1. Who was the court poet of Samudragupta?
- Banabhatta
- Harishen
- Chand Bardai
- Bhavabhuti
The correct answer is Harishen.
Key Points
- Harishena was the court poet of the Gupta Emperor, Samudragupta.
- Allahabad Pillar inscription is also known as Prayag Prashasti consists of 33 lines composed by Harishena.
- Prayag Prashasti is one of the important epigraphic sources to know about the political history of the Gupta dynasty.
- Samudragupta was a patron of many poets and scholars, one of whom was Harishena.
- Samudragupta was the son and successor of Chandragupta I and was the greatest ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
- He conquered the Kushans and other small kingdoms and greatly expanded the Gupta empire.
- He had been termed as the Nepolean of India by V. A. Smith.
- He annexed the territories after defeating the monarchs of North India but did not annex south India.
- His authority over Java, Sumatra, and Malaya Island prove that he maintained a strong navy.
- He is said to have composed numerous poems.
- Some of his coins present him playing Veena.
- He also performed Ashvamedha sacrifices.
- According to Chinese sources, Meghaverma, the ruler of Srilanka, sent a missionary to him for permission to build a Buddhist temple at Gaya.
- The Allahabad pillar inscription mentions the title Dharma Prachar Bandhu i.e. he was the upholder of Brahmanical religion.
Additional Information
- Banabhatta was the court poet of King Harsha Vardhana.
- Chand Bardai was the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Bhavabhuti was the court poet of the King of Kannauj, Yashovarman.
2. Which Veda depicts the information about the most ancient Vedic age culture?
- Rig Veda
- Yajurveda
- Atharvaveda
- Samaveda
The correct answer is Rig Veda
Key Points
- The Rig-Veda is the oldest of the four collections of hymns and other sacred texts known as the Vedas.
- It contains most of the information about the religious and social life of the early Vedic period.
- These works are considered the “sacred knowledge” of the Aryans.
- The Rig-Veda also contains ideas that served as the basis for India’s system of castes(Varna).
- According to Brahminic ideology, Varṇa means hierarchizing society into classes.
Additional Information
- Associated information with different Veda.
| Veda | Brahmanas | Upanishad | Officiating priest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rig Veda | Aitareya, Kaushitaki | Aitareya, Kaushitaki | Hotri |
| Sama Veda | Tandyamaha, Jaiminiya | Chandogya, Jaiminiya | Udgatri |
| Yajur Veda | Taittiriya, Satapatha | Taittiriya, Katha, Svetasvatara, Brihadaranyaka, Isa | Adhvaryu |
| Atharva Veda | Gopatha | Mundaka, Prasna, Mandukya | Brahman |
3. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) functions under which ministry?
- Ministry of Finance (MoF)
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises
The correct answer is Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Key Points
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is a central government department responsible for the overall industrial policy and for facilitating and increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country.
- It is operated under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India.
- It was originally established in 1995 and was reconstituted in the year 2000.
- The erstwhile Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion was renamed to Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) after internal trade was added to its mandate.
- Its current form came into being on 27 January 2019.
- The DPIIT is the nodal Department for the formulation of the policy of the Government on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
- It is also responsible for maintaining and managing data on inward FDI into India, based upon the remittances reported by the Reserve Bank of India.
Additional Information
| Departments | Operated under – Ministry |
| Ministry of Finance (MoF) |
| Ministry of Defence (MoD) |
| Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises |
4. After the Battle of Plassey, _______ was made Nawab of the Bengal.
- Sirajuddhaula
- Mir Jafar
- Alivardi Khan
- Mir Kasim
The correct answer is Mir Jafar.
Key Points
- Robert Clive a British officer bribed Mir Jafar who was the commander in chief of Nawab’s army.
- The bribe was to make Mir Jafar the Nawab of Bengal.
- Clive’s goal was to conquer Bengal in order to get the money and resources required for imperialism.
- In this process, Clive betrayed Mir Jafar during the Battle of Plassey and did not make him the Nawab but in turn, conquered Bengal and made Mir Jafar a traitor who betrayed their country in the eyes of the Indians.
- After the Battle of Plassey, Mir Jafar was made Nawab of the Bengal.
