Civils Prelims 2021 Model Set 19 (for GS Paper )

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Set No. 19 (Prepared on 4.9.2021 )

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 19 (Prepared on 4.9.2021 )

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider following with reference to Electronic Media :

1) TRP : (target rating points)

2) TAM :(Television Audience Measurement)

3) INTAM : (Indian National Television Audience Measurement)

4) BARC : (Broadcast Audience Research Council)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider following with reference to the military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan :

1) The military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the gravest since a fragile ceasefire was established in 1994, reflects the failure of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

2) Co-chaired by Russia, France and the U.S., the Minsk Group put forward in 2007 the Madrid Principles as the basis for the formulation of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan..

3) Drawn from the 1975 Helsinki Final Act principles, signed at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, they provided for a prohibition on the use of force, respect for territorial integrity, and recognition of the equal right to self-determination

4) In concrete terms, the Madrid Principles envisaged the demilitarisation of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian majority region that seceded from Azerbaijan towards the end of the Soviet Union, and the gradual liberation of Azerbaijani territory that Armenia had occupied in the 1991-94 war.

5) Located in the main corridor of oil and gas supplies to Europe, Armenia and Azerbaijan have also relied on a nationalist rhetoric and fuelled the dispute through relentless propaganda against each other.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider following with reference to Deepar Beel , Assam :

Deepar Beel is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Assam and the State’s only Ramsar Site, besides being an Important Bird Area.

The wetlands have for decades been threatened by a railway track — set to be doubled and electrified — on its southern rim, a garbage dump and encroachment for human habitation and commercial units.

The wetlands expand up to 30 sq. km in summer and reduces to about 10 sq. km in winter. The wildlife sanctuary measures 4.1 sq. km within this wetland.

2) On August 25, 2021 the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the eco-sensitive zone of Deepar Beel Wildlife Sanctuary on the southwestern edge of Guwahati

The notification specified an area “to an extent varying from 294 metres to 16.32 km” as the eco-sensitive zone with the total area being 148.9767 sq. km.

3). Deepar Beel’s water has become toxic and lost many of its aquatic plants that elephants would feed on. The wetlands can breathe easier only if the railway track is diverted,”

4) “No new commercial hotels and resorts shall be permitted within 1 km of the boundary of the protected area or up to the extent of the eco-sensitive zone, whichever is nearer, except for small temporary structures for eco-tourism activities. Among activities prohibited in the eco-sensitive zone are hydroelectric projects, brick kilns, commercial use of firewood and discharge of untreated effluents in natural water bodies or land areas.

5) Deepar Beel has long been used as a sponge for Guwahati’s sewage via a couple of streams. The wetlands have also suffered from seepage of toxins from a garbage dump at Boragaon adjoining it. “ About 150 species of birds have been recorded in the sanctuary, out of which two are critically endangered, one endangered, five vulnerable and four near-threatened,” the notification said.

6) “Elephants regularly visit the wetlands from adjoining Rani and Garhbhanda Reserve Forest and the wetlands are an integral part of the elephant habitat. Besides these, 12 species of reptiles, 50 species of fish, six species of amphibians along with 155 species of aquatic macro-biota have been recorded in the sanctuary,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) 3 and 4

Ans: c

4)Consider following with reference to Mekadatu Project and its problems posed by Tamil Nadu :

1) The planning of the Mekedatu project by Karnataka with a capacity of 67.16 TMC ft. and generation of 400 MW project worth ₹9,000 crore was in “gross violation” of the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal of February 5, 2007,

2) The proposed reservoir would result in the impounding of the flows generated in the Cauvery river from the uncontrolled catchment of the Kabini sub-basin downstream of the Kabini reservoir, the catchment of Cauvery river downstream of KRS dam, uncontrolled flows from Shimsha, Arkavathy and Suvarnavathy sub-basins and various other small streams, which are the sources to ensure 177.25TMC at Billigundlu,

3) The proposed construction of the reservoir by Karnataka would have a “cascading effect” on the daily and monthly inflows during the crucial months of June to September,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider following with reference to m-sand or rushed stone sand :

1) Quality m-sand or crushed stone sand, is used as an alternative to river sand in construction work.

2) Nearly 358 manufacturing units (in Tamil Nadu) had been certified for m-sand quality based on the tests and regulations of the required machinery.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider following with reference to Edakkal Caves in Kerala :

1) Edakkal caves on the Ambukuthi hills in Kerala’s Wayanad district, a treasure trove for archaeologists, historians, and researchers, is facing threats from illegal trekking, illegal constructions, mining, and urbanisation.

2) The State government banned trekking on the hills on October 1, 2009, after it was found that the activity was affecting the Neolithic petroglyphs (rock engravings) on the walls of Edakkal caves.

3) Around 5.5 acres near the caves is protected and construction is banned on the 300-m radius of the premises.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider following with reference to Asset Monetisation Programme :

1) The Government has announced an ambitious programme of asset monetisation. It hopes to earn ₹6 trillion in revenues over a four-year period. At a time when the Government’s finances are in bad shape, that is money the Government can certainly use. Getting asset monetisation right is quite a challenge, though.

2) In asset monetisation, the Government parts with its assets — such as roads, coal mines — for a specified period of time in exchange for a lump sum payment. At the end of the period, the assets return to the Government. Unlike in privatisation, no sale of government assets is involved.

3) By monetising assets it has already built, the Government can earn revenues to build more infrastructure. Asset monetisation will happen mainly in three sectors: roads, railways and power. Other assets to be monetised include: airports, ports, telecom, stadiums and power transmission

4) Two important statements have been made about the asset monetisation programme. One, the focus will be on under-utilised assets. Two, monetisation will happen through public-private partnerships (PPP) and Investment Trusts. Let us examine each of these in turn.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider following with reference to Supreme Court of India :

1) The strength of the Bench goes up to 33, in a court that has a sanctioned complement of 34 judges.

2) The presence of three women and the fact that different High Courts are getting

3) representation are positive features and augur well for increasing diversity on the Bench. In particular, Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s elevation at this point of time means that she may become the first woman Chief Justice of India (CJI

4) ). The trend of appointing members of the Bar directly to the Supreme Court continues with the honour going this time to former Additional Solicitor-General, P.S. Narasimha, who is also in line to be Chief Justice by efflux of time.

5) The NITI Aayog, which has steered the NMP, has emphasised the importance of expanding the investor base and scale of monetisation instruments such as InvITs and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and flagged concerns about regulators taking varying stances on such investments.

6) The Government estimates these assets — airports, coal mines, highway stretches, even urban tracts, stadia and hotels — to fetch around ₹5.96-lakh crore through structured leasing and securitisation transactions. This, in turn, could help fund the National Infrastructure Pipeline with new projects worth ₹100-lakh crore, although the Government has said fiscal constraints are not the trigger for this plan.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider following with reference to NGC7733 and NGC7734 :

1) A team was observing the merging of two galaxies — NGC7733 and NGC7734 — in the earth’s celestial neighbourhood when they detected unusual emissions from the centre of the latter and a curious movement of a large bright clump within it, having a different velocity than that of NGC7733. Inferring that this was a separate galaxy, the scientists named it NGC7733N.

2) All three merging black holes were part of galaxies in the Toucan constellation. They are quite far away given that the earth’s nearest galactic neighbour — the Andromeda galaxy — is 2.5 million light years away

3) The distance between the black holes decreases with time until the separation is around one parsec (3.26 light-years).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider following with reference to Tora Bora caves :

1) Tora Bora is a cave complex, part of the Safed Koh mountain range of eastern Afghanistan.

2) It is situated in the Pachir Aw Agam District of Nangarhar, approximately 50 km (31 mi) west of the Khyber Pass and 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the border of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan.

3) Tora Bora was known to be a stronghold location of the Taliban, used by military forces against the Soviet Union during the 1980s.

4)Tora Bora and the surrounding Safed Koh range had natural caverns formed by streams eating into the limestone,^[1] that had later been expanded into a CIA-financed complex built for the Mujahideen.

5) Tora-Bora’s deep tunnel system was where al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden had initially taken refuge from US retaliatory strikes following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider following with reference to Cauvery-Agniyar-South Vellar-Manimuthar-Vaigai-Gundar link canal scheme. (Tamil Nadu) :

1) The foundation stone for the first phase of the Cauvery-Agniyar-South Vellar-Manimuthar-Vaigai-Gundar link canal scheme. Currently, the first phase is being executed using the State’s funds as the previous AIADMK regime had sanctioned around ₹330 crore.

2) The proposed canal, beginning from the Kattalai barrage (about 138 km downstream of the Mettur dam) in Karur district, will connect the rivers from the Cauvery to the Gundar over a length of 262 km. It is estimated to cost about ₹6,941 crore.

The proposed canal, beginning from the Kattalai barrage (about 138 km downstream of the Mettur dam) in Karur district, will connect the rivers from the Cauvery to the Gundar over a length of 262 km. It is estimated to cost about ₹6,941 crore.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider following with reference to Elephans migration between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu :

1) Elephants migrate between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu via Hosur from October to February every year.

2) If the Hosur police and forest officials manage to break the illegal gun network’s back, the jumbos can migrate in peace.

3) Hosur area comes under Eastern Ghats

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider following with reference to history of hydel projects in the Himalayas :

In the aftermath of the Kedarnath floods of 2013 that killed at least 5,000 people, the Supreme Court had halted the development of hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand pending a review by the Environment Ministry on the role such projects had played in amplifying the disaster.

512 MW Tapovan Vishnugadh project, in Joshimath, Uttarakhand that was damaged by a flood in February,2021

1) A 17-member expert committee, led by environmentalist Ravi Chopra, was set up by the Ministry to examine the role of 24 such proposed hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basin, which has the Ganga and several tributaries. The Chopra committee concluded that 23 projects would have an “irreversible impact” on the ecology of the region.

2) Following the break in the Raunthi glacier that triggered floods in the Rishiganga river in Uttarakhand on February 7,2021 which washed away at least two hydroelectric power projects — the13.2 MW Rishiganga hydroelectric power project and the Tapovan project, environmental experts have attributed the glacial melt to global warming.

3) Glacier retreat and permafrost thaw are projected to decrease the stability of mountain slopes and increase the number and area of glacier lakes. Moreover, with increased instances of cloudbursts, and intense spells of rainfall and avalanches, residents of the region were also placed at increased risk of loss of lives and livelihood.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider following :

ZyCoV-D is the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine for human use. DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, contains the genetic code of various components of an organism

1) For the vaccine, the part of the COVID-19 virus that helps it enter the cell and causes disease is coded. When the vaccine is injected into the human body, it produces that particular part of the virus and stimulates the immune system to generate antibodies and T-cells immunity against the virus.

2) This DNA piece is enclosed by a membrane called plasmid, and it disintegrates after it has completed its action. This DNA is a laboratory-made structure and is unable to interfere with the genetic composition of humans.

3)The mRNA vaccines are also made with the same principle. These again are laboratory-made structures and not obtained from the actual virus.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider following with reference to BCG Vaccine :

1) BCG was developed by two Frenchmen, Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin, by modifying a strain of Mycobacterium bovis (that causes TB in cattle) till it lost its capacity to cause disease while retaining its property to stimulate the immune system. It was first used in humans in 1921.

2) BCG also protects against respiratory and bacterial infections of the newborns, and other mycobacterial diseases like leprosy and Buruli’s ulcer. It is also used as an immunotherapy agent in cancer of the urinary bladder and malignant melanoma.

3) In India, BCG was first introduced in a limited scale in 1948 and became a part of the National TB Control Programme in 1962.

4) India is committed to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2025

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider following with reference to NMP :

Union Finance Minister in August,2021 announced the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), which is expected to fetch around ₹5.96 lakh crore to the government. Following through on the Budget’s plan to monetise public assets to fund fresh capital expenditure on infrastructure, the government released a list of projects and facilities to be offered to private investors over the next four years through structured leasing and securitisation transactions.

1) The NMP names a list of public assets that will be leased to private investors. Only brown-field assets, which are assets that are already operational, are planned to be leased out under the NMP. So, to give an example, an airport that is already operational may be leased out to an investor.

2) Assets that are yet to be developed, such as an undeveloped piece of land, for example, may not be leased out. Importantly, there won’t be any transfer of ownership from the government to the private sector when assets are leased out.

3) The government only plans to cede control over its assets for a certain period of time, after which the assets must be returned to the government unless the lease is extended.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider following with reference to 105^th Constitution Amendment :

The 105th Constitution Amendment was notified on August 19 after it received the assent of President of Indida. It is aimed at restoring to the States their power to identify socially and educationally backward classes

1) Through the 102nd Constitution Amendment, Parliament created a National Backward Classes Commission, vesting it with the power to be consulted by the Centre as well as the States in all matters concerning the ‘socially and educationally backward classes’ (SEBCs). In a bid to clothe the Commission with the same powers as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Parliament used wording identical to the existing provisions relating to the SC/ST Commission. Thus, under Article 342A, it was laid down that the President shall notify a list of SEBCs in relation to each State and Union Territory in consultation with the Governors. This was called the ‘Central List’, and once it is notified, only Parliament alone could make changes to it.

2) Based on this, the Supreme Court, while considering a challenge to the Maratha reservation in Maharashtra on various grounds, concluded that after this Amendment came into force, States can no more notify or identify backward classes, and only the President could do so, and further changes could be made by Parliament.

3) It was introduced as the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021. After its passage and on receiving presidential assent, it was notified as the Constitution (105th Amendment) Act, 2021.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider following with reference to RaaS :

Ransomware is going to dominate the cybercrime landscape. A report prepared by Unit 42 and The Crypsis Group incident response and digital forensics firm, notified several disturbing threat trends.

1) Ransomware Evil, REvil or Sodinokibi, a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation has emerged as one of the world’s most notorious and latest ransomware operators.

2) This criminal group provides adaptable encryptors and decryptors, infrastructure and services for negotiation communications, and a leak site for publishing stolen data when victims don’t pay the ransom demand.

3) As per our observation of cases, REvil and its affiliates pulled in an average payment of $2.25 million during the first six months of 2021.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider following with reference to Moplah Rebellion :

1) This August,2021 is the centenary of events known as Mappila Lahala in Malayalam and Moplah Rebellion in British colonial records, which took place in Malabar in 1921. To those who lived through those times, it was a momentous period

2) There were landed gentry, leasing out to mostly Muslim tenants, called Mappilas in local parlance.

3) For the Mappillas, who rose against an oppressive agrarian system and fought bravely with crude weapons against a mighty empire, till they were finally crushed. Many of them died when the British transported the vanquished out of Malabar by rail in a goods wagon. For those Hindus who had nothing to do with the feudal order but yet underwent the trauma of having another faith imposed on them.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider following with reference to Multilatelralism :

India has been a consistent advocate of multilateralism and Prime Minister recently said: “India firmly believes that the path to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism. As children of Planet Earth we must join hands to address our common challenges and achieve our common goals.”

1) The United Nations is at the centre of multilateral institutions and processes

2) While there are multilateral institutions they have become platforms for contestations among their member states

3) Participating in multilateral negotiations, and at the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, or later at multilateral negotiations on climate change in the run-up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009.

4) A fresh pandemic may erupt in any remote corner of the world and spread throughout the globe. Prevention cannot be achieved through coercion, only through cooperation. It is only multilateralism that makes this possible.

5) Multilateralism is under unprecedented stress fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic and a certain disenchantment with globalisation

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider following with reference to World Food Day (October 16), 2020 :

1) This World Food Day, we — the food agencies of the United Nations (UN) — pledge to work together to end hunger, eradicate food insecurity and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2.

2) Projections show that the world is not on track to achieve zero hunger by 2030, or to meet global nutrition targets.

3) Central and State governments were able to distribute around 23 million tonnes from India’s large domestic food grain reserves in three months (April to June,2020) through the Public Distribution System, providing much-needed emergency assistance to families around the country. The government also successfully mobilised food rations for 820 million people from April to November 2020, including finding alternate solutions to provide food rations to 90 million schoolchildren

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider following with reference to Gupkar Declaration :

1) The Gupkar Declaration on August 4, 2019, had anticipated the Centre’s move to repeal J&K’s special status the next day and vowed to fight for its protection. J&K also lost its statehood. The NC, the PDP, People’s Conference, Awami National Conference, the J&K Peoples Movement, and CPI (M) have reiterated their earlier pledge; the Awami Ittehad Party and the Peoples Democratic Front too have declared their support. The coming together of the rival regional parties is strange and significant; this is no electoral alliance, but a political meeting point on the status of Kashmir.

2) It is a result of the perception that politics in J&K is a face-off with the Centre and a reflection of increased Kashmiri alienation from the national mainstream.

3) The announcement, in August, 2020, by five regional parties and the CPI(M), of the formation of the ‘Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration’ to fight for the restoration of full statehood and special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, is one that has also coincided with the release of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after 14 months in detention

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider following with reference to Wooden Toys :

1)Etikoppaka (A.P.)

2)Nirmal (Telangana

3)Chennapatna (Karnatka)

4)Kondapalli (Andhra Pradesh)

Which of the statements/pairs, given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider following with reference to Channapatna wood toys :

1) Channapatna toys date back to the reign of the 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom, Tipu Sultan, who invited Persian artisans to train local artisans in making wooden toys.

2) As ivory wood trees, easily distinguishable with their blooms of white, star-shaped flowers, were available aplenty in and around Ramanagara district, the craft flourished in Channapatna. Ivory wood trees help make lightweight toys.

3) The uniqueness of the craft also helped the toys earn the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider following with reference to Caspian Sea :

1) The war games are taking place north of Azerbaijan’s Absheron peninsula, where Baku is located, and will include artillery and rocket fire

2) But Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan, is a member of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) military alliance and Yerevan has made clear it is hoping for Russian backing.

3) CSTO forces have also been taking part in joint military exercises in August,2020 in Belarus. The exercises are called “Indestructible Brotherhood”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider following with reference to Bogibeel :

1) Bogibeel, India’s longest rail-and-road bridge across the Brahmaputra, had in December 2018 brought the two “emotionally connected” banks of eastern Assam closer by more than seven hours.

2) Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh districts had always been psychologically, economically and culturally linked but the river forced residents to maintain distance. The alternative was a 12-hour road trip via Kaliabhomora bridge or a time-consuming river ferry service.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider following with reference to Caspian Sea and its coastal countries :

1)Azerbaijan

2)Russia

3) Kazakstan

4) Turkmenistan

5) Iran

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider following with reference to Oil Palm cultivation :

A study done by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research recommended 28 lakh hectares across the country where oil palm can be cultivated, out of which only 9 lakh hectares are in the northeastern States,

1) The production of palm oil from one hectare is far greater than the production of mustard oil in the same area.

2) Palm oil currently makes up a whopping 55% of India’s edible oil imports, and the new mission is intended to move towards domestic production and self reliance instead.

3) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have already had some experience with oil palm, including some abandoned plantations on Katchal Island in the Nicobar chain, and a 1,593-hectare area on Little Andaman which was planted more than 35 years ago and abandoned on the instructions of the Supreme Court. These can be revived and supplemented by plantations in the grasslands, which make up more than 75% of the land area of Little Andaman, Katchal, Baratang, Kamorta and Teressa

4) Oil palm requires 300 litres of water per tree per day, as well as high pesticide use in areas where it is not a native crop, leading to consumer health concerns as well.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider following with reference to South China Sea :

1) Over $5 trillion trade passes through the South China Sea, and 55% of India’s trade pass through its waters and the Malacca Straits, according to estimates by India. China claims under a so-called “nine dash line” on its maps most of the South China Sea’s waters, which are disputed by several other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

2) The “nine dash line” is deemed by most countries as being inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which only gives states the right to establish a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles.

3) The requirements of the latest notice will also be seen as being inconsistent with UNCLOS, which states that ships of all countries “enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider following with reference to Hurricane Ida :

The National Hurricane Center also reported high water levels and flooding affecting the communities of Shell Beach, Louisiana and Yach Club, Mississippi.

1) Hurricane Ida struck the coast of Louisiana on Sunday as a powerful Category 4 storm.

2) Storm surges had earlier flooded Grand Isle, on a barrier island south of New Orleans

3) Ida struck the port, located approximately 160 km directly south of New Orleans

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider following with reference to :

A royal charter or sasana of the Chola kings, lost 300 years ago from Tamil Nadu, is now being preserved in the Leiden University in the Netherlands. Commonly referred to as the “Leiden plates”, it was issued by the kings to a Buddhist vihara

1) The charter has two sections — one in Sanskrit and another in Tamil — and the 21 copper plates are held together by a massive bronze ring bearing the regal seal of Rajendra Chola. They also deal with the geneology of the Chola dynasty and the reign of king Rajaraja I (985-1012 AD), the father of Rajendra Chola (1012-1042 AD).

It proclaims that 26 villages bordering Anaimangalam were donated for a Buddhist shrine (vihara), known as Chulamanivarmavihara, built by the Malay king of Sriwijaya in Nagapattinam,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider following with reference to Article 167 of Constitution of India :

1) Article 167 of the Constitution does allow a Governor to call for any information “relating to the administration of the affairs of the State”; but, with a wink from the bosses in the Union Home Ministry, a Governor like Mr. Dhankhar or Mr. Koshyari can become a total partisan. But, it was a new low when the Maharashtra Governor mockingly asked the Chief Minister if he had suddenly turned ‘secular’.

2) In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court had declared secularism as a basic feature of the Constitution, even before the Forty-Second Amendment had introduced the word ‘secular’ in the Preamble to the Constitution

3) The Supreme Court did try, through its judgment in the S.R. Bommai case, to restore some kind of order on the rampant proclivities of Raj Bhavans.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider following with reference to GHI :

1) 2020’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) places India in the company of Sudan — rank 94 among 107 countries — with the unedifying assessment of the national situation as “serious”.

2) The country’s score of 27.2 is the worst among BRICS countries, and inferior to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

3) The GHI is developed around wasting and stunting (under five), the share of the population with insufficient caloric intake, and child mortality.

4) Index scores by international agencies have been critiqued as flawed for choosing the wrong weights in scoring, and also for not including genetics and social determinants, but that would be a narrow view

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider following with reference to GST :

It is said that States had agreed to the Centre’s proposal could begin borrowing from the market. (October,2020 news) To recap — the Centre had argued that just ₹1.1-lakh crore of the estimated ₹2.35-lakh crore shortfall in GST cess inflows was due to GST implementation; the rest was due to COVID-19.

1) It was stold States could borrow ₹1.1-lakh crore with interest and principal payments to come from future cess collections; or borrow the ₹2.35-lakh crore, but bear the interest from their coffers.

2) But the Centre changed tack and said it was now willing to borrow the ₹1.1-lakh crore and lend it onward. Calling this an administratively easier measure to ensure States do not end up borrowing at different interest rates, the Ministry asserted this would neither increase the fiscal deficit nor the general government debt.

3) Later in October,2020 ,Union Finance Minister wrote to Chief Ministers suggesting that the ₹1.1-lakh crore, in addition to the 0.5% of GSDP borrowing, would give them ₹2.16-lakh crore, or almost 90% of the compensation shortfall.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider following with reference to National Police Commission and Police Reforms :

The first serious attempt to overhaul the policing machinery was made when the National Police Commission (NPC) was set up in 1977.

1) The NPC submitted eight reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs between 1979 and 1981. Seven of these reports were circulated to the States in 1983 with an annotation that “the Commission has been unduly critical of the political system or the functioning of the police force in general”.

2) In a subtle manner, a signal had been sent.

3) . The report was put in cold storage until Prakash Singh, a retired IPS officer, filed a PIL in the apex court in 1996 demanding the implementation of the NPC’s recommendations.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider following with reference to GST Compensation Cess : (October,2020 news)

1) GST compensation cess is levied on goods such as cars, aerated drinks and tobacco products, over and above the highest GST rate of 28%, and was to be levied for the first five years of the GST regime to compensate States. The GST Council has decided to extend the levy beyond that period to meet shortfalls in accruals this year.

2) Cess shortfalls cannot be met from the Consolidated Fund of India. So it has to be raised through some borrowing arrangement like the present one.

3) Centre decided to borrow ₹1.1 lakh crore on behalf of States and lend it onward.

4) The cess may have to be continued up to a much later period, I think maybe 2025-26

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider following with reference to Article 121 and 211 of Constitution of India :

1) Article 121 and Article 211 of the Constitution expressly bar Parliament and the State legislatures to discuss the conduct of any judge.

2) The Constitution confers such immunity having regard to the onerous responsibility of judges in discharging constitutional functions

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider following with reference to Herbal medicines and body immunity against viruses :

1) An 11-member committee led by former ICMR chief recommended that in the “short term… “Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) aqueous extract, guduchi+pippali (Piper longum), aqueous extracts and AYUSH 64 (a drug with multiple herbs developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences) be recommended for inclusion in the standard care for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19”.

2) Ashwagandha has been recommended by the committee because laboratory studies show that it “inhibited the entry” of SARS-CoV-2 into healthy cells and guduchi showed “high binding efficacy” against SARS-CoV-2 targets involved in attachment and replication of the virus, compared to Favipiravir, Lopinavir/Ritonavir.”

3) In the Ayurveda system, chyawanprash is a “complex mix of herbs” and several common herbs — like turmeric, black pepper and ginger infusions contribute in varying measures to keeping the immune system in a state of preparedness against fighting pathogens,

4) Turmeric, Ashwagandha, giloy all confer varying degree of immunity and may confer varying degrees of benefit to different people, depending on their individual constitution

5) In the modern-science view, there are two kinds of immunity: one is ‘innate’ immunity which is the first line of defence against an infection. A class of cells called “natural killer cells” and produced in the bone marrow directly attack infectious microbes. The other, a so-called adaptive immunity, where specialised cells produced in the thymus gland actively monitor — and produce antibodies that are specific to viruses and bacteria. Both systems work in tandem.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider following with reference to Hybrid Fund :

1) A hybrid fund is one that invests in both equity and bonds.

2) So, such funds ought to help investors with their asset allocation decision. This refers to how you allocate your annual savings between equity and bond investments.

3) Hybrid funds cannot consider your individual goal requirement as it is a collective investment vehicle.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider following with reference to FDI inflow :

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into India in the first five months of 2020-21 have hit a record high, despite a sharp 60% contraction in the first quarter, with July and August raking in over $20 billion of equity FDI.

Total FDI inflows surged from $11.51 billion between April and June to $35.73 billion by the end of August,2020.

1) Total FDI flows include fresh equity investments as well as re-invested earnings of foreign investors and other forms of investment capital, such as debt.

2) FDI equity flows were boosted by investments into Jio Platforms, Reliance Industries’ telecom subsidiary, from global investors like Google that bet $4.5 billion on the venture in July,2020

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider following :

October 2020 saw two disruptive events that were organised by the Government of India for collaborative knowledge creation.

1) At the Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) summit , which was inaugurated on October 2, more than 3,000 overseas Indian-origin academicians and scientists from 55 countries, and about 10,000 Indians participated to ideate on innovative solutions to our challenges.

2) The Prime Minister articulated this spirit of knowledge sharing while inaugurating the summit; he called it “a true sangam or confluence of great minds” where “we sit to form our long-lasting association for empowering India and our planet”. The concluding session was planned on October 31,2020

3) This has been concomitant to the Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE) 2020 summit , which was from October 5-9,2020. It was to charter a course to effectively use AI for social empowerment, inclusion, and transformation in key sectors such as health care, agriculture, finance, education and smart mobility

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider following :

Innovation needs risk capital in terms of resources and psychological security for researchers. It needs an environment where it is safe to fail.

1) The government has been building a comprehensive framework to this end.

2) It is incentivising research and development with several schemes such as Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scholarships, the Ramanujan Fellowship, the Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) scheme, Smart India Hackathons (SIH), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme, setting up of the Future Skills PRIME (Programme for Reskilling/Upskilling of IT Manpower for Employability) capacity building platform and also the triad of Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Sciences (STARS), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) and Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS).

3) The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems aims to ‘catalyse translational research across “Al, IoT or the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Big Data Analytics, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Data Science”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider following :

Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) of its status as an autonomous body of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) has triggered anxiety among scientists at the organisation.

1) “The major responsibility of this Institute is to provide advice to MoEF based on scientific information on policy and management of the country’s Wildlife Resources.,”

2) This role can only be performed and remains relevant as long as the institute remains a part of the MoEF

3)It is considered as “unbiased opinion generator” that both government and public sector units consulted for assessing the impact of development projects on wildlife.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider following with reference to CPI-IW :

1) The Labour and Employment Ministry in October,2020 revised the base year of the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) from 2001 to 2016 to reflect the changing consumption pattern, giving more weightage to spending on health, education, recreation and other miscellaneous expenses, while reducing the weight of food and beverages.

2) Apart from measuring inflation in retail prices, the CPI-IW is used to regulate the dearness allowance (DA) of government staff and industrial workers, as well as to revise minimum wages in scheduled employments

3) The sample size was increased from 41,040 families to 48,384, and the number of selected markets for collecting retail price data from 289 to 317. The weight to food and beverage was reduced from 46.2% to 39%, while spending on housing increased from 15.2% to 17%.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider following with reference to FATF Grey list (October , 2020 news) :

1) Pakistan has made progress across all action plan items and has now largely addressed 21 of 27 action items.

2) As all action plan deadlines have expired, the FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2021,” said an FATF statement issued in Paris at the end of the Plenary session, on the decision to keep Pakistan in the list of “Jurisdictions under increased monitoring” or grey list.

3) On-site teams are permitted only after jurisdictions complete their Action Plans.

Such visits would signal exit from the grey or black list. However, when the proposal was placed before the 38-member Plenary, no other member seconded the move; it was not supported even by China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia,

4) The points on which Pakistan failed to deliver included inaction against charitable organisations or non-profit organisations linked to terror groups banned by the UNSC.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider following with reference to North East Monsoon in Tamilnadu :

1) The transition period of wind patterns from southwesterly to northeasterly was another reason for localised convection and intense thunderstorms

2) IMD’s forecast, said the NE monsoon is expected to bring near normal rainfall over north Tamil Nadu and below normal in the southern parts.

3) East-west shear zone and the depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal had brought thunderstorms over the State.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider following with reference to Entry 33 (b) :

1) The Centre has enacted its farm sector Bills by invoking Entry 33(b) in the Concurrent List, which concerns trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of, “foodstuffs”.

2) By stretching the entry’s meaning to include agriculture, Parliament has managed to pass laws in the domain of the States

3) The Centre has enacted its farm sector Bills by invoking Entry 33(b) in the Concurrent List, which concerns trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of, “foodstuffs”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider following (October,2020 news) :

In Telangana’s natural terrain, lakes exist in sororities. The State’s undulating topography allowed the existence of a reported one lakh chain-linked lakes/ponds, locally known as Kuntas and Cheruvus, in Hyderabad and its peripheries in the pre-independence era. Surplus water from each lake flowed down to the next water body in the basin, completing a chain link. The system worked well for the region in the Deccan Plateau where canal irrigation was not an option. Owing to the linkages, flooding could be avoided during monsoons, and there would be enough water impounded for summer crops. The rulers recognised this fact, and through their diktats, maintained the lakes’ health. They also added new lakes, constructed strong bunds and drains to control the flows, and maintained and developed them.

1) From one lakh, the water bodies have drastically come down to 185 within the Greater Hyderabad capital region, and to 3,132 within the limits of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) as enumerated by its Lake Protection Committee till date. Of the 185 lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), for 75, the surplus weirs and courses are completely closed.

2) Two studies — one by Kirloskar Consultancy in 2002 for the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad and the other by the Voyants Consultancy in 2008 for GHMC — recommended widening and improving storm water drains, and diverting sewage.

Caught in a difficult situation, the government is blaming the problems on the unprecedented rainfall in a single day.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider following (October, 2020 news) :

1) The old map(of Nepal) does not show the region of Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura, which is part of India’s Pithoragarh district.

2) The triangular piece of land is, however, shown as part of Nepalese sovereign territory in the new map, which was unveiled on May 20,2020 and made part of the insignia of the Nepalese state by an amendment on June 13,2020

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider following with reference to GST compensation :

1) Kicking off its borrowing plan to meet the GST compensation shortfalls faced by States, the Centre on 23.10.2020 borrowed and transferred ₹6,000 crore to 16 States as well as the Union Territories of Delhi and J&K.

2) The government indicated that it planned to release ₹6,000 crore every week to the States till the approved borrowings to meet the shortfall are met.

At this rate, it could take about 13 weeks or about three months to complete the envisaged borrowing.

As of now, 21 States had selected the Centre’s option to borrow ₹1.1 lakh crore out of the total ₹2.35 lakh crore GST compensation shortfall estimated for 2020-21.

With seven States — including Kerala, West Bengal and Punjab — were supposed to convey their acceptance to the Centre’s proposed solution to meet the GST shortfalls, the Finance Ministry has so far granted permission to raise about ₹78,500 crore to meet the shortfall pertaining to 21 States.

4) The borrowing is at an interest rate of 5.19%. It is intended to make weekly releases of ₹6,000 crore to the States. Tenor of borrowing is expected to be broadly in the range of 3 to 5 years,

5) The interest on these borrowings, as well as the principal, is to be repaid from future GST cess collections, with the GST Council extending the applicability of the cess levied on sin or luxury goods over and above the highest GST rate of 28%, beyond the original deadline of June 2022.

6)Earlier in the month of October, 2020, the Centre had released ₹20,000 crore to States from GST compensation cess collections garnered so far this year.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider following with reference to invIT for NMP :

The Government has launched a National Monetisation Pipeline, or NMP to sell public assets or, more precisely, their revenue streams over the next four years. The pipeline mostly includes railway stations, freight corridors, airports, and renovated national highway segments (yielding toll revenue) amounting to ₹6-lakh crore, or 3% of GDP in 2020-21.

As outlined in the Union Budget, the NMP aims to mobilise resources for financing infrastructure. The other two methods of raising resources are: setting up of a development finance institution (DFI) and raising the share of infrastructure investment in the central and State Budgets.

The NMP outlines mainly two modes of implementing the monetisation: public-private partnership (PPP) and “structured financing” to tap the stock market. PPP in infrastructure has been a financial disaster in India, as evident from what happened after the economic boom of 2003-08. Surely, India did create world-class airports in Mumbai and Delhi and speeded up highway road reconstruction.

1) An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) is being mooted as an alternative means of raising finance from the stock market. For NMP

In principle, InvIT is much like a mutual fund, whose performance is largely linked to stock prices. It may be worthwhile to jog one’s memory to recall how the disinvestment process began in 1991 after the initiation of economic reforms.

3)It was by “off-loading” bundles of shares of public sector enterprises (PSEs) to the financial institution UTI, which in turn sold the bundles in the booming secondary stock market to realise the best price.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider following with reference to Pashmina Shawls (in J&K) :

1) Over a period, the number of women associated with hand-spinning of yarns for Pashmina shawls has dwindled significantly in Kashmir, but a rare initiative to double the wages and ensure round-the-year orders is likely to see the re-engagement of women artisans in a critical production process of the world-famous hand-made shawls.

2) Old techniques of weaving are fading fast in Kashmir.

3) Poor wages and machines have played a role in driving away women who used to spin the finest yarns in the world. This initiative is aimed at reviving the lost sheen of the hand-made shawls,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider following with reference to Darjeeling Train Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR). :

1) Heritage railway that connects New Jalpaiguri with Darjeeling, across 87.48 km.

2) There are four fully functional and operational railways networks in mountains and hilly terrains in India — the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway located in the foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal; the Nilgiris Mountain Railways located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu; the Kalka Shimla Railway located in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh; and the Matheran Railway located in Maharashtra.

3) DHR was the only surviving, fully functional two-feet gauge railway in the world and that it was the pride of the people of Darjeeling.

4) Built in the British era between 1879 and 1881, the Darjeeling toy train was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider following with reference to UNSC Resolution 2593 (30.8.2021) :

Despite the abstention of two “P5” countries — Russia and China — from the India-led United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2593, the Government of India said it was a “matter of satisfaction” that the resolution addressed India’s “key concerns” on Afghanistan.

1) P5 refers to the five permanent members of the UNSC — China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S.

2) The resolution 2593, called on the Taliban to keep their commitments on preventing terror groups in Afghanistan and urged them to assist the safe evacuations of all Afghan nationals wishing to leave the country, was the result of a careful coordination and “high-level” official contacts with UNSC members, including a call to U.S.

3) The resolution demands that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter and train terrorists and plan or finance terrorist attacks. It mentions individuals designated by Resolution 1267, (which includes the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad),”

4) India demitted presidency of the UNSC.on 31.8.2021 (India President is for one month period)

5) It is said that U.S., the U.K. and France, the sponsors of the resolution, rushed it through on a “tight schedule” while seeking to absolve the U.S. of responsibility, and distinguishing between “their and our terrorists”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider following with reference to V-shaped recovery (context India’s GDP/GVA growth in Q1 of 2021-2022) :

The spectacular headline number cannot be interpreted as a V-shaped recovery.

1) In a V–shaped recession, the economy suffers a sharp but brief period of economic decline with a clearly defined trough, followed by a strong recovery.

2) India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 20.1% in the first quarter of 2021-22, compared with the 24.4% contraction recorded in the corresponding quarter a year ago, but economic activity remained well below the pre-pandemic levels,

3) Overall GVA in Q1 was still 7.8% lower than the first quarter of 2019-20, at ₹30,47,516 crore, while GDP remained 9.2% lower, indicating that the economy still has some way to go before it returns to activity levels prevalent prior to the pandemic.

4) GVA from agriculture, forestry and fishing, the only sector to grow amid last year’s national lockdown, picked up pace to grow 4.5% in Q1 this year from 3.5% in Q1 2020-21.

5)Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services, whose GVA grew 14.3% in Q1 of 2021-22, compared with a 9.9% fall last year, was the only sector along with agriculture, forestry and fishing, to recover beyond the pre-pandemic levels of 2019-20.

6) Overall GVA in Q1 was still 7.8% lower than the first quarter of 2019-20, at ₹30,47,516 crore, while GDP remained 9.2% lower, indicating that the economy still has some way to go before it returns to activity levels prevalent prior to the pandemic

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider following with reference to Pulicat Lake and its 3 estuaries (mouths) :

1) The lake has one mouth at Nawabpetta, a second near Sriharikota and a third in Pazhaverkadu — all these allow entry/exit of sea water from the Bay of Bengal.

2) The lake is spread across two States — Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

3) Pulicat Lake is Asia’s second largest brackish waterbody, covering over 712 sq.km.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider following with reference to Cauvery river :

1) Karnataka has four reservoirs i.e., Krishnaraja Sagar, Kabini, Hemavathy and Harangi and out of these, two major reservoirs — Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini — were almost full

2) Both the Mekedatu project and the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link canal scheme had been deferred.( in the CWMA meeting on 31.8.2021)

3) The Kabini catchments had experienced a deficit rainfall. (Upto August, 2021)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider following with reference to Cooum river in Tamil Nadu :

1)The 72-km long river continues to be a freshwater source for drinking and agriculture needs in Tiruvallur district until it reaches urban limits (Avadi Municipal Corporation)

2) The residents also want treated sewage released in the Cooum, near Paruthipattu bridge, to be diverted to the stretch downstream of the Paruthipattu check-dam.

3) Officials of the Water Resources Department said they had written to the Avadi Municipal Corporation to initiate action to stop sewage pollution and construct a compound wall around the Sekkadu dumping yard

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider following with reference to BRICS :

1) The 13th BRICS summit is set to be held on September 9,2021 in digital format under India’s chairmanship. This plurilateral grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is chaired by turn. India held the chair in 2012 and 2016 too

2) As the current chair, India has outlined four priorities. The first is to pursue reform of multilateral institutions ranging from the United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the World Trade Organization and now even the World Health Organization.

3) The second is the resolve to combat terrorism. Terrorism is an international phenomenon affecting Europe, Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. In this context, BRICS is attempting to pragmatically shape its counter-terrorism strategy by crafting the BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan containing specific measures to fight radicalisation, terrorist financing and misuse of the Internet by terrorist groups

4) Promoting technological and digital solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals and expanding people-to-people cooperation are the other two BRICS priorities.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider following with reference to Levant :

1)Syria

2)Israel

3)Jordan

4) Lebanon

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider following with reference to Human – Elephant conflict in Tamil Nadu :

1) Gudalur has been at the centre of the human-elephant conflict for the past few decades, with research indicating that the disappearance of forest cover and swamp lands, and the associated micro habitats, had led to the rise in confrontations.

2) The death of people, more men than women, due to attacks by wild elephants, and the number of deaths of elephants caused by people have also been high in the Gudalur range in the past few decades.

3) Since elephants usually come to depredate during the night, monitoring becomes difficult, and so, local forest officials were guided to use the drones during the day to locate the animals, and send kumkis to push them deeper into the forests towards Kerala and the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR),

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider following with reference to Net Zero Emissions :

1) The transition of the global economy to net zero emissions is the biggest commercial opportunity in history.

2) In just the energy sector alone, an estimated $1.6 to $3.8 trillion of investment is required every year until 2050.

3) India is set to significantly exceed its Paris Agreement commitment of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% below 2005 levels by 2030, providing ready room for higher ambition.

4)India is impressing the world with its leading roll-out of renewable energy and target for 450GW by 2030, linked to its leadership on the International Solar Alliance and recent national hydrogen strategy. Indian corporates are also stepping up, with the Tata Group winning awards on sustainability, Mahindra committing to net zero by 2040 and Reliance by 2035. There is plenty on which to build.

5) Solar energy costs have fallen 90% in recent years, providing the cheapest electricity in India ever seen. Also, given the negative impacts, addressing climate change in India’s economic development is now central to success, not an added luxury to consider.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider following with reference to Regulation of Micro Finance (by RBI) :

1) The definition of microfinance itself is proposed to mean collateral-free loans to households with annual household incomes of up to ₹1,25,000 and ₹2,00,000 for rural and urban areas respectively.

2) The document requires all Regulated Entities to have a board-approved policy for household income assessment. Moreover, it caps loan repayment (principal and interest) for all outstanding loans of the household at 50% of household income.

3) Given the importance accorded to household income, measuring this accurately becomes critical for effective implementation of these norms.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider following with reference to multinational Exercise ZAPAD 2021 :

1)Held at Nizhniy, Russia

2)9 Participating countries and 8 observers including China and Pakistan (Mangolia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Russia, India and Belarus) (Observers: Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka )

3)The exercise aims to enhance military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations while they plan and execute this exercise.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider following with reference to ‘Negative ‘ Indian Ocean Dipole :

All regions in India — northwest, central and eastern and northeast — are seeing deficits in rainfall, except for the southern peninsula, which has reported an 8% surplus. (August,2021)

1)The factors that caused the August, 2021 deficit were a ‘Negative’ Indian Ocean Dipole, characterized by warmer eastern Indian Ocean and colder closer to the Indian coast, which is considered unhelpful for the moon.

2)The central equatorial Pacific was expected to show a ‘cooling trend’ towards September,2021 and this cold be favourable for the monsoon. But the Indian Ocean temperatures were not expected to be significantly helpful.

3) IMD has formally adopted a dynamic – modelling approach, whereby the weather conditions are simulated and projected into the future by supercomputer. Though the approach is more accurate at forecasting impending changes in weather a week or two in advance, it has not proved reliable at long-range forecasting in the past three years.

4) Wind-bearing depressions in the Bay of Bengal, coupled with moisture from the Arabian Sea, usually inject surges of rain over central India. But this did not happen and did not salvage the break-like conditions

5) Other meteorologists said that large effects of global warming were impacting monsoon rainfall. The number of rain-bearing depressions in the Bay of Bengal was declining and pre-monsoon cyclones, such as Tauktae that veered very close to Mumbai, possibly altered heat distribution patterns over the landmass, influencing moisture distribution and thereby causing erratic rainfall

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider following :

Ladakh on 1.9.2021 adopted two endangered species, snow leopard and black-necked crane, as the State animal and the State bird

1) “Black-necked crane (Grus nicricollis) and snow leopard (Panther unica) are two endangered species and the pride of Ladakh, “Black-necked crane and snow leopard are two endangered species and the pride of Ladakh,

2) Black-necked cranes are only found in Ladakh’s Changthang region. They are described as majestic birds — around 139 cm long with a 235 cm wingspan and weighing 5-6 kg. The bird’s sighting is considered auspicious in Ladakh.

3) Snow leopard, whose numbers are dwindling wordwide, has been categorised as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider following :

Afghanistan was admitted into the SAARC as the eighth member in 2007 when the country was led by President Hamid Karzai.

1) Over the years, it has found representation in many SAARC projects covering education and sustainable development

2) With uncertainty hanging over the international representation of Afghanistan under the Taliban, a question has risen over its membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which is scheduled to meet next in Islamabad

3) Veteran diplomats here observed that the fate of Afghanistan’s membership, and even the future of SAARC to some extent, depends on the Taliban creating an inclusive government.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider following :

Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on 30.8.2021 read out the oath of allegiance to the Constitution to nine new judges of the Supreme Court, reducing the vacancies in the court to just one.

1) The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.

2) Supreme Court Judges retire upon attaining the age of 65 years. In order to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been, for atleast five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession, or an Advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession for at least 10 years or he must be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider following with reference to :

1) The first shipments on a newly-launched railway line from the Myanmar border to the key commercial hub of Chengdu in western China, that provides China a new road-rail transportation channel to the Indian Ocean, were delivered

2) A “test cargo” through what is being called the China-Myanmar New Passage arrived at the Chengdu rail port in Sichuan province on August 27,2021

3) This passage connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar and China, and is currently the most convenient land and sea channel linking the Indian Ocean with southwest China

4) The railway line currently ends in Lincang on the Chinese side opposite the Myanmar border trade town of Chin Shwe Haw. Plans are underway to develop Chin Shwe Haw as a “border economic cooperation zone” under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider following with reference to Kandahar, Afghanistan :

1) Kandahar is in Pashtun heartland of the Taliban,

2) Taliban group was founded and from here it rose to power in 1996.

3)Taliban’s secretive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada is living in Kandahar.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider following with reference to :

1) The famous flamingos can now be spotted in hundreds in and around the Pulicat lagoon and also in the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary. So are the spoonbills, which used to be few and far between a decade ago

2) Pulicat Lake, the largest brackish water ecosystem in the country, next only to Chilika in Odisha.

3) In all, 2 lakh birds, including rare species, are expected to stay put in and around Pulicat as also NelapattuIt’s a safe haven for 189 bird species, including 50 migratory ones

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider following In the Himalayan region :

The intense anthropogenic activities associated with the proliferation of the hydroelectric projects in these precarious regions accelerate the intensity of flash floods, avalanches, and landslides.

2) The additional element of climate change makes these scenarios much worse.

3) About 15% of the great earthquakes (of magnitudes greater than 8) of the 20th century took place in the Himalaya and many of its segments are likely to see a period of intense earthquake activity in the future, as studies show

4) The recent events such as the Rishi Ganga tragedy and the disasters of 2012 (flashfloods), 2013 are examples of how hydroelectric projects which come in the way of high-velocity flows aggravate a disaster and should be treated as a warning against such projects in the disaster-prone Uttarakhand river valleys

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider following with reference to Dy.Speaker in Lok Sabha :

1) A Deputy Speaker enjoys the same legislative powers as the Speaker. And in the absence of the Speaker because of death, illness or any other reason, the Deputy Speaker assumes the administrative powers.

2) Keeping the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha vacant is a violation of Article 93 of the Constitution

3) The position had been vacant for the past 830 days.

4) It was for the House to elect a Deputy Speaker and it was not the Speaker’s job.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider following with reference to Credit Bankl :

Forty Central universities will kick off implementation of innovative measures such as the academic credit bank and the glue grant meant to encourage multidisciplinarity

1) The first step would be the academic credit bank, which would have to be adopted separately by the academic council of each university to kick off implementation

2) . To start with, the system would allow students to attain qualifications by amassing credits rather than specific durations on campus. A certain number of credits would add up to a certificate, then a diploma and then a degree, allowing for multiple entry and exit points.

3) Students can earn up to 40% of their credits in online Swayam classes. In the future, the credits will be valid across institutions.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider following with reference to ‘glue grant’ :

1) Under the glue grant, announced in this year’s (2021-2022) budget, institutions in the same city would be encouraged to share resources, equipment and even allow their students to take classes from each other.

2) “This is the first step for multidiciplinarity. We intend to start this from the second semester of the current academic year. Ultimately, faculty will be able to design joint courses, and you could see a DU student able to take a few classes at IIT-Delhi, or vice versa,” said the Higher Education Secretary.

3) This also meant that institutions need not duplicate work by developing the same capacities, but would able to build on each other’s expertise.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider following with reference to critical phases of Jammu and Kashmir’s tumultuous history:

—

1) the accession to India in 1947,

2) the dethroning of then Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah in 1953,

3) the ascension of the Jamaat-e-Islami in the 1970s,

4) the rise of armed rebellion of 1990s,

5) the secret dialogue on Kashmir in the 2000s, and the.

6) end of J&K’s special Constitutional position in 2019

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider following with reference to Dinosaurs foot prints in Rajasthan :

1) Footprints of three species of dinosaurs have been found in the Thar desert in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, proving the presence of the giant reptiles in the western part of the Rajsthan State, which formed the seashore to the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic era.

2) The footprints, made in the sediment or silt of the seashore, later became permanently stone-like.

3) The footprints were 200 million years old. They were found near Jaisalmer’s Thaiat village.

4) The dinosaur species are considered to be of the theropod type, with the distinguishing features of hollow bones and feet with three digits. All the three species, belonging to the early Jurassic period, were carnivorous

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider following with reference to Edible Oil Prices in India (2021) :

1) Average retail prices of major edible oils have risen by up to 48% over the last year (2020), driven by surging global prices and lower domestic production of soybean, which is India’s largest oilseed crop

2) Arrivals of domestic soybean crop and the rabi mustard would also help to soften prices

3) Soaring edible oil prices are likely to soften by December,2021 as international commodity futures show a declining trend and along with the arrival of domestic oilseed crops,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider following with reference to Far Eastern Economic Forum 2021, currently under way in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. :

1) There are a number of areas spanning connectivity, space research and ship-building, were redefining the strategic bilateral partnership, between Indian and Russia .

2) The forum was set up by a decree of Mr. Putin in 2015 to support the economic development of Russia’s far east and “expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region”.

3) The modern ship-building facility at Zvezda and the Mazagaon Docks Limited would work together for the “construction of some of the most important commercial ships in the world”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider following with reference to Eastern Ladakh :

1) The Army conducted an exercise with armoured elements in the super high altitude area (SHAA) of Ladakh under the aegis of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

2) The terrain here permits use of tanks and mechanised elements as there are lots of plains in Eastern Ladakh,” the source stated, pointing to the possibility of tank battles in this area.

3) The Snow Leopard Brigade is located at Nyoma, which is very close to the Chushul range,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider following with reference to Bhitarkanika (Odisha) :

1) Bhitarkanika — a notified Ramsar wetland — is spread over 195 sq. km and is home to 62 mangrove species. Besides, 1,600 salt water crocodiles crawl on the mudflats of the Bhitarkanika mangrove forest.

2) Environmentalists expressed concern over the massive diversion of fresh water from the Brahmani river basin, which could pose a grave threat to the famous mangrove vegetation in Odisha.

3) Mangroves grow in brackish water. Proportionate fresh water flow from the Brahmani river basin and the Kharasrota river keep the salinity level of the water along the shore down.The brackish water becomes ideal for the mangroves to grow and stay healthy.

4) The Talcher-Angul coal mines, steel and power plants as well as the Kalinganagar steel and power hub are drawing enormous quantities of fresh water from the Brahmani river

5) Against an available 4,400 mcum of fresh water stored by the Rengali reservoir, 4,318 mcum, that is almost equal to the available water supply shall be withdrawn from the river,

6) The reduction in water flow would lead to drastic changes in the water regime of the Bhitarkanika mangroves. The Sunderbans mangrove forest was drastically affected after the Farraka barrage was commissioned

7) Besides, there could be a quantum increase in the man–crocodile conflict since the estuarine crocodiles would leave the core sanctuary area and migrate upstream once salinity increases

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider following with reference to Covid-19 and Gender Impact in India :

In India, the pandemic has had a differential impact on women. Despite gaps, India had seen progress in maternal mortality. There have been significant gains in infant mortality, institutional births and replacement level fertility. However, there is still a high unmet need for family planning and improved access is required to contraceptive services and safe abortions. A recent modelling study showed that because of the reduction in coverage of essential services, the prevalence of wasting in children could increase by 10% to 50%. There could also be 60% more maternal deaths because interventions like the administration of uterotonics and antibiotics, and clean birth environments, are no longer available.

