RRB NTPC — Set 18

Correct Answer: A. Lord Dalhousie

• The **Doctrine of Lapse** was introduced by **Lord Dalhousie** (1848–1856) and stipulated that if a ruler died without a natural male heir, his state would be annexed by the British East India Company. • Under this doctrine, states such as **Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, and Awadh** were annexed. • The annexation of Jhansi led to the revolt of **Rani Lakshmibai**, a key figure of the **1857 uprising**. • 💡 Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement; Lord Wellesley brought the Subsidiary Alliance; Lord Canning was the Viceroy during the 1857 revolt — none introduced the Doctrine of Lapse.

Correct Answer: B. Sri Lanka

• The **Palk Strait** is a narrow body of water separating the southeastern tip of India (**Tamil Nadu coast**) from the **northern coast of Sri Lanka**. • It connects the **Bay of Bengal** in the northeast with the **Palk Bay** in the southwest. • The strait is about **53–80 km wide** at its narrowest and broadest points. • 💡 Maldives is separated from India by the Lakshadweep Sea; Bangladesh borders northeastern India; Myanmar borders northeastern India — only Sri Lanka is separated by the Palk Strait.

Correct Answer: C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel** is known as the **'Iron Man of India'** for his decisive role in integrating over 562 princely states into the Indian Union after independence. • He served as the **first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister** of independent India. • The **Statue of Unity** (world's tallest statue at 182 m) in Gujarat was built as a tribute to him. • 💡 Nehru was the first Prime Minister; Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Constitution; Bose led the INA — none earned the title 'Iron Man of India'.

Correct Answer: C. Chloroplast

• **Photosynthesis** occurs in the **chloroplasts**, organelles found in plant cells that contain the green pigment **chlorophyll**. • The process converts **light energy, CO₂, and water** into **glucose and oxygen**: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. • Chloroplasts have two main compartments: the **grana (thylakoid stacks)** where light reactions occur and the **stroma** where the Calvin cycle takes place. • 💡 Mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration; nucleus contains DNA; ribosomes synthesise proteins — none of these perform photosynthesis.

Correct Answer: C. 24 January 1950

• The **Constituent Assembly** officially adopted **'Jana Gana Mana'** as the National Anthem of India on **24 January 1950**, two days before the Constitution came into force. • Written by **Rabindranath Tagore** in Bengali/Sanskrit, it was first sung on **27 December 1911** at the Calcutta session of the INC. • The full version takes approximately **52 seconds** to sing; the playing time of the short version is 20 seconds. • 💡 15 August 1947 is Independence Day; 26 January 1950 is Republic Day (Constitution enacted); 26 November 1949 is Constitution adoption day — the anthem was officially adopted on 24 January 1950.

Correct Answer: B. Karnataka

• The **Kaveri (Cauvery) river** originates from **Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri Hills of Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka**. • It flows southeast through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before meeting the **Bay of Bengal** near Poompuhar. • The Kaveri is known as the **'Ganga of the South'** or **'Dakshin Bharat ki Ganga'** and is sacred to the people of the region. • 💡 Kerala borders Kodagu but the source is in Karnataka; Tamil Nadu is where the river drains; Andhra Pradesh is not on the Kaveri's course.

Correct Answer: C. Tibet

• The **Simla Convention (1914)** was a tripartite agreement between **British India, Tibet, and China** related to the status of **Tibet** and the definition of the **McMahon Line** as the boundary between British India and Tibet. • China refused to ratify the agreement, and Tibet's status remained disputed. • The **McMahon Line** (named after Sir Henry McMahon, British India's Foreign Secretary) forms the basis of India's claim to **Arunachal Pradesh**. • 💡 Balochistan was a separate British India issue; Kashmir accession was 1947; Assam boundaries are separate — the Simla Convention specifically concerned Tibet.

Correct Answer: D. Nitrogen (N₂)

• **Nitrogen (N₂)**, which makes up about **78% of Earth's atmosphere**, is NOT a greenhouse gas because it does not absorb or re-emit infrared radiation. • **Greenhouse gases** include CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, water vapour (H₂O), and ozone (O₃) — all of which trap heat in the atmosphere. • The primary greenhouse gas responsible for human-caused climate change is **CO₂**, mainly from burning fossil fuels. • 💡 CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O are all major greenhouse gases listed in the Kyoto Protocol; only N₂ (nitrogen) is not a greenhouse gas.

