The correct answer is (A) Only I

Explanation:

• The Ashrama system (Varnashrama Dharma) refers to the four stages of a human life according to Vedic philosophy. Statement I is correct: the Jabala Upanishad is widely recognized by historians and scholars as the first text to clearly and explicitly mention all four ashramas (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa). Earlier texts like the Chandogya Upanishad mention only three.

• Statement II is incorrect: While the Jabala Upanishad did allow for a person to renounce the world whenever they felt ready (even after Brahmacharya), the traditional and ideal sequence followed the 'stages of life' progression. An individual was typically expected to move from Brahmacharya (student) to Grihastha (householder), then to Vanaprastha (forest dweller/retirement), and finally to Sannyasa (total renunciation). Sannyasa was generally the final stage of life, usually after one had fulfilled their social and familial duties in the Grihastha stage.

• The system was designed to balance 'Dharma' (duty), 'Artha' (wealth), 'Kama' (desire), and 'Moksha' (liberation).

Information Booster:

• Brahmacharya: Focus on education and celibacy (approx. birth to age 25).

• Grihastha: Focus on marriage, family, and contributing to the economy (age 25 to 50).

• Vanaprastha: Gradual withdrawal from material life and focus on spiritual study (age 50 to 75).

• Sannyasa: Complete renunciation of all worldly attachments to seek Moksha (age 75 onwards).

• This system was theoretically intended for the 'Dvija' (twice-born) castes in the ancient social structure.

Additional Knowledge:

• The Ashrama system was a way of organizing individual life, while the Varna system organized society.

• Only Statement I is correct because while 'jumping' to Sannyasa was *permitted* for those with exceptional spiritual detachment (as mentioned in later Advaita traditions), it was not the general 'expectation' or 'norm' for *all* individuals, which Statement II implies.

The correct answer is: (B) State List

Explanation:

• Co-operative societies fall under Entry 32 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule.

• States have the power to form, regulate, and dissolve co-operative societies.

• The 97th Constitutional Amendment added Part IX-B for co-operatives, but the Supreme Court struck down the part relating to state co-operatives, upholding that it remains a State subject.

Information Booster:

• Entry 32 (State List): Incorporation, regulation, and winding up of co-operative societies.

• 97th Amendment (2011) added Article 43B promoting co-operatives.

• Multi-State Co-operatives fall under Union jurisdiction.

• Supreme Court (2021) upheld states' power over co-operatives.

• Co-operatives play a key role in credit, marketing, farming, and rural development.

Additional Knowledge:

• Union List covers subjects like defence, currency, and railways—not co-ops.

• Concurrent List includes areas like education, forests, and marriage laws.

• Residuary powers lie with Parliament under Article 248.

• Co-operative banks are regulated jointly by RBI and State Registrars depending on type.

• Amul and IFFCO are examples of successful Indian co-operatives.

The correct answer is Option (c)

Explaination:

· Arboriculture is the specialized cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants.

· Unlike forestry, which manages forests as a collective resource, arboriculture focuses on the health, safety, and aesthetics of individual plants.

· It involves selecting the right trees for the right location, planting, and ongoing care such as pruning and fertilization.

Information Booster:

· A professional who practices arboriculture is known as an Arborist or a Tree Surgeon.

· World Arbor Day (Arbor Day) is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees; it was first celebrated in 1872 in the United States.

Additional Knowledge:

· Viticulture: The science and practice of cultivating grapes, primarily for wine production.

· Pomiculture (Pomology): The branch of horticulture that focuses on the cultivation of fruit and nut crops.

· Pisciculture: The commercial breeding and rearing of fish in tanks or enclosures, commonly known as fish farming.

The correct answer is: (A) How easily consumers substitute one good for another

Explanation:

• Elasticity of substitution measures the ease with which one good can be substituted for another when their relative prices change.

• It reflects the curvature of the indifference curve.

Information Booster:

• If goods are perfect substitutes, the elasticity is infinite.

Additional Knowledge:

• Price Elasticity of Demand (Option C): Measures responsiveness of quantity demanded to price.

The correct answer is (a) The Last of Earth

Explanation:

· Deepa Anappara, the award-winning author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, released her new novel "The Last of Earth" on January 13, 2026.

· The novel is set in nineteenth-century Tibet and follows two outsiders: an Indian schoolteacher spying for the British and an English woman explorer.

· It is described as a thrilling and profound narrative about a venture into a forbidden kingdom.

· Anappara’s work is noted for its meticulous historical detail and atmospheric storytelling.

· The book explores themes of imperialism, identity, and the clash of cultures during the Great Game era.

Information Booster:

· Deepa Anappara won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel for her previous work, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line.

· She is a journalist-turned-author whose work has been translated into over 20 languages.

Additional Knowledge:

· Kaayaa (Option c): A novel by Guruprasad Kaginele released in January 2026 about the body as a site of identity.

· The Seventh Swar (Option d): A detective novel by Natasha Sharma released in January 2026, set in Mumbai.

