Territorial Army Official Paper II (Conducted on 28 Jul 2019) (Previous Year Paper)

The correct answer is Pinaka.

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the Guided PINAKA from Pokhran ranges on 11 March 2019.
• Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher.
• The weapon system is equipped with a state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.
• The indigenously developed Guided Pinaka by DRDO will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.

Additional Information

• M 777s are the howitzers or machine guns taken from the USA.
• Agni 5 is a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile.
• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile being developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroeyenia (NPOM) of Russia.

The correct answer is impaired control over gaming on mobile.

• Over gaming has been declared as a mental disorder by WHO.
• The World Health Organization announced "gaming disorder" as a new mental health condition included in the 11^th edition of its International Classification of Diseases.
• The ICD is the standard disease coding for statistics and information regarding diseases around the world.
• These codes are common for healthcare professionals worldwide and provide a common sharing platform for reporting diseases and condition.

The correct answer is Gurdaspur.

• Kartarpur Sahib corridor connects Kartarpur Gurudwara in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor from India and from Pakistan by his counterpart, Imran khan.
• It is a 4.5 km long highway that connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India with Shri Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.
• Sikh devotees can access the Holy shrine in Pakistan without a visa through this corridor.
• Kartarpur Sahib was founded by the first Sikh guru in 1504.
• Sikhs could informally access the site till 1965 only.
• In the aftermath of the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the border regulations were made strict.
• The idea of establishing such a corridor was mooted during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• It was finally inaugurated on the 550^th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019.
• Mr. Modi also compared this inauguration with the Fall of Berlin Wall.

Important Points

• Pakistan: (as of May 2022)
• Capital: Islamabad.
• Currency: Pakistani rupee.
• President: Dr Arif Alvi.
• Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif

The correct answer is Bogibeel.

• Bogibeel Bridge is a combined road and rail bridge in the Dibrugarh district of the northeastern Indian state of Assam.

• Upon its completion it will become the longest bridge of its kind in India and the longest bridge across the Brahmaputra river.

• It is Asia’s second longest rail-cum-road bridge and was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 25 December 2018.

• The bridge will reduce the distance by 100 km.

• The foundation stone of this project was laid down by the then Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on January 22, 1997, and the work was then stalled. This work was again started by Atal Bihari Vajpayee on April 21, 2002.

The correct answer is Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Indian Army officer Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar, as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
• He had a long and distinguished career with the Indian Armed Forces spanning over 34 years.
• He graduated from the Indian Military Academy in 1983.
• From 1996 to 1997, he served in the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III, and from 2008 to 2009, in the United Nations Mission in Sudan.
• He is currently serving as the Commandant of the Infantry School since July 2018.
• Lieutenant General Tinaikar will succeed Lieutenant General Frank Kamanzi of Rwanda who completes his assignment on May 26.

The correct answer is Minimum reserve ratio.

• The minimum reserve ratio is sometimes used as a tool in monetary policy, influencing the country's borrowing and interest rates by changing the number of funds available for banks to make loans with.
• Liquid assets to be maintained are in the form of cash, gold, and unencumbered approved securities as per section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Reserve Bank of India under the RBI Act, Section 22 is solely accountable for the issuance of currency notes excluding rupee one-note issued by the Finance Secretary of the Government of India.
• RBI controls the circulation of the banknotes in the country primarily to generate confidence among citizens of genuineness, quality, and credibility of currency issued besides bringing in uniformity in the issuance of notes. Due to the presence of only one authority, there is an effective control on the flow of credit in and out of the market.

The correct answer is LIC.

• A Non-banking financial organization (NBFI) is a financial organization that doesn't have a full banking license or isn't supervised by a national or international banking administrative body.
• A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956
• It engaged within the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares, stocks, bonds, debentures, securities issued by the Government, or local authority.
• Some of the NBFI in India are LIC, Power Finance Corporation Limited, Muthoot Finance Ltd, Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd, etc

Additional Information

Differencence between Banks & NBFI-

The correct answer is GDP.

• GDP is all the final goods and services produced in one financial year in our national boundary.
• GDP is calculated in three ways-
• ​Production method,
• Expenditure method,
• Income method.

​

Additional Information

• Gross National Product (GNP) is the total value of the goods and services produced by a country’s citizens or companies in one year irrespective of their geographic location.

• Net Do mestic Product: NDP = GDP – Depreciation.

• Net National Product: NNP = GNP – Depreciation.

• Depreciation: A decrease in the value of an asset over time due to wear and tear.

The correct answer is Hockey.

• Agha Khan Cup is associated with the game of Hockey.

Additional Information

• Other major trophies related to Hockey are Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Dhyanchand Trophy, Stanley Cup.
• Major trophies related to Cricket are ICC Cricket World Cup, Asia Cup, Irani Trophy, Ranji Trophy.
• Major Lawn Tennis trophies are Davis Cup, Australian Open, French Open.
• Major football-related tournaments are **UEFA Champions league, Subroto Cup, Santosh Trophy. **​

Confusion Points

• Agha Khan Cup is associated with the game of Hockey whereas Agha Khan Gold Cup is associated with Football.

The correct answer is Only 1 & 2.

• Cyclone Vayu was a tropical cyclone that affects Northwestern India.
• It was the third tropical depression, the third cyclonic storm and the second very severe cyclonic storm of the 2019 cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean, and the first to form in the Arabian Sea.
• It originated from an area of low pressure first noted on 9 June by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), near the northern Maldives.
• India gave the name Vayu, deriving from a Sanskrit and Hindi word meaning 'wind.'

Additional Information 

• Important cyclones:

The correct answer is Narcondam and Barren.

Key Points

• The two volcanic islands in the Indian territory are Narcondam and Barren.
• Narcondam:
• It is a small volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea.
• The island's peak rises to 710 m above mean sea level, and it is formed of andesite.
• Barren Island:
• It is an island located in the Andaman Sea, dominated by Barren Volcano, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia, and the only active volcano along a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar.

Additional Information

• New Moore:
• It a small uninhabited offshore sandbar island in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta region.
• Kavaratti:
• It is the administrative capital of the Lakshadweep Islands. It is also the principal town of the Union Territory.
• Bitra: 
• It is a coral atoll belonging to the Amindivi Subgroup of islands of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• Pamban:
• It is also known as Rameswaram Island.
• It is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka.

The correct answer is Mongolia.

Key Points

• Neighbouring Countries of India:

The correct answer is Karnataka.

Key Points

• Jog Falls:
• It is located in Shimoga district, Karnataka.
• It is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft.).

Important Points

• Jog Falls is the third-highest waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m (1100 ft) in Meghalaya and Dudhsagar Waterfalls with a drop of 310 m (1017 ft) in Goa.

The correct answer is Abrahim Lincoln.

Key Points

• ‘Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people’ is said by Abraham Lincoln.
• It is completely dealt with the people.
• Abraham Lincoln:
• He was the 16^th president of the United States.
• He took the charge as president from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865.
• He defined his own definition for democracy.

Important Points

• Democracy:
• A government that is run by the people is called a democracy.
• In a democracy, every single citizen has the right to cast his vote after the citizen turns 18 in how the government is to be run, thus differentiating it from a monarchy or dictatorship.
• In a dictatorship, one person that is the king or dictator has all the power.

