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The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• Bihar is renowned for its significant contribution to India's foxnut (makhana) production, accounting for approximately 80-90% of the country's total output.
• Within Bihar, several districts are prominent in makhana cultivation:
• Madhubani District:
• Leading Producer: Madhubani stands out as the top producer, contributing around 20% of Bihar's total makhana production. Hence, option 4 is correct.
• Production Volume: The district trades approximately 3,500 metric tonnes of makhana annually.
• Cultivation Clusters: Key areas of cultivation include Rahika, Andhratarhi, Pandaul, Khajauli, Jhanjharpur, Ladaniya, Rajnagar, and Bhisphi.
• Katihar District:
• Significant Contributor: Following Madhubani, Katihar accounts for about 18% of the state's makhana production.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Kevlar is a synthetic fiber known for its high tensile strength and lightweight properties. Hence, option 3 is correct.
• It was developed by DuPont in 1965 and is widely used in bulletproof vests, helmets, and protective gear.
• Features of Kevlar:
• Five times stronger than steel (per unit weight).
• High impact resistance – absorbs and disperses energy from bullets.
• Lightweight & flexible, making it ideal for military and law enforcement applications.
• Heat and fire resistance, enhancing durability.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969-74) – Focus on Service 
• The Fourth Five-Year Plan focused on growth with stability and progress towards self-reliance.
• The plan emphasized agriculture due to the food crisis and industrial development to support self-sufficiency.
• Key programs included the Green Revolution and expansion of Public Sector Enterprises.
• "Service sector" was not the primary focus. Hence, option 1 is incorrect.
• Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-79) – Focus on Industry
• The Fifth Plan focused on poverty alleviation and self-reliance.
• The major strategy was the Garibi Hatao (Eradicate Poverty) slogan by Indira Gandhi.
• Growth of heavy industries was promoted, but the primary focus was on poverty reduction, employment generation, and economic self-reliance.
• The plan was terminated in 1978 by the Janata Party government. Hence, option 2 is incorrect.
• Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66) – Focus on Globalisation 
• The Third Five-Year Plan focused on self-reliance and heavy industry development, not globalization.
• It emphasized agriculture and industrialization for long-term economic growth.
• Due to the 1962 Indo-China War, 1965 Indo-Pak War, and severe droughts, the plan was largely unsuccessful.
• India did not embrace globalization until the 1991 economic reforms. Hence, option 3 is incorrect.
• First Five-Year Plan (1951-56) – Focus on Agriculture 
• The First Five-Year Plan primarily focused on agriculture and irrigation.
• The main aim was to address food shortages and improve agricultural productivity.
• Major projects: Bhakra Nangal Dam, Hirakud Dam, and Damodar Valley Corporation.
• This plan followed the Harrod-Domar growth model and had a strong emphasis on rural development. Hence, option 4 is correct.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• The Central Bank (in India, the Reserve Bank of India - RBI) performs several key functions related to monetary policy, banking regulations, and financial stability.
• Manage the Repo Rate: 
• Repo Rate is the interest rate at which the Central Bank lends money to commercial banks for short-term needs.
• The RBI adjusts the Repo Rate to control inflation and liquidity in the economy.
• A higher Repo Rate reduces liquidity (to control inflation), while a lower Repo Rate increases liquidity (to boost economic growth).Lending to Commercial Banks. Hence, option 1 is correct.
• Lending to Commercial Banks:
• The Central Bank provides short-term loans to commercial banks through mechanisms like:
• Repo Rate (for secured borrowing by banks)
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)
• Lender of Last Resort (LoLR) – In times of financial crisis, the Central Bank provides emergency funds to banks. Hence, option 2 is correct.
• Banking Facilities to the Government:
• The Central Bank acts as the banker to the government by:
• Managing public debt and government borrowing.
• Holding government accounts.
• Printing and distributing currency.
• Managing foreign exchange and forex reserves. Hence, option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• Eyr Lake (Lake Eyre):
• Lake Eyre (now Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre) is the largest saltwater lake in Australia.
• Located in South Australia, it is part of the Lake Eyre Basin and fills occasionally after heavy rainfall.
• It is known for its salt flats and seasonal flooding.
• Nallarbar Plain (Nullarbor Plain): 
• The Nullarbor Plain is a vast limestone plateau located in southern Australia.
• It spans Western Australia and South Australia, covering about 200,000 square kilometers.
• It is one of the world's largest karst landscapes, famous for its treeless terrain and extensive cave systems.
• Mount Selwyn is a mountain in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.
