The correct answer is Jawaharlal Nehru.

Key Points

• The Discovery of India was written by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during his imprisonment in 1942-1945 at Ahmednagar fort.

• At present, it is the Indian state of Maharashtra by the colonial authorities during the British Raj before the independence of India.
• It was originally published on 14 November 1946.
• The journey in The Discovery of India begins from ancient history, leading up to the last years of the British Raj.

• The Andes, the world’s longest mountain range, situated in the South American continent.
• The longest mountain range in the world connects seven countries. This includes Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. Its total length is 7,000 km.
• The highest peak of Andes is Mount Aconcagua (6,959 metres) on the border of Argentina.
• The Andes is a fold mountain range. Fold mountains are created where two or more of Earth’s tectonic plates are pushed together.

Note-

• Alps- Europe
• Rocky – North America
• Himalaya- Asia

The Correct Answer is Daljit Singh Chaudhary.

Confusion Points

• Amrit Mohan Prasad is the current Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) but in the question January 2024 is mentioned, so we will answer it accoerdingly.

In News

• Daljit Singh Chaudhary named Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal.

Key Points

• Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary was appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as per a Personnel Ministry order.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approves Chaudhary's appointment as the DG, SSB, for a period extending up to November 30, 2025.
• Daljit Singh Chaudhary is a 1990-batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• The option "4) Higher Education" is not an essential qualification for the candidature of the President of India.
• The President of India need not have a higher education degree.
• The Constitution of India does not list educational qualifications as a requirement.
• The essential qualifications, as per the Constitution of India, are:
  • The candidate must be a citizen of India.
  • They must be at least 35 years of age.
  • They must be qualified for election as a member of the House of the People.
  • They must not hold an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.

Additional Information

• The President of India, as the head of state, has been bestowed with several powers by the Constitution of India. These powers can be broadly classified into the following categories:
  • Executive Powers: The President has the authority to appoint the Prime Minister of India, other ministers, the Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Governors of states, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission, and Ambassadors and High Commissioners to other countries, among others.
  • Legislative Powers: The President summons and prorogues the two Houses of Parliament. They can dissolve the Lok Sabha and call for new elections. 
  • Financial Powers: The President causes the Annual Budget (the Union Budget) to be laid before the Parliament. 
  • Judicial Powers: The President has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense.
  • Military Powers: The President is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. 
  • Emergency Powers: The President has the power to declare three types of emergencies: national, state and financial. During the period of any emergency, the powers of the President are greatly extended.
  • Diplomatic Powers: The President represents India in international forums and affairs and sends and receives diplomats.
  • Veto Powers: The President has veto power over all bills passed by the Parliament, meaning they can withhold their assent, send the bill back for reconsideration, or decide to take no action on the bill.

The correct answer is Megasthenes.

Key Points

• Megasthenes was an ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
• He was sent to his court by Seleucus Nicator, the Greek King of Persia.
• Megasthenes wrote the book Indica.
• Megasthenes in his book Indica provided detailed depictions of 
  • The geographical features of India
  • The absence of slavery in the country.
  • The 7 castes of the Indians, and 
  • Indian Philosophers, etc.
• Chandragupta Maurya was called Sandrocuttus by Greek scholars.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Second term.

In News

• SKM leader Prem Singh Tamang sworn in as chief minister of Sikkim.

Key Points

• Prem Singh Tamang was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for his second consecutive term.
• Under his leadership, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) won 31 out of 32 seats in the recent assembly elections, indicating strong support for his governance.
• The oath of office was administered by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Paljor Stadium, marking the beginning of Tamang's second term.
• This victory mirrors other significant wins in Sikkim's political history, with past landslide victories in 1989 and 2009.
• Since his previous term's election in 2019, where SKM won 17 seats, Tamang has seen an increase in support, leading to this resounding victory.
• Post-election, Tamang has committed to fulfilling all the promises made during the campaign, underlining his governance plans for the next five years.
• SKM had initially joined the NDA in 2019 but chose to contest the latest elections independently.

The correct answer is Shirshendhu Mukyopadhyaya

In News

• Bengali writer and novelist Shirshendhu Mukyopadhyaya has been selected for the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar 2023.

Key Points

• The award, instituted in the memory of the late Kannada poet Kuvempu, was conferred upon Mr. Mukyopadhyaya by a selection committee headed by B.L. Shankar, president of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust.
• Shirshendhu Mukyopadhyaya has significantly contributed to Indian literature through his works in the Bengali language, bringing new sensibilities to his writings.
• The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar 2023 includes a cash award of ₹5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.
• Mr. Mukyopadhyaya has authored around 90 books, including stories, novels, travelogue, and stories for kids, making him a popular and celebrated figure in Bengali literature.
• He is also a recipient of multiple awards, including the Central Sahitya Academy Award.

The correct answer is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Key Points

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
  • He was one of the greatest warriors and the founder of the Maratha Empire.
  • In 1674, Shivaji established himself as a stand-alone ruler.
  • He was a member of one of the 96 Maratha Clans, often known as the "Kshatriyas" or valiant warriors.
  • The coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji was held in 1674 in present-day Maharashtra.
• Ashta Pradhan
  • ​It was a system of ministerial delegation in the Maratha empire during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj.
    • The council is credited with establishing effective government procedures in the Maratha heartland and with the military campaigns' victories against the Mughal Empire.

Additional Information

• Krishna Dev Ray was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, who ruled from 1509 to 1529.
• Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Maurya dynasty.
• Ashoka was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Empire, son of Bindusara, who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from 268 to 232 BCE.

The correct answer is Only I.

Key Points

• The sources of information about the interior of the earth are divided into direct sources and indirect sources.
• Direct Sources:
  • The most easily available solid earth material is surface rock or the rocks we get from mining areas.
  • Gold mines in South Africa are as deep as 3 - 4 km.
  • Volcanic eruption forms another source of obtaining direct information.
  • As and when the molten material (magma) is thrown onto the surface of the earth, during volcanic eruption it becomes available for laboratory analysis.
  • Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Indirect Sources:
  • Mining activity provides us with information about temperature and pressure which increases with the increasing distance from the surface towards the interior in deeper depths.
  •  Another source of information is the meteors that at times reach the earth.
  • However, it may be noted that the material that becomes available for analysis from meteors, is not from the interior of the earth.
  • The material and the structure observed in the meteors are similar to that of the earth.
  • Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The other indirect sources include gravitation, magnetic field, and seismic activity (earthquakes).
• Seismic activity helps us in analyzing the composition of the interior of the earth based on the seismic waves.
• Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

The correct answer is Cricket.

Key Points

• Rani Jhansi Trophy is associated with Cricket.

• Some other sports and cups: