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ម្តាយសម័យឥឡូវ! ម្ចាស់ស្លាប់បាត់ទៅហើយ ចៃដន្យរន្ទះបាញ់ឆេះរង្គសាល ពួកអ្នកស្រាវជ្រាវរកឃើញថា គូណាត់ដុះដាលដូចផ្សិត ១៥២ នាក់ត្រៀមដឹកតាមយានអវកាស SpaceX Falcon Heavy យកទៅបាចនៅសុញ្ញអាកាស |
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SpaceX запустит в космос Falcon Heavy с прахом 152 человек вместе с научным оборудованием |
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Public: OnDeck Airbnb Atlassian/HipChat Automattic Beepi BloomReach Cloudera Cloudflare Coinbase Coupa Coursera CreditKarma DoorDash DoubleDutch Dropbox Eventbrite Evernote Fitbit Flipboard FundBox GitHub GlassDoor HomeJoy Houzz IFTTT Instacart Jasper Technologies Jawbone JustFab Lyft Monetate Nextdoor Okta One Kings Lane Optimizely Palantir Pinterest Plastiq Quora Rubicon Project Shazam Slack Slice SpaceX Square StitchFix Stripe Survey Monkey Thumbtack Turn Twilio Uber Wanelo WealthFront Zenefits Zumper |
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MOCK Q418- FRAMED FROM Google Books Q With reference to the Dongria Kondh consider the following statements :1 These are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups worshiping Niyam Raja of sacred Niyamgiri mountain 2 Racially these belong to the Mongoloid group amp linguistically they belong to the Tibeto-Burman groupSelect the correct answer using the code given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AKarbi tribe : Racially these belong to the Mongoloid group amp linguistically they belong to the Tibeto-Burman groupDongria Kondh : Of Odisha These are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups who worship Niyam Raja of sacred Niyamgiri mountain They also won legal battle against Vedanta group over Bauxite mining in the region MOCK Q417- FRAMED FROM Google Books Q Every year a community celebrates a festival Hari Jyoti for planting fruit bearing trees at the beginning of the rains amp the new sowing season Which of the following is such community/ tribe A GondsB Dongria KondhC BondaD KarbiAns AGonds : Of Madhya PradeshKorku tribe : Of Madhya PradeshKarbi tribe : Of AssamLimbo tribe : Of SikkimBonda : Of OdishaDongria Kondh : Of OdishaKorku tribe : Of Madhya PradeshMOCK Q416- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q To fulfill the Government of India’s mission amp to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country Academia Alliance Programme has been formed With whose initiative Academia Alliance Programme has been formed A Niti AyogB Confederation of Indian IndustriesC Startup IndiaD Ministry of New amp Renewable EnergyAns CTo fulfill the Governmentof India’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country Startup India launched the Startup Academia Alliance programme a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains The Startup Academia Alliance aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications in order to increase the efficacy of these technologies and to widen their impact By creating a bridge between academia and industry the Alliance strives to create lasting connections between the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem and implement the third pillar on which the Startup India Action Plan is based – Industry Academia Partnerships and Incubation The first phase of Startup Academia Alliance was kickstarted through partnering with Regional Centre for Biotechnology The Energy and Resources Institute TERI Council on Energy Environment and Water and TERI School of Advanced Studies Renowned scholars from these institutes in fields such as renewableenergy biotechnology healthcare and life sciences were taken on board to provide mentorship and guidance to startups working in relevant arenasMOCK Q415- FRAMED FROM SPECTRUM HISTORY Q Consider the following statements :1 In 1916 session Congress accepted theMuslim League demand of separate electorates 2 Communal award accepted all the muslim communal demands contained in the 14 pointsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CIn 1916 session Congress accepted the Muslim League demand of separate electorates amp the Congress amp The League presented joint demands to the governmentCommunal award accepted all the muslim communal demands contained in the 14 pointsMOCK Q414- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation SASEC consider the following statements :1 SASEC program set up in 2001 to promote regional prosperity by improving cross border connectivity 2 World Trade Organisation serves as the secretariat for the SAESC member CountriesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns ASASEC program set up in 2001 to promote regional prosperity by improving cross border connectivityIt brings together Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Myanmar Nepal Srilanka Manila Phillipines based Asian development Bank ADB serves as the secretariat for the SAESC member CountriesMOCK Q413- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the Permanent Court of Arbitration PCA consider the following statements :1 PCA was established by treaty at the first Hague Peace Conference at Netherlands2 The order is not binding on the countries as it can be appealed in the UN tribunal3 121 member states are the part of the PCA including IndiaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans APermanent Court of Arbitration PCA:PCA was established by treaty at the first Hague Peace Conference at Netherlands in 1899The order is binding on the countries as there is no appeal process in the UN tribunal121 member states 119 members of the United Nations as well as Kosovo amp Palestine are the part of the PCA India is a part to the PCA according to the Hague Convention on 1899 MOCK Q412- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing amp Urban Development APMCHUD consider the following statements :1 Sixth edition of the conference held in New Delhi in 2016 with the theme “ A Vision for sustainable Urbanisation in The Asia Pacific by 2020”2 It was established under the aegis amp support of UN HabitatSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are in correctAns BSixth edition of the conference held in New Delhi in 2016 with the theme “ Emerging Urban Forms –Policy Reforms amp Governance Structures in the Context of New Urban Agenda”2006 THEME : “ A Vision for sustainable Urbanisation in The Asia Pacific by 2020MOCK Q411- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the International Trade Centre consider the following statements :1 ITC is the joint technical corporation agency of the UN conference on trade amp Development UNCTAD amp World Trade Organisation WTO2 They are subordinate to the United Nations amp derive most of their financial resources other than the Union Nation BudgetsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are in correctAns AITC is the joint technical corporation agency of the UN conference on trade amp Development UNCTAD amp World Trade Organisation WTOITC’s regular programme is financed in equal parts by WTO amp UNMOCK Q410- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which among the following crops have been classified under the category of Minor Forest products 1 Tendu Patta2 Bamboo3 Pulpwood 4 SoapnutSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 124B Only 1 amp 3C 134D Only 1 amp 4Ans AThe Major Forest Products comprise Pulpwood Sandalwood Social Forestry that incudes Fuel and Timber The Minor Forest Products include the items such as tamarind curry leaf Tendu Patta gallnut Cane Soapnut tree moss and now Bamboo alsoMOCK Q409- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the