1. On the evening of the 10th, General Dyer arrived at Amritsar, and the Deputy-Commissioner handed over the civil power to him. He issued a proclamation by word of mouth that no meetings should be held. Two days later, after there had been no sort of riot, nor murder, General Dyer heard that a meeting was to be held at the Jallianwala Bagh. He proceeded there with about fifty troops, half British, half Indian, and a certain number of Ghurkas, armed with their kukris.
The Jallianwala Bagh is an open space, half a mile square, which has one entry wide enough for three persons. The troops got in and lined up on a mound of debris. The walls, seven feet high, and the surrounding houses enclosed the people. There were, too, three alleys through which the people might have been able to pass.
Within thirty seconds of the troops getting in, General Dyer gave orders to fire, and the crowd of people, estimated at anything from 5,000 to 20,000, who were sitting on the ground peacefully listening to the mob oratory, were fired on. The result of the troops’ fire into the mass of people we do not know. But we do know that Dyer’s own estimate of the casualties resulting from ten minutes of continual individual firing was 400 to 500 killed and 1,500 wounded.
The people were not able to escape. They were people who had not offered any violence and who had not been warned. These people were shot down. After ten minutes, the ammunition was exhausted and the troops marched off, and they left 1,500 wounded there. There were men lying there for two days, dying of thirst, eating the ground, bleeding to death, and nobody to look after them. Those who lived nearby came and carried away some of the wounded from the heap of dead and dying, but the unfortunate country people died there miserably of their wounds.
This is what is done in 1919 in British India… Centuries hence, you will find Indian children brought up to this spot, just as they visit now the Cawnpore Well, and you can imagine the feelings of these Indians for generations over this terrible business.
[Col. Wedgwood, MP, speaking in the British Parliament, 22 December 1919]
Questions:
Q1: Which incident is described in the passage?
(a) Baisakhi festival at Amritsar, April 1919
(b) Jallianwala Bagh massacre, April 1919
(c) Congress Protests of April 1919
(d) Non-Cooperation movement, April 1919
Ans:(b)
The passage recounts the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, where British forces opened fire on a gathering of unarmed Indian civilians during the Baisakhi festival, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The described incident is distinct from the Congress protests of April 1919 and the later Non-Cooperation movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
Q2: Why did General Dyer order to fire on the crowd?
(a) To bring the crowd under control
(b) To scatter the crowd
(c) To teach the crowd a lesson
(d) To enforce the martial law
Ans: (c)
The passage presents evidence indicating that General Dyer intended to punish the crowd rather than merely control or disperse them. Key clues include:
- The absence of any prior riot or murder before Dyer’s arrival, suggesting the crowd posed no immediate threat.
- Dyer’s decision to approach Jallianwala Bagh with a small group of troops, indicating a lack of anticipation for a violent confrontation.
- The sustained firing into the crowd for ten minutes, even after ammunition was depleted, indicating an intention beyond scattering the people.
- Dyer’s estimate of casualties—400 to 500 killed and 1,500 wounded—reflects a level of violence surpassing what would be necessary for crowd control or dispersal.
Q3: In the light of the above passage, what was the intention of the speaker?
(a) To praise General Dyer
(b) To expose the deeds of General Dyer
(c) To get sympathy for the Indians who died
(d) All of the above
Ans: (b)
The speaker strongly criticizes General Dyer, describing him as cruel. Using clear language, the speaker vividly describes the tragic event, emphasizing the suffering of innocent victims. The speaker also points out that Dyer’s actions were not justified, as the crowd was peaceful. While expressing sympathy for the victims, the main goal of the passage is to expose Dyer’s cruelty and make him responsible for what he did.
Q4: After the incident, who helped the injured and the dying people?
(a) The army
(b) The police
(c) The civil administration
(d) Some people who lived nearby
Ans:(d)
The passage mentions that people who lived nearby came and took some of the injured individuals from the group of dead and dying.
Q5: What would be the feelings of the Indian children brought up to the spot?
(a) Friendliness to the British rule
(b) Bitterness about the British rule
(c) A sense of helplessness
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
The passage recounts a tragic incident where British troops fired on a peaceful gathering of unarmed Indian civilians, leading to numerous casualties. It is reasonable to anticipate that Indian children, growing up with knowledge of this event, would harbor feelings of bitterness and resentment towards British rule. Additionally, the passage notes that the Jallianwala Bagh massacre holds a significant place for many Indians, akin to the Cawnpore Well memorializing the Indian Rebellion of 1857. This indicates that the memory of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is deeply embedded in the Indian collective memory, eliciting enduring and intense emotions.
Q6: What was the full name of General Dyer?
