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Past Questions
The world’s best and unique semiconductor and chip manufacturing industry is
A)
Intel Corp. (INTC)
B)
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM)
C)
Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM)
D)
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)
The question asks for the 'best and unique' semiconductor and chip manufacturing industry. The key to this answer lies in the distinction between 'fabless' companies and 'foundries'.
1. **Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC)** is a pure-play foundry. This means they do not design their own chips; instead, they manufacture chips for other companies (like Apple, Nvidia, and AMD). They are 'unique' because they hold a near-monopoly on the most advanced process nodes (e.g., 3nm and 5nm), making them the most critical link in the global electronics supply chain.
2. **Intel Corp. (INTC)** is an Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM), meaning they design and manufacture their own chips. While powerful, they have historically struggled to keep pace with TSMC's manufacturing precision.
3. **Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM)** and **Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)** are 'fabless' companies. They design the architecture of the chips but do not own the factories (fabs) to manufacture them; they outsource the actual production to foundries like TSMC.
Therefore, TSMC is the correct answer as it is the world's leading and most unique dedicated manufacturing entity in the semiconductor industry.
The Mizo’s name for the group of stars known as ‘Taurus’ is
A)
Sichakai
B)
Khiangte zawng zim
C)
Sikawikap
D)
Thlasik kawng
In traditional Mizo astronomy, the constellation Taurus (including the Pleiades cluster) is culturally referred to as 'Khiangte zawng zim'.
A polymer which is coated as a thin layer on the inner side of non-sticking pans is
A)
Bakelite
B)
Teflon
C)
PVC
D)
Polypropylenes
Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE) is a fluoropolymer with exceptional thermal stability and a very low coefficient of friction, making it the standard coating used on non-stick cookware.
On an average the temperature decreases with altitude at the rate of:
A)
5°C per 1000 meters
B)
5.5°C per 1000 meters
C)
6°C per 1000 meters
D)
6.5°C per 1000 meters
The environmental lapse rate in the troposphere is a temperature decrease of approximately 6.5°C per 1,000 meters of altitude.
A micro enterprise is an enterprise where investment in plant and machinery does not exceed how much amount?
A)
Rs. 25 Lakh
B)
Rs. 50 Lakh
C)
Rs. 1 Crore
D)
Rs. 5 Crore
Under the revised MSME classification criteria effective from July 2020, a micro enterprise is defined as an enterprise where investment in plant and machinery does not exceed Rs. 1 Crore and annual turnover does not exceed Rs. 5 Crore.
Which one of the pairs given below is/are correctly matched? 1. Chilka Lake - Odisha 2. Lake Pulicat - Tamil Nadu 3. Lake Sambhar - Gujarat 4. Wular Lake - Jammu and Kashmir
A)
1, 2 and 3
B)
2, 3 and 4
C)
1, 2 and 4
D)
1, 3 and 4
Chilka Lake is in Odisha (1 is correct), Lake Pulicat is located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (2 is correct), Sambhar Lake is in Rajasthan, not Gujarat (3 is incorrect), and Wular Lake is in Jammu and Kashmir (4 is correct). Thus, 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched.
Which of the following is not associated with the Kanpur conspiracy case?
A)
S.A. Dange
B)
Muzaffar Ahmed
C)
Nalini Gupta
D)
Ashfaqulla Khan
Ashfaqulla Khan was a prominent revolutionary associated with the Kakori Train Action (1925) of the HRA, not the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case (1924), which targeted communist leaders like S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, and Nalini Gupta.
Mizo chief who captured and brought Mary Winchester into the Lushai Hills
A)
Vuttaia
B)
Bengkhuaia
C)
Lalsavunga
D)
Sibuta
Mizo Chief Bengkhuaia of Sailam led the 1871 raid on Alexandrapur tea estate and captured the British child Mary Winchester (Zoluti).
The concept of carbon credit originated from
A)
Kyoto protocol
B)
Montreal protocol
C)
Earth summit
D)
Doha round
The concept of carbon credits was formalized under the Kyoto Protocol as a market-based mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Which of the following is formed due to the filling of lakes?
A)
Lacustrine plain
B)
Peninsula
C)
Alluvium deposit
D)
Piedmont plateau
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Definition of Lacustrine: The term 'lacustrine' is derived from the Latin word 'lacus', meaning lake. In geomorphology, lacustrine deposits are sediments that accumulate in a lake environment.
2. Process of Formation: Over time, lakes can be filled with sediments (silt, clay, and organic matter) brought in by rivers or through the weathering of the lake bed. Once the lake is completely filled or dries up, the resulting flat land surface is known as a lacustrine plain.
3. Evaluating other options:
- Peninsula: A piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water; it is a coastal landform, not formed by the filling of a lake.
- Alluvium deposit: While alluvium (silt/sand) is the material that often fills a lake, 'alluvium deposit' is a general term for any sediment deposited by flowing water (rivers), not specifically the resulting landform of a filled lake.
- Piedmont plateau: A plateau located at the foot of a mountain range (the 'piedmont' area), typically formed by tectonic activity or the accumulation of debris at the base of mountains, not by the filling of lakes.
The understanding made between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress in 1916 was the
A)
Khilafat Pact
B)
Lucknow Pact
C)
Lahore Pact
D)
Madras Pact
The agreement concluded between the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League in their joint 1916 Lucknow session is known as the Lucknow Pact.
