Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Khuldabad.

In News

• In April 2025, the Maharashtra government announced the renaming of Khuldabad to ‘Ratnapur’, aligning with efforts to restore pre-Mughal names.

Key Points

• Khuldabad is a historical town located 25 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad).
• The town houses the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, as well as Azam Shah and Asaf Jah I.
• Minister Sanjay Shirsat cited the restoration of historical identity as the reason for the renaming.
• The move is part of the BJP-Shiv Sena government's cultural heritage reclamation drive.

Additional Information

• Aurangabad
• Renamed to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023.
• Osmanabad
• Renamed to Dharashiv as part of the same initiative.
• Balotra
• A town in Rajasthan, known for rare earth discoveries, not related to this renaming scheme.

The correct answer is Manmad-CSMT Panchvati Express.

In News

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) was installed onboard the Manmad-CSMT Panchvati Express on a trial basis by Indian Railways.

Key Points

• The ATM was installed in the mini pantry space of the train, converted into a secure ATM zone by the mechanical team.
• The ATM was secured with rubber pads and bolts to reduce vibration and ensure safety.
• The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ ATM on Wheels project to boost non-fare revenue.
• This marks a step forward in Indian Railways' modernization drive under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Additional Information

• Manmad-CSMT Panchvati Express
• A popular express train operating in Maharashtra between Manmad and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai.
• Selected as the first train for ATM installation under the new trial initiative.
• Viksit Bharat 2047
• A vision plan to transform infrastructure and services across sectors including Indian Railways.
• Kavach Technology
• An indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system being installed to improve train safety.
• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
• A scheme for the redevelopment of over 1,300 railway stations with modern amenities and design.

The correct answer is Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Jhansi.

In News

• The 15^th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship was held from April 4 to 15, 2025, at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• The tournament features a division-based format with three levels: A, B, and C.
• Promotion and relegation battles have been introduced to increase competitiveness.
• Top Indian teams participated in Division A, including Hockey Association of Odisha and Hockey Haryana.
• Division A matches started from April 8, while Divisions B and C began on April 4.

Additional Information

• Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Jhansi
• Named after India’s legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
• Located in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Hosting the 15^th edition of the Senior Men National Championship.
• Other Stadiums for Reference
• Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar: Frequently hosts international hockey events.
• Birsa Munda Stadium, Rourkela: One of the largest hockey stadiums in India.
• Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi: Historic venue used during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The correct answer is Ministry of Ayush.

In News

• The Ministry of Ayush conducted the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme to enhance the professional skills of its employees.

Key Points

• The Ministry of Ayush organized the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme to improve service orientation and professional skills.
• The programme was organized in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission under the Mission Karmayogi framework.
• The programme was held in phases, focusing on self-awareness, motivation, leadership, and practical application of the training.
• Dr. Subodh Kumar and Ms. Shipra Singh led the second phase with an interactive, hands-on approach.
• Case studies from Ayurveda and Yoga were shared to provide practical context to the participants.

Additional Information

• Mission Karmayogi
• Launched by the Indian government to improve the performance of civil servants.
• Focuses on enhancing professional skills, leadership, and efficiency in government employees.
• Ayush Ministry
• The Ministry of Ayush is responsible for promoting traditional systems of medicine in India, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.

The correct answer is Darjeeling Tea.

Key Points

• Darjeeling Tea got the first GI tag in 2004.
• Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees, and TirupatiLaddus are some very famous examples of the GIs.

Additional Information

• The tagline of the GI tag is Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India.
• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• India has 236 GI products registered so far and over 270 more products have applied for the label.
• Under Articles 1 (2) and 10 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, geographical indications are covered as an element of IPRs.

The correct answer is Indirect Taxes.

Key Points

• The First Thing we could understand from the above discussion is that GDP (FC) is GDP (MP) minus indirect taxes plus subsidies. Here we can figure out that the more is the subsidy, the more is difference between the GDP(FC) & GDP (MP).
• We take the following example to understand this.
• We suppose that in a particular year, GDP(FC) is Rs. 100. In the same year, Indirect Taxes are Rs. 20 while the subsidies are Rs. 25. So, we can arrive at GDP(MP) using the following equation:
• GDP(FC) = GDP(MP) -Indirect Taxes + Subsidies
• Rs. 100 = GDP(MP) – Rs. 20 + Rs. 25
• So, GDP (MP) = Rs. 100 + Rs. 20- Rs. 25 = Rs. 95
• An indirect tax such as sales tax, per unit tax, value-added tax (VAT), or goods and services tax (GST ), excise, consumption tax, tariff is a tax collected by an intermediary (such as a retail store) from the person who bears the ultimate economic burden of the tax (such as the consumer).

Additional Information

About Direct Taxes:

• A direct tax is a tax for an Organisation Pays or Individual Directly to the Imposing Entity or Government of India.
• For example, ​A taxpayer, pays taxes directly to the government for different purposes, including personal property tax, income tax real property tax, and taxes on personal assets.
• It is based on the Principle of Ability to Pay. This Principle states that those people who have more Resources or earn a higher income than the government set norms should pay more taxes. The ability to charges tax is a uses way to redistribute the wealth of a Nation*.*
• A direct tax is the opposite of an Indirect Tax, where the tax is levied on One Entity, such as a Seller, and paid by another For example sales tax paid by the buyer in a retail setting.
• Both taxes are equally important to the nation. It is a source of revenue generation by the government and, therefore, distributed to its economy of the Nation.

