Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is It reveals 3000-year-old settlements with Satavahana.

Key Points

• The archaeological site of Chandravalli is located in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, positioned in a scenic valley formed by three hills.
• Excavations at the site have provided evidence of continuous human habitation for nearly 3,000 years, dating back from the Iron Age (Megalithic culture) through the Satavahana and Kadamba periods into the medieval era.
• The site is most renowned for revealing layers of the Satavahana dynasty (spanning the 2^nd century BCE to the 3^rd century CE), characterized by the discovery of unique lead and copper coins bearing the dynasty's symbols.
• Significant archaeological findings include russet-coated painted pottery, which is a diagnostic feature of the Satavahana period in South India, helping historians date the transition of regional cultures.
• Early excavations were conducted by M.H. Krishna in 1929, followed by Sir Mortimer Wheeler in 1947, who applied scientific stratigraphy to identify the various cultural sequences of the settlement.
• The site also proved the existence of international maritime trade, as Roman silver denarii belonging to Emperor Augustus and Emperor Tiberius were unearthed, suggesting that Chandravalli was a major trade hub connected to global networks.

 Additional Information

• Satavahana Dynasty:
• Known as the Andhras in the Puranas, they were one of the first major empires to rule large parts of the Deccan and Peninsular India.
• They are famous for their patronage of Prakrit literature and the construction of massive Buddhist stupas like the one at Amaravati.
• Kadamba Inscriptions:
• Apart from Satavahana relics, the site contains a vital rock inscription of King Mayurasharma, the founder of the Kadamba dynasty, who established the first indigenous Kannada empire.
• This inscription, written in Sanskrit, records the construction of a water tank and mentions the king's victories over several rival clans.
• Geographic Significance:
• The site is naturally protected by the hills of Cholagudda and Kirubanakallu, which likely contributed to its longevity as a strategic military and residential settlement in ancient Karnataka.

The correct answer is Organization of village panchayats.

Key Points

• The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are enumerated in Part IV of the Indian Constitution from Article 36 to 51. These principles are inspired by the Irish Constitution and are fundamental in the governance of the country.
• DPSPs are broadly classified into three categories based on their ideological leanings: Socialistic Principles, Gandhian Principles, and Liberal-Intellectual Principles.
• Gandhian Principles represent the program of reconstruction envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. They focus on the upliftment of rural society, decentralization of power, and moral development.
• Article 40 of the Constitution directs the state to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. This aligns with Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj (village self-rule).
• To give a practical shape to this principle, the 73^rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, was passed, which institutionalized Panchayati Raj across India.

 Additional Information

• Equal pay for equal work
• This is a Socialistic Principle under Article 39(d). It aims at ensuring economic justice and gender equality in wages for both men and women.
• Uniform Civil Code
• This is a Liberal-Intellectual Principle under Article 44. It directs the state to endeavor to secure a uniform set of personal laws for all citizens regardless of religion.
• Protection of monuments
• This is a Liberal-Intellectual Principle under Article 49. It mandates the state to protect objects and places of artistic or historic interest that are declared to be of national importance.
• Other Gandhian Principles
• Article 43: Promotion of cottage industries in rural areas.
• Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Article 47: Prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs.
• Article 48: Prohibition of the slaughter of cows and calves.

The correct answer is h / 2π.

Key Points

• According to Bohr’s atomic model, specifically his second postulate, the angular momentum of an electron orbiting the nucleus is quantized.
• The theory dictates that an electron can only revolve in specific stable orbits where its orbital angular momentum (L) is an integral multiple of the reduced Planck constant, which is h / 2π.
• Mathematically, this condition is expressed as L = mvr = n(h / 2π), where m represents the mass of the electron, v is its orbital velocity, and r is the radius of the stable orbit.
• The variable n is known as the principal quantum number and can take any positive integer value (1, 2, 3, ...), corresponding to the first, second, and subsequent energy levels or shells.
• This quantization explains why electrons do not continuously lose energy and spiral into the nucleus, as classical electromagnetic theory would otherwise predict for a moving charged particle.

 Additional Information

• Planck’s Constant (h):
• It is a fundamental physical constant used to describe the sizes of quanta in quantum mechanics.
• Its value is approximately 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ Joule-seconds (J·s).
• Stationary Orbits:
• In these specific orbits, an electron is in a stationary state, meaning it does not radiate energy while moving.
• Energy is only emitted or absorbed when an electron jumps from one allowed orbit to another.
• Force Balance:
• The stability of these orbits is maintained because the centripetal force required for the electron’s circular motion is provided by the Coulombic force of attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electron.

The correct answer is Laxman Nayak.

