General Awareness PYQs

The correct answer is B.N. Rau.

Key Points

• Sir Benegal Narsing Rau was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly in 1946 to assist in the democratic transition and legal structuring of independent India.
• He was responsible for preparing the initial draft of the Constitution of India in October 1947, which originally contained 243 articles and 13 schedules.
• To formulate the framework, B.N. Rau traveled to the USA, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom to consult with constitutional experts and jurists, including Justice Felix Frankfurter of the US Supreme Court.
• The Drafting Committee, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, utilized B.N. Rau’s preliminary draft as the base document to refine and finalize the ultimate text of the Constitution.
• Beyond his work in India, he was an eminent jurist who also assisted in drafting the Constitution of Burma (Myanmar) in 1947 and served as a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

 Additional Information

• Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar:
• An eminent lawyer and former Advocate General of the Madras State.
• He served as a key member of the Drafting Committee and played a vital role in shaping the provisions related to Fundamental Rights.
• T.T. Krishnamachari:
• A prominent businessman and politician who was inducted into the Drafting Committee in 1948.
• He filled the vacancy created after the death of D.P. Khaitan and later served as the Union Finance Minister of India.
• K.M. Munshi:
• Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi was a lawyer and independence activist who was a member of the Drafting Committee.
• He is also known for founding the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1938 to promote Indian culture and education.

The correct answer is Administrators appointed by the President.

Key Points

• According to Article 239(1) of the Constitution of India, every Union Territory is administered by the President. This administration is conducted through an Administrator appointed by the President with a designation he specifies.
• The Administrator of a Union Territory is an agent of the President and not a constitutional head of state like a Governor. This ensures the Central Government maintains direct executive control over these specific administrative units.
• The designation of the head varies: it is Lieutenant Governor for Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. In other territories like Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the title used is Administrator.
• Even in Union Territories with a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers (like Delhi and Puducherry), the President remains the ultimate authority, exercising power through the Lieutenant Governor.

 Additional Information

• Constitutional Framework:
• Part VIII of the Constitution (Articles 239 to 241) specifically deals with the Union Territories. These units were created under the 7^th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 and the States Reorganisation Act.
• Article 240 empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress, and good government of certain territories, which have the same legal force as an Act of Parliament.
• Parliament and State Entities:
• Parliament: Under Article 246(4), Parliament has the power to legislate on any subject, including those in the State List, for the Union Territories, but it does not directly administer them.
• Governors: Governors are appointed for States under Article 153. While the President can appoint a Governor of a state as an Administrator of an adjoining Union Territory under Article 239(2), their roles remain legally distinct.
• Chief Ministers: They exist only in Union Territories where Parliament has created a Legislative Assembly (e.g., Delhi under Article 239AA and Puducherry).

The correct answer is Harvest festivals and religious ceremonies.

Key Points

• The Santhal dance is a vibrant and ancient folk dance performed by the Santhal tribe, which is one of the largest Scheduled Tribes in India, primarily settled in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar.
• This traditional dance is deeply connected to the agrarian lifestyle of the community and is predominantly performed during harvest festivals to express gratitude to the gods and nature for a successful yield.
• The most significant occasion for this dance is the Sohrai festival, celebrated in the month of October or November (after the Kharif harvest), where men and women dance together to the rhythmic beats of traditional drums.
• It is also performed during religious ceremonies such as Baha (the flower festival), which marks the spring season and the arrival of the Sal blossoms, honoring the supreme deity Marang Buru.
• The dance movements are characterized by synchronized steps where dancers form semi-circles or lines, often holding hands or waist-to-waist, symbolizing communal harmony and social cohesion.

 Additional Information

• Santhal Musical Instruments:
• Madal: A traditional two-headed drum made of clay or wood, which serves as the primary rhythmic heartbeat of the dance.
• Tiriao: A bamboo flute used to provide melodic accompaniment to the percussion.
• Dhamsa: A large kettle drum used to add depth and intensity to the performance.
• Santhal Tribe Heritage:
• They follow the Sarna religion, which is based on the worship of nature spirits and sacred groves known as Jaher.
• Their language, Santhali, is written in the Ol Chiki script, which was developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
• Other Festivals:
• Karam Festival: Observed to seek blessings for the protection of crops and the well-being of the family.
• Erok-Sim: A ritual ceremony performed during the sowing of seeds at the start of the monsoon.

The correct answer is Weddings and festivals.

Key Points

• Tippani dance is a prominent folk dance originating from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, particularly associated with the coastal towns of Chorwad and Veraval.
• The dance is traditionally performed by the women of the Koli and Bhil communities, who originally developed these rhythmic movements while working as laborers to level the ground during the construction of houses and forts.
• While it has its roots in manual labor, the performance has evolved into a celebratory art form conducted during significant social and cultural events, such as weddings and major Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali.
• The performance is characterized by the use of the Tippani stick, a long wooden pole roughly 175 cm in length with a heavy square wooden or iron block (called a Garbo) attached at the base to strike the floor.
• The dancers arrange themselves in two rows and strike the floor in a synchronized, rhythmic pattern, creating a unique sound that serves as both music and a display of physical coordination and endurance.

 Additional Information

• Instruments and Music:
• The rhythmic thumping of the Tippani is accompanied by folk instruments like the Zanz, Manjira (cymbals), Tabla, and Dhol (drum) to maintain a steady tempo.
• The Turi and Shehnai are also frequently used to provide melodic accompaniment to the percussive nature of the dance.
• Cultural Context:
• Unlike purely Religious rituals that are confined to temples, Tippani is a social dance that brings the community together in public squares or household courtyards.
• The costumes worn are traditional Gujarati attire, including the Ghagra-Choli for women, often embellished with mirrors and vibrant embroidery typical of the Saurashtra folk style.
• It is often compared to other work-related folk dances, but it stands out due to its high energy and the percussive floor-striking technique which is rare in other Indian folk traditions.

The correct answer is Central India.

Key Points

• The Satpura Range is a major mountain system located in Central India, forming a significant part of the Indian peninsula's geographic backbone.
• Geographically, it extends in an east-west direction across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• The range is situated between two major west-flowing rivers: the Narmada River to the north and the Tapti River to the south.
• It runs parallel to the Vindhya Range, and together they create a natural divide between the Indo-Gangetic Plain of Northern India and the Deccan Plateau of the south.
• The name 'Satpura' is derived from the Sanskrit words 'Sapta' (seven) and 'Pura' (mountains), signifying the seven folds or hills that constitute the range.

 Additional Information

• Geological Characteristics:
• The Satpura Range is classified as a block mountain (horst), formed due to tectonic activity that created rift valleys (graben) on either side.
• The range is composed primarily of basaltic rocks in the west, while its eastern sections are made of Gondwana formations and metamorphic rocks.
• Highest Peak and Sub-ranges:
• Dhupgarh, located in the Mahadeo Hills near the hill station of Pachmarhi, is the highest peak of the Satpura Range, standing at 1,350 meters.
• The range includes several distinct hilly tracts such as the Rajpipla Hills, Gawilgarh Hills, and the Maikal Range.
• River Systems and Biodiversity:
• The Amarkantak Plateau, where the Satpura and Vindhya ranges meet, is the source of the Narmada and Son rivers.
• The range is home to rich deciduous forests and famous tiger reserves, including Kanha National Park, Satpura National Park, and Pench National Park.

The correct answer is West Bengal.

Key Points

• The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta, also known as the Sunderbans Delta or the Bengal Delta, is the largest river delta in the world, covering an area of approximately 100,000 square kilometers.
• In the Indian subcontinent, this deltaic region is primarily situated in the state of West Bengal and the neighboring country of Bangladesh.
• The delta is formed by the confluence of the Ganga (Padma) and the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) rivers as they discharge their sediment-laden waters into the Bay of Bengal.
• It is renowned for the Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest ecosystem that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the primary habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.
• The region is characterized by high alluvial fertility, making it one of the most productive agricultural zones in South Asia, supporting large populations.

