Q&A: practice questions with answers

Concept: Urban infrastructure schemes focus on cities; rural schemes focus on villages.

1. The Smart Cities Mission (launched June 2015) develops 100 cities with better infrastructure, mobility, water, sanitation and digital services.
2. Atal Bhujal Yojana is for groundwater management; Swachh Bharat (Gramin) and PMGSY (rural roads) are rural schemes.

Trick: Look for 'Gram/Gramin' = rural; 'Smart Cities', AMRUT = urban.

Answer: (B) Smart Cities Mission

Concept: The Artemis Accords (2020, led by the USA/NASA) set principles for peaceful, cooperative exploration of the Moon and beyond.

1. In April 2025 Bangladesh signed the Artemis Accords, becoming its 54th signatory.
2. India had joined the Accords in June 2023.
3. The Outer Space Treaty (1967) and Moon Treaty (1979) are older UN treaties; 'SpaceX International Partnership' is not a treaty.

Yaad rakhein: Artemis Accords – USA-led; India joined 2023, Bangladesh 2025.

Answer: (C) The Artemis Accords

Concept: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (renamed UMEED Act) changed how Waqf properties and boards are managed.

1. It makes it mandatory to include Muslim women (at least two) in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards.
2. It also allows non-Muslim members, mandates digital registration of Waqf properties and strengthens audit – so 'audit exemption' and 'clergy-only management' are wrong.

Yaad rakhein: Waqf Amendment 2025 → women + non-Muslim members, central portal, audits.

Answer: (D) Inclusion of Muslim women on Waqf Boards

Concept: India has named its Russian-made S-400 Triumf long-range air-defence system 'Sudarshan Chakra'.

1. During Pakistan's attempted drone and missile strikes in May 2025 (after Operation Sindoor), the S-400 intercepted many targets.
2. Akashteer is an automated air-defence control and reporting system; Barak 8 is an Indo-Israeli SAM; Prithvi Air Defence is part of the ballistic-missile shield.

Yaad rakhein: S-400 = Sudarshan Chakra; range up to about 400 km.

Answer: (B) S-400 Triumf

Concept: The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) works on sustainable coastal fisheries; members are India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

1. At its 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives (April 2025), India took over the Chairmanship from Bangladesh.
2. BOBP-IGO is headquartered in Chennai.
3. BIMSTEC's chair passed from Thailand to Bangladesh in 2025, so it does not fit.

Yaad rakhein: BOBP-IGO – fisheries – HQ Chennai – 4 members.

Answer: (D) Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO)

Concept: Akbar divided central administration among specialised ministers.

1. Diwan-i-Kul (Wazir/Diwan) was the chief finance minister, responsible for revenue and expenditure of the whole empire.
2. Mir Bakhshi headed the military and mansabdari; Subadar was a provincial governor; Vakil was the early prime-minister post whose powers Akbar reduced.

Yaad rakhein: Diwan – money; Mir Bakhshi – army; Sadr-us-Sudur – religion; Subadar – province.

Answer: (D) Diwan-i-Kul

Concept: Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose, which is used for energy.

1. Extra glucose is first stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles.
2. When glycogen stores are full, the excess is converted into fat and stored in adipose tissue – this is why eating too many carbohydrates causes weight gain.
3. Carbohydrates contain no nitrogen, so they are not turned into amino acids or proteins; they are not excreted immediately.

Yaad rakhein: Extra carbs → glycogen → fat.

Answer: (C) They are converted into fat and stored.

Concept: In a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the government and a private firm share the work, risk and returns of an infrastructure project.

1. The key reason is to bring in private-sector efficiency, expertise, technology and innovation in designing, building and running projects.
2. PPP does not mean privatising all national resources; manpower shortage is not the basis of PPP.
3. Fiscal relief is a side benefit, but the core rationale highlighted is efficiency and innovation.

Yaad rakhein: PPP models: BOT, BOOT, HAM – government + private expertise.

Answer: (B) To improve efficiency and innovation through private sector expertise

Concept: Gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) changes a specific gene in an organism.

1. Scientists of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Kashmir) produced India's first gene-edited sheep in 2025.
2. They edited the myostatin gene to increase muscle (meat) growth; no foreign DNA was added.

Yaad rakhein: First gene-edited sheep in India – SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar.

Answer: (C) Sher-e-Kashmir University

Concept: ISRO's 100th launch from Sriharikota took place on 29 January 2025.

1. The launch vehicle was GSLV-F15, which placed the navigation satellite NVS-02 (NavIC series) in orbit.
2. It was the first launch under ISRO chairman V. Narayanan.
3. PSLV-C58 launched XPoSat (January 2024); SSLV-D2 flew in 2023.

Yaad rakhein: 100th launch – GSLV-F15 – NVS-02 – 29 Jan 2025.

