Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Afghanistan.

Key Points

• Chabahar Port is a strategic maritime facility located on the Makran Coast in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran, situated along the Gulf of Oman.
• It serves as a vital transit hub that allows India to bypass Pakistan to access landlocked Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).
• In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral Chabahar Agreement to establish a transport and transit corridor, facilitating the movement of goods and services between the three nations.
• India has actively utilized the port to deliver humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including the shipment of 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat as food aid and 20,000 litres of Malathion to help the country combat locust infestations.
• The port development is led by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), which operates the Shahid Beheshti terminal, ensuring a steady supply chain for essential commodities to the Afghan people.

 Additional Information

• Strategic Connectivity:
• Zaranj-Delaram Road: India constructed this 218-km highway in Afghanistan to connect the Iran-Afghanistan border to the Garland Highway, linking major Afghan cities like Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat to the Chabahar Port.
• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): Chabahar is envisioned as a key gateway for this 7,200-km multi-modal network designed to connect India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.
• Geopolitical Context: The port is strategically positioned to compete with Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with significant Chinese investment under the CPEC framework.
• Regional Impact:
• Pakistan: Does not benefit from this initiative as it provides an alternative that reduces Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistani ports like Karachi.
• Myanmar and Sri Lanka: These nations are geographically distant and rely on Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean maritime routes, bearing no direct connection to the transit logic of Chabahar.

The correct answer is Third Plan - food crisis and Indo-China war.

Key Points

• The First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956) was based on the Harrod-Domar model and primarily focused on the agricultural sector, irrigation, and power to overcome food shortages; it was largely successful and did not suffer from industrial inflationary pressures. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The Third Five-Year Plan (1961–1966) aimed for a self-reliant and self-generating economy but was severely hampered by the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, which diverted funds to defense spending. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• In addition to war, the Third Plan period witnessed a disastrous drought in 1965-66, leading to a critical food crisis and necessitating massive imports under the PL-480 program, which eventually led to the Plan Holidays (1966–1969). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969–1974) focused on Growth with Stability and the progressive achievement of self-reliance, but its main challenges were the 1971 Bangladesh refugee crisis and the global 1973 oil shock. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–1978) focused on Garibi Hatao (Poverty Eradication) and attainment of self-reliance; it did not face a primary challenge regarding the underutilization of foreign exchange reserves, which actually grew during later periods. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

 Additional Information

• Planning Commission of India:
• Established in March 1950 as a non-constitutional and advisory body to formulate India's Five-Year Plans.
• The Prime Minister served as the Ex-officio Chairman, while the Deputy Chairman handled the administrative transition of the plans.
• Replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) on January 1, 2015, to foster cooperative federalism.
• Important Plan Outcomes:
• Second Plan (1956-61): Known as the Mahalanobis Plan, it focused on rapid industrialization and heavy industries.
• Plan Holiday (1966-69): Three annual plans were implemented due to the economic exhaustion following the Third Plan's failure.
• Rolling Plan (1978-80): Introduced by the Janata Party government after terminating the Fifth Plan one year early.

The correct answer is Mitochondria.

Key Points

• Plastids and Mitochondria share a strikingly similar external and internal structural organization, primarily because both are bounded by a double-membrane envelope consisting of an outer and an inner membrane.
• Both organelles are classified as semi-autonomous organelles. This means they possess their own genetic material in the form of circular DNA and contain their own 70S ribosomes, allowing them to synthesize some of their own proteins.
• The structural similarity is fundamentally rooted in the Endosymbiotic Theory, which proposes that both mitochondria and plastids (specifically chloroplasts) originated from free-living prokaryotic organisms that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.
• Like bacteria, both organelles replicate through a process similar to binary fission, independent of the cell's nuclear division, which further highlights their structural and functional parallels.
• While Plastids are involved in photosynthesis and storage in plants, and Mitochondria focus on ATP production, their basic architectural blueprint remains remarkably consistent.

 Additional Information

• Mitochondria:
• Known as the powerhouse of the cell, they are the sites of aerobic respiration.
• The inner membrane is highly folded into cristae to maximize the surface area for the Electron Transport Chain.
• Lysosomes:
• These are single-membrane bound vesicular structures formed by the Golgi apparatus.
• They contain hydrolytic enzymes (hydrolases) and function as the cell's waste disposal system or suicidal bags.
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER):
• A vast network of single-membrane tubules and sacs called cisternae.
• It is divided into Rough ER (protein synthesis) and Smooth ER (lipid synthesis and detoxification).
• Nucleus:
• Although it has a double membrane (nuclear envelope), its structure is distinct due to the presence of nuclear pores and its direct continuity with the ER.
• It houses chromatin (linear DNA) and the nucleolus, serving as the main control center of the cell.

