General Knowledge: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Formation of Bangladesh (1971): Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan on 16 December 1971, following the Indo-Pak war. Pokhran (1974): India’s first successful nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, was conducted at Pokhran on 18 May 1974 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sikkim Statehood (1975): Sikkim was officially merged into India and became its 22nd state on 16 May 1975 through 36th Constitutional Amendment Act. SLV-3 Launch (1980): India’s first successful satellite launch vehicle, SLV-3, carried the Rohini satellite (RS-1) and was launched on 18 July 1980 under Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s leadership.

Explanation

Amartya Sen (A - 2): ‘The Argumentative Indian’ is a collection of essays by Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate in Economics. The book explores India’s history, identity, and culture, emphasizing its tradition of debate and intellectual pluralism. Bimal Jalan (B - 3): Bimal Jalan, an economist and former RBI Governor wrote ‘The Future of India’, which discusses India’s economic policies, governance, and future growth prospects. Arundhati Roy (C - 1): Arundhati Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author, wrote ‘An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire’, a collection of political essays criticizing globalization, imperialism, and policies affecting the poor. Mani Shankar Aiyar (D - 4): Mani Shankar Aiyar, a politician and writer, wrote ‘Confessions of a Secular Fundamentalist’, advocating secularism and critiquing communal politics in India.

Explanation

Pair (a) is not correctly matched: Raja Rao wrote primarily in English, not Telugu. He was an eminent Indian writer known for novels like Kanthapura and The Serpent and the Rope, which explore Indian philosophy, culture, and spirituality in English prose.

Explanation

Amaravati Stupa is located in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It was built during the Satavahana period (3rd century BCE - 3rd century CE). It is associated with Mahayana Buddhism and has intricate sculptures depicting Jataka tales.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) is located in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra. It was established in 1916 and is a premier research institute under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. It conducts research in hydraulic engineering, water resources, river and reservoir modeling, coastal engineering, and dam safety.

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

Sileru (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Sileru Hydroelectric Project. Jamnagar (Gujarat): Famous for oil refineries and marine national parks. Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh): Known for the Srisailam Dam and temple.

Explanation

Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL) is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It was established in 1978 and specializes in design engineering, procurement, and supervision of construction/ commissioning in the field of fertilizer plants (Urea, Ammonia, Phosphatic fertilizers) and Chemical and allied industries.

Explanation

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is a subtractive color model used in color printing, especially in offset printing and digital printing. Offset printing is widely used for printing newspapers, magazines, brochures, and packaging materials.

Explanation

A-3: Sisupalgarh is an ancient archaeological site in Odisha that dates back to the 7th to 6th centuries BCE. It was the capital of the ancient Kalinga kingdom and is considered one of the largest and best-preserved ancient fortifications in India. B-4: Piprahwa is a village near Siddharthnagar city in Siddharthnagar district in Uttar Pradesh is a significant archaeological site related to the early life of Buddha. It is believed to be the location of the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Buddha. C-1: Goalpara is an archaeological site in Assam. It has many archaeological sites, including Sri Surya Pahar, Dadan Hill and Pir Majhar. D-2: Bishnupur is located in Manipur. Here stands the conical temple of Lord Vishnu built in 1467 during the reign of King Kyamba. It is interesting because of its antiquity and architectural design which was influenced by Chinese style. Bishnupur is also known for its stoneware production.

Explanation

The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu is an Institution of National Importance by the Act of Parliament set up in 1993. It functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. It serves as an apex body for youth development, training, research, and policy formulation in India.

Explanation

In September 2005, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) awarded the CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award for 2004 to Midas Communication Technologies Pvt. Ltd. This recognition was bestowed for their innovative work in designing, developing, and commercializing the corDECT Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) access system and optiMA Fiber-in-Local Loop (FLL) access system.