Indian Culture, History, and Geography

Section A: Matching Pairs

• Kuchipudi dance originates from Andhra Pradesh
• Kannada is the language of Karnataka
• Rosogulla is a Bengali sweet
• Raas-Garba is a dance from Gujarat

Section A: Fill in the Blanks

• The Minister of Finance presents the budget in Parliament
• The width of the Central Himalayas is 80-100 km
• The Supreme Court is at the top of the judiciary in India
• There are approximately 15,000 types of flowering plants in India
• The English Government passed the Regulating Act in 1773 A.D.

Section A: True or False

• River Krishna is not called 'The Ganga of South', it is false
• The Union List does not consist of 66 subjects, it is false
• The United Nations was not headquartered in Geneva, it is false
• Dr Rajendra Prasad was not the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, it is false
• Lakshadweep Islands are not located in the Bay of Bengal, it is false

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions

• Lakshadweep Archipelago is home to rare species of corals
• Days are shorter and nights are longer in winter
• 24th October is celebrated as 'United Nations' Day
• The serial suicidal terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001 were in the United States of America
• The failure of the Second Round Table Conference was due to multiple reasons:
  • Gandhi was the sole representative from Congress
  • British rejection of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact
  • British intention to discriminate religious committees

Section A: One Word/Sentence Answers

• The Swarajya Party aimed to enter legislative assemblies via elections and challenge unfair British policies
• Blackbuck, wolf, bustard, and ghorad can be seen in Velavadar Kaliar National Park in Gujarat

Governor Generals Arrangement

• The correct order of Governor Generals from earliest to latest is: Warren Hastings, John Shore, Wellesley, Dalhousie

Influential Figures and Event

• The image includes Jawaharlal Nehru, Lord Mountbatten, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah
• Mountbatten Plan for the partition of India was presented at the meeting in the image

Mountains by Height

• The mountains arranged in decreasing order of height are: K2, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Dhavalgiri

Section B: Short Answer Questions

The Three Mysore Wars

• The English and French sought dominance in the 18th century
• The focus of the 3 Mysore Wars between 1746-1763, were fought between the French East India Company and British East India Company
• The British East India Company became strong after the French East India Company lost
• The Portuguese retained Diu, Daman, and Goa at war's end
• The French kept Chandranagar, Mahe, Karaikal, and Pondicherry
• The Dutch left India forever

Bloody Sunday (January 22, 1905)

• A peaceful procession in St. Petersburg was led by Father Gapon to petition the Tsar
• The Tsar's army fired on the unarmed crowd
• Thousands died, and the snow turned red, coining the day "Bloody Sunday"

Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement

• Gandhiji's Non-Cooperation Movement advocated non-violent resistance
• A violent incident occurred on February 5, 1922, in Chauri-Chaura, Uttar Pradesh
• A mob torched a police station, resulting in 21 deaths
• Gandhiji halted the Non-Cooperation Movement because people were not non-violent

Quit India Movement

• The Congress Working Committee ended Individual Satyagraha in January 1942 during World War II
• The British sought assistance from India and dispatched the Cripps Mission for constitutional reforms
• Indians lost faith in the British due to the Cripps Mission
• Gandhiji initiated the 'Quit India Movement' on August 9, 1942
• British arrested Gandhi and other leaders
• Arrests led to nationwide strikes
• Gandhiji's slogan was "Do or die"

Operation Vijay

• In 1961, 'Operation Vijay' was a military action by India to liberate Goa, Diu, and Daman from Portuguese rule
• Efforts to persuade Portugal to leave failed
• Satyagraha began in Goa with Indian support
• The Portuguese suppressed Satyagraha, leading to military intervention by India

Rights and Duties

• Rights and duties are connected with each other
• While enjoying rights, respect the rights of others
• Duties are tied with rights

Supreme Court as a Court of Record

• The Supreme Court's decisions are recorded
• These rulings are binding on all courts and citizens
• Supreme Court judgements serve as 'case law' and can be cited in any Indian court
• Disregarding Supreme Court decisions is punishable

