Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Amanpreet Singh.

Key Points

• Amanpreet Singh clinched the gold medal in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event during the 23^rd Kumar Surendra Singh (KSS) Memorial Shooting Championship.
• The championship was organized by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and held at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal.
• Representing ONGC, Amanpreet showcased superior accuracy in the men's category, which is a non-Olympic but highly competitive discipline in international shooting.
• The Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial serves as a vital Selection Trial (ST) for identifying talent for the Indian National Shooting Squad.
• This event attracts elite shooters from across the country, including representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and various state associations.

 Additional Information

• National Rifle Association of India (NRAI):
• Established in 1951 with the objective of promoting and popularizing shooting sports in India.
• It governs all disciplines of shooting, including Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun (Skeet and Trap).
• Other Noteworthy Participants:
• Vijay Kumar: A legendary shooter and Subedar Major in the Indian Army who won the Silver Medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event.
• Gurpreet Singh: A veteran international marksman and Arjuna Award recipient known for his performances in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
• Mandeep Singh: A consistent performer in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol circuit, frequently ranking among the top shooters in national trials.
• Event Significance:
• The 25m Centre Fire Pistol is one of the oldest events in competitive shooting, requiring shooters to fire in both precision and rapid-fire stages.

The correct answer is Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

Key Points

• The DHRUV64 is a high-performance 64-bit multicore microprocessor developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• This development is part of the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Microprocessor Program, which aims to establish India as a global hub for RISC-V talent and hardware design.
• The processor is built on the RISC-V (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) open-source ISA, ensuring strategic autonomy and eliminating reliance on proprietary architectures like Intel or ARM.
• DHRUV64 features out-of-order execution and is designed for compute-intensive applications such as high-end servers, networking infrastructure, and industrial automation.
• It belongs to the VEGA family of processors, which ranges from 32-bit single-core units for IoT to complex 64-bit multi-core systems for High-Performance Computing (HPC).

 Additional Information

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
• Focuses on defence-specific electronics and System-on-Chip (SoC) designs for missile guidance, avionics, and radar signal processing.
• Maintains the Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) and SITAR for indigenous semiconductor fabrication research.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
• Develops specialized radiation-hardened processors, such as the Vikram series based on SPARC architecture, for satellite flight computers and launch vehicle navigation.
• Operates the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali to manufacture space-grade integrated circuits.
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay):
• Contributed to the DIR-V ecosystem by developing the AJIT microprocessor, which is a 32-bit RISC-V based processor designed for low-power IoT and embedded systems.
• Collaborates with IIT Madras, the creator of the SHAKTI processor series, to strengthen India's Fabless design capabilities.

The correct answer is IndiaAI Compute and AIKosha.

Key Points

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) officially operationalized the IndiaAI Compute and AIKosha portals in March 2025 to democratize access to high-end technological infrastructure.
• The IndiaAI Compute portal is designed to provide access to 18,000 Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), which are essential for training Large Language Models (LLMs) and executing complex Deep Learning tasks.
• This initiative provides a compute-as-a-service model, allowing startups, academic researchers, and public sector agencies to utilize high-performance computing without the prohibitive costs of owning physical hardware.
• AIKosha serves as the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, functioning as a centralized repository for curated, high-quality non-personal datasets to facilitate the development of AI solutions tailored for Indian languages and social contexts.
• By bridging the gap in data and compute resources, these portals aim to accelerate the AI startup ecosystem and position India as a global hub for Artificial Intelligence innovation.

 Additional Information

• IndiaAI Mission:
• It was approved by the Union Cabinet with a comprehensive financial outlay of Rs. 10,371.92 crore to be implemented over the next five years.
• The mission is structured around seven key pillars, including IndiaAI FutureSkills, which focuses on AI literacy and increasing the workforce in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
• The IndiaAI Innovation Centre under this mission focuses on the development of indigenous foundational models and domain-specific AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, and governance.
• The IndiaAI Startup Financing pillar provides streamlined funding for deep-tech startups, supporting them from the proof-of-concept stage to commercialization.
• Ethical standards are integrated through the Safe & Trusted AI component, ensuring algorithmic transparency and the mitigation of bias in AI deployments.

The correct answer is A traitor named Mansingh.

Key Points

• Tatya Tope, also known as Ramachandra Panduranga, was a towering figure and a brilliant military strategist during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• Following the defeat of rebel forces at Gwalior, he retreated into the Paron jungles to conduct guerrilla warfare against the British authorities.
• His arrest was made possible through the betrayal of Mansingh, the Raja of Narwar, who was a trusted associate but secretly defected to the British side to secure his own interests.
• On April 7, 1859, based on information provided by Mansingh, British troops led by Major Meade captured Tatya Tope while he was asleep in his camp.
• After a swift military trial at Shivpuri, he was executed by hanging on April 18, 1859, for his role in the uprising.