Key Points

• Laxman Nayak was a prominent tribal civil rights activist belonging to the Bhumia tribe of Malkangiri district in Odisha.
• Deeply influenced by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, he spearheaded the local movement against the British by promoting non-violence, khadi, and the message of Swaraj.
• During the Quit India Movement in 1942, he led a peaceful demonstration toward the Matili Police Station to protest against the oppressive British administration and local landlords.
• The police resorted to indiscriminate firing to disperse the crowd, during which a forest guard named G. Ramayya died under mysterious or accidental circumstances in the chaos.
• Despite his adherence to peaceful protest, the British authorities falsely implicated Laxman Nayak for the murder of the forest guard to crush the tribal resistance in the Koraput region.
• He was eventually convicted in a biased trial and executed by hanging on March 29, 1943, in the Berhampur Jail, becoming a legendary martyr of the Indian freedom struggle.

 Additional Information

• Tileswari Koch
• She was a young 12-year-old martyr from Assam who was shot by the British police while attempting to hoist the Tricolour at the Dhekiajuli police station in 1942.
• Arun Chandra Guha
• A noted revolutionary and politician from Bengal associated with the Yugantar group; he later became a member of the Constituent Assembly.
• Lala Hansraj
• An eminent educator and follower of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, he was instrumental in founding the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) educational institutions.

The correct answer is Longer crushing season and higher sugar content in southern sugarcane.

Key Points

• The sugar industry in India is gradually shifting from the North to the South because the tropical climate of Peninsular India results in a higher sucrose content in the sugarcane, leading to a higher sugar recovery rate.
• Southern states enjoy a significantly longer crushing season, often extending to 7 or 8 months, compared to only 4 or 5 months in Northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• The maritime influence in the south prevents the sugarcane from drying out quickly, whereas the extreme heat and dry winds in the north during summer reduce the juice content rapidly.
• The success of cooperative societies in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka has provided a more organized and efficient structure for sugar production and distribution.

 Additional Information

• Geographical Growth Requirements:
• Sugarcane requires a hot and humid climate with temperatures ranging between 21°C to 27°C.
• It thrives in areas receiving annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm; irrigation is essential in drier regions.
• It can be grown on a variety of soils, but deep rich loamy soil or black cotton soil is ideal for high yields.
• Industry Characteristics:
• Sugarcane is a weight-losing crop, meaning the sugar content begins to decrease as soon as it is harvested due to the evaporation of moisture.
• To maximize recovery, sugar mills must be located in close proximity to the cane-producing areas to minimize transport time.
• India is the second-largest producer of sugar in the world after Brazil, and it also produces Gur and Khandsari.

The correct answer is Regional integration through trade, tech, and transport.

Key Points

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization that acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, focusing on the Bay of Bengal littoral areas.
• The BIMSTEC Charter, adopted during the 5^th Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2022, formalized the group as an international legal entity with a defined set of foundational goals.
• A primary objective outlined in the charter is to promote regional integration by fostering multi-sectoral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, technology, and transportation.
• The initiative aims to accelerate economic growth and social progress through mutual assistance and cooperation in matters of common interest, particularly connectivity and disaster management.
• The charter emphasizes the importance of multimodal connectivity to enhance people-to-people contact and intra-regional trade, which are critical for the collective prosperity of the member nations.

 Additional Information

• Member States:
• The organization comprises seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• It was established on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
• Strategic Pillars:
• Following the 2022 Charter, cooperation was streamlined into seven pillars, with India leading the Security pillar and Thailand leading Connectivity.
• Other pillars include Trade and Investment, Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, and Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The correct answer is Increased role of multinational corporations.

Key Points

• In July 1991, India launched the New Economic Policy (NEP) to tackle a severe Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, marking a shift from an inward-looking economy to a globalized one.
• Globalization involved the integration of the national economy with the world economy by removing trade barriers, reducing import duties, and encouraging foreign capital inflows.
• A central feature of these reforms was the liberalization of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which paved the way for the increased role of multinational corporations (MNCs) in sectors like telecommunications, electronics, and automobiles.
• The government significantly relaxed the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act, allowing MNCs to expand and invest without the rigorous and restrictive prior approvals that characterized the pre-reform era.
• The shift allowed MNCs to bring in advanced technology, global management practices, and competitive pricing, which fundamentally transformed the Indian industrial landscape.

 Additional Information

• LPG Framework:
• Liberalization: Focused on deregulation, it ended the License Raj for most industries and reformed the financial sector and tax structures.
• Privatization: Involved the disinvestment of government shares in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to improve operational efficiency and reduce the fiscal deficit.
• Currency Reform: To boost exports, the Indian Rupee was devalued in 1991, and eventually, partial convertibility of the rupee was introduced on the current account.
• FDI Limits: Instead of restricting investment, the 1991 policy allowed automatic approval for FDI up to 51 percent in high-priority industries, which was a sharp increase from previous restrictive caps.
• Regulatory Transition: The restrictive Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) was eventually replaced by the more liberal Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in 1999 to facilitate external trade.

