[DAY 52] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2024 – HISTORY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT TEST SERIES!

Solution (b)

Solution (a)

Solution (b)

Solution (a)

Solution (a)

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:

• Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad ascended the throne on 16th June 1875, but was invested with full powers only on 28th Dec 1881, when he turned 19 years of age. Known as Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, he brought about major social and educational reforms.
• Sayajirao was also a connoisseur and noted patron of the arts. During his reign Baroda became a hub for scholars and artists. He also commissioned the building of Baroda Museum and its picture gallery which showcases his prized collection of jewels. Some of the rare exhibits include the ‘Star of the South’ diamond, ‘Akbar Shah’ diamond and ‘Princess Eugenie’ diamond. This museum is acknowledged as one of the first museums commissioned in India.
• He is credited with restructuring much of the state during his reign.
• He was a member of the Marathas’ royal Gaekwad family, which ruled parts of modern-day Gujarat.
• He advocated for the education and training of individuals who, in his judgment, would excel in life.
• B. R. Ambedkar, subsequently the head of the drafting committee for the Indian Constitution, which came into force in 1950, was one of the people he supported.

Solution (b)

Bajirao I:

• From 1720 to 1740, under Shahu’s rule, Baji Rao I served as Peshwa, or chief minister, of the Maratha confederacy. He is also known as Baji Rao Ballal Balaii Bhat.
• One factor in the decline of the Mughal Empire was Bai Rao’s conquests (1719-48). He re-established the glory of the Maratha empire, the so-called second Shivaji.
• Baji Rao I was the seventh Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, born as Visaji on 18 August 1700 and died on 28 April 1740.
• During his twenty year reign as Peshwa, he conquered the Mughals and their vassal Nizam-ul-Mulk in wars such as the Battle of Delhi and the Battle of Bhopal. Baji Rao’s accomplishments include the establishment of Maratha domination in southern India as well as a political power in northern India.
• Hence, he was instrumental in creating Maratha supremacy in Gujarat, Malwa, Rajputana, and Bundelkhand, as well as rescuing Konkan (India’s western coast) from Janjira Siddis and Portuguese domination.
• The famous proverb “Attock to Cuttack” refers to the Maratha Kingdom as it was envisioned by Baji Rao-I, whose prosperity was attained through military victory and shrewd planning.

Solution (b)

Solution (a)

Modi Script:

• Modi is a script used for writing the Marathi language, which is the primary language spoken in the Maratha empire. Modi was an official script used for writing Marathi until the 20th century when the Balbodh style of the Devanagari script was promoted as the standard writing system for Marathi.
• Although Modi was primarily used for writing Marathi, other languages such as Urdu, Kannada, Gujarati, Rajasthani; Hindi is also known to have been written in Modi.

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

• The Maratha troops had always been employed as loose auxiliaries or Bargirs (usually called Bargis) in the Bahmani kingdom.
• The revenue affairs at the local level were in the hands of the Deccani Brahmans.
• Some of the old Maratha families, which rose in the service of the Bahmani rulers and held Mansabs and Jagirs from them, were the More, Nimbalkar, Ghatge, etc. Most of them were powerful Zamindars, or Deshmukhs, as they were called in the Deccan. However, unlike the Rajputs, none of them was an independent ruler, or ruled over a large kingdom.
• Secondly, they were not the leaders of the clans on whose backing and support they could depend. Hence, many of the Maratha Sardars appeared to be military adventurers who were prepared to shift their loyalty according to the prevailing wind.
• Nevertheless, the Marathas formed the backbone of the landed aristocracy of the Deccan and had a position similar to the one held by the Rajputs in large parts of north India.

Solution (a)

Solution (a)

Solution (c)

Solution (a)

 Notes:

• Dynasties and Founders:
  • Mamluk dynasty founded by Qutubuddin Aibak.
  • First Ilbari dynasty (1211- 1266) founded by Iltutmish.
  • Second Ilbari dynasty (1266-1290) founded by Ghiyas ud din Balban.
  • The founder of the Khilji dynasty was Jalaluddin Khilji.
  • The founder of the Tughlaq dynasty was Ghiyas ud din Tughlaq.
  • Bahlol Lodhi was the founder of Lodhi Dynasty

Solution (a)

Solution (a)

Alauddin Khilji:

• He maintained a large permanent standing army and paid them in cash from the royal treasury.
• He introduced the system of Dagh (branding of horses) and prepared Huliya (descriptive list of soldiers).
• The introduction of paying salaries in cash to the soldiers led to price regulations popularly called as Market Reforms.
• Alauddin Khilji established four separate markets in Delhi, one for grain; another for cloth, sugar, dried fruits, butter and oil; a third for horses, slaves and cattle; and a fourth for miscellaneous commodities.
• A separate department called Diwani Riyasat was created under an officer called Naib-i-Riyasat. Every merchant was registered under the Market department. There were secret agents called Munhiyans who sent reports to the Sultan regarding the functioning of these markets.
• He was the first Sultan of Delhi who ordered for the measurement of land. Even the big landlords could not escape from paying land tax. Land revenue was collected in cash in order to enable the Sultan to pay the soldiers in cash.