The correct answer is Panama Canal.

Key Points

• Panama Canal is called the "Gateway to the Pacific".
• The Panama Canal is a shortcut between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
• Using the Panama Canal enables shipping to avoid the longer and stormy passage around Cape Horn (the southern tip of South America).

Additional Information

• Suez Canal:
• It is a sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez.
• Bering Sea:
• It​ is a marginal sea of the Northern Pacific Ocean.
• It forms, along with the Bering Strait, the divide between the two largest landmasses on Earth: Eurasia and The Americas.
• Gulf of Alaska:
• It is a broad inlet of the North Pacific on the south coast of Alaska, the U.S. Bounded by the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island (west) and Cape Spencer (east).

The correct answer is a warm ocean current.

Key Points

• El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean which affects global weather.
• The warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean cause the winds in various regions to reverse, like the trade winds that come towards India.
• This change of wind direction leads to warmer winters and summers and a decrease in rainfall during the monsoon.
• Most of the time, it also leads to drought.
• Effects of El Nino:
• ​El Nino affects global weather.
• It favors eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms.
• Recorded unusual rainfall in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador are linked to the climate pattern.
• Over India, the El Nino has usually been the harbinger of drought and the La Nina of rain.

Important Points

• There is also an opposite of an El Nino, called La Nina means The Little Girl in Spanish.
• This refers to times when waters of the tropical eastern Pacific are colder than normal and trade winds blow more strongly than usual.
• Collectively, El Nino and La Nina are parts of an oscillation in the ocean-atmosphere system called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO cycle.

The correct answer is Nigeria.

Key Points

• Nigeria is the most populous and oil-rich country in Africa.
• The major oil producers in Africa include Nigeria, Angola, and Gabon.
• Nigeria:
• ​It is an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, has many natural landmarks and wildlife reserves.
• Protected areas such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park have waterfalls, dense rainforest, savanna, and rare primate habitats.
• One of the most recognizable sites is Zuma Rock, a 725m-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja that’s pictured on the national currency.

Additional Information

• Kenya:
• It is a country in East Africa with a coastline on the Indian Ocean.
• It encompasses savannah, Lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley, and mountain highlands.
• It is predominantly Muslim Swahili cities such as Mombasa, a historic centre that has contributed much to the musical and culinary heritage of the country.
• Sudan:
• It​ is a country in Northeast Africa.
• It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southeast, Eritrea to the east, and the Red Sea to the northeast.
• Uganda:
• It ​is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and immense Lake Victoria.

The correct answer is International Date Line.

• International Date Line (IDL):
• ​It is an imaginary line, like longitudes and latitudes.
• The time difference on either side of this line is 24 hours. So, the date changes as soon as one crosses this line.
• The International Date Line in the mid-Pacific curves from the normal 180° meridian at the Bering Strait, Fiji, Tonga, and other islands to prevent confusion of day and date in some of the island groups that are cut through by the meridian.

Important Points

• MacMohan Line:
• ​McMahon Line is the effective boundary between China and India.
• The line is named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of the British-run Government of India and the chief negotiator of the convention at Simla.
• Radcliffe Line:
• The Radcliffe line is spread through the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to the international border in Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir, dividing India and Pakistan into two different countries.
• Durand Line:
• ​The Durand Line is an international boundary line, running between the countries Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The correct answer is Bachendri Pal.

Key Points

• Bachendri Pal, an Indian mountaineer who became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984.
• She was awarded the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2019.
• On 22 May 1984, Ang Dorje (the Sherpa sirdar) and some other climbers joined the team to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest; Bachendri was the only woman in this group.
• They reached the South Col and spent the night there at Camp IV at the altitude of 26,000 ft (7,924.8 m).

Additional Information

• Fu Dorji:
• He was a Sherpa and the first Indian to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.
• He did so on May 5, 1984, on a solo ascent from the southeast Ridge.
• Aun Sang Suu Kyi:
• She is the State Counsellor of Myanmar.
• She is a very famous Human Rights activist, who is known to have bought democracy to her country through non-violence.
• Aung San Suu Kyi received Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
• She was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize in 1992.
• Yoko Ono:
• Yoko Ono Lennon is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter and peace activist.

The correct answer is Maximum biodiversity.

Key Points

• The tropical rain forest is a forest with tall trees in a region of year-round high temperatures where an average of 50 to 260 inches of rain falls yearly.
• Tropical rainforests are areas of extremely high biodiversity compared to other ecosystems.
• In the tropical rainforests of Borneo, scientists have documented more than 15,000 plant species, including 2,500 species of orchids.
• Biologists estimate that tropical rainforests contain about 50% of the world’s terrestrial plant and animal species, yet they encompass only about 6% of the world’s land area.

Important Points

• Rain forests belong to the tropical wet climate group.
• The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 34 °C or drops below 20 °C, average humidity is between 77 and 88%.
• There is usually a brief season of less rain.
• Almost all rain forests lie near the equator.
• Rainforests now cover less than 6% of Earth’s land surface.

The correct answer is Lake Victoria.

• Lake Victoria, also called Victoria Nyanza, the largest lake in Africa and the chief reservoir of the Nile, lying mainly in Tanzania and Uganda but bordering on Kenya.
• It is also the third-largest freshwater lake on Earth.

Important Points

• Nile River:
• ​The Nile is the longest river in the world and is called the father of African rivers.
• It has a length of about 4,132 miles and drains an area estimated at 1,293,000 square miles.
• It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Deltas with triangular or fan-shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas.
• The Nile is formed by three principal streams: the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile.
• Drainage countries - Parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the cultivated part of Egypt.

The correct answer is 26 miles 385 yards. 

• In 1921 the length for a marathon was formally standardized at 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers).

Important Points

• Marathon:
• ​The marathon is a long-distance race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres, usually run as a road race.
• The history of marathon race began in 490 BC.
• There was a war going on between the Greek and Persian soldiers on the grounds of marathon, 26 miles away from Athens.
• In the battle of Marathon, around 10 thousand Greek soldiers defeated one million Persian soldiers and protected their homeland.
• The Greek soldier "Pheidippides" run around 26 miles from Battle of Marathon to Athens, to report the victory of his country in the war without stopping in the way.

The correct answer is Radioactivity.

• A curie is a non-SI unit of radioactivity.
• The System International of units (SI system) uses the unit of becquerel (Bq) as its unit of radioactivity.
• One curie is equal to 37 billion Bq.
• 37 billion Bq = 1 curie

Important Points

• Radioactivity:
• ​Radioactivity refers to the particles which are emitted from nuclei as a result of nuclear instability.
• This was discovered by Henri becquerel in 1896.
• It emits radioactive elements viz- alpha, beta, gamma rays.

The correct answer is Acetylene.

• Acetylene gas liberated from calcium carbide is some of the commercial ripening agents used successfully in the trade.
• They have been widely studied for their effectiveness in initiating and accelerating the ripening process and their effect on fruit quality and health-related issues.

Mistake Points

Ethylene is used in the natural ripening process.