 Additional Information

• Uttar Pradesh:
• This state lies in the Upper and Middle Ganga Plains. While the Ganga flows through it, the river is in its youthful and mature stages here, far from the deltaic formation at the river mouth.
• Bihar:
• Located in the Middle Ganga Plain, Bihar acts as a major drainage basin for the Ganga and its tributaries like the Gandak and Kosi, but it is a landlocked state located upstream of the delta.
• Assam:
• Assam is the primary valley for the Brahmaputra River in India. Although the river carries massive amounts of silt through this state, the actual delta formation begins only after the river enters Bangladesh and meets the Ganga.
• Geographical Features:
• The delta is a prograding delta, meaning it is still expanding into the sea due to the heavy sediment load deposited by the rivers.
• It features a complex network of distributaries, estuaries, and tidal creeks that are critical for local fisheries and transport.

The correct answer is Shankar Dayal Sharma.

Key Points

• Shankar Dayal Sharma served as the 9^th President of India from 25 July 1992 to 25 July 1997.
• He was a distinguished legal luminary who obtained his PhD from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, and was a member of Lincoln's Inn.
• His academic excellence included teaching law at the University of Cambridge and Lucknow University, and he was also a Fellow at Harvard Law School.
• Prior to his presidency, he served as the 8^th Vice President of India (1987−1992) and as the Union Minister for Communications (1974−1977).
• He had a prolific political career, serving as the Chief Minister of Bhopal State (1952−1956) and the President of the Indian National Congress (1972−1974).
• During his five-year presidential term, he navigated a period of political transition by swearing in four different Prime Ministers: P.

V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, H. D. Deve Gowda, and I. K. Gujral.

 Additional Information

• Ramaswamy Venkataraman
• He served as the 8^th President of India from 1987 to 1992.
• He was a lawyer and independence activist who previously held the portfolios of Finance Minister and Defence Minister.
• K. R. Narayanan
• He served as the 10^th President of India from 1997 to 2002.
• He was the first member of the Dalit community to hold the office and had a distinguished career as a diplomat and Ambassador.
• Giani Zail Singh
• He served as the 7^th President of India from 1982 to 1987.
• He was the first Sikh President and previously served as the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Union Home Minister.

The correct answer is Education, Income, Life expectancy.

Key Points

• The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistical tool used to measure a country's overall achievement in its social and economic dimensions, shifting the focus from purely economic growth to human-centric development.
• It was created by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq and Indian Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and has been published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1990.
• The index is calculated using three basic dimensions: a Long and healthy life, Knowledge, and a Decent standard of living.
• The Health dimension is assessed by Life expectancy at birth, which serves as a proxy for the quality of a nation's healthcare system, nutrition, and environmental safety.
• The Knowledge or Education dimension is measured through a combination of the Mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and older and the Expected years of schooling for children of school-entering age.
• The Standard of Living is quantified using Gross National Income (GNI) per capita adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in US dollars to account for differences in the cost of living across countries.

 Additional Information

• Methodology and Scoring:
• HDI values range between 0 and 1; a score closer to 1 indicates a higher level of human development.
• Countries are categorized into four tiers: Very High (0.800 and above), High (0.700–0.799), Medium (0.550–0.699), and Low Human Development (below 0.550).
• The final index is the geometric mean of the normalized indices for each of the three dimensions, ensuring that poor performance in one area is not masked by high performance in another.
• Extended Indices:
• To address criticisms of the HDI, the UNDP introduced the Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) in 2010 to account for how achievements are distributed among the population.
• Other related metrics include the Gender Inequality Index (GII), which measures gender-based disadvantages, and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which identifies overlapping deprivations.
• While Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures economic output, HDI is considered a more holistic indicator as it incorporates social indicators like literacy and longevity.

