UPPSC Prelims 2018 Question Paper (GS Paper I) with Answers & Explanations

Answer: (a) 32

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia had 32 teams, the format used from 1998 to 2022.

Answer: (c) Nepal

On 11 May 2018 in Janakpur, Nepal, PM Modi and PM K.P. Sharma Oli flagged off the Janakpur–Ayodhya bus, part of the Ramayana Circuit.

Answer: (b) Basti

The Purvanchal Expressway runs Lucknow–Barabanki–Amethi–Sultanpur–Faizabad (Ayodhya)–Ambedkar Nagar–Azamgarh–Mau–Ghazipur. Basti is not on the route.

Answer: (c) 96th

In the UN E-Government Development Index 2018, India ranked 96th (up from 107th in 2016).

Answer: (b) Kerala

The Nipah virus outbreak of May–June 2018 was in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala.

Answer: (c) Delhi

The National Digital Library of India, developed by IIT Kharagpur, was dedicated to the nation by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on 19 June 2018.

Answer: (a) 136th

In the Global Peace Index 2018 (Institute for Economics and Peace), India ranked 136th of 163 countries.

Answer: (a) Varanasi

The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Varanasi on 21–23 January 2019.

Answer: (c) Rs. 1,750

On 4 July 2018 the MSP for common paddy for 2018-19 was raised by ₹200 to ₹1,750 per quintal (Grade A: ₹1,770).

Answer: (b) Imran Khan

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf won the July 2018 general election, and he became Prime Minister in August 2018.

Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)

Both Bharat Vatwani (psychiatrist who rescues mentally ill destitutes) and Sonam Wangchuk (education innovator, Ladakh) received the 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Answer: (b) South Africa

The 10th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2018.

Answer: (a) Vajasanami

The Vajasaneyi Samhita (Madhyandina and Kanva recensions) belongs to the Shukla (White) Yajurveda. Maitrayani, Taittiriya and Kathaka belong to the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda.

Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

The Turkish invasions (Ghaznavid and Ghurid) succeeded largely because north India was divided among rival Rajput kingdoms that could not unite, so the reason explains the assertion.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) IV, III, I, II

The Seven Pagodas (rathas and monuments of Mahabalipuram) date from Narasimhavarman I (7th century). The Shore Temple was built by Rajasimha (early 8th century), the Brihadeeswara temple by Rajaraja I (1010 CE), and Gangaikonda Cholapuram by Rajendra I (c. 1035 CE). Order: IV, III, I, II.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (a) Kharvela

The Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri (Odisha) records the reign of Kharavela, the Chedi (Mahameghavahana) king of Kalinga.

Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Both are true but unrelated as cause and effect: the League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan in July 1946 (followed by Direct Action Day), and it joined the Interim Government later, in October 1946.

Answer: (c) Bagor

Bagor (Bhilwara, Rajasthan), with Adamgarh (Madhya Pradesh), gives the earliest evidence of animal domestication in the Mesolithic period.

Answer: (a) Adina Masjid - Mandu

The Adina Masjid is at Pandua in Bengal (built by Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty), not at Mandu. The other pairs are correct.

Answer: (c) Raskhan - Rasik Priya

Rasik Priya is by Keshavdas, not Raskhan. Raskhan wrote Sujan Raskhan and Prem Vatika.

Answer: (d) C, A, B, D

Wood's Despatch (1854), Hunter Commission (1882), Sadler Commission (1917) and Sargent Plan (1944): C, A, B, D.

Answer: (b) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh founded the Mitra Mela, renamed Abhinav Bharat Society in 1904.

Answer: (d) Ahom - 1815

The Ahom revolt was in 1828, not 1815. Santhal (1855–56), Kol (1831–32) and Khasi (1829–33) are correctly dated.

Answer: (b) Kunchikal fall

Kunchikal Falls (about 455 m, Shimoga district, Karnataka) is usually cited as India's highest waterfall. Jog Falls (about 253 m) is the highest plunge waterfall.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Koppen

Köppen based his climatic classification on vegetation zones, regarding natural vegetation as the best expression (index) of climate.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (a) Argentina

The Pampas are the temperate grasslands of Argentina (and parts of Uruguay).

Answer: (d) Gibson - Brazil

The Gibson Desert is in Western Australia, not Brazil.

Answer: (b) C, B, A, D

In 2016 the largest coffee producers were Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia, in that order: C, B, A, D.

Answer: (b) 7,000 km

By avoiding the route around the Cape of Good Hope, the Suez Canal (1869) cut the sea route between India and Europe by roughly 7,000 km.

