UPSC NDA-1

11. Which one of the following was NOT a feature of railways in colonial

Which one of the following was NOT a feature of railways in colonial India?

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The main purpose of the setting up of railways in India was to serve the interest of the empire
British capital investments were invited with 15% guaranteed interest to be paid if necessary from Indian revenues
The construction work disturbed ecology
The construction of the railways was planned in such a way that it connected the internal markets with the ports, but provided no inter-connection between internal market cities
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The statement that British capital investments were invited with 15% guaranteed interest is NOT a feature of railways in colonial India.
Under the Guarantee System, introduced in the mid-19th century, British investors were guaranteed a fixed return on their capital invested in Indian railways, but the rate was typically 5%, not 15%. This high guaranteed return, payable from Indian revenues regardless of profit, incentivized British investment while burdening Indian finances.
Statement A is correct; railways were primarily built to facilitate the movement of raw materials from the interior to ports for export to Britain and the movement of British finished goods into internal markets, as well as for strategic military purposes. Statement C is correct; large-scale construction projects often lead to environmental changes. Statement D is correct; the network prioritized linking production areas to ports, rather than connecting internal consumption centers with each other, which hindered the development of a unified internal market beneficial to Indian industry.

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12. Which one of the following characteristics does NOT describe the Khila

Which one of the following characteristics does NOT describe the Khilafat movement?

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Mahatma Gandhi sought to link it to the Non-Cooperation movement
It was not supported by the Congress
It demanded that the Turkish Sultan must retain control over Muslim sacred spaces in the erstwhile Ottoman empire
It was led by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
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The statement that it was not supported by the Congress is NOT correct.
The Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, actively supported the Khilafat Movement. Gandhi saw it as a crucial opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims against British rule and linked it to the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922).
Statement A is correct; Gandhi integrated the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements. Statement C is correct; a key demand was the preservation of the Ottoman Caliph’s authority over Muslim holy places. Statement D is correct; the movement was prominently led by the Ali Brothers, Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.

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13. Which one of the following was a significant feature of the Quit India

Which one of the following was a significant feature of the Quit India Movement?

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Women did not play an important role in the movement
Nasik in Maharashtra was an important regional base during the movement
It was marked by anti-zamindar violence
It was marked by the emergence of parallel governments in different parts of India
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The emergence of parallel governments in different parts of India was a significant feature of the Quit India Movement.
Following the arrest of major leaders, the Quit India Movement (1942) saw widespread decentralized action and the formation of parallel governments (Prati Sarkar) in areas like Ballia (UP), Tamluk (Midnapore, Bengal), Satara (Maharashtra), and Talcher (Orissa), which challenged British authority at the local level.
Statement A is incorrect; women played a crucial role (e.g., Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Mehta). Statement B mentions Nasik, which was active, but not typically cited as one of the primary regional bases compared to places like Satara. Statement C mentions anti-zamindar violence; while some attacks on symbols of authority occurred, the movement was primarily anti-British and aimed at disrupting colonial administration rather than being fundamentally an agrarian revolt focused on zamindars. Parallel governments represent a more widespread and defining characteristic of the movement’s later phase.

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14. Which of the following statements about the Chittagong group is NOT

Which of the following statements about the Chittagong group is NOT correct?

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Its membership included a large number of youth including Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Baul and Anant Singh
Its leader Surya Sen had been a lawyer in Dhaka before joining the group
Surya Sen and his group were closely associated with Congress work in Chittagong
This group had prepared an action plan to occupy the armouries in Chittagong
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The statement that its leader Surya Sen had been a lawyer in Dhaka before joining the group is NOT correct.
Surya Sen, known as ‘Masterda’, the leader of the Chittagong group responsible for the 1930 armoury raid, was a school teacher in Chittagong. He was not a lawyer and was not based in Dhaka.
Statement A is correct; the group included young revolutionaries like Ganesh Ghosh, Lokenath Baul, and Anant Singh. Statement C is correct; Surya Sen was involved in Congress activities and was president of the Chittagong District Congress Committee before focusing on armed revolution. Statement D is correct; their main plan was indeed to seize the British armouries in Chittagong.

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15. Who among the following is one of the authors of the book “Philosophy

Who among the following is one of the authors of the book “Philosophy of the Bomb?”

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Bhagat Singh
Jawaharlal Nehru
Surya Sen
Yashpal
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Yashpal is one of the authors associated with the revolutionary document “Philosophy of the Bomb”.
“Philosophy of the Bomb” was a manifesto of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). It was primarily drafted by Bhagwati Charan Vohra in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s condemnation of the revolutionaries’ use of bombs. While Vohra was the main author, Yashpal, a prominent member of the HSRA, was also involved in its creation and dissemination and is often listed as a co-author or key figure behind it.
Bhagat Singh was in jail at the time the document was written (1929-1930). Jawaharlal Nehru and Surya Sen were not associated with the HSRA or this specific document. The document outlined the revolutionaries’ ideology and justification for violence as a means to achieve independence.

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16. Which one of the following elements is used in pencil-lead?

Which one of the following elements is used in pencil-lead?

