Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )SET 29

Set No. 29 {Prepared on 25 .9.2021 } For Study purpose

Civils Prelims 2021 Model Questions (for GS Paper )

Set No. 29 {Prepared on 25 .9.2021 } For Study purpose

Prepared by :Praturi Potayya Sarma

Yojana, Andhra Jyothi Writer (for competitive examinations)
26 Years Teaching Experience for Civil Services Exams

Mobile No.8143189271

Blog : Praturi P Sarma

1)Consider the following with reference to India and EU :

1) India and the European Union (European Union) committed to a framework for strategic cooperation until 2025, and vowed to cooperate on their response to the coronavirus pandemic and at the United Nations Security Council.

2)“India and the EU are natural partners,” said Prim Minister in his opening remarks. “Our partnership is important for global peace and stability, and this reality is clearer given the situation around the world,” he added. He also referred to shared “universal values” of democracy, pluralism, respect for international institutions and multilateralism between India and the EU.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

2)Consider the following :

1) The Water Resources Department (WRD) began improvement works at Tamaraipakkam dam, one of the oldest across Kosasthalaiyar river. Built in 1868, this structure plays a crucial role in storing and diverting surplus water for Chennai’s drinking water supply.

2)Located 15 km downstream of Poondi reservoir, one of the prime storage points for city’s water supply, the Tamaraipakkam anaicut, built near Ammanambakkam village, Tiruvallur district, is nearly 190.80 m long.

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 superspreaders :

1)The groups labelled superspreaders represent some of the most vulnerable groups in Indian society. Vegetable vendors and others that supply essential services during this crisis are not only more vulnerable for infection because of the nature of their profession but are also more likely to face adverse outcomes, if infected, because of their marginality. These groups are less likely to have access to good health care, more vulnerable to economic shocks caused by the illness, and little voice in the political process to defend their rights.

2)Why some individuals tend to be superspreaders is a question epidemiologists continue to grapple with, more so in the context of COVID-19, the science around which continues to evolve. Initial evidence indicates that factors such as the mode of transmission through finer aerosols that can be suspended in the air for long, an individual’s ability to shed higher loads of virus than is typical of others, and the presence of an infected individual in indoor, closed spaces could make such persons superspreaders.

3) A particularly challenging aspect of this pandemic has been the large proportion of asymptomatic infected patients who can shed high virus loads before experiencing symptoms and can spread infection to many contacts without their knowledge. Because of this complexity, practices such as universal masking, social distancing, and hand hygiene have become key to containing the pandemic.

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 reverse migration :

1)Lessons should be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic which saw unprecedented reverse migration, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress leader , said at a meeting .

2)The Committee has advised the government to set up a national database of migrant workers so that they don’t fall out of the social security cover.

3)The members, it is learnt, asked Home Secretary and other officials from the Union Home Ministry to explain if better coordination between States and districts could have prevented the massive exodus of migrant workers, many of whom trudged back many kilometres to their home States.

4)The officials, sources said, informed the panel that if a nationwide lockdown had not been imposed, the number of cases could have gone up to 50 lakh and India would have seen nearly 1.5 lakh deaths.

5)The officials also warned that going by the global trends, the number of cases will continue to spiral and projections for weeks ahead is grim.

6)“This pandemic has brought to the fore the gaping holes in our social security network, which need to be plugged. The government can announce any plans but unless the benefit reaches the concerned, it is of no utility,” one of the members said. The committee has urged the government to come up with the database at the earliest since the pandemic and consequent economic uncertainty is likely to continue for while.

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 sovereign portfolio guarantee (PCGS). :

1) The Union Cabinet had, on May 20, 2020 approved the sovereign portfolio guarantee of up to 20% of the first loss for purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers with a rating of AA and below, including unrated paper with original or initial maturity of up to one year issued by NBFCs/HFCs/MFIs by public sector banks through an extension of the PCGS.

2)Public sector banks (PSBs) have purchased bonds and commercial papers worth ₹14,667 crore issued by 67 NBFCs under the revamped Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS), Finance Minister said .

3)As part of the nearly ₹21 lakh crore special economic package amid the COVID-19 crisis, Finance Minister announced Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS) 2.0 worth ₹45,000 crore for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and micro finance institutions (MFIs)

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 postal ballots :

1) The Election Commission in July 2020 said the postal ballot facility for electors above the age of 65 in the Bihar Assembly elections, which would have been the first time it would have been used since the Centre had notified it on June 19, would not be implemented.

2)In a statement, the EC said the decision was taken for the Assembly elections and bypolls due soon due to logistical challenges.

3)The poll body said the option of postal ballots would be available to electors over 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, essential service workers and those infected with COVID-19 or suspected to be.

4)After the Law Ministry notified the extension of postal ballots to electors over 65, several political parties had raised concerns over the decision.

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 Sattarghat bridge :

1) 1.4-km-long Sattarghat bridge inaugurated by Mr. Kumar on June 16 through video conferencing was washed away in floodwaters just 29 days after inauguration.

2)The swollen floodwater in the Gandak washed away the northern side of the newly inaugurated bridge and disrupted traffic movement causing great inconvenience to the commuters

3)Many rivers in Bihar, especially in the northern parts of the State, will be swollen and flowing above the danger mark, giving rise to the threat of flood in those areas.

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 multilateral system :

1) Calling on members of the United Nations to pledge for reform within the world body, Prime Minister of India said the multilateral system needed to more representative, and India believed that “the path to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity” was through multilateralism.

2)He was speaking at a high-level dialogue of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on “Multilateralism after COVID-19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary?”

3)“Only reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nations at its centre can meet the aspirations of humanity,” said in his speech focusing on India’s battle against the coronavirus pandemic

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 PM-KUSUM :

1) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), a Central government scheme for installation of solar pumps with a 70% subsidy.

2)Under the PM-KUSUM, which is being implemented on a “first come, first serve” basis, a farmer gets total subsidy of 70% of the cost of a pump. Of this, the State’s share is 40% and that of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 30%. The balance 30% has to be borne by the beneficiary.

3)For example, on average, a 7.5-horsepower-capacity pump (using alternating current or direct current) costs around ₹3,33,000. As the State and Central subsidy will account for 70% of the cost, a beneficiary will have to spend ₹1,00,000. Nine suppliers have been chosen for the State.

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 lion population :

1) Starting 2 p.m. on June 5, some 1,400 forest personnel, armed with binoculars, cameras and spreadsheets fanned out across dry deciduous and thorny scrub forests, fields and villages in and around Gujarat’s Gir National Park to count the world’s only remaining Asiatic lion population. The survey was over in 24 hours. And within the next few days the tally was announced.

2)The lion population, said the State forest department, had increased significantly by 29%, from 523 five years ago to 674. The department also said that the big cat’s distribution had increased to 30,000 sq.km. from 22,000 sq.km., covering nine districts in Saurashtra. All this despite the scourge of the canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreak in 2018 that killed 36 lions.

3)This heartening news about the Asiatic lion — an animal that was once close to extinction — was celebrated widely; ‘Kudos to the people of Gujarat and all those whose efforts have led to this excellent feat,’ the Prime Minister tweeted. But very soon, scientists raised questions: how do you count lions across thousands of square kilometres in 24 hours? How do you analyse and arrive at a figure in a matter of days? Is it not time that the census method — the block count method — used for decades, was upgraded to test newer techniques?

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 : (Population growth in India and other countries)

When this century ends, India may no longer be a country of a billion, says a projection

1)At the current rate of growth, India’s population is likely to peak by 2047 at about 1.61 billion and then decline to 1.03 billion by 2100.

2)However, were it to meet UN Sustainable Goal Development targets, the peak would be earlier and see a population decline to 929 million.

3)Conventional wisdom is that though a decline in population is expected, it is expected to begin only around 2046 and that fall, according to the latest 2019 assessment by the United Nations Development Programme calculation, is expected to see India’s population settle at a little over 1.4 billion, though this too ranges from 2.1-0.9 billion

3)The sharper fall, say the group of scientists who are affiliated to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, is due to the assumption that all women globally will have have much higher access to contraception and education.

4)This scenario will lead to a sharper reduction in the Total Fertility Rate, a metric that shows on average how many children a women must have to keep replenishing population. A TFR lower than 2.1, it is said, leads to a decline in a country’s population.

5)The UNPD forecasts assume that all countries mirror the trend in selected low-fertility countries in Europe, east and southeast Asia, and North America, where the TFRs converge towards a level of approximately 1·75.

6)“In our model, in a population where all females have 16 years of education and 95% of females have access to contraception, the global TFR was projected to converge to 1·41 (1·35–1·47). The difference between a convergent TFR of 1·75 or 1·41 is profound,” the study said.

7)Seen this way, they argue, world population is expected to peak by 2061 at 9.73 billion and by 2100 dip to 8.79 billion. However, the UNDP forecasts about 10.8 billion by then.

8)India will, however, remain the most populous country. The five largest countries in 2100 (are projected) to be India, Nigeria, China, the U.S. and Pakistan.

9)However, these forecasts showed different future trajectories between countries.

10)“Nigeria is forecast to have continued population growth through 2100 and was expected to be the second most populous country by then,” the study added.

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 Clause 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution :

Amid the worsening political crisis in Rajasthan, rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident MLAs moved the High Court , challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the Assembly Speaker. The Pilot camp contended that they could not be disqualified merely for disagreeing with the decisions and policies of some leaders outside the Assembly.

Accordingly, the writ petition was amended and filed again to challenge the Speaker’s notices as well as the validity of the Rajasthan Assembly Members (Disqualification on the Grounds of Changing Party) Rules, 1989, and Clause 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, dealing with disqualification on the ground of defection.

1)Constitutional courts cannot judicially review disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution until the Speaker or Chairman makes a final decision on merits.

2)A 28-year-old judgment of the Supreme Court in Kihoto Hollohan versus Zachillu and Others has said that “judicial review cannot be available at a stage prior to the making of a decision by the Speaker/Chairman and an action would not be permissible. Nor would interference be permissible at an interlocutory stage of the proceedings.”

“The only exception for any interlocutory interference being cases of interlocutory disqualifications or suspensions which may have grave, immediate and irreversible repercussions and consequence,” the Bench had held.

3)The judgment is significant in the case of ousted Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and the 18 MLAs, who were issued notice under the anti-defection law after the ruling Congress sought their disqualification. They have approached the Rajasthan High Court challenging the constitutionality of Paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule which makes “voluntarily giving up membership of a political party” liable for disqualification.

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 Chabahar-Zahedan railway project :

1)The Government of India says it had not received any response from Iran since December 2019 on the future of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project that the state-owned railway construction company IRCON was to have constructed and financed. The ONGC’s foreign arm OVL is also out of the Farzad-B gas field exploration project.

2)The government cited policy changes by the Iranian government, Iran’s precarious finances, and the U.S. sanctions situation as the reasons for the decisions on Indian infrastructure projects in Iran, which would both be undertaken through local companies instead.

3)Later, Iranian Railways and its transport department inaugurated laying of track for the 628-km stretch from the southern port city of Chabahar to Zahedan on the border with Afghanistan. Officials had told that the track would now be funded by Iran’s own National Development fund.

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 TRAFFIC & CITES :

1)Tortoise and freshwater turtles are among the most trafficked in the country. A report released in 2019 by TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring organisation, showed that at least 200 tortoises and freshwater turtles fall prey to illicit poaching and smuggling every week, or 11,000 each year, adding up to over 1,11,130 turtles poached or smuggled between September 2009 and September 2019.