Solution (b)

Solution (a)

Rahat:

Wheel used in irrigation to lift water from deep wells in North India. It was an improved form of ‘Araghatta’ i.e. wheel used in irrigation in ancient and medieval times. These types of wheels were widely used in the Delhi Sultanate & Mughal Era.

• Important Irrigation Systems under various Rulers:
  • Firoz Shah Tughlaq:

To support the newly founded city of Hissar-i-Firoza, in 1355 he constructed a Double System of Canals from the Yamuna to Sutlej. They are referred to Asrajwahas in the Indo-Persian historical texts. He renovated Prithviraj Chauhan era‘s Western Yamuna Canal, for irrigation bringing more land under cultivation for growing grain and fruit.

• Cholan Tank Irrigation System:

There was tremendous agrarian expansion during the rule of the imperial Chola Dynasty (c. 900-1270 AD) all over Tamil Nadu and particularly in the Kaveri Basin. Most of the canals of the Kaveri River belong to this period e.g., Uyyakondan Canal, Rajendran Vaykkal, Sembiyan Mahadevi Vaykkal. There was a well-developed and highly efficient system of water management from the village level upwards. The increase in the royal patronage and also the number of Devadana and Brahmadeya lands which increased the role of the temples and village assemblies in the field. Rajendra Chola built a huge tank named Solagangam in his capital city Gangaikondacholapuram and was described as the liquid pillar of victory. About 16 miles long, it was provided with sluices and canals for irrigating the lands in the neighboring areas. Another very large lake of this period, which even today seems an important source of irrigation, was the Viranameri near Kattumannarkoil in South Arcot district founded by Parantaka Chola. Other famous lakes of this period are Madurantakam, Sundra- Cholapereri, Kundavai-Pereri.

Solution (b)

Solution (b)

• The Gorsam Kora festival symbolizes the enduring friendship between India and Bhutan. It is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh’s Zeminthang Valley along the Nyanmjang Chu River. Hence option b is correct.
• This annual festival is held at Gorsam Chorten, a 93-foot-tall Stupa, built during the 13th century AD by a local monk- Lama Pradhar. This is also the place where the 14th Dalai Lama had his first rest after fleeing from Tibet in 1959. It features cultural performances and Buddhist rituals at the Gorsam Chorten, which is older than the Tawang Monastery.

Solution (a)

• The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 provides Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Under the CAA, migrants who entered India till December 31, 2014, and had suffered “religious persecution or fear or religious persecution” in their country of origin would be made eligible for accelerated citizenship.
• It relaxed the residence requirement for the naturalization of these migrants from twelve years to just six. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It exempts the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, including the tribal areas of Karbi Anglong in Assam, Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Chakma district in Mizoram, and Tribal areas district in Tripura.
• The cut-off date for citizenship is December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

Solution (b)

• The anti-defection law was added to the Constitution through the 52nd Amendment Act of 1985. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It added the Tenth Schedule to the Indian Constitution.
• The nominated members of the Rajya Sabha have the same rights and privileges as elected members of the Rajya Sabha with the right to vote in the election of the President. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• The nominated members of the Rajya Sabha are subjected to disqualification if they join a political party within six months of being nominated to the House. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Solution (b)

• The Atapaka Bird Sanctuary is situated on the Kolleru Lake in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It spans an area of 673 square kilometers with wetland marsh habitat extending across two districts namely West Godavari and Krishna.
• It falls under the Kaikalur forest range and is known for sheltering Pelicans. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The common species that can be found in the sanctuary include Cormorants, Common Redshanks, Pied Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Red-crested Pochards, etc.
• Kolleru Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• It is located in Andhra Pradesh between the Krishna and Godavari deltas and covers an area of 308 km².
• The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers.
• The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by over 68 inflowing drains and channels.
• It serves as a habitat for migratory birds.
• The lake was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the International Ramsar Convention.