 Additional Information

• Tatya Tope’s Military Contributions:
• He was the primary military advisor to Nana Saheb and was instrumental in the recapture of Kanpur.
• He collaborated closely with Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and successfully seized the Gwalior Fort from the Scindias.
• His mastery over guerrilla tactics allowed him to evade capture by numerous British generals, including Sir Colin Campbell and Sir Hugh Rose, for a significant period.
• Historical Context:
• The Governor-General during this period was Lord Canning, who oversaw the brutal suppression of the revolt across North India.
• The betrayal by local allies like Mansingh was a common factor that led to the eventual collapse of the various rebel pockets after the fall of major centers like Lucknow and Delhi.

The correct answer is To encourage students to design creative ideas and prototypes that address national challenges.

Key Points

• The Develop India Buildathon 2025 is a high-impact initiative launched through a strategic partnership between NITI Aayog, via the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and the Ministry of Education, represented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
• Its primary objective is to engage the youth in the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision by encouraging them to identify and solve pressing national challenges through technological and creative innovation.
• The program provides a platform for students from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and schools to transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application by developing functional prototypes.
• Focus areas for the Buildathon include critical sectors such as sustainability, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and rural development, aligning student projects with India's long-term developmental goals.
• By fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship, the initiative aims to build a pipeline of future innovators who can contribute to India's global competitiveness and self-reliance.

 Additional Information

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
• A flagship initiative of NITI Aayog designed to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
• It oversees Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools and Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) to support startups and school-level innovators.
• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India):
• Formed on January 1, 2015, it serves as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, promoting cooperative federalism.
• It focuses on long-term strategic planning and monitoring the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Viksit Bharat @2047:
• This is the government's roadmap to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence.
• The vision emphasizes human development, economic prosperity, and technological leadership on the global stage.

The correct answer is Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal.

Key Points

• The trio of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal were the most prominent leaders of the Extremist (militant) faction within the Indian National Congress during the early 20^th century.
• They advocated for radical methods to achieve Swaraj (self-rule), marking a sharp departure from the constitutional 'Prayers and Petitions' approach of the Moderate leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
• The popular acronym Lal-Bal-Pal combined the first names of these leaders, who represented three major geographical strongholds of the Indian national struggle: Punjab (Lala Lajpat Rai), Maharashtra (Bal Gangadhar Tilak), and Bengal (Bipin Chandra Pal).
• They were the primary architects of the Swadeshi Movement and the Boycott of British goods, which gained momentum following the Partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon.
• Their political ideology emphasized self-reliance, national education, and mass mobilization to challenge the British administrative and economic structure in India.

 Additional Information

• Lala Lajpat Rai: Known as Punjab Kesari (Lion of Punjab), he was associated with the Arya Samaj and founded the Punjab National Bank. He succumbed to injuries in 1928 after a lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak: Called Lokmanya, he declared 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it'. He published the newspapers Kesari and The Mahratta and organized the Ganpati and Shivaji festivals to instill nationalism.
• Bipin Chandra Pal: Often regarded as the Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in India, he used his powerful oratory and journalism in New India and Bande Mataram to propagate the message of complete independence.
• Other Personalities mentioned:
• Lala Har Dayal: A revolutionary who founded the Ghadar Party in San Francisco in 1913.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: A leading Moderate and founder of the Servants of India Society (1905).
• Motilal Nehru: A prominent lawyer who chaired the Nehru Report in 1928 and co-founded the Swaraj Party.
• Bhagat Singh: A legendary socialist revolutionary and member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

The correct answer is Unemployment benefits.

Key Points

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country's geographical boundaries during a specific financial year.
• Transfer payments are unilateral payments made by the government to individuals or households for which no current productive service or good is rendered in return.
• Unemployment benefits are classified as transfer payments because they are essentially a redistribution of tax revenue to provide social safety nets; they do not reflect the production of any new economic output. Hence, this option is the correct representation of a transfer payment excluded from GDP calculations.
• The exclusion of transfer payments from GDP is necessary to avoid the statistical error of double counting, as these funds are eventually counted when the recipients spend them on consumption (the 'C' component of GDP).

