Social Studies PYQs

The correct answer is Brundtland Commission Report.

• Sustainable development was developed for the first time in the Brundtland Commission Report in 1987.
• The Brundtland Report was published by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.
• According to the report, "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Additional Information

• The first Earth Summit, took place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.
• The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, Convention on Biological Diversity, Forest Principles and the Framework Convention on Climate Change came out of the 1992 Earth Summit.

The correct answer is Dolphin Gangetica.

Key Points

• The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801.
• It can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind.
• It is found in the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna and Karnaphuli rivers and their tributaries.
• Platanista gangetica is its scientific name.
• Its IUCN status is endangered.
• It is the National Aquatic Animal of India.

Additional Information

• Alligators are large reptiles, members of the order Crocodylia.
• All turtles, tortoises, and terrapins are reptiles.

The correct answer is 1980.

Key Points

• The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 was passed to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.
• Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for the diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
• The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 was further amended in 1988.

Additional Information 

• The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in the year 1986.
• The main objective of this act is to provide the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
• Constitutional provisions of Forest Conservation:
• Article 48-A of the Indian Constitution deals with protection and improvement of the environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife - the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Clause g of Article 51 A of the Indian Constitution says that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

The correct answer is Nitrogen.

Key Points

• Greenhouse gases (GHGs) warm the Earth by absorbing energy and slowing the rate at which the energy escapes to space.

• GHGs act like a blanket insulating the Earth.

• Different GHGs can have different effects on the Earth's warming.

• The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapour (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and ozone (O₃).

Important Points

• Nitrogen (N):
• The atomic number is 7.
• It is used to make fertilisers, nitric acid, dyes and explosives.
• It makes up 78.1% of the Earth's atmosphere.
• It is not a greenhouse gas.

Additional Information

• Carbon dioxide:
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an important heat-trapping (greenhouse) gas.
• It is released through human activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
• It was also released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions.
• CO₂ is normally a gas at room temperature and pressure and it is stored under high pressure to make it a liquid.
• It is widely used as a fire extinguisher.
• Kyoto Protocol:
• It is an international agreement that mandated at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and was signed in 1997.
• Methane:
• Methane (CH₄) is a gas produced by a group of colonic anaerobes, absorbed from the colon and excreted in expired air.
• Methane is a colourless, odourless gas.
• It is also known as marsh gas or methyl hydride.
• Ozone:
• Ozone (O₃) is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms.
• It is both a natural and a man-made product that occurs in the Earth's upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) and lower atmosphere (the troposphere).
• Stratospheric ozone is formed naturally through the interaction of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation with molecular oxygen (O₂).

The correct answer is Pesticides.

• Soil conservation is the process of prevention of soil erosion/degradation.
• These practices include crop rotation, conservation tillage, mulching, cover cropping, and cross-slope farming.
• The overuse of pesticides in the soil will leads to an increase in the alkalinity or acidity of soil thus degrading the soil quality.
• Pesticides are responsible for the cause of soil erosion. It is not a soil conservation method.

Additional Information

• Organic manure
• It leads to greater reductions in soil erosion and runoff.
• Manure organic matter contributes to improved soil structure, improved water infiltration and greater water-holding capacity.
• Soil erosion can be checked through contour ploughing, mulching etc.
• Crop cycle includes preparation of soil, sowing, adding manure and fertilizers, irrigation, and harvesting.

The correct answer is Altius, Citius, Fortius.

• The ideal slogan of the Olympic Games is made up of three Latin words: Citius - Altius - Fortius.
• These words means Faster - Higher - Stronger.
• Pierre de Coubertin proposed the motto upon the creation of the International Olympic Committee in 1894.
• It was the Dominican priest Henri Didon who first expressed the words in the opening ceremony of a school sports event in 1881.

The correct answer is Dara Singh.

• Dara Singh was an Indian professional wrestler.
• He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996.
• He has not received Arjuna award.

