General Awareness PYQs

The correct answer is Adayar 

Key Points

• The Theosophy Society was founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875.
• The designation 'Adyar' is sometimes added to the name to make it clear that this is the Theosophical Society headquartered there, after the American section and some other lodges separated from it in 1895, under William Quan Judge.
• In 1882, its headquarters moved with Blavatsky and president Henry Steel Olcott from New York to Adyar, an area of Chennai (Madras).
• The society's philosophy is based on three principles: 
• Universal brotherhood
• The study of comparative religion and philosophy
• Investigations into the natural laws ​

Additional Information The Theosophical Society

• The Theosophical Society, founded in 1875, is a worldwide body with the aim to advance the ideas of Theosophy in continuation of previous Theosophists, especially the Greek and Alexandrian Neo-Platonic philosophers dating back to the 3^rd century CE.
• The Bengal Theosophical Society and the Bombay Theosophical Society were established in India.

The correct answer is 2023

Key Points

• The first edition of the Indian Women's Premier League (WPL) was held in March 2023.
• The Mumbai Indians won the inaugural title.
• The WPL is a women's Twenty20 cricket franchise league in India.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) owns and operates the WPL.
• The WPL was created to promote women's cricket in India and give talented players a chance to show off their skills.
• The Mumbai Indians defeated the Delhi Capitals in the championship game to win the first season.

Additional Information

• The first edition of the Men Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament was held in the year 2008.
• The IPL is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India, founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• The league has gained immense popularity and has become one of the most-watched cricket leagues in the world.
• The inaugural season of the IPL featured eight teams representing different cities in India.
• The league format includes a round-robin group stage followed by playoffs and a final match to determine the champion.

The correct answer is Maharashtra

Key Points

• According to the 2011 Census of India, Maharashtra had the highest number of slum dwellers in the country, followed by Andhra Pradesh
• In 2011, Maharashtra had 11.8 million slum dwellers, which was 18.1% of the country's total slum population.
• In 2011, Andhra Pradesh had 10.2 million slum dwellers.
• In total, India had 6.55 crore slum dwellers in 2011.

Additional Information

• A census is a procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population.
• This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing census.
• The decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011.
• First synchronised census in India took place in 1881.
• Since 1901, it has been taking place every decade.

The correct answer is Between two point charges

Key Points

• Coulomb's law is applicable for Between two point charges

• Coulomb’s law: When two charged particles of charges q1 and q2 are separated by a distance r from each other then the electrostatic force between them is directly proportional to the multiplication of charges of two particles and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

• Force (F) ∝ q1 × q2

• \(F \propto \frac{1}{{{r^2}}}\)

• \(F = K\frac{{{q_1} \times {q_2}}}{{{r^2}}}\)

• Where K is a constant = 9 × 109 Nm2/C

• Coulomb’s Law talks about the magnitude of the attraction between the two charges.

• It says that the force is directly proportional to the product of the quantity of the two charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them

Additional Information

• There are three conditions to be fulfilled for the validity of Coulomb's inverse square law:
• The charges must have a spherically symmetric distribution (e.g. be point charges, or a charged metal sphere).
• The charges must not overlap (e.g. they must be distinct point charges).
• The charges must be stationary with respect to a nonaccelerating frame of reference.
• The last of these is known as the electrostatic approximation. When movement takes place, an extra factor is introduced, which alters the force produced on the two objects. This extra part of the force is called the magnetic force.

The correct answer is Mg(OH)2

Key Points

• The correct chemical formula of the compound Magnesium Hydroxide is Mg(OH)₂​
• Magnesium hydroxide is a compound made of two components:
• Magnesium (Mg) – a metal from Group 2 of the periodic table.
• It has a valency of +2 (because it loses two electrons to become stable).
• Hydroxide (OH) – a polyatomic ion.
• It has a valency of -1 (because it gains one electron).
• To form a neutral compound, the total positive charges must balance the total negative charges.

Additional Information Other Compounds and Their chemical Formulae

The correct answer is The major component of the bacterial cell wall is peptidoglycan or murein.

