2022

241. Consider the following statements : DNA Barcoding can be a tool to :

Consider the following statements :
DNA Barcoding can be a tool to :

  • assess the age of a plant or animal
  • distinguish among species that look alike.
  • identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

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The correct answer is D) 2 and 3.
Statement 1 is incorrect. DNA barcoding is a method for identifying species using a short, standardized sequence of DNA. It provides a “barcode” that is unique to a species, but it does not provide information about the age of an individual plant or animal.
Statement 2 is correct. DNA barcoding is highly effective at distinguishing among species, even those that are morphologically similar or difficult to identify using traditional methods. The barcode sequence provides a clear genetic signature for differentiation.
Statement 3 is correct. DNA barcoding can be used to identify the species composition of biological materials in processed foods, allowing detection of adulteration, mislabeling, or the presence of undesirable or allergenic plant or animal materials.
The standard barcode region used for animals is a segment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). For plants, different regions are used, such as rbcL and matK in chloroplast DNA. DNA barcoding has applications in biodiversity studies, food safety, forensic science, and wildlife trafficking detection.

242. Consider the following statements : Other than those made by humans,

Consider the following statements :

  • Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.
  • Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics.
  • Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

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The correct answer is D) 2 and 3.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Nanoparticles occur widely in nature, resulting from various natural processes such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, sea spray, and even biological processes (e.g., formation of magnetite crystals in bacteria).
Statement 2 is correct. Nanoparticles of metallic oxides, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO), are commonly used in cosmetics, particularly in sunscreens, due to their ability to absorb and scatter UV light.
Statement 3 is correct. There are ongoing concerns about the potential environmental and health risks associated with nanoparticles from commercial products entering the environment, due to their small size, high surface area, and unique properties which can lead to different biological interactions and potential accumulation in tissues.
Research on the safety and environmental impact of manufactured nanoparticles is an active area of study. Regulatory bodies are developing guidelines and assessments for products containing nanomaterials.

243. Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cel

Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body ?

[amp_mcq option1=”They protect the body from environmental allergens.” option2=”They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.” option3=”They act as immunosuppressants in the body.” option4=”They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.” correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is D) They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.
B cells and T cells are lymphocytes, which are key components of the adaptive immune system. Their primary role is to recognize specific pathogens (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) and mount a targeted immune response to eliminate them and prevent diseases.
B cells produce antibodies that neutralize pathogens or mark them for destruction. T cells directly kill infected cells (cytotoxic T cells), help other immune cells (helper T cells), or regulate the immune response (regulatory T cells).
While immune responses involving B and T cells can contribute to inflammation (which is part of healing but also causes pain), their main function is not to alleviate pain or inflammation directly (Option B). They are crucial for developing immunity, not immunosuppression (Option C), though certain subsets of T cells are regulatory. While they are involved in responses to allergens, their role in protecting against pathogens is their fundamental and primary function (Option A vs. D).

244. The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Som

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple ?

  • 1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
  • 2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
  • 3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

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=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) 1 and 2 only.
Statement 1 is correct. Somnath Temple is traditionally considered the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
Statement 2 is correct. The medieval Islamic historian and scholar Al-Biruni described the Somnath temple in his Kitab-ul-Hind, noting its immense wealth.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Pran Pratishtha (installation) of the present temple structure was performed by the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on May 11, 1951. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was the second President of India.
The Somnath Temple has a long and complex history, having been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current structure was reconstructed after India’s independence. The temple is located in Veraval, Saurashtra, Gujarat.

245. The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inau

The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja ?

[amp_mcq option1=”The best means of salvation was devotion.” option2=”Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.” option3=”Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.” option4=”Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) The best means of salvation was devotion.
Ramanuja (1017-1137 CE) was a prominent philosopher, theologian, and social reformer. He was the most important Acharya of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition and a leading proponent of Vishishtadvaita philosophy. A central tenet of his teaching is that *bhakti* (devotion) to Vishnu is the most effective and primary means for an individual soul to attain *moksha* (salvation or liberation). He emphasized surrender (*prapatti*) to God’s grace. The statue inaugurated is called the ‘Statue of Equality’, reflecting his message of equality and devotion being accessible to all sections of society.
While Ramanuja respected the Vedas (B), his philosophy did not hold them to be solely self-existent independent of God’s will. He used logical arguments extensively in his commentaries (like Sri Bhashya on the Brahmasutras) (C), but logic was a tool for understanding, not the *primary* means for salvation. Meditation (D) was part of the spiritual practice, but it was devotion (*bhakti*) that he stressed as the ultimate path to liberation.

246. “Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati duri

“Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of :

[amp_mcq option1=”Akbar” option2=”Humayun” option3=”Shahjahan” option4=”Aurangzeb” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Akbar.
The translation of the Sanskrit philosophical text “Yogavasistha” into Persian was undertaken by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar was known for his interest in religious and philosophical discussions and patronised the translation of various Indian texts into Persian.
Other notable Sanskrit works translated into Persian during Akbar’s reign include the Mahabharata (as Razmnama), Ramayana, Atharva Veda, and Panchatantra. These translations were part of Akbar’s efforts to foster understanding and syncretism between different religious and cultural traditions in his empire.

247. Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancie

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.” option2=”The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.” option3=”Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.” option4=”Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.” correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
Sangam literature, particularly the *Puram* poems, reflects a society with distinct social classifications. While the exact imposition of the North Indian Varna system is debated by scholars, the texts mention Brahmins (priestly class), kings/chiefs (rulers), merchants, and agriculturalists (*velalas*) as significant social groups, indicating an awareness and presence of hierarchical social divisions akin to the varna concept, adapted to the South Indian context.
A) Sangam poems contain numerous references to material culture, including details about warfare, trade, agriculture, clothes, ornaments, and urban life. So, statement A is incorrect.
C) Sangam literature, especially *Puram* literature, extensively deals with the warrior ethic, heroism, battles, and the lives of kings and warriors. So, statement C is incorrect.
D) Sangam literature reflects a complex worldview including beliefs in various deities, spirits, omens, and religious rituals. It does not necessarily refer to all magical forces as irrational in the modern sense; these were part of their accepted reality. So, statement D is incorrect.

248. Consider the following pairs: King Dynasty 1. Nannuka — Chan

Consider the following pairs:

KingDynasty
1. Nannuka— Chandela
2. Jayashakti— Paramara
3. Nagabhata II— Gurjara-Pratihara
4. Bhoja— Rashtrakuta

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one pair” option2=”Only two pairs” option3=”Only three pairs” option4=”All four pairs” correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) Only two pairs.
1. Nannuka: Was the founder of the Chandela dynasty in the early 9th century. Correct.
2. Jayashakti: Was a ruler of the Chandela dynasty, grandson of Nannuka. The region Jejakabhukti was named after him. He was not a Paramara ruler. Incorrect.
3. Nagabhata II: Was a prominent ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty in the early 9th century, known for expanding the empire. Correct.
4. Bhoja: While there was a famous Paramara king named Bhoja (Raja Bhoj of Dhara), there was no prominent king named Bhoja in the Rashtrakuta dynasty. The most famous Bhoja contemporary to the Rashtrakutas was Mihira Bhoja (Gurjara-Pratihara). Incorrect.
The Rashtrakuta dynasty’s important rulers included Dantidurga (founder), Krishna I, Dhruva Dharavarsha, Govinda III, Amoghavarsha I, Krishna III, etc.

249. Consider the following pairs: Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts

Consider the following pairs:

Site of Ashoka’s major rock edictsLocation in the State of
1. Dhauli— Odisha
2. Erragudi— Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada— Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi— Karnataka

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one pair” option2=”Only two pairs” option3=”Only three pairs” option4=”All four pairs” correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) Only two pairs.
1. Dhauli: Located near Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This is a site of a major rock edict of Ashoka. Correct.
2. Erragudi (Yerragudi): Located in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. This is a site of a major rock edict of Ashoka. Correct.
3. Jaugada: Located in Ganjam district, Odisha. This is a site of a major rock edict of Ashoka, not Madhya Pradesh. Incorrect.
4. Kalsi: Located in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. This is a site of a major rock edict of Ashoka, not Karnataka. Incorrect.
The other major rock edict sites include Girnar (Gujarat), Kalsi (Uttarakhand), Manshera (Pakistan), Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan), Sopara (Maharashtra), Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh), Dhauli (Odisha), and Jaugada (Odisha). Minor rock edicts and pillar edicts are found at various other locations.

250. Which of the following sets of nations are members of the BIMSTEC

Which of the following sets of nations are members of the BIMSTEC Initiative?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka” option2=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar” option3=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives” option4=”Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia” correct=”option2″]

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The set of nations that are members of the BIMSTEC Initiative is Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar.
– BIMSTEC stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
– It is an international organization of seven member states in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.
– The member states are five from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka) and two from Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand).
BIMSTEC was founded in 1997. It aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development, accelerate social progress, and promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region. It serves as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
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