news what is “INSTEX” A It is a 2000 ft long device to start clean up in the North Pacific OceanB It is a transaction channel that will allow companies to continue trading with Iran despite US sanctionsC It is a natural gas pipeline being developed with the participation of the Asian Development BankD It is the rule book that sets out how countries will provide information about their Nationally Determined Contributions Ans B• The transaction channel will allow European businesses to trade with Iran despite strict US sanctions• Though the payment channel is a project of Britain France and Germany it will receive the formal endorsement of all 28 EU members• It will support legitimate European trade with Iran focusing initially on the sectors most essential to the Iranian population such as pharmaceutical medical devices and agri-food goods• In the longer term INSTEX aims to be open to third countries wanting to trade with Iran• However INSTEX is not yet operational as it needs Iran to set up a parallel structure of its own which may take some time to complete• While it is aimed at small and medium-sized companies it is expected to send an important message to Iran about Europe’s commitment to keep the nuclear deal aliveObjective The launch of the special payment channel is a clear and practical demonstration of Europe’s commitment to continuing the nuclear dealIt however does not in any way preclude the European Union from addressing Iran’s hostile and destabilising activitiesEurope has toughened its tone on Iran’s ballistic missile programme human rights record and interference in Middle East conflictsMOCK Q408- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana consider the following statements :1 Spouse will not be entitled to receive pension in case of death2 Workers covered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation will not be entitled to pension3 It is 100 funded by the Union government Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B 2 amp 3C Only 2D 1 amp 2Ans C• The unorganised sector workers with income of less than Rs 15000 per month and who belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years will be eligible for the scheme • Those workers should not be covered under New Pension Scheme NPS Employees’ State Insurance Corporation ESIC scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation EPFO• He or she should not be an income tax payerThe workers of unorganised sector can be home based workers street vendors mid-day meal workers head loaders brick kiln workers cobblers rag pickers domestic workers washer men rickshaw pullers landless labourers own account workers agricultural workers construction workers beedi workers handloom workers leather workers audio- visual workers and similar other occupationsBenefits under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan YojanaMinimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the scheme will receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 yearsIn case of death during receipt of pension: If the subscriber dies during the receipt of pension his or her spouse will be entitled to receive 50 percent of the pension as family pension This family pension is applicable only to spouseIn case of death before the age of 60 years: If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and dies before attaining the age of 60 years his or her spouse will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or may even exit the schemeEqual contribution by the Central Government: Under the PM-SYM the prescribed age-specific contribution by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government will be made on a ‘50:50 basis’MOCK Q407- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which of the following best describes SHREYAS scheme A It is the scheme launched by HRD Ministry to promote entrepreneurship by mentoring nurturing and facilitating startupsB It is the scheme implemented by Sector Skill Council for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and SkillsC It is the scheme launched by HRD ministry for translational and advanced research in Science to fund science projectsD It is the scheme implemented by Institution’s Innovation Council for self-actualisation providing opportunities for a life-long learningAns CSHREYAS: Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and SkillsFunctioning of the Scheme:The scheme will be operated in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme NAPS which provides for placing of apprentices or trainees up to 10 percent of the total work force in every industry The scheme will be implemented by the Sector Skill Councils SSCs initially in the Banking Finance Insurance Services BFSI Retail Health care Telecom Logistics Media Management services ITeS and Apparel More sectors would be added over time with emerging apprenticeship demandMOCK Q406- FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q With reference to the Sandbag Climate Campaign consider the following statements :1 It was launched as a campaign on the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme2 It addresses the negative effects of global warming as a result of heightened socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilitiesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A–Sandbag or Sandbag Climate Campaign is a Community Interest Company campaigning for changes to European climate change policy especially emissions trading The organisation was launched in 2008 by Bryony Worthington and was the first and founding member of The Guardian’s Environment NetworkSandbag was launched as a campaign on the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme allowing its members to campaign to reduce the number of permits in circulation and to purchase permits and cancel themClimate Vulnerable Forum CVF: The forum addresses the negative effects of global warming as a result of heightened socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilitiesMOCK Q405- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana consider the following statements :1 It will provide assured income to all Institutional Land holders of Rs 6000 per year2 It is based on providing guaranteed amount of Rs 1000/- or Rs2000 per hectare in case of drought or loss of crop by the animalsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will provide assured income to small and marginal farmers• All Small and Marginal Farmers SMF with 2 hectares of cultivable land will be provided income support of Rs 6000 per year• The amount will be transferred directly into their account in 3 equal installments• The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union Government in 2019-20• Over 12 crore farmer families will be benefitted under the schemeThe scheme is being implemented with effect from December 2018The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme A All Institutional Land holders B Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to following categories: 1 Former and present holders of constitutional posts2 Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councilsformer and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats3 All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees4 All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is ₹10000/-or more Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees of above category5 All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year6 Professionals like Doctors Engineers Lawyers Chartered Accountants and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practicesMOCK Q404- FRAMED