Important PointsArtificial ripening:

• ​It is done to achieve faster and more uniform ripening characteristics.
• In general is a physiological process that makes the fruit edible, palatable, and nutritious.
• Usually, fruits produce ethylene gas, a plant hormone, naturally, that ripens the fruits.

The correct answer is Moderator.

Key Points

• Graphite has been used as a moderator and reflector of neutrons in nuclear power plants.
• It is used in nuclear plants due to its extreme purity and its ability to withstand extremely high temperatures and high irradiation.
• Graphite blocks help control nuclear reactions in this way:
• As neutrons and gamma radiation are liberated from the nuclei of split uranium atoms, they travel through the graphite.
• Graphite blocks absorb some energy from the neutrons that pass through them.
• Graphite atoms also absorb gamma rays and store their energy.

Important Points

• Graphite:
• It is a naturally-occurring form of crystalline carbon.
• It is a native element mineral found in metamorphic and igneous rocks.
• It is extremely soft, cleaves with very light pressure, and has a very low specific gravity.
• It is the only non-metal element that is a good conductor of electricity.

The correct answer is U₂₃₅.

• Uranium 235, the only existing fissile nucleus found in natural uranium, is used as a nuclear fuel in reactors and as an explosive for nuclear weapons.
• This very rare isotope, present at the concentration of 0.7% in natural uranium, is thus a highly strategic and coveted material.
• It's a very long period, 700 million years, is, however, 6.5 times shorter than the isotope 238.
• At the time of the formation of Earth, U-235 was 85 times more abundant.
• The 0.7% observed today is a pale residue of this past abundance.
• If humans had been present at the beginning of Earth, they would not have needed to enrich uranium to make atomic bombs or operate their reactors!

Key Points

• ​Energy from the uranium atom:
• The nucleus of the U-235 atom comprises 92 protons and 143 neutrons (92 + 143 = 235).
• When the nucleus of a U-235 atom captures a moving neutron it splits in two (fissions) and releases some energy in the form of heat, also two or three additional neutrons are thrown off.
• If enough of these expelled neutrons cause the nuclei of other U-235 atoms to split, releasing further neutrons, a fission 'chain reaction' can be achieved.
• When this happens over and over again, many millions of times, a very large amount of heat is produced from a relatively small amount of uranium.

Additional Information

• ​Uranium 236:
• It is formed in the nuclear fuel from uranium 235 after neutrons capture that did not cause fission.
• The presence of this isotope in a sample of uranium means that the sample has been into a reactor.
• Uranium 233:
• It is a fissile nucleus that does not exist naturally, such as plutonium 239, which it is close to by its mode of production.
• It is produced by neutron capture in reactors containing thorium.
• Fissionable by fast neutrons and slow neutrons, this nucleus has some interesting features for energy production.
• Reactors using thorium and uranium-233 are one of the options considered for the future fourth-generation reactors.
• Uranium 232:
• It is a by-product of the reactors running with thorium and uranium 233 foels.
• The formation of this isotope results from specific neutron capture by uranium 233 that cause the ejection of two neutrons.
• Uranium 232 has a relatively short period of 68.9 years, but especially its radioactive filiation generates a descendant, thallium 208, that emits gamma rays of 2.6 MeV which are very energetic and highly penetrating.

The correct answer is Bacteria.

• The process of conversion of nitrogen (N₂) to ammonia is termed as nitrogen fixation.
• Bacteria play a great role in nitrogen fixation.
• Nitrogen-fixing bacteria inhabit legume root nodules.
• Nitrogenase is the enzyme in nitrogen-fixing bacteria that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Key Points

• Ammonia is first oxidised to nitrite by the bacteria Nitrosomonas or Nitrococcus.
• The nitrite is further oxidised to nitrate with the help of the bacterium Nitrobacter.
• These nitrifying bacteria are chemoautotrophs.
• The nitrate thus formed is absorbed by plants and is transported to the leaves.
• In leaves, it is reduced to form ammonia that finally forms the amine group of amino acids.
• Nitrate present in the soil is also reduced to nitrogen by the process of denitrification. Denitrification is carried by bacteria Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus.

The correct answer is Pune.

• PARAM is a series of supercomputers designed and assembled by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune, India.

Key Points

• C-DAC embarked on its first High Performance Computing (HPC) mission in 1988.
• Since then, it has delivered a series of supercomputing systems called PARAM series of supercomputers. These include:
• PARAM 8000, India's 1^st Giga-scale supercomputer in 1990.
• PARAM 10000, 100 Gigaflop supercomputer in 1998.
• PARAM Padma, 1-Teraflop supercomputer in 2002.
• This was India's first supercomputer to enter the Top 500 list of supercomputers of the world (ranked 171 in June 2003).
• PARAM Yuva, a 54 Teraflop supercomputer in 2008 (ranked 69 in November 2008).
• PARAM Yuva II, a 529 Teraflop supercomputer in 2013 (ranked 69 in June 2013)
• PARAM Biochrome is an HPC cluster for Bioinformatics applications. The cluster has a computing capacity of 5 Teraflops.
• PARAM Bio-Blaze: A supercomputing facility with peak compute power of 10.65 TF, was launched on February 18, 2014 to address the challenges in bioinformatics.

Important Points

• India's Param Siddhi bags 63^rd rank in the list of 500 most powerful supercomputers in the world.

The correct answer is Albert Sabin.

• A live attenuated (weakened) oral polio vaccine (OPV) developed by Dr Albert Sabin and first used in 1961.

Important Points

• An inactivated (killed) polio vaccine (IPV) developed by Dr Jonas Salk and first used in 1955.
• Both vaccines are highly effective against all three types of poliovirus.
• There are, however, significant differences in the way each vaccine works as well as their safety and efficacy profiles.

Additional Information

• Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV):
• IPV is produced from wild-type poliovirus strains of each serotype that have been inactivated (killed) with formalin.
• As an injectable vaccine, it can be administered alone or in combination with other vaccines (e.g., diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza).
• Oral polio vaccine (OPV):
• OPV consists of a mixture of live attenuated poliovirus strains of each of the three serotypes, selected by their ability to mimic the immune response following infection with wild polioviruses, but with a significantly reduced incidence of spreading to the central nervous system.
• Three or more spaced doses of OPV are required to generate adequate levels of seroconversion.

https://www.who.int/biologicals/areas/vaccines/polio/production/en/#:~:text=An%20inactivated%20(killed)%20polio%20vaccine,and%20first%20used%20in%201961.

• Oral vaccine - Dr Albert Sabin
• IVP (injectable vaccine) - Dr Jonas Salk

The correct answer is Endoscopy.

• Endoscopes use optical fibres to produce an image of inside the body.
• A doctor can insert a bundle of optical fibres into the body.
• Some carry light into the body, and some carry light reflected off internal body surfaces back out.
• This allows the doctor to see an image of the inside of the body clearly, and help them diagnose diseases like cancer, or see what they are doing during keyhole surgery.

Key Points

• The most significant and prevalent applications of fibre optics in medicine are in the imaging and illumination components of endoscopes.
• Flexible and rigid multi fibres composed of step-index fibres and graded-index imaging rods are extensively used for visualization of internal organs and tissue which are accessible through natural openings or transcutaneously.

