Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: The World Trade Organization (WTO) was set up on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing GATT.

1. India was a founding member of GATT (1948) and became a WTO member on 1 January 1995, the day it was formed.
2. The WTO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
3. 2000 and 2005 are not linked with India's entry; 1990 is before the WTO existed.

Yaad rakhein: WTO = 1995 = India a member from day one.

Answer: (C) 1995

Concept: Groundwater is overexploited when extraction is more than natural recharge.

1. Punjab and Haryana grow paddy (rice) in the kharif season on a very large scale, along with wheat in rabi.
2. Paddy is highly water-intensive; with free/subsidised electricity, farmers pump huge amounts of groundwater through tube-wells.
3. Hence water tables are falling fast there – domestic use is a small share of total use.

Trick: Green Revolution belt + rice–wheat cycle = tube-well overuse.

Answer: (B) Cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy

Concept: The Vardhana dynasty ruled from Thanesar (later Kannauj) after the decline of the Guptas.

1. Its founder was Pushyabhuti, so it is also called the Pushyabhuti dynasty.
2. Prabhakaravardhana, Rajyavardhana and the famous Harshavardhana (606–647 CE) were its rulers.
3. Bana's Harshacharita and Hiuen Tsang's account are the main sources for this period.

Yaad rakhein: Vardhana = Pushyabhuti = Thanesar → Harsha.

Answer: (B) Pushyabhuti dynasty

Concept: In May 2025, Madhya Pradesh introduced India's first AI-powered real-time forest alert system.

1. It uses satellite imagery and AI/machine learning to detect land-use changes and illegal tree felling or encroachment in near real time.
2. Alerts are sent to field forest staff, who verify them through a mobile app; it was piloted in forest divisions like Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Khandwa and Burhanpur.
3. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover among Indian states.

Trick: Largest forest-cover state (MP) → first AI forest alert system.

Answer: (D) Madhya Pradesh

Concept: JD Vance was sworn in on 20 January 2025 along with President Donald Trump (47th President).

1. Vance became the 50th Vice President of the United States, succeeding Kamala Harris (49th).
2. He is the third-youngest US Vice President and the first millennial to hold the post.
3. Do not mix up the numbering: Trump = 47th President, Vance = 50th Vice President.

Yaad rakhein: Trump 47, Vance 50, Harris 49.

Answer: (B) 50^th

Concept: The Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms were named after Secretary of State Edwin Montagu and Viceroy Lord Chelmsford.

1. They were given legal form by the Government of India Act, 1919, aiming at the gradual development of self-governing institutions (Montagu's August Declaration, 1917).
2. They introduced dyarchy in the provinces (reserved and transferred subjects) and a bicameral central legislature.
3. 1935 Act brought provincial autonomy; 1931 was the Second Round Table Conference.

Yaad rakhein: 1909 Morley–Minto → 1919 Montford → 1935 Act.

Answer: (B) 1919

Concept: A drainage pattern is the shape formed by a river and its tributaries, decided by the slope and rock structure.

1. Dendritic (Greek 'dendron' = tree): tributaries join the main river like branches join a trunk; it forms on uniform rocks/gentle slopes – common in the northern plains (Ganga, Indus).
2. Trellis: tributaries meet at right angles in folded rocks; Radial: rivers flow outward from a dome (Amarkantak).
3. Centripetal: rivers flow inward into a lake/basin (Loktak).

Trick: Dendron = tree → dendritic; radial = spokes outward; centripetal = inward.

Answer: (A) Dendritic

Concept: Naseem-Al-Bahr ('Sea Breeze') is the bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman.

1. The October 2024 edition was held off Goa (harbour phase 13–16 Oct, sea phase 17–18 Oct).
2. The Indian Navy fielded the stealth frigate INS Trikand and a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft; Oman sent RNOV Al Seeb.
3. INS Vikrant (aircraft carrier) and P-8I were not the listed participants.

Yaad rakhein: Oman exercises: Naseem-Al-Bahr (navy), Eastern Bridge (air force), Al Najah (army).

Answer: (A) INS Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Concept: The Khajuraho group of temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1986) was built by the Chandela dynasty in the Nagara style.

1. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, the largest at Khajuraho and dedicated to Shiva, was built by Vidyadhara (c. 1025–1050 CE), possibly to celebrate his victory over Mahmud of Ghazni.
2. Yashovarman built the Lakshmana Temple, and Dhanga built the Vishvanatha Temple.
3. So Dhanga/Yashovarman are tempting but belong to other temples.

Yaad rakhein: Lakshmana – Yashovarman; Vishvanatha – Dhanga; Kandariya – Vidyadhara.

Answer: (D) Vidyadhara

Concept: The Global Media Dialogue was held during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai (1–4 May 2025).

1. The dialogue adopted the WAVES Declaration, covering media ethics, responsible use of AI, fighting misinformation and cultural diversity.
2. WAVES was organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
3. 'Neutrality Charter', 'Truth Pact' and 'AI-Trust Code' are not real outcomes of this event.

Trick: Global Media Dialogue at WAVES 2025 → WAVES Declaration.

Answer: (A) WAVES Declaration

Concept: Mission Karmayogi (National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building, 2020) aims to build a competent, citizen-centric civil service.