FROM Spectrum- Modern India Q Swadeshi Sangam was formed to ispire the local masses through magic lantern lectures Swadeshi songsWho was/were the members of the Swadeshi Sangam 1 VO Chidambaram Pillai2 Abanindranath Tagore3 Subramania SivaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 1C 2 amp 3D 123Ans AIn Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu VO Chidambaram Pillai Subramania Siva amp Some lawyers formed the Swadeshi Sangam which inspired the local massesMOCK Q403- FRAMED FROM Spectrum- Modern India Q With reference to the Indian National Movement What was Official Secrets Act A Under this act Natu brothers were deported without trial amp Tilak imprisoned on charges of seditionB Repressive laws under IPC section 124 A were amplified with new provisions under IPC 156 AC It was the administrative measure to curb the freedom of pressD Under this act It ensured greater government control over the universitiesAns COfficial Secrets Act : 1904 It was the administrative measure to curb the freedom of press1897 : Natu brothers were deported without trial amp Tilak imprisoned on charges of sedition1898 : Repressive laws under IPC section 124 A were amplified with new provisions under IPC 156 AIndian Universities Act 1904 : greater government control over the universitiesMOCK Q402- FRAMED FROM The Hindu Q With reference to the Halogen Light Bulbs consider the following statements :1 White coating also known as Phosphor coating on the glass absorbs UV light amp protect from the UV rays2 They have the same tungsten filament as the typical incandescent light bulbs 3 Fluorescent coating is often used in these bulbs to add brightnessSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B 123C Only 2D 1 amp 2Ans CFluorescent bulbs : White coating also known as Phosphor coating on the glass absorbs UV light amp protect from the UV raysVapour lamps : Fluorescent coating is often used in these bulbs to add brightnessA halogen lamp also known as a tungsten halogen quartz-halogen or quartz iodine lamp is an incandescent lamp consisting of a tungsten filament sealed into a compact transparent envelope that is filled with a mixture of an inert gas and a small amount of a halogensuch as iodine or bromine The combination of the halogen gas and the tungsten filament produces a halogen cycle chemical reaction which redeposits evaporated tungsten to the filament increasing its life and maintaining the clarity of the envelope For this to happen a halogen lamp must be operated at a higher envelope temperature 250° C 482° F1 than a standard vacuum incandescent lamp of similar power and operating life this also produces light with higher luminous efficacy and color temperature The small size of halogen lamps permits their use in compact optical systems for projectors and illumination The small glass envelope may be enclosed in a much larger outer glass bulb for a bigger package the outer jacket will be at a much lower and safer temperature and it also protects the hot bulb from harmful contamination and makes the bulb mechanically more similar to a conventional lamp that it might replaceStandard and halogen incandescent bulbs are much less efficient than LED and compact fluorescent lamps and have been banned in many jurisdictions because of thisMOCK Q401- FRAMED FROM The Hindu Q Consider the following statements :1 Origin of Bitcoin is virtually anonymous amp is not monitored by any Central bank or Government2 Anyone with a bitcoin address can send amp receive bitcoins from anyone else with a bitcoin address Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CBitcoin is a cryptocurrency a form of electronic cash It is a decentralized digital currency without a central bank or single administrator that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain Bitcoin was invented by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto and released as open-source software in 2009 Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining They can be exchanged for other currencies products and services Research produced by the University of Cambridge estimates that in 2017 there were 29 to 58 million unique users using a cryptocurrency wallet most of them using bitcoin Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions its high electricity consumption price volatility thefts from exchanges and the possibility that bitcoin is an economic bubble Bitcoin has also been used as an investment although several regulatory agencies have issued investor alerts about bitcoinMOCK Q400- FRAMED FROM M LAXMIKANTH Q Consider the following statements :1In India Only the powers of the Federal Government are enumerated in the constitution amp the residuary powers are left to the states 2 Government of India Act 1935 provided for three fold enumeration ie Federal Provincial amp CurrentSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1 B Only 2C Both are correct D Both are incorrectAns B-In US Only the powers of the Federal Government are enumerated in the constitution amp the residuary powers are left to the states -Power to make laws with respect to the residuary subjects which are not enumerated in any of the three list is vested in the ParliamentMOCK Q399- FRAMED FROM M LAXMIKANTH Q Which among the following statement best describes “Discretionary Grants” A It empowers the Parliament to make grants to the states which are in need of financial assistance B These are the grants in lieu of export duties on Jute amp Jute products to the states of Assam BiharOrissa amp West BengalC Theses are the grants for promoting welfare of the scheduled tribes in a stateD These are the grants that empower both the centre amp states to make any grants for any public purpose even if it is not within their respective legislative competenceAns DStatutory Grants : Article 75 empowers the Parliament to make grants to the states which are in need of financial assistanceOther Grants : These are the grants in lieu of export duties on Jute amp Jute products to the states of Assam Bihar Orissa amp West BengalDiscretionary Grants :These are the grants that empower both the centre amp states to make any grants for any public purpose even if it is not within their respective legislative competenceMOCK Q398- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the news what is Talanoa dialogue A It is a process designed to help countries enhance and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020B It is a process to help countries by forming the rule book to implement the Paris Climate AgreementC It gives countries a common framework for reporting and reviewing progress towards their climate targetsD It provides a global platform for the conservation of Migratory animals amp their habitatsAns A–The 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP23 was an international meeting of political leaders non-state actors and activists to discuss environmental issues It was held at UN Campus in Bonn Germany from 6–17 November 2017Although COP23 focused primarily on technical details of the Paris Agreement COP23 concluded with what was called the ‘Fiji Momentum for Implementation’ which outlined the steps that need to be taken in 2018 to make the Paris Agreement operational and launched the –Talanoa Dialogue – a process designed to help countries enhance and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020MOCK Q397 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Consider the following statements :1 Mangroves for the Future MFF has participation of Asian amp African nations only2 IUCN amp United Nation Development Programme UNDP developed