1. Which of the following planets is called as the Earth’s twin?

A. Mercury B. Venus C. Jupiter D. Neptune

2. Trade winds are formed due to

A. Convection B. Conduction C. Radiation D. Scattering

3. The deposits of the ancient Tethys Sea were folded to form the

A. Blue Mountains B. Andes C. Himalayas D. Alps

4. The atmospheric pressure exerted on the Earth is because of

A. Rotation of earth on its own axis B. Revolution of earth around the Sun C. Gravitational pull D. Uneven heating of earth

5. The deflection of winds to the right in the northern hemisphere is due to

A. Revolution of the Earth B. Rotation of the Earth C. Smaller land to Ocean ratio D. All the above

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
Scientists call Venus the Earth’s twin planet as the two are similar in size, mass, density, gravity, and composition. Of course, there are differences as well, but the similarities far outweigh them. Hence the epithet.
2. Answer - Option A
Explanation -
The trade winds are caused by convection of air currents and the Earth's rotation. The air near the Equator gets hot and moves towards each pole, respectively, and it is deflected by the Coriolis Effect (the spin of the Earth).
3. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
The Tethys Ocean existed at a time in earlier geological periods between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia during much of the Mesozoic era, before the opening of the Indian and Atlantic oceans during the Cretaceous period.
4. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air molecules above that surface. Normal atmospheric pressure is equal to the pressure exerted by a Mercury column measuring 76 cm.
5. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
The Coriolis Effect is responsible for the deflection in global wind patterns. The anticlockwise rotation of the Earth deflects winds to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

1. Which of the following statements about the Progressive Writers’ Association, which created a generation of creative people, is/are correct? (I) It thought critically about the poverty and hunger of the Indian people. (II) It brought out the positive developments of colonialism. (III) Its creative pursuits began with a critical evaluation of Gandhian political. (IV) It planned India’s development model. Select the correct answer using the code given below

A. I and III only B. II and IV only C. I, II and III only D. I, II, III and IV

2. E V Ramaswamy Naickar was associated with (I) Reforming Brahmanism (II) The Self-respect movement (III) The Low Caste Movement (IV) The Communist Movement Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I, II and III only D. I, II, III and IV

3. Gandhiji’s ‘Harijan Campaign’ sought to (I) Attack the caste system as a whole (II) Open wells, roads, temples, etc to Harijans (III) Encourage social work among Harijans Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I, II and III only D. I, II, III and IV

4. The Salt Satyagraha called by Mahatma Gandhi saw the (I) Violation of salt laws along coastal India (II) Participation of women (III) Upward swing when it came to the working class joining in Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I, II and III only D. I, II, III and IV

5. During the Civil Disobedience Movement, tribes from Chota Nagpur. (I) Gave up opium consumption (II) Wore Khadi (III) Gave up drinking liquor and eating meat Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I and III only D. I, II and III

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option A
Explanation -
The Progressive Writers’ Association (PWA) was formed in April 1936 in Lucknow under the leadership of Munshi Premchand. The first manifesto of the progressive writers' movement was drafted in London by Mulk Raj Anand and the Urdu litterateur Sajjad Zaheer. The movement was formally launched in Lucknow in April 1936.
The founding conference of the PWA, or the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind as it was called in Urdu literary circles, had the blessings of such giants of Indian literature as Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and Munshi Premchand. Primarily, the group’s ideology was anti-imperialistic and left-oriented.
2. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, commonly known as Periyar, was a Tamilian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He was born on 17 September 1879 and died on 24 December 1973.
He questioned the subjugation of the Dravidian race as the Brahmins enjoyed gifts and donations from them, but opposed and disseminated them in cultural and religious matters.
3. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
Gandhiji’s Harijan Campaign was not against the caste system as a whole. The campaign sought to reform the caste system by removing the hierarchical tendencies and the injustice towards the lower caste harijans/dalits.
4. Answer - Option A
Explanation -
The Salt March, also known as the Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha, was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience initiated by Gandhi to produce salt from the seawater in the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat.
The 24-day march began from 12 March 1930 and continued until 6 April 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly. The movement gained worldwide attention which gave impetus to the Indian independence movement and started the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.
5. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930. Under the influence of Gandhi, the tribal population living in the Chota Nagpur area wore khadi and gave up drinking liquor and eating meat.

1. Consider the following about ‘Param Vir Chakra’: (I) It is the highest peacetime gallantry award. (II) It is the replacement of British Victoria Cross. (III) It can awarded to civilians. Which of the above statements given above is/are correct:

A. I only B. II only C. II and III only D. I, II and III

2. What was the code name for the Indian Air Force operations during the Kargil Conflict of 1999?

A. Operation Vijay B. Operation Meghdoot C. Operation Indradhanush D. Operation Safed Sagar

3. During the independence movement, the Indian National Army was organised to fight against

A. Germany and Japan B. The British in India C. Japan D. Russia

4. Consider the following statements about ‘Sahayog Kaijin’: (I) It is the joint exercise of the Coast Guards of India and Japan. (II) Its 15th edition was held recently off Chennai port Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. I only B. II only C. Both I and II D. Neither I nor II

5. Consider the following statements about Pruthvi-II Missile: (I) It is a nuclear capable ballistic missile. (II) It has a maximum range of 100 km. (III) It is India’s first native made ballistic missile. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I and III only D. I, II and III

Answers and Explanations
1. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
Paramvir Chakra is the highest wartime gallantry medal for officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of valour in the presence of the enemy, on land, at sea or in the air.
The medal was introduced in January 1950 and with effect from 15 August 1947. It is made of bronze. It can be awarded posthumously. Param Vir Chakra is the equivalent award of Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom and the Medal of Honour in the United States.
2. Answer - Option D
Explanation -
The Kargil War also known as the Kargil conflict was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). The conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay.
3. Answer - Option B
Explanation -
An important development in the struggle for freedom during the Second World War was the formation and activities of the Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army, or INA. Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary who had escaped from India and had been living in Japan for many years, set up the Indian independence league with the support of Indians living in the countries of south-east Asia.
When Japan defeated the British armies and occupied almost all the countries of south-East Asia, the league formed the Indian National Army from among the Indian prisoners of war with the aim of liberating India from the British rule. General Mohan Singh, who had been an officer in the British Indian army, played an important role in organizing this army.
In the meantime, Subhas Chandra Bose had escaped from India in 1941 and gone to Germany to work for India’s Independence. In 1943, he came to Singapore to lead the Indian Independence league and rebuild the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to make it an effective instrument for the freedom of India.
4. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
The Sahayog-Kaijin is a bilateral exercise between India and Japan. It is a part of the cooperative arrangements between two Coast Guards for the last 15 years. The exercise is also a part of the Memorandum on Cooperation, which was signed between India and Japan in 2006. It is a biennial bilateral exercise and the venue shifts in both countries on alternate occasions.
5. Answer - Option C
Explanation -
Prithvi-II Missile is a surface-to-surface missile. It is the first missile to be developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It was inducted into India's armed forces in 2003.
It weighs around 4600 kilogram and has a strike range of 350 kilometre. It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. The naval operational variant of Prithvi-II class missiles are known as Dhanush. It has already been inducted into Indian navy.