1. Pattern: History and Culture: 2016’s Prelim vs. the Past
    1. Road ahead for History-Culture
    2. Solved: Freedom Struggle (6 MCQs)
    3. Solved: Culture/Ancient/Medieval (11 MCQs)
  2. Pattern: IR-Defense-PIN- 2016 vs the past
    1. Road Ahead: IR / Defense for Prelims-2017
    2. Solved: International relations (IR) & Diplomacy MCQs
    3. Solved: Defense MCQ
    4. Solved: Persons in News (PIN) MCQ

Pattern: History and Culture: 2016’s Prelim vs. the Past

History and Culture: Continuity and Change in Recent Prelims
2015 and earlier 2016 UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam
Freedom struggle easy to moderate level questions.
  • Freedom Struggle: total six questions. Among them, except the MCQ on Kesab Chandra Sen, rest of the stuff pretty easy and could be solved with Pratik Nayak’s Lecture series, NCERT, Lucent GK, Spectrum and other standard sources.
1 MCQ on which movement led to split among Moderates vs. Extermist. (Ans was Swadeshi) It seems, UPSC’s gramophone has stuck on this track. this time two MCQ- 1) why split 2) Swadeshi & Boycott started from?
Cabinet Mission asked. Cripss Mission asked
From economic history of British raj, they’ve been asking moderate to tough level MCQs especially in CAPF and CDS. Thankfully nothing from this side.
  • Culture and Ancient/Medieval India: hardly 3 MCQs in 2015. and all of them quite easy and straight forward.
  • Culture: resurgence of culture- direct jump from 3 MCQ to 11 MCQ.
  • 7 out 11 MCQS directly solved from (New) NCERT, Lucent GK and NIOS-Culture. But in real exam very difficult to solve, because of trivial-factual nature of questions.
  • UPSC’s Prem for Buddism, Jainism had declined. Just one MCQ on Buddhism.
  • 1 MCQ on Bodhisatva, 1 on Ajanta.
Tough question about rock cut monuments.
4. With reference to the art and archaeo logical history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
(a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubneshwar
(b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
(c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram
(d) varaha Image at Udayagiri		 Since 2013, every year they ask minimum one MCQ on rock cut. This time moderate level
40. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the statements given above is correct
2014: medieval dictionary type MCQs

  • What is the meaning of Panchayatan?
  • Who were Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila?
 This time, examiner’s “PREM” for Medieval dictionary, is border lining that of a lunatic.

  1. What is Araghatta?
  2. Terms (1) Eripatti (2) Taniyurs (3) Ghatikas vs. their meaning?
  • 2014: Manginyars are known for (Ans. North West- musical tradition)
 Three such questions about occupational caste/tribe/nomad

  1. Banjara known for (Ans. Trader)
  2. Who memorized epic tales? (Ans. Maagadha)
  3. Religious outlook of Sittar and Lingayats?
1 MCQ on Vijaynagar establishment by Harihar 1 MCQ on Vijaynagar taxation under Krishna Development
In 2013, 14, they used to ask tough MCQs from Vedanta and philosophical things. Thankfully nothing from that side.

If I spend more time observing the papers, I could come up with more similarities and continuities. But let’s not waste the remainder of our jawaani on this single matter…The conclusion is- 2016’s History-Culture is more akin to 2014’s prelims rather than 2015.
UPSC History culture answerkey

Road ahead for History-Culture

  • Good number of culture/medieval MCQs were from non-traditional topics within (New) NCERTs. You should prepare them, with changed glasses.
  • Out of 17 MCQs on History-Culture in Prelims-2016, only 5 MCQs are ‘out of book’. Remainder things given in the (new) NCERT, NIOS, Lucent, Spectrum, Pratik Nayak’s Lecture series. Hence they should form the ‘core’ area of preparation.
  • But it doesn’t mean 17-5=12 MCQs can be correctly ticked in actual exam. Because in culture-medieval portion very trivial factual information’s asked e.g. Malvikanimtriam is love story of Pushyamitra Sunga’s son. This is given in Lucent GK but who has time to memorize so many details.
  • So beyond a point, marginal utility turns negative. You could spent that much time in Economy, environment – and tick more.

