Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Option 1. 

Key Points

• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to an average altitude of about 7 to 12 kilometers (4.3 to 7.5 miles).
• The height of the troposphere varies depending on the location, season, and weather conditions. However, the average height of the troposphere is about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) above sea level.

Additional Information

• Earth's atmosphere can be divided into five primary layers based on their temperature and altitude:
• Troposphere: This is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to an average altitude of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) at the equator. The majority of Earth's weather occurs in this layer, and it is where most of the Earth's greenhouse gases are concentrated.
• Stratosphere: This layer lies above the troposphere, extending from about 12 to 50 kilometers (7.5 to 31 miles) in altitude. The ozone layer is located in this layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• Mesosphere: Above the stratosphere, the mesosphere extends from about 50 to 85 kilometers (31 to 53 miles) in altitude. This layer is known for its extremely low temperatures, as low as -100°C (-148°F) at the top.
• Thermosphere: This layer extends from about 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the edge of space, around 600 kilometers (372 miles) above the Earth's surface. The temperature increases with altitude in this layer, reaching up to 2,000°C (3,632°F) due to the absorption of solar radiation.
• Exosphere: The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, the exosphere, begins at an altitude of about 600 kilometers (372 miles) and extends into space. This layer is where the Earth's atmosphere gradually thins out and merges with the vacuum of space.

The correct answer is 1206 – 1210.

Key Points

• Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the founder of the Slave dynasty.
• He assumed the title of 'Sultan' for the first time in the history of India.
• He made Lahore the capital and later Delhi.
• He was also known as 'Lakh Baksh' or giver of lakhs for his magnanimity, as he gave a lot of liberal donations.
• He started the construction of the Qutub Minar in the memory of Khawaja Qutubuddin Bhaktiyar Kaki but could complete only the first story.
• Aibak is known for having commissioned the Qutb Minar in Delhi, and the Adhai Din Ka Jhopra in Ajmer.
• Note:
• Qutub-ud-din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutub Minar which was later completed by Iltutmish.
• The Quwwat-al-Islam mosque was also commissioned by him.

Additional Information

• The Tughlaq Dynasty:
• ​The founder of the Tughlaq dynasty was Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
• The Tughlaq dynasty was founded in 1320 by Ghazi Malik assuming the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
• He founded Tughlaqabad City and constructed the Tughlaqabad Fort.
• He made reforms in the field of the judiciary, irrigation, and agriculture.
• He died in 1325 by collapsing a building during a celebration of his victory.
• Khilji Dynasty:
• It was the second ruling family of the Delhi Sultanate, a Muslim kingdom in north India.
• The Khilji dynasty ruled from 1290 to 1320.
• It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji and came to power in a revolution that signified the transfer of authority from Turkic nobility to Afghans.
• Alauddin Khilji made serious efforts to re-assess the land revenue and unify the taxes not only in rural areas but also in urban areas.
• He established a centralized administrative system of revenue collection.
• Muqtis were appointed for revenue collection.
• Alauddin made sure that their offices were not hereditary.
• He kept proper control over them.
• The Lodi dynasty:
• Founder - Bahlol Lodi (1451-88 AD)
• Last king - Ibrahim Lodi (1517-26 AD)
• The city of Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517)
• Daulat Khan Lodi was the governor of Punjab who invited the Babur.

The correct answer is Begum Hazrat Mahal.

Key Points

• Begum Hazrat Mahal, also known as the Begum of Awadh, was the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last ruler of Awadh.
• Following the British annexation of Awadh in 1856 and the subsequent exile of the Nawab to Calcutta, she emerged as one of the most prominent leaders of the 1857 Revolt.
• She took control of Lucknow and proclaimed her young son, Birjis Qadr, as the Wali (ruler) of Awadh, establishing a rebel administration.
• Under her leadership, the rebel forces successfully challenged the British East India Company and laid siege to the Lucknow Residency, showcasing her strategic and organizational skills.
• She actively worked with other revolutionaries like Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and successfully mobilized talukdars and sepoys against colonial rule.
• After the British eventually recaptured Lucknow in March 1858, she refused to accept any British pension and sought asylum in Nepal, where she lived until her death in 1879.