The correct answer is Eighth Five-Year Plan.

Key Points

• The Eighth Five-Year Plan, spanning from 1992 to 1997, was launched during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
• It served as the formal roadmap for the implementation of the New Economic Policy (1991), which aimed to tackle the severe Balance of Payments crisis and high inflation.
• The plan was instrumental in dismantling the License-Permit Raj by removing industrial licensing requirements for most sectors and significantly reducing price controls and rationing.
• It transitioned the Indian economy from a centrally planned model toward a market-oriented economy, emphasizing the role of the private sector in national growth.
• One of the primary goals was Human Resource Development, focusing on employment generation, primary education, and the eradication of illiteracy among the age group of 15 to 35 years.
• The plan was highly successful, achieving an annual GDP growth rate of 6.8 percent, which significantly exceeded the initial target of 5.6 percent.

 Additional Information

• Economic Liberalisation Concepts:
• LPG Model: Stands for Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation, which allowed for increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and reduced trade barriers.
• Indicative Planning: During this period, the role of the Planning Commission shifted from a directive authority to an indicative one, focusing on long-term vision rather than micro-management.
• Other Plans Context:
• Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–1978): Primarily focused on Garibi Hatao (poverty removal) and self-reliance in the agricultural sector.
• Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980–1985): Marked the beginning of economic liberalization in a very limited scope but remained largely focused on infrastructure and social welfare.
• Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985–1990): Concentrated on Food, Work, and Productivity, emphasizing technology upgrades and food grain production.

The correct answer is 1-S, 2-P, 3-R, 4-Q.

Key Points

• Article 249 provides that if the Rajya Sabha declares by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting that it is necessary or expedient in the national interest, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of India with respect to any matter in the State List. Hence, 1 matches with S.
• Article 250 empowers the Parliament to legislate on any item mentioned in the State List while a Proclamation of Emergency (under Article 352) is in operation; such laws cease to have effect on the expiration of six months after the proclamation has ceased to operate. Hence, 2 matches with P.
• Article 252 states that if the Legislatures of two or more States pass resolutions requesting the Parliament to enact laws on a matter in the State List, the Parliament can pass an act for regulating that matter, which applies only to those states and any other state that adopts it later. Hence, 3 matches with R.
• Article 253 enables the Parliament to make any law for the whole or any part of the territory of India for implementing any treaty, agreement, or convention with any other country or countries or any decision made at any international conference. Hence, 4 matches with Q.

 Additional Information

• Legislative Relations:
• Part XI of the Indian Constitution (Articles 245 to 255) defines the legislative relations between the Union and the States.
• The Seventh Schedule contains three lists: the Union List (100 subjects), the State List (61 subjects), and the Concurrent List (52 subjects).
• Under Article 252, a law passed by Parliament can only be amended or repealed by the Parliament itself and not by the legislature of the states concerned.
• Article 248 vests Residuary powers of legislation in the Parliament, covering matters not enumerated in any of the three lists.

The correct answer is Sikandar Lodi.

Key Points

• Sikandar Lodi (reigned 1489−1517), born as Nizam Khan, was the most powerful ruler of the Lodi Dynasty and the son of Bahlul Lodi.
• He founded the modern city of Agra in 1504 to maintain strategic control over the Doab region and the trade routes leading to Malwa and Rajasthan.
• In 1506, he officially transferred the capital of the Delhi Sultanate from Delhi to Agra, significantly enhancing the city’s political importance.
• He introduced a standardized land measurement system known as the Gazz-i-Sikandari (Sikandari Gaj), which consisted of 32 digits (anguls) and remained the official standard for land revenue until the era of Akbar.
• A great patron of literature and art, he was a scholar himself and wrote Persian poetry under the pen name Gulrukhi.
• He implemented rigorous administrative reforms, established an efficient espionage system, and ensured that the prices of essential commodities remained low for the public.

 Additional Information

• Bahlul Lodi:
• He was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty in 1451 and the first Afghan ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
• He is credited with the conquest of the Sharqi Kingdom of Jaunpur, expanding the sultanate’s eastern boundaries.
• Ibrahim Lodi:
• He was the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate and the son of Sikandar Lodi.
• His reign ended after his defeat and death at the hands of Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
• Daulat Khan Lodi:
• He served as the Governor of Lahore during the turbulent reign of Ibrahim Lodi.
• Due to his conflicts with the Sultan, he invited the Mughal prince Babur to invade India, which eventually led to the fall of the Lodi Dynasty.