2)One of the major challenges for freshwater turtle conservation in the country is that wildlife crime prevention agencies are not sufficiently equipped to know how to distinguish one species from the other, or their protection status in accordance with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and the Wildlife Protection Act.

3)“Suppose turtles are recovered at Kolkata Airport, then KURMA will help you reach five places in Kolkata that one can approach for help. Different rescue centres are also registered on the app, and also a number of experts who can provide more information on the species,”

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 :

Over the years, the Chabahar project has grown, and now envisages a port, a free trade zone, the 628-km railway line to Zahedan, and then the little over 1,000-km track to Sarakhs on the border with Turkmenistan.

The inauguration of a track-laying project from Iran’s Chabahar port to Zahedan on the border with Afghanistan , has ensured that Chabahar — which literally means “four seasons”, named for its salubrious weather — is once again in the middle of a storm over the fate of India’s investment there.

The Chabahar project is ambitious and will require deep pockets, but New Delhi has always weighed its strategic benefits above the costs.

1)India-Iran relations are historic and New Delhi has sought to maintain these ties in the face of opposition from Iran’s adversaries, namely the United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

2)The Chabahar project ties India and Iran together as New Delhi deals with its difficult neighbour to the west, Pakistan.

3)A major trade and connectivity hub on Iran’s coast not only gives India an alternative route to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan, but also has the potential to provide an Indian strategic counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar port being developed by China right next door to Chabahar.

4)The Chabahar trade zone could be an important weigh station for India’s energy imports and food and material exports coming from Kandla and Mundra ports.

5)And the rail project will allow India an independent corridor not only to Afghanistan, which Pakistan has denied it, but also to Central Asia and Russia

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 UP Population Policy draft ( 12.7.2021):

Every section of society must join in the awareness programme for population control, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday as he launched the State’s population policy for 2021-2030.

Mr. Adityanath said rising population was the root of major problems and prevailing inequality in society. “Increasing population can be an obstacle to development,” he said here, stating that the new policy was drafted keeping in mind all sections of society.

If there is no gap between the birth of two children, it will naturally affect their nutrition, he said, explaining the need for spacing and control in population.

1)The new policy aims at decreasing the total fertility rate from 2.7 to 2.1 by 2026 and 1.7 by 2030, increase modern contraceptive prevalence rate from 31.7% to 45% by 2026 and 52% by 2030, increase male methods of contraception use from 10.8% to 15.1% by 2026 and 16.4% by 2030, decrease maternal mortality rate from 197 to 150 to 98, and infant mortality rate from 43 to 32 to 22, and under 5 infant mortality rate from 47 to 35 to 25.

2)Targeting stabilisation, the draft of the policy also said the State would attempt to maintain a balance of population among the various communities. “Awareness and extensive programmes would be held among those communities, cadres and geographical areas that have a higher fertility rate,” the policy read.

3)Addressing a function at his official residence here, the Chief Minister said efforts to control population were linked to comprehensive awareness in society. “We should not forget that the increase in population contributes to poverty in society. Hence, until all sections of society are made comprehensively aware, there will be a delay in fulfilling various goals. Every section of society has to be associated with the awareness campaign,”

4)The health of a mother and her child have to be linked with this, the CM said.

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 :

1)Chinese nationals displayed banners in protest from across Indus river, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), when Indian villagers were celebrating the birthday of the Dalai Lama in Demchok in eastern Ladakh.

2)Koyul (Kakjung), one of the last settlements in the Demchok sector,

3)The developments come against the backdrop of a continuing deadlock in the talks at various levels to resolve the ongoing military stand-off in eastern Ladakh.

4)While the first phase of disengagement at Pangong Tso was completed in February, efforts to work out an agreement for the second phase of disengagement at Gogra and Hot Springs have been held up. Other frictions areas at Demchok and Depsang still remain.

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 :

1)The Chennai city police are planning to improve traffic management by installing more smart poles, which are integrated to a command centre, and are eliciting the opinions of police personnel on the field, according to Commissioner of Police.

2)Smart poles have been installed in about 50 locations by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). “We plan to expand the scope of traffic management through smart poles. These cloud-based poles will be able to monitor the status of traffic in an area and relay the status to nearby police officers as well as the control room. The proposed new Command and Control Centre will have a state-of-the-art data centre and analytical capability, apart from manual interface through wall screens,”

3)The Smart City project is being implemented by the GCC and other departments at a cost of ₹900 crore. The project has a component for traffic information and management, which includes smart poles.

4)The poles will have advanced cameras, and will give inputs on a real-time basis to the proposed Command and Control Centre.

5)Meanwhile, an Intelligent Traffic Management System, introduced recently on a pilot basis at five junctions in Anna Nagar and Thirumangalam, has been successful.

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 Resident Grievance Officer :

1)Twitter has appointed Mr.X as its Resident Grievance Officer for India, according to its website.

2)The micro-blogging site also published its first compliance report, which is mandatory under the new digital rules.

3)“In compliance with Rule 4(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, we have published our inaugural report on July 11, 2021, for the reporting period from May 26, 2021, through to June 25, 2021,” Twitter said on its website.

4)As per the new digital media rules, significant social media intermediaries are required to appoint a grievance officer, a nodal officer and a chief compliance officer.

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 Adolescent Population in India :

1)At 253 million, India’s adolescent population is among the largest.

2)Over 62% of India is aged between 15 and 59 years, and the median age of the population is less than 30 years.

3)India’s ‘demographic dividend’ represents the potential for economic growth based on the age structure of the population.

4)However, transforming this potential into reality requires adolescents and the youth to be healthy and well-educated.

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 Koo Platform :

1)“Reviewed the implementation and compliance of Information Technology Rules, 2021 along with my colleague Mr.Y. These guidelines are empowering and protecting users and will ensure a safer and responsible social media ecosystem in India,” Mr. X said in a post on the Koo platform, Twitter’s Indian competitor.

2)The new rules, which came into effect from May 25, mandate social media companies to establish a grievance redress mechanism for resolving complaints from the users or victims.

3)All significant social media companies with a user base of over 50 lakh shall appoint a grievance officer to deal with such complaints and share the name and contact details of such officers.

4)The big social media companies are mandated to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer, a Nodal Contact Person and a Resident Grievance Officer.

5)All of them should be residents of India.

6)Twitter has already appointed an interim chief compliance officer and is expected to appoint a nodal officer soon.

7)In its compliance report, titled “India Transparency Report”, Twitter has provided data on the different categories of complaints from users and action taken on them as well as provided information on its proactive monitoring efforts. Between May 26, 2021 and June 25, 2021, Twitter received a total of 38 complaints, which resulted in action against 133 URLs.

8)Of these, the largest number of complaints pertained to defamation(20), followed by abuse or harassment (6) and sensitive adult content (4).

9)Twitter also processed 56 grievances appealing for suspension of user accounts, of which seven were overturned and remaining suspended.

10)The social media giant has also said that proactive monitoring of user content led to suspension of 18,385 accounts for child sexual exploitation and 4,179 accounts for terrorism related activities globally.

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 Kesaria Buddha Stupa in east Champaran District of Bihar :

1)The world-famous Kesaria Buddha stupa in east Champaran district of Bihar is waterlogged following floods in some parts of the district after heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of river Gandak in neighbouring Nepal.

2)East and West Champaran districts share their borders with Nepal at many places.

3)The stupa, located about 110 km from the State capital Patna, has a circumference of almost 400 feet and stands at a height of about 104 feet. The first construction of the nationally protected stupa is dated to the 3rd century BCE.

4)It is regarded as the largest Buddhist stupa in the world and has been drawing tourists from across several Buddhist countries.

5)The stupa’s exploration had started in the early 19th century after its discovery led by Colonel Mackenzie in 1814. Later, it was excavated by General Cunningham in 1861-62 and in 1998 an ASI team led by archaeologist K.K. Muhammad had excavated the site properly.

6)The original Kesaria stupa is said to date back to the time of emperor Ashoka (circa 250 BCE) as the remains of an Ashokan pillar was discovered there. The local people call the stupa “devalaya,” meaning “house of gods”.

7)The ASI has declared it a protected monument. However, a larger part of the stupa is yet to be developed as it remains under thick vegetation.

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 water droplets and smaller water particles from mouse and nose :

The most vulnerable group could be unvaccinated individuals, particularly those below the age of 18. While most of the Railway hospitals have been provided with sufficient facilities for oxygen supply by way of enhanced number of cylinders, concentrators and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, the advisory asked senior medical officers to review the availability of adequate stock of medicines/consumables, besides sensitising doctors/paramedical staff on the future course of the pandemic.

1)Bhagwan Mantri, consultant, pulmonology, Moolchand Hospital, noted that lower relative humidity aided airborne transmission of water droplets and aerosols.

“When we cough, sneeze, talk or sing, water droplets and smaller water particles [aerosols] containing living viruses disperse into the air. Droplets and aerosols tend to stay afloat longer and travel farther in the air with lower relative humidity. Virus-containing aerosols, in particular, can penetrate more deeply into the lungs to increase the possibility of transmission,” he said.

2)“When moisture levels are insufficient, viral particles have a greater ‘docking’ potential at airway receptor sites, which can lead to an increased risk of infection. Low relative humidity has a drying effect on the cells and mucous linings of our airways. These cells act as a defence against viral particles and other invading foreign substances. Drying out airway linings impairs their ability to function properly,” Mr. Mantri added.

However, he said adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour was the only way to reduce the transmission risk in any atmospheric condition.

3)The lingering second COVID-19 wave and the current weather — a combination of high heat and humidity prevailing across some parts of India — have prompted doctors to caution the general public to strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour to ensure that places with common air conditioning and poor ventilation do not prove to be superspreader zones.

4)The effect of worsened weather on an ongoing illness contributed in terms of aggravated symptoms, said Anurag Aggarwal, associate consultant, internal medicine, QRG Health City, Faridabad, who added that there was no proven research on how the virus responded to weather conditions.

5)Bhagwan Mantri, consultant, pulmonology, Moolchand Hospital, noted that lower relative humidity aided airborne transmission of water droplets and aerosols.

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 Rhinos :

1)“Rhinos have blurred vision and tend to attack based on smell and hearing.

2)All rhinos have poor eyesight. Some, like the one that has made a highway beside the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) its temporary home, have even poorer vision.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

25)Consider the following with reference to Human Rights :

1)Torture is not defined in the Indian Penal Code, but the definitions of ‘hurt’ and ‘grievous hurt’ are clearly laid down. Though the definition of ‘hurt’ does not include mental torture, Indian courts have included psychic torture, environmental coercion, tiring interrogative prolixity, and overbearing and intimidatory methods, among others, in the ambit of torture. Voluntarily causing hurt and grievous hurt to extort confession are also provided in the Code with enhanced punishment. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, a judicial magistrate inquires into every custodial death.

2)The National Human Rights Commission has laid down specific guidelines for conducting autopsy under the eyes of the camera.

3)However, a fresh draft of the Prevention of Torture Bill was released in 2017 for seeking suggestions from various stakeholders. The Bill was not only vague but also very harsh for the police to discharge its responsibilities without fear of prosecution and persecution. It was inconsistent with the existing provisions of law. It included ‘severe or prolonged pain or suffering’ as a form of torture but that was left undefined.