(a) Reginald Murree Harry Dyer
(b) Reginald Royce Harry Dyer
(c) Reginald Edward Harry Dyer
(d) Reginald Coleman Harry Dyer
Ans: (c)
Reginald Edward Harry Dyer was a British Indian Army officer who was responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, India, in 1919. The massacre was a defining event in the Indian independence movement and remains a source of deep resentment and pain for many Indians.
2. On 7th October 2023, an armed conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip after the latter launched a multi-pronged invasion of southern Israel. After clearing Hamas militants, the Israeli military retaliated by conducting an extensive aerial bombardment campaign on Gazan targets and followed up with a large-scale ground invasion of Gaza. More than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting. Over 240 Israelis and foreign nationals were taken hostage and brought into the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-led attack began in the morning of 7th October, as Palestinian militants in Gaza launched a barrage of over 5,000 rockets against Israeli cities and kibbutzim, while some 3,000 Palestinian militants breached the Gaza-Israel barrier. Over 1,000 Israeli civilians were killed in more than a dozen massacres, including the Re’im music festival massacre, and military bases were attacked. Over 200 civilians and Israeli soldiers were captured or abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip. At least 44 countries, mostly from the Western world, characterized the massacres of civilians as terrorism. Hamas declared that the invasion was carried out in response to the ‘‘desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque’’, the Gaza Strip blockade, the construction of Israeli settlements, and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israel declared a state of war on 8th October, and its response to the attack has seen the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War. The current hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict, which is part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. In 2023, before the offensive started, an uptick in Israeli–Palestinian violence saw at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, and two foreigners killed. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as of 6 November, over 10,000 Palestinians had been killed, including 79 UNRWA staff. Israel dropped a total of 6,000 bombs during the first six days of the conflict—nearly double the number of bombs dropped by the American-led CJTF–OIR in one month during the War against the Islamic State. There has been widespread killing of civilians, and human rights groups and a panel of United Nations special rapporteurs have accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.
Questions:
Q1: What was the reason for Hamas-led Palestinian militants’ attack on Israel?
(a) To retaliate against Israeli settler violence against Palestinians
(b) In response to the desecration of the Western Wall
(c) To protest against the construction of Palestinian settlements in the West Bank
(d) To seek an end to the Gaza Strip blockade
Ans: (a)
Hamas declared that the invasion was carried out in response to the “desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque,” the Gaza Strip blockade, the construction of Israeli settlements, and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Therefore, retaliation against Israeli settler violence is one of the stated reasons for the attack.
Q2: What was the reaction of the international community to the killing of Israeli civilians?
(a) Condemned as terrorism by 44 countries
(b) Ignored by most of the countries
(c) Supported by the UN
(d) Praised as a necessary measure by 10 countries
Ans:(a)
The passage mentions that at least 44 countries, mostly from the Western world, characterized the massacres of civilians as terrorism.
Q3: Which of the following is not true about the historical context of the Israel–Hamas conflict?
(a) The Palestinian refugees started settling under Ottoman rule in the late 19th Century
(b) Hamas emerged during the first Intifada in the late 1980s
(c) Hamas was formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement
(d) First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule
Ans: (a)
The passage does not provide information about the settlement of Palestinian refugees under Ottoman rule in the late 19th century.
Q4: What has been the response of the Israeli military to the Hamas-led attack?
(a) Declared a state of war and launched a ground invasion
(b) Conducted an aerial bombardment campaign only
(c) Asked for international intervention
(d) Captured and imprisoned the militants responsible
Ans: (a)
The passage mentions that Israel declared a state of war on October 8th and responded to the Hamas-led attack with a significant ground invasion of Gaza, constituting the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict.
Q5: What is the current hostilities known as in the Gaza-Israel conflict?
(a) Sixth war
(b) Fifth war
(c) Seventh war
(d) Fourth war
Ans:(b)
The current hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict.
Q6: Which major war does the current Gaza-Israel conflict resemble?
(a) Yom Kippur War
(b) Iraq War
(c) Six-day War
(d) Gulf War
Ans: (a)
The correct answer is the Yom Kippur War. The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War, occurred in 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The conflict saw a significant military escalation and had a lasting impact on the region.
3. Today, India has become the fourth country in the world to touch the surface of the moon. This success becomes even greater when we look at the place from where India had started its journey. There was a time when India did not have the required technology and there was no support either. We used to be among the ‘third world’ countries, standing in the third row. Today, India has become the fifth largest economy in the world. Today, from trade to technology, India is among the countries standing in the first row. In this journey from the third row to the first row, institutions like ISRO have played a major role. Today, you have taken ‘Make in India’ to the moon.
