General Knowledge: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Monastery Location Significance Dhankar Monastery Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh Perched on a high cliff; a major Gompa of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Rumtek Monastery Sikkim Largest monastery in Sikkim; headquarters of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tabo Monastery Tabo village, Spiti Valley One of India’s oldest Buddhist monasteries (founded in 996 AD); renowned for ancient murals and frescoes. Kye (Key) Monastery Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh Founded in the 11th century; largest monastery in Spiti; serves as a training centre for Lamas.

Explanation

Head Quarter of South-Eastern Railway Zone is in Kolkata. India has 17(PIB 2017) railway zones:

Zonal Railway Headquarters Central Railway Mumbai CST Eastern Railway Kolkata East Central Railway Hajipur East Coast Railway Bhubaneswar Northern Railway New Delhi North Central Railway Prayagraj North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur North Frontier Railway Maligaon, Guwahati North Western Railway Jaipur Southern Railway Chennai South Central Railway Secunderabad South Eastern Railway Kolkata South East Central Railway Bilaspur South Western Railway Hubballi Western Railway Mumbai West Central Railway Jabalpur Kolkata Metro Railway Kolkata

Explanation

Cairn Energy, a British oil and gas exploration company, is responsible for the exploration and commercial production of oil in the Barmer-Sanchor basin of Rajasthan. The company discovered significant oil reserves in Mangala, Bhagyam, and Aishwariya fields in the early 2000s. The oilfields in Rajasthan are now operated by Cairn India, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources.

Explanation

Pair (a) is correctly matched: The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 reorganized Indian states based on linguistic lines. Andhra Pradesh was the first state to be created on a linguistic basis in 1953 (from Madras Presidency). Later, the 1956 Act further reorganised states. Pair (b) is correctly matched: The Treaty of Yandabu (1826) was signed between the British East India Company and Burma. It ended the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and led to the annexation of Assam by the British. Pair (c) is correctly matched: The princely state of Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh in 1954. Himachal later became a full-fledged state in 1971. Pair (d) is incorrectly matched: Gujarat became a separate state on May 1, 1960, following the Bombay Reorganization Act, 1960. In 1966, the state of Haryana was formed

Explanation

Name Field Key Contributions C. N. R. Rao Solid State Chemistry & Material Science Research in solid-state chemistry and nanotechnology; awarded Bharat Ratna (2014). Jagdish Bhagwati Economics Expert in international trade and development economics; worked with UN & WTO. G. N. Ramachandran Physics Developed the Ramachandran Plot, a key discovery in protein structure; contributions to biophysics and crystallography. Ashok Jhunjhunwala Telecommunications Pioneered affordable telecom and broadband solutions in India; developed wireless communication for rural areas.

Explanation

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which is based in Oslo, Norway. Unlike other Nobel Prizes (such as Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences), which are awarded by institutions in Sweden, the Peace Prize is the only one decided in Norway. This distinction was made by Alfred Nobel in his will, possibly due to Norway’s historical role in promoting peace.

Explanation

E.C.G. Sudarshan was an Indian theoretical physicist known for his contributions to quantum optics, tachyons and the concept of the V-A theory of weak interaction. V. Shanta was an oncologist associated with the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai and worked extensively in cancer care and awareness. She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2005 and was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2016. T. N. Krishnan was a celebrated Carnatic violinist. Along with Lalgudi Jayaraman and M. S. Gopalakrishnan, he was considered part of the violin-trinity of Carnatic music. Mahesh Dattani is a renowned Indian playwright, director, and stage artist. He is known for his plays that address contemporary social issues and was the first Indian playwright in English to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Explanation

Gangubai Hangal was a renowned Hindustani classical singer from Karnataka. She belonged to the Kirana Gharana and specialized in Khayal singing. She received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

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

Geeta Chandran: A well-known Bharatanatyam dancer.

Leela Samson: A celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer. Swapnasundari: A renowned Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer.

Explanation

University of Madras is a State University, established in 1857. It is one of the oldest universities in India and is governed by the Tamil Nadu state government.

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

Pondicherry University: It is a Central University which was established in 1985. Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad: It was established in 1998. It is a Central University focused on Urdu education. Visva-Bharati, Shantiniketan: It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, it became a Central University in 1951.

Explanation

Ela Bhatt (A - 2: Women labour sector): She was a social activist and the founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). She worked extensively for the empowerment of women workers in the informal sector. Mahasweta Devi (B - 4: Literature and social work for the tribal communities): She was a renowned writer and activist who worked for the rights of tribal communities, especially the Santhals and Lodhas in West Bengal. Her notable works include Hajar Churashir Maa and Aranyer Adhikar. Ebrahim Alkazi (C - 1: Theatre training): He was a famous theatre director and was associated with the National School of Drama. He played a key role in shaping modern Indian theatre. Vijay Govindarajan (D - 3: Management teaching): He is a professor and expert in business strategy and innovation management. He is associated with Harvard Business School and Dartmouth College.