The correct answer is 1956.

Key Points

• The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was established on September 1, 1956, after the Government of India decided to nationalize the private insurance industry.
• The legislative framework for this transition was the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, which was passed by the Parliament on June 19, 1956.
• The formation of LIC involved the merger of over 245 insurance companies and provident societies, which were previously functioning as private entities in the Indian market.
• The central objective behind the nationalization was to mobilize domestic savings for the purpose of nation-building and to provide financial security to the rural population of India at an affordable cost.

 Additional Information

• Core Attributes of LIC:
• Headquarters: The central office of LIC is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Slogan: The corporation operates under the motto 'Yogakshemam Vahamyaham', which is a Sanskrit phrase meaning 'Your welfare is our responsibility', sourced from the 9^th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
• Governance: It is a statutory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• Market Status: For nearly 44 years, LIC enjoyed a complete monopoly in the life insurance sector until the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act, 1999 opened the sector to private competitors in the year 2000.
• Investment Role: LIC is currently the largest institutional investor in India, significantly contributing to the government's Five-Year Plans and various infrastructure development initiatives.

The correct answer is Black soil.

Key Points

• Black soil, also known as Regur soil or Black Cotton Soil, is the most suitable soil type for cotton cultivation due to its unique chemical and physical properties.
• It is primarily found in the Deccan Trap region, covering states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, and is formed from the weathering of basaltic lava rocks.
• The soil is characterized by a high clay content, which provides it with an exceptional moisture-retention capacity, allowing the cotton crop to thrive even during periods of low rainfall.
• A distinctive feature of this soil is its self-ploughing nature; it develops deep fissures or cracks during the dry season, which facilitates oxygenation and aeration of the soil layers.
• Chemically, Black soil is rich in essential nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, though it is typically deficient in phosphorus and nitrogen.

 Additional Information

• Red Soil:
• Formed from crystalline igneous rocks in regions with low rainfall, such as parts of Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
• It appears red due to the high diffusion of iron oxides and is better suited for pulses and millets.
• Alluvial Soil:
• Deposited by Himalayan rivers, it is the most fertile and widespread soil in India, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• It is ideal for intensive agriculture, supporting crops like paddy, wheat, and sugarcane.
• Laterite Soil:
• Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall through the process of intense leaching.
• It is acidic and nutrient-poor but is highly effective for plantation crops like cashew nuts, tea, and coffee.

The correct answer is ₹1 lakh crore for urban redevelopment, cities as growth hubs.

Key Points

• The Urban Challenge Fund is a strategic initiative aimed at incentivizing states to undertake significant urban reforms and modernize their cities.
• As per the Union Budget 2024-25, the government has proposed an allocation of ₹1 lakh crore to support states in implementing these reforms and fostering urban redevelopment.
• The primary objective of this fund is to transform cities into growth hubs by improving urban planning, governance, and economic productivity, which are essential for achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
• Support is specifically directed toward high-impact projects such as water supply, sewerage systems, and solid waste management across several large cities through bankable projects.
• The fund encourages a competitive approach among states, rewarding those that successfully implement orderly urban growth policies and sustainable infrastructure development.

 Additional Information

• Cities as Growth Hubs:
• Refers to the development of urban centers as concentrated areas of economic activity, innovation, and employment.
• Focuses on creating social and physical infrastructure that attracts global and domestic investment to boost the national GDP.
• Urban Redevelopment:
• Involves the restoration and modernization of older city areas, including slum redevelopment and revitalizing commercial zones.
• Emphasizes Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and the efficient use of urban land to accommodate rising populations.
• Urban Reforms:
• Includes legislative and administrative changes like reforming property tax structures, updating building bylaws, and streamlining urban planning processes.

The correct answer is Religious tolerance and universal peace.

Key Points

• Sulh-i-Kul is a Persian phrase that literally translates to 'absolute peace' or 'universal peace', serving as the foundational ideology of Emperor Akbar's reign during the Mughal Empire.
• This policy was formulated to unify a socially and religiously diverse India, moving away from orthodox sectarianism toward a state policy that treated all religious communities with equal respect.
• The concept was heavily influenced by Akbar's interactions at the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in Fatehpur Sikri, where he held debates with scholars from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism.
• Abul Fazl, the court historian and author of Akbarnama, defined the ideal Mughal ruler as one who possesses farr-i-izadi (divine light) and maintains Sulh-i-Kul by ensuring no group undermines the authority of the state or the rights of others.
• The policy emphasized an ethical code focused on justice, honesty, and kindness, rather than the strict imposition of any specific religious dogma or Islamic law.

