1 What was important about Shravasti in Buddhist history? 1. It was ruled by Pasenadi who was a disciple of Buddha. 2. The famous Jetavana Vihara is situated here. 3. It hosted the first sermon of the Buddha. Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 Correct Answer : B Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: About 2,500 years ago, it was one of the six largest cities of India and served as the capital of the Kosala Kingdom, and its king was called Pasenadi, who was a disciple of Buddha. The Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Shravasti. Statement 2: It was also a prominent trading centre and center of religious activity by Buddha. According to the history of Buddhism, The Buddha first came to Shravasti at the urging of Sudatta, a rich merchant who met the Buddha in Rajagir. Sudatta invited the Buddha to Shravasti and began to look for a suitable place to build a vihara. Q Source: Additional Research: 11th TN History Textbook 2 ‘SCORM’ was recently in news in the context of A. E-learning technical standards B. Recording information on DNA C. Hybrid crop technology D. Inter-operable airline standards Correct Answer : A Answer Justification : Learning: SCORM is a set of technical standards for e-learning software products. SCORM tells programmers how to write their code so that it can “play well” with other elearning software. It is the de facto industry standard for e-learning interoperability. Specifically, SCORM governs how online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) communicate with each other (for e.g. similar standards for DVD players across countries). SCORM does not speak to instructional design or any other pedagogical concern — it is purely a technical standard. Q Source: Picked from the objectives of NMECIT http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/MissionDocument.pdf 3 RBI has issued a Cyber Security Framework in Banks, mandating banks to 1. Conduct regular workshops for bank consumers with regard to cyber security awareness 2. Institute a board-approved cyber-security policy which covers the risks from cyber threats and the measures to address them 3. Reversal of erroneous debits arising from fraudulent or other transactions 4. Appoint a member of CERT-In as an integral part of the Board of Governors of all scheduled banks Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1, 3 and 4 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 2 only D. 2, 3 and 4 only Correct Answer : B Answer Justification : Justification: Under the framework, RBI has issued instructions to banks for the following: Reversal of erroneous debits arising from fraudulent or other transactions Board-approved bank policy to cover customer protection Mechanism of compensating the customer for the unauthorised electronic banking transactions Display of the same on the bank’s website, along with the details of grievance-handling / escalation procedure. 4 Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) allows 1. A listed company to issue equity shares for raising capital 2. Government to borrow from the market without causing any ‘crowding out effect’ Which of the above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. None Correct Answer : A Answer Justification : Concept: Crowding out effect happens when a large borrowing by the government leads to a shortage of capital for private players in the market. This leads to a rise in interest and thus increase in borrowing costs for the corporates. Justification: A QIP is a capital raising tool wherein a listed company can issue equity shares, fully and partly convertible debentures, or any security (other than warrants) that is convertible to equity shares. Apart from preferential allotment, this is the only other speedy method of private placement whereby a listed company can issue shares or convertible securities to a select group of investors. Statement 2: If there is government borrowing, a crowding out effect is most likely to follow because there isn’t enough capital for everyone in the market. How different from an IPO: But unlike in an IPO or an FPO (further public offer), only institutions or qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) can participate in a QIP issuance. QIBs include mutual funds, domestic financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies, venture capital funds, foreign institutional investors, and others. The State Bank of India is planning to complete a planned share sale by year-end, probably through a qualified institutional placement (QIP). 5 Tamil culture reached its peak under Cholas. Consider the following matches of major text works and their description. 1. Periya Puranam: Lives of the Nayanars 2. Kalingattupparani: Kalinga war fought by Kulotunga 3. Moovarula: Life of Chola kings 4. Kalladam: Work on Tamil grammar Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 2 and 3 only B. 1, 2 and 3 only C. 3 and 4 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Correct Answer : D Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: Sometimes called Tiruttontarpuranam, the Purana of the Holy Devotees, is a Tamil poetic account depicting the legendary lives of the sixty-three Nayanars, the canonical poets of Tamil Shaivism. Statement 2: Jayankondar’s Kalingattupparani describes the Kalinga war fought by Kulotunga I. Statement 3: Ottakoothar (another name) was a Tamil court poet to three legendary early Chola kings, namely Vikrama Chola, Kulotunga II and Rajaraja II. Statement 4: The works on Tamil grammar like Kalladam by Kalladanar, Yapperungalam by Amirthasagarar, a Jain, Nannul by Pavanandhi and Virasoliyam by Buddhamitra were the products of the Chola age. Q Source: Additional Research: 11th TN History Textbook 6 World's first sanctuary for White Tigers is located in which of these states of India? A. Gujarat B. Assam C. Madhya Pradesh D. Uttar Pradesh Correct Answer : C Justification: In India, white tigers are predominantly found in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. In 2016, world’s first White Tiger Safari was inaugurated in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Learning: White tigers are found in other major zoos across India as well, for e.g. Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha. According to the scientists, white tigers lack pheomelanin, which is responsible for the red-yellow hue in the skin coat. 7 Consider the following about several major maritime choke points. 1. Strait of Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. 2. Lombok Strait connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean. 3. Strait of Malacca connects North Atlantic Ocean to the South Pacific Ocean. Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 : Correct Answer : A Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: The Bab-el-Mandeb or Mandeb Strait is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Statement 2: The Lombok Strait, connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean, and is located between the islands of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. The Gili Islands are on the Lombok side. Statement 3: From an economic and strategic perspective, the Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Q Source: Map based questions: Frequently seen in news The strait is the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, linking major Asian economies such as India, China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. 8 India’s National Programme — Scientific Validation and Research on Panchagavya (SVAROP) — will be coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and other agencies. Panchagavya is believed to be useful in A. Curing diseases like Arthritis, epilepsy and diabetes B. Treating oil spills C. Soaking polluted groundwater with heavy metals D. Clearing adulterated milk and urea on a large scale Correct Answer : A Answer Justification : Learning: Panchagavya is a concoction of cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee. According to the TNAU website, the magic potion can “cure arthritis within two months” and help treat several other diseases and conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s. It can reduce blood sugar levels and enable diabetic patients to reduce the dose of anti-diabetic drugs. A 19-member committee has been constituted to select projects that can help scientifically validate the benefits of panchagavya. Q Source: 9 Which of these are distinguishing features between Gandhara school of art and Mathura school of art? 1. Gandhara school originated during the reign of Kushanas whereas Mathura school originated under Sakas. 2. Gandhara school made sculptures of the Buddha, whereas Mathura school only portrayed traditional Indian Gods and Goddesses. Which of the above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. None Correct Answer : D Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: Gandhara originated during the reign of Indo-Greek rulers but the real patrons of this school of art were the Sakas and the Kushanas, particularly Kanishka. Mathura school was an indigenous development. Statement 2: Mathura school carved out the images of Buddha as well as Siva and Vishnu along with their consorts (Parvathi and Lakshmi). Gandhara art was a blend of Indian and Graeco-Roman elements. Its reliefs depict Buddha’s birth, his renunciation and his preaching. Q Source: 11th TN Textbook 10 Van Allen radiation belts would not have existed without A. Headley cells on higher latitudes formed on earth B. Magnetic field of earth C. Seasonal change in the equators D. Movement of cold currents in higher latitudes Correct Answer : B Answer Justification : Concept: The Van Allen belts are a collection of charged particles, gathered in place by Earth’s magnetic field.