Q1.The immediate trigger for the Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was:
a) The Poona Pact
b) Non-implementation of the S. K. Bole Resolution
c) Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms
d) Colonial restrictions on public meetings
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- The S. K. Bole Resolution (1923), passed by the Bombay Legislative Council, explicitly permitted “Depressed Classes to use all public water sources maintained by public funds.”
- Although legally sanctioned, upper-caste groups and local authorities in Mahad refused to implement it, preventing Dalits from accessing the Chavadar Tank.
- This gap between law and enforcement became the immediate and direct trigger for Ambedkar to lead thousands to Mahad in 1927 to assert their civic rights.
- Poona Pact (1932) and Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919) are historically unrelated; no colonial ban on public meetings precipitated the event.
Thus, the satyagraha was fundamentally a revolt against non-enforcement of legally granted rights, highlighting Ambedkar’s rights-based social justice strategy.
Q2.Which of the following correctly identifies the institutional agency responsible for launching DHRUVA?
a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
c) Survey of India
d) Department of Posts under Ministry of Communications
Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation:
- DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address) is a nationwide digital addressing system designed to provide unique, geocoded digital addresses integrated with postal services, logistics, and governance platforms.
- It was formally launched by the Department of Posts, which is under the Ministry of Communications.
- The initiative modernises India’s postal addressing infrastructure—analogous to how Aadhaar modernised identity—by creating an Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) ecosystem.
- MeitY and Survey of India are stakeholders in digital geospatial systems but not the implementing agency for DHRUVA.
Q3.Airborne microplastics are considered a greater public-health challenge than conventional smog because they:
- Are persistent and do not degrade
- Can act as carriers of pathogens
- Have no known indoor sources
- Are chemically inert and harmless inside the body
Select the correct answer:
a) 1 and 4
b) 2 and 3
c) 1 and 2
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct.
Microplastics are chemically stable polymers that do not degrade in the environment or inside the human body. This persistence exacerbates long-term health risks. - Statement 2: Correct.
Microplastics act as vectors for bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and toxins. Their surfaces adsorb harmful chemicals, magnifying toxic impacts. - Statement 3: Incorrect.
Indoor air commonly contains microplastics from synthetic textiles, carpets, furnishings, packaging materials, making indoor exposure often higher than outdoor. - Statement 4: Incorrect.
Microplastics are biologically active, causing:- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- endocrine disruption
- metabolic disorders
- organ damage
Thus, 1 & 2 correctly identify why microplastics constitute a more severe and complex health threat than traditional smog.
Q4.Consider the following statements:
- India recorded over 1.77 lakh road deaths in 2024.
- India’s crash fatalities per lakh population are higher than the world average.
- India has the highest number of road accident deaths globally.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 and 2
c) 2 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct.
Official data shows 1,77,177 deaths in 2024. - Statement 2: Correct.
India’s crash fatality rate = 43.4 deaths per lakh population, significantly higher than the world average and far above the U.S. (11.89) or U.K. (3.13). - Statement 3: Correct.
India records the largest number of road accident deaths globally, exceeding China and the U.S., driven by high motorisation, weak enforcement, and poor trauma-care systems.
All three statements are factually correct → Option (d).
Q5.Ethanol is considered suitable for FFVs primarily because it has:
- High octane number
- Lower lifecycle greenhouse emissions
- Higher energy density than petrol
Select the correct answer:
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 and 2
c) 2 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: High octane — Correct.
Ethanol has a higher octane rating than petrol, enabling:- better anti-knock performance
- more efficient combustion
- suitability for higher compression engines
- Statement 2: Lower lifecycle emissions — Correct.
Ethanol produced from biomass has significantly lower lifecycle CO₂ emissions, improves air quality, and supports India’s NDC commitments. - Statement 3: Higher energy density — Incorrect.
Ethanol has ~33% lower energy density than petrol.
• Petrol ≈ 34.2 MJ/L
• Ethanol ≈ 21.1 MJ/L
This means higher fuel volume needed per kilometre, unless offset by pricing advantage (as in Brazil).
Thus, ethanol is suitable for FFVs because of combustion efficiency + climate benefits, not energy density.