1) COVID-19 has also disrupted the education system. It has also adversely affected access to nutritious food as a huge number of children depend on school meals.

2) Another worrying development is the surge in domestic violence. In India, a third of women said that they had previously experienced domestic violence, but less than 1% sought help from the police. Governments can include response to violence against women in the package of essential services.

3) Many women have lost their work and livelihoods. More women than men work in the informal economy and therefore their income fell by over 60% during the first month of the pandemic. In India, the number of women and girls living in extreme poverty is expected to increase from 87 million to 100 million.

4) Women in particular have their work cut out for them. Greater demands of unpaid care work during the pandemic and rising rates of reported violence are a stark reminder of the work that remains to be done. According to the India Voluntary National Review 2020, female labour force participation rate for the 15-59 age group is showing a declining trend and stands at 25.3%. This is one of the lowest rates in the world.

5) Women, particularly those from indigenous and marginalised communities, play a significant yet unsung role in various sectors. Comprising more than 50% of the agricultural labour force, and nearly 14% of all entrepreneurs, women’s relationship with the environment and the informal economy can be a useful lever of action to transform the lives and livelihoods of their families and communities.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider following :

Two villages — Venkatraipur in Ganjam district and Noliasahi in Jagatsingpur district in Odisha — are now ‘Tsunami-Ready’. “This has to be replicated in other vulnerable coastal communities as it also enhances ability to respond to cyclones and storm surges too

1) The focus in recent times has been on enhancing community awareness and response through several capacity building activities, biennial Indian Ocean-wide tsunami drills and piloting of the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready initiative to provide a structured framework to build and measure capacities of coastal communities to respond effectively to tsunamis, through 11 important indicators.

2) In fact, for Indian Ocean earthquakes where the network of seismometers is reasonably good, quakes can now be detected in less than five minutes and a tsunami warning issued within 10 minutes if the quake occurs elsewhere in the globe,

3) India is much safer against the threat of tsunamis than it was in 2004, thanks to the state-of-the-art tsunami early warning system established in Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) , Hyderabad

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider following with reference to live-streaming of court :

1) live-streaming would be the true realisation of the “open court system.”

2) CJI was taking stock of the virtual court system initiated after the lockdown

3) Each High Court could make rules for itself and trial courts under it for the virtual system. Uniform rules would prove difficult owing to the difference in connectivity and e-literacy.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider following :

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is hoping that lockdowns and curfews in some countries in the event of a second or third wave of COVID-19 infections will not dent global energy demand as much as in the second quarter of this year when the world was virtually in lockdown mode.

1) The OPEC is keeping a ‘very close’ watch on the fresh surge of COVID-19 infections in Europe, prompting fresh lockdowns in some countries, as well as the virus’s trajectory in India and America.

2) “We were hopeful that the second half of 2020 would begin to see a recovery in the global economy as well as energy and oil demand… there were projections of a V-shaped recovery,” said OPEC secretary general.

3) “Unfortunately, both economic growth as well as demand recovery remain anemic at the moment, due largely to the virus spread,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider following with reference to Interest – on – interest :

Government indicated that the ex-gratia payment of interest-on-interest by banks and non-banking financial companies for the moratorium period (between March 1 and August 31) would amount to ₹7,500 crore of benefit for eligible borrowers. Lenders will not be impacted as the Centre had agreed to pick up the tab.

The benefit will be extended to borrowers with outstanding loans (standard as on February 29, 2020) of less than ₹2 crore under select categories, irrespective of whether the moratorium was availed of or not.

Such loans account for more than 40% of systemic credit and 75% of borrowers. The cost to the exchequer would have halved if the waiver were allowed only for cases where moratorium was availed of, it added.

1) More than 40% of system credit and 75% of borrowers stand to benefit from interest-on-interest concession announced by the government,

2) The amount will be the difference between compound interest and simple interest over six months (March 1 to August 31).2020

3) Borrowers who had availed of higher-yielding loans would benefit more than others.

Consequently, borrowers of unsecured, micro and gold loans will benefit more than those who had taken home loans.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider following with reference to seven key drivers of change on India’s energy map:

1) accelerating efforts towards a gas-based economy; cleaner use of fossil fuels, particularly petroleum and coal;

2) greater reliance on domestic sources to drive biofuel; achieving the renewable energy target of 450 GW by 2030;

3) increasing the contribution of electricity to decarbonise mobility; moving into emerging fuels, including hydrogen; and digital innovation across all energy systems.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider following :

2020 year has been challenging for the energy sector in India i.e., —

1) demand fell by almost one third; there has been price instability,

2) investment decisions have been impacted and leading global bodies project contraction in global energy demand over the next few years also.

3) But it is projected that India… as a leading energy consumer, set to double its energy consumption over the long term,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider following with reference to India’s signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on geospatial cooperation (BECA) with the U.S. :

1) BECA will enable greater sharing of geospatial information between our armed forces.”

2) Apart from BECA, India and the U.S. also sealed an MoU on Technical Cooperation in Earth Observations and Earth Sciences, and an agreement to extend duration of the MoU regarding the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership.

The two sides also signed an agreement on electronic exchange of customs data and a letter of intent regarding cooperation in traditional Indian medicines.

4) BECA enables exchange of geospatial data and information between the two countries and will improve the accuracy of India’s missiles in future during precision strikes. It will help share geospatial maps and charts between the U.S. and India, which may have been acquired from multiple sources like satellites, UAVs, reconnaissance aircraft, aerostats, among others, said director, Aerospace and Defence at U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Data shared from BECA will help in identifying, updating and tracking of various types of target and their position, both on land and sea

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider following

People, including investors, outside Jammu and Kashmir can now purchase land in the Union Territory as the Centre in October,2020 notified new land laws for the region, ending the exclusive rights enjoyed by the local population over land under the now-diluted Article 370.

1) Under the new J&K Development Act, the Centre has omitted the term “permanent resident of the State”, paving the way for investors outside J&K to invest in the Union Territory.

2) The Act enables transfer of land “in favour of a person or an institution for the purpose of promotion of healthcare or senior secondary or higher or specialised education in J&K”.

3) No land used for agriculture purposes shall be used for any non-agricultural purposes except with the permission of the district collector.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider following :

In the year 2020, some Reports indicated that the Pakistan government is on the verge of declaring Gilgit-Baltistan a province of Pakistan.

1) Technically speaking Gilgit-Baltistan was a part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) at the time of Partition although Dogra rule sat very lightly on this region.

2) Much of it, particularly Gilgit, because of its strategic importance in the context of the Great Game in Central Asia, had been leased to the British by the Maharaja and was under the direct control of the British government until the lapse of suzerainty

3) Gilgit had its own British-officered local army, the Gilgit Scouts, which switched allegiance to Pakistan within a week of the Maharaja’s accession to India.

4) From the beginning Gilgit-Baltistan was governed as a separate entity by Pakistan and not as a part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Islamabad had hesitated to declare it a province of Pakistan because of its claim that J&K is disputed territory and its future must be decided by a plebiscite among all its inhabitants.

5) China considers Gilgit-Baltistan very important because of its strategic location. It is contiguous to Ladakh as well as Xinjiang and could act as a staging post against India if a major conflict erupts in Ladakh

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider following with reference to California fires :

1) Scientists have said climate change has made California much drier, meaning trees and other plants are more flammable. October and November are traditionally the worst months for fires, but already this year 8,600 wildfires in the state have scorched a record 16,600 sq. km and destroyed about 9,200 homes and other buildings.

2) Gusts pushed flames along brushy ridges in Silverado Canyon and near houses in the sprawling city of Irvine, home to about 2,80,000 residents. There was no containment.

3) Nearby, a much smaller fire in the Yorba Linda area prompted the evacuation of at least 10,000 people

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider following with reference to North East Monsoon :

1) Tamil Nadu receives an average of 44 cm of rain during the northeast monsoon between October and December.

2) The average onset date is around October 20. (The northeast monsoon set in over the south peninsular region, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, )

3) Northeasterly winds and a cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the coast of northern Tamil Nadu, aid the commencement of the northeast monsoon. After an extended stay, the southwest monsoon retreated from the country (in October,2020) and paved the way for the onset of the northeast monsoon.

(in October, 2020 : Northeasterly winds and a cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the coast of northern Tamil Nadu, aided the commencement of the northeast monsoon.. The cyclone over the Pacific Ocean, too, was drawing moisture away. The influence of the global weather pattern La Niña could also be a reason for the weak start of the monsoon)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider following with reference to RCEP :

1) New Delhi’s 2020’s decision not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the region’s flagship free trade arrangement, could potentially complicate the country’s future engagements in the region.

2) The RCEP decision, a direct result of domestic political compulsions in India, comes in the backdrop of the already huge gap between India and China on trade with almost every Indo-Pacific country.

3) The available information shows the gap that exists between Indian and Chinese trade with the major Indo-Pacific and Quad States. This growing trade gap that India and China have with these countries will be a major determining factor in shaping the region’s strategic realities

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider following with reference to Deepfakes :

1) Deepfakes are a new tool to spread computational propaganda and disinformation at scale and with speed.

2) Deepfakes, hyper-realistic digital falsification, can inflict damage to individuals, institutions, businesses and democracy. They make it possible to fabricate media — swap faces, lip-syncing, and puppeteer — mostly without consent and bring threat to psychology, security, political stability, and business disruption

3) Deepfakes can depict a person indulging in antisocial behaviours and saying vile things. These can have severe implications on their reputation, sabotaging their professional and personal life. Even if the victim could debunk the fake via an alibi or otherwise, it may come too late to remedy the initial harm. Malicious actors can take advantage of unwitting individuals to defraud them for financial gains using audio and video deepfakes. Deepfakes can be deployed to extract money, confidential information, or exact favours from individuals.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider following with reference to India-Central Asia Dialogue :

1) The second meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue jointly expressed support for the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, which is expected to usher in a new age for the war-torn country.(October,2020)

2) The Central Asian republics joined India on Wednesday in demanding destruction of “safe havens” of terrorism.

3) Among the key takeaways from the meeting was the announcement of an additional $1 billion Line of Credit by India for the Central Asian countries. It is expected that the money will be spent for major infrastructural and connectivity projects.

4) The joint statement highlighted the appreciation from the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic for India’s “efforts to modernise the infrastructure of the Chabahar port in Iran, which could become an important link in trade and transport communications between the markets of Central and South Asia”.

5) Delivering his opening remarks, External Affairs Minister described the Central Asian region as India’s “extended neighbourhood”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider following with reference to National Infrastructrure Pipeline and UK :

1) India and the U.K. also signed off on a new infrastructure finance and policy partnership to help India execute its National Infrastructure Pipeline that envisages investments worth $1.4 trillion, at the 10th Economic and Financial Dialogue between the two countries steered by U.K. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (October,2020)

2) There is possibility of announcing a series of ambitious initiatives across trade, infrastructure, sustainable finance and research [including] a new strategic partnership to develop the GIFT city, an opportunity to drive international capital flow from London to India,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider following with reference to Annual Status of Education Report 2020 :

1) The survey found 43.6% of students in government schools without access to a smartphone, while 67.3% of those who received learning materials in these institutions got them over WhatsApp, underscoring the role played by gadgets and connectivity. On the other hand, only half the children got help with studies at home, a third got materials from teachers, and nearly 60% used textbooks.

2) ASER survey provides data that could facilitate intervention by the education system in some respects, even if, going forward, schools opt for a hybrid solution of partial reopening and online learning. Expanding availability of textbooks to all, including those who dropped out or are waiting to be formally admitted, will help parents and siblings aid learning. Bridging the divide on educational aids, now including smartphones, will enable transmission of learning materials, and personal tutorial sessions.

3) The ASER 2020 survey covering 26 States and four Union Territories has come up with striking findings, including one of a shift in enrolments from private schools to government institutions, of about five percentage points over 2018, ranging from class one to higher secondary levels

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Set 20 (for GS Paper )

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Set No. 20 (Prepared on 8 .9.2021 )

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 20 (Prepared on 8 .9.2021 )

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider following with reference to Stubble burning :

The Green Revolution increased greatly rice and wheat production, which simultaneously increased stubble post harvest. However, the popular combined harvesting technique was not efficacious, as machines left behind one-foot-tall stalks. This prompted stubble burning as a low-cost and speedy solution available to farmers due to the limited time period of 20-25 days between harvesting one crop and sowing another.

1) Stubble burning is practised predominantly by farmers in north India. It releases harmful gases including nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. In recent years, this practice has created vast smoke blankets across the Indo-Gangetic Plain and numerous neighbouring States, including Delhi. This directly exposes millions of people to air pollution

2) In 2020 year, the Union government is testing an innovative method, the PUSA Decomposer, developed at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa.

The PUSA Decomposer is a set of four tablets made by extracting fungi strains that help the paddy straw to decompose at a much faster rate than usual, giving farmers the option to shred the straw, spray a solution containing the fungal strains, and mix it with the soil for decomposition. If methods such as this become successful, it will be a new revolution in farming.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider following with reference to Chief Information Commissioner : (October,2020 news)

The commission consists of a chief and up to 10 commissioners. It has been headless twice this year, due to a two-month delay in appointing the last chief, Bimal Julka, and another two-month period since he retired in August-end. It has not functioned at full strength for almost four years, and currently has only five commissioners, leading to a backlog of 37,000 pending cases. When the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued advertisements for vacancies in July, it received 139 applications for the CIC position and 355 applications for the Information Commissioner posts.

1) The three-member selection committee, including the Prime Minister, Mr. Chowdhury and Home Minister Amit Shah, met Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is a member of the panel

2) In a February 2019 order, the top court ruled that long delays in clearing appeals frustrated citizens’ rights, and directed that appointments be made in a “transparent and timely” manner.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider following with reference to Sixth Schedule :

1) The Sixth Schedule protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through the creation of autonomous development councils that can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture etc

2) . As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

3) There was a demand from Ladak (UT) for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

4)Consider following with reference to Turkey and France :

1) As Turkey, under Mr. Erdogan, is trying to expand its influence to the erstwhile Ottoman territories, France has stood in its way. In Libya, where Turkey is backing the Tripoli-based government, France has supported the Tobruk-based parallel government and the military campaign of the renegade General Khalifa Haftar against Tripoli.

2) In Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has launched a gas exploration mission, clashing with Greece and Cyprus, while France threw its weight behind the fellow EU members and even sent French warships to the region.

3) In the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Turkey offered unconditional support to the Azeri military offensive, while Mr. Macron slammed Ankara’s “reckless and dangerous” intervention.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider following with reference to Credit Default Swaps (CDS) :

1) The development of CDS is considered critical for deepening India’s bond markets and the government believes that the enactment of the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts law October,2020 month should pave the way for an active CDS market.

2) Credit default swaps (CDS), a financial derivative instrument to hedge risks in bond investments

3) Stressing that fair valuation of bonds is a challenge when trading is limited, it is said that to facilitate the development of the CDS market, the central bank would issue revised guidelines.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider following with reference to Karbi Anglong Region :

A tripartite agreement among five insurgent groups of Assam, the Centre and the State government was signed on 4.9.2021 to end years of violence in the Karbi Anglong region.

1) The insurgent groups which signed the peace accord include the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front, the People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri, the United People’s Liberation Army and the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers factions. Under the peace accord, more than 1,000 armed cadres have abjured violence and joined the mainstream. The agreement provides for their rehabilitation

2) Under the agreement, the Assam government will set up a Karbi Welfare Council for focused development of Karbi people living outside the KAAC area. The Consolidated Fund of the State will be augmented to supplement the resources of KAAC. “Overall, the present settlement proposes to give more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to KAAC,”

3) The State government would consider favourably the proposal to notify Karbi as the official language of KAAC, said Assam Chief Minister. English, Hindi and Assamese would continue to be used for official purposes. Under the agreement, the hill tribes would be entitled to reservation.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider following with reference to Jawadu Hills :

1) Jawadhu Hills in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts.

2) We expect northern districts and Western Ghats to get better rains during the first fortnight of September.”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider following with reference to Madumalai Tiger Reserve ( MTR ) :

1) MoEF on December 13, 2019 declared an area of 438.904 sq.km, around the boundary of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), as Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Eco-sensitive Zone.

2) Gazette notification stated that 321 sq.km., comprising the entire area of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, in Nilgiris district had been declared as MTR (core or critical tiger habitat) apart from another 367.586 sq.km. as a buffer area.

3) Considering the rich diversity of flora and fauna in MTR and the existence of rare, endangered, threatened and endemic species, the MoEF had decided to declare 438.904 sq.km. (consisting of 25.657 sq.km in Gudalur forest division, 409.825 sq.km., in Nilgiris North forest division and 3.422 sq.km., in core area) around the reserve as eco-sensitive zone.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider following with reference to Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana :

To destroy this stubble many farmers find burning the residue the most effective and cheap method as they want to prepare their fields for the next winter crop. The short time-window between paddy harvesting and sowing the wheat crop — just about three weeks — is one of the primary reasons why farmers resort to stubble burning.

Despite the ban on stubble burning and action against those burning crop residue under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, farmers continue to resort to the practice, claiming lack of alternatives.

1) In Punjab and Haryana, paddy harvesting is usually done between the second half of September till the end of October. The sowing of wheat crop normally starts from the first week of November and continues for over a month and a half.

2) Punjab Pollution Control Board said the whole idea behind promoting ex-situ management is to present ‘paddy straw’ to the industry and the farmers as a resource that creates value and wealth.

3) Paddy straw has to be established as fuel resource or product before the industry. We have 5-6 industries in Punjab, which consume around 3 lakh tonnes of paddy straw as fuel. We are hopeful that after the new incentives, more industries will start using paddy straw as fuel for boilers. Already a few industries have shown interest and we are expecting the consumption of paddy straw as fuel will rise to 5 lakh tonnes this season,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider following with reference to Central Vista :

1) The revamp of the Central Vista, which stretches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, is expected to be in full swing in 2023, when India is set to host the G-20 summit for world leaders.

2) The construction of the new Parliament building and redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue could be completed ahead of schedule, while the project to construct the first three of the 10 proposed Secretariat buildings has run into delays at the tendering stage

3) The ₹3,463-crore project includes construction and five-year maintenance contract for three CCS buildings to be made on the site of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, which has been shifted to a temporary location at the erstwhile Janpath Hotel.

4) The Central Vista project includes the construction of a new residence for the Vice-President, for which the CPWD has invited bids, and a new residence and office for the Prime Minister, which are yet to be finalised

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider following with reference to IUCN :

The IUCN on Saturday officially launched its “green status” — the first global standard for assessing species recovery and measuring conservation impacts. “It makes the invisible work of conservation visible,

1) Komodo dragons, the largest living lizards, which are found only in the World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park (Indonesia) and neighbouring Flores, were listed as “endangered”.

2) Habitat loss, overexploitation and illegal trade have hammered global wildlife populations for decades, and climate change is now kicking in as a direct threat as well, the IUCN reported.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider following with reference to Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) law of 2013 :

1) As per the PoSH law guidelines, firms are required to form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to inquire into complaints .

2) As per the extant law, bonus dues are barred only in case of employees dismissed for fraud, violent conduct and theft or sabotage.

3) The Code on Wages lays down norms for annual bonus dues that accrue to employees, replacing the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. The new Code, expected to become operational once the government notifies the rules, includes ‘conviction for sexual harassment’ as a ground for denying bonus payouts to employees.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider following with reference to Production – Linked Incentive (PLI) :

1) The government is set to extend the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing pharmaceuticals, medical devices and electronics announced under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat package to six more sectors,

2) PLI will soon become valid for ‘nine to 10’ sectors from four at present, and this is meant to incentivise investors already in the country to put up globally comparable capacities in scale and competitiveness

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider following with reference to Gudalur Forest Division (Tamil Nadu ) :

In Gudalur, the landscape is such that boundaries between human settlements and forests are not well-defined. Moreover, wildlife presence outside the forests is also extremely high, meaning people have more interactions with wildlife

1) the Gudalur forest division has emerged as one of the most difficult landscapes to manage in the Nilgiris in terms of preventing wildlife crimes, Forest Department officials

2) Contiguous with Nilambur and Wayanad (both in Kerala), and used by elephants to make their way to the Mukurthi National Park from the Sigur plateau, the division is surrounded by districts that are known to be awash with both legal and illegal firearms, says a conservationist familiar with the landscape.

3) It is suspected that the motive for the shooting of the elephant and the leopard could be in retaliation to the problematic interactions, such as crop-raiding or cattle lifting.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider following with reference to ‘Sponge Cities’ :

Urban floods of this scale cannot be contained by the municipal authorities alone. Nor can they be dealt with by the State government. They cannot be managed without concerted and focused investments of energy and resources. Such investments can only be done in a mission mode organisation with active participation of civil society organisations at the metropolitan scale. In Hyderabad, this can be done by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, but all metropolitan areas have similar organisations with constitutional mandates via the metropolitan planning committee

1) The idea of a sponge city is to make cities more permeable so as to hold and use the water which falls upon it. Sponge cities absorb the rain water, which is then naturally filtered by the soil and allowed to reach urban aquifers. This allows for the extraction of water from the ground through urban or peri-urban wells. This water can be treated easily and used for city water supply. In built form, this implies contiguous open green spaces, interconnected waterways, and channels and ponds across neighbourhoods that can naturally detain and filter water.,

2) It implies support for urban ecosystems, bio-diversity and newer cultural and recreational opportunities

3) These can all be delivered effectively through an urban mission along the lines of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) and Smart Cities Mission. On a top priority, such a mission should address the following.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider following with reference to USA Electoral College (President Elections,2020) :

1) First-past-the-post is a ‘plurality’ voting system where the candidate winning the most votes in a constituency is elected. While a ‘constituency’ means a Lok Sabha constituency in the general election in India, it is mostly a State in the U.S. presidential election.

2)In 48 States and DC, the candidate winning most votes in a State receives all of that State’s electors; Nebraska and Maine are further divided in congressional districts.

3) The U.S. ‘Electoral College’ has 538 electors, where an absolute majority of at least 270 electoral votes is required to win the election. Each State gets two electoral votes for its two U.S. Senators, and one more vote for each of its members in the House of Representatives. California has the maximum electors (55), while Alaska has only three electoral votes. And the Twenty-third Amendment, ratified in 1961, grants the District of Columbia the same number of electors as the least populous State.

4) Consequently, individual citizens in less populated States have proportionately more voting power than those in more populous States. Dividing the estimated population of the U.S. in 2019, obtained by the U.S. Census Bureau, i.e. 328,239,523, by the total electoral votes (i.e. 538), one electoral vote corresponds to every 610,111 people, on an average.

5) However, remarkable variation exists between the States. Florida and Wyoming (with 29 and 3 electoral votes, and population figures of 21,477,737 and 578,759, respectively) have 740,612 and 192,920 people per electoral vote, respectively. Thus, while an average person of Florida has 82.4% clout of an average American in the Electoral College, an average person of Wyoming has 316.3%.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider following with reference to ‘Swing States’ in USA President election results (2020) :

1) It is widely observed that most of the States in the U.S. have voted for the same party, the Republicans or the Democrats, in the most recent elections. However, some States occasionally ‘swing’ from one party to another..

2) Thus, the key election strategy is to fix the campaign plan accordingly. For obvious reasons, there is not much point of desperate campaigning in States heavily inclined towards favouring either party.

3) The list of ‘swing States’ certainly changes over time. In 2020, States such as Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Iowa feature prominently in this list. However, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa were not among the most competitive States according to a pre-election analysis of 2016

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider following with reference to North-East Monsoon (2020) :

1) The southwest monsoon’s withdrawal heralds the advent of north-easterly winds that bring in the northeast monsoon to parts of peninsular Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

2) While significant to the agriculture there, the northeast monsoon contributes 10%-12% of India’s annual rainfall, against the southwest monsoon’s 75%-80%.

3) That, and its limited geographic spread has meant that the northeast monsoon is not showered with as much research attention. However, studies show that northeast monsoon rainfall displays significant variation and climate models are fairly inaccurate in their forecasts of its unfolding over the subcontinent

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider following with reference to South-West Monsson and LPA (2020) :

The southwest monsoon 2020 has officially drawn to an end with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declaring a withdrawal of the associated winds and rainfall pattern from India on Wednesday. The over 8% surplus this year has surpassed the IMD’s estimates. For the first time since 2010, India got more than 100% of its long period average (LPA) of 88 cm in consecutive years. In 2019 year, the country saw record rainfall of 110% of the LPA, the highest in a quarter century

1) India has never got over 105% of the LPA in consecutive years in at least 30 years, according to records available since 1988 on the IMD website. Meteorologists often speak of two or three decade ‘epochs’ of rainfall variation. Since 2000, India was in a low patch with several drought years and had barely a handful of above normal or excess rainfall. In that light, the two years of a munificent monsoon could signal a possible return to a rainy epoch. While it could mean more rain, it also implies floods, overflowing dams, landslides and loss of lives.

2) Moreover, surplus rains are not evenly distributed in time and space. Therefore, much like there are attempts to improve flood forecast warnings — especially the short-term ones — there ought to be commensurate efforts by authorities and infrastructure agencies to prepare for the environmental and ecological impact of excess rain.

3) In 2020 year the IMD undertook a long-due revision of the onset and withdrawal dates of the monsoon in India. By this reckoning, the monsoon’s normal withdrawal date was October 15. Historically, this has always been a statistical average and the actual withdrawal is usually within a few days of this. However, this year the withdrawal has been extremely delayed

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider following with reference to Aegean Sea :

1) The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans and Anatolia

2) Fourteen people were killed in Turkey and Greece after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on 30.10.2020, bringing buildings crashing down and setting off tidal waves which slammed into coastal areas and islands.

3) People ran onto streets in panic in the Turkish city of Izmir

4) In Greek island of Samos also walls collapsed

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

21)Consider following with reference to China (2020 ) 14^th Five Year Plan :

1) China’s ruling Communist Party concluded a key annual conclave outlining new long-term targets for boosting innovation and military strength, eyeing what it called “an important strategic period” for fulfilling its ambitions at home and abroad.

2) A lengthy communique issued in Beijing followed the four-day plenum of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Committee, which ended in October,2020, announced three goals to be achieved by 2025, 2027 and 2035 — a 14th five-year plan (2021-2025)

3) It emphasised boosting domestic consumption and innovation, a national security and defence modernisation plan ahead of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) centennial in 2027, and a ‘Vision 2035’ longer-term economic blueprint that calls for “big leaps” in economic strength and technological prowess

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider following with reference to 15^th Finance Commission :

The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted on November 27, 2017, against the backdrop of the abolition of the Planning Commission and the distinction between Plan and non-Plan expenditure, and introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

1) Three years after it was constituted, the Fifteenth Finance Commission has finalised its report for fund devolution from the Centre to States for the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.(October,2020 news)

2) Although its original remit was to recommend the fund-sharing formula between the Centre and States from 2020-21 to 2024-25, the commission’s term was extended by 11 months. In 2019 year, the government had requested the Commission to submit an initial report just for the year 2020-21.

3) That report had pared the States’ share of the divisible tax pool from 42%, as recommended by the Fourteenth Finance Commission, to 41%, citing the creation of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider following with reference to Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tirunelveli district (Tamil Nadu ) :

1) KMTR was declared a tiger reserve in 1988, the first in Tamil Nadu. It has been identified as a Type-I tiger conservation unit representing the tropical moist evergreen forests. It also forms part of the inter-State Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve, declared one of the plant diversity centres by UNESCO.

2) It was also declared the Regional Centre of Endemism in the Indian subcontinent. There are 2,255 species of Angiosperms so far recorded from the KMTR, including 448 species endemic to the Western Ghats, in addition to 150 species that are strictly endemic to the Agasthiyarmalai,

3) One has to cross the Papanasam checkpoint and reach the Mundanthurai plateau and thereon travel to Servalar and the Karaiyar dam inside the core.

4) The 30-km ‘katcha’ road connecting the border with Kerala through the dense jungle would usually be maintained to ensure the movement of the vehicles of KMTR officials to reach the spots within the shortest possible time.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider following with reference to Roshni Act :

The J&K government in October,2020 decided to declare all the actions taken under the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001, also known as the Roshni Act, under which 20 lakh kanals of land was to be transferred to existing occupants, as “null and void”, and has decided to retrieve the land within six months.

1) The J&K government has decided to implement the High Court order, where it declared the Jammu and Kashmir State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001 as amended from time to time as unconstitutional, contrary to law and unsustainable

2) The Roshni Act, enacted during Farooq Abdullah’s regime, aimed at earning ₹25,000 crore by transferring 20 lakh kanals of State land to existing occupants against payment at market rates

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider following with reference to Seaplane Service : (November,2020 news)

1) The country’s first seaplane service between the Statue of Unity near Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat and the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad

2) Mr. Modi had undertaken a similar ride from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi dam in Mehsana while campaigning for the Gujarat election in 2017.

3) The 19-seater seaplane will be used for flights between the two points as part of the regional connectivity scheme. Initially, the plane will make four trips a day.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider following with reference to e-resource centre, at Nagpur :

1) first ever e-resource centre and virtual court for traffic and transport to enable speedy justice for litigants, called ‘Nyay Kaushal’, at Nagpur.

2) The e-resource Centre at Nagpur is meant to be a step at mitigating various inequalities, being connected to the Supreme Court, the High Courts and the Taluka Courts.”

3) The centre will provide the easiest way of filing court matters by utilising technology. It will provide benefits in saving time, avoidance of exertion, travelling long distances, and a saving in costs. The virtual court can deal with all traffic challan cases from every corner of Maharashtra online. It will be possible for the litigants to pay the fine and get the traffic challan case disposed of with the click of a button. The virtual court will be working from Katol in Nagpur district.

4) Delhi was the first to start virtual traffic courts across India, with almost 27,00,000 challans received by the virtual courts, and ₹19.8 crore collected by the government online.”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider following with reference to 007 :

1) Sean Connery, the charismatic Scottish actor rose to international superstardom as the suave and fearless secret agent James Bond and then abandoned the role to carve out an Oscar-winning career in other rugged roles.

2) Connery continued as Bond in From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, often performing his own stunts. Diamonds Are Forever came out in 1971 and by then Connery had grown weary of playing 007 and feared he wasn’t being taken seriously despite his dramatic performances in Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie and Sidney Lumet’s The Hill.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider following with reference to Nagorno-Karabakh :

1) Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan

2) But has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in 1994

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider following with reference to D614G mutation :

1) When the virus enters an individual’s body, it aims at creating copies of itself. When it makes an error in this copying process, we get a mutation.

2) In this case, the virus replaced the aspartic acid (D) in the 614th position of the amino acid with glycine (G). Hence the mutation is called the D614G. This mutated form of the virus was first identified in China and then in Europe. Later it spread to other countries like the U.S. and Canada and was eventually reported in India.

3) The D614G mutation is situated in the spike protein of the virus

4) In simple words, this particular mutation aids the virus in attaching more efficiently with the ACE2 receptor in the human host, thereby making it more successful in entering a human body than its predecessors

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider following with reference to USA Geography :

1) States in the east coast region — New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island,

2) in the mid-west (like Illinois), the south (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware),

3) west coast (California, Oregon, Washington State),

4) mountainous west (Colorado, New Mexico),

5) Hawaii in the Pacific Island,

6) States in the deep south and the south — Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina; Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah in the mountainous west, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana in the mid-west,

7) Alaska in the Pacific.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider following with reference to USA and India agreements :

On October 27,2020 India and the U.S. signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) during the third 2+2 dialogue of defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. BECA is the fourth and the last of the foundational agreements that both countries have concluded,

1) starting with GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) in 2002,.

2) LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) in 2016,

3) COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018

4) The BECA enables exchange of geospatial information. Akin to a GPS that enables navigation, such exchange of geospatial information enhances the accuracy of a missile or the utility of a drone.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider following with reference to Nipah virus :

1) According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the zoonotic illness is “transmitted to people from animals,

2) It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person.”

3)In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider following with reference to Article 100 :

1) Bills are certified as Money Bills to bypass the Rajya Sabha even where they do not meet the specific description of Money Bills provided under Article 110

2). This Article identifies seven areas that can be governed through the enactment of Money Bills, including the imposition of tax, the regulation of borrowing and appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

3) Even when the result through voice votes are unclear, the exact number of “ayes” and “nays” are not always counted, suggesting that Bills may be passed without securing the majority vote required under Article 100. This issue arose most recently when the controversial farm laws were reportedly rushed and passed by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha despite objections by Opposition members.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider following with reference to NMP :

1) The government’s announcement of the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), a scheme to transfer the rights to operate public infrastructure for a fixed period, has received attention in the media.

2) Hopefully, in the skirmish over the details of the scheme, not to mention the partisan allegations flying around, the fact of the severe infrastructure deficit that India faces, and the imperative to address it, will not get overlooked. We need infrastructure not only to speed up growth in a slackened economy but also to lead a dignified life, even after we have seen off the COVID-19 pandemic

3) The important consideration in an evaluation of the NMP would be the volume of funds expected to be generated. The government has announced an indicative value of ₹6 lakh crore accruing over four years. This is extraordinarily low in relation to two comparators. First, it is only 10% higher than the budgeted capital expenditure of the Government of India actually for 2021-22. Next, see it in relation to the figure of ₹100 lakh crore estimated as the infrastructural investment India needs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider following with reference to Panjshir valley :

1) Few in Panjshir, a rugged valley north of Kabul that held out for nearly a decade against the Soviet Union’s occupation

2) It is also the Taliban’s first rule from 1996-2001, seem to trust their promises.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider following with reference to Guinea :

1) Guinea — one of the world’s poorest countries despite boasting significant mineral resources — has long been beset by political instability.

2) impoverished west African nation

3) Capital : Konacry

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider following with reference to Platform work :

1) The Code on Social Security Bill, 2020, for the first time in Indian law, attempted to define ‘platform work’ outside of the traditional employment category..

2) It says: “Platform work means a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems or to provide specific services or any such other activities which may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment

3) While the long overdue move to recognise platform work has been made, the Code has drawn criticism from platform workers’ associations for failing to delineate it from gig work and unorganised work. A categorical clarification could ensure that social security measures are provided to workers without compromising the touted qualities of platform work: flexibility and a sense of ownership

4) Platform workers were responsible for delivery of essential services during the pandemic at great personal risk to themselves. They have also been responsible for keeping platform companies afloat despite the pandemic-induced financial crisis.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider following with reference to National Investment Pipeline (NIP) :

1) NIP is a part of the Government of India’s initiative to provide world class infrastructure to its citizens and enhance the ease of living .

2) NIP was launched with 6,835 projects , which is now expanded to more than 7,300 projects

3) Ministries were also asked to update the National Infrastructure Pipeline dashboard regularly to allow seamless online monitoring.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider following with reference to border districts of Gujarat, sharing borders with Pakistan

1) Kutch (Dhordo village )

2) Banaskantha

3) Patan

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider following with reference to AIPA :

The year 2021 would mark the beginning of implementation of the Paris Agreement and constitution of AIPA is central to strengthening the national systems and institutional arrangements for implementation and monitoring of climate actions. It will also ensure that India maintains its climate leadership as one the few countries in the world whose climate actions are consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

1) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has constituted a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) under the chairmanship of Secretary, MoEFCC.

2) The purpose of AIPA is to generate a coordinated response on climate change matters that ensures India is on track towards meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

3) Another key function of AIPA would be to operate as a National Authority to regulate carbon markets in India under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, formulate guidelines for consideration of projects or activities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanism, and other similar instruments that have a bearing on climate change and NDCs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider following with reference to Millets :

1) Millet is a common term to categorize small-seeded grasses that are often termed nutri-cereals, and includes Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Ragi, Small Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Barnyard Millet, Kodo Millet and other millets..

2) Millets are the cereal crops generally small-seeded and known for high nutritive value.

3) Increasing interest in reviving the consumption of millets across various countries is favoring the growth prospects of this product in recent years within the country and for exports as well

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider following with reference to PM-KUSUM :

Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE), after consultation with state governments, has decided to issue Guidelines for Implementation of Feeder Level Solarisation under Component-C of PM-KUSUM Scheme. The Scheme consists of three components..

1) The Component-A includes installation of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants,

2) Component-B includes installation of standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps

3) Component-C includes Solarisation of Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider following with reference to Koilwar bridge :

1) It is the three lane 1.5 km long Koilwar bridge over Sone river in Bihar and inaugurated through Video Conferencing . A sum of Rs 266 crore has been spent on the bridge. The existing two lane bridge for both rail and road traffic is 138 years old.

2) A six-lane bridge is being made in its place, of which, a three-lane carriageway has been opened for public. After completion of the other carriageway, the traffic on NH-922 and NH-30 will ease substantially.

3) The bridge is major road for transport between Bihar and UP.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider following with reference to Indo-Gangetic Plains :

Scientists have found that aerosols like black carbon and dust, which makes the Indo-Gangetic Plain one of the most polluted regions of the world, have led to increased incidents of high rainfall events in the foothills of the Himalayan Region.

1) The Indo-Gangetic Plainis located South and upwind of the Himalayan foothills.

2) The region is associated with high aerosol loading, much of which is black carbon and dust, and thus provides an opportunity for studying how aerosol affects extreme rainfall events, particularly when air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain technically called orographic forcing

3) The results of the study indicate that aerosols can play a vital role in exciting high precipitation (HP) events over the Himalayas during the monsoon season. Thus, aerosols, including chemistry, are essential to consider when forecasting HP events over the Himalayan region in regional modelling studies.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider following with reference to mRNA vaccines :

1) The mRNA vaccines do not use the conventional model to produce immune response. Instead, mRNA vaccine carries the molecular instructions to make the protein in the body through a synthetic RNA of the virus..

2) The host body uses this to produce the viral protein that is recognized and thereby making the body mount an immune response against the disease. mRNA-based vaccines are scientifically the ideal choice to address a pandemic because of their rapid developmental timeline. The mRNA vaccine is considered safe as is non-infectious, non-integrating in nature, and degraded by standard cellular mechanisms. They are expected to be highly efficacious because of their inherent capability of being translatable into the protein structure inside the cell cytoplasm.

3) Additionally, mRNA vaccines are fully synthetic and do not require a host for growth, e.g., eggs or bacteria. Therefore, they can be quickly manufactured in an inexpensive manner under cGMP conditions to ensure their “availability” and “accessibility” for mass vaccination on a sustainable basis

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider following with reference to Himagiri Project 17A :

1) Himgiri’, the first of the three Project 17A ships being built at M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata was launched

2) Project 17A has upheld India’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat. P17A ships have been indigenously designed by Directorate of Naval Design (Surface Ship Design Group) – DND(SSG), and are being built at indigenous yards namely MDL and GRSE

3) P17A ships are the first gas turbine propulsion and largest combat platforms ever built at GRSE.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider following with reference to Role of India Ocean Circulation (Barotropic wave) and its interactions with atmospheric circulations (MJO) :

1) Changes in sea level may be attributed either to barotropic (involving the entire water column) or baroclinic processes (governed by stratification).

2) It has been widely accepted that barotropic sea level changes in the tropics are insignificant at intraseasonal time scales (periods of 30–80 days).

3) The origin of this variability is linked to a small patch of wind over the Eastern Indian Ocean, associated with boreal winter Madden–Julian Oscillations (MJO). These large fluctuations are likely to play a prominent role in the intraseasonal sea level and mass budgets. Because of their much faster propagation than baroclinic processes, they allow the basin to adjust to climatic perturbations much more rapidly than was previously thought.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider following with reference to E20 fuel :

1) adoption of E20 fuel, i.e, blend of 20% of ethanol with gasoline, as an automotive fuel and for the adoption of mass emission standards for this fuel

2) development of E20 compliant vehicles

3) It will also help in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, etc. It will help reduce the oil import bill, thereby saving foreign exchange and boosting energy security.

4)The compatibility of the vehicle to the percentage of ethanol in the blend of ethanol and gasoline shall be defined by the vehicle manufacturer and the same shall be displayed on the vehicle by putting a clearly visible sticker.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider following with reference to Mission Purvodaya in Steel Sector :

1) ‘Mission Purvodaya’ in steel sector wherein he had stressed driving the growth of eastern India through creation of integrated steel hub and adding significantly to the country’s steel making capacity.

2) Both IISCO and Durgapur steel plants of SAIL have an important role to play in the development of the eastern region as well as the nation

3) SAIL’s IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) and Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP) situated in Burnpur and Durgapur at West Bengal.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider following with reference to PNG :

1) About 1644 of Industrial Units spread across 50 industrial areas in Delhi had been identified to switch over to Piped Natural Gas (PNG).

2) Though sizeable number of Industries are using PNG, the Commission stressed the need to switch over to PNG by all identified Industries in Delhi considering the fact that industrial sector is one of the major contributors to air pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region

3) Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) were impressed upon to complete the pipeline network, metering and associated infrastructure.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider following with reference to Article 51 A (h) of Constitution of India :

1) Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution which states that it is the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform, stressing how the solution to many problems of the modern world lie in science.

2) It deals with Fundamental Duties of citizens of India

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider following with reference to advanced Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility :

1) The state-of-the-art HWT Test facility is pressure vacuum driven enclosed free jet facility having nozzle exit diameter of 1 meter and will simulate Mach No 5 to 12 (Mach represents the multiplication factor to the speed of sound).

2) After USA and Russia, India is the third country to have such a large facility in terms of size and operating capability.

3) It is an indigenous development and an outcome of synergistic partnership with Indian industries. The facility has the capability to simulate hypersonic flow over a wide spectrum and will play a major role in the realization of highly complex futuristic aerospace and defence systems.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider following with reference to the well Asoknagar-1, Bengal Basin :

1) ONGC took a major step by commencing oil production from the well Asokenagar-1, Bengal Basin in 24 Paragana district.

2) The well Asoknagar-1 was completed as an oil producer under Early-Monetization Plan issued by Government of India. This makes ONGC having discovered and put to production seven out of the eight producing basins of India covering 83 percent of established oil & gas reserves. ONGC is India’s largest oil and gas producer contributing 72 percent of the country’s hydrocarbon production

3) The well Asokenagar-1 has heralded the end of painstaking search for hydrocarbons in the region by ONGC by sending its first hydrocarbon consignment produced during well testing to IOCL’s Haldia Oil Refinery done earlier on 5 November 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider following with reference to Consumer Protection Act,2019 :

1) The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which has replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 were notified in July, 2020. The relevant Rules and Regulations, including the E-Commerce Rules, which specify the duties and obligations of sellers and e-commerce entities were also notified.

2) With the notification of rules, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class has become functional

3) In pursuance of Rule 8 of the Consumer Protection (Consumer disputes Redressal Commission) Rules, 2020, an online portal has been launched on September 7, 2020 for electronic filing of consumer cases in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider following with reference to ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha :

1) MOPSW has recently successfully implemented one of such ferry routes by deploying RoPAX vessel ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha.

2) This ferry service has reduced the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km and travel time from 10 to 12 hours to about 5 hours.

3) This will result in huge savings of fuel (approx. 9000 litres per day)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider following with reference to Dhokra products / style metal works :

1) Dhokra is a non-ferrous metal casting style which uses the lost-wax technique. This style of metal casting has been in vogue in all parts of India for centuries.

2) The dhokra products reflect the simplicity and motifs of tribal and folk life and make for excellent gifting options.

3) Hence they are popular both in India and abroad.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider following with reference to CoWIN :

1) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) along with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced the launching of “CoWIN”, a Grand Challenge for strengthening the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) system, a digitalised platform to be used to effectively roll out and scale up the mechanism for COVID Vaccine Distribution System, nationally

2)National Health Authority, Aarogya Sethu, CSC, DigiLocker,UMANG ae partners of it .

3) Fastest tech platform globally

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider following with reference to FIDF :

India is the second largest fish producing country in the world accounting for 7.56% of global production and contributing about 1.24% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and over 7.28% to the agricultural GVA.Fisheries and aquaculture continue to be an important source of food, nutrition, income and livelihood to millions of people. Export earnings from the Fisheries sector has been Rs.46,662.85 crores during 2019-20. The sector provides livelihood support to about 280 lakh people at the primary level and almost twice the number along the value chain and the annual average growth rate in the Fisheries sector has been 7% over the last few years

1) The Union Government in its Budget 2018 has set aside Rs. 7,550crore for setting up of a dedicated Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The fund has the potential to benefit over 4 million marine and inland fishers especially women, SHGs, weaker sections, due to availability of modern infrastructure and added value of produce.

2) The Fund would be created in collaboration with NABARD, NCDC and Specified commercial banks. National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) will be the Nodal Implementing Agency for overall coordination of the FIDF activities. FIDF is expected to generate both direct and indirect employment opportunities to around 9.40 lakh persons in fishing and allied activities.

3) The fund would (i) fill the large infrastructure gaps in fisheries sector, (ii) create employment opportunity to the rural population in fishing and allied activities, (iii) contributes towards enhancement of fish production and productivity, (iv) offers manifold benefits and (v) fulfill the requirements of tapping the full fisheries potential and achieving the vision given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for doubling farmers’ income.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider following with reference to DTH :

Approval is given for the proposal for revision of the guidelines for obtaining license for providing Direct-To-Home (DTH) broadcasting service in India.

1) License for the DTH will be issued for a period of 20 years in place of present 10 years. Further the period of License may be renewed by 10 years at a time.

2) License fee has been revised from 10% of GR to 8% of AGR. AGR will be calculated by deduction of GST from GR.

3) DTH operators shall be permitted to operate .to a maximum of 5% of its total channel carrying capacity as permitted platform channels. A one-time non-refundable registration fee of Rs.10,000 per PS channel shall be charged from a DTH operator.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider following with reference to Tso Kar Wetland Complex :

1) India has added Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as its 42nd Ramsar site, which is a second one in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.

2) The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies, Startsapuk Tso, a freshwater lake of about 438 hectares to the south, and Tso Kar itself, a hypersaline lake of 1800 hectares to the north, situated in the Changthang region of Ladakh, India. It is called Tso Kar, meaning white lake, because of the white salt efflorescence found on the margins due to the evaporation of highly saline water.

3) The Tso Kar Basin is an A1 Category Important Bird Area (IBA) as per Bird Life International and a key staging site in the Central Asian Flyway. The site is also one of the most important breeding areas of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in India. This IBA is also the major breeding area for Great Crested Grebe (Podicepscristatus), Bar-headed Geese (Anserindicus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadornaferruginea), Brown-headed Gull (Larusbrunnicephalus), Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadriusmongolus) and many other species.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

61)Consider following with reference to Ramsar List and Wetlands :

1)The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits”.

2) Wetlands provide a wide range of important resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, erosion control and climate regulation.

3) Wetlands are, in fact a major source of water and our main supply of freshwater comes from an array of wetlands which help soak rainfall and recharge groundwater.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider following with reference to 13 Water – quality parameters under Jal Jeevan Mission :

Water quality testing is one of the priority areas under Jal Jeevan Mission, the flagship programme of Union Government. The aim of the innovation challenge is to ensure that water sources are tested at various locations, at different levels; thereby, helping the policy framers to design programs which address the water contamination issues.

1)pH value 6.5 to 8.5 ; TDS : 500 mg/litre ; Turbidity – 1 NTU ; Chloride 250 mg/ltr

2)Total alkalinity 200 mg/ltr ; Total hardness 200 mg/ltr ; Sulphate 200 mg/ltr

3) Iron 1.0 mg/ltr ; Total arsenic 0.01 mg / ltr ; Fluoride 1.0 mg/ltr ; Nitrate 45 mg/ltr

4)Total coliform bacteria & E.coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria – Not detectable in

Any 100 ml sample

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider following with reference to Jammu-Kashmir Ayushman Bharat-SEHAT Scheme :

1) everybody in the state gets free treatment of Rs. 5 lakhs under this scheme,

2) after the SEHAT scheme, the same benefit will be available to about 21 lakh families.

3) There are more than 24,000 hospitals across the country where you will be able to get treatment under the SEHAT scheme.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider following with reference to NMPB :

In the first phase NMPB consortia proposed for medicinal plant species

1) Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Pippali (Piper longum),

2) Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii),

3) Satavari (Asparagus racemosus).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider following with reference to program BEAMS(Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services). :

1) The introduction of BEAMS program in 10 coastal states have resulted into international level of cleanliness at beaches with over 500 tonnes of solid waste collected, recycled and scientifically disposed at these beaches reducing the menace of marine litter by over 78% and marine plastic by over 83%.

2) Approximately 11000 KL of water was saved by recycling & reuse with BEAMS program, which has resulted into an increase in footfall at these beaches by over 85% cumulative.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider following with reference to the beaches where the International Blue Flags were hoisted are:

1) Kappad (Kerala), Shivrajpur (Gujarat),

2) Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh),

3) Golden (Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

4)The Flags were also simultaneously hoisted on these beaches physically by state ministers and senior officials of the respective state and Union territories.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider following with reference to Tribes in India :

1) Patelia tribe from Madhya Pradesh

2) Vasava tribes of Gujarat

3) Kharwar and Oraon tribes of Jharkhand; AdimJanjati tribes and Lohra tribes of Jharkhand.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider following :

Government is focussing on the five wheels

1) highways,

2) railways, airways,

3) waterways and i-ways

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider following with reference to electoral bearer bonds :

1) Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person (as defined in item No. 2 (d) of Gazette Notification), who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.

2) Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.

3) The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorised Bank

4) The State Bank of India (SBI), in the XV Phase of sale, has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorised Branches (as per list enclosed) w.e.f. 01.01.2021 to 10.01.2021.

5) The Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider following with reference to Ramayan Cruise Tour :

1) Ramayan Cruise Tour’ on the Saryu river in Ayodhya will be launched . Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways chaired a review meeting for the implementation of cruise service.

2) It will be the first-ever luxury Cruise service on the Saryu river (Ghagra/National Waterways-40) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

3) It aims to give mesmerizing experience to devotees with one-of-its-kind spiritual journeys while cruising through the famous ghats of the holy river Saryu.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider following with reference to Willingdon island :

1) Cochin is a major port in India, and Willingdon Island is a landmark.

The Island is connected to the mainland by Venduruthy Bridge, which has road and railway links. There are two railway stations on the Island – the Mattancherry Halt and the Cochin Harbour Terminus.

3) The headquarters of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy is located on the island

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider following with reference to Sagarmala Programme :

1) The vision of the Programme is to reduce logistics cost of EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment.

2) This includes reducing the cost of transporting domestic cargo; lowering logistical cost of bulk commodities by locating future industrial capacities near the coast; improving export competitiveness by developing port proximate discrete manufacturing clusters, etc.

3) The Sagarmala programme has identified 504 projects under four pillars – 211 port modernization projects, 199 port connectivity projects, 32 port-led industrialization projects and 62 coastal community development projects which can unlock the opportunities for port-led development and are expected to mobilize more than Rs. 3.57 Lac Cr of infrastructure investmen

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider following with reference to peaceful users of outer space :

1) remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellitebased navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology.

2) remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication; satellite navigation; space science and exploration of outer space.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider following with reference to Ayushman Bharat :

Ayushman Bharat comprises of two component

The first component pertains to creation of 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) by upgrading the Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and rural and urban Primary Health Centres (PHCs), in both urban and rural areas, which will bring health care closer to the community.

2) The second component is the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider following with reference to eSanjeevani :

1) The National Telemedicine Service “eSanjeevani” is a digital health initiative of the Ministry supports two types of teleconsultation services-Doctor-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani) and Patient-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani OPD) Tele-consultations.

2)eSanjeevani was rolled out in November 2019 as an important component of the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWCs) programme

3) It aims to implement tele-consultation in all the 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres in a ‘Hub and Spoke’ model, by December 2022. NHM in States identify and set up dedicated ‘Hubs’ in Medical Colleges and District hospitals to enable tele-consultations services to ‘Spokes’, set up at SHCs and PHCs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider following with reference to RTM & GTAM :

1) Two new products in Power Exchange were launched – Real Time Market (RTM) and Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM).

2) RTM was launched from 01.06.2020 enabling Discoms and other buyers to procure power nearer to delivery time.

3) GTAM was launched from 21.08.2020 enabling procurement of renewable power from the Power Exchanges.

4)The introduction of Green Markets on the Power Exchanges will facilitate achievement of green energy targets in a most efficient and cost optimized manner

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider following with reference to Kasturi Cotton India :

1) Branding of Indian cotton was initiated by Ministry of Textiles for the first time at national level for quality consciousness and building image of Indian cotton at Global level.