Solved: Freedom Struggle (6 MCQs)

24. The `Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the
(a) agitation against the Partition of Bengal
(b) Home Rule Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) visit of the Simon Commission to India
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Pratik Nayak’s Lecture HFS7/P7: Swadeshi and Boycott started against Partition of Bengal in 1905. Let’s crosscheck other options as well:
(b) Home Rule Movement: 1916 it started, the demand was of ‘home rule’
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement: 1919, after Gandhi arrived, against removal of khalifa, Punjab wrongs and swaraj
(d) visit of the Simon Commission to India: 1928

33. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized
(a) a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar
(b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat
(c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
(d) a peasant movement in Punjab

Class 12 NCERT History, Page 130: Jyotiba Phule had setup this organization to begin anti-caste movement in Maharashtra.
Tamilandu State board textbook Class-11 also covers.

39. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to
(a) social reforms
(b) educational reforms
(c) reforms in police administration
(d) constitutional reforms
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Pratik Nayak’s Lecture HFS8/P3: They’re related to Constitutional reforms.

44. Consider the following :
1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee
2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation
3. Indian Reform Association

Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

In 1881, Keshab Chandra Sen established Naba Bidhan ( New Dispensation) meaning new universalist religion after having differences within Brahmo Samaj. He was also part of Indian reform association to legalize Brahmo marriage and to fix minimum age of marriage.

  • Calcutta Unitarian Committee was formed by Raja Rammohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore and William Adam, hence irrelevant to the question. Hence Option A and D are eliminated.
  • From Plassey to Partition (2nd ed.), Shekhar Bandyopadhyay, Page 153, 1st Paragraph: 1881, Keshab Chandra Sen established Naba Bidhan ( New Dispensation) meaning new universalist religion after having differences within Brahmo Samaj. Hence 2nd statement is right. Hence we’re left with Answer B) only 2 and 3.
  • Just to cross check, yes third statement is right. Sen formed Indian Reform Association (1870) to persuaded the British government to enact the Native Marriage Act of 1872( Civil marriage act) legalizing Brahmo marriages and fixing minimum marriageable act for boys and girls. Says Lucent GK 4th Ed, Page 98.

67. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
(a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
(b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
(c) Foundation of Muslim League
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Pratik Nayak’s lecture HFS7/P8: can be answered directly that “B” is the correct choice. Let’s check other options as well:

  1. Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto: it was introduced in 1909, Morley-Minto Reforms, it took place “AFTER” The split, hence irrelevant.
  1. Foundation of Muslim League: Established in 1907, but not related to split among congress. Irrelevant.
  2. Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress: In 1907, the extremists wanted either Tilak or Lajpat Rai to be president, so when Rasbehari Ghose was announced as president, the extremist resorted to violence. Hence Surat Split. “D” is also wrong.

68. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War
(a) India should be granted complete independence
(b) India should be partitioned into two before granting independence
(c) India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth
(d) India should be given Dominion status
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Pratik Nayak’s Lecture HFS11/P3: Cripps proposed to give dominion status to India after WW2. Let’s check other options:

  1. India should be granted complete independence: Given in Mountbatten Plan: Youtube HFS12/P3
  2. India should be partitioned into two before granting independence: Youtube HFS12/P3
  3. India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth: This decision was made after independence by the constituent assembly.

Solved: Culture/Ancient/Medieval (11 MCQs)

13. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally
(a) agriculturists
(b) warriors
(c) weavers
(d) traders

(New) NCERT Class 7 Ch 7: Tribes, Nomads and Settled communities, Page 94-95:
The Banjaras were the most important trader- nomads. Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Emperor Jahangir wrote in his memoirs that the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns. They transported food grain for the Mughal army during military campaigns. With a large army there could be 100,000 bullocks carrying grain.

14. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
(a) Georg Bilhler
(b) James Prinsep
(c) Max Muller
(d) William Jones

(New) NCERT Std 12th Themes in India History, Part-I, Page 28-29
It was only after decades of painstaking investigations by several epigraphists that James Prinsep was able to decipher Asokan Brahmi in 1838. He found that most of these mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi – meaning “pleasant to behold”; there were a few inscriptions which also
referred to the king as Asoka, one of the most famous rulers known from Buddhist texts.

25. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :
1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

(New) NCERT Std 12th, Themes in India History, Part-I, Page 103
Page 103: under the sub-heading Mahayan Buddism, they’ve written : “The concept of the Bodhisatta also developed. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others. The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition. This new way of thinking was called Mahayana – literally, the “great vehicle”.

Hence first statement is wrong. This eliminates A and D; while 2nd and 3rd statements are correct and by elimination of #1, there is only one such option left ie. B) 2 and 3 only.

40. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Let’s check:

  • (New) NCERT Class 11: An Introduction to Indian Art, Page 37 and 83. OR
  • Nitin Singhania’s Book on Culture (Macgrawhill Publication): Page 1.17
Option Ajanta Mahabalipuram
1) Period 200BC to 650 AD by Vakataka Kings 7th to 8th Century by Pallava Kings
2) Religion Buddhist cave Hindu Temple
3) Rock cut YES, Rock cut caves near Aurangabad, in Maharashtra YES,

Hence by elimination, only 3rd statement is right, hence option B)

63. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term Araghatta’ refers to
(a) bonded labour
(b) land grants made to military officers
(c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
(d) wastel and converted to cultivated land

Can be answered if you’ve read NCERTs with a Persian Dictionary (!) Now, UPSC trolling people through NCERTS. (New) NCERT Class 7 Page 6 and 7 discusses invention of Persian wheel in irrigation. Upon searching google book– we find this device was known as “Araghatta”. साला इतना डिटेल में कोन तेयार करता है?
64. With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of who of the following?
(a) Shramana
(b) Parivraaj
(c) Agrahaarika
(d) Maagadha

Through google books and net searching, we find

  1. Sharamana: related to Jainism
  2. Parivraaj: wandering recluse
  3. Agrahaarika: related to land grants given to Brahmins
  4. Maagadha were associated with memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales. Ref: Google Book

Hence D is the right choice.

69. Consider the following pairs:

Famous place Region
1. Bodhgaya Baghelkhand
2. Khajuraho Bundelkhand
3. Shirdi Vidarbha
4. Nasik (Nashik) Malwa
5. Tirupati Rayalaseema

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5

  • (New) NCERT Class 11 Page 28: Bodhgaya is in Bihar. Hence A and D eliminated.
  • NIOS Culture PDF, Page 194: Chandella Kings built Khajuraho in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Hence #2 is right. But it doesn’t help in elimination, we are still left with B or C.
  • It’s common knowledge that Nashik is located in Maharashtra. Now observe the map given on (new) NCERT class 9 ch.2- Nashik ought to be in somewhere in or around Deccan plateau, rather than Malwa plateau. Hence #4 is wrong. By elimination, now we are left with only C) 2 and 5.

92. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements :
1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

(New) NCERT Std 12th Themes in India History, Part-II:

  • Page 147: The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the “pollution” attributed to certain groups by Brahmanas. They also questioned the theory of rebirth. Hence 2nd statement is right.
  • Page 148: At the same time other religious leaders, who did not function within the orthodox Brahmanical framework, were gaining ground. These included the Naths, Jogis and Siddhas. Many of them came from artisanal groups, including weavers. From this, it can be inferred that statement 1 is also right. But just for the sake of crosschecking- yes Google Book also confirms (Ref#1).

84. Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements :
1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
2. Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Difficult to find source material that specifically pinpoints Krishna Deva’s Fiscal policy. But from Indian History by Krishna Reddy, we find that in Vijaya Nagar empire:

  1. Land revenue varied according to nature of cultivated land. So, #1 is right.
  2. There were taxes on various professions. So #2 may be true (most probably)

Another source- From the travelogue written by Persian envoy Abdur Razzaq in the court of Vijaynagar- and mentioned in RC Majmoodar’s Advanced History of India, gives similar hints.
Anyways, UPSC official Answerkey will clear it.

85. Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
(a) Swapnavasavadatta
(b) Malavikagnirnitra
(c) Meghadoota
(d) Ratnavali

Lucent GK, Page 35: Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga…..He was succeeded by his son Agnimitra-the hero of Kalidasa’s drama “Malvikagnimitra” Hence answer has to be (B). Sanskrit play by Kalidas, tells the story of the love of Agnimitra, the Shunga Emperor at Vidisha, for the beautiful hand-maiden of his chief queen.
Anyways, let’s also prepare the remaining options (through net surfing) – incase the question gets recycled in some other exam!

