i. To increase the role and scope of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes
ii. To increase funds transfer from centre to the states
iii. To promote cooperative federalism
Which of the following are the objective(s) of the NITI Aayog?
(A) Only i
(B) Only iii
(C) ii and iii
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(B) Only iii
Explanation:
NITI Aayog acts as a think tank promoting cooperative federalism. It does not control fund allocation between the center and states (which is the Finance Commission’s role), and it works to rationalise rather than simply increase Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
Q. 12. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
i. Kuka Revolt – Chotanagpur Plateau
ii. Kuki Revolt – Meghalaya
(A) Only i
(B) Only ii
(C) Both i and ii
(D) Neither i nor ii
Answer:
(D) Neither i nor ii
Explanation:
The Kuka Revolt took place in Punjab. The Kuki Revolt occurred predominantly in the hills of Manipur, Assam, and Tripura, not specifically Meghalaya. Both are incorrectly matched.
Q. 13. Which of the following events took place during the viceroyship of Lord Lytton?
i. The Arms Act
ii. Ancient monuments Preservation Act
iii. Royal Titles Act
(A) i, ii
(B) i, iii
(C) ii, iii
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(B) i, iii
Explanation:
Lord Lytton’s tenure (1876-1880) included the Royal Titles Act (1876) and the Arms Act (1878). The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was passed much later in 1904 under Lord Curzon.
Q. 14. Which of the following women indulged in militant revolutionary struggle?
(A) Pritilata Waddedar
(B) Kalpana Dutt
(C) Santi Ghosh
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(D) All of the above
Explanation:
Pritilata Waddedar and Kalpana Dutt were prominent members of Surya Sen’s Chittagong armoury raid group. Santi Ghosh (along with Suniti Chandhari) famously assassinated the British magistrate Charles Stevens. All participated in militant revolutionary struggles.
Q. 15. Which of the following directly affects/affect the money supply in the economy?
i. Stock Market
ii. Open Market Operations
iii. Consumer Credit Regulation
(A) i only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
Answer:
(C) ii and iii only
Explanation:
Open Market Operations (buying/selling government securities) and Consumer Credit Regulation directly dictate the flow of money and credit created by banks. The stock market involves transferring existing money between investors and does not directly alter the base money supply.
Q. 16. Consider the following statements with reference to regional rural banks:
i. Came to birth on the recommendations of MM Narsimhan Committee.
ii. Banks which can only operate in the areas specified by GOI.
iii. They came into operation with the objective of providing credit to the agricultural and rural regions and were brought into effect in 1975.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?
(A) i only
(B) ii only
(C) iii only
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(D) None of the above
Explanation:
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established in 1975 on the recommendations of the Narasimham Working Group. Their area of operation is restricted to the regions notified by the Government of India, and their objective is rural credit. Thus, all statements are correct, meaning none are incorrect.
Q. 17. Cirque, Arete and Bergschrund are:
(A) landforms of karst topography
(B) landforms of glacial origin
(C) fluvial landforms
(D) arid landforms
Answer:
(B) landforms of glacial origin
Explanation:
Cirques (bowl-shaped depressions), Arêtes (knife-edge ridges), and Bergschrunds (crevasses forming where moving glacier ice separates from stagnant ice) are all classical erosional features created by glaciers.
Q. 18. Consider the following chemical compounds:
i. Ammonium nitrate
ii. Nitroglycerin
iii. Nitrocellulose
Which of the compound(s) given above is/are used in manufacturing of explosives?
(A) i only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
Answer:
(D) i, ii and iii
Explanation:
Ammonium nitrate (used in ANFO), Nitroglycerin (the active ingredient in dynamite), and Nitrocellulose (guncotton) are all highly combustible compounds widely used in manufacturing explosives.
Q. 19. ‘Nine Dash Line’ sometimes mentioned in the news recently is located in:
(A) East Pacific Ocean
(B) South China Sea
(C) Strait of Hormuz
(D) Indian Ocean
Answer:
(B) South China Sea
Explanation:
The “Nine-Dash Line” refers to the undefined, vaguely located demarcation line used by the People’s Republic of China for its extensive claims over the major part of the South China Sea.
Q. 20. With reference to Mughal period ‘muqaddams’ were:
(A) Judicial officer at province
(B) Head of artisan community
(C) Worker in Mughal karkhanas
(D) Village level officer
Answer:
(D) Village level officer
Explanation:
During the Mughal period, the village headman was known as the ‘muqaddam’ or ‘khut’. They were responsible for maintaining law and order and assisting in revenue collection at the village level.
