General Awareness: India: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)

Explanation

A-4: My Presidential Years is an autobiography written by R. Venkataraman, who served as the 8th President of India (1987-1992). B-1: The Hindu View of Life is authored by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, India’s first Vice President and second President. C-2: Voice of Conscience is a book written by V. V. Giri, the 4th President of India (1969-1974). First acting President to be later elected. First unopposed elected President. D-3: Without Fear or Favour was written by N. Sanjiva Reddy, the 6th President of India (1977-1982).

Explanation

A-1: B.P. Mishra served as the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He was a prominent figure in India’s international financial relations and represented India in the IMF. B-3: Suresh Kalmadi was the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). He played a significant role in the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. C-4: Praful Patel served as the Vice-President for the South Asian Region at the World Bank. His role focused on managing the World Bank’s engagement with countries in South Asia, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and economic development. D-2: V.S. Jain was the Chairman of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the largest steel producer in India.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Ronu Mazumdar is a renowned flute exponent in the classical music world. He is known for his mastery of the Indian bamboo flute and has performed at various prestigious platforms worldwide. Mazumdar is widely regarded as one of the leading classical flutists in India.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Debu Chaudhuri: He is a sitar player and not associated with the flute. Madhup Mudgal: He is a distinguished vocalist in Hindustani classical music, not a flute player. Sahafaat Ahmad: He was one of the leading tabla maestros in the field of Hindustani classical music.

Explanation

Tawang Monastery, India’s largest and the world’s second-largest Buddhist monastery, is in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district near the Tibet and Bhutan borders. Founded in 1680-81 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso under the 5th Dalai Lama’s guidance, it remains a key center of Tibetan Buddhism, preserving monastic traditions and spiritual heritage.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Islamic (Hijri) Calendar is a lunar calendar and consists of 354 or 355 days, while the Gregorian Calendar is a solar calendar with 365 or 366 days. As a result, the Islamic calendar is shorter by approximately 11-12 days compared to the Gregorian calendar each year. The Islamic calendar is based on 12 lunar months, a new month begins when a new moon is sighted.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Islamic calendar began in 622 AD not 632 AD, the year of the Hijra, when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Gregorian Calendar is a solar calendar i.e. it is based on the Earth’s revolution around the Sun (365.24 days per year). It is not a lunar calendar.

Explanation

A-2: Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (Mumbai, Maharashtra) - Research in geomagnetism and space physics. It is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and technology. B-4: ARCI (Hyderabad, Telangana) - Focus on advanced materials and powder metallurgy. It was established in 1997, is an Autonomous Research and Development Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST). C-1: Salim Ali Centre (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) - Bird research and natural history. Salim Ali, who was known as the father of Indian Ornithology. D-3: TFRI (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh) - Tropical forest research and conservation. It is one of the nine regional institutes under the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education. The Institute came into existence in April 1988, although its origin goes back to 1973 when a Regional Centre of FRI, Dehradun was established at Jabalpur.

Explanation

Pair (b) is incorrectly matched: Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) was set up in 1979, with headquarters at Prayagraj. Pairs (a), (c) and (d) are correctly matched:

The Railway Staff College is located in Vadodara, Gujarat. It is responsible for training senior railway officers and enhancing the administrative and managerial capabilities of the Indian Railways. The Wheel and Axle plant of the Indian Railways, also known as the Rail Wheel Factory (RWF), is situated in Yelahanka, Bangalore, Karnataka. The Rail Coach Factory is located in Kapurthala, Punjab. It is one of the premier manufacturers of railway coaches in India.

Explanation

G. S. Dhillon: A member of the Indian National Congress, he served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha during the 4th and 5th Lok Sabha from August 8, 1969, to March 19, 1971, and again from March 22, 1971, to December 1, 1975. Baliram Bhagat: Representing the Indian National Congress, he served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha during the 5th Lok Sabha from January 15, 1976, to March 25, 1977. Hukum Singh: A member of the Indian National Congress, he held the position of Speaker of the Lok Sabha during the 3rd Lok Sabha from April 17, 1962, to March 16, 1967. K.V.K. Sundaram: He was never the Speaker of the Lok Sabha but was a distinguished lawyer, judge, and the 2nd Chief Election Commissioner of India after Sukumar Sen.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrect: The Department of Women and Child Development was initially under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. In 2006, it became a separate Ministry known as the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Pair 2 is incorrect: The Department of Official Language is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, & implements the Official Languages Act, 1963.

Pair 3 is incorrect: The Department of Drinking Water Supply was a department under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: India formally established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 under the leadership of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Prior to this, India had recognized Israel in 1950 but had limited diplomatic engagement due to its support for the Palestinian cause.

Statement 2 is correct: The first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India was Yitzhak Rabin, but this visit was not a state visit. Ariel Sharon officially visited India in 2003.