Mock Test: General Awareness - 9 - AFCAT MCQ

The concept of Fundamental Duties was introduced by the 42nd Amendment to the Indian Constitution in 1976.

The economic reforms focused on liberalizing the economy and integrating it into the global market, opening up to foreign investment and reducing trade barriers.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the largest exporter of IT services from India. It is a multinational IT services and consulting company headquartered in Mumbai.

The function of a Geiger-Muller counter is (a) measuring radiation levels. A Geiger-Muller counter is a radiation detection instrument that detects and measures ionizing radiation, such as alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. It is commonly used in nuclear physics, radiation protection, and various industries where radiation monitoring is necessary.

The Finance Ministry is responsible for vetting and consolidating the estimates received from various government departments during the budget preparation process.

The Konkan Railway connects Mumbai in Maharashtra and Mangalore in Karnataka, passing through the picturesque Konkan region.

The political demands of the Moderate leaders included an increase in the employment of Indians to civil services, expansion of membership of legislative bodies, and the repeal of the Sedition Act of 1898.

The Charter Act of 1833 mandated the codification of laws in India, which led to the establishment of the Law Commission and the eventual enactment of significant legal codes like the Indian Penal Code and Codes of Civil and Criminal Law.

Kaziranga National Park, located in Assam, is renowned for its successful conservation efforts of the Indian Rhinoceros.

The Finance Commission of India is constituted every 5 years, as per the text provided. It is formed to review and recommend the distribution of tax proceeds and other financial matters.

One of the characteristics of Administrative Tribunals in India is that they must be created by a statute. They are established through specific legislative acts to address particular types of disputes.

Tokyo, Japan, is not a Riverside City, as it is primarily located along the Pacific Ocean.

Isaac Newton is associated with the discovery of gravity. His law of universal gravitation, published in 1687, described the force of gravity and its effect on objects. Newton's work laid the foundation for understanding the motion of celestial bodies and the laws governing the physical universe.

Three great saint composers - Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri are known as the 'Trimurti' of Carnatic music. They were not only contemporaries during the later half of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, but were also, incredibly, born in the same town of Thiruvarur in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.

The first hang gliders were flown in the 1800s.
Explanation:
Hang gliders are a type of aircraft that are unpowered and rely on the wind for lift. The history of hang gliding dates back several centuries, but the first recorded flights took place in the 1800s. Here's a detailed explanation:
1. Early Concepts:
- Leonardo da Vinci, in the 15th century, sketched designs for a glider-like aircraft, which laid the groundwork for the concept of hang gliding.
- In the 17th and 18th centuries, inventors and engineers like George Cayley and Otto Lilienthal made significant advancements in understanding flight and glider design.
2. The First Flights:
- In the 1800s, several pioneers made attempts at flying gliders that resembled modern hang gliders.
- Sir George Cayley, an English engineer, is often credited with building the first successful hang glider in the mid-19th century.
- Octave Chanute, an American aviation pioneer, also experimented with gliders in the late 1800s.
3. Lilienthal's Contributions:
- Otto Lilienthal, a German aviation pioneer, made significant contributions to the development of hang gliding in the late 19th century.
- Lilienthal conducted extensive research and made numerous flights in his gliders, which greatly influenced the design and understanding of hang gliding.
4. Modern Hang Gliding:
- The 20th century saw further advancements in hang gliding technology, with notable figures like Francis Rogallo and Richard Miller contributing to its development.
- In the 1960s and 1970s, hang gliding gained popularity as a recreational sport, and improvements in materials and safety equipment made it more accessible.
In conclusion, while the concept of hang gliding has roots in earlier centuries, the first documented flights of hang gliders took place in the 1800s. The pioneers of that time laid the foundation for the development and popularity of hang gliding as a sport in the following centuries.

Commander Robert Peary's Discovery of the North Pole

• Background: Commander Robert Peary was an American explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic region in an attempt to reach the North Pole.


• Expeditions: Peary made his first attempt to reach the North Pole in 1902, but was unsuccessful. He made subsequent attempts in 1905 and 1906, but was forced to turn back due to harsh weather conditions.


• Successful Expedition: In 1908, Peary set out on his final expedition to the North Pole, accompanied by a team of explorers and sled dogs. After a grueling journey, Peary claimed to have reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909.


• Controversy: Peary's claim to have reached the North Pole has been the subject of controversy, with some historians and explorers questioning the accuracy of his measurements and the reliability of his navigational methods.


• Legacy: Despite the controversy surrounding his claim, Commander Robert Peary is still widely credited with being the first person to reach the North Pole, and his expeditions have inspired countless other explorers to push the boundaries of human knowledge and endurance.

The two countries signed a Friendship Treaty in 1955, and India’s support to Egypt, including during the Suez Canal crisis in 1956, eventually led to the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, with both as founder members. They were also instrumental in the G-77 grouping and “South-South Cooperation” initiatives. 

Only Statement 1 is correct.

• The Madras High Court on November 28 stayed the summons issued by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on November 17 to the Collectors of Ariyalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruchi and Vellore for producing details regarding all sand quarry sites in their districts.
• Unlike laws governing other agencies, particularly the CBI, the PMLA allows the ED to take cognizance of any offence under its wide-ranging schedule across the country, with or without the consent of state governments.
• It has, therefore, been able to register money laundering cases against politicians or activists based on FIRs filed by state police forces — something the CBI is unable to do unless requested by the state government, or ordered by a court or the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

• Adjournment motions are used to adjourn the normal proceedings of the House to discuss an urgent matter. The motion is voted on at the end of the discussion.
• Short duration discussions are used to debate matters of public importance.
• Half-an-hour discussions are used to obtain further information from the government about a question answered in the House

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (founded 1999; HQ: Hyderabad) is a statutory body (under the IRDA Act 1999) and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance and is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.