Additional Information

• Uses of Fiber Optic Cables:
• Internet:
• Fibre optic cables transmit large amounts of data at very high speeds.
• This technology is therefore widely used in internet cables.
• As compared to traditional copper wires, fibre optic cables are less bulky, lighter, more flexible, and carry more data.
• Computer Networking:
• Networking between computers in a single building or across nearby structures is made easier and faster with the use of fibre optic cables.
• Users can see a marked decrease in the time it takes to transfer files and information across networks
• Medicine​:
• Fibre optic cables are widely used in the fields of medicine and research.
• Optical communication is an important part of non-intrusive surgical methods, popularly known as endoscopy.
• In such applications, a minute, bright light is used to light up the surgery area within the body, making it possible to reduce the number and size of incisions made.
• Fibre optics are also used in microscopy and biomedical research.
• Military and Space Applications:
• With the high level of data security required in military and aerospace applications, fibre optic cables offer the ideal solution for data transmission in these areas.

The correct answer is Non-combustible.

• Hydrogen and helium are the most commonly used lift gases.
• Although helium is twice as heavy as (diatomic) hydrogen, they are both so much lighter than air that this difference is inconsequential.
• Helium is the second lightest gas. For that reason, it is an attractive gas for lifting as well.
• A major advantage is that this gas is Non-combustible.
• Today helium is used instead of hydrogen since it is inert so non-flammable which makes things a lot safer. Hydrogen can ignite very easily when mixed with the oxygen of the surrounding air.

Key Points

• Hydrogen:
• Hydrogen gas consists of Hydrogen molecules.
• The molecule consists of two atoms.
• The atom has only one electron.
• The nucleus of the hydrogen atom consists of only one proton.
• Helium:
• Helium is the second lightest atom.
• One nucleus of a Helium atom consists of two protons and two neutrons.
• Helium atoms do not combine into molecules.
• That is why it is called an inert gas, which consists of free atoms.

The correct answer is Lord Hardinge.

• Partition of Bengal (1905):
• The partition separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from the largely Hindu western areas on 16 October 1905 after being announced on 19 July 1905 by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India.
• To appease Bengali sentiment, Bengal was reunited by Lord Hardinge in 1911, in response to the Swadeshi movement's riots in protest against the policy and they began an angry agitation, featuring belief among Hindus that East Bengal would have its own courts and policies.

Key Points

• Lord Hardinge II (1910 – 1916):
• Transfer of Capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
• Hindu Mahasabha was established by Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Additional Information

• Lord Curzon (1899 – 1905):
• Indian Universities act – to control Indian Universities.
• Partition of Bengal.
• Lord Lytton (1876 – 1880):
• Vernacular Press Act, 1878.
• Arms Act, 1878.
• Ignored severe famine and organized durbar. Proclaimed Queen Victoria “The Empress of India”.
• Abolished tax on cotton for British traders.
• The maximum age to take up civil services exam lowered from 21 to 19.
• Lord Minto (1905 – 1910):
• Morley – Minto reforms

The correct answer is Sher Shah.

Key Points

• The Battle of Chausa was a notable military engagement between the Mughal emperor, Humayun, and the Afghan, Sher Shah Suri.
• It was fought on 26 June 1539 at Chausa.
• Sher Shah was victorious and crowned himself Farid al-Dīn Shēr Shah.

Additional Information

• Sher Khan defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), forcing him to flee to Iran.
• In Iran, Humayun received help from the Safavid Shah.
• He recaptured Delhi in 1555 but died the next year after an accident in the library "Sher Mandal".

The correct answer is Yoga sutra.

• Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a collection of 195 Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga.
• Yoga Sutra was compiled sometime between 500 BCE and 400 CE by the sage Patanjali in India who synthesized and organized knowledge about yoga from much older traditions.

Additional Information

• Panchatantra, by Vishnu Sharma, is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story.
• Brahma Sutras
• It is a Sanskrit text, attributed to the sage Badarayana or sage Vyasa, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form in 400-450 CE, while the original version might be ancient and composed between 500 BCE and 200 BCE.
• Ayurveda
• It is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science.
• In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.”
• Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.”
• It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples. Some of this knowledge was set to print a few thousand years ago, but much of it is inaccessible.

The correct answer is Indra.

• Indra was one of the most important gods in the religion of the Vedic era.
• He is the king of the gods, as well as the god of storms and war.
• Indra is particularly celebrated in the Rig Veda, in which there are more than 250 hymns devoted specifically to him, more than any other deity.
• He is sometimes paralleled to Zeus in Greek mythology, Odin in Norse mythology, or Wotan in German mythology.

Additional Information

• Agni’s importance in Vedic religion is second only to Indra’s, though Agni’s function in worship surpassed Indra’s.
• Agni is the god of fire, and was thus was of central importance in yagnas (fire ceremonies), especially sacrificial ceremonies.
• Soma refers to a god, a plant, and a ritual drink, and the distinction between the three is not always made clear in the Rigveda.
• There are 120 hymns devoted to the praise of soma in the Rigveda, but the most common reference is to the drink and the supernatural powers it bestowed upon those who drank it.
• Consequently, soma wasn’t often portrayed in any human-like form, though he was occasionally portrayed as a bull or bird.
• Varuna is not praised as much in the Rigveda as Indra, which does not accurately represent his importance in the early Vedic era.
• The Rigveda places special emphasis on the Agni and Soma ritual, and Indra is thus frequently involved due to his connection with Soma.

The correct answer is 1907.

• Radicals and Moderates were divided in 1907. The Moderates were opposed to the use of boycotts. They felt that it involved the use of force.

Key Points

• In 1907, Surat Session,
• The two main objectives placed by the extremists were that:
• Demand for the resolution of Swaraj.
• Lala Lajpat Rai to be made the President of the INC.
• These two demands were not acceptable to the moderates.
• Thus, instead of Lala Lajpat Rai, the moderates supported the idea of Rash Behari Ghosh as the President.

Additional Information

• After the split, the Congress came to be dominated by the Moderates with Tilak’s followers functioning from outside.
• The two groups reunited in December 1916.
• Next year the Congress and the Muslim League signed the historic Lucknow Pact and decided to work together for representative government in the country

The correct answer is Guru Gobind Singh.

Key Points

• Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the Tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh.
• Its formation was a key event in the history of Sikhism.
• The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Guru Angad Dev.

Key Points

The correct answer is Bengal Gazette.

• Hicky’s Bengal Gazette was the first English-language newspaper published on the Indian subcontinent.
• It was founded in Calcutta, capital of British India at the time, by Irishman James Augustus Hicky in 1779.

Additional Information

• Peking Gazette was an official bulletin published with changing frequency in Beijing until 1912 when the Qing Dynasty fell and Republican China was born.
• Kashmir Times is an Indian English language daily newspaper published from Kashmir, India. It was first published in 1954 as a weekly. In 1964 it was converted as a daily.
• Dainik Jagran is an Indian Hindi language daily newspaper.
• The newspaper was launched in 1942 by Puran Chandra Gupta and later edited by Narendra Mohan.

The correct answer is Supreme Court.