2) In this endeavor, Brand name and logo for Indian cotton was launched on 7^th October 2020 on the occasion of World Cotton Day as “KASTURI COTTON INDIA” to attain the objective of making India Atmanirbhar and vocal for local in the field of cotton.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider following with reference to Coal Bed Methane(CBM) :

1) It means a natural gas trapped in a coal seam. Coal bed Methane (CBM), an unconventional source of natural gas is now considered as an alternative source for augmenting India’s energy resource

2) India has the fifth largest proven coal reserves in the world and thus holds significant prospects for exploration and exploitation of CBM.

3) In order to harness CBM potential in the country, Government has undertaken several initiatives including the CBM policy.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider following with reference to Surface Coal Gasification :

1) India has a reserve of 289 Billion tonnes of non-coking coal and about 80% of coal produced is used in thermal power plants. Coal gasification is considered as cleaner option as compared to burning of coal and utilises the chemical properties of coal.

2) Syn Gas produced from Coal gasification can be utilised in producing Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), energy fuel (methanol & ethanol), production of urea for fertilisers and production of Chemicals such as Acetic Acid, Methyl Acetate, Acetic Anhydride, DME, Ethylene and Propylene, Oxo chemicals and Poly Olefins.

3) These products will help in import substitution and help the mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider following with reference to One District One Product ( ODOP ) :

1) The Hon’ble PM’s clarion call of ‘Atmanirbhar’ to the nation in his address on the 74^thIndependence Day – August 15, 2020 explicitly emphasized that we as a nation must move on the path of value addition to our natural as well as human resources. DPIIT is working on the initiative of One District One Product to take this vision forward

2) OODP has been envisaged to be a transformational step forward realizing the true potential of a district, fuel economic growth and generate employment and rural entrepreneurship.

3) ODOP has already been implemented in some of the States (for example, UP). By scaling it up as a national movement, we can look at creating a pool of 739 products from 739 districts in India that can be regulated.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider following with reference to S.Q.A.A.F :

1) School Quality Assessment and AssuranceFramework (S.Q.A.A.F) , which was operationalized .

2) It would address the deficiency of the absence of a common scientific framework for dimensions like curricula, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices and governance process.

3) SQAAF will help in bridging this inequality.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider following with reference to N-DEAR :

1) National Digital Architecture i.e. N-DEAR is likely to play a major role in eradicating inequality in education and its modernization.

2) N-DEAR will act as a ‘super-connect’ between various academic activities in the same way as UPI interface revolutionized the banking sector.

3) The country is making technology like Talking Books and Audiobooks a part of education.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider following with reference to Vidyanjali 2.0 :

1) ‘Vidyanjali 2.0’ is like a platform for the country’s resolve of ‘Sabka Prayas’ with ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’

2) In this society, our private sector has to come forward and contribute to increasing the quality of education in government schools.

3) Vidyanjali portal (for facilitating education volunteers/ donors/ CSR contributors for school development).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider following with reference to Manasarovar Yatra Route :

1) The ongoing work on the Ghatibagarh-Lipulekh as part of the MansarovarYatra Route was affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. Required permission was obtained from the State Govt to recommence the work as it is critical to complete formation cutting before the monsoons.

2) Resources were mobilised and concentrated efforts to undertake formation cutting works was undertaken. This achieved initial connectivity of the road on 17 Apr 2020.

3) Link road to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (such road connected Kailash Mansarovar route to Lipulekh pass) was inaugurated on 08 May 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider following with reference to Passes and Roads in Mountains :

1)Razdhan Pass : Bandipur – Gurez Road

2) Zojila Pass : Srinagar – Leh Road

3) Rohtang Pass : Manali – Leh Road

4) Rimkhim Pass : Suman – Rimkhim Road

5)Niti Pass : Kurkuti – Niti Road

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider following with reference to ASIIM :

ASIIM through the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCFSC).

1). Ambedkar Social Innovation Incubation Mission (ASIIM)

2) It’s objectives include: To promote entrepreneurship among the SC Youth with special preference to Divyangs; To support (1,000) innovative ideas till 2024 through a synergetic work with the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) set up by Department of Science and Technology; to support, promote, hand-hold the start-up ideas till they reach commercial stage by providing liberal equity support; and To incentivise students with innovative mind-set to take to entrepreneurship with confidence

3) This initiative under VCF-SC will promote innovation in the SC youth and would help them to become job-givers from job-seekers; and would further give fillip to the ‘Stand Up India’ initiative of the Prime Minister.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider following with reference to NashaMukt Bharat (2020-21) :

1) NashaMukt Bharat: Annual Action Plan (2020-21) for 272 Most Affected Districts’ was e-launched by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on the occasion of “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

2) NashaMukt Bharat Annual Action Plan for 2020-21 would focus on 272 most affected districts and launch a three-pronged attack combining efforts of Narcotics Bureau, Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice and Treatment through the Health Dept..

3) The Action Plan has the following components: Awareness generation programmes; Focus on Higher Educational institutions, University Campuses and Schools; Community outreach and identification of dependent population; Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings; and Capacity Building Programmes for Service Provider

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider following with reference to Geographical Indication (GI) :

1) The Geographical Indication, which has been recognized by the World Trade Organization, is used to denote the geographical territory from where a product, be it an agricultural produce, natural product or manufactured, and also conveys assurance of qualities or attributes that are unique to that specific geographic region.

2) India became a signatory to this convention, when, as a member of the WTO, it enacted the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection Act), 1999, which came into effect from September 15, 2003.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider following pairs :

1) Aarogya Setu: contact tracing app, has been downloaded 16.71 crore times (Android, iOS and KaiOS) and has successfully predicted a large number of potential COVID-19 hotspots.

2) DigiLocker: the digital platform for issuance and verification of documents issued by Government and private departments, achieved 5.19 crore registered users; over 426 crore documents have been issued from 722 Issuer organisations.

3) UMANG : a mobile app (Android, iOS and KaiOS), is a unified platform aggregating major govt services (center, state and local bodies); 2084 services are available and the app is integrated with Aadhaar, DigiLocker, Payment Gateway etc.

4) Jeevan Pramaan : a biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners to submit their Digital Life Certificates (DLC) online, processed 4.31 crore DLCs till November 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider following with reference to 1000 Springs Inititive :

The ‘1000 Springs Initiative’ is a unique project of Springs Rejuvenation which aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities living in difficult and inaccessible part of rural areas in India.

1) It is an integrated solution around natural springs. It includes provision of infrastructure for piped water supply for drinking; provision of water for irrigation; community-led total sanitation initiatives; and provision for water for backyard nutrition gardens, generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the tribal people..

2) It is hoped that the learning and suggestions coming out of the consultation will be used for further expansion of the project

3) online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the Springs is available

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider following with reference to Ice Stupas in Ladakh :

Ladakh is characterised by distinct geographical and climatic features. It is known as a cold desert. With reducing precipitation, increasing average temperatures, and reduced glaciers to water the villages , some Himalayan villages are now slowly turning into ghost towns with abandoned but habitable houses and wasted agricultural land. This gives rise to three major modern issues of Ladakh relating to water scarcity, low indoor temperatures in buildings, and a shift from the original agrarian-based economy resulting into youth migration.

1) A unique way to solve water problems and livelihood problems through Action Research project in Ladakh has been initiated with SECMOL, Ladakh. 26 Ice stupas were built by Villagers and on an average 3 lakh liter water was stored in each such stupa for the winter season of 2019-20.

2) Through this project, anticipating villagers were able to conserve about 75 lakh litres of water during winters and eco-tourism activities like “1^st Ladakh Ice Climbing Festival” gave opportunity to the local youth to be indulged in eco-entrepreneurial ventures.

3) It will help in rrehabilitation of abandoned villages and can change economy of the village by solving water problem, plantation of trees and irrigation. The stupas are source of tourist attraction and plantation of trees through community participation and engaging local in Home Stay project will help in their economic upliftment. In 2 years,Ice Stupas would be established in 50 villages for drinking water and water irrigation required for agriculture and would go a long way in changing economy of the area.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider following with reference to Bharat Parv :

1) “Bharat Parv” is organized at the Gyan Path and Red Fort Ground, Delhi from 26^th to 31^st January 2020, as a part of the Republic Day Celebrations.

2) The theme of the Bharat Parv was ‘150 Years of Mahatma’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.

3) The main attractions during Bharat Parv 2020 included display of Republic Day tableaux, performance by Armed Forces Band, pavilion by State Governments/UTs and the line Ministries, food stalls, cultural performances, handicraft and handloom stalls, etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider following with reference to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) in collaboration with private sector which will boost “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. :

1) It is a historic decision to open up India’s Space sector for participation by private players. He said,

2) The decision to create Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) will provide a level playing field for private companies as well as Start-Ups.

3) The proposed range of space activities includes Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, Geospatial services, Satellite Constellation, Application products, etc,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider following with reference to Indian Antarctic expeditions :

The 40th expedition journey will be flagged off from Goa on January 5, 2021, with 43 members onboard. The chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovnin will make this journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 days. After leaving behind a team of 40 members, it would return to India in April 2021. On return, it will also bring back the winter team of the preceding trip.

1) The Indian Antarctic expeditions began in 1981. The first trip comprised of a team of 21 scientists and support staff led by Dr. S.Z. Qasim.

2) After a humble beginning, the Indian Antarctic programme has now credited to have built three permanent research base stations in Antarctica—named Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, and Bharati.

3) As of today, India has two operational research stations in Antarctica named Maitri and Bharati. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, manages the entire Indian Antarctic program.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider following with reference to Construction & Demolition (C&D) activities in National Capital Region :

Intensive drives were conducted by these agencies from 24.12.2020 to 31.12.2020 by constituting about 227 teams.

1) . These teams carried out surprise checks and inspections at more than 3000 C&D sites of which about 386 sites were found to be non-compliant with the various C&D Waste Management Rules / Guidelines and dust mitigation measures stipulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board. Further, an amount of approx. Rs.1.59 crore was levied as environment compensation against the defaulting agencies besides orders for stoppage of work at 12 locations

2) Compliance with respect to transportation of materials related to C&D activities was also seen by the inspecting teams. About 325 vehicles, not in conformance with guidelines related to transportation of C&D materials, were levied environment compensation charges of approximately Rs. 1.17 crore.

3) Such fortnightly drives are planned to be continued to enforce compliance of the C&D waste management rules and related guidelines to abate dust pollution from C&D sector, which contributes significantly to poor air quality in the National Capital Region

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider following with reference to GST Compensation : (January,2021 news)

10^thweekly instalment of Rs.6,000 crore to the States to meet the GST compensation shortfall, was released in January, 2021 . Out of this, an amount of Rs.5,516.60 crore has been released to 23 States and an amount of Rs.483.40 crore has been released to the 3 Union Territories (UT) with Legislative Assembly (Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir & Puducherry) who are members of the GST Council. The remaining 5 States, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim do not have a gap in revenue on account of GST implementation. Now, more than 50 percent of the estimated GST compensation shortfall has been released to the States & UT with Legislative Assembly.

1) The Government of Indiahad set up a special borrowing window in October, 2020 to meet the estimated shortfall of Rs.1.10 lakh crore in revenue arising on account of implementation of GST. The borrowings are being done through this window by the Government of India on behalf of the States and UTs. The borrowings have been done in 10 rounds

2) In addition to providing funds through the special borrowing window to meet the shortfall in revenue on account of GST implementation, the Government of India has also granted additional borrowing permission equivalent to 0.50 % of Gross States Domestic Product(GSDP)to the states choosing Option-Ito meet GST compensation shortfall to help them in mobilising additional financial resources. All the States have been given their preference for Option-I.

3) Permission for borrowing the entire additional amount of Rs.1,06,830 crore(0.50 % of GSDP) has been granted to 28 States under this provision

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider following with reference to PSA Oxygen Concentrator Plants :

1) Installation of PSA Oxygen Concentrator Plants in public health facilities is an important step to reduce the health facility’s dependence on the system of store and supply and to enable these facilities to have their own oxygen generation capacity

2) PSA : Pressure Swing Adsorption

3) Adequate and uninterrupted supply of oxygen is an essential pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of COVID -19, in addition to various other medical conditions where this need arises.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider following with reference to advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict(HWC) in the country. :

1) The advisory envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the section 11 (1) (b) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972..

2) Utilising add-on coverage under the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojna for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC and augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas are some key steps envisaged to reduce HWC

3) . Payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief within 24 hours of the incident to the victim/family

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider following with reference to Caracal :

1) Caracal, a medium size wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, included into the list of critically endangered species for taking up conservation efforts with financial support under Centrally sponsored Scheme-Development of Wildlife Habitat.

2) Now, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider following with reference to Avian Influenza (AI) :

Avian Influenza (AI) viruses have been circulating worldwide for centuries with four known major outbreaks recorded in the last century. India notified the first outbreak of avian influenza in 2006. Infection in humans is not yet reported in India though the disease is zoonotic. There is no direct evidence that AI viruses can be transmitted to humans via the consumption of contaminated poultry products

1) Some samples of crow from Kale Hanumanji Forest Nakka, Jaipur, Rajasthan found positive for H5N8 Avian influenza virus

2) . Implementing management practices that incorporate bio security principles, personal hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection protocols, as well as cooking and processing standards, are effective means of controlling the spread of the AI viruses.

3) In India, the disease spreads mainly by migratory birds coming into India during winter months i.e. from September – October to February – March. The secondary spread by human handling (through fomites) cannot be ruled out.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Set 21 (for GS Paper )

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Set No. 21 (Prepared on 8 .9.2021 )

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 21 (Prepared on 8 .9.2021 )

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider the following with reference to First Advance Estimates of GDP for 2020-21 :

The First Advance Estimates of GDP have been released in accordance with the release calendar of National Accounts.

1) The approach for compiling the Advance Estimates is based on Benchmark-Indicator method.

2) The sector-wise Estimates are obtained by extrapolation of indicators like (i) Index of Industrial Production (IIP) of first 7 months of the financial year, (ii) financial performance of Listed Companies in the Private Corporate sector available upto quarter ending September, 2020 (iii) 1^st Advance Estimates of Crop production, (iv) Accounts of Central & State Governments, (v) information on indicators like Deposits & Credits, Passenger and Freight earnings of Railways, Passengers and Cargo handled by Civil Aviation, Cargo handled at Major Sea Ports, Sales of Commercial Vehicles, etc., available for first 8 months of the financial year.

3) Projections for 2020-21 for Freight earnings of Railways, Passengers and Cargo handled by Civil Aviation, Cargo handled at major Sea Ports were also made available by the concerned agencies which were made use of in compilation of estimates of respective sectors.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider the following with reference to Cyclones :

1) NISARGA” crossed Maharashtra coast

2) Cyclone NIVAR crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts

3) Amphan : The Extremely Sever Cyclonic Strom struck the Indian coast affecting the States of West Bengal and Odisha on 20^thMay 2020. It crossed West Bengal and Bangladesh, with the speed of 155-165 Km/ hour gusting to 185km/hrs across the Sunderbans.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider the following with reference to CANI Project :

1) CANI project will be a game changer for the islanders and boost ease of living and e-Governance in the Islands, apart from giving impetus to the economy and raise standard of living of the Islanders

2) Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands(CANI) Submarine Optical Fibre Cable project connecting Mainland to Port Blair and further to SwarajDweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island and Rangat, were commissioned.

3) This High Speed Broadband connectivity project will enable delivery of fast and more reliable mobile and land telecom service at par with mainland India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

4)Consider the following with reference to Sukhet model :

The Sukhet model is an initiative by the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPAU) at Pusa in Samastipur district and the brainchild of Vice-Chancellor Ramesh Chandra Srivastava, a vermicompost enthusiast.

1) Sukhet model that allows them to get their LPG cylinders refilled every two months in exchange for cow dung and the farmyard waste.

2) It offers four-fold benefit to the villagers: it ensures a pollution-free environment at home, waste disposal, monetary assistance for LPG cylinders and availability of organic fertiliser to the local farmers.

3) Under the Sukhet model, two local workers visit households that have cattle to collect cow dung and farmyard waste and bring it to a vermicomposting yard.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider the following with reference to ChAdOx1 :

1) ChAdOx1 is a multi-purpose vaccine vector, meaning it can be customised to carry DNA from a wide variety of pathogens.

2) The version of ChAdOx1 that is used in the Covishield or AstraZeneca vaccine is the ChAdOx1 with a piece of spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

3) For the Nipah study, the scientists loaded a piece of glycoprotein from a Nipah virus strain found in Bangladesh, where annual outbreaks occur. This test vaccine for the purposes of the study was called ChadOx1 NiV.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider the following with reference to Food Emergency in Sri Lanka :

1) On August 30, 2021, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, using powers vested in the country’s Public Security Ordinance, declared Emergency regulations pertaining to the distribution of essential food items

2) The regulations sought to empower authorities to provide essential food items at a “concessionary rate” to the public by purchasing stocks of essential food items, including paddy, rice and sugar, at government-guaranteed prices, and prevent market irregularities and hoarding

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider the following :

Intense heat waves in southern Europe in July and August (2021)— described in Greece at the worst in decades — fuelled deadly wildfires in Turkey as well and blazes in Italy, France, and Balkan countries.

1) Greece’s center-right government has created a new Ministry to address the impact of climate change and named former European Union commissioner Christos Stylianides as Minister.

2) Mr. Stylianides, 63, who served as commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management between 2014 and 2019, was appointed in the wake of wildfires that burned more than 1,000 square km of forest on the island of Evia and in southern Greece.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider the following with reference to Labour Bureau has completed the process of updating the CPI-IW series to a more recent base period i.e. 2016=100.

1) A total of 88 centres have been covered in the new series of CPI-IW, which have been approved by the Standing Tripartite Committee (STC) of Ministry of Labour & Employment and Group of Technical Advisory Committee on Statistics of Prices and Cost of Living (TAC on SPCL).

2) In the new series of CPI-IW, a sample size of 48384 working class families belonging to existing 7 sectors (Factories, Mines, Plantation, Railways, Public Motor Transport Undertakings, Electricity Generation and Distribution, Ports and Docks) has been covered under the Working Class Family Income & Expenditure Survey and 18816 working class families belonging to these sectors have been covered under Repeat House Rent Survey.

3) Labour & Employment released the new series of Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) with base year 2016 . The new series will replace the existing series with base 2001 = 100.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider the following with reference to (IN-SPACe) :

1) Government has created a National Level Autonomous Nodal Agency namely Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under DOS as the enabling mechanism for private players to carry out Space Activities.

2) Till now, Department of Space has been approached by 26 Indian private industries seeking support for their space activities, spanning across the complete spectrum of space activities including developing launcher, building satellites, developing applications, establishing ground infrastructure.

3) Department of Space is extending every possible support to all the Indian industries in their space activities, including technical guidance, reviews, facility sharing, launch support etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider the following with reference to SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas)

1) Towards the objectives of socio-economic empowerment of the rural mass and making them self-reliant, a Central Sector Scheme, “Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas’ launched on 24^th April 2020.

2) The scheme aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages and issuance of property cards to the property owners.

3) In the Pilot phase, distribution of Property card/title deed has already commenced in all the six selected States. The scheme will cover all remaining States/UTs by 2023-24.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider the following with reference to Geo-tagging of assets

1) As a part of effective monitoring, it is imperative to have field-level monitoring of physical progress of the works. Further, supplementing to strengthening the system; geo-tagging of assets (on completion of work) is of utmost importance. Panchayatiraj Ministry has developed mActionSoft – a mobile based solution to help in capturing photos with Geo-Tags (i.e. GPS Coordinates) for the works which have asset as an output.

2) Geo-tagging of the assets is done in at least three stages viz. (i) before start of the work, (ii) during the work and (iii) on completion of work.

3) This would provide a repository of information on all works and assets related to natural resource management, water harvesting, drought proofing, sanitation, agriculture, check dams and irrigation channels etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider the following with reference to Garib Kalyan Yojana :

1) Government of India had launched GKRA in six States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to provide gainful employment to the migrant labourers who had returned to their native villages due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

2) As a part of the Abhiyan, Ministry of Panchayati Raj undertook facilitation of two activities namely, (i) ‘Construction of Gram Panchayat Bhawans’ and (ii) ‘Works under Central Finance Commission Grants.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider the following :

NCAVES India Forum 2021 is being organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The NCAVES Project, funded by EU, has been jointly implemented by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD

1) India is one of the five countries taking part in this project – the other countries being Brazil, China, South Africa and Mexico.

2) Another feather to the cap under the NCAVES project is the development of the India-EVL Tool which is essentially a look-up tool giving a snapshot of the values of various ecosystem services in the different States of the country, based on about 80 studies conducted across the country

3) . An additional benefit of this tool is that it provides a critical view on the literature that is available and the applicability of estimates spatially across India according to bio-geographical areas.

4) The Forum aims to build a stronger awareness about the different perspective to Environment and to show a way forward towards realizing the contribution of the natural capital to achieve a “better environment, better tomorrow”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider the following with reference to Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas :

1) On this very day in the year(9.1.1915) 1915, Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi Bharatiya, returned to India

2) . He gave a much wider base to our social reforms and freedom movement, and during the next three decades, he changed India in many fundamental ways

3) Before that, during his two decades of stay abroad, Bapu had identified the basic principles underlying the approach India should adopt for its growth and development.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider the following with reference to Aatma – Nirbhar Bharat :

Our vision of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat has five key pillars of Successful integration of all these factors will help achieve rapid growth and development., viz.,

1) economy, infrastructure,.

2) demography, democracy and

3) supply chains

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider the following :

As on 30thOctober, 2020 the total telephone connections rose to 1171.72 million out of which 1151.73 million are mobile connections.

1) The tele-density has reached 86.37%, while the rural tele-density is at 58.85%.

2) The number of Internet subscribers stood at 776.45 million at the end of September 2020, Total broadband connections have reached 726.32 million in September 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider the following with reference to BSNL & MTNL :

1) The Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) was implemented successfully. Total 92,956 employees of both PSUs (BSNL — 78569 and MTNL— 14387) who opted for VRS have retired on 31.01.2020..

2) The salary expenditure in BSNL and MTNL has reduced by around 50% (approx. RS. 600 crores per month) and 75% (approx, Rs. 140 crores per month) respectively.

3) EBIDTA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation) have become positive in first half of FY 2020-21 in both BSNL and MTNL

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider the following :

Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI).

1) The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across length and breadth of the country to accelerate proliferation of Broadband Internet services through Public Wi-Fi network in the country

2) This framework takes forward the goal of National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 (NDCP) of creating a robust digital communications infrastructure across India

3) . Proliferation of Broadband Services through public Wi-Fi is a step towards Digital India and consequential benefit thereon. This will encourage technology entrepreneurs to develop and deploy Wi-Fi technology solutions triggering Make in India

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider the following with reference to 5G technology :

1) The emerging 5G technology has the potential for major societal transformation in India by enabling massive expansion of digital products and services across all sectors.

2) In order to launch 5G services in India, DOT has setup indigenous 5G testbed, a consortium project led by IIT Madras and other leading institutions.

3) A 5G hackathon was also organized for development of India specific use cases. First 5G use case lab has been setup at Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDBRT), Hyderabad in financial sector.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider the following :

Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Protected Areas (PAs) has emerged as a key tool for PA managers and is increasingly being used by governments and international bodies to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the protected area management systems.

1)MEE is a very important document that provides valuable guidance on various aspects of wildlife and protected area expand MEE of Marine Protected Areas. A new framework for MEE of Marine Protected Areas has been also jointly prepared by WII and MoEF&CC and it will be very useful document to implement.

2) Declaration of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (NP&WLS) are the basis of protecting biodiversity, safeguarding ecosystem health and providing various ecosystem services; they store more than 15% of the global terrestrial carbon stock, help reduce deforestation, habitat and species loss, and support the livelihoods of over one billion people.

3) India’s major portion of biodiversity are being safeguarded as Protected Areas (PAs). India has systematically designated its PAs in four legal categories viz. National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and as per this Act, India have setup 903 formally designated PAs with the total coverage 1,65,012.65km2 (5.02% of the countries geographical area)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

21)Consider the following with reference to MEE :

The term ‘management effectiveness’ reflects three main themes of Protected Areas (PA) management:

1) Design issues relating to both individual sites and PA systems

2) The adequacy and appropriateness of management systems and processes

3) Delivery of the objectives of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (NP&WLS), including conservation of values.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider the following with reference to

Wildlife Sancturaries and States :

1) Trikuta (Vaishnov Devi) Wildlife Sanctuary : Jammu & Kashmir

2) Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary : Himachal Pradesh

3) Bir Motibagh Wildlife Sanctuary: Punjab

4) Nugu Wildlife Sanctuatry: Karnataka

5)Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary : West Bengal

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider the following with reference to Light House Projects (LHPs) :

Prime Minister in 2021 set the Nation on course of a new dawn in construction sector.

1) LHPs will serve as live laboratories for facilitating transfer of technology to the field and its further replication.

2) Mass use of these technologies from across the globe will bring speed, sustainability, resource efficiency, environment friendliness; disaster resilience, quality and durability in structures.

3) The LHPs with allied infrastructure facilities are being initiated at Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider the following with reference to e-Dharti Geo portal :

To ensure ease of living, bring transparency & accountability in the management of more than 60,000 properties, L&DO launched this portal

1). The portal provides all information related to a property includingdate of allotment, property status, plot area, date of execution of lease deed, details about present lessee, litigation status and map.

2) The certificatebeing provided by the L&DO will enable the lessee of the property to get basic details of his/her property alongwith map showing its location.

3) This measure will also help a prospective purchaser to ascertain the details of the property as well as any suit or proceeding is pending in respect of the property. This measure while benefitting the general public, particularly old aged, ailing and as well as women & widows, will also help in avoiding unnecessary litigations.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider the following with reference to Delimitation Commission :

After the enactment of Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019 the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two Union territories, viz. Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with Legislative Assembly and the Union Territory of Ladakh without Legislative Assembly. In terms of special provision as contemplated in Section 62 of said 2019-Act the readjustment of the constituencies in the successor Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir into Assembly Constituencies shall be carried out on the basis of 2011-census figures by a Delimitation Commission to be constituted under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002 as amended by said 2019-Act.

In pursuance of the mandate as contained in said 2019-Act and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 the Centre Government has constituted a Delimitation Commission vide notification published in the Gazette of India on 06^th March, 2020 for the purpose of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the ___________________.

1) States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,

2) Manipur

3) Nagaland

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider the following with reference to Khadi Prakritik Paint :

Cow dung is its main ingredient

1) Khadi Prakritik Paint is available in two forms – distemper paint and plastic emulsion paint.The project was conceptualized by Chairman KVIC in March 2020, and later developed by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur (a KVIC unit).

2) The paint is free from heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and others.

3) This technology will increase consumption of cow dung as a raw material for eco-friendly products and will generate additional revenue to farmers and gaushalas.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider the following with reference to Rooftop Solar Power Scheme :

1) To generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of the houses, Government of India is implementing Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase-II).

2) Under this scheme Ministry is providing 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW and 20% subsidy beyond 3 kW and upto 10 kW.

3) The scheme is being implemented in the states by local Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).

4) The solar panels and other equipment to be installed by the empanelled vendors shall be as per the standard and specifications of the Ministry and also includes 5-year maintenance of the rooftop solar plant by the vendor.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider the following with reference to ‘SAKSHAM’ :

1) ‘SAKSHAM’s idea is to convince consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and bring in behavioral change to use fossil fuel intelligently.

2) The key drivers include moving towards a gas-based economy, cleaner use of fossil fuels, greater reliance on domestic sources to drive bio-fuels, achieving renewable targets with the set deadlines, increased use of electric vehicles to decarbonize mobility, increased use of cleaner fuels like Hydrogen, and digital innovation across all energy systems.

3) All the energy companies are now part of the transition to fuels which are clean and leave very less carbon footprint

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider the following with reference to Connectivity to Nepal :

1) The section Jayanagar-Kurtha, 34.90 Km is a part of Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas rail (68.72 KM) project which has entirely been funded by Government of India.

2) As first phase of this project, the rail line from Jayanagar in Madhubani district, Bihar has been connected to Kurtha in Nepal and will be extended up to Bijalpura by March 2021.

3) Jayanagar is 4 Km from the India-Nepal border. This route has Janakpur, the famous pilgrim centre in Nepal which is 29 Kms from Jayanager.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider the following with reference to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) :

1) The MSW Processing Facility is developed for disposal of solid waste in a scientific way following the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM) 2016 prescribed by Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India.

2) The primary focus of CSIR-CMERI is to unburden the common households from the segregation responsibilities through advanced segregation techniques.

3) The mechanized segregation system segregates solid waste into metallic waste (metal body, metal container etc.), biodegradable waste (foods, vegetables, fruits, grass etc.), non-biodegradable (plastics, packaging material, pouches, bottles etc.) & inert (glass, stones etc.) wastes.

4) The bio-degradable component of the waste is decomposed in an anaerobic environment popularly known as bio-gasification. In this process biogas is liberated through conversion of organic matter. The biogas can be used as fuel for cooking purpose. The gas can also be utilized in gas engine for generation of electricity.

5) The residual slurry from biogas plant is converted to compost in a natural process known as vermi-composting by introducing earthworms. The vermi-compost is utilized in organic farming

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider the following with reference to Dimethyl ether (DME) which is an ultra-clean fuel & Aditi Urja Sanch :

CSIR-NCL has developed nation’s first kind of DME pilot plant with 20-24Kg/day capacity. The conventional LPG burner is not suitable for DME combustion as DME density is different than LPG. To address this issue, CSIR- NCL’s “ADITI URJA SANCH” has come up with a helpful, innovative setup. The new Burner is fully designed and fabricated by NCL for DME, DME -LPG blended mixtures and LPG combustion.

1) The newly designed stove can burn with up to 30 % DME blended with LPG or 100% DME as fuel. The air to fuel ratio is different for DME blended fuel to achieve optimum combustion and thermal performance.

2) A 20% DME blending with LPG, with fewer infrastructure changes, is expected to result in substantial savings annually. The DME from Methanol process developed by CSIR-NCL is producing 20-24 kg/ day.

3) This economical, cost-effective process will be scaled up to 0.5 Ton per day through CSIR-FTC project. CSIR-NCL plans under “Aditi UrjaSanch” to launch in future industrial burners for low emission, DME/ DME blended fuel for automobiles and stationery power.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider the following with reference to Phytorid Technology :

1) Phytorid is a subsurface mixed flow constructed wetland system developed and internationally patented by CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur with successful demonstration in the field for more than 10 years of continuous operation as a stand-alone sewage treatment system.

2) Phytorid is a self sustainable technology for wastewater treatment that works on the principle of natural wetland. It uses certain specific plants which can absorb nutrients directly from wastewater but do not require soil. These plants act as nutrient sinker and remover.

3) Using Phytorid Technology for the treatment of sewage, it is possible to recover and reuse the treated water for gardening purpose

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider the following with reference to Param Shivay and others :

The National Super Computing Mission (NSM) is rapidly boosting High-Performance Computing (HPC) in the country to meet the increasing computational demands of academia, researchers, MSMEs,and startups in oil exploration, flood prediction, genomics, and drug discovery.

1) Param Shivay, the first supercomputer assembled indigenously, was installed in IIT (BHU), followed by Param Shakti and Param Brahma at IIT-Kharagpur and IISER, Pune, respectively..

2) Thereafter facilities were set up in two more institutions, and MoUs signed for providing it to 13 institutions

3) Param Siddhi the high-performance computing-artificial intelligence (HPC-AI) achieved global ranking of 63 among the top 500 most powerful non-distributed computer systems.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider the following with reference to Anthurium :

1)Anthurium is one of the best domestic flowering plants in the world.

2) They are beautiful but also purify the surrounding air and remove harmful airborne chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens.

3) Its importance of removing toxic substances from the air, NASA has placed it in the list of air purifier plants.

4) Anthurium has larger economic importance because of its eye-catching and beautiful inflorescence and fetches a good market price.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider the following with reference to Biotechnology Industry Research Assistant Council (BIRAC) :

1) BIRAC has supported technology -driven 1500+ Entrepreneurs, Startups and SMEs; through various operational models of cooperation infusing INR 1144.77 Cr funds and mobilized INR 981.05 Cr funds through partnering with Public, Corporates, Philanthropic organizations at the national and international level to harness growth synergies for the of Ecosystem.

2) A network of 50 Bio-incubators has been built creating an Incubation space of 5,48,000+ sq. ft. with high-end infrastructure providing access to instrumentation, technical, IP, legal and business mentorship for biotech startups.

3) This has helped innovators to create a pool of intellectual wealth (225+ IP filed) and has supported in the launch of 150 product and technologies in the market

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider the following with reference to Biotech-KISAN :

1) The programme will lead to link the farmers with the latest scientific innovations with a view to enhance agricultural production and increasing farmers’ income.

2) The programme has introduced 200 interventions for the benefit of farming community and more than 25000 farmers have been benefitted so far.

3) Biotech-KISAN has created a platform in each of 15 agro-climatic zones of the country, which aims to connect farmers and scientists to promote Agriculture Innovation and take the new interventions to the farmers and farms. Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been established at pilot-scale level in all agro-climatic zones. The programme has now been scaled up and expanded its activities covering 105 Aspirational Districts in the country

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider the following with reference to COVAXIN :

Mission COVID Suraksha was announced with a provision of Rs. 900 Cr. to DBT for supporting development of a comprehensive ecosystem for enabling the development of a safe, efficacious and affordable vaccine for COVID-19

1) indigenously developed inactivated vaccine (COVAXIN) by Bharat Biotech International Ltd.(BBIL), in Bangladesh, is under consideration by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). DBT-BIRAC is facilitating the same.

2) MEA accorded ‘in principle’ approval for financial support for phase 3 trial of COVAXIN in Bangladesh by Bharat Biotech International ltd. (BBIL).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider the following with reference to India Innovation Index 2020 :

1) The India Innovation Index 2020 seeks to rank the states and union territories based on their relative performance of supporting innovation, and to empower them to improve their innovation polices by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses..

2) The ranking methodology is designed in a way that states can draw lessons from the national leaders in innovation. Hopefully, this will lead to a healthy competition among the states and union territories, thereby fostering competitive federalism

3) NITI Aayog released the second edition of the India Innovation Index 2020

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider the following with reference to Asset monetization :

1) Asset monetization is a stated objective of the Government and DIPAM is mandated to facilitate monetization of non-core public assets.

2) The monetization process is complex and requires close cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders. The meeting provided a platform for such an engagement.

3) The first consultative meeting on asset monetization was held here today, organized by Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in partnership with World Bank.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider the following with reference to Telecom Services Performances in India ( Teledensity) :

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,160.52 million at the end of Jun-20 to 1, 168.66 million at the end of Sep-20, registering a growth rate of 0.70% over the previous quarter. This reflects Year-On-Year (Y-O-Y) decline rate of 2.22% over the same quarter of the last year. The overall Tele-density in India also increased from 85.85% as in QE Jun-20 to 86.22% as in QE Sep-20.

1) Telephone subscribers in Urban areas increased from 636.83 million at the end of Jun-20 to 644.26 million at the end of Sep-20 and Urban Teledensity also increased from 137.35% to 138.25% during the same period.

2) Rural telephone subscribers increased from 523.69 million at the end of Jun-20 to 524.39 million at the end of Sep-20 however, Rural Teledensity remained same i.e. 58.96%, as it was during last quarter June, 2020.

3) Total number of Internet subscribers increased from 749.07 million at the end of Jun-20 to 776.45 million at the end of Sep-20, registering a quarterly growth rate of 3.66%. Out of 776.45 million internet subscribers, number of Wired Internet subscribers are 24.36 million and number of Wireless Internet subscribers are 752.09 million.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider the following with reference to Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) :

Adjusted Gross Revenue: The following shall be excluded from the Gross Revenue to arrive at the AGR:

1) PSTN related call charges (Access Charges) actually paid to other eligible/entitled telecommunication service providers within India;

2) Roaming revenues actually passed on to other eligible/entitled telecommunication service providers;

3) Service Tax on provision of service and Sales Tax actually paid to the Government if gross revenue had included as component of Sales Tax and Service Tax

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider the following with reference to Telecommunications in India :

1)Spectrum Usage Charge : Spectrum Usage Charge is payable by the licensees providing mobile access services, as a percentage of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).

2) Gross Revenue: Gross Revenue is inclusive of installation charges, late fees, sale proceeds of handsets (or any other terminal equipment etc.), revenue on account of interest, dividend, value added services, supplementary services, access or interconnection charges, roaming charges, revenue from permissible sharing of infrastructure and any other miscellaneous revenue, without any set-off for related item of expense etc.

3) ARPU per month is calculated by dividing net subscribers’ revenue by average number of subscribers

4) Broadband: Internet access with a minimum capacity of greater or equal 512 Kbit/s in one or both directions

5) Narrowband: Internet access with a capacity of less than 512 Kbit/s in one or both directions.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider the following with reference to Telecommunications /Teledensity (Wireless + Wireline ) (Period : July – September,2020) :

1) Teledensity in India : 86.22 % ( Wireless + Wire line )

2) Urban Teledensity in India : 138.25 %

3) Rural Teledensity in India : 58.96%

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider the following with reference to Winter Sports & Youth Festival 2021 :

1) Zanskar Winter Sports & Youth Festival 2021 started on 18th January and will take place till 30th January 2021. A host of outdoor activities are being organised in the picturesque Zanskar Valley of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

2) Organized by Ladakh Administration, the main attractions of the first-ever Zanskar Winter Sports & Youth Festival are Chadar trek, snow skiing, snow scooter and hiking, ice hockey, and others

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider the following with reference to Queen of Spices, small cardamom :

1) The Queen of Spices, small cardamom, is known the world over because of its pleasant aroma and taste.

2) Kerala is the largest producer of small cardamom in the country, with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka being other producers.

3) The export of small cardamom showed an upward trend during the first half of 2020-21, with a volume of 1900 MT valued at Rs 56.52 crores, registering an increase of 483 per cent in value terms and 369 per cent in quantitative terms.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider the following with reference to Emission reduction :

1) India has made significant progress towards climate change action & has already achieved 26% of reduction of emission intensity.

2) As of 2020 the renewable capacity in India stands at 90 GW which includes 36 GW of solar energy & 38 GW of wind energy. “

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider the following with reference to V-shaped recovery (Economic Survey Report 2020-21) :

1) As anticipated, while the lockdown resulted in a 23.9 per cent contraction in GDP in Q1, the recovery has been a V-shaped one as seen in the 7.5 per cent decline in Q2 and the recovery across all key economic indicators.

2) Starting July, a resilient V-shaped recovery is underway, as demonstrated by the recovery in GDP growth in Q2 after the sharp decline in Q1

3) A palpable V-shaped recovery in industrial production was observed over the year. Manufacturing rebounded and industrial value started to normalize. Indian services sector sustained its recovery from the pandemic driven declines with PMI Services output and new business rising for the third straight month in December.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider the following :

The Economic Survey 2020-21 presented by the Union Minster for Finance & Corporate Affairs states that online schooling took off in a big way during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1) Quoting the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2020 Wave-1 (Rural), released in October 2020, the Survey states that the percentage of enrolled children from government and private schools owning a smartphone increased enormously from 36.5 per cent in 2018 to 61.8 per cent in 2020 in rural India.

2) The Survey recommends that if utilized well, the resultant reduction in the digital divide between rural and urban, gender, age and income groups is likely to reduce inequalities in educational outcomes.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider the following with reference to :

The Economic Survey 2020-21 states that the years 2019 and 2020 are landmark years in the history of labour reforms, when the country saw the nearly 29 Central Labour laws being amalgamated, rationalized and simplified into four labour codes viz.:

1) the Code on Wages, 2019,

2) the Industrial Relations Code, 2020

3) the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

4) the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider the following with reference to Status of Employment , as per Economic Survey Report 2020-21 :

1) The Survey observed that the size of labour force in 2018-19 was estimated at about 51.8 crore persons: about 48.8 crore employed and 3.0 crore unemployed

2) The size of the labour force increased by about 0.85 crore between 2017-18 and 2018-19. Out of these, 0.46 crore were from urban sector and 0.39 crore were from rural sector.

3) The gender composition of the increase in the labour force comprised about 0.64 crore males and about 0.21 crore females. The size of the workforce increased by about 1.64 crore, of which 1.22 crore were in rural sector and 0.42 crore in urban sector. The gender composition was 0.92 crore females and 0.72 crore males.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider the following with reference to Industry-wise estimates on workforce, as per Economic Survey Report 2020-21 :

1) about 21.5 crore persons are employed in ‘Agriculture’, which is still the largest employer with 42.5 per cent of workforce

2) Next important industry is ‘other services’ where about 6.4 crore persons (13.8 per cent) were engaged.

3) ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Trade, hotel & restaurants’ each employed about 5.9 crore persons with the share of nearly 12.1 per cent and 12.6 per cent respectively, while ‘Construction’ sector employed about 5.7 crore persons in 2018-19 with share of 12.1 per cent.

4)Employed persons have significantly increased in Agriculture, Manufacturing and Transport

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider the following with reference to India has emerged as one of the largest country for flexistaffing in the world. (Gig Economy) :

1) the gig economy have been popular amongst the workers in India.

2) The benefit of the gig economy is that it allows flexibility in employer-employee relationship to both service seeker and service provider.employm

3) During the period of COVID-19 induced lockdown, the increasing role of the gig economy was evident with significant growth of online retail business. The lockdown period also saw employers preferring ‘Work from home’ of their employees, cutting down on staff strength and engaging freelancers or outsourcing tasks to reduce overhead costs as well as to hire skilled services

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider the following with reference to Public spending on health care services :

1) The Economic Survey 2020-21 has strongly recommended an increase in public spending on healthcare services from 1 percent to 2.5-3 percent of GDP, as envisaged in the National Health Policy 2017.

2) It notes that this can significantly reduce the Out-of-Pocket-Expenditure (OOPE) from 65 per cent to 35 per cent of the overall healthcare spend..

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider the following with reference to Agricultural and allied exports :

The Ecnomic Survey notes that in 2019-20, India’s agricultural and allied exports amounted to approximately Rs. 252 thousand crores.

1) The major export destinations were USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal and Bangladesh.

2) While India occupies a leading position in global trade of aforementioned agri-products, its total agri-export basket accounts for a little over 2.5 per cent of world agri-trade.

The top agriculture and related products exported from India were marine products, basmati rice, buffalo meat, spices, non-basmati rice, cotton raw, oil meals, sugar, castor oil and tea.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider the following with reference to Bare Necessities Index (BNI) :

Economic Survey 2020-21 constructs a Bare Necessities Index (BNI) at the rural, urban and all India level. The BNI summarises 26 indicators on five dimensions viz., water, sanitation, housing, micro-environment, and other facilities. The BNI has been created for all States for 2012 and 2018 using data from two NSO rounds viz., 69th and 76th on Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in India.

1) Economic Survey says that the “basic needs” approach to economic development focuses on minimum specified quantities of basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, water and sanitation that are necessary to prevent ill health and under nourishment.

2) The Bare Necessities Index (BNI) is an attempt to quantify this approach to economic development using data from National Statistical Office (NSO).

3) It is created for all States/Union Territories by employing data at State Level.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider the following with reference to V-Shaped recovery path (2020-21) :

1) The Economic Survey 2020-21 has observed that in-spite of an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and consequential challenges, the industrial and infrastructure sector of Indian economy are on a fast V-shaped recovery path.

2) This strong V-shaped recovery of economic activity is further confirmed in the IIP data.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider the following with reference to XV Finance Commission Report (verticle devolution ) :

1) In order to maintain predictability and stability of resources, especially during the pandemic, XVFC has recommended maintaining the vertical devolution at 41 per cent – the same as in our report for 2020-21

2) It is at the same level of 42 per cent of the divisible pool as recommended by FC-XIV. However, it has made the required adjustment of about 1 per cent due to the changed status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into the new Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir

3) In XVFC’s assessment, gross tax revenues for 5-year period is expected to be 135.2 lakh crore. Out of that, Divisible pool (after deducting cesses and surcharges & cost of collection) is estimated to be 103 lakh crore.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider the following with reference to XVFC recommendation for health spending by States :

1) XVFC has recommend that health spending by States should be increased to more than 8 per cent of their budget by 2022.

2) Given the inter-State disparity in the availability of medical doctors, it is essential to constitute an All India Medical and Health Service as is envisaged under Section 2A of the All-India Services Act, 1951.

3) The total grants-in-aid support to the health sector over the award period works out to Rs. 1,06,606 crore, which is 10.3 per cent of the total grants-in-aid recommended by XVFC. The grants for the health sector will be unconditional.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider the following with reference to XVFC Terms of Reference and Commission was asked to recommended performance incentives for States in many areas .:

The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC)’s ToR was unique and wide ranging in many ways. What are they ?

1) power sector,.

2) adoption of DBT,

3) solid waste management etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider the following with reference to XV FC recommendation for Urban Local Bodies :

1) Urban local bodies have been categorised into two groups, based on population, and different norms have been used for flow of grants to each, based on their specific needs and aspirations.

2) Basic grants are proposed only for cities/towns having a population of less than a million.

3) For Million-Plus cities, 100 per cent of the grants are performance-linked through the Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund (MCF).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

61)Consider the following with reference to XVFC recommendation on the basis of Census 2011 population data :

1) On horizontal devolution, while XVFC agreed that the Census 2011 population data better represents the present need of States, to be fair to, as well as reward, the States which have done better on the demographic front, XVFC has assigned a 12.5 per cent weight to the demographic performance criterion.

2)for population the weightage given is 15%

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider the following with reference to Budget 2021-22 for education :

1) Budget allocation for BE 2020-21 was Rs 59845 crore which was rationalized to Rs 52189.07 crore in RE 2020-21 post covid-19 situation. This has now increased to Rs 54873 crore in BE2021-22.

2) Rs. 485 crore is also provisioned in the new created Centrally Sponsored Scheme of STARS.

3) Allocation of KVS is increased by Rs 362.32 crore and allocation of NVS increased to Rs. 320 crore w.r.t. RE 2020-21. Budget allocation of NCERT was also increase to Rs. 110.08 crore from RE 2020-21.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider the following with reference to Initiatives on Education as part of NEP (including NDEAR & NISTHA) :

1) Standards will be developed for all school teachers in the form of National Professional Standards for Teachers- NPST. This will enhance the capabilities of teachers and will be followed by all 92 lakh teachers of public and private school system in the country.

2) Toys are both an expression of entertainment and learning. A unique indigenous toy-based learning – pedagogy for all levels of school education will be developed. This will transform classroom transactions from mundane and rote learning to an engaging and joyful experience.

3) A National Digital Educational Architecture (NDEAR) will be set up within the context of a Digital First Mindset where the Digital Architecture will not only support teaching and learning activities but also educational planning, governance and administrative activities of the Centre and the States/ Union Territories. It will provide a diverse education eco-system architecture for development of digital infrastructure, a federated but inter operable system that will ensure autonomy of all stakeholders, specially States and UTs.

4) During the year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we have trained more than 30 lakh elementary school teachers digitally, covering the whole gamut of education. Taking this further, in 2021-22, we will enable the training of 56 lakh school teachers through the National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers for Holistic Advancement (NISTHA).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider the following with reference to Budget proposals for 2021-22 rest on 6 pillars. :

Health and Wellbeing
Physical & Financial Capital, and Infrastructure
Inclusive Development for Aspirational India
Reinvigorating Human Capital
Innovation and R&D
Minimum Government and Maximum Governance

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider the following :

The Finance Minister announced that a new centrally sponsored scheme, PM AatmaNirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, will be launched with an outlay of about Rs 64, 180 crore over 6 years. This will develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care Health Systems, strengthen existing national institutions, and create new institutions, to cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases. This will be in addition to the National Health Mission. The main interventions under the scheme are:

1)Support for 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centers

2)Setting up integrated public health labs in all districts and 3382 block public health units in 11 states;

3)Establishing critical care hospital blocks in 602 districts and 12 central institutions;

4)Strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), its 5 regional branches and 20 metropolitan health surveillance units;

5)Expansion of the Integrated Health Information Portal to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs;

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider the following with reference to Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) :

1) The Finance Minister announced that the JalJeevan Mission (Urban), will be launched for universal water supply in all 4,378 Urban Local Bodies with 2.86 crore household tap connections, as well as liquid waste management in 500 AMRUT cities. It will be implemented over 5 years, with an outlay of Rs. 2,87,000 crore

2) Moreover, the Urban Swachh Bharat Mission will be implemented with a total financial allocation of Rs 1,41,678 crore over a period of 5 years from 2021-2026.

3) Also to tackle the burgeoning problem of air pollution, government proposed to provide an amount of Rs. 2,217 crore for 42 urban centres with a million-plus population in this budget.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider the following with reference to Asset Monetization :

Monetizing operating public infrastructure assets is a very important financing option for new infrastructure construction. A “National Monetization Pipeline” of potential Brownfield infrastructure assets will be launched. An Asset Monetization dashboard will also be created for tracking the progress and to provide visibility to investors. Some important measures in the direction of monetisation are:

1)National Highways

2)Railways

3)Airports

4)Warehousing

5)Sports Complexes

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider the following with reference to Railway Infrastructure :

1) Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan for India – 2030.

2) The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030. Bringing down the logistic costs for our industry is at the core of our strategy to enable ‘Make in India’.

3) It is expected that Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and Eastern DFC will be commissioned by June 2022.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider the following with reference to voluntary vehicle scrapping policy (Union Budget 2021-22) :

1) A voluntary vehicle scrapping policy forms a crucial part of the Union Budget, to phase out old and unfit vehicles.

2) This will help in encouraging fuel-efficient, environment friendly vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular pollution and oil import bill. .

3) Vehicles would undergo fitness tests in automated fitness centres – after 20 years in case of personal vehicles, and after 15 years in case of commercial vehicles. Details of the scheme will be separately shared by the Ministry, the Finance Minister announced

4) The Minister said the policy would cover an estimated 51 lakh light motor vehicles (LMV) that are above 20 years of age, while another 34 lakh LMVs are above 15 years. It would also cover 17 lakh medium and heavy motor vehicles, which are above 15 years, and currently without valid fitness certificates. These vehicles are estimated to cause 10-12 times more pollution than the latest vehicles. Outlining the benefits of the policy, and it is said that it would lead to recycling of waste metal, improved safety, reduction in air pollution, reduction in oil imports due to greater fuel efficiency of current vehicles, and stimulate investment.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider the following with reference to DICGC :

1) The Finance Minister further stated that the Government had, last year, approved an increase in the Deposit Insurance cover for bank customers from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakhs.

2) In order to help depositors of banks that are currently under stress, the Government will move an amendment to the DICGC Act, 1961 in the current Parliament Session to streamline the provisions, so that if a bank is temporarily unable to fulfil its obligations, the depositors of such a bank can get easy and time-bound access to their deposits to the extent of the deposit insurance cover.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider the following with reference to Insurance Sector :

1) Union Finance Minister announced that the Government will amend the Insurance Act, 1938 to increase the permissible FDI limit from 49% to 74% and allow foreign ownership and control with safeguards.

2) Under the proposed new structure, the majority of Directors on the Board and key management persons would be resident Indians, with at least 50% of Directors being Independent Directors, and specified percentage of profits being retained as general reserve.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider the following with reference to Chauri Chaura Centenary Celebrations :

1) The day (4^th February,1921) marks 100 years of the ‘Chauri Chaura’ incident, a landmark event in the country’s fight for independence.

2) The centenary celebrations and various events planned by the State government will begin in all 75 districts of the State from 4th February 2021 and will continue till 4th February 2022.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider the following with reference to rationalized single Securities Markets Code and for this which will be consolidated ? :

1) provisions of SEBI Act, 1992, Depositories Act, 1996,

2) Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956

3) Government Securities Act, 2007

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider the following with reference to a scheme of Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) :

1) The Government has proposed a scheme of Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA) to enable the textile industry to become globally competitive, attract large investments, boost employment generation and exports

2) . Presenting the Union Budget 2021-22 in the parliament today, Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister said that this will create world class infrastructure with plug and play facilities to enable create global champions in exports.

3) MITRA will be launched in addition to the Production Linked Incentive Scheme(PLI).