 Additional Information

• Abolition of Religious Taxes: To practicalize Sulh-i-Kul, Akbar abolished the Jizya (a tax on non-Muslim subjects) in 1564 and the Pilgrim Tax in 1563, which were previously major sources of resentment among Hindus.
• Administrative Integration:
• The policy allowed for the large-scale integration of Rajput chiefs and other non-Muslims into the high-ranking Mansabdari system of the Mughal bureaucracy.
• It shifted the loyalty of the nobility from their respective religious groups to the person of the Mughal Emperor.
• Impact on Successors: While Jahangir and Shah Jahan largely followed the principles of Sulh-i-Kul, the policy saw a significant reversal during the reign of Aurangzeb, who reintroduced the Jizya and adopted more orthodox religious stances.

The correct answer is Capital grant from central government.

Key Points

• Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India are designated duty-free enclaves treated as foreign territories for trade operations, duties, and tariffs, governed by the SEZ Act, 2005.
• To support the high capital expenditure required for developing world-class infrastructure, the central government offers capital grants and financial assistance through targeted infrastructure development schemes to eligible SEZ developers.
• These grants are aimed at facilitating the creation of essential common infrastructure, such as roads, water supply systems, power distribution networks, and waste management facilities.
• In addition to direct funding support, developers are entitled to duty-free import or domestic procurement of goods and a 10-year Income Tax exemption under Section 80-IAB of the Income Tax Act.

 Additional Information

• Tax refund on exports:
• This fiscal benefit is specifically structured for SEZ Units (the individual business entities operating inside the zone) to boost their export competitiveness under Section 10AA, rather than for the master developers of the zone.
• Subsidy on land acquisition:
• Land acquisition is primarily governed by State Governments. While state policies may facilitate land allotment, there is no standardized central subsidy provided specifically for purchasing land.
• Low-interest loans from banks:
• Although SEZ infrastructure development is granted infrastructure status to enable easier access to external commercial borrowings (ECBs) and long-term credit, banks do not offer mandated low-interest loans as a direct government incentive.

The correct answer is 2027.

Key Points

• The Census of India is the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the world, traditionally conducted every ten years to capture the demographic, social, and economic profile of the nation.
• The last successful census was conducted in 2011; however, the scheduled 2021 Census was postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting administrative challenges.
• The Government of India has indicated that the fieldwork and enumeration for the next census are now targeted for completion by February 28, 2027, effectively skipping the 2021 cycle to maintain a new decadal alignment.
• This census is of critical importance because its data will be utilized for the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies and is a prerequisite for implementing the Women’s Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam).
• The process involves two main phases: House Listing and Housing Census followed by Population Enumeration, ensuring every individual residing in the country is accounted for.

 Additional Information

• Historical Background:
• The first non-synchronous census in India was initiated in 1872 during the tenure of Lord Mayo.
• The first synchronous and comprehensive census was conducted in 1881 under Lord Ripon, and it has been held every ten years since then until the 2021 delay.
• Administrative Authority:
• The census is organized by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Digital Transition:
• The 2027 Census is expected to be India’s first Digital Census, utilizing a specially developed mobile application for data collection and a Self-Enumeration portal for citizens.
• Legal Provisions:
• The exercise is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, which provides the legal backing for data collection and guarantees the confidentiality of the information provided by the public.

The correct answer is Manda.

Key Points

• Manda is a prominent archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) located in the Akhnoor district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Geographically, it is situated on the right bank of the Chenab River in the foothills of the Pir Panjal Range, marking a significant territorial boundary.
• It is widely considered the northernmost point of the Harappan civilization within the Indian subcontinent.
• The site was excavated in 1976-77 by Jagat Pati Joshi, revealing a cultural sequence that spans from the Pre-Harappan to the Post-Harappan eras.
• Significant artifacts recovered from Manda include Harappan redware, copper double-headed pins (of Central Asian origin), terracotta cakes, and chert blades.
• The settlement provided evidence of the Mature Harappan culture overlapping with local traditions, suggesting it served as a key outpost for timber and lapis lazuli trade.

 Additional Information

• Kalibangan:
• Located in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on the banks of the Ghaggar-Hakra River.
• Notable for being the first site to provide evidence of ploughed agricultural fields and the presence of fire altars.
• Banawali:
• Situated in the Fatehabad district of Haryana.
• Famous for the discovery of a high-quality terracotta model of a plough and significant quantities of barley.
• Lothal:
• Located in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat near the Sargwala village.
• It was a major port city featuring the world's earliest known artificial dockyard connected to the Sabarmati River.