Answer: (d) B, C, D, A

The IMD was set up in 1875 with its headquarters at Calcutta. They moved to Shimla (1905), Pune (1928) and New Delhi (1944): B, C, D, A.

Answer: (d) Black soil is found in Himalayan region

Black (regur) soil is found on the Deccan plateau (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and others), not in the Himalayan region. The other statements are correct.

Answer: (a) India and China

The McMahon Line (Simla Convention, 1914) is the boundary between India (Arunachal Pradesh) and China (Tibet).

Answer: (d) Mississippi

The Mississippi forms the classic bird's-foot delta, where distributaries extend far into the Gulf of Mexico.

Answer: (d) A and B

Natural growth = crude birth rate − crude death rate. Migration is excluded.

Answer: (a) UNDP

The HDI was introduced in UNDP's first Human Development Report (1990), developed by Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen.

Answer: (a) MNREGA

MGNREGA (2005) guarantees 100 days of wage employment per rural household a year and is the largest rural employment programme.

Answer: (d) Inequality of Income

The Lorenz curve shows the distribution of income (or wealth). The further it bows from the line of equality, the greater the inequality, which the Gini coefficient summarises.

Answer: (d) Haryana

Haryana has among the highest per-capita incomes but the lowest sex ratio among states (879 in Census 2011).

Answer: (c) Tax on Local Fairs

Gram panchayats can levy local taxes such as taxes on fairs, markets and houses. Sales tax and land revenue are state levies.

Answer: (d) 12th

The theme of the 12th Plan (2012–17) was 'Faster, More Inclusive and Sustainable Growth'. The 11th Plan aimed at 'Faster and More Inclusive Growth'.

Answer: (c) Ghaziabad

Lucknow, Allahabad and Kanpur were among the cities selected from Uttar Pradesh under the Smart Cities Mission; Ghaziabad was not selected at the time.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (a) 2.2

NFHS-4 (2015-16) put India's total fertility rate at 2.2 children per woman.

Answer: (d) Hashim Committee

The S.R. Hashim Committee (2012) was set up to recommend a method for identifying BPL households in urban areas. The Saxena Committee did this for rural areas.

Answer: (c) 21.54

The India State of Forest Report 2017 put forest cover at 7,08,273 sq km, or 21.54% of geographical area (24.39% including tree cover).

Answer: (b) 1972

Project Tiger was launched on 1 April 1973 at Jim Corbett National Park, after the 1972 tiger census and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The nearest option, 1972, is taken as correct.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) Cropland

Anthropogenic biomes (anthromes) are shaped by human use, such as croplands, rangelands and settlements. Freshwater, grassland and rainforest are natural biomes.

Answer: (d) Kangaroo rat

The kangaroo rat of North American deserts can live its whole life without drinking water, getting moisture from seeds and metabolic water.

Answer: (b) Jamnagar

India's first National Centre for Marine Biodiversity was set up at Jamnagar, Gujarat, by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation.

Answer: (d) Hangul or Kashmir Stag

Dachigam National Park near Srinagar is the last stronghold of the Hangul (Kashmir stag).

Answer: (b) May, 22

The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May, the date the CBD text was adopted in 1992.

Answer: (a) Edaphic

Edaphic factors are soil factors: texture, pH, moisture and nutrients.

Answer: (c) Stratosphere

About 90% of atmospheric ozone lies in the stratosphere, concentrated at roughly 15–35 km (the ozone layer).

Answer: (d) All of the above

Warmer oceans and air increase the intensity and frequency of extreme events such as cyclones, storms and hurricanes alike.

Answer: (b) Botanical garden

A botanical garden conserves plants outside their natural habitat (ex-situ). Biosphere reserves, national parks and sacred groves are in-situ.

Answer: (c) O₃

UV radiation splits O₂ into oxygen atoms, which combine with O₂ to form ozone (O₃). In polluted air, UV also drives NOx reactions that make ground-level ozone.

Answer: (d) Peace

Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. There is no Nobel Prize for agriculture.

Answer: (d) Ozone layer - Troposphere

The ozone layer is in the stratosphere, not the troposphere. Rennet curdles milk for cheese, plasmids are vectors in genetic engineering, and Golden Rice carries β-carotene (pro-vitamin A).

Answer: (d) Simlipal National Park - Madhya Pradesh

Simlipal National Park is in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, not Madhya Pradesh.

Answer: (a) Astrology

Astrophysicist J.V. Narlikar has long argued that astrology does not meet scientific tests. Astronomy, cosmology and nanotechnology are sciences.

