UPSC IAS

11. Which among the following events happened earliest ?

Which among the following events happened earliest ?

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Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj.
Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath.
Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination.
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The correct answer is B) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan.
To determine the earliest event, we need to know the approximate dates of each event:
A) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj in 1875.
B) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan between 1858 and 1859 (it was published in 1860).
C) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath in 1882.
D) Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination in 1863.
Comparing the dates, the writing of Neeldarpan occurred earliest.
Neeldarpan (The Mirror of Indigo) is a Bengali play that depicted the plight of indigo farmers under British planters. It caused significant controversy and highlighted the brutal treatment of the farmers, contributing to the Indigo Revolt (1859). The Arya Samaj was a Hindu reform movement promoting Vedic values. Satyendranath Tagore’s achievement in the ICS broke barriers and was a significant milestone for Indians in the colonial administration. Anandmath is a Bengali novel set in the context of the Sannyasi Rebellion and contains the song ‘Vande Mataram’.

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12. In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha” ?

In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha” ?

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All India Home Rule League
Hindu Mahasabha
South Indian Liberal Federation
The Servants of India Society
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In 1920, during the period of the Non-Cooperation Movement, the All India Home Rule League, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi (who became its president in 1920), changed its name to ‘Swarajya Sabha’. This change reflected the shift in nationalist goals towards achieving Swaraj (self-rule) through non-cooperation.
The change of name symbolized the alignment of the Home Rule movement with the broader objectives of the Indian National Congress under Gandhi’s leadership.
The Hindu Mahasabha remained a separate organization focused on Hindu interests. The South Indian Liberal Federation, also known as the Justice Party, was a political party in Madras Presidency focused on representing non-Brahmin interests. The Servants of India Society was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale for social service and training public workers and did not change its name to Swarajya Sabha.

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13. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the fo

With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements :

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  • 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
  • 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
  • 3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 and 3 only
2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is incorrect. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), not the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Statement 2 is correct. PMKVY includes training components not only in domain-specific skills but also in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to make trainees more employable. Statement 3 is correct. A key objective of PMKVY, particularly through its Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component, is to assess and certify the skills of the existing, often unregulated, workforce and align their competencies with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF).
PMKVY focuses on improving employability through skills training and certification, managed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
PMKVY was launched in 2015. The scheme aims to mobilize Indian youth to take up skill training with a view to increasing their employability and productivity.

14. Which one of the following is an artificial lake ?

Which one of the following is an artificial lake ?

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Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)
Nainital (Uttarakhand)
Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)
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Kodaikanal Lake is an artificial, star-shaped lake located in the town of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. It was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, by damming a stream.
Artificial lakes are man-made reservoirs or bodies of water, whereas natural lakes are formed through geological processes like tectonic activity, volcanic activity, or glaciation.
Kolleru Lake is a large natural freshwater lake located between the Krishna and Godavari deltas in Andhra Pradesh. Nainital Lake is a natural crescent-shaped lake in Uttarakhand, believed to be of tectonic origin. Renuka Lake is a natural lake in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, known for its religious significance and biodiversity.

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15. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ?

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  • 1. Charter Act of 1813
  • 2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
  • 3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct and relate to the introduction and development of English education in India. The Charter Act of 1813 was the first legislative step by the British government to acknowledge the importance of education in India by allocating Rs. 1 lakh annually. The General Committee of Public Instruction was formed in 1823 to manage this grant. This committee became the focal point of the Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy, which debated the medium of instruction (Oriental languages vs. English) and the content of education (traditional Indian vs. Western knowledge). The victory of the Anglicists, strongly influenced by Macaulay’s Minute, paved the way for the official adoption and promotion of English education in the following years (e.g., Wood’s Despatch in 1854).
The introduction of English education was a gradual process involving legislative action (1813 Act), administrative bodies (1823 Committee), and significant ideological debate (Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy).
Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General, passed a resolution in 1835 adopting the Anglicist view, making English the official language of government and the medium of instruction in higher education.

16. Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of

Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?

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To maintain a large standing army at other's expense
To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
To secure a fixed income for the Company
To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
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The system of Subsidiary Alliance, introduced by Lord Wellesley, aimed to bring Indian states under British control. While the Indian state had to pay for the maintenance of the British contingent stationed within its territory (which indirectly benefited the Company financially), the primary purpose was not “to secure a fixed income for the Company.” The payment was often in the form of cession of territory rather than a fixed cash income, and the main objectives were political and military dominance.
The main objectives of the Subsidiary Alliance were military protection against external threats (like Napoleon) and internal dissent, maintaining a large army at the expense of Indian states, controlling the foreign policy of Indian states, and establishing British paramountcy.
Under the alliance, the Indian ruler had to disband his own army, accept a British Resident at his court, and could not enter into alliances or relations with other foreign powers or Indian states without the Company’s permission. This effectively stripped the Indian states of their sovereignty and brought them under complete British control.

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17. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?

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Avalokiteshvara
Lokesvara
Maitreya
Padmapani
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In Buddhist theology, Maitreya is considered the future Buddha who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya will be the successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha.
Maitreya is a Bodhisattva who is destined to become a Buddha in the future. The concept of future Buddhas is part of various Buddhist traditions, particularly Mahayana Buddhism.
Avalokiteshvara (also known as Lokesvara and Padmapani in different forms) is a Bodhisattva of Compassion, widely revered in Mahayana Buddhism, but not considered the future Buddha who will attain enlightenment on Earth in a future age.

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18. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed ab

Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India ?

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Francois Bernier
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean de Thevenot
Abbe Barthelemy Carre
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Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveller who made six voyages to Persia and India. His book “Les Six Voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier” contains extensive descriptions of the diamond mines and the diamond trade in India, including detailed accounts of places like Golconda.
Tavernier’s accounts are considered a valuable historical source for the diamond industry and economic conditions in India during the Mughal period.
Francois Bernier was a French physician and traveller who wrote “Travels in the Mogul Empire”. Jean de Thevenot was a French traveller known for his accounts of the Middle East and India. Abbe Barthelemy Carre was a French cleric and traveller. While all were foreign travellers to India, Tavernier’s work is particularly noted for its detailed discussion of diamonds and mines.

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19. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the followin

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

  • White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is incorrect. While Fatehpur Sikri primarily used red sandstone, with some use of marble inlay for decoration or specific structures like the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the Buland Darwaza and Khankah are predominantly built using red sandstone. Statement 2 is incorrect. Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow are examples of Awadhi architecture built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They primarily use brick and lime plaster (stucco) as building materials, not red sandstone or marble as the main components.
Mughal architecture at Fatehpur Sikri is characterized by the extensive use of red sandstone. Awadhi architecture in Lucknow often utilized brick and stucco.
The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent gateway made primarily of red sandstone. The Khankah (a Sufi lodge) at Fatehpur Sikri is also mainly of red sandstone. The Bara Imambara is famous for its large vaulted central hall and the Bhulbhulaiya, built using local materials like Lakhauri bricks and lime plaster.

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20. With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi”

With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to

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Buddhism
Jainism
Vaishnavism
Shaivism
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The Sthanakvasi sect is a sub-sect of the Svetambara branch of Jainism. They differ from other Svetambara Jains primarily in their rejection of idol worship and belief in the authenticity of only 32 of the Jain Agamas.
Sthanakvasi means “dwellers in halls,” referring to their practice of worshipping in halls or sthanaks rather than temples with idols.
The sect was founded by Lonkasha Shah in the 15th century. A further reformist movement within the Sthanakvasi tradition led to the formation of the Terapanth sect in the 19th century.

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