GK Express of 14/02/2025

 History Coach

1. What was the Doctrine of Lapse, and how did it contribute to the Revolt of 1857?

Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, it allowed the British to annex states where rulers died without a male heir (e.g., Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur). It was a major cause of discontent leading to the Revolt of 1857.

2. Which medieval Indian ruler introduced the concept of the ‘Iqta System’?

Iltutmish of the Delhi Sultanate; it was a land revenue system where land was granted to nobles in exchange for military service.

3. What was the impact of the Ryotwari system on Indian farmers?

Introduced by Thomas Munro in Madras and Bombay Presidencies, it made peasants directly responsible for paying land revenue to the British, leading to high taxation and farmer indebtedness.

4. Which movement led to the enactment of the Indian Forest Act of 1927?

The Chipko Movement (1973) in Uttarakhand, where villagers hugged trees to protest deforestation, influenced later environmental laws.

5. Which nationalist leader gave the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad,” and what was its significance?

Bhagat Singh, popularized during the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) movement to inspire youth against British rule.

Banking & Finance Coach

6. What is the difference between NEFT and RTGS in the Indian banking system?

NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer): Processes transactions in batches with no minimum limit.

RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement): Settles transactions in real-time for large-value payments (minimum ₹2 lakh).

7. Who is the current chairman of SBI? 

Challa Sreenivasulu Setty

8. What is the significance of the ‘Prompt Corrective Action (PCA)’ framework by RBI?

It imposes restrictions on weak banks based on financial performance indicators like NPAs, capital ratios, and profitability.

9. What is the role of the Payments Bank in India?

Introduced by RBI, it allows banking services like deposits (up to ₹2 lakh), payments, and remittances, but cannot offer loans or credit cards (e.g., Airtel Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank).

Environment & Ecology Coach

10. What is the difference between a National Park and a Wildlife Sanctuary?

National Parks: Strictly protected areas with no human activity allowed (e.g., Jim Corbett National Park).

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Allow limited human activities like grazing (e.g., Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary).

11. Which major environmental treaty addresses climate change, and what are its key goals?

Paris Agreement (2015): Aims to limit global temperature rise below 2°C, with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

12. What is the significance of the Ramsar Convention in India?

It protects wetlands of international importance; India has 75 Ramsar sites as of 2024. 

Note: Chilika Lake in Orissa and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were recognised as the first Ramsar sites in India.

13. What is the function of the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

Established in 2010, it is a judicial body that handles environmental disputes and enforces environmental laws.

14. Which biome covers the largest land area on Earth?

Taiga (Boreal Forest); found in Russia, Canada, and Scandinavia, it is the largest terrestrial biome.