NDA — Set 3
40 questions
The **Delhi Sultanate** was established after the Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE). Who was the first effective sultan of the Delhi Sultanate?
Correct Answer: B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
**Qutb-ud-din Aibak** founded the **Slave Dynasty (Mamluk Sultanate)**, the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, in 1206 CE after Muhammad Ghori's death. He built the **Qutb Minar** in Delhi and the **Adhai Din ka Jhonpra** mosque in Ajmer. He died in 1210 playing polo (chaugan).
Which of the following best describes **Megasthenes' Indica**?
Correct Answer: B. A Greek ambassador's account of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta
**Megasthenes** was a Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus I Nicator to the court of **Chandragupta Maurya**. His work **'Indica'** describes Pataliputra (capital), the society, caste system, the army, and governance of the Mauryan Empire. Although the original text is lost, fragments are preserved in the works of later Greek writers like Strabo and Diodorus.
The **Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT)** is India's indigenously designed tank. It is manufactured by:
Correct Answer: B. Ordnance Factory Board, Avadi (now AVNL)
The **Arjun MBT** was designed by the **Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE)** under DRDO and manufactured at the **Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi**, near Chennai (now part of **Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL)**). Arjun Mk-1A with enhanced capabilities was cleared for production in 2021. It is named after the Pandava hero from the Mahabharata.
Which Article of the Indian Constitution defines the territory of India?
Correct Answer: A. Article 1
**Article 1** of the Indian Constitution declares that **India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States**. It defines the territory of India to include states, union territories, and any territories that may be acquired. The use of 'Union of States' rather than 'Federation' signifies that states cannot secede from the Union.
The **Rockies** mountain range is located on which continent?
Correct Answer: D. North America
The **Rocky Mountains (Rockies)** run approximately 4,800 km through western **North America** from Canada's British Columbia southward through the United States to New Mexico. The highest peak in the Rockies is **Mount Elbert (4,401 m)** in Colorado. The Rockies are the continental divide of North America, separating rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Atlantic.
Which of the following is the correct description of **Newton's Law of Gravitation**?
Correct Answer: C. Force is directly proportional to the product of masses and inversely proportional to the square of distance
**Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation** states that every mass attracts every other mass with a force **directly proportional to the product of their masses** and **inversely proportional to the square of the distance** between them: F = G(m1 x m2)/r2. The gravitational constant G = 6.674 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2. This law explains orbital motion, tides, and planetary motion.
The **Indian National Army (INA)** was first organized in 1942 by which leader before Subhas Chandra Bose took command?
Correct Answer: B. Mohan Singh
The **INA** was first organized in September 1942 by **Captain Mohan Singh**, an Indian officer who had surrendered to the Japanese in Malaya and was freed. The first INA, however, was dissolved in December 1942 after differences with the Japanese. The INA was revived in 1943 when **Subhas Chandra Bose** arrived in Singapore and reorganized it into the **Azad Hind Fauj**.
The **Western Ghats** (Sahyadri) are significant for India's climate because they:
Correct Answer: B. Act as a barrier to the southwest monsoon, causing heavy rainfall on the windward western slopes
The **Western Ghats (Sahyadri)** run parallel to India's western coast and act as a **barrier to the southwest monsoon**, causing orographic (relief) rainfall on the **windward (western) slopes** of Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Maharashtra. The **leeward (eastern) side** — the Deccan Plateau — lies in the **rain shadow** and receives much less rainfall. Cherrapunji (now Sohra) in Meghalaya also receives heavy rainfall for similar orographic reasons.
The **Election Commission of India (ECI)** is established under which Article of the Constitution?
Correct Answer: A. Article 324
The **Election Commission of India (ECI)** is established under **Article 324** of the Constitution, which vests in it the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) cannot be removed except by a process similar to that for a Supreme Court judge.
In the context of DNA structure, which base pairs are complementary in the double helix?
Correct Answer: B. Adenine-Thymine and Guanine-Cytosine
In the **DNA double helix**, base pairing follows **Chargaff's rules**: **Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T)** via 2 hydrogen bonds, and **Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C)** via 3 hydrogen bonds. These complementary base pairs hold the two strands of the double helix together. In RNA, **Uracil (U)** replaces Thymine and pairs with Adenine.
The **Kalidasa**, considered the greatest poet and dramatist of classical Sanskrit literature, lived during which period?
Correct Answer: B. Gupta period (4th-5th century CE)
**Kalidasa** is considered the greatest classical Sanskrit writer, believed to have lived during the **Gupta period (approximately 4th-5th century CE)** — often called the Golden Age of India. His major works include the plays **Abhijnanasakuntalam** (widely translated) and **Malavikagnimitram**, the epic poems **Raghuvamsha** and **Kumarasambhava**, and the lyric poem **Meghaduta**. He is often compared to Shakespeare in world literature.
The **Pacific Ocean** is the largest ocean in the world. What percentage of Earth's water surface does it cover?
Correct Answer: C. About 46%
The **Pacific Ocean** is the world's largest ocean, covering approximately **165 million sq. km** — about **46% of Earth's water surface** and more than the total land area of all continents combined. It is bounded by the Americas to the east and Asia and Australia to the west. The Pacific contains the deepest point on Earth — the **Mariana Trench (Challenger Deep)**.
The **Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)** launched by Gandhi in 1930 began with:
Correct Answer: B. Gandhi's famous Dandi March to break the Salt Law
The **Civil Disobedience Movement** began with Gandhi's iconic **Dandi March (Salt March)** — a 241-mile march from **Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gujarat** (12 March - 5 April 1930) — where Gandhi ceremonially made salt from seawater, breaking the British Salt Law. The movement involved mass civil disobedience, boycott of British goods, and non-payment of taxes. It significantly broadened Indian participation in the independence movement.
The **Tropic of Cancer** passes through which of the following Indian states?
Correct Answer: A. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal
The **Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees N)** passes through **8 Indian states**: Gujarat, Rajasthan, **Madhya Pradesh**, **Chhattisgarh**, Jharkhand, **West Bengal**, Tripura, and Mizoram. It roughly divides India into the tropical (south) and subtropical (north) zones. The Tropic of Cancer is the most northerly circle of latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead (at summer solstice, ~21 June).
Under the Indian Constitution, the **writ of Habeas Corpus** can be issued to:
Correct Answer: C. Require a person to produce an unlawfully detained individual before the court
The **writ of Habeas Corpus** (Latin: 'you may have the body') requires a person detaining another to **produce the detained person before the court** and justify the detention. If the detention is unlawful, the court orders immediate release. It is the most important writ for protecting personal liberty under **Article 21** of the Indian Constitution.
**Thermite welding**, used in railway track joining, uses a chemical reaction between:
Correct Answer: B. Aluminum powder and iron oxide producing molten iron and aluminum oxide
**Thermite welding** uses the **thermite reaction**: a mixture of **aluminum powder (Al) and iron oxide (Fe2O3)** reacts exothermically at approximately 2500 degrees C, producing **molten iron and aluminum oxide (Al2O3)**. The molten iron fills the gap between railway tracks and solidifies, creating a seamless weld. It is also called **aluminothermic welding**.
India's first satellite, **Aryabhata**, was launched in which year?
Correct Answer: C. 1975
**Aryabhata**, India's first satellite, was launched on **19 April 1975** by the Soviet Union's Kosmos-3M rocket from Kapustin Yar. Named after the ancient Indian mathematician-astronomer, it was built by ISRO. Although it stopped transmitting after 4 days due to a power failure, it was a milestone in India's space program. India launched its own satellite from its own soil for the first time with **Rohini (RS-1)** in 1980.
The **Alps** mountain range is located in which continent?
Correct Answer: C. Europe
The **Alps** are the highest and most extensive mountain range in **Europe**, stretching approximately 1,200 km through Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The highest peak is **Mont Blanc (4,808 m)** on the French-Italian border. The Alps form the watershed between rivers draining to the North Sea (Rhine, Rhone) and Mediterranean (Po).
The **Mughal emperor** who abolished Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) and introduced the lunar Islamic calendar combined with the solar Hindu calendar was:
Correct Answer: B. Akbar
**Akbar** abolished the **Jizya** (poll tax on non-Muslims) in 1564, part of his policy of religious tolerance. He also introduced the **Ilahi calendar (Din-i-Ilahi era)**, combining the solar Persian/Hindu calendar with the Islamic lunar calendar, with the starting year being Akbar's accession (1556 CE). His policies of **Sulh-i-kul** (absolute peace) and cultural syncretism defined his reign.
Which planet has the Great Red Spot, a giant storm larger than Earth?
Correct Answer: C. Jupiter
The **Great Red Spot** is a persistent anticyclonic storm on **Jupiter**, the largest planet in the solar system. It has been observed for at least 350 years and is larger than Earth — currently about 1.3 times Earth's diameter, though it has been shrinking. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and has at least 95 known moons, including the four large **Galilean moons** (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto).
The **Fundamental Duties** in the Indian Constitution are contained in which Article?