4) Emphasis on state-of-the-art infrastructure through MITRA will give our domestic manufacturers a level-playing field in the international textiles market & pave the way for India to become a global champion of textiles exports across all segments”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider the following with reference to draft 5^th Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) a comprehensive one at the post-draft consultation with research scholars and young scientists. :

1) The policy is aimed at achieving technological self-reliance and position India among the top three scientific superpowers in the world in the decade to come and to build individual and institutional excellence in STI with the aspiration to achieve the highest level of global recognition,

2) National Science Observatory, One nation one subscription, and open science are unique features of this policy, and this would create a precedence,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider the following Consumer Protection Act, 2019 :

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CP Act 2019) has been implemented w.e.f. 20th July, 2020.

1) The new Act covers e-commerce transactions, it allows electronic filing of complaints, hearing and/or examining parties through video-conferencing for procedural ease and reduces inconvenience,

2) It introduced the concept of product liability bringing within its scope, the product manufacturer, product service provider and product seller for any claim for compensation, imposition of penalty on the manufacturer/endorser for a false or misleading advertisement and prohibiting them from endorsing a particular product or service,

3) It clarified for mediation as an ‘Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism’ for making the process of dispute adjudication simpler & quicker and reduce pressure on Consumer Commissions.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider the following with reference to Wetlands in India :

1) Wetlands in India occupy 58.2 mha, including areas under wet paddy cultivation .

2)Majority of the inland wetlands are directly or indirectly dependent on the major rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna , Kaveri and Tapti occupying hot arid regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, deltaic regions of the east and west coasts, highlands of central India, wet humid zones of the south peninsular India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lkshadweep Islands.

3)Among the Indian states, Gujrat ranks first with a total wetland area of about 3.47 mha (23% of the total Indian wetland area) comprising vast stretches of intertidal mud-flats and salt pans.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider the following with reference to major Wetland types :

1) river and stream wetlands

2)reservoirs

3)inter-tidal mudflats

4)tanks/ponds

5)lakes/ponds

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider the following with reference to States/UTs and Wetlands (pairs) :

1) Chandigarh (UT) : Sukhna

2) Puducherry (UT) : Ousteri lake

3) Uttarakhand : Ban Ganga Jhilmil Tal

4)Rajasthan : Sambhar

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider the following with reference to Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh :

1) It is situated between two major river basins of the rivers Godavari and Krishna and functions as a natural flood balancer reservoir of the two deltas.

2)The Lake is large, natural shallow and freshwater with associated marshes.

3)Apart from 30 inflow drains and channels, the lake is fed mainly by two seasonal rivers, Budameru and the Tammileru.

4)The lake eventually drains into the Bay of Bengal through Upputeru River.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider the following with reference to Wetlands : State/UT :

1) Wular Lake : Jammu & Kshmir (UT)

2) Ashtamudi Wetland : Kerala

3)Sasthamkotta lake : Kerala

4)Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary : Tamil Nadu

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider the following :

Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), with the following components for funding and implementation across all statutory towns, viSustainable sanitation (construction of toilets)

1)Wastewater treatment including sludge management in all ULBs less than 1 lakh population

2) Solid Waste Magement

3)Information, Education and Communication

4) Capacity building

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider the following with reference to Urban Green Mobility :

1) This Scheme intends to provide impetus to green and clean urban mobility projects. It is a step in the direction of meeting climate change mitigation and sustainability goals

2) The focus of this Scheme is to improve Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) infrastructure, promote innovative urban transit modes, strengthen Intelligent Transport System (ITS) facilities, retrofitting buses & other modes for energy efficiency/ clean fuel, and other technological and innovative measures for green urban transport. An outlay of about ₹ 3,000 cr has been kept under this Scheme for projects, which will be selected through Green Urban Mobility Challenge..

3) This will help in reducing pollution levels through changes in traveling practices, improvement of urban mobility infrastructure and services such as pedestrian/ cycling pathways, last mile connectivity, enhance Information Technology applications and adopt innovations in implementation and financing of urban mobility projects

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider the following with reference to presence of Lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes (inferred category) in the pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka. :

1) Lithium is a key element for new technologies and finds its use in ceramics, glass, telecommunication and aerospace industries.

2) The well-known uses of Lithium are in Lithium ion batteries, lubricating grease, high energy additive to rocket propellants, optical modulators for mobile phones and as convertor to tritium used as a raw material for thermonuclear reactions i.e. fusion

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider the following with reference to Atomic Energy in India :

Nuclear energy is a clean, environment friendly base load source of power available 24X7. It also has huge potential which can ensure long term energy security of the country in a sustainable manner.

1) There are presently 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6780 MW in operation and one reactor, KAPP-3 (700 MW) has been connected to the grid on January 10, 2021

2) . In addition, there are 8 reactors (including 500 MW PFBR being implemented by BHAVINI) totaling to 6000 MW under construction at various stages.

3) The Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of 12 nuclear power reactors – 10 indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode & 2 units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) to be set up in cooperation with Russian Federation.

4) On progressive completion of the projects under construction and accorded sanction, the nuclear capacity is expected to reach 22480 MW by 2031

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider the following with reference to Orobanche :

1) Orobanche a serious hidden parasitic weed in mustard cause severe yield loss to the extent of up to 50% and there is no absolute control measures developed so far

2) famers expressed their misery due to menace caused by Orobanche in the mustard which is a main cash crop in this region and asked for any immediate control measure.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider the following with reference to One District One Product (ODOP) :

One District One Product (ODOP) is an initiative which is seen as a transformational step forward towards realizing the true potential of a district, fuel economic growth and generate employment and rural entrepreneurship, taking us to the goal of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is operationally merged with ‘Districts as Export Hub’ initiative being implemented by DGFT, Department of Commerce, with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder.

1) As far as Rajasthan is concerned, two products namely Blue Pottery (Jaipur) and MarkhanaMarbels (Nagaur) are among the identified 106 Products. All the Districts of Rajasthan are already covered under the ‘Districts as Export Hub’ initiative. State Export Promotion Committee (SPEC) and District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) have been constituted in Rajasthan.

2) DEPC is constituted in all Districts of India, except districts of the state of West Bengal.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider the following with reference to SRAP :

1) The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released the rankings of States and Union Territories (UTs) under State Reform Action Plan (SRAP), 2019 on 05.09.2020.

2) The Action Plan included 187 reform points covering 12 business regulatory areas, viz., Access to Information & Transparency Enablers, Labour Regulation-Enablers, Construction Permit Enablers, Single Window System, Sector Specific, Inspection Enablers, Paying Taxes, Environment Registration Enablers, Obtaining Utility Permits, Land Administration/Transfer of Property, Contract Enforcement and Land Availability and Allotment.

3) It is noted that some States/UTs have improved their ranking while others have slipped down in the SRAP, 2019 as compared to their previous year’s rankings.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider the following with reference to Cyber crime :

1) The Government is operating the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) which is providing detection of malicious programs and free tools for cleaning malicious code as well as tools such as M- Kavach for addressing threats related to mobile phones.

2) Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) coordinates with its counterpart agencies in foreign countries on cyber incidents originating outside the country.

3) The motives behind cyber crime in the country inter-alia include personal revenge, fraud, sexual exploitation, inciting hate, spreading piracy, stealing information et

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider the following with reference to KAPILA :

1) The Government has launched a campaign namely Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) for Intellectual Property Literacy and creating patent awareness on 15^th October, 2020.

2) The objectives of the scheme include creating awareness regarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Higher Education Institutions(HEIs), enabling of IP protection of inventions originating from faculty and students of HEIs, development of Credit Course on IPR, training program on IPR for faculty and students of HEIs and sensitization and development of vibrant IP filing system. So far, total 46,556 users have been registered for KAPILA.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider the following with reference to :

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider the following with reference to Water Quality of River Yamuna :

1) Water Quality of River Yamuna within the Delhi stretch at Palla, was complying with respect to Primary water quality criteria for bathing viz. pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), whereas, the water quality at Nizamuddin bridge and Okhla U/S was not complying with respect to Primary water quality criteria for bathing in terms of DO and BOD.

2) The improvement in water quality has been attributed to release of fresh water from Wazirabad Barrage and availability of dilution in river Yamuna;

3) Absence of human activities such as throwing of garbage, bathing, washing of clothes etc. due to lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider the following :

To prevent imitation of handloom products of specific geographical origin, the following handloom product from Uttar Pradesh have been registered under GI Act, 1999

1) Agra Durrie

2) Banaras Brocade and Saree

3) Mirzapur Handmade Dari

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider the following with reference to Alleviation of malnutrition :

1) For alleviation of malnutrition, Government has announced Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition. Steps have been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen delivery and leverage technology to improve governance.

2) Government has advised States/UTs to ensure that the quality of supplementary nutrition conforms to prescribed standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations made there under. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases.

3) A programme to support development of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi centers to meet dietary diversity gap leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider the following with reference to Indian Agriculture :

1) Indian agriculture is characterized by prevalence of small and marginal farmers which has increased from 491 lakh (1970-71) to 1,260 lakh (2015-16), registering a whopping growth of 156%.

2) During 2010-11 to 2019-20 growth in GLC to small and marginal farmers was around 17.8%.

3) Share of Ground Level Credit (GLC) to small and marginal farmers to total GLC has also increased from 35% to 52% during 2010-11 to 2019-20.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider the following with reference to Aadi Mahotsav :

1) The Aadi Mahotsav is an annual event that was started in 2017.

2) The festival is an attempt to familiarise people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of tribal communities across the country, at one place. However, due to the pandemic, the 2020 edition of the festival could not be held.

3) The fortnight-long festival features the exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery and much more through 200 stalls to showcase this. About 1000 tribal artisans and artists from across the country are participating in the festival.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider the following with reference to :

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider the following with reference to Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) :

1) Government of India has launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) of 125 days on 20^th June, 2020 with a resource envelop of Rs.50,000 crore, to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected citizens in rural area, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

2) The objectives of the Abhiyaan were to provide immediate employment & livelihood opportunities to the distressed, to saturate the villages with public infrastructure and creation of livelihood assets to boost the income generation activities and enhance long term livelihood opportunities by giving focuson 25 works in 116 selected districts across 6 States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

3) A total of 50.78 Crore Person days employment has been generated during the Abhiyaan.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider the following with reference to SVANITVA :

1) A provision of Rs.200 crores has been made for a new scheme-SVAMITVA to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages and issuance of property cards to the property owners through survey of village areas with help of drone technology by Survey of India.

2) The Pilot phase of SVAMITVA had been approved with Budget Outlay of Rs.79.65 crore.

3) The scheme covers multifarious aspects viz. facilitating monetisation of properties and enabling bank loan; reducing property related disputes; comprehensive village level planning, would be the stepping-stone towards achieving Gram Swaraj in true sense and making rural India Atmanirbhar.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider the following with reference to increased demand for steel in India :

1) The announcements in Budget for the Financial Year, 2021-22 viz. Capex allotment of Rs. 1,07,100 crore for Railways, 2.87 lakh crore outlay for Jal Jeevan Mission, Construction of roads under Bharatmala Pariyojana project, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, Scheme for Mega Textile Parks etc. will lead to increased demand for steel in the country

2) The Vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme will also help attract capital investments and thereby enhance demand and production of steel in the country.

3) The production and consumption of total finished steel (Non-alloy, alloy/stainless) in India during the period from April to June, 2020 had declined substantially as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions-Set 23 (for GS Paper )

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 23 (Prepared on 17 .9.2021)

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider the following with reference to MSP :

MSP is an integral component of Agriculture Price Policy and it targets to ensure support price to farmers and affordable prices to the consumer.

Based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the Government of India declares MSP after considering the views of State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned for agricultural crops such as Cereal, Pulses, Oilseeds and commercial crops every year at the beginning of the sowing season.

MSP is announced for the Kharif crops of Paddy, Jowar, Bajara, Ragi,Maize, Arhar, Moong, Urad, Cotton, Groundnut, Sunflower Seed , Soyabean ,Sesamum .

The Rabi crops for which MSP is announced are Wheat, Barley, Gram, Masur, Rapeseeds& Mustard, Safflower and Toria.

Apart from this, MSP is announced for Copra, De-husked Coconut, Jute and Fair Remunerative Prices (FRP) is announced for Sugarcane.

1) Normally MSP for Rabi season was announced in October. In 2020 year it was announced on 23^rd September and for the year 2022-23 it was further advanced and announced on 8^th September 2021

2) The factors considered by CACP for fixing MSP include cost of production, domestic and international prices, demand-supply conditions, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.

3) The MSP approved for designated Rabi Crops for 2022-23 duringRabi Marketing Season is higher or equal to 1.5 times of cost of production. The expected returns to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in case of Wheat (100%) and rapeseed/mustard (100%), followed by lentil (79%) and gram (74%); barley (60%); safflower (50%).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider the following with reference to Union of Comoros :

1)It is an island country in the Indian Ocean, at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel off the eastern coast of Africa

2)It shares borders with Madagascae and Mayotte to the southeast Tanzania to the northwest, Mozambique to the west and the Seychelles to the northeast.

3)Capital : Moroni

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider the following :

Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP), is introduced as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2020-21 for the promotion of traditional indigenous practices including natural farming.

1) The scheme mainly emphasises on exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching; use of cow dung-urine formulations; plant based preparations and time to time working of soil for aeration.

2) Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building and continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification and residue analysis

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

4)Consider the following with reference to Organic farming :

1) Organic farming is a sustainable agriculture system that excludes the use of synthetic inputs in farming and relies on on-farm inputs such as crop residues, farmyard manure, enriched composts, vermi-compost, oil cakes, bio-fertilizers etc for nutrient management of crops.

2) Similarly, pests and diseases are managed by eco-friendly farming practices of crop rotation, trap crops, bio-pesticides like neem-based formulations, bio control agents, mechanical traps, stale seed bed etc. adoption of organic farming practices produces safe food, reduces cost of production, improves soil health and health in mitigating the climate change and global warming by reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider the following with reference to Code on Wages,2019 :

. 1) The Code on Wages, 2019 which has been notified on 8^th August, 2019 universalises and creates a statutory right of minimum wages for all workers whether in organized or unorganised sector

2) A new concept of statutory floor wage has also been introduced in the Code on Wages.

3) The Code also provides that the minimum wages are to be ordinarily reviewed and revised by the appropriate Governments in intervals not exceeding five years.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider the following with reference to per capita steel consumption :

1) The per capita consumption of finished steel for the year 2019-20 was 74.7 kg. against the world average of 229 kg. during the same period, as per the data released by the World Steel Association.

2) National Steel Policy, 2017 notified on 08^th May, 2017 envisages domestically meeting the entire demand of steel and high-grade automotive steel, electrical steel, special steel and alloys for strategic applications. It also aims at increasing the per capita consumption of steel to 160 kg. by 2030-31.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider the following with reference to Gaganyaan programme envisages sending humans in space :

1) the objective of Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the capability to send humans to Low earth orbit (LEO) on board an Indian Launch vehicle and bring them back to earth safely.

2) Mission will be sent by ISRO

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider the following with reference to Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls :

1) National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched a campaign “Catch the Rain” with the tag line “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” in 2020 to nudge the states and all stakeholders to create Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable to the climatic conditions and sub-soil strata, with people’s active participation.

2) Ministry of Jal Shakti is taking up a nation-wide campaign “Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) focusing on saving and conserving rainwater with the theme “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” from 22 March 2021 to 30 November, 2021 in the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods of 2021, covering both urban and rural areas of all the districts in the country.

3) Central Ground Water Board is implementing Aquifer Rejuvenation Project through Artificial Recharge in selected over-exploited blocks in the country under Aspirational District Programme. As a part of this Scheme, check dams, percolation tanks, sub surface barriers, recharge shafts and piezometers have been constructed in Pulivendula block in Andhra Pradesh and Bachennapet in Telangana.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider the following with reference to Atal Bhujal Yojana :

1) Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs. 6000 Crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation.

2) Atal Jal is being implemented in 80 water stressed districts of Seven States viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh as a pilot project.

3)The districts have been identified based on the criticality of groundwater situations as proposed by the participating States.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider the following with reference to Inter-Linking of Rivers :

Draft Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Godavari-Cauvery link project consisting of three links viz._________ has been completed by National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and circulated to party States in March 2019. The comments of party States have been deliberated in a virtual meeting held on 18.09.2020.

1); Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar),

2) Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila)

3) Pennar (Somasila)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider the following with reference to Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers :

1) the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers is being compiled by the Labour Bureau since 1945.

2) The Consumer Price Index is the most used out of the numerous statistical products that are currently available to the common man.

3) The Labour Bureau is the competent authority under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to ascertain, from time to time, the Consumer Price Index Numbers applicable to employees employed in the Scheduled employments in respect of all the undertakings in the Central Sphere and the Union Territories.

4) The Chadha Committee after detailed discussions and deliberations on various aspects of the index, made certain recommendations to be incorporated in the next revision of the series which were duly included in the new series on base 2016=100 launched in September, 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider the following with reference to Circular economy :

The key to an aatmanirbhar Bharat is sustainable growth. The need of the hour is a development model that leads to the optimum utilization of resources. With a growing population, rapid urbanization, climate change and environmental pollution, India must move towards a circular economy.

1) An economic approach aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources, circular economy offers a new paradigm that emphasizes on the need to take a comprehensive view of products and processes.

2) Our production systems must adopt practices around the principles of circular economy so that they not only reduce resource dependency but also gain competitiveness

3) A circular economy path adopted by India could bring in substantial annual benefits, along with significant reduction in congestion and pollution, which would consequently have a snowball effect on the economy. Our ability to maximize our resource efficiency, minimize the consumption of finite resources as well as the impetus to the emergence of new business models and entrepreneurial ventures will spur our transition towards self-reliance.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider the following with reference to Ventilation Index for Delhi :

1) The northwest part of India is influenced by the long range transported dust from Middle-east and Arabian Peninsula. The dust concentration is likely to subside on 19^th March.

2) The ventilation index lower than 6000 m²/s with average wind speed less than 10 kmph is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider the following with reference to SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium :

1) The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) was set up for genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in India.

2) In INSACOG, 10 laboratories were designated in India for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) with the objectives: to ascertain the current status of new variant of SARS COV-2 in the country; to establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication; to determine the genomic variants in the unusual events/trends (super spreader events, high mortality/ morbidity trend areas etc).

3) Among the processed samples, 284 samples have been detected to be positive for the ‘UK strain’ and 11 samples positive for the ‘South African strain’ and 1 sample positive for the ‘Brazil strain’.(till March,2020)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider the following with reference to Malnutrition among women and children :

1) As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), malnutrition indicators like stunting and underweight prevalence declined in rural areas as compared with NFHS-3.

2) Prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age (WRA) group 15-49 years in rural areas also declined. Malnutrition is a multi-dimensional issue, affected by a number of generic factors

3) Anaemia in pregnant women increases the risk of low birth weight for the newborn.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider the following with reference to Primary Health Care :

The launch of Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) in April 2018 marked a watershed moment in India’s public health history. By December 2022, 1,50,000 Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres in urban and rural areas were targeted to be transformed to AB-HWCs and deliver comprehensive primary health care that includes preventive and health promotion at the community level with continuum of care and which is universal, free and close to community in rural and urban areas, with focus also on wellness. This mission mode approach also aimed at realising India’s vision of Universal Health Coverage.

1) India marked another key milestone in universalising Primary Health Care today. The planned target of operationalizing 70,000 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) by 31^st March 2021 has been realised ahead of time.

2) HWCs demonstrate a high potential for positive outcomes in terms of gender equity for care seeking, and promoting wellness as a critical component of primary health care. To date, about 41.35 crore people have accessed care in these AB-HWCs. About 54% of them are women

3) The HWCs also focus on wellness and healthy lifestyles through various activities. So far, these Centres have conducted 64.4 lakhs wellness sessions. Depending on the local context, States are undertaking various wellness activities including Yoga, local sports, Zumba (in NE States), etc. These centres also follow a calendar of 39 health promotion days spread over a year.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider the following with reference to Gandhi Peace Prize :

1)The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 is being conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India since 1995, the 125^thBirth Anniversary commemoration year of Mahatma Gandhi. 2)

2) The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider the following with reference to New Education Policy 2020 :

1) Internationalization of Education.

2) Establishing a National Mission for Mentoring.

3) Achieving 100% youth and adult literacy.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider the following with reference to Krishna Water betweem AP and Telangana (As per Data in March,2020) :

1) Sharing of Krishna river waters is being carried out as per working arrangement agreed between both the States of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana, out of the total 811 TMC allocated by Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-I (KWDT-I), pending award of Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-II (KWDT-II). However, with regard to sharing of Godavari river waters, there is no agreement between AP and Telangana.

2) For considering the request of Telangana for a Tribunal under section-3 of Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956, Telangana has to withdraw the case it has filed in the Supreme Court on the subject.

3) After receiving such assurance, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India will seek legal opinion on whether a new Tribunal has to be appointed or new Terms of Reference can be issued to the existing KWDT-II to hear the matter.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider the following with reference to Contamination of ground water :

1) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data on a regional scale through ground water quality monitoring throughout the country.

2) This monitoring indicates the occurrence of Fluoride, Arsenic, Nitrate, Iron and Heavy Metals beyond the BIS permissible limits for human consumption in isolated pockets in various parts of the country including Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

3) GWB is providing technical assistance to the States by sharing the cement sealing technology for tapping contamination free aquifers in Gangetic flood plains including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

21)Consider the following with reference to Buldhana pattern water conservation :

1) NITI Aayog has prepared draft guidelines for convergence of the activities of (i) sourcing earth for improvement/construction of national highways, state roads and railways and (ii) water conservation works through desiltation/ deepening of water bodies

2) . This two-fold activity has already been successfully implemented as a pilot project in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider the following with reference to liberalising geospatial data policy :

1) “Geospatial data is required for all the development works in all sectors, and it plays a critical role in governance and is well aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat

2) The new space-based remote sensing policy guidelines by Department of Space aims at encouraging various stakeholders in the country to actively participate in space-based remote sensing activities to enhance commercialisation of space technology.

3) The guidelines drafted by the DST for geospatial data will bring sweeping changes to India’s mapping policy, specifically for Indian companies.

4) The Government has recently announced liberalised guidelines for geo-spatial data and formulating a new space-based remote sensing policy to enable enhanced participation of the Indian industry and ease of data access with simplified procedures.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider the following with reference to Van Dhan Yojna :

1) The Van Dhan Yojana (VDY), a programme for value addition, branding & marketing of MFPs by establishing Van Dhan Kendras to facilitate creation of sustainable livelihoods for the forest-based tribes is a component of the same scheme

2) The MSP for MFP scheme has been a source of great relief for tribal gatherers during the pandemic and has injected more than Rs 3000 crores directly in the tribal economy. The Van Dhan tribal start-ups further complements MSP beautifully as it has emerged as a source of employment generation for tribal gatherers and forest dwellers and the home-bound tribal artisans.

3) Together, these two initiatives offer a comprehensive development package for tribals promoting employment and incomes and entrepreneurship.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider the following with reference to National Health Mission FY 2019-20 :

1) National Health Mission (NHM)during FY 2019-20aims at including accelerated decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR). It also noted the progress in respect of various diseases programmes like TB, Malaria, Kala-Azar, Dengue, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Viral Hepatitis etc.

2) Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative was launched to accelerate action to reduce deaths due to childhood pneumonia.

3) SurakshitMatritvaAashwasan (SUMAN) initiative was launched to provide assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services and all existing Schemes for maternal and neonatal health have been brought under one umbrella.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider the following with reference to Project ‘Mausuam ‘ :

1) ‘Mausam’ is the initiative of Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum..

2) This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean ‘world’ – collating archaeological and historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean

3) The main objective of the project is to inscribe places and sites identified under Project Mausam as trans-national nomination for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Mausam has now been extended up to 31^st March, 2023.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider the following with reference to NAPCC :

India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol (KP), and the Paris Agreement (PA). Independent studies rate India’s efforts highly and compliant with the requirements under PA..

1) The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change through its several programmes and schemes including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, and strategic knowledge on climate change.

2) The NAPCC provides an overarching framework for all climate actions. Thirty-three States /Union Territories have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into account the State’s specific issues relating to climate change.

3) These SAPCCs outline sector-specific and cross-sectoral priority actions, including adaptation

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider the following with reference to “Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region” :

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has recently published a Climate Change report entitled “Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region” which covers all the aspects of regional climate change including the climatic extremes across India.

1) The preparation of this report was led by the Center for Climate Change Research (CCCR) at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune.

2) Based on the available climate records, the report documents the surface air temperature over India has risen by about 0.7 °C during 1901–2018 which is accompanied with an increase in atmospheric moisture content

3) The sea surface temperatures in the tropical Indian Ocean have also increased by about 1 °C during 1951–2015.

4) Clear signatures of human-induced changes in climate have emerged over the Indian region on account of anthropogenic GHG and aerosol forcing, and changes in land use and land cover which have contributed to an increase in the climatic extremes.

5) The complex interactions between the earth system components amidst the warming environment and regional anthropogenic influences have therefore led to a rise in frequency of localized heavy rainfall events, drought and flood occurrences, and increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones etc. in the last few decades. Future projections of regional climate, performed under different climate change scenarios, too indicate robust changes in the mean, variability and extremes of several key climatic parameters over the Indian subcontinent and adjoining areas (e.g. land temperature and precipitation, monsoons, Indian Ocean temperature and sea level, tropical cyclones, Himalayan cryosphere, etc).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider the following with reference to External supplies of Made-in-India COVID19 vaccines :

1) External supplies of Made-in-India COVID19 vaccines started w.e.f. 20.01.2021

2) Supplies have been undertaken in the form of “Grants-in-aid”, commercial sales by the manufacturers and through GAVI’s COVAX facility.

3) GAVI’s COVAX facility has more than 190 members including India. Country-wise details for supply of vaccines till 17 March 2021(data available). More than 7.47 crore vaccine doses have been supplied to Stats/UTs within the country so far

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider the following with reference to All India Power Generation installaed cacpaity :

The all India power generation installed capacity by the end of 2026-27 is estimated to be 6,19,066 MW which includes

1) 2,38,150 MW : Coal based

2) 25,735 MW :Gas based

3) 63,301 MW :Hydro electric

4) 16,880 MW :Nuclear energy

5) 2,75,000 MW : Renewable Energy

Notes: These Sources to fully meet the electricity demand projected as per the 19th Electric Power Survey on All India basis.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider the following with reference to New definition of MSME :

1) The definition of micro manufacturing and services unit increased to Rs. 1 crore of investment and Rs. 5 crore of turnover..

2) The limit of small unit increased to Rs. 10 crore of investment and Rs 50 crore of turnover.

3) Similarly, the limit of a medium unit increased to Rs 20 crore of investment and Rs. 100 crore of turnover.The limit for medium manufacturing and service units was further increased to Rs. 50 crore of investment and Rs. 250 crore of turnover.

4) It has also been decided that the turnover with respect to exports will not be counted in the limits of turnover for any category of MSME units whether micro, small or medium

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider the following with reference to productivity of dairy animals :

In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories Government of India has been implementing following schemes to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

1) Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

2) National Dairy Plan-I (continued upto November, 2019)

3) Breed Improvement Institutes comprising of 7 Central Cattle Breeding Farms and 4 Central Herd Registration Units.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider the following with reference to National Policy on Biofuels-2018 :

The notified National Policy on Biofuels-2018 dated 04.06.2018 aims to achieve the goals by (a)

1) reinforcing ongoing ethanol/bio-diesel supplies through increasing domestic production,

2) setting up Second Generation (2G) bio-refineries,

3) development of new feedstock for Biofuels from cellulosic and lignocelluloses route including petrochemical route,

4) development of new technologies for conversion to biofuels

5) creating suitable environment for biofuels and its integration with the main fuels.

6)Due to the above policy initiatives taken by the Government, ethanol procurement has increased from 38 crore litre in ESY 2013-14 to 173.03 crore litre in ESY 2019-20.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider the following with reference to Bio-fuels from rice and maize (Damaged Food Grains) :

1) Based on the offers received during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2020-21, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have allocated 41.91 crore litre of ethanol to be procured from surplus rice, Damaged Food Grains (DFG) unfit for human consumption and maize.

2) DFPD has informed that the ethanol yield from one tonne of maize and rice is 380 and 450 litres respectively.

3) Thus to produce 100 litres of ethanol, about 2.22 quintals of rice or about 2.63 quintals of maize is required to be used.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider the following with reference to National Rail Plan :

1) Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030.

2) The Plan is to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030

3) The NRP is aimed to formulate strategies based on both operational capacities and commercial policy initiatives to increase modal share of the Railways in freight.

4) The objective of the Plan is to create capacity ahead of demand, which in turn would also cater to future growth in demand right up to 2050 and also increase the modal share of Railways to 45% in freight traffic and to continue to sustain it.

5)To achieve this objective all possible financial models including Public Private Partnership (PPP) are being considered.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider the following with reference to Kurnool Airport :

Kurnool is the 6th airport in Andhra Pradesh to become functional after Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajahmundry & Vijayawada.

1) The flight operations at Kurnool airport commenced on 28th March 2021 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN).

2) Direct flight operations to Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai will bring the region closer to the major hubs in the South India

3) These routes were approved by the MoCA under the UDAN 4 bid process .

4)The Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh will jointly share the VGF towards the operations on an 80:20 basis.

5)Upto March, 2021, 56 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports+ 2 water aerodrome) with 325 routes have been operationalised under UDAN across the length and breadth of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider the following with reference to commercial coal mining :

1) Commercial coal mining will bring in new investments, create huge employment opportunities and boost socio-economic development in coal-bearing states. A market-based coal economy will help the nation become Aatmanirbhar in coal

2) The government is moving towards adopting a ‘Rolling Auction’ mechanism for conducting future auctions. Coal is the first mineral resource where Rolling Auction mechanism is being implemented in which a pool of coal blocks will always remain available for auctions.

3) With rolling auctions, we will upload a comprehensive list of mines along with key technical data and bidders can submit their preferences for the mines to be included in the next tranche of auction. This would be a continuous process and would result in expediting the auction setup. Moreover, it will also help bidders in planning better and would further enhance transparency in the system

4) More coking coal mines have been offered so that India’s import of coking coal can also be reduced

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider the following with reference to Garo Hills :

1) Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya,India.

2)It is one of the wettest places in the world.

3)The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.

4) Garo Hills comprises five districts (Out f 11 districts in Meghalaya, 5 districts falls under Garo hills region)

5)Balphakram and Nokrek national parks are there .

6)Several natual limestone caves (the Siju cave is among the longest in Asia)

7)Garo hills is the only region in Meghalaya which comes under the railway map by way of Mendipathar – Dudhnoi railway line.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider the following with reference to cruise tourism :

1) Indian coastline has a huge potential for the cruise tourism industry and 6 International cruise terminals are being planned on both the west coast (Mumbai,Goa,Kochi) and east coast (Visakhapattanam, Kolkata, Chennai) of India..

2) It is expressed optimism about the development of ferry, RoRo and ROPAX services between South Gujarat and Saurashtra region of Gujarat and said that water transportation is the new future of transportation with state-of-the-art ferry terminals and modern facilities in the cruise services

3) In November,2020, Prime Minister inaugurated ‘Hazira-Ghogha’ RoPAX service and within four months, One lakh passengers and thousands of vehicles utilised the ferry service to save journey time and the cost to travel from Hazira (Surat) to Ghogha (Bhavanagar).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider the following with reference to ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt :

1) Accordingly, a scheme viz. ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt’was approved by the Government on 1^st June, 2020 and the scheme was launched on 24^th June, 2020 to provide credit facility through lending institutions to the promoters of stressed MSMEs viz. SMA-2 and NPA accounts who are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines on the books of the Lending institutions

2) Government of India announced creation of ‘Distressed Assets Fund- – Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs’ on 13^th May, 2020, under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Package.

3) This scheme was to remain in operation till 31.03.2021. Later on, in order to keep the avenues of assistance to stressed MSME Units open, the Government has decided to extend this scheme for six months from 31.03.2021 to 30.09.2021.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider the following with reference to Million-Plus cities :

Million Plus cities have been provided grant of Rs. 8,357 crore and Non-Million Plus cities have got Rs. 18,354 crore from the Ministry in 2020-21.

1) In case of Million-Plus cities, an amount of Rs. 1,824 crore has been released . Entire grant to Million Plus cities is tied in nature. To receive these grants, the Million Plus cities are required to develop city -wise and areas-wise targets on ambient air quality based on annual average concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) will monitor and evaluate the improvement and recommend disbursal of grants to such cities. MOEF&CC will also take up establishment of ambient air quality monitoring network, source apportionment studies and update the air-quality data of these cities.

2) Besides ambient air quality improvement, grants to Million Plus cities have also been linked for improving conservation, supply and management of water and efficient solid waste management, which are critical for planned urbanisation

3) Water supply and solid waste management related component of the grant is to be spent exclusively for improving water and solid waste management and achieving star ratings by ULBs. The States need to draw up a detailed project report for capacity development and address the infrastructural issues for meeting the service level benchmarks.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider the following with reference to Stand-Up India :

The objective of Stand-Up India is to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, to help them in starting a greenfield enterprise in trading, manufacturing and services sector, by both ready and trainee borrowers.

1) promote entrepreneurship amongst women, SC & ST category.

2) Provide loans for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services or the trading sector & activities allied to agriculture by both ready and trainee borrowers

3) facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh to Rs.1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Bank

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider the following with reference to eCourts Project under Supreme Court of India :

1) In another major initiative the eCommittee Supreme Court has prepared the draft vision document for Phase III of the eCourts Project under the auspices of the Supreme court of India. E-Courts Project is a mission mode project undertaken by the Department of Justice, Government of India.

2) The eCommittee of the Supreme Court has been overseeing the implementation of the eCourts Project, conceptualized under the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005”. The eCommittee has evolved in terms of its roles and responsibilities over the last fifteen years.

3) Phase III of the eCourts Project in India is rooted in two central facets—access and inclusion. Phase III of the eCourts Project envisions a judicial system that is more easily accessible irrespective of geographical distances, efficient and equitable for every individual who seeks justice, makes more efficient use of human and other resources, and absorbs the latest technology for a positive environmental impact.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider the following with reference to National Supercomputing Mission :

India is fast emerging a leader in high power computing with the National Super Computing Mission

The National Supercomputing Mission was launched to enhance the research capacities and capabilities in the country by connecting them to form a Supercomputing grid, with National Knowledge Network (NKN) as the backbone. The NSM is setting up a grid of supercomputing facilities in academic and research institutions across the country. Part of this is being imported from abroad and part built indigenously.

1) The Mission is being jointly steered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

2) PARAM Shivay, the first supercomputer assembled indigenously, was installed in IIT (BHU), followed by PARAM Shakti, PARAM Brahma, PARAM Yukti, PARAM Sanganak at IIT-Kharagpur IISER, Pune, JNCASR, Bengaluru and IIT Kanpur respectively.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider the following with reference to Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars :

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital

1) Indian astronomers have tracked a rare supernova explosion and traced it to one of the hottest kind of stars called Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars.

2) The rare Wolf–Rayet stars are highly luminous objects a thousand times that of the Sun and have intrigued astronomers for long. They are massive stars and strip their outer hydrogen envelope which is associated with the fusion of Helium and other elements in the massive core.

3) Tracking of certain types of massive luminous supernovae explosion can help probe these stars that remain an enigma for scientists.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider the following with reference to Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme :

1)PLISchemes are a cornerstone of the Government’s push for achieving an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

2)The objective is to make domestic manufacturing globally competitive and to create global Champions in manufacturing.

3) The strategy behind scheme is to offer companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in India, over the base year.

4) They have been specifically designed to boost domestic manufacturing in sunrise and strategic sectors, curb cheaper imports and reduce import bills, improve cost competitiveness of domestically manufactured goods, and enhance domestic capacity and exports.

4) The scheme extends an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales for a period of five years subsequent to the base year. The scheme was notified on 01.04.2020; last date for application was 31.07.2020 and the scheme commenced on 01.08.2020. The scheme has received a very encouraging response

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider the following with reference to “Sweet Revolution” :

Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping, a new Central Sector Scheme entitled National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) was approved by Government of India for Rs. 500.00 crores allotted under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Announcement

1) A World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab at NDDB, Anand, Gujarat has been setup under NBHM. The Lab has been accredited by NABL and started working/ testing of honey samples

2)Standards of Honey, Bees Wax & Royal Jelly notified by FSSAI. SMR & Foreign Oligosaccharides tests included in honey standards notified by FSSAI.

3) Honey production has increased from 76,150 MTs (2013-14) to 1,20,000 MTs (2019-20)

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider the following with reference to ROPAX :

1) ROPAX ((roll-on/roll-off passenger) service from Bhaucha Dhakka(Ferry Wharf) to Mandwa (Alibag)is successfully operating by reducing the road journey of 110 kmto about 18 km by using waterways, thereby reducing travel time of daily commuters from about 3-4 hours to merely one hour.

2) After the huge benefits being reaped of this ferry service, similar services are planned to be operational at various other routes in Mumbai.

3) To promote eco-friendly waterways transportation and reduce the traffic load of crowded Mumbai city roads, 4 new routes for ROPAXferry services and 12 new routes of Water Taxi are planned to be operational by December, 2021.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider the following with reference to Project RE-HAB :

Minister for Road Transport & Highways and of MSME, has hailed Khadi and Village Industries Commission’s (KVIC) innovative Project RE-HAB, which has significantly reduced elephants’ presence at four places in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.

1) Project RE-HAB has huge potential and it will soon be replicated in all states, affected by elephant attacks like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

2) Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant – Human Attacks using Bees) was launched by KVIC, at four locations on the periphery of Nagarhole National Park in Kodagu district of Karnataka. It is a unique, cost-effective way of preventing elephant – human conflicts without causing any harm to both, the animals and the humans.

3) Under this project, bee boxes are used as a fence to prevent elephants from entering human habitation, thus reducing loss of lives and property.

4)Elephants fear that the honey bees might sting them in their eyes and the inner side of the trunk. Also, the buzz of the bees irritates the elephants the most.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider the following with reference to Oxygen enrichment unit :

An Oxygen enrichment unit is a device, which concentrates the Oxygen from the air around us by selectively removing nitrogen to supply an oxygen-enriched air. The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients, having respiratory diseases, through oxygen mask or nasal cannula. The device may be used in remote places, homes or hospital like facilities for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic hypoxemia and pulmonary edema. It may be used as an adjunct treatment for severe sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous positive airway pressure unit).

1) The CSIR-CMERI indigenously developed Oxygen enrichment unit works on the principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA)

2) utilizes Zeolite Columns to selectively remove nitrogen from air under certain pressure, thereby increasing the Oxygen Concentration.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider the following with reference to Katkari community:

1) Katkari is a primitive tribe found in Maharashtra (Pune, Raigad and Thane districts) and parts of Gujarat.

2) The tribals are mainly agricultural labourers and sell firewood and some jungle fruits.

3) this community sell raw Giloy in local markets has now become a 300 member VDVK under the Van Dhan Yojana scheme. The VDVK has a much larger scale of operations and deals with more than 35 products and processed food items.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider the following with reference to E9 countries :

Minister of State for Education, addressed at the consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4 on 6^th April, 2021.

1) E9 Countries include Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

2) Education Minister of Bangladesh, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations, Ms Amina Mohammed, Education Ministers from the E9 countries and officials from the United Nations, UNICEF and UNESCO attended the meeting.

3) The initiative aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid change in education systems in three of the 2020 Global Education Meeting priorities: (i) support to teachers; (ii) investment in skills; and (iii) narrowing of the digital divide.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider the following with reference to earthquakes in Himalayas :

Scientists have found that the Himalayas are not uniform and assume different physical and mechanical properties in different directions – a property present in crystals called anisotropy which could result in significantly large earthquake events in the Himalayas

1) The NW region of India, an area covering Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh, has been hit by four destructive moderate to great earthquakes since the beginning of the 20th century — the Kangra earthquake of 1905, the Kinnaur earthquake of 1975, the Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991, and the Chamoli earthquake of 1999. These seismic activities manifest large-scale subsurface deformation and weak zones, underlining the need for deeper insights into the ongoing deformation beneath these tectonically unstable zones.

2) The joint study using seismic waves from 167 earthquakes recorded by 20 broadband seismic stations deployed in the Western Himalaya suggested that the major contribution of the anisotropy is mainly because the strain induced by the Indo-Eurasia collision (going on since 50 million years) and deformation due to the collision is found to be larger in the crust than in the upper mantle. It has been recently published in 2020 in the Journal ‘Lithosphere (GSA)’.

3) The inhomogeneity along the Himalayas influences the stressing rate is because of variation in the geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) system, and it controls the rupture size during the earthquake. This lack of homogenous physical and mechanical properties of the Himalayas could help explore new perspectives about deformations taking place at the Himalaya-Tibet crustal belt involved in the formation of the Himalayan Mountains.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider the following with reference to Aahaar Kranti :

1) The `Aahaar Kranti’ movement is designed to address the peculiar problem being faced by India and the world called `hunger and diseases in abundance’. Studies estimate that India produces as much as two times the amount of calories that it consumes. However, many in the country are still malnourished. The root cause of this strange phenomenon is a lack of nutritional awareness in all sections of our society.

2) The mission is aimed to spread the message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet and to understand the importance of accessible to all local fruits and vegetable

3) The United Nations has also declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, which vibes very well with Aahaar Kranti. Fruits and vegetables make a large part of a balanced diet. Further, UN sustainable goal # 3 that emphasizes on human well-being reads, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” This goal too makes Aahaar Kranti more meaningful. Diet and well-being are inseparable partners.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider the following with reference to Remdesivir : (April,2021 news)

1) The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month. Fast-track approval has been given for seven additional sites having the production capacity of 10 Lakh vials /month to six manufacturers.

2) Another 30 lakh vials/month production is lined up. This would ramp up the production capacity for manufacturing to around 78 lakh vials/month.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider the following with reference to Hydrogen Economy- the Indian Dialogue-2021 :

Hydrogen Economy- the Indian Dialogue-2021” in a virtual mode on 15th April, 2021 to discuss emerging hydrogen ecosystems and exploring opportunities for collaboration, cooperation and coalition

1) As the world chases its international climate commitments and takes steps to counter climate change, Hydrogen is gaining increasing importance as a source to bridge energy gaps and also as a standalone source to conventional fuels.

2) The objective of the Roundtable is to understand the progress of Hydrogen ecosystem across continents and contribute to creating synchrony among the thinktanks, Governments and the industry to join forces for developing innovative and sustainable technologies at attractive costs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider the following with reference to Electronic nose :

1) Scientists have developed an electronic nose with biodegradable polymer and monomer that can detect hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), a poisonous, corrosive, and flammable gas produced from swamps and sewers.

2) H₂S is the primary gas produced from the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, and this necessitates easy detection of its emission from sewers and swamps.

3)Scientists have developed an exceptionally sensitive and selective H₂S Gas sensor developed by impersonating the neuron responsible for identification of airborne molecules or olfactory receptor neuron (ORN).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider the following with reference to National Hydrogen Mission :

1) Government of India recently announced the National Hydrogen Mission in the Union Budget 2021 for making a hydrogen roadmap for the country.

2) “We are working on a pilot project on Blue Hydrogen, Hydrogen CNG (H-CNG) and Green Hydrogen.

3) Through technological advancements, we are blending hydrogen with compressed natural gas for use as transportation fuel as well as an industrial input to refineries. 50 buses in Delhi are plying on blended hydrogen in Compressed Natural Gas on a pilot basis. We plan to scale it up in the coming months across the major cities of India.”

4) Presently, as in the case of other countries, our petroleum sector is the largest producer of hydrogen for various refinery process operations. Hence, we realize petroleum sector’s capability to produce hydrogen molecules, stored and traded as gas, making it a natural votary of this new energy form. It provides us an opportunity to utilize existing business models and infrastructure unlike other e-options.”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider the following with reference to ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) :

1) Neutral ENSO conditions are prevailing over the Pacific Ocean and Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are prevailing over the Indian Ocean.(for 2021).

2) The latest global model forecast indicates neutral ENSO conditions are likely to continue over the equatorial Pacific and negative IOD conditions are likely to develop over the Indian Ocean during the ensuing monsoon season

3) As sea surface temperature (SST) conditions over the Pacific and the Indian Oceans are known to have strong influence on Indian monsoon, IMD is carefully monitoring the evolution of sea surface conditions over these Ocean basins.

4) At present(2021), neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are prevailing over Indian Ocean. The latest forecast from the MMCFS and other global models together indicate that neutral IOD conditions are likely to turn into negative IOD conditions during the ensuing monsoon season.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider the following with reference to Bharati and Maitri :

1) Bharati and Maitri are India’s permanent research base stations in Antarctica.

2) The stations are approachable only during the austral summer season between November and March.

3) On its way to Antarctica, the voyage team deployed four autonomous Ocean Observing DWS (Directional Wave Spectra) wave drifters between 35-degree and 50-degree south latitudes in collaboration with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) Hyderabad.

4) The drifters would transmit real-time data of spectral characteristics of waves, sea surface temperatures, and sea-level atmospheric pressure to INCOIS, Hyderabad, which will help validate weather predictions in a big way.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider the following with reference to 40^th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA ) :

1) The 40^th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences successfully returned to Cape Town on April 10, 2021, after completing a journey of ~12 thousand nautical miles in 94 days, including stopovers. This achievement concludes four successful decades of India’s scientific endeavour in the continent of peace and cooperation.

2) The 40-ISEA comprised Indian scientists, engineers, doctors, and technicians, who began their journey from the Mormugao Port of Goa to Antarctica on January 07, 2021.

3) The team reached its destination station Bharati on February 27, 2021, and Maitri on March 08, 2021

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

61)Consider the following with reference to River Dhamra (Odisha) :

1) Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapada district, are located on the northern and southern banks of River Dhamra respectively.

2) The people of Talachua and nearby villages largely depend upon Dhamra port for their livelihood, which is approximately 4 kms from Kaninali Ghat. Since there is no connectivity through roads, the local population depends upon passenger ferries at ghats of Kaninali and Talachua to cross the river (a stretch of 7 Km).

3) Administrative approval is accorded for sanction of Rs 50.30 crore for developing all-weather ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger)Jetty and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district &Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative. The Government of Odisha will fund another 50% cost of the project.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider the following with reference to Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’ :

1) The National climate vulnerability assessment report released today has identified Jharkhand, Mizoram, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal as states highly vulnerable to climate change. These states, mostly in the eastern part of the country, require prioritization of adaptation interventions, the report pointed out.

2) Assessing vulnerability was the first step towards assessing climate risk. There are two other components like Hazard and Exposure that need to be also assessed to arrive at overall climate risk. DST would take up these assessments in the next phase along with sectoral vulnerability assessments and assessments at sub-district levels,”

The assessments can further be used for India’s reporting on the Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. And finally, these assessments will support India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider the following with reference to Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS). :

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): The Fund aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.

1) Rs. 945 Crore corpus will be divided over the next 4 years for providing seed funding to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India. The scheme is expected to support an estimated 3,600 startups through 300 incubators.

2) Startup India Seed Fund Scheme will act as a bridge between ideas and their implementation. Independent & ambitious thinking in the Startup ecosystem will encourage entrepreneurship and create a culture that will recognise innovation

3) The Seed Fund Scheme also envisions to promote virtual incubation for startups by enabling 300 incubators to support startups from all corners of the country. The impact of this will be visible by the spur of innovations in tier 2 and tier 3 regions of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider the following with reference to De-carbonisation: Exploring the Hydrogen Prospects and Innovative Technologies. :

1) hydrogen can play a critical role as a clean fuel in achieving this ambitious goal.

2) Hydrogen has a potential role to play in major sectors in India. Given the scale of future demand, India should be proactive in manufacturing electrolysers to produce green hydrogen. A greater cross-sectoral coordination between the governments can help realize the economy benefits of hydrogen fuel.

3) The key industries need to come together to catalyse decarbonisation allowing risk-sharing and minimizing the burden at the individual company level,

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider the following with reference to Khajuraho Temples :

1) Khajuraho Temples were built between 950-1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty. The temples are categorised into three groups that is Eastern, Western and Southern.

2) These temples display intricate & exceptional carvings and astounding architectural skill which makes Khajuraho one of the most popular tourist destination among domestic as well as international visitors.

3) To name few temples are Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Chaunsat Yogini Temple, Brahma Temple, Chitragupta Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, Lakshmana Temple, Matangeshwar Temple, Parsvanath Temple.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider the following with reference to Coal gasification plant :

1) Coal gasification plants are strategically important as coal prices are non-volatile and coal is abundantly available.

2) Talcher plant shall also reduce dependence on important Natural Gas for production of urea leading to reduction in LNG import bill.

3) The gasification process adopted in Talcher unit is a Clean Coal Technology giving negligible SOx, NOx and free particulate emissions as compared to directly coal fired processes.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider the following with reference to glacial lake outburst floods :

1) Temperature and the numbers of extreme rainfall events are rising at an increased rate because of climate change. Suitably called Earth’s “Third Pole”, the Himalayan region is home to the largest ice mass outside of the planet’s Polar Regions. The glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a faster rate creating new lakes and expanding the existing ones. Besides, the rising temperatures and extreme precipitation events make the region increasingly prone to a variety of natural hazards, including devastating glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

2) GLOFs occur when either a natural dam containing a glacial lake bursts or when the lake’s level suddenly increases and overflows its banks, leading to catastrophic downstream destruction. For example, in 2013, an avalanche caused the glacial moraine holding back Chorabari Lake in northern India to give way, releasing a sudden torrent of water, boulders, and debris that scoured the river valley below, resulting in the deaths of more than 5,000 people.

3) With climate change, these events are likely to increase in frequency and magnitude throughout the Himalayas. However, the remote, challenging Himalayan terrain and the overall lack of cellular connectivity throughout the region have made the development of early flood warning systems virtually impossible.

4) In their recent work, the Scientists also point out that the surge of meltwater in mountain streams is most commonly caused by cloud-burst events during the monsoon season (June–July–August) time frame. However, the recent (7 February 2021) sudden surge of meltwater in the river tributary of the Ganga, Dhauli Ganga, during the dry season suggests that this time frame needs to be expanded. The catastrophe in the upper Dhauli Ganga basin is linked to processes other than precipitation events, such as snow avalanches, rock landslides, or other unidentified drivers, and therefore determining all of the potential major and minor drivers behind sudden surges of meltwater into headwater streams is vital for understanding the hazard profile of the region.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider the following with reference to Handloom traditions :

1) Maheshwari,

2) Pochampally,

3) Chanderi, Bagh

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider the following with reference to Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) :

1) Set up in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

2) To develop and expand worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs, and to consult with other international organisations in the standards development process Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was formed in 2013 with support of more than a hundred countries with India as the host country and Spices Board India as the Secretariat for organising the sessions of the committee.

3) Since its inception, the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs(CCSCH) has been successful in developing harmonised global Codex standards for spices and herbs.

4)In its past four sessions, the committee developed and finalized standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider the following with reference to SVAMITVA :

Towards the objectives of socio-economic empowerment of the rural mass and making them self-reliant, a Central Sector Scheme, “Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas’ (SVAMITVA) was launched by the Prime Minister on 24^th April 2020.

1) The scheme aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners in rural abadi areas and issuance of Property cards.

2) The Scheme has been approved for implementation at an outlay of Rs 566.23 cr across the country in phased manner over a period of five years (2020-2025) and would eventually cover approx. 6.62 lakh villages of the entire country.

3) The States have also initiated the process for finalisation of Digital property card/Title Deed format, requisite amendments in their act for the provisioning of Property Cards/title deeds and survey of abadi areas.

4) Different States have different nomenclature for the Property Cards viz. ‘Title deed’ in Haryana, ‘Rural Property Ownership Records (RPOR)’ in Karnataka, ‘Adhikar Abhilekh’ in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Sannad’ in Maharashtra, ‘Patta’ in Rajasthan, ‘Svamitva Abhilekh’ in Uttarakhand, and ‘Gharauni’ in Uttar Pradesh

5) The Scheme has the potential to transform rural India. It will pave the way for using property as a financial asset by villagers for taking loans and other financial benefits, as in the case in towns and cities. Further, this is the first time ever that such a large-scale exercise involving most modern technology is being carried out to benefit millions of rural property owners.

