2020 Archives

181. With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following stat

With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements :

1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”2 only” option4=”1 and 3 only” correct=”option4″]

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Statement 1 is correct. A public blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger technology where transaction data is typically transparent and accessible to all participants on the network. It is not controlled by any single entity. Statement 2 is incorrect. While blockchain technology underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, its applications extend far beyond cryptocurrency. It can be used to record and verify any type of data or transaction, including supply chain management, digital identity, voting systems, and more. Statement 3 is correct. On permissionless blockchains (like Bitcoin or Ethereum), anyone can develop and deploy applications (decentralized applications or DApps) that utilize the blockchain’s features without requiring permission from a central authority.

Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent ledger technology whose applications are not limited to cryptocurrency and on which permissionless innovation can occur.

Blockchain operates as a chain of blocks, where each block contains a batch of transactions, and these blocks are linked using cryptography. This structure makes the ledger highly secure and resistant to tampering.

182. With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which

With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct ?

1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm.
2. VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication.
3. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth.
4. VLC has no electromagnetic interference.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3 only” option2=”1, 2 and 4 only” option3=”1, 3 and 4 only” option4=”2, 3 and 4 only” correct=”option3″]

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Statement 1 is correct as Visible Light Communication (VLC) utilizes the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from approximately 380 to 780 nanometers. The range 375 to 780 nm falls within or very close to this standard definition. Statement 2 is incorrect; VLC is generally considered a short-range communication technology because visible light is easily blocked by walls and opaque objects and does not penetrate them like radio waves. Statement 3 is correct; VLC, also known as Li-Fi, has the potential for significantly higher data transmission speeds compared to Bluetooth due to the vast available bandwidth in the visible light spectrum. Statement 4 is correct; VLC operates in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum than radio-frequency communication (like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), meaning it does not cause electromagnetic interference with radio-based systems.

VLC uses visible light for data transmission, offering high speed and immunity to radio interference, but is limited in range.

VLC utilizes LEDs which can be switched on and off very rapidly, faster than the human eye can perceive, to transmit data signals. Potential applications include indoor navigation, high-speed internet access in confined spaces, and communication in electromagnetically sensitive environments.

183. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can eff

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following ?

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
3. Disease diagnosis
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2, 3 and 5 only” option2=”1, 3 and 4 only” option3=”2, 4 and 5 only” option4=”1, 2, 3, 4 and 5″ correct=”option2″]

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With the current state of development, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can effectively perform tasks listed in statements 1, 2, 3, and 4. AI algorithms are used for optimizing industrial processes to reduce energy consumption (1). Generative AI models can create coherent short stories and songs (2). Machine learning and deep learning are widely applied in analyzing medical images and data for disease diagnosis (3). Text-to-Speech (TTS) conversion is a mature AI application used in various tools (4). Wireless transmission of electrical energy (5) is primarily a domain of physics and electrical engineering, although AI could potentially be used for optimizing such systems, it is not a core capability or direct application of AI itself in the same way as the other listed items.

Modern AI is capable of complex tasks involving data analysis, pattern recognition, generation, and optimization across various domains.

AI’s capabilities are rapidly expanding, enabling applications in areas like natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and decision-making systems. While wireless energy transmission exists (e.g., inductive charging), it doesn’t rely on AI as its fundamental principle of operation.

184. In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “P

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for

[amp_mcq option1=”fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm” option2=”genetic modification of sperm producing cells” option3=”development of stem cells into functional embryos” option4=”prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring” correct=”option4″]

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Pronuclear Transfer is a technique used in assisted reproductive technology aimed at preventing the transmission of mitochondrial diseases from a mother to her child. It involves transferring the nuclear genetic material (contained in the pronuclei after fertilization) from the intended parents’ fertilized egg into a donor egg that has healthy mitochondria but has had its own nucleus removed. This creates a zygote with the intended parents’ nuclear DNA and the donor’s mitochondrial DNA, which can then be implanted.

Pronuclear Transfer is a method specifically designed to prevent the inheritance of mitochondrial diseases.

This technique is sometimes referred to as ‘three-parent IVF’ because the resulting child effectively has genetic material from three individuals: nuclear DNA from both parents and mitochondrial DNA from a donor. Another related technique is Maternal Spindle Transfer.

185. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements :

Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga.
Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana.
Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

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Statement 3 is correct because Kalidasa, the renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist, is widely believed to have been one of the Navaratnas (nine gems) in the court of the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), who ruled from approximately 380 to 415 CE. Statement 1 is incorrect as Panini, the grammarian known for ‘Ashtadhyayi’, lived much earlier, around the 4th century BCE, while Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty in the 2nd century BCE. Statement 2 is incorrect as Amarasimha, the author of the lexicon ‘Amarakosha’, is also traditionally placed in the court of Chandragupta II, not Harshavardhana who ruled in the 7th century CE.

Kalidasa is firmly associated with the Gupta period, particularly the reign of Chandragupta II.

Panini’s ‘Ashtadhyayi’ is a foundational text of Sanskrit grammar. Amarasimha’s ‘Amarakosha’ is a popular Sanskrit thesaurus. Harshavardhana’s court had notable scholars like Banabhatta.

186. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Revolt of 1857″ option2=”The Mappila Rebellion of 1921″ option3=”The Indigo Revolt of 1859 – 60″ option4=”Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899 – 1900″ correct=”option4″]

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“Ulgulan,” meaning “Great Tumult” or “Great Commotion,” is the term used to describe the Munda Rebellion led by Birsa Munda against the British Raj and the exploitation by zamindars and moneylenders (‘Dikus’) in the Chota Nagpur region of present-day Jharkhand. The revolt took place primarily between 1899 and 1900.

“Ulgulan” is synonymous with the Munda Rebellion led by tribal leader Birsa Munda.

The Revolt of 1857 (A) is known by various names like Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence. The Mappila Rebellion of 1921 (B) was an uprising in Malabar, Kerala. The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 (C) was a peasant uprising against indigo planters in Bengal. “Ulgulan” specifically refers to the widespread rebellion led by Birsa Munda, focusing on tribal rights, land issues, and resistance against colonial rule and outsiders.

187. Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

[amp_mcq option1=”he was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so” option2=”he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India” option3=”he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment” option4=”he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India” correct=”option4″]

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Lord Wellesley established Fort William College in 1800 in Calcutta with the primary objective of training young British civil servants (often referred to as ‘writers’) who were newly arriving in India. He believed they lacked sufficient knowledge of Indian languages, laws, history, and customs necessary for effective administration of the growing British territories. The college was intended to provide them with the necessary education to perform their duties efficiently and with greater cultural understanding.

The main purpose of Fort William College was to impart training to British administrative recruits stationed in India.

While the college did employ oriental scholars and contributed to the study of oriental languages (related to B and C, as William Carey taught there), its establishment was driven by the practical need for trained administrators, not primarily the revival of oriental learning for its own sake or providing employment to specific individuals. Option A is incorrect as the Board of Directors in London were not enthusiastic about the college and ordered its closure a few years later, although it continued in a reduced form.

188. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th cent

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

[amp_mcq option1=”peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters” option2=”its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions” option3=”national leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo” option4=”Government control over the planters” correct=”option2″]

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The primary reason for the decline of indigo cultivation in India by the beginning of the 20th century was the invention and mass production of synthetic indigo dye in Germany in the late 19th century (especially from the 1890s onwards). This synthetic dye was cheaper to produce and of more consistent quality than natural indigo.

The advent of synthetic dyes made natural indigo cultivation economically unviable in the world market, leading to its decline.

Peasant resistance (A), such as the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60, did highlight the exploitative nature of indigo cultivation and led to some reforms, but it did not eliminate cultivation entirely; it continued under modified conditions. National leaders’ opposition (C), particularly Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha (1917), addressed the grievances of indigo cultivators but occurred later than the *beginning* of the decline caused by synthetic dyes. Government control (D) aimed at regulating the system rather than ending cultivation. The fundamental economic factor of unprofitability due to synthetic substitutes was the decisive cause for the decline by the early 1900s.

189. In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around

women’s right to gain education
age of consent
restitution of conjugal rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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The Rakhmabai case (1884-1888) was a landmark legal case in British India involving Rakhmabai, an educated Indian woman who refused to cohabit with her husband Dadaji Bhikaji, to whom she had been married in childhood. The case arose when Dadaji sued Rakhmabai for restitution of conjugal rights. The case directly revolved around statement 3 (restitution of conjugal rights) and brought into sharp focus statement 2 (the age of consent), as it highlighted the plight of child brides and the implications of enforcing marital rights within such marriages. The legal battle and public debate around the case significantly contributed to the passage of the Age of Consent Act in 1891, which raised the age of consent for marriage for girls from 10 to 12.

The Rakhmabai case was primarily centered on the legal concept of restitution of conjugal rights and its application in the context of child marriage, thereby fueling the debate on the age of consent.

While Rakhmabai was educated and her case highlighted the situation of women, the legal issue *revolved around* her marital status, her refusal to live with her husband, the husband’s claim for conjugal rights, and the related societal debate on the age at which consent could be considered valid within marriage. The right to gain education (1) was not a direct legal point in the case itself, though Rakhmabai’s education played a role in her ability to articulate her position and challenge societal norms.

190. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the foll

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’?

[amp_mcq option1=”The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style” option2=”Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas” option3=”Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path” option4=”Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval South India” correct=”option3″]

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In the cultural history of India, particularly within Buddhism, ‘paramitas’ (Sanskrit) or ‘pāramī’ (Pali) refers to “perfections” or “transcendent virtues”. These are qualities that a Bodhisattva cultivates and perfects over many lifetimes on their path towards Buddhahood (enlightenment). The traditional list includes six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom. Some traditions add four more.

‘Paramitas’ is a core concept in Mahayana Buddhism, representing the virtues essential for the Bodhisattva path to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Option A refers to ancient legal and social treatises in Hinduism. Option B describes philosophical schools that reject Vedic authority, which applies to Buddhism but ‘paramitas’ is a specific practice, not the name for these schools. Option D refers to influential merchant organizations common in various periods of Indian history, especially medieval South India.