Correct Answer: B. Article 51A
The **Fundamental Duties** are listed in **Article 51A** (Part IVA) of the Indian Constitution, added by the **42nd Amendment (1976)** based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. Originally there were 10 Fundamental Duties; the **86th Amendment (2002)** added an 11th — duty of parents to provide education to children aged 6-14. Fundamental Duties are not enforceable in court but are guidelines for citizens.
The **Yangtze River** is the longest river in Asia. Through which country does it flow before reaching the sea?
Correct Answer: C. China
The **Yangtze River** (Changjiang) is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world at approximately **6,380 km**. It flows entirely within **China**, from the Tibetan Plateau eastward to the East China Sea near Shanghai. The Yangtze basin supports approximately one-third of China's population. The **Three Gorges Dam** on the Yangtze is the world's largest power station by installed capacity.
In human physiology, the **cerebellum** is primarily responsible for:
Correct Answer: C. Coordinating voluntary muscle movements and maintaining balance
The **cerebellum** (Latin: 'little brain') is located at the back of the brain and is primarily responsible for **coordinating voluntary muscle movements, maintaining balance and posture, and fine-tuning motor control**. Damage to the cerebellum causes ataxia (loss of coordination). The cerebellum does not initiate movements — it refines the movements initiated by the **cerebral cortex**.
India's **No First Use (NFU)** nuclear doctrine, as established in 1999, also includes which additional commitment?
Correct Answer: B. India will not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states
India's **nuclear doctrine (1999)** commits to **No First Use (NFU)** of nuclear weapons AND states that **India will not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states**. In case of nuclear attack, India threatens **massive retaliation** to inflict unacceptable damage. The doctrine also emphasizes civilian control over nuclear weapons through the **Nuclear Command Authority (NCA)** chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the following vegetation types is found in the **Sundarbans** of West Bengal and Bangladesh?
Correct Answer: B. Mangrove forest
The **Sundarbans** is the world's largest **mangrove forest**, spanning the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in West Bengal and Bangladesh. It is home to the **Bengal Tiger** and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees with prop roots (pneumatophores) adapted to intertidal zones. The name 'Sundarbans' is derived from the **Sundari tree** (Heritiera fomes).
The **Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum** states that in the absence of external forces:
Correct Answer: C. The total linear momentum of the system remains constant
The **Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum** states that if no **external force** acts on a system, the **total linear momentum** of the system remains constant (p = mv = constant). It is derived from Newton's Third Law. It explains rocket propulsion — the exhaust gases expelled backward give the rocket equal and opposite momentum, propelling it forward.
The **Brahmaputra River** is known by which name in Tibet (China)?
Correct Answer: A. Tsangpo
The **Brahmaputra River** is known as **Yarlung Tsangpo (Tsangpo)** in Tibet, where it originates from the **Chemayungdung glacier** near Mount Kailash. It flows eastward through Tibet, then makes a dramatic horseshoe bend around **Namcha Barwa** (the Great Bend), enters India through Arunachal Pradesh (where it is called **Siang/Dihang**), and becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam before joining the Ganga-Meghna system in Bangladesh.
The **Fundamental Rights** in the Indian Constitution are guaranteed under which Part?
Correct Answer: B. Part III
The **Fundamental Rights** are contained in **Part III (Articles 12-35)** of the Indian Constitution. They include the Right to Equality (Art 14-18), Right to Freedom (Art 19-22), Right against Exploitation (Art 23-24), Right to Freedom of Religion (Art 25-28), Cultural and Educational Rights (Art 29-30), and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Art 32). The **Right to Property** was removed from Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment (1978).
Which of the following diseases involves the **myelin sheath** of neurons being attacked by the immune system?
Correct Answer: C. Multiple Sclerosis
**Multiple Sclerosis (MS)** is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the **myelin sheath** — the protective covering of nerve fibers — disrupting signal transmission between the brain and the body. Symptoms include muscle weakness, coordination problems, vision disturbances, and fatigue. MS is a demyelinating disease — the loss of myelin leads to **sclerosis (scar tissue)** at multiple sites.
Which Indian Ocean military exercise involves India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives?
Correct Answer: B. Exercise DOSTI
**Exercise DOSTI** (meaning 'friendship') is a bilateral/trilateral **Coast Guard** exercise involving **India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives**. It focuses on maritime security, search and rescue, and disaster relief. **Exercise SLINEX** is a bilateral naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka. **Exercise TROPEX** (Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise) is India's largest tri-service exercise.
The **Indian Penal Code (IPC)** was enacted in which year?
