RRB NTPC — Set 8

Correct Answer: C. Chandragupta II

• **Chandragupta II** (reigned c. 375–415 CE) adopted the title **Vikramaditya**, meaning 'sun of valour'. • His reign is considered the **golden age of the Gupta Empire**, marked by military expansion and cultural flourishing. • He conquered the Western Kshatrapas and extended Gupta rule to the Arabian Sea. • 💡 Chandragupta I was the dynasty's founder; Samudragupta was the 'Napoleon of India'; Kumaragupta succeeded Chandragupta II.

Correct Answer: B. Merging with the Dominion of India or Pakistan

• The **Instrument of Accession** was a legal document signed by princely state rulers to accede to either **India or Pakistan** at independence in 1947. • It was drafted under the **Indian Independence Act, 1947** and covered defence, external affairs, and communications. • **Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel** played the key role in persuading 562 princely states to sign the instrument. • 💡 It had nothing to do with the UN, British Crown post-independence, or a separate confederation.

Correct Answer: D. Ancient

• **Dakshin** is a Sanskrit word meaning **South**; hence 'Dakshin Ganga' means the 'Ganga of the South'. • The **Godavari** is the second longest river in India after the Ganga and flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. • It originates in **Trimbakeshwar** (near Nashik) and drains into the Bay of Bengal. • 💡 'Holy' would be 'Pavitra'; 'Long' would be 'Dirgha'; 'Ancient' would be 'Prachin' — none of these is the meaning of Dakshin.

Correct Answer: C. Does not support combustion and is heavier than air

• **CO₂ does not support combustion**, meaning it cannot sustain a fire, and its density is higher than air so it blankets the fire. • This smothers the fire by cutting off the **oxygen supply**, which is one of the three elements of the fire triangle. • CO₂ extinguishers are especially useful for **electrical fires** as CO₂ is non-conductive. • 💡 CO₂ does not burn slowly (it doesn't burn at all); it does not produce water from oxygen; and primary action is smothering, not cooling.

Correct Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi

• **Hind Swaraj** (Indian Home Rule) was written by **Mahatma Gandhi** in 1909 during a voyage from England to South Africa. • It was first published in the Gujarati columns of the journal **Indian Opinion** and later translated into English. • The book outlines Gandhi's critique of modern civilisation and his vision of **self-rule (swaraj) through non-violence**. • 💡 Tilak wrote 'Gita Rahasya'; Lajpat Rai wrote 'Young India'; Gokhale was Gandhi's political mentor but did not write Hind Swaraj.

Correct Answer: A. Sahyadri

• The **Western Ghats** are locally known as **Sahyadri** (meaning 'benevolent mountains' in Sanskrit). • They run parallel to the western coast of India for about **1,600 km** through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. • They are a **UNESCO World Heritage Site** and one of the world's eight hottest biodiversity hotspots. • 💡 Vindhyas are in central India; Aravalli is in Rajasthan/Haryana; Nilgiris are a sub-range within the Western Ghats, not an alternate name.

Correct Answer: B. Lok Sabha

• Under **Article 110** of the Constitution, a **Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha**, not in the Rajya Sabha. • After the Lok Sabha passes it, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha which can only make **recommendations** (not amendments) within 14 days. • If Rajya Sabha does not return it in 14 days, the Bill is deemed passed by both Houses. • 💡 Rajya Sabha has no power to introduce or reject a Money Bill; it cannot be introduced in a joint session; only ordinary Bills can be introduced in either House.

Correct Answer: C. 8

• The **Tropic of Cancer** (23.5°N latitude) passes through **8 Indian states**: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. • It divides India into the **tropical south** and the **sub-tropical north**. • The Tropic of Cancer enters India from **Gujarat** on the west coast and exits through **Mizoram** in the northeast. • 💡 Six and seven are too few; nine is one more than the actual count of 8 states.

Correct Answer: B. Battle of Tarain

• The **Battle of Kalinga** (c. 261 BCE) was fought between the **Mauryan Empire under Ashoka** and the state of Kalinga (present-day Odisha). • Although Ashoka won, the massive bloodshed (over 100,000 killed) filled him with remorse, leading him to embrace **Buddhism and non-violence (ahimsa)**. • He thereafter spread Buddhism through **dhamma edicts** carved on pillars and rocks across his empire. • 💡 Battle of Hydaspes was Alexander vs Porus; Battle of Tarain was Prithviraj Chauhan vs Muhammad Ghori; Battle of Plassey was the 1757 British victory.