1. Its digital platform is iGOT Karmayogi (Integrated Government Online Training), offering online courses to government employees.
2. SWAYAM is a MOOC platform for students; ePathshala gives NCERT e-books; NISG is a governance institute.
3. So only iGOT is built for civil servants.

Trick: Karmayogi → iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training).

Answer: (A) iGOT Karmayogi

Concept: Bharatmala Pariyojana (approved 2017) is the umbrella programme of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for highway development.

1. It focuses on economic corridors, inter-corridor and feeder routes, border and coastal roads, and expressways.
2. PMGSY builds rural roads; Sagarmala develops ports/coastal shipping; BharatNet provides rural broadband.
3. So only Bharatmala is about national highways in economic corridors.

Trick: Bharatmala = road 'garland'; Sagarmala = port 'garland'.

Answer: (D) Bharatmala Pariyojana

Concept: The Monetary Policy Framework Agreement (MPFA) made inflation targeting the main objective of the RBI.

1. It was signed between the Government of India and the RBI on 20 February 2015.
2. The RBI Act was amended in 2016 to give it legal backing; the inflation target is CPI 4% with a band of 2–6%.
3. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was formed in 2016 to set the repo rate.

Yaad rakhein: MPFA 2015 → RBI Act amendment 2016 → MPC 2016.

Answer: (D) 20 February 2015

Concept: Subordinate courts (Articles 233–237) work below the High Court at district and lower levels.

1. The District and Sessions Judge hears civil suits (as District Judge) and criminal cases (as Sessions Judge); lower civil and magistrate courts work below.
2. So their key job is to resolve civil and criminal disputes at the district level.
3. Reviewing High Court decisions is the Supreme Court's job; drafting laws is the legislature's job.

Trick: Subordinate court = first door of justice at the district.

Answer: (A) Resolve civil and criminal disputes at the district level

Concept: The eCourts Mission Mode Project is run by the Department of Justice with the eCommittee of the Supreme Court.

1. Its main aim is ICT enablement – digitising and upgrading district and subordinate courts (e-filing, virtual courts, case status online, digitised records).
2. Phase III (2023–27) aims at paperless, digital courts.
3. It does not create tribunals or build telecom systems for police.

Trick: eCourts = digital district courts (e-filing, NJDG, virtual courts).

Answer: (D) digitising and upgrading district and subordinate courts

Concept: Seismic waves reach a seismograph in order of their speed – the fastest arrive first.

1. P-waves (primary, longitudinal) are fastest and travel through solids, liquids and gases – they arrive first.
2. S-waves (secondary, transverse) are slower and travel only through solids – they arrive second.
3. Surface (L) waves are slowest but cause the most damage – they arrive last.

Trick: Alphabet order of speed: Primary → Secondary → Surface (last, most destructive).

Answer: (D) P-waves, S-waves, surface waves

Concept: The Dhammapada is a collection of 423 verses of the Buddha's sayings in Pali, part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka.

1. Because it gives the essence of Buddhist ethics in short verses, it is called the 'Gita of Buddhism'.
2. The Saddharmapundarika (Lotus) Sutra is a key Mahayana text; Vamsatthappakasini is a commentary on the Mahavamsa.
3. 'Mahayana Sutra' is a general category, not one text.

Yaad rakhein: Gita of Hinduism ↔ Dhammapada of Buddhism (verses on dhamma).

Answer: (B) Dhammapada

Concept: Articles 23–24 form the Right against Exploitation.

1. Article 23 prohibits traffic in human beings, begar and other forms of forced labour.
2. Article 24 prohibits employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines and hazardous work.
3. Right to Freedom is Articles 19–22; Right to Equality is Articles 14–18.

Yaad rakhein: Articles 23–24 = Exploitation: trafficking, forced labour, child labour.

Answer: (D) Right against Exploitation

Concept: Angle sum of a triangle is ${180}^{\circ }$, and an exterior angle equals the sum of the two interior opposite angles.

1. In right $△BDC$: $\angle BDC={90}^{\circ }$, $\angle DBC={39}^{\circ }$, so $\angle C={180}^{\circ }-{90}^{\circ }-{39}^{\circ }={51}^{\circ }$.
2. In $△AEC$: $\angle EAC={16}^{\circ }$ and $\angle ECA={51}^{\circ }$.
3. $\angle AEB$ is the exterior angle of $△AEC$ at $E$: $\angle AEB={16}^{\circ }+{51}^{\circ }={67}^{\circ }$.

Trick: $\angle AEB=\angle CAE+({90}^{\circ }-\angle DBC)={16}^{\circ }+{90}^{\circ }-{39}^{\circ }={67}^{\circ }$.

Answer: (C) ${67}^{\circ }$

Concept: For three equal distances at speeds $a,b,c$: $\text{Average speed}=\frac{3}{\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}+\frac{1}{c}}$ (harmonic mean).

1. $\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{87}+\frac{1}{53}=0.5+0.01149+0.01887=0.53036$
2. $\text{Average}=\frac{3}{0.53036}\approx 5.656\text{km/h}$
3. Rounded to 1 decimal place: $5.7\text{km/h}$.

Trick: The slow third alone takes $\frac{d}{2}$ hours, so the average is a little below $3\times 2=6\text{km/h}$ (the fast parts add very little time) – hence $5.7$.

Answer: (B) $5.7$