Q1. Consider the following statements about AbhidhammaPitaka:

1) It is a scripture of Mahayana Buddhism.
2) It contains Buddhist philosophy.
3) It was first compiled in Sanskrit and then translated to Prakrit.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

A. 1 only
B. 2, 3
C. 2 only
D. 1, 2

Explanation:
(C)

o Gautama Buddha’s three main disciples known as Upali, Ananda and Mahakashyap remembered his teachings and passed them on to his followers.
o It is believed that soon after the Buddha’s death a council was called at Rajagriha where Upali recited the Vinaya Pitaka (rules of the order) and Ananda recited the Sutta Pitaka (Buddha’s sermons or doctrines and ethics).
o Sometime later the AbhidhammaPitaka consisting of the Buddhist philosophy came into existence.
o It is the last of the three pitakas constituting the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravāda Buddhism.
o It is a detailed scholastic reworking of material appearing in the Suttas, according to schematic classifications.
o It does not contain systematic philosophical treatises, but summaries or enumerated lists.

Q2. The Vedic literature is broadly divided into two categories viz. Shruti and Smriti. What is the difference between them:

1) Shruti is considered eternal whereas Smriti is subject to change.
2) Smriti philosophy stands in direct opposition or contrast to Shruti philosophy.
Which of the above statements is/are correct:

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:
(A)

o Shruti describes the sacred texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism viz. Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, & Upanishads.
o Smiriti literally means “that which is remembered,” and it is entire body of the post Vedic Classical Sanskrit literature.
o It comprises Vedanga, Shad darsana, Puranas, Itihasa, Upveda, Tantras, Agamas, Upangs.
o There is another post Vedic class of Sanskrit literature called Epics which includes Ramayana and Mahabharta.
o However, there is not a distinct divide between Shruti and Smriti.
o Both Shruti and Smriti can be represented as a continuum, with some texts more canonical than others.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1) Buddhist themes have been wall painted in Ajanta.
2) The rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka host paintings of geometric patterns.
3) Bagh caves are renowned for mural paintings.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

A. 1 only
B. 1, 3
C. 2, 3
D. 1, 2, 3

Explanation:
(D)

o The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship-halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 75-metre (246 ft) wall of rock.
o The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura’sJatakamala, and rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities.
o The rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka have a large number of paintings.
o The oldest paintings are found to be 10,000 years old, but some of the geometric figures date to as recently as the medieval period.
o The Bagh Caves are a group of nine rock-cut monuments, situated among the southern slopes of the Vindhyas in Bagh town of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh state in central India.
o These are renowned for mural paintings by master painters of ancient India.

Q4.Phamsana, Shekhari and Valabhi are:

A. pre-historic caves made during the Pleistocene age.
B. prominent schools of Buddhist Tibetan Tangka paintings
C. They are styles of temple architecture of Northern India
D. Styles of temple architecture practiced during Gupta period.

Explanation:
(C)

o The main styles of North Indian temples include Latina, Phamsana, Shekhari and Valabhi types. Valabhi style of temples comprises ayatakaratalachhanda yojana (rectangular ground plan), a doorway to one of its longer parasvas (side) and a semi- cylindrical sikhara (superstructure).
o About fifty percent of Valabhi style temples are in Uttarakhand. Latina types are mainly used for housing the garbhagriha.
o Phamsana type shikhara are broader and shorter than Latina type.
o In many north Indian temples, the phamsana type is used for mandapas while the main garbhagriha is housed in a Latina building.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1) The cave is carved into the hard-monolithic granite rock face of Barabar hills, flanked to its left by the smaller Sudama cave.
2) The ornamentation on the “curved architrave” of the cave consists of carvings of elephants on their way to the stupas.

The above statements refer to:

A. Kanheri Caves
B. Lomus Rishi caves
C. Udayagiri Caves
D. None of the above

Explanation:
(B)

o Lomas Rishi Cave is carved into the hard-monolithic granite rock face of Barabar hills, flanked to its left by the smaller Sudama cave.
o This rock-cut cave was carved out as a sanctuary.
o It was built during the Ashokan period of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BC, as part of the sacred architecture of the Ajivikas.
o The hut-style facade at the entrance to the cave, which was meant as a milk shed, had an impact on South Asian rock-cut architecture.
o It became a model for all such arched entrance portals built at many other Buddhist and Jain caves in India, such as the much bigger Buddhist Chaitya halls of Ajanta or Karli in Maharashtra.

Q6. Consider the following pairs:

1.Nathu La; Sikkim
2.Rohtang Pass; Uttarakhand
3.Lipu Lekh Pas; Himachal Pradesh
4.Bom di La; Arunachal Pradesh

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

A. 1, 3 and 4 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 3 and 4 only
D. 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

Banihal Pass Kashmir Valley with the outer Himalaya and the plains to the south.
Bara-Lacha-La Pass Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh with Leh district in Ladakh.
Fotu La Pass Leh with Kargil of Ladakh Rohtang Pass Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh. Shipki La Pass Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh with Autonomous Region of Tibet, China. Jelep La Pass Sikkim with Autonomous Region of Tibet, China. Nathu La Pass Sikkim with Autonomous Region of Tibet, China. LipuLekh Pass Chaudans valley of India with Autonomous Region of Tibet, China. It is located close to the tri junction of Uttarakhand (India), China and Nepal. Khardung La Ladakh with Siachen glacier. It is the highest motorable pass in the world. Bom di La It is in Arunachal Pradesh

Q7. Consider the following statements with respect to Bara-lacha La:

1. It is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range.
2. The pass connects Kargil and Srinagar.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Bara-lacha La is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range.It connects Lahaul district in Himachal
Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.

Q8. With reference to physical qualities of minerals, which among the following is hardest mineral?

A. Talc
B. Feldspar
C. Quartz
D. Topaz

Explanation:

Ten minerals which are selected to measure the degree of hardness from 1-10-
1. Talc;
2. Gypsum;
3. Calcite;
4.Fluorite;
5. Apatite;
6. Feldspar;
7. Quartz;
8. Topaz;
9. Corundum;
10. Diamond.

Q9. End utilization of Polymetallic Nodules. With reference to this, consider the following Statements?

1. Polymetallic nodules are small lumps of minerals found in deep sea.
2. India is only the latest country to receive the status of a pioneer investor for exploration and
utilization of polymetallic nodules.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

India was the first country to receive the status of a pioneer investor for exploration and
utilization of polymetallic nodules. It was allocated an exclusive area in Central Indian Ocean
Basin by United Nations (UN) in 1987. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) in its 23rd session recently held at Kingston; Jamaica has extended India’s exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules from seabed in Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). Polymetallic nodules (also called as manganese nodules) are small potato-sized (from millimetres to tens of centimetres in diameter) lumps of minerals found in deep sea. They contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, cadmium, vanadium, molybdenum, titanium in various proportions of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance. They are found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea.

Q10. Consider the following statements with reference to Coal Bed Methane (CBM):

1. It is not covered under Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).
2. Ministry of Coal has jurisdiction over Coal Bed Methane (CBM).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor2

Explanation:

CBM is covered under HELP that includes all hydrocarbons like Natural Gas and Shale Gas, it is governed by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.Coal bed methane (CBM): Methane is associated with coal as a byproduct of the coal formation process and it occurs naturally underground within coal reserves. It can be extracted using a variety of techniques. Currently, Great Eastern Energy Corporation and Essar Oil are the only two CBM-gas producing blocks in the country, both from separate reserves in Raniganj, West Bengal. Reliance Industries has reportedly begun test production from its two blocks in Madhya Pradesh. Comparison with Shale gas in extraction: CBM extraction gives out water while shale fracking needs water. Again, CBM production can only be ramped up gradually after de-watering while in case of shale, production is high in the initial years. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) has following key features: There will be a uniform licensing system which will cover all hydrocarbons, i.e. oil, gas, coal bed methane etc. under a single license and policy framework. Contracts will be based on “biddable revenue sharing”. An Open Acreage Licensing Policy will be implemented whereby a bidder may apply to the Government seeking exploration of any block not already covered by exploration. A concessional royalty regime will be implemented for deep water and ultra-deep-water areas. The contractor will have freedom for pricing and marketing of gas produced in the domestic market on arm’s length basis.