MFF in 20063 MFF not only conserves Mangrove forests but includes all types of coastal ecosystems like coral reefsestuaries wetlands etcSelect the correct answer using the correct codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DMangroves for the Future MFFLocation: Member countries: Bangladesh Cambodia India Indonesia Maldives Myanmar Pakistan Seychelles Sri Lanka Thailand and Viet Nam Outreach countries: Malaysia Dialogue countries: Kenya and TanzaniaDuration: Established in 2006 MFF is currently in its third phase 2015 – 2018 Project Background: The devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 laid bare the vital link between coastal ecosystems and human livelihoods It was United States President Bill Clinton’s vision that rebuilding in tsunami-hit areas should improve natural infrastructure and strengthen resilience against future natural disasters In response to this vision IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP developed Mangroves for the Future in 2006 Since then MFF has grown to include eight institutional partners plus a growing number of countries At the launch of the Tsunami Legacy report at the United Nations in New York in April 2009 Bill Clinton acclaimed MFF as one of the most positive and forward-looking developments of the post-tsunami periodMangroves for the Future MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the many different agencies sectors and countries which are addressingchallenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues The goal is to promote an integrated ocean-wide approach to coastal management and to building the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal communities Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative but MFF is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystem such as coral reefs estuaries lagoons sandy beaches seagrass and wetlandsMOCK Q396 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which one of the following best describes the term Malacca Dilemma sometimes seen in news A It refers to the demarcation line used initially by the government of republic of China B ONGC Videsh Limited signed a contract with the petro Vietnam to jointly explore petroleum resourcesC It is the Nine Dash line area that covers most of the South China sea amp overlaps exclusive economic zoneD It signifies China’s dependency for the energy needs on West AsiaAns DThe “Malacca Dilemma” is a term coined by their President Hu Jintao2003 on the over-reliance on the Malacca Straitssea-route where 80 of their energy needsoil imports pass en-route from the Middle East Angola etcshipping lanes through the Malacca Straitsbetween Malaysia and Indonesia This area is also prone to piracy sometimesConflict in the region and their effect on China’s geopolitical and energy strategies and other issues that can crop up from time to time together constitute the “Malacca Dilemma”MOCK Q395 – FRAMED FROM GCCA WEBSITE Q Global Climate Change Alliance Initiative for country’s vulnerability to climate change is managed by the :A The European CommissionB The Global Environment FacilityC UNDPD World BankAns AThe Global Climate Change Alliance Plus GCCA is a European Union flagship initiative which is helpingthe world’s most vulnerable countries to address climate change Having started with just four pilot projects in 2008 it has become a major climate initiative that has funded over 70 projects of nationalregional and worldwide scope in Africa Asia the Caribbean and the Pacific This EU initiative helps mainly Small Islands Developing States SIDS and Least Developed Countries LDCs increase their resilience to climate change The GCCA also supports these group of countries in implementing their commitments resulting from the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change COP21 in line with the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the new European Consensus on DevelopmentThe GCCA initiative is making a significant contribution towards achieving the overall target of at least 20 of the EU budget spent for climate action All GCCA projects must primarily aim at facilitating the transition to a climate-resilient low-carbon future in line with the 2°C targetGCCA funding increased from EUR 3175 million in the first phase 2007-2014 to EUR 420 million in the second phase 2014-2020 Read more on financial resourcesMOCK Q394 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which among the following topics are exempted from the courses covered under the LEAP amp ARPIT PROGRAMME for higher education faculty 1 Establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority2 Internet of Things3 Tools techniques and experiments in reducing Greenhouse gases emission4 Methodology of Teaching SanskritSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 4B Only 1C 1 amp 3D 124Ans CHRD Ministry launches LEAP and ARPIT programmes for higher education facultyThe courses cover a diverse range of topics such as:Indian culture and Heritage Studies Tribal and Regional languages Urdu French StudiesPedagogical Innovations amp Research Methodology Tools techniques and experiments in Earth ScienceLatest Trends in Pedagogy and Assessment Mathematics Statistics Zoology Chemistry Physics Biotechnology Development and Counselling Marine Science Calculus Real Time Power Analysis and Smart GridNeural Networks and Deep Learning amp Knowledge discovery Civil Infrastructure for Smart City DevelopmentICT in Science and Maths teaching Engineering Mechanics Design Spectrum DIY Manufacturing TechnologyInnovation and Best Practices in Educational Skills Advanced Concepts in Fluid Mechanics Energy Systems EngineeringLeadership and Governance in Higher Education Engineering Mechanics Physics of Semiconductors and Devices Electrical EngineeringPublic Policy and Administration Bio-Medical engineering Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Sciences Chemical EngineeringEnglish Language Teaching Internet of ThingsHindi Literature amp Linguistics Astronomy and AstrophysicsMethodology of Teaching Sanskrit Aerospace Engineering Tourism and Hospitality ManagementEffective Creations and Innovative Researches in Medieval Gujarati Literature Political Science Economics Psychology Development Perspectives in AgricultureLibrary amp Information Science Ethics Human Rights and Environment Anthropology Gender/Women’s studies Law Social and Rural DevelopmentDisaster Management Climate change MOCK Q393 – FRAMED FROM NITIN SIGHANIA Q Which among the following is/are correctly matched :Community Place1 Dangasia Gujarat2 Gond Madhya Pradesh3 Mirgan OdishaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DDangasia GujaratGond Madhya PradeshMirgan Odisha MOCK Q392 – FRAMED FROM SPECTRUM HISTORY Q BR Ambedkar is associated With Which of the following 1 Bahishkrita Hitkarini Sabha2 Hindu Mahasabha3 Hindu Code billSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 1C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ALala Lajpat Rai involvement with Hindu Mahasabha leaders gathered criticism from the Naujawan Bharat Sabha as the Mahasabhas were non-secular which did not conform with the system laid out by the Indian National CongressHindu MahasabhaMOCK Q391 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q With reference to the Least Developed Countries Fund consider the following statements:1 This fund has been initiated in 2002 by the The Global Environment Facility GEF2 Adaptation amp Mitigation are one of the area of focus of this fundSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThis fund has been initiated in 