Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is 'Exploration or information-gathering for military purposes'.

Key Points

• The passage mentions Gunjan Saxena flew numerous “reconnaissance and supply missions in hostile territory.”
• “Reconnaissance” is a military term that refers to surveying or exploring an area to collect intelligence about enemy positions, terrain, or movements.
• Thus, the closest meaning is “Exploration or information-gathering for military purposes.”
• Other options are incorrect: “Celebration” is unrelated, “Retreat” means withdrawal, and “Combat” refers to fighting, not intelligence-gathering.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Gunjan Saxena, widely known as the "Kargil Girl", holds a special place in Indian military history as one of the first female pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Joining the IAF in the mid-1990s, she entered a field that was predominantly male-dominated, facing both operational challenges and social skepticism. Her courage and determination became legendary during the Kargil War of 1999, when she flew numerous (2) reconnaissance and supply missions in hostile territory.

Additional Information

• Celebration: Refers to festivities, irrelevant in a military context.
• Retreat: Means withdrawal from battle, opposite of reconnaissance.
• Combat: Refers to direct fighting, not intelligence-gathering.

The correct answer is 'Composed'.

Key Points

• The sentence is: “Her ability to remain ______(3) under pressure earned her immense respect from peers and superiors alike.”
• The blank requires an adjective or past participle that describes her state under pressure.
• “Composed” means calm, self-controlled, and collected — perfectly fitting the context.
• Other options are incorrect: “Compose” (verb, base form), “Composing” (present participle, grammatically unsuitable here), “Composes” (present tense verb, does not match the sentence structure).

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: Operating in high-altitude regions under constant threat of enemy fire required unwavering focus and precision. Gunjan's missions involved transporting essential supplies, evacuating wounded soldiers, and providing critical intelligence to ground forces. Her ability to remain (3) composed under pressure earned her immense respect from peers and superiors alike.

Additional Information

• Compose: Base verb form, does not fit grammatically.
• Composing: Present participle, unsuitable in this sentence structure.
• Composes: Present tense verb, incorrect for describing her state under pressure.

The correct answer is 'Of'.

Key Points

• The sentence is: “Her journey has inspired a generation ______(4) young women to pursue careers in the armed forces.”
• The correct preposition is “Of” because it indicates belonging or association — the generation consists of young women.
• Thus, “a generation of young women” is grammatically and contextually accurate.
• Other options are incorrect: “For” suggests purpose but alters the meaning, “To” implies direction but is not idiomatic here, and “With” implies accompaniment, which does not fit.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Complete Passage: Beyond her battlefield contributions, Gunjan Saxena's journey has inspired a generation (4) of young women to pursue careers in the armed forces. Her story underscores the importance of breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes, paving the way for greater gender inclusion in the military.

Additional Information

• For: Suggests purpose, but grammatically incorrect in this sentence.
• To: Indicates direction, not suitable for describing a group.
• With: Implies accompaniment, which does not fit the context of inspiration.

The correct answer is 'Has been celebrated'.

Key Points

• The sentence is: “In recent years, her legacy ______(5) in books, documentaries, and a popular biographical film.”
• The context refers to her legacy continuing to be honored and recognized over time.
• The correct verb form is “Has been celebrated” because it indicates an action that started in the past and continues into the present.
• Other options are incorrect: “Celebrated” (simple past, does not capture ongoing recognition), “Is celebrate” (grammatically wrong), “Was being celebrated” (past continuous, does not fit the present relevance).

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Complete Passage: In recent years, her legacy (5) has been celebrated in books, documentaries, and a popular biographical film. She stands not only as a decorated officer but also as a symbol of perseverance, patriotism, and the changing face of the Indian Air Force.

Additional Information

• Celebrated: Simple past, does not convey ongoing recognition.
• Is celebrate: Grammatically incorrect form.
• Was being celebrated: Past continuous, suggests temporary recognition in the past, not continuing into the present.

The correct answer is option 4.