Correct Answer: B. Total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a year

• **GDP** is the **total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders** in a given period (usually one year). • It is measured using three approaches: **expenditure, income, and production** methods — all yielding the same result. • GDP is the most widely used measure of **economic size and growth**. • 💡 Exports minus imports is the trade balance; income earned by citizens abroad describes GNP/GNI, not GDP; government expenditure is just one component of GDP.

Correct Answer: C. Qutb ud-Din Aibak

• **Qutb ud-Din Aibak**, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate, **began the construction of the Qutub Minar** around 1193 CE. • However, the minar was **completed by Iltutmish** (Aibak's successor) around 1220 CE, and later repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq. • The Qutub Minar stands at **72.5 metres** and is a **UNESCO World Heritage Site**. • 💡 Iltutmish completed the minar but did not start it; Alauddin Khalji added other structures at the complex; Firuz Shah Tughlaq carried out repairs.

Correct Answer: C. To vote in every election

• **Voting in elections is NOT a Fundamental Duty** under Article 51A; it is a constitutional right (Article 326) but not a listed duty. • The **11 Fundamental Duties** (added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976; 11th added by 86th Amendment, 2002) cover things like respecting the Constitution, defending the country, and protecting the environment. • Fundamental Duties are listed in **Part IV-A** of the Constitution and are non-justiciable. • 💡 Protecting the environment (51A-g), promoting harmony (51A-e), and preserving cultural heritage (51A-f) are all listed duties.

Correct Answer: B. Imprisonment without trial for up to two years

• The **Rowlatt Act (1919)**, officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, allowed the British to **arrest and imprison any person suspected of terrorism without trial for up to two years**. • It was based on the recommendations of the **Rowlatt Committee** chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt. • The Act sparked **massive protests across India**, including Gandhi's nationwide hartal (strike) and eventually led to the **Jallianwala Bagh massacre**. • 💡 Partition of Bengal happened in 1905 under Curzon; the INC was never formally banned; deportation to Andamans was used earlier, not under the Rowlatt Act.

Correct Answer: D. Radio waves and infrared

• **Ultraviolet radiation** has wavelengths from about **10 nm to 400 nm**, placing it between **visible light (400–700 nm) and X-rays (0.01–10 nm)** in the electromagnetic spectrum. • The Sun is the primary natural source of UV radiation; the **ozone layer** absorbs most of the harmful UV-B and UV-C reaching Earth. • UV radiation causes **sunburn, skin cancer**, and also has beneficial effects like Vitamin D synthesis. • 💡 Infrared and microwave are longer wavelengths than visible light; X-ray and gamma ray are even shorter than UV; radio waves are the longest EM waves.

Correct Answer: C. Every 10 years

• The **Census of India** is conducted every **10 years** under the Census Act, 1948. • It has been held regularly since **1872** (first modern census) and uninterruptedly since **1881**. • The census collects data on population, literacy, occupation, religion, and other socio-economic indicators. • 💡 India does not conduct a census every 5 or 7 years; 15-year intervals would miss critical decadal population changes required for policy planning.

Correct Answer: C. South China Sea and Andaman Sea

• The **Strait of Malacca** is a narrow waterway of about 800 km connecting the **South China Sea (east) and the Andaman Sea/Indian Ocean (west)**, located between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. • It is one of the **busiest shipping lanes in the world**, carrying about a quarter of global trade. • It is strategically important for **oil shipments from the Middle East to East Asia**. • 💡 Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are connected by the Indian Ocean (not via Malacca); Pacific and Indian Ocean are connected via other straits; Java and Banda Seas are in the Indonesian archipelago.

Correct Answer: D. Article 368

• **Article 368** of the Indian Constitution deals with the **power of Parliament to amend the Constitution** and the procedure therefor. • Amendments can be of three types: simple majority, special majority (2/3 of members present and voting + majority of total membership), or special majority with **ratification by at least half of the state legislatures**. • The **42nd Amendment (1976)** was the most sweeping amendment; **Kesavananda Bharati case (1973)** established the Basic Structure doctrine. • 💡 Article 352 is National Emergency; Article 356 is President's Rule in states; Article 360 is Financial Emergency.