Correct Answer: C. Akbar

• The **Battle of Haldighati (1576)** was fought between **Maharana Pratap** of Mewar (Rajasthan) and the **Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar**, commanded by **Man Singh I** of Amber. • Though Maharana Pratap was outnumbered, he was not captured; the battle was inconclusive but the Mughals gained tactical control of most of Mewar. • Maharana Pratap's horse **Chetak** became a symbol of loyalty and bravery from this battle. • 💡 Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan, and Jahangir were later Mughal emperors — Haldighati was fought during Akbar's reign in 1576.

Correct Answer: C. Article 17

• **Article 17** of the Indian Constitution **abolishes untouchability** and forbids its practice in any form. • 'Untouchability' is put within quotes in the Article, as it is a social evil, and practising it is made an offence punishable by law. • The **Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955** (formerly known as the Untouchability Offences Act) gives effect to Article 17. • 💡 Article 14 deals with equality before law; Article 15 prohibits discrimination; Article 21 is the right to life and personal liberty — only Article 17 specifically abolishes untouchability.

Correct Answer: A. Tsangpo

• The **Brahmaputra river** is known as **Tsangpo (Yarlung Tsangpo)** when it flows through **Tibet (China)**. • It originates near **Mansarovar Lake** in Tibet and flows eastward before making a dramatic U-turn (Great Bend) and entering India as the **Siang** in Arunachal Pradesh, and then becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam. • In Bangladesh, it is known as the **Jamuna**. • 💡 Mekong flows through China/Southeast Asia; Irrawaddy flows through Myanmar; Salween (Nu) flows through China and Myanmar — only Tsangpo is the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra.

Correct Answer: C. Article 32

• **Article 32** of the Indian Constitution guarantees the **Right to Constitutional Remedies**, which allows citizens to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of their Fundamental Rights. • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called Article 32 the **'heart and soul of the Constitution'**. • Under Article 32, the Supreme Court can issue five types of writs: **Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto**. • 💡 Article 19 gives six freedoms; Article 24 prohibits child labour in hazardous industries; Article 44 is a Directive Principle on a Uniform Civil Code — only Article 32 gives the Right to Constitutional Remedies.

Correct Answer: B. Saturn

• **Saturn** has the **most natural satellites** in the solar system, with over **140 confirmed moons** as of recent discoveries (surpassing Jupiter which has ~95 moons). • Saturn's largest moon is **Titan**, which is the second largest moon in the solar system and has a thick atmosphere. • Saturn is also famous for its spectacular **ring system** made of ice and rock debris. • 💡 Jupiter had the record for most moons for a long time but was surpassed by Saturn; Uranus has 28 moons; Neptune has 16 moons — Saturn currently leads with the most confirmed moons.

Correct Answer: A. The Muslim League

• The **Lucknow Pact (1916)** was an agreement signed between the **Indian National Congress** and the **All-India Muslim League** at the Lucknow session. • It represented a **Hindu-Muslim political unity** against British rule, with Congress accepting the Muslim League's demand for **separate electorates** for Muslims. • Key figures behind the pact included **Bal Gangadhar Tilak** (INC) and **Muhammad Ali Jinnah** (Muslim League). • 💡 The British Government was not a party to this pact; Hindu Mahasabha and Sikh League were not signatories — the Lucknow Pact was between INC and the Muslim League.

Correct Answer: D. Ampere

• The **SI unit of electric current is the Ampere (A)**, named after French physicist **André-Marie Ampère**. • One ampere is defined as the **flow of one coulomb of charge per second** (1 A = 1 C/s). • In an electrical circuit, the **Ohm's Law** states: V = IR, where V is voltage (Volts), I is current (Amperes), and R is resistance (Ohms). • 💡 Volt (V) is the unit of voltage/potential difference; Watt (W) is the unit of power; Ohm (Ω) is the unit of resistance — only Ampere is the unit of electric current.

Correct Answer: C. Western Coast

• The **Western Ghats** run parallel to the **Western Coast (Malabar Coast)** of India, spanning about **1,600 km** from Gujarat in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. • They act as a **physical barrier** trapping the **southwest monsoon** rains on the windward (western) side, making the western slopes very wet while the eastern (leeward) side remains in a rain shadow. • They pass through **Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu**. • 💡 Eastern Ghats run along the eastern coast; the northern coast doesn't have a parallel mountain range; the southern tip is where the Ghats end — they are specifically a western coast feature.

