MPSC Rajyaseva Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 1 - MPSC (Maharastra) MCQ

Option d is correct: The national motto of India, Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from Mundaka Upanishad. This motto means Truth Alone Triumphs". It is written in Devanagari script.

The United States was recognized as the largest user of non-tariff measures in 2023. Non-tariff measures are regulatory measures, other than tariffs, that countries use to control the amount of trade across their borders. These can include quotas, embargoes, sanctions, and regulations that affect international commerce. The extensive use of NTMs can significantly impact global trade dynamics.

The average tariff rate in India decreased to 17% in 2023, down from 18.1% in 2022. This decline reflects India's efforts to enhance trade competitiveness and reduce barriers for international trade, which can encourage foreign investment and improve the overall economic environment.

The "Shiksha Saptah" campaign was held to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This campaign emphasized the cooperation of various stakeholders in the educational sector to ensure the successful implementation of the NEP, which aims to transform the education system in India.

The thematic sessions during the "Shiksha Saptah" focused on various aspects of NEP 2020, including sustainability in curricula, employment opportunities, and the importance of industry-academia cooperation. These themes are crucial for modernizing education and aligning it more closely with the needs of the economy and society.

Agriculture tariffs in India decreased from 39.6% in 2022 to 39% in 2023. This slight reduction may reflect India's aim to enhance agricultural trade and improve access to global markets, which can benefit farmers and consumers alike by promoting competitive pricing and availability of agricultural products.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She is notable for being the first woman and the first African to hold this position, highlighting the WTO's commitment to diversity and inclusion in leadership roles at international organizations.

The primary goal of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by implementing initiatives such as Vidyashakti, which aims to promote higher participation rates in education, particularly in the STEM fields. This focus on improving enrollment reflects a broader strategy to enhance educational access and quality.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted permission to the Shriram Group to enter the asset reconstruction market. This approval marks a significant step for the group, allowing it to expand its financial services and manage distressed assets, which can help stabilize financial systems by addressing non-performing assets.

Shriram Finance Limited (SFL) anticipates a 15% increase in assets under management (AUM) for the upcoming fiscal year. This projection is based on the company's strategic initiatives and market conditions, indicating confidence in their growth trajectory in the financial sector.

SEBI's chatbot "SEVA" includes speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities, allowing users to interact with the assistant in a more accessible manner. This technological advancement aims to enhance user experience by making information retrieval easier and more efficient for investors navigating the securities market.

Manoj Mittal has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). With over 33 years of experience in the finance sector, he brings a wealth of knowledge that will be instrumental in guiding SIDBI's initiatives to support small industries and promote entrepreneurship in India.

Dr. Jitendra Singh was conferred the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" during the 2024 International Meet. This award recognizes his exceptional contributions to diabetology, diabetes care, and research, highlighting his influence and commitment to advancing medical knowledge and practices in this critical field.

Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic Games, achieving this remarkable feat by securing a bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event alongside Sarabjot Singh and previously winning a medal in the women's 10m air pistol competition. This accomplishment highlights her exceptional skill and consistency at the highest level of competition.

Manu Bhaker partnered with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, where they displayed remarkable skill to secure a bronze medal. This partnership not only marked a significant moment in their careers but also contributed to India's overall medal tally at the Olympics.

The Janapadas were the realms, republics and kingdoms of the Vedic period on the Indian subcontinent.

• The Vedic period reaches from the Late Bronze Age into the Iron Age: from about 1500 BCE to the 6th century BCE.
• With the rise of sixteen Mahajanapadas ("great janapadas"), most of the states were annexed by more powerful neighbours, although some remained independent.

Matsya Janapada is located in the present-day Central Rajasthan, back in the 6^th century B.C.

• Matsya Janapad was one of the sixteenth Mahjanapadas.
• Important facts related to Matsya Janapad are:
  • Matsya is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘fish’.
  • Its capital was Virat Nagar, which is present-day Bairat.
  • Its founder was King Virata, hence, the capital name was kept.

Hence, we conclude that the capital of Matsya Mahajanapad was Virat Nagar.

• In February 1909, the public prosecutor was shot dead in Calcutta and in February 1910, a deputy superintendent of police met the same fate while leaving the Calcutta High Court. In 1908, Barrah dacoity was organised by Dacca Anushilan under Pulin Das to raise funds for revolutionary activities.

• Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal staged a spectacular bomb attack on Viceroy Hardinge while he was making his official entry into the new capital of Delhi in a procession through Chandni Chowk in December 1912. (Hardinge was injured, but not killed.)

• The western Anushilan Samiti found a good leader in Jatindranath Mukherjee or Bagha Jatin and emerged as the Jugantar (or Yugantar). Jatin revitalised links between the central organisation in Calcutta and other places in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

• During the First World War, the Jugantar party arranged to import German arms and ammunition through sympathisers and revolutionaries abroad. Jatin asked Rashbehari Bose to take charge of Upper India, aiming to bring about an all-India insurrection in what has come to be called the ‘German Plot’ or the ‘Zimmerman Plan’. The Jugantar party raised funds through a series of dacoities which came to be known as taxicab dacoities and boat dacoities, so as to work out the Indo-German conspiracy.