Key Points

• The word 'Indispensable' is correctly spelled.
• Indispensable is an adjective that means "absolutely necessary or essential." (अनिवार्य)
• Examples:
• Good communication skills are indispensable for success in any career.
• A healthy diet is indispensable for maintaining good health.
• The other options are incorrect due to spelling errors:
• Option 1: 'Indespansable' - Incorrect spelling.
• Option 2: 'Indispansible' - Incorrect spelling.
• Option 3: 'Indespensable' - Incorrect spelling.

Additional Information

• Origin: The word "indispensable" comes from the Latin word "indispensabilis," meaning "not subject to dispensation."
• Synonyms: Essential, necessary, vital, crucial.
• Antonyms: Dispensable, unnecessary, optional.

The correct answer is Arundhati Roy - The God of Small Things.

Key Points

• Arundhati Roy became the first Indian woman and the first Indian citizen to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997.
• Her debut novel, The God of Small Things, is a semi-autobiographical story set in Ayemenem, Kerala, which intricately weaves together personal stories with the socio-political context of India.
• The narrative focuses on the childhood experiences of fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, exploring how small things affect people's lives and their fates, while challenging the 'Love Laws' of the traditional Indian caste system.
• The novel achieved significant commercial success, selling over six million copies worldwide and being translated into more than 40 languages, establishing Roy as a leading voice in global literature.
• Before Roy’s win, Indian-born authors like V.S. Naipaul (1971) and Salman Rushdie (1981) had won the prize, but they held British citizenship at the time of their awards.

 Additional Information

• Kiran Desai - The Inheritance of Loss:
• Kiran Desai, the daughter of Anita Desai, won the Man Booker Prize in 2006 for this novel.
• The story deals with the themes of post-colonialism, globalization, and identity, set in the Himalayas and New York City.
• Jhumpa Lahiri - Interpreter of Maladies:
• She is a famous Indian-American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for this collection of short stories.
• The book explores the lives of Indians and Indian Americans caught between their roots and the New World.
• Anita Desai - Clear Light of Day:
• Anita Desai is a veteran Indian novelist who has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times but has not won it.
• Clear Light of Day (1980) is one of her most acclaimed works, focusing on family dynamics in Old Delhi against the backdrop of the Partition.

The correct answer is The Constitution permits preventive detention under Articles 22(3) to (7), but requires that the detained person must be informed of grounds of detention and allowed to make a representation, and the Supreme Court has upheld these laws subject to procedural safeguards..

Key Points

• Article 22 of the Indian Constitution provides protection against arrest and detention. While Articles 22(1) and 22(2) deal with punitive detention, Articles 22(3) to 22(7) specifically govern preventive detention, which is detention without trial based on suspicion. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The Supreme Court in the landmark A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950) case upheld the validity of the Preventive Detention Act, stating it does not violate Article 21 as it follows a procedure established by law. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Under Article 22(3), the fundamental right to be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours (not 48 hours) does not apply to a person detained under preventive detention laws. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• There is no constitutional requirement for prior approval from the Supreme Court or any court before a detention order is passed; it is an executive decision usually reviewed by an Advisory Board after the detention. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
• Constitutional safeguards include the right of the detainee to be informed of the grounds of detention as soon as possible and the right to make the earliest possible representation against the detention order to the authorities. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

 Additional Information

• Preventive Detention Laws:
• Legislative Authority: Parliament has exclusive power for matters like defense and foreign affairs, while both Parliament and State Legislatures have concurrent power for matters like public order.
• Advisory Board: A person cannot be detained for more than three months unless an Advisory Board, consisting of persons qualified as High Court Judges, finds sufficient cause for extended detention.
• 44^th Amendment Act (1978): This act sought to reduce the detention period without board approval to two months, but this specific provision has not yet been notified.
• Rights of Detainee: Although the authority must disclose grounds, they can refuse to disclose facts they consider against the public interest.

The correct answer is The fellowship provides financial support for Indian-origin scientists to relocate permanently to India within a maximum of five years..

