Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Finance Commission.

Key Points

• The Finance Commission is a constitutional body established by the President of India under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.
• Its primary mandate is to define the financial relations between the Central Government and the State Governments, ensuring a balanced distribution of resources.
• The commission provides critical recommendations on the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States, a process known as vertical devolution.
• It also determines the principles for horizontal devolution, which is the allocation of tax proceeds among the various State Governments based on specific criteria like population, area, and fiscal capacity.
• Furthermore, it specifies the principles governing grants-in-aid to the States from the Consolidated Fund of India under Article 275.
• The First Finance Commission was constituted in 1951 under the chairmanship of K.C. Neogy, and typically, a new commission is formed every five years.

 Additional Information

• NITI Aayog:
• Established on January 1, 2015, it replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission.
• It serves as the premier policy think-tank of the Government of India, fostering cooperative federalism through a bottom-up approach.
• Unlike the Finance Commission, it does not possess the power to allocate or distribute funds to state governments.
• Planning Commission:
• Formed in 1950 as a non-constitutional and non-statutory body to formulate Five-Year Plans.
• It was responsible for central planning and resource allocation before being dissolved in 2014.
• Parliament:
• The supreme legislative body of India, comprising the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha.
• It holds the authority to enact laws and pass the Union Budget, but it relies on the technical recommendations of the Finance Commission for tax sharing mechanisms.

The correct answer is President.

Key Points

• The Finance Commission is a quasi-judicial and constitutional body established by the President of India under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.
• According to Article 280(1), the President is responsible for constituting the commission every five years or at such earlier time as he or she considers necessary.
• The commission consists of a Chairman and four other members, all of whom are officially appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• The Chairman must be a person having experience in public affairs, while the other members are selected from among people who are High Court judges, have specialized knowledge of finance and accounts, or have wide experience in financial matters and economics.
• The primary function of the body is to provide recommendations to the President regarding the distribution of tax proceeds between the Union and the States and the principles governing grants-in-aid.

 Additional Information

• Parliamentary Role:
• While the President appoints the members, Article 280(2) grants Parliament the power to determine the qualifications and the manner of selection of the members.
• This led to the enactment of the Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, which defines the eligibility criteria for the Chairman and members.
• Historical Context:
• The First Finance Commission was established in 1951 under the chairmanship of K.C. Neogy.
• The 15^th Finance Commission was chaired by N.K. Singh, and its recommendations cover the period up to 2025-26.
• The 16^th Finance Commission has recently been constituted with Arvind Panagariya as its Chairman.
• Reporting Mechanism:
• Under Article 281, the President must lay the recommendations of the Finance Commission, along with an explanatory memorandum on the action taken, before each House of Parliament.

The correct answer is Holi.

Key Points

• The Gaur dance is a world-renowned tribal folk dance performed by the Bison Horn Maria tribe, who primarily reside in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
• This dance is predominantly performed during the spring festival of Holi (also known as Phagun) to celebrate the bounty of nature and the community's hunting traditions.
• The name of the dance is derived from the Gaur (Indian Bison), which is considered a symbol of strength and vitality by the tribe.
• Male performers wear a magnificent headdress made of bison horns, decorated with tufts of feathers and cowrie shells, mimicking the movements and spirit of a charging bull.
• The dance is characterized by energetic movements, rhythmic footwork, and the thunderous sound of large Dhol drums, which represent the heartbeat of the forest.

 Additional Information

• Maria Tribe:
• They are a major sub-group of the Gond community and are known for their distinct Ghotul system and rich artistic heritage.
• The Bison Horn Maria are specifically distinguished by their unique ritualistic use of animal horns in ceremonies.
• Significance of Other Festivals:
• Diwali: Known as the festival of lights, it is a pan-Indian festival but is not the primary occasion for the traditional Gaur dance.
• Navratri: This nine-night festival is dedicated to the Goddess Durga and is more famous for the Garba and Dandiya dances in Gujarat.
• Baisakhi: It is a major harvest and religious festival celebrated in Punjab and Haryana, marking the formation of the Khalsa Panth in 1699.
• Cultural Instruments: The performance relies heavily on traditional instruments like the Mandri, Tirududi (musical sticks), and brass flutes to maintain a high-energy tempo throughout the night.

The correct answer is Guru Granth Sahib.

