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

Explanation

Asian Development Bank (ADB)- India is a founding member of ADB (established in 1966) and one of its largest borrowers. It has 69 members, 49 of whom are from Asia and the Pacific and 20 of whom are from outside, up from its founding in 1966 with 31 members. Owners of shares: The People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), Australia (5.7%), and Japan and the United States (each holding 15.6% of the total shares) are the top five shareholders of ADB as of December 31, 2019. Its headquarters is in Manila, Philippines. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)- In 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) was founded as a regional economic forum to capitalize on the region’s increasing interconnectedness. Through speeding regional economic integration and encouraging balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth, APEC seeks to increase prosperity for the people of the area. The APEC process is supported by a permanent secretariat based in Singapore. India is not a member of APEC. Colombo Plan-The Colombo Process is a regional consultative body with 12 Asian member states. It seeks to encourage South and Southeast Asian nations that send migrant workers outside to share best practices in this area. India is a founding member of the Colombo Plan (established in 1950) for economic and social development in Asia-Pacific. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) provides technical and administrative support to the Colombo Process. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)- It is an international organisation of 38 countries committed to democracy and the market economy. OECD members are typically democratic countries that support free-market economies. The OECD was established on December 14, 1960, by 18 European nations, plus the United States and Canada. Headquarters: Paris, France. India is not a full member of the OECD but participates as a key partner in some OECD initiatives.

Explanation

Bimbavati Devi is a renowned Manipuri classical dancer. She is the daughter of Kalavati Devi and Guru Bipin Singh, two renowned Manipuri dancers. She has promoted Raas Leela and other traditional Manipuri dance styles through her numerous performances in India and overseas. The traditional Vaishnavite ceremonial motions of ancient Manipuri form and delicate developments for her modern productions are expertly balanced in Bimbavati Devi’s present style.

Explanation

Sarosh Zaiwalla is a renowned international legal expert and the founder of Zaiwalla & Co., a London-based law firm. He handled well-known international arbitration and litigation issues and was the first lawyer of Indian descent to open a practice in the United Kingdom. Russian corporations, Middle Eastern organisations, and the Indian government are just a few of the world leaders he has represented. His contributions to arbitration and international law are well known.

Explanation

Bengali is the most spoken in the world after Hindi and ranks seventh among the world’s most-spoken languages, making it the most widely spoken Indian language after Hindi.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrect: The National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) is located in Pune, Maharashtra. Established in 1986 under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, it specializes in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering, and stem cell research.

Pair 2 is correct: The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) is an autonomous organization funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. CDFD is located in Hyderabad.

Pair 3 is correct: The National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), located in the Aravalli foothills, Manesar, Gurugram, is India’s premier institute for neuroscience research and education. An autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, it is also a Deemed-to-be University and an Institution of Excellence.

Explanation

Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904-1966), India’s 2nd Prime Minister (1964-1966), led the nation during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and coined the iconic slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan." He played a pivotal role in promoting the Green Revolution and translated Madame Curie’s Autobiography into Hindi, reflecting his passion for science and education.

Explanation

Elizabeth Hawley (1923-2018) was an American journalist and historian renowned for documenting Himalayan expeditions, particularly mountaineering in Nepal. She meticulously recorded details of Mount Everest and other Himalayan climbs, making her one of the most trusted sources on Himalayan mountaineering history. She maintained a comprehensive database of Himalayan expeditions for over five decades, authoring The Himalayan Database, a key reference for mountaineers. Though never climbing herself, her records were considered authoritative.