Key Points

• The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship was launched to foster a collaborative ecosystem between the Indian STEMM diaspora and Indian academic or research institutions to boost the nation's S&T infrastructure. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The fellowship is designed for short-term collaborative assignments rather than permanent relocation; it requires the fellow to spend a minimum of one month and a maximum of two months per year in an Indian host institution for up to three years. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• It focuses on facilitating joint research projects and technology transfer in critical areas like Quantum Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Health, encouraging mentorship for Indian students. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST), which operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is the primary body responsible for the implementation and administration of this fellowship. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

 Additional Information

• Eligibility Criteria:
• Open to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), or Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).
• Applicants must possess a PhD, MD, or MS degree from a recognized university.
• The candidate must be an active researcher in a top-ranked global institute (within the top 500 QS World University Rankings).
• Financial Grant Details:
• Fellows receive a monthly grant of INR 4,00,000 for the duration of their stay in India.
• The fellowship covers international airfare (business class), accommodation, and local contingency expenses.
• Host institutions in India are provided with funds to support the research work and consumables required for the collaboration.
• Research Areas:
• The program identifies 18 broad verticals and 80 horizontals including Energy, Water, Agriculture, and Advanced Materials.

The correct answer is A high CD ratio may indicate over-aggressive lending relative to mobilized deposits, raising concerns about asset-liability mismatches, liquidity risk, and long-term financial stability..

Key Points

• A high Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio suggests that a bank has lent out a significant portion of its deposits, which could lead to liquidity crunches if depositors demand their funds simultaneously. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The CD ratio is a measure of loan-to-deposit utilization; a high ratio specifically means banks are lending more extensively rather than maintaining large liquidity buffers. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• When credit growth significantly outpaces deposit growth, banks face Asset-Liability Mismatches (ALM) because long-term loans are being funded by short-term deposits, which directly threatens financial stability. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The CD ratio is a critical macro-prudential indicator monitored by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure systemic health, debunking the idea that it has no macroeconomic consequence. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

 Additional Information

• Understanding CD Ratio:
• The Credit-Deposit Ratio indicates how much of each rupee of deposit is going toward credit markets. In the Indian context, a ratio exceeding 75% to 80% is generally considered a signal for banks to increase their deposit mobilization.
• Factors like Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) mean that banks must keep roughly 22% to 25% of their deposits with the RBI or in liquid assets, making a 100% CD ratio mathematically impossible without external borrowing.
• Risks and Implications:
• Liquidity Risk: High ratios increase reliance on inter-bank call money markets and Certificate of Deposits, which are more expensive and volatile than retail deposits.
• Interest Rate Impact: To correct a high CD ratio, banks often raise Fixed Deposit (FD) rates, leading to a general rise in the cost of capital across the economy.

The correct answer is Thiruvathira Kali - Claps and Ilathalam.

Key Points

• Thiruvathira Kali is a traditional folk dance from Kerala, performed exclusively by women during the auspicious month of Dhanu and on the occasion of Onam. Hence, Thiruvathira Kali matches with Claps and Ilathalam.
• The performance is characterized by rhythmic clapping of hands by the dancers who move in a circular pattern around a Nilavilakku (ceremonial lamp).
• The musical foundation of the dance is provided by Thiruvathirappattu (vocal music) and the Ilathalam, which is a pair of bronze cymbals used to accentuate the rhythmic cycle.

 Additional Information

• Rouf:
• A celebrated folk dance of Jammu and Kashmir, performed primarily by women during the spring season and Eid.
• It involves intricate footwork and vocal singing in a choral format; it does not traditionally use heavy percussion like Dhol and Nagara as its primary rhythm base.
• Saila:
• A popular stick dance performed in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh by the Gond and Baiga tribes after the harvest.
• The dance involves rhythmic striking of sticks, usually accompanied by the Mandhar (drum) rather than the Rabab or Harmonium.
• Sattriya:
• A Classical Dance of Assam, introduced by the reformer Sankaradeva in the 15^th century.
• The key musical instruments are the Khol (a unique Assamese drum), Bhortal (large cymbals), and the flute, while the Mridangam is more central to Carnatic music.