Answer: (b) X-Ray Machine

Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895, which made X-ray imaging possible, and won the first Nobel Prize in Physics (1901).

Answer: (b) Watson and Crick

James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the double-helix model of DNA in 1953.

Answer: (d) X-rays

Photon energy rises with frequency. X-rays have a higher frequency than ultraviolet, visible and infrared, so they carry the most energy.

Answer: (c) Both from (a) and (b)

Methane comes from anaerobic decomposition in flooded paddy fields and from termites' gut microbes, among other sources.

Answer: (b) Silicon

Silicon is a semiconductor. Aluminium, silver and lead are metals (conductors).

Answer: (a) 3, 5, 2, 1

The Preamble lists justice (social, economic, political: 3), liberty (thought, expression, belief, faith, worship: 5), equality (status, opportunity: 2) and fraternity (1).

Answer: (a) Ms. Meira Kumar

Meira Kumar, former Lok Sabha Speaker, was the opposition (UPA) candidate in the 2017 presidential election, which Ram Nath Kovind won.

Answer: (a) Arvind Panagariya

Arvind Panagariya was the first Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog (2015–17), followed by Rajiv Kumar.

Answer: (c) Andhra Pradesh

Andhra State was formed on 1 October 1953 for Telugu speakers after Potti Sriramulu's fast, the first state created on a linguistic basis.

Answer: (d) NITI Ayog

NITI Aayog was created by an executive resolution (2015) and is neither constitutional nor statutory. The UPSC, Finance Commission and Election Commission are constitutional bodies.

Answer: (d) Centre-State relations

The Sarkaria Commission (1983–88) reviewed Centre–State relations.

Answer: (a) Great Britain (UK)

The parliamentary (Westminster) system originated in Britain, which India adopted.

Answer: (c) To recommend creation of a new All India Service

Under Article 312, only the Rajya Sabha can pass a resolution (by two-thirds of members present and voting) to create a new All India Service. Impeachment of the President can start in either House.

Answer: (b) Part II

Part II of the Constitution (Articles 5–11) deals with citizenship.

Answer: (b) 2/3rd majority

The official-language provisions (Part XVII, Articles 343–351) can be amended only under Article 368 by a special majority (a majority of total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting); state ratification is not required.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) 60 days

Under Article 101(4), a seat may be declared vacant if a member is absent from all meetings for 60 days without the House's permission.

Answer: (a) Lord Dufferin

Viceroy Lord Dufferin (1884–88) derided the Congress as representing only a 'microscopic minority' of the people.

Answer: (b) Nickname of Hima Das

Sprinter Hima Das, from Dhing in Assam's Nagaon district, is nicknamed the 'Dhing Express'.

Answer: (a) Swachcha Bharat

In September 2018, during the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, boxer Mary Kom was named a brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (a) Section 377 of IPC

In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (September 2018), the Supreme Court decriminalised consensual same-sex relations by reading down Section 377 of the IPC.

Answer: (a) Indian and Russia

BrahMos is built by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. The name combines the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.

Answer: (c) Mexico

Andrés Manuel López Obrador won Mexico's presidential election in July 2018.

Answer: (c) Pakistan

In July 2018, after the Panama Papers cases, former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in the Avenfield properties case.

Answer: (c) Assam

The final draft NRC for Assam (30 July 2018) left out about 40.07 lakh applicants.

Answer: (c) Dr. Harshvardhan

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) in mid-2018.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) Mars

A paper in Science (July 2018), based on MARSIS radar data from Mars Express, reported a liquid-water lake about 20 km wide beneath Mars's south polar ice.

Answer: (c) Singapore

The first Trump–Kim summit was held on Sentosa Island, Singapore, on 12 June 2018.

Answer: (c) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

The Allahabad Pillar inscription lists Dhananjaya of Kusthalapura, Nilaraja of Avamukta, Ugrasena of Palakka and Vishnugopa of Kanchi: A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2.

Answer: (d) III, IV

Alamgirpur (Meerut) and Hulas (Saharanpur) are Harappan sites in Uttar Pradesh. Kalibangan is in Rajasthan and Lothal in Gujarat.

Answer: (c) Nānādesis

The Nanadesis (the Ainnurruvar or 'Five Hundred') were itinerant merchant guilds of south India that traded overseas. Nagaram was a local merchant body and shreni a craft or trade guild.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Both are true: Sanskrit works on music were rendered into Persian (for example, Ghunyat-ul-Munya and translations under Firuz Tughlaq), and the early Chishtis cherished sama. But sama does not explain the translation activity, which came from courtly patronage.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (c) Ayodhya inscription

The Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva calls Pushyamitra Shunga the performer of two Ashvamedha sacrifices (dvir-ashvamedha-yaji).

