11. Consider the following statements about Ajanta paintings : 1. The su

Consider the following statements about Ajanta paintings :

  • 1. The surface of the rock was coated with clay mixed with rice husk and gum and a coat of lime was applied over this.
  • 2. The outline drawing was done first on the lime coating and colours were added subsequently.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
The Ajanta paintings primarily employed a technique similar to fresco-secco, involving elaborate surface preparation and detailed application of outlines and colours on a plastered surface.
1. The preparation of the rock surface at Ajanta involved applying a rough layer of clay mixed with fibrous material like rice husk or vegetable fibres, and a binding agent such as gum or molasses, followed by a thin layer of fine white lime plaster on top. This base provided a smooth surface for painting. So, statement 1 accurately describes the surface preparation process.
2. Artists first drew the outline of the figures and compositions on the prepared lime surface. Colours, derived from minerals and plants, were then applied within these outlines. The technique used was primarily tempera or fresco-secco, where colours are applied to dry or slightly damp plaster. So, statement 2 accurately describes the painting technique.

12. Which of the following statements with regard to the famous ‘silk rout

Which of the following statements with regard to the famous ‘silk routes’ are correct?

  • 1. Silk routes refer to East-bound European silk cargoes along these routes.
  • 2. There were several silk routes, over land and by sea, joining together vast regions of Asia with Europe and northern Africa.
  • 3. They are known to have existed since before the Christian Era and thrived almost till the fifteenth century.
  • 4. Besides silk, Chinese pottery, textiles and spices from India and South-east Asia travelled the same route.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3
1, 3 and 4
2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
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Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect.
The “Silk Road” is not a single route primarily for East-bound European silk but a complex network of trade routes facilitating multilateral exchange between East and West over centuries.
1. The primary and most famous trade along the Silk Routes was silk flowing from China westwards towards Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. While trade was bidirectional, the name comes from the predominant movement of silk. Therefore, statement 1, stating it refers to East-bound European silk cargoes, is incorrect.
2. The Silk Routes comprised a vast network of interconnected land and sea routes that linked regions across Asia, Europe, and northern Africa. They were not a single road but a system facilitating trade and cultural exchange over long distances. So, statement 2 is correct.
3. The routes became prominent trade arteries around the 2nd century BCE and were actively used for trade and interaction until the decline of overland routes and the rise of maritime exploration around the 15th and 16th centuries. So, statement 3 is correct.
4. Besides silk, the routes were used for the exchange of a wide variety of goods including Chinese pottery (porcelain), textiles other than silk, spices from India and Southeast Asia, precious stones, metals, and also facilitated the spread of ideas, technologies, and religions. So, statement 4 is correct.

13. Consider the following statements about the issue of separate electora

Consider the following statements about the issue of separate electorate during the early decades of the twentieth century in India as a means to secure adequate representation for the deprived social categories in the absence of universal adult franchise :

  • 1. The All India Depressed Classes Association of M.C. Rajah was staunchly in favour of joint electorate.
  • 2. The All India Depressed Classes Leaders’ Conference demanded separate electorate.
  • 3. The Communal Award in September 1932 recognised the right to separate electorate for the ‘untouchables’.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct.
The issue of separate electorates versus joint electorates with reserved seats was a major point of contention regarding representation for the Depressed Classes in the early 20th century. Different leaders and organizations held varying positions on this matter at different times.
1. The All India Depressed Classes Association, particularly under the leadership of M.C. Rajah, was associated with advocating for joint electorates with reserved seats, notably through the Rajah-Moonje Pact of 1932, as opposed to separate electorates favoured by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the time. So, statement 1 is correct.
2. The All India Depressed Classes Leaders’ Conference held in 1930, presided over by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, formally demanded separate electorates for the Depressed Classes to ensure their effective representation, as he believed joint electorates would not achieve this. So, statement 2 is correct.
3. The Communal Award announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in August 1932 indeed recognized separate electorates for the ‘Untouchables’ (Depressed Classes), alongside other communities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans. This award prompted Mahatma Gandhi’s fast unto death and led to the Poona Pact. So, statement 3 is correct.

14. Consider the following Women’s Associations and their important associ

Consider the following Women’s Associations and their important associates in early twentieth century India :

  • 1. Women’s Indian Association of 1917 : Margaret Cousins
  • 2. National Council of Women in India of 1925 : Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
  • 3. Bharat Stree Mahamandal of 1910 : Lady Meherbai Tata

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?

