NDA — Set 5

Correct Answer: B. Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa

The **Treaty of Allahabad (12 August 1765)** between the British East India Company (represented by Robert Clive) and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Company the **Diwani (civil and revenue administration) rights** over **Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa**. This is considered the turning point when British power in India transformed from trading to governing. The Company collected land revenue while the Nawab maintained nominal authority (**Dual Government**).

Correct Answer: B. The Persian Gulf and is a major oil transit chokepoint

The **Strait of Hormuz** is a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran, connecting the **Persian Gulf** to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. It is the world's most important **oil transit chokepoint** — approximately 20-21 million barrels of oil pass through it daily (about 20% of global petroleum trade). Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the strait, which would severely disrupt global oil supply.

Correct Answer: B. Low solute concentration to high solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane

**Osmosis** is the movement of **water (solvent) molecules** from a region of **lower solute concentration (hypotonic)** to a region of **higher solute concentration (hypertonic)** through a **semipermeable membrane**, until equilibrium is reached. This is essentially water diffusing from where it is more concentrated to where it is less concentrated. Osmosis explains why plants wilt when salt is applied (water leaves cells) and how kidney dialysis works.

Correct Answer: B. The partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon

The **Swadeshi Movement (1905)** was triggered by the **Partition of Bengal** by Viceroy **Lord Curzon** on 16 October 1905, which divided Bengal along religious lines (Hindu-majority West Bengal and Muslim-majority East Bengal). Indians saw it as a divide-and-rule policy and responded with a boycott of British goods (**Swadeshi** — use of Indian-made goods) and mass protests. The movement was led by **Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai** (the Lal-Bal-Pal trio).

Correct Answer: C. Arihant class (ATV programme)

**INS Arihant** is the lead vessel of the **Arihant class** (developed under the **Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme**). It is India's first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), commissioned in 2016. It is powered by an 83 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) and can carry **K-15 Sagarika** missiles (750 km range) or **K-4** missiles (3,500 km range). INS Arighat is the second submarine in this class.

Correct Answer: B. 74.0%

India's **literacy rate** according to **Census 2011** was **74.04%** (male: 82.14%, female: 65.46%), a significant improvement from 64.84% in 2001. **Kerala** had the highest literacy rate (94%) and **Bihar** the lowest (61.8%). The Right to Education Act (2009) mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14. India's first literacy drive was through the National Literacy Mission (1988).

Correct Answer: B. An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force

Newton's **First Law of Motion** (Law of Inertia) states that **an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external net force**. The tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion is called **inertia** — more massive objects have greater inertia. This law explains why passengers lurch forward when a bus brakes suddenly.

Correct Answer: A. India and Sri Lanka

The **Palk Strait** is a narrow body of water that separates the **southeastern tip of India** (Tamil Nadu) from the **northern Sri Lanka**. It connects the **Bay of Bengal** in the north to the **Palk Bay** and **Gulf of Mannar** in the south. The strait is approximately 53-82 km wide and contains the **Adam's Bridge** (Ram Setu) — a chain of limestone shoals between Pamban Island (India) and Mannar Island (Sri Lanka).

Correct Answer: B. Members of the Lok Sabha only

The **Speaker of the Lok Sabha** is elected by the **members of the Lok Sabha** from among themselves, by a simple majority vote, after the House is constituted. The Speaker presides over the Lok Sabha, maintains order, and authenticates Bills and proceedings. The **Deputy Speaker** is also elected by the Lok Sabha members. The current practice is that the Speaker belongs to the ruling party and the Deputy Speaker to the opposition (or vice versa).

Correct Answer: D. Russia

**BrahMos** is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by **India (DRDO)** and **Russia (NPO Mashinostroyenia)** through the **BrahMos Aerospace** joint venture, named after the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Moscow, Russia) rivers. It travels at speeds of Mach 2.8-3.0 and has a range of approximately 290-500 km. BrahMos is one of the fastest cruise missiles in operation and has been inducted into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Correct Answer: C. Madagascar

**Madagascar** is the largest island in the Indian Ocean and the world's fourth largest island, with an area of approximately 587,000 sq. km. Located off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is separated from mainland Africa by the **Mozambique Channel**. Madagascar is renowned for its extraordinary **biodiversity** — approximately 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth.

