2015

The question refers to the historical impact of Babur's arrival in India in 1526.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Gunpowder was not introduced by Babur. It was known in India as early as the mid-14th century. It was used in warfare by the Delhi Sultanate and later by the Bahmani and Vijayanagara kingdoms in the Deccan. Babur's contribution was the introduction of superior gunpowder technology, specifically mobile artillery and the 'Rumi' method of deployment, but not the substance itself.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The arch and dome were introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Turks during the Delhi Sultanate period (13th century), long before Babur. Examples include the Alai Darwaza and the tombs of the Lodi era. Babur's arrival influenced later Mughal architecture, but the fundamental concepts of the arch and dome were already established.

Statement 3 is correct: Babur was a direct descendant of Timur (Tamerlane) on his father's side. His victory at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) against Ibrahim Lodi led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire, which the Mughals themselves referred to as the Timurid dynasty (Gurkani).

The Labour Bureau, attached to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is responsible for compiling and publishing the Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) in India. This index tracks changes in the retail prices of a basket of goods and services consumed by industrial workers. It serves as a crucial indicator of inflation faced by this specific segment of the population.

The Labour Bureau is responsible for maintaining: - CPI (Industrial Workers) - CPI (Rural Labourers) - CPI (Agricultural Labourers)

Statement 1 is Correct: The Sun's gravitational pull contributes to tide generation. Although the Sun is significantly more massive than the Moon, its immense distance from Earth results in a tidal-generating force that is approximately 46% as strong as the Moon's.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Moon's gravitational pull is the primary force responsible for tides. It exerts a stronger pull on the side of the Earth facing it, drawing ocean water toward it and creating a tidal bulge.

Statement 3 is Correct: Tides are also influenced by centrifugal force, which arises from the revolution of the Earth and Moon around their common center of mass (the barycenter). This force acts in the opposite direction to the Moon's gravitational pull; on the side of the Earth facing away from the Moon, the centrifugal force exceeds the Moon's weakened gravitational pull, creating a second tidal bulge.

Statement 1 is incorrect. IOR-ARC is a regional cooperation initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim countries. It was established in Mauritius in March 1997 with the aim of promoting economic and technical cooperation. IOR-ARC is the only pan-Indian ocean grouping. It brings together countries from three continents having different sizes, economic strengths, and a wide diversity of languages, cultures. Statement 2 is incorrect. It aims to create a platform for trade, socio-economic and cultural cooperation in the Indian Ocean rim area. The Indian Ocean Rim is rich in strategic and precious minerals, metals and other natural resources, marine resources and energy, all of which can be sourced from Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), continental shelves and the deep seabed.

The movement that contributed to the split in the Indian National Congress, resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists', was the Swadeshi Movement.

The Swadeshi Movement saw two distinct groups emerge within the Indian National Congress: 1. Moderates: This group, led by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee, believed in constitutional and peaceful methods to achieve independence. They supported the boycott of British goods but opposed the use of violence or extreme measures.

2. Extremists (also known as Radicals or Nationalists): This group, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal (the Lal-Bal-Pal trio), advocated for more aggressive and revolutionary methods to drive out the British. They supported the use of boycotts, civil disobedience, and even violence if necessary.

The ideological differences between the moderates and extremists intensified during the Swadeshi Movement, eventually leading to the Surat Split in 1907, where the two factions clashed openly at the Congress session, resulting in a temporary split in the party.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: A strong central authority is not a defining characteristic of the feudal system. In fact, a weak central government with power dispersed among regional lords is more typical.

Statement 2 is Correct: Land ownership and control were fundamental aspects of the feudal system in India. Powerful landowners (Zamindars, Jagirdars etc.) gained control over vast territories and the peasantry who worked on them.

Statement 3 is Correct: A hierarchical structure with lords granting land to vassals in exchange for military service, taxes, and loyalty was a core principle of the feudal system.

While the Indian feudal system had some unique characteristics, these two elements - land control and the lord-vassal relationship - formed the backbone of the system.

The World Bank publishes the Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report twice a year, typically in January and June. This flagship publication examines global economic developments and prospects, with a specific focus on emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). It provides detailed analysis of key development issues and includes growth forecasts at the global and regional levels.

Harihara I, along with his brother Bukka I, founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336. The capital city, Vijayanagara (Hampi), was established on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River, which is a major tributary of the Krishna River. The rulers of the Sangama dynasty, starting with Harihara I, claimed to rule as the agents of the deity Virupaksha (a form of Lord Shiva), who was the guardian deity of the kingdom. They believed that the land south of the Krishna River belonged to the deity, and they ruled it on His behalf. To signify this divine authority, royal orders were traditionally signed in the name of 'Shri Virupaksha' in the Kannada script.