2002 by the The Global Environment Facility GEFAdaptation is one of the area of focus of this fundMOCK Q390 – FRAMED FROM INDIAN CULTUREGOV Q Consider the following :Sites Place1 Aalampur Temple : Telanagana2 European Tomb : Gujarat3 Khajurao Monuments : Madhya PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans D Other Important Sites :Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum Complex : Madhya PradeshMahabalipuram : Tamil NaduUparkot : GujaratKumarakom : KeralaMOCK Q389 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q389 The Climate Chain Coalition CCC to support collaboration among members and stakeholders to advance blockchain and related digital solutions emerged at :A 2017 United Nations Climate Change ConferenceB One Planet SummitC COP-24 Katowice D Paris Climate SummitAn BThe Climate Chain Coalition CCC was born during the One Planet Summit in December in Paris France The Coalition engages a multi-stakeholder group working on distributed ledger technology DLT to collaborate on mobilizing climate financePlz Note : The 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference was an international meeting of political leaders non-state actors and activists to discuss environmental issues It was held at UN Campus in Bonn from 6–17 November 2017 Also known as: COP23 UNFCCC CMP13 Kyoto Protocol CMA2 Paris AgreementMOCK Q388 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q “Partnership for Market Readiness” is an initiative which is managed by the :A Global Environment FacilityB World BankC United Nation Environment ProgrammeD UNDPAns BPartnership for Market Readiness ADMINISTERED BY: The World BankAREA OF FOCUS Mitigation DATE OPERATIONAL: 2011MOCK Q387 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q387 With reference to the religious practices in India Sarvastivadin belongs to which ancient school A TheravadaB MahayanismC RajagirikarsD HetuvadinsAns ASarvāstivāda were an early school of Buddhism established around the reign of Asoka third century BCEIt was particularly known as an Abhidharma tradition with a unique set of seven Abhidharma worksMOCK Q386 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q386 With reference to the Initial Coin Offerings ICO consider the following statements :1 It is like Initial Public Offer that refers to the issue of cryptocurrency in consideration of funds received from investors2 17 billion has been raised globally through ICOs between 2014 amp 2017Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A27 billion has been raised globally through ICOs between 2014 amp 2017- An initial coin offering ICO or initial currency offering is a type of funding using cryptocurrenciesMostly the process is done by crowdfunding but private ICO’s are becoming more common In an ICO a quantity of cryptocurrency is sold in the form of tokens coins to speculators or investors in exchange for legal tender or other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum The tokens sold are promoted as future functional units of currency if or when the ICO’s funding goal is met and the project launches In some cases like Ethereum the tokens are required to use the system for its purposesAn ICO can be a source of capital for startup companiesMOCK Q385 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q385 Nanotechnology can significantly increase manufacturing at far reduced costs What are the advantages of the Nanotechnology 1 Anti scratch components of the automobiles are possible using the Nanotechnology2 Bullet proof amp stain resistant clothing can be made using the Nanotechnology3 Nanotechnology offer cleaner technologies amp cleaner environmentSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 2B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ANano sized particles can acculumate in various body parts such as nasal cavities lungs amp brainDue to their minute size nano particles are able to accumulate in the environmentMOCK Q384 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the “India International Exchange” consider the following statements :1 It was opened very recently at the International Financial Services Centre IFSC in Gujarat2 With this it will be the third largest International Exchange in the world in terms of order responseSelect the correct answer using the using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-It was opened IN 2017 at the International Financial Services Centre IFSC in GujaratBUT NOT VERY RECENTLY – With this it will be the fastest International Exchange in the world in terms of order response with the trade speed of four microseconds-This is better than BSE’s domestic exchange in Mumbai which has an order response time of six microseconds- Singapore is the second fastest International exchange has the order response of 60 microsecondsMOCK Q383 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q383 In Context with the “Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS” consider the following statements :1 It is a greenhouse gas mitigation technology which produces negative carbon dioxide emissions2 BECSS works by involving the process of pyrogenic carbon capture and storage PyCCS or biocharSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A-Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS is a potential greenhouse gas mitigation technology which produces negative carbon dioxide emissions by combining bioenergy energy from biomass use with geologic carbon capture and storage1 The concept of BECCS is drawn from the integration of trees and crops which extract carbon dioxide CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow the use of this biomass in processing industries or power plants and the application of carbon capture and storage via CO2injection into geological formations2 There are other non-BECCS forms of carbon dioxide removal and storage that include technologies such as biochar carbon dioxide air captureand biomass burial3 and enhanced weatheringAccording to a recent Biorecro report there is 550 000 tonnes CO2/year in total BECCS capacity currently operating divided between three different facilities as of January 2012In the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC BECCS was indicated as a key technology for reaching low carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration targets8 The negative emissions that can be produced by BECCS has been estimated by the Royal Society to be equivalent to a 50 to 150 ppmdecrease in global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations9 and according to the International Energy Agency the BLUE map climate change mitigation scenario calls for more than 2 gigatonnes of negative CO2 emissions per year with BECCS in 205010 According to Stanford University 10 gigatonnes is achievable by this dateAccording to the OECD Achieving lower concentration targets 450 ppm depends significantly on the use of BECCS13An alternative to BECSS is pyrogenic carbon capture and storage PyCCS or biochar14 Which are superior in order to fix carbon in a more stable way: solid C for longer times Carbon dioxide injected into geologic formations eventually leaks back into the atmosphere due to seismic activity and natural faults and problems with the seal of the ancient injection pitsFRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q382 Consider the following :Tribes Place1 Bhoksa Uttarakhand2 Misting Sikkim3 Gonds Madhya PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans AMisting tribe is in AssamFRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q381 Which of the following best describes Forward