APSC CCE Prelims Mock Test - 1 - APSC CCE (Assam) MCQ

• Biswa Singha: Biswa Singha was a prominent Koch king, but he did not introduce silver coins in ancient Assam.


• Nara Narayan: Nara Narayan, one of the Koch kings, is credited with introducing silver coins in ancient Assam.


• Lakshmi Narayan: Lakshmi Narayan was another Koch king, but he was not the one who introduced silver coin in Assam.


• Basudev Narayan: Basudev Narayan was also a Koch king, but he did not introduce silver coins in ancient Assam.

• Nara Narayan, a Koch king, introduced silver coins in ancient Assam to facilitate trade and commerce in the region.


• The introduction of silver coins by Nara Narayan helped in standardizing the monetary system and promoting economic growth in Assam.


• These silver coins were used for various transactions and played a significant role in the economy of ancient Assam.


• Nara Narayan's decision to introduce silver coins reflected his vision for a prosperous and thriving kingdom.

Overall, Nara Narayan, among the Koch kings, is known for introducing silver coins in ancient Assam, which had a positive impact on the region's economy and trade.

The theme for Indian Army Day 2024 is a recognition of the 76th anniversary of the Indian Army's first Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, who took command in 1949. This day serves to honor his legacy and the contributions of the Indian Army to the nation. Interestingly, the event highlights the motto "Service Before Self," reinforcing the commitment of the armed forces to prioritize national service.

The Maldives has formally requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel by March 15. This request reflects a shift in the Maldives' foreign policy, particularly under President Mohamed Muizzu's administration, which appears to be leaning towards a pro-China stance. This development is significant as it may alter regional security dynamics in South Asia.

The Himalayan Wolf has been classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List for the first time. This classification is based on an estimated population of 2,275 to 3,792 mature adults, which is facing decline due to habitat modifications, illegal hunting, and conflicts with livestock. Protecting this species is critical for biodiversity and ecosystem balance in its native habitat.

The Rahgeere Anand Utsav is celebrated annually in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. This event focuses on fostering community joy through various sports and cultural programs. It highlights participation from local residents, particularly young girls, in traditional games and activities, emphasizing inclusivity and cultural heritage.

The United Kingdom signed a security agreement with Ukraine. This agreement is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Such alliances are vital for regional stability and demonstrate international support for Ukraine's sovereignty.

The central theme of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 is "Rebuilding Trust." This theme reflects the need for cooperation among nations and sectors in addressing global crises, including climate change and misinformation. Trust is essential for effective collaboration and problem-solving on a global scale.

Manoj Kumar, the CMD of Vekoli, was honored with the IMMA Lifetime Achievement Award. Such recognitions are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields, showcasing their leadership and commitment to excellence over the years.

PM Modi is set to inaugurate 'Atal Setu,' which is recognized as the longest sea bridge in India. This infrastructure project is crucial for improving transportation and connectivity, facilitating economic growth, and enhancing access to remote areas, thereby fostering regional development.

Wikipedia debuted on January 15, 2001, founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. This platform revolutionized access to information, allowing users to collaboratively create and edit content, thereby democratizing knowledge. It has since become one of the largest and most popular reference websites globally.

The IUCN recommends improving livestock guarding methods to protect the Himalayan Wolf. This approach aims to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock, thereby helping to stabilize wolf populations while ensuring the livelihoods of local herders are safeguarded. Effective livestock management is crucial for coexistence and biodiversity conservation.

Smooth muscles (ii) and cardiac muscles (iii) are involuntary muscles. Striated muscles (skeletal muscles) are generally under voluntary control.

NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft, currently in interstellar space, is facing communication difficulties caused by an antenna misalignment. 

About Voyager 2 Spacecraft:

• It is a space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977.
• It is part of the Voyager program, which also includes Voyager 1.
• Primary mission: To study the outer planets of our solar system and their moons, and then continue on an interstellar mission.
• It is the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space.  On Dec. 10, 2018, the spacecraft joined its twin—Voyager 1—as the only human-made objects to enter the space between the stars.
• It carries a Golden Record, a phonograph record containing sounds and images from Earth, intended to be a message to any potential extraterrestrial civilizations it might encounter in the future.
• Firsts:
• It is the only spacecraft to study all four of the solar system's giant planets at close range.
• It discovered a 14th moon at Jupiter.
• It was the first human-made object to fly past Uranus.
• At Uranus, Voyager 2 discovered 10 new moons and two new rings.
• It was the first human-made object to fly by Neptune.
• At Neptune, Voyager 2 discovered five moons, four rings, and a "Great Dark Spot."

Hence option b is the correct answer.

• The Indus also known as the Sindhu, is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India.

• It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu (31°15' N latitude and 81°40' E longitude) in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in the Kailash Mountain range. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• In Tibet, it is known as ‘Singi Khamban. Yarlung Tsangpo is the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River located in Tibet. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

• Satluj River: It originates in the ‘Raksas tal’ near Mansarovar at an altitude of 4,555 m in Tibet where it is known as Langchen Khambab.