Correct Answer: B. Qutb ud-Din Aibak

• **Qutb ud-Din Aibak** founded the **Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE** after the death of his master Muhammad of Ghor, establishing the **Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty**. • He was a **Turkish slave-general** who rose to become the sultan and ruled from Lahore and Delhi. • He is also credited with beginning the construction of the **Qutub Minar** and the **Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque**. • 💡 Muhammad bin Tughluq ruled 1324–1351; Balban ruled 1266–1287; Alauddin Khalji ruled 1296–1316 — all were successors to the Sultanate's founding.

Correct Answer: C. Solid to vapour without passing through the liquid phase

• **Sublimation** is the transition of a substance directly from the **solid phase to the gas (vapour) phase without passing through the liquid phase**. • Common examples include **dry ice (solid CO₂) sublimating to CO₂ gas**, camphor, and iodine. • The reverse process (gas to solid directly) is called **deposition** (or desublimation). • 💡 Liquid to gas is evaporation/vaporisation; gas to liquid is condensation; liquid to solid is freezing — none of these is sublimation.

Correct Answer: D. Godavari

• **Godavari** originates in the **Trimbakeshwar hills near Nashik, Maharashtra** in India and does not originate in Tibet. • In contrast, the **Brahmaputra** originates from the Mansarovar Lake region in Tibet (as Tsangpo), the **Sutlej** from Rakshastal Lake in Tibet, and the **Indus** from Sengge Zangbo river in Tibet. • Rivers originating in Tibet are called **Trans-Himalayan rivers** or Himalayan rivers. • 💡 Brahmaputra, Sutlej, and Indus all begin in the Tibetan plateau; only Godavari is a purely peninsular Indian river.

Correct Answer: A. Because Harappa was the first site to be excavated

• The Indus Valley Civilisation is called the **Harappan Civilisation** because **Harappa was the first site to be excavated** (in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni), making it the name-giving discovery. • **Mohenjo-daro** was excavated shortly after in 1922 and is actually the larger of the two major cities. • The civilisation flourished around **2500–1700 BCE** in the Indus River valley. • 💡 Harappa was not necessarily the largest city (that title often goes to Mohenjo-daro); it was not the founding city; 'Harappa' is a modern place name, not a word meaning 'civilisation'.

Correct Answer: B. SEBI

• **SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)** was established in **1988** and given statutory powers by the SEBI Act, **1992** to regulate and develop the securities market. • SEBI protects investor interests, regulates stock exchanges (NSE, BSE), and oversees mutual funds, brokers, and listed companies. • Its headquarters is in **Mumbai**. • 💡 RBI regulates banking and monetary policy; IRDA regulates insurance; NABARD provides credit for agriculture and rural development.

Correct Answer: B. Protecting forest trees from commercial felling

• The **Chipko Movement** started in **1973 in Chamoli district, Uttar Pradesh** (now Uttarakhand) when villagers, led by figures like **Sunderlal Bahuguna** and **Chandi Prasad Bhatt**, hugged trees to prevent their felling by contractors. • 'Chipko' means **'to hug'** or 'to stick'; the movement became a symbol of **environmental and forest conservation**. • It inspired the **Forest Conservation Act, 1980** and similar movements worldwide. • 💡 It was not about water rights, tribal land rights, or dam opposition — those were motivations behind the Narmada Bachao Andolan and other movements.

Correct Answer: D. Haemoglobin

• **Haemoglobin** is the iron-containing protein in **red blood cells (erythrocytes)** that binds to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to body tissues. • It consists of **four protein chains (globins)**, each containing a **haem group with an iron (Fe²⁺) atom** that binds one oxygen molecule. • Low haemoglobin levels cause **anaemia**. • 💡 Insulin is a hormone regulating blood sugar; keratin is a structural protein in skin/hair/nails; collagen provides structural support to connective tissue — none transports oxygen.