- In 1757, after the Battle of Plassey, Nawab Mir Jafar conferred the 24 Paraganas of Bengal to the British and also the Jangli mahals (small administrative units), as a result, he was propped up as the Puppet Nawab.
Additional Information
- Alamgir II was the Mughal Emperor at the time of the Battle of Plassey.
- Alamgir II was the Mughal Emperor of India from 3 June 1754 to 29 November 1759.
- He was the son of Jahandar Shah.
- The Battle of Plassey was fought between Siraj-Ud-Daulah who was then the Bengal Nawab and East India Company forces headed by Robert Clive.
- The Battle of Plassey took place when Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Daulah did not like the uncontrolled use of privileges by the East India Company’s officials.
- Also, the workers of the company stopped paying taxes which became one of the reasons for the Battle of Plassey.
- Siraj-ud-Daulah:
- Siraj-ud-Daulah was the last independent Nawab of Bengal who succeeded Alivadi Khan to the throne.
- The end of his reign marks the beginning of the company’s rule that continued unabated over the next two hundred years.
- The end of his reign marked the start of British East India Company rule over Bengal and later almost all of the Indian subcontinent.
- Mir Qasim:
- Mir Qasim was the Nawab of Bengal from 1760 to 1763.
- He was installed as Nawab with the support of the British East India Company, replacing Mir Jafar, his father-in-law, who had himself been supported earlier by the East India Company after his role in winning the Battle of Plassey for the British.
5. Which of the following crops is an example of Kharif Crops ?
- Gram
- Cotton
- Pea
- Wheat
The correct answer is Cotton.
Key Points
- Cotton is a Kharif crop. It requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
- Cotton is a water-thirsty crop and around 6% of the water for irrigation in is used for its cultivation.
- It grows in the major parts of the country viz. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka.
- The irrigated crop is sown from March-May and the rain fed crop in June-July with the commencement of the monsoon.
- Kharif Season:
- Kharif crops also are known as monsoon crops as they are cultivated in the monsoon season.
- These crops are sown at the beginning of the rainy season.
- Rice, maize, bajra, ragi, sorghum, soybean, groundnut, cotton, etc. are all Kharif types of crops.
Additional Information
- Zaid Season:
- It is a short season between Kharif and Rabi season.
- The crops grown during this season are known as Zaid crops.
- Pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, bitter gourd, etc. are all zaid types of crops.
- Rabi Season:
- These are the crops that are sown at the end of the monsoon season or at the beginning of the winter season.
- These crops also are known as winter crops.
- Wheat, Mustard, Peas, Pulses, Barley, etc. are all Rabi types of crops.
6. Which of the following rulers issued copper coins named as Jittal?
- Mohammad bin Tughlaq
- Firoz Shah Tughlaq
- Iltutmish
- Quli Qutub Shah
The correct answer is Iltutmish.
Key Points
- Iltutmish (1211-1236):
- He succeeded to the throne after Qutub-ud-din-Aibak.
- He was the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, belonging to the Mamluk dynasty.
- He constituted corp of forty loyal slave Amirs known as Turkan-i-Chihalgani also called Chalisa.
- He introduced the silver coin (tanka) and cooper coin (jittal).
- He made Delhi the capital in place of Lahore.
Additional Information
- Firoz Shah Tughlaq:
- He was the third ruler of Tughlaq dynasty that ruled over Delhi from 1351 to 1388 AD.
- He established the Diwan-i-Khairat – office for charity
- He established the Diwan-i-Bundagan — department of slave
- He is known to establish four new towns, Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur and Hissar.
- He appointed Khan-i-Jahan Maqbal, a Telugu Brahmin convert as wazir (prime minister).
- The wazir helped the Sultan in his administration and maintained the prestige of the Sultanate during this period.
- Mohammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351):
- He shifted his capital from Delhi to Deogir and renamed it as Daulatabad.
- Daulatabad is situated in Maharashtra.
- He built a road from Delhi to Deogir and also set up rest houses for the people.
- He introduced bronze coins of the same value as Silver coins.
- He established a new department of agriculture known as “Diwan-i-Kohi”.
- He also provided agricultural loan “Takavi” to the farmers.
- Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah (1580-1612):
- He was the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda
- He founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India and built its architectural centrepiece, the Charminar.
