Daily 10: Starter Set

1.Kullu shawl, a GI-tagged woollen product, is from which state?

Correct. Kullu Shawl, Himachal Pradesh, was GI registered in 2005-06.

Not quite. Kullu Shawl, Himachal Pradesh, was GI registered in 2005-06. Pakka yaad trick: Kullu valley: Himachal.

2.Can 'Bharat Ratna' or 'Padma Shri' be used as a title or prefix to the recipient's name?

Correct. In Balaji Raghavan v Union of India (1995) the Supreme Court upheld the awards but held they are not titles and cannot be used as suffixes or prefixes.

Not quite. In Balaji Raghavan v Union of India (1995) the Supreme Court upheld the awards but held they are not titles and cannot be used as suffixes or prefixes. Pakka yaad trick: Awards, not titles: Article 18 bars titles, Balaji Raghavan 1995.

3.Wings of Fire is the autobiography of:

Correct. Wings of Fire (1999), co-written with Arun Tiwari, covers Kalam's journey from Rameswaram to India's missile programme.

Not quite. Wings of Fire (1999), co-written with Arun Tiwari, covers Kalam's journey from Rameswaram to India's missile programme. Pakka yaad trick: The Missile Man's wings: Kalam.

4.The Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended that what share of the divisible pool of central taxes be devolved to the States for 2021-26?

Correct. The 15th FC (chair N. K. Singh) kept vertical devolution at 41%, one point below the 14th FC's 42%, adjusting for Jammu and Kashmir becoming Union Territories.

Not quite. The 15th FC (chair N. K. Singh) kept vertical devolution at 41%, one point below the 14th FC's 42%, adjusting for Jammu and Kashmir becoming Union Territories. Pakka yaad trick: Fourteenth said 42, Fifteenth said 41 after J&K became UTs.

5.COP31 of the UNFCCC, scheduled for 9 to 20 November 2026, is being hosted at:

Correct. Turkiye hosts COP31 at Antalya with Murat Kurum as President; Australia's Chris Bowen is President of Negotiations. COP30 was at Belem, Brazil, in 2025.

Not quite. Turkiye hosts COP31 at Antalya with Murat Kurum as President; Australia's Chris Bowen is President of Negotiations. COP30 was at Belem, Brazil, in 2025. Pakka yaad trick: COP28 Dubai, COP29 Baku, COP30 Belem, COP31 Antalya.

6.Who was the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in 1984?

Correct. Bachendri Pal summited Everest on 23 May 1984 during the Everest '84 expedition.

Not quite. Bachendri Pal summited Everest on 23 May 1984 during the Everest '84 expedition. Pakka yaad trick: Pal from Uttarakhand stood on Everest in 1984, the year of the first Indian in space.

7.The Dead Sea, the lowest point on the Earth's land surface, lies between

Correct. The Dead Sea, a hypersaline lake over 400 m below sea level, is bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west.

Not quite. The Dead Sea, a hypersaline lake over 400 m below sea level, is bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Pakka yaad trick: Dead Sea sits in the Jordan rift between Jordan and Israel.

8.The Ghadar Party, formed by Indian emigrants in North America in 1913, had its headquarters (Yugantar Ashram) at

Correct. Formed at Astoria, Oregon in 1913 with Sohan Singh Bhakna as president and Lala Har Dayal as secretary, the party ran its headquarters and the weekly 'Ghadar' from Yugantar Ashram, San Francisco.

Not quite. Formed at Astoria, Oregon in 1913 with Sohan Singh Bhakna as president and Lala Har Dayal as secretary, the party ran its headquarters and the weekly 'Ghadar' from Yugantar Ashram, San Francisco. Pakka yaad trick: Ghadar (revolt) was printed in San Francisco from the Yugantar Ashram.

9.International Day of Yoga is observed on which date?

Correct. The UN calendar lists the International Day of Yoga on 21 June.

Not quite. The UN calendar lists the International Day of Yoga on 21 June. Pakka yaad trick: Why 21 June? It is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and that is the reason Modi proposed it at the UN in 2014. Longest day = Yoga Day. 5 June is Environment Day, 2 October is Gandhi Jayanti.

10.Which Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram?

Correct. The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) provides autonomous district councils for the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas in other States.

Not quite. The Sixth Schedule (Article 244(2)) provides autonomous district councils for the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas in other States. Pakka yaad trick: Sixth for the North-East four (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram); Fifth for the rest.