Correct Answer: A. Gujarat

• **Dholavira** is located on **Khadir Island in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat**. It is one of the five largest Harappan cities. • The site is famous for its unique **water conservation system** and the **Dholavira signboard** — the only large Indus script inscription found so far. • It was declared a **UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021**. • 💡 Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi are in Haryana/Rajasthan; Harappa and Ropar are in Punjab (now Pakistan/India) — Dholavira is distinctly in Gujarat.

Correct Answer: B. Divides India into two roughly equal halves

• The **Tropic of Cancer** at **23.5°N latitude** passes roughly through the **middle of India**, dividing the country into two approximate halves — the tropics in the south and the subtropics in the north. • It passes through **8 states**: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. • India's southernmost tip (**Kanyakumari**) is at about 8°N, while the northernmost is near **37°N**. • 💡 It does not pass along the northern border (that is near 37°N); it does not pass through only southern states; and it is not the southern boundary of India.

Correct Answer: C. Article 324

• **Article 324** of the Indian Constitution vests the **superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls** and the conduct of all elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President in the **Election Commission of India**. • The Election Commission was established on **25 January 1950** (now celebrated as National Voters' Day). • It is a **constitutional body** headed by the Chief Election Commissioner. • 💡 Article 315 deals with Public Service Commissions; Article 320 covers their functions; Article 330 reserves seats for SCs/STs in Lok Sabha.

Correct Answer: C. Bombay

• The **Prarthana Samaj** (Prayer Society) was founded in **Bombay (Mumbai) in 1867** by **Atmaram Pandurang**, and later associated with **Mahadev Govind Ranade** and **R.G. Bhandarkar**. • It advocated **monotheism, social reform, and widow remarriage** and drew inspiration from the Brahmo Samaj. • Unlike the Arya Samaj, it did not seek to reform Hinduism radically but worked within Maharashtra's **Varkari tradition**. • 💡 Brahmo Samaj was founded in Calcutta; Arya Samaj was founded in Bombay but in 1875 by Dayananda Saraswati; Prarthana Samaj is specifically linked to Bombay in 1867.

Correct Answer: A. O-A-B-C-R

• A **soil profile** consists of horizontal layers called **horizons** from top to bottom: **O (organic/humus) → A (topsoil) → B (subsoil) → C (weathered parent material) → R (bedrock/parent rock)**. • The **O horizon** contains decomposed organic matter; **A horizon** is rich in minerals and humus; **B horizon** accumulates minerals leached from above. • Soil science (pedology) studies these layers to understand soil fertility and formation. • 💡 The sequence must start with O (surface) and end with R (bedrock); any reversal or rearrangement is incorrect.

Correct Answer: D. Agriculture

• **PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana)** is a **crop insurance scheme** launched in **2016** to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop losses due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases. • It replaced the earlier **National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS)** and operates on a **low premium for farmers** (1.5% for rabi, 2% for kharif, 5% for commercial crops). • The scheme is implemented by the **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**. • 💡 It is exclusively an agriculture-sector scheme — it has no relation to healthcare, education, or infrastructure.

Correct Answer: A. Andes

• The **Andes** in South America is the **world's longest continental mountain range**, stretching about **7,000 km** along the western edge of South America through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. • It is also the **highest mountain range outside Asia**, with **Aconcagua (6,961 m)** as its highest peak. • The Andes were formed by the **subduction of the Nazca Plate** under the South American Plate. • 💡 Himalayas are the highest but not the longest; Rocky Mountains stretch about 4,800 km; Alps are about 1,200 km long — both far shorter than the Andes.

Correct Answer: A. Lord Curzon

• **Lord Curzon**, the Viceroy of India, partitioned Bengal in **1905** ostensibly on administrative grounds but it was widely seen as a strategy to **divide Hindus and Muslims** and weaken the nationalist movement. • The partition created **East Bengal and Assam** (Muslim majority) and the remaining **Bengal** (Hindu majority). • It sparked the **Swadeshi Movement** and led to the **boycott of British goods**; the partition was **annulled in 1911**. • 💡 Lord Dalhousie was known for the Doctrine of Lapse; Lord Ripon introduced Local Self-Government; Lord Mountbatten oversaw Indian independence in 1947.