Correct Answer: C. Mitochondrial matrix

The **Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)** occurs in the **mitochondrial matrix** — the inner compartment of mitochondria. In this cycle, acetyl-CoA (derived from pyruvate) is completely oxidized to CO2, generating **NADH, FADH2, and ATP** that feed into the electron transport chain for ATP production. The Krebs Cycle produces 2 ATP, 6 NADH, and 2 FADH2 per glucose molecule.

Correct Answer: B. Pass a Money Bill independently

A **Money Bill** (related to taxation, borrowing, or expenditure from the Consolidated Fund) can only be introduced in the **Lok Sabha**. The Rajya Sabha can make recommendations on a Money Bill within 14 days but **cannot reject or amend** it — the Lok Sabha may accept or reject its recommendations. The Speaker certifies a Bill as a Money Bill. This gives the popularly elected lower house (Lok Sabha) financial supremacy.

Correct Answer: B. Collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate

The **Himalayas** were formed approximately 50-40 million years ago by the **collision of the Indian Tectonic Plate with the Eurasian Plate**. The Indian plate (part of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent) drifted northward after the breakup of Gondwana and collided with Eurasia, causing the crust to buckle upward forming fold mountains. The Himalayas are still rising at approximately 5 mm per year as the plates continue to converge.

Correct Answer: B. Active sonar emits sound pulses and listens for echoes; passive sonar only listens for sounds

**Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging)** technology: **Active sonar** emits **acoustic (sound) pulses** and listens for echoes from submerged objects, calculating their distance and bearing. **Passive sonar** only **listens for sounds** generated by other vessels without emitting signals (making it stealthier). Sonar uses **sound waves**, not electromagnetic waves like radar, because sound travels efficiently through water. It is essential for submarine navigation and anti-submarine warfare.

Correct Answer: B. 24 days

The **Dandi March (Salt March)** lasted **24 days** — from **12 March to 5 April 1930** — covering 241 miles (388 km) from **Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad** to **Dandi, Navsari district, Gujarat**. Gandhi walked with approximately 78 selected followers, breaking the British salt monopoly by making salt from seawater. The march attracted worldwide attention and galvanized the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Correct Answer: C. Inner mitochondrial membrane

The **Electron Transport Chain (ETC)** is embedded in the **inner mitochondrial membrane**. During aerobic respiration, NADH and FADH2 donate electrons to the ETC, which generates a proton gradient across the membrane. This gradient drives **ATP Synthase** to produce ATP via **oxidative phosphorylation**. The ETC produces approximately 32-34 ATP per glucose molecule — far more than glycolysis (2 ATP) or the Krebs Cycle (2 ATP).

Correct Answer: B. It bears the Four Lions capital — now India's National Emblem — and commemorates the First Sermon of Buddha

The **Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath** (Deer Park, Sarnath near Varanasi) marks the site where **Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta)** after attaining enlightenment. The **Four Lions Capital** (Sarnath Lion Capital) atop the pillar became **India's National Emblem** after independence. The **Dharma Chakra** (Wheel of Law) from the capital's abacus appears on the **Indian National Flag**.

Correct Answer: B. A region that observes a uniform standard time, typically defined by a central meridian, differing from adjacent zones usually by one hour

A **Standard Time Zone** is a region that observes a **uniform standard time**, typically based on a central meridian and **differing from adjacent zones by approximately one hour** (or 15 degrees of longitude). The world is divided into approximately 24 time zones. India uses **Indian Standard Time (IST)** — UTC+5:30 — based on the 82.5°E meridian (Naini, near Allahabad). India does not observe daylight saving time.

Correct Answer: D. Germany

The five **permanent members (P5)** of the **UN Security Council** with veto power are: **USA, Russia, China, France, and United Kingdom**. **Germany** is NOT a permanent member — it has repeatedly sought a permanent seat as part of UNSC reform discussions. India has also campaigned for permanent membership, supported by the G4 nations (India, Germany, Japan, Brazil). The UNSC has 15 members total (5 permanent + 10 elected).