Key Points

• Hola Mohalla is a prominent Sikh festival celebrated annually, typically in the month of March, one day after the Hindu festival of Holi.
• The festival was initiated by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701 at Anandpur Sahib to transform the peaceful celebration of Holi into a display of martial spirit and military prowess.
• The Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism, is the focal point of the celebrations; its verses are recited through Akhand Path (continuous reading) and Kirtan (devotional singing) throughout the event.
• During the festivities, Nihang Sikhs perform traditional martial arts known as Gatka, engage in mock battles, and demonstrate equestrian skills, all while maintaining the spiritual atmosphere through the recitation of Gurbani.

 Additional Information

• Guru Granth Sahib:
• It was first compiled as the Adi Granth by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in 1604 and later finalized by Guru Gobind Singh, who designated it as the eternal Guru.
• It contains 1,430 pages (Angs) and includes the teachings of six Sikh Gurus and various medieval saints like Kabir and Baba Farid.
• Bhagavad Gita:
• A sacred Hindu scripture consisting of 700 verses, it forms a part of the Indian epic Mahabharata and features a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
• Quran:
• The central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the verbatim word of God (Allah) as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
• Bible:
• The holy scripture of Christianity, comprised of the Old Testament and the New Testament, detailing the history of the faith and the life of Jesus Christ.

The correct answer is When it is in the direction of velocity.

Key Points

• Acceleration is defined as the rate at which an object changes its velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it possesses both magnitude and direction.
• The standard unit for measuring acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²).
• Acceleration is considered positive when the change in velocity occurs in the same direction as the motion of the object. This typically results in the object speeding up.
• Mathematically, if the final velocity (v) is greater than the initial velocity (u) over a time period (t), the acceleration (a = (v − u) / t) yields a positive value.
• When the acceleration vector and the velocity vector point in the same direction, the magnitude of the velocity increases, confirming a positive acceleration relative to the direction of travel.

 Additional Information

• Negative Acceleration (Retardation):
• This occurs when the acceleration acts in the opposite direction to the velocity of the object.
• In such cases, the object slows down or undergoes deceleration. For example, applying brakes to a moving car produces negative acceleration.
• Zero Acceleration:
• An object has zero acceleration when it is at rest or moving with a constant velocity in a straight line.
• If there is no change in speed or direction, the acceleration is null.
• Directional Sign Conventions:
• The sign of acceleration (+ or −) depends on the chosen coordinate system.
• An object moving in a negative direction (e.g., left) that is slowing down actually has positive acceleration because the acceleration vector points in the positive direction (right) to oppose the motion.

The correct answer is Mary Shelley.

Key Points

• Mary Shelley was an English novelist who wrote the iconic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which was first published in 1818.
• The novel is frequently categorized as a masterpiece of Gothic horror and is widely regarded by scholars as the first true work of science fiction.
• The story was famously conceived during a competition to write ghost stories in 1816 at Villa Diodati in Switzerland, where Mary was staying with Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron.
• The plot centers on Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who animates a creature made from scavenged body parts, leading to an exploration of scientific responsibility and existential despair.

 Additional Information

• Bram Stoker
• An Irish author celebrated for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula, which significantly shaped the modern vampire mythology in literature and film.
• H.G. Wells
• An English writer known as one of the 'fathers of science fiction' for his visionary works including The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
• Robert Louis Stevenson
• A Scottish novelist and poet famous for his psychological thriller Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and the adventure classic Treasure Island (1883).

The correct answer is Efficiency of the judicial system in resolving commercial disputes.

Key Points

• The Enforcing Contracts indicator is a core component of the World Bank Group's Ease of Doing Business (EODB) index, which evaluates the efficiency of the judicial system in handling commercial litigation.
• It measures the time and cost for resolving a commercial dispute through a local first-instance court, based on a standardized case study of a sales contract dispute between two domestic businesses.
• The Time metric calculates the duration in calendar days from the moment the plaintiff files the lawsuit until the final enforcement of judgment or actual payment.
• The Cost metric is expressed as a percentage of the claim value and includes court fees, attorney fees, and enforcement costs required to complete the litigation process.
• It also features a Quality of Judicial Processes Index, which uses a 0-18 scale to assess court structure, case management, court automation, and the availability of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• A high ranking indicates that an economy has a transparent, predictable, and efficient legal framework, which reduces uncertainty and risks for entrepreneurs and investors.