6) Prime Minister noted the impact of Swamitva Yojna in the 6 states where it was launched within just one year. Under the scheme, the entire village properties are surveyed by drone and property card are distributed to the owners. 4.09 lakh people were given such e- property cards in more than 5 thousand villages. The Scheme has infused a new confidence in the villages as property documents remove uncertainty and reduce the chances of property disputes while protecting the poor from exploitation and corruption.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider the following with reference to PMGKAY :

PMGKAY scheme is announced by the Government of India by the Union Government for the month of May and June 2021

1) Under this scheme it has been decided to allocate free-of-cost food grains @ 5 Kg per person per month to nearly 80 Crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). This allocation would be over and above NFSA foodgrains for next two months i.e. May and June 2021 on the same pattern as the earlier “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)”.

2) Under this special scheme, around 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries covered under both categories of NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Householders (PHH), will be provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements under NFSA.

3) During 2020-21, Government of India had announced PMGKAY-I (April-June 2020) and PMGKAY-II (July-November 2020) under which 104 LMT wheat and 201 LMT rice, total 305 LMT foodgrains were successfully supplied by FCI to the respective State/ UT governments

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider the following with reference to Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities in the country :

1) The basic aim behind establishing PSA Oxygen Generation Plants at Government hospitals in the district headquarters is to further strengthen the public health system and ensure that each of these hospitals has a captive oxygen generation facility.

2) Such an in-house captive oxygen generation facility would address the day to day medical oxygen needs of these hospitals and the district. In addition, the liquid medical oxygen (LMO) would serve as a “top up” to the captive oxygen generation.

3) Such a system will go a long way in ensuring that Government hospitals in the districts do not face sudden disruption of oxygen supplies and have access to adequate uninterrupted oxygen supply to manage the COVID-19 patients and other patients needing such support.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider the following with reference to Oxygen production in steel plants :

1) Steel plant requires gaseous oxygen, primarily for steel making and for oxygen enrichment in Blast Furnaces, apart from some general purposes like lancing and gas cutting

2) . Hence Captive Oxygen Plants in Integrated Steel Plants are designed to produce primarily gaseous products of Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon and then routed through Pressure Reduction & Management System (PRMS) to meet the process need at desired pressure. Such plants can produce 5-6% maximum Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at the peak capacity, which is a highly pure product compared to the industrial oxygen. Plants can only optimize LOX production by sacrificing some gaseous Oxygen and optimize process parameters.

3) The Average delivery of Liquid Medical Oxygen by SAIL has been raised to more than 800 tonnes per day.

4) Total Liquid Medical Oxygen supplied from SAIL integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur and Burnpur from August, 2020 till April,2021 has been 39,647 Tonnes.

5) As far as RINL is concerned, in the last FY 20-21, it had supplied 8842 ton of LMO.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider the following with reference to Car Nicobar and Nancowry group of islands in UT of A&N Islands :

This area becomes the first large contiguous territory to be conferred with organic certification under the ‘Large Area Certification’ (LAC) scheme of the PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) certification programme.

1) Car Nicobar and Nancowry group of Islands have been traditionally organic for ages. The administration has also banned the sale, purchase and usage of any chemical inputs of GMO seeds in these islands. The administration of UT in collaboration with local communities prepared the island-wise and farmer wise database of land holding, practices being adopted, input usage history etc. An expert committee has verified their organic status and recommended for declaration of the area as certified organic under the PGS-India certification programme.

2) Organic farming has been identified as a viable option promising safe and chemical residue-free food and long-term sustainability of food production systems.

3) India now has more than 30 lakh ha area registered under organic certification and slowly more and more farmers are joining the movement. As per the international survey report (2021) India ranks at 5^th place in terms of area and is at the top in terms of total number of producers (base year 2019).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider the following with reference to Aditya L-1 :

1) AL1SC set up at the transit campus of ARIES at Haldwani, Uttarakhand, will jointly work with ISRO to maximize utilization of science data from Aditya-L1 and facilitate India’s first dedicated solar space mission- Aditya-L1.

2) The service centre called Aditya-L1 Support Cell (AL1SC), a joint effort of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India will be used by the guest observers in analyzing science data and preparing science observing proposals.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider the following with reference to Pyrasol :

The foundation stone of the Integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot was laid by Dr. K J Sreeram, Director, CSIR- Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI),

1) The pilot is part of the project ‘Pyrasol’ launched to transform urban organic waste into biochar and energy in smart cities. It was awarded to CSIR-CLRI .

2) The project will ultimately lead to technology development for the joint processing of Fibrous Organic Waste (FOW) and Sewage Sludge (SS) of Indian smart cities into hygienic and highly valuable biochar associated with energy recovery, carbon sequestration and environmental improvement.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider the following with reference to NaviC :

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system established and maintained by ISRO. It covers India and a region extending up to 1 ,500 km beyond Indian mainland (primary coverage area). It provides position accuracy better than 20 m (20) and timing accuracy better than 50 ns (20). The actual measurements demonstrate accuracy better than 5 m and 20 ns respectively.

NavIC based applications are being used in various civilian sectors, including, transport, map applications, and timekeeping. Today major mobile chipset manufacturers like Qualcomm, MediaTek and Broadcom already support NavIC across various chipset platforms.

1) A few mobile phone OEMs have also released handsets which can be enabled to receive NavlC through Over the Air firmware update.

2) Some examples for NavlC enabled mobile phones include the Redmi Note 9 series from Xiaomi, the Realme 6 series, the OnePlus Nord, etc.

3) NavlC is an indigenous positioning system that is under Indian control. There is no risk of the service being withdrawn or denied in a given situation.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider the following with reference to NTIPRIT: :

1) National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT)

2) It is the apex training institute of Department of Telecommunications involved in conduction of induction Training for probationary officers of Indian Telecommunication Service Group — A (ITS Group A) recruited through All India based Engineering Services Examination conducted by UPSC.

3) Apart from Induction Training, NTIPRIT also conducts various In-Service Trainings, Management Development Programmes, Regional and International Trainings, Capacity Building workshops for Officers of Government of India in various aspects of Information and Communication Technology Administration in India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider the following with reference to the amendments to the GNCTD Act, 1991 :

The Government of National Capital Territory (GNCTD) Amendment Act, 2021 has come into force after being passed by the Lok Sabha on 22.03.2021, by the Rajya Sabha on 24.03.2021, and after the assent of the President of India on 28.03.2021.

1) The Amendment Act has the effect of amending Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the Act.

2) The objective of the Amendment Act is to make it more relevant to the needs of the Capital; further define the responsibilities of the elected Government and the Lt. Governor (LG); and, create a harmonious relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.

3) The Amendment would ensure better governance in the NCT of Delhi and lead to improved implementation of schemes and programmes meant for the common people of Delhi.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider the following with reference to Milky way :

1) The Milky Way consists of giant clouds of molecular hydrogen. They are the seats of the formation of new stars and can be as massive as 10 million times the Sun’s mass.

2) They can extend up to 600 light-years, the distance that would take light 600 years to travel. Cosmic rays, produced in supernovae explosions propagate through these clouds before they reach the Earth. Cosmic rays interact with molecular hydrogen and can give rise to other cosmic rays.

3) As they propagate through these clouds, they decay from their original forms and intermix, lose their energy by energising the clouds, and may also get re-energised. The researchers fromRaman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, studied all these astrophysical processes via a code they set up on the computer, using a publicly available code.

High energy particles are generally lower in number in the cosmic universe. But the excess number of high energy particles of the antimatter counterpart of the electrons, called positrons have intrigued scientists for long.

Over the years astronomers have observed an excess of antimatter counterpart of the electron or positrons having an energy of more than 10 giga-electronvolts, or 10 GeV. For an estimate, this is the energy of a positively charged electron accelerated across a 10,000,000,000 volt battery! Positrons with energy more than 300 GeV, however, are lower in comparison to what astronomers expect. This behaviour of positrons between 10 and 300 GeV is what astronomers call the ‘positron excess’.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider the following with reference to SUTRA model for charting the trajectory of COVID-19 :

1) Scientists working on the SUTRA model for charting the trajectory of COVID-19, would like to clearly point out some facts related to predictions of our mathematical model, especially since some of these have been misunderstood and misquoted. Recent reports in some media seem to suggest that scientists working on the SUTRA model cautioned in March about the second wave

2) SUTRA model predicted the second wave to peak by the third week of April and to stay most likely around 1 lakh daily cases.

Ayush-64 is an Ayurvedic formulation, developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS),

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider the following with reference to Ayush-64 :

1) Ayush-64 is an Ayurvedic formulation, developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS),

2) Patients of mild to moderate COVID-19 cases showing initial symptoms like fever, malaise, body ache, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, headache, cough etc. and of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 can start taking Ayush 64 within 7 days of diagnosis of the disease through RT-PCR for better outcome.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider the following with reference to 5Gi technology :

1) The 5Gi technology has been developed by IIT Madras, Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT) and IIT Hyderabad.

2) 5G technology is expected to deliver improved user experience in terms of data download rates (expected to be 10 times that of 4G), up to three times greater spectrum efficiency, and ultra low latency to enable Industry 4.0. Applications are across a wide range of sectors such as agriculture, education, health, transport, traffic management, smart cities, smart homes, and multiple applications of IOT (Internet of Things).

3) The TSPs are encouraged to conduct trials using 5Gi technology in addition to the already known 5G Technology. It will be recalled that International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has also approved the 5Gi technology, which was advocated by India, as it facilitates much larger reach of the 5G towers and Radio networks.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider the following with reference to Biodiesel :

1) Biodiesel is an alternative fuel, similar to conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel.

2) It can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow and waste cooking oil.

3) A significant advantage of Biodiesel is its carbon-neutrality, i.e. the oilseed absorbs the same amount of CO2 as is released when the fuel is combusted in a vehicle. Also, Biodiesel is rapidly biodegradable and completely non-toxic.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider the following with reference to ‘Moorhen Yoga mat’ :

1) The ‘Moorhen Yoga mat’ named after Kam Sorai (Purple moorhen, a resident bird of Deepor Beel Wildlife sanctuary), comes in a cotton canvas cloth bag where no zip or metal closures are used. The bag has adjustable strap and closures effectively designed to be in sync with biodegradability.

2) The women wove water hyacinth using traditional Assamese loom with the help of different combinations of techniques, materials and tools to develop a high quality, comfortable and thoroughly biodegradable and compostable Yoga Mat. It has resulted in engagement of 38 women from 3 fringe villages (Keotpara, Notun Basti and Borbori). Technology intervention could also increase the production rate.

3) A biodegradable and compostable yoga mat developed from water hyacinth by six young girls from the fishing community in Assam could turn this water plant from a nuisance to wealth.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider the following with reference to Arctic :

1) India has a permanent research station in the Arctic called Himadari at NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway. It has also deployed a multi-sensor moored observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014. The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated, conducted, and promoted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

2) Arctic warming and its ice melt are global concerns as they play a pivotal role in regulating climate, sea levels, and maintaining biodiversity. Moreover, there is growing evidence of connection between the Arctic and the Indian Ocean (which modulates the Indian monsoon).

3) Hence, improving the understanding of physical processes and quantifying the impact of Arctic ice melt on the Indian summer monsoon is very important.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider the following with reference to Oxygen availability :

Oxygen availability has been enhanced:

1) by increase in Production Capacity and production, setting up of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Plants, import of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO)from Overseas, and Procurement of Oxygen Concentrators.

2) For enhancing tanker availability to streamline transportation, Nitrogen and Argon tankers have been converted, tankers and containers have been imported, domestic manufacturing of tankersincreased, andrail and air transportation of tankers is being undertaken to reduce turn-around time

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider the following with reference to National Bamboo Mission :

The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched in 2018-19 for holistic development of the bamboo sector through a cluster-based approach in a hub (industry) and spoke model to harness the opportunities by providing backward and forward linkages among the stakeholders – linking farmers to markets. There is a huge potential to place Indian bamboo products in the domestic as well as global markets with the latest technologies, modern processing and by generating awareness on compliance requirements for destination countries.

1) The Mission is streamlining its interventions to enhance domestic industrial activities as well as augmenting the farmer’s income with support from technical agencies and facilitative steps.

2) Direct subsidy of 50% is given to farmers at Rs 1.00 lakh per ha, 100% to Government agencies and also to entrepreneurs for setting up various product development units, etc. The Mission is presently being executed by 21 States, including all the 9 States of NER through the respective State Bamboo Missions..

3) NBM is also advising States to make available quality planting material to the farmers out to carry out plantations of commercially required species, set up common facility centres and other post-harvest units in complete sync with the requirement of existing and sunrise industries for a win-win situation for farmers and Indian bamboo industry

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider the following with reference to Mountains to Mangroves – A Journey of 1000 Kilometers” :

India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off by the mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Every state in India is distinct from each other in its landscapes, heritage, arts & crafts, cuisine and offers varied tourism options to travel enthusiasts. In this journey of 1000 kilometers from mountains to mangroves focus is on two of the most picturesque states that is West Bengal and Sikkim.

1) The marvelous journey started from the Himalayan range of mountains from Sikkim through the Queen of the hills Darjeeling to the Gangetic Plains in south across the coastal region to the world’s largest Delta which is known for the natural habitat of Royal Bengal tigers of Sundarbans. A journey through spirituality, breathtaking landscapes, tea gardens, trekking trails, UNESCO World Heritage site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway &Sundarbans National Park, heritage & colonial rich architectural treasures of West Bengal.

2) The State of Sikkim isblessed with natural abundance with the magnificent Mt. Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain of the world, flowering alpine meadows, mountain lakes etc.Gangtok, the capital of the State of Sikkim, Pelling, Lachung, Lachen, Yumthang, Nathula Pass, Gurudongmar Lake aresome of the famous tourist destinations in Sikkim

3)West Bengal : To name few sites are Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kalimpong, Dooars,Jaldapara,Malda,Bishnupur,Santiniketan, Kolkata- the City of Joy, Sundarbans (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Digha Beachand the list is endless of this incredible state.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider the following with reference to Bio-diesel :

1) Biodiesel is an alternative fuel, similar to conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel. It can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow and waste cooking oil.

2) A significant advantage of Biodiesel is its carbon-neutrality, i.e. the oilseed absorbs the same amount of CO2 as is released when the fuel is combusted in a vehicle.

3) Also, Biodiesel is rapidly biodegradable and completely non-toxic.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider the following with reference to “Randhan se Indhan”. (UCO) (Used Cooking Oil) :

1) We aspire to trace even the last drop of UCO and ensure its conversion to Biodiesel, thereby contributing to a more energy secure, greener and healthier India

2) IndianOil has started constructing eight Biodiesels plants across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

3) IndianOil has received 51KL of UCO-Biodiesel at its Tikrikalan terminal in Delhi as of 31.3.2021.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider the following with reference to Van Dhan Yojana (in Odisha ) :

1) In Mayurbhanj district, tribal beneficiaries in three clusters, Luguburu VDVKC, MaaDharithri VDVKC and Bhimakund VDVKC will work on processing sal leaf, sal seeds, kusum seeds and wild honey to produce plates, cups made of sal leaves, Kusum oil and processed honey.

2) In Keonjhar districts, tribal beneficiaries of theAnchalikaKhandadhar VDVKC will process raw mango, mustard and turmeric into Aampapad, mango pickle, turmeric powder and mustard oil.

3) In Ban Durga VDVKC cluster the MFPs which will be value added are tamarind, sal seeds and char seeds to be made into deseeded tamarind, tamarind cake, sal shampoo and packed char seeds.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider the following with reference to Kabasura Kudineer :

1) Kabasura Kudineer, a Siddha medicine was also subjected to clinical trials for studying the efficacy in Covid-19 patients by Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) under Ministry of Ayush and is also found useful in the treatment of mild to moderate covid-19 infection.

2) With the latest initiative to launch a nationwide campaign for distribution of AYUSH-64 and Kabasura Kudineer, India aims to strengthen its position in fight against COVID19 pandemic.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider the following with reference to Arctic warming :

1) Arctic warming and its ice melt are global concerns as they play a pivotal role in regulating climate, sea levels, and maintaining biodiversity.

2) Moreover, there is growing evidence of connection between the Arctic and the Indian Ocean (which modulates the Indian monsoon)..

3) Hence, improving the understanding of physical processes and quantifying the impact of Arctic ice melt on the Indian summer monsoon is very important

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider the following with reference to :

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider the following with reference to Himadri IndARC :

1) India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to 1920 with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in Paris. Since July 2008, India has a permanent research station in the Arctic called Himadari at NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway.

2) It has also deployed a multi-sensor moored observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014. The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated, conducted, and promoted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider the following with reference to :

1) Central Government has released an amount of Rs. 8,923.8 crore to 25 States for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs).

2) The grants are meant for all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions – village, block and district.

3) The amount released in May 2021 is the first instalment of the ‘Untied Grants’ for the year 2021-22

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider the following with reference to ‘ 5G technology and COVID-19 spread , there is no link ‘ :

1) Mobile towers emit non-ionizing Radio frequencies having very minuscule power and are incapable of causing any kind of damage to living cells including human beings.

2) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has prescribed norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (i.e. Base Station Emissions) which are 10 times more stringent than the safe limits prescribed by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and recommended by WHO.

3) The claims linking the 5G technology with the COVID-19 pandemic are false and have no scientific basis. Moreover, it is informed that the testing of the 5G network has not yet started anywhere in India. Hence, the claim that 5G Trials or networks are causing coronavirus in India is baseless and false

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider the following with reference to Bomilla Creek :

1) It is near Hutbay

2) It is near Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider the following with reference to SpO2 Based Oxygen Supply System (SpO2 :Blood Oxygen Saturation) :

1) The SpO2 Based Oxygen Supply System optimises the consumption of oxygen based on the SpO2 reading of the patient and effectively increases the endurance of portable oxygen cylinder. The threshold SpO2 value for initiating flow from the system can be adjusted by the health staff. A display is provided for continuously monitoring the SpO2 levels. Work load and exposure of healthcare providers is considerably reduced by eliminating the need of routine measurements and manual adjustments of oxygen flow.

2) The Oxycare system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels and prevents the person from sinking into a state of hypoxia which can be fatal.

3) Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is a measurement of how much oxygen your blood is carrying as a percentage of the maximum it could carry. For a healthy individual, the normal SpO2 should be between 96% to 99%. High altitudes and other factors may affect what is considered normal for a given individual.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

Model question paper 24

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 24 (Prepared on 19 .9.2021)

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider the following with reference to fertilizers :

Government of India is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 22 grades of Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers including Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP)& Single Superphosphate (SSP) to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/ importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f 01.04.2010.

1) The subsidy is released to fertilizer companies as per Nutrient based subsidy rates so that they can make available fertilizers to farmers at affordable price.

2) NBS was expected to wean away farmers from applying too much urea containing only nitrogen and increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers which will result in balanced fertilization.

3) Under NBS, the fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilizers.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider the following with reference to Pune Air Quality :

1) The most awaited Pune emission inventory report to understand the contribution of various sources of emissions in Pune Air quality has been released by

, Vice-Chancellor of SPPU.

2) The final product yielded mapping of pollution sources in each 400m x 400m grid of PMR for 8 major pollutants namely, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NOx, CO, SO2, BC, HC

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider the following with reference to Open Banking ?:

1)Open banking is defined as the sharing and leveraging of customer-permissioned data by banks with third party developers and firms to build applications and services, including for example those that provide real-time payments, greater financial transparency options for account holders, marketing and cross-selling opportunities. Individual jurisdictions may define open banking differently

2) Open banking is a potential disruptor in financial system and may change the way of doing banking for both- customers and banks.

3)New pure tech-play entities have the potential to snatch market share from established but traditional financial institutions because they are technologically more advanced, digitally agile to cater to customer needs with higher efficiency, have better user interface, and are more competitive in pricing.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

4)Consider the following with reference to Regulations Review Authroity set up by RBI:

1)The Reserve Bank of India had set up a Regulations Review Authority (RRA) initially for a period of one year from April 1, 1999 for reviewing the regulations, circulars, reporting systems, based on the feedback from public, banks and financial institutions.

2)The recommendations of the RRA enabled streamlining and increasing the effectiveness of several procedures, simplifying regulatory prescriptions, paved the way for issuance of master circular and reduced reporting burden on regulated entities

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider the following with reference to CPI inflation :

1)The rebound from the COVID-19 induced slump has been sharper than anticipated and economic activity is expected to rebound strongly in 2021-22. Headline consumer price index (CPI) inflation receded into the tolerance band beginning December 2020. Core inflation pressures remain elevated, reflecting pass-through from higher crude oil and non-oil commodity prices, high fuel and other taxes post-COVID and increased operating costs. The evolving COVID-19 trajectory and progress on vaccination remain the key drivers of economic activity and inflation, globally and in India.

2) RBI Act, 1934 requires that the Central Government shall, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), determine the inflation target in terms of consumer price index (CPI), once in every five years. Accordingly, in a notification on March 31, 2021, the Central Government, in consultation with the RBI, retained the inflation target at 4 per cent (with the upper tolerance level of 6 per cent and the lower tolerance level of 2 per cent) for the 5-year period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026.

3)The experience with successfully maintaining price stability and the gains in credibility for monetary policy since the institution of the inflation targeting framework in 2016 would be reinforced by the retention of the target and the tolerance band.¹ The experience during the COVID-19 period has testified to the flexibility of the framework to respond to sharp growth-inflation trade-offs and extreme supply-side shocks.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider the following Crude Oil Prices and inflation :

1)Crude oil prices jumped sharply on production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plus and on anticipation of stronger demand. Non-oil commodity prices have risen substantially across the board, putting upward pressures on inflation in commodity importing countries. Gold prices eased from the highs reached in August 2020 on a stronger US dollar and expectations of economic recovery.

2) While inflation is expected to remain subdued in advanced economies (AEs) and most of the emerging market economies (EMEs) on account of negative output gaps, the large fiscal and monetary stimuli and elevated commodity prices have raised inflation concerns over longer horizons in advanced economies and in the nearer-term in the case of EMEs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider the following with reference to Food inflation :

1) Food inflation has softened since December 2020, largely led by the sharp fall in prices of vegetables and moderation in prices of cereals. Going forward, the bumper kharif harvest, record rabi sowing, further easing of supply chains and effective supply management measures could moderate food inflation by 100 bps below the baseline.

2) Conversely, the recent hardening of global food prices and domestic demand-supply gaps in key food items like pulses, edible oils and fats, and eggs, fish and meat could lead to persistent upward pressures of around 100 bps on food inflation.

3) Higher inflation expectations could then add to sustained pressures on headline inflation. The baseline assumes a normal south-west monsoon in 2021 and any deviations in the actual outturn on either side would be a critical factor in determining the food as well as headline inflation

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider the following with reference to Virus Mutation :

1) When viruses replicate in our body, a sort of battle ensues between them and the host. The host tries to get rid of the virus, which, in turn, tries to get established inside the host. This usually leads to mutations, some of which proliferate better than others.

It is more likely that vaccines would be as effective on this mutation as on other variants of this virus. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines make spike protein (similar to what is actually present in the virus). Once the vaccine-induced spike protein goes inside our body, the antibodies against the virus generate as an immune response.

2) Our body generates a holistic immune response against the entire spike protein. The mutation has occurred in one part of the virus’ spike protein. Therefore, the antibodies which may have bound on one particular region of the spike protein in the absence of mutation, may not do so now.

3) But they may bind on other portions of the spike protein and this will produce an immune response. Therefore, the hypothesis that the vaccine would be as effective with this mutation as well.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider the following with reference to agriculture infrastructure development :

1)The Union Budget 2021-22 has announced measures targeted at infrastructure development in agriculture, rural areas, and fisheries by enhancing credit flow and improving supply chains for perishables while ensuring continuation of direct procurement of cereals by the government.

2)The extension of the agriculture infrastructure fund to Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and integration of additional 1,000 APMC mandis with electronic-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) is expected to enhance farmers access to markets and prices and improve marketing efficiency in the agriculture sector.

3)The proposal to expand “operation green” from 3 (onions, tomatoes and potatoes) to 22 perishable commodities is expected to improve supply chains, reduce price fluctuations and boost exports of perishable agricultural commodities..

4) According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US, there is around 60 per cent chance of a transition from La Niña to ENSO-Neutral during the April-June 2021, indicative of a normal south west monsoon

5) National Agriculture Market (eNAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider the following with reference to Industrial GVA : (2020-21)

Q3 : Third Quarter Q4: Fourth Qurter

1) Industrial sector GVA was driven by the manufacturing sector emerging out of contraction in Q3, although in Q4, there has been some setback due to sharp retrenchment of production of capital goods and consumer non-durables.

2) In contrast, the mining sector continued to languish, throttled by supply bottlenecks. Crude oil and natural gas production dropped due to lack of critical infrastructure and equipment, and operational difficulties amidst the pandemic.

3) Natural gas production crossed the pre-COVID levels in January 2021 following the start of production in KG-D6 field, which bodes well for the outlook.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider the following with reference to IIP : (Q2:Quarter2 Q3:Quarter 3 ) (2020-2021)

1) The index of industrial production (IIP) emerged out of a prolonged contraction in September 2020 but it lost momentum again in November and January 2021 .

2) The improvement in manufacturing activity in Q3 was driven by basic metals, chemical and chemical products, motor vehicles and electrical equipment. 12 out of 23 industry groups entered positive territory in Q3 as compared to only 5 groups during Q2.

3) In terms of the use-based classification, the recovery in Q3 was led by consumer durables and infrastructure/construction goods on the back of increase in sales of automobiles and electronics, and higher domestic demand from the auto and white goods segment for steel. In capital goods sector, the moderation was offset by higher output of agricultural tractors, harvesters, threshers, tyres and tubes.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider the following with reference to Services Sector : H1:first half H2: Second half (2020-21)

1) The services sector stepped out of contraction in H2:2020-21 with the phased unlocking of the economy, and recorded a growth of 1.4 per cent.

The construction sector recuperated faster than anticipated – entering positive territory in Q3 – and rose by 7.3 per cent in H2 due to demand from the residential sector and highway construction . Indicators such as finished steel consumption mirrored the recovery in construction activity . Robust collection of the goods and services tax (GST) and issuances of e-way bills suggest a strong upturn in domestic trading activity. The ongoing normalisation of trade, both domestic and international, boosted railway freight traffic .

2) IT companies continued to record steady growth. Growing demand for core transformation services⁵ and strong revenue conversion from earlier deals, coupled with low travel cost, supported IT companies during Q3. Sales of non-IT services companies remained in contraction zone in Q3, albeit with some moderation.

3) Cloud services, analytics and insights, cognitive business operations, internet of things (IoT) and quality engineering and transformation platform services led growth in the quarter.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider the following with reference to Economic activity : (2020-2021)

1) Economic activity in India is gathering pace on improving business sentiment. Rural demand is leading the expansion, and there is growing evidence of catch-up in urban demand. The fiscal stimulus under AatmaNirbhar 2.0 and 3.0, coupled with increased allocation for capital expenditure under the Union Budget 2021-22, should accelerate public investment and crowd in private investment.

2) The production-linked incentives scheme is expected to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities and bolster exports. Despite gaining some traction, the contact-intensive services sector may take some time to reach pre-COVID levels.

3) The recent increase in COVID infections, if not contained, could push back the normalisation process and impede the broader revival of economic activity. The sharp rise in global crude oil and commodity prices and global financial market volatility impart downside risks to the recovery.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider the following with reference to Economic activity : (2020-2021)

(Q1: first quarter) (Q2: Second quarter) (Q3: Third quarter) (Q4: Fourth quarter)

1) Japanese economy expanded by 11.7 per cent (q-o-q, SAAR) in Q4, extending the third quarter’s recovery from the worst recession witnessed in the first half of 2020. Resilient trade conditions as reflected in a strong pick-up in exports and high capital spending underpinned by significant government support led to the GDP expansion. With the third wave of COVID-19 infections and the re-imposition of the state of emergency in the Tokyo area, however, the momentum for recovery slowed down in Q1, accompanied by large contractions in retail sales and industrial production in January and February. The manufacturing PMI, on the other hand, expanded in February 2021 for the first time since April 2019, with March witnessing further expansion.

2)In the UK, GDP expanded in Q4, but it moderated from the record pace registered in Q3, leading to an overall contraction of 9.8 per cent in 2020. In early Q1:2021, infections reached new peaks, with newer and more contagious variants pushing the economy into its third nationwide lockdown in January. Furthermore, the new trading arrangement with the European Union (EU) post-Brexit is likely to weigh on activity in early 2021.

3)The economic recovery continued in China for the third consecutive quarter in Q4, resulting in an overall annual increase of 2.3 per cent in 2020 and making it the only major economy to register growth in a pandemic-ravaged year. China’s growth has been powered by strong and robust recovery in manufacturing and exports underpinned by policy support measures. By contrast, the recovery in consumption activity remains relatively weak. The Chinese economy seems to have lost some steam in Q1 from COVID-19 flare-ups in January and the associated containment measures.

4)The Caixin composite PMI – though in expansion – eased to a ten-month low in February. Even the Caixin manufacturing PMI for March turned out to be the lowest in the current 11-month period of expansion.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider the following with reference to Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) :

1)In 2017, eight central banks and supervisors established the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) which had 89 central banks and supervisors from around the world by March 2021. The NGFS recommended integration of climate-related factors into prudential supervision and emphasised the importance of a robust and internationally consistent climate and environmental disclosure framework.

2) A recent survey of 26 central banks reveals that central banks consider climate change to be an emerging challenge both in terms of its potential threat to the economy and impact on their operational frameworks (NGFS, 2020).

3)The prime motivation for the central banks is to mitigate financial risks on their balance sheets due to exposures to climate change related risks. Furthermore, central banks are in favour of formulating pro-active measures in moving towards a low-carbon economy while ensuring smooth monetary transmission over the long-term

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider the following with reference to Green Swan :

1) The concept of “green swan” used by Bolton et al. (2020) was inspired by the famous concept of “black swan” developed by Taleb. The Black Swan. New York: Penguin Random House]. Black swan events are rare and unexpected events with low probability but heavy impacts. Such events can only be explained after they happen.

2)The higher global temperatures and the associated shifts in weather patterns are key risks to the growth and inflation outlook across AEs and EMEs through various channels. While the most evident channel is agricultural output, others could be adverse effects on labour productivity, mortality rates and investment decisions .

3) Thus, climate change poses severe challenges to the central banks’ mandate of price and financial stability. Conventional models followed by the central banks cannot predict climate-related risks accurately, including exposure to “green swan”³ risks, which are in nature of “climate black swan events”, i.e., extreme financially disruptive events that could be the next systemic financial crisis

AE: Advanced Economies

EMEs: Emerging Market Economies

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider the following with reference to Crude Oil Prices :

1)Crude oil prices lost some steam in September-October (2020) on waning demand prospects but have picked up since November on vaccine optimism and extension of production cuts by OPEC plus.

2)The US stimulus and Brexit agreement further boosted the market sentiments. In February, prices surged to their highest level since the pandemic amidst tightening global supplies and falling crude inventories in the US and Europe. Saudi Arabia’s decision to voluntarily cut production by an additional 1.0 million barrels per day during February-April(2020) added to bullish sentiments.

3)Following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, Brent prices increased further, moving closer to US$70 per barrel in mid-March. However, prices corrected thereafter, on near-term demand concerns amidst rising infections and build up in the US crude inventories. Despite the correction, Brent crude prices increased by 21.9 per cent in Q1:2021

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider the following with reference to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) :

1) In 2020, the average temperature of global land and ocean surfaces was 1.17°C higher than the twentieth-century average of 13.9°C, making it the second warmest year on record.

2) The five warmest years since 1880 have been only recently after 2015. Global temperatures are expected to increase by another 1.5 degree between 2030 and 2052, and to continue upwards thereafter [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2018].

3) The rise in global temperature is mainly attributed to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, El Niño–Southern Oscillation changes in the global atmospheric circulation have been wild, influencing, in turn, temperature and precipitation across the globe

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider the following with reference to Fly ash (burnt coal ash from thermal power stations) :

1) Fly ash contains crystalline silica which is known to cause lung disease, in particular silicosis, if inhaled.

2)It impacts on the nervous system, causing cognitive defects, developmental delays, and behavioral problems while also increasing a person’s chance of developing kidney disease, and gastrointestinal illness.

3)Fly ash can be a cost-effective substitute for Portland cement in many markets.

4)Fly ash is a pozzolan, a substance containing aluminous and siliceous material that forms cement in the presence of water. In addition, it contains ferric oxide and calcium oxide.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider the following with reference to NM-QTA :

1) The government in its budget-2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) for developing quantum computing linked technologies in the country.

2)It aims at harnessing the potential of QTA and keep the country in league with the ones taking the lead in the domain

3)Quantum technology is opening up new frontiers in computing, communications, cyber security and encryption with wide-spread applications.It is expected that lots of commercial applications would emerge from theoretical constructs which are developing in this area.

4)The areas of focus for the Mission will be in fundamental science, translation, technology development, human and infrastructural resource generation, innovation and start-ups to address issues concerning national priorities.

5)Quantum technologies comprise quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum optics, quantum information processing, quantum internet and quantum artificial intelligence.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

21)Consider the following with reference to Edge computing :

1) Edge computing is a distributed, open IT architecture that features decentralised processing power, enabling mobile computing and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Here, data is processed by the device itself or by a local computeror server, rather than being transmitted to a data centre.

2)Simply put, edge computing enables data to be analysed, processed, and transferred at the edge of a network.

3)The idea is to analyse data locally, closer to where it is stored, in real-time without latency, rather than send it far away to a centralised data centre. However, only the relevant data or information is collected and then sent, rather than all of the data collected.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider the following with reference to nanopharmaceuticals :

1) A nanopharmaceutical is defined as a pharmaceutical preparation containing nanomaterials (1 to 100 nm in at least one dimension) intended for internal use or external application on human for the purpose of therapeutics, diagnostics and health benefits.

2)Nanopharmaceuticals offer the ability to detect diseases at much earlier stages and the diagnostic applications could build upon conventional procedures using nanoparticles

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider the following with reference to bacteriophage :

1) A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects bacteria. In fact, the word bacteriophage literally means ‘bacteria eater’, because bacteriophages destroy their host cells.

2)All bacteriophages are composed of a nucleic acid molecule that is surrounded by a protein structure.

3)Bacteriophages occasionally remove a portion of their host cells’ bacterial DNA during the infection process and then transfer this DNA into the genome of new host cells. This process is known as transduction

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider the following with reference to neutrino :

1) A neutrino is a subatomic particle that is very similar to an electron, but has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero.

2)Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe.

3)Neutrinos are high-energy particles that pose no threat to us and pass through most solid objects without anyone even noticing. Neutrinos constantly bombard Earth and as per some estimates emerging from studies, 100 trillion neutrinos pass through your body every second!

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider the following with reference to Agent Orange (used in Vietnam war) :

1) The active ingredient of Agent Orange is combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (also called as 2,4-D) and 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid(also called as 2,4,5-T).

2)Agent Orange contains dioxin, which is one of the most toxic chemicals known to man and has been linked to increased rates of cancers and birth defects.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider the following with reference to Sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach) :

1) Recently, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry has issued advisory against spraying of chemical disinfectants on individual or group which is physically and psychologically harmful.

2)The Ministry said that inhalation of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl or NaClO) can lead to irritation of mucous membranes of nose, throat, respiratory tract and may also cause bronchospasm.

3)Sodium hypochlorite is most often encountered as a pale greenish-yellow dilute solution commonly known as liquid bleach, a household chemical widely used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider the following with reference to Bluetongue (BT) Virus :

1)Bluetongue (BT) Virus: The Bluetongue (BT) virus is an insect-transmitted viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants that includes the camelid species.

2)The disease is widespread among the sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes and camels in India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider the following with reference to GEMINI :

1) GEMINI (Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation and Information) is a portable receiver linked to ISRO-satellites, that is “fail-proof” and warn fishermen of danger.

2)The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), a Hyderabad institute collaborated with Accord, a private company, to develop this receiver

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider the following with reference to CYANOBACTERIUM :

1) Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 is a model marine cyanobacterium. There are other Synechococcus species and related organisms where this work can be extended.

2)scientists at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) have developed a method to improve the growth rate and sugar content of a marine cyanobacterium called Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002.

3)The cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can also perform photosynthesis and produce sugar by fixing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Apart from higher yield of sugars, cyanobacterial biomass also provides a nitrogen source in the form of proteins.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider the following with reference to INFECTIONS :

1) Vertical transmission refers to the transmission of an infection from a pregnant woman to her child. It can be antenatal (before birth), perinatal (weeks immediately prior to or after birth) or postnatal (after birth).

2)The infections of which vertical transmission has been known to happen are HIV, Zika, Rubella and the Herpes Virus.

3)Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has laid down the need for healthcare workers to factor in the consequences of the probable vertical transmission of COVID-19.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider the following with reference to Pulsars :

1) Pulsars, or rapidly spinning neutron stars, are the extremely dense remains of stars that exploded as supernovas. They emit X-ray photons in bright, narrow beams that sweep the sky like a lighthouse as the stars spin.

2)Just as lighthouses have helped sailors navigate safely into harbor for centuries, future space travellers may receive similar guidance from the steady signals created by pulsars.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider the following with reference to Methane hydrate called Fire Ice :

1) The Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin holds a massive reserve of methane hydrate and a rich source of cleaner natural gas, claims a study by the Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) of the Science & Technology Ministry.

2)Methane hydrate also called ‘Fire Ice’ is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules. Methane hydrate is an “ice” that only occurs naturally in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider the following :

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 provides for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers’ produce which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels; to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers’ produce outside the physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations; and to provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading.

To create an ecosystem where farmers and traders enjoy the freedom to sell and purchase farm produce outside registered mandis under state’s Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).

To promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade of farmers’ produce.

To reduce marketing/transportation costs and help farmers in getting better prices.

To provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading.

Impacts:

1)Ends the monopoly of traders.

2)Creating competition among buyers.

3)Yields better returns to farmers and raises incomes.

4)Farm produce can move freely from surplus to deficit regions.

5)Creates national market; high intimidation cost of mandis will end.

6)Consumer gets better and cheaper products.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider the following :

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Prices Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 provides for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner.

Farmers can enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price.

Marginal and small farmers, with land less than five hectares, to gain via aggregation and contract (Marginal and small farmers account for 86% of total farmers in India).

To transfer the risk of market unpredictability from farmers to sponsors.

To enable farmers to access modern tech and get better inputs.

To reduce cost of marketing and boost farmer’s income.

Farmers can engage in direct marketing by eliminating intermediaries for full price realization.

Effective dispute resolution mechanism with redressal timelines.

Impacts:

1)Farmers will have assured price before sowing.

2)Transfers market risk from farmer to sponsor.

3)Gives farmers access to high quality seeds, fertilisers, pesticides.

4)Will attract private investment in farming and link farms to global markets

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider the following :

SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) was launched by Prime Minister on 24th April 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.

1) The Scheme has the potential to transform rural India using modern technical tools of mapping and surveying. It paves the way for using the property as a financial asset by villagers for availing loans and other financial benefits. The Scheme will cover around 6.62 Lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025.

2)The pilot phase of the Scheme was implemented during 2020–2021 in the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider the following with reference to NEP 2020 :

NEP-2020 is the first education policy of the twenty-first century which was announced after 34 years of the previous National Policy on Education 1986. NEP-2020 is directed towards major reforms in both school and higher education level.

1)The new National Education Policy aims at making India into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society. It envisions an India-centred education system that contributes directly to transforming India into a Global Superpower.

2)NEP-2020 brought in sweeping reforms in School Education in the country. At the school level emphasis is being given to Universalisation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children up to the age 8; 10+2 structure of school curricula is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure; integrating curriculum to 21^st century skills, mathematical thinking and scientific temper; development of new comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education; national professional standards for teachers; assessment reforms and 360 degree holistic progress card of child; and vocational integration from class 6 onwards.

3)The comprehensive transformation aimed in the NEP will bring about a paradigm shift in the country’s education system and create an enabling and reinvigorated educational ecosystem for a new Atmanirbhar Bharat envisaged by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider the following with reference to PMMSY :

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package. The investment of Rs. 20,050 crores under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector. Out of this, an investment of about Rs 12340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture and about Rs 7710 crores investment for Fisheries Infrastructure.

1)PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10% and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.

2)PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.

3)While aiming to consolidate the achievements of Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY envisages many new interventions such as fishing vessel insurance, support for new/up-gradation of fishing vessels/boats, Bio-toilets, Aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, Sagar Mitras, FFPOs/Cs, Nucleus Breeding Centres, Fisheries and Aquaculture start-ups, Incubators, Integrated Aqua parks, Integrated coastal fishing villages development, Aquatic Laboratories Network and Extension Services, Traceability, Certification and Accreditation, RAS, Biofloc & Cage Culture, E-Trading/Marketing, Fisheries Management Plans, etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider the following with reference to Crop residue :

1) As per estimates, about 145 MMTPA of crop residue remains unutilised and most of it is burnt in India in the open fields, creating severe air pollution that leads to health issues. Open burning of agro residue is considered a major contributor to the surge in PM 2.5 in Northern India in post-harvesting season.

2)With its gross calorific value comparable to the bituminous coal, the power generation potential of the entire 145 MMTPA biomass burnt through co-firing in coal-based power plants is equivalent to 28,000-30,000 MW of round the clock generation of renewable power which can produce the same amount of electrical energy as can be produced from solar capacity of 125,000-150,000 MW.

3)As per a statement issued by NTPC Ltd, it had first undertaken this unique initiative on pilot basis in 2017 for biomass co-firing by replacing some of the coal with pellet based fuel at NTPC Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. Post successful implementation, NTPC now plans to replicate the model in 17 of its state of the art plants. The invitation for bids would be done through e-tendering at SRM Portal. The bidding process will be followed by the Single Stage, Two Envelope Bidding System.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider the following with reference to alternative clean fuel for trasportation (H-CNG) :

1)In a major step toward adopting alternative clean fuel for transportation, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has allowed use of H-CNG (18% mix of hydrogen) in CNG engines. The Ministry has been notifying various alternate fuels under Clean Fuels for transportation.

2)The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also developed specifications (IS 17314:2019) of Hydrogen enriched Compressed Natural Gas (H-CNG) for automotive purposes, as a fuel. Certain CNG-engine were tested to understand the emission reduction using H-CNG as compared to ‘neat’ CNG.

3)A notification for amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, for inclusion of H-CNG as an automotive fuel has been published on 25^th Sept 2020 by the Ministry. The draft rules in this respect were made available to the public on the 22nd July last. No objections and suggestions were received from the public in this respect.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider the following with reference to Natural farming in Gujarat :

1)Sometime back, Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat said that in the next five years, 12 lakh hectares will be brought under natural farming in the state. He mentioned that approximately 1.20 lakh farmers in Gujarat adopted natural farming during the ongoing kharif season and another 5.50 lakh were interested in the practice.

2)The governor enumerated on the many benefits of the practice—the input cost in natural farming tends to be ‘zero’; the requirement of irrigation is reduced to 60–70%, with an increase in organic carbon level from 0.5 to 0.9. The marketing of such produce faces no constraints, where the unit price of premium quality wheat can be marketed at Rs 4000 per quintal instead of the conventional rate of Rs1900.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider the following with reference to Ventilation index :

1)Ventilation index, defined as the product of wind speed and mixing height, is a significant factor affecting Delhi’s Air Quality.

2)Winters are dominated by cold, dry air, and ground based inversion with low wind conditions, which makes the air stagnant and creates an unfavourable condition for dispersion.

3)The wind blows from India’s north and north-west to the east direction during winters which ultimately results in combination of pollution and fog, leading to heavy smog formation in Delhi esp. during winters. The severity is further escalated due to rise in local and regional air polluting sources.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider the following with reference to Energy poverty / Energy security :

Talking about the need to overcome energy poverty, it is said that with over 16% of global population, we are currently using only 6% of the world’s primary energy. He stressed on the need to develop a reliable and compatible energy infrastructure in the country. The Minister said that with the per capita consumption of energy still one-third of the global average, India will have continue to develop all possible energy sources to meet this energy deficit, while fully cognizant of the sustainability dimensions of it. “The energy landscape in India is evolving like never before. Our Government is also taking a constant reality check on the undercurrent of energy transition that is underway in the country”, he added.

1)Talking about the Conference’s theme of Energy Security Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, Shri Pradhan said that we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy for achieving sustainable energy growth with reduced oil dependency, and align with Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are developing alternative fuels as the next wave of transformative change with ethanol, second generation ethanol, compressed bio gas (CBG) and biodiesel in helping to reduce country’s import dependence. It is said “Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve 2G bio- refineries with an investment of Rs.14,000 crores. We are well on our way to meet the target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol and 5% blending of bio-diesel in diesel by 2030.”

2)Talking about the Conference’s theme of Energy Security Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is said that we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy for achieving sustainable energy growth with reduced oil dependency, and align with Atmanirbhar Bharat.

3)We are developing alternative fuels as the next wave of transformative change with ethanol, second generation ethanol, compressed bio gas (CBG) and biodiesel in helping to reduce country’s import dependence. He said “Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve 2G bio- refineries with an investment of Rs.14,000 crores. We are well on our way to meet the target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol and 5% blending of bio-diesel in diesel by 2030.”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider the following with reference to Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) :

The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) is taking action on mission mode to provide employment to migrant workers who have returned to their native villages of 6 states namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Abhiyaan is now empowering villagers with livelihood opportunities in 116 districts of these states.

1)By the 13th week a total of about 30 crore mandays employment has been provided and Rs 27,003 crore has been spent so far in the pursuit of objectives of the Abhiyaan.

2)A large number of structures have been created including 1,14,344 water conservation structures, 3,65,075 rural houses, 27,446 cattle shed, 19,527 farm ponds, and 10,446 Community Sanitary Complex.

3)6727 works have been taken up through District Mineral Funds, 1,662 Gram Panchayat have been provided internet connectivity, a total of 17,508 works related to solid and liquid waste management undertaken, and 54,455 candidates have been provided skill training through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) during the Abhiyaan.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider the following :

1)Finance Act, 2020 amended provisions relating to TCS with effect from 1st October, 2020 to provide that seller of goods shall collect tax @ 0.1 per cent (0.075% up to 31.03.2021) if the receipt of sale consideration from a buyer exceeds Rs. 50 lakh in the financial year.

2)Further, to reduce the compliance burden, it has been provided that a seller would be required to collect tax only if his turnover exceeds Rs. 10 crore in the last financial year. Moreover, the export of goods has also been exempted from the applicability of these provisions.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider the following with reference to Atal Tunnel :

1) Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in the World. The 9.02 Km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall.

2)The Tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Mtrs (10,000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

3)The tunnel reduces the road distance by 46 Kms between Manali and Leh and the time by about 4 to 5 hours.

4)It is horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 Mtrs. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 Mtrs

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider the following with reference to Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) :

1) 1^st October, 2020 is the launch year of Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030), many activities will be undertaken throughout the year, aimed at mainstreaming issues related to elderly and to deliberate upon ways to ensure better and effective delivery of services, making full use of convergence mechanisms. “This initiative is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector for concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live,”

2)Highlighting the importance of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), he said, “With well-designed and judicious investments, ageing population can help build-up human, social, economic and environmental capital. However, this would call for investing in all the phases of life, fostering enabling societies, and creating flexible but vibrant for building a society for all ages.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider the following with reference to importance of habitats :

1) The CZA-TERI titled “Economic valuation of ecosystem services, National Zoological Park, New Delhi ‘.The report highlights the importance of habitats such as zoos to human wellbeing and the need of replication across India.

2)The study first of its kind in India and perhaps the entire World, pegs the total annual economic value of the ecosystem services (biodiversity conservation, employment generation, carbon sequestration, education and research, recreational and cultural) at around 423 crore (2019-20) whereas, the total value of the one-time cost of services such as carbon storage and land value provided by the zoo is estimated to be around 55,000 crore.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider the following with reference to POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) :

1)The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and have the property of long-range environmental transport (LRET).

2)Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development. POPs are listed in various Annexes to the Stockholm Convention after thorough scientific research, deliberations and negotiations among member countries.

3)Considering its commitment towards providing safe environment and addressing human health risks, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had notified the ‘Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 5, 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

4)The regulation inter alia prohibited the manufacture, trade, use, import and export seven chemicals namely (i) Chlordecone, (ii) Hexabromobiphenyl, (iii) Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE), (iv) Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial penta-BDE), (v) Pentachlorobenzene, (vi) Hexabromocyclododecane, and (vii) Hexachlorobutadiene, which were already listed as POPs under Stockholm Convention

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider the following with reference to rookery :

1) The Rushikulya river mouth is considered the second-biggest rookery in India after Gahirmatha. Mass nesting in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary occurred from March 9-23, 2021 and over 349,000 eggs were laid during this period.

2)It’s been around one month since the mass nesting of last year. Moreover, the sand is hot due to the scorching sun. Even the turtles that had congregated in the sea about a fortnight ago, have almost disappeared.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider the following with reference to Jhum cultivation & Mizoram :

1)Jhum (slash and burn farming), collection of non-timber forest produce, burning farm residues and clearance of land for various purposes are the major reasons for the forest fire.

2)Mizoram has a forest cover of 85.41 per cent of their total geographical area, which is highest in India. From 2002 to 2020, primary forests in Mizoram decreased by 4.8 per cent.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider the following 2021 is the year of La Niña — the Pacific water currents :

2021 is the year of La Niña — the Pacific water currents that are known to bring cooler temperatures globally as compared to El Niño. But Indian weather scientists say global warming has offset this cooling effect of La Niña.

1)Rising heat has many implications for water security. First, it means that there will be greater evaporation from all waterbodies. It means that we need to work not just on storing water in millions of structures, but also plan for reducing losses due to evaporation.

2)One option is to work on underground water storage — wells in other words.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider the following with reference to Stockholm+50 :

1) This is why as we approach Stockholm+50, we are looking at an increasingly inequitable world; where poverty and marginalisation are growing and where climate change risks are reaching not just the homes of the poor but also of the rich. We need, therefore, to change paths; to re-configure, not just our language but also our approach to, what we can call, our common future.

2)It’s been a generation since global leaders met in Stockholm in 1972 to discuss environmental challenges. Then the concerns were for the local environment; there was no talk of climate change or even the depletion of the ozone layer. All that came later. In 1972, the discussion was on the toxification of the environment as water and air were foul.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider the following with regard to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) :

Measures taken by the Government on the fronts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country. The following trends in India’s Foreign Direct Investment are an endorsement of its status as a preferred investment destination amongst global investors:

1) India has attracted highest ever total FDI inflow of US$ 81.72 billion during the financial year 2020-21 and it is 10% higher as compared to the last financial year 2019-20 (US$ 74.39 billion).

2) FDI equity inflow grew by 19% in the F.Y. 2020-21 (US$ 59.64 billion) compared to the previous year F.Y. 2019-20 (US$ 49.98 billion).

3) In terms of top investor countries, ‘Singapore’ is at the apex with 29%, followed by the U.S.A (23%) and Mauritius (9%) for the F.Y. 2020-21.

4)‘Computer Software & Hardware’ has emerged as the top sector during F.Y. 2020-21 with around 44% share of the total FDI Equity inflow followed by Construction (Infrastructure) Activities (13%) and Services Sector (8%) respectively.

5)Under the sector `Computer Software & Hardware’, the major recipient states are Gujarat (78%), Karnataka (9%) and Delhi (5%) in F.Y. 2020-21.

6)Gujarat is the top recipient state during the F.Y. 2020-21 with 37% share of the total FDI Equity inflows followed by Maharashtra (27%) and Karnataka (13%).

7)Majority of the equity inflow of Gujarat has been reported in the sectors `Computer Software & Hardware’ (94%) and `Construction (Infrastructure) Activities’ (2%) during the F.Y. 2020-21.

8)The major sectors, namely Construction (Infrastructure) Activities, Computer Software & Hardware, Rubber Goods, Retail Trading, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and Electrical Equipment have recorded more than 100% jump in equity during the F.Y. 2020-21 as compared to the previous year.

9)Out of top 10 countries, Saudi Arabia is the top investor in terms of percentage increase during F.Y. 2020-21. It invested US$ 2816.08 million in comparison to US$ 89.93 million reported in the previous financial year.

