DAY – 29 (InstaTest-29): Insta 70 Days Revision Plan-2021: Topic – GOVERNMENT SCHEMES, ORGANISATIONS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Subject-wise Test 10 &29 , Textbook-wise Tests 29, January 2021 CA

Solution: B

Both denied the authority of the Vedas and the necessity of performing sacrifices and rituals. Both of them were opposed to animal sacrifices

Solution: B

Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jain tradition.

He married Yasoda and gave birth to a daughter. At the age of thirty he became an ascetic and wandered for twelve years. In the 13th year of his penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Gnana

After attaining Kevala Jnana, Mahavira taught that observance of the vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) is necessary for spiritual liberation.  He taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada.

Mahavira’s teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas.

Solution: B

The first Buddhist Council was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the death of Buddha. Its purpose was to maintain the purity of the teachings of the Buddha

The fourth Buddhist Council was convened in Kashmir by Kanishka under the chairmanship of Vasumitra. Asvagosha participated in this council. The new school of Buddhism called Mahayana Buddhism came into existence during this council.

Solution: D

A new form of Buddhism, known as Mahayana Buddhism, now developed in fourth Buddhist Council.

Features of Mahayana Buddhism

• Mahayana believes in the heavenliness of Buddha
• Image worship of Buddha
• Bodhisattvas remained in the world to teach and help other people
• It spread from India to various countries including China and South East Asian nations.

Solution: B

Jainism, like Buddhism, rejects the authority of Vedas. However, unlike Buddhism, it believes in the existence of soul (atman). Soul is the core and the fundamental focus of the Jain philosophy. It is the soul that experiences existence and gains knowledge, not mind nor body as both are believed to be a heap of matter. Hence Statement 1 and 2 are correct.

There were 23 Tirthankaras or great-learned men in Jain religion before Mahavira. It is commonly mistaken that Mahavira was the founder of Jainism, instead he was the last and 24th tirthankara. Hence Statement 3 is incorrect.

Solution: D

The locations of the 9 stupas built after the death of Buddha are Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethapida, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalivana.

Solution: D
The Tripartite Struggle for control of northern India took place in the ninth century. The struggle was between the Pratihara Empire, the Pala Empire and the Rashtrakuta Empire. Towards the end of the successor of Nagabhata II of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, successfully attacked Kanauj and established control there

Solution: B

The Cholas occupied the delta of the Kaveri River and the adjoining region. Under the Pandyas, the capital Madurai and port city Korkai were great centers of trade and commerce.

Solution: C

Ashtadhyayi, a Sanskrit treatise on grammar written in the 6th to 5th century B.C by the Indian grammarian Panini. This work set the linguistic standards for Classical Sanskrit. It sums up in 4,000 sutras the science of phonetics and grammar that had evolved in the Vedic religion. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Pushtimarg,  is a subtradition of Vaishnavism. It was founded in early 16th-century by Vallabhacharya and is focused on Krishna. A bhakti school, Pushti Marg was expanded by the descendants of Vallabhacharya, particularly Gosainji. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Gathasaptasati was written by Stavahana ruler Hala in Prakrit language. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Solution: A

Chandragupta II is remembered for his patronage of art and literature. He is credited with maintaining nine luminaries (navaratna) in his court.
The great Sanskrit poet and playwright Kalidasa was the most notable of them all. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Hien (AD 404–411) visited India during his reign. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Solution: B

Harappa:

• It was the first Indus site to be discovered and excavated in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni.
• Located on the banks of River Ravi.
• Two very important stone figurines (not available at any other site) which include one red stone torso of a naked male figure (the prototype of the Jina or Yaksha Figure) and a female figure in dancing pose.

Chanhudaro:

• The township of Chanhudaro, situated about 130 km. south of Mohenjodaro, consists of a single mound divided into several parts by erosion.
• Absence of Citadel
• Major centre of production for the beautiful seals

Lothal:

• Important trading centre
• Excavated by S R. Rao which brought to light five period sequences of cultures.

Artificial Dockyard

Solution: B

The Lalitavistara Sutra is a Sanskrit Mahayana Buddhist sutra that tells the story of Gautama Buddha from the time of his descent from Tushita until his first sermon in the Deer Park near Varanasi.

Solution: D

Kaivalya, also known as Kevala Jnana, means omniscience in Jainism and is roughly translated as complete understanding or supreme wisdom

Jaina Monasteries are known as Basadis.

The Moving Jain Monks are known as Sharmanas.

The process of the inflow of karma is called asarva

Solution: D

The establishment of the Mauryan empire in contrast to the earlier smaller kingdoms ushered in a new form of government, that of a centralized empire.

The Akaradhyaksha was the superintendent of mining and possessed scientific knowledge of mines, metallurgy, gems and precious stones. Lavananyadhyaksha was the salt superintendent, as the manufacture of salt was a government monopoly.

The state was also the biggest trader and made arrange­ments to check adulteration, provided for the correctness of weights and measures, and collection of tolls through officials like Panyadhyaksa, Mudradhyaksa, Kosthagaradhyaksa, Pautvadhyaksa and Sulkadhyaksa, all of them working under the Samaharta.

Megasthenes also refers to six boards of Astynomoi, some of which were entrusted with these duties. The state derived its revenue from seven main heads (ayasarira) viz., durga (fortified towns), rastra (country side), khani (mines) setu (buildings and gardens), vana (forest), vraja (herds of cattle), and vanikpatha (roads of traffic).