Utility of Lakes

• Some Indian lakes, like Amarkantak Lake, are sources of rivers such as the Narmada
• Lake water conserved during heavy rains can be used for irrigation, drinking, domestic purposes, and fishing
• Lake water is critical during droughts
• Dam-built lakes aid irrigation, hydroelectricity, and fishing
• Lakes enhance natural beauty and become tourist sites

Punjabi Food and Dress

• Punjabis eat Tanduri Roti and various parathas and mixed vegetables
• Lassi is a common Punjabi drink
• Men wear a loose shirt (Jhabbho) and salwar, headgear, and sometimes an embroidered jacket
• Women wear salwar-kameez

Types of Disasters

• Disaster Management divides disasters into natural and man-induced categories
• Natural disasters include floods, cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, volcanoes, and forest fires
• Man-induced disasters include fires, industrial accidents, bomb blasts, riots, and traffic issues

Universal Adult Suffrage

• Universal adult suffrage grants every citizen the right to vote upon reaching a certain age
• This right exists regardless of religion, caste, race, gender, education, income, or wealth
• Those with unsound mental conditions or those legally disqualified are excluded

Danger to Wild Animals

• Deforestation deprives wild animals of habitats
• Animals are hunted for meat, hides, bones, horns, teeth, feathers, or as a hobby
• Farmers use insecticides and poisons that harm animals and birds
• Human activities and water resource depletion in forests endanger wildlife

Section C: Detailed Answer Questions

Tsunamis

• 'Tsunami' is Japanese for 'destructive waves'
• Earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher under the ocean, volcanic eruptions, or landslides cause tsunami
• Tsunamis are also called oceanic earthquake waves
• The impact is less at the earthquake's origin but more destructive upon reaching the coast
• Waves can exceed 30 meters in height
• As tsunami waves enter shallow water, speed decreases, height increases
• Tsunamis result in severe devastation
• India experienced a tsunami on December 26, 2004, and Japan on March 11, 2011

Wildlife Protection Projects

• Project Tiger began in 1973 due to declining tiger populations, covering 48 areas in 9 protected zones
• Project Lion, started in 1972 due to the dwindling number of lions only in Gir Forest
• Other projects address specific species: Hangool for Kashmiri bara-singa, Crocodile for saline crocodiles, Rhino for Indian rhino, and Snow Leopard

Deccan Plateau

• Deccan Plateau stretches south from the Satpuda, Mahadev, and Maikal ranges
• The plateau's northwestern parts consist of lava deposits
• The Western Ghats border the Deccan Plateau to the west, whereas the Eastern Ghats border the Deccan Plateau to the east
• The Western Ghats have local names: Sahyadri (Maharashtra, Karnataka), Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu), Anaimalai and Cardamom Hills (Kerala-Tamil Nadu border)
• The southern Western Ghats are taller
• The average height ranges from 900 to 1000 meters
• Isolated hills exceeding 900 meters form the Eastern Ghats
• Most Deccan Plateau rivers flow east into the Bay of Bengal, except the Narmada and Tapi
• Eastern Ghats slope gently southeast

Independence of Judiciary

• Independence of judiciary means 'Justice without fear or favor'
• It is separate from the legislature and executive
• Securing the tenure of judges, eligibility requirements, and restrictions after retirement, and by protecting against public criticism
• To maintain dignity and prevent corruption, attractive salaries and service conditions are offered to attract legal talent

Integration of Junagadh

• Junagadh was a princely state in Saurashtra led by a Muslim Nawab with a Hindu population
• The Nawab merged Junagadh with Pakistan, which Pakistan recognized on August 15, 1947
• Sardar Patel intervened due to public outcry and formed the 'Aarzi Hukumat’, the purpose was to integrate Junagadh to India
• When the Indian army and navy encircled Junagadh, the Nawab fled to Pakistan
• The Indian army gained control on November 9, 1947 integrating Junagadh into India

