Key Points

• Panchayati Raj
  • Panchayati Raj is the system of local self-government of villages in rural India as opposed to urban and suburban municipalities.
  • It consists of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through which the self-government of villages is realized.
  • They are tasked with "economic development, strengthening social justice and implementation of Central and State Government Schemes including those 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule."
  • ​Part IX of the Indian Constitution is the section of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats.
  • It stipulates that in states or Union Territories with more than two million inhabitants there are three levels of PRIs:
    • Zilla Parishad at the District Level
    • Panchayat Samiti at the Block Level
    • Gram/Village Panchayat at the Village Level

Shortcut Trick

• How to remember all the schedules: Code for 12 schedules is - TEARS OF OLD PM
  • 1st Schedule: T- Territory,
  • 2nd Schedule: E- Emoluments/salary,
  • 3rd Schedule: A- Affirmation/Oath,
  • 4th Schedule: R- Rajya Sabha,
  • 5th Schedule: S- Scheduled Tribes,
  • 6th Schedule: O- Other Tribes,
  • 7th Schedule: F- Federal (Division Of Powers),
  • 8th Schedule: O- Official Regional Languages,
  • 9th Schedule: L- Land Reform,
  • 10th Schedule: D- Defection (Anti-Defection Law),
  • 11th Schedule: P- Panchayati Raj,
  • 12th Schedule: M- Municipal Corporation.

Important Points

• The year 1921 is often referred to as the “Year of the Great Divide,” the last period in which India’s population declined, due to the effects of famine.

Additional Information

• The earliest literature ‘Rig Veda’ reveals that some kind of population count was maintained during 800-600 BC.
• Kautilya’s Arthasastra (written around 321-296 BC) laid stress on Census taking as a measure of State policy for purpose of taxation.
• During the regime of Mughal king Akbar, the administrative report ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ included comprehensive data pertaining to population, industry, wealth and many other characteristics.
• The first Census was conducted in India in 1872 (although non-synchronously in different parts) during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo.
• The first complete synchronous Census was conducted in 1881.
• Census-2021 is the 16th such exercise since inception and 8th since independence.

The correct answer is Kolkata.

• Kolkata is known as the city of palaces.

Key Points

• Kolkata has a nickname, the "City of Palaces".
• It is famous for its Rajbaris.
• During the British colonial era from 1700-1912, when Kolkata was the capital of British India, Kolkata witnessed a spate of frenzied construction activity of buildings largely influenced by the conscious intermingling of Gothic, Baroque, Roman, Oriental, and Islamic schools of design.
• Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout in architectural variety in Kolkata owed its origins to the Occident.
• The buildings were designed and inspired by the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Baboo.
• The numerous palatial mansions built all over the core city led to the city being called the City of Palaces.

Additional Information

• The East India Company founded its trading post in Kolkata.
• Till 1911, it was the capital of India.
• In 1911, the capital of India was shifted to Delhi by the British.
• The grand colonial architecture, art galleries, and cultural festivals can be found in the city. 
• Kolkata is one of the largest cities in India.
• It is also the major port.
• The city is located at the bank of the Hoogly River.
• The city is the educational, commercial, and cultural center of India.
• The capital of the state of West Bengal is Kolkata.

The correct answer is Single Constitution.

Key Points

• Federal Government: A government in which powers are divided between the central government and state government by the constitution itself and both operate in their respective jurisdiction independently.
• Unitary Government: A government in which all the powers are vested in the central government and if state governments exist, they derive their authority from the central government.

Important Points

Comparing Features of Federal and Unitary Governments

The correct answer is an Oxidation reaction.

Key Points

• Rancidity refers to the spoilage of food in such a way that it becomes undesirable for consumption. 
• It is caused by the oxidation of fats and oils present in food.
• It causes changes in the taste and smell of food.

Additional Information

• Rancidity can be controlled by
  • Adding antioxidants to foods.
  • Keeping food items in a closed container.
  • Refrigerating food.
  • Replacing oxygen in the containers with another gas.