The correct answer is Greater tilt increases seasonal contrast.

Key Points

• Axial tilt, also known as obliquity, is the angle between Earth's rotational axis and its orbital plane, currently measuring approximately 23.5 degrees.
• The tilt fluctuates between 22.1 degrees and 24.5 degrees over a cycle of roughly 41,000 years, a phenomenon identified by Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovitch.
• When the tilt is at its maximum (24.5 degrees), each hemisphere receives more direct solar radiation during its summer and significantly less during its winter, which increases seasonal contrast.
• A greater tilt results in hotter summers and colder winters because the higher latitudes are oriented more directly toward or away from the Sun during solstices.
• Conversely, a minimum tilt of 22.1 degrees leads to milder seasons; cooler summers in this phase often prevent winter snow from melting entirely, facilitating the growth of ice sheets and triggering glaciation.

 Additional Information

• Milankovitch Cycles include two other primary variations:
• Eccentricity: This refers to the shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun, which shifts from nearly circular to mildly elliptical over 100,000-year and 400,000-year cycles, affecting the total insolation received.
• Precession: Often called the Earth's 'wobble', this 26,000-year cycle changes the orientation of the axis, determining which hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun at perihelion (closest approach) or aphelion (farthest point).
• Orbital Speed: The speed at which Earth travels is governed by Kepler's Second Law and is influenced by eccentricity (distance from the Sun), not the tilt of the axis.
• Magnetic Field: Earth's magnetism is generated by the geodynamo effect in the outer core and is independent of the orbital obliquity cycles.

The correct answer is Indo-French Colonial.

Key Points

• The French Quarter of Puducherry, historically known as Ville Blanche (White Town), is globally recognized for its Indo-French Colonial architecture, a unique blend of 18^th-century European designs and local Indian structural adaptations.
• The area is characterized by a Cartesian grid street layout, a common feature of French urban planning, where streets intersect at right angles, providing an organized and airy atmosphere.
• Buildings typically feature high compound walls and monumental arched gateways that lead into private courtyards, which were designed to provide privacy and natural cooling in a tropical climate.
• The aesthetic is defined by lime-plastered walls painted in a palette of yellow ochre, mustard, and white, which reflect the sunlight and help maintain a cooler internal temperature.
• Architectural details include tall windows with wooden louvered shutters (persiennes), wide verandahs, and ornamental cornices, showcasing a synthesis of French elegance and practical regional design.

 Additional Information

• Gothic Revival:
• While not the primary style of the quarter, it is seen in religious landmarks like the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, featuring pointed arches and stained glass.
• Neoclassical Style:
• This style influenced many institutional buildings in Pondicherry, such as Raj Nivas and the Old Court Building, characterized by columns, pediments, and symmetrical facades.
• Tamil Quarter (Ville Noire):
• Located across the Canal, this area features vernacular Tamil architecture with Thinnais (raised street porches) and carved wooden pillars, which occasionally adopted French decorative motifs over time.
• Preservation:
• The INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) has played a significant role in restoring these colonial heritage buildings to maintain the city's historical identity.

The correct answer is constellation.

Key Points

• Orion is one of the most prominent and recognizable constellations in the night sky, characterized by its location on the celestial equator, which makes it visible globally.
• Named after a giant hunter in Greek mythology, it is commonly referred to as The Hunter and is listed as one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
• The constellation is most easily identified by Orion's Belt, an asterism formed by three bright stars: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka.
• It contains two of the ten brightest stars in the sky: Rigel (a blue supergiant) and Betelgeuse (a red supergiant).
• It also houses the Orion Nebula (M42), a massive region of dust and gas where new stars are being born, visible even to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch.

