TEST-31- INSIGHTS IAS REVISION PLAN FOR PRELIMS 2019 – DAILY REVISION TESTS: 14 April 2019

Solution: C

The Buddhist literature can be divided into Canonical and Noncanonical works. The Canonical literature consists of ‘Triptikas’ or baskets (of knowledge). The Tripitaka of Buddhism were written in Pali language

The three Tripitakas are:

1. Vinaya Pitaka, which covers the rules and regulations, which should be followed by the Buddhist monks.
2. The Sutta Pitaka contains dialogues and speeches of the Buddha that deal with morality and righteous dharma.
3. The Abhidhamma Pitaka that concentrates on the philosophy and metaphysics. It also contains discussions on various topics like ethics, theory of knowledge and psychology.

Solution: B

In Ellora, there are 34 known caves that have been divided as:

17 caves: Hindu rock-cut temples, etc

12 caves: Buddhist rock-cut viharas, etc.
5 caves: Jain rock-cut mathas, etc

Solution: C

The Vaisheshika school believes in the physicality of the Universe and is
considered to be the realistic and objective philosophy that governs the
universe. The Kanada who also wrote the basic text governing the Vaisheshika
philosophy is often considered the founder of this school.

They argue that everything in the universe was created by the five main elements: fire, air, water, earth and ether (sky). These material elements are also called Dravya.

They also argue that reality has many categories, for example, action, attribute,
genus, inherence, substance and distinct quality. As this school has a very scientific approach, they also developed the atomic theory, i.e. all material objects are made of atoms.

This school was also responsible for the beginning of physics in Indian subcontinent. They are considered to be the propounders of the mechanical process of formation of this Universe

Solution: A

Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings,
according to some scholars, influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti movement. Kabir’s
verses are found in Sikhism’s scripture Guru Granth Sahib. He is famous for
his dohas (couplets).

Tulsidas wrote Ramacharithamanas.

Solution: A

Solution: A

• Literally, the Great Elect, Maha Sammata was the first monarch of the world.
• He was the first of the eleven world monarchs named Maha Sammata, each of whom founded the eleven dynasties that existed from the beginning to the day of the Buddha.

Solution: B

• Baba Guru Nanak did not wish to establish a new religion, but after his death his followers consolidated their own practices and distinguished themselves from both Hindus and Muslims.
• Also he did not give the name Sikhism. He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
• It was Guru Gobind Singh who defined its five symbols: uncut hair, a dagger, a pair of shorts, a comb and a steel bangle.

Solution: D

To them the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless Ultimate Reality and the realisation of oneness with it.

To achieve this, they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.

Solution: C

The Lingayats challenged the theory of rebirth and thus disapproved of this practice.  Lingayats believe that on death the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to this world.

Therefore, they do not practise funerary rites such as cremation, prescribed in the Dharmashastras. Instead, they ceremonially bury their dead.

Solution: A

The Rajasthani collection, Kabir Granthavali is part of the larger collection – Pancvani (words of the five), which includes sayings of five saints exalted by the Dadu Panth of Dadu Dayal (Kabir’s illustrious disciple).

The Bijak, which is the scripture of the Kabir Panth, contains works attributed to Kabir only. The dates of origin of the Pancvani/ and the Bijak are uncertain but both can be assumed to have taken shape in the seventeenth century, rather later than the Adi Granth.

Solution: C

The poems belonging to the Sangam literature were composed by Tamil poets, both men and women, from various professions and classes of society.  These poems were later collected into various anthologies, edited, and with colophons added by anthologists and annotators around 1000 AD.

Sangam Poems falls into two categories: the ‘inner field’ (Agam), and the ‘outer field'(Puram) as described even in the first available Tamil grammar, the Tolkappiyam.  The ‘inner field’ topics refer to personal or human aspects, such as love and sexual relationships, and are dealt with in a metaphorical and abstract manner.

The ‘outer field’ topics discuss all other aspects of human experience such as heroism, valour, ethics, benevolence, philanthropy, social life, and customs.

Solution: C

Solution: D

• Fatalists or Ajivikas are those who believe that everything is predetermined. Fatalist teacher, named Makkhali Gosala, says that the wise and the fool cannot come out of karma.
• It can neither be lessened nor increased. So fool and wise alike will take their course and make an end of sorrow.

Solution: C

Nuakhai is the chief festival of Western Odisha.  In this festival of Odisha farmers are in possession of new rice of the season.

Solution: A

Solution: C

About Asian Elephant Alliance is an alliance of conservation organisations to stem the crisis facing the world’s remaining Asian Elephants.

It is an umbrella initiative of five NGOs namely

• Elephant Family
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
• IUCN Netherlands
• Wildlife Trust of India
• World Land Trust

Solution: B

Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) OR Bonn Convention

It is an international treaty/convention which aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.

The Twelfth Session of the Conference of the Parties (CMS COP12) was held at Manila, Philippines in October 2017. It is the first time that the COP is held in Asia.

Solution: A

Constitution bench is the name given to the benches of the Supreme Court of India which consist of at least five judges of the court which sit to decide any case “involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation” of the Constitution of India.

This provision has been mandated by Article 145 (3) of the Constitution of India The Chief Justice of India has the power to constitute a Constitution Bench and refer cases to it.

The Constitution benches have decided many of India’s best-known and most important Supreme Court cases, such as A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras, Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (basic structure doctrine).

Solution: D

Exercise Sampriti-2019 is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavour between India and Bangladesh and this will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.

Solution: B

Chagos Archipelago are group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometers south of the Maldives archipelago.

Solution: C

Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS) is located in Punjab.

Solution: C

Both the statements are correct.

Solution: D

The NBWL is chaired by Prime Minister.

Solution: C

Project “Millet Village” is intended for rejuvenating the traditional tribal agriculture in selected
hamlets in Attappady in Palakkad district, Kerala.

Solution: C

Global Wage Report examines the evolution of real wages around the world, giving a unique picture of wage trends globally and by region.