4)The proposed quantum of punishment was too harsh. Though the 262nd Law Commission Report recommended that the death penalty be abolished except in cases of ‘terrorism-related offences’, the Bill provided for the death penalty for custodial deaths. While most countries have deleted or are deleting the death penalty from their statute books, for India to enact fresh legislation with the death penalty as the ultimate form of punishment shows its continuing passive mindset towards human life.

5)In 2017, the Central government admitted in the Supreme Court that it was seriously considering the 273rd Report of the Law Commission that recommended ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment (CAT). CAT was signed by India, but is yet to be ratified. However, except for minor discrepancies, the prevalent law in India is adequate and well in tune with the provisions of CAT.

6)“The investigations, the prosecutions are not fair; these must be rectified first,”he said. He exhorted that the police need to be trained better. The temptation to use third-degree methods must be replaced with scientific skills. Thus, the need of the hour is to strike at the root cause of the problem and implement recommendations of various commissions to bring in necessary reforms.

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 Galwan valley :

1)In the Galwan Valley, the 1960 line ran east of the bend of the Galwan river, called the Y-nallah, which was the site of the June 15 clash. The clash took place following a dispute during the de-escalation process, triggered when the PLA put up a tent near the bend, and marked the worst violence on the border since 1967.

2)Chinese troops were on the north bank of Pangong Lake in Ladakh in an area that is beyond what even China described as its official boundary during talks with India in 1960, official records show.

3)China’s tent that it set up on the bend of the Galwan river, which sparked the violent face-off culminating in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese personnel on June 15, was also beyond China’s territorial claims, according to the 1960 records.

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 UN Security Council reforms /General Assembly/Economic and Social Council :

1)Despite India’s repeated demands for reform of the UN Security Council, the process of the expansion of the membership is expected to slow down this year with the final draft of the Declaration on the Commemoration of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the U.N. favouring a softer approach to the issue.

2)“We reiterate our call for reforms of three of the principal organs of the United Nations.

3)We commit to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council. The review of the peace-building architecture has our full support,” the final draft says. The Declaration is a powerful reiteration of the UN’s founding principles that brought a new world order 75 years ago.

4)Mention of ‘discussions’ in this key anniversary document is being interpreted as dilution of the progress made on the path of reform of the principal organs of the UN during the 122nd plenary meeting of the General Assembly.

5)At the meeting on September 15, 2008, the General Assembly on the basis of previous resolutions had ‘decided’ to proceed with the “modalities in order to prepare and facilitate intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council”.

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 Case Fatality Rate (CFR) : (July,2020 news)

1)India’s case fatality rate (CFR) — the number of fatalities due to COVID-19 as a proportion of the number of people testing positive

2)CFR has fallen below 2.5% for the first time, said a statement issued by Union Health Ministry. The Ministry attributed this reduction to focused efforts of the Union and the State governments and the administrations of the Union Territories on efficient clinical management of hospitalised cases.

3)“The effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardised clinical management protocols based on holistic standard care approach has now caused the case fatality rate to significantly dip and India now has one of the lowest case fatality rates in the world (2.49%) which is also progressively falling,”

4)“Many States have conducted population surveys to map and identify the vulnerable population like the elderly, pregnant women and those with co-morbidities. This, with the help of technological solutions like mobile apps, has ensured keeping the high-risk population under continuous observation, thus aiding early identification, timely clinical treatment and reducing fatalities,”

5)It also acknowledged the work at the ground level by frontline health workers such as ASHAs and ANMs, who according to the Ministry have done a commendable job of managing the migrant population and to enhance awareness at the community level.

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 NMML :

1)The NMML, an autonomous institution operating under the Union Ministry of Culture, is in the process of selecting agencies to develop audio-visual content, running a cafe and souvenir shop, and carrying out branding, marketing and online services related to the Prime Ministers’ museum.

2)Prime Ministers’ museum is proposed to be set up in New Delhi

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

30)Consider the following with reference to Tribals in Odisha :

1)As per conservative estimates, 20 lakh people stay inside the 18 major protected forests.

2)Odisha houses the largest diverse groups of tribal population (62 tribes) in India. Thirteen of them are particularly vulnerable groups. “They also preserve food such as roots, seeds and meat. As a matter of fact, they find it difficult to step out of their villages as roads get cut off by swirling stream water,”

3)Though there has been a substantial rise in the Covid-19 cases in the tribal-dominated districts such as Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur, the spread has been confined to mainly district and sub-divisional headquarter towns.

4)“The tribals do not depend on markets during rainy season. Nature gives them abundant nutritious food in the shape of leafy vegetables, roots, tuber as well as fungi. As per our studies, 228 nutritious food items are found in Similipal alone. And half of the edible varieties are sourced during the monsoon.”

5)Around 8 lakh people, mostly tribals, live in 1,461 villages that fall in Similipal.

6)They grow indigenous rice varieties, horse gram, black gram and sesamum indicum.

7)This population virtually stays in lockdown mode during monsoon.

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 Oximeter :

People with COVID-19 often need oxygenation support, so this tool, a staple for many doctors, has become something of a necessity for the layperson.

1)Oximeters have been flying off the shelves for many households’ first aid kits, largely because they are non-invasive, low-cost, easy to use, and effective at detecting hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels).

2)Oximeter comprises a monitor which contains the batteries and display; a probe, which consists of light emitting diodes or LEDs and a light detector called a photo-detector. This probe senses the user’s pulse.

3)There are two important readings:

(i) the pulse rate, recorded as beats per minute (60 to 100 is the safe range); and

(ii)the oxygen saturation of haemoglobin in arterial blood, the reading of which is recorded as SpO2. Normal readings range from 95% to 100%; anything less, and the user should get medical assistance from a doctor. If your oximeter has alarms, a typical readings will set them off.

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 Sacred groves (biodiversity potential of the groves) :

Sacred groves, also called kavu in Malayalam, are remnants of natural forests, seen on the premises of Hindu ancestral homes (tharavaad). A portion of the land is assigned to house serpent god or Bhagavathi, Yakshi or Ayyappan.

1)“At the sacred groves in Alappuzha, there are many as 600 diverse species of plants in less than one square kilometre area. At the Silent Valley National Park, spread across 90 square kilometres, around 900 species of flowering plants alone have been reported. That is the biodiversity potential of the groves,”

2)The groves are treasure houses of rare species, and medicinal and economically important plants. Felling trees from these lands is considered taboo. “The groves are looked after by joint families who fear the wrath of the resident god. Emergence of nuclear families led to construction of new houses in place of ancestral homes, leading to their destruction,”

3)“The ponds in groves are a mini watershed, support an ecosystem, and recharge the water table. Wells in the surrounding areas never dry up.”

4)In India, there are over a lakh sacred groves across different states. “They go by different names like koyil kaadu in Tamil, orans in Rajasthan, devara kaadu in Karnataka, and sernas in Madhya Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, people dust their clothes off when they cross the groves to ensure that they leave everything behind. Such religious beliefs strengthen protection measures. Just like the way we protect monuments like the Taj and charismatic animals like the tiger, we have to protect ancient sacred groves. They are a gene pool of critically endangered plant species.”

5)“India is the largest planter of casuarina in the world. The tree pulp goes into the paper-making industry. Casuarina stems find use as fabrication material in scaffolding work, and are also used to safeguard banana plantations from wind.

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 :

The planned privatisation of some services of the Indian Railways could impact maintenance, operations and welfare

1)The Railway Board says the “objective of the initiative was to introduce modern technology rolling stock with reduced maintenance, reduced transit time, boost job creation, provide enhanced safety, provide world class travel experience to passengers, and also reduce demand supply deficit in the passenger transportation sector”.

2)But this is a step which will lead to dual control and split responsibility, resulting in higher fares, depriving the common man of travel by these trains, and repercussions in terms of maintenance and operations.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

34)Consider the following with reference to In India, the many divides — digital, rural-urban and rich-poor : (2020 news based question)

The decision to reopen schools must be guided primarily by epidemiological evidence

1)Among the Centre’s responses to the problem, initiated through organisations such as the CBSE, is a reduction of the syllabus load for Classes 9 to 12 by 30%, although this ostensibly supportive decision has become controversial for its choice of topics for removal: democratic rights, federalism, citizenship and secularism, to name a few.

2)There is a discernible trend of diminishing basic rights as a necessary sacrifice to fight the pandemic, but impoverishing the syllabus on these topics can only stunt social development.

3)The alternative, of remote and online learning opportunities, is skewed by economic status and geography.

4)In India, the many divides — digital, rural-urban and rich-poor — have painfully come to the fore between regions and even within States. There are instances of children left behind, without computer access, Internet connectivity, TV sets and even electricity.

5)The issue of reopening schools in a calibrated manner must, therefore, be addressed soon, but based mainly on epidemiological evidence. It is understandable that in the present confused situation, 21 out of 36 States and Union Territories including worst-affected Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have not taken a view yet on when to permit direct classes.

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 :

Lynchings point to a breakdown of the ‘rule of law’ in several States

1)The NCRB did collect data on lynchings in 2017 but did not publish those for reasons best known to it.

2)In 2019 there was also a controversy over the usage of the word ‘lynching’, termed it as an attempt to defame India.

3)Wild conspiracy theories spread fast on social media, but one cannot overlook the context of polarising diatribes, often initiated by political leaders, related to cow protection, movement of people across the border and religious issues.

4)The victims are invariably from vulnerable groups. Whatever name one calls it by, lynchings are an abomination that must have no place in a democratic society, which India prides itself to be.

5)Lynchings are a uniquely unsettling derailment of governance — while an act of mob violence is itself a sign of failure of law enforcement, it is committed in an apparent consideration that there can be no legal recourse.

6)In a pathological subversion of principles, the police inaction in cases of mob violence is reciprocated by an apparent public sanction of extrajudicial punishments by the police. All this bodes ill for the country. Mob violence indeed defames the country and there must be stringent intervention by the police to bring an end to this. The political leadership also has a role to play in questioning the social consent that allows mob violence.

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 Secular Nationalism :

1)Secular nationalism was an important ideological marker of the 20th century.

2)States wedded to left ideologies wished to root out religion from public spaces and also as a factor in the lives of their citizens.

3)Other polities, whether liberal and democratic or authoritarian, were committed to reducing the salience of religion as an ingredient in nationalism and in public life even if they were reconciled to its continuing significance in the private sphere.

4)These were elements of a progressive outlook which influenced political elites not only in the developed world but also in de-colonised countries.

5)Ataturk and his attempts at propelling Turkey into the modern era won him admirers including Jawaharlal Nehru. Now the secular impulse is under challenge everywhere.

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 PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana :

Prime Minister announced a three-month extension to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.

1)The government would provide 5 kg of grains and 1 kg of chickpea monthly to about 800 million beneficiaries across the country.

2)Alongside, it is highlighted the implementation of the ‘One Nation, One Ration’ (ONOR) scheme to improve access to subsidised grains for migrant workers.

3)Lack of access to food drove millions of them to their native villages during the lockdown period.

4)While these measures are welcome, they may fall short of reaching all sections of this vulnerable population.

5)Most migrant workers do not live with families; many do not cook their meals.

