Option 1 is not correctly matched.

Key Points

• The Deccan Sultanates were the five different Muslim-ruled dynasties of the medieval period that ruled in Golconda, Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmednagar, and Berar of South-Central India. 
• These 5 kingdoms were situated between the Vindhya Ranges and the Krishna River in the Deccan Plateau which later became independent states during the disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanates.
• Ahmednagar Sultanate
  • Also known as the Nizam Shahi dynasty, the Ahmadnagar Sultanate was established by Malik Ahmed Shah Bahri. Hence Option 1 is not correctly matched
• Bijapur Sultanate
  • It is known as the Adil Shahi dynasty was founded by Ismail Adil Shah in 1490 A.D. and was ruled by the Adil Shahi Dynasty.
• Berar Sultanate 
  • The Berar Sultanate was founded by Fath-Ullah Imad- ul-Mulk in the year 1490 and was ruled by the Imad Shahi dynasty.
• Golkonda Sultanate 
  • The Qutb Shahi dynasty or the Golkonda Sultanate was known as the ruling family of the sultanate of Golkonda.
• Bidar Sultanate
  • It was the smallest of all the five Deccan sultanates and was founded by Qasim Barid after its independence in 1528.
  • The dynasty was ruled by the Barid Shahi dynasty and was annexed by the Bijapur sultanate in 1619 AD.

The correct answer is ​Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Key Points

• There has been an increased interest in the development of the Andaman region following a policy push by the NITI Aayog. A proposed project plans to develop the Greater Andaman region or the southernmost stretch of the island group. 
• Proposals include a 22-sq.km airport complex, a TransShipment Port (TSP) at South Bay at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore, a parallel-to-the-coast mass rapid transport system and a free trade zone and warehousing complex on the southwestern coast. 
• The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India. This territory is known as A & N Islands, or ANI. It is located in the Indian Ocean, in the southern reaches of the Bay of Bengal, nearer to Indonesia and Thailand. This comprises of two island groups - the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands - which separates the Andaman Sea to the east from the Indian Ocean. 
• These two groups are separated by the 10° N parallel, the Andamans lying to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobars to the south. The capital of this territory is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. 
• Hindi and English are the official languages of the islands. Bengali is the dominant and most spoken language, with 26% of the population speaking Bengali. 
• Particularly vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) who have been identified in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They are:- 
  • Great Andamanese of Strait Island 
  • Onges of Little Andaman 
  • Jarawas of South and Middle Andaman 
  • Sentinelese of Sentinel Islands 
  • Shompens of Great Nicobar
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved an exemption to the laws governing the regulation of coastal zones and has paved the way for gas-powered plants to be set up at Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The Correct Answer is Indian and Vietnam.

In News

• INDIAN ARMED FORCES CONTINGENT REACHES HANOI FOR JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “VINBAX-2023”.

Key Points

• The Indian Armed Forces contingent comprising 45 personnel reached Hanoi, Vietnam to take part in the fourth edition of Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.
• The exercise will be conducted at Hanoi, Vietnam from 11th to 21st December 2023.
• The Indian contingent comprises 39 personnel from an Engineer Regiment of Bengal Engineer Group and six personnel of Army Medical Corps.
• The Vietnam People’s Army contingent will also be represented by 45 personnel.
• Exercise VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam.
• Last edition was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station in August 2022.
• Aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote inter- operability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations.

The correct answer is Real and inverted.

• The image formed by the concave mirror when the object is placed beyond the center of curvature is Real and Inverted.

Key Points

• Concave Mirror:
  • A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved inwards, that is, faces towards the center of the sphere, is called a concave mirror.
  • Concave mirrors are commonly used in  Torches, Search-lights, Vehicle headlights, Shaving mirrors, Microscopes, and Telescopes.
  • Image formation by a concave mirror for different positions of the object:

The correct answer is It is a longitudinal wave.

• Ultraviolet light also called UV light has a wavelength between 10 and 400 nm which is shorter than visible light but it is larger than the X-rays.

Key Points

• It is a type of electromagnetic radiation which is present in sunlight.
• Ultraviolet light contributes to 10% of the total sunlight.
• Ultraviolet light can travel through a vacuum.
• Radio waves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays are examples of transverse waves. while sound waves and ultrasound waves are examples of longitudinal waves.
• In transverse waves, particles get dispersed in the perpendicular direction in which the waves travel while in longitudinal waves particles are displaced in the parallel direction in which the wave travels.

Additional Information

• Different Types of Wave
  • Wave: The continuous transfer of energy by vibrating the medium of propagation is called a wave.
  • Sound waves, light waves, waves formed due to stretched string are some examples of waves.
  • Longitudinal wave: The wave in which the particles in the medium vibrate in to and fro motion along the line of propagation of the wave is called a longitudinal wave.
  • Transverse wave: The wave in which the particles in the medium vibrates along the perpendicular axis of propagation of the wave is called a transverse wave.
  • Propagation of sound wave: Sound waves travels in the air or any medium by vibrating the air particles along the direction of its motion.

The correct answer is Copper.

Key Points

• Aluminium, Copper, Iron are the commonly used metals used for cooking.
• These metals are used because: 
  • ​​Their thermal conduction property is very good.
  • They transmit heat easily ensuring that the food gets cooked faster.
  • They also remain chemically nonreactive. 

• ​Metals are used because they transfer heat by conduction pretty quickly/evenly and because they are generally tolerant of rapid changes in temperature.

Mistake Point

• Sodium and Potassium are highly reactive metals and react vigorously with the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture present in the air such that they may even cause a fire.

• To prevent this explosive reaction, Sodium is kept immersed in kerosene because Sodium doesn't react with kerosene. So, they cannot be used to make a cooking vessel.

The correct answer is Only two pairs.

Key Points

• Unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work.
• It is often used as a measure of the health of the economy. 

Types of Unemployment

• Disguised Unemployment:
  • The phenomenon when more people are employed than actually needed. Hence pair 1 is correct.
  • Example: agricultural and the unorganized sectors of India.
• Seasonal Unemployment:
  • Unemployment occurs during certain seasons of the year.
  • Example: Agricultural labourers.
• Structural Unemployment:
  • Unemployment arises from the mismatch between the jobs and the skills of the available workers in the market. Hence pair 2 is correct.
  • Many people do not get jobs due to a lack of requisite skills and poor educational levels.
• Cyclical Unemployment:
  • It is the result of the business cycle. 
  • Unemployment rises during recessions and declines with economic growth. 
• ​Technological Unemployment:
  • It is the loss of jobs due to changes in technology.
• ​Frictional Unemployment:
  • Frictional Unemployment is also known as Search Unemployment.
  • It refers to the time lag between the jobs when an individual is searching for a new job or is switching between jobs. Hence pair 3 is not correct.
• ​Vulnerable Employment:
  • This means people are working informally without proper job contracts.
  • These persons are deemed ‘unemployed’ since records of their work are never maintained. Hence pair 4 is not correct.

The correct answer is Peshwa.

Key Points

• In the Ashta Pradhans of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Cabinet Prime Minister was called Peshwa.
  • Peshwa was responsible for the general administration of the Empire.
• Ashta Pradhan was a system of ministerial delegation for better administration in the Maratha empire.
• The advisory council was set up by the Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• It was formed in the year 1674.
• The advisory council contributed to his successful military attacks on the Muslim Mughal Empire.
• In the Ashta Pradhans of Chhatrapati Shivaji's Cabinet Finance Minister was called Amatya.
  • Amatya was responsible for managing the accounts of the Empire.
  • It was previously called Mazumdar.
• The names of 8 advisory councils in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Ashta Pradhans are:
  1. Pantpradhan or Peshwa - Prime Minister.
  2. Amatya or Mazumdar - Finance Minister.
  3. Shurunavis/Sacheev - Secretary.
  4. Waqia-Navis - Interior Minister.
  5. Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati - Commander-in-Chief.
  6. Sumant / Dabir - Foreign Minister.
  7. Nyayadhish - Chief Justice.
  8. Panditrao - High Priest.

2 only is incorrect.

Key Points

• Ashoka was the last major emperor of the Mauryan dynasty of India.
• His patronage of Buddhism during his reign (c. 265–238 BCE) furthered the expansion of Buddhism throughout India.
• Following his successful but bloody conquest of the Kalinga country on the east coast, Ashoka renounced armed conquest.
• In order to gain wide publicity for his teachings and his work, Ashoka made them known by means of oral announcements and by engravings on rocks and pillars at suitable sites.
• These inscriptions - the rock edicts and pillar edicts (e.g., the lion capital of the pillar found at Sarnath, which has become India’s national emblem), mostly dated in various years of his reign contain statements regarding his thoughts and actions and provide information on his life and acts.
• Asoka embraced Buddhism and took efforts to spread Buddhism. The policy of Dhamma was a still broad concept.
• It was a way of life, a code of conduct, and a set of principles to be adopted and practiced by the people at large. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve worship of a god, or performance of a sacrifice. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• He felt that just as a father tries to teach his children, he had a duty to instruct his subjects. 
• His principles of Dhamma were clearly stated in his Edicts. The main features of Asoka’s Dhamma as mentioned in his various Edicts may be summed as follows:
  • Service to father and mother, the practice of ahimsa, love of truth, reverence to teachers, and good treatment of relatives.
  • Prohibition of animal sacrifices and festive gatherings and avoiding expensive and meaningless ceremonies and rituals.
  • Efficient organization of administration in the direction of social welfare and maintenance of constant contact with people through the system of Dhammayatras. 
  • Humane treatment of servants by masters and prisoners by government officials. 
  • Consideration and non-violence to animals and courtesy to relations and liberality to Brahmins.
  • Tolerance among all the religious sects. 
  • Conquest through Dhamma instead of through war.

The correct answer is Salman Rushdie.

Key Points

• The Satanic Verses book is authored by Salman Rushdie and it was published on 26 September 1988.
• Salman Rushdie was awarded the booker prize in 1981 for Midnight's Children.

Important Points

• Amitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta and grew up in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 
  • The Circle of Reason, The Shadow Lines, In An Antique Land, Dancing in Cambodia, The Calcutta Chromosome, The Glass Palace, The Hungry Tide, and The Ibis Trilogy, consisting of Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke and Flood of Fire was authored by Amitabh Ghosh.
  • River of Smoke is a novel authored by Amitabh Ghosh published in 2011.
  • In 2007 he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest honours, by the President of India.
  • In 2010 he was a joint winner, along with Margaret Atwood of a Dan David Prize.
  • In 2011 he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Blue Metropolis Festival in Montreal.
  • In 2018 the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, was conferred on Amitav Ghosh.
• Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London and raised in Rhode Island.
  • Jhumpa Lahiri is the author of four works of fiction is Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and The Lowland.
  • The Lowland Book has authored by Jhumpa Lahiri and this book was launched in 2013. The Lowland is a powerful novel and Pulitzer Prize winner and stood first in the New York Times bestselling author Jhumpa Lahiri. 
• The Lives of Others is a novel authored by Neel Mukherjee and this Book was published in 2014.