I have seen the photo in which our moon lander has firmly set its foot on the moon like Angad. On one hand is the confidence of Vikram while on the other hand is the bravery of Pragyan. Our Pragyan is continuously leaving its footprints on the moon. The pictures taken from different cameras, which have just been released, and I have had the privilege of seeing, are indeed amazing. For the first time, since the beginning of human civilization, for the first time in the history of lakhs of years on the Earth, man is looking at the pictures of that place with his own eyes. India has done the work of showing these pictures to the world! All the scientists like you have done it. Today, the whole world is acknowledging the significance of India’s scientific spirit, our technology, and our scientific temperament. Chandrayaan Maha Abhiyan is a success not only for India but for the entire humanity.
[Extracted from the speech made by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of the landing of Chandrayaan 3 on 26th August 2023]Questions:
Q1: In what did India become the fourth country in the world?
(a) Sending a spacecraft to the moon
(b) Landing a spacecraft on the moon
(c) Landing a man on the moon
(d) Crashlanding (impacting) a spacecraft on the moon
Ans: (b)
The passage states that India has become the fourth country in the world to “touch the surface of the moon.” This implies that India has successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon.
Q2: What is the role of Pragyan?
(a) To move around the moon, leaving footprints
(b) To take photographs of the moon, while moving
(c) Showing these pictures to the world
(d) To record the laser radiation
Ans: (b)
Pragyan, a six-wheeled rover, is equipped with a high-resolution camera designed for capturing images of the lunar surface. It is also capable of using a laser rangefinder to measure distances to objects on the moon, among other scientific tasks.
Q3: Name one institution that played a major role in bringing India to the forefront.
(a) Tata Industries
(b) Indian Oil Corporation
(c) ISRO
(d) Reliance Industries
Ans:(c)
The passage highlights that institutions such as ISRO have been instrumental in propelling India to the forefront in science, technology, and economics, particularly in space exploration.
Q4: What is the name of the moon lander and the rover?
(a) Vikram and Pragyan
(b) Pragyan-2 and Vikram
(c) Chandrayaan and Vikram
(d) Chandrayaan and Pragyan
Ans:(a)
The passage mentions that "our moon lander has firmly set its foot on the moon like Angad" and "our Pragyan is continuously leaving its footprints on the moon." The moon lander is named Vikram and the rover is named Pragyan.
Q5: Whom did the Prime Minister address this to?
(a) To the people of India
(b) To the world
(c) To the students
(d) To the scientists of ISRO
Ans:(d)
The Prime Minister addressed this to the scientists of ISRO, recognizing their significant role in India's space achievements.
Q6: Which of the following countries in the world had touched the surface of the moon?
(a) United States of America, USSR, China, India
(b) United States of America, Russia, China, India
(c) United States of America, USSR, France, India
(d) United States of America, Russia, Israel, India
Ans: (a)
The United States of America, through NASA, achieved the first manned moon landing with the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The USSR (Soviet Union) was the first to reach the moon with an unmanned mission, Luna 2, in 1959. China achieved a moon landing with its Chang’e-3 mission in 2013. India successfully reached the lunar surface with its Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019.
4. The 18th G20 Summit, in which the heads of states and governments will meet, on September 9 and 10 will be held in India’s national capital New Delhi. Over 25 world leaders along with other delegates are going to attend this mega event.
One of the largest multilateral summits, the G20 Summit presents a significant diplomatic opportunity for India, which will convene with the adoption of a joint declaration by all the member states. India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1 last year. The 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi is scheduled to be held on September 9-10.
The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
World leaders from several countries and institutions will mark their presence at the event. They include US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted out of the summit, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent the country in his place. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also decided to skip the event and will send the country’s Premier Li Qiang instead, according to sources.
The G20 Summit 2023 is being held under the theme – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth. One Family. One Future) – centered around the value of all life, including human, animal, plant, and microorganisms, and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.
India’s presidency of the summit holds significance as it aims to become a voice for the ‘less developed’ global South in a world dominated by developed nations of the West. It is also likely to take up the issue of border tension with China. India, for its part, may attempt to straighten out its diplomatic intricacies with the West after it faced challenges due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
[Extracted, with edits and revisions, from “India gears up for G20 Summit: Check event venue, guest list, special invitees,” Hindustan Times]Questions:
Q1: The Group of Twenty (G20) is a forum for _______________.
(a) International economic cooperation
(b) International peace and security
(c) International cooperation for combating money laundering
(d) All of the above
Ans: (a)
G20 is “a forum for international economic cooperation.” It also states that the G20 members represent “around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.” This suggests that the G20 is primarily focused on economic issues.
Q2: The G20 Summit is hosted by the incumbent ‘Presidency’. The G20 Presidency is responsible for bringing together the G20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. Which country will hold the Presidency in 2024?
(a) India
(b) Indonesia
(c) Brazil
(d) Saudi Arabia
Ans: (c)
The passage states that Brazil will hold the G20 Presidency in 2024. This means that Brazil will be responsible for hosting the G20 Summit in 2024 and for setting the agenda for the summit.
