1. Which Indian State launched the ‘Amma Vodi’ scheme to provide financia

Which Indian State launched the ‘Amma Vodi’ scheme to provide financial assistance to mothers for educating their children?

Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20
The ‘Amma Vodi’ scheme is a flagship welfare program launched by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to mothers or recognized guardians who send their children to school, aiming to reduce dropout rates and encourage education, especially among poor families.
– It is a state-specific welfare scheme.
– The primary objective is to support the education of children.
– Financial aid is provided directly to the mother/guardian.
The scheme provides an annual financial assistance of ₹15,000 to eligible mothers/guardians for sending their children to recognized government, private aided, and private unaided schools/junior colleges. It is considered a key initiative in Andhra Pradesh’s education sector.

2. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the foll

With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.
Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here.
Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
The correct statement is that Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English at Madanapalle.
Rabindranath Tagore translated “Jana Gana Mana”, India’s National Anthem, into English as “The Morning Song of India” while visiting the Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, in February 1919. He also set it to music during his stay there.
Option A is incorrect because Pingali Venkayya designed the flag in Vijayawada, not Madanapalle. Option B is incorrect; while Pattabhi Sitaramaiah was a prominent leader from Andhra during the Quit India Movement, Madanapalle is not specifically known as the centre from which he led the movement. Option D is incorrect because the first headquarters of the Theosophical Society were established in New York and later moved to Adyar, Chennai (then Madras).

3. Consider the following statements about an Indian State : 1. It is w

Consider the following statements about an Indian State :

  • 1. It is well known globally for its variety of rocks and minerals.
  • 2. It has the largest deposits of Chrysotile Asbestos in the country.
  • 3. The Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Sagar Hydel Project is located in this State.

Identify the State from the following :

Jharkhand
Rajasthan
Andhra Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
Andhra Pradesh is well-known for its mineral resources, including significant deposits of limestone, barytes, mica, and has the largest known deposits of Chrysotile Asbestos in the country, primarily in the Kadapa district (Pulivendla region). The Neelam Sanjiva Reddy Sagar Hydel Project, also known as Srisailam Dam, is located on the Krishna River and is a joint project between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, situated on their border, but historically associated with undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Specific mineral deposits and prominent infrastructure projects can help pinpoint the correct state.
Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are famous for coal and iron ore. Rajasthan is known for a wide variety of minerals, including copper, zinc, lead, and building stones, but not specifically the largest Chrysotile Asbestos deposits.

4. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Kuddapah-kar : Rocky wastelands
Nancai : Wet fields
Puncai : Dry fields
Tottakal : Garden lands
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2020
The pair Kuddapah-kar : Rocky wastelands is not correctly matched as a standard land classification.
While ‘Nancai’ refers to wet fields, ‘Puncai’ to dry fields, and ‘Tottakal’ to garden lands (common terms in South Indian land classification), ‘Kuddapah-kar’ is not a general term for rocky wastelands. It refers to a specific type of cultivation or land classification primarily associated with the Cuddapah region in South India, often implying a specific cropping pattern or land use which might include dry or semi-dry cultivation, not necessarily just rocky wasteland in a general sense.
The terms Nancai, Puncai, and Tottakal are traditional Tamil/South Indian classifications reflecting the irrigation status and type of cultivation. Kuddapah-kar is a more specific term potentially linked to historical revenue records or local practices in the Cuddapah district, which may involve different types of land including some that are dry or less fertile, but it doesn’t broadly translate to ‘rocky wastelands’ as a general category like the others.