  1. Swapnavasavadatta: Sanskrit play written by Bhasa about romantic narratives about the Vatsa king Udayana and Vasavadatta, the daughter of Pradyota, the ruler of Avanti
  2. Malavikagnirnitra: Sanskrit play by Kalidas, tells the story of the love of Agnimitra, the Shunga Emperor at Vidisha, for the beautiful hand-maiden of his chief queen
  3. Meghadoota: lyric poem written by Kalidas, story of a king who convinces a passing cloud (megh) to convey a message (doota-messenger) his wife
  4. Ratnavali: Drama between Queen Ratnavali and King Udayana.

55. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Term Description
(1) Eripatti Land revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
(2) Taniyurs Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
(3) Ghatikas Colleges generally attached to the temples

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3

  • 1st pair is correct, as per Romila Thapar’s Book on Ancient India
  • NIOS Culture PDF Page 258: In the seventh and eighth centuries, ‘ghatikas’, or colleges attached to the temples emerged as new centres of learning. The ‘ghatikas’, provided Brahmanical education in Sanskrit medium. So, statement #3 is right. This eliminates A)
  • Indian History, Krishna Reddy Page B-58: Cholas created revenue units called “Taniyur” out of larger Brahmadeya. From NCERT Class 7 Page 26, we know that Brahmadeya means land gifted to Brahmanas. So, #2 may be right, may be wrong. But there is no option with 1, 2 and 3 correct. So, we can safely take #2 as wrong.

Hence, Only 1 and 3 are correctly matched.
Anyways stupid and tough question. Who has time to memorize Ancient-Medieval dictionary. The collective amount of time and energy wasted in searching this answer by UPSC aspirants on internet….utne mein toh atleast one MNREGA pond could have been dug up.

Pattern: IR-Defense-PIN- 2016 vs the past

International Relation MCQs in UPSC: Mostly continuity in the trend, hardly any change
2015 and before 2016’s prelim paper
They mostly asked ‘contemporary’ current type MCQ that were spread through months, rather than one specific event.
  • Two current affairs they picked up from October 2015- INS Astradharini and India-Africa Summit.
  • Some MCQs- are ‘contemporary’ current affairs – such as Rohingya, Madeshi, Belt-Road- they’re not specific to one day event, but rather spread through months.
Amnesty international is (ans. Human rights NGO) Doctors without border is (Ans. Medical NGO)
Organization vs members

  1. India is member of which groups?
  2. NPT not signed by whom?
  3. Mekong Ganga doesn’t include whom?
 GCC doesn’t include (in other words, Iran is not member of which group!)
Term/initiative vs. who they’re associated with

  1. Fortaleza declaration ? Ans. BRICS
  2. Beijing platform? Ans. Women Empowerment
 Belt and road initiative is by whom? Ans. China
IOR-ARC: Origin/feature/purpose of organization – Two statement true/false type MCQ Similar MCQs from

  1. India-Africa summit
  2. OPCW
Defense- 2014: a rather tough MCQ about Agni Missile Easy / Moderate question on INS Astradharini’ (given in IYB)
UPSC had stopped asking PIN (Persons in News)since inception of CSAT system in 2011 Finally resumed- with a rather easy MCQ- A man who knew infinity -movie on Mathematician S.Ramanujan’s life.

Road Ahead: IR / Defense for Prelims-2017

  • 1) Doctor without border, 2) GCC-members: these two MCQs are verbatim given in same page Macgrawhill’s GS Manual. Due to paucity of time, I’ve not checked others- but I’m sure such Intl. org. ready reference tables are available in Pearson, Spectrum and other GS manuals as well. You should atleast go through a 2nd hand copy of it.
  • Even India yearbook should be carefully read, including the ‘current events diary’ given in the last pages. INS Astradharini answer was directly given in it.
  • Apart from this, you’ve to cultivate habit to read theHindu / Indian express (Rajamohan) on regular basis. It may be possible to finish prelim-specific matter through jugaad-panti, But for mains-interview, the command over the diplomatic vocabulary, language, sentence formation and ideas, can’t come without reading the original editorials.
  • IR-defense they’ve been asking since last two years continuously, so it’s not an unexpected pattern. But yes, some of them require factual memory e.g. India-Africa summit in 2015 was 3rd summit or not? – so, it’s difficult to solve.
  • To an extend, some may find IR-MCQ section to be “pro-senior player”, but given the nature of the factual details asked- some are solvable for all (e.g. belt and road), and some are solvable by (almost) none of the players- irrespective of whether fresher / senior.

