General Studies 2

United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the UN Charter entering into force on October 24, 1945. The Charter was ratified by China, France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States, and a majority of other signatories.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games were hosted by Delhi, India, marking the first time the city hosted the multi-sport event. The games featured athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories.

Kuchipudi is a classical Indian dance form that originated in the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh (now part of Telangana). It has a 2000-year old tradition and is one of the eight major Indian classical dance forms.

Brian Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket - 400 not out against England in 2004. This surpassed his own previous record of 375. Hayden scored 380, but Lara's 400* remains the highest.

The Nanavati Commission was constituted in 2005 to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. Justice G.T. Nanavati headed the commission which submitted its report in 2005.

Bimbisara, Gautama Buddha, and Prasenjit were all contemporaries from the 6th-5th century BCE. Bindusara was Bimbisara's son and ruled later (c. 320-293 BCE), making him historically separated from the other three who were direct contemporaries during Buddha's lifetime.

Agni, the Vedic fire god, is believed to have devoured his parents at birth according to Vedic mythology. His parents were said to be Heaven (Dyaus) and Earth (Prithvi), representing fire consuming both. He is also called the ultimate witness (sakshi) to all actions.

Subhash Chandra Bose founded the Forward Bloc in 1939 after resigning from the Congress presidency. The party was formed as an alternative to Congress with the aim of radical fight for complete independence from British rule.

Mars' atmosphere is composed of approximately 95% carbon dioxide, with about 2.7% nitrogen and 1.6% argon. The high concentration of CO2 creates a strong greenhouse effect, though the thin atmosphere overall prevents significant heat retention.

Rubber is a cash crop - grown primarily for sale rather than subsistence. Other options like wheat, millets, and rice are food crops (cereals) primarily grown for direct consumption. Rubber is an industrial plantation crop yielding latex for commercial use.

The UN has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. German is not an official language of the United Nations, though Germany is a major contributor to the UN and German is widely spoken internationally.

The ionosphere contains ionized particles that reflect radio waves back to Earth, enabling long-distance radio communication. The exosphere is too thin while the troposphere and stratosphere lack sufficient ionization.

Bhimbetka caves, famous for prehistoric rock paintings dating back to Paleolithic era, are located in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2003.

Sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) is commonly called 'hypo' in photography. It's used as a fixing agent to dissolve unexposed silver halide from photographic film or paper, making the image permanent.

Article 32 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Constitutional Remedies, allowing citizens to directly approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights. Dr. Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution.

Nokia originated in Finland, founded in 1865 as a paper mill in Tampere. It became a telecommunications giant and mobile phone manufacturer, though it was later acquired by Microsoft and then HMD Global.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 to promote education, social reform, and selfless service to the nation. It aimed to create a dedicated workforce for India's social uplift.

The sky appears blue due to Rayleigh scattering - shorter blue wavelengths scatter more than longer red wavelengths when sunlight hits atmospheric molecules. This scattered blue light reaches our eyes from all directions.

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a medical imaging technique using strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues without ionizing radiation.

Capsaicinoids (including capsaicin) are chemical compounds that produce the burning sensation and bitterness in chillies. They stimulate pain receptors in the mouth and skin, creating the sensation of heat.

The 10° Channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands. It's approximately 150 km wide and is named because it roughly follows the 10°N latitude line. The 8° Channel separates Andaman from the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Barren Island, located in the Andaman Sea, is India's only active volcano. It last erupted in 2017-2018 and continues to show volcanic activity. The other options are volcanoes in Indonesia (Krakatoa), Italy (Etna), and USA (Rainier).

The Atharva Veda is the correct answer as it contains hymns, spells, and incantations for everyday life, including magical charms and spells for protection, healing, and various purposes. The Rig Veda primarily contains hymns praising deities, Yajur Veda focuses on ritual formulas and sacrifices, while Sama Veda consists of musical melodies derived from Rig Vedic hymns.