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Explanation:

Connective Cells:

• Tissue that bind, support, connect, or separate other tissues or organs are connective tissues.
• In addition to helping to transport nutrients and other substances between tissues and organs, connective tissue also helps to store fat and mend damaged tissue.
• Bone, cartilage, fat, blood, and lymphatic tissue are examples of different types of connective tissue.
• In connective tissue, fibroblasts, mast cells, plasma cells, macrophages, adipocytes, and leukocytes are frequent cell types.
• The most prevalent form of connective tissue cells are fibroblasts.
• Both fibers and an amorphous ground substance are produced by them.

Thus, the function of connective tissues is of binding the various parts of the body of an animal.

Additional Information

The correct answer is 2 i.e. Shivaji Maharaj.

Key Points

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:

• He was the second son of Shahaji, was the creator of the Maratha nation.
• He united the Maratha Chiefs from Malwa, Konkan, and Desh regions to carve out a small kingdom.
• He took control of the hereditary Jagir after the death of his guardian Konadev in 1647.
• He was born in the hill fort of Shivner in 1630.
• He began his military career at a young age. He captured the fort of Toran in 1656.
• From 1656, he started capturing many other forts from the local officers of Bijapur.
• After some time, Shivaji raided the Bijapur.
• Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur sent his General Afzal Khan to capture Shivaji.
• But Shivaji was too clever for him and killed him with a deadly weapon called Baghnakh or tiger's claw.
• Shivaji now began to attack the Mughal territories.
• Aurangzeb sent Shaista Khan, the Viceroy of the Deccan, with a big army against Shivaji.
• Shaista Khan captured Poona but Shivaji managed to outwit the Mughals in 1663.
• Aurangzeb sent his son, Prince Muazzam, and then, on his failure, Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber was sent against Shivaji.
• Raja Jai Singh won a few victories against Shivaji and besieged him in Purandhar in 1665.
• Shivaji visited the Mughal Court of Agra at the persuasion of Jai Singh, but he was put there in detention.
• However, Shivaji escaped in 1666 and resumed his career of conquests.
• In 1674, Shivaji made Raigrah as his capital and celebrated his coronation and assumed the title of 'Chatrapati'.
• He died in 1680 at the age of 53.

The correct answer is Madhav National Park.

In News

• Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been designated as India's 58^th Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

• Madhav National Park is located in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It was previously a hunting ground for the Scindia Maharajas of Gwalior and was notified as a national park in 1958.
• The park spans 355 square kilometers and is part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills.
• Madhav National Park features diverse landscapes, including forests, grasslands, and lakes like Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar.

Additional Information

• Panna National Park
• Located in Madhya Pradesh, it was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994.
• It is famous for its successful tiger reintroduction program.
• Satpura National Park
• Situated in Madhya Pradesh, it was established in 1981.
• It is known for its rugged terrain and high biodiversity.
• Kanha National Park
• Located in Madhya Pradesh, it was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1973 under Project Tiger.

The correct answer is Mangrove Forests

Key PointsMangrove Forests

• Found in the areas of coasts influenced by tides. Mud and silt get accumulated on such coasts.
• Dense mangroves are the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged underwater.
• The deltas of the Ganga, the Mahanadi, the Krishana, the Godavari, and the Kaveri are covered by such vegetation.
• In the Ganga Brahmaputra delta, Sundari trees are found, which provide durable hard timber.
• Palm, coconut, keora, agar, also grow in some parts of the delta.
• Royal Bengal Tiger is the famous animal in these forests. Turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes are also found in these forests.

Additional InformationTropical Evergreen Forests:

• These forests are restricted to heavy rainfall areas of the Western Ghats and the island groups of Lakshadweep, Andaman, and Nicobar, upper parts of Assam, and Tamil Nadu coast.
• They are at their best in areas having more than 200 cm of rainfall with a short dry season.
• The trees reach great heights up to 60 meters or even above.
• Since the region is warm and wet throughout the year, it has luxuriant vegetation of all kinds.
• The trees, shrubs, and creepers give it a multilayered structure.
• There is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves.
• As such, these forests appear green all the year-round

Tropical Deciduous Forests

• ​These are the most widespread forests of India.
• They are also called the monsoon forests and spread over the region receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
• Trees of this forest type shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in dry summer.
• On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist and dry deciduous.

Natural vegetation refers to a plant community, which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. The following major types of vegetation may be identified in our country

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests
2. Tropical Deciduous Forests
3. Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
4. Montane Forests
5. Mangrove Forests

The correct answer is Himachal Pradesh.

In News

• Himachal Pradesh was declared fully literate by its Chief Minister on International Literacy Day, achieving a 99.30% literacy rate, surpassing the national average of 95%.

Key Points

• Himachal Pradesh became the fourth state, after Tripura, Mizoram, and Goa, to achieve full functional literacy.
• Ladakh is the first fully literate Union Territory of India.
• India's national literacy rate rose from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24.
• The ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram enrolled over 3 crore learners with a 90% success rate.

Additional Information

• ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram
• A national literacy initiative aimed at promoting education and increasing literacy across India with over 3 crore learners enrolled.
• International Literacy Day (ILD)
• Observed annually on September 8, ILD highlights the importance of literacy, with a focus on different themes, such as "Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era" in 2025.
• India's Literacy Growth
• The literacy rate in India has risen significantly, from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24, showing continued progress in national education efforts.

