BSF Tradesman key terms

Basic freedoms guaranteed to every citizen by Part III of the Indian Constitution, such as equality, speech, and life. They are enforceable in court through writs, unlike non-justiciable Directive Principles.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Indian Constitution directing the state toward social and economic welfare. They are not enforceable in courts but are fundamental in governance and help frame policy and legislation.

A formal application asking a High Court or the Supreme Court to issue a constitutional remedy such as habeas corpus, mandamus, or certiorari against unlawful action by an authority.

The three-tier system of local self-government in rural India covering village, block, and district levels, created by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment to decentralise administration and development planning.

The interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities. Raising it typically cools inflation; cutting it encourages borrowing and spending.

A reasoning problem presenting two or more premises that must be accepted as true, from which a valid conclusion is drawn. Questions test whether a stated conclusion logically follows, not whether it is factually true.

A technique for solving syllogism and set problems by drawing overlapping circles to represent categories, then checking which conclusions are forced by every possible arrangement of the circles.

A relationship where a conclusion must be true whenever the given premises are true. In reasoning tests, a conclusion is valid only if no arrangement of facts makes the premises true and the conclusion false.

A reasoning question type in which letters, words, or numbers are converted using a hidden rule, and the candidate must apply the same rule to a new word or decode a given code.

A sequence of letters following a fixed positional pattern, such as skipping one or two letters each step. The candidate identifies the rule and supplies the missing or next term.

A reasoning problem describing family links through statements or symbols, requiring the candidate to work out how two named people are related, often by drawing a family tree.

A reasoning topic involving movement along north, south, east, and west, sometimes with turns, where the candidate finds the final position, distance, or facing direction of a person.

An arithmetic method that first finds the value of one unit by division, then multiplies to get the value of the required number of units. Used for work, speed, and proportion problems.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind; a proportion states that two ratios are equal. These ideas simplify sharing, mixture, and scaling problems in arithmetic.

Interest calculated only on the original principal using the formula P × R × T ÷ 100, where P is principal, R the annual rate percent, and T the time in years. It ignores interest on interest.

Interest calculated on both the principal and previously earned interest, so the amount grows each period. The amount is P(1 + R/100)^T when compounded annually.

The largest number that divides two or more given numbers exactly without a remainder. It is found by prime factorisation or the division method and is used to simplify fractions.

The smallest number that is a multiple of two or more given numbers. It is used to add or compare fractions with different denominators and to solve repeating-event problems.

The sum of a set of quantities divided by the number of quantities. It represents a central value and is used in problems on ages, marks, wages, and speed.

The joining of two adjacent Hindi sounds or words where the ending and beginning merge or change, such as विद्या + आलय becoming विद्यालय. Recognising sandhi helps in splitting and understanding compound words.

A Hindi compound word formed by combining two or more words into one unit, such as राजपुत्र. Questions ask candidates to split the compound and name its type, for example tatpurush or dwandwa.

A fixed expression whose meaning is not deducible from its individual words, such as 'to bite the dust' meaning to fail. Candidates must supply the correct meaning or use it in a sentence.

Replacing a descriptive phrase with a single precise word, such as 'one who studies stars' becoming astronomer. It tests vocabulary range and precision in both English and Hindi sections.

Two ways of presenting the same action: active voice makes the doer the subject, passive voice makes the receiver the subject. Conversion requires changing the verb form and pronoun case correctly.

Reporting someone's words either exactly, in quotation marks, or by rephrasing them with tense, pronoun, and time-word changes. Candidates convert between the two forms accurately.

Connecting exposed metal parts of an installation to the ground through a low-resistance path so fault current flows safely away, protecting people from electric shock and enabling protective devices to trip.

A switch that automatically opens a circuit when current exceeds a set value, protecting wiring and equipment. Unlike a fuse, it can be reset after the fault is cleared.

The resistance offered by insulation between conductors or between a conductor and earth, measured with a megger. A low reading indicates moisture or damage and warns of leakage risk.

The relationship stating that current through a conductor is directly proportional to voltage across it and inversely proportional to resistance, written V = I × R for a constant temperature.

The ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC circuit, equal to the cosine of the phase angle. A low power factor means more current for the same useful work.

Comparing an instrument's readings with a known standard and adjusting it so its indications are accurate within specified limits. Measuring tools such as micrometers and multimeters need periodic calibration.

The permissible variation from a specified dimension in a manufactured part. It defines the upper and lower limits within which the size must lie for the part to fit and function properly.

Fit describes how tightly two mating parts assemble, such as clearance, interference, or transition; allowance is the intentional difference between their sizes. Together they decide assembly behaviour.

A safety procedure in which the energy source of a machine is isolated, locked, and tagged before maintenance, ensuring it cannot be started accidentally while a worker is in danger.

Wearable safety gear such as helmets, goggles, gloves, and safety shoes that reduces injury risk from falls, flying particles, chemicals, heat, or electric shock at the workplace.

System software that manages hardware, files, memory, and running programs, and provides a user interface. Examples include Windows, Linux, and Android on mobile devices.

The suffix after the dot in a file name, such as .docx or .pdf, which tells the operating system which application can open the file and what format the contents use.

Any software written to harm, disrupt, or gain unauthorised access to a computer, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware. Antivirus software and safe browsing habits help prevent infection.

A fraud in which attackers impersonate a trusted organisation through email, messages, or fake websites to trick users into revealing passwords, OTPs, or bank details.