Q3: Which one of the following countries is not a member of the G20?
(a) Egypt
(b) Mexico
(c) Republic of Korea
(d) Turkiye
Ans: (a)
Egypt is not a member of the G20.
Q4: At every G20 Summit, the host country invites countries and institutions that are not members of the G20. Which among the following denotes the correct list of countries being G20 invitees to the Summit held in New Delhi in September 2023?
(a) Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, Netherlands
(b) Bhutan, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman
(c) Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands
(d) Sri Lanka, Egypt, UAE, Mauritius
Ans: (c)
In the context of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in September 2023, the host country (India) traditionally extends invitations to countries and institutions that are not formal members of the G20 but are invited to participate in the summit. The purpose of inviting these guest countries is to foster dialogue, collaboration, and inclusivity in addressing global challenges. Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands are likely to be G20 invitees to the summit based on the pattern observed in the passage and the historical practice of inviting diverse nations to participate in G20 discussions. This reflects the G20’s commitment to inclusivity and recognizing that global challenges require collective efforts from nations beyond the formal membership. The G20 aims to create a platform for a more extensive range of perspectives and solutions to address issues affecting the world economy and international relations.
5. On 26th January 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics, we will have equality and in social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment, else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of democracy, which this Constituent Assembly has so laboriously built up.
I feel that the Constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and in wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that man was vile?
The third thing we must do is not be content with mere political democracy. We must note that our political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life, which recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life.
… however, good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However, bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution.
[Excerpts from Dr. Ambedkar’s address to the Constituent Assembly, 25 November 1949]Questions:
Q1: What is the life of contradiction referred to here?
(a) That of equality in politics but inequality in social and economic structure
(b) That of inequality in politics but equality in social and economic structure
(c) That of inequality in social structure but equality in economic structure
(d) That of equality in politics and economic structure but inequality in social structure
Ans:(a)
The life of contradiction referred to in the passage is that of equality in politics but inequality in social and economic structure. The passage states that India will have equality in politics on January 26, 1950, but there will still be inequality in social and economic structure. This contradiction, the passage argues, will eventually lead to the destruction of democracy if it is not addressed. The passage also argues that India needs to move beyond mere political democracy and embrace social democracy, which is a way of life that recognizes liberty, equality, and fraternity as the principles of life. This would require a more equitable distribution of wealth and power.
Q2: What will happen, according to Dr. Ambedkar, if we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life?
(a) There will be no injustice
(b) Our political democracy will be in danger
(c) Equality in social and economic life will be achieved nevertheless
(d) Our social and economic life will be in peril
Ans: (b)
Dr. Ambedkar warns that if we don’t treat everyone equally in how we live together and share resources, our political system, known as democracy, could be at risk. He explains that having fairness only in political matters, like voting, while ignoring fairness in our daily lives and how we share money and opportunities, creates a big problem. This conflict might even cause democracy to fall apart, as people who experience inequality might rebel and harm the democratic system if we don’t solve their problems.
Q3: What might be the cause, according to Dr. Ambedkar, if things go wrong under the new Constitution?
(a) That the Constitution was ignored
(b) That the men called upon to work the Constitution were good
(c) That the men called upon to work the Constitution were not good
(d) That the Constitution was bad and failed the people
Ans: (c)
Dr. Ambedkar expresses concern about having only political equality without social and economic equality. He calls this a life of contradiction because while people are considered equal in politics, they remain unequal in social and economic aspects. This contradiction, he believes, could harm democracy. He highlights the need for social democracy, which combines liberty, equality, and fraternity as essential values. Dr. Ambedkar warns that political democracy cannot survive if it is not based on social democracy. In other words, political equality alone is insufficient; a just society must also ensure that people are equal in their daily lives and opportunities.
Q4: What does social democracy mean?
(a) Equality before the Law
(b) Equality of opportunities
(c) Equality in social life
(d) Equality in economic life
Ans:(c)
Social democracy, according to Dr. Ambedkar, involves achieving equality in social life, ensuring that everyone has equal status, respect, and opportunity in society. This goes beyond just legal and economic equality to include fairness in social relationships and opportunities.
Q5: When does a bad Constitution turn out to be good?
(a) When the people called upon to work it are good
(b) When the people called upon to work it are bad
(c) When the Constitution is amended
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
The passage says that even if a constitution is not very good, it can still work well if the people in charge of making it happen are good and do the right things.
Q6: Which of the following statement is not correct about what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar feels about the Constitution?
(a) The Constitution is workable
(b) The Constitution is flexible
(c) The Constitution is strong enough to hold the country together in peacetime only
(d) The Constitution is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and wartime
Ans: (c)
The Constitution is strong enough to hold the country together in peacetime only. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar believes that the Constitution is workable, flexible, and strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and wartime.