10)227% and 44% increase recorded in FDI equity inflow from the USA & the UK respectively, during the F.Y. 2020-21 compared to F.Y.2019-20.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider the following with reference to tropical cyclones :

1)The tropical cyclones forming over different Ocean basins are named by the concerned RSMCs & TCWCs. For north Indian Ocean including Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, the RSMC, New Delhi assigns the name to tropical cyclones following a standard procedure. The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) at its twenty-seventh Session held in 2000 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman agreed in principle to assign names to the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

2)After long deliberations among the member countries, the naming of the tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean commenced from September 2004. This list contained names proposed by then eight member countries of WMO/ESCAP PTC, viz., Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

3)Though these names may look like random ones but these names are carefully chosen and indicate something. For instance, the last cyclone in Arabian sea was given its name by Myanmar as Tauktae which means Gecko, a lizard. Similarly, the upcoming cyclone Yaas has been given by Oman and it refers to a tree.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider the following with reference to e-Committee of Supreme Court of India :

1)The e-Committee of the Supreme Court has been at the forefront of introducing digital reforms in the field of law. In the past one year, the pandemic has also pushed advocates, judges and litigants to adopt high tech solutions due to the closure of offices and courts in light of lockdowns and public health concerns. Working remotely, virtual courts, digital workplaces and electronic case management have become integral to how the legal profession is practiced and conducted.

2)This has given us a rare opportunity to embrace technology not just as an interim measure but to transform our legal system to make it more efficient, inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable. The e-Courts Services Mobile Application is a step in this direction.”

3)It is further added that many advocates and litigants have already embraced the services offered through this mobile application with more than 57 lakh downloads so far. The application will pave the way for optimizing our legal system in an ever-evolving digital world”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider the following with reference to Mucormycosis or black fungus infection :

1) Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus infection, is not a new disease. Such infections were reported even before the pandemic. Its incidence however was very low. Now, due to COVID-19, this rare but fatal fungal infection is being reported in large numbers. Coronavirus Disease Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) is being seen in patients who are either recovering or have recovered from COVID-19. Let us build on our earlier post on the topic , to learn what we can do to protect ourselves and our dear and near ones.

2)Director AIIMS, explained the increased incidence during a press conference . “Earlier, mucormycosis was commonly spotted in people suffering from diabetes mellitus, a condition where one’s blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, those who have had a transplant, and people taking immunosuppressants (medications that weaken the immune system) also used to get it. But now due to COVID-19 and its treatment, an increase in number of cases is being witnessed. There are more than 20 cases of the fungal infection in AIIMS itself, all of whom are COVID positive. Many states have reported 400 to 500 cases, all among COVID patients.”

3)Mucormycosis is caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. It is naturally found in air, water and even food. It enters the body through fungal spores from the air or can also occur on skin after a cut, burn, or skin injury.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider the following with reference to Mango :

1) Mango in India is also referred as ‘king of fruits’ and referred as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures. While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have major share in total production of the fruit.

2)Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri and Banganpalli are leading export varieties from India. Mango exports primarily take place in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice.

3)Mangoes are processed by the APEDA registered packhouse facilities and then exported to various regions and countries including middle east, European Union, USA, Japan and South Korea.

4)Earlier , for the first time in this season, India has shipped a consignment of 2.5 Metric Tonne (MTs) of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Banganapalli & other variety Survarnarekha mangoes sourced from farmers in Krishna & Chittor districts of Andhra Pradesh

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider the following with reference to Kilogram :

Kilogram, the familiar unit we use for weighing things, was originally defined as equivalent to the mass of 1 litre of water at 4°C. It is currently defined as equivalent to the mass of an International Prototype Kilogram made of platinum-iridium alloy, also known as ‘Le Grand K’, manufactured in 1889 and carefully stored in anenvironmentally monitored safe in a lower vault in the basement of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Sèvres near Paris in France. Several identical copies are stored safely in countries around the world, including one at National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. All kilogram weights used around the world must match the international prototype. The change in definition of the kilogram became necessary because it was found that, despite best efforts to maintain them, the international prototype kilograms have gained up to 50 micrograms of mass from surface contamination since theirmanufacture late in the 19th century. As a result, each country that has one of these standard masses has a slightly different definition of the kilogram. This led to efforts to develop a system precise enough to allow replacing the physical lump of metal with a definition based directly on a fundamental law of nature which is invariant

1)After decades of groundbreaking laboratory work, the world’s scientific and technical community, representing 60 countries, came together at a session of the 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures in Versailles, France, on 16 November 2018, to redefine four of the seven base units of measurement for the International System of Units (SI).

2)They include the kilogram (the unit of mass), the ampere (the unit of electric current), the kelvin (the unit of temperature) and the mole (the unit for amount of substance). The new definitions will come into effect from World Metrology Day, which falls on 20 May 2019. The new definition of the kilogram is based on the fundamental unit Planck’s constant, which has a value of 6.626070150×10-34 joule-seconds.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider the following with reference to plastic materials :

1) RIC No. 2 is highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) that leach nonylphenol, a dangerous endocrine disrupter like BPA. HDPE is commonlyfound in grocery plastic bags, milk and juice cartons and so on. This plastic is relatively safe for limited uses provided food is not hot or oily.

2)RIC No. 4 is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Like HDPE, it can release nonylphenol. LDPE is commonly used in toys, food wraps, Tetrapack cartons, disposable cups, and storage containers.

3)RIC No. 5 is polypropylene (PP), commonly found in many household food containers that tend to be more expensive than the rest. PP has been shown to be releasing plasticstabilising substance oleamide into the food. Heated PP also releases chemicals that could induce asthma.

4)RIC Nos 4 (LDPE) and 5 (PP) are relatively safer plastics for limited use when used with no hot or oily substances. About the safety of plastics, unfortunately, we have nothing that can be called ‘safe’; all kinds of plastics are significantly dangerous than alternatives. Perhaps if you are left with no choice and have to buy a food storage container or water bottle, remember “245”; Types 2, 4 and 5 are relatively less dangerous than all other types of plastics

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider the following with reference to microplalstic :

1)Another subtype of plastics that completely escaped the attention from sensitised citizens is microplastic, which is commonly found in a number of cosmetic products and consumer plastics like foam mattresses and bean bags.

2)Once released in the environment, microplastics get accumulated in marine organisms such astiny zooplankton, ultimately leading to its death. It gets concentrated in higher trophic levels progressively with each higher-level predator.

3) Some of which goes in our seafood too, ultimately impairing our health. Microplastics are now found everywhere from the Arctic herring to the Antarctic krill and pose the greatest challenge to the marine biodiversity yet.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

61)Consider the following with reference to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) :

1)Following these developments, in 1974 a group of countries joined together to form the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) with the purpose of overseeing that the export of nuclear materials and technology are not used to foster nuclear weapons development by the recipient states. Recently the Group consists of 48 countries, controlling most of the international nuclear trade under two sets of guidelines developed in association with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

2)The first guideline covers the export of nuclear materialsand technology, which include nuclear reactors and equipment thereof, plants and equipment for fabrication of nuclear fuel, plants and equipment for reprocessing the spent fuel, plants and equipment for heavywater production, etc.

3)The second guideline covers the export of nuclear-related (dual use) materials and technology like isotope separation and other industrial equipment which can be used for both nuclear and non-nuclear operations. Nuclear trade can happen only among the member countries

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider the following with reference to Synthetic dyes (Colours & Holi) :

1)Rhodamine B (bright reddish violet), Auramine (yellow), Malachite green series (green), Methyl violet (violet), and Methylene blue (blue) are a few more examples of synthetic dyes which are used as Holi colours.

2)Most of these colours have harmful effects on our eyes, bones, lungs and other vital organs. Illustrations By: Rhodamine B causes genetic disorderand dysfunction of liver, kidney, spleen and urinary bladder.

3)Auramine produces skin itching, eye allergies and blurred vision. It also causes renal disorder, liver tumour and growth impairment. Malachite dye causes fatal effects on eyes, bones and lungs. It is also responsible for cancer of the breast, kidney, liver, spleen, testis, ovary and urinary bladder.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider the following with reference to S gene-based RT-PCR Tests :

1) The RNA is extracted from the collected sample swab. RT-PCR, with the help of primers, picks up small fragments of RNA and amplifies them

2) If the fragment amplified from the sample has a fragment matching with the virus, we understand that it is a SARS-CoV-2 case

3) There is a chance that a primer is designed to pick up that particular region of the virus in which the mutation has now occurred, ie the S-gene. Due to the mutation, that particular region may escape the test and not get amplified (and the test may come as false negative).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider the following with reference to PCR :

There are two methods of testing available to find out if a person is infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) or not. These two methods are: Molecular assays and immunoassays.

India currently uses the molecular assays method of testing.

Molecular assays can either be manual or automated. In this method, an oral swab sample is taken. Viral Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) material is isolated from the swab using several chemicals, since the novel coronavirus is an RNA virus.

The amount taken, however, is little, making it impossible to find the pathogen directly from such a sample.

A technique called the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) is used to increase the material.

1) An additional step of treating the sample with an enzyme, called reverse transcriptase, is needed to use the PCR technique.

2)The RNA is then converted into a complementary strand of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). This DNA is then usually replicated around 40 times over.

3)Enzymes and nucleotides, fluorescent probes and other primers — specific to the viral genetic material — are added during the replication process.

4)The fluorescent probes provide a visual signal and are released from each DNA strand, when replication of the strand is complete.

5)Replication would occur and the visual signal would be seen if the sample contained the novel coronavirus RNA.

6)India currently uses imported RT-PCR test kits to carry out testing using this method.

7)The Indian Council of Medical Research approved two test kits on March 23, 2020 after finding them to be 100 per cent sensitive to true positive and true negative samples.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider the following with reference to Rapid tests / Immunoassays :

1) Immunoassays — also called rapid tests — follow the same principle used in pregnancy tests.

2)They identify Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin G antibodies developed against the SARS-CoV-2.

3)Blood, serum and plasma can be used for the test. Antibodies, if present in the sample, bind to the antigen immobilised on the test strip and give a coloured reaction.

4)These test kits are easy to use, provide quick results and are also effective in identifying asymptomatic patients.

5)The results from this method, however, need to be confirmed using a more advanced test as there is a risk of getting false positives.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider the following with reference to Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) :

We know 65% of human body is oxygen. Yes, oxygen is vital for respiration, the process that transfers energy from glucose to cells. In fact, every cell in our body requires oxygen. When we breathe air in, oxygen molecules enter the lungs and pass through lung walls into our blood.

Oxygen is crucial for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19, since the disease affects lung functioning. Shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing is one of the most common symptoms in patients with severe COVID-19. It also hampers the supply of oxygen to various parts of the body. They hence need oxygen therapy, to be supplied through medical oxygen.

One of the ways in which this oxygen can be supplied is through Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO). LMO is nothing but high purity oxygen used for medical treatment, and is developed for use in the human body.

1) Why in Liquid State ? Due to its low melting and boiling points, oxygen is in a gaseous state at room temperature. Liquification enables storage in larger volume and easier transportation

2) There are several methods. The most common production method is separation of oxygen in what are known as Air Separation Units or ASUs. ASUs are basically plants that separate large volumes of gases. They use a method called Fractional Distillation Method to produce pure oxygen from atmospheric air, which consists mostly of nitrogen and oxygen – 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and remaining 1% other gases including argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and hydrogen.

In this method, gases from the air are separated into various components after cooling them into a liquid state and then liquid oxygen is extracted from it.

3) Atmospheric air is first cooled to -181°C. Oxygen liquifies at this point. Since, the boiling point of Nitrogen is -196°C, it remains in a gaseous state. But Argon has a boiling point similar to that of oxygen (–186°C) and hence a significant amount of Argon liquifies along with Oxygen.

The resultant mixture of Oxygen and Argon is drained, decompressed and passed through a second low-pressure distillation vessel for further purification.

We then get the output as final purified liquid oxygen, which is then transported using cryogenic containers.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider the following with reference to Cryogenic containers for oxygen :

1) Cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures.
A cryogenic liquid is defined as a liquid with a normal boiling point below –90°C.

2) Cryogenic liquid containers are specially designed for safe and economic transportation and storage of liquefied gases at cryogenic temperatures, lower than –90°C. These containers are highly insulated, in which liquid gases are stored at very low temperatures

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider the following with reference to Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Technique :

1) Oxygen can also be produced non-cryogenically, in gaseous form, using selective adsorption. This method leverages the property that under high pressure, gases tend to be attracted to solid surfaces. The higher the pressure, the more the adsorption of gas.

2)If a gas mixture such as air is passed under pressure through a vessel containing an adsorbent bed of ‘zeolite’ that attracts nitrogen more strongly than oxygen, a part or all of the nitrogen will stay in the bed, and the gas exiting the vessel will be richer in oxygen, relative to the mixture entering the vessel.

3)Hospitals can also opt for on-site generation of oxygen by this method, where oxygen is produced from ambient air by concentrating it. Producing oxygen near hospitals has the additional advantage of eliminating need for transportation.

4)In addition to the above sources of medical oxygen, there are also portable oxygen generators known as Oxygen Concentrators that can be used at home.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider the following with reference to safety precautions for Oxygen handling :

1) If the temperature is high enough, many substances will burn in oxygen. Hence, it is equally essential to ensure proper fire safety measures and train all staff in the safe handling of oxygen as the increased storage and handling of oxygen cylinders during COVID-19 heightens risk of hospital fires.

2) There are also additional requirements and rules for medical oxygen, including requiring a person to have a prescription to order medical oxygen

3) It is important for citizens to ensure judicious use of the vital product, especially during a public health emergency. Misuse or overstocking of these will only lead to panic and black marketing

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider the following with reference to Koppili fault zone and earthquakes :

Koppili is a river flowing in North East India

1) The tremors have been attributed by the NCS to the Kopili fault zone closer to Himalayan Frontal Thrust. This is a seismically active area falling in the highest Seismic Hazard Zone V. It is associated with collisional tectonics because of the Indian Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction is a geological process in which one crustal plate is forced below the edge of another.

2)The Kopili fault zone is a 300 km long and 50 km wide lineament (linear feature) extending from the western part of Manipur up to the tri-junction of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The fault itself is a transpressional fracture that generates lower crustal dextral strike-slip earthquakes.

3)The Kopili fault is currently the most active seismic zone in North East India. Squeezed between the subduction and collision zones of the Himalayan belt and Sumatran belt, the North East is highly prone to earthquake occurrences.

4) A tectonic depression filled up by the alluvium of the Kopilli river and its tributaries, the Kopili fault zone has witnessed many seismic activities in the past including the 1869 earthquake (7.8 magnitude) and the 1943 earthquake (7.3 magnitude). A study in the Imphal Valley to the Kopili fracture although later research contradicted this conclusion.

5)“There was a gap of 74 years between the two major earthquakes of 1869 and 1943. Multiple studies opined a major earthquake event around 2017 to repeat this cycle,”

“Recent seismicity discovered along the Kopili fault led to speculations that this fault is one of the most seismically active faults of the region and a major earthquake could be expected in the future, which has somehow been validated by latest event,”

6)A considerable portion of the Kopili fault zone and its neighbouring areas are characterised by alluvial soils that have a higher potential of trapping seismic waves, making the region the most earthquake prone zone in North East India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider the following with reference to Glacier burst :

1) A glacier burst at a remote place on the Indo-China border in Uttarkhand on the afternoon of April 23, 2021, according to a senior official. There is no word yet of any casualties.“A glacier has burst near Uttarakhand’s Joshimath on the India-China border.”

2)The area where the mishap has happened — Sumna in Chamoli district — doesn’t have any human habitation. The incident has happened around 100 kilomtres from the village of Reni, which was struck by an avalanche in February,2021. (Note: It was not confirmed yet as to whether the current incident is a glacial lake outburst or an avalanche.)

3)This area is really far away and has no human habitation. There are no telephone networks there. The last habited village is Fakti, which is around five kilometers from Reni. Sumna is around 100 kilometres from there. The only people there are the Border Roads Organisation officials and labourers.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider the following with reference to Sulphur dioxide emissions :

1) The sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from a volcanic eruption in the Caribbean reached India April 16, 2021 sparking fear of increased pollution levels in the northern parts of the country and acid rain. Sulphur dioxide reacts with water to form sulphuric acid which can come down with rainfall.

2)“Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from La Soufriere volcano eruption in the Caribbean have reached all the way to India,” tweeted the World Meteorological Organisation on April 16.

3)Volcanic “plumes can cause aviation and air quality hazards. The injection height is needed to initialise forecast models that predict the downwind evolution of the plume.”

4)La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent Island in the West Indies started erupting on April 9 after spewing out lava into a dome and threatening to erupt since December 2020. The last time the volcano had erupted was in 1979.

5)“Of the 45 currently erupting volcanoes on Earth, La Soufriere is among those that worry volcanologists the most,” This is because of its “explosive and erratic eruption style”.

6)The volcanic eruptions that occurred on April 10 were energetic enough for the plumes to be recorded at a height of 20 kilometres above the Earth’s surface by the Multi-Angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite. NASA scientists have found evidence for the entry of sulphate aerosol particles (precursors for sulphuric acid) in the stratosphere, the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.

7)“Scientists watch closely for emissions reaching the relatively dry stratosphere because particles last much longer and travel much farther than if they remain in the lower, wetter troposphere,” said NASA . This might be the reason that the particles have reached as far as India and will likely travel beyond to reach South East Asia.

8)Volcanic emissions reaching the stratosphere can have a cooling effect on global temperatures. “The most significant climate impacts from volcanic injections into the stratosphere come from the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid, which condenses rapidly in the stratosphere to form fine sulphate aerosols,” says the United States Geological Survey.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider the following with reference to aerosols increase the reflection of radiation :

1)“The aerosols increase the reflection of radiation from the Sun back into space, cooling the Earth’s lower atmosphere or troposphere,”.

2)Bigger eruptions during the past century have caused a decrease in temperature of 0.27 degree Celsius or more on the Earth’s surface for up to three years.

3)“The current thinking is that a volcano needs to inject at least 5 teragrams of SO2 into the stratosphere to have measurable climate impacts,”

4)La Soufrière has delivered around 0.4-0.6 teragram of SO2 into the upper atmosphere which is the highest-ever recorded after satellites started observing the Earth’s atmosphere in the mid 20th century. The amount of SO2 being vented out by the volcano could increase if the eruptions continue. NASA scientists also surmise that moderate eruptions are usually far greater in number than huge eruptions and could have a greater cumulative impact.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider the following with reference to forest fires in Similipal Tiger Reserve :

1)The forest fires in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve that have been raging for more than 10 days, pose a grave threat to tigers, elephants and other animals, in addition to people living far beyond the reaches of the protected area, experts said March 4, 2021.

2)Similipal has 21 ranges and eight forests have been affected. The core area is particularly vulnerable to uncontrolled fires due to its inaccessibility to fire fighters.

3)“The worry is that this is just the beginning of summer and the entire period of March to May is when the forest department is on high alert for fires. The inferno in the forest will also increase human-animal conflicts as many tigers, elephants, leopards and bears may come out from the forest to the nearby villages to save their lives from the forest fire,” .

4)The fires seemed to be both, a natural disaster and human-made mishap. Around 90 per cent of forest fires were human-made, with the rest being caused due to lightning and friction caused by falling rocks.

5)“Similipal is an invaluable treasure not only for the country but also for the entire world. The temperatures are extremely high this year; the dry deciduous forests are on fire and are being attended to on priority. The forest fire is under control and there is no loss of lives or any damage to the big trees. A standard operating procedure has been issued to deal with the situation and senior officials are present.

6)Fires were a natural part of the forest cycle, especially during the dry season. But they needed to be controlled and not allowed to sweep large areas.

7)“The recent forest fire in Similipal is a combination of a very dry summer and carelessness by people who had been hunting and collecting Mahuli flowers,”

8)Simlipal National Park is a national park and tiger reserve in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, covering 2,750 km. It is home to 1,076 vascular plants, 93 species of orchids, 400 medicinal plants and many wildlife species.

9)The area had been included in 2009 in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO. “Simlipal derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider the following with reference to Rishiganga River :

The Himalayas are warming faster than other mountain ranges and the increased use of reinforced concrete in building construction, replacing the traditional wood and stone masonry there, is likely to create a heat-island effect and thus add to regional warming,” . . We have been saying for a long time to set up an early warning system in the Himalayas, like the one set up in coastal areas after the 2004 tsunami, but it’s still not there

1) A major disaster struck the Himalayan state of Uttrakhand February 7, 2021. A glacier broke after an avalanche in the Joshimath area of the state’s Chamoli district.

2)There are reports of missing people and damage to property. The Chamoli police said the Rishiganga Power Project had been damaged due a breach caused by the glacier in Tapovan area.

3)“The weather was nice and we were doing our daily chores. Suddenly, around 10:30 AM, a huge amount of water started coming in the Rishiganga river. There was a lot of noise. It was just like the Kedarnath tragedy. The power station got taken immediately and the 100-150 workers there are still missing. Now it is filled with mud. The river is also filled with mud.

When the deluge came, all the villagers rushed to higher elevation, but those who had gone to collect wood or taken their goats and cows for pasture, are missing,” Balwant Rana of Reni village along the banks of river Rishiganga said. Two teams of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police have reached the spot and three National Disaster Response Force teams have been rushed from Dehradun.

4)According to experts, the reduced snowfall this winter in Uttarakahnd seems to have played a part in the disaster.“It is very unusual for something like this to happen at this time. During winters, the rain and snowfall replenishes the glaciers and fixes any structural issues. However, this year, there was reduced snowfall in the higher elevations. This could have been one of the reasons, although it is hard to say right now which glacier has been affected,” a scientist said on the condition of anonymity.

5)There are around 200 glaciers in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

6)The scientist said the monitoring of glaciers during the winter was difficult due to the weather and the area was usually cut off. “It is only from March to September, when the weather is conducive, that we are able to monitor the glaciers,”

7)“Some 8,800 glacial lakes in the Himalayas are spread across countries and more than 200 of these have been classified as dangerous. Recent scientific evidence suggests that floods originating in the Himalayas are caused largely by landslides that temporarily block mountain rivers,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider the following with reference to Kosi river :

1) The Bihar government will try to divert the course of the mighty Kosi river in Bhagalpur district to save an archaeological site discovered recently.

2)At Guwaradih village in Naugachhia sub-division of Bhagalpur district, several priceless artefacts have been found at the site during the excavation of a mound over the past year.These items could be 2,500-years-old and could be of interest for historians if conserved, archaeologists have said.

3)The Kosi currently flows around 300-400 metres from the site, while its old course is about two kilometres from the village.

4)Environmentalists said changing the Kosi’s course could be disastrous for Bihar as seen in 2008. At that time, the river had breached its mud embankments at Kushaha in Nepal.

5)It then caused extensive damage to life and property downstream in five densely populated districts of northeast Bihar namely Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia and Araria. Some 500 people were killed and four million rendered homeless.

6)“The Kosi frequently changes its course naturally. If its course is artificially changed, it will cause floods and erosion in new areas, leading to massive displacement of people,”

7)Previous efforts to tame the river and confine it within embankments had proved disastrous. “Bihar already suffers annual flooding. Changing the Kosi’s course will increase our woes,”.

8) No river could be forced to flow in a pipeline.

9)“Two villages, Ahuti and Badi Khal, dominated by fisher folk, are located near this river. If the course is diverted, both will lose their existence. Villagers will have to flee. However, it will save Kaharpur village, populated by Rajputs,”

10)During the 2008 flood, around a million people were evacuated from their homes. More than 300,000 houses were destroyed and crops spread over at least 840,000 acres were damaged.The deluge, which the Bihar government described as the worst in the past 50 years, was declared as a ‘national calamity’ by the Government of India.

The floodwater also deposited sand and stone dust on farmland, crippling agricultural activities. Many villagers are still battling this problem.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider the following with reference to Cyclone Nivar and Okchi & Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) :

1) Cyclone Nivar rapidly intensified in Bay of Bengal and was much more disruptive than India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier predicted.

(IMD November 24, 2020 evening upgraded the storm from ‘severe’ to ‘very severe’: Expect winds up to 120 kilometres per hour (not 75 kmph as expected earlier) in the next 24 hours.)

“A change in wind speeds of about 30 knots (50-55 kmph) in 24 hours can be generally classified as rapid intensification. The ocean and atmospheric conditions are favourable for that,”

Sea-surface temperatures (SST) are 29-30 degree Celsius; there is low vertical wind shear in the region.

These can lead to rapid intensification, as was the case with Cyclone Gati that has devastated Somalia and Super Typhoon Goni. It pummelled the Philippines at an unprecedented 315 kmph.

“We saw similar conditions during Cyclone Ockhi in November 2017. SST was warmer than usual and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) was favourable,”

2)Cyclone Nivar is rapidly intensifying in Bay of Bengal and may be much more disruptive than India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier predicted.

IMD November 24, 2020 evening upgraded the storm from ‘severe’ to ‘very severe’: Expect winds up to 120 kilometres per hour (not 75 kmph as expected earlier) in the next 24 hours.

3)“A change in wind speeds of about 30 knots (50-55 kmph) in 24 hours can be generally classified as rapid intensification. The ocean and atmospheric conditions are favourable for that,”

4)Sea-surface temperatures (SST) are 29-30 degree Celsius; there is low vertical wind shear in the region.

5)These can lead to rapid intensification, as was the case with Cyclone Gati that has devastated Somalia and Super Typhoon Goni. It pummelled the Philippines at an unprecedented 315 kmph.

6)“We saw similar conditions during Cyclone Ockhi in November 2017. SST was warmer than usual and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) was favourable,”

7)Ockhi intensified rapidly from a depression to a cyclone within nine hours and further to a very severe cyclone in 24 hours

8)It is found that the MJO and warm sea conditions provided favourable dynamic and thermodynamic conditions for the genesis of Cyclone Ockhi. The conditions also aided in rapid intensification of the cyclone.

9)In the case of Nivar too, southern Bay of Bengal is warmer (by 0.5-1°C) than usual. This is over a warm pool region of 28-30°C mean SSTs.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider the following with reference to Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) :

1) The MJO is the major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly-to-monthly timescales.

2) It can be characterised as an eastward moving ‘pulse’ of cloud and rainfall near the equator that typically recurs every 30-60 days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology of the Australian government.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider the following with reference to Cyclone explanation (Eye Wall) :

1) The quantum of heat in the ocean near the east coast is also warmer than usual — that can keep a cyclone active. Also, the winds are favourable due to an active MJO.

2)Warm SST are what drive the convective bursts in the eye wall of the cyclone and lead to rapid intensification. Low-vertical shear allows the convection to intensify because a strong shear would steal away the energy from the convection.

3)Eye wall is the band of the strongest winds of a cyclone, which encircle a much calmer eye of the cyclone.

4)Other factors can also contribute in making Cyclone Nivar deadlier.

5)“Cyclones now seem to weaken relatively slower after hitting land because of the excess energy,”

6)This was also seen in the deep depression that brought torrents of rainfall to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in October.

7)“The intense convection at the eye wall produces hot towers reaching the atmospheric ceiling and causing strong descent into the eye of the cyclone which reduces pressure and strengthens the cyclone,”

8)The outer bands of Nivar are already on land but the cyclone is still intensifying. So, the destructive power of the cyclone can reach further onto land because of the warm ocean.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider the following with reference to Oil spillage and cleaning up the oceans & Bioremediation :

Petroleum is a mixture of natural gas, condensate, and crude oil (viscous liquid mixture) consisting mainly of thousands of hydrocarbon compounds.

The present world crude oil production exceeds three billion tonnes a year, about half of which is transported through the sea routes. This, in turn, increases the risk of accidental oil spillage.

Oil spills have the potential to cause huge environmental damage: they end up accumulating in sub-surface sediments transferring the toxic organic materials to the marine food chain.

1) A grave ecological concern has emerged in recent times: A surge in oil extraction through offshore drilling that has resulted in spillage of oil — accidentally or due to negligence. Industrial effluent discharge, waste burn-out and other manmade disasters polluting the marine environment are among other concerns.

2)Cleaning up of the oil spillage from the oceans without damaging the marine ecosystem is becoming an increasingly challenging task. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed an eco-friendly crude oil bioremediation mechanism technology using consortia of marine microbes wheat bran (WB) immobilized on agro-residue bacterial cells.

3)Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to remove and or neutralize contaminants within the environment (i.e., within soil and water) to their original condition.

4)During the study, nine different hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria extracted from the ocean sediment and collected from a depth of 2,100 metres, were used.

5)These hydrocarbon degrading bacteria don’t depend on hydrocarbon for survival, but have a metabolic mechanism where they use petroleum products as carbon and energy source and thus, help cleaning up oil spills.

6)It was found that complete breakdown and degradation of crude oil was achievable using wheat bran marine bacterial consortia (which are low-cost non-toxic agro-residues) immobilised on low-cost nontoxic agro-residues bacterial cells in an environmentally sustainable manner.

7)It was also found that they were more effective in their immobilised state than the free bacteria cells in degrading the oil spills, in addition to being more versatile and resistant to adverse conditions.The NIOT study found that immobilised bacterial cells had better oil degrading capacity than the free bacterial cells. They could remove 84 per cent of the oils within 10 days. The free bacterial cells degraded a maximum of 60 per cent of the crude oil at optimised conditions.These findings evinced their efficacy in treating accidental bulk discharge of oil in marine environment through non-toxic clean-up technology.

8)In marine ecosystem, hydrocarbonoclastic deep sea microbial consortium (two or more group of bacteria) plays an important role in breaking down oil in the event of a spill. The microbial community serves as energetic primary degraders of complex mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons into various aldehydes, ketones and acidic metabolites.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider the following with reference to oil spills in different places :

Mixtures of hydrocarbons released to the surface of marine waters are widely dispersed into different depths and end up in sediments due to oil-particle aggregation, severely affecting the local marine environment.

1) Deepwater horizon drilling accident was the largest accidental oil spill disaster in history that took place on April 20, 2010, releasing 779 million litres of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

2)An oil spill accident at East China Sea on January 6, 2018 released more than 136,000 tonnes of volatile petroleum products.

3)The Ennore oil spill occurred outside the Kamarajar Port in Ennore near Chennai in Tamil Nadu on 28 January, 2017, when an outbound empty tanker BW Maple collided with an inbound loaded oil tanker Dawn Kanchipuram releasing at 9.9 million gallons (37,000 m3) of oils into Bay of Bengal.

4)An oil spill accident at East China Sea on January 6, 2018 released more than 136,000 tonnes of volatile petroleum products. Deepwater Horizon drilling accident was the largest accidental oil spill disaster in history that took place on April 20, 2010 releasing 779 million litres of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

5)The recent MV Wakashio spill off Mauritius — about 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship struck a coral reef on 25 July, 2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider the following with reference to tropical storms and Fujiwhara effect :

1) Two tropical storms, formed in the western Atlantic Ocean at nearly the same time, are likely to impact the Gulf of Mexico, sparking concerns of the rare Fujiwhara effect that occurs when two hurricanes combine to form a mega hurricane. The last time two tropical storms formed at the same time and struck the region was in 1933. But often, the effect is additive when hurricanes come together, and we usually end up with one massive storm instead of two smaller ones.

2)This generally occurs when the hurricanes pass really close to each other but the effect can have other implications when the storms are at a distance. The two current storms are likely to undergo a mild Fujiwhara effect with changes in expected tracks for both of them.

3)Tropical storm Marco would have already moved inland when Laura arrives, due to which the likelihood of a mega storm formation would be low. The last time a proper Fujiwhara effect happened was in 2009 in the Philippine Sea, when typhoons Parma and Melor interacted with each other.

4)There are other peculiarities of the Atlantic Hurricane season this year. Tropical storm formation started much earlier than usual and has also been much more active. The first named storm in the season was formed on May 16.

5) There are usually four named storms in the Atlantic Basin, which comprises the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, by August 23. There have been, however, more than thrice as many storms by the time this year.

6)Laura is currently over the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica, where it has caused heavy rainfall and flooding. The storm is on its way to Cuba, after which it will enter the Gulf of Mexico where it will gain strength on Tuesday and Wednesday ending up as a category III hurricane, making it much stronger than Marco.

7)It is forecasted that its track would be similar to tropical storm Marco and that it would also make landfall along the Louisiana coastline with impact on Texas as well. The fact that the same state is being hit by two tropical storms in quick succession is also unprecedented.

8)The major concern with back-to-back storms (in this case a tropical storm and a hurricane) is massive storm surges, which could inundate coastal areas and push river waters inland.

9)Marco could cause a surge of one-two metres above the mean sea level; the surge for Laura could be even higher. A storm surge is a rise in sea level that occurs during tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes.

10)The surge causes large-scale flooding and brings saline water into agricultural fields and people’s homes, leading to long-term damage, including a decrease in soil quality. Another threat from the storms is of heavy rainfall which could range from 10-15 centimetres in the coastal areas.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider the following with reference to Mount Sinabung volcano :

1) The Mount Sinabung volcano in Indonesia erupted on August 10, 2020 morning spouting ash at least 5,000 metres high into the sky.

2)The ash destroyed several nearby plantations. Meanwhile, the villagers have been advised to stay five kilometres from the crater’s mouth.

3)Officials, along with local military and police personnel, distributed 1,500 masks and assisted locals in cleaning the volcanic ash. The local fire department despatched five trucks to help with the cleaning, “This is an alert for all of us to avoid red-zone areas near Sinabung,”According to some residents, the village went dark for about 20 minutes and was coated with ash in a matter of a few minutes,

4)Mount Sinabung erupted in 2010 after a 400-year-long hiatus and has been continuously active since September 2013.In 2016, seven people died after Mount Sinabung erupted, spewing ash about three kilometres into the sky. More than a dozen people were killed when it erupted in 2014. Activity increased starting around April 2017, with a large ash eruption on August 2, 2017. Additional activity, including ash plumes, were observed over the next several months.

5)The largest eruption of the year occurred during the last week of December and continued into early 2018.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider the following with reference to Northern Pakistan & Glacial Lake Outbursts :

1)Many communities in northern Pakistan have also been facing potential relocation as the risk of flash flooding from melting glaciers increases in the summers. Northern Pakistan is home to over 7000 glaciers, the highest number in a region besides the polar caps, and increasingly hot summers are melting glaciers and forming large glacial lakes that can burst and cause deadly floors in valleys nearby.

2)Pakistan had more than 3,000 glacial lakes and at least 33 of them were considered hazardous, putting seven million people at immediate risk, according to information shared by United Nations Development Programme-Pakistan (UNDP) in 2018.

3)A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in May hit Humza, a small village, and destroyed produce and left several families displaced. On 20 June an early warning of potential GLOFs around three glacial lakes that would impact the nearby communities.

4) “We may divert our attention and resources to deal with COVID-19, but we must not forget that the natural disasters compounded by climate change await our response.”

5)Several other communities across South Asia are also at risk as local and national response capacities remain stretched thin during the COVID-19 crisis, and as the monsoon brings flooding, landslides and other dangers to vulnerable coastal communities and cities.

6) “It is so important that the region comes together and works on solutions, disaster management, and preparedness for coming challenges together.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider the following with reference to Covid-19, Locust swarms across South Asia and Central Asia :

1)“COVID-19 showed that policies and implementations vary between states and provinces, which is getting in the way of effectiveness and efficiency. Climate-related hazards are likely to worsen in the coming years and the region needs to start putting its differences aside if it wants to be well-prepared for upcoming crises.”

2)The ongoing locust swarms across parts of South and Central Asia, a result of climate change, recently pushed India and Pakistan to work together to fight the crop-devouring insects. Even though tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors continue, both countries have held ten border meetings in the past three years to discuss locust control.

3)COVID-19 is also posing additional challenges to containment efforts of what is considered the worst locust plague in nearly three decades as workers spraying pesticides on the insects deal with physical distancing limitations.

4)“Both COVID-19 and climate-related disasters are impacting and will continue to impact the region and also worsen the economies, which will, in turn, leave more people vulnerable,”. “Better cooperation is the only way forward.”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider the following with reference to Earthquakes :

1) Earthquakes usually occur along faults that are fractures between rocks and can range from a few millimetres to thousands of kilometres.

2)During an earthquake, seismic waves are generated in a short span of time after two blocks of earth slip past one another. The waves travel to the surface causing destruction.

3)The surface where they slip is known as the fault or fault plane.

4)Scientists have attempted to recreate these faults in their laboratories to try and understand the conditions in them during earthquakes.

5)The actual conditions, however, are so complex that it is difficult to recreate them with accuracy, making earthquake prediction difficult.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider the following with reference to :

1) The WMO’s findings come even as 92 people were killed in lightning strikes in Bihar on June 25, 2020.

2)Bihar state is second after Uttar Pradesh with the maximum number of deaths due to lightning. At least 170 people died in Bihar due to lightning in 2019 between April 1 and July 31.

3)The number of lightning days across India have been increasing significantly every month, according to the report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) released in September 2019. In fact, lightning strikes kill more people in India than any other extreme weather event

4)Such fatalities could be avoided if states share IMD’s forecast on lightning with people on time.

5)If the time between a lightning flash and thunder is less than 30 seconds, people should stay indoors and wait 30 minutes after the last observed flash to resume outdoor activities, according to the WMO.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider the following with reference to Cyclone Nisarga :

1) Cyclone Nisarga made landfall as a severe cyclone with a wind speed of 100-110 kilometres per hour (kmph) and gusts of around 120 kmph on June 3, 2020 afternoon, near Alibaug, around 100 kilometres south of Mumbai.

The landfall process will take three hours to complete. Mumbai will bear the brunt of the cyclone with winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge.

More than 200 millimetres (mm) absolute rainfall is expected in some areas of the Konkan region, including Mumbai, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts.

It will also cause heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in north central Madhya Pradesh.

Similar to Amphan, inundation from a storm surge will be an important aspect of cyclone Nisarga.

2)It is expected to have a surge of 1-2 metres higher than the normal sea tide in Maharashtra’s Mumbai, Raigad and Thane districts and will bring saline water in these areas as well.

Nisarga will decrease in intensity to a cyclone from a severe cyclone in the next four hours and maintain this intensity for the next six hours.

Many inland areas east of Mumbai and Raigad will also be impacted by cyclonic wind speeds.

The cyclone will subsequently de-intensify into a depression on June 4 afternoon. This means many areas in Madhya Pradesh and eastern Maharashtra can get heavy to very heavy rainfall.

This is the first time since 1891 that a cyclone is making landfall so close to Mumbai, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Nisarga is the second cyclone in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) region in 2020 after cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal. It is the first one in the Arabian Sea this year, after the five that emerged there in 2019.

3)Nisarga is the 13th out of a total 17 cyclones that turned severe and formed in the NIO region in this period.

Five out of 11 cyclones turned severe from 2015-17, an increase of 76 per cent from 45 per cent.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider the following with reference to Cyclone Amphan :

1) Cyclone Amphan, which started the landfall at 2.30 pm near Digha in West Bengal on May 20, is predicted to weaken as it moves towards inland regions close to Kolkata. The wind speeds in around the city, however, could be as high 130 kilometre per hour, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Amphan is likely to maintain its intensity after landfall to as far as central parts of Bangladesh till the morning of May 21, according to IMD. This will mean higher-than-usual wind speeds in several land areas.

“If a cyclone finds warm waters along the coast, it may not weaken as fast as it should,”

Cyclones get their energy from the ocean and once they hit land, their energy source disappears.

2)“Warmer oceans mean the cyclones can come close to the coast without getting weak. Some hurricanes off the United States coast and over the Grand Bahamas stalled, so they kept churning near the coast because of warm water. That increased the amount of rainfall on land,”

However, this may not happen with Amphan since the Bay of Bengal cannot get warmer than it already is.

3)“Its temperatures are so high that any warming will just create atmospheric convection and remove the energy. But these things become obvious only after we have observed a few cyclones,”

4)Cyclone Amphan was positioned around 95 kilometre south-southeast of Digha in West Bengal as an extremely severe cyclone on May 20 morning. It was earlier travelling at 20-22 kmph, but later fastened to 29 kmph, according to the May 20 morning cyclone

5)The cyclone started a landfall around 2.30 pm in West Bengal near Digha. The process continues for at least four hours, during which winds with speed ranging from 155-165 kmph, gusting up to 185 kmph, are expected to hit the coastal areas. Some of these areas in West Bengal are already witnessing heavy rainfall.

The city has never witnessed such wind speeds and the impacts on the city’s infrastructure can be known once the cyclone blows over. The highest wind speed recorded in Kolkata was 70 kmph during cyclone Aila in 2009.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider the following with reference to Cyclones and Coastal states like Odisha(Chilka Lake) and West Bengal (Sunderban Delta) :

1) Cyclone Amphan may bring sea water around 25 kilometres inland because of a storm surge of four to six metres. The storm surge will cause large scale inundation and saline water ingress in the coastal areas of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

2)A storm surge is a rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones. The surge will cause large-scale flooding and bring saline water in agricultural fields and people’s homes, leading to long-term damage, including a decrease in soil quality.

3)The inundation will occur along small rivers that feed into the Sundarbans delta.

Water ingress is a major issue in the Sundarbans even in normal tidal situations, in a live question and answer session on social media site Facebook May 18, 2020.

4)“The problem is aggravated because of the shallow nature of the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, especially in the delta region of the Sunderbans,” . “With a storm surge of this magnitude, the situation will be devastating,”

Rising sea levels due to anthropogenic global warming have already resulted in the migration of 1.5million of the Sundarbans’ residents.

5)The Bay of Bengal is currently rising twice as quickly as the average of other seas around the world. Intense cyclones like Amphan and Bulbul — that struck the region in November 2019 — add immediate intensity to a long and slow problem for the region.

6)During the landfall of cyclone Fani in Odisha’s Puri district — a strong storm surge opened up four new mouths in the brackish Chilika lake. This caused sea water to enter the lake for several months, disturbing its delicate salinity gradient.

Fisherfolk around Chilika — who also depend on the lake for their livelihood — reported a drop in catching fish until at least February 2020.

7)Amphan will bring other hazards to life and property in the region, both in the short and long terms. Initial damage will be done by the cyclone’s strong winds that will be as high as 165-175 km / hr, with gusts of up to 185 km / hr, This will cause property damage, including uprooting of trees .

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider the following with reference to Dendrochronology (reflecting floods,droughts etc.) :

1) Dendrochronology is the study of tree rings that hold a wealth of information about not only a tree’s past but also that of the ecosystem in which it lives. Tree rings are layers of growth that a tree acquires in a year. The colour of old wood is always darker than a comparatively newer wood which creates a contrasting pattern of rings year on year. In the years of good growth, characterised by a healthy supply of resources, the ring is thick. It is thin when the ecosystem has dearth of resources. Trees can be great records for past and recent climates, much better than climate records as their density in a region is much greater than climate observatories and their information close enough to actual conditions.

2)Another study, which brought out a 226-year long chronology of teak trees from southern Myanmar, showed that intense floods and droughts have periodically occurred in the region and their continuation or even intensification in a warming climate can lead to adverse effects on traditional agriculture and forest based economies. The authors also correlated the extreme events to large scale climate phenomenon like El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and sea surface temperatures of the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

3)Another study, which brought out a 226-year long chronology of teak trees from southern Myanmar, showed that intense floods and droughts have periodically occurred in the region and their continuation or even intensification in a warming climate can lead to adverse effects on traditional agriculture and forest based economies. The authors also correlated the extreme events to large scale climate phenomenon like El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and sea surface temperatures of the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider the following with reference to concentration of carbon dioxide in atmosphere and severe heat waves in USA,Australia,Arctic :

1) WMO, in a report, said that the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere had breached all records in 2018. It is the highest-ever in the last three million years.

2)The rise in temperature coincides with the proportionate increase in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The five-year assessment shows that the emission of GHGs like CO2 and methane has increased faster in 2015-19 than in the preceding 2011-2015 period. The growth rate is close to 20 per cent higher, according to this report.

3)At present, already on path to be declared one of the warmest years on record, witnessed severe heat wave and wildfires from the United States, Australia and the Arctic. The new WMO assessment shows that the 2015-2019 period saw heatwaves impacting all the continents.

4)“Heatwaves were the deadliest meteorological hazard in the 2015–2019 period,” the WMO report said. Wildfires were reported in unusual geographies like the Arctic, including Greenland, Alaska and Siberia. The fires in the Arctic alone temitted 50 Mt of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is more than such fires did in 11 years ending 2018

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider the following with reference to Greenhouse Gas Bulletin :

1) Even as nations are set to meet next year to strengthen their Paris climate pledges, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warns that the world has to cut its emissions by 7.6 per cent each year between 2020 and 2030 to get on track towards the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

2)CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use in the energy and industry sectors, which dominate total GHG emissions, grew 2 per cent in 2018, reaching a record 37.5 gigatonnes per year. CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use in the energy and industry sectors, which dominate total GHG emissions, grew 2 per cent in 2018, reaching a record 37.5 gigatonnes per year.

3)The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, said “globally averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018, up from 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2017”.

4)“It is worth recalling that the last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago. Back then, the temperature was 2-3 degrees Celsius (°C) warmer, sea level was 10-20 metres higher than now,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider the following with reference to Jal Jeevan Mission and Puducherry :

1) JJM is a flagship programme of the Union Government, which aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household of the country by 2024. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, in 2021-22, in addition to Rs 50,011 Crore budgetary allocation for JJM, there is also Rs 26,940 Crore assured fund available under the 15th Finance Commission tied-grant to RLB/ PRIs for water & sanitation, matching State share and externally aided as well as State funded projects. Thus, in 2021-22, more than Rs. 1 lakh Crore is planned to be invested in the country on ensuring tap water supply to rural homes. This kind of investment in rural areas will boost the rural economy.

2)The UT of Puducherry is now planning for effective treatment & reuse of greywater coming out of homes. The UT is actively working towards water source sustainability.

3) The four regions, namely Pondicherry Region, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe region are at different locations, geographically separated from each other.

4)Puducherry is blessed with various rivers and tributaries. Five rivers in Puducherry district, seven in Karaikal district, two in Mahé district and one in Yanam district drain into the sea, but none originates within the territory.

5)Puducherry has 84 irrigation tanks and more than 500 ponds which are the lifeline for groundwater recharging systems, drinking water and agriculture. Puducherry has been consistently working towards de-silting of ponds & rejuvenation of its local water bodies, which is crucial for drinking water supply schemes. An effective community mobilisation & participation is achieved through a well-charted IEC plan by the UT.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider the following with reference to e-NAM :

1) The e-NAM is being implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), being the lead agency for the project under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, with the support of all the e-NAM States/UTs, State Marketing Boards, Mandi secretaries, Supervisors, Quality Assayers, Weighment Operators, Service Providers, Farmers, FPOs, Traders and eNAM team.

2)National Agriculture Market (eNAM), a pan-India electronic trading portal was launched on 14^th April 2016, by the Prime Minister , with the aim of networking the existing Mandis on a common online market platform as “One Nation One Market” for agricultural commodities in India.

3)This digital initiative of Government of India provides a single window service for all APMC related information and services, including commodity arrivals, quality assaying, competitive bid offers and electronic payment settlement directly into farmers’ accounts. This online digital market aims at reducing transaction costs, bridging information asymmetries, and helping expansion of market access for farmers and other stakeholders.

4)In last 4 years the e-NAM has registered a user base of 1.66 Cr Farmers, 1.31 lakh Traders, 73,151 Commission Agents and 1012 FPOs. As on 14^th May 2020, total volume of 3.43 Crore MT & 38.16 Lakh numbers (Bamboo & Coconut) collectively crossed a remarkable business milestone worth Rs. 1 lakh crore on e-NAM platform. Presently 150 commodities, including Foodgrains, Oilseeds, Fibers, Fruits & Vegetables, are traded on eNAM.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider the following with reference to Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA) :

1) The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) is a 125-day Abhiyan launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 20th June, 2020 with a mission to address the issues of returnee migrant workers and similarly affected rural population by Covid-19 pandemic through a multi- pronged strategy of providing immediate employment & livelihood opportunities to the distressed, to saturate the villages with public infrastructure and creation of livelihood assets to boost the income generation activities and enhance long term livelihood opportunities by giving focus on 25 works in 116 selected districts across 6 States with a resource envelope of Rs 50,000 crore.

2)So far the Abhiyaan has been successful in meeting its objectives. The objectives of the Abhiyaan is to provide livelihood employment to the returnee migrants and similarly affected citizens in the rural areas.

3)So far about 27.21 crore mandays employment has been provided under theAbhiyaan.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider the following with reference to Agricultural Reforms Bill :

1) The Prime Minister said yesterday was an historic day for the country in the field of agricultural reforms. The Agricultural Reforms Bill has been passed which has liberated our farmers from many restrictions. He wished the farmers across the country and said these reforms will give farmers more options in selling their produce. He said these reforms would protect the farmers from the middlemen, who take a large share of the farmers’ earnings.

2)Criticising the opposition who are spreading the lies on the Agriculture Reforms Bill the Prime Minister said some people who ruled this country for decades are attempting to mislead the farmers on this issue. He said the changes in the provisions of the agricultural market in APMC Act were also promised in the election manifesto of the opposition parties who are opposing the reforms now. He also refuted the lies propagated that the benefit of MSP will not be given to the farmers by the government and said that the government is committed to provide fair prices to farmers through MSP and Government procurement will continue as before. He added that with the new provisions coming into force, Farmers can harvest their crop and sell at his desired price in any markets of the country. He said realising the harm done by the APMC Act, the Chief Minister of Bihar removed this law in Bihar. He listed the initiatives of the Government to improve the lives of the farmers such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Neem coated Urea, network of cold storage is being built on a large scale in the country, investment is made on food processing industries and the creation of agricultural infrastructure fund.

3)The Prime Minister said the Government is constantly working to increase the income of farmers. A nationwide campaign is also being carried out to protect the livestock from diseases. In a clear message to the farmers of the country he urged them to be vigilant of those who are misleading them. He added these people are beating the knack of protecting the farmers, but actually they want to keep the farmers in many bonds. They are supporting the middlemen and supporting the looters of the farmers’ earnings. This is the need of the country and the demand of time.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider the following :

Government of India has promulgated the following three Ordinances to implement reforms in agriculture sector:

1) The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 provides for the creation of an ecosystem, where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers’ produce, which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels; to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce of farmers’ produce outside the physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State Agricultural Produce market legislations; to provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

2) The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, provides for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri business firms, processers, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3) The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 aims at increasing the competitiveness in the agriculture sector and enhancing the income of the farmer by liberalizing the regulatory system while protecting the interests of consumers. The Ordinance allows the Central Government to regulate the supply of certain food stuffs only under extraordinary circumstances (such as war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider the following with reference to SAMARTH Scheme :

1)The Ministry of Textiles is implementing the Samarth-Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector, a placement oriented programme targeting skill development of 10 lakh youth in the entire value chain of textiles, excluding Spinning & Weaving in the organized Sector.

2)Some of the advanced features of SAMARTH scheme include Training of Trainers (ToT), Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), CCTV recording of training programme, dedicated call centre with helpline number, mobile app based Management Information System (MIS) and on-line monitoring of the training process.

3)Under Samarth, 18 State Governments have been allocated a training target of 3.6 lakh beneficiaries for conducting training programme in traditional and organized sectors. The States have entered into MoU with Ministry on 14.08.2019. Sectoral Organizations of Ministry (DC-Handlooms, DC-Handicrafts, CSB & National Jute Board have been allocated a training target of 43,000 beneficiaries for skilling/up-skilling in traditional sectors.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider the following with reference to Restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) :

1)The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched in 2018-19 for holistic development of the bamboo sector through a cluster-based approach in a hub (industry) and spoke model to harness the opportunities by providing backward and forward linkages among the stakeholders – linking farmers to markets.

2) There is a huge potential to place Indian bamboo products in the domestic as well as global markets with the latest technologies, modern processing and by generating awareness on compliance requirements for destination countries. The Mission is streamlining its interventions to enhance domestic industrial activities as well as augmenting the farmer’s income with support from technical agencies and facilitative steps.

3) Direct subsidy of 50% is given to farmers at Rs 1.00 lakh per ha, 100% to Government agencies and also to entrepreneurs for setting up various product development units, etc.

4)The Mission is presently being executed by 21 States, including all the 9 States of NER through the respective State Bamboo Missions. NBM is also advising States to make available quality planting material to the farmers out to carry out plantations of commercially required species, set up common facility centres and other post-harvest units in complete sync with the requirement of existing and sunrise industries for a win-win situation for farmers and Indian bamboo industry.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

Model question paper 25

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date September 19, 2021

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 25 {Prepared on 19 .9.2021 (Evening)}

Prepared by :P.Potayya Sarma

Mobile No.8143189271

1)Consider the following with reference to POSHAN Abhiyan :

1) POSHAN Abhiyaan has been launched in March 2018 to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner by leveraging technology, convergence and Jan Andolan.

2) Malnutrition is not the direct cause of death among children under five years of age. Though it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. Malnourished children are more vulnerable to any infection than normal children.

