Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is 'Obesity'.

Key Points

• The passage states that fast food is high in calories, fats, and sugars, and regular intake can contribute to childhood ______, which is linked to health conditions.
• "Obesity" refers to excessive body fat and is associated with risks like diabetes and heart disease, fitting the context perfectly.
• The other options ("Honesty", "Activity", "Ability") do not relate to health problems caused by fast food consumption.
• The blank requires a word that represents a health issue resulting from poor dietary choices.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Complete Sentence: Regular intake can contribute to childhood obesity, which is linked to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.

Additional Information

• Honesty means being truthful and is unrelated to health consequences of diet.
• Activity refers to movement or exercise, not a health condition.
• Ability is the capacity to do something, which does not fit the context here.

The correct answer is 'help'.

Key Points

• The sentence in the passage is: "Moderation, rather than total restriction, can ____(4) maintain a balanced approach while gradually reducing dependency on fast food."
• The verb form that correctly follows "can" is the base form, which is "help".
• "Helps", "helped", and "helping" are not grammatically correct after "can".
• "Help" completes the meaning, indicating moderation can assist in maintaining balance.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Sentence: Moderation, rather than total restriction, can help maintain a balanced approach while gradually reducing dependency on fast food.

Additional Information

• "Helps" is incorrect after the modal "can".
• "Helped" is past tense and does not fit the context.
• "Helping" is the continuous form and is not appropriate here.

The correct answer is 'an'.

Key Points

• The phrase in the passage is: "while _____(5) occasional burger or pizza is unlikely to cause harm..."
• Although "occasional" begins with a vowel letter, the correct article depends on pronunciation.
• "Occasional" begins with a vowel sound ("o" as in "uh"), so the correct article is "an."
• "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, making the sentence grammatically correct.
• Options "a", "the", or "no article" do not fit the sentence structure appropriately in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Complete Sentence: Ultimately, while an occasional burger or pizza is unlikely to cause harm, making fast food a regular habit can undermine children's health and establish patterns that persist into adulthood.

Additional Information

• "An" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, such as "occasional" (/əˈkeɪʒənl/).
• "A" is used before words with a consonant sound, which does not apply here.
• "The" and "no article" would not be grammatically correct in this context.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• The given sentence requires the correct spelling of the word describing timid or cowardly behavior.
• The correct spelling of the word is ‘pusillanimous’.
• Pusillanimous is an adjective that means showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
• Example Sentence: His pusillanimous actions during the crisis disappointed everyone.

Correct sentence: His pusillanimous actions after the scandal only worsened public perception.

Additional Information

• Incorrect spellings:
• Option 1: pusilanemous - Incorrect due to missing "ll" and incorrect vowel placement.
• Option 3: pusillanemous - Incorrect due to incorrect vowel placement.
• Option 4: pusilanimous - Incorrect due to missing "ll".
• The correct spelling, pusillanimous, contains "ll" and "animous" correctly placed.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• The given question requires selecting the correct spelling of the word 'Kaleidoscope'.
• The word 'Kaleidoscope' refers to a tube-like optical instrument containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass, creating patterns when viewed through one end.
• It is spelled as 'Kaleidoscope', which is option 2.

Correct sentence: The correct spelling is 'Kaleidoscope.'

Additional Information

• Common misspellings:
• Kaliedoscope: Incorrect due to misplaced 'i' and 'e'.
• Kelaidoscope: Incorrect due to additional 'a'.
• Keliadoscope: Incorrect due to misplaced 'i' and missing 'a'.
• To avoid errors in spelling, remember the prefix 'Kalei' followed by 'doscope'.

The correct answer is Haryana.

Key Points

• Excavations at the site of Bhirrana, located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, have yielded the earliest radiocarbon dates for the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted C-14 radiocarbon dating on samples from this site, which pushed the origins of the civilization back to the 8^th millennium BCE, specifically around 7500 BCE to 7000 BCE.
• Prior to these findings, the Harappan Civilization was generally dated between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE; however, the Haryana sites like Bhirrana and Rakhigarhi suggest a much older Pre-Harappan or Hakra Ware culture phase.
• The site of Bhirrana is situated along the banks of the ancient Saraswati River (now the seasonal Ghaggar), and its chronological sequence reveals a continuous transition from nomadic pastoralism to sedentary farming.

 Additional Information

• Lothal:
• Located in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat, it served as a major maritime trade hub and featured the world’s first artificial dockyard.
• The site is primarily associated with the Mature Harappan phase (2400−1900 BCE).
• Kalibangan:
• Situated in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, it is famous for providing evidence of the earliest ploughed field and fire altars.
• It showcases both Early Harappan and Mature Harappan cultural strata.
• Harappa:
• Located in the Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan, it was the first site of the civilization to be discovered in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni.
• While a key urban center, its radiocarbon dates are more recent compared to the early layers found in Haryana.

The correct answer is Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur.

Key Points

• The Brihadeshwara Temple, also known as Periya Kovil or Rajarajeshwaram, was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 CE.
• It stands as one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture and was constructed entirely out of granite, which is remarkable given that there are no granite sources within 60 kilometers of the temple site.
• The temple is famous for its massive Vimana (temple tower), which reaches a height of 66 meters (216 feet), making it one of the tallest of its kind in the world at the time of construction.
• The structure is crowned by a monolithic shikhara (cupola) or Kumbam, which is carved from a single block of granite weighing approximately 80 tons.
• Historical legend suggests that a 6-kilometer long inclined ramp was constructed to haul this massive monolithic stone to the top of the Vimana.
• It is a prominent part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designated as the Great Living Chola Temples, showcasing the engineering and artistic zenith of the Chola dynasty.