The correct answer is (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

· The Ryotwari Settlement was developed by Sir Thomas Munro, a British administrator associated with the Madras Presidency.

· Under this system, land revenue was collected directly from the cultivators (ryots), removing intermediaries such as zamindars.

· The system was initially tested in the territories annexed after the defeat of Tipu Sultan (1799), particularly in parts of present-day Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

· Statement 4 is incorrect because the Ganga plains were mainly under the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari system), not the Ryotwari system.

Information Booster:

· The Ryotwari system recognized the ryot as the owner of land, subject to payment of land revenue.

· Revenue assessment was based on soil quality, crop type, and irrigation facilities.

· The system was widely implemented in Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam, and Coorg.

Additional Knowledge (Incorrect Option Analysis):

Statement 4 – Applied in the Ganga plains (Incorrect)

· The Ganga plains were dominated by the Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis.

· Zamindars, not ryots, were recognized as landowners in that region.

Final Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer is: (B) Cabinet Mission

Explanation:

• In 1946, the British Government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to negotiate with the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The primary goal was to set up a federal system and to resolve the political deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League. The Cabinet Mission proposed a federal structure with three-tier division of power (central, provincial, and regional), and the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draft the Constitution for India.

Information Booster:

• The Cabinet Mission was led by Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.

• The mission's proposal included the creation of a federal government for both Hindus and Muslims, offering the Muslim League the right to form a separate Pakistan if desired.

• It emphasized the united India framework with safeguards for both religious groups.

• The Congress and Muslim League had conflicting opinions on the proposal, but it was an important step toward India's eventual independence in 1947.

• The Cabinet Mission’s failure ultimately paved the way for the partition of India into two independent nations: India and Pakistan.

Additional Information:

• C. Rajagopalachari Formula: This was a post-Cabinet Mission proposal for resolving political tensions in India but did not directly address a federal system.

• Cripps Mission: Sent in 1942, focused on securing Indian support for the Second World War, but did not propose a federal structure.

• Simon Commission: It was set up in 1927 to report on constitutional reforms in India but was met with widespread opposition for lacking Indian representation.

The correct answer is: (C) This treaty led to the Third Maratha War (1803–05) between the British and the Marathas.

Explanation:

• The Treaty of Bassein was signed on 31 December 1802 between Peshwa Baji Rao II and the British East India Company.

• This treaty marked the beginning of British control over Maratha politics, but it led to the Second Maratha War (1803–1805), not the Third.

• Under the treaty, the Peshwa agreed to various terms that significantly compromised Maratha sovereignty.

Information Booster:

• The Treaty of Bassein made the Peshwa a subsidiary ally of the British.

• The Second Maratha War broke out as a response to this treaty, with Scindia and Bhonsle opposing it.

• The British East India Company gained more control over Maratha territories and influence.

• The treaty undermined the Maratha Confederacy and began the downfall of their political unity.

• A British resident was stationed in the Peshwa’s court after the treaty.

• The Peshwa had to exclude all European powers from his service.

The correct answer is (A) Only 1

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Is correct. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. It is constituted by the President of India every five years or earlier.

• Statement 2: Is incorrect. The recommendations made by the Finance Commission are only of an advisory nature and hence, not legally binding on the government.

• However, it is a convention that the government generally accepts its recommendations regarding the distribution of taxes.

Information Booster:

• Purpose: Its main job is to define the financial relations between the Centre and the States (Vertical and Horizontal devloution of taxes).

• Composition: It consists of a Chairman and four other members.

• 16th Finance Commission: Dr. Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission in late 2023/early 2024.

Additional Knowledge:

• Option B & C: Incorrect because they wrongly assume the Commission has mandatory power. In India's parliamentary system, the Cabinet holds the final authority on fiscal policy.

• Option D: Incorrect because Statement 1 is a well-defined constitutional fact.

The Charbagh design is a traditional Persian style of garden layout that was introduced to India during the Mughal era. It consists of a quadrilateral garden layout divided by water channels or pathways into four smaller sections, symbolizing paradise as described in the Quran.

• The Mughal emperors, influenced by Persian architecture, adopted this style in several of their constructions, including the gardens surrounding Taj Mahal and Humayun's Tomb.

Additional Information:

1. Persian Style :

   • The Charbagh design was first introduced by the Mughals in India.
   • It emphasizes symmetry, harmony, and the use of water features, reflecting Persian influences.

2. Dravida Style :

   • The Dravida style is associated with South Indian temple architecture, characterized by tall gopurams (gateway towers) and pyramidal structures.
   • It is prominent in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

3. Nagara Style :

   • The Nagara style refers to North Indian temple architecture, which features curvilinear shikharas (spires) and intricate carvings.
   • Examples include the Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh.

4. Vesara Style :

   • The Vesara style is a hybrid architectural style blending elements of both Dravida and Nagara styles.
   • It was popular during the Chalukyan rule in Karnataka.

Other Options:

• Dravida, Nagara, and Vesara styles pertain to temple architecture in India and are unrelated to garden layouts like Charbagh.
• Persian architecture profoundly influenced Mughal garden designs, making Option 1 the correct answer.