1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Let’s examine each pair:
1. Women’s Indian Association (WIA) of 1917: Margaret Cousins was indeed a key founder and prominent member of the WIA, along with Annie Besant and Dorothy Jinarajadasa. This pair is correctly matched.
2. National Council of Women in India (NCWI) of 1925: The NCWI was founded by Lady Dorab Tata. While Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a significant figure in the Indian women’s movement, she is primarily known for founding the Bharat Stree Mahamandal in 1910 and was not associated with the founding of NCWI in 1925. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. Bharat Stree Mahamandal of 1910: This organization was founded by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani. Lady Meherbai Tata (wife of Sir Dorabji Tata) was a prominent figure in the National Council of Women in India (NCWI), founded later in 1925. She was also active in advocating for women’s suffrage and rights but was not the founder or a primary associate of the Bharat Stree Mahamandal. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Based on the analysis, only pairing 1 is correctly matched.

– Women’s Indian Association (WIA) was founded in 1917 by figures including Margaret Cousins.
– Bharat Stree Mahamandal was founded in 1910 by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani.
– National Council of Women in India (NCWI) was founded in 1925 by Lady Dorab Tata.
These associations played crucial roles in advocating for women’s rights, education, and political participation during the early 20th century in India. They represented different approaches and constituencies within the broader women’s movement.

15. Consider the following statements about the arrival of tobacco in Indi

Consider the following statements about the arrival of tobacco in India :

  • 1. Tobacco plant arrived first in the Deccan.
  • 2. Tobacco spread to northern India in the early years of the seventeenth century.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Tobacco was introduced to India by the Portuguese, who were prominent maritime traders and had established coastal settlements and influence. It arrived in the late 16th or very early 17th century, primarily through the western ports, which would include regions in the Deccan (like Goa, part of the Portuguese Estado da รndia) and Gujarat. Statement 1, that tobacco plant arrived first in the Deccan, is consistent with its introduction by sea via the west coast. Tobacco cultivation and consumption spread rapidly. By the early years of the 17th century, it had reached the Mughal court and other parts of northern India, becoming widely popular despite initial efforts to control or prohibit it by rulers like Jahangir. Statement 2, that tobacco spread to northern India in the early years of the seventeenth century, is also accurate.
– Tobacco was introduced to India by the Portuguese.
– Introduction likely occurred via western coastal areas, including the Deccan.
– Tobacco spread quickly throughout India in the early 17th century.
The arrival of tobacco in India was part of the Columbian Exchange, the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. Tobacco originated in the Americas.

16. Which one of the following texts is a commentary written by Chakrapani

Which one of the following texts is a commentary written by Chakrapanidatta (11 Century CE from Bengal) on the Sushrut Samhita ?

Sabdachandrika
Bhanumati
Nitiratnakara
Lohasarvasava
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Chakrapanidatta was a prominent physician and scholar from Bengal in the 11th century CE. He is known for his significant contributions to Ayurveda through commentaries and independent works. He wrote a commentary on the Charaka Samhita titled ‘Ayur-veda-dipika’ and a commentary on the Sushruta Samhita titled ‘Bhanumati’. He also authored the ‘Chakradatta’ (or Chikitsa-Samgraha), a comprehensive work on therapeutics.
– Chakrapanidatta was an 11th-century physician from Bengal.
– He wrote commentaries on key Ayurvedic texts.
– His commentary on Sushruta Samhita is called Bhanumati.
– His commentary on Charaka Samhita is called Ayur-veda-dipika.
Other options are either unrelated or associated with different authors/subjects. Sabdachandrika is a Sanskrit dictionary by Varadaraja. Nitiratnakara is a text on polity/ethics. Lohasarvasava is a medicinal preparation (Arishta/Asava) mentioned in Ayurvedic texts, not a commentary title.

17. Which one of the following is primarily responsible for conduction of

Which one of the following is primarily responsible for conduction of current in a metal ?

Bound electrons
Free electrons
Both bound and free electrons
Ions
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In metals, the atoms are arranged in a lattice structure. The outermost electrons of metal atoms are not bound to specific atoms but are delocalized and form a “sea” of electrons that can move freely throughout the material. These are called free electrons or conduction electrons. When a voltage is applied across a metal conductor, these free electrons drift in a directed manner, constituting an electric current. Bound electrons are tightly held within the atoms and do not contribute to conduction. Ions (the positively charged atomic remnants in the lattice) are essentially fixed in position and do not move to carry current in solid metals.
– Electrical current in conductors is the flow of charge carriers.
– In metals, the charge carriers are free electrons.
– Free electrons are valence electrons that are not bound to individual atoms and can move throughout the material.
In other materials, different charge carriers are responsible for conduction. For example, in electrolytes, both positive and negative ions carry current. In semiconductors, both electrons and holes (absence of an electron) contribute to conduction. However, in typical solid metals, the primary carriers are free electrons.

