TEST-26- INSIGHTS IAS REVISION PLAN FOR PRELIMS 2019 – DAILY REVISION TESTS: 09 April 2019

Solution: A

Vikramashila University was one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda. Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.

Solution: D

Brahmi script was written from left to right where as Kharoshthi script was written from right to left.

Kharoshthi script prevailed in the north western region of India whereas Brahmi script prevailed in the rest of the country.

Solution: A

Kutagarashala – literally, a hut with a pointed roof – or in groves where travelling mendicants halted. Debates between philosophers took place here. If a philosopher succeeded in convincing one of his rivals, the followers of the latter also became his disciples.

Solution: A

In the late Harappan stage, decline of the Indus culture started.

Solution: A

Solution: D

Citadel is inhabited by elite people and great bath was made up of burnt brick.

Solution: D

Located in Kacchi plains of Baluchistan, Mehrgarh provides the earliest evidence of settled agriculture in the subcontinent and probably south Asia. It is considered a precursor to Indus Valley Civilization

Solution: C

Solution: C

Both the statements are correct.

Solution: D

It was written by Samudragupta’s court poet Harisena.

Solution: B

The king did not maintain any regular or standing army but in times of war he mustered a militia whose military functions were performed by different tribal groups.

Solution: C

Technology of smelting iron started in Chalcolithic age.

Solution: B

Neolithic sites are found in south India. Brahmagiri, Piklihal are neo-lithic sites.

Solution: D

Slavery was largely present in Mauryan Empire. Inscription of Ashoka is largely found in Northern India.

Solution: C

Both the statements are correct.

Solution: A

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots.

During the Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad.

The 15th PBD Convention is being held on 21-23 January 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”.

Solution: C

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) to attract talent and strengthen higher
agricultural education in the country.

This project will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on a 50:50 basis. In addition, a four year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and Forestry has been declared a professional degree.

Solution: C

The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral conference committed to addressing
the most challenging issues facing the global community. Every year, global
leaders in policy, business, media and civil society are hosted in New Delhi to
discuss cooperation on a wide range of pertinent international policy
matters.

Over a period of time the dialogue engages itself with global issues. In its
fourth year 2019, the Raisina Dialogue has firmly established itself as a
leading international forum for discussions on the challenges posed by
current as well as emerging geo-strategic and geo-political trends. The
theme for this year, “A World Reorder: New Geometries, Fluid Partnerships,
and Uncertain Outcomes

Solution: C

Exercise Yudh Abhyas, a joint Indo-US Military exercise which started in
2004 under US Army Pacific Partnership Programme.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and US armies.

Solution: C

The Democracy Index is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a UK-based company. Its intention is to measure the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 164 are UN member states.

Solution: C

Maniyaro is a variety of folk dance of Gujarat. It carries the sentiments of
heroism in the Dandiya RAAS of Maher community in Gujarat.

Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India,
after Chilika Lake. Pulicat Lagoon is considered to be the second largest
brackish water body in India measuring 759* km2.

The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Major part of the lake comes under Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh
with about 96% of the lagoon in Andhra Pradesh and 3% in Tamil Nadu.
The Buckingham Canal, a navigation channel, is part of the lagoon on its
western side.

India’s longest 300-metre single lane steel cable suspension bridge was
inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge was built across the Siang
river.

Solution: B

Lake Urmia is an endorheic salt lake in Iran. The lake is located between the provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan in Iran, and west of the southern portion of the Caspian Sea.

Solution: B

• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ was launched in September, 2017.
  • Under Saubhagya free electricity connections to all households (both APL and poor families) in rural areas and poor families in urban areas will be provided.
  • Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has been designated as nodal agency for the Saubhagya scheme.
  • The scheme aims to achieve universal household electrification in all parts of the country.
  Eligibility: The prospective beneficiary households for free electricity connections under the scheme would be identified using SECC 2011 data.

However, un-electrified households not covered under SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.

Solution: D

BEE star labelling is currently invoked for equipments/appliances Room Air Conditioner (Fixed Speed), Ceiling Fan, Colour Television, Computer, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Distribution Transformer, Domestic Gas Stove, Frost Free Refrigerator, General Purpose Industrial Motor, Monoset Pump, Openwell Submersible Pump Set, Stationary Type Water Heater, Submersible Pump Set, Tfl, Washing Machine, Ballast, Solid State Inverter, Office Automation Products, Diesel Engine Driven Monosetpumps For Agricultural Purposes, Diesel Generator Set, Led Lamps, Room Air Conditioner (Variable Speed), Chillers, Agricultural Pumpset.

Solution: D

RISE – Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy — assesses countries’ policy and regulatory support for each of the three pillars of sustainable energy—access to modern energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. It is released by World Bank.