Key Points

• The correct statement about the bacterial cell wall is that the major component is peptidoglycan or murein.
• Peptidoglycan is a polymer made of sugars and amino acids.
• It's also known as murein.
• The peptidoglycan sacculus is a bag-shaped structure that surrounds the cytoplasmic membrane.
• It's made of glycan strands that are cross-linked by short peptides.
• Bacterial cell walls are different from the cell walls of plants and fungi, which are made of cellulose and chitin, respectively.

Additional Information

• The bacterial cell wall protects the cell, maintains its shape, and allows the cell to grow, move, and reproduce.
• It also helps the cell resist osmotic pressure and environmental changes.
• The cell wall protects the cell from osmotic lysis and sudden environmental changes.
• The cell wall resists osmotic pressure, which can be up to 30 atm.
• The cell wall mediates bacterial interactions with abiotic surfaces.

The correct answer is Kiran Desai.

Key Points

• Kiran Desai is an Indian author who was born in New Delhi in 1971.
• She is the daughter of Anita Desai, who is also a well-known author.
• 'The Inheritance of Loss' is a novel written by Kiran Desai and was published in 2006.
• The novel won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in the same year.
• The novel tells the story of an Indian judge living in Kalimpong, a town in the Himalayan foothills, and his granddaughter who comes to live with him.
• The story deals with themes of identity, exile, and the clash of cultures.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Muhammad Tughluq.

Key Points

• Muhammad Tughluq had the Begumpuri mosque constructed as the primary mosque for Jahanpanah, the "Sanctuary of the World," his new city in Delhi.
• One of the biggest mosques in the city is called Begampuri Masjid, and it is situated close to Aurobindo Ashram on Sri Aurobindo road in Begampur, close to Delhi.
• Khan-i-Jahan, the son of Muqbal Khan, the Prime Minister of Firuz Shah, constructed it in the 12^th century.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–51), the Delhi Sultan, founded the fourth mediaeval city of Delhi in the years 1326-1327.

Additional Information 

• From February 1325 until his death, Muhammad ibn Tughlaq served as the Delhi Sultanate's eighteenth ruler.
• He was Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq's (the Tughlaq dynasty's founder) eldest son.
• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, who ruled the Sultanate of Delhi from 1320 to 1325, was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty in India.
• Tughluqabad was the city he founded.
• The ninth ruler of Delhi's Mamluk dynasty was Ghiyas ud din Balban.
• The Ghurid monarch Muhammad Ghori's general was Qutb ud-Din Aibak.

The correct answer is Nagara style

Key Points

• 'Nagara' temples typically have a North Indian style of architecture.
• Nagara or North Indian Temple Style:
• Nagara (in North India) is associated with the land between the Himalayas and Vindhyas.
• The Nagara style is associated with the land between the Himalayas and Vindhyas, the Dravida style with the land between the Krishna and Kaveri rivers, while the Vesara style is sometimes associated with the area between the Vindhyas and the Krishna river.
• In North India, it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it.
• It does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.
• While the earliest temples had just one tower or shikhara, later temples had several.
• The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
• There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara.
• The second major type of architectural form in the nagara order is the phamsana, which tends to be broader and shorter than the Latina ones.
• Their roofs are composed of several slabs that gently rise to a single point over the centre of the building, unlike the Latina ones which look like sharply rising tall towers.
• The third main sub-type of the nagara building is generally called the valabhi type.
• These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber.

Additional Information

• Three main styles of temple architecture are the Nagara or the Northern style, the Dravida or the Southern style, and the Vesara or Mixed style. But at the same time, there are also some regional styles.
• A number of architectural texts known as the Shilpashastras were written in early medieval times. These refer to three major styles of temple architecture, Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara.
• Dravida Or South Indian Temple Style:
• Unlike the nagara temple, the Dravida temple is enclosed by a compound wall.
• The front wall has an entrance gateway in its centre, which is known as a gopuram.
• The shape of the main temple tower known as vimana in Tamil Nadu is like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically rather than the curving shikhara of North India.
• It is common to find a large water reservoir, or a temple tank, enclosed within the complex.
• Subsidiary shrines are either incorporated within the main temple tower or located as distinct, separate small shrines beside the main temple.
• Kanchipuram, Thanjavur or Tanjore, Madurai, and Kumbakonam are the most famous temple towns of Tamil Nadu, where, during the 8^th-12^th centuries, the role of the temple was not limited to religious matters alone.