Correct Answer: B. Troposphere and Stratosphere

The **Tropopause** is the boundary between the **Troposphere** (lowest layer, where weather occurs, up to 8-15 km) and the **Stratosphere** (contains the ozone layer, up to ~50 km). At the tropopause, temperature stops decreasing with altitude and remains constant or slightly increases. It occurs at approximately 12 km altitude at mid-latitudes, lower at the poles (~8 km) and higher at the equator (~16-18 km).

Correct Answer: B. It had no Indian member — all members were British

The **Simon Commission (1927-1930)** was a seven-member statutory commission appointed to review the working of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. It was boycotted by Indians because it had **no Indian member** — all seven members were British. The boycott was marked by the famous **'Simon Go Back'** slogan. During protests, **Lala Lajpat Rai** was severely beaten by police and died shortly after — the incident became a rallying point for Indian nationalism.

Correct Answer: C. 1958

The **Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)** was established in **1958** by merging the **Defence Science Organisation (DSO)** and **Technical Development Establishments (TDE)** with ten laboratories. DRDO is headquartered in New Delhi and has approximately 52 laboratories. It has developed key systems including **Agni, Prithvi, Akash** missiles, **Arjun** tank, **Tejas** aircraft, **INSAS** rifle, and various electronic warfare systems.

Correct Answer: C. Kerala

The **Malabar region** (also called the **Malabar Coast**) corresponds to the northern part of the present-day state of **Kerala** (and parts of Karnataka's coastal area). It was historically one of the most important centers of the **spice trade** — particularly black pepper, cardamom, and ginger — attracting Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders. The Portuguese explorer **Vasco da Gama** first arrived at Calicut (Kozhikode) in Malabar in 1498.

Correct Answer: C. The force is perpendicular to the displacement

The **work done** by a force is calculated as W = Fd cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and displacement. When the force is **perpendicular to the displacement** (theta = 90 degrees), cos(90) = 0, so **work done = 0**. This is why the normal force (perpendicular to motion) does no work, and why a satellite in circular orbit does no work against gravity (gravity is centripetal, perpendicular to velocity).

Correct Answer: B. It was the boundary line between India and Pakistan drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe

The **Radcliffe Line** was the boundary demarcation line created upon **Partition of India (1947)**, drawn by **Sir Cyril Radcliffe**, who chaired both the **Punjab Boundary Commission** and the **Bengal Boundary Commission**. He had never been to India before and was given only 5 weeks to complete the task. The Radcliffe Line divided Punjab (between India and West Pakistan) and Bengal (between India and East Pakistan/Bangladesh today).

Correct Answer: C. Narmada

The **Narmada River** (approximately 1,312 km long) is one of the few Indian rivers that flows **westward** from the **Amarkantak plateau** in Madhya Pradesh and empties into the **Arabian Sea** in the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay), Gujarat. The **Tapi (Tapti)** river also flows westward. Most peninsular rivers flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. The Narmada forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India (Deccan).

Correct Answer: B. Voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it (V = IR)

**Ohm's Law** states that the **voltage (V) across a conductor is directly proportional to the current (I) flowing through it**, given constant temperature and physical conditions: **V = IR**, where R is the resistance. The law was formulated by **Georg Simon Ohm** in 1827. Materials that obey Ohm's Law are called **ohmic conductors** (e.g., metals). Semiconductors and diodes are **non-ohmic**.

Correct Answer: C. Persian

The **Akbar Nama** and **Ain-i-Akbari** were written in **Persian**, which was the official language of the Mughal court and administration. **Abul Fazl** wrote these works at Akbar's behest. Persian remained the official language of the Mughal Empire and was the language of administration, literature, and diplomacy. The **Mughal Miniature painting** tradition also flourished under Akbar's patronage.

Correct Answer: C. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The **Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)** was conceived by **Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam** (later President of India, known as the **Missile Man of India**) and approved in 1983. It led to the development of **five missile systems**: **Agni** (ballistic), **Prithvi** (surface-to-surface), **Akash** (surface-to-air), **Trishul** (low-level surface-to-air), and **Nag** (anti-tank). The programme was formally closed in 2008 after achieving its objectives.

