International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The book “Lincoln in the Bardo” has been authored by George Saunders, the Folio prize-winning author. The novel is a tale of death and beyond that captures the grief of Abraham Lincoln over the death of his 11-year-old son Willie while the Civil War raged on in the United States of America (USA). The book draws a parallel line between the lives of Willie’s ghost and a similar uncertain state of Lincoln, after the boy’s death. In simple words, the novel is a confrontation with the mysterious beyond the inevitable death, a question that has haunted humankind, and the way death can bring even the head of a nation to his knees.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, M Venkaiah Naidu has recently released a book titled “Gandhi in Champaran” authored by noted author Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar at National Mahatma Gandhi Museum in New Delhi. Naidu also released a book containing a collection of letters and articles of the correspondence between Nobel laureate Romain Rolland and Mahatma Gandhi as well as DG Tendulkar’s 8 volume biography of Mahatama Gandhi.

Notes:
In 1992, the Government of India decided to confer Bharat Ratna to Subhash Chandra Bose, but it was opposed by some members of his family who had refused to accept the fact of his death. In 1997 as per the Supreme Court’s verdict Bose’s award was cancelled. It is the only case in India when the award was announced but not conferred.

Notes:
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. The National Party governed South Africa from 1948 until 1994. During this time, South Africa was a partial democracy because non-white people were barred from voting after 1958.
The Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) was a British organization that opposed the South African apartheid system. The AAM supported South Africa’s non-white population who were persecuted by the policies of apartheid.
Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President of South Africa in 1994. He was known for his internal resistance to apartheid.

Notes:
“Mein Kampf” was written by Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany. The book’s title translates to “My Struggle” in English, and it served as Hitler’s autobiographical manifesto and political ideology. Hitler wrote this two-volume work while he was in prison in the early 1920s, and it outlines his beliefs, goals, and views on various subjects, including his virulent anti-Semitism, Aryan supremacy, and his vision for a totalitarian state.

Notes:
Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) among the options you’ve provided is “C) Astra.” Here’s some more detailed information:

• Agni: Agni is not an air-to-air missile; it’s a family of long-range ballistic missiles developed by India for delivering nuclear warheads. It is not designed for aerial combat.
• Prithvi: Prithvi is also not an air-to-air missile. It’s a short-range ballistic missile system designed for attacking ground targets.
• Astra: Astra is indeed a Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. Astra is designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft at distances beyond visual range. It is a crucial component of India’s air defense capabilities.
• Nag: Nag is not an air-to-air missile either. It’s an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by India for use against armored vehicles and tanks.

In summary, (C) Astra” is the correct choice as the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile among the options provided.

Notes:
The International Network of Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is headquartered in Beijing, China. Established in 1997, INBAR focuses on promoting bamboo and rattan as sustainable resources for economic development and environmental conservation. Bamboo is known for its rapid growth and versatility, making it a key material in sustainable construction and crafts.

Notes:
Nabhadasa belonged to the Ramanandi tradition and his book “Bhaktamala” , written in the late 16th century, contains accounts of approx 600 saints viz. Ramanuja, Madhva, Ramananda, Nimbarka, etc. In it, each saint is depicted in a few lines of verse.

Notes:
The veto power originates in Article 27 of the United Nations Charter, which states: Each member of the Security Council shall have a vote. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of five members.

Notes:
Arjuna is the modern tank produced by Defence Research and Development, Organisation (DRDO). The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjun, the main protagonist, an archer prince of the Indian epic Mahabharata.
The Arjun was found to be comparable to the T-90 in almost all respects and better in aspects of mobility – aided in no small measure by its German-made 1,400 horsepower engine which is significantly more powerful than the powerpack employed on the T-90. The invitation to visit the Arjun tank formation was unexpected.