Key Points

• The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India.
• Sher Shah Suri introduced the first rupee in India. and the Bank of Hindustan printed the first paper currency.
• The Indian government approved the currency's emblem on July 15, 2010.
• The symbol for the Indian rupee represents Indian philosophy.
• Combining the Roman capital "R" and the Devanagari "Ra," the symbol has two parallel horizontal stripes running across the top.
• The Union Cabinet accepted the new emblem on July 15 after Shri D.Udaya Kumar, a postgraduate of IIT Bombay, submitted his design.

The correct answer is Kirana Gharana - Pandit Sureshbabu Mane and Hirabai Badodekar

In News

• Prabha Atre belongs to Kirana Gharana and Pandit Sureshbabu Mane and Hirabai Badodekar were her influential mentors in the Gurukul system.

Key Points

• Prabha Atre was an internationally acclaimed Hindustani classical vocalist.
• She belonged to the Kirana Gharana, one of the prominent lineages of classical music in India.
• Atre was known as "Swarayoginee" among the music community.
• She received three Padma awards for her contributions to classical music.
• Prabha Atre, born on September 13, 1932, developed her own style within the Kirana Gharana and was an experimental singer.
• She was a versatile personality, excelling as an academician, researcher, composer, author, guru, and reformer.
• Atre played a significant role in popularizing Indian classical music in the West and was scheduled to perform in Mumbai before her demise.

The correct answer is proteins.

• The building blocks of proteins are amino acids.

Important Points

• Amino acids:
  • Proteins are made up of organic compounds called amino acids. So they are known as the building components of proteins.
  • Amino acids are the necessary ingredients for the growth and development of human.
  • Basic amino groups (-NH₂) and carboxyl groups (-COOH) are found in amino acids.
  • Long chains of amino acids constitute peptides and proteins.
  • Proteins are made up of twenty amino acids.
  • Examples of Amino acids:
    • Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine
  • Figure: Structure of Amino acid

Additional Information

• Carbohydrates:
  • Carbohydrates are organic compounds in which the ratio of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen is 1:2:1.
  • Carbohydrate in the form of sugar and starch are major intake in animals and humans.
  • Carbohydrate containing aldehyde group is called aldose and with ketone group is called ketose.
  • Carbohydrates are derivatives of polyhydroxy alcohols.
• Vitamins:
  • Vitamin was invented by Sir F. G. Hopkins.
  • The term vitamin was coined by Funk.
  • Vitamins are organic compounds required in minute quantities.
  • No calorie is obtained from it, but it is very important in regulating chemical reactions in the metabolism of the body.
• Minerals:
  • The mineral is a homogenous inorganic material needed for the body which controls the metabolism of the body.

The correct answer is Krishna.

• The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on River Krishna is considered to be the largest stone masonry dam in the world.
• Height: 124 meter
• Completed in 1967.
• River Krishna - 
  • Krishna is the second largest east-flowing river on the peninsula.
  • Its basin extends over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra,& Karnataka.
  • The Krishna river originates from the Western Ghats near Jor village of Satara district of Maharashtra.
  • The total length of River Krishna is 1400km.
• Pamba - 
  • 3rd longest river of Kerala.
  • Length : 176km
  • Sabrimala Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is located on the bank of the river Pamba.
• Mahanadi - 
  • 2^nd longest east-flowing peninsular river after the Godavari.
  • Originates from the foothills of Dandakaranya in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.
  • Length: 900km
• Cauvery - 
  • Originates at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in Karnataka.
  • Length: 800km
• Dam on Rivers -

The correct answer is a Long walk to freedom.

• Nelson Mandela was a South African politician and activist.
• He was the first black President of South Africa who was appointed on April 27, 1994.

Key Points

• During his rule, he focused on ending racism, poverty, inequality, and improving racial understanding in South Africa. 
• Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography written by him.
• It was published in 1994 by Little Brown & Co.
• This book gives a glimpse of his early life, education, and 27 years in prison.

Additional Information

• In the second part of the book, Mandela introduced the political and social aspects of apartheid in South Africa.