- He founded the city of Hyderabad and named it as Bhagyanagar after his Hindu mistress Bhagamati.
7. Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of which of the following missions?
- Brahmo Samaj
- Chinmaya Mission
- Arya Samaj
- Prarthana Samaj
The correct answer is Arya Samaj.
Key Points
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj.
- Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875.
- He translated the Vedas and wrote three books named Satyartha Prakash, Veda Bhasya Bhumika, and Veda Bhasya.
- He gave the slogan “Go back to Vedas”.
- Dayananda Anglo Vedic (D.A.V) schools were established based on his philosophy and teachings.
Additional Information
Mission | Founder |
Brahmo Samaj | Raja Ram Mohan Roy |
Chinmaya Mission | Chinmayananda Saraswati |
Prarthana Samaj | Atmaram Pandurang |
8. Which of the following helps in the blood clotting?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Folic acid
- Vitamin K is a vitamin found in leafy green vegetables, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
- In the body, vitamin K plays a major role in blood clotting. So it is used to reverse the effects of “blood-thinning” medications when too much is given; to prevent clotting problems in newborns who don’t have enough vitamin K, and to treat bleeding caused by medications.
Tricks:
9. At which point of the Earth is there no gravity?
- At North and South Pole
- At equator
- On the ocean surface
- At centre of the Earth
The correct answer is At the centre of the Earth.
- The centre of the Earth is such that if we are at that place, the mass around us can be considered to be condensed at the surface of the Earth itself, i.e considering the Earth as a spherical shell.
- Inside a spherical shell, there is no change in potential as one moves inside, and since only a change in potential implies a force there is no force.
- Hence the acceleration due to gravity is zero at the centre of the Earth.
10. ‘Matki’ is a popular folk dance of which of the following states?
- Assam
- Madhya Pradesh
- Bihar
- Rajasthan
The correct answer is Madhya Pradesh.
- The ‘Matki’ dance form has been developed by nomadic tribes in Madhya Pradesh.
- Performed using a “small pitcher” is a folk dance originating from central India known as the “Matki Dance”.
- This “pitcher dance” belongs to the state of Madhya Pradesh, and is mainly performed in the Malwa region.
Important Points
| STATE | DANCES |
| Assam | Bihu, Naga dance, Khel Gopal, Natpuja, Maharas, Canoe, Jhumura Hobjanai. |
| Madhya Pradesh | Aada, Khada Nach, Selabhadoni, Maanch, Phulpati, Grida. |
| Bihar | Bakho-Bakhain, Sama Chakwa, Bidesia, Jata-Jatin, Panwariya. |
| Rajasthan | Ghumar, Chakri, Ganagor, Chang, Kalbeliya. |
11. Capital of the kingdom of the Pallavas was ______.
- Mysore
- Madras
- Kannauj
- Kanchipuram
The correct answer is Kanchipuram.
Key Points
- The capital city of the Pallavas was Kanchipuram.
- The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in the South around the 4th century AD and were at the height of their power in the seventh century AD.
- They were able to sustain their rule for about 500 years.
- They built great cities, centres of learning, temples, and sculptures and influenced a large part of Southeast Asia in culture.
Important Points
- Simha Vishnu is considered the founder of the Pallavas.
- He put an end to the political disturbances created by Kalabhras.
- The Land up to Kaveri was acquired by him.
- Mahendravarman I is considered to be the greatest ruler of the Pallavas.
- His reign was marked by many architectural and literary achievements which would lay the foundations of the future Art and Culture of South India.
- Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple and the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple at Mahabalipuram.
- These temples are based on the Rajsingh style.
- Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas, during the reign of Narasimha Varman I.
Additional Information
| Kingdom | Capital |
| Vijayanagara Empire | Hampi |
| Wadiyar Dynasty | Mysore |
| Pushyabhuti dynasty (Harshavardhana ) | Kannauj |
12. Who was credited with the establishment of Servants of India Society?
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- Lala Lajpat Rai
- C R Das
- Raja Rammohan Roy
The correct answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Key Points
Name of the organization | Place | Founder | Year |
| Servants of India Society | Pune | Gopal Krishna Gokhale | 1905 |
Brahmo Samaj | Kolkata | Raja Rammohan Roy | 1828 |
Servants of the People Society | Lahore | Lala Lajpat Rai | 1921 |
Swaraj party | – | Motilal Nehru CR Das | 1923 |
Deccan Education Society | Pune | Bal Gangadhar Tilak | 1884 |
13. Which committee or commission had recommended the Fundamental Duties?
- Punchhi Commission
- Rajamannar Committee
- Sarkaria Commission
- Swaran Singh Committee
The correct answer is Swaran Singh Committee.