Image of Comparison of Both the taxes:

Notes:

• The current Finance Minister of India is Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (October 2020).
• The current Chief Commissioner of the Central Board of Direct Taxes is Mr. Pramod Chandra Mody (October 2020).

The correct answer is is not flammable.

Key Points

• Helium is an inert gas, meaning it does not react with other substances and is completely non-flammable, making it much safer than hydrogen for applications like filling balloons.
• Hydrogen is highly flammable and can cause explosions when mixed with air, making it unsuitable for such uses despite being lighter than helium.
• Helium is a noble gas, part of group 18 of the periodic table, which is characterized by its chemical stability and inertness.
• Due to its non-flammable nature, helium is widely used in applications requiring safety, such as weather balloons, blimps, and party balloons.
• While helium is lighter than air and provides buoyancy, it is slightly heavier than hydrogen but is preferred due to its superior safety profile.

Additional Information

• Noble Gases: Helium is one of the noble gases, which include neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. These gases are known for their chemical inertness due to having a complete outer electron shell.
• Hydrogen Flammability: Hydrogen is highly flammable and was historically used in airships, but catastrophic accidents like the Hindenburg disaster highlighted its dangers.
• Helium Sources: Helium is typically extracted from natural gas deposits. It is a finite resource, making its conservation important for scientific and medical applications.
• Applications of Helium: Beyond its use in balloons, helium is critical in cryogenics, MRI machines, as a protective gas in welding, and as a coolant for nuclear reactors.
• Density Comparison: Hydrogen has the lowest density of all gases, but helium is chosen for applications requiring buoyancy because of its safety and inertness.

The correct answer is Non-plan expenditure.

Key Points

• The plan and non-plan expenditure was a major exercise in India during the planning era.
• Government of India has now scrapped that system in budget exercise and their place has been now taken by capital and revenue spending classifications.
• Earlier, all expenditures which were done in the name of planning were called plan expenditures.
• While all other expenditures were placed under non-plan expenditures.

Additional Information

• Important non-plan revenue expenditures included the following:
• Interest payments on the loans taken by the Government of India
• Expenditure incurred on Defence Services (except Defence Equipment which is a capital expenditure)
• Subsidies
• Grants to the states and UTs, including those from calamity fund
• Pensions, Social services such as healthcare, education, social security etc.
• Police
• Economic services by the government such as Agriculture, Industry, Power, Science & Technology
• Grants to Foreign Governments
• Non-Plan Capital Expenditure included the following:
• Defence Equipment and modernization
• Loans to Public sector companies
• Loans to states and union territories.

The correct answer is Part III.

Key Points

• Part III of the Indian Constitution is referred to as the "Magna Carta of India" because it enshrines the Fundamental Rights of citizens.
• These rights are deemed essential for the development of individuals and the preservation of human dignity.
• Fundamental Rights include key provisions such as Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right to Constitutional Remedies, etc.
• They are enforceable by the courts, and any violation can be challenged under Article 32 in the Supreme Court or Article 226 in High Courts.
• Originally, there were seven Fundamental Rights, but the Right to Property (Article 31) was removed in 1978 by the 44^th Amendment, reducing the count to six.

Additional Information

• Magna Carta: Originally a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215, the Magna Carta is considered a cornerstone of modern constitutional governance and the rule of law.
• Fundamental Rights: These are classified into six broad categories:
• Right to Equality (Articles 14–18)
• Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22)
• Right Against Exploitation (Articles 23–24)
• Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28)
• Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30)
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)
• Article 32: Described by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the "heart and soul of the Constitution," it allows individuals to directly approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
• 44^th Amendment (1978): This amendment abolished the Right to Property as a Fundamental Right, making it a legal right under Article 300A.
• Directive Principles vs. Fundamental Rights: While Fundamental Rights are justiciable, Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) are non-justiciable but aim to establish a welfare state.

The correct answer is Habeas Corpus.

Key Points

• Habeas Corpus is a writ that protects an individual's fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 32 and Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.
• It literally translates to "You may have the body" and ensures that a detained person is brought before the court.
• The primary purpose of this writ is to prevent unlawful detention and secure a person's release if the detention is found illegal.
• The court investigates the legality of the detention and ensures that the detainee is either released or provided with legal justification for detention.
• This writ acts as a safeguard against arbitrary arrests by any authority, ensuring judicial oversight in matters of personal liberty.

Additional Information

• Certiorari: A writ issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to transfer a case for review or to quash an order that exceeds jurisdiction.
• Mandamus: A writ issued to a public official or body directing them to perform a duty that they are obligated to do under the law.
• Prohibition: A writ issued by a higher court to a lower court or tribunal to prevent it from exceeding its jurisdiction or acting contrary to the law.
• Fundamental Rights: Articles 32 and 226 of the Indian Constitution empower individuals to seek remedies through writ petitions for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
• Judicial Oversight: Writs like Habeas Corpus are vital for maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that executive authorities do not misuse their powers.