Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: India's National Quantum Mission (NQM).

1. NQM (approved in 2023, budget about ₹6,003 crore till 2031) covers quantum computing, quantum communication, sensing and materials.
2. Its quantum-communication work includes quantum key distribution for secure, tamper-proof networks, including for defence.
3. 'SecureNet India' and 'Quantum Leap Program' are not Indian government missions; the cyber-security option is not about quantum encryption.

Yaad rakhein: Quantum + India's mission → National Quantum Mission.

Answer: (C) National Quantum Mission

Concept: Desertification = land degradation in dry areas that turns fertile land into desert-like land.

1. Tree roots bind the soil; deforestation removes this cover.
2. Wind and water then wash away the fertile topsoil, exposing hard, rocky, infertile layers.
3. Options A, C and D describe the opposite effects (deforestation reduces humus, may reduce rainfall and increases erosion).

Yaad rakhein: No trees → no roots → topsoil lost → desert.

Answer: (B) It removes the top fertile soil layer, exposing hard, rocky layers.

Concept: Infrastructure = roads, transport, school buildings, toilets, drinking water, electricity.

1. When roads are bad, schools are far, or there are no toilets/water, children (especially girls) cannot attend regularly.
2. So the most direct effect is high student absenteeism.
3. Teacher shortage, poor mid-day meals and low awareness are separate administrative issues, not direct results of poor infrastructure.

Yaad rakhein: Infrastructure problem → students can't reach/stay in school → absenteeism.

Answer: (C) High student absenteeism

Concept: Women's 49 kg weightlifting in India.

1. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu holds the national record in the 49 kg category (e.g. 119 kg clean & jerk, a world record at the time, set in 2021).
2. She won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 49 kg.
3. Karnam Malleswari (Sydney 2000 bronze) competed in 69 kg; Sanjita Chanu and Punam Yadav lifted in other categories.

Yaad rakhein: 49 kg + Olympic silver → Mirabai Chanu (Manipur).

Answer: (B) Saikhom Mirabai Chanu

Concept: APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN) holds an annual Roundtable Meeting & Forum.

1. The 2025 ASPN Roundtable Meeting & Forum was held in Japan.
2. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) has 21 member economies; ASPN promotes sports policy and sports-tech cooperation among them.
3. Do not confuse it with the APEC Leaders' summit 2025, hosted by South Korea.

Yaad rakhein: ASPN 2025 → Japan; APEC summit 2025 → South Korea.

Answer: (A) Japan

Concept: Ocean water is layered; '-cline' means a zone of rapid vertical change.

1. Halocline ('halo' = salt) is the layer where salinity changes rapidly with depth.
2. Thermocline = rapid change in temperature; pycnocline = rapid change in density.
3. Pressure increases steadily with depth, so there is no 'pressure-cline' concept.

Yaad rakhein: Halo = salt, Thermo = heat, Pycno = density.

Answer: (B) A layer with a rapid change in salinity

Concept: Satyagraha = 'satya' (truth) + 'agraha' (insistence/firmness).

1. Gandhiji described satyagraha as truth-force or soul-force – resisting injustice through truth and non-violence.
2. He insisted it was different from 'passive resistance', which he called a weapon of the weak.
3. Non-cooperation and civil disobedience were movements/methods based on satyagraha, not its meaning.

Yaad rakhein: Satya + Agraha = holding firmly to truth = Truth-force.

Answer: (B) Truth-force

Concept: Changes made by the British after 1857 (NCERT Class 8, 'When People Rebel').

1. Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give them security of rights over their lands – so the statement that such policies were 'struck down' is NOT a consequence.
2. The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced; the Governor-General became the Viceroy (Act of 1858).
3. Land and property of Muslims were confiscated on a large scale, as they were seen as leaders of the revolt – this did happen.

Yaad rakhein: After 1857 the British courted zamindars and princes, they did not attack them.

Answer: (A) Policies that favoured zamindars and landlords were struck down.

Concept: National Human Rights Commission – a statutory body.

1. NHRC was set up on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (an Act of Parliament).
2. It investigates violations and makes recommendations; it cannot itself punish officials.
3. It is not constitutional; its Chairperson is a former Chief Justice/Judge of the Supreme Court, not the PM.

Yaad rakhein: NHRC: statutory, 1993, recommendatory powers only.

Answer: (C) It was established in 1993 by an Act of Parliament to investigate and recommend on human rights violations.

Concept: EPFO administers the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

1. EPFO is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It runs EPF, EPS (pension) and EDLI (insurance) schemes for organised-sector workers.
3. Its monthly payroll data (e.g. new subscribers added) is released by this ministry.

Yaad rakhein: EPFO and ESIC – both under the Labour Ministry.

Answer: (D) Ministry of Labour and Employment

Concept: Goods and Services Tax (GST) – 'One Nation, One Tax'.