18. A block of mass 2 kg, moving with the initial speed of 3 m/s comes to

A block of mass 2 kg, moving with the initial speed of 3 m/s comes to rest on a rough horizontal surface after travelling a distance of 3 m. The magnitude of the frictional force is :

9 N
3 N
18 N
1 N
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UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
We can use the work-energy theorem, which states that the net work done on an object is equal to its change in kinetic energy. The block starts with an initial kinetic energy and comes to rest, meaning its final kinetic energy is zero. The change in kinetic energy is the final KE minus the initial KE. Initial KE = (1/2) * m * v_i^2 = (1/2) * 2 kg * (3 m/s)^2 = 9 J. Final KE = (1/2) * m * v_f^2 = (1/2) * 2 kg * (0 m/s)^2 = 0 J. Change in KE = 0 – 9 = -9 J. The only force doing work in the horizontal direction is the frictional force (f), opposing the motion. The work done by friction is W_friction = f * d * cos(180ยฐ) = -f * d, where d is the distance (3 m). According to the work-energy theorem, W_friction = Change in KE. So, -f * 3 m = -9 J. Solving for f, we get f = (-9 J) / (-3 m) = 3 N. The magnitude of the frictional force is 3 N.
– Work-Energy Theorem: Net Work Done = Change in Kinetic Energy.
– Initial Kinetic Energy = (1/2)mv_i^2.
– Final Kinetic Energy = (1/2)mv_f^2.
– Work done by friction = – f * d.
Alternatively, one could calculate the deceleration using kinematics (v_f^2 = v_i^2 + 2ad) and then find the force using Newton’s second law (F=ma). 0^2 = 3^2 + 2 * a * 3 => 0 = 9 + 6a => 6a = -9 => a = -1.5 m/s^2. The magnitude of acceleration is 1.5 m/s^2. The net force in the direction of motion is the frictional force (acting opposite to initial motion). F_net = m * a = 2 kg * (-1.5 m/s^2) = -3 N. The magnitude of the force is 3 N.

19. LIGO experiment confirmed one of the predictions of :

LIGO experiment confirmed one of the predictions of :

String theory
Special theory of relativity
Quantum mechanics
General theory of relativity
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LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) is a large-scale physics experiment designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves. The existence of gravitational waves, which are ripples in spacetime caused by massive accelerating objects, was a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, published in 1915. LIGO made the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, confirming this prediction.
– LIGO detects gravitational waves.
– Gravitational waves are a prediction of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
– The first direct detection of gravitational waves by LIGO provided strong evidence for General Relativity.
String theory, Special Theory of Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics are other significant areas of modern physics, but the detection of gravitational waves is a direct verification of a specific prediction from General Relativity. General Relativity describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.

20. Which one of the following scientists mentioned that an electron in an

Which one of the following scientists mentioned that an electron in an atom could revolve in certain stable orbits without the emission of radiant energy ?

Ernest Rutherford
J.J. Thomson
Niels Bohr
Albert Einstein
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Niels Bohr proposed a model of the atom in 1913 to explain the stability of atoms and the emission spectra of elements like hydrogen. One of his key postulates was that electrons orbit the nucleus in certain specific, stable orbits (also called stationary states) without emitting electromagnetic radiation. This addressed the problem in Rutherford’s model, where orbiting electrons were expected to lose energy continuously and spiral into the nucleus according to classical electromagnetism.
– Rutherford’s model suggested electrons orbit the nucleus but didn’t explain atomic stability.
– Classical physics predicted orbiting electrons would radiate energy and spiral into the nucleus.
– Niels Bohr proposed quantized orbits where electrons do not radiate energy, leading to stable atoms.
J.J. Thomson discovered the electron and proposed the plum pudding model. Ernest Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment, leading to the discovery of the atomic nucleus and the nuclear model. Albert Einstein contributed significantly to physics, including the theory of relativity and the photoelectric effect, but the specific postulate about stable electron orbits without radiation is attributed to Bohr.