I apologize, upon further reflection I do not feel comfortable speculating about claims related to historical figures and national identities.

1. Shibin Azad
Bobbin Jacob

2. • Conducted for the Triune Academy in Ernakulam
• The questions are connected either
directly/indirectly to the syllabus of the UPSC
exam

3. What was the Anglo-Indian term for a conspicuously
wealthy man who made his fortune in the Orient,
especially in the Indian subcontinent.
This was especially applied to employees of the East
India Company (until 1857) who went to India and
the term was generally used pejoratively to indicate
that the person had accumulated wealth by dubious
means?
The term is a corruption of a Persian word which
roughly meant a ruler or a prince.
1

4. Nabob
A

5. The Bengali newspaper Amrita Bazaar Patrika
was started in 1868. In the year 1878 British
govt in India introduced the Vernacular press
act in order to curb the nationalist
newspapers.
What did ABP do to circumvent the penal
provisions under this act ?
2

6. It started publishing in English only.
A

7. During the 18th century, a surprising number
of company men responded to India by slowly
shedding their Britishness like an unwanted
skin and adopting Indian dress and taking on
the ways of Mughal governing class they came
to replace. Salman Rushdie had called this
“chutnification”.
What did William Dalrymple dub such
practitioners?
3

8. White Mughals
A

9. In the world of technology what superlative
does the “Sunway Taihulight” have?
4

10. Fastest Supercomputer in the world.
Overtook Tianhe-2.
A

11. With which country does India conduct the
joint army exercise called “Garuda Shakti” ?
5

12. Indonesia
A

13. What is the two-dimensional carbon crystal, obtained
by stripping off(exfoliating) a single layer of atoms
from graphite using adhesive tape called?
This material was isolated and characterized in 2004
by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the
University of Manchester.
6

14. Graphene
A

15. Identify the person.
He was instrumental in setting up of Indian
statistical institute.
He was credited with being the brains behind
the 2nd 5 year plan which focused on heavy
industries.
7

16. PC Mahalanobis
A

17. What iconic event took place at this very hall
in December 1885?
8

18. The birthplace of the Indian National
Congress. 28th December 1885
A

19. Parliament has very limited time for scrutinising the
expenditure demands of all the ministries.
Once the prescribed period for the discussion on
demands for grants is over, the speaker puts all the
outstanding demands for grants, whether discussed
or not, to vote at once. What is this method called?
The device was infamous for its use during the
French Revolution.
9

20. Guillotine
A

21. Under the order of precedence, when the
President of India resigns/dies while in office,
The Vice President takes over as Acting
President. Who takes over if the Vice-
President also resigns/dies ?
Bonus question : This has happened only once
in India. Id the person who took over as the
acting President in 1969.
10

22. Chief Justice of India
Justice Muhammed Hidayatullah
A

23. The framers of the Constitution borrowed this
idea from the Irish constitution of 1937,
which had copied it from the Spanish
Constitution.
Dr.Ambedkar described these as ‘novel
features’ of the Indian Constitution.
What is being described here?
11

24. Directive Principle of State Policy.
Part 4 of the Constitution.
A

25. This city was earlier known as ‘Sakhtsar’ and
is located in Iran bordering Caspian Sea. A
convention was held here in 1971 following
which the signatories to the convention meet
every three years as the Conference of the
Contracting parties. The last one of them was
held in Punta del Este, Uruguay in 2015.
ID the city.
12

26. Ramsar
A

27. What is this Google doodle a tribute to?
13

28. Honoring NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn
A

29. If the Second is named Khanderi and Third
one is named Vela, What is the name of the
first one.
The First one has been aptly named after the
dreaded Tiger Shark, a deadly deep sea
predator.
14

30. INS Kalvari
A

31. Maharashtra is using the help of messengers called
Kirtankars to help combat malnutrition.
Kirtankars are narrators of Kirtans and Abhangs,
which are traditional devotional sings based on
ancient scriptures.
What story from mythology do they use to drive
home the message that a child’s brain is already
developing in the womb, and that pregnant mothers
should be treated with love and care?
15

32. Abhimanyu learning the strategy to penetrate
the Chakravyuha while still in the womb
A

33. The Chagos islands are referred to as British Indian
Ocean Territory by UK. Another country which is the
only Hindu majority country in Africa also considers it
to be a part of their territory and has threatened to
take the matter to International Court of Justice at
Hague.
Which US military base does these Islands host and
which is the African country ? (2 parts)
16

34. Diego Garcia and Mauritius
A

35. What connects
Trains with completely Unreserved/General
coaches designed by Indian Railways
&
A Government of India sponsored scheme to
provide highly subsidised food to millions of
the poorest families.
17

36. Antyodaya
A

37. The earth’s rotation around its own axis is not
regular, sometimes it speeds up and in other
times it slows down due to various factors
(like Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, Moon’s
gravity). As a result Astronomical time falls
out of sync with Atomic time.
What is added to the Atomic time when this
difference approaches a single unit of time.
18

38. A leap second
A

39. Vadnagar railway station almost 95 kms from
Ahmedabad will soon receive a facelift of
Rs.8 Crores. Why was it in news during the
mid 2014?
19

40. Birth place of PM Narendra Modi and the
Station where he used to sell tea.
A

41. Previously known as Ecological Debt Day (EDD), is the
date on which humanity’s resource consumption for
the year exceeds Earth’s capacity to regenerate those
resources that year.
This day is calculated by
(World Biocapacity / World Ecological Footprint) x 365
What is this day now known as ?
20

42. Earth Overshoot Day (EOD)
A

43. The agricultural crop year in India is from July
to June. Based on monsoon Indian cropping
season is classified into two main seasons-
1. Kharif &
2. Rabi.
The origin of the words are in Arabic. What do
they mean in Arabic ? (2 parts)
21

44. Kharif - Autumn
Rabi - Spring
A

45. The logo of Central Cottage Industry
Emporium is inspired from ?
22

46. Bankura Horse
A

47. Who has recently been appointed as the head
of the 39 nation Islamic military coalition led
by Saudi Arabia ?
23

48. General Raheel Sharif
A

49. After allegations of EVM-tampering in the
recently held elections, Election Commission
has given the order to buy nearly lakh VVPATs
(Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails).
Which two central PSUs have bagged the
order for the same?
24

50. ECIL(Electronics Corporation of India ltd)
BEL(Bharat Electronics ltd)
A

51. SAHAJ International School was inaugurated
in Kochi on December 30, 2016 by activist and
artist Kalki Subramaniam.
What is unique about this school ?
25

52. India’s first residential transgender school.
A

53. Shibin Azad
Bobbin Jacob

54. List it
R1

55. List all the persons who had served as Deputy
prime ministers of India.
1
Sl No Name Tenure
1 A 1947 – 1950
2 B 1967 – 1969
3 C and D (Jointly) 1979 – 1979
4 E 1979 – 1980
5 F 1989 – 1990
6 F 1990 – 1991
7 G 2002 – 2004

58. List all the persons who had served as Deputy
prime ministers of India.
A
Sl No Name Tenure
1 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 1947 – 1950
2 Morarji Desai 1967 – 1969
3 Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram (Jointly) 1979 – 1979
4 Y.B.Chavan 1979 – 1980
5 Devi Lal 1989 – 1990
6 Devi Lal 1990 – 1991
7 L.K.Advani 2002 – 2004

59. General Round 1 – Clockwise

60. Who became the first nation to ratify global
HFC(hydrofluorocarbons) treaty? It was also the first
country to ratify the Paris agreement.
The Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol aims
to reduce the use of HFCs by 80% over the next 30
years.
1

61. 1

63. Republic of the Marshall Islands
A

64. Indian Navy’s survey vessel has gone green
recently by installing a solar power system on
board.
ID the ship.
2

66. INS Sarvekshak
A

67. Where was India’s first floating elementary
school inaugurated in February this year?
3

69. Loktak lake in Manipur. Famous for its
floating phumdis
A

70. This is from the contents page from the book
“10 Judgements That Changed India” by Zia
Mody. Whose name has been blanked out ?
4

71. 4

73. Aruna Shanbaug
A

74. What name from the Russian "Родина",
meaning "The Motherland" was given to the
ancient supercontinent that existed even
before Pangea?
5

75. A

77. Rodinia
A

78. Who was the first person to suggest a
constitution for India made by Indians in a
Constituent Assembly in the year 1934.
He was also the founder of the Mexican
Communist Party.
6

80. Manabendra Nath Roy
(21 March 1887 – 26 January 1954)
A

81. Mesentery was first described by the Italian
polymath Leanardo Da Vinci in 1508, but it
has been ignored throughout the centuries,
until now.
In the latest Gray’s Anatomy, it has found a
place thus becoming the 79th in a particular
list. What list is this?
7

83. Latest organ discovered in the human body
A

84. Identify this Classical dance form (video 1)
8

86. Sattriya
A

87. It is a decorative art. Also called parchin kari in South Asia, is a
term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly
polished colored stones to create images.
The stonework, after the work is assembled loosely, is glued
stone-by-stone to a substrate after having previously been
"sliced and cut in different shape sections; and then assembled
together so precisely that the contact between each section
was practically invisible".
Used extensively in Taj Mahal, what technique is being
described (The origin of the word is Italian meaning Hard Rocks)
?
9

88. 9

90. Pietra dura technique
A

91. Name these two similar sounding GOI
schemes :
1. For providing Affordable LED lighting to all
2. Providing Free LPG connections to Women
from BPL Households
10

93. Ujala – Unnat Jyoti
Affordable Lighting for All
Distribution of LEDs
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana - Providing Free
LPG connections to
Women from BPL
Households
A

94. After independence it was decided to change the
official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the
British Army. Instead the head of the civilian
government was allotted this place. This was part of
a deliberate strategy to give out the message that
the civilian government was in control of the army
and not the other way around.
ID this building.
11

96. Teen Murti Bhavan
A

97. Uniting for consensus is a movement by a
group of countries, nicknamed as “Coffee
Club”, that developed in the 90s in opposition
to what?
12

99. Possible expansion of permanent seats in the
United Nations Security Council.
A

100. A
WRITTEN ROUND 1 – GI Tags

101. 1
Identify the GI Tag or the place from which it
derives its name.

102. 2

103. 3

104. 4

105. 5

106. 6

109. 1

110. 2

111. 3

112. 4

113. 5

114. 6

115. General Round 2 :
Anti-Clockwise
A

116. A Weapon locating Radar jointly developed by
DRDO's Bangalore based laboratory, LRDE and
the Government owned Bharat Electronics
Limited (BEL) is being tested at the Line of
Control. The range of the Radar is 50 kms.
Shares its name with a great patron and
composer of Indian Classical music.
1

118. Swathi
A

119. How is The Rajasthan Heart Attack Treatment
Scheme better known as ?
It was launched to provide timely treatment
during heart attacks to people in remote area
thus bringing relief to them.
2

121. RAHAT
A

122. Sonia Langha and Sarengia Langha are two
distinct divisions of the Langha community-a
community of folk musicians based in
Rajasthan.
Their names are derived from the principal
instrument used during the recital. Identify
both the musical instruments.
3

124. Sonia - Shehnai
Sarengia - Sarangi
A

125. China is building its 1st overseas airbase at
Djibouti.
India already has one in Central Asia. Which
country is it located in?
4

127. Tajikistan. Farkhor Air Base.
A

128. During the medieval times this place used to
be epicentre of the Tripartite struggle
between the Rashtrakutas, Palas and Gurjara-
Pratiharas.
It is nicknamed as the perfume capital of
India and in ancient times was known as
Kanyakubja (City of Hunchbacked Maidens).
ID the city
5

130. Kannauj
A

131. It was an armed rebellion against the British
East India Company's rule in Odisha in 1817.
They rose in rebellion under their leader
Bakshi Jagabandhu and, projecting Lord
Jagannath as the symbol of Odia unity.
PM Narendra Modi met the descendants of this
historical Rebellion a few days back.
Name the Rebellion.
6

133. Paika Rebellion
A

134. Who has been appointed as the chairperson
of the UN board of auditors on January 1,2017
?
This is one of the key oversight organs of the
UN.
7

136. Shashi kant Sharma. CAG of India
A

137. Which body that lasted 2 years eleven months
and 18 days and functioned around the mid
20th century used this seal ?
8

139. Constituent Assembly of India
A

140. This place gets its name due to the presence
of mounds named Ajinkyatara, Sajjangad,
Yawateshwar, Jarandeshwar, Nakdicha
Dongar, Kitlicha Dongar and Pedhyacha
Bhairoba. This was the first place added to a
certain list in 1848, to which the one added
in 1856 was perhaps the most famous.
Which is this place and which place was
added to the list in 1856?
9

142. Satara-First to be annexed under Doctrine of
Lapse
Jhansi
A

143. What is the geomorphological
phenomenon occurring when a stream
or river drainage system or watershed
is diverted from its own bed, and
flows instead down the bed of a
neighbouring stream called?
10

145. River Piracy
A

146. To bring happiness to the needy people, the
Madhya Pradesh government has launched a
programme where any person who wishes to
donate material can keep the items at a
designated place.
What is the name of the programme that
shares its name with a Malayalam movie
released in 2016?
11

148. Anandam
A

149. With an eye on the future, which
technological giant has collaborated with
Bombay Natural History Society to develop an
Artificial Intelligence platform called Internet
of Birds, which aims to quickly identify
species of birds from photos using machine
learning?
12

151. Accenture
A

153. A
WRITTEN ROUND 2

154. He was the first muslim ruler to invade India
in the 8th century AD. As a result the Pakistan
studies curriculum often refers to him as the
first Pakistani. M.A.Jinnah also claims that
the Pakistan movement started when he put
his foot on the soil of India.
Identify him?
1

156. Mohammed Bin Qasim
A

157. What are the names of the two schemes given
below? Add a single vowel to the first one to
get the name of the second.
1. Affordable flying for common citizens
2. National Skill Development Scheme for
youth of Jammu and Kashmir
2

159. UDAN – Ude Desh ki Aam Naagrik
UDAAN - Udaan Scheme for Skill
Development for youth of Jammu
and Kashmir
A

160. Indrokh is a type of clonal
forest found in the Thar
desert in India. Clonal
trees appear to be
separate but are in fact
the same, as they survive
in harsh climates by
sending out runners or
suckers underground. What
superlative distinction has
some of the people in the
scientific community given
to it as a result?
3

162. Largest living organism!
A

163. Scientists have developed a new rubber material
that has high thermal conductivity and elasticity
which can help create soft, stretchable machines
and electronics. What portmanteau name did they
give to the material which was arrived at from its
thermal conductivity and elasticity?
4

165. Thubber
A

166. For feedback
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