Key Points
Fundamental Duties are the reminders to the citizens that while enjoying their rights, they should also be conscious of duties they owe to their country, their society and to their fellow citizens.
- In 1976, the Fundamental Duties of citizens were added to the constitution.
- Later, in 2002 one more Fundamental Duty was added.
Important Points
In 1976, the Congress Party set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to make recommendations about Fundamental Duties.
- The need and necessity were felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975-1977).
- The committee recommended the inclusion of a separate chapter on fundamental duties in the constitution.
- It stressed that the citizens should become conscious that in addition to the enjoyment of rights, they also have certain duties to perform as well.
- The Congress Government at Centre accepted these recommendations and enacted the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976.
- This Amendment added a new part, namely, Part IVA to the constitution.
From the above, we can conclude that the Swaran Singh committee had recommended the Fundamental Duties.
Additional Information Lets’ look at the other given options:
- Rajamannar Committee- In 1969, the Tamil Nadu Government (DMK) appointed a three-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr P.V. Rajamannar to examine the entire question of Centre-State relations and to suggest amendments to the Constitution so as to secure utmost autonomy to the states.
- Sarkaria Commission- In 1983, the Central government appointed a three-member Commission on Centre-State relations under the Chairmanship of R.S. Sarkaria, a retired judge of the Supreme court.
- The Commission was asked to examine and review the working of existing arrangements between the Centre and states in all spheres and recommend appropriate changes and measures.
- Punchhi Commission– The second commission on Centre-State Relations was set-up by the Government of India in April 2007 under the chairmanship of Madan Mohan Puncchi, former Chief Justice of India.
14. Which of the following five-year plans was affected due to drought and two wars?
- First Five-Year Plan
- Third Five-Year Plan
- Fifth Five-Year Plan
- Sixth Five-Year Plan
The correct answer is Third Five-Year Plan.
Key Points
- First five-year plan was launched from 1951-1956 under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- It was based on the Harrod-Domar model.
- The targeted growth rate of the plan was 2.1%.
- The plan was successful and achieved a growth rate of 3.6% which was more than its target.
- The agricultural development of the country was the major objective of the plan.
- At the end of this plan, five IITs were set up in the country.
Additional Information
- The third Five Year Plan was launched from 1961-1966 under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- The Deputy Chairman of the Planning commission at the time of the third five-year plan was D. R. Gadgil.
- The plan was also known as the Gadgil Yojana.
- The independent economy, agriculture, and improvement in the production of wheat were the major objectives of the plan.
- The third Five Year Plan was affected due to drought and two wars (Sino-India war of 1962 and Indo-Pakistani war of 1965).
- The fifth Five year Plan was launched from 1974-1978.
- Eradication of poverty, employment, and justice was the major objective of the Fifth Five Year Plan.
- The plan was successful and achieved a growth rate of 4.8%.
- Indian National Highway system was introduced.
- The newly elected Morarji Desai Government in 1978 terminated the plan.
- The seventh Five Year Plan was launched from 1985-1990 under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi.
- The private sector was given priority over the public sector for the first time.
- The targeted growth rate of the plan was 5%.
- The plan was successful and achieved a growth rate of 6.01%.
- The establishment of a self-sufficient economy, opportunities for productive employment, up-gradation of technology, accelerating food grain production, raising productivity with a focus on food work and productivity were the major objectives of the Seventh Five Year Plan.
15. Article ________ states about Separation of judiciary from the executive.
- 46
- 48
- 50
- 51
The correct answer is 50.
Key Points
- Article 50 of the Constitution of India, which contains a Directive Principle of State Policy, provides that the State shall take steps to separate the Judiciary from the Executive in the Public Services of the State.
- Executive
- It is the administrative head of the government.