3) The overall under five mortality rate (number of deaths per thousand live births) has reduced from 74.3 as reported by 3^rd National Family Health Survey report released in 2005-06 to 49.7 as 4^th National Family Health Survey report released in 2015-16

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider the following with reference to Cloud computing & GI Cloud (MeghRaj) :

Cloud computing is the on demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power, without direct active management by the user

1)For better governance and speeding up the delivery of e-services, India has already started an ambitious initiative on harnessing the advantages of cloud computing. This initiative called “MeghRaj”, is technically known as “GI Cloud”.

2) An important report of the Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY), Government of India published in April 2013 titled “Government of India’s GI Cloud (MeghRaj) Strategic Direction Paper” shows the ambition and objective of the Government of India to provide information and communication technology (ICT) services at the most reliable manner at a cheaper cost.

3) As per the report, the GI Cloud is the Government of India’s cloud computing environment that will be used by government departments and agencies at the centre and states to provide services to citizens and businesses via internet and mobile connectivity.

4)It will enable the government to leverage cloud computing for effective delivery of e-services and optimise ICT spending of the government

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

3)Consider the following with reference to Sources of Lunar Water :

1) Understanding the sources of lunar water is crucial for studying the history of lunar evolution and also the solar wind interaction with Moon and other airless bodies.

2)There have been several theories about the origin of water on Moon.

3) The prevailing theory is that positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) propelled by the solar wind bombard the lunar surface and spontaneously react to make water as hydroxyl (OH−) ions and molecular water (H2 O).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

4)Consider the following with reference to MOXIE :

1) Mars has a thin atmosphere predominantly composed of carbon dioxide and no breathable oxygen

2) Hence, in future, human missions will have to be self-sufficient and produce breathable oxygen and liquid oxygen rocket fuel in-house on Mars.

3) MOXIE or Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment will perform the task. Like a tree, MOXIE will breathe-in the Martian atmospheric carbon-di-oxide and breathe out oxygen to produce oxygen on Mars. This car-battery-sized instrument is an experimental one.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

5)Consider the following with reference to 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables and Aahaar Kranti :

1) A balanced diet is one which provides all the nutrients in required amounts and proper proportions. It can easily be achieved through a blend of the four basic food groups.

2) United Nations has also declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, whichvibes very well with Aahaar Kranti. In any case, fruits and vegetables make a large part of a balanced diet.

3) We all know that diet and well-being are inseparable partners. The UN sustainable goal # 3 that emphasizes on human well-being reads, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” This goal too makes Aahaar Kranti more meaningful.

4)Aahaar Kranti is a movement to raise awareness about the importance of nutritionally balanced diet in India. It is an effort to rouse the people to the value of our traditional diet, to the healing powers of local fruits and vegetables, and to the miracles of a balanced diet.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

6)Consider the following with reference to Covid-19 :

To analyse the genome sequence of the new strain of the virus, scientists around the world had collected samples from COVID-19 patients. The samples were then sequenced and the sequence analysis revealed that it has 88% genetic similarity to SARS-CoV and 50% similarity to MERS-CoV; also, the genome sequence does not support the belief that COVID-19 is laboratory construct.

1)The infection process has a lock-and-key mechanism. Here the lock is the spike surface glycoproteins present on SARS-CoV2 virus and the key is the ACE2 receptor present on the surface of human cell.

2)These ACE2 receptors unlock the virus by binding to spike surface glycoproteins that allow it to enter into the host body after which a second protein called TMPRSS2 activates the virus, allowing it to reproduce and transmit within the cell.

3)Once the virus starts multiplying inside the body, the infected person starts showing symptoms (symptomatic); although in some cases no symptoms are observed (asymptomatic).

4)The absence of symptoms does not mean that the individual is safe and would not spread any infection. In fact, they may suffer irreversible damage to their vital organs resulting in death. In Vishakhapatnam, for instance, a doctor working at AntiRetroviral Therapy (ART) Centre, and in the premises of the old Government Hospital in Vijayawada died suddenly after having breathing problems, though he was asymptomatic otherwise.

5)When it comes to sudden deaths, silent hypoxia caused by SARS-CoV-2 may be the main cause of death. More studies are required to identify why exactly the virus causes silent hypoxia, compared to other viruses like influenza, where it is not seen as often.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

7)Consider the following with reference to Vaccines :

Back in 1796, English doctor Edward Jenner used cowpox blood serum to generate immunity to smallpox. In the late 1800s, Louis Pasteur showed that microbes cause several infectious diseases. Later, Pasteur developed the process of laboratory-created vaccines using microbes.

1)Vaccines are essentially preventive agents and not curative.

2)Vaccines stimulate a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease and protect the person from that disease.

3)Vaccines are mostly specific to a particular microbe (virus or bacteria) and helps in tuning the recipient’s immune system against it

4) Following immunisation, vaccines elicit a controlled and very specific immune response and create cellular memory of immune cells to protect the person from future infection by the same infectious agent.

5) In most cases, vaccination is required once in a life-time and may involve booster doses in some diseases like tetanus, polio, etc

6) Vaccines are generally administrated orally, through nasal spray or injection and do not require to be metabolized

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

8)Consider the following with reference to Strict ethical norms and vaccine research :

1)Strict ethical norms are associated with vaccine research as it involves sacrifice, experimental harm, pain and discomfort of a large number of laboratory animals and risking health of human subjects.

2) Mammalian model animals such as rats, mice, rabbits, pigs, calves, cattle, sheep, monkeys, and horses are frequently used for vaccine research to assess: (i) vaccine safety, (ii) protection against the disease/infection, (iii) limiting clinical symptoms, (iv) critical function of immune system, (v) magnitude of immune response, (vi) routes of administration, and (vii) which immune components are induced.

3) Major objective of ethical considerations for clinical trials include rationale of the trial, selection of participants, limiting biasness, health outcome, participant’s consent, confidentiality, medical care and clinical follow-up.

4) Respective “Institutional Ethics Committees” (IEC) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) oversee the strict ethical compliance as per the guidelines issued by ICMR, New Delhi.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

9)Consider the following with reference to Food Processing in the Indian economy :

. Food processing also offers huge employment potential. In India, while the food processing industry’s contribution to overall Gross Value Added (GVA) is only 1.6 per cent, it accounts for 1.8 million (12.4 per cent) and 5.1 million (14.2 per cent) jobs in registered and un-incorporated sectors, respectively.

1)Recognising this, the government has set the target for raising the share of processed food to 25 per cent of the total agricultural produce by 2025

2) The food processing sector was also opened up for 100 per cent FDI in 2016 under the automatic route.

3) Further, in 2017, 100 per cent FDI under the government route for retail trading, including through e-commerce, was permitted in respect of food products manufactured and/or produced in India

4) . For ensuring adequate credit flows, the Reserve Bank has accorded priority sector status to the food processing industry in 2015.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

10)Consider the following with reference to Food security and food distribution :

COVID has brought the importance of food security and food distribution or supply chain network to the forefront of public policy debate in India. Successive years of record production of foodgrains and horticulture crops has transformed India into a food surplus economy

1) Recognising this challenge, much of the policy attention in recent years for the sector has focused on addressing post-production frictions, comprising agri-logistics, storage facilities, processing and marketing.

2) Greater focus on processed food is one option that could help in dealing with multi-pronged challenges of surplus management.

3) Development of the food processing industry is likely to benefit the farm sector and the economy through greater value addition to farm output, reducing food wastages, stabilising food prices, expanding export opportunities, encouraging crop diversification, providing direct and indirect employment opportunities, increasing farmers’ income and enhancing consumer choices.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

11)Consider the following with reference to Tourism and opportunities :

1)Tourism has been one of the sectors in the economy most severely impacted by COVID-19. At the same time, this is also a sector where pent up demand could drive a V- shaped recovery when the situation normalises.

2) India has immense potential to meet a diverse range of tourist interests – religion; adventure; medical treatment; wellness and yoga; sports; film making; and eco-tourism.

3)We have four major biodiversity hotspots, 38 UNESCO World heritage sites 18 biosphere reserves, over 7,000 km of coastline, rain forests, deserts, tribal habitation and a multi-cultural population.

4)The challenge nevertheless is to scale up our tourism market and enhance its contribution to economic development.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

12)Consider the following with reference to Tourism and employment :

As per the Third Report of Tourism Satellite Account for India (TSAI) 2018, the share of tourism in GDP was 5.1 per cent in 2016-17 and the share in employment was 12.2 per cent (with the direct and indirect shares at 5.32 per cent and 6.88 per cent, respectively).

1) In 2018-19, tourism’s share in employment increased further to 12.8 per cent, with the total size of employment at 87.5 million.

2) The employment elasticity in this sector, thus, appears to be high. India attracted 10.89 million foreign tourists in 2019, an increase of 3.2 per cent over the previous year.

3) The foreign exchange earnings generated by the sector during the same period was about ₹2 trillion, a year-on-year increase of more than 8 per cent.

4)The country also jumped six positions to 34 out of 140 counties in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019 of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

13)Consider the following with reference to post Global Financial Crisis :

In the post global financial crisis (GFC) period, a view has emerged that the era of export-led growth is over, and India missed the opportunity by not prioritizing exports at the right time. Globally, the key impediments to exports post-GFC include:

(1) generalized increase in protectionism by trading partners;

(2) weak global demand conditions;

(3) race to the bottom (to gain unfair competitive advantage, by using a policy mix of competitive depreciation, subsidies, tax and regulatory concessions);

(4) automation, reducing the cost advantages stemming from cheap labour.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

14)Consider the following with reference to effects of Covid-19 on productivity levels :

By any reckoning, COVID-19 will leave long lasting scars on productivity levels of countries around the world

1) According to a recent World Bank assessment, COVID-19 could entail adverse effects on productivity because of dislocation of labour, disruption of value chains and decline in innovations

2) During earlier episodes of epidemics in the past – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola and Zika – productivity is estimated to have declined by about 4 per cent over three years.

3) The COVID impact on productivity could be expected to be much larger.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

15)Consider the following with reference to India Innovation Index released by NiTi Aayog :

The share of patents applied and granted to India in total patents granted globally has been rising in recent years.

1) India’s share, however, continues to be low at less than 1 per cent. Globally, the private sector plays a major role in R&D expenditure, while in India, a major part of R&D expenditure is incurred by the government, particularly on atomic energy, space research, earth sciences and biotechnology. Stepping up R&D investment in other areas would require more efforts by the private sector, with the government focusing on creating an enabling environment.

2) With a view to further promoting innovations in financial services, the Reserve Bank has announced an Innovation Hub with a focus on new capabilities in financial products and services that can help deepening financial inclusion and efficient banking services. Ongoing efforts are yielding results

3) India has recently entered the group of top 50 countries in the global innovation index (GII) list of 2020 for the first time.

4) The India Innovation Index, released by Niti Aayog , has been widely accepted as a major step in the direction of decentralisation of innovation across all states of the country. Sustaining this process will be vital, given particularly the trend decline in saving and investment rate in India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

16)Consider the following with reference to Health and affordable healthcare :

Health is another vital component of human capital.

1)Good health increases life expectancy and productive working years.

2)In high income countries, per capita health expenditure in 2017 was about US$ 2937, as against US$ 130 in low middle-income countries (which include India).

3)Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), free drugs and diagnostic service provision initiatives are expected to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare.

4)The most important step towards providing affordable healthcare has been the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, which lays down the foundation of a 21st century health care system, covering both government and private sector hospitals.

5)COVID has brought to the fore the importance of easy access to health services to contain the mortality rate, given significant inter-state and intra-state differences in healthcare infrastructure.

6)While laudable crisis time response to scale up health infrastructure has helped in dealing with the health emergency, a more comprehensive approach similar to NEP for the health sector may be warranted, which must also cover deeper penetration of insurance, given the high burden of out of pocket expenses in India, and also preventive care.

7)Greater attention is required to improve the health ecosystem by ensuring creation of new medical colleges, higher number of PG seats and colleges for paramedics and nursing.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

17)Consider the following with reference to NEP 2020 :

The New Education Policy 2020 (NEP), a historic and much needed new age reform, has the potential to leverage India’s favourable demographics by prioritising human capital.

The goal to increase public investment in the education sector to 6 per cent of GDP must be pursued vigorously.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can develop necessary infrastructure, without jeopardising financial viability of private investment while ensuring quality education at affordable costs. Indian banks and the financial system would need to respond proactively to opportunities arising from the NEP for new financing.

1)Besides improving access to education, focus on quality of education and research will be critical to shape the outcome of education on economic development.

2)Skill acquisition is more important than mere mean years of schooling. The assessment of quality aspect of education often requires a multi-dimensional approach: reading and language proficiency; mathematics and numeracy proficiency; and scientific knowledge and understanding.

3)The emphasis on quality of education must begin at the foundation stage in schools up to plus 2 level.

4)At another level, the formation of the National Research Foundation as announced in the NEP is a welcome step to fund outstanding peer-reviewed research and to actively promote research in universities and colleges.

5)The creation of a National Educational Technology Forum as a platform for use of technology in education is a necessary step to meet the requirement of rapidly changing labour market.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

18)Consider the following with reference to education as human capital :

Investing in people adds to the stock of skills, expertise and knowledge available in a country, and that is critical to maximise its future growth potential. The assignment of importance to education dates back to Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and Kautilya. Its significance for economic development has received progressively increasing attention in recent decades, especially in the work of several Nobel laureates, including T.W. Schultz, Gary Becker, Robert Lucas and James Heckman. There has come about an explicit recognition of education as human capital in endogenous growth theory, backed up by cross-country empirical evidence.

1)In India, states with higher literacy rates are found to have higher per capita income, lesser infant mortality, better health conditions and also lower poverty.

2)Education and skill development, however, contribute less than half a percentage point to our overall labour productivity growth.

3)In order to reap the demographic dividend, we have to raise expenditure on education and acquisition of skills substantially.

4)It is important to recognise that investment in education pays by raising average wages.

5)In its Global Education Monitoring Report 2012, the UNESCO highlighted that every US$1 spent on education generates additional income of about US$10 to US$15.

6)A World Bank (2014) study showed that an additional year of schooling increases earnings by 10 per cent a year.

7)Higher education also contributes to economic development through greater sensitivity to environment/climate change, energy use, civic participation and healthy lifestyle.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

19)Consider the following with reference to stabilization of economy and support a quick recovery :

The immediate policy response to COVID in India has been to prioritize stabilization of the economy and support a quick recovery. Polices for durable and sustainable high growth in the medium-run after the crisis, nevertheless, are equally important.

While interacting with members of the National Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on July 27, 2020, experts had found five major dynamic shifts taking place in the economy: (i) fortunes shifting in favour of the farm sector; (ii) changing energy mix in favour of renewables; (iii) leveraging information and communication technology (ICT) and start-ups to power growth; (iv) shifts in supply/value chains, both domestic and global; and (v) infrastructure as the force multiplier of growth.

The following would determine our ability to step up and sustain India’s growth in the medium-run:

1)human capital , in particular education and health

2) productivity

3) exports , which is linked to raising India’s role in the global value chain

4) tourism

5)food processing and associated productivity gains

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

20)Consider the following with reference to financial markets in India :

1)Financial market conditions in India have eased significantly across segments in response to the frontloaded cuts in the policy repo rate and large system-wide as well as targeted infusion of liquidity by the RBI.

2)Despite substantial increase in the borrowing programme of the Government, persistently large surplus liquidity conditions have ensured non-disruptive mobilisation of resources at the lowest borrowing costs in a decade.

3)In August 2020, the yield on 10-year G-sec benchmark surged by 35 basis points amidst concerns over inflation and further increase in supply of government papers.

4)Following the RBI’s announcement of special open market operations (OMOs) and other measures to restore orderly functioning of the G-sec market, bond yields have softened and traded in a narrow range in September,2020

5)Although bank credit growth remains muted, scheduled commercial banks’ investments in commercial paper, bonds, debentures and shares of corporate bodies in the year so far (up to August 28,2020) increased by ₹5,615 crore as against a decline of ₹32,245 crore during the same period of last year.

6)Moreover, the benign financing conditions and the substantial narrowing of spreads have spurred a record issuance of corporate bonds of close to ₹3.2 lakh crore during 2020-21 up to August,2020.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

21)Consider the following with reference to global economy :

The global economy is estimated to have suffered the sharpest contraction in living memory in April-June 2020 on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis. World merchandise trade is estimated to have registered a steep year-on-year decline of more than 18 per cent in Q2 of 2020, according to the Goods Trade Barometer of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

High frequency indicators point to a trough in global economic activity in April-June quarter and a subsequent recovery is underway in several economies, such as the USA, UK, Euro-area and Russia. The global manufacturing and services PMIs rose to 51.8 and 51.9, respectively, in August,2020 from 50.6 for both in July. Yet, infections remain stubbornly high in the Americas and are increasing again in many European and Asian countries, causing some of them to renew containment measures.

1) On the back of large policy stimulus and indications of the hesitant economic recovery, global financial markets have turned upbeat.

2)Equity markets in both advanced and emerging market economies have bounced back, scaling new peaks after the ‘COVID crash’ in February-March. (2020)

3) Bond yields have hardened in advanced economies on improvement in risk appetite, fuelling shift in investor’s preferences towards riskier assets.

4) Portfolio flows to EMEs have resumed, and this has pushed up EME currencies, aided also by the US dollar’s weakness following the Fed’s recent communication on pursuing an average inflation target..

5) Gold prices moderated after reaching an all-time high in the first week of August 2020 on prospects of economic recovery

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

22)Consider the following :

1)India, with a large section of population in the working age group, is already the third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity and is aiming to become a USD 5 trillion economy.

2)The Government has been undertaking a series of calibrated macro measures through wide ranging structural reforms.

3)We need to harness the demographic dividend by meeting the aspirations of a large young population. This necessitates creating an enabling environment and infrastructure in the form of education, training and opportunity.

4)Among all the prerequisites for achieving demographic dividend and accelerated growth, quality of human resources, greater formalisation of economy, a higher credit to GDP ratio and greater financial inclusion are the differentiating factors that would elevate our economy to the desired level.

5)To improve the credit to GDP ratio, access to credit and cost of credit need to be addressed by lesser reliance on collateral security and greater cash-flow based lending.

6)Credit bureaus and the proposed Public Credit Registry (PCR) framework are expected to improve the flow of credit as well as credit culture.

7)As regards financial inclusion, a number of steps have been taken by the government and the RBI. As a result, large and hitherto excluded, sections of the population have been brought into the formal financial fold. In this context, promoting and deepening financial education would play a very important part in our endeavour to realise our collective potential.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

23)Consider the following :

While pandemics are rare events and seldom replicate past episodes, studying their impact and policy responses provide valuable insights.

1)Four such severe pandemic outbreaks in India viz., 1896 plague, 1918 Spanish flu, 1958 Asian flu and 1974 small pox show that all were associated with a contraction/deceleration in GDP, with the 1918 Spanish flu remaining the “mother of all pandemics” in terms of loss of life and livelihood.

2)The recovery, however, was observed to be swift and complete within 2 years of these outbreaks, except in the case of the Spanish flu wherein GDP per capita climbed back to pre-outbreak levels only after four years in 1922.

3)Policy responses post these pandemics had essentially focused on the provisioning for medical and public health sectors as well as offsetting the debilitating impact of the pandemic on the economy.

4)It was seen that growth became excessively dependent on government expenditure, while timely and well calibrated exit from exceptional fiscal measures were critical for macroeconomic stability, going ahead.

5)Policy focus on boosting private consumption expenditure and investment was the key in reviving the economy on a durable basis.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

24)Consider the following with reference to :

The past year has witnessed unimaginable misery and agony across the world entailing large destruction of human life and wealth. Governments and central banks across the globe unleashed conventional and unconventional policy support

1)In India, the Reserve Bank undertook several conventional and unconventional measures in the wake of COVID-19.

2)Other than conventional measures, the RBI introduced long term repo operations (LTROs) and targeted long-term repo operations (TLTROs) to augment system as well as sector-specific liquidity to meet sectoral credit needs and alleviate stress.

3)Special refinance facilities were provided to select all India financial institutions (AIFIs), while a special liquidity facility for mutual funds (SLF-MF) was introduced to ease redemption pressures.

4) RBI’s asset purchases did not dilute its balance sheet and hence, did not compromise on core principles of central banking. These purchases were confined to risk-free sovereign bonds (including state government securities) only.

5)The focus was to foster congenial financing conditions without jeopardising financial stability. Further, forward guidance gained prominence in the Reserve Bank’s communication strategy to realise cooperative outcomes. Our commitment to ensure ample liquidity conditions supportive of recovery dispelled illiquidity fears and bolstered market sentiments. We will continue to support the recovery process through the provision of ample liquidity in the system, while maintaining financial stability.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider the following :

The impact of demand and supply shocks is also reflected in the balance of payments. While commodity exporting countries faced lower current account surpluses due to negative shocks to their net terms of trade, net commodity importing countries such as India benefited, recording either lower deficits or even surpluses.

Lower crude oil prices and weak demand due to COVID-19 related lockdown in early days of the pandemic squeezed India’s oil import bill by 42.5 per cent during April-January 2020-21.

In contrast to goods trade, India’s net services exports remained relatively resilient despite travel receipts falling sharply due to travel restrictions. Unlike most of the other major economies, India’s services exports gained traction from software exports. Domestic information technology (IT) companies benefitted from growing global demand for core transformation services as their customers focused on new models for IT operations during the pandemic. Remittance inflows fell amid widespread job losses in host countries. Nevertheless, the decline in remittances was more than offset by the lower trade deficit and robust net exports of services.

As noted by UNCTAD (2021), India’s inward foreign direct investment (FDI) bucked the global trend and grew positively in 2020, boosted by investments in the digital sector.

1) In 2020-21 (April-December), net FDI to India at US$ 40.5 billion was higher than US$ 31.1 billion a year ago. India’s optimistic growth outlook and ample global liquidity also induced net foreign portfolio investment of US$ 35 billion in domestic equity market in 2020-21 (up to February 19,2021).

2) Non-residents also made higher accretion to deposits with banks in India. Consequently, the surplus on both current and capital account is reflected in build-up of foreign exchange reserves during the year.

3) As on February 19, 2021, foreign exchange reserves were US$ 583.9 billion, an accretion of US$ 106.1 billion since end-March 2020. The external sector outlook would continue to be reshaped by headwinds and tailwinds associated with both domestic and global recovery

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

26)Consider the following with reference to manufacturing sector (MSME Sector) :

The manufacturing sector is spearheading the growth recovery as many contact intensive services sub-sectors are severely affected by the crisis. The initiatives by the Government under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan and Union Budget 2021-22 towards developing a vibrant manufacturing sector and infrastructure acknowledges the strong linkages they have with the rest of the sectors.

1)The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme aims to make India an integral part of the global value chain. This, along with reforms in labour market, can go a long way in propelling growth to an elevated trajectory for the manufacturing sector and reap its employment potential.

2)small and medium enterprises account for about two-thirds of the current membership of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

3) The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India has emerged as the growth engine of the economy with a vast network of about 6.33 crore enterprises contributing 30 per cent to our nominal GDP and around 48 per cent to exports.

4)MSME sector employs about 11 crore people, second only to agriculture. The sector has been rendered especially vulnerable by the pandemic, necessitating concerted efforts to combat the stress and focus on revival of the sector.

5)In this regard, two major schemes, viz., the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD) were introduced by the Government.

6)These schemes have been duly supported by various monetary and regulatory measures by the Reserve Bank in the form of interest rate cuts, higher structural and durable liquidity, moratorium on debt servicing, asset classification standstill, loan restructuring package and CRR exemptions on credit disbursed to new MSME borrowers. These measures will not only help in ameliorating stress in the sector but also open new opportunities. Going forward, the Reserve Bank stands ready to support the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for greater credit penetration to the MSME sector.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

27)Consider the following with reference to Digital Penetration in India :

Digital penetration in India has scaled a new high. The time has come to leverage its applications while at the same time strengthening the digital infrastructure. With approximately 1.2 billion wireless subscribers and 750 million internet subscribers, India is the second largest and one of the fastest-growing markets for digital consumers.

As digital capabilities improve and connectivity becomes omnipresent, technological innovation and technology-driven revolution are poised to quickly and radically change India’s economy. They have the potential to raise the productivity of agriculture, manufacturing and businesses as well as improve the delivery of public services, such as health and education.

1)In the financial sector, this could lead to higher financial inclusion, lesser information asymmetry and reduced credit risk.

2)Similarly, open online courses, audio-visual training programmes and remote learning can strengthen the match between skills required by the industry and skills imparted in schools, colleges and technical institutes.

3)Healthcare delivery can be improved via digitisation of medical records, remote provision of diagnosis and prescription via smartphones and mobile internet.

4) Technology adoption in rural areas for ‘precision farming’ by using geographical information systems-based soil, water and climate data to guide farming decisions as well as using real-time market information to guide sale of agro-products can add high value to the agriculture sector. The e-commerce sector with its lower cost of transactions is already revolutionising the market structure culminating in deeper market integration.

5) Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) in India is mainly driven by the Government with a share of 56 per cent in total R&D. It is important that for India to become a global technology and innovation leader, the corporate sector should take the lead as is the case in many emerging markets and advanced economies.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

28)Consider the following :

Post COVID-19, the health sector has undoubtedly emerged as a major fault line as well as the sector with tremendous growth opportunities.

1) With a network of more than 3000 companies, India now ranks third globally for pharmaceutical production by volume, with the sector generating a trade surplus of over US $ 12 billion annually.

2) India now supplies more than half of the global demand for vaccines. The sector is expected to witness strong growth in the coming years with its commitment to R&D and low cost of production.

3) It is expected to supply a significant share of increased global demand for vaccines and medicines in the post COVID-19 scenario. Going forward, focus should be more on enhancing overall supply of health services at every level of value chain in a cost effective manner. Corporate sector needs to invest more to create scale and skill in this sector.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

29)Consider the following with reference to Free Trade Agreements :

Another policy area which needs focus for providing a durable push to India’s exports and growth is Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with key strategically important economies. The potential FTAs need to take cognisance of not only domestic strengths and global opportunities but also the emerging geo-political landscape in the post-pandemic period..

1) While designing future FTAs, India’s experience with FTAs can be a significant guidepost. Key considerations should be to identify countries and regions that not only have the potential as a market for domestic goods and services but also have the scope to enhance domestic competitiveness, especially in sectors covered under the PLI scheme

2) The post-Brexit scenario offers a greater scope for having separate trade agreements with the UK and the European Union. FTAs with these economies can boost not only the bilateral trade and investment relations but may also pave the way for greater collaboration in the areas of scientific research and climate change.

3) Due to favourable demographic dividend, Africa also offers immense potential for exports and investment from Indian firms. Large presence of Indian diaspora could help tap this potential.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider the following with reference to global trade :

1)Recovery in world services trade, which grew faster than merchandise trade in the pre-pandemic period, is expected to be slower due to cross-border travel restrictions being still in place. There has, however, been greater emphasis on carrying out business operations with efficiency. This has increased the demand for cutting-edge software services and new business opportunities brought on by the ongoing global value chain reconfiguration. This has also provided resilience to software exports of IT companies.

2) A recent study by WTO (February 2021) estimates that by 2030, global trade growth would be 2 per cent higher annually, on average, because of the adoption of digital technologies

3) This should open up new opportunities for trade by reducing trade costs and strengthening ties between global value chains. Given our renewed focus on digitisation, India by being the largest software exporting country, is expected to gain with increased servicification.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

31)Consider the following with reference to Covid-19 :

1) Overall, we are on the cusp of a turnaround in fortunes. In contrast to rest of the world, the caseload of COVID-19 in India has declined and it is crucial for us to consolidate this decline and capitalise on the success that has been hard-earned.

2) The infection caseload in some parts of the country is, however, again creeping up. We need to stay vigilant and steadfast, and on our toes. The COVID war continues.

3) The battle of 2020 has been won, albeit with significant costs in terms of lives, livelihood and economic activity. We need to win the battle of 2021 also. Let us resolve to eventually win this war.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

32)Consider the following with reference to Open Banking and Account Aggregator (NBFC) :

Globally, open banking regulatory frameworks are structured to enable third party access to customer-permissioned data, requiring licencing or authorisation of third parties, and implementing data privacy and disclosure and consent requirements. Some frameworks may also contain provisions related to whether third parties can share and/or resell data onward to “fourth parties”, use the data for purposes beyond the customer’s original consent and to whether banks or third parties could be remunerated for sharing data. Open banking frameworks may also contain expectations or requirements on data storage and security.

1)India has kick started its approach to Open Banking by enabling an intermediary which will be responsible for the customers’ consent management.

2)These intermediaries are licensed as Non-Banking Financial Companies. In September 2016, RBI announced creation of a new licensed entity called Account Aggregator (AA) and allowed them to consolidate financial information of a customer held with different financial entities, spread across financial sector regulators.

3)In India, AA acts as an intermediary between Financial Information Provider (FIP) such as bank, banking company, non-banking financial company, asset management company, depository, depository participant, insurance company, insurance repository, pension fund etc., and Financial Information User (FIU) which are entities registered with and regulated by any financial sector regulator. The flow of information takes place through appropriate Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

4)The transfer of such information is based on an explicit consent of the customer and with appropriate agreements/ authorisations between the AA, the customer, and the financial information providers.

5)Data cannot be stored by the aggregator or used by it for any other purpose. Explicit and robust data security and customer grievance redressal mechanisms have been prescribed and the Account Aggregators are not permitted to undertake any other activity, primarily to protect the customers’ interest.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

33)Consider the following with reference to Financial market conditions :

Domestic financial market conditions were benign at the start of the year(2020) but witnessed severe stress and dislocation as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded.

1)Thinning out of activity impacted market liquidity. Increased volatility of financial prices was observed across most asset classes.

2)Yields hardened in the government securities market and the yield curve steepened sharply amidst concerns about fiscal slippage and sustained sell-off by FPIs.

3)The financing conditions in the commercial paper and corporate bond market also deteriorated, reflecting overall market conditions as well as generalised risk aversion.

4)The Rupee sharply depreciated, with increasing volatility and heightened forward premia.

5)The Reserve Bank acted proactively and nimble-footedly to ease financial market conditions and mitigate risks with a slew of conventional and unconventional measures.

6)Market participants responded with alacrity and together we have been able to ensure stable and resilient markets across all segments.

7)The Reserve Bank remains committed to fostering orderly functioning of financial markets and will continue to evaluate incoming information having a bearing on the financial markets and act, as needed, to mitigate any downside risks.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider the following :

Internationalisation of financial markets can lower transaction costs with efficiency gains. Over the last three decades, India has undergone a transformation from being a virtually closed economy to one that is globally connected and open to a much larger volume of international transactions and capital flows than before. Today, the capital account is convertible to a great extent.

1) Inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in most sectors and outbound FDI by Indian incorporated entities is allowed as a multiple of their net worth. The external commercial borrowing framework has also been significantly liberalised to include more eligible borrowers, even as maturity requirements have been reduced and end-use restrictions have been relaxed.

2) Foreign portfolio investment in Indian debt markets has been expanded within calibrated macro-prudential norms. Limits under the Medium-Term Framework for investment by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have been gradually increased and procedures rationalized.

3)A Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) has been introduced, which provides relaxations from macroprudential controls but subject to a minimum retention period. In a major step towards greater internationalisation, the Fully Accessible Route (FAR) was introduced under which non-residents can invest in specified government securities without any restriction. Capital account convertibility will continue to be approached as a process rather than an event, taking cognizance of prevalent macroeconomic conditions. A long term vision with short and medium term goals is the way ahead.

4)As a major milestone towards opening up of markets, banks in India have been permitted to deal in the offshore rupee derivative markets. The measure is expected to reduce the segmentation between onshore and offshore markets, apart from reducing volatility and the cost of hedging.

5)Banks have also been permitted to undertake foreign exchange transactions beyond the usual onshore market hours, thus fostering real time market activity. In a complementary measure, exchanges and banking units in the GIFT City have been permitted to undertake Over the Counter (OTC) and exchange traded Rupee derivatives.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

35)Consider the following :

After witnessing a sharp contraction in GDP by 23.9% in Q1:2020-21 and a multi-speed normalisation of activity in Q2, the Indian economy has exhibited stronger than expected pick up in momentum of recovery.

1)The global economy has also witnessed a stronger than expected rebound in activity in Q3. The IMF has accordingly revised its assessment for global growth in 2020 to a less severe contraction than what was assessed in June 2020.

.2) Even as the growth outlook has improved, downside risks to growth continue due to recent surge in infections in advanced economies and parts of India. We need to be watchful about the sustainability of demand after festivals and a possible reassessment of market expectations surrounding the vaccine.

3) The monetary policy guidance in October,2020 emphasised the need to see through temporary inflation pressures and also maintain the accommodative stance at least during the current financial year and into the next financial year.

4) A key source of resilience in recent months has been the comfortable external balance position of India supported by surplus current account balances over two consecutive quarters, resumption of portfolio capital inflows on the back of robust FDI inflows, and sustained build-up of foreign exchange reserves.

5)The Government’s recent policy focus to enhance India’s participation in global value chains, including through production linked incentives for targeted sectors, can leverage on the strong external balance position of India

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

36)Consider the following with reference to objectives of conducting 5G trials :

1)The objectives of conducting 5G trials include testing 5G spectrum propagation characteristics especially in the Indian context; model tuning and evaluation of chosen equipment andvendors; testing of indigenous technology; testing of applications (such as tele-medicine, tele-education, augmented/ virtual reality, drone-based agricultural monitoring, etc.);and to test 5G phones and devices.

3)Applications are across a wide range of sectors such as agriculture, education, health, transport, traffic management, smart cities, smart homes, and multiple applications of IOT (Internet of Things).

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

37)Consider the following :

The permissions have been given by DoT as per the priorities and technology partners identified by TSPs themselves. .

1) The experimental spectrum is being given in various bands which include the mid-band (3.2 GHz to 3.67 GHz), millimeter wave band (24.25 GHz to 28.5 GHz) and in Sub-Gigahertz band (700 GHz).

2) TSPs will also be permitted to use their existing spectrum owned by them (800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2500 MHz) for conduct of 5G trials

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

38)Consider the following with reference to SVAMITVA :

SVAMITVA, a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was nationally launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24^th April 2021 after successful completion of the pilot phase of the Scheme in 9 States. SVAMITVA Scheme aims to provide property rights to the residents of rural inhabited areas in India by using Drone survey and CORS Networks which provides mapping accuracy of 5 cms.

.1) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the SVAMITVA scheme.

2) In the States, the Revenue Department/Land Records Department will be the Nodal Department and shall carry out the scheme with the support of State Panchayati Raj Departments

3) The SVAMITVA Framework developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj provides a detailed roadmap and guidelines for the various States in terms of the Scheme objectives, coverage, various components involved, year-wise funding pattern, survey approach and methodology, stakeholders involved and their roles and responsibility, monitoring and evaluation, and deliverables

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

39)Consider the following with reference to biodegradable and compostable yoga mat :

1) A biodegradable and compostable yoga mat developed from water hyacinth by six young girls from the fishing community in Assam could turn this water plant from a nuisance to wealth.

2) The girls belong to the fishing community living in the fringe of the Deepor Beel, a permanent freshwater lake in south west of Guwahati city, recognised as a Ramsar Site (a wetland of international importance) and a bird wildlife sanctuary..

3) The lake has been a source of livelihood for 9 villages of the fishing community who shared this biome for centuries, but over the years suffered from excessive growth and accumulation of water hyacinth

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

40)Consider the following :

1) Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) Uttar Pradesh and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology – Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (CCMB-LaCONES) Hyderabad do research .

2)With support from Dept. of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, New Delhi, Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA), New Delhi and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi and Government of Andhra Pradesh project LaCONES was established in 1998.

3) Effective conservation measures include both in situ habitat preservation, species protection and ex situ conservation (captive breeding in controlled environment to restock original wild populations). In order to support both these measures using biotechnological tools and techniques in an innovative manner, LaCONES was established. The laboratory was itself established in 2007. This lab would strive to: “To promote excellence in conservation biotechnology and serve for conservation of endangered wildlife in India”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

41)Consider the following :

In pursuant to the announcement of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY ) by Prime Minister, to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to various disruptions caused by the resurgence of COVID-19 in the country, the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India has started implementation of the Scheme for a period of 2 months i.e. May and June 2021,

1) The poor and vulnerable beneficiaries under NFSA do not suffer on account of the non-availability of foodgrains during the unprecedented time of crisis.

2) The Government of India will bear the entire cost on implementation of PMGKAY (May-June 2021) scheme, without any sharing by States/UTs.

3) Under this special scheme, about 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries covered under both categories of NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH), are being provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider the following with reference to LMO from steel plants and PSA :

Liquid Medical Oxygen is sent from Durgapur (Steel Plant)

Liquid Medical Oxygen is sent from Angul (Orissa) and Rourkela (Orissa) (Steel Plants)

1) The process of converting the existing Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) nitrogen plants for production of oxygen was discussed.

2) In the nitrogen plants Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) is used whereas Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) is required for producing oxygen

3) Therefore, by replacing CMS with ZMS and carrying out few other changes such as oxygen analyzer, control panel system, flow valves etc. existing nitrogen plants can be modified to produce oxygen.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider the following with reference to SUTRA model :

1) SUTRA model predicted the second wave to peak by the third week of April and to stay most likely around 1 lakh daily cases.

2) In the case of COVID-19, it is clear that the nature of the virus has been changing very rapidly

3) In such a context, any prediction for COVID-19 must be continually readjusted, sometimes almost daily

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

44)Consider the following with reference to ‘Kayakalp’ :

Kayakalp initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare began in 2015 with the aim of improving infrastructure upkeep, hygiene and sanitation, and infection control practices in Central Government institutions and public health facilities in all the States and UTs. Health facilities are assessed and scored on a number of parameters.

1) The number of “satisfied” patients as reported through “Mera Aspataal”, an ICT-based patient feedback system. Kayakalp made a modest beginning in its first year with assessing only the District Hospitals (DH).

2) Subsequently, within a span of three years, all the Sub District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, and Primary Health Centres (Rural and Urban) have also been brought under its ambit.

3) The number of facilities participating in Kayakalp has increased manifold. Starting with participation of 700 DHs, in the last financial year, approximately 26,000 health facilities have participated in Kayakalp

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

45)Consider the following :

The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was concerned for public and private sanitation which was also a part of his Satyagraha campaign since the days he spent in South Africa.

1) For Gandhiji, the drive for cleanliness in society was an integral part of the process in bringing about a casteless and free society. “Everyone is his own scavenger,” said Gandhiji, reiterating the fact of making cleanliness a personal responsibility and the key to removing untouchability.

2) In South Africa itself, Gandhiji took to scavenging and propagated the advice among Indians to keep their lavatories clean and dry. Once he returned to India, his focus on sanitation grew stronger. He firmly emphasised on the need for education on hygiene and sanitation among Indians and stated “the scavenger’s work must be our special function in India.” Gandhiji laid down the need for having clean water and air and the precise method of dealing with open defecation. “

3) Swaraj ought to begin with our streets,” he always said. Gandiji has said, ‘Sanitation is more important than Independence’. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister took inspiration from Gandhiji’s ideas on hygiene and started a campaign, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ or ‘Clean India Mission’

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

46)Consider the following :

1) Efforts made under Kayakalp and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have been well recognised by the WHO as well, which mentions that nearly all (97%) DHs now have some or the other form of proper waste management.

2) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan along with Kayakalp has given thrust to the country’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good health and well-being) and Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation) respectively.

3) As reported by the WHO, it is expected that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan will result in averting more than 3,00,000 deaths (diarrhoea and protein-energy malnutrition) between 2014 and October 2019. More than 14 million DALYs (DisabilityAdjusted Life Years) are estimated to be avoided (diarrhoea and proteinenergy malnutrition) between 2014 and October 2019.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

47)Consider the following with reference to water budgeting :

1) Water budgeting involves understanding a household’s overall water requirement based on the number of family members, major areas of consumption, and identifying areas for potential reuse for water

2) It is a simple yet effective tool that allows households to concretely appreciate utilisation of their resources.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

48)Consider the following with reference to Green House Gases footprint :

1) The anthropogenic activities such as burning fossil fuel, power generation, agriculture, industry, polluting water bodies, and urban activities are responsible for increasing GHG footprint of which 72% constitute CO2 .

2) GHG footprint needs to be in balance with sequestration of carbon to sustain ecosystem functions. Forests are the major carbon sinks (about 45%) that aid in mitigating global warming.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

49)Consider the following with reference to Carbon footprint :

1)Carbon footprint is contributed by emissions from the energy sector (68%), agriculture (19.6%), industrial processes (6%), LU change (3.8%) and forestry (1.9%), respectively in India with CO2 emissions of about 3.1 MGg (2017) and the per capita CO2 emissions of 2.56 metric tonnes.

2)Carbon emissions from major metropolitan cities of India is about 1.3 MGg contributed by major cities such as Delhi (38633.20 Gg) Greater Mumbai (22783.08 Gg), Chennai (22090.55 Gg), Bengaluru (19796.6 Gg), Kolkata (14812.1 Gg), Hyderabad (13734.59 Gg), and Ahmedabad (6580.4 Gg) from energy, transportation, industrial sector, agriculture, livestock management and waste sectors per year

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

50)Consider the following with reference to electronic goods/gadgets are classified under three major heads:

1)White goods: Household appliances;

2)Brown goods: TVs, camcorders, cameras; and

3)Grey goods: Computers, printers, fax machines, scanners etc.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

51)Consider the following :

Waste from the white and brown goods is less toxic when compared to grey goods. Table shows the effect of grey goods on health.

Metal Used in Health problem

1)Lead Acid battery,CRT Kidney failure

2)Cadmium Battery, CRT, housing Bone disese

3)Mercury Batteries,switches,housing Brain,liver, nervous systems damage

4)Chromium Decorative hardener,corrosion protection agents DNA damage,lung cancer

5)Plastic Computer mouldings,cablings Generates dioxins and furans

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

52)Consider the following :

Landscape Corridor State(s)

1)Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains Dudhwa-Kishanpur-Katerniaghat Uttarakhand

2)Central India &

Eastern Ghats Kanha-Achanakmar MP &Chattisgarh

3)North East Buxa – Jaldapara West Bengal

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

53)Consider the following :

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has issued following three (Standard Operating Procedures) SOPs to deal with man-animal conflict which are available in public domain:

1) To deal with emergency arising due to straying of tigers in human dominated landscapes

2) To deal with tiger depredation on livestock

3)For active management towards rehabilitation of tigers from source areas at the landscape level.

4) The three SOPs inter alia include the issue of managing dispersing tigers, managing livestock kills so as to reduce conflict as well as relocating tigers from source areas to areas where density of tiger is low, so that conflict in rich source areas does not occur.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

54)Consider the following with reference to Planning Commission and NITI Aayog :

1)Planning Commission adopted a ‘one-size-fits-all approach towards the Indian States.

2) NITI Aayog is guided by a ‘States-first’ approach.

3)NITI Aayog’s founding principles include cooperative federalism (a collaboration between Central and State Governments) and competitive federalism (spurring healthy competition among States)

4)Instead of a straitjacket approach, NITI Aayog has adopted a decentralized and bottom-up strategy, to ensure that Central and State Governments work together as equal partners in Team India

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

55)Consider the following with reference to Sahyadri Range and Konkan :

1)Sahyadri Range is the defining geographical feature of Maharashtra

2)The Konkan, lying between the Arabian Sea and Sahyadri Range is narrow coastal lowland, barely 50 KMs wide.

3)Highly dissected and broken, the Konkan alternates between narrow valleys and low laterite plateau.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

56)Consider the following with reference to simultaneous elections :

Two seemingly relevant factors in favour of simultaneous elections as opposite to separate elections are :

1)Simultaneous elections reduce labour, time and expenditure in the conduct of elections

2) Instances of pause in governance are addressed if elections are conducted in one go instead of staggered elections.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

57)Consider the following with reference to Vickrey-Clark-Groves(VCG) auction :

1)In Spectrum auctions, bidders generally prefer combinations of complementary licenses, which is more complex than substitute products.

2)Phone-service providers often seek to cover large areas, and so they prefer licenses for adjacent geographical regions.

3)Given the efficiency focus, the eventual solution is to use the Vickrey-Clark-Groves (VCG) auction.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

58)Consider the following with reference to Wolf Warrior Diplomacy :

1)China’s “wolf warrior diplomacy”, an aggressive and often abrasive stance adopted by its diplomats since 2020, is simply “justified defence” against attacks by a West determined to contain it, one of Beijing’s most outspoken ambassadors said.

2)”In the eyes of the Westerners, our diplomacy is on the offensive and aggressive, but the truth is, it is them who are on the offensive and aggressive,” Lu Shaye, China’s envoy to France, said in an interview with the Chinese government-aligned website Guancha.cn that was published recently.

3) Chinese officials tend to argue that their changed attitude is necessary to defend ‘national honour and dignity’ and ‘refute all groundless slander’ targeting China. Or as China’s outgoing ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, argued last year: “ Where there is a ‘wolf’, there should be a ‘warrior’.

4)The term “wolf warrior diplomacy” came into vogue during the Covid-19 pandemic. The term drew from a jingoistic Chinese film franchise, “Wolf Warrior”. The second film of the series came in 2017 with a tagline, “Though far away, anyone who affronts China will pay”.

5)That “wolf warrior” diplomacy is part of China’s state policy is confirmed from reports that Xi Jinping administration has more than doubled the budget for diplomacy and that the performance appraisals of the foreign office staffers are linked to “public relations” activities. The second is a big incentive for the government employees.

6)The fiercer they prove themselves as “wolf warrior” diplomat, the bigger would be their appraisal and higher the career growth. Zhao Lijian saw his career take a flight after he took on the American government over human rights abuse issue in 2019 — from a counsellor in the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, where for about two years he prefixed “Muhammad” to his name to becoming one of the three formidable spokespersons in the Chinese foreign ministry.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

59)Consider the following :

A day after the Union government banned 59 Chinese applications, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, Mi Video Call, Club Factory and Cam Scanner, citing threat to national security and sovereignty, an Information Technology Ministry official said the banned platforms would be given a chance to submit their clarifications.

This is in line with provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

1)Following the ban, TikTok withdrew its app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In a statement, it said it had been invited to meet the authorities concerned and submit clarifications. The company’s India head, said it had complied with all Indian laws related to data privacy and had not shared information of any Indian user with foreign governments, including the Chinese.

2)“The government has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok, and we are in the process of complying with it.”

3)Citing concerns to both data security and national sovereignty, the Indian government on June 29,2020 announced it would block 59 widely used apps, most linked to Chinese companies.

4)These include the popular video-sharing social networking app TikTok, a mobile browser called UC Browser, and a file-sharing app called SHAREit. What is common to all three is their wide user base in India, with each claiming more than 100 million monthly active users, and their origins in China.

5)Explaining the ban, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology cited “the emergent nature of threats” posed by the apps and “information available” that they are engaged in activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

6)The apps, according to the Ministry, had been reported for “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India”, which “impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India”.

7)From the perspective of data security and privacy, there is indeed a strong case to be made to more strictly regulate apps that handle vast amounts of user data. Such a move was surely long overdue.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

60)Consider the following :

The government has allowed SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in many government and private laboratories.

1) The boon and bane of PCR testing are in its capacity to amplify even one viral gene segment in the sample to generate a detectable signal — a positive test; it is a boon because it accurately detects the presence of virus but a bane because it is prone to false negative and false positive results

2) A false negative PCR means that a person with infection was missed by the test, but that is in the very nature of PCR. The viral load is lower in the throat than in the nasopharynx

3) Hence throat swabs are falsely negative in 60% of tests and nasopharyngeal swabs in 30%, according to published studies. An incorrectly taken nasal swab may miss the virus altogether and lead to a false negative test.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

61)Consider the following :

The Union government has extended the term of K.K. Venugopal as Attorney-General (A-G) for one year, Tushar Mehta as Solicitor-General (S-G) for three years, beginning July 1,2020 appointed six new Additional Solicitors- General (ASGs) and extended the tenure of five ASGs.

1) A-G was reappointed by President Ram Nath Kovind,

2) The other appointments were notified by the Law Ministry after the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister , cleared them

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

62)Consider the following :

1) The Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the issue, and the government has thus far issued no statement on Mr. Netanyahu’s stated plans, that were part of his election promises, to pass a Cabinet vote enacting sovereignty rights over the Jordan Valley, 132 Israeli settlements and other areas totalling about 30% the West Bank.

2) The annexation is a part of US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan” authored by his advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Under an agreement amongst partners in Israel’s ruling coalition, the enactment can proceed from July 1,2020

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

63)Consider the following :

1) Nepal passed the new map in the Lower House of Parliament on June 13,2020 and the Second Constitution Amendment, which gave constitutional guarantee to the map, completed the legislative process on June 18 with the authentication of the Bill by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

2) Indian Army chief General had said Nepal was working at the behest of a third country, hinting at Chinese support to Nepal’s territorial assertion in the Limpiyadhura-Kalapani-Lipulekh region.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

64)Consider the following ECLGS :

1)The Finance Ministry said banks have sanctioned more than ₹1 lakh-crore loans under the ₹3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector reeling under COVID-19-induced economic slowdown.

2)As much as ₹45,860 crore was disbursed under the 100% ECLGS for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) till June 26, it said.

3)The scheme is the biggest fiscal component of the ₹20-lakh crore ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ package announced by Finance Minister

4)The latest number on ECLGS, as released by the Finance Ministry, comprises all the 12 public sector banks (PSBs), 20 private sector banks and eight NBFCs.

“5)Under the 100 per cent ECLGS backed by a government guarantee, banks from public and private sectors have sanctioned loans worth over Rs 1 lakh crore as of June 26, 2020, of which more than Rs 45,000 crore has already been disbursed,” the finance ministry said in a statement.

6)This would help more than 30 lakh MSME units and other businesses as they restart operations post the lockdown

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

65)Consider the following :

PMFBY was launched in 2016 under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi and his vision to provide financial security to the farmers of India from vagaries of nature and secure their hard work. Till middle of 2020, the scheme has insured over 29.16 crore farmer applications (5.5 crore farmer applications on year-on-year basis). Over the period of 5 years, more than 8.3 crore farmer applications have benefited from the scheme. Moreover, Rs.95,000 crores claims have been paid as against Rs. 20,000 crore farmers share.

1) State governments and insurance companies have an important role in the implementation of PMFBY.

2) The result of their hard work is that in the last 4 years, premium amounting to Rs 17 thousand crores was deposited by the farmers, against which more than Rs 95 thousand crores have been provided to them as claims.

3) Still there is a need to expand the scheme in the country, so that its coverage can be increased and more farmers get benefits.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

66)Consider the following with reference to Digital India :

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said India has shown both passion for innovation and ability to adopt those innovations rapidly..

1)Digital India is the resolve of India. Digital India is the instrument for AatmaNirbhar Bharat. Digital India is a manifestation of a strong Indian that is emerging in the 21st Century.

2)The Prime Minister evoked his mantra of Minimum Government – Maximum Governance and explained how Digital India is empowering the common citizen by reducing the gap between government and people, system and facilities, problems and solutions.

3)He gave an example of how Digilocker helped millions of people especially during the pandemic. School certificates, medical documents and other important certificates were stored digitally across the nation.

4)He said the services like getting a driving license, birth certificate, paying electricity bill, paying water bill, filing income tax return, etc have become fast and convenient and, in villages, e Common Service Centres (CSCs) are helping the people.

5)It is through Digital India, initiatives like One Nation One Ration Card are realized. He commended the Supreme Court for asking all the states to implement the initiative in the respective states

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

67)Consider the following with reference to Citizenship :

1)Citizenship is a Central subject and the Home Ministry periodically delegates powers to States through gazette notification under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act,1955.

2)Indian citizenship can be acquired on eight grounds – based on registration made by a person of Indian origin, by a person married to an Indian, minor child, whose parents are registered as citizens of India, by a person whose either parent was a citizen of Independent India, overseas citizens of India, by naturalization and registration of a child at an Indian consulate.

3)The May 28, 2021 notification intends to benefit legal migrants (who entered on passport/visa) from the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have already applied for Citizenship under Section 5 (by registration ) and Section 6 (naturalisation) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 .

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

68)Consider the following with reference to Pag-asa islands :

1)The Pag-asa Islands is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction, the Ministry said in a statement .

2) Thitu, known as Pag-asa in the Philippines is 451 KM from the mainland and is the biggest of the eight reefs, shoals and islands it occupies in the Spratly archipelago.

3)China has built a mini-city with runways, hangars and surface-to-air missiles in the Subi Reef about 25 KM from Thitu.