Answer: (B) GSLV F15

Concept: The Regulating Act, 1773 was the first act of the British Parliament to control the East India Company's affairs in India.

1. It made the Governor of Bengal the Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings) with an Executive Council of four.
2. It provided for a Supreme Court at Calcutta (set up in 1774).
3. Hence it is called the first step towards central administration and constitutional development; Pitt's India Act (1784) came later.

Trick: Order: 1773 Regulating → 1784 Pitt's → 1813 Charter → 1861 Councils.

Answer: (B) Regulating Act, 1773

Concept: The Rampa Rebellion (1922–24) took place in the Godavari hill tracts of present-day Andhra Pradesh.

1. It was led by Alluri Sitarama Raju against the Madras Forest Act, which restricted tribal movement, podu (shifting) cultivation and forest use.
2. Ashfaqullah Khan was in the Kakori case, Jatindra Nath Das died on hunger strike (1929) and Surya Sen led the Chittagong Armoury Raid (1930).

Yaad rakhein: Rampa 1922 – Alluri Sitarama Raju – 'Manyam Veerudu'.

Answer: (B) Alluri Sitarama Raju

Concept: The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 dealt with elementary education.

1. It inserted Article 21A – free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 as a Fundamental Right (this is a right, not a parents' duty).
2. It changed Article 45 to early childhood care for children below 6.
3. It added Article 51A(k) – the Fundamental Duty of a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to a child aged 6–14.

Yaad rakhein: 86th Amendment: 21A (right), 45 (below 6), 51A(k) (parents' duty – 11th duty).

Answer: (A) Article 51A(k)

Concept: India has four seasons: cold weather, hot weather, southwest monsoon and retreating monsoon.

1. The hot weather season (March–May) has very high temperatures and dry air (low humidity) over north India; hot dry winds called 'loo' blow.
2. The southwest monsoon is hot but humid; the retreating monsoon has 'October heat' with high humidity; the cold season has low temperature.

Yaad rakhein: Hot + dry = summer (loo); hot + humid = October heat.

Answer: (D) Hot Weather Season

Concept: At independence India's economy was backward and stagnant after colonial rule.

1. About 70–75% of the workforce depended on agriculture, yet productivity was very low (old methods, little irrigation, zamindari).
2. Industry was weak (no self-sufficiency in manufacturing), the services sector was small, and India was not running a strong trade surplus.

Yaad rakhein: 1947 economy: agrarian, low productivity, weak industry, poverty.

Answer: (C) Heavy dependence on agriculture and low productivity

Concept: The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is India's indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter programme.

1. In May 2025 the Defence Minister approved its execution model, led by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) with industry partnership (private and public firms can bid).
2. Tejas Mk2 is a 4.5-generation fighter; TEDBF is a carrier-based fighter.

Yaad rakhein: AMCA – 5th gen stealth – ADA; Tejas – light combat aircraft.

Answer: (A) Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)

Concept: Sepak Takraw ('kick volleyball') is a sport played with the feet, knees and head over a net.

1. The ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 was held in Patna, Bihar in March 2025 – the first time India hosted it.
2. India won medals including a historic gold in the men's quad event.

Yaad rakhein: Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 – Patna (Bihar).

Answer: (B) Patna

Concept: The Gurjara-Pratiharas were one of the three powers of the Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj (with Palas and Rashtrakutas).

1. Nagabhata I (c. 730–760 CE) founded the dynasty in Malwa (Avanti/Ujjain) and resisted the Arab invasions.
2. Vatsaraja and Mihira Bhoja were later rulers – Mihira Bhoja was the greatest; Dhruva was a Rashtrakuta king.

Yaad rakhein: Pratihara: founder Nagabhata I; greatest Mihira Bhoja (Adivaraha).

Answer: (A) Nagabhatta I

Concept: The Tamar revolt (1789–94) was a tribal uprising in the Tamar region of Chota Nagpur (present Jharkhand) against British land and revenue policies.

1. It was led by Bhola Nath Sahay.
2. Tilka Manjhi led an early Santhal/Paharia uprising (1784–85), Sidhu Murmu led the Santhal Hul (1855) and Ganga Narain Singh led the Bhumij revolt (1832).

Yaad rakhein: Tamar – Bhola Nath Sahay; Bhumij – Ganga Narain; Santhal – Sidhu–Kanhu.

Answer: (D) Bhola Nath Sahay

Concept: The District Court is the highest court in a district, under the supervision of the High Court.

1. It hears appeals from subordinate (lower) civil and criminal courts in the district and also tries serious cases.
2. Advising the President is done by the Supreme Court (Art. 143); Centre–State disputes go to the Supreme Court (Art. 131); writs are issued by the Supreme Court (Art. 32) and High Courts (Art. 226).

Yaad rakhein: Writs → SC and HC only; Centre–State dispute → SC original jurisdiction.

Answer: (B) Hearing appeals from lower courts within the district