• Salvin Valley: 
• The Salween Valley is primarily in eastern Myanmar (Burma) and extends into southwest China. Hence, option 4 is correct.
• It is formed by the Salween River, which flows through deep canyons across rugged landscapes.
• This valley is part of the Himalayan watershed and has no connection to Australia.

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

• The inscriptions on Ashoka's Pillars were primarily written in the Brahmi script. However, some inscriptions were also written in Kharosthi, Greek, and Aramaic scripts, depending on the region.
• Brahmi Script:
• Used in most of Ashoka’s Major and Minor Edicts across the Indian subcontinent. Hence, option 1 is correct.
• It is the earliest known Indian script and is the ancestor of many modern Indian scripts.
• Found mainly in North and Central India.
• Kharosthi Script:
• Used in inscriptions found in the northwestern regions (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan).
• It was influenced by Aramaic and used mainly for Prakrit inscriptions.
• Greek and Aramaic Scripts:
• Used in Afghanistan and surrounding areas, reflecting Ashoka’s rule over Hellenistic-influenced regions.
• These inscriptions were meant for Greek-speaking and Aramaic-speaking populations.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• Prime Minister of Italy as of 2024: Giorgia Meloni. Hence, option 4 is correct.
• Took Office: October 22, 2022
• Political Party: Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia)
• First Female Prime Minister of Italy
• 2024 European Elections Victory:
• Her party secured 28% of the votes, strengthening her leadership.
• NATO & International Relations (Nov 2024):
• Hosted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Rome to discuss defense and support for Ukraine.
• Recognized as Europe’s Most Influential Leader (Dec 2024):
• Named Politico’s "Most Influential Person in Europe" for 2024.
• Legal Investigation (Jan 2025):
• Facing prosecutor scrutiny over the repatriation of Libyan warlord Ossama Anjiem.
• As of January 2025, she remains Italy's Prime Minister.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay issued his famous "Minute on Indian Education" on 2^nd February 1835. Hence, option 3 is correct.
• The minute played a crucial role in shaping the modern education system in India under British rule.
• Key Highlights of Macaulay's Minute:
• Promotion of English Education:
• Advocated for English as the medium of instruction in Indian schools and colleges.
• Rejected traditional Indian education in Sanskrit and Persian.
• "A Class of Interpreters" Theory:
• Macaulay famously wrote that the British should create "a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect."
• He believed that this class would help spread British values and administration.
• End of Orientalist Approach:
• Prior to Macaulay, Warren Hastings and William Jones promoted Orientalist learning (Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic).
• Macaulay’s minute shifted focus to Western knowledge and English literature.
• Impact – Introduction of English Education Act, 1835:
• Following Macaulay’s recommendations, Governor-General Lord William Bentinck passed the English Education Act, 1835.
• English became the official medium of education in India.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• The unit of measurement for the magnetic field (magnetic flux density or magnetic induction) in the International System of Units (SI) is the Tesla (T). Hence, option 4 is correct.
• Tesla (T):
• The SI unit of the magnetic field (B).
• 1 Tesla (T) = 1 Weber per square meter (Wb/m²).
• Named after Nikola Tesla, the famous scientist known for his contributions to electromagnetism.
• Other Units of Magnetic Field Measurement:
• Gauss (G): Used in the CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system.
• 1 Tesla (T) = 10,000 Gauss (G).
• Weber (Wb): SI unit of magnetic flux.
• Oersted (Oe): Used in magnetizing force (H-field).
• Common Magnetic Field Strengths:
• Earth's magnetic field: ~25–65 μT (microtesla).
• MRI Machine: 1.5–3 T.
• Neodymium Magnet: ~1 T.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Soccer, known as football outside of North America, is the most popular field game in the world. Hence, option 3 is correct.
• Global Reach:
• Soccer is played in virtually every country across the globe, making it the most universal sport.
• It is the official sport in many countries and is played at the professional, amateur, and grassroots levels.
• Number of Players:
• Over 4 billion people follow soccer worldwide, making it not only the most popular sport in terms of participation but also in terms of fan base.
• The FIFA World Cup (held every 4 years) is the most-watched sporting event globally.
• Clubs and Competitions:
• Some of the world's largest and most successful sports clubs (such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United) play soccer.
• Major competitions like the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A attract millions of viewers.
• Accessibility:
• Soccer can be played with minimal equipment – a ball and an open space – which has contributed to its widespread popularity in both rural and urban areas.
• Cultural Impact:
• Soccer has a deep cultural influence in many countries, with major events and clubs playing a central role in local and international identity.