The correct answer is Arundhati Roy.

Key Points

• Arundhati Roy is the author of the book "The God of Small Things".
• This novel won the Booker Prize and has been translated into more than forty languages.
• In the novel The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy is aiming to
• Portray the differences that the Indian society casts upon its people because of being born under different circumstances; the rights you are supposed to have as a human no matter, the gender or class you are from, and for the sole reason of being a human.
• Arundhati Roy also has published several books of nonfiction including
• The End of Imagination, Capitalism: A Ghost Story, and The Doctor and the Saint.
• She is also the author of The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, AZADI: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction, My Seditious Heart.
• She is also a political activist involved in human rights and environmental causes.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Chennai

Key Points

• The 44^th Chess Olympiad was held in Chennai, India from July 28 to August 9, 2022.
• This was the first time India hosted the Chess Olympiad. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin unveiled the official logo and mascot of the 44^th Chess Olympiad, which will take place from July 28 to August 10 in Mamallapuram.
• Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin released the official logo and mascot 'Thambi' (younger brother in Tamil).
• The mascot 'Thambi' is a knight dressed in the traditional Tamil attire veshti (Dhoti) with a shirt and is seen with folded hands, apparently extending the Tamil greeting 'Vanakkam'.
• The words 'Chess Believe' are seen on its shirt.
• As per the officials, the competition has already received a record 343 teams in the open and women's sections from 187 countries.
• World Chess body FIDE is planning to have the first Olympic-style Torch Relay in India as they believe there is no place better as this is where the game originated.

Additional Information: International Chess Federation or  FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs)

The correct answer is New Delhi.

Key Points

• The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the apex national sports body of India for the development of sport in India.
• It was established in 1984.
• Its parent agency is the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and Sports.
• SAI has 2 Sports Academic institutions, 11 SAI Regional Centres, 14 Centre of Excellence (COE/COX), 56 Sports Training Centres, and 20 Special Area Games (SAG).

Additional Information

• List of National Organizations and their Headquarters

The correct answer is the 1975

Key Points

• The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme launched on 2 October 1975, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme represents one of the world’s largest and unique programs for early childhood care and development.
• It is the foremost symbol of the country’s commitment to its children and nursing mothers.
• The beneficiaries under the Scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

Additional Information

• Objectives of ICDS
• To enhance children’s nutritional and health status between the ages of 0 and 6 years.
• To create the groundwork for the child’s healthy psychological, physical, and social growth.
• To minimize the occurrence of death, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropout.
• To create excellent policy and execution coordination among the various departments in order to enhance child development.
• To improve the mother’s capacity to care for her child’s normal health and nutritional needs via correct nutrition and health education

The correct answer is The Himalayas protect the subcontinent from extremely cold winds from central Asia.

Key Points

• The Himalayas protect the Indian subcontinent from extremely cold winds from central Asia is correct
• The Himalayas are a mountain range that block cold air masses from Central Asia from moving south into India.
• This prevents the Northern Plains from freezing cold during the winter.
• The Himalayas also act as a barrier to moisture-laden monsoon winds.
• The Thar Desert attracts the moisture-laden southwest summer monsoon winds that bring most of India's rainfall.
• The climate of India is tropical monsoon type, with a distinct wet and dry climate.
• The climate of India ranges from tropical in the south to temperate and alpine in the Himalayan north.