 Additional Information

• Star:
• A massive, luminous ball of plasma held together by gravity, undergoing nuclear fusion in its core. While Orion contains stars like Saiph and Bellatrix, the name Orion refers to the entire group.
• Planet:
• A celestial body that orbits a star, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to make it spherical, and has cleared its neighborhood of other objects, such as Venus or Jupiter.
• Satellite:
• An object that orbits a planet or another body larger than itself. This includes natural satellites like the Moon and artificial satellites launched for telecommunications or research.

The correct answer is 1987.

Key Points

• The 1987 Cricket World Cup, officially designated as the Reliance Cup 1987, was the fourth edition of the premier international cricket tournament.
• It marked a historic shift as the first Cricket World Cup to be held outside of England, which had hosted the first three editions in 1975, 1979, and 1983.
• The tournament was joint-hosted by India and Pakistan, with matches played across various venues in both nations.
• A major technical change introduced in this edition was the reduction of innings length from 60 overs to 50 overs per side, a standard that continues in One Day International (ODI) cricket today.
• The final match was held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where Australia secured their first world title by defeating England by 7 runs.

 Additional Information

• 1975 Cricket World Cup:
• This was the inaugural edition of the tournament, hosted exclusively by England.
• Matches were played in a 60-over format using red balls and traditional white clothing.
• The West Indies emerged as the first-ever champions by defeating Australia in the final.
• 1983 Cricket World Cup:
• Held in England and Wales, this edition saw India win their first World Cup trophy.
• Under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, India defeated the two-time defending champions, the West Indies, in a low-scoring final at Lord's.
• 1996 Cricket World Cup:
• Also known as the Wills World Cup, it was the second time India hosted the event.
• It was co-hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with Sri Lanka winning their maiden title by beating Australia in Lahore.

The correct answer is Wilhelm Steinitz.

Key Points

• Wilhelm Steinitz, an Austrian-American chess master, is recognized as the first official World Chess Champion.
• He earned this title in 1886 after defeating Johannes Zukertort in a match specifically organized to determine the world champion.
• The match took place between January and April 1886 across three major American cities: New York, St. Louis, and New Orleans.
• Steinitz held the title for eight consecutive years until 1894, when he was eventually defeated by Emanuel Lasker.
• He is often called the father of modern chess because he developed the positional theory, which replaced the aggressive Romantic style of play with a more strategic, defensive approach based on pawn structures and small advantages.

 Additional Information

• Bobby Fischer:
• An American Grandmaster who became the 11^th World Chess Champion in 1972.
• He defeated Boris Spassky in a historic match in Reykjavik, ending decades of Soviet chess dominance.
• Garry Kasparov:
• A Russian legend who became the 13^th World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22.
• He is widely considered one of the greatest players in history and held the world number one ranking for a record-breaking 255 months.
• Paul Morphy:
• A 19^th-century American chess prodigy who was the strongest player of the 1850s.
• While he defeated every major opponent of his era, he is regarded as an unofficial world champion because the official title had not yet been established.

The correct answer is Involuntary action.

Key Points

• Involuntary actions are biological processes or movements that occur without the conscious control or will of an individual.
• The heartbeat is classified as an involuntary action because it is performed automatically by the body to ensure continuous blood circulation, requiring no deliberate thought.
• These functions are primarily regulated by the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which manages internal organ operations.
• The Medulla Oblongata, situated in the hindbrain, acts as the primary control center for regulating the heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
• The rhythmic contraction of the heart is initiated by the Sinoatrial (SA) node, often referred to as the natural pacemaker, located in the right atrium.

 Additional Information

• Reflex Action
• This is a rapid, spontaneous response to a stimulus, such as the knee-jerk reflex or blinking of eyes.
• It is usually controlled by the spinal cord to protect the body from immediate harm.
• Voluntary Action
• These actions are under the direct control of the cerebrum and involve conscious decision-making.
• Examples include writing, cycling, and dancing.
• Cardiac Muscles
• The heart is composed of unique striated muscles that are myogenic in nature, meaning they can initiate contraction without external nerve impulses.
• These muscles never fatigue, allowing the heart to beat approximately 72 times per minute throughout a person's lifetime.