4)An international tribunal that year invalidated China’s expansive claim in the South China Sea, where about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have competing claims to various islands.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

69)Consider the following :

According to Section 304-B, to make out a case of dowry death, a woman should have died of burns or other bodily injuries or “otherwise than under normal circumstances” within seven years of her marriage. She should have suffered cruelty or harassment from her husband or in-laws “soon before her death” in connection with demand for dowry.

1) Dowry deaths accounted for 40% to 50% homicides in the country for almost a decade from 1999 to 2018..

2) The judgment pronounced by a Bench, led by Chief Justice of India called dowry harassment a “pestiferous” crime where women are subjected to cruelty by “covetous” husbands and in-laws

3)In 2019 alone, 7,115 cases of dowry death were registered under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

70)Consider the following with reference to Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in blood) :

According to WHO, Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in blood) may eventually result in loss of life.

1) When oxygen levels become low because of a sickness such as COVID-19, the cells in the body don’t get enough oxygen to perform their normal functions. If the level remains low for long, maybe due to lack of treatment, organs start to malfunction; in severe cases, it may cause death.

2) Warning signs of low oxygen level include difficulty in breathing, confusion, difficulty in waking up and bluish lips or face. Adults may develop chest pain that doesn’t go away.

3) Children may experience flaring up of nostrils, grunting while breathing or inability to drink or eat.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

71)Consider the following with reference to YUVA :

1) YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives of the young generation of writers on themes like Unsung Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Unknown and Forgotten Places and their role in National Movement, and other related themes in an innovative and creative manner.

2) This scheme will thus help to develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.

3) The launch of YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) is in tune with PM’s vision to encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle. It was during Mann ki Baat on 31 January 2021, Prime Minister called upon the young generation to write about freedom fighters, incidents associated with freedom, the saga of valour during the period of freedom struggle in their respective areas – as the best tribute to the heroes of India’s freedom – as we celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

72)Consider the following with reference to Sundarbans :

1) Over just the past three years, the Sunderbans, which is home to close to five million people, has been battered by four tropical cyclones — Fani (May 2019), Bulbul (November 2019), Amphan (May 2020) and Yaas (May 2021). On each occasion, the region has suffered damage because of gale winds and breached embankments, leading to ingress of sea water.

2) Ghoramara is one of the islands that has been sinking due to rising sea levels, where a few dozen houses and acres of land go under water every year.

3) Sagar Island, the biggest island of the Sundarbans chain and site of the famous Gangasagar Mela during Makar Sankranti, has also suffered damage.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

73)Consider the following with reference to Covid-19 vaccines :

1) According to a May 24,2021 preprint, in the UK, the effectiveness of a single dose of AstraZeneca/Covishield was only 33.5% against the B.1.617.2 variant and 51.1% against the B.1.1.7 variant

2) After the second dose, the protection increased to 59.8% against the B.1.617.2 variant and 87.9% against the B.1.1.7 variant

3) With the B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 variants being the most prevalent in India should we not be reducing the gap between two doses especially since the protection against B.1.617 from the first dose is just 33.5%

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

74)Consider the following :

Rule 4(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 imposes an obligation on significant social media intermediaries providing a messaging function, to ensure traceability of the originator of information on their platforms. A failure to implement this obligation can lead to intermediaries being held responsible for illicit content on their platforms. These rules have recently come into effect.

The Government primarily relies on the argument that: privacy is not an absolute right, and that the traceability obligation is proportionate, and sufficiently restricted. Notably, the new Rules mandate traceability only in the case of significant social media intermediaries that provide messaging services (i.e. those that meet a user threshold of 50 lakh users, which WhatsApp does), subject to an order being passed by a court or government agency and only in the absence of any alternatives.

Under Rule 4 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Ethics Code) Rules 2021 a Resident Grievance Officer is to be appointed.

1)“No Fundamental Right, including the Right to Privacy, is absolute and it is subject to reasonable restrictions.” A traceability order shall only come about, as Rule 4(2) states, “for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or punishment of an offence related to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order, or of incitement to an offence relating to the above or in relation with rape, sexually explicit material or child sexual abuse material, punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years”.

2)The second legal argument is about the test of proportionality, the cornerstone of which, as the release says, “is whether a lesser effective alternative remedy exists”. The traceability measure will be a measure of “last resort”, according to the release, which cites the rule in this regard.

3)The rules further state that “in complying with an order for identification of the first originator, no significant social media intermediary shall be required to disclose the contents of any electronic message, any other information related to the first originator, or any information related to its other users”.

4)“The Central government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 has the authority to issue directions for blocking access to information but that authority cannot be used in respect of ordering an intermediary to remove the label on content… If a user is not abiding by the terms of service, the intermediary even has the right to terminate the user account,”

5)MeitY pointed out that while Twitter has not shared the details of its chief compliance officer, the resident grievance officer and the nodal contact person nominated by the company are not employees of Twitter Inc. in India, as required under the rules. Further, the office address submitted for Twitter Inc. is that of a law firm in India.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

75)Consider the following :

Serology surveys take blood samples from participants and measure antibodies to check past exposure to the virus. From about 10 days after infection, antibodies grow to sizeable numbers in most patients. As some studies show, they start to decline after five to six months.

1) Researchers are more interested in a class of antibodies called Immunoglobulin G (IgG), that persist the longest and latch onto the coronavirus to prevent them from proliferating and so their longevity and numbers are proxies to immunity against future infection.

2) Because the SARS-CoV-2 virus is new, there is uncertainty on how long these antibodies actually last. Serology surveys are thus a crude measure of what proportion of a population is likely to be protected from a second infection; this can be used by planners to decide on future health-care capacity and opening up the economy.

3) The specific blood-analysis tests, called assays, can be used to check if antibodies produced by the body are targeting the spike region of the coronavirus or an inner envelope containing its genetic material called the nucleocapsid.

4) The antibodies against the spike are believed to be more relevant to preventing future infections and hence a better proxy for immunity. They can also thus provide inputs for improving vaccines.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

76)Consider the following :

Based on its study of possible natural origins, the Joint WHO-China study report identifies a SARS-related coronavirus in a (horseshoe) bat (SARSr-CoV; RaTG13) to which the SARS-CoV-2 virus has 96.2% genomic similarity. The novel coronavirus is less similar, by comparison, to the genome of viruses that have caused other epidemics such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).

1) Again, the higher infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 is attributed to peculiarities that it contains in the form of unique insertion of four amino acids in its spike protein that makes it more efficient than the virus causing SARS, for instance.

2) It is concluded that natural selection on a human or human-like host appeared to facilitate optimal binding of the spike protein of the novel coronavirus with ACE2 receptors. “This is strong evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is not the product of purposeful manipulation,” the authors wrote.

3) Their arguments are based, among other things, on genetic differences between the viruses: while the RaTG13 in bats is extremely similar to SARS-CoV-2, the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike — the RBD protein binds to the ACE2 receptor — actually is divergent for the two, with the former appearing less efficient. Again, some coronaviruses found in pangolins in China are similar to SARS-CoV-2 in the RBD, showing that the optimised spike protein for efficient binding with human-like ACE2 may have resulted from natural selection

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

77)Consider the following :

Lakshadweep , Union territory located about 200 km from the west coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea, comprises 16 atolls and 32 islands. However, human presence is limited only to 11 islands.

The inhabited islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Bitra is the smallest of all having only a population of 271 persons (Census 2011). The uninhabited island Bangaram has been enumerated during 2011 census operation and has a population of 61 persons.

All the islands are northeast-southwest in orientation, and they are characterised by shallow lagoons on the west and steep reef slopes on the east. These peculiarities provide a perfect haven for several marine flora and fauna.

A paradise set in the Arabian Sea, the archipelago of Lakshadweep also gives India a vast and exclusive economic zone with three distinct ecosystems: land, lagoon and ocean. Fishery is a primary occupation here. The language, except in Minicoy, is Malayalam; in Minicoy, Mahl is spoken, a language akin to the 17th century Divehi of the Maldives.

The society in all islands is matriarchal. The religion is Islam of the pristine Shafi school of law. On the other hand, social conventions, dress and the position accorded to Thangals within the community all point to the Mappilas of Malabar as progenitors of present-day Islam in Lakshadweep

There is an estimated population of about 70,000 people on the islands — 36 in total with 10 being habitable and the others having vast lagoons spread over 4,200 sq km

The British system of having two separate collectorates — Malabar for the Laccadive group and Mangalore for the Amindivi group — continued till 1956 when it was all united to form the Union Territory. It was renamed Lakshadweep in 1973.

1)Meanwhile, tourism societies formed in all islands ensured that the UT, a notified Scheduled Tribes (ST) district with outsiders’ entry limited by permits, conducted tourism in keeping with the ethos of the people and a ban on alcohol was fitting.

2)The islands’ water bodies are accommodating rich seagrass beds and algal and coral communities. They provide a haven for various fish species, invertebrates, sea turtles, elasmobranchs and marine mammals.

3)The density of the human population in Lakshadweep, unlike other states and Union territories, is also significantly less than the national average.

4)But, in recent years, the fragile archipelago had faced significant climate change-related disasters. In 2017, Cyclone Ockhi had caused large-scale destruction.

5)Now, during every (southwest) monsoon, surging storms damage the islands. Large-scale coral bleaching events reported in 2013 and 2016 are another threat the islands face in the environmental sector.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

78)Consider the following with reference to benefits of mRNA vaccine technology :

An article published in Nature points out the benefits of mRNA vaccine technology compared to conventional vaccine technologies.

1)The key advantage of this technology is easy scalability in production. At present, the WHO has approved two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna, and those vaccines have proven to be more effective than other vaccines. Global cooperation is needed to create an environment where those companies interested in producing the mRNA vaccines get open licence from the innovators.

2)Scaling up production of existing vaccines and producing new vaccines is not easy. Unavailability of raw materials, complexities in the transfer of technology, and intellectual property barriers all hinder production. Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have faced constraints in continuing production due to the lack of raw materials.

3)Intellectual property rights act as a major barrier in scaling up production. About 1,800 patents cover the single-use plastic reactors which are used in the production of some of the COVID-19 vaccines.

4)Similarly, other equipment and materials used in the production of vaccines are patent-protected and therefore supplied by only a few players.

5)India and South Africa had led an initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the waiver of intellectual property rights over products required for treating COVID-19.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

79)Consider the following :

1)West African leaders were due to meet in Ghana to discuss a response to Mali’s second coup in nine months, which has sparked warnings of fresh sanctions and deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region.

2)Mali’s new President Colonel Assimi Goita arrived in Accra for preliminary talks ahead of the extraordinary summit of regional bloc ECOWAS, which was due.

3)Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso’s Marc Christian Kabore were among those attending the summit, which came as another deadly jihadist attack underscored Mali’s chronic instability.

4)Col. Goita led the young Army officers who overthrew Mali’s elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last August over perceived corruption and his failure to quell a bloody jihadist insurgency.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

80)Consider the following :

China took another step towards completing the construction of its first space station by the end of next year following the launch and docking of a cargo spacecraft .

1)The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, described by China’s state media as “the delivery guy for China’s space station”, was launched on a Long March-7 rocket from the island of Hainan, and docked eight hours later with the space station’s first core module called Tianhe, or “heavenly harmony”.

2)The launch was a third landmark for China’s space programme in recent weeks. China landed a spacecraft in Mars on May 15 carrying its first Mars rover, Zhurong. The Tianhe module, which the cargo spacecraft docked with on Sunday, was launched on April 29.

3)The Tianzhou-2 spacecraft carried a range of supplies, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said, and will be followed by the launch of another cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-3, and two manned missions, Shenzhou-12 and Shenzhou-13, this year, each carrying three astronauts who will spend several months in orbit. The Shenzhou-12 launch is slated for mid-June.

4)The six missions to follow this year, including for the space station’s second and third modules, Wentian and Mengtian, will close to complete the construction of China’s first space station, expected to be finished in 2022.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

81)Consider the following with reference to SDRF :

The SDRF is the primary fund available with the State governments as part of their response to notified disasters to meet expenditure on immediate relief to victims. The Centre contributes 75% of the allocation for general category States and Union Territories and 90% for special category States (northeastern, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and J&K).

1)“Normally, the first instalment is released in June as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission. However, in relaxation of the normal procedure, not only has the release of the SDRF been advanced, the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year. Up to 50% of the amount released, i.e., ₹4,436.8 crore can be used by the States for COVID-19 containment measures,”

2)The Centre has released the first instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the States, in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 that has claimed thousands of lives since April.

3)The Union Home Ministry, in a statement, said ₹8,873.6 crore had been released, an annual exercise usually done in June.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

82)Consider the following with reference to Banni grassland :

1)Banni grassland is spread over 2,618 kilometre and account for almost 45 per cent of the pastures in Gujarat. It comprises 48 hamlets / villages organised into 19 panchayats, with a population of about 40,000.

2)Two ecosystems, wetlands and grasslands, are juxtaposed in Banni. The area is rich in flora and fauna, with 192 species of plants, 262 species of birds, several species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

3)Banni grasslands, traditionally, were managed following a system of rotational grazing. On May 11 1955, the court notified that the grassland will be a reserve forest.

4)The region’s nomadic pastoralist community, the Maldharis, whose livelihoods are depend on this protected shrub-savanna, welcomed the move.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

83)Consider the following with reference to cyclones :

During April 2021, there was a high atmospheric pressure area over western Siberia, resulting in higher-than-normal temperatures over the region. This lead to outbreaks of cold polar air westward from this high-pressure area and resulted in lower-than-normal temperatures in a large area from Iceland to the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Air temperatures were also below-average over eastern Siberia, China, and most of the tropical and sub-tropical part of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

In northern Pakistan and northern and central India, temperatures were about three- four degrees Celsius lower than average. “I expect that this temperature tendency will remain during the beginning of the monsoon. If so, it disorganises the onset of monsoon, alternating premature rainfall and dry spells and leading to a delayed monsoon onset over central India regions,”

Heavy showers and continuous drizzle since the afternoon of May 19, 2021 brought down the temperature of Delhi 16 degrees below normal to 23.8 degrees Celsius, one of the lowest in the century.

The rains were brought in by the confluence of two weather systems over the north Indian plains that met after travelling thousands of kilometres from different directions, according to a press release from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

1)The first of these systems was a western disturbance that travelled from the Mediterranean region over Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach Jammu and Kashmir.

The second was a remnant depression of Cyclone Tauktae that travelled from the south-eastern Arabian Sea near the Lakshadweep area and lay as low pressure area over Agra in Uttar Pradesh in the morning of May 20.

2)The interaction of the two storm systems, along with moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea, caused widespread rainfall throughout northern, north-western and central India.

3)Apart from its long journey over ocean and land, cyclone Tauktae held many surprises. It was only the third May cyclone to make landfall in Gujarat. The first was in 1900 and the second in 1976.

“It is likely that Cyclone Tauktae is the first Extremely Severe Cyclone (166-220 kilometres per hour) to reach very close to Mumbai in the last 130 years (according to IMD Cyclone eAtlas),

4)Cyclones are likely to become deadlier due to ocean surface warming — an impact of human-induced climate change. Recent research papers have found clinching evidence for the correlation between rapid intensification of cyclones, their increased intensity and warming ocean waters even in usually cooler waters like the Arabian Sea.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

84)Consider the following :

1)The north Indian Ocean region is exposed to six per cent of the world’s cyclones, according to a December 2020 pre-print paper submitted by Koll and Vineet Singh of IITM in Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics.

2)It found that sea surface temperatures (SST) prior to cyclones in the Arabian Sea are 1.2–1.4°C higher in the recent decades, compared to SSTs four decades ago.

During Cyclone Amphan, which underwent rapid intensification, SSTs were around 32-33°C — one of the highest-ever recorded.

3)Circular ocean currents similar to whirlpools, known as eddies, also play a role in the intensification of cyclones, the paper observed. These eddies could be generated by winds or by density differences of ocean waters.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

85)Consider the following with reference to :

The Supreme Court on said “it is time to define the limits of sedition” even as it protected two Telugu channels from any coercive action by the Chief Minister-led Andhra Pradesh government for their reportage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.

1)A three-judge Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud flagged indiscriminate use of the sedition law against critics, journalists, social media users, activists and citizens for airing grievances about the governments’ COVID-19 management, or even for seeking help to gain medical access, equipment, drugs and oxygen cylinders.

2)“We are of the view that the ambit and parameters of the provisions of Sections 124A (sedition), 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 would require interpretation, particularly in the context of the right of the electronic and print media to communicate news, information and the rights, even those that may be critical of the prevailing regime in any part of the nation,” the court noted in its order.

3)“This is muzzling the media,” Justice L. Nageswara Rao, another judge on the Bench along with Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, said about the manner in which A.P. had tried to “silence” channels TV5 and ABN.

4)“It is time to define the limits of sedition,” Justice Chandrachud said.

5)The court issued notice to the A.P. government and directed that “there shall be a stay on the State adopting coercive proceedings against the two channels”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider the following with reference to Sedition :

1)The Supreme Court quashed a sedition case registered against senior journalist and Padma Shri awardee Vinod Dua for his critical remarks against the Prime Minister and the Union government in a YouTube telecast, underscoring its 59-year-old verdict that “strong words” of disapproval about the ruling regime did not amount to sedition.

2)The time is long past when the mere criticism of governments was sufficient to constitute sedition. The right to utter honest and reasonable criticism is a source of strength to a community rather than a weakness, the judgment said.

3)It upheld the spirit and intent of the 1962 Kedar Nath Singh verdict, which said, “Commenting in strong terms upon the measures or acts of government, or its agencies, so as to ameliorate the condition of the people or to secure the cancellation or alteration of those acts or measures by lawful means, that is to say, without exciting those feelings of enmity and disloyalty which imply excitement to public disorder or the use of violence is not sedition”.

4)It is declared, “Every journalist is entitled to protection under the Kedar Nath Singh judgment.”

5)The 1962 judgment said Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition) was intended only to punish subversion of a lawfully established government through violent means.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

87)Consider the following with reference to National Income Estimates :

1)India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 7.3% in 2020-21, as per provisional National Income estimates released by the National Statistical Office, marginally better than the 8% contraction in the economy projected earlier. GDP growth in 2019-20, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was 4%.

2)The Gross Value Added (GVA) in the economy shrank 6.2% in 2020-21, compared to a 4.1% rise in the previous year. Only two sectors bucked the trend of negative GVA growth — agriculture, forestry and fishing, which rose 3.6%, and electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services (up 1.9%).

3)Though this is the bleakest performance on record for the economy, the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2020-21 helped moderate the damage, with a higher-than-expected growth of 1.6% in GDP. This marked the second quarter of positive growth after the country entered a technical recession in the first half of the year.

4)GDP had contracted 24.4% in April-June 2020, followed by a 7.4% shrinkage in the second quarter. It had returned to positive territory in the September to December quarter with a marginal 0.5% growth.

GVA for trade, hotels, transport, communication and broadcasting-related services saw the sharpest decline of 18.2%, followed by construction (-8.6%), mining and quarrying (-8.5%) and manufacturing (-7.2%).

5)Economists said these numbers would moderate growth prospects for 2021-22 through the base effect, even as the scourge of the virus is hurting activity again.

6)“With a lower contraction in GDP as well as GVA in 2020-21, the sharp recovery projected for 2021-22 by a number of agencies like the IMF at 12.5% and the RBI at 10.5% may have to be moderated,” . “The combination of the second wave and the revised base effect may imply a lower GDP growth for the Indian economy for 2021-22, may be in the range of 9-9.5%,”

7)“Whether growth will be in double digits or single digits, there is uncertainty. Some of the scientists are talking about the possibility of a third wave too. It would be speculative to tell you exact numbers,” said, stressing that vaccination was important for the health of the people and economy.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

88)Consider the following with reference to Israel and Palestine :

Britain renounced its Mandate over Palestine in 1948, paving the way for the United Nations to divide Palestine between the Jews and Arabs, giving them about 55% and 45% of the land, respectively. The Jews, meanwhile, had declared the establishment of the state of Israel for which they had been working for long. The Palestinians, who lacked the resources to conceive of a state, failed to form a state of their own in the land allotted to them. Instead, a coalition of Arab countries invaded the nascent state of Israel to nip it in the bud. Israel not only defeated the Arab armies, but also unleashed what the Palestinians call Nakba, an Arabic word which means holocaust. Israel destroyed about 600 Palestinian villages and expelled about 80% of Arabs from its territory.

In 1967, in the Six-Day War, Israel captured not just more Palestinian land but also Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Syria’s Golan Heights. During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Arabs came to realise that Israel is here to stay. But the Arab states, while washing their hands off Palestine, failed to impress the same realisation upon their Palestinian brethren, a sizeable number of whom remain committed to seeking a solution through counter-violence. Non-Arab Muslim countries, while being of no help to the Palestinians have been the greatest cheerleaders of the violent section of the struggle.

1)This vicious cycle of violence is not going to end unless there is realism on both sides. The Hamas should know that Israel will not give up on holding on to land it has held for years, and Israel should understand that total subjugation, expulsion or even decimation of Palestinians will not make it any safer. Both the sides will have to seek a solution through non-violence. A solution based on the common humanity of all stakeholders, one that is not riven by racial and religious schisms, needs to be explored. Secularisation of the discourse is an inescapable prerequisite for any workable solution. This is especially more applicable for the weaker side

2)The Indian model of democracy and secularism, which accommodates religious, ethnic, linguistic and other diversities, could be a viable model for the peaceful coexistence of formerly antagonistic groups.

3)The European model of the annihilation of natives in the Americas and Australia, last tried on the Jews in Nazi Germany, is not a solution which we can morally countenance and practically resort to. India, on the other hand, evolved a unique model of accommodating the victors and the vanquished, without ever resorting to the latter’s decimation.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

89)Consider the following with reference to liquid oxygen for industrial purposes :

1)The government would take a decision to lift restrictions on use of liquid oxygen for industrial purposes “as soon as possible”,

2)“We are talking to State governments to find out what their needs for medical oxygen are. After confirmation from them as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whatever needs to be done to revive the continuous process industries we will do as soon as possible,” said , Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, who is the convener of the Empowered Group 4 that oversees the country’s demand for medical oxygen and its logistics.

3)The current demand for medical oxygen was down to 5,200 metric tonnes (MT) a day from a peak of 8,900 MT . This was expected to drop further to 3,000 MT in one week.

The government issued an order banning the supply of liquid oxygen to industry in view of increased demand for medical oxygen.

4)The Empowered Group was consulting medical professionals to assess the demand for medical oxygen for the next wave.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

90)Consider the following with reference to NHRC :

1)Former Supreme Court Justice Arun Kumar Mishra is likely to be the new Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after a high-powered recommendation committee proposed his name

2)The selection panel consisted of Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Home Minister Amit Shah; Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla; and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

91)Consider the following :

1) In a bid to extend relief to the Maratha community in the State, the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra extended the benefits of reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) to the Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC).

2) Previously, the government had decided that the Maratha community could not take advantage of the 10% EWS category as Maratha reservation was in force in the State. The Supreme Court, however, scrapped the SEBC reservation in jobs and education, making it possible for the State government to extend the benefit of the EWS quota to the Marathas.

3) As per the government resolution, a person fulfilling the criterion for EWS would be eligible for 10% reservation in educational institutes, barring minority institutes.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

92)Consider the following :

1) A dynamite blast led to the flooding of a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya, trapping five labourers

2) In Meghalaya, rat-hole coal mining is existing

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

93)Consider the following (as per old data) :

1)At the current pace of vaccination, it could be eight months before every adult Indian gets at least one shot of vaccine, back-of-the-envelope calculations from the government’s portal CoWin suggest.

2)The Centre expects to inoculate 94.4 crore adults, according to a note last week by R.S. Sharma, Chairman of the technical committee that oversees the portal. Several Cabinet Ministers and policy advisers, spearheading India’s COVID vaccination campaign, have claimed that India will inoculate “all eligible” by December. These statements do not specify if that refers to just all adults, or the number of doses administered.

3)The recommended vaccination protocol is to administer two doses at least four to 16 weeks apart depending on the vaccine administered. Given that only 4.4 crore second doses have been administered and the daily pace of second doses — for most of last month — has been about 10% of that of the first dose (on May 29, 27 lakh first doses were administered to 3 lakh second doses), it could theoretically be years before all those over 18 get their second doses.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

94)Consider the following with reference to China Population :

The census recorded 264 million in the age group of 60 and over, up 5.44% since 2010 and accounting for 18.70% of the population. Those in the 15-59 age group were 894 million persons, down by 6.79% since 2010 and accounting for 63.35% of the population. China’s workforce in the 15-59 age bracket peaked at 925 million in 2011, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said previously. That number was down to 894 million in this census and would drop to 700 million by 2050.

1)China will for the first time allow couples to have a third child, the country’s government said on Monday, in a further relaxation of family planning rules five years after a “two-child policy” largely failed to boost birth rates. The announcement followed a meeting of the 25-member Politburo, chaired by China’s President and Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping, “to hear reports on major policy measures to actively address the ageing of population during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025)”, State media said.

2) The change comes less than three weeks after the release of China’s once-in-a-decade population census that painted an alarming picture of declining births. The National Bureau of Statistics said on May 11 that 12 million babies were born last year, the lowest number since 1961, a time when Mao’s China was in the midst of a four-year famine, and down from 17.86 million in 2016.

3) The census said China’s population was 1.41 billion in 2020, an increase of 72 million since the last census in 2010, reflecting a 5.38% growth in this period and a 0.53% annual growth. Forecasts say the population could peak in the next couple of years and most likely by 2025, when India will become the world’s most populous country

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

95)Consider the following with reference to universal basic income (UBI) programme :

1)Many consider a universal basic income (UBI) programme to be a solution that could mitigate the looming crisis caused by dwindling job opportunities. UBI is also deliberated as an effective poverty-eradication tool. Supporters of this scheme include Economics Nobel Laureates Peter Diamond and Christopher Pissarides, and tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.

2)UBI in its true sense would entail the provision of an unconditional fixed amount to every citizen in a country. Nevertheless, countries across the world, including Kenya, Brazil, Finland, and Switzerland, have bought into this concept and have begun controlled UBI pilots to supplement their population.

3)India’s huge capacity and infrastructure-building requirements will support plenty of hands in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, even before the pandemic, India was struggling to find enough opportunities for more than a million job aspirants who were entering the job market each month

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

96)Consider the following :

1)In the 68 days since the nationwide lockdown was imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Home Ministry on an average, issued 1.3 orders a day.

2)The orders were issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, invoked for the first time in the country since the legislation was drafted after the tsunami in 2004.

3)The Act also, for the first time, introduced a legal framework for disaster management in the country, with the Ministry being the nodal Ministry. Under the Act, the States and district authorities can frame their own rules on the basis of broad guidelines issued by the Ministry.

4)The lockdown first imposed on March 24 was extended four times. The fifth phase has been renamed Unlock 1.0 to open up economic activities even as more than 1.75 lakh cases and around 4,900 deaths.

5)The Ministry had also started three control rooms to monitor the complaints received from States and to resolve the migrant crisis. As all modes of public transport were suspended, thousands of migrants have been walking back several hundred kilometres to reach home.

6)A senior Ministry official said the helplines in the control room had been getting around 600 calls daily in the initial days but gradually the number had come down. After over 50 days into the extended lockdown, the Railways started running Shramik Special trains for the migrant workers.

7)Meanwhile, the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) are yet to receive orders from the Ministry on what comprises swadeshi or indigenous products. On May 13, Union Home Minister had announced that CAPF canteens would sell only swadeshi goods from June 1,2020

8)A government official said the Commerce Ministry was yet to issue the guidelines defining swadeshi products, though the scheme is to be implemented from June 1. The canteens sell many daily-use products at a subsidised rate to around 10 lakh personnel, their families and those retired.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

97)Consider the following with reference to migrant workers :

1)There is a wealth of theoretical and empirical literature on the reasons behind short-term seasonal and circular migratory flows in India. For a majority of migrant labourers, migration is either a livelihood accumulation strategy or survival risk reducing strategy whichever way we define the nature of migration.

2)The migration studies also confirm that the migrant labourers are the most exploited and also disenfranchised invisible citizens of contemporary India. It’s shocking that those who build fantasy cities not only can’t own a home of their own but also can’t vote in elections and treated like almost ‘as second-class citizens’. This double tragedy of migrant life is ironically further exploited by sons of soil politicians in various States of India.

3)According to the Census of India, 2011, more than 450 million Indians (37%) are internal migrants who change their residence within a country’s national borders.

4)About 30% of the migrants are youth aged 15-29 years and another 15 million are children.

5)Women migrants are less represented in regular jobs and more likely to be self-employed than non-migrant women.

6)Domestic work has emerged as an important occupation for migrant women and girls.

7)Facing relentless bouts of gender discrimination at home, and on the farms as wage workers, these migrant women are forced into various forms of servitude in the domestic spaces of affluent city dwellers.

8)The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 is largely a regulatory law failing to incorporate welfare rights of the migrant labourers

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

98)Consider the following :

U.S. President Donald Trump said in June, 2020 that he would postpone a Group of Seven summit he had hoped to hold next month until September or later and expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.

1)Russia was expelled from what was then the G8 in 2014 when Mr. Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, was U.S. President, after Moscow annexed the Crimea region from Ukraine. Russia still holds the territory, and various G7 governments have rebuffed previous calls from Mr. Trump to readmit Moscow

2)Dismissing the current configuration of the “Group of Seven” or G-7 of the world’s most developed nations as “outdated”, U.S. President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he would like to expand it to a G-11, by adding India, Russia, South Korea and Australia.

3)Despite its border tensions with Beijing, India must also consider its objectives in attending a grouping that appears aimed at fuelling a new Cold War between the U.S. and China. Finally, an evaluation of the G-7’s effectiveness as a multilateral forum thus far is needed, given deep member differences on issues including climate change, security contributions, Iran, etc. In France, last year, the grouping was unable to issue a joint communiqué due to these differences — a first in its 45-year-old history.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

99)Consider the following :

However, 700 km from Mumbai, a nascent cyclone is brewing in the Arabian Sea and is likely to hit north Maharashtra as well as the Gujarat coast by June 3,2020.

1) “Its track is northward but will recurve into Harihareshwar and Daman. However, more details on the potential damage would be available once it begins to form. Right now, it’s a depression in the South East Arabian Sea and is about 690 km away from Mumbai,” Director-General, IMD, said at a press conference.

2)The IMD’s latest cyclone update expects it to balloon into a “severe cyclone” by the middle of the week

3) The presence of a cyclone near land during the monsoon onset could delay the progress of the monsoon and put it into a “hiatus,”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

100)Consider the following :

China, being Africa’s largest trading partner, was quick to signal its intent to help Africa cope with the pandemic.

1) It despatched medical protective equipment, testing kits, ventilators, and medical masks to several African countries. The primary motive of such donations has been to raise Beijing’s profile as a leading provider of humanitarian assistance and “public goods” in the global public health sector.

2) China’s billionaire philanthropy was also in full display when tech founder Jack Ma donated three rounds of anti-coronavirus supplies. These consignments were transported mostly by Ethiopian aircraft

3) Chinese embassies across Africa have taken the lead by coordinating both public and private donations to local stakeholders and have also embarked on a donation blitz of cash even as the sub-optimal quality of China’s medical supplies and its deputing of medical experts have been a major cause for concern

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

LOGICAL REASONING AND MENTAL ABILITY

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date January 9, 2021

The Logical Reasoning (LR) section tests your ability to analyze the logical foundations of a given argument. While knowledge of some formal logic principles can be helpful on some Logical Reasoning questions, you certainly don’t need prior training in formal logic in order to succeed on the LR section. Rather, your success will be dictated almost entirely by your ability to read effectively & critically. Much of this booklet will be dedicated to building your reading skills in the context of LR questions.

NUMBER SERIES

CATEGORY-1

Number series questions measure our ability to reason without words. To answer

these questions, we must determine the pattern of the numbers in each series before we

are able to choose which number comes next. These questions involve only simple arithmetic.

Although most number series items progress by adding or subtracting, some questions involve

simple multiplication or division. In each series, look for the DEGREE AND DIRECTION OF

CHANGE between the numbers. In other words, do the numbers increase or decrease, and by

how much?

1. Look at this series: 2, 1, (1/2), (1/4), … What number should come next?

A. (1/3)

B. (1/8)

C. (2/8)

D. (1/16)

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple division series; each number is one-half of the previous number.

In other terms to say, the number is divided by 2 successively to get the next result.

4/2 = 2

2/2 = 1

1/2 = 1/2

(1/2)/2 = 1/4

(1/4)/2 = 1/8 and so on.

2. Look at this series: 7, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, … What number should come next?

A. 7

B. 10

C. 12

D. 13

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern,

3 is added; in the second, 2 is subtracted.

3. Look at this series: 36, 34, 30, 28, 24, … What number should come next?

A. 20

B. 22

C. 23

D. 26

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is an alternating number subtraction series. First, 2 is subtracted, then 4,

then 2, and so on.

4. Look at this series: 22, 21, 23, 22, 24, 23, … What number should come next?

A. 22

B. 24

C. 25

D. 26

Answer: Option C

Explanation: In this simple alternating subtraction and addition series; 1 is subtracted, then

2 is added, and so on.

5. Look at this series: 53, 53, 40, 40, 27, 27, … What number should come next?

A. 12

B. 14

C. 27

D. 53

Answer: Option B

Explanation: In this series, each number is repeated, and 13 is subtracted to arrive at the

next number.

6. Look at this series: 21, 9, 21, 11, 21, 13, 21, … What number should come next?

A. 14

B. 15

C. 21

D. 23

Answer: Option B

Explanation: In this alternating repetition series, the random number 21 is interpolated every

other number into an otherwise simple addition series that increases by 2, beginning with

the number 9.

7. Look at this series: 58, 52, 46, 40, 34, … What number should come next?

A. 26

B. 28

C. 30

D. 32

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction series. Each number is 6 less than the previous

number.

8. Look at this series: 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, … What number should come next?

A. 7

B. 10

C. 14

D. 15

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This alternating addition series begins with 3; then 1 is added to give 4; then 3

is added to give 7; then 1 is added, and so on.

9. Look at this series: 8, 22, 8, 28, 8, … What number should come next?

A. 9

B. 29

C. 32

D. 34

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This is a simple addition series with a random number, 8, interpolated as every

other number. In the series, 6 is added to each number except 8, to arrive at the next

number.

10.Look at this series: 31, 29, 24, 22, 17, … What number should come next?

A. 15

B. 14

C. 13

D. 12

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is a simple alternating subtraction series, which subtracts 2, then 5.

11.Look at this series: 1.5, 2.3, 3.1, 3.9, … What number should come next?

A. 4.2

B. 4.4

C. 4.7

D. 5.1

Answer: Option C

Explanation: In this simple addition series, each number increases by 0.8.

12.Look at this series: 14, 28, 20, 40, 32, 64, … What number should come next?

A. 52

B. 56

C. 96

D. 128

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is an alternating multiplication and subtracting series: First, multiply by 2

and then subtract 8.

13.Look at this series: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, … What number should come next?

A. 11

B. 12

C. 13

D. 14

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple addition series. Each number increases by 2.

14.Look at this series: 201, 202, 204, 207, … What number should come next?

A. 205

B. 208

C. 210

D. 211

Answer: Option D

Explanation: In this addition series, 1 is added to the first number; 2 is added to the second

number; 3 is added to the third number; 4 is added to the fourth number; and go on.

15.Look at this series: 544, 509, 474, 439, … What number should come next?

A. 404

B. 414

C. 420

D. 445

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction series. Each number is 35 less than the previous

number.

16.Look at this series: 80, 10, 70, 15, 60, … What number should come next?

A. 20

B. 25

C. 30

D. 50

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is an alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 10 is

subtracted from each number to arrive at the next. In the second, 5 is added to each number

to arrive at the next.

17.Look at this series: 2, 6, 18, 54, … What number should come next?

A. 108

B. 148

C. 162

D. 216

Answer: Option C

Explanation: This is a simple multiplication series. Each number is 3 times more than the

previous number.

18.Look at this series: 5.2, 4.8, 4.4, 4, … What number should come next?

A. 3

B. 3.3

C. 3.5

D. 3.6

Answer: Option D

Explanation: In this simple subtraction series, each number decreases by 0.4.

19.Look at this series: 1000, 200, 40, … What number should come next?

A. 8

B. 10

C. 15

D. 20

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is a simple division series. Each number is divided by 5.

20.Look at this series: 40, 40, 47, 47, 54, … What number should come next?

A. 40

B. 44

C. 54

D. 61

Answer: Option C

Explanation: Each number repeats itself and then increases by 7.

40, 40, 47, 47, 54, 54, 61, 61, 68, 68, 75, 75 … and so on. Therefore, 54 is the required

answer.

CATEGORY – 2

:: This set contains additional, and sometimes more difficult, number series

questions. Again, each question has a definite pattern. Some of the number series may be interrupted by a particular number that appears periodically in the pattern. For example, in the series 14, 16, 32, 18, 20, 32, 22, 24, 32, the number 32 appears as every third number.

Sometimes, the pattern contains two alternating series. For example, in the series 1, 5, 3, 7, 5, 9, 7, the pattern is add 4, subtract 2, add 4, subtract 2, and so on. Look carefully for the pattern, and then choose which pair of numbers comes next.

1) 28 25 5 21 18 5 14

A. 11 5

B. 10 7

C. 11 8

D. 5 10

E. 10 5

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is an alternating subtraction series with the interpolation of a random

number, 5, as every third number. In the subtraction series, 3 is subtracted, then 4, then 3,

and so on.

2) 8 11 21 15 18 21 22

A. 25 18

B. 25 21

C. 25 29

D. 24 21

E. 22 26

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series, with a random number, 21, interpolated as every third number. The addition series alternates between adding 3 and adding 4. The number 21 appears after each number arrived at by adding 3.

3) 9 16 23 30 37 44 51

A. 59 66

B. 56 62

C. 58 66

D. 58 65

E. 54 61

Answer: Option D

Explanation: Here is a simple addition series, which begins with 9 and adds 7.

4) 2 8 14 20 26 32 38

A. 2 46

B. 44 50

C. 42 48

D. 40 42

E. 32 26

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple addition series, which begins with 2 and adds 6.

5) 9 11 33 13 15 33 17

A. 19 33

B. 33 35

C. 33 19

D. 15 33

E. 19 21

Answer: Option A

Explanation: In this alternating repetition series, a random number, 33, is interpolated every third number into a simple addition series, in which each number increases by 2.

6) 2 3 4 5 6 4 8

A. 9 10

B. 4 8

C. 10 4

D. 9 4

E. 8 9

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series with a random number, 4, interpolated as

every third number. In the main series, 1 is added, then 2 is added, then 1, then 2, and so

on.

7) 17 17 34 20 20 31 23

A. 26 23

B. 34 20

C. 23 33

D. 27 28

E. 23 28

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is an alternating subtraction series with repetition. There are two different

patterns here. In the first, a number repeats itself; then 3 is added to that number to arrive

at the next number, which also repeats. This gives the series 17, 17, 20, 20, 23, and so on.

Every third number follows a second pattern, in which 3 is subtracted from each number to

arrive at the next: 34, 31, 28.

8) 6 20 8 14 10 8 12

A. 14 10

B. 2 18

C. 4 12

D. 2 14

E. 14 14

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This is an alternating addition and subtraction series. In the first pattern, 2 is

added to each number to arrive at the next; in the alternate pattern, 6 is subtracted from

each number to arrive at the next.

9) 21 25 18 29 33 18

A. 43 18

B. 41 44

C. 37 18

D. 37 41

E. 38 41

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This is a simple addition series with a random number, 18, interpolated as every

third number. In the series, 4 is added to each number except 18, to arrive at the next

number.

10) 75 65 85 55 45 85 35

A. 25 15

B. 25 85

C. 35 25

D. 85 35

E. 25 75

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction series in which a random number, 85, is interpolated

as every third number. In the subtraction series, 10 is subtracted from each number to arrive

at the next.

11) 11 16 21 26 31 36 41

A. 47 52

B. 46 52

C. 45 49

D. 46 51

Answer: Option D

Explanation: In this simple addition series, each number is 5 more than the previous number.

12) 3 8 13 18 23 28 33

A. 39 44

B. 38 44

C. 38 43

D. 37 42

E. 33 38

Answer: Option C

Explanation: In this simple addition series, each number is 5 greater than the previous

number.

13) 84 78 72 66 60 54 48

A. 44 34

B. 42 36

C. 42 32

D. 40 34

E. 38 32

Answer: Option B

Explanation: In this simple subtraction series, each number is 6 less than the previous

number.

14) 20 20 17 17 14 14 11

A. 8 8

B. 11 11

C. 11 14

D. 8 9

E. 11 8

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction with repetition series. It begins with 20, which is

repeated, then 3 is subtracted, resulting in 17, which is repeated, and so on.

15) 61 57 50 61 43 36 61

A. 29 61

B. 27 20

C. 31 61

D. 22 15

E. 29 22

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is an alternating repetition series, in which a random number, 61, is

interpolated as every third number into an otherwise simple subtraction series. Starting with

the second number, 57, each number (except 61) is 7 less than the previous number.

16) 9 12 11 14 13 16 15

A. 14 13

B. 18 21

C. 14 17

D. 12 13

E. 18 17

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is a simple alternating addition and subtraction series. First, 3 is added,

then 1 is subtracted, then 3 is added, 1 subtracted, and so on.

17) 4 8 22 12 16 22 20 24

A. 28 32

B. 28 22

C. 22 28

D. 32 36

E. 22 26

Answer: Option C

Explanation: This is an alternating repetition series, with a random number, 22, interpolated

as every third number into an otherwise simple addition series. In the addition series, 4 is

added to each number to arrive at the next number.

18) 40 40 31 31 22 22 13

A. 13 4

B. 13 5

C. 4 13

D. 9 4

E. 4 4

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is a subtraction series with repetition. Each number repeats itself and then

decreases by 9.

19) 1 10 7 20 13 30 19

A. 26 40

B. 29 36

C. 40 25

D. 25 31

E. 40 50

Answer: Option C

Explanation: Here, every other number follows a different pattern. In the first series, 6 is

added to each number to arrive at the next. In the second series, 10 is added to each number

to arrive at the next.

20) 10 20 25 35 40 50 55

A. 70 65

B. 60 70

C. 60 75

D. 60 65

E. 65 70

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series, in which 10 is added, then 5, then 10, and

so on.

CATEGORY3

Look carefully for the pattern, and then choose which pair of numbers comes next.

This set will give you additional practice dealing with number series questions.

1) 42 40 38 35 33 31 28

A. 25 22

B. B. 26 23

C. C. 26 24

D. D. 25 23

E. E. 26 22

Answer: Option C

Explanation: This is an alternating subtraction series in which 2 is subtracted twice, then 3

is subtracted once, then 2 is subtracted twice, and so on.

2) 6 10 14 18 22 26 30

A. 36 40

B. B. 33 37

C. C. 38 42

D. D. 34 36

E. E. 34 38

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This simple addition series adds 4 to each number to arrive at the next.

3) 8 12 9 13 10 14 11

A. 14 11

B. 15 12

C. 8 15

D. 15 19

E. 8 5

Answer: Option B

Explanation: This is an alternating addition and subtraction series, in which the addition of 4

is alternated with the subtraction of 3.

4) 36 31 29 24 22 17 15

A. 13 11

B. 10 5

C. 13 8

D. 12 7

E. 10 8

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is an alternating subtraction series, which subtracts 5, then 2, then 5, and

so on.

5) 3 5 35 10 12 35 17

A. 22 35

B. 35 19

C. 19 35

D. 19 24

E. 22 24

Answer: Option C

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series, with a random number, 35, interpolated

as every third number. The pattern of addition is to add 2, add 5, add 2, and so on. The

number 35 comes after each “add 2” step.

6) 13 29 15 26 17 23 19

A. 21 23

B. 20 21

C. 20 17

D. 25 27

E. 22 20

Answer: Option B

Explanation: Here, there are two alternating patterns, with every other number following a

different pattern. The first pattern begins with 13 and adds 2 to each number to arrive at the

next; the alternating pattern begins with 29 and subtracts 3 each time.

7) 14 14 26 26 38 38 50

A. 60 72

B. 50 62

C. 50 72

D. 62 62

E. 62 80

Answer: Option B

Explanation: In this simple addition with repetition series, each number in the series repeats

itself, and then increases by 12 to arrive at the next number.

8) 44 41 38 35 32 29 26

A. 24 21

B. 22 19

C. 23 19

D. 29 32

E. 23 20

Answer: Option E

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction series, in which 3 is subtracted from each number

to arrive at the next.

9) 34 30 26 22 18 14 10

A. 8 6

B. 6 4

C. 14 18

D. 6 2

E. 4 0

Answer: Option D

Explanation: This is a simple subtraction series, in which 4 is subtracted from each number

to arrive at the next.

10) 32 31 32 29 32 27 32

A. 25 32

B. 31 32

C. 29 32

D. 25 30

E. 29 30

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is an alternating repetition series. The number 32 alternates with a series

in which each number decreases by 2.

11) 7 9 66 12 14 66 17

A. 19 66

B. 66 19

C. 19 22

D. 20 66

E. 66 20

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series with repetition, in which a random number,

66, is interpolated as every third number. The regular series adds 2, then 3, then 2, and so

on, with 66 repeated after each “add 2” step.

12) 3 8 10 15 17 22 24

A. 26 28

B. 29 34

C. 29 31

D. 26 31

E. 26 32

Answer: Option C

Explanation: This is an alternating addition series that adds 5, then 2, then 5, and so on.

13) 4 7 26 10 13 20 16

A. 14 4

B. 14 17

C. 18 14

D. 19 13

E. 19 14

Answer: Option E

Explanation: Two patterns alternate here, with every third number following the alternate

pattern. In the main series, beginning with 4, 3 is added to each number to arrive at the

next. In the alternating series, beginning with 26, 6 is subtracted from each number to arrive

at the next.

14) 32 29 26 23 20 17 14

A. 11 8

B. 12 8

C. 11 7

D. 32 29

E. 10 9

Answer: Option A

Explanation: In this simple subtraction series, the numbers decrease by 3.

15) 16 26 56 36 46 68 56

A. 80 66

B. 64 82

C. 66 80

D. 78 68

E. 66 82

Answer: Option C

Explanation: Here, every third number follows a different pattern from the main series. In

the main series, beginning with 16, 10 is added to each number to arrive at the next. In the

alternating series, beginning with 56, 12 is added to each number to arrive at the next.

16) 2 44 4 41 6 38 8

A. 10 12

B. 35 32

C. 34 9

D. 35 10

E. 10 52

Answer: Option D

Explanation: Here, there are two alternating patterns, one addition and one subtraction. The

first starts with 2 and increases by 2; the second starts with 44 and decreases by 3.

17) 17 32 19 29 21 26 23

A. 25 25

B. 20 22

C. 23 25

D. 25 22

E. 27 32

Answer: Option C

Explanation: Here, there are two alternating patterns. The first begins with 17 and adds 2;

the second begins with 32 and subtracts 3.

18) 17 14 14 11 11 8 8

A. 8 5

B. 5 2

C. 8 2

D. 5 5

E. 5 8

Answer: Option D

Explanation: In this simple subtraction with repetition series, each number is repeated, then

3 is subtracted to give the next number, which is then repeated, and so on.

19) 10 34 12 31 14 28 16

A. 25 18

B. 30 13

C. 19 26

D. 18 20

E. 25 22

Answer: Option A

Explanation: Two patterns alternate here. The first pattern begins with 10 and adds 2 to each

number to arrive at the next; the alternating pattern begins with 34 and subtracts 3 each

time.

20) 11 14 14 17 17 20 20

A. 23 23

B. 23 26

C. 21 24

D. 24 24

E. 24 27

Answer: Option A

Explanation: This is a simple addition series with repetition. It adds 3 to each number to

arrive at the next, which is repeated before 3 is added again.

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date November 30, 2020

SPACE-TECHNOLOGY-28-11 Download

DEFENCE-TECHNOLOGY Download

NOTES ON POVERTY

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date November 23, 2020

INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER POVERTY

Poverty is the inability to fulfill the minimum requirement of life like food, clothing, housing education and health facilities etc.

Relative poverty refers to poverty of people in comparison to other people in different regions or nations.

Absolute poverty refers to the total number of people living below the poverty line.

Absolute poverty is measured on the basis of two criteria:-

1. Minimum Calories Consumption Criteria

2. Minimum Consumption Expenditure Criteria

1. Minimum Calories Consumption:- People who are not getting 2400 calories per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban area is considered to be living below the poverty line.

2. Minimum Consumption Expenditure Criteria:- The new poverty line, thus, translates to a monthly per capita consumption expenditure of Rs 972 in rural areas and Rs 1,407 in urban areas in 2011-12. Or, Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas on a per capita daily basis.

Categorising Poverty

Category 1 Chronic poor Those who are always poor and those who are usually poor e.g., Landless workers.
Category 2 Transient Poor Those who are moving in and out of poverty and occasionally poor.
Category 3 Never Poor These are categorised as non-poor people.

Rural Poor

These include landless agricultural work marginal holders and tenants-at-will.

Urban Poor

These include migrants from the rural areas in search of employment, casual factory workers and self employed serving largely as street vendors.

Urban poor are largely the spillover of the rural poor who are forced to migrate in search of jobs.

Poverty line refers to that line which expresses per capita average monthly expenditure that is essentially required by the people to satisfy their minimum needs. As per Tendulkar committee, poverty line is estimated on a monthly basis as Rs. 816 in rural areas and Rs. 1000 in urban areas. People who are not able to earn even such an amount in a month are considered below the poverty line.

According to a survey, approx. 22% of the population in India is below the poverty line.

Estimation of poverty line:

Calories based estimation— For rural area intake calorie was estimated at 2,400 calories and for urban area it is 2,100 calories,

In 1999-2000 new ways of measuring started i.e. monthly per capita expenditure–it estimates for rural areas as consumption worth Rs. 816 per person and for urban areas it is Rs. 1000 Presently as per Tendulkar committee.

Three approaches of the government to combat poverty.

Approach

1. Enhancing Economic Growth

2. Specific Programmes for Poverty Alleviation

3. Fulfilling Minimum Needs of the poor

Vicious Circle of Poverty:- It refers to a situation of self reinforcing forces in which there are certain factors that are related in a circular way and results in continuation of poverty and under development.

Causes of Poverty:

1. Rapid increase in population.

2. Low level of National product.

3. Rise in price.

4. Unemployment.

5. Low rate of growth.

6. Capital deficiency.

7. Rural Indebtedness

8. Exploitation under British rule

9. Low education

10. Inflationary Pressure

11. High Level of Migration from rural areas

12. Failure to implement land reforms.

Measures adopted by the Government to remove poverty.

1. Food for work programme.

2. Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.

3. Pradhan Mantri Gramodoya Yojana.

4. Sompoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana.

5. Swarn Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana.

6. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

7. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana

Programme adopted by govt. to help elderly and poor people and also destitute women:-

1. National social assistance programme which includes National Old Age Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, National Maternity benefit scheme.

2. Annapurna Yojana

3. On the job training

Poverty Alleviation Programmes

Some of the principle measures adopted by the government to remove poverty are given below

Samaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
Pradanmantri Gramoday Yojana (PGY)
Jai Prakash Rozgar Guarantee Yojana (JPRGY)
The Swaran Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)
Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana
Development of Small and Cottage Industries (viii) Minimum Needs Programme
Twenty Point Programme
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee

BRIEF NOTE ON NATIONAL FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAMME:

The National Food for Work Programme was launched in November 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country, identified by the Planning Commission in consultation with the Ministry of Rural Development and the State Governments. The objective of the programme was to provide additional resources apart from the resources available under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana to 150 most backward districts of the country so that generation of supplementary wage employment and providing of food security through creation of need based economic, social and community assets in these districts are further intensified.

The scheme was 100 per cent centrally sponsored and was open to all rural poor who were in need of wage employment and wanted to do manual and unskilled work.

The focus of the programme was on work relating to water conservation, drought proofing and land development. Flood control protection, rural connectivity in terms of all-weather roads and any other similar activity for economic sustainability could be included.

Foodgrains were given as part of wages under the NFFWP to the rural poor at the rate of 5 kg per man day and the remaining portian may be given in cash. More than 5 kg foodgrains can be given to the labourers under this programme in exceptional cases subject to a minimum of 25% of wages to be paid in cash. The programme has now been subsumed in Nationai Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which has come in force in 200 identified districts of the country including 150 NFFWP districts.

India Economic development

Post author By anataiasacademy
Post date November 23, 2020

Dear Students

Please find the link of PDF of the chapter POVERTY from the class 12 NCERT textbook for detailed study

https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/keec104.pdf