• Supreme Court is the final authority to interpret the constitution of India.

Key Points

• The Supreme Court of India is one of the very powerful courts anywhere in the world.
• However, it functions within the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
• The functions and responsibilities of the Supreme Court are defined by the Constitution.

Additional Information

• The Supreme Court has specific jurisdiction or scope of powers.
• Original: Settles disputes between Union and States and amongst States.
• Appellate: Tries appeals from lower courts in Civil, Criminal and Constitutional cases Advisory Advises the President on matters of public importance and law.
• Writ: Can issue writs of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari and Quo warranto to protect the Fundamental Rights of the individual.
• Special Powers: Can grant special leave to an appeal from any judgement or matter passed by any court in the territory of India.

The correct answer is The Governor.

GOVERNOR:

• State executive consists of the Governor and Council of Ministers including the Chief Minister.
• The Governor of a State is appointed by the President for a term of five years and holds office during his pleasure. Only Indian citizens above 35 years of age are eligible for appointment to this office. The executive power of the State is vested in Governor.
• Council of Ministers with Chief Minister as head aids and advises Governor in the exercise of his functions except in so far as he is by or under the Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion.
• In respect of Nagaland, Governor has special responsibility under Article 371 A of the Constitution with respect to law and order and even though it is necessary for him to consult the Council of Ministers in matters relating to law and order, he can exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken.
• All Governors while discharging such constitutional functions as the appointment of Chief Minister of a State or sending a report to President about the failure of constitutional machinery in a State or in respect of matters relating to assent to a Bill passed by the legislature, exercise their own judgment.

• Fiscal policy is the means by which a government adjusts its spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation's economy. It is the sister strategy to monetary policy through which a central bank influences a nation's money supply.
• Fiscal policy deals with the taxation and expenditure decisions of the government. Some of the major instruments of fiscal policy are as follows: Budget, Taxation, Public Expenditure, public revenue, Public Debt, and Fiscal Deficit in the economy.

Additional Information

• General objectives of Fiscal Policy are given below:
• To maintain and achieve full employment.
• To stabilize the price level.
• To stabilize the growth rate of the economy.
• To maintain equilibrium in the Balance of Payments.
• To promote the economic development of underdeveloped countries.
• Fiscal policy of India always has two objectives, namely improving the growth performance of the economy and ensuring social justice to the people.

​The correct answer is Sarojini Naidu.

Key Points

• Sarojini Naidu was the first female to become the governor of an Indian state. She governed Uttar Pradesh from 15 August 1947 to 2 March 1949. Her daughter, Padmaja Naidu, is the longest-serving female governor with 11-year tenure in West Bengal.

Additional Information

• Sucheta Kripalani , (25 June 1908 – 1 December 1974) was an Indian freedom fighter and politician. She was India's first woman Chief Minister, serving as the head of the Uttar Pradesh government from 1963 to 1967.
• Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was the first and, to date, only female Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India.
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (18 August 1900 – 1 December 1990) was an Indian diplomat and politician who was elected as the first female president of the United Nations General Assembly.

• The executive power relation to concurrent subjects remains with​ the center.
• Explanation:
• The specific 52 items given to the 7^th schedule to the constitution of India is called a concurrent list.
• It includes the power that remains mostly by the center with executive power.
• However, both central and state government have the right to legislate the items that are part of the concurrent list.
• Both have the right to make laws but in case of any conflict of decisions made by the parliament and the state legislature, the former shall prevail and the decision made by the state legislature shall be void.

​The correct answer is Local bodies.

Key Points

• Local bodies are institutions of the local self-governance, which look after the administration of an area or small community such as villages, towns, or cities.
• The Local bodies in India are broadly classified into two categories.
• The local bodies constituted for local planning, development, and administration in the rural areas are referred to as Rural Local Bodies (Panchayats) and the local bodies, which are constituted for local planning, development, and administration in the urban areas are referred to as Urban Local Bodies (Municipalities)
• Local Government is a State subject figuring as item 5 in List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Article 243 G of the Indian Constitution enshrines the basic principle for devolution of power to the Local Bodies. In the nation's journey towards becoming an economic power, local bodies play an important part in enabling infrastructure available to the citizens.
• The Constitution (74^th Amendment) Act, 1992 is a landmark initiative of the Government of India to strengthen local self-government in cities and towns.
• The Act stipulates that if the state government dissolves a Municipality, election to the same must be held within a period of six months.
• Moreover, the conduct of municipal elections is entrusted to the statutory State Election Commission, rather than being left to executive authorities.
• The mandate of the Municipalities is to undertake the tasks of planning for ‘economic development and social justice’ and implement city/town development plans.
• Elections to the Municipalities:
• As per provisions made in Article 243ZA, the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Municipalities are vested in the State Election Commission referred to in article 243K.
• Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislature of a State may, by law, make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to the Municipalities.

Key Points

• Finance Commission of India:
• The Finance Commission is a constitutional body, that determines the method and formula for distributing the tax proceeds between the Centre and states, and among the states as per the constitutional arrangement and present requirements.

Important Points

• What is Finance Commission and its functions?
• The constitution-makers were aware of the financial requirements of the Centre and the states. They devised an elaborate method, clearly demarcating the duties and responsibilities of the units of the Union and of the Union itself while allocating resources to perform those duties. To meet these requirements, the Finance Commission came into being.
• Is Finance Commission a constitutional body?
• Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to constitute a Finance Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.

The correct answer is Iceland.

Global Peace Index 2019

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• This is the thirteenth edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.
• "India's rank has moved down to 141 from in GPI 2019 (from its previous position at 136), among 163 countries, and it stands at fifth in the (South Asian) region,".
• Produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. This report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on peace, its economic value, trends, and how to develop peaceful societies.
• The GPI covers 99.7 per cent of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace using three thematic domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict; and the degree of Militarisation.
• In addition to presenting the findings from the 2019 GPI, this year’s report includes an analysis of trends in Positive Peace: the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. It looks at the relationship between the actual peace of a country, as measured by the GPI, and Positive Peace, and how a deficit of Positive Peace is often a predictor of future increases in violent conflict. It also looks at the dynamic relationship between changes in Positive Peace and changes in the economy.
• The results this year show that the average level of global peacefulness improved very slightly in the 2019 GPI. This is the first time the index has improved in five years. The average country score improved by 0.09 percent, with 86 countries improving, and 76 recording deteriorations.
• The 2019 GPI reveals a world in which the conflicts and crises that emerged in the past decade have begun to abate, but new tensions within and between nations have emerged.

Key Points

• Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark. Bhutan has recorded the largest improvement of any country in the top 20, rising 43 places in the last 12 years.
• Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria, which is now the second least peaceful. South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq comprise the remaining five least peaceful countries. This is the first year since the inception of the index that Yemen has been ranked amongst the five least peaceful countries.

The correct answer is 10 teams.

• The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 was held in England and Wales from May 30, 2019 to July 14, 2019.
• The first round of the tournament will see 10 teams — England (hosts), Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies — play against each other.