Solution (c)

• Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is liver inflammation and damage caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It is part of a group of conditions called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• NASH can get worse and cause scarring of the liver, which leads to cirrhosis. But the disease doesn’t always get worse.
• It is similar to the kind of liver disease that is caused by long-term, heavy drinking. But NASH occurs in people who don’t abuse alcohol.
• It can be caused due to obesity, insulin resistance type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Its symptoms include Fatigue (feeling tired all the time), weight loss for no clear reason, general weakness, and an ache in the upper right part of your belly.
• It can be controlled by reducing cholesterol levels, maintaining a healthy weight, and controlling diabetes. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Note: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s drug Rezdiffra gained the first US approval to treat a potentially deadly liver disease called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH that affects millions worldwide.

Solution (a)

• The Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia, in the Common Cause V/s Union of India Case, 2018, citing the importance of a ‘living will.’
• Further, the court emphasized that dignity in the dying process is integral to the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Active euthanasia involves deliberately using lethal substances or actions to end a person’s life.
• Passive euthanasia occurs when life-sustaining treatments are withheld or withdrawn, allowing the patient to die naturally. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• This may involve decisions to stop medical interventions such as ventilators, feeding tubes, or medications that sustain life.
• Passive euthanasia is often considered distinct from active euthanasia because it does not involve directly causing the patient’s death but rather allows death to occur by natural means.

Solution (b)

• Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are a type of artificial neural network (ANNs) inspired by the human brain’s neural structure. Unlike traditional ANNs, which use continuous numerical values for processing data, SNNs operate based on discrete spikes or pulses of activity.
• SNNs use patterns or timings of spikes to process and transmit information, similar to how neurons in the brain communicate through electrical impulses called spikes. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Lifelong Learning (L2) or Lifelong Machine Learning (LML) is a machine learning paradigm that involves continuous learning. It involves accumulating knowledge from previous tasks and using it to help with future learning and problem-solving. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Solution (c)

• The Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) is a provision in the Income Tax Act of India.
• It primarily applies to companies and is designed to ensure that companies that report substantial book profits but pay little to no income tax due to various exemptions and deductions are subject to a minimum level of taxation.
• Its primary objective is to curb tax avoidance by companies that manipulate their financial statements to reduce their taxable income artificially. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• MAT applies to all companies, including foreign companies.
• It is calculated on the “book profits” of a company, which is different from the taxable profits computed under the regular provisions of the Income Tax Act.
• It does not apply to companies that have been granted exemption under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act, which pertains to Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Hence statement 2 is correct.

Solution (c)

• The Corbett Tiger Reserve is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand which encompasses the Patli Dun Valley. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The core area of the reserve contains the Corbett National Park and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of its buffer area.
• The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (the first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• The trees that contribute to the Flora of Corbett consist of evergreen Sal and its combined trees, the Sheesham, and the Kanju found extensively on the ridges.
• The Ramganga, Sonanadi, Palain, Mandal, and Kosi Riversform the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.

Solution (a)

• The primary responsibility of the Public Accounts Committee lies in auditing the reports provided by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), with the assistance of the CAG during investigations. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The PAC consists of a maximum of 22 members, with 15 elected by the Lok Sabha and up to 7 members from the Rajya Sabha. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• Its members are chosen annually through proportional representation via a single transferable vote.

Solution (c)

Only, one value P can be assumed, which is at 2 at P = 2

P^2 + 3 = 7 which is also prime

Again at P = 3, 5, 7, 11 …….

P^2 + 3 = an even number which can not be prime

Solution (d)

When a coin is tossed once, there are two outcomes. It can turn up a head or a tail.

When 10 coins are tossed simultaneously, the total number of outcomes = 2¹⁰

Out of these, if the third coin has to turn up a head, then the number of possibilities for the third coin is only 1 as the outcome is fixed as head.

Therefore, the remaining 9 coins can turn up either a head or a tail = 2⁹

Solution (a)

Let the speed of the cars be S1 and S2

And S1 – S2 = 70/7 = 10……..(i)

Also S1 + S2 = 70/1 = 70……..(ii)

From equation (i) and (ii)

S1 = (10+70)/2 = 40 km/hr

And S2 = (70-10)/2 = 30 km/hr

∴ Required speeds are 40 km/hr and 30 km/hr

Solution (d)

The series is,

baac / accb / cbba / baac

Solution (d)

Required number of ways

= ⁴C₂×⁵C₃

= ⁴C₂×⁵C₂

= (4*3)/(2*1) * (5*4)/(2*1)

= 60