Correct Answer: D. Pratibha Patil

• **Pratibha Devisingh Patil** became India's **first woman President**, serving from **2007 to 2012** as the **12th President of India**. • She was nominated by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and was elected over Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. • Before becoming President, she had served as the **Governor of Rajasthan**. • 💡 Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Governor (Uttar Pradesh); Sonia Gandhi is a politician who never held the Presidency; Indira Gandhi was the first woman Prime Minister — Pratibha Patil was the first woman President.

Correct Answer: C. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

• **Newton's Third Law** states: **'For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction'** — forces always occur in pairs. • This means when object A exerts a force on object B, object B exerts an equal force in the **opposite direction** on object A simultaneously. • Examples include: a rocket expelling gas backward to move forward, a person pushing a wall (wall pushes back), and a fish using its fins to push water backward (water pushes fish forward). • 💡 F = ma is Newton's Second Law; object at rest stays at rest is Newton's First Law (inertia); rate of change of momentum is also Newton's Second Law — only 'equal and opposite reaction' is Newton's Third Law.

Correct Answer: C. 1943

• **Subhas Chandra Bose** reorganised and led the **Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj)** from **1943**, after taking over from Rash Behari Bose in Singapore. • The INA was originally formed in **1942** by General Mohan Singh using Indian POWs captured by Japan, but Bose gave it new direction and momentum. • The INA fought alongside **Imperial Japan** with the goal of overthrowing British rule in India and reached the **Imphal-Kohima** front in northeastern India. • 💡 1939 is when WWII began; 1941 is when Bose escaped from India; 1945 is when WWII ended — Bose formally took command and rebuilt the INA in 1943.

Correct Answer: D. Rajasthan

• The **Thar Desert** (also called the Great Indian Desert) is primarily located in the state of **Rajasthan**, covering most of the state's western part. • It extends into parts of **Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab** as well, and across the border into **Pakistan (Sindh and Punjab provinces)**. • The Thar is the **world's most densely populated desert**, with the Jaisalmer region being a key tourist attraction. • 💡 Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab all have small parts of the Thar but the primary and largest portion lies in Rajasthan.

Correct Answer: D. Mahatma Gandhi

• The **Poona Pact (September 1932)** was signed between **Dr. B.R. Ambedkar** and **Mahatma Gandhi** while Gandhi was on a fast-unto-death in Yerawada Jail. • It was a compromise that replaced the **Communal Award** (which granted separate electorates to depressed classes) with a system of **reserved seats in joint electorates** for Scheduled Castes. • The pact significantly **increased the number of reserved seats** for depressed classes from 71 to 148 in provincial legislatures. • 💡 Jinnah signed the Lucknow Pact with INC; Nehru was not a direct party to the Poona Pact; Tilak had died in 1920 — it was specifically between Ambedkar and Gandhi.

Correct Answer: D. Narmada

• The **Narmada river** flows through a **rift valley** — a depression formed by the downward displacement of a block of land between two parallel faults. • The Narmada rift valley lies between the **Vindhya Range (north)** and the **Satpura Range (south)**, making it a structurally unique river in India. • It flows **westward** into the **Arabian Sea** (unlike most peninsular rivers that flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal). • 💡 Ganga flows through a depositional alluvial plain; Godavari and Mahanadi are normal drainage pattern rivers flowing east — only Narmada flows through a rift valley.

Correct Answer: B. 42nd Amendment

• The word **'Secular'** (along with 'Socialist') was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the **42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976**, during the Emergency period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. • The Preamble now describes India as a **'Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic'**. • The 42nd Amendment is also known as the **'Mini-Constitution'** as it made extensive changes to the Constitution. • 💡 The 40th Amendment dealt with territorial matters; the 44th Amendment (1978) reversed several changes made by the 42nd; the 52nd Amendment introduced the anti-defection law — only the 42nd Amendment added 'Secular' to the Preamble.

Correct Answer: D. NaCl

• **Common salt (table salt)** has the chemical formula **NaCl** — sodium chloride, a compound of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). • It is an ionic compound where **Na⁺ (sodium ions) and Cl⁻ (chloride ions)** are held together by strong electrostatic forces. • NaCl is essential for human biology, maintaining **fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions**. • 💡 KCl is potassium chloride (a salt substitute); CaCO₃ is calcium carbonate (limestone/chalk); MgSO₄ is magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) — only NaCl is common table salt.

