UPSC Civil Services Mains 2020 · General Studies · 2 marks · 1 min read

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Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period? (a) An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates (b) A diary to be maintained for daily accounts (c) A bill of exchange (d) An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates Official key: C.

Topic: History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern). Syllabus: Ancient, medieval and modern Indian history — Prelims GS Paper I. Same official PYQ from year-wise 2020 and History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern).

Revision summary

Official key is (c). In post-Harsha sources a hundi is a bill of exchange / indigenous credit note used by merchants, not an edict, a diary or a sales ledger.

Model answer

Introduction

(a) Royal advisory. Not what a hundi is.

Summary. Official key is (c). In post-Harsha sources a hundi is a bill of exchange / indigenous credit note used by merchants, not an edict, a diary or a sales ledger.

Body

  1. B

    A diary. Unrelated.

  2. C

    A bill of exchange. The post-Harsha hundi is a credit instrument — an order to pay.

  3. D

    A daily sales account. Book-keeping, not the hundi.

Summary. Official key is (c). In post-Harsha sources a hundi is a bill of exchange / indigenous credit note used by merchants, not an edict, a diary or a sales ledger.

Conclusion

Summary. Official key is (c). In post-Harsha sources a hundi is a bill of exchange / indigenous credit note used by merchants, not an edict, a diary or a sales ledger.

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Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct? 1. They carry a beacon emitting red light pulses to facilitate underwater detection. 2. They record both the cockpit voice and flight data. 3. Their memory units are made using either stainless steel or titanium. Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Official key: B.

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Official key is (b). The correct combination highlights that Black Boxes record flight data and voice communications, and their memory cores are protected by robust stainless steel or titanium casings, while statement 1 is false due to relying on acoustic rather than light pulses.

Q75 · UPSC Mains 2025 · General Studies · 2 marks · Solution

Consider the following fruits : I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None Official key: C.

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Official Set A key is (c) all three. Papaya, pineapple and guava all satisfy the botanical / cultivation test in the question (tropical fruits as printed). None is an extra.

Q74 · UPSC Mains 2025 · General Studies · 2 marks · Solution

Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme? (a) The Poona Pact (b) The Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact) (c) Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement. (d) Promulgation of the Government of India Act, Official key: A.

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Official Set A key is (a) the Poona Pact (1932). After the Communal Award and the Poona Pact with Ambedkar, Gandhi’s Harijan campaign intensified. That is the event UPSC keys, not Irwin Pact, Quit India, or the 1935 Act.

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