Battle of Plassey

• Siraj-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Bengal, and the East India Company were combatants
• The East India Company built a fortress without the Nawab's permission
• Robert Clive led an army to protect Kolkata
• Clive made a plan to defeat the Nawab
• Commander Mir Jafar and Seth Amichand plotted against the Nawab
• Siraj-ud-Daula was defeated, and Mir Jafar was installed as the Nawab
• The corporation acquired freehold over 24 Parganas

Long-Term Effects of WWI

• The seeds of the Second World War were sown by the peace
• The vanquished nations were humiliated, which created the urge for revenge
• The denying of admission to League of Nations humiliated Soviet Russia, which rendered the League of Nations ineffective

Real Creator of Pakistan

• The British used the Divide and Rule approach to undermine Hindu-Muslim unity
• Viceroy Lord Minto and Diwan Morley aimed to divide communities
• To isolate Muslims from overall Indian political organizations, the Minto and Morley encouraged Muslim leaders to form the Muslim League
• The Muslim League, the Nawab of Dhaka Salimullakhan, Viceroy Minto, and minister Dunlop Smith were establishment figures
• The Muslim League established a conference to not attend the congress conference
• Lord Minto's divisive plan fuelled the rise of Pakistan

Trade Winds

• Trade winds are permanent winds originating from tropical high-pressure belts toward the equatorial low-pressure belt
• The trade winds deflect by the effect of the coriolis. They consistently flow at about the same rate
• Because these winds were used to travel across the ocean, they are known as trade winds

Section D: Essay Answer Questions

Dandi March

• The Dandi March for civil disobedience to breach the Salt Act
• At Ahmedabad on March 11, 1930, Gandhi urged non-violent opposition
• Seventy eight disciples began the 378-kilometer Dandi March on March 12
• Gandhi said on March 29th that he would die rather than return to the Ashram without achieving Poorna Swaraj
• Gandhi and his people arrived to Dandi on April 5th, and Gandhi broke the Salt Act on April 6th
• The Dandi Match caused the country to support the Civil Disobedience Movement and created a greater faith

Ganga River System

• The Ganga begins with the joining of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers at Devprayag close to Gangotri
• Many minor and big rivers flow to the Ganges as it runs through the plains
• Ghaghra, Gandak, and Kosi are significant Nepal Rivers
• The Yamuna River is created by the Yamunotri Glacier
• The main river Ganges bifurcates at Farakka, West Bengal, where it flows to Bangladesh as the Padma, which then joins the Brahmaputra/Jamuna, also where it is called as Meghna
• The Brahmaputra and Ganges delta covers more than 2500 km and is known as Sundarvan, due to its basin

Remedies for Wildlife Conservation

• The remedies to conserve wildlife are
  • Enact long-term conservation of trees
  • Laws for safeguarding forests and wildlife with civic participants
  • Social groups should focus on these measures through school courses, citizen courses, etc
  • Evaluate impacts of future projects
  • Prevent tree cutting

Merger of Princely States

• There were 562 of the princely states when India became independent
• Sardar Patel implemented the union of the states very well with Shri V. P. Menon, then the Home Secretary
• The task was to ensure that there was foundation among the strong and united India in 1947

The Non-Cooperation Movement

• The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Gandhiji in 1920
• The non cooperation activities included the following:
  • Boycotting of elections
  • Leaving the government
  • Honor
  • And other positive programs
• Kashi Vidyapeeth and Jamia-Milia Instituted unity, Khadi, and removed untouchability
• People abandoned other garments for Khadi

Effects of WWII

• Enormous expenditure
• The economy was in tatters
• Communist rule in China created a cold war caused by USA and the USSR. It ended on October 24th 1945.

Disaster effects on human life

• There is flood or damage to the river
• Lives are lost
• Infrastructure goes away
• Disease due to heavy heavy floods for long run.

Map Questions

• Show the following four places in the linear map of India given to you
  • Sambhar lake
  • Godavari river
  • Nalasarovar Bird Sanctuary
  • Gir National Flight