1. GST came into force on 1 July 2017 through the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016.
2. It replaced many indirect taxes such as central excise, service tax, VAT/sales tax, entry tax and octroi.
3. Income Tax is a direct tax, so it was not replaced.

Yaad rakhein: GST = 101st Amendment, 1 July 2017; 1 July is celebrated as GST Day.

Answer: (C) GST

Concept: Part VI of the Constitution (Articles 153–167) deals with the State Executive.

1. The State Executive consists of the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Council of Ministers and the Advocate General.
2. The President belongs to the Union Executive.
3. MLAs form the State Legislature, not the Executive.

Yaad rakhein: State Executive = Governor + CM + Council of Ministers (+ Advocate General).

Answer: (A) Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers

Concept: The Western Coastal Plain from north to south: Kachchh & Kathiawar (Gujarat) → Konkan (Maharashtra–Goa) → Kannad Plain (Karnataka) → Malabar Coast (Kerala).

1. The southern stretch between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is the Malabar Coast.
2. It is known for backwaters/lagoons (kayals) such as Vembanad Lake.
3. Konkan is the northern-central part, and Kathiawar is a peninsula of Gujarat.

Yaad rakhein: North to south: Kathiawar → Konkan → Kannad → Malabar (K-K-K-M).

Answer: (A) Malabar Coast

Concept: White (natural) hydrogen forms naturally underground, without burning fossil fuels.

1. A huge white hydrogen deposit, estimated at about 46 million tonnes, was found near Folschviller in the Moselle department (Lorraine region, north-eastern France).
2. It was found by researchers drilling in old coal-mining areas.
3. Provence, Normandy and Brittany are other French regions not linked to this find.

Yaad rakhein: White hydrogen France → Moselle (Lorraine).

Answer: (A) Moselle

Concept: SpaDeX = Space Docking Experiment.

1. ISRO launched SpaDeX (satellites SDX01 'Chaser' and SDX02 'Target') on PSLV-C60 on 30 December 2024.
2. The two satellites were successfully docked on 16 January 2025.
3. India became the 4th country, after the USA, Russia and China, to achieve space docking.

Yaad rakhein: SpaDeX docking → ISRO → India 4th country.

Answer: (B) Indian Space Research Organisation

Concept: When all invest for the same time, profit is shared in the ratio of investments.

1. Total investment $=1200+1070+1310=3580$.
2. Profit $1790=\frac{3580}{2}$, i.e. profit is exactly half of the investment.
3. Tejas's share $=\frac{1310}{3580}\times 1790=\frac{1310}{2}=655$.

Trick: Spot that profit = half of total capital, so each share = half of own capital.

Answer: (D) ₹655

Concept: Use $(1+\cos \theta )(1-\cos \theta )={\sin }^2\theta$ and $(1+\sin \theta )(1-\sin \theta )={\cos }^2\theta$.

1. $X=\frac{2(1+\cos \theta )(1-\cos \theta )}{2(1+\sin \theta )(1-\sin \theta )}=\frac{{\sin }^2\theta }{{\cos }^2\theta }={\tan }^2\theta$.
2. $X+\frac{1}{X}+2={\tan }^2\theta +{\cot }^2\theta +2=(\tan \theta +\cot \theta {)}^2$.
3. $\tan \theta +\cot \theta =\frac{{\sin }^2\theta +{\cos }^2\theta }{\sin \theta \cos \theta }=\sec \theta \text{cosec}\theta$, so the value is ${\text{cosec}}^2\theta {\sec }^2\theta$.

Trick: Put $\theta ={45}^{\circ }$: $X=1$, value $=4$; only ${\text{cosec}}^2\theta {\sec }^2\theta =2\times 2=4$ matches.

Answer: (D) ${\text{cosec}}^2\theta {\sec }^2\theta$

Concept: Under compound interest, if a sum becomes $k$ times in $t$ years, it becomes $k^n$ times in $nt$ years.

1. 3 times in 17 years.
2. $81=3^4$, so the sum must triple 4 times.
3. Time $=4\times 17=68$ years.

Trick: Write the target as a power of the base multiple: $3\to 81=3^4\Rightarrow 4\times 17$.

Answer: (A) 68 years

Concept: Evaluate powers and roots first, then add/subtract (BODMAS).

1. $8^2=64$, $\sqrt{3^2}=3$, $2\sqrt{36}=2\times 6=12$.
2. $64+3-12-11=44$.

Trick: $\sqrt{a^2}=a$ for positive $a$ – no need to square and root again.

Answer: (D) 44

Concept: In 'Buy $x$ get $y$ free', the customer pays for $x$ but receives $x+y$ articles.

1. Articles received $=20+5=25$; articles free $=5$.
2. $\text{Discount}\%=\frac{5}{25}\times 100=20\%$.

Trick: $\text{Discount}\%=\frac{\text{free}}{\text{paid}+\text{free}}\times 100$ – not $\frac{5}{20}$ (that gives the tempting 25%).

Answer: (C) 20%