The Akshapataladhyaksha was the Accountant-General who was in charge of the two offices of currency and accounts. The Sitadhyaksha was the superintendent of the agriculture of crown lands or government agricultural farms.

Solution: A

Different administrative related terms used during the period of Palas:

1. Province (Bhukti),
2. Governor (Uparika)
3. District (Mandal or Visaya)
4. Head of District (Visayapati)
5. Smaller chieftains (Samantas or Bhogapatis)

Solution: D

The Sakas along with the Parthians introduced the Satrap system of government which was similar to that of the Achaemenid and Seleucid systems in Iran.

Under this system the kingdom was divided into provinces each under a military governor called Mahakshatrapa (great Satrap).

Governors with lower status were called Kshatrapas (Satraps). These governors issued their own inscriptions and also minted their own coins. This is indicative of a more independent status than was otherwise normal in an administrative set-up. The Saka kings used such prestigious titles as ‘king of kings’ (rajadhiraja) in addition to ‘great king’ (Maharaja) which they took over from the Greeks.

Solution: A

The chief characteristic features of the Neolithic culture are the practice of agriculture, domestication of animals, polishing of stone tools and the manufacture of pottery. In fact, the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals led to the emergence of village communities based on sedentary life. Wheat, barely, rice, millet were cultivated in different areas at different points of time. Hence,

There was a great improvement in technology of making tools and other equipments used by man. Stone tools were now polished. However use of metal was not practiced. The polished axes were found to be more effective tools for hunting and cutting trees.

Mud brick houses were built instead of grass huts. Wheels were used to make pottery. Pottery was used for cooking as well as storage of food grains. Large urns were used as coffins for the burial of the dead. There was also improvement in agriculture.

Solution: A

Inamgaon is an early village site present in Southern India and it is not related to Harappan Civilization.

Solution: D         

Taxila was a city present in Gandhara Region – Present in Modern day Aghanistan.

Ujjain was located in Avanti state.

Solution: C

Charak was the court physician of Kanishka I. He was one of the principal contributors to the ancient art and science of Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. He is sometimes referred to as the Father of Indian Medicine.

Solution: C

Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary

Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary located in Maharashtra, about 50 km from Nagpur and 60 km from Bhandara, is spread over Pauni Tahsil of Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi and Bhivapur Taluka of Nagpur district. This sanctuary has a connection with Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve through the forest along Wainganga river.

Solution: A

Red Panda:

• State animal of Sikkim
• Native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
• It is arboreal, feeds mainly on bamboo, but also eats eggs, birds, and insects
• It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentaryduring the day.

Habitat:

• Red panda is endemic to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, and ranges from the foothills of western Nepal to China in the east
• India: the states of Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. 
• It thrives best at 2,200-4,800m, in mixed deciduous and conifer forests with dense understories of bamboo.

Threats:

• Habitat loss and fragmentation and habitat degradation due to commercial logging, expansion of agriculture, land use changes etc
• Natural disasters include cyclones; landslides; floods; heavy snowfall and rainfall; bamboo flowering (which results in death of the plant and typically occurs synchronously across large areas); forest fires
• Another reason for declining population is natural low birth rate (usually one single or twin birth per year), and a high death rate in the wild.

Protection:

• It is listed as Endangered in the IUCNred list of Threatened Species and under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Solution: C

Godavari River:

• The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river system.It is also called the Dakshin Ganga.
• Source:Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
• Drainage Basin:The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry.
• Tributaries:Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.

River Vamsadhara is an important east flowing river between Rushikulya and Godavari, in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh states in India.

Solution: A

Basel Convention — Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal:

• opened for signature on 22 March 1989
• entered into force on 5 May 1992
• Parties — 187.
• Haiti and the United States have signed the Convention but not ratified.
• It is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs).
• It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.
• The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.

The Convention is also intended to:

• minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated,
• to ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and
• to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate

It does not address the movement of radioactive waste.

Solution: C

Simlipal National park:

• Simlipal National Park is national park and a tiger reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
• It is part of Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.
• Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here.
• It was the second largest national park in India.
• Its reserve is part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.
• The park has protected area of 845.70 square kilometres and has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• It is home to 99 royal Bengal tigers and 432 wild elephants.
• Besides it is famous for gaurs (Indian bison), chausingha as well as an orchidarium.

Solution: B

From the given statements, the correct order is from front to back is:
Anjali
Maya
Ganesh
Meera
Sheela
Thus, Meera is at Second from the back

Solution: B

Probability of getting a heart card = ¼

Probability of getting a queen card = 1/13

Probability of getting Heart queen = 1/52

The probability of drawing a heart or a queen = ¼ + 1/13 – 1/52

= (13+4-1)/52

= 16/52

= 4/13

Solution: A

The probability of getting a multiple of 3 on one die and multiple of 4 on the other dice (Multiple of three on first dice AND multiple of 4 on the second dice) OR (multiple of 4 on the first dice AND Multiple of three in second dice)

= (2/6 * 1/6) + (1/6 * 2/6)

= 2/6 + 2/6

= 4/6 = 2/3

Solution: A

Approximate of square root 1700 = 41.23

Therefore, next natural number is 42.

Square of 42 is 42² = 1764

Therefore 64 is the least number need to be added 1700 to make it perfect square.

Correct Answer: D
Cyril was interested in fossils and old butterflies that mean he was not fearless about climbing trees and experimenting dangerous acts like the people with physically fit do. But once he dissected the dead bird to overcome the fear of act and wanted to acquaint himself with being fearless.
Hence the correct answer is D.