RAS Prelims MCQ Practice

Explanation

Article 30 of the Constitution provides a fundamental right to all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This provision ensures that minority communities can preserve their culture and impart education according to their own traditions. The State is also prohibited from discriminating against any such institution while providing financial aid, upholding secularism.

Explanation

Following the sudden and tragic demise of Homi J. Bhabha in 1966, Vikram Sarabhai was appointed as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. In this capacity, he successfully managed both the nuclear and space programs simultaneously. He ensured continuity in India’s nuclear research while accelerating the development of space technologies for communication and remote sensing applications.

Explanation

The City Palace covers roughly one-seventh of the old walled city. The Mubarak Mahal was built to receive foreign guests and the Chandra Mahal is a seven-storied residence. The palace was not built entirely of pure white marble, so IV is wrong.

Explanation

A Joint State Public Service Commission is created by an act of Parliament at the request of the state legislatures involved. Unlike the Union and State commissions, which are constitutional bodies, a joint commission is a statutory body. Its members are appointed and removed by the President, and it reports to the respective state governors. This body provides a cost-effective and efficient way for smaller states to manage their recruitment needs together. Although it is statutory, it exercises similar powers and functions as other commissions, and its members enjoy similar protections and conditions of service during their tenure.

Explanation

Vikram Sarabhai’s vision for India was not about competing with advanced nations in a space race or moon landings. Instead, he emphasized the practical application of space technology to solve real-world problems. He prioritized using satellites for mass communication, educational broadcasting, and weather forecasting to benefit the agrarian economy and promote national development for the common citizen.

Explanation

Sonar Quila, the fort of Jaisalmer, stands on Trikuta Hill. It was founded by Rawal Jaisal in the twelfth century.

Explanation

The state commission conducts examinations and advises on recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary matters. However, it is not responsible for the classification of services or the determination of pay scales and service conditions. These administrative and financial functions are the prerogative of the state government’s personnel department and the finance ministry. By focusing on the selection and ethical oversight of civil servants, the commission maintains its independence. Broader policy decisions regarding the structure of the bureaucracy and the financial aspects of employment are properly left to the elected government, which manages the state’s resources and administrative framework.

Explanation

The National Social Assistance Programme is a centrally sponsored scheme, meaning the financial responsibility is shared between the Centre and the States. It is not borne entirely by state governments. The programme fulfills the Directive Principle in Article 41 by providing pensions to the elderly, widows, and disabled persons from poor households. This collaborative model ensures a basic safety net.

Explanation

In the early years, India’s space program focused on atmospheric research using sounding rockets. This included the use of imported Nike-Apache rockets and the development of the indigenous Rohini series. The GSLV Mk III is a modern, high-capacity launch vehicle designed for heavy satellites and human spaceflight, belonging to a much later phase of technological evolution in ISRO’s history.

Explanation

The Brahma temple of Pushkar is widely known as the most famous temple of Brahma, but it is not the only one. Others exist, for example at Asotra in Rajasthan and Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, so Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.