6)Instead, a significant number rely on roadside vendors and dhabas. Without access to cooking arrangement or fuel, only subsidised grains are not a sufficient solution to ensure nourishment. Neither would it be sufficient to attract them back to the urban areas as access to affordable food remains a major concern. Instead, is there a way to ensure safe, nutritious and affordable food for all urban poor, while saving fiscal resources, creating jobs, and furthering sustainability goals?

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 Non-aligned Movement :

1)Non-alignment is an old concept today, but India will never be a part of an alliance system, according to External Affairs Minister

2)Speaking about the consequences of global shifts, including the United States and the assertiveness of China, it is said they were opening spaces for middle powers like India, Japan, the European Union and others.

3)“Non-alignment was a term of a particular era and geopolitical landscape. One aspect was independence, which remains a factor of continuity for us,” It is said at a virtual conference on the “Geopolitics of opportunity: as the world rebalances, how should India capitalise?”

4)“The consequence of repositioning of the United States, that the big umbrella is now smaller than it used to be, has allowed many other countries to play more autonomous roles. It doesn’t affect us as much because we were never part of an alliance system and we will never be. But countries who depended more on the U.S. are finding they have to take a call themselves on many issues,”

5)India must now take more “risks”, as the world expected it to take a more proactive stance on the “big issues” of the day, including connectivity, maritime security, terrorism, climate change and terrorism, .

6)While he didn’t comment on the ongoing tensions over the Line of Actual control (LAC), the Minister said that India had moved slowly in comparison to China on the economic front, and that China’s economy was now five times that of India’s despite them being the same size in 1988.

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 e-commerce portals :

The e-commerce portals will have to set up a robust consumer redressal mechanism as part of the rules under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, that come into force.

The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, which fall under the Consumer Protection Act,

1)The e-commerce entities will have to provide every detail relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options and so on.

2)“They will also have to mention the country of origin which are necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage on its platform,”

3)The e-commerce platforms also have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within 48 hours and redress the complaint within one month from the date of receipt under this Act. And will also have to appoint a grievance officer for consumer grievance redressal.

4)These rules, are mandatory and not merely advisories as issued earlier. This is the first time that such detailed rules have been published by the Government of India for e-commerce entities.

5)Mentioning the country of origin is equally essential. “Where an e-commerce entity offers imported goods or services for sale, it shall mention the name and details of any importer from whom it has purchased such goods or services, or who may be a seller on its platform,” the draft rules say.

6)Under the rules, sellers cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds, if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the description on the platform. The rules also prohibit the e-commerce companies from manipulating the price of the goods or services to gain unreasonable profit through unjustified prices.

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 first Arab space mission to Mars :

1)The first Arab space mission to Mars, an unmanned probe dubbed “Hope”, blasted off from Japan on a mission to reveal more about the atmosphere of the Red Planet.

2)The Japanese rocket carrying the probe developed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan right on schedule at 6.58 a.m. local time. The launch of the probe, known as “Al-Amal” in Arabic, had twice been delayed because of bad weather, but the present lift-off appeared smooth and successful.

3)”Our 493 million km journey to the Red Planet starts here.”

4)Only the United States, India, the former Soviet Union, and the European Space Agency have successfully sent missions to orbit the fourth planet from the sun, while China is preparing to launch its first Mars rover later this month.

5)The Emirati project is one of three racing to Mars, including Tianwen-1 from China and Mars 2020 from the United States, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest. In October, Mars will be a comparatively close 38.6 million miles (62.07 million kilometres) from Earth, according to NASA.

6)“Hope” is expected to enter Mars orbit by February 2021, marking the year of the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE, an alliance of seven emirates.

7)Unlike the two other Mars ventures scheduled for this year, it will not land on the Red Planet, but instead orbit it for a whole Martian year, or 687 days.

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 :

1)A hard-line Sinhala Buddhist group calls itself ‘Ravana Balaya’, while Sri Lanka named its first satellite, launched into orbit last June, ‘Ravana-1’.

2)Addressing a conference civil aviation specialists in Colombo in 2016, then Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva had remarked that while the modern history of global aviation began with the Wright Brothers, it was common legend in Sri Lanka that a brave king called Ravana, used a flying machine called “Dandu monara” to fly not only within the country, but also in the region.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

42)Consider the following with reference to Article 159 :

1)Before the meeting, a State Governor said it was “part of his duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,” under Article 159.

2)Indeed, the Governor has a constitutional role to perform, but Mr. Dhankhar, Governor, West Bengal appears enthusiastic to stretch his mandate all the time.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

43)Consider the following with reference to China-Bhutan-India (‘Chicken neck’) :

1)Since 1984, when China and Bhutan began talks, the areas of dispute have only included Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys to the north (what China calls middle) area, and Doklam and other pasturelands to the west.

2)The eastern boundary of Bhutan, which borders Arunachal Pradesh, has never been in contention.

3)“What is important to note is that according to Bhutan, the Sakteng area in the east was never brought up in the several rounds of border talks with China. So this is a new claim and a moving of the goalposts,”

4)Doklam swap would give the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) access to the strategically sensitive “chicken neck” of the Siliguri corridor(India)

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 social security number for migrant workers :

1)The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has recommended that the government introduce a social security number for migrant workers, especially those in unorganised sectors that are beyond the purview of labour laws.

2)The panel, headed by Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Mahtab, has suggested that such a number is essential to avert situations such as the one at the beginning of the lockdown when several lakh workers had to walk back to their villages from big cities as they were shut out of employment overnight.

3)At a meeting of the panel held , Labour Secretary revealed that the government was planning to set up a website to register migrant workers. He further said a worker’s Aadhaar would be used for the registration.

4)“The members felt that Aadhaar alone doesn’t work. A social security number will help in mapping the number of migrant workers and their migration patterns,” said one of the committee members who attended the meeting.

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 Anthrax ( bacterium that causes anthrax)

1)Anthrax has claimed the life of a wild elephant in a reserve forest area near Anaikatti in Coimbatore district, the Forest Department said

2)The blood smear samples collected from the carcass had the presence of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax,

3)Anthrax is endemic to elephant habitats. Cross-infection may happen as head of cattle and wild animals use the same grazing areas and waterbodies on forest fringes.

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 :

The Supreme Court of India’s verdict, upholding the authority of a committee of the Delhi Assembly to summon a senior official of Facebook, is an extremely nuanced recognition of the extent of powers of State Assemblies in matters regulated by an Act of Parliament.

1)The question mark about the powers arose in the first place because Facebook, whose India vice-president was repeatedly summoned by Delhi Assembly’s Committee on Peace and Harmony on the subject of the Delhi riots of 2020, argued before the Supreme Court that this was a case of overreach; and that Delhi’s law and order came under the central government.

2)This was also the position taken by the central government, which argued that the Delhi Assembly had no jurisdiction in this matter. The social media platform also pointed out that it was governed by the IT Act of Parliament, and this is not therefore something that any State government can be concerned with.

2)The Court, in upholding the summons, did not go merely by the legislative powers of a House. It rightly said, “The Assembly does not only perform the function of legislating; there are many other aspects of governance which can form part of the essential functions of the Legislative Assembly and consequently the committee.”

3)Its point was that the “inquisitorial” and “recommendatory” powers of a House can be used for better governance. But it also cautioned the committee from “transgressing into any fields reserved for the Union Government”.

4)Significantly, the verdict comes amid a long phase of discordance over legislative turf between the central government and the Delhi government, something that the Bench did note amid discussions about the spirit of federalism.

5)Not just that. It also comes at a time when social media intermediaries are legally fighting some aspects of the new IT rules that govern them. Their responsibility toward the many legislatures will only become more heightened because of this verdict.

6)The Court refused to buy the argument that social media intermediaries are “merely a platform for exchange of ideas without performing any significant role themselves”. It then linked what happens in these platforms to the real world.

7)Misinformation on social media, the Court said, has had “a direct impact on vast areas of subject matter which ultimately affect the governance of States”.

8)Given the constraints of the powers of the Delhi Assembly vis-à-vis law and order, the very fact that the Court found that its committee still could summon the Facebook India official without encroaching upon the turf of the Centre now opens the gates for scrutiny of social media platforms by other States, which however have significantly more powers with respect to law and order. The stage is set for more scrutiny.

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 :

1)The western United States and Canada was suffering under scorching temperatures to start the week, with heat warnings still in place and authorities struggling to reign in wildfires in both countries.

2)Sweltering conditions hit much of the Pacific seaboard and as far inland as the western edge of the Rocky Mountains , in a dramatic, prolonged heat wave experts attribute directly to climate change.

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 plasma donation :

Plasma is the largest part of our blood. It makes up more than half (about 55%) of its overall content. When separated from the rest of the blood, plasma is a light yellow liquid. Plasma carries water, salts and enzymes. The main role of plasma is to take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need it. Cells also put their waste products into the Plasma.

1)People can donate plasma 14 days after recovering from COVID-19.

2)Those with co-morbid conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cardiac diseases, renal diseases and cancers, and those who have undergone organ transplants are not eligible to donate plasma.

3)Eligible persons can donate plasma twice, after an interval of 14 days.

4)At the plasma bank, 500 ml of plasma would be collected from each eligible donor, and the process would take a maximum of 30 minutes.

5)The plasma is stored at a temperature of 40 degree Celsius, and could be stored for up to a year.

6)The equipment for the plasma bank was procured through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation.(for Tamil Nadu)

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 High Courts :

1)Out of the seven Union Territories originally placed under Article 239A, all except Puducherry were granted Statehood by 1989.

2)Most Union Territories under 239A at least had Benches of High Courts when they attained Statehood.

3)Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya had Benches of the Gauhati High Court before they got their own High Courts.

4)Interestingly, the Delhi High Court was established in 1966 before Delhi got its legislature in 1993.

5)In 1962, when Puducherry was merged with India, the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court was extended to it. After several decades, in 2017, the Puducherry legislature unanimously resolved to have its own High Court, and the Madras High Court was informed on July 7, 2017. Prior to this, in April 2017, the Pondicherry Bar Association also passed a resolution seeking establishment of the High Court.

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 Bhutan’s eastern boundary :

1)For the third time since early June, China repeated its claim that Bhutan’s eastern boundary was a “disputed” area with Bhutan.

2)Its first claim was at a UNDP-led Global Environment Facility conference on June 2-3, when the Chinese representative tried to stop funding for the Sakteng forest reserve in Bhutan’s eastern district of Trashigang, which abuts Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.

3)The claim was surprising for several reasons: China has not objected earlier to funding provided to the sanctuary at the GEF. Second, the Trashigang area does not share a boundary with China. Finally, whatever the origins of the claim, Chinese officials have not raised the eastern boundary in 24 rounds of talks with Bhutan, that began in 1984.

4)Thus far, talks have been only about the Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys in Bhutan’s north, and Doklam and other pasturelands to the west, that come up to the trijunction point with India.

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 illicit liquor :

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or methyl hydrate, amongst other names, is a chemical and the simplest alcohol

Methanol may cause birth defects of the central nervous system in humans. Chronic poisoning from repeated exposure to methanol vapor may produce inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), recurrent headaches, giddiness, insomnia, stomach disturbances, and visual failure.

1)Once again, the scourge of illicit liquor has struck, this time in Punjab, killing more than 100 people and leaving many crippled. The victims, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur districts, were sold hooch that apparently had a large amount of denatured alcohol.