The correct answer is Waste disposal.

Key Points

• Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicular structures formed by the process of packaging in the Golgi apparatus.
• They serve as the waste disposal system of the cell by digesting foreign materials, such as bacteria and food, as well as worn-out cell organelles.
• These organelles contain a variety of hydrolytic enzymes (including lipases, proteases, and carbohydrases) that are capable of breaking down all major classes of biological macromolecules.
• The enzymes within a lysosome are optimally active at an acidic pH (approximately 4.5 to 5.0), which is maintained by proton pumps in the lysosomal membrane.
• In the event of cellular damage or malfunction, lysosomes may burst, leading to the autolysis or self-digestion of the cell; for this reason, they are famously known as the suicide bags of the cell.

 Additional Information

• Energy production:
• This is the primary role of the mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell.
• Mitochondria produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) through the process of oxidative phosphorylation during cellular respiration.
• Protein synthesis:
• This process is carried out by ribosomes, which can be found floating freely in the cytoplasm or attached to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER).
• The nucleolus within the nucleus is responsible for the synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
• Storage of lipids:
• The Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) is the major site for the synthesis and storage of lipids and steroid hormones.
• In specialized animal cells, lipids are stored in large quantities within adipocytes (fat cells) in the form of triglycerides.

The correct answer is Chilika Lake.

Key Points

• Chilika Lake, located in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India, is the largest brackish water lagoon in India and the second largest in the world.
• It spreads across the Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam districts at the mouth of the Daya River, covering an area that fluctuates between 900 and 1,165 square kilometers during different seasons.
• In 1981, it was designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention due to its rich biodiversity.
• The lake serves as a massive wintering ground for migratory birds traveling from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, and other remote regions of Central and South-East Asia.
• It is one of the few places in the world where the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins can be spotted, particularly near the Satapada island area.

 Additional Information

• Vembanad Lake:
• Located in Kerala, it is recognized as the longest lake in India.
• It is the venue for the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race and is a major hub for backwater tourism.
• Pulicat Lake:
• Straddling the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, it is the second largest brackish water lake in India.
• The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is situated on the Sriharikota Island, which separates this lake from the Bay of Bengal.
• Sambhar Lake:
• Situated in Rajasthan near Jaipur, it is India's largest inland saltwater lake.
• It is a significant source of salt production and a designated Ramsar site, known for attracting large populations of flamingos.

The correct answer is Australia.

Key Points

• In November 2024, the Australian Parliament officially passed a historic and world-first law that prohibits children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.
• The legislation, titled the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, aims to mitigate the negative impacts of digital platforms on the mental health and physical safety of young people.
• Under this law, the burden of enforcement lies entirely with the social media companies (such as Meta, TikTok, X, and Snapchat) rather than the parents or the children themselves.
• The law does not provide any exemptions for parental consent, making it one of the most stringent digital regulations globally.
• Companies that fail to demonstrate systemic compliance in preventing underage access can face massive financial penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $32.5 million USD).

 Additional Information

• Implementation Details:
• The law includes a 12-month grace period for tech platforms to develop and implement robust age-verification mechanisms before enforcement begins.
• The eSafety Commissioner of Australia will oversee the regulatory framework and provide guidance to platforms on meeting the required standards of online safety.
• Exemptions and Scope:
• Certain services, including YouTube, WhatsApp, and educational platforms, are expected to be exempt to ensure continued access to educational content and private messaging.
• The policy focuses on platforms characterized by algorithmic feeds and social networking features that are deemed most addictive or harmful to minors$.

The correct answer is 1767-69.

