TRIUMPH IAS ACADEMY MUMBAI

 UPSC: Civil Service Prelims 2011 General Studies (Paper - 1) 1.) Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways : 1. Soil formation 2. Prevention of soil erosion 3. Recycling of waste 4. Pollination of crops Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a.) 1, 2 and 3 only (b.) 2, 3 and 4 only (c.) 1 and 4 only (d.) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans. d (2.) Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use? (a.) Aspartame is as sweet as table sugar, but unlike table sugar, it is not readily oxidized in human body due to lack of requisite enzymes (b.)When aspartame is used in food processing, the sweet taste remains, but it becomes resistant to oxidation (c.) Aspartame is as sweet as sugar, but after ingestion into the body, it is converted into metabolites that yield no calories...

(51.) An artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth does not fall down. This is so because the attraction Of Earth (a.) does not exist at such distance (b.) is neutralized by the attraction of the moon (c.) provides the necessary speed for its steady motion (d.) provides the necessary acceleration for its motion Ans. c (52.) In the context of Indian economy, consider the following statements : 1. The growth rate of GDP has steadily increased in the last five years. 2. The growth rate in per capita income has steadily increased in the last five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a.) 1 only (b.) 2 only (c.) Both 1 and 2 (d.) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans. b (53.) In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities? (a.) Commercial Banks (b.) Cooperative Banks (c.) Regional Rural Banks (d.) Microfinance Institutions Ans. a (54.) Which of the following can aid in furthering the Gover...

Government hopes to implement direct tax code from April 2011. Earnest endeavour to implement general sales tax in April 2011. Government will raise Rs25,000 crore from divestment of its stake in state-owned firms. Kirit Parekh report on fuel price deregulation will be taken up by petroleum minister Murli Deora in due course. Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy scheme to come into force from April 1 this year. Nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy will reduce volatility of subsidy and also reduce it. Market capitalisation of five public-sector undertakings listed since October increased by 3.5 times. FDI inflows steady during the year. Government has taken series of steps to simplify FDI regime. Intends to make FDI policy user friendly by compling all guidelines into one document. Government has decided to set up apex-level Financial Stability and Development Council. RBI considering issuing banking licences to private companies. Non-banking finance companies will also be conside...

 Following are the highlights of the Railway Budget 2011-12 presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in Parliament today. * No hike in passenger fare and freight rates. * Highest ever Plan outlay of Rs 57,630 crore proposed for Railways. * Rs 9,583 crore provided for new lines. * 1300 km new lines, 867 km doubling of lines and 1017 km gauge conversion targeted in 2011-12. * 56 new Express Trains, 3 new Shatabdis and 9 Duronto trains to be introduced. * AC Double Decker services on Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes. * New Super AC Class to be introduced. * A new portal for e-ticketing to be launched shortly. *The Budget for 2011-12 increased senior citizen concession for men to 40% from 30%. Women will get the senior citizen discount from 58 years, instead of 60 years.

1. Bharata Natyam comes from the words Bha va (Expression), Ra ga (Music), Ta la (Rhythm) and Natya (Classic Indian Musical Theatre). Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by many dancers all over the world. The Encyclopædia Britannica states that Bharata Natyam is Sanskrit for Bharata’s dancing . Surviving texts of the golden age of Tamil literature and poetry known during the Sangam Age such as the Tolkappiyam (தொல்கப்பியம்), as well as the later Silappadikaram (சிலப்பதிகரம்), testify to a variety of dance traditions which flourished in these times. The latter work is of particular importance, since one of its main characters, the courtesan Madhavi, is a highly accomplished dancer. The Silappadikaram is a mine of information of ancient Tamil culture and society, in which the arts of music and dance were highly developed and played a major role. 2.Ghoomar is a traditional women's folk dance of Rajasthan , India whi...

1. The Pahari school developed and flourished during 17th-19th centuries stretching from Jammu to Almora and Garhwal , in the sub- Himalayan India , through Himachal Pradesh , and each creating stark variations within the genre, ranging from bold intense Basohli Painting , originating from Basohli in Jammu and Kashmir , to the delicate and lyrical Kangra paintings , which became synonymous to the style before other schools of paintings developed, which reached its pinnacle with paintings of Radha and Krishna , inspired by Jayadev 's Gita Govinda . It gave birth to a new idiom in Indian painting, and grew out of the Mughal painting , though this was patronized mostly by the Rajput kings who ruled many parts of the region. 2.Madhubani painting has been done traditionally by the women of villages around the present town of Madhubani (the literal meaning of which is forests of honey ) and other areas of Mithila . The painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud wal...