2)Almost every year, India’s moonshine market inflicts tremendous destruction in the form of blindness, tissue damage and death, as commercial alcohol becomes expensive for the less affluent, and corrupt bureaucracies allow that void to be filled by illicit liquor vendors who almost invariably use toxic methanol instead of ethanol.

3)Policies that fail to contain illicit alcohol produce long-term health impacts, as people tend to consume brews that have higher concentrations of alcohol, or toxic substances such as methanol.

4)Methanol damages more .

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 diplomatic consignment /bags : (Also useful for Ethics Paper in Main Exam. )

The seizure of 30 kg of gold, worth ₹14.82 crore, at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on July 5 would have ended up as another routine seizure made by the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) if not for the fact that the contraband had arrived in a diplomatic consignment meant for the Charge d’Affaires of the UAE

1)The NIA has so far arrested four suspects, while the Customs Department has arrested 13 persons in connection with the smuggling racket, after the seizure of 30 kg of gold at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5.

2)Accused Sarith P.S., a former employee of the UAE consulate, was arrested by the Customs Department. Swapna Suresh, also a former employee of the consulate, and Sandeep Nair were arrested by the NIA in Bengaluru on July 11.

3)Further investigation led the agency to zero in on Dubai-based Faizal Fareed.

4)The NIA has approached the Interpol seeking a “Blue Notice” against him, to gather more information about his identity and location.

5)The committee had also pointed out that “such association and frequent contacts with a foreign consulate official” violated the All-India Service Conduct Rules, 1968. It said it had recommended Mr. Sivasankar’s suspension from service “in view of the wider ramifications of this case”.

7)A senior State official said the committee’s finding and statements of other accused in the case had prompted the NIA to examine Mr. Sivasankar.The question whether the proceeds from the well-entrenched smuggling operation had gone to “finance terrorism” was central to the NIA probe.The agency was also purportedly investigating whether any person had remotely aided a foreign power.Mr. Sivasankar has repeatedly maintained his innocence. He had told the Customs that he knew Ms. Swapna at a familial level and had no knowledge of the crime or other aspects of her character.

8)The committee had also pointed out that “such association and frequent contacts with a foreign consulate official” violated the All-India Service Conduct Rules, 1968. It said it had recommended Mr. Sivasankar’s suspension from service “in view of the wider ramifications of this case”.A senior State official said the committee’s finding and statements of other accused in the case had prompted the NIA to examine Mr. Sivasankar.The question whether the proceeds from the well-entrenched smuggling operation had gone to “finance terrorism” was central to the NIA probe.The agency was also purportedly investigating whether any person had remotely aided a foreign power.Mr. Sivasankar has repeatedly maintained his innocence. He had told the Customs that he knew Ms. Swapna at a familial level and had no knowledge of the crime or other aspects of her character.

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 Article 212 :

1)The Speaker said the High Court’s interim order granting extended time to Mr. Pilot and the other MLAs to file their replies to the July 14 anti-defection notices amounted to violation of Article 212 (courts not to inquire into the proceedings of the legislature).

2)“The notice dated July 14 is a proceeding in the House and immune from judicial interference at that stage. The notice was only limited to inviting comments from the Respondents [Mr. Pilot and other MLAs] and there was nothing adverse against them at that stage. A notice is much prior to any final determination or decision on disqualification. The proceedings, including the notice, are in the realm of the legislative proceedings under Paragraph 6(2) of the Tenth Schedule,” the Speaker’s office argued.

3)It said judicial review of an ongoing anti-defection proceedings was limited.

The Supreme Court refused Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi’s plea to stop the State’s High Court from deciding the validity of the anti-defection notices he issued to former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 dissident Congress MLAs.

4)But the High Court order on July 24 will be subject to the final decision on the Speaker’s remonstrance in the top court that the HC crossed the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and interfered with an ongoing disqualification proceedings even before he could take a final decision.

5)The Speaker had complained that the HC had no jurisdiction to ask him to defer the disqualification proceedings till July 24.

6)During the hearing, a three-judge Bench, led by Justice Arun Mishra, said the “larger question” here is whether a legislator’s “voice of dissent” can be “shut down” with the threat of disqualification. Can expressing dissent amount to “voluntarily giving up the party membership” under Paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and invite anti-defection proceedings?

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 trade with Afghanistan :

1)Pakistan had allowed Afghanistan to send goods to India using the border from July 15 under the Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement.

2)“The arrival of 14 trucks laden with dry fruits, mulathhi [liquorice] and assorted goods in the last four days till July 21, worth over ₹5 crore, has brought back a semblance of normalcy in the markets,” said director of the Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

3)Over 14 trucks with goods worth ₹5 crore from Afghanistan have crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab’s Amritsar since Pakistan allowed Afghanistan to send goods to India, a trade body said. Both Pakistan and India had suspended trade through the border in March to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

4)Traders from India usually import dry fruits and herbal items from Afghanistan.

5) Indian traders who dealt in Afghan food items such as almonds, raisins, fig, apricots, mulathhi and spices had started placing orders since transit trade was allowed. The resumption of business would revive the ₹250 crore dry fruits trade, which would benefit a large section of people, including daily wage earners and transporters, directly and indirectly,

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 women officers be granted PC : (2020 news)

1)The order follows a Supreme Court verdict in February that directed the government that women officers be granted PC and command postings in all services other than combat. Following this, Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane said it was an enabling one and gave a lot of clarity on how to move forward. He stated that the same procedure for male SSC officers would be followed for women to give permanent commission.

2)About 322 women officers had approached the top court and the issue of command postings came up in the discussion on subsequent avenues after the grant of PC.

3)The Ministry of Defence has issued the formal Government Sanction Letter for grant of permanent commission (PC) to women officers in the Army.

4)“In anticipation, the Army Headquarters had set in motion a series of preparatory actions for conduct of the Permanent Commission Selection Board for affected women officers. The Selection Board will be scheduled as soon as all affected Short Service Commissioned (SSC) women officers exercise their option and complete requisite documentation,” the Army said

5)A glass ceiling was shattered and the Ministry of Defence issued a formal letter granting permanent commission to women officers in the Indian Army. The uphill battle to break a gender stereotype and provide equal opportunities for women in the Army had to be fought right up to the highest level, in the Supreme Court. Even so, the MoD’s Government Sanction Letter specifying the grant of permanent commission to Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers in all the 10 streams in which they presently serve is a cause for celebration. It will go a long way in ending a prejudice associated with the Army. True, the fight was far from easy. It was long and protracted, as the government initially glossed over a Delhi High Court ruling in the litigants’ favour 10 years ago. Then in the Supreme Court, just what the litigants were up against became clear from the views of the government. A written note to the Court pointed at “physiological limitations” of women officers, saying that these were great challenges for women officers to meet the exigencies of service. In February, the Supreme Court read the government the riot act, asking it to abide by its own policy on granting permanent commission to women in the SSC and giving them command postings in all services other than combat.

6)The misogyny was called out in a 54-page judgment.

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 Mars mission by China : (2020 news)

1)China launched its most ambitious Mars mission yet in a bold attempt to join the U.S. in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet.

2)A Long March-5 carrier rocket took off under clear skies around 12-40 p.m. from Hainan Island, south of China’s mainland. Hundreds of space enthusiasts cried out excitedly on a beach across the bay from the launch site.

3)China’s tandem spacecraft — with both an orbiter and a rover — will take seven months to reach Mars, like the others. If all goes well, Tianwen-1, or “quest for heavenly truth,” will look for underground water, if it’s present, as well as evidence of possible ancient life.

4)It marked the second flight to Mars this week, after a UAE orbiter blasted off on a rocket from Japan on Monday. And the U.S. is aiming to launch Perseverance, its most sophisticated Mars rover ever, from Cape Canaveral, Florid

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 X Schedule : (July2020 news)

1)The Rajasthan High Court’s order, directing that status quo be maintained in the disqualification proceedings against 19 legislators and holding a legal challenge to the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker’s notice under the anti-defection law to be maintainable, borders on judicial indiscipline.

2)And the 1992 judgment, while upholding the validity of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, the anti-defection law, also declared that Para 2 — a part of which is now under challenge and is the ostensible reason for the High Court to entertain the petition — does not violate the freedom of speech, vote or conscience of elected members.

3)Yet, the High Court is now venturing to find out whether Para 2(1)(a), which deals with disqualifying lawmakers who “voluntarily give up membership” of their party, has been examined by the apex court from the point of view of “intra-party democracy”. If at all the provision’s validity is to be tested, it can only be done in a case arising out of it. When no decision has been rendered by the Speaker, it is beyond comprehension how the court entertained arguments on the issuance of the notice and on whether dissidents can be disqualified for questioning the party line.

4)Para 2(1)(a) has been used by Speakers for years, and many such disqualification orders have been upheld by the Supreme Court, including as recently as November 2019 in a Karnataka case. Admitting a matter without explaining how the law laid down by the Supreme Court does not bind a High Court raises grave questions of judicial propriety. However, even as the political crisis plays out on the lawns of Raj Bhavan, the top court itself appears to be raising the question whether dissent within a party can attract disqualification proceedings. Whatever the circumstances, the SC should not condone improper and premature judicial intervention.

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 measures to control population :

1)Incentives and penalties form an integral component of the measures to control population growth, announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. These steps are aimed at reducing U.P.’s total fertility rate (TFR), recorded as 2.7 by the National Family Health Survey-4 in 2016, a figure only lower than that of neighbouring Bihar (3.1 as of 2020 in NFHS-5).

2)Aims in this direction — increasing the rate of modern contraceptive prevalence, male contraception, decreasing maternal mortality and infant mortality rates significantly by 2026 — are, on the face of it, in line with what was stressed at the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.

3)The Cairo Consensus called for a promotion of reproductive rights, empowering women, universal education, maternal and infant health to untangle the knotty issue of poverty and high fertility. But rather than taking steps in this direction, the Government seems to have taken the beaten path of a mixture of incentives and penalties to tackle what is a socio-economic issue as a demographic one.

4)In a draft Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021, the Government aims to incentivise one-child families and reward those with two children with perks in government schemes, rebates in taxes and loans, and cash awards if family planning is done among other sops. Disincentives for those with more than two children include denial of subsidies and welfare benefits, a bar on applying for government

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 Cinematography Act

1)The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, which had the potential of regulating the business of lakhs of cable operators, multi-system operators and broadcasters, was going to be debated and it was the draft of the proposed Bill that was being discussed threadbare with stakeholders.

2) Government can always turn back and say, ‘hey we gave you 100 days’. But here is the rub. The Government never put up for public discussion what it was seeking to amend and control. The November 2020 Executive order bringing Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms or video streaming service providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and others under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, exposed the real intentions of the Government. But when the now former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Minister commented that the Ministry officials had no fix on the number of OTT platforms and users in the country, his concern was legitimate. After all, this is a business and along with the entertainment industry, had reached ₹1.82 trillion in 2019 and has been projected to cross ₹2.4 trillion by 2022 (FICCI report on media and entertainment. In fact, digital media overtook filmed entertainment in 2019. And to throw in some more figures, there are around 550 million television and smartphone consumers in the country. The figures are expected to double by 2025.

3)There are over 200 million OTT subscribers. The major draw of OTT is this: the content being served to you when you want it. You are free to watch what you wish to at a time chosen by you on a platform you are comfortable with. Your smartphone doubles up as the screen as you navigate your ride on the metro.

4)Now, we even have the Government’s draft on the proposed amendments to the Cinematograph Act of 1952 , seeking to control the Central Board of Film Certification’s power of certification!