In India, teak is a dominant tree species in Tropical Deciduous Forests.

These forests are also known as "Monsoon Forests" and are characterized by:

- Rainfall: They receive moderate rainfall, typically ranging from 70 to 200 cm annually. - Seasonality: They experience a distinct dry season, leading to trees shedding their leaves during this period. - Vegetation: Tropical Deciduous forests are home to a variety of trees, including teak, sal, shisham, and sandalwood.


A seed village, wherein trained group of farmers are involved in the production of seeds of various crops and cater to the needs of themselves, fellow farmers of the village and farmers of neighbouring villages in the appropriate time and at an affordable cost is called a seed village.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was indeed launched during 1996-97, but its objective was to provide central assistance to states to accelerate the pace of irrigation development, not specifically to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.

Statement 2 is correct: The Command Area Development Programme (CADP) was launched in 1974-75, its primary focus was on improving the water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity in the command areas of major and medium irrigation projects.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The bio-toilets actually utilize bacteria, not fungi, to decompose human waste. These bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they function in an oxygen-free environment within the bio-digester tank.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The end products of decomposition in the bio-toilets are not just ammonia and water vapor. The process generates a combination of: * Treated water: This water undergoes chlorination before being released. * Methane: This gas is released in small amounts and vents into the atmosphere. * Sludge: A minimal amount of solid residue remains after decomposition.

Therefore, the correct answer is None of the above.

The Goldilocks Zone, also called the habitable zone, refers to the region around a star where conditions might be just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet.


Scientists believe liquid water is essential for life as we know it. So, when astronomers discover planets outside our solar system (exoplanets), they're particularly interested in those within the Goldilocks Zone of their host star.

Statement 1 is correct. Near Field Communication (NFC) is indeed a contactless communication technology that relies on electromagnetic radio fields to transmit data between devices in close proximity.

Statement 2 is incorrect. NFC operates over a very short range, typically requiring devices to be within a few centimetres of each other for successful communication. A meter is far too large a distance for NFC to function effectively.

Statement 3 is correct. NFC can employ encryption to safeguard sensitive information during transmission. This is an important security feature for applications like contactless payments.


The correct answer is the Middle East.

The Golan Heights is a hilly, 1,200 sq-km rocky plateau in south-western Syria in the Middle East region overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordan Valley.


The Golan was Syrian territory until 1967 when Israel occupied it in the closing stages of the Six-Day War.

Rupee convertibility means the system where any amount of rupee can be converted into any other currency without any question asked about the purpose for which the foreign exchange is to be used.

Non-convertibility can generally be defined with reference to the transaction for which foreign exchange cannot be legally purchased (e.g., import of consumer goods etc), or transactions which are controlled and approved on a case-by-case basis (like regulated imports etc).

Statement 1 is correct: The Dugong is a herbivorous marine animal. Dugongs are marine mammals that feed on seagrass meadows.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While once more widespread, dugong populations are now concentrated in specific areas. They are primarily found in -The Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay off the coast of Tamil Nadu -The Andaman and Nicobar Islands -The Gulf of Kutch

Statement 3 is correct: It is given legal protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.


Agricultural Markets in most parts of the Country are established and regulated under the APMC Acts enacted by the states.

The whole geographical area in the State is divided and declared as a market area wherein the markets are managed by the Market Committees constituted by the State Governments. Once a particular area is declared a market area and falls under the jurisdiction of a Market Committee, no person or agency is allowed freely to carry on wholesale marketing activities.

Both the bank rate and open market operations are components of monetary policy in the Indian economy.

Bank rate: The bank rate is the rate at which the central bank (Reserve Bank of India in the case of India) lends money to commercial banks. It is one of the key tools used by the central bank to control the money supply and credit conditions in the economy.

Open market operations: Open market operations refer to the buying and selling of government securities (bonds) by the central bank in the open market. Through open market operations, the central bank can inject or withdraw liquidity from the banking system, thereby influencing the level of reserves held by banks and the overall money supply in the economy.

Public debt and public revenue are not typically considered components of monetary policy. Public debt refers to the total amount of money owed by the government through borrowing, while public revenue refers to the income generated by the government through taxes and other sources. These factors are more closely related to fiscal policy, which involves government spending and taxation decisions to achieve specific economic objectives.