Additional Information

• The climate of the Indian subcontinent is tropical monsoon, with distinct wet and dry seasons.
• The climate varies across the region due to its diverse topography, latitudes, and the influence of the Himalayas and Indian Ocean.
• Seasons 
• Summer: March to June, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C in some areas
• Pre-monsoon: Thunderstorms are common in the northeast and east
• Monsoon: July to September, with three-quarters of the country's yearly rainfall
• Autumn: October to December, with temperatures and humidity decreasing
• Winter: January and February, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C in the northwest and 20°C to 25°C in the southeast

The correct answer is bricks

Key Points

• The Mahabodhi Temple was built from brick and stone by Emperor Ashoka in the 3^rd century BC.
• The temple is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India.
• The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in India that is still standing.
• The temple is considered a fine example of Indian brickwork and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The temple's design influenced the development of later architectural traditions.
• The temple complex includes the main temple, the Bodhi Tree, the Lotus Pond, and other ancient shrines. ​

Additional Information

• The Vast Empire of Ashoka
• Born to the second Mauryan emperor, Bindusara, and a grandson to the first emperor, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka was also referred to as Ashoka the Great.
• Ashoka's reign covered the majority of the Indian subcontinent, excluding some parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, from 268 B.C.E to 232 B.C.E.
• He successfully carried forward the legacy of his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, by expanding the empire further.
• His empire stretched from present-day Bangladesh in the east to Afghanistan in the west.
• Pataliputra, modern-day Patna, served as the capital of Ashoka's empire.
• The empire's provincial capitals included Takshashila (later known as Taxila) and Ujjain.

The correct answer is Sunanda Nair

Key Points

• Sunanda Nair is a renowned Mohiniyattam dancer, known for her contributions to this classical dance form from Kerala.
• She has trained under eminent gurus and performed extensively both in India and abroad.
• Dr.Sunanda Nair is the first student in the country to have a Masters' degree in Mohini Attam from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya affiliated with the University of Mumbai.
• She did her Ph.D. from the University of Mumbai for her thesis "Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam.
• Nair is a disciple of noted Mohiniyattam exponent Padmabhushan Dr.(Smt) Kanak Rele, credited for the revival and popularization of this classical Kerala dance style.
• Sunanda has been a part of many very reputed national and international festivals.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Ice Hockey

Key Points

• Ice hockey is a game played on an ice rink by two teams, each with six players who wear skates.
• The goal of the game is to score more goals than the other team.
• The game is played on a rectangular rink with rounded corners.
• The rink is divided into three sections: two end zones and a neutral zone.
• Each team has a goaltender.
• The objective is to score goals by shooting the puck into the opponent's goal net.
• A goal is scored when the puck crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.

Additional Information

• Ice skating​
• A standard ice hockey team during a game, when there is no overtime or penalties, consists of six players.
• These six players include one goaltender and five skaters.
• The five skaters are further divided into three forwards and two defensemen.
• Ice hockey is played on an ice rink, which is divided into three zones: the defensive zone, the neutral zone, and the offensive zone.
• Rinkball
• ​Rinkball is an ice-based team sport that originated in Finland.
• It is played on an ice hockey rink but uses equipment and rules that make it distinct from hockey.
• The game is a combination of elements from ice hockey and bandy, focusing more on skill and agility than physical contact.
• ​Ringette
• Ringette is a team sport played on ice, primarily in Canada, but it has gained popularity in other countries as well.
• It is known for its non-contact rules, skill-based gameplay, and use of a unique piece of equipment — the ring — instead of a puck or ball.

The correct answers is Both a and b

Key Points

• The Satnami Movement was a significant social reform movement that emerged in Central India during the 19^th century.
• The movement was founded by Ghasidas
• This statement is Correct.
• Ghasidas was the founder of the Satnami Movement.
• He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Kabir and aimed at social and spiritual reform.
• His followers were primarily from lower castes and oppressed communities.
• The movement sought to break the rigid caste system and promote equality, emphasizing devotion to God and self-respect.
• The movement was to improve the condition of leather workers
• This statement is also Correct.
• The Satnami Movement focused on improving the condition of not just leather workers but also other marginalized groups such as Dalits, who faced severe social discrimination.
• Leather workers, traditionally seen as an 'unclean' occupation, were among the communities that benefitted from the reformist efforts of the Satnami Movement.

