Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Precisely.

Key Points

• The word "meticulously" means to do something with careful attention to detail, being very precise and thorough.
• "Precisely" is the closest synonym, as it conveys the idea of being exact and accurate in detail and execution.
• The other options, i.e., carelessly and rapidly, do not match the meaning of meticulously:
• Carelessly: Without taking proper care or heed; inattentively.
• Rapidly: Quickly or with great speed.
• Rapidly: This option is repeated and also means quickly or with great speed.

Therefore, the word 'meticulously' most nearly means: Precisely.

Additional Information

Here are the other options and why they are not suitable:

• Carelessly (असावधानी से): Without taking proper care or heed; inattentively.
• Rapidly (तेजी से): Quickly or with great speed.
• Rapidly (तेजी से): This option is repeated and also means quickly or with great speed.

The correct answer is: Option 4 i.e. Specialized.

Key Points

• The word "niche" generally refers to a specialized segment of the market or a specific category where something is particularly suited or focuses.
• "Specialized" is the closest synonym, as it conveys the idea of being tailored or specific to a particular domain or group.
• The other options, i.e., widespread, common, and ordinary, do not match the meaning of niche:
• Widespread: Found or distributed over a large area or among many people.
• Common: Occurring frequently or habitually; general.
• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.

Therefore, the word 'niche' is closest in meaning to: Specialized.

Additional Information

Here are the other options and why they are not suitable:

• Widespread (व्यापक): Found or distributed over a large area or among many people.
• Common (सामान्य): Occurring frequently or habitually; general.
• Ordinary (साधारण): With no special or distinctive features; normal.

The correct answer is 'With'.

Key Points

• The preposition "with" is used to connect the dolls to their defining characteristics, as in "dolls with delicate features."
• In the sentence, " (3) delicate features" describes how the dolls are adorned, so the correct preposition is "with" rather than "by," "over," or "below."
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because they do not collocate naturally with the phrase "adorned" in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Complete Sentence: "The dolls, often dressed in elaborate kimonos and adorned with delicate features, represent various facets of Japanese history and folklore."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "By" would suggest the agent performing the action (e.g., "adorned by artisans"), which is not the intended meaning here.
• Option 2: "Over" would imply placement above something, which does not fit the description of features.
• Option 3: "Below" would imply something underneath, which also does not match the context of expressive features.

The correct answer is 'Aimed at'.

Key Points

• The phrase "community initiative aimed at preserving traditional craftsmanship" is a standard collocation, where "aimed at" correctly introduces the purpose or goal of the initiative.
• In this context, the village initiative has the specific objective of preserving traditional craftsmanship, so "aimed at" fits both grammatically and semantically.
• Options 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect collocations or do not introduce a purpose in this construction.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Complete Sentence: "The origins of the Doll Village trace back to a community initiative aimed at preserving traditional craftsmanship amidst rapid modernization."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Looked at" usually refers to examining something, not to indicating a purpose, so it does not fit here.
• Option 2: "Speak up" means to express oneself or to speak more loudly, which is not a suitable collocation in this context.
• Option 4: "Helping hand" is a noun phrase meaning "assistance" and cannot function as a verb phrase to introduce a purpose like "aimed at preserving."

The correct answer is 'is'.

Key Points

• The blank occurs in the sentence: "Ultimately, the Doll Village (5) more than a mere tourist spot..."
• The subject "the Doll Village" is singular, and the statement is a general truth about the present, so the correct present‑tense linking verb is "is."
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because "had" (past), "will" (future), and "shall" (formal future or obligation) do not fit the present‑tense sense of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Complete Sentence: "Ultimately, the Doll Village is more than a mere tourist spot; it is a testament to the resilience and creativity of a community determined to honor its past while embracing the future."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "Had" is the past tense of "have" and cannot link a subject to a complement like "more than a mere tourist spot" in this structure.
• Option 2: "Will" would imply a future prediction, but the sentence describes the current, established nature of the Doll Village, not a future change.
• Option 3: "Shall" is used for formal future or obligation and is not appropriate as a simple present‑tense linking verb in this context.

The correct answer is A Sikh festival showcasing martial valor.

Key Points

• Hola Mohalla is a significant three-day Sikh festival tradition established by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in March 1701 at Anandpur Sahib.
• The term Hola is the masculine form of the feminine word Holi, while Mohalla refers to an organized procession or a military-style column.
• The primary objective of the festival was to strengthen the Sikh community by creating an occasion for military exercises and mock battles to prepare them against the Mughal Empire.
• It is celebrated annually in the lunar month of Chet, usually falling a day after the Hindu festival of Holi, shifting the focus from playing with colors to demonstrating physical strength and martial skills.
• The festivities culminate in a grand procession led by the Panj Pyaras, starting from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five temporal seats (Takhts) of Sikhism.

 Additional Information

• Martial Arts and Nihangs:
• The Nihang Sikhs, also known as the Akalis, are the main attraction of the festival, dressed in traditional electric blue robes and large turbans.
• They perform Gatka (a traditional martial art), tent pegging, bareback horse riding, and other feats of bravery and skill.
• Religious Observances:
• Besides martial displays, the festival includes Kirtan (spiritual music), Path (scriptural reading), and Langar (community kitchen), where people of all castes and creeds eat together.
• The festival reinforces the core Sikh values of equality, community service, and readiness to protect the oppressed.

The correct answer is A is incorrect, but R is correct.