Solved: International relations (IR) & Diplomacy MCQs

17. Consider the following statements:
The India-Africa Summit
1. held in 2015 was the third such Summit
2. was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Prateek Nayak lecture (IR1/P5); Slides no- 24.

  • 1st statement is right: Third India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi(India) in Oct 2015 Theme: “Partners in Progress: Towards a Dynamic and Transformative Development Agenda”
  • 2nd statement is wrong: because First Summit was held in New Delhi in April 2008. Therefore, it can’t be Nehru’s brain-child.

26. ‘Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)’, often in the news, is
(a) a division of World Health Organization
(b) a non-governmental international organization
(c) an inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union
(d) a specialized agency of the United Nations

McGraw-Hill General Studies Manual 2015: Section General Knowledge Page 64. It is a non-governmental and non-military organization established by group of French doctors in 1971 – with its Headquarter in Brussels, Belgium. This Topic was in News during 2014-15, They came into news items related to Ebola. As such Tough question, because

  1. Difficult to keep track of every organization
  2. Even in elimination through gut-feeling there may be 50:50 between B and C- because of the Latin/French sounding name and mention of EU in “C” option.

45. Which of the following is not a member of `Gulf Cooperation Council’?
(a) Iran
(b) Saudi Arabia
(c) Oman
(d) Kuwait

  • Through gut-feeling, possible to tick correct answer, because Iran as such an odd-ball usually ostracized among Middle-eastern groups.
  • Macgrawhill General Studies Manual 2015: Section General Knowledge Page 64. List of GCC countries is given. Iran is not there.
  • Another source: covered in Mrunal’s 2013 summary of Economic Survey.

47. ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of
(a) African Union
(b) Brazil
(c) European Union
(d) China
UPSC CSAT 2016 Prelim History culture Answerkey
Prateek Nayak lecture – IR2/P1: opening slide itself vertim gives this. Actually whole 36 min. lecture is dedicated to this topic only!

94. Consider the following pairs :
Community sometimes In the affairs of mentioned in the news

1. Kurd Bangladesh
2. Madhesi Nepal
3. Rohingya Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
Explanation

  1. #1: is wrong. Kurd pair should be either Turkey (for 2016, demand for separation nation) or Iraq (2015, their political movement in the after years of Saddam-fall).
  2. #2 is right. Madeshi are in Nepal- Ref: Mrunal’s article on Nepal Logjam OR Mrunal’s Nove-ber-2015 PIN compilation
  3. #3 is right. Rohingya in Myanmar- Ref: Mrunal’s article on human rights of Rohingya, Chago and Tutsi
    Therefore, Answer is only 2 and 3

95. With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements :
1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- B

Britannica: It’s an international organization setup in 1997. By the 2001 Relationship Agreement between the OPCW and the United Nations, the OPCW reports on its inspections and other activities to the UN through the office of the secretary-general. There is no specific mention of EU, NATO or WTO. Therefore, statement 1 is wrong. By elimination of all options with statement 1, we are left with answer (B)

Possible to solve through gut-feeling as well- because EU+NATO+WTO combo seems far-fetched for an organization.

Solved: Defense MCQ

21. Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
(a) Amphibious warfare ship
(b) Nuclear-powered submarine
(c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

India Yearbook 2016 page 972: Last section Indigenously built Torpedo Launch and Recovery Vessel ‘INS Astradharini’ commissioned in October 2015.

Solved: Persons in News (PIN) MCQ

74. A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
(a) S. Ramanujan
(b) S. Chandrasekhar
(c) S. N. Bose
(d) C. V. Raman

Answer- A. Mrunal’s April-2016 current affairs compilation ‘The Man who knew infinite’ is a biographical movie of Indian Mathematician Srinivas Ramanujan (played by Dev Patel) and his association with British mathematician GH Hardy. Ramanujan was a self-taught (autodidatic) Mathematician- born and died in Madras Presidency.