Capital-augmenting technological progress: This refers to technological advancements that increase the productivity of existing capital goods. In this case, replacing wooden ploughs (a less efficient capital good) with steel ploughs (a more efficient capital good) increases the productivity of the plough itself. Steel ploughs can till more land, last longer, and require less maintenance compared to wooden ploughs.

The Basel III Accord is a set of international banking regulations developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). It was formulated in response to the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and aims to improve the banking sector's resilience to financial and economic stress and improve its risk management by:

Increasing capital adequacy requirements: Banks need to hold more capital relative to their risk-weighted assets to absorb potential losses during financial stress. Enhancing liquidity standards: Banks need to maintain a sufficient level of liquid assets to meet their short-term obligations. Strengthening risk management practices: Banks are required to implement more robust risk management frameworks to identify, measure, and manage various risks they face.

Statement 1 is correct: National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) is indeed an autonomous body established under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: NIF's focus is not on highly advanced scientific research but rather on recognizing and supporting grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge developed by individuals and communities. These innovations often come from outside the formal scientific establishment. So, NIF works on a different level than collaborating with advanced foreign institutions, although its work can complement scientific research efforts.

Statement 1 is incorrect: India is not a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a regional forum aimed at promoting economic integration and trade among Pacific Rim countries.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India is not a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), though it is an important dialogue partner and participates in ASEAN-led forums under its Act East Policy.

Statement 3 is correct: India is a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS), a strategic forum of ASEAN members and key regional partners, which India joined in 2005.

Champaka - Central India (Incorrect): Champaka, also known as Chamba, was located in the present-day Himachal Pradesh region.

Durgara - Jammu (Correct): Durgara corresponds to the present-day Jammu region.

Kuluta - Malabar (Incorrect): Kuluta, also known as Kulu, was situated in the present-day Himachal Pradesh region, bordering Kullu Valley. Malabar refers to the southwestern coastal region of India.

Therefore, only pair 2 is correctly matched.

* The National Aquatic animal of India is the Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica). * The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal on 18th May 2010. * The dolphin is blind and faces a severe threat from the heavy pollution and habitat destruction in the waters where it lives. * It has been declared Endangered in the IUCN Red List, and it is assumed that fewer than 2000 individuals remain. This dolphin, called susu or susuk in India, is thought to represent the purity of the Ganga.

Statement 1 is Correct: Banaras Brocades and Sarees were granted Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2009, recognizing the unique handloom weaving traditions and historical origin in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: While Dal-Bati-Churma is a famous traditional food preparation from Rajasthan, it has not been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) status.

Statement 3 is Correct: Tirupati Laddu, the sacred prasad offered at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, was granted GI status in 2009 to protect its unique recipe and reputation from commercial imitation.

* Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli: This sculpture is believed to have been created by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BCE (around 272-231 BCE).

* Varaha Image at Udayagiri: The Varaha image at Udayagiri Caves is estimated to be from the Gupta period, dating back to around the 5th century CE (c. 410 CE).

* Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar: While the exact date of construction is debated, most scholars believe the Lingaraja Temple originated sometime in the 11th century CE.

* Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram: The monuments at Mahabalipuram were built over a period by the Pallava dynasty. The earliest structures likely date back to the 7th century CE, with some additions continuing into the 9th century CE.

Therefore, based on their estimated creation dates, the Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli is the earliest among the listed options.

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is a Non-Banking Financial Institution under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for providing term loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Statement 1 is correct: IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established under the Companies Act, 1956. Statement 2 is correct: IREDA is also registered as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms (biotic factors) interact among themselves and with their physical environment (abiotic factors) such as sunlight, water, and soil.

Key components of an ecosystem: 1. Biotic Components: Includes all living things like plants, animals, and microorganisms. 2. Abiotic Components: Includes non-living elements like air, water, soil, and sunlight. 3. Interdependence: It highlights the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients between the living and non-living components.

Analysis of Options: - Option A: Describes a 'community' (only interactions between living organisms). - Option B: Describes the 'biosphere' (the zone of Earth where life exists). - Option C: Correctly defines an ecosystem as the combination of the biotic community and its abiotic environment. - Option D: Refers to the 'biota' or 'biodiversity' of a specific region.

The Government of India established NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission was established in 1950 and played a vital role in India's economic development through five-year plans. However, NITI Aayog, formed in 2015, was designed to be a more agile and forward-looking institution compared to the Planning Commission.