Correct Answer: B. Brahmaputra

• The **Teesta river** originates from the **Tso Lhamo Lake in Sikkim** (near the China border) and is a major tributary of the **Brahmaputra river** (which it joins in Bangladesh). • It flows through **Sikkim and West Bengal** before entering Bangladesh where it joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna). • The Teesta is the subject of a longstanding **water-sharing dispute between India and Bangladesh**. • 💡 Teesta does not join the Ganga directly; it is not a tributary of Yamuna or Ghaghra — it specifically joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.

Correct Answer: D. Wheat and Rice

• The **Green Revolution in India** (mid-1960s to 1970s) brought dramatic increases in the production of **wheat and rice** through the introduction of **High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds**, chemical fertilisers, and irrigation. • Dr. **M.S. Swaminathan** is the father of the Green Revolution in India; American agronomist **Norman Borlaug** developed the HYV wheat varieties. • The revolution transformed India from a **food-deficit to a food-surplus** nation, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. • 💡 Cotton, sugarcane, and pulses were not the focus of the Green Revolution — wheat and rice were the primary beneficiary crops.

Correct Answer: B. 1919, Amritsar

• The **Jallianwala Bagh massacre** occurred on **13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab**, when British Brigadier-General **Reginald Dyer** ordered troops to fire on a peaceful crowd gathered in an enclosed garden. • The firing killed hundreds (official British estimate: 379; Indian estimates put it at over 1,000) and wounded over 1,200 people. • The massacre took place on **Baisakhi Day** when people had gathered to protest the Rowlatt Act. • 💡 It did not occur in Lahore, Delhi, or Calcutta; it was not in 1915, 1921, or 1922 — the massacre was specifically on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar.

Correct Answer: B. Planning Commission

• **NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)** was established on **1 January 2015** by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replacing the **Planning Commission** which had been set up in 1950. • Unlike the Planning Commission which had powers to allocate funds, NITI Aayog functions as a **think tank and policy advisory body**. • The Prime Minister serves as its **ex-officio Chairperson**. • 💡 RBI was not replaced; Finance Commission is a constitutional body that continues; the Economic Advisory Council is a separate body — only the Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog.

Correct Answer: B. Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das

• The **Swaraj Party** was founded in **1923** by **Motilal Nehru** and **Chitta Ranjan (C.R.) Das** after disagreements within the INC over the strategy of council entry. • The party aimed to **enter legislative councils** and obstruct government functioning from within — a disagreement with Gandhi's boycott approach. • It was formed at the **Gaya session of the INC (1922)** after the 'no-changers' blocked council entry. • 💡 Gandhi and Nehru (Jawaharlal) disagreed with the council-entry strategy; Tilak had died in 1920; Rajendra Prasad and Patel were not founders of the Swaraj Party.

Correct Answer: D. Assam

• **Majuli** is the world's largest **river island**, located in the **Brahmaputra river in Assam**. • It was recognised as the world's largest river island by the **Guinness World Records**. • Majuli is a major centre of **Vaishnavite culture** in Assam and is home to unique **Sattra monasteries** (neo-Vaishnavite monasteries). • 💡 West Bengal, Sikkim, and Meghalaya are all northeastern states but none contains Majuli — it is specifically located in the Brahmaputra in Assam.

Correct Answer: B. Tenth Schedule

• The **Tenth Schedule** of the Indian Constitution contains the **anti-defection provisions**, added by the **52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985**. • It disqualifies a legislator (MP or MLA) if they voluntarily give up party membership or vote against party directions without prior permission. • The **Speaker/Chairman** of the concerned House decides on disqualification petitions. • 💡 Eighth Schedule lists recognised languages; Ninth Schedule contains land reform laws protected from judicial review; Eleventh Schedule lists subjects under Panchayati Raj — only the Tenth Schedule deals with anti-defection.

Correct Answer: B. Eastern Ghats

• The **Deccan Plateau** is a large triangular plateau in Peninsular India, bounded by the **Western Ghats on the west** and the **Eastern Ghats on the east**. • It is tilted from west to east, which is why most peninsular rivers flow **eastward** into the Bay of Bengal. • The plateau is composed largely of **basaltic (Deccan Trap) rock** formed by volcanic activity 65 million years ago. • 💡 Vindhya and Satpura ranges form the northern boundary of the Deccan; Aravalli is in northwest India — the eastern boundary of the Deccan Plateau is specifically the Eastern Ghats.

