were subdivided into separate provinces on 1 April 1936.
• The new Province of Orissa was created on a linguistic basis during the British rule in India, with Sir John Austen Hubback as the first governor.
• On 15 August 1947, the agreement to join Orissa was signed by 27 princely States.

The correct answer is Ahmad Shah Abdali and Marathas.

Key PointsThird Battle of Panipat: 

• The Third Battle of Panipat was fought between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan Army.
• It took place on 14 January 1761 at Panipat.
• The Battle was fought between Sadashiv Rao Bhau(The Maratha Empire) and Ahmad Shah Durrani (The Afghan Army).
• In this Battle, the Afghans were led by their king Ahmed Shah Durrani, who got help from the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh. On the other hand, the Marathas failed to get the support of the Sikhs or the Jats or the Rajputs.
• It is considered one of the largest and most fiercely fought battles in the 18^th century.
• Sadashivrao Bhau and Vishwasrao were killed in the battle along with tens of thousands of Marathas. Many women and children of the losing side were taken as slaves.
• At last,  the battle was won by the Afghan Army which was led by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Additional Information First Battle of Panipat: 

• The First Battle of Panipat (21 April 1526) was fought near the small village of Panipat( Haryana), this marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.
• The battle was fought between the invading forces of Zahir-ud-din Babur and the last empire of the Delhi Sultanate, Lodi Empire during the rule of Ibrahim Lodi.

Second Battle of Panipat:

• The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu, the Hindu king who was ruling North India from Delhi, and the army of Akbar, on November 5, 1556.
• It was a decisive victory for Akbar’s generals Khan Zaman I and Bairam Khan.

The correct answer is Raidas.

Key Points

• Mira Bai was a Rajput princess, the only child of Ratan Singh, the younger brother of the ruler of Merta.
• Her royal education included music and religion as well as instruction in politics and government.
• An image of Krishna given to her during childhood by a holy man began a lifetime of devotion to Krishna, whom she worshipped as her Divine Lover.
• Mira Bai was married in 1516 to Bhoj Raj, crown prince of Mewar.
• Guru Raidas, a low-caste leather worker was the preceptor of Mirabai.

Additional Information

• Dadu was a Hindu-Muslim saint who inspired the formation of a sect called Dadu Panth.
• Dadu became a religious wanderer and preacher, settling for periods of time at Sembhar, at Amber, and finally at Naraina, near Jaipur.
• Ramananda, also called Ramanand or Ramadatta, was a north Indian Brahman (priest), and fifth in succession in the lineage of the philosopher-mystic Ramanuja.
• Surdas was a 16^th-century blind Hindu devotional poet and singer.
• He was known for his lyrics written in praise of Krishna.
• They are usually written in Braj Bhasha, one of the two literary dialects of Hindi.

The correct answer is  option 4

Key Points

• Mahabhashya is an influential work on Sanskrit grammar, attributed to Patanjali, expanding on the grammatical rules established by Panini. Hence, option 4 is correct.
• A commentary on selected rules of Sanskrit grammar from Pāṇini's treatise, the Aṣṭādhyāyī, as well as Kātyāyana's Vārttika-sūtra, an elaboration of Pāṇini's grammar.
• It is dated to the 2^nd century BCE on the basis of records of Yijing, the Chinese traveller who resided in India for 16 years and studied in Nalanda University.

Additional Information 

• Natyashastra– Bharata Muni
• An ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts, covering theatre, dance, and music.
• It is often called the "fifth Veda" due to its significance in Indian classical arts.
• Madhyama-vyayoga– Bhāsa
• A one-act Sanskrit play attributed to the ancient playwright Bhāsa.
• It is based on a story from the Mahabharata, featuring Bhima and Ghatotkacha.
• Kavyalankara– Rudraṭa
• A 9^th-century Sanskrit work on poetics and literary criticism.
• Rudraṭa’s Kāvyālaṅkāra systematized poetic devices and aesthetic principles.

The correct answer is Kumara.

Key Points

• Under the Mauryan administration, the provincial administration was generally headed by a Kumara (Prince).
• The Kumara was usually a royal prince, often the king's own son, who was entrusted with governing a province.
• These provinces were known as 'Janapadas'.
• The appointment of Kumaras helped ensure loyalty and effective governance in the vast Mauryan Empire.

Additional Information

• Dandapala
• Dandapala was an official responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the provinces.
• He managed the police and ensured the enforcement of rules and regulations.
• Samaharta
• Samaharta was in charge of revenue collection in the Mauryan administration.
• He was responsible for assessing and collecting land revenue, trade taxes, and other dues.
• Prashasti
• Prashasti refers to an inscription or eulogy written in praise of a ruler or a noble person.
• These inscriptions were often composed by poets and scholars of the court.

The correct answer is Buxar and West Champaran.

Key Points

• The proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Bihar will be established in Buxar and West Champaran districts.
• SEZs are designed to attract foreign investments and boost economic activity in the designated regions.
• These zones are intended to provide world-class infrastructure and business-friendly regulations to enhance industrial growth.
• Buxar and West Champaran are strategically chosen due to their potential for industrial development and access to resources.

Additional Information

• Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
• SEZs are specifically delineated areas that are subject to different economic regulations than the rest of the country.
• They aim to promote rapid economic growth by using tax and business incentives to attract foreign investment and technology.
• Benefits of SEZs
• SEZs offer various incentives such as tax holidays, duty-free imports, and simplified customs procedures.
• They contribute to increased employment opportunities and infrastructure development in the region.
• Challenges for SEZs in India
• Land acquisition and regulatory approvals can pose significant hurdles in the establishment of SEZs.
• Ensuring environmental compliance and sustainable development within SEZs remains a critical concern.
• Economic Impact
• SEZs have the potential to significantly boost local economies by attracting investment and creating jobs.
• They also facilitate the transfer of technology and skills to the local workforce.

The correct answer is 9.46 × 10¹⁵ m.

Key Points

• One light year is the distance that light travels in one year in vacuum.
• The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s.
• A light year is calculated by multiplying the speed of light by the number of seconds in a year (365.25 days).
• The correct value of one light year is 9.46 × 10¹⁵ meters.
• This astronomical measurement is widely used to calculate distances between stars and galaxies in space.

Additional Information

• Speed of Light:
• The speed of light is a universal constant, denoted as c, with a value of approximately 299,792,458 m/s.
• It is the fastest speed at which information or matter can travel.
• Astronomical Units:
• An astronomical unit (AU) is another distance measurement unit used in astronomy, representing the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 1.496 × 10¹¹ meters.
• Parsec:
• A parsec is a unit of distance used in astronomy, equivalent to approximately 3.26 light years.
• It is based on the method of parallax measurement.
• Applications of Light Year:
• Light years are primarily used to measure distances between celestial objects such as stars and galaxies.
• For example, the nearest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.24 light years away.

The correct answer is Mercury.

Key Points

• Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
• The disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956.
• It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory.
• This toxic compound bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay, which when consumed by the local population, led to mercury poisoning.

Additional Information

• Mercury
• Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
• It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum.
• Mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure.
• It is used in thermometers, barometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, float valves, some electrical switches, fluorescent lamps, and other devices.
• Mercury and its compounds are highly toxic and can cause severe health problems if ingested or inhaled.
• Minamata Disease
• Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
• Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech.
• In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma, and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms.
• Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata City in Japan in 1956.
• The disease was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory.
• This highly toxic chemical bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which were then eaten by the local populace.
• Bioaccumulation
• Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism.
• It occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost by catabolism and excretion.
• This process can lead to the buildup of toxic substances in organisms at the top of the food chain.