linkages with respect to the economic activity 1 These refer to the transactions with the consumers2 For food processing industry these linkages are associated with the primary processing centresSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2 C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AForward linkages :-These refer to the transactions with the consumers- These linkages are associated with the retail storesBackward linkages :-These refer to the transactions with the suppliers-For food processing industry these linkages are associated with the primary processing centresFRAMED FROM LUCENT PUBLICATIONS Q380 Consider the following :Hill Ranges Place1 Rajpipla : Gujarat2 Mahadeo : Madhya Pradesh3 Maikala range : Andhra PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans CMaikala range : Madhya Pradesh amp ChhatisgarhFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q379 Consider the following statements :1 Loktak lake the biggest fresh water lake is home to the endangered Sangai deer2 Keibul Lamjao is an integral part of the Loktak LakeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1 B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CLok tak lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis heterogeneous mass of vegetation soil and organic matter at various stages of decomposition floating over it The lake is located near Moirang in Manipurstate IndiaThe etymology of Loktak is Lok stream and tak the endThe largest of all the phumdis covers an area of 40 km215 sq mi and is situated on the southeastern shore of the lake Located on this phumdi Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating national park in the world The park is the last natural refuge of the endangered Sangai state animal Rucervus eldii eldii or Manipur brown-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi one of three subspecies of Eld’s deerThe Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India It is 40 km2 154 sq mi in area the only floating park in the world located in North East India and an integral part of Loktak LakeThe national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld’s deer or brow-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi or sangai also called the dancing deer listed as an endangered species by IUCN the park which was initially declared to be a sanctuary in 1966 was subsequently declared to be a national park in 1977 through a gazette notification The act has generated local support and public awarenessFRAMED FROM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTUNORG Q378 “Championing Green Growth and Climate Resilience” to promote green growth emerged at :A Global Green Growth InstituteB GreenpeaceC European Environment Agency D World Sustainable Development Summit 2011Ans AThe Global Green Growth Institute GGGI is a treaty-based international organization headquartered in Seoul South Korea The organization aims to promote green growth a growth paradigm that is characterized by a balance of economic growth and environmental sustainability GGGI provides research and stakeholder engagement for green growth plans especially in developing countries aiming to replace the more typical paradigm based on industrial developmentFounded to support green economic growth that simultaneously addresses poverty reduction job creation social inclusion and environmental sustainability GGGI works across four priority areas that are considered to be essential to transforming national economies including energy water land use and green citiesMotto Championing Green Growth and Climate ResilienceFormation 16 June 2010Headquarters Seoul Republic of KoreaMembership 30 Member countriesCouncil chair Ban Ki MoonDirector-General Frank RijsbermanBudget USD 55 million 2018Q377 The term “Climate Neutrality” sometimes mentioned in the news are related to :A World Wild life FundB UNFCCC SecretariatC Biocarbon FundD World wildlife TrustAns BThe UNFCCC secretariat launched its Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015 The following year the secretariatlaunched a new pillar under its Momentum for Change initiative focused on Climate Neutral Nowas part of larger efforts to showcase successful climate action around the worldThe UNFCCC secretariat UN Climate Change was established in 1992 when countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCCWith the subsequent adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015 Parties to these three agreements have progressively reaffirmed the secretariat’s role as the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate changeSince 1995 the secretariat is located in Bonn GermanyThe secretariat provides technical expertise and assists in the analysis and review of climate change information reported by Parties and in the implementation of the Kyoto mechanisms It also maintains the registry for Nationally Determined Contributions NDC established under the Paris Agreement a key aspect of implementation of the Paris AgreementThe secretariat organizes and supports between two and four negotiating sessions each year The largest and most important is the Conference of the Parties held annually and hosted in different locations around the globe It is the largest annual United Nations conference attended on average by around 25000 participants In addition to these major conferences the secretariat organizes annual sessions of the so-called subsidiary bodies as well as a large number of meetings and workshops throughout the yearIn recent years the secretariat also supports the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action agreed by governments to signal that successful climate action requires strong support from a wide range of actors including regions cities business investors and all parts of civil society At UN Climate Change Conferences a large number of events demonstrate how non-Party stakeholders are working with governments and the UN system to implement the Paris AgreementFRAMED FROM NDC PARTNERSHIPORG Q376 With reference to the Special Climate Change Fund consider the following statements :1 It was established in 1991 under UNFCCC to finance projects which enable the adaptation to climate change2 It is operated by United Nation Environment Programme UNEP amp World Meteorological Organisation WMOSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DIt was established in 2001 under UNFCCC to finance projects which enable the adaptation to climate changeIt is operated by Global Environment Facility GEFEXPLANATION :In 2001 Parties to the UNFCCC established the Special Climate Change Fund SCCF to support climate change activities that are complementary to the GEF’s climate change projects with a special focus on the most vulnerable countries The objective of the Special Climate Change Fund SCCF is to support adaptation and technology transfer projects and programs that: are countryFRAMED FROM IUCNORG Q375 Which among the following country is not the member of the “Mangroves for The Future” A Cambodia B MyanmarC LaosD MaldivesAns CMangroves for the Future MFFLocation: Member countries: Bangladesh Cambodia India Indonesia Maldives Myanmar Pakistan Seychelles Sri Lanka Thailand and Vietnam Outreach countries: Malaysia Dialogue countries: Kenya and TanzaniaDuration: Established in 2006 MFF is currently in its third phase 2015 – 2018 Project Background: The devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 laid bare the vital link between coastal ecosystems and human livelihoods It was United States President Bill Clinton’s vision that rebuilding in tsunami-hit areas should improve natural