The consequences of World War I for India and the Indian national movement included: 1. Huge increase in defence expenditure funded by war loans and rising taxes. 2. Customs duties were lowered to zero to import cheap British products in India 3. The Rowlatt Act was repealed. 4. The Indian industries were rejuvenated as demand for industrial goods during the WW-I increased. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A)
1 and 4 only
B)
2, 3 and 4 only
C)
1 and 3 only
D)
1, 2 and 4 only
During World War I, defense spending escalated leading to war loans and increased taxes (statement 1). British imports declined and Indian industries expanded to supply wartime demand (statement 4). Customs duties were raised (not lowered to zero), making statement 2 false, and the Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 (not repealed), making statement 3 false.
2023 QS World Universities Rankings have included how many Academic Programmes from India within Global Top 100?
A)
22
B)
33
C)
44
D)
12
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, a total of 44 academic programmes from Indian universities and institutes were ranked within the global Top 100.
As per the Human Development Index (HDI), the index value varies between
A)
0 and 1
B)
0 and 5
C)
-5 and +5
D)
0 and 10
The Human Development Index (HDI) calculated by the UNDP is a normalized composite index with values ranging between 0 and 1.
A bison’s horn used by Mizo hunters for carrying gun-powder
A)
Fungki
B)
Piallung
C)
Haite
D)
Tawngkawla
In traditional Mizo culture, 'Fungki' refers to a bison/mithun horn used by hunters for carrying gunpowder.
Which Governor General abolished sati?
A)
Wellesley
B)
Curzon
C)
William Bentinck
D)
Dalhousie
Governor-General Lord William Bentinck enacted the Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, which banned the practice of Sati throughout British India.
Which Seaport is located in the eastern side of the Gulf of Kutch?
A)
Mumbai
B)
Goa
C)
Kandla
D)
Dwarka
Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) is a major seaport located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
The most environment-friendly refrigerants are
A)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
B)
Hydrocarbons (HC)
C)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
D)
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
To determine the most environment-friendly refrigerant, we must evaluate two primary environmental metrics: Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP).
1. **Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs):** These have high ODP because they release chlorine atoms into the stratosphere, which destroy the ozone layer. They also have very high GWP. (Least friendly)
2. **Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs):** These were introduced as transitional substitutes for CFCs. While they have lower ODP than CFCs, they still contain chlorine and contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. (Not friendly)
3. **Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):** These were developed to have zero ODP (no chlorine). However, they are potent greenhouse gases with very high GWP, contributing significantly to climate change. (Moderately friendly regarding ozone, but poor regarding climate).
4. **Hydrocarbons (HC):** Natural refrigerants like propane (R290) and isobutane (R600a) have zero ODP and extremely low GWP. They do not deplete the ozone layer and have a negligible impact on global warming compared to the other options.
Therefore, Hydrocarbons are the most environment-friendly option among the choices provided.
National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is located in
A)
Mumbai
B)
Dehradun
C)
Hyderabad
D)
Chennai
The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is a primary center of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. The NRSC is responsible for the acquisition, processing, and distribution of remote sensing data from Indian satellites (such as the IRS series) and manages the ground stations for these satellites.
Analysis of other options:
- Mumbai: Not the headquarters of NRSC; it is a major financial hub and hosts various other institutions.
- Dehradun: Known for the Forest Research Institute (FRI) and the Indian Military Academy, but not NRSC.
- Chennai: While it hosts several space-related industries and research centers, it is not the location of the NRSC.
The world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge provides a link between
A)
Howrah-Allahabad-Mumbai Railway Link (HAMRL)
B)
Srinagar-Baramullah-Budgam Railway Link (SBBRL)
C)
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah Railway Link (USBRL)
D)
Udhampur-Srinagar-Allahabad Railway Link (USARL)
The Chenab Bridge is part of the USBRL project, connecting Udhampur, Srinagar, and Baramullah.
India’s sovereignty ultimately rests with the:
A)
President of India
B)
People
C)
Prime Minister
D)
Constitution
The Preamble to the Constitution declares 'We, the people of India...', establishing that ultimate sovereignty in India resides with the people.
Which among the following is the oldest Veda?
A)
Sama Veda
B)
Yajur Veda
C)
Rig Veda
D)
Atharva Veda
The Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas, containing hymns to the deities.
Which of the following is not included in the National Food Security Mission?
A)
Oilseeds
B)
Wheat
C)
Rice
D)
Pulses
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM), launched in 2007-08 by the Government of India, initially covered three core crops: Rice, Wheat, and Pulses (coarse cereals were added later in the 12th Plan).
Match the following and select the correct ones: Biosphere Reserve - State A. Nanda Devi - 1. Odisha B. Manas - 2. Sikkim C. Simlipal - 3. Tamil Nadu D. Kangchenjunga - 4. Assam E. Gulf of Mannar - 5. Uttaranchal
A)
3 4 1 2 5
B)
2 3 5 4 1
C)
5 4 1 2 3
D)
2 3 4 5 1
Nanda Devi is in Uttarakhand/Uttaranchal (5), Manas is in Assam (4), Simlipal is in Odisha (1), Kangchenjunga is in Sikkim (2), and Gulf of Mannar is in Tamil Nadu (3). This corresponds to the sequence 5 4 1 2 3.
The term ‘Thingthiah’ in traditional Mizo society relates with
A)
Thihthiap ven
B)
Mitthirawp lam
C)
Sakei lu lam
D)
Khuangchawi
In traditional Mizo society, 'Thingthiah' involves the communal collection and preparation of firewood specifically for the grand feast of 'Khuangchawi'.