 Additional Information

• Other key indicators within the Doing Business framework include:
• Paying Taxes: Measures the total tax rate, time taken to comply with tax laws, and the complexity of post-filing processes like audits or refunds.
• Labor Market Regulation: Analyzes the flexibility of employment contracts, including regulations on hiring, working hours, and severance pay.
• Resolving Insolvency: Focuses on the efficiency and outcome of bankruptcy proceedings, measuring recovery rates and the strength of the insolvency framework.
• Registering Property: Tracks the number of procedures, time, and cost involved in transferring a land title from one company to another.
• In 2021, the World Bank announced the discontinuation of the Doing Business report, replacing it with a more comprehensive project titled Business Ready (B-READY).

The correct answer is Helsinki, 1983.

Key Points

• The inaugural World Athletics Championships were held in Helsinki, Finland, between August 7 and August 14, 1983.
• The event was organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which is now known as World Athletics.
• The primary venue for the competition was the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, which had previously hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics.
• This championship marked a significant shift in track and field history, as it was the first time a standalone global competition was conducted independently of the Olympic Games.
• A total of 1,333 athletes from 153 nations participated, competing across 41 sports events, including 24 for men and 17 for women.
• The United States emerged as the most successful nation in terms of the medal tally, securing 24 medals, including 8 golds, with the Soviet Union and East Germany following closely.
• American sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis was the standout athlete of the meet, winning three gold medals in the 100 meters, long jump, and the 4×100 meters relay.

 Additional Information

• The World Athletics Championships followed a quadrennial cycle (every four years) until 1991, after which it transitioned to a biennial cycle (every two years).
• Rome, 1987:
• This was the second edition of the championships held at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy.
• It featured 43 events and saw the introduction of the 10,000 meters and 10 km walk for women.
• Tokyo, 1991:
• The third edition was hosted in Japan and is widely remembered for Mike Powell breaking Bob Beamon's long-standing long jump world record with a leap of 8.95 meters.
• Stuttgart, 1993:
• The fourth edition took place in Germany (the option mentions Berlin, but the 1993 event was actually in Stuttgart).
• It was the first championship where the biennial schedule was fully implemented.

The correct answer is 58 days.

Key Points

• To find the time taken for the journey, we use the fundamental kinematic formula: Time = Distance ÷ Speed.
• The distance to be covered is 1 Astronomical Unit (AU), which is defined as approximately 150,000,000 kilometers.
• The constant speed of the spacecraft is provided as 30 km/s.
• First, calculate the total time in seconds: 150,000,000 km ÷ 30 km/s = 5,000,000 seconds.
• To convert this duration into a more standard unit like days, we determine the number of seconds in one day: 24 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds = 86,400 seconds.
• Finally, divide the total seconds by the seconds per day: 5,000,000 ÷ 86,400 ≈ 57.87 days.
• When rounded to the nearest whole number, the duration equals 58 days.

 Additional Information

• Astronomical Unit (AU)
• It serves as a standard unit of measurement in astronomy to describe distances within the Solar System.
• It represents the mean distance between the center of the Earth and the center of the Sun, approximately 93 million miles.
• Relative Speeds in Space
• A speed of 30 km/s is comparable to the orbital velocity of Earth, which moves at about 29.78 km/s around the Sun.
• In comparison, light travels at 299,792 km/s, meaning it takes only about 8 minutes and 20 seconds for sunlight to reach Earth.
• Man-made probes like the Voyager 1 travel at roughly 17 km/s, whereas the Parker Solar Probe has reached record-breaking speeds exceeding 150 km/s during its solar approach.

The correct answer is 2021.

Key Points

• India officially assumed the BRICS Chairship from the Russian Federation on January 1, 2021.
• The year 2021 marked the third time India headed the group, after previously holding the presidency in 2012 and 2016.
• Under its chairship, India hosted the 13^th BRICS Summit on September 9, 2021, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a virtual format.
• The chairship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) rotates annually among the members in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S; thus, Russia handed over the baton to India.
• The primary theme selected by India for its 2021 tenure was 'BRICS @ 15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus'.

 Additional Information

• BRICS Formation and Evolution:
• The grouping was originally formed as BRIC following a meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006.
• It was expanded to BRICS in 2010 with the formal induction of South Africa during the Sanya Summit in China.
• The BRICS nations together represent about 41 percent of the global population, 24 percent of the global GDP, and over 16 percent of global trade share.
• One of the most significant achievements of the group is the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, which was formalized during the 6^th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil (2014).
• The grouping serves as a platform for South-South cooperation and seeks to reform multilateral institutions like the United Nations and the IMF to reflect contemporary global realities.