The correct answer is Tappa.

Key Points

• Tappa is a form of Indian semi-classical vocal music that was derived from the folk music of Punjab and Sindh.
• Tappa is the oldest and most admired form of Pashto folk literature which originated from the folk songs of the camel riders in Punjab.
• It is one of the most difficult classical forms in Punjab.
• It was believed to be a song of the cameleers of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Additional Information

• Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any of the languages from the Indian subcontinent.
• Qawwalis are the compositions and devotional music of Sufi saints who belong to the tradition of Islamic mysticism.
• Ghazal is a well-known poetic genre of Arabic literature.

The correct answer is Delhi.

Key Points

• The National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language (NCPSL) is headquartered in Delhi, India.
• NCPSL was established in 1994 under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• The council aims to promote, develop, and preserve the Sindhi language and its rich cultural heritage.
• It organizes workshops, seminars, and cultural events to encourage the use of Sindhi in literature and daily communication.
• NCPSL also provides financial assistance to authors, publishers, and organizations working towards the development of Sindhi literature.

Additional Information

• Sindhi Language
• Sindhi is one of the 22 scheduled languages recognized by the Constitution of India under the Eighth Schedule.
• It is primarily spoken in the Sindh province of Pakistan and by the Sindhi diaspora globally, including India.
• Sindhi has a rich literary history with contributions in poetry, prose, and philosophical texts.
• Ministry of Education
• The NCPSL operates under the Ministry of Education, which oversees policies related to education, literacy, and language promotion in India.
• The ministry also supports other language promotion councils, such as the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) and the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
• Preservation of Regional Languages
• The Government of India runs various schemes to preserve and promote regional languages, ensuring cultural diversity and inclusivity.
• These efforts include financial support, scholarships, and the development of digital tools for language learning.
• Importance of Language Councils
• Language councils like NCPSL play a vital role in safeguarding linguistic heritage and fostering unity in a diverse country like India.
• They work towards making education and literature accessible to different linguistic communities.

The correct answer is Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Jamnagar.

In News

• Gujarat is conducting India’s first coastline and waders census from January 3 to 5, 2025, at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar.

Key Points

• The Marine National Park and Sanctuary is India’s first designated marine national park, covering 170 km of coastline and 42 islands.
• It hosts over 300 species of local and migratory birds, including rare wader birds like the Crab Plover and Great Knot.
• The census is jointly organized by the Gujarat Forest Department and the Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat.
• Activities include expert talks, bird counting, and knowledge-sharing sessions over the three-day event.

Additional Information

• Marine National Park and Sanctuary: Located in the Gulf of Kutch, it is a protected area established to conserve marine biodiversity and mangrove ecosystems.
• Jamnagar: Known as a paradise for coastal birds, it supports numerous local and migratory bird species, including over 50 species of waders.
• Crab Plover (Shankhlo): A rare wader bird species that thrives in Jamnagar but is seldom found elsewhere in India.
• Knowledge-Sharing Sessions: These aim to raise awareness about conservation efforts and the importance of coastal ecosystems.

The correct answer is Third.

Key Points

• The Third 5-Year Plan symbolizes the 1^st phase in a system of enduring expansion extending over the next 1the 5 years or so.
• In the course of this period, India's economy must not only enlarge swiftly but must, in unison, become independent and self-generating.
• The focus was on agriculture and improvement in the production of wheat.
• The Third 5 year Plan focused on agriculture enhancement in the production of wheat, but the succinct Sino - Indian War in the year 1962 exposed flaws in the economy and shifted the spotlight towards the Defence industry.
• The target growth rate was 5.6% and the actual growth rate only achieved 2.4%.
• This indicated a miserable failure of the Third Plan, and the government had to declare "Plan Holidays" (1966-67, 1967-68, and 1968-69).

Additional Information

• The Five Year Plans were formulated, implemented and regulated by a body known as the Planning Commission.
• The First Five Year Plan laid the thrust of economic development in India.
• It was presented by the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru to the Parliament of India.
• The Planning Commission was replaced by a think tank called NITI AAYOG in 2015.
• Chairman of NITi AYOG - Prime Minister of India ( Sh Narendra Modi)
• Vice Chairman - Shri Suman Bery
• CEO of NITI AYOG - Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam

Confusion Points

• The Fourth Five-Year Plan, spanning from 1969 to 1974, was implemented during the tenure of Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister, aimed at rectifying past shortcomings.
• It was developed following the Gadgil Formula and prioritized achieving growth with stability, as well as promoting self-reliance.

The correct answer is Ministry of Finance

• Departments under Finance Ministry:
• ​Department of Expenditure
• ​Department of Revenue
• ​Department of Financial Services
• ​Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
• ​Department of Economic Affairs
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Additional Information

• Departments under Defence Ministry
• ​Department of Defence (DOD)
• Department of Defence Production (DDP)
• Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW)
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
• Departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs
• ​Department Of Border Management
• Department Of Internal Security
• Department Of Jammu, Kashmir And Ladakh Affairs
• Department Of Home
• Department Of Official Language
• Department Of States