Correct Answer: D. Tamil Nadu

The **Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park** is located off the southeastern coast of **Tamil Nadu** (between Rameswaram and Thoothukudi), covering 21 islands and surrounding waters. It is India's first **Marine National Park** (established 1986) and one of the world's biologically richest coastal regions — hosting coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, and species like **dugong, sea turtles, dolphins**, and diverse fish species.

Correct Answer: C. We, the People of India

The **Preamble of the Indian Constitution** begins with **'We, the People of India'** — reflecting that ultimate sovereignty rests with the people of India. This phrase was inspired by the preamble of the **US Constitution** ('We the People of the United States...'). The Preamble was drafted by B.R. Ambedkar and adopted on 26 November 1949 along with the Constitution.

Correct Answer: C. Blood and bone marrow

**Leukaemia** is a type of cancer of the **blood and bone marrow** characterized by the overproduction of abnormal, immature white blood cells (leukocytes). These abnormal cells crowd out normal blood cells, impairing the immune system and causing anaemia, bleeding, and susceptibility to infections. It is classified as acute (fast-growing) or chronic, and as myeloid or lymphoid. Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer.

Correct Answer: B. Integrate Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified geographic commands for joint warfare

India is restructuring its military towards **Integrated Theatre Commands (ITC)** — unified commands that integrate the **Army, Navy, and Air Force** assets under a single commander for a specific geographic area, for joint warfare operations. This is modelled on the US military's geographic combatant commands. The move aims to eliminate inter-service duplication and enable faster, coordinated responses to threats. The **Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)** (established 2019) facilitates this integration.

Correct Answer: B. Atomic number

The **Modern Periodic Law** (proposed by **Henry Moseley** in 1913) states that **the properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic number (number of protons)**. This corrected Mendeleev's original periodic law (which used atomic mass) — for example, argon (Z=18, mass~40) was correctly placed before potassium (Z=19, mass~39). The modern periodic table has 118 confirmed elements.

Correct Answer: C. China

The **Line of Actual Control (LAC)** is the de facto border between **India and China**, approximately 3,488 km long. It is divided into three sectors: **Western sector** (Ladakh), **Middle sector** (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), and **Eastern sector** (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim). The LAC is not a clearly demarcated international boundary but an approximate line based on actual positions held after the **1962 Sino-Indian War**.

Correct Answer: B. Allowed detention without trial and trial without jury for political cases

The **Rowlatt Act (1919)** (formally the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act) empowered the British government to **imprison political suspects without trial and try them without a jury**, continuing wartime emergency powers in peacetime. Gandhi called it the **'Black Act'** and launched a Satyagraha against it. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919) occurred in the context of protests against the Rowlatt Act.

Correct Answer: C. Event horizon

The **Event Horizon** is the boundary around a black hole beyond which **nothing — not even light — can escape** the intense gravitational pull. It is also called the **'point of no return.'** The radius of the event horizon is called the **Schwarzschild radius**, calculated as r = 2GM/c2. The first image of a black hole's shadow (event horizon) was captured by the **Event Horizon Telescope** in 2019 (M87 black hole) and 2022 (Sagittarius A*).

Correct Answer: B. Black Cats

India's **National Security Guard (NSG)** is commonly known as the **'Black Cats'** due to the distinctive black uniforms worn by its operatives. Established in 1984 under the NSG Act, it is a federal contingency force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The NSG is trained for counter-terrorism operations, VIP security, and hostage rescue. It played a critical role in **Operation Black Tornado** (Mumbai 26/11 attacks, 2008).

Correct Answer: C. Madagascar

**Madagascar**, with an area of about 587,000 sq. km, is the world's fourth largest island and the largest island in the Indian Ocean not directly connected to a continent. It separated from the African mainland approximately 88 million years ago and from the Indian subcontinent approximately 45 million years ago. Its long isolation has resulted in extraordinary endemic biodiversity — over 90% of its species are found nowhere else.