Correct Answer: B. 1860
The **Indian Penal Code (IPC)** was enacted in **1860**, drafted by the First Law Commission of India chaired by **Thomas Babington Macaulay**. It came into force in 1862. The IPC was the main criminal code of India until it was replaced by the **Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)** in 2023, which came into force in July 2024.
**Kalidasa's** play **Abhijnanasakuntalam** is based on the story of:
Correct Answer: B. King Dushyanta, Shakuntala, and their son Bharata
**Abhijnanasakuntalam** (The Recognition of Shakuntala) tells the story of **King Dushyanta**, who marries **Shakuntala** (daughter of sage Vishwamitra and apsara Menaka) in the forest, is later cursed to forget her, and recognizes her only when shown the royal ring. Their son **Bharata** is considered the legendary ancestor of all Indians — the name **Bharata** (used for India) derives from this story. The play was first translated into English by William Jones in 1789.
The **Doppler Effect** in sound waves refers to:
Correct Answer: B. Change in frequency of sound perceived by observer due to relative motion between source and observer
The **Doppler Effect** (named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, 1842) describes the **change in perceived frequency** of a wave (sound or light) due to the **relative motion between the source and the observer**. When a source moves toward an observer, the frequency increases (sound pitch rises); when moving away, frequency decreases (pitch falls). It explains the change in pitch of an ambulance siren as it passes you.
The **Chola** inscriptions and temple architecture reached their zenith under which ruler?
Correct Answer: B. Rajaraja Chola I
**Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE)** is considered the greatest Chola emperor, who built the magnificent **Brihadeeswara Temple (Rajarajeshwara Temple)** in Thanjavur, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He also defeated the Cheras, Pandyas, and parts of the Deccan and Sri Lanka. The Chola bronze casting tradition reached its peak during his reign with iconic **Nataraja** sculptures.
The **Coriolis Effect** influences ocean currents and wind patterns by:
Correct Answer: B. Deflecting moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere due to Earth's rotation
The **Coriolis Effect** is an apparent deflection of moving objects (winds, ocean currents) caused by **Earth's rotation**. In the **Northern Hemisphere**, moving objects are deflected to the **right**; in the **Southern Hemisphere**, to the **left**. This causes cyclones to rotate **counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere** and **clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere**. The Coriolis Effect is zero at the equator and maximum at the poles.
Who was the **Viceroy of India** when the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in 1919?
Correct Answer: B. Lord Chelmsford
The **Jallianwala Bagh massacre** occurred on **13 April 1919** during the viceroyalty of **Lord Chelmsford**. Brigadier General **Reginald Dyer** ordered troops to fire on a peaceful gathering (protesting the Rowlatt Act) in an enclosed garden in Amritsar, killing at least 379 people (British estimate) and injuring over 1,200. The event galvanized Indian nationalism and intensified anti-British sentiment nationwide.
In atomic structure, the **atomic number** of an element is defined as the number of:
Correct Answer: B. Protons in the nucleus
The **atomic number (Z)** of an element is defined as the **number of protons in the nucleus** of an atom. It uniquely identifies an element and determines its position in the periodic table. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. The **mass number (A)** is the total number of protons + neutrons (nucleons) in the nucleus.
The **Census 2011** recorded India's overall **sex ratio** as:
Correct Answer: C. 943 females per 1000 males
The **Census 2011** recorded India's overall **sex ratio** as **943 females per 1000 males**, an improvement from 933 in 2001. The **child sex ratio (0-6 years)** was 914 girls per 1000 boys — a concerning decline. Kerala had the highest sex ratio (1084) and Haryana the lowest (877) among states. India's first census was conducted in 1872 under British rule.
India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier is:
Correct Answer: D. INS Vikrant (IAC-1)
**INS Vikrant (IAC-1)** — the **Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1** — is India's first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, commissioned on 2 September 2022 in Cochin. It was built at **Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)** and displaces approximately 45,000 tonnes. The earlier **INS Vikrant (R11)** was a British-built carrier decommissioned in 1997; **INS Vikramaditya** is a refurbished Russian carrier commissioned in 2013.
The **Planning Commission of India** was replaced by which institution in 2015?
Correct Answer: C. NITI Aayog
The **Planning Commission of India** (established 1950) was dissolved on 1 January 2015 and replaced by **NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)**. Unlike the Planning Commission, NITI Aayog is a **think tank** that does not allocate funds directly to states but promotes cooperative federalism and policy development. The Prime Minister is the **ex-officio chairperson** of NITI Aayog.