• It flows almost parallel to the Indus for about 400 km before entering India, and comes out of a gorge at Rupar. It is the eastern most tributary of River Indus. Hence statement 3 is correct.

The correct answer is Earth's silicate mantle and its liquid iron-nickel outer core.
Key Points

• The Gutenberg discontinuity occurs within Earth's interior at a depth of about 2,900 km below the surface at the boundary between Earth's mantle and outer core.
•  The Moho lies at a depth of about 35 km below continents and about 7 km beneath the oceanic crust.
• Modern instruments have determined that the velocity of seismic waves increases rapidly at this boundary.
• The Moho was named for Andrija Mohorovicic.

The simple reason of covering the glass plates with solar cookers because the sunlight can pass through the glass easily and it gets absorbed inside the cooker. The more it traps the heat rays , thus it is helpful for heating the food.

Statement 1 is correct. Kalamsat V-2 is a student satellite which is the first to use the Fourth stage (PS4) of PSLV as an orbital platform. It was taken into orbit by PSLV-C44.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Kalamsat V-2 was developed by Students of Space Kidz India which is a chennai based Private organisation.

Statement 3 is correct. The Kalamsat V-2 will serve as Communication satellite for ham radio transmission used by amateurs for non-commercial activities. KB) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 39 consecutively successful missions by June 2017.

During 1994-2017 period, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers from abroad. Besides, the vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 – that later traveled to the Moon and Mars respectively

Statement 2 is incorrect. The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. According to the rules written in the Vinaya Pitaka, all men, women and children could join the sangha.

However, children had to take the permission of their parents and slaves of their masters. Those who worked for the king had to take his permission and debtors that of creditors. Women had to take their husbands’ permission.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Methanogens are microbes that produce methane by growing anaerobically ( not aerobically) on cellulosic material. In addition to methane, some amounts of Carbon dioxide and Hydrogen gas are also produced. One such microbe is Methanobacterium. Methanogens belong to the domain archaea, which is distinct from bacteria. Both bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic organisms.

• Statement 2 is correct: Biogas is a mixture of gases predominantly containing methane. It is produced by the microbial activity and may be used as fuel.

• Statement 3 is correct: Methonogens like Methanobacterium are present in the rumen of (a part of stomach) of cattle. A lot of cellulosic material present in the food of cattle is also present in the rumen. In rumen, these microbes help in the breakdown of cellulose and play an important role in the nutrition of cattle. Thus, the excreta of cattle (dung) is rich in these microbes. Dung can be used for generation of biogas, commonly called gobar gas. These Methanogens are also found in the anaerobic sludge during sewage treatment.

• Bhakti Yoga: Srimanta Sankardev's Vaishnavite philosophy is primarily based on Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti Yoga is the path of love and devotion, where individuals cultivate a deep and personal relationship with the divine through prayer, worship, and service.


• Devotion to Lord Vishnu: Srimanta Sankardev emphasized devotion to Lord Vishnu as the ultimate goal of human life. He believed that through unwavering devotion and surrender to Lord Vishnu, one could attain spiritual enlightenment and liberation.


• Importance of Sankirtan: Sankardev promoted the practice of Sankirtan, the congregational singing of devotional songs and hymns in praise of the divine. He believed that Sankirtan not only purifies the mind and heart but also helps in developing a deep connection with the divine.


• Community and Service: Srimanta Sankardev emphasized the importance of community living and service to humanity. He believed that selfless service and compassion towards others were essential aspects of spiritual practice.


• Merging with the Divine: Sankardev's teachings focused on the ultimate goal of merging the individual soul with the divine consciousness. Through Bhakti Yoga and devotion to Lord Vishnu, one could achieve this union and experience true spiritual liberation.

Asom Ratna is the highest civilian award in the State of Assam, awarded by the Government of Assam. It is being conferred for outstanding contribution in literature, art and culture and social service. It was started in 2009 and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was the first awardee.

The Portfolio System was introduced by Lord Canning in 1859. Under this system, a member of the Viceroy’s Council was made in-charge of one or more departments of the Government and was authorised to issue final orders on behalf of the department(s). The ‘portfolio system’ was given recognition by Indian Councils Act 1861.

• Statement 1 is correct. Jet streams are a narrow belt of high altitude (above 12,000 m) winds in the troposphere. Their path has a meandering shape. The strongest jet streams are the polar jet streams. The Jet streams are a product of two factors : Solar insolation that forms atmospheric circulation of winds (Hadley cell etc) and the Coriolis force. Their speed varies from about 110 km/h in summer to about 184 km/h in winter. A number of separate jet streams have been identified. The most constant are the mid-latitude and subtropical jet stream.

• Statement is 2 correct. The western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter months brought in by the westerly flow (jet streams) from the Mediterranean region. They usually influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India and bring about winter rainfall in these regions. They are large cyclonic systems that are very important with respect to harvesting of the rabi crops in the regions of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, northern Rajasthan and northwestern Uttar Pradesh.

• Statement 3 is incorrect. The ‘subtropical westerly jet stream’ is found over 27 - 30 north latitude. These jet streams blow south of Himalayas all throughout the year except in summer. In summer the subtropical westerly jet stream shifts north of Himalayas with the apparent movement of the sun towards the north of India. After the shift of the subtropical westerly jet stream northward, there is a sudden “burst” of monsoon in India. This leads to the formation of an easterly jet stream, called the ‘tropical easterly jet stream’ which blows over peninsular India, approximately over 14°N during the summer months.

Assam Association Merger with Assam Provincial Congress Committee

• Year of Merger: 1921
• Background:
  
  
  • The Assam Association was a political organization formed in 1917 to represent the interests of Assamese people.
  
  
  • The Assam Provincial Congress Committee was the branch of the Indian National Congress in Assam  


• Merger:
  
  
  • In 1921, the Assam Association was merged with the Assam Provincial Congress Committee.
  
  
  • This merger strengthened the political representation of Assamese people within the broader Indian National Congress  


• Significance:
  
  
  • The merger helped in consolidating the political voice of Assam and furthered the nationalist movement in the region.
  
  
  • It also paved the way for greater cooperation and coordination between the various political factions in Assam  


• Outcome:
  
  
  • The merger played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of Assam and contributed to the larger freedom struggle against British colonial rule.
  
  
   


 

• Statement 1 is correct. The extensive use of irrigation has made Punjab, Haryana and western part of Uttar Pradesh the granary of India, in the same way Prairies are called the granaries of the world.

• Statement 2 is correct. Fertile alluvial soils, flat surface, slow moving perennial rivers and favorable climate facilitate intense agricultural activity. It should be clear that most of the North Indian Rivers are perennial in nature but not all the rivers are perennial. Some of the rivers in Rajasthan are seasonal in nature.

• Statement 3 is incorrect. The sedimentary rocks of plains have petroleum and natural gas deposits, but there are less sources of metallic deposits.

• First "Ankia Nat" Written by Srimanta Sankardev: Chinhayatra

• Definition of "Ankia Nat": Ankia Nat is a form of one-act play that was created by the Vaishnavite saint and poet Srimanta Sankardev in Assam, India.


• Significance of "Ankia Nat": The Ankia Nat tradition is an important part of Assamese culture and has contributed significantly to the development of Assamese theatre.


• Chinhayatra by Srimanta Sankardev: Chinhayatra is considered to be the first Ankia Nat written by Srimanta Sankardev. It was written in the 16th century and is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna's childhood.


• Themes in Chinhayatra: The play explores themes of devotion, love, and the triumph of good over evil, which are common themes in Srimanta Sankardev's works.


• Legacy of Srimanta Sankardev's Ankia Nat: Srimanta Sankardev's Ankia Nat plays continue to be performed in Assam and have influenced the development of Assamese theatre.

JP Morgan Chase & Co has announced it will include Indian government bonds to its emerging markets bond index from June 2024.

• It is a benchmark index for measuring the total return performance of international government and corporate bonds issued by emerging market countries that meet specific liquidity and structural requirements.
• Emerging market bonds are debt instruments issued by developing countries, which tend to carry higher yields than government or corporate bonds of developed countries.
• Total 23 Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) with a combined notional value of $330 billion are eligible.
• All fall under the category of "fully accessible" for non-residents.

Advantages of this inclusion

• This move promises increased demand for the Indian rupee, potentially buffering against depreciation.
• Lower borrowing costs can fuel essential infrastructure projects.
• Increased liquidity may foster more efficient trading conditions.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Introducing a Direct Tax code can be a prudent way to increase the Tax to GDP ratio. A Direct Tax code can simplify the tax laws, widen the tax base, and reduce the tax evasion, which can lead to an increase in tax collection and Tax to GDP ratio.

Lowering of the income tax exemption limit may increase the tax collection in the short term, but it can adversely impact the disposable income and demand, which can impact the economic growth.

Increasing excise duty on crude oil may increase the tax collection in the short term, but it can lead to an increase in inflation, which can negatively impact the economic growth.

Formalization of the labor market may increase the tax collection in the long term, but it can take time to implement, and it may not have an immediate impact on the Tax to GDP ratio.

• It is the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas which are symbolic representations of Lord Shiva.

• Located at the Veraval Port or Prabhas Pattan in Saurashtra, Gujrat, the present temple is built in the Chalukyan style.

  • This Architecture is also known as the “Kailash Mahameru Prasad” style.

  • It reflects the skill of the SompuraSalats, one of Gujarat’s master masons.

• Raids - In AD 1026, Mahmud of Ghazni first looted the temple,and then came Afzal Khan, the commander of Ala-ud-din Khilji and later Aurangzeb.

• It is said that the temple was looted and destroyed as many as seventeen times.

• Post Modern History - The Iron man of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was instrumental in the construction of the present temple.

• The first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad installed the Jyotirling in the new temple on May 11, 1951.