Key Points

• Assertion (A) claims that Terah Taali is performed by the Kalbelia tribe using swords and fire. In reality, this dance is the traditional folk art of the Kamada tribe of Rajasthan, and it is primarily performed by women rather than men. Hence, statement A is incorrect.
• Reason (R) explains that the dance involves sitting on the floor with multiple manjeeras (brass cymbals) tied to the body. The name Terah Taali literally translates to Thirteen Beats, referring to the thirteen cymbals used: nine are tied to the right leg, seven above the ankle and two at the knee, one on each elbow, one on each wrist, and two held in the hands. Hence, statement R is correct.

 Additional Information

• Kamada Tribe:
• A traditional nomadic community in Rajasthan that performs this dance as a ritualistic tribute to the folk deity Baba Ramdev.
• The performance is often accompanied by male singers playing the Tanpura, Chautara, and Dholak.
• Performance Elements:
• While the core involves manjeeras, performers may occasionally incorporate balancing a pot on their head or holding a sword in their teeth to demonstrate skill.
• The rhythm is complex, requiring the dancer to strike the body-tied cymbals with those held in their hands in a perfectly timed sequence.
• Kalbelia Dance:
• Distinct from Terah Taali, this is the Sapera (snake charmer) dance, characterized by swirling movements and UNESCO recognition as an intangible heritage.

The correct answer is Jiya Rai - para swimmer and endurance record-holder.

Key Points

• Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old Indian para-swimmer, created history in July 2024 by becoming the youngest and fastest female para-swimmer in the world to swim solo across the English Channel.
• The feat was achieved on July 28-29, 2024, where she covered a grueling distance of approximately 34 kilometers in a record time of 17 hours and 25 minutes.
• She commenced her swim from Abbott's Cliff in the United Kingdom and successfully reached Pointe de la Courte Dune in France, battling extreme cold and strong tidal currents.
• Jiya Rai is a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and her achievement is a testament to her extraordinary mental and physical resilience, supported by her father, Madan Rai, who serves in the Indian Navy.
• Her journey was facilitated by the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy) and the Swimming Federation of India, highlighting her role as an ambassador for para-sports in India.

 Additional Information

• Avani Lekhara:
• She is a world-renowned Para-shooter who won gold medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
• She specializes in 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 and is the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic gold medals.
• English Channel:
• Known as the Everest of Swimming, it is a part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from Northern France.
• The Channel Swimming Association (CSA) is the official body that authenticates and records solo and relay swims across the channel.
• Anchal Gangwal:
• She is an officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) who made headlines for becoming a fighter pilot after being the daughter of a tea seller in Madhya Pradesh.
• Her achievements are associated with military aviation and women's empowerment in the armed forces rather than endurance swimming.
• Jiya Rai's Previous Records:
• In March 2022, she became the youngest and fastest female para-swimmer to swim across the Palk Strait from Sri Lanka to India in 13 hours and 10 minutes.
• She has been honored with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for citizens under 18 in India.

The correct answer is Buddha.

Key Points

• The Jataka Tales are a voluminous body of ancient literature originating in India, specifically detailing the previous births (reincarnations) of Gautama Buddha before he achieved Mahaparinirvana.
• In these narratives, the Buddha appears in various forms, known as the Bodhisattva, which include both human incarnations (such as kings, priests, or outcasts) and animal incarnations (such as a monkey, elephant, or deer).
• There are traditionally 547 Jataka stories preserved in the Pali language, which are part of the Sutta Pitaka, specifically categorized under the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Tripitaka.
• Each story is intended to impart a moral lesson or illustrate the perfections (Paramitas) like generosity, patience, and wisdom that are necessary for attaining Enlightenment.
• Structurally, a Jataka usually contains a Paccuppannavatthu (story of the present), an Atitavatthu (story of the past/the Jataka proper), Gathas (verses), and a Samodhana (identification of the characters).

 Additional Information

• Mahavira:
• He was the 24^th Tirthankara of Jainism; his life and teachings are primarily recorded in the Jain Agamas and the Kalpa Sutra rather than the Jatakas.
• Rama and Krishna:
• These figures are central Avatars of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, whose legends are found in the Ramayana and Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad Gita) respectively.
• Artistic Representations:
• The Jataka stories have been extensively depicted in ancient Indian art, including the stone carvings of Sanchi Stupa, Bharhut, and the intricate frescoes of the Ajanta Caves.
• Literary Influence:
• Many Jataka fables are precursors to stories found in the Panchatantra and have influenced folklore across Asia and the West, including potential links to Aesop's Fables.

The correct answer is National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem.

Key Points

• The NAMASTE scheme is a Central Sector Scheme launched as a joint initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• It aims to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work and ensure that all sanitation work is performed by skilled workers using mechanized equipment.
• The scheme focuses on the identification of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in India, providing them with a dignified livelihood and safety net.
• It replaces the earlier Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) to provide a more comprehensive approach toward mechanized sanitation.
• The NAMASTE portal was established to facilitate the profiling and registration of workers to enable targeted delivery of benefits.

 Additional Information

• Core Components of NAMASTE:
• Health Insurance: Workers and their families are provided with health cover under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Livelihood Assistance: Provision of capital subsidies and interest subvention for the procurement of sanitation machinery and vehicles for mechanized cleaning.
• Skill Development: Specialized training programs are conducted to equip workers with the technical skills required for safe mechanized operations.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Distribution of safety kits and standardized equipment to mitigate health risks associated with septic tank cleaning.
• Implementing Agency: The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the nodal agency responsible for the execution of the scheme.