Q1. With reference to the historic Anaimangalam (Leiden) copper plates recently returned to India, consider the following statements:
They record a land grant given to a Buddhist Vihara built by the rulers of the Sailendra Dynasty of Java.
While the oral commitment for the grant was given by Raja Raja Chola I, the formal charter was written down during the reign of Rajendra Chola I.
The royal seal on the plates exclusively features the Tiger emblem, reflecting orthodox Saivite isolation from other contemporary southern dynasties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:Statements 1 and 2 are correct.Statement 3 is incorrect because the royal seal does not exclusively feature the Tiger; it also prominently features the Pandyan Fish and the Chera Bow to denote Chola military supremacy over those dynasties, alongside universal symbols like the swastika and parasol.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD):
Fruit bats are considered the natural reservoir hosts of the Ebola virus.
An individual infected with the Ebola virus can transmit the disease to others during the asymptomatic incubation period.
The newly surfaced Bundibugyo strain in 2026 can be effectively prevented using the pre-existing Zaire ebolavirus vaccines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Answer: A) 1 only
Explanation:Statement 1 is correct.Statement 2 is incorrect because patients only become contagious once they display symptoms. Statement 3 is incorrect because the existing vaccines are specific to the Zaire strain and offer no protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR):
It is located on the Chhotanagpur plateau and was among the original nine tiger reserves established under Project Tiger in 1974.
The Betla National Park forms a part of the Critical Tiger Habitat (Core Area) of this reserve.
It is drained by the perennial North Koel and Burha rivers.
India's first AI-powered human-elephant conflict research centre is being set up here.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Answer: D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: All statements are historically and geographically accurate based on the administrative configuration and recent environmental technological deployments at the Palamu Tiger Reserve.
Q4. In the context of ancient and medieval economic history of South India, the term "Kalam", which appears prominently in the administrative text of the Leiden plates, denotes a:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Answer: C
Solution:
In the agrarian economy of the Chola period, land revenue and donations to religious institutions were frequently calculated and paid in kind, primarily via paddy. The Kalam was a standardized traditional unit of volumetric measurement used for grain. For example, the Leiden plates mention that Raja Raja Chola I granted 8,943 kalam of paddy, and Kulottunga Chola I added a subsequent grant of 4,500 kalam of paddy to support the maintenance of the monastery's resident monks.
Q5. With reference to India’s "Project Cheetah", consider the following statements:
As of mid-2026, more than half of the current cheetah population in India consists of Indian-born individuals.
Apart from Namibia and South Africa, founder cheetah populations have also been sourced from Botswana.
The Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh have been integrated into the project's landscape expansion strategy.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Answer: D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct because out of the current 53 cheetahs, 33 are Indian-born (approx 62%). Statement 2 is correct as Botswana was explicitly included to supplement the founder stock. Statement 3 is correct as Gandhisagar and Banni grasslands (along with Nauradehi) are the designated satellite sites chosen to build a resilient metapopulation network across Indian grasslands and open forests.