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Zinc
Lead
Carbon (Graphite)
Tin
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The element used in pencil-lead is Carbon in the form of graphite.
Pencil ‘lead’ is not made of the metal lead. It is primarily composed of graphite, which is an allotrope of Carbon, mixed with clay.
Graphite is a soft, black, slippery solid that conducts electricity. Its layered structure allows it to leave marks on paper. The amount of clay mixed with graphite determines the hardness of the pencil lead.

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17. The chemical name of baking soda is

The chemical name of baking soda is

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Na₂CO₃
NaHCO₃
CaCO₃
NaOH
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The correct chemical formula for baking soda is NaHCO₃.
Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate. Its chemical formula is NaHCO₃.
Option A, Na₂CO₃, is sodium carbonate (washing soda). Option C, CaCO₃, is calcium carbonate (limestone). Option D, NaOH, is sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Understanding common chemical names and formulas is essential.

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18. Radon is

Radon is

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an inert gas
an artificial fibre
an explosive
a metal
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The question asks for the classification of Radon.
Radon (Rn) is a chemical element with atomic number 86. It is a radioactive gas. Based on its position in the periodic table (Group 18), Radon belongs to the group of noble gases (also known as inert gases). Noble gases are characterized by their filled valence electron shells, making them very unreactive chemically.
Let’s evaluate the options:
A) an inert gas: Correct. Radon is a noble gas, which is synonymous with being an inert gas due to its very low chemical reactivity.
B) an artificial fibre: Incorrect. Artificial fibres are synthetic textiles (e.g., nylon, polyester).
C) an explosive: Incorrect. Explosives are substances that undergo rapid expansion in volume with the release of large amounts of energy (e.g., TNT, gunpowder).
D) a metal: Incorrect. Radon is a non-metal (specifically, a gas at standard conditions).
Radon is a decay product of radium, which is itself a decay product of uranium. It is the heaviest noble gas. All isotopes of radon are radioactive. Radon is a significant environmental hazard, as it can accumulate in buildings, particularly basements, posing a health risk (lung cancer) due to inhalation of its radioactive decay products.

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19. Why is it difficult to measure the coefficient of expansion of a liqui

Why is it difficult to measure the coefficient of expansion of a liquid than solid ?

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Liquids tend to evaporate at all temperatures
Liquids conduct more heat
Liquids expand too much when heated
Their containers also expand when heated
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The question asks why it is difficult to measure the coefficient of expansion of a liquid compared to a solid.
When measuring the volume expansion of a liquid, the liquid must be held in a container. When the liquid is heated, the container also gets heated and expands. The observed increase in the volume of the liquid (apparent expansion) is the difference between the actual increase in volume of the liquid (real expansion) and the increase in volume of the container.
$V_{observed} = V_{real, liquid} – V_{expansion, container}$
To find the real coefficient of volume expansion of the liquid, one needs to account for the expansion of the container, which itself has a coefficient of volume expansion (or linear expansion, from which volume expansion can be derived). This adds complexity to the measurement process compared to measuring the expansion of a solid rod or block, where the change in length or volume is directly measured.
Option D correctly identifies this key difficulty: the container’s expansion must be factored in.
Liquids have two coefficients of volume expansion: the coefficient of apparent expansion and the coefficient of real expansion. The coefficient of real expansion of the liquid is equal to the coefficient of apparent expansion of the liquid plus the coefficient of volume expansion of the container material. While liquids generally expand more than solids, the main difficulty in measurement lies in the experimental setup requiring a container that also expands. Evaporation (option A) can also make measurements difficult, especially over long periods or at higher temperatures, but the fundamental challenge inherent to volume expansion measurement of liquids involves the container.

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20. Which one of the following statements is true for the relation $F = \f

Which one of the following statements is true for the relation $F = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}$ ? (All symbols have their usual meanings)

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The quantity G depends on the local value of g, acceleration due to gravity
The quantity G is greatest at the surface of the Earth
The quantity G is used only when earth is one of the two masses
The quantity G is a universal constant
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The question asks which statement is true for the gravitational force relation $F = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}$.
The equation $F = \frac{Gm_1m_2}{r^2}$ is Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation. It describes the force of attraction between any two point masses $m_1$ and $m_2$ separated by a distance $r$. $G$ is the constant of proportionality known as the Universal Gravitational Constant.
Let’s examine the options:
A) The quantity G depends on the local value of g, acceleration due to gravity: Incorrect. ‘g’ varies from place to place (e.g., poles vs. equator, altitude), while G is constant everywhere in the universe. ‘g’ on Earth’s surface is given by $g = \frac{GM_{Earth}}{R_{Earth}^2}$, showing that ‘g’ depends on G, not the other way around.
B) The quantity G is greatest at the surface of the Earth: Incorrect. G is a constant and does not vary with location. It has the same value on the surface of the Earth, in space, on the Moon, etc.
C) The quantity G is used only when earth is one of the two masses: Incorrect. G is used in the formula to calculate the gravitational force between *any* two masses in the universe, whether they are planets, stars, or small objects.
D) The quantity G is a universal constant: Correct. The value of G has been measured experimentally and is found to be constant throughout the universe, regardless of the nature of the masses, their distance, or the surrounding medium. Its approximate value is $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, N m^2/kg^2$.
The term “universal constant” implies that the value is the same everywhere and at all times. This universality of G is a fundamental principle of Newtonian gravity. Measuring G accurately is challenging due to the weakness of the gravitational force between laboratory-sized objects.

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