Answer: (c) Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar

A chakla was a territorial unit between the subah and the pargana, as in Murshid Quli Khan's Bengal and in Awadh. It was a revenue division grouping parganas, not simply another name for the sarkar.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Chauth

Chauth was a quarter (25%) of the land revenue that the Marathas claimed in return for protection. Sardeshmukhi was an additional 10% claimed as hereditary right.

Answer: (d) Maham Anaga

Maham Anga, Akbar's wet nurse, built the Khair-ul-Manazil mosque (1561) opposite the Purana Qila.

Answer: (d) Lucknow - Liyaqat Ali

In 1857 Liyaqat Ali led the revolt at Allahabad, while Lucknow was led by Begum Hazrat Mahal. (Gulab Singh of Kashmir sided with the British, so the official key treats (d) as the intended answer.)

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Warangal - Ramchandra Dev

In Alauddin Khalji's time Warangal was ruled by Prataparudra Deva (Kakatiya). Ramachandra Deva ruled Devagiri, succeeded by Shankara Deva. Hoysala (Vira Ballala III) and Madurai (Vira Pandya) are correct.

Answer: (b) B, A, D, C

Jahandar Shah (1712–13), Muhammad Shah (1719–48), Ahmad Shah (1748–54), Alamgir II (1754–59): B, A, D, C.

Answer: (d) Gujarat

Gujarat has the longest mainland coastline of any Indian state, about 1,600 km.

Answer: (b) Gomati

The Gomti, polluted by untreated sewage and industrial effluents at Lucknow and other cities, has been described as a 'biological disaster' because of its depleted dissolved oxygen and fish kills.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) Mallmalla

Tirumala, seat of the Venkateswara temple, lies in the Seshachalam hills, a part of the Eastern Ghats that adjoins the Nallamala (here 'Mallmalla') range in Andhra Pradesh.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (c) Pleistocene and recent deposits

The Thar desert's surface is mostly Pleistocene and recent (Quaternary) aeolian and alluvial deposits overlying older rocks.

Answer: (b) Tapti/Tapi

The Tapti rises at Multai in the Satpura range (Betul, Madhya Pradesh). The Godavari (Trimbakeshwar), Kaveri (Talakaveri) and Kabini rise in the Western Ghats.

Answer: (c) Transport and Communication Development

Marshall McLuhan's 'global village' describes how electronic communication and fast transport shrink the world.

Answer: (c) Denmark

Among the options, Denmark has the highest average milk yield per cow (about 9,000+ kg a year), ahead of the Netherlands and Great Britain. India's yield is far lower.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (c) Shrawasti

Census 2011: Shravasti had the lowest female literacy in Uttar Pradesh (about 34.8%), followed by Balrampur and Bahraich.

Answer: (d) Grapes

Thompson Seedless (Sultana), Gulabi and Kali Champa are grape varieties grown in India.

Answer: (c) Kerala

Kerala is India's largest producer of both small cardamom and black pepper.

Answer: (c) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

Anai Mudi is the highest peak of Kerala, Saramati of Nagaland, Nanda Devi of Uttarakhand and Dodda Betta of Tamil Nadu: A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (c) Chile

Chile is the world's leading producer of iodine (about two-thirds of output), extracted from caliche (nitrate) deposits of the Atacama.

Answer: (c) Haryana

Census 2011: Haryana had the lowest child sex ratio (0–6 years) among states, 834 overall and the lowest in both rural and urban areas.

Answer: (d) Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh had the largest rural population (about 15.5 crore) in Census 2011.

Answer: (c) 3, 2, 1, 4

Shelled animals appeared in the Cambrian, insects in the Devonian, reptiles in the Carboniferous and mammals in the Triassic: 3, 2, 1, 4.

Answer: (c) Sustainable development

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs is sustainable development (Brundtland Report, 1987).

Answer: (a) 11 July

World Population Day is observed on 11 July, marking the 'Day of Five Billion' (11 July 1987).

Answer: (d) Planning Commission (Now Niti Ayog)

The poverty line was estimated by the Planning Commission (Tendulkar and Rangarajan methods). NITI Aayog now handles this.

Answer: (a) Maharashtra

In road-length data of the time (Basic Road Statistics), Maharashtra had the longest total road network among states, ahead of Uttar Pradesh.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Income Tax

The proposed Direct Taxes Code was to replace the Income Tax Act, 1961. It concerns direct taxes such as income tax, not indirect taxes like sales, excise or service tax.