infrastructure and strengthen resilience against future natural disasters In response to this vision IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP developed Mangrovesfor the Future in 2006 Since then MFF has grown to include eight institutional partners plus a growing number of countries At the launch of the Tsunami Legacy report at the United Nations in New York in April 2009 Bill Clinton acclaimed MFF as one of the most positive and forward-looking developments of the post-tsunami periodMangroves for the Future MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the many different agencies sectors and countries which are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues The goal is to promote an integrated ocean-wide approach to coastal management and to building the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal communities Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative but MFF is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystem such as coral reefs estuaries lagoons sandy beaches seagrass and wetlandsFRAMED FROM The Hindu Q374 Which among the following is/are classified under the Third Generation Vaccines 1 DTP vaccine2 DNA Vaccine3 Polio VaccineSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 3B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D Only 2Ans DDTP vaccine – Second generation VaccineDNA Vaccine- Third generation VaccinePolio Vaccine- First generation VaccineDNA vaccination is a technique for protecting against disease by injection with genetically engineered DNA so cells directly produce an antigen producing a protective immunological response DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines including the ability to induce a wider range of immune response typesSeveral DNA vaccines are available for veterinary use Currently no DNA vaccines have been approved for human use Research is investigating the approach for viral bacterial and parasitic diseases in humans as well as for several cancersApplicationsNo DNA vaccines have been approved for human use in the United States Few experimental trials have evoked a response strong enough to protect against disease and the technique’s usefulness remains to be proven in humans A veterinary DNA vaccine to protect horses from West Nile virus has been approvedFirst-Generation Vaccines Attenuated and inactivated vaccines are identified in the first generation which use a primary method in their production Attenuated pathogens full organisms or inactivated bacterial toxin which are effectively immunogenic are used in making these vaccines2nd Generation Vaccines:-The second generation vaccines were created in order to minimize the risks of having the pathogen revert to a dangerous formThe way these vaccines work is that they do not contain the whole organism but rather subunits Subunits may consist of the toxins that the pathogen create if they are bacterial Another example of subunit vaccines are those that only contain protein sections of the pathogen such as an acellular formA great example of a 2nd generation vaccine is DTaP The vaccine contains diptheria toxoid tetanus toxoid pertussis toxoid as well as the acellular version of pertussisAs with the issues with the 1st generation of vaccines the 2nd generation vaccines can generate antibody response and T-helper response but AGAIN no T-Killer responseFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS Q373 Which among the following is/are the examples of The Near Field Communication 1 Public transport card readers2 Smart phones3 Touch payment terminalsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DNear-field communication NFC is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices one of which is usually a portable device such as a smartphone to establish communication by bringing them within 4 cm 16 in of each other1NFC devices are used in contactless payment systems similar to those used in credit cards and electronic ticket smartcards and allow mobile payment to replace or supplement these systems This is sometimes referred to as NFC/CTLS Contactless or CTLS NFC NFC is used for social networking for sharing contacts photos videos or files2 NFC-enabled devices can act as electronic identity documents and keycards3 NFC offers a low-speed connection with simple setup that can be used to bootstrap more capable wireless connectionsFRAMED FROM SHANKAR ENVIRONMENT Q372 With respect to the Global Tiger Forum GTF consider the following statements :1 It is an international symposium to save Tigers in the world with support of South Asian Countries2 Headquarter of the GTF is located in India because India has the largest tiger population in the world Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns BGTF is an intergovernmental body to undertake worldwide campaign amp a common programme to save tigers in the worldInternational Symposium on Tiger held at New Delhi during February 1993 adopted a Delhi declaration on Tiger conservation Headquarter of the GTF is located in India because India has the largest tiger population in the world FRAMED FROM MAJID HUSSAIN’S INDIAN GEOGRAPHY Q371 Consider the following :1 Jai Samand Lake : Largest Artificial lake2 Pulicat lake : Has a largest number of islands within3 Vembanad lake : Largest KayalsWhich among the above is/are correctly matched A Only 2B 1 amp 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans BExplanation :1Kolleru lake has the largest number of islands within Kolleru lake is formed between deltas of Godavari amp Krishna riversKolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India located in state of Andhra Pradesh and formsthe largest shallow freshwater3 lake in Asia 15 kilometers away from the city of Eluru Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas4 Kolleru spans into two districts – Krishna and West Godavari The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammilerustreams and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari irrigation systems by over 67 major and minor irrigation canals This lake is a major tourist attraction Many birds migrate here in winter such as Siberian crane ibisand painted storks The lake was an important habitat for an estimated 20 million resident and migratorybirds including the grey or spot-billed pelican Pelecanus philippensis The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 308 km2Egrets grey herons painted storks and black-headed ibises gathering in thousands at Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh IndiaKolleru Lake under Ramsar Convention allowing local communities Here: Vaddi Community to continue their occupation of culture fish and caught fish covers 90100 hectares 222600 acres and Kolleru Lake underWildlife Sanctuary covers 166000 acres 67200 ha2Pulicat lake : Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilika Lake Pulicat Lagoon is considered to be the second largest brackish water body in India measuring 759 km2 The Lagoon is one the three important wetlands to attract North-East Monsoon rain clouds during October to December season to Tamil Nadu The lagoon comprises the following regions which adds up 759 km2 according to Andhra Pradesh Forest Department: 1 Pulicat Lake Tamil Nadu-TN amp Andhra Pradesh-AP 2 Marshy/WetlandLand Region AP 3 Venadu Reserve Forest AP 4 Pernadu Reserve Forest AP The lagoon was cut across in the middle the Sriharikota Link Road which divided the water body into lake and marshy land The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre1 Major part of the lake comes under Nellore district of Andhra pradesh3 Vembanad