 Additional Information

• Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram
• Built by the Pallava King Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) in the early 8^th century.
• Constructed primarily from sandstone, it reflects the early structural stage of South Indian temple architecture.
• Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
• Dedicated to Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareshwarar (Shiva), it is the spiritual heart of Madurai.
• While the site is ancient, the current structure was significantly expanded during the Pandya and Nayaka periods, famous for its 14 gopurams.
• Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
• Located in Karnataka, it was commissioned by Queen Lokamahadevi in 740 CE to celebrate Vikramaditya II's victory.
• It represents the Badami Chalukya style and is built using the Karnata Dravida architectural tradition.

The correct answer is The 2018 Supreme Court judgment introduced procedural safeguards such as preliminary inquiry and prior approval before arrest under the SC/ST Act, citing the need to balance the protection of the innocent and prevent misuse..

Key Points

• In the case of Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018), the Supreme Court held that there is no absolute bar against granting anticipatory bail under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, if no prima facie case is made out. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The Supreme Court introduced specific procedural safeguards, including a mandatory preliminary inquiry to be conducted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) level officer to prevent the registration of false or motivated cases. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The court further mandated that for the arrest of a public servant, prior approval from the appointing authority is required, and for non-public servants, approval from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is necessary. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Parliament did not accept these safeguards; instead, it passed the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018, which inserted Section 18A to nullify the court's directions and restore the original strict provisions. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• While Article 17 (Abolition of Untouchability) and Article 15(4) (Special provisions for backward classes) provide the Constitutional foundation, the SC/ST Act is a statutory enactment and not a direct part of the Fundamental Rights listed in Part III. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

 Additional Information

• Section 18A of the SC/ST Act:
• This section was added via the 2018 Amendment to clarify that a preliminary inquiry shall not be required for the registration of an FIR.
• It explicitly states that the investigating officer shall not require any prior approval for the arrest of any person accused of an offense under the Act.
• It restores the bar on anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• Article 17:
• A critical Fundamental Right that abolishes untouchability in any form and makes its practice a punishable offense.
• The SC/ST Act, 1989, is the primary legislative instrument designed to give effect to the spirit of Article 17 and Article 21 for marginalized communities.
• Prathvi Raj Chauhan v. Union of India (2020):
• A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the 2018 Amendment, thereby re-establishing the non-availability of anticipatory bail.

The correct answer is The Act includes emotional, verbal, economic, and sexual abuse, and extends protection to women in domestic relationships, including live-in relationships, enabling them to seek relief such as residence orders and protection orders..

Key Points

• The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005, introduced a revolutionary definition of domestic relationship under Section 2(f), which includes relationships in the nature of marriage, thereby legally recognizing live-in relationships for the first time in Indian civil law. Hence, the expansion beyond conventional marriage is correct.
• The definition of domestic violence provided in Section 3 is exhaustive and goes beyond physical harm to include sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse (such as insults or lack of a child), and economic abuse (such as deprivation of financial resources or stridhan). Hence, the inclusion of multiple forms of abuse is correct.
• The Act provides for quasi-civil reliefs, allowing a Magistrate to issue Protection Orders to stop acts of violence and Residence Orders under Section 19, which prevents the respondent from dispossessing the aggrieved woman from the shared household, regardless of her legal title to the property. Hence, the availability of residence and protection orders is correct.

 Additional Information

• Shared Household Concept:
• Defined under Section 2(s), it encompasses any place where the aggrieved person has lived in a domestic relationship, ensuring she cannot be summarily evicted by the husband or his relatives.
• Institutional Support:
• The Act mandates the appointment of Protection Officers and the registration of Service Providers to assist women in filing a Domestic Incident Report (DIR) and accessing Shelter Homes or Medical Facilities.
• Monetary Relief:
• Under Section 20, the Magistrate can direct the respondent to pay monetary relief to meet expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and her children due to domestic violence.

The correct answer is Lactic acid.

Key Points

• Curd is formed by the process of fermentation, where milk is converted into a semi-solid state through the action of microorganisms.
• The specific bacteria involved are Lactobacillus, also known as Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), which thrive at temperatures between 30°C to 40°C.
• These bacteria consume lactose, the natural sugar present in milk, and convert it into lactic acid through anaerobic respiration.
• As the concentration of lactic acid increases, the pH level of the milk decreases (becomes more acidic), which causes the milk protein casein to denature and coagulate.
• The presence of lactic acid is what imparts the characteristic sour taste and thick, creamy texture to the final curd product.
• This biological conversion also enhances the nutritional profile by increasing the availability of Vitamin B12 and providing probiotics for digestive health.

 Additional Information

• Acetic acid:
• Chemical formula: CH₃COOH.
• It is the primary component of vinegar and is produced by the fermentation of ethanol by Acetobacter bacteria.
• Widely used as a solvent, preservative, and in the production of cellulose acetate for photographic film.
• Citric acid:
• A weak organic acid with the formula C₆H₈O₇.
• Found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges.
• It serves as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle and is used commercially as a flavoring agent and chelating agent.
• Formic acid:
• The simplest carboxylic acid, known as methanoic acid (HCOOH).
• Naturally occurs in the stings of ants and bees, acting as a chemical defense mechanism.
• Commonly utilized in the textile industry for dyeing and in the rubber industry as a coagulant for latex.