 Additional Information

• Nana Saheb:
• He was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II and led the 1857 Uprising from Kanpur.
• He was supported by loyal lieutenants like Tatya Tope and Azimullah Khan.
• Rani Lakshmibai:
• Commonly known as Jhansi ki Rani, she led the rebellion in Jhansi and Gwalior.
• She fought against the British forces led by Sir Hugh Rose after her state was annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar:
• He was the last Mughal Emperor and was declared the symbolic leader of the revolt in Delhi.
• Following the suppression of the revolt, he was tried by the British and exiled to Rangoon (Burma).

The correct answer is Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Key Points 

• Carnatic Music
• Carnatic music is one of the forms of Indian classical music.
• It is confined to southern India, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Kerala while the classical music of the rest of the country is under the name of Hindustani.
• The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on the vocals.
• The music is created in the traditional octave form and the music is Kriti based and focuses more on the Sahithya or the lyric quality of the musical piece.

Additional Information

• ​Trinity of Carnatic Music
• The Three Jewels of Carnatic music referred to trio composers – being Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri also known as the Trinity of Carnatic music.
• All three of the Trinities lived and composed music in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu.
• Thanjavur has been the capital of Carnatic Music, not only because the Trinities lived there but also because the place has nurtured Carnatic music for a long time.
• The Kings from Thanjavur – the Cholas, Nayaks, and the Marathas – have consistently supported Carnatic music and the artists, and contributed to its current-day greatness and preservation.
• Muthuswami Dikshitar was the youngest of the trinities.

The correct answer is Pune

Key Points:

• The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in the city of Pune, Maharashtra in 1892.
• The palace was an act of charity by the spiritual leader of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, who wanted to help the poor in the neighboring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.

Additional Information:

• Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III was the 48^th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili sect of Islam.
• He played a very important role in giving the Muslims a political stance to express their opinions to the British.
• In 1906, the Aga Khan was a founding member and first president of the All India Muslim League.

The correct answer is Gupta.

Key Points

• The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli in Delhi is believed to record the achievements of Chandragupta II.
• The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian crafts persons.
• It is made of iron, 7.2. m high, and weighs over 3 tonnes.
• It was made about 1500 years ago.
• We know the date because there is an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra, who probably belonged to the Gupta dynasty.

Additional Information 

• Guptas established a small kingdom in Magadh at the beginning of the 4^th century.
• Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II Vikramaditya during this period of time
• Pataliputra, an ancient city presently known as Patna, was the capital of the Gupta dynasty.
• The city was favored due to its central location which enabled easy trade and expansion of the empire.
• The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in the South around the 4^th century AD and were at the height of their power in the seventh century AD.
• They built great cities, centres of learning, temples, and sculptures and influenced a large part of Southeast Asia in culture.
• Narasimhavarman I was considered the greatest Pallava king who defeated and killed Pulakesin II the ruler of Badami Chalukya and captured Badami and was titled “Vatapikonda”.
• He was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler) and Mamallapuram was named after him where he built the famous rath temples (Sapt Pagoda).
• Aparajita Varman was the last ruler of the Pallava dynasty.
• The Pushyabhuti Dynasty (c. 500 CE - 647 CE) rose after the downfall of the Gupta Empire (3^rd century CE - 6^th century CE) in the 6^th century CE in northern India.
• The core area of their kingdom was situated in what is now the state of Haryana in India with the capital at Sthanishvara or Thaneshvara.
• The most notable ruler of this dynasty was its last ruler, Emperor Harshavardhana, or Harsha (r. 606-647 CE).
• The capital of Harshavardhana's Empire was Kannuaj. He ruled from 606 AD to 647 AD.
• His Empire extended from Punjab to northern Orissa and from the Himalayas to the bank of the Narmada River.
• Nagabhata I was an Indian king who founded the imperial Gurjara Pratihara dynasty.
• He ruled the Avanti region in present-day Madhya Pradesh, from his capital at Ujjain.

The correct answer is Bansuri.