Additional Information

• Vishesh Bhriguvanshi is a professional Indian Basketball captain.
• He received the Arjuna Award for the year 2020.
• Pullela Gopichand is a former Indian badminton player.
• He is the current chief coach for the Indian Badminton team.
• He received the Arjuna Award for the year 2000.
• Pradip Kumar Banerjee received the Arjuna award in the year 1961 for football.

The correct answer is Eight.

Key Points

• There are eight types of recreational activities:
• Physical activities (sports, games, fitness, etc.)
• Social activities (parties, picnics, etc.)
• Camping and outdoor activities (day camps, resident camps, float trips, etc.)
• Arts and crafts activities (painting, ceramics, woodworking, etc.)
• Dramatic activities (puppetry, skits, etc.)
• Musical activities (singing, bands, etc.)
• Cultural activities (art appreciation, music appreciation, discussion groups, etc.)
• Service activities (volunteering, charitable donations etc)

The correct answer is Vajrasana.

• ​Vajrasana: It is a kneeling pose. 
• It minimizes knee pain and is the best Asana for knee strength.
• It works on thighs, legs, hip, knees, back and ankles.

Additional Information

• Tadasana: It helps in increasing the flexibility of your ankles, thighs and joints.
• Chakrasana: It gives great strength to the spine and also increases the flexibility of the spine.
• Sukhasana is the simplest meditative posture and eliminates stress and anxiety.

The correct answer is Manipur.

Key Points

• India's first national sports university is opened in Imphal, Manipur.
• It was established in the year 2018.
• It is the only central university on sports education.

Additional Information

• Manipur:
• It shares borders with Myanmar, the State of Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram and Myanmar.
• N Biren Singh is the present CM of Manipur.
• La. Ganesan is the Governor of Manipur.
• Imphal is the capital of Manipur.
• Assam:
• Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current CM of Assam.
• Jagdish Mukhi is the current governor of Assam.
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal are the boundaries of Assam.
• Dispur is the capital of Assam.
• Madhya Pradesh: 
• Bhopal is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh shares its border with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the CM of Madhya Pradesh.
• Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel is the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
• Maharashtra:
• Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra.
• The state is surrounded by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka and Goa.
• Eknath Singh is the current CM of Maharashtra.
• Bhagat Singh Koshyari is the governor of Maharashtra.

The correct answer is I.C.P.H. - 8.

Key Points

• Pigeon pea is commonly known as arhar dal or split toor (tuvar) dal.
• ICPH 8 is the worlds first pigeon pea hybrid variety.
• It was released by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for cultivation in 1991.

Additional Information

• CPH 2740 in 2015 released under the name Mannem Konda Kandi – is the first pigeonpea hybrid for the state of Telangana.
• UPAS-120 is a  early ripening pigeon pea variety of Uttar Pradesh.
• ICPL 87 is a short-duration, wilt-tolerant, high-yielding pigeonpea variety.

The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh.

• Madhya Pradesh accounts for 45% share in Soyabean production in the country.
• Soybean is known as the “GOLDEN BEAN” and is widely used as oilseed.
• Soybean is a Kharif crop.
• The top three Soyabean growing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
• Madhya Pradesh is called Soyabean State.

Additional Information

• Madhya Pradesh:
• Bhopal is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh shares its border with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the CM of Madhya Pradesh.
• Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel is the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
• Maharashtra:
• Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra.
• The state is surrounded by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka and Goa.
• Eknath Shinde is the current CM of Maharashtra.
• Bhagat Singh Koshyari is the governor of Maharashtra.
• Andhra Pradesh:
• Andhra Pradesh is also known as the “Rice Bowl of India”
• It is the second-largest raw silk-producing State in the country.
• It is bordered by the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Odisha.
• Jaganmohan Reddy is the current CM of Andhra Pradesh.
• Biswabhusan Harichandan is the current governor of Andhra Pradesh.
• Rajasthan:
• Jaipur is a famous city and capital of Rajasthan.
• The state shares borders with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.
• Ashok Gehlot is the current CM of Rajasthan.
• Kalraj Mishra is the current governor of Rajasthan.