Answer: (a) Amsterdam

Greenpeace International is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Answer: (a) Agriculture

The answer key links the ABC Index with agriculture. Verify the scheme's details against the official UPPSC key.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) 55

UN-DESA's World Urbanization Prospects 2018 reported that 55% of the world's population lives in urban areas, projected to reach 68% by 2050.

Answer: (a) Smog

Photochemical smog forms when primary pollutants (NOx, hydrocarbons) react in sunlight, so it is a secondary pollutant. CO₂, CO and fly ash are emitted directly.

Answer: (b) Tropical rain forest

Tropical rainforests have the highest species diversity of terrestrial ecosystems, holding over half of known species. Coral reefs are their marine counterpart.

Answer: (d) Pearl

Pearls are made by molluscs (oysters and mussels), not insects. Silk comes from silkworms, honey from bees and lac from lac insects.

Answer: (b) 20 db

Rustling leaves are about 20 dB. Breathing is about 10 dB, normal conversation 60 dB and heavy traffic or a rock concert 100 dB or more.

Answer: (b) Paris

COP21 (December 2015), which adopted the Paris Agreement, was held in Paris.

Answer: (b) 2008

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, with eight national missions, was released on 30 June 2008.

Answer: (a) Marine (ocean)

The ocean is the largest and most stable ecosystem because of its vast size, buffering capacity and relatively constant conditions.

Answer: (a) Burning wastes

Incinerators burn solid, hospital and hazardous waste at high temperature, reducing its volume.

Answer: (a) Increase in global temperature

Greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, water vapour) trap outgoing long-wave radiation and raise the Earth's average (global) temperature.

Answer: (d) Methane

Natural gas is mostly methane (CH₄), commonly 70–90%.

Answer: (d) Diclofenac

Vultures that fed on carcasses of cattle treated with diclofenac died of kidney failure. Veterinary diclofenac was banned in India in 2006.

Answer: (a) China

In 2015 China was the largest emitter of CO₂ (about 28% of the global total), followed by the USA and India.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4

Statements 1, 2 and 4 are true. Statement 3 is false: India is highly disaster-prone (floods, cyclones, earthquakes, droughts).

Answer: (b) Light

Light travels at c (about 3 × 10⁸ m/s in vacuum), the highest possible speed. Cosmic-ray particles and electrons can approach but never reach it.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) Nano structure of carbon

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice, a two-dimensional nanostructure (allotrope) of carbon, not an alloy or an isotope.

Answer: (d) Steel

Sound travels fastest in solids: about 5,000–6,000 m/s in steel, about 1,500 m/s in water and about 343 m/s in air. It cannot travel in a vacuum.

Answer: (d) Peroxyacetyle nitrate

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), formed in photochemical smog, is a powerful eye irritant.

Answer: (a) Stephen Hawking

A Brief History of Time (1988) was written by Stephen Hawking.

Answer: (d) Amla

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, far richer than orange, apple or carrot.

Answer: (a) Mars

Mars, with evidence of past and possibly present water and a moderate climate, is considered the most likely of these planets to support life.

Answer: (b) Theory of photo electricity

Einstein's 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics was for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect, not for relativity.

Answer: (b) Solar energy

Solar energy produces no atmospheric pollution in use. Fossil fuels emit gases and particulates, and nuclear power produces radioactive waste.

Answer: (d) All of the above

For convenience of study, the Directive Principles are classified as socialistic, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual.

Answer: (a) Planning Commission

Ashok Chanda (former Comptroller and Auditor General) described the Planning Commission as the 'Economic Cabinet' of India because of its overarching influence on economic policy.

Answer: (c) P.N. Bhagwati

PIL is chiefly associated with Justice P.N. Bhagwati (with Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer), who pioneered it from about 1979–81 and later became Chief Justice (1985–86).

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (d) Sanjaya Baru

The Accidental Prime Minister (2014) was written by Sanjaya Baru, media adviser to PM Manmohan Singh.

Answer: (c) 24 Jan. 1950

The Constituent Assembly last met on 24 January 1950, when members signed the Constitution and Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected President.

Answer: (d) Legislative Council

A State Legislative Council is a permanent body that is never dissolved, but Parliament can abolish (or create) it under Article 169 on the Assembly's resolution.

Answer: (a) 1985

A separate Department of Women and Child Development was set up in 1985 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It became an independent ministry in 2006, so the official key takes 1985.

This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.

Answer: (b) 20

Under Article 81, the Lok Sabha can have up to 20 members from the Union Territories (530 from the States).