 Additional Information

• Government Expenditure (G): In the expenditure method of calculating GDP, only government purchases of goods and services are included.
• Wages paid to government employees: These are included in GDP because they represent a payment for labor services (human capital) provided to the state for the production of public goods like administration and security.
• Government spending on education and health: These outlays involve the purchase of medical supplies, textbooks, and the hiring of professionals (doctors and teachers). These activities constitute economic production and are thus part of the national income.
• Other Examples of Transfer Payments: Items such as Old-age pensions, Student scholarships, Social Security payments, and Financial aid given during natural disasters are all excluded from GDP as they are not linked to current production.

The correct answer is Sanchi, with its ancient stupas.

Key Points

• Sanchi is an iconic Buddhist complex situated on a hilltop in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, known for being one of the oldest stone structures in India.
• The Great Stupa (Stupa No. 1) was originally commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in the 3^rd century BCE to enshrine the sacred relics of Lord Buddha.
• It was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, celebrated for its architectural evolution from the Mauryan to the Gupta period.
• The site is distinguished by its four monumental Toranas (ornamental gateways) which are covered with detailed bas-relief sculptures depicting Jataka tales and miracles from the life of Buddha.
• Structurally, the stupa consists of a hemispherical dome (anda) representing the world mountain, topped by a square railing (harmika) and a three-tiered umbrella (chhatra) symbolizing the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

 Additional Information

• Bodh Gaya:
• Located in Bihar, it is the most sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists where Siddhartha Gautama achieved Enlightenment.
• It houses the Mahabodhi Temple and the sacred Bodhi Tree.
• Ajanta Caves:
• Situated in Maharashtra, this site comprises 30 rock-cut caves exclusively dedicated to Buddhism.
• It is famous for its ancient frescoes and mural paintings that are masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.
• Ellora Caves:
• Also located in Maharashtra, this site represents religious harmony with 34 monasteries and temples belonging to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
• It is home to the massive Kailasa Temple, the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world.

The correct answer is treason against the British government.

Key Points

• In 1908, the British colonial authorities arrested Bal Gangadhar Tilak under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with sedition or acts deemed as treason against the state.
• The specific provocation for his arrest was a series of articles published in his Marathi newspaper, Kesari, where he expressed support for the young revolutionaries Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki following the Muzaffarpur bombing.
• Tilak argued that the rise of revolutionary activities was a direct consequence of the oppressive British administration and the Partition of Bengal in 1905.
• The trial was conducted at the Bombay High Court, where he was represented by himself and defended his writings as legitimate political criticism rather than an incitement to violence.
• Despite his rigorous defense, a jury dominated by European members found him guilty, leading to a sentence of six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 rupees.

 Additional Information

• Mandalay Jail:
• Tilak was deported to the Mandalay Prison in Burma (now Myanmar) to serve his sentence from 1908 to 1914.
• During his time in solitary confinement, he focused on academic and spiritual pursuits, eventually writing the seminal work Gita Rahasya, which emphasizes Karma Yoga (the path of action).
• Political Legacy:
• Known as the Father of Indian Unrest, Tilak was a founding member of the All India Home Rule League established in 1916.
• He transformed the Ganpati Festival and Shivaji Jayanti into grand public events to foster national unity and mobilize the masses against colonial rule.
• He was a key figure of the Extremist wing of the Indian National Congress, famously proclaiming, Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.

The correct answer is NITI Aayog.

Key Points

• The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is released by NITI Aayog, acting as the nodal ministry for developing this index in India.
• The index is a crucial step toward monitoring India's progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.2, which aims to reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions.
• India's national MPI uses the globally accepted Alkire-Foster (AF) methodology, which identifies deprivations across the three equally weighted dimensions of Health, Education, and Standard of Living.
• While the global MPI uses 10 indicators, India's national version includes 12 indicators: Nutrition, Child and Adolescent Mortality, Maternal Health, Years of Schooling, School Attendance, Cooking Fuel, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Electricity, Housing, Assets, and Bank Accounts.
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) serves as the primary data source for calculating these multidimensional poverty statistics.

 Additional Information

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India):
• Established on January 1, 2015, it replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission to serve as the premier policy Think Tank of the Government of India.
• The Prime Minister serves as the Ex-officio Chairperson, overseeing cooperative federalism and strategic policy making.
• Global Multidimensional Poverty Index:
• This international measure is published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
• Other Organizations:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) focuses on monetary policy, inflation control, and banking regulation.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), through the National Statistical Office (NSO), manages national accounts and official statistics like CPI and IIP.
• The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), now merged into the NSO, historically conducted large-scale surveys on consumption expenditure and employment.