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 Boh valley in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh :

1)Rescue operations are under way in the Boh valley in Kangra district,HP after a landslip, in which one person died and nine are feared trapped beneath the debris.

2)A team of the National Disaster Response Force rescued four people, and efforts are on to pull others out of the rubble,

3)Superintendent of Police said a woman died and nine were still feared trapped under the debris after their houses collapsed in the landslip triggered by heavy rain.

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 Sugar cane production (from sugar cane and B-Molasses are diverted to Ethanol ) :

Area under sugarcane is expected to be almost 54.55 lakh hectare in 2021-2022 sugar season (October to September) or 3% higher than the current season’s area, according to the Indian Sugar Mills’ Association (ISMA).

Uttar Pradesh is estimated to have a sugarcane area of 23.12 lakh hectare against 23.07 lakh hectares in 2020-2021 season. Maharashtra’s cane area has risen by about 11% to 12.75 lakh hectare. The area in Karnataka is 5.22 lakh hectare against 5.01 lakh hectare.

1) Sugar production so far during the current sugar season, that ends in September, is 307 lakh tonne.

2) Another two lakh tonne is expected to be produced during the special season in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, taking the total production for the current sugar year to 309 lakh tonne.

3) After accounting for a reduction in sugar production on account of diversion of cane juice and B-molasses to ethanol, ISMA estimates production in 2021-2022 season at about 310 lakh tonne.

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 Core Inflation :

“While the core inflation hardened further to 10.4% in June, from 10% in May, the pace of the month-on-month uptick in this index eased to a four-month low of 0.5%,” said chief economist at ICRA, who expects core inflation to rise further in July, before commencing a gradual downtrend from August.

1)The term core inflation was coined by Eckstein (1981) who defined it as ‘the trend increase of the cost of factors of production’ that ‘originates in the long-term expectations of inflation in the minds of households and businesses, in the contractual arrangements which sustain the wage-price momentum, and in the tax system’.

2)The concept of core inflation became popular in the 1970s during periods of high inflation and now normally refers to that component of inflation that is likely to persist for a long period, say, for several years and, therefore, useful for near-term and medium-term inflation forecasting. most core measures are based on the concept that total inflation can be separated into two components: the core part, representing the underlying trend of inflation as shaped by the pressure of aggregate demand against capacity, and the non-core part, which reflects price movements caused by temporary shocks or relative price changes

2)Core inflation is the change of goods and services but does not include those from the food and energy sectors. This measure of inflation excludes these items because their prices are much more volatile.

3)It is most often calculated using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is a measure of prices of goods and services .

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 draft population control Bill UP & Cairo International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.

Incentives and penalties form an integral component of the measures to control population growth, announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in July 2021 .

1)These steps are aimed at reducing U.P.’s total fertility rate (TFR), recorded as 2.7 by the National Family Health Survey-4 in 2016, a figure only lower than that of neighbouring Bihar (3.1 as of 2020 in NFHS-5).

2)Increasing the rate of modern contraceptive prevalence, male contraception, decreasing maternal mortality and infant mortality rates significantly by 2026 — are, on the face of it, in line with what was stressed at the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.

3)The Cairo Consensus called for a promotion of reproductive rights, empowering women, universal education, maternal and infant health to untangle the knotty issue of poverty and high fertility.

5) Disincentives for those with more than two children include denial of subsidies and welfare benefits, a bar on applying for government jobs and taking part in local elections.

6) Assam, also led by the BJP, is mulling a similar policy.

7)The Supreme Court, in 2003, upheld a Haryana government law barring persons with more than two children from contesting local body polls, but the legal grounding of the moves impinging upon the informed choice of the individual remained questionable

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 National Income (2020-21) :

The provisional estimates of annual national income (2020-21), released on May 31 by the National Statistical Office, did not have any surprises, but for one, that is, there is nothing encouraging in the numbers.

1)The agriculture sector continued its impressive growth performance, reiterating that it still remains as the vital sector of the economy, especially at times of crisis.

2)The manufacturing sector continued its subdued growth performance, failing to emerge as the growth driver, with production interruptions due to localised lockdowns to be blamed.

3)The contraction in trade (-18.2%), construction (-8.6%), mining (-8.5%) and manufacturing (-7.2%) is a matter of concern as these sectors account for the bulk of low-skilled jobs.

4)Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q4 of 2020-21 is showing a growth of 1.6%, slightly better than expected, but for a period when the restrictions on mobility and economic activity witnessed reduction, this performance looks below par.

5)Further, this growth, which is an improvement over the 0.5% rate of growth in the previous quarter, is a statistical artefact as it is not devoid of the base effect and seasonality which plagues quarterly estimates.

6)The magnitude of contraction in the economy and the policy responses towards it raises an important issue, that is, the question of growth prospects for the next year.

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 Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 :

1)Prior to tabling the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, in the 126-member Assembly Chief Minister said its primary objective was to check the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh.

2)It also seeks to restrict the sale of beef in areas dominated by non-beef consuming communities and within a 5-km radius of temples and ‘satras’ (Vaishnav monasteries) formed by the saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva.

3)The Bill seeks to replace the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, which allows the slaughter of cattle above 14 years of age or those that have become permanently incapacitated due to work, breeding, accident or deformity after local veterinary officers certify that they are fit for slaughter. The Bill retains this provision while intending to regulate the slaughter, consumption and illegal transportation of cattle across Assam.

4)It says the certified cattle can be slaughtered only in licensed and recognised slaughterhouses. “The State government may exempt certain places of worship, or certain occasions from the slaughter of cattle other than cow, heifer or calf, for religious purposes,” it says.

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 judicial activism : (2020 news)

1)The judiciary must remain the first line of defence against any move to deprive citizens of their liberty.

2)“Our courts must ensure that they continue to remain the first line of defence against the deprivation of liberty of citizens. Deprivation of liberty for even a single day is one too many. We must always be mindful of the deeper systemic issues of our decisions,” it is observed.

3)It is said that some may dub the role of the court as “judicial activism” or “judicial overreach”. “The Supreme Court is a counter-majoritarian institution sworn to protect the rights of socio-economic minorities,” he highlighted.

4)“The actions of the government had far-reaching effects on the constitutional rights of people, which involved right to affordable healthcare, including vaccination; rights of labourers, including migrant labourers and factory workers; right to livelihood; and rights of prisoners. Many such cases of constitutional violations found their way to the Supreme Court,” .

5)As the “guardian of the Constitution”, the Supreme Court had to put a break where executive or legislative actions infringed fundamental human rights, he asserted. He detailed the court’s suo motu actions to ensure vaccination, improve COVID-19 management and decongestion of prisons to prevent the spread of the virus.

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 Ladakh (UT) : (2020 news)

1)Eleven months after it was carved out as a separate, administrative Union Territory (UT), the high-altitude desert region of Ladakh is at a crossroads, with minimal staff functioning from makeshift accommodation, no recruitment agency to fill gazetted posts, no formal bank and a dispute over its capital.

2)The challenge to ensure efficient administration in this high plateau located at an altitude of 9,800 feet can be gauged from the recent process to recruit doctors under the National Health Mission (NHM).

3)Out of the 110 doctors recruited from across the country, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, in April-May this year with a package up to ₹2,50,000 per month, only 15 have opted to join so far.

4)“We have re-advertised these posts,” director, NHM Ladakh, Dr. Phuntsog Angchuk said.

5)Since the implementation of the J&K Reorganisation Act , a cumbersome process of division of assets from banks to fans and sofas between the UTs has hit a dead end.

6)While the J&K Bank remains the official bank of J&K, the new J&K domicile law bars outsiders, including people from Ladakh, from applying for recently announced posts in the bank. “The J&K Bank’s assets remain a common entity. Our youth should be allowed to sit for the test,” LAHDC-K chairman Mr. Khan said.

7)The J&K Bank has around two dozen branches in Ladakh and remains its largest bank with presence in the tough and remotest pockets of Leh and Kargil.

8)The clamour for domicile laws for Ladakh are growing now.

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 violin :

1)Violin entered the Indian musical scene from the subcontinent’s colonial rulers. Balaswami Dikshitar, the brother of Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Vadivelu, the youngest of the legendary ‘Thanjavur quartet’, were pioneers in adapting the instrument for Carnatic music. But the art of indigenously designing a handmade violin remained a mystery for centuries.

2)Now four craftsmen — three from Kerala and one from Tamil Nadu — have achieved a milestone in creating handmade copies of a Stradivarius violin dated to 1702, first designed by the great Antonio Stradivari in Italy, thanks to training imparted by the Lalgudi Trust.

3)These craftsmen were taught by the internationally renowned luthier (maker of stringed instruments) James Wimmer of Santa Barbara. Mr. Wimmer in turn learnt the art in Germany from Wolfgang Uebel, one of its foremost specialists.

4)“It is indeed a giant leap in the art of violin-making in India. It is a gratifying experience and the success coincides with the 90th birth anniversary of Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, who founded the Trust,” said violinist Lalgudi Krishnan, who invited Mr. Wimmer to Chennai.

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 unemployment :

Contextualising the current economic growth rates in terms of some other macroeconomic data would provide us a better perspective on growth recovery.

1)First, the unemployment data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) which says, “In May 2021, India’s labour participation rate at 40 per cent was the same as it was in April 2021.

2)But, the unemployment rate shot up to 11.9 per cent from 8 per cent in April.

3)A stable labour participation rate combined with a higher unemployment rate implies a loss of jobs and a fall in the employment rate. The employment rate fell to 35.3 per cent in May 2021 from 36.8 per cent in April 2021. This is a very sharp fall for a single month… May 2021 was therefore a particularly stressful month on the jobs front”.

4)According to CMIE, over 15 million jobs were lost in May 2021, higher than the 12.3 million in November 2016, the month of demonetisation.

5)May 2021 was also the fourth consecutive month of a fall in employment. The more worrying fact is that the cumulative fall in employment since January 2021 is 25.3 million of which 22.7 million were in the first quarter of FY 2021-2022, that is, during April and May.

6)This shows that the second wave of the pandemic has already dented economic activities, postponing recovery further. The job losses also bring out the high informality and vulnerability of labour in India as of the total jobs lost during April-May, 17.2 million were of daily wage earners.

7)Elementary textbook economics tells us that employment and aggregate demand in an economy are related via the channel of disposable incomes of workers. We also know that aggregate demand and output growth have a positive correlation.

8)Hence, the prospects of growth revival in the next year look bleak at the moment and from this perspective, it is worrying that in just April and May 2021, India lost 25 million non-farm jobs.

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 BCI & PMI :

1)Business confidence index (BCI), from the survey by the industry body FICCI, plummeted to 51.5 from 74.2 in the previous round. The survey also highlights the weak demand conditions in the economy.

2) It says, “With household income being severely impacted and past savings being already drawn on during the first wave of infections, demand conditions can be expected to remain weak for longer.” Compounding this is the uncertainty arising out of the imposition of localised curbs due to the second wave of infections and a muddled vaccine policy in the country.

3)Growth recovery depends on demand recovery. External demand looks robust as India’s exports touched $32 billion in May 2021, 67% higher than in May 2020 and 8% more than in May 2019. The combined increase in exports of April and May 2021 is over 12% indicating that global demand rebound is much faster than the domestic demand.