Key Points

• Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
• Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is a world-renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute.
• He is one of those rare classical musicians who expanded the peripheries of classical music by taking it to the common masses.
• Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is an internationally renowned exponent of the 'bansuri', or the bamboo flute and is the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards, which are among the three highest civilian awards in India.
• This musician has donned many hats — of an extraordinary flute artiste, titan of Hindustani classical genre and music director.​

Additional Information

• Tabla
• Tabla is a small drum or  Pair of Drums tuned to different pitches playing with hands.
• It was invented by Amir khusru
• The right side is called the Tabla and the left, the Bayan or Dagga.
• It is type of Avanaddha vadya or  Membranophones​​
• Veena
• The veena is among the oldest of Indian musical instruments.
• From the references to Vedic writings, it can date back to around the first millennium B.C.
• Temple sculptures from the 2^nd century B.C. show a type of veena being played.
• The Saraswati veena is the predominant Carnatic music and the Rudra veena is the most played veena in Hindustani music.
• The Saraswati veena has seven strings strung over twenty-four fixed frets.
• It has a large resonator (kudam), a tapering hollow neck (dandi), and a tuning box that curves downwards (yali).
• The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswathi, is said to play the Veena. Pictures depict her sitting on a lotus and playing the instrument.
• Muthuswami Dikshitar, Veenai Dhanammal, Veena Sheshanna, etc. are the famous veena players.​
• Drum:-
• The drum is made of wood or brass with drumheads made of calfskin or plastic stretched over both ends of a hollow cylinder.
• It has a set of wire-wrapped strings stretched across the bottom head (the snare), which gives the drum its unique "rattling" sound when the drum is hit. A small switch on the side of the drum allows the player to turn the snare on or off depending on the requirements of the piece.

The correct answer is Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Key Points

• The Bureau of Indian Standards is responsible for bringing services and products as a mandatory standard.
• It provides safe, reliable and quality goods and minimises the health hazard to the consumer.
• It Appoints the authority besides BIS to verify the reliability of the products and service
• The Bureau of Indian Standards is under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and it is a National Standard body.
• It was established under the Bureau of Indian Standard Act 1986.
• It was established on 23 December 1986.
• Headquarters is in Manek Bhawan New Delhi.

Important Points

• BIS is the national standards body of India.
• It develops & publishes Indian Standards, Implement Conformity Assessment Schemes,
• It Recognises & runs laboratories for Conformity Assessment and Implements Hallmarking.
• It Works for Consumer empowerment, Conducts capacity-building programs on quality assurance and represents the country in ISO & IEC.

Correct Answer A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

Key Points Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

• IGMDP was the brainchild of renowned scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• It was intended to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.
• After keeping in mind the requirements of various types of missiles by the defense forces, the program recognized the need to develop five missile systems.
• The IGMDP formally got the approval of the Indian government on 26^th July 1983.
• The missiles developed under IGMDP are:
• Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile – Prithvi
• Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile – Agni
• Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile – Trishul
• Medium-range surface-to-air missile – Akash
• Third-generation anti-tank missile – Nag

Additional Information Vikram Sarabhai:

• Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919, in Ahmadabad.
• Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was considered the Father of the Indian space program.
• He was a great institution builder and established a large number of institutes in diverse fields.
• He was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in November 1947.
• He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
• Dr. Sarabhai's dialogue with NASA in 1966, the Satelite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was launched during July 1975-July 1976.
• Dr. Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian Satellite.
• As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.
• He founded a Community Science Centre at Ahmedabad in 1966.
• Today, the Centre is called the Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre.

Homi J. Bhabha:

• Homi J. Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Colloquially known as the father of the Indian nuclear program.
• Homi J. Bhabha was the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission that was set-up in August 1948.
• Dr. Homi Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in January 1954.
• In 1966, Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay was renamed; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
• Dr. Bhabha was one of the founding directors of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
• He was awarded the Admas Prize.

The correct answer is 8^th march.

Key Points

• International Women's Day is celebrated on 8^th March.
• International Women's Day is a global day celebrating  the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
• The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
• This year's theme for International Day is "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world".​

Important Points

• National Women's Day- 13 February
• National Girl Child Day- 24 January
• International Day of the Girl Child- 11 October​

Additional Information