Correct Answer: D. Panchayati Raj Institutions

• The **73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992** gave **constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)** by adding **Part IX** and the **Eleventh Schedule** to the Constitution. • It mandated elections to panchayats, reservation for SCs, STs, and women (at least **one-third**), and a five-year term. • It came into force on **24 April 1993**, celebrated as **Panchayati Raj Diwas**. • 💡 The 86th Amendment gave Right to Education; the 74th Amendment covered Urban Local Bodies; parliamentary reservation for women remains a separate pending bill.

Correct Answer: A. 3 × 10⁸ m/s

• The speed of light in a vacuum is **approximately 3 × 10⁸ metres per second (299,792,458 m/s)**. • It is denoted by the symbol **c** and is the fastest possible speed in the universe, as stated by Einstein's **Special Theory of Relativity**. • Light takes about **8 minutes 20 seconds** to travel from the Sun to Earth (about 150 million km). • 💡 3 × 10⁶ m/s is 100 times too slow; 3 × 10¹⁰ m/s is 100 times too fast; 3 × 10¹² m/s is 10,000 times too fast — only 10⁸ is correct.

Correct Answer: A. China and Rome (Europe)

• The **Silk Route** (or Silk Road) was a network of ancient trade routes that connected **China in the East with Rome and the Mediterranean world in the West**, passing through Central Asia, Persia, and the Middle East. • It was named after the **lucrative Chinese silk trade** that was a major trade good carried along these routes. • The Silk Route also facilitated the spread of **religions (Buddhism, Islam), technologies, and diseases** across continents. • 💡 India and Egypt had indirect trade connections via the Silk Route; Arabia and SE Asia were nodes but not the primary endpoints; Persia and Africa is not the main axis.

Correct Answer: D. 1954

• **Bharat Ratna** was established on **2 January 1954** by President Rajendra Prasad; the **first three recipients** in 1954 were **C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C.V. Raman**. • The award was originally for arts, literature, and science but was later expanded to include **public service and other fields** (e.g., Sachin Tendulkar in 2014). • The award is presented by the **President of India** and carries a Peepal leaf medallion. • 💡 1950 is when the Constitution took effect; 1952 was the first general election; 1956 was two years after the award's inception — 1954 is the correct founding year.

Correct Answer: A. Northwest India

• The **Aravalli Range** is located in **Northwest India**, running through **Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi**, from Gujarat in the south to Delhi in the north — a total length of about **800 km**. • It is one of the **oldest fold mountain ranges** in the world, estimated to be 350 million years old (Precambrian era). • It acts as a **climatic barrier**, separating the Thar Desert in the west from the Gangetic Plain in the east. • 💡 Northeast India has the Meghalaya Plateau and Himalayas; Central India has the Vindhya and Satpura ranges; Southwest India has the Western Ghats.

Correct Answer: D. UNDP

• The **Human Development Index (HDI)** is published annually by the **United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)** in its **Human Development Report**, first published in **1990**. • HDI measures development across three dimensions: **health (life expectancy), education (mean and expected years of schooling), and standard of living (GNI per capita)**. • The concept was developed by Pakistani economist **Mahbub ul Haq** with Indian economist **Amartya Sen**. • 💡 World Bank publishes the World Development Report; IMF publishes the World Economic Outlook; WHO focuses on global health statistics — none of them publish HDI.

Correct Answer: A. 26 November 1949

• The **Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949**, which is celebrated as **Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas)**. • However, it came into **force (enacted) on 26 January 1950**, celebrated as **Republic Day**. • The Constituent Assembly was chaired by **Dr. Rajendra Prasad** and the drafting committee by **Dr. B.R. Ambedkar**. • 💡 15 August 1947 is Independence Day; 26 January 1950 is when the Constitution came into effect; 22 July 1947 is when the national flag was adopted — adoption by the Assembly was 26 November 1949.

Correct Answer: D. 1965

• The **Food Corporation of India (FCI)** was established in **January 1965** under the Food Corporations Act, 1964 during the tenure of **Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri**. • FCI was created to undertake **procurement, storage, transportation, and distribution of foodgrains** to ensure food security. • FCI implements the **Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy** and manages the Public Distribution System (PDS). • 💡 1947 is Independence; 1955 and 1960 predate FCI — the corporation was specifically set up in 1965 in response to the food crisis India faced in the mid-1960s.