Correct Answer: A. 100 days

• The **Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)**, enacted in **2005**, guarantees **100 days of wage employment per year** to every rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work. • If work is not provided within 15 days of application, the state government must pay an **unemployment allowance**. • It was launched on **2 February 2006** in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and expanded nationwide in 2008. • 💡 60 and 75 days are below the statutory minimum; 150 days is double the guaranteed amount — MGNREGA guarantees exactly 100 days per household per year.

Correct Answer: A. Oxidation

• **Rusting of iron** is a process of **oxidation** — iron reacts with **oxygen in the presence of water (or moisture)** to form **iron oxide (Fe₂O₃·xH₂O)**, commonly known as rust. • The overall reaction: **4Fe + 3O₂ + 2xH₂O → 2Fe₂O₃·xH₂O** (hydrated iron oxide). • Rusting is an **electrochemical process** that weakens the iron structure; it can be prevented by **galvanisation, painting, or alloying (stainless steel)**. • 💡 Reduction is the opposite (gain of electrons); sublimation is solid to vapour; fermentation is a biological breakdown by microorganisms — only oxidation describes the rusting process.

Correct Answer: A. The Council of States

• The **Rajya Sabha** is also known as the **'Council of States'** and is the **upper house** of India's Parliament. • It consists of a maximum of **250 members** — 238 elected by State/UT Legislative Assemblies and 12 nominated by the President for contributions to arts, science, literature, and social service. • Unlike the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha is a **permanent body** that is never dissolved; one-third of its members retire every two years. • 💡 The 'Lower House' and 'House of the People' both refer to the Lok Sabha; 'Federal Assembly' is not an Indian constitutional term — Rajya Sabha is specifically the 'Council of States'.

Correct Answer: A. Financial inclusion by providing bank accounts to the unbanked

• **Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)** was launched on **28 August 2014** by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure **financial inclusion** by providing bank accounts, RuPay debit cards, and access to financial services to all unbanked households. • Account holders also get a **₹1 lakh accident insurance cover** and a **₹30,000 life insurance cover**. • PMJDY accounts are **zero-balance accounts**, making banking accessible to the poorest sections. • 💡 Agricultural productivity is addressed by other schemes; digital payments are a downstream benefit; separate insurance schemes exist for BPL — the primary goal of PMJDY is financial inclusion through basic banking access.

Correct Answer: A. Mesopotamian civilisation

• The **Indus Valley Civilisation** (c. 3300–1300 BCE, mature phase c. 2600–1900 BCE) was contemporaneous with **Mesopotamian civilisation** (Sumerian, Babylonian civilisations) in the Tigris-Euphrates valley. • There is evidence of **trade contact** between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia, including Indus seals found at Ur and Mesopotamian goods at Indus sites. • Both civilisations were **Bronze Age urban civilisations** with planned cities and complex social organisation. • 💡 Greek and Roman civilisations peaked much later (800 BCE–400 CE); Egyptian New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BCE) postdates the mature Indus Valley phase — Mesopotamia is the correct contemporary.

Correct Answer: A. Akbar

• The **Mansabdari system** was introduced by **Emperor Akbar** as a military and administrative ranking system. • 'Mansab' means rank; mansabdars (rank holders) were assigned two ranks — **Zat (personal rank determining salary)** and **Sawar (number of cavalry they had to maintain)**. • The system helped Akbar **centralise the military and administration** by making all officers directly accountable to the emperor. • 💡 Babur and Humayun ruled before this administrative innovation; Jahangir inherited and continued the system — it was specifically created by Akbar.

Correct Answer: A. Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N)

• On the **Summer Solstice (around June 21)**, the Sun appears directly overhead (**at zenith**) at the **Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N)**. • This is because the Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5°, and on this date the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most directly toward the Sun. • It is the **longest day of the year** in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere. • 💡 The Sun is overhead at the Equator on equinoxes; at the Tropic of Capricorn on the Winter Solstice (December 21); the Arctic Circle marks the boundary of the midnight sun — only the Tropic of Cancer has overhead Sun on June 21.

Correct Answer: D. Income Tax

• **Income Tax** is a **direct tax** — it is levied directly on the **income and profits of individuals and companies** and is paid directly by the taxpayer to the government. • Direct taxes cannot be shifted to another person; the burden falls directly on the entity being taxed. • The **Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)** under the Ministry of Finance administers income tax in India. • 💡 GST, Customs Duty, and Excise Duty are **indirect taxes** — they are levied on goods/services and can be passed on to the consumer through higher prices; only Income Tax is a direct tax.