The correct answer is Vegetable forcing.

Key Points

• A greenhouse is sheltered structure which is covered with a transparent or tranlucent material in which crops can be grown under controlled environmental conditions.
• The main objective of greenhouses is to provide favorable growing conditions and to protect crops from unfavorable weather and various pests.
• Growing of vegetables under "Green House" is known as Vegetable forcing.

Additional Information

• A floating garden is built using aquatic weeds as a base on which vegetables can be base on which vegetables can be grown.
• Truck gradening: It is the method of growing special vegetable crops in relatively larger quantities for distant markets by the employing of extensive methods.
• Growing of vegetable crops in residential house to meet the requirements of the family is known as Kitchen Gardening.

The correct answer is 2.65 g/cm3. 

• Particle density is defined as the average density of all the minerals composing the soil sample.
• It is expressed as the ratio of the total mass of the solid particles to their total volume.
• The average value of particle density of soil is 2.65 g/cm³.

The correct answer is Contour.

• Contour system:
• It is followed in hilly areas where land is difficult for irrigation and soil erosion is a major problem.
• The main purpose of this system is to minimize the soil loss due to erosion and conserve sufficient soil moisture for crops.
• Square system:
• In this system, trees are planted on each corner of a square. Thus every four plants make one square.
• Examples of this planting are Banana, Manago, citrus, etc.
• Quincunx system**:**
• In this system, trees are planted on each corner of a square along with one plant in the middle of the square.
• Examples of this planting are Papaya, Pineapple, etc.
• Hexagonal system:
• In this system, trees are planted at the corner of the equilateral triangle.
• Thus six trees are planted making a hexagon and another plant in the centre.

The correct answer is Vitamins and minerals.

Key Points

• Vitamins and minerals are protective nutrients in a balanced diet.
• A diet that contains the proper amounts of each nutrient is called a balanced diet.
• Our bodies cannot synthesize vitamins. Therefore, we need to consume natural sources such as fruits and vegetables.
• Vegetables like spinach, cabbage, brinjal, beans, and fruits are called protective foods.
• These components protect us from diseases. Hence, they are called protective components of food.

Additional Information

Important Points

• Proteins are the building blocks of our bodies.
• They are responsible for the growth and repair of muscle.
• Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our bodies. starch, sugar, and cellulose are the three major categories of carbohydrates.
• Fats are substances that our body stores for future use.
• The major sources of animal fats are ghee, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, fish, and meat.

The correct answer is Steaming.

Key Points

• Steaming:
• In this type of cooking technique, food is cooked above the liquid, and not actually submerged, which means that most of the nutrients stay in the food itself.
• It is the most preferred and best method of cooking.

Additional Information

• Baking:
• It is the cooking of food in the oven using indirect dry heat.
• Roasting:
• It is similar to baking but usually involves higher heats than baking.
• Frying:
• It is the technique of cooking food in oil or another fat.

The correct answer is Digestion of protein.

• Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme, that is helpful in the digestion of proteins**.**
• Trypsin is produced in an inactive form by the pancreas called as trypsinogen.
• The trypsinogen enters the small intestine through the common bile duct and is converted to active trypsin.
• Lipase enzymes helps in the digestion of fats.
• Two types of pancreatic nuclease are responsible for their digestion of nucleic acids DNA and RNA i.e deoxyribonuclease, which digests DNA, and ribonuclease, which digests RNA.

The correct answer is the Varicella virus.

• Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
• It is characterized by itchy red blisters that appear all over the body.

Additional Information

• Cholera is a bacterial disease called by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae.
• Typhoid fever is caused by Bacillus typhous.
• Amebiasis is a disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

The correct answer is Someone who is drowning.

Key Points

• Schafer method is an obsolete method of resuscitation in cases of drowning or asphyxia.
• In this method, the patient is placed face down.
• Two hands are placed on the two sides of the lower part of the chest and then the operator slowly puts his body weight leaning forwards and pressing upon the loins of the subject.