4)Stimulus programmes and a sharp decline in COVID-19 infections seem to be aiding these economies. What needs to be addressed immediately is the crisis of low domestic demand.

5)Since last year, the policy responses have been to rely on credit easing, focusing more on supply side measures, with more and more guarantees by the government to improve flow of credit to important sectors.

6)There has been less direct action by the government to support the vulnerable to alleviate their hardships. There were some sector-specific measures to alleviate distress in certain sectors, which were timely. However, this policy stance is unlikely to prop up growth for three reasons.

7) First, the bulk of the policy measures, including the most recent, are supply side measures and not on the demand side. In times of financial anxiety, what is needed is direct state spending for a quick demand boost. Second, large parts of all the stimulus packages announced till now would work only in the medium term. These include policies related to the external sector, infrastructure and manufacturing sector. In fact, some of the policies towards agriculture, such as productivity enhancement through the introduction of new varieties, will only work over years. Third, the use of credit backstops as the main plank of policy has limits compared to any direct measure on the demand side as this could result in poor growth performance if private investments do not pick up.

8)Further, the credit easing approach would take a longer time to multiply incomes as lending involves a lender’s discretion and borrower’s obligation. Interestingly, a tight-fisted fiscal policy approach comes at a time when conventional fiscal stimulus packages might not be enough as supply side issues arising out of episodic lockdowns need to be addressed simultaneously.

9)What is required now is a sharp revival in overall demand. Focusing on short-term magnified growth rates resting on low bases might be erroneous, as income levels matter more than growth rates at this juncture.

10) Focusing on growth rates has its merits in the long term as achieving higher income levels require sustained growth for longer periods. Bangladesh seems to be doing this without much fanfare, but the quest for sustained higher growth has been elusive for India for the last five years.

11)Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) also throws some light on the shape of things to come. PMI has slipped to a 10-month low indicating that the manufacturing sector is showing signs of strain with growth projections being revised lower.

12)Both BCI and PMI slipping down indicates that the overall optimism towards 2021-22 is low, which could impact investments and cause further job losses.

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 Hill Councils in Ladakh :

1)The fate of both the councils, LAHDC-Kargil and LAHDC-Leh, that manage governance issues at the micro level with budgetary independence and also give representation to people, is also hanging fire.

2)“There is confusion in the minds of people because there is no formal order on demarcating the functioning of the hill councils by the Ministry of Home Affairs so far,” executive councillor of the LAHDC-Leh.

3)It is said the absence of business rules has failed to delineate powers. “The council should be granted legislative powers on the lines of Bodoland Council to frame laws. Otherwise, the councils will be ineffective,” he said.

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 talks at Moldo : (August , 2020 news)

1) The high-powered China Study Group is expected to meet to discuss the

outcome of the talks that are meant to take forward the stalled process of disengagement on the Line of Actual Control.

2)The talks which began around 11 a.m. on the Chinese side at Moldo opposite Chushul went on till 9.30 p.m., the source said. been learnt.

3) Details on its outcome are expected on after the government takes stock of the developments, it has

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 Article 129 :

Article 129 : 129. Supreme Court to be a court of record The Supreme Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself

1) Freedom of speech and expression was the “ultimate guardian” of values upheld in the Constitution. The exercise of contempt powers by the Supreme Court must necessarily not be of a nature that went beyond ‘reasonable restrictions’.

2)The power of contempt under Article 129 was to be utilised to aid in administration of justice.

3)Contempt could not be pressed into service to stifle bona fide criticism from citizens who were well-informed about the omissions and commissions of the Supreme Court.

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 leopards :

1) As part of its global tiger census, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is set to release a dedicated report on leopard sightings.

2)The last formal census on India’s leopards was conducted in 2014 which estimated the cat’s population at between 12,000 and 14,000. They also estimated 8,000 leopards in the vicinity of tiger habitat.

3)Critics had pointed out that conducting a leopard survey, along with the tiger survey, is problematic as the former is adapted to living on the edge of forests and human habitats, unlike the tiger which is an elusive creature. This had led to gross errors in estimating the true numbers of leopards.

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 Ram Temple in Ayodhya :

1) The Supreme Court in November, 2019 permitted the construction of a Ram temple

2) Ram temple will be at the site where the Babri Masjid stood till December 6, 1992.

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 Mandarin language, Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms : (3.8.2020 news)

1) China called on India to “avoid politicising normal cooperation” following moves to review ongoing cooperation for language training between Indian universities and Chinese government-run programmes.

2)Following the decision to drop Mandarin from its list of suggested languages under the National Education Policy, the Ministry of Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development earlier) has put several higher education institutes that offer Chinese language training under the scanner.

3) the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, in a statement responding to reports that the “Ministry of Education of India has decided to review Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms jointly established by China’s Confucius Institute and 7 Indian universities and colleges, as well as 54 Memoranda of Understanding on inter-school cooperation signed between Indian and Chinese higher education institutions,” said such cooperation had gone on “for more than 10 years”.

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 Mediation Committee :

1) On March 8 2019, the Supreme Court of India appointed a three-member Mediation Committee to attempt mediation in the Ayodhya Babri Masjid Ram Janambhumi dispute pending before the Court. Justice (retd.) Ibrahim Kalifula, former judge of the Court, Sri Sri Ravishankar and ______ were the three members. We immediately commenced the process of having meetings with the many parties to the case, together and separately. The initial time of two months was extended to August 15, 2019, which the Court advanced to July 31, 2019.

2) All parties could not reach agreement by that time, and the Court started the hearing of the case on August 6. In mid-September, at the request of some parties, the Court permitted resumption of mediation. Around the time of conclusion of arguments in end-October, several parties submitted their agreement on a settlement formula so that the views of other parties be sought under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure or the formula be adopted for a broad order under Article 142 of the Constitution of India.

3) It adverted to the terms of settlement arrived at in the mediation process, but expressed its inability to proceed with the same since all parties had not signed it. It gave the disputed land and adjoining parcels to the Hindus for building the Ram Mandir and allotted five acres elsewhere to the Muslims.

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 :

The judgment was bitterly resented and intellectually criticised for favouring the Hindus. But there was also relief that there was closure to this issue and that no more bloodshed took place. Importantly, the Court breathed constitutional protection and longetivity to the Protection of Places of Worship Act, 1991, which protects all other places of worship of all religions from conversion; with this, India will be spared repeats of this mandir and masjid mayhem.

1) The Supreme Court of India granted entire 2.77 Acres of disputed land to deity Ram Lalla, possession of land will remain Union Government.

2) It direcred the Centre and UP government to allot five Acres of land to build a mosque.

3) [April 3,1993: ‘Acquisiton of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’ passed for acquiring land by the Centre in the disputed area.

4) The Supreme Court, exercising its jurisdiction under Article 139 A of the Constitution of India, transfers various writ petitions pending in the Allahabad High Court ] { September 30,2020 : The Allahabad High Court , in a 2:1 majority rules a three-way division of the disputed area between the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla ) .

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 Right to Access to Information :

1)Access to information might not yet be a fundamental right but it is certainly a human right. For the last one year, the residents of the J&K Valley have been deprived of the benefit of 4G Internet. This has had an adverse impact on various aspects of daily life.

2)For students, the joy of learning has become an imposition with 2G Internet. Medical professionals have difficulty in advising and counselling their patients.

3)The right to health is an essential component of the right to life and this has been denied to a large number of patients. Businessman have suffered, the economy in the Valley has taken a hit and it appears that the powers that be are in no mood to relent.

4)The Supreme Court has twice intervened but with no tangible effect. Orders concerning the Internet were required to be reviewed under the rules by a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The committee has been downgraded and is now headed by the Home Secretary. In other words, rather than a step forward towards access to information, a small step back has been taken.

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 J&K :

Though Syama Prasad Mukherjee highlighted the implications of Article 370 with the slogan “Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan, do nishan nahi chalenge (We can’t have two Constitutions, two Prime Ministers and two flags in one country)”, it was not until 1979 that the full discriminatory nature of Article 35A came to light.

1) A single-judge Bench quashed the appointment of Dr. Ravinder Maadan as an Assistant Professor at the Government Medical College in Jammu. The court ruled that Dr. Maadan, who had married a non-state subject, was no longer a permanent resident and hence not eligible for government employment. It was only 23 years later, in 2002, that a three-member Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court declared that the daughter of a permanent resident marrying a non-permanent resident will not lose her permanent residency. However, it did not wade into the discriminatory nature of Article 35A and stated it to be an “academic issue”.

2) Article 35A was unfair not just to women. It deprived benefits to thousands of descendants of West Pakistan refugees who migrated during that period even though they are Indian citizens. It ensured that the descendants of Dalit Valmikis, brought in from Amritsar and Gurdaspur in Punjab as safai karamcharis in 1957, were ineligible for government jobs and were forced to continue in their designated occupation.

3)The presence of Article 370 in the Constitution paved the way for various constitutional anomalies. For instance, while Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was struck down by the Supreme Court, it continued to exist in the Ranbir Penal Code that was followed in the erstwhile State. Similarly, critical legislation passed by the Government of India, such as the Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, were not applicable to the erstwhile State.

4)It was for these reasons, and the Prime Minister’s vision of “one nation, one Constitution”, that led the government to effectively remove Articles 370 and 35A.

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 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for Covid-19 :

1)Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for Covid-19, are quick and are said to be very reliable in confirming if someone has tested positive for the virus. However, it has a low sensitivity or that it can also miss — sometimes as many as 50% — of those who may be carrying the infection.

2)Therefore, the ICMR advisory has been to retest all those who test negative for the test and those who manifest symptoms.

3)“It takes about five days for fever-like symptoms to manifest and there’s a big chance that in that period, both RT-PCR and antigen tests may miss detecting the virus.

4)The same goes for asymptomatics. In that sense, both are similar for finding a positive case. States have been told to use an intelligent and calibrated testing policy depending on which area needs more testing,”

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 Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers :

1) After receiving the formal Government Sanction Letter (GSL) for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers, the Army headquarters is in the process of convening a special selection board for screening women officers for grant of PC.

2) the Defence Ministry issued the GSL specifying grant of PC to women officers in all streams in which they presently serve

3) in all streams in which they presently serve — Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence Corps in addition to the existing streams of Judge and Advocate General and Army Educational Corps.

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 Delhi University’s (DU) four-year degree experiment :

1) Six years after Delhi University’s (DU) four-year degree experiment ended in ignominy, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) shutting down the programme after vociferous protests from a section of students and faculty, the National Education Policy (NEP) has brought the concept back into the spotlight and recommends its implementation across the country.

2)For the then DU vice chancellor , who had to resign when his brainchild programme was struck down, the NEP is something of a vindication. “The NEP proposal mirrors many aspects of our programme at DU. We had also proposed a holistic, flexible educational experience,” he says, noting that he was aiming at wider change than the simple addition of an extra year.

3)He relates the experience of discovering that top multinational finance companies which interviewed 1,200 students at DU had found only three worth hiring, because students simply did not have basic holistic knowledge to succeed in the real world.

4) “In that one year that we implemented the four-year degree, DU shot up to around 200 in the global rankings, higher than most IITs. Today, it is around the 800 rank mark,” he says.

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 :

1) The head of the NEP’s drafting committee K. Kasturirangan agrees that Prof. Singh’s initiative was a “visionary step” at that time. “.”