Additional Information

• The movement draws its name from the combination of two Hindi words: "Sat" meaning truth and "Nami" meaning one who carries or spreads.
• Satnami followers believe in the unity of God and emphasize the pursuit of truth, equality, and social justice.
• The Satnami Movement emerged as a reaction to the oppressive caste system and untouchability prevalent in Hindu society.
• Guru Ghasidas, himself belonging to a lower caste, challenged the discriminatory practices and rituals imposed on the lower castes and advocated for their emancipation.
• He rejected the notion of caste-based hierarchies and preached the equality of all individuals.
• Guru Ghasidas composed various devotional songs and teachings in the form of verses, which are compiled in the religious text called "Guru Granth Sahib."

The correct answer is The share of agriculture and allied products has declined, whereas, shares of petroleum and crude products and other commodities have increased. 

Key Points

• The share of agriculture and allied products in India's international trade has declined, while the share of petroleum, crude products, and other commodities has increased is correct
• Agriculture and Allied Products:
• Over the past few decades, the share of agriculture and allied products in India’s international trade has generally decreased.
• This is because India has been focusing more on industrialization, services, and manufactured goods for exports rather than just relying on agricultural commodities.
• Petroleum and Crude Products:
• On the other hand, the share of petroleum and crude products has increased significantly.
• India has been a major exporter of refined petroleum products due to its well-developed petroleum refining sector.
• Other Commodities:
• Similarly, other commodities like electronics, chemicals, and engineering goods have seen an upward trend in exports.
• These sectors have gained importance as India diversifies its export basket.

Additional Information

• India's international trade includes the import and export of goods and services.
• India's trade has grown significantly over the years, and the country is a major exporter of goods and services.
• India's top export destinations include the United States, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, China, and Bangladesh
• India's top exports include refined petroleum, diamonds, packaged medicaments, jewelry, and rice
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is responsible for formulating and implementing India's Foreign Trade Policy
• The DGFT provides educational videos to help traders and newcomers set up import-export enterprises

The Correct Answer is Bathukamma

Key Points

• Bathukamma is being celebrated in Telangana from September 25 to October 3 this year.
• Bathukamma is observed as the state festival of Telangana since the state’s inception in 2014.
• It is a flower festival celebrated mainly in Telangana and several parts of Andhra Pradesh.
• This 9-day festival is celebrated based on the Sathavahana calendar and it usually falls on September or October, during the latter half of monsoon, before the onset of winter.
• This festival begins with Mahalaya Amavasya, also known as Engili Poola Bathukamma.
• Bathukamma means ‘Goddess of Life’.
• It is a collection of flowers stacked one layer at a time and rising in a series of concentric circles like the gopuram in South Indian temples.
• It is made using locally grown flowers like Gunugu puvvu (Celosia), Thangedu puvvulu (Cassia auriculata), Gummadi puvvulu (Cucurbita), Vaama puvvulu (Ajwain), Banthi puvvu (Marigold), Chamanthi puvvulu (Chrysanthemum), etc.

Additional Information

• Kajari Dance:
• Kajari is a traditional folk dance and song primarily performed in regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
• It is traditionally associated with the monsoon season, especially during the festival of Kajari Teej, which celebrates the arrival of the rainy season.
• Women perform Kajari by singing while moving rhythmically in circular formations, often accompanied by traditional musical instruments like dholak and manjira.
• The lyrics revolve around themes of longing, love, and celebration of nature, particularly praising Lord Krishna and the beauty of the monsoon.
• Phulaich Dance:
• Phulaich is a traditional dance form from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
• It is mainly performed during agricultural festivals, weddings, and other cultural celebrations.
• The dance involves groups of performers, typically women, who dance in circular patterns while holding flowers and singing traditional songs.
• Phulaich symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature.
• Phool Dei Dance:
• Phool Dei is a popular folk dance celebrated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
• It is performed during the spring festival, where flowers bloom, and the harvest season begins.
• During Phool Dei, people sing and dance around flower-decorated swings, with traditional instruments like dhol, nagada, and flutes.
• It signifies the welcoming of spring and prosperity, promoting unity and joy among the community.