- Ministers including the Prime/Chief Ministers and President/Governors form part of the executive.
- Judiciary
- The judiciary is that branch of the government that interprets the law, settles disputes and administers justice to all citizens.
- It comprises the Supreme Court, the High Courts, District and other subordinate courts.
Additional Information
| Article | Provision |
| 46 | Promotion of educational and economic interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections. |
| 48 | To prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle and to improve their breeds. |
| 51 | Promotion of international peace and security |
16. ‘Fire on the Ganges’ book is authored by ________.
- Radhika Iyengar
- Amitav Ghosh
- Salman Rushdie
- Robin Sharma
The correct answer is Radhika Iyengar.
In News
- Harper Collins releases a book ‘Fire on the Ganges’ by Radhika Iyengar.
Key Points
- Fire on the Ganges is the first attempt to chronicle the everyday realities of the Doms in Banaras.
- It plunges into Banaras’s historical past, while narrowing its lens on a few spirited characters from the Dom community.
- Through their tales of struggle and survival, loss and ambition, betrayal and love, it tells the at-times-heartbreaking, at-times-exhilarating story of a community struggling to find a place beyond that accorded to it by ancient tradition.
Additional Information \
- Radhika Iyengar is an award-winning journalist with a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York.
- She won the Red Ink award for Excellence in Indian Journalism (2018).
- In 2020, she was awarded the Charles Wallace India Trust fellowship at University of Kent, UK.
- She received the Bianca Pancoat Patton Fellowship in 2019 and was a recipient of the Sanskriti-Prabha Dutt Fellowship (2016–17).
- Fire on the Ganges is her first book.
17. Indian Navy develops indigenous navigation system, anti-swarm drones to safeguard from enemy attacks. What is the name of indigenous navigation system?
- NISHAR
- NISAR
- PRABAL
- NIRMAAN
The Correct Answer is NISHAR.
In News
- The Indian Navy has developed an indigenous navigation system and an anti-swarm drone, capable of building walls around its own warships or assets to protect them from any attack by enemy drones.
- NISHAR (Network for Information Sharing): This system provides a common frame of network where all can come up together and use a common network of communication together.
- The Dronaam counter-drone system was displayed at the Indian Navy’s Swavalamban 2023 exhibition in the national capital.
18. When is the World Zoonoses Day observed?
- 5 July
- 6 July
- 7 July
- 8 July
The correct answer is 6 July.
Key Points
- World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on July 6.
- The day aims to commemorate the scientific achievement of administering first vaccination against a zoonotic disease.
- Zoonoses are infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites that spread between animals and humans.
- A zoonosis is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans. The day commemorates July 6, 1885, when Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first vaccine against Rabies virus, a zoonotic disease.
19. Who has been appointed as the as Chairman and CEO Railway Board in August 2023?
- Anil Kumar Lahoti
- Jaya Varma Sinha
- Vinod Kumar Yadav
- VK Tripathi
The correct answer is Jaya Varma Sinha.
In News
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Jaya Varma Sinha as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board.
- Sinha will succeed Anil Kumar Lahoti, taking office on September 1, 2023.
Key Points
- She makes history as the first woman Chairman of the Railway Board.
- Sinha, a 1988 batch Indian Railway Traffic Service official, is currently serving as Member (Operations & Business Development) of the Railway Board.
- Her appointment comes at a significant time when the Indian Railways has received a record budgetary allocation from the central government.
- In the Union Budget 2023-24, the Indian Railways received a capital outlay of Rs 2.4 lakh crore, marking the highest ever allocation to the national transporter and a continued trend from the previous year.
20. Which team has won gold medal in Men’s Cricket Category at Asian Games 2023?
- India
- Pakistan
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
The correct answer is India.In News
- Indian men clinch gold without having to bat
Key Points
- India was declared winners under an Asian Games-specific rule where the higher-ranked team takes the honours if the match cannot be finished
- Afghanistan made 112-5 under the floodlights in Hangzhou before the wet weather arrived after 18.2 overs.
- With conditions not improving, the final was abandoned.
- Twenty20 cricket has been played at the Asian Games twice before, at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014, with Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka crowned men’s winners.
- Afghanistan was runners-up both times, but India did not take part.
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