2) We must recognise that a student’s knowledge base must be sufficiently flexible to cope with a 21st century job scenario,” he says. “

3) At that time in DU, there was concern among students about whether they would gain anything from an extra year, as well as among teachers objecting to the additional work that would have to be put in to teach a four-year degree

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 Spain :

1) Spain’s former king Juan Carlos, at the centre of an alleged $100-million corruption scandal, has reportedly fled to the Dominican Republic (Caribbean country) after his shock announcement that he was going into exile.

2) The 82-year-old revealed that he had taken the decision to leave Spain to help his son, the current King Felipe VI, “exercise his responsibilities”.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c

86)Consider the following with reference to Consumer Protection Act and All kinds of B2C online services :

1) “The Consumer Protection Act has already kicked in, but many online service providers still want to believe they are outside its scope,” said the official on condition of anonymity. “All kinds of B2C online services, irrespective of their size and reach, all mobile app-based services and all businesses running on social media platforms, will come within the bill’s purview.

2) Only unscrupulous players who exercise unfair trade practices or indulge in counterfeit merchandise need to worry.

3) Otherwise, this is a win-win piece of regulation that will protect the rights of customers and dignity of the brands,” the official said.

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 RTE Act :

1) According to the RTE Act, 25% of entry-level seats must be set aside for students from economically weaker sections of the society. Enquiries made to a number of big schools in the city revealed that many schools had completed the admission process, especially for kindergarten, and online classes were going on since June,2020

2)“Children from underprivileged sections, whose parents are usually daily wage workers, depend on RTE seats to enter private schools.

3)But, due to lack of clarity this year, these students will lose this opportunity,” says C. Perarivalan, State general secretary of Tamil Puligal Katchi, who has been working for admitting underprivileged students from Karumbalai area under the RTE Act.

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 Kabini’s catchment area at Wayanad in Kerala :

1) The Mettur dam,(Tamil Nadu ) the primary storage point of Cauvery water in the State, is likely to soon witness a steep rise in inflow with the authorities in Karnataka beginning to release huge quantities of water from Kabini dam

2)Heavy rain in the previous days in Kabini’s catchment area at Wayanad in Kerala led to huge inflows into the dam in Karnataka.

3)Another development that comes as a relief to water managers of Tamil Nadu is that parts of the Cauvery’s catchment area in south interior Karnataka have also been recording substantial amounts of rain.

4)Unlike Kabini dam, which has reached around 90% of capacity, the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam’s figure is around 60% and, as such, the chances of release of excess water from the dam are remote for the next few days.

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 migrant labour in informal sector :

1) It is considerations of this kind, more than financial hardship, that prompt single migrant workers to leave for their rural homes. The Indian labouring classes are much less rattled by joblessness as unemployment is a frequent, if unwelcome, visitor at their door.

2)This is clearly an outcome of the fact that 93% of our economy is informal. Ironically, the Industrial Disputes Act encourages this trend. It mandates employers to pay severance wages, and other benefits, only if workers are hired, and on the rolls, continuously for over 248 days.

3)This law has had the unintended consequence of making it attractive for management to periodically flip labour around. As a result, only a minuscule minority stays employed for long.

4) Most other workers suffer joblessness for long periods in the bear pit called the city. Yet, it took just two days of the lockdown for a large number of male workers to start the trudge to their respective villages.

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 ammonium nitrate :

1) The devastating blast in central Beirut (Lebanon )on 4.8.2020 that killed 135 people and wounded 4,000 has once again turned the spotlight on a city that had in the past survived civil wars, sectarian violence, foreign interventions and terrorist attacks.

2)The blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse at the Beirut port after it was confiscated from a cargo ship six years ago.

3)The blast rattled buildings on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, about 160 km away.

4)President Michel Aoun said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures, after it was seized.

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 EWS quota 10% Article 15(6) and 16(6) :

1) The three-judge Bench had refused to stay the implementation of the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, which provides the 10% Quota, when it had reserved for orders a year ago (i.e.,2019 ). Several petitioners, including Janhit Abhiyan and Kerala Munnoka Samudaya Aikya Munnani, the latter represented by advocate , had challenged the validity of the Constitutional Amendment, saying the 50% quota limit was part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

The economic reservation was introduced in the Constitution by amending Articles 15 and 16 and adding clauses empowering the State governments to provide reservation on the basis of economic backwardness

“It is the case of the petitioners that the very amendments run contrary to the Constitutional scheme, and no segment of available seats/posts can be reserved only on the basis of economic criterion. As such, we are of the view that such questions do constitute substantial questions of law to be considered by a Bench of five judges,” the judgment said.

.2) The Centre had argued that it was every State’s prerogative to provide 10% economic reservation in State government jobs and admissions in State-run education institutions

3)“Whether or not to provide reservation to the economically weaker section (EWS) of the society for appointment in State government jobs and for admission to State government educational institutions, as per provisions of the newly inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of the Constitution, is to be decided by the State government concerned,” a seven-page affidavit filed by the Central government had said.

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 Pokkali variety of rice (fromKerala) known for salt water resistance :

1) Two farmers in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal are betting on the pokkali variety of rice from Kerala to tide over a crisis-like situation created by severe seawater incursion into paddy fields in vast areas of the Sundarbans after cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal on May 20.

2)The pokkali variety, known for its saltwater resistance, flourishes in the paddy fields of coastal Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.

3)The uniqueness of the rice has brought it the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is the subject of continuing research.

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 :

1) On July 8, 2021, the Union government announced the “India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package: Phase II” , with the stated purpose to boost health infrastructure and prepare for a possible third wave of COVID-19.

2) Through this financial package, there is plan to increase COVID-19 beds, improve the oxygen availability and supply, create buffer stocks of essential medicines; purchase equipment and strengthen paediatric beds..

3) However, the package barely has any attention on improving the availability of health human resources

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 OPEC and crude oil production :

1) For now, the risk has receded that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said to hold the world’s largest untapped crude reserves, might quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The end to the UAE’s weeks-long impasse with Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s biggest crude exporters, and Russia, a non-OPEC state, was brought about by deal. Under its terms, the UAE’s demand for an increase in its oil output quotas, in recognition of its higher production capacity, has been conceded. The baselines have also been raised for Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq and Kuwait.

2)The bloc will now step up crude production by 400,000 barrels a day starting in August. The deal will extend until the end of 2022. The output boost is in response to rising oil prices in the wake of the rebound in economic activity following the easing of lockdown restrictions and increased COVID-19 vaccinations in different parts of the world.

3)Sunday’s deal has also extended until the end of next year the broad terms of the unprecedented production cuts the bloc enforced in April 2020.

4)The cartel cut oil production by 9.7 million barrels a day (mbd) as oil demand fell from 100 mbd to 91.1 mbd and prices plummeted from $70 in January 2020 to around $20 in April.

5)The bloc has since gradually rolled back these steep cuts and hopes to return production to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022.

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 UAPA :

1)Public prosecutors are influential at every stage of a trial. They decide what offences the accused person should be charged with, whether to seek pretrial custody, and what sentence to ask for. However, public prosecutors, unlike defence counsel, have an ethical obligation to seek justice balancing the interests of the victims of crime, society, and those accused of crimes. They represent the public and are not mere mouthpieces for law enforcement agencies.

2)The Supreme Court in Sheo Nandan Paswan v. State of Bihar (1986) cautioned that even though prosecutors have a duty to represent the executive for trying the offender, and it is broadly their responsibility to see that the trial results in conviction, they need not be extremely concerned about the outcome of the case. They act as officers of the court and are obliged to ensure that the accused person is not unfairly treated. The High Court of Delhi, in Jitendra Kumar v. State (1999), warned that, “In performance of his duty he can prosecute the accused, but he cannot assume the role of a persecutor. It is no part of his duty to secure conviction at all costs… The Public Prosecutor should act fairly and impartially and must be conscious of the rights of the accused. He is not only required to conduct prosecution case… but [also] respect and protect the rights of the accused.”

3)The duty of a public prosecutor to not assume the role of persecutor is vital in trials under special statutes like the UAPA, which water down fair trial guarantees.

4)Undertrial detention becomes a convenient means to punish those accused under the UAPA without convicting them. Such trials are long-drawn-out, and the conviction rate is low. In 2019, in 11% of UAPA cases (pending from previous years and filed in 2019), the police closed the case because of insufficient evidence or because the accused was untraceable. Charge sheets were filed in only 9% of the UAPA cases. The conviction rate for UAPA cases was 29.2% compared to an average conviction rate of 50.4% for crimes committed under 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

96)Consider the following with reference to combating illicit trafficking of narcotic, drugs and psychotropic substances, besides chemical precursors :

1) India has signed 26 bilateral pacts, 15 memoranda of understanding and two agreements on security cooperation with different countries for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic, drugs and psychotropic substances, besides chemical precursors, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

2)The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinated with various international organisations for sharing information and intelligence to combat transnational drug trafficking. They included the SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk; Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa; Colombo Plan; Association of Southeast Asian Nations; ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters; Bay of Bengal Initiative For Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-Operation; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Narcotics Control Board,

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 NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware :

1) The use of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware against Opposition leaders, activists, judges and journalists would not have occurred if intelligence agencies were grounded in law and with provisions for holding them accountable,

2)The NSO maintains that it sells the malware, which can secretly unlock the target’s phone, computer or other devices, collect information and transfer it into another device without the permission of the user, only to government agencies to fight terrorism and other serious crimes.

3)“NSO Group will continue to investigate all credible claims of misuse and take appropriate action based on the results of these investigations,”

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 CAA :

1)The CAA was passed in 2019 to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who took refuge in India till December 31, 2014.

2)The NRC of 1951 was updated in Assam to leave out 19.06 lakh persons out of some 3.3 crore applicants.

3) “Not a single Indian Muslim will face any loss due to the new citizenship Act. India has been following the [1950] Nehru-Liaquat Pact, which states that each country would protect its minorities while Pakistan failed to do so.”

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 domicile certificate in J&K :

1) The Jammu and Kashmir administration has rolled out the process of issuing domicile certificates to the spouses of the erstwhile State subjects who have a domicile certificate.

2)This would allow the husbands of the women married outside to acquire the document for the first time.

3)“In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India read with Section of the J&K Civil Service (Decentralisation and recruitment) Act, 2010, the government hereby grants domicile certificates to spouse of a domicile,” a government order, dated July 20, 2021, said.

4)The government has authorised tahsildars to issue the certificate against a “valid proof of marriage”.

5)According to the J&K Grant of Domicile Certificate Procedure Rules, 2020, the domicile certificate would be issued to all Permanent Resident Certificate holders and their children living outside the Union Territory

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 :

1)The Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court has stayed the Arunachal Pradesh government’s June notification prescribing temporary entry permits for “developmental works in public and private sectors” only to those vaccinated against COVID-19.

2)Hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Dibang Valley district resident Madan Milli in July , Justice Nani Tagia said the notification classifying people into the vaccinated and the unvaccinated for the purpose of issuance of temporary permit “violates Articles 14, 19 (1) (d) and 21 of the Constitution of India”.

3)Indians who intend to visit Arunachal Pradesh — as in three other north-eastern States — for business or tourism need to possess an Inner-Line Permit (ILP), a British era system.

4)“Tourist ILPs shall remain suspended during the period of this order [till August 1]. However, for developmental works in both public and private sectors, temporary permits may be issued, provided such persons are vaccinated for COVID-19,” Clause 11 of the government notification read

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(d) None

Ans: c