lake:Vembanad Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol is the longest lake in India1 and the largest lake in the state of Kerala Spanning several districts in the state of Kerala it is known as Vembanadu Lake in Kottayam Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad and Kochi Lake in Kochi Several groups of small islands including Vypin Mulavukad Vallarpadam Willingdon Island are located in the Kochi Lake portion Kochi Port is built around the Willingdon Island and the Vallarpadam islandThe Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake High levels of pollution have been noticed at certain hotspots of the Vembanad backwaters Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under National Wetlands Conservation Programme4 Jai Samand Lake:Dhebar Lake also known as Jaisamand Lake is India’s second-largest artificial lake after Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar1 It is located in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan State in western India It has an area of 87 km2 34 sq mi when full and was created in the 17th century when Rana Jai Singh of Udaipur built a marble dam across the Gomati River It is about 450 km 280 mi from the district headquarters of Udaipur When first built it was the largest artificial lake in the world The surrounding Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary around Dhebar Lake can be reached by the state highway to Banswara from Udaipur It is about 270 km 168 mi from Parsad A village on National Highway No 8 Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary protects about 1620 square kilometres 16200 ha mostly teakforest on the shores of Dhebar Lake The lake has three islands measuring from 10 to 40 acres 40000 to 162000 m2 each The Dhebar Lake Marble Dam is 3000 m 9843 ft long and is a part of the Heritage Monuments of India The dam also has the Hawa Mahal Palace winter Capital of the erstwhile Maharanas of MewarFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -MAY 2018 Q370 With reference to the CLOUD ACT consider the following statements :1 It has been passed by the US Congress very recently to make artificial rain by spraying clouds with substances like Silver Iodide 2 US has enacted in 2018 by passing the Consolidated Appropriations ActSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns BCloud act – The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data CLOUD Act passed by the US Congress earlier this year seeks to de-monopolise control over data from US authorities The law will for the first time allow tech companies to share data directly with certain foreign governments This however requires an executive agreement between the US and the foreign country certifying that the state has robust privacy protections and respect for due process and the rule of law Before this Cloud Act an Indian officer investigating would have to raise a request for data to the US government where it is storedHow CLOUD act impacts law enforcement in India :- Timely access to electronic data for police is required to prevent mitigate or prosecute even a routine crime With the enactment of the CLOUD Act an Indian officer for the purposes of an investigation will no longer have to make a request to the US government but can approach the company directlyFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q369 Which among the following is/are the expected benefits to a country by signing the pact of Duqm port in Oman 1 Port is located near the Persian Gulf through which half of the world’s oil tanker pass2 It has a special economic zone where 25 billion investments are expected to be made by the Indian companiesWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AIt has a special economic zone where 18 billion investments are expected to be made by the Indian companiesPort is located near the Persian Gulf through which half of the world’s oil tanker passIt is also near the Chabahar port of IranFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q368 What is/are the consequence/ consequences of a country becoming the member of the ‘European Bank for Reconstruction amp Development’ 1 Membership would provide access to the technical amp financial assistance of the bank related to the development of the private sector2 Co-financing opportunities access to the international markets will be enhanced through the membershipWhich of the statements given above is/are correctA 1 onlyB 2 onlyC Both 1 amp 2D Neither 1 nor 2 Ans BMembership would provide access to the technical assistance amp sectoral knowledge of the bank related to the development of the private sectorCo-financing opportunities access to the international markets will be enhanced through the membershipExplanation:The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD is an international financial institution founded in 1991 As a multilateral developmental investment bank the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market economies Initially focused on the countries of the former Eastern Bloc it expanded to support development in more than 30 countries from central Europe to central Asia Similar to other multilateral development banks the EBRD has members from all over the world North America Africa Asia and Australia see below with the biggest shareholder being the United States but only lends regionally in its countries of operations Headquartered in London the EBRD is owned by 69 countries and two EU institutions 69th being Indiarecently in July 2018 Despite its public sector shareholders it invests in private enterprises together with commercial partnersThe EBRD is not to be confused with the European Investment Bank EIB which is owned by EU member states and is used to support EU policy EBRD is also distinct from the Council of Europe Development Bank CEBFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q367 STARLINK refers to :A It is a research amp development project developed by Google X to provide internet access to rural amp remote areasB It is the solar powered drone launched by facebook to provide internet access to four billion people around the world C Any type of drone that can be controlled by the Microwave signals of high wavelengthD It is the planned constellation of satellites that would provide high speed global internet connectionAns DStarlink is a satellite constellation development project underway by SpaceX1 to develop a low-cost high-performance satellite bus and requisite customer ground transceivers to implement a new space-basedInternet communication system23 By 2017 SpaceX submitted regulatory filings to launch nearly 12000 satellites to orbit by the mid-2020s4SpaceX also plans to sell satellites that use a satellitebus that may be used for military5 scientific or exploratory purposes6 In November 2018 SpaceX received FCC approval to deploy 7518 broadband satellites in addition to the 4425 satellites that were approved in March 2018 Development began in 2015 and prototype test-flight satellites were launched on 22 February 2018Initial operation of the constellation could begin in 2020 with satellite deployment beginning mid 2019The SpaceX satellite development facility in Redmond Washington houses the research and development operations for the satellite Internet projectFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q366 Which among the following sites have been identified for the development of Water Aerodromes 1 Wular lake2 Sabarmati river front3 Chilika lakeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans CChilika lake IN Orissa Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam