General Knowledge

Gelatin is added to ice cream as a stabilizing agent that prevents crystallization of water molecules and maintains the smooth colloid structure. It forms a gel network that inhibits ice crystal growth during freezing and storage. Gelatin does not enrich aroma, and preventing colloid formation would be counterproductive to ice cream's structure.

Water is a pure substance containing no macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, or proteins) that provide energy. Therefore, water has zero calories regardless of the volume consumed. Options A and B are incorrect because they assign caloric values to water, while option C is grammatically incorrect.

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is a widely used immunological test that detects antibodies or antigens in a sample. It is the standard screening test for HIV/AIDS, detecting HIV antibodies in blood. TB uses skin tests or sputum cultures, cancer diagnosis involves various imaging and biopsy techniques, and polio is diagnosed through stool cultures or clinical presentation.

Antibodies are produced by B lymphocytes (B cells), a type of white blood cell that is part of the adaptive immune system. Monocytes are phagocytes that become macrophages, basophils release histamine in allergic responses, and eosinophils combat parasitic infections - none produce antibodies.

Potamology is the scientific study of rivers, including their formation, flow patterns, ecosystems, and sediment transport. Pedology is soil science, petrology is rock study, and pomology is fruit cultivation. The prefix 'potamo-' comes from Greek 'potamos' meaning river.

The Treaty of Deogao (1803) was signed between Lord Wellesley (not Cornwallis) and Raghujee Bhonsle II of Nagpur. The other treaties are correctly matched: Amritsar (1809) between Lord Minto and Ranjit Singh, Purandhar (1816) between Warren Hastings and Marathas (after Third Anglo-Maratha War), and Sugauli (1816) between Lord Hastings and Nepal ruler.

All three statements about Plate Tectonics are correct. The theory explains the motion of both continents and oceanic plates (1), the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several rigid plates (2), and plate boundaries are classified as constructive (divergent), destructive (convergent), and conservative (transform) based on their relative motion (3).

A Schengen Visa allows entry to one Schengen country and free travel within the Schengen Zone (26 European countries that abolished passport controls). It does not permit worldwide travel (statement 2 is false) or travel in Asia (statement 3 is false). Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Bogota is the capital of Colombia. Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus, Budapest is the capital of Hungary, and Madrid is the capital of Spain. This is a straightforward capitals-of-countries question requiring basic geography knowledge.

The 'Chain of Justice' was installed by Jahangir in 1605. It was a golden chain with bells hung outside his palace, allowing anyone with a grievance to pull it and directly appeal to the Emperor, ensuring justice was accessible to common people. This was part of Jahangir's 'Chain of Justice' policy.

Cossacks were semi-militarized peasant communities of the South-eastern borderland of Poland or Ukraine (particularly the Dnieper and Don regions). They were known for their military skills and played significant roles in Eastern European history. They were not Arabian tribes (those are Bedouins), Hungarians, or New Zealand inhabitants.

All three statements about the National Knowledge Commission are correct. Established in 2005 and headed by Sam Pitroda, it aimed to give India 'the knowledge edge' (1), consolidate India as a knowledge power (2), and advise the Prime Minister on knowledge production institutions and knowledge utilization (3).

Podcasting is indeed a method of delivering audio content over the internet, similar to Internet radio. The key distinction is that listeners can subscribe to podcasts and download them for offline listening at their convenience. Statement 3 is clearly incorrect - 'podcasting' refers to digital audio distribution, not throwing plant pods.

Punjab has the highest SC population

Kolleru Lake is one of India's largest freshwater lakes, located in Andhra Pradesh. It is situated between the deltas of two major rivers - Krishna and Godavari. It is not in Chennai (that's Pulicat Lake), not in North-East India, and not a salt lake in Rajasthan.

The coral islands of Lakshadweep are atolls - ring-shaped coral reefs that encircle a lagoon. Atolls form when coral reefs grow around a volcanic island that eventually sinks, leaving only the coral ring. Lakshadweep's islands are classic examples of atoll formations, not barrier reefs or continental reefs.

Garth King wrote 'The Hansie Cronje Story: An Authorized Biography,' documenting the life of the controversial South African cricket captain. Hansie Cronje himself did not write his own authorized biography - that would be unusual for an 'authorized' biography.

Call Money Market is a segment of the money market where banks borrow and lend funds for extremely short periods - typically overnight or one day. Banks use this to meet reserve requirements or cover temporary cash shortfalls. It is not about making phone calls, and it's distinct from term lending markets with specified periods.

Zero Base Budgeting (ZBB) requires every expense to be justified from scratch each budget cycle, rather than just incrementing previous budgets. All financial requirements must be analyzed, evaluated, and justified annually. This makes it an innovative technique that guards against wasteful spending.

Balance of Payments (BoP) is divided into Current Account and Capital Account. The Current Account records trade in goods/services and income flows, while the Capital Account records capital transfers and investments. It is not about bank savings or recurring deposits.

In the Mahabharata, Karna's legendary bow was named Vijaye. Karna was one of the greatest warriors, and his bow Vijaye was said to be invincible. The names Rakshak and Takshak refer to other figures in Indian mythology but not Karna's bow.

Greenfield investment refers to establishing entirely new facilities (plants, offices, workshops) rather than acquiring or expanding existing ones. It is not about literally investing in green fields or tree plantations. The term comes from starting on 'greenfield' sites where no previous facilities existed.

Economic justice is mentioned in both the Preamble (social, economic and political justice) and the Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 38-43). While Fundamental Rights ensure civil liberties, Economic Justice is not explicitly enumerated as a Fundamental Right but is a directive goal for the state.

Option D is indeed the incorrect statement. Inflation HURTS fixed income groups (their income buys less), HURTS creditors (they're repaid in devalued currency), HELPS debtors (they repay with cheaper money), and its effect on exports is complex (currency depreciation may help exports but import costs rise). Option D has the effects backwards.