The membrane of nucleus is porous so it allows transport of specific proteins. Nucleus is also called as brain of the cell.

• An eclipse is partial or total obstruction of light from a celestial body as it passes through the shadow of another celestial body. On the earth we are familiar with two types of eclipses i.e., solar eclipse and lunar eclipse.

• Solar Eclipse: When the moon comes exactly between the earth and the sun it obstructs a part or whole of the sun and a partial or total solar eclipse occurs. A solar eclipse will occur only if the sun and the moon are on one side of the earth. Usually we have partial solar eclipse but total or full solar eclipse also occurs, although at varying intervals of time depending on the position of the sun, the earth and the moon.

• Lunar Eclipse: Lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between the sun and the moon i.e. lunar eclipse will occur only if the sun and the moon are located on the opposite side of the earth. It usually occurs at full moon. Depending upon the position of the moon during its revolution around the earth, we can have partial or total lunar eclipse. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• One might wonder that why we don’t have a lunar eclipse every month as the moon orbits Earth. It’s true that the moon goes around Earth every month, but it doesn’t always get in Earth’s shadow. The moon’s path around Earth is tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the sun. The moon can be behind Earth but still get hit by light from the sun. But if the Moon's orbit around the Earth is not tilted compared to the Earth's orbit, Lunar eclipse would occur every month. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Article 13 of Part III of the Constitution talks about the laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental rights.

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Under Article 13:

(1) All laws in force in the territory of India immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, if they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Part, shall be void. Not all the laws, only those that violate Part III of the constitution became void.

(2) The State shall not make any law which takes away or abridges the rights conferred by this Part and any law made in contravention of this clause.

Statement 2 is correct. The term “law” includes - any Ordinance, order, bye-law, rule, regulation, notification, custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law.

The hard matrix of bone consists of minerals, primarily calcium and phosphorus, which contribute to bone strength and rigidity.

Fundamental Duties are enshrined in Article 51A of the Indian Constitution. These duties were added through the 42nd Amendment in 1976 and aim to promote patriotism, civic sense, and a sense of responsibility among citizens.

Features of national water grid:

• Statement 1 is correct. The Inter-Linking of Rivers programme aims to connect various surplus rivers with deficient rivers.

• The idea is to divert excess water from surplus regions to deficient regions to help improve irrigation,

• Increase water for drinking and industrial use, and mitigate drought and floods to an extent.

• It is a large-scale engineering proposal for the management of water resources in India by the interlinking of the Indian rivers through networks of reservoir and canals.

• Redistribution of water

• Statement 2 is correct. Hydropower generation Irrigation Facilities

Statement 3 is incorrect. Groundwater recharge is not one of the explicitly stated objectives of the National water grid project.

Thirumalapuram caves and Jaina caves at Sittanavasal are some of the surviving examples. However, mural painting as an art did not decline during the reign of the Cholas. In fact, the Cholas were known for their patronage of the arts. They patronised both Hindu and Jain temples and these temples are renowned for their beautiful paintings and sculptures. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

• Statement 1 is correct: India’s exchange rate policy has evolved in line with international and domestic developments. Post-independence, in view of the prevailing Bretton Woods system, the Indian rupee was pegged to the pound sterling due to its historic links with Britain. A major development was the devaluation of the rupee by 36.5 per cent in June, 1966. With the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system, and also the declining share of UK in India’s trade, the rupee was delinked from the pound sterling in September 1975. During the period between 1975 to 1992, the exchange rate of the rupee was officially determined by the Reserve Bank within a nominal band of plus or minus 5 per cent of the weighted basket of currencies of India’s major trading partners.

•  Statement 2 is correct: At present, India follows a managed floating exchange rate system, also known as a dirty floating system, where the central bank allows the exchange rate to be determined by market forces but intervenes occasionally to influence the rate. This system is a combination of a flexible exchange rate (the floating part) and fixed rate elements (the managed part). Under this system, the Reserve Bank of India intervenes in the foreign exchange market to moderate exchange rate fluctuations as deemed necessary. Since 1993, India has been adhering to this managed floating exchange rate system.

• Statement 1 is correct. The months of October and November are known for retreating monsoons. By the end of September, the southwest monsoon becomes weak as the low-pressure trough of the Ganga plain starts moving southward in response to the southward movement of the sun. By the beginning of October, the low pressure covers northern parts of the Bay of Bengal and by early November, it moves over Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. By the middle of December, the centre of low pressure is completely removed from the Peninsula. The retreating Southwest monsoon season is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive. This is commonly known as the ‘October heat’. In the second half of October, the mercury begins to fall rapidly, particularly in northern India. The weather in the retreating monsoon is dry in north India but it is associated with rain in the eastern part of the Peninsula. Here, October and November are the rainiest months of the year. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

• Statement 3 is correct because during the winter monsoon or retreating monsoon, the ITCZ moves southward, and so the reversal of winds from Northeast to South and southwest, takes place.

  So, option B is correct.

Bagh caves is in Madhya Pradesh.