Key Points

• The First Anglo-Mysore War was a major military conflict in India that took place between 1767 and 1769.
• It was fought between the Kingdom of Mysore, under the leadership of Hyder Ali, and the British East India Company.
• The war was preceded by a tripartite alliance formed in 1766 involving the British, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Marathas against Mysore.
• Hyder Ali successfully broke the alliance through strategic diplomacy, convincing the Marathas to withdraw and the Nizam to switch sides and support Mysore against the British.
• In a decisive move, Hyder Ali reached the outskirts of Madras (now Chennai), threatening the British headquarters and forcing them to negotiate.
• The conflict concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Madras on April 4, 1769, which was a defensive alliance ensuring the mutual return of conquered territories and assistance in case of a third-party attack.

 Additional Information

• The struggle for supremacy in South India continued through three more wars:
• Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784): Sparked by the British capture of Mahe; it ended with the Treaty of Mangalore after the death of Hyder Ali.
• Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792): Fought between Tipu Sultan and the British under Lord Cornwallis, resulting in the Treaty of Seringapatam and Mysore losing half its territory.
• Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799): Initiated by Lord Wellesley, this final conflict ended with the fall of Seringapatam and the death of Tipu Sultan, leading to the restoration of the Wodeyar dynasty under British Subsidiary Alliance.

The correct answer is Indian National Congress.

Key Points

• The 1946 Provincial Elections were a pivotal moment in the history of British India, held to determine the composition of the provincial legislatures and the Constituent Assembly.
• The Indian National Congress secured a massive victory in the General constituencies, winning nearly 90.5% of the non-Muslim votes and establishing its dominance across the majority of provinces.
• This landslide performance enabled the Congress to form ministries in eight out of the eleven provinces, including Madras, Bombay, United Provinces, Bihar, Orissa, and the Central Provinces.
• The election results confirmed a polarized mandate where the Congress represented the general electorate and the Muslim League secured the vast majority of the reserved Muslim seats.
• The 1946 elections were conducted under the Government of India Act of 1935, which provided for a limited franchise based on property, tax, and educational qualifications, covering about 13% of the adult population.

 Additional Information

• Muslim League:
• Under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the party won 425 out of 492 seats reserved for Muslims, effectively validating their demand for a separate state of Pakistan.
• Communist Party of India (CPI):
• The CPI contested the 1946 elections separately from the Congress for the first time but performed poorly, managing to win only 8 seats across all provincial assemblies.
• Justice Party:
• Based primarily in the Madras Presidency, this party advocated for non-Brahmin rights but had lost its political relevance by 1946, having been largely absorbed by the Dravidar Kazhagam movement.
• Swaraj Party:
• Founded in 1923 by Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das to enter the legislative councils, the party had ceased to function as an independent political entity long before the 1946 elections.

The correct answer is Indira Gandhi.

Key Points

• Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was the first woman to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in the year 1971.
• She served as the Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and a fourth term from 1980 until 1984, making her the first and only woman to hold the office.
• The award was bestowed upon her by the then President **V.

V. Giri** following India’s decisive victory in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which facilitated the liberation of Bangladesh.

• During her tenure, she oversaw landmark events such as the nationalization of 14 major commercial banks in 1969 and the first nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, at Pokhran in 1974.
• The Bharat Ratna was established in 1954 to recognize exceptional service or performance of the highest order in various fields of human endeavor.

 Additional Information

• Mother Mary Teresa:
• She was the first naturalized Indian citizen to receive the Bharat Ratna in 1980 for her humanitarian work with the Missionaries of Charity.
• She had previously won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her efforts in overcoming poverty and distress.
• Aruna Asaf Ali:
• Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997, she is widely celebrated as the Heroine of 1942 for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement.
• Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar:
• The legendary singer was honored with the award in 2001 for her unparalleled contribution to Indian music and arts.
• She was frequently referred to as the Nightingale of India and won three National Film Awards.
• M. S. Subbulakshmi:
• In 1998, she became the first-ever musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, paving the way for other performing artists to receive this high civilian honor.