Additional Information

• INDIAN Squad-Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Agarwal, Dinesh Karthik (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja.
• Shikhar Dhawan suffered a hairline fracture while batting in India's second match against Australia, prompting the team management to bring Rishabh Pant as cover for the left-handed opener..
• Mayank Agarwal was a leftfield replacement for the injured Vijay Shankar in the Indian World Cup squad.
• Shankar was hit on the toe by a Jasprit Bumrah yorker in the nets prior to the match against Afghanistan.
• The Tamil Nadu batting all-rounder played the matches against Afghanistan and the West Indies but the injury worsened before India was scheduled to play England.
• Agarwal was named as the replacement and ratified by the International Cricket Council's technical committee on July 1.

The correct answer is Morgan.

• Captain Eoin Morgan -The England captain scored 148 off 71 balls against Afghanistan at Old Trafford
• England captain Eoin Morgan smashed as many as 17 sixes against Afghanistan in their World Cup game here on Tuesday, breaking the record of most sixes in an ODI innings. Morgan was in devastating form, hammering 17 sixes and four boundaries in his 148 off 71 balls.
• India vice-captain Rohit Sharma had hammered 16 sixes against Australia in an ODI in 2013. West Indian Chris Gayle and retired South Africa batsman AB de Villiers too has hit 16 sixes in an innings.Riding on Morgan’s whirlwind innings, England posted 397 for 6, the highest total of this World Cup.

The correct answer is libra.

• In the middle of a 2018 that the first seeds of Libra were planted by Facebook.
• In May 2018, it was revealed that Facebook is establishing a blockchain division that would run under the supervision of David Marcus, who had earlier overseen the creation of Facebook Messenger.
• This happened four months after CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in his new year resolution post that he wanted Facebook to  “go deeper and study the positive and negative aspects of” cryptocurrencies.
• Then in December 2018, news came out that Facebook is building a cryptocurrency which will make it easy for them to transfer money on WhatsApp.
• The currency is going to be focussed on India since they have 400 million WhatsApp users.
• To make sure that the currency is not as volatile as traditional cryptos, this one will be a stablecoin.
• Finally, in June 2019, Facebook formally announced Libra and released its whitepaper.
• The coin is set for a 2020 launch.Facebook is planning to make its most significant impact via Libra.

Additional Information

• Unlike other crypto projects, Facebook already has a humongous user-base and doesn’t need to start from scratch.
• They can leverage their 2.38 billion users to adopt Libra and push it into mainstream acceptance. By comparison, “only” 2.5 million people own Bitcoin.

Important Points

• In December 2020, Facebook renamed its cryptocurrency from Libra to Diem.

The correct answer is - One’s curiosity should focus beyond the facade on the latent meaning of things.

Key Points

• Let's have a look at the 2^nd last sentence from the paragraph:
• "Curiosity may be focused on anything in the universe, but the spiritual reality of the phenomena should be the ultimate objective of all curiosity for it to be fruitful."
• ​Upon perusal of the above statement, it can be concluded that according to the author one’s curiosity should focus beyond the facade on the latent meaning of things.

The correct answer is- Spiritual reality is the ultimate goal of humans through action.

Key Points

• ​Let's have a look at the 2^nd last sentence from the paragraph:
• "Curiosity may be focused on anything in the universe, but the spiritual reality of the phenomena should be the ultimate objective of all curiosity for it to be fruitful."
• ​Upon perusal of the above statement, it can be concluded that according to the author spiritual reality is the ultimate goal of humans through action.

The correct answer is - People motivated by anxiety and conscience alone can be misdirected.

Key Points

• Let's have a look at the 4^th sentence from the paragraph:
• "They (Anxiety and conscience) are blind forces that drive but do not direct.
• ​Upon perusal of the above statement, it can be concluded that the true statement is- People motivated by anxiety and conscience alone can be misdirected.

The correct answer is - Spirit of inquiry​.

Key Points

• Let's have a look at the 6^th and 7^th sentence from the paragraph:
• "Curiosity is another motive for action. It is also one of the distinctive characteristics of human nature and contrasted with the natures of non-human animals."
• ​Upon perusal of the above statement, it can be concluded that the Spirit of inquiry​ or curiosity is a characteristic peculiar to human beings.

The correct answer is - Project curiosity as a potent motivating factor.

Key Points

• Let's have a look at the some sentences from the paragraph:
• "Curiosity may be focused on anything in the universe, but the spiritual reality of the phenomena should be the ultimate objective of all curiosity for it to be fruitful."
• "Curiosity is another motive for action. It is also one of the distinctive characteristics of human nature and contrasted with the natures of non-human animals."
• ​Upon perusal of the above statements, it can be concluded that projecting curiosity as a potent motivating factor is the main objective of this passage.

The correct answer is- supernatural.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Occult- having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
• supernatural- being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• religious- of, relating to or used in the practice or worship services of a religion
• unnatural- departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
• strong- having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that supernatural and Occult are synonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- magical, mystic, numinous, weird
• Antonyms- commonplace, everyday, ordinary, prosaic

The correct answer is- informer.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Whistleblower- a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
• informer- one that imparts knowledge or news
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• a down- reduced or low in activity, frequency, or intensity
• maniac- a person characterized by an inordinate or ungovernable enthusiasm for something
• reformer- one that works for or urges reform
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that informer and Whistleblower are synonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- squealer, stoolie, talebearer, tattler, telltale

The correct answer is- renounce.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Abjure- to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
• renounce- to give up (as a position of authority) formally
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• announce- to make known openly or publicly
• pronounce- to correctly produce the sound of (a word or letter) with one's voice
• denounce- to declare to be morally wrong or evil
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that renounce and Abjure are synonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- abnegate, foreswear, recant, renounce
• Antonyms- espouse, maintain, support, uphold

The correct answer is- cure-all​.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Panacea- something that cures all ills or problems, cure-all.
• ​Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• flatter- to praise too much
• praise- to proclaim the glory of
• inactivity- lack of action or activity
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that cure-all and Panacea are synonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- catholicon, elixir, nostrum, theriac

The correct answer is- unimportant.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Trivial- lacking importance; unimportant.
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• rude- not civilized
• crude- being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining
• tribal- of, relating to or reflecting the traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that unimportant and Trivial are synonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- fiddling, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential
• Antonyms- significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty

The correct answer is - Emergancy.

Key Points

• Let's look at the correct spelling and meaning of the marked option:
• Emergency- a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action
• Example: 
• The pilot of the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on Lake Geneva.
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:
• Malignancy- the state of being malignant
• Frequency- the number of times something happens within a particular period
• Consistency- the quality of always behaving or performing in a similar way, or of always happening in a similar way

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the words related to the marked option:
• Synonyms - exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture

The correct answer is - Rendezvos.

Key Points

• Let's look at the correct spelling and meaning of the marked option:
• Rendezvous- an agreement to be present at a specified time and place
• Example: 
• I have a rendezvous with him at lunchtime.
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:
• **Phlegm-**a lack of emotion or emotional expressiveness
• mnemonic- assisting or intended to assist memory
• Apropos- being both relevant and opportune

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the words related to the marked option:
• Synonyms - appointment, assignation, date, engagement, tryst

The correct answer is Suppliment.

Key Points

• Let's look at the correct spelling and meaning of the marked option:
• Supplement (अनुपूरक, परिशिष्‍ट, संपूरक)- something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else
• Example: The doctor recommends taking a vitamin C supplement to prevent colds.
• Let's look at the words related to the marked option:
• Synonyms- adjunct, annex, appendage, extension

Hence, the correct answer is option 3.​​​​

Additional Information

• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:
• Rudiment (प्रारंभिक ज्ञान)- a basic principle or element or a fundamental skill
• Compliment (प्रशंसा, तारीफ़)- a statement or action that shows admiration for somebody
• Independent (स्‍वाधीन, स्‍वतंत्र)- not subject to control by others
• Complement is another correct word that means a thing that goes together well with something else (पूरक या अनुकूल वस्‍तु; संपूरक)
• Example: Ice cream is the perfect complement to this dessert.

The correct answer is - Eudaemone.

Key Points

• Let's look at the correct spelling and meaning of the marked option:
• Eudaemonia- Wellbeing or happiness
• Example: 
• Among the ancients, the Epicureans expressed all eudaemonia in terms of pleasure.
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:
• Odontalgia- pain in or about a tooth
• Elucubrate- to work out or express by a studious effort
• Smaragdine- a rich green variety of beryl prized as a gemstone

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the words related to the marked option:
• Synonyms - good, interest, weal, welfare

The correct answer is - Alignmant.

Key Points

• Let's look at the correct spelling and meaning of the marked option:
• Alignment- to be in or come into precise adjustment or correct relative position
• Example: 
• The alignment of the text with the pictures is off.
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:
• Ancillary- placed in or occupying a lower class, rank, or position
• Algorithm- a procedure for solving a mathematical problem
• Abridgement- to shorten by the omission of words without the sacrifice of sense

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the words related to the marked option:
• Synonyms - design, layout, pattern, structure, system
• Antonyms - confusion, disorder, disorganization, disruption

The correct answer is Pester.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given word and the marked option:
• Cajole- to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
• pester- to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• persuade- to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest request
• bitter- having or showing deep-seated resentment
• lament- to feel or express sorrow for
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that pester is the antonym for Cajole.

 ​​​​

Additional Information

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- blandish, blarney, coax, palaver
• Antonyms- browbeat, bulldoze, bully, intimidate

The correct answer is- Foolish.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Sapient- having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge
• foolish- showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• wise- having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge
• wasteful- given to spending money freely or foolishly
• culvert- a transverse drain
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that foolish and Sapient are antonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- perceptive, prudent, sagacious, sage, wise
• Antonyms- stupid, thoughtless, unintelligent, witless

The correct answer is- Genuine.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Counterfeit- made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive
• genuine- being exactly as appears or as claimed
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• destructive- causing great and irreparable damage
• affirm- state emphatically or publicly
• harmonize- add notes to (a melody) to produce harmony
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that genuine and Counterfeit are antonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- bogus, fake, false, forged, inauthentic
• Antonyms- authentic, bona fide, genuine, real

The correct answer is- weak.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Brawny- having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
• weak- lacking bodily strength
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• swift- moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
• strong- having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
• pale- lacking intensity of color
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that weak and Brawny are antonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- muscular, rugged, sinewy, stalwart
• Antonyms- feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy

The correct answer is- calm.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given word and marked option:
• Foment- to bring (something volatile or intense) into being
• calm- to free from distress or disturbance
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• instigate- bring about or initiate (an action or event)
• push- to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
• solemn- formal and dignified
• Hence from the given meanings, we find that calm and Foment are antonyms.

 ​​​​

Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms- incite, instigate, pick, provoke
• Antonyms- allay, calm, quiet, settle, soothe

The correct answer is - unequivocal.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given words:
• ambiguous- not to have a clear idea of
• unparliamentary- contrary to the practice of parliamentary bodies
• unequivocal- leaving no doubt; Clear
• uncontrollable- incapable of being controlled
• As per the context of the sentence, the leader of the opposition party condemned the communal riots in a lucid manner.
• In the current scenario, the verb 'unequivocal' is the correct choice in the given blank.

Correct Sentence: The leader of the opposition party condemned the communal riots in unequivocal terms.

The correct answer is - seems.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given words:
• feel- to have a vague awareness of
• look- to give the impression of being
• believe- to regard as right or true
• seem- to appear to the observation or understanding
• As per the context of the sentence, there is a perception regarding Punit's selection.
• In the current scenario, the verb 'seems' is the correct choice in the given blank.

Correct Sentence: It seems that Punit will not be selected.

The correct answer is - circuitous.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given words:
• circular- having the form of a circle
• circumscribe- to surround by or as if by a boundary
• longest- extending for a considerable distance
• circuitous- not straightforward or direct
• As per the context of the sentence, the subject had to pay more taxi fare because the taxi driver took a lengthy route and not the direct one.
• In the current scenario, the adjective 'circuitous' is the correct choice in the given blank.

Correct Sentence: We had to pay more taxi fare because the driver brought us by a circuitous route.

The correct answer is - adores.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meanings of the given words:
• adore- to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for
• care- strict attentiveness to what one is doing
• cultivate- to come to have gradually
• apprehend- to have a clear idea of
• As per the context of the 2^nd sentence, the subject likes classical music and the artists related to this field.
• In the current scenario, the verb 'adores' is the correct choice in the given blank.

Correct Sentence: Shivlal adores classical music. He always prefers Bhimsen Joshi to Asha Bhonsale.

The correct answer is- to.

Key Points

• The adjective 'compare/comparable' is mainly followed by two prepositions given below:

• compare/comparable to- used to point out or imply resemblances between objects of a different order.

• compare/comparable with- used to point out differences between objects of the same order.

• For example:

• He compared me with a tall building.

• He compared me to a tall building*.*

• Hence from the given rule, we find that the preposition 'to' is the appropriate choice here.

Correct Sentence: Indigenous products are now comparable to improved goods in the country.

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Additional Information  

• There are some verbs/nouns/adjectives which are followed by fixed preposition given below:
• ​Exonerate from, refrain from, suspicious of, interested in, inured to, accused of, predilection for, respite from, vexed at, etc.
• For example:
• ​After spending some time on the island they became inured to the hardships.

The correct answer is- but it was like a look for a needle in the haystack.

Key Points​

• ​Let's look at the meaning of the given word as a noun and as a verb given below:
• look (noun)- an expression on someone's face or a style or fashion
• look (verb)- to try to find something or someone
• ​Example:
• ​He gave me a questioning look. (as a noun)
• I'm looking for my keys. (as a verb)
• Hence ​​in the 3^rd part of the sentence, 'looking for' will be used instead of 'a look for' to convey the desired meaning.

Correct Sentence: He has lost a ring in the sand and I helped him search for it but it was like looking for a needle in the haystack.

The correct answer is - The scientist was seemed​.

Key Points

• The simple past tense is used when we talk about things that happened or existed before now.
• The structure is given below:
• Subject + V2 + object. (Active Voice)
• Object + was/were + V₃ + by + subject. (Passive Voice)
• Example:
• ​He won the car race. (active voice)
• The car race was won by him. (passive voice)
• Since the given sentence is in active voice form, the verb 'seemed' will be used instead of 'was seemed'.

Correct Sentence: The scientist seemed to be excited over the result of his experiment.

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Additional Information  

• Some phrases are followed by past indefinite/simple tense as given below:

• ​It's high time, It's time, It's about time, etc.

• For example:

• It's high time I start preparing for my final exams.

• It's high time I started preparing for my final exams.

The correct answer is- that influences the younger generation​.

Key Points

• The three words—good, better, and best—are examples of the three forms of an adjective or adverb: positive, comparative, and superlative.
• The positive form of an adjective or adverb is the basic form listed in a dictionary.
• The comparative form is used when there is a comparison between two or more things.
• The superlative form is used for a thing is better than any other of the same category.
• Example:
• She is a good Cricketer.
• Rohit is a better human being than his brother.
• He is the best singer in our class.
• Since there is no comparison whatsoever in the given question, 'young' will be used instead of 'younger' in the 3^rd part.

Correct Sentence: The media of films have been accepted by all as the most powerful force that influences the young generation. 

Mistake Points

• 'Media' is the plural of 'Medium'. So 'have' is correctly used here.
• '' Influences' is according to the subject 'the most powerful force' because, in the case of a relative pronoun, the verb after the relative pronoun is according to the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Additional Information

• Whenever we see the structure like 'as....as' and 'so....as', we will use a positive degree of adjective/adverb.

• For example:

• The thief ran as faster as he could.

• The thief ran as fast as he could.

• 'Media' is a plural form of 'medium' hence it is a noun that is the subject of the sentence hence use the plural verb for the noun 'media' so the first part doesn't have any error.

The correct answer is- finding fault in you.

Key Points ​

• There are some verbs/nouns/adjectives which are followed by fixed preposition given below:
• ​Exonerate from, refrain from, suspicious of, find fault with, inured to, accused of, predilection for, respite from, vexed at, etc.
• For example:
• ​After spending some time on the island they became inured to the hardships.
• ​According to the rule and the example given above, 'finding fault with you​' will be used in the 3^rd part of the sentence.

Correct Sentence: Until you begin to make better use of your time I shall not stop finding fault with you.

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• ​The adjective 'compare' is mainly followed by two prepositions given below:

• compare to- used to point out or imply resemblances between objects of a different order.

• compare with- used to point out differences between objects of the same order.

• For example:

• He compared me with a tall building.

• He compared me to a tall building*.*

The correct answer is- I will inform to your father.

Key Points​

• ​There are some verbs that are not followed by a preposition. Some of them are given below:
• ​​consider, discuss, influence, emphasize, inform, return, etc.
• Example:
• ​We can discuss about the opportunity for a promotion. (incorrect)
• We can discuss the opportunity for a promotion. (correct)
• Hence the 2^nd part of the question, the verb 'inform' won't be followed by the preposition 'to'.

Correct Sentence: If you repeat this mistake I will inform your father and do not blame me then.

Additional Information

• Some verbs can be both prepositional and not prepositional, depending on the context or the verb tense.
• In the simple present tense, comprise is never prepositional.
• When comprised follows is or was, it functions as an adjective and requires the preposition of.
• Example:
• ​Five people comprise the committee. (active voice)
• The committee is comprised of five people. (passive voice)

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given idiom:
• To die in harness- to die while still working or active, prior to retirement.
• Example: With medicine and healthcare improving at such vast rates, far fewer people die in harness than ever before.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the origin of the idiom:
• This expression is drawing a comparison between a person at work and a horse in harness drawing a plough or cart.
• The analogy of a draft horse working until it drops dates from Shakespeare’s time (or earlier). “At least we’ll die with harness on our back,” says Macbeth

​

The correct answer is Option 4

The correct answer is- to be afraid.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given idiom:
• Get cold feet- suddenly become too frightened to do something one had planned to do
• Example: 
• The burglar has got cold feet when the dog started barking.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the origin of the idiom:
• The phrase was often in reference to poor people. If you had no money for shoes then your feet would be cold.

The correct answer is- to provoke debate or test the strength of opposing arguments.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given idiom:
• Devil’s advocate- one who argues against something just for the sake of arguing, without actually being committed to the views
• Example: 
• He offered to play devil's advocate and argue against our case so that we could find out any flaws in it.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the origin of the idiom:
• During the canonization (declaring that a person, who has died, was a saint) process of the Roman Catholic Church, an official was appointed to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate.
• This is done to properly justify the merits of the candidate.
• This official was known as the devil's advocate.

The correct answer is- describe an event as it occurred in every detail.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given idiom:
• Blow by blow- a detailed description (of an occasion) given as the event takes place.
• Example: 
• The witness gave a blow-by-blow account of the happening.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the origin of the idiom:
• This phrase originates from the commentary of boxing matches where a "blow" is used in the literal sense.
• Radio commentaries especially have to be in great detail which gave the people listening to it a sense of vision of the match without actually being there.
• This got popular with all sports eventually and the phrase has stuck within the vocabulary meaning something that is described in minute detail.

The correct answer is- growing less.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the given idiom:
• On the wane- becoming weaker or less extensive.
• Example: 
• Her influence is on the wane, but she is still the boss.

The correct answer is - dynasty.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the marked option:
• dynasty- a succession of rulers of the same line of descent
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• lineage- descent in a line from a common progenitor
• ancestry- persons initiating or comprising a line of descent
• progeny- a body of followers, disciples, or successors
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that dynasty is the correct one-word substitute.

The correct answer is - plaque.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the marked option:
• plaque- Flat metal or porcelain plate fixed on a wall as an ornament or memorial
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• tabloid- a newspaper that is about half the page size of an ordinary newspaper and that contains news in a condensed form and much photographic matter
• poster- a usually large printed sheet that often contains pictures and is posted in a public place
• board- a piece of sawed lumber of little thickness and a length greatly exceeding its width
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that plaque is the correct one-word substitute.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms - badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plate

The correct answer is - leer.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the marked option:
• leer- a lascivious, knowing, or wanton look
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• lore- a particular body of knowledge or tradition
• lark- any of a family (Alaudidae) of chiefly Old World ground-dwelling songbirds that are usually brownish in color
• littoral- of, relating to, or situated or growing on or near a shore especially of the sea
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that leer is the correct one-word substitute.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms - gape, gaze, glare, ogle, stare

The correct answer is - impunity.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the marked option:
• impunity- exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• impudent- marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others
• inexorable- not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped
• imperturbable- marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that impunity is the correct one-word substitute.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms - absolution, absolving, dispensation, forgiveness

The correct answer is - hypochondria.

Key Points

• Let's look at the meaning of the marked option:
• hypochondria- a tendency to fear or imagine that you have illnesses that you do not actually have
• Let's look at the meanings of the other given options: 
• malaria- any of various diseases of birds and mammals caused by blood protozoans
• disaffected- discontented and resentful especially against authority
• malinger- to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness (as to avoid duty or work)
• Hence, from the given meanings, we find that hypochondria is the correct one-word substitute.

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Additional Information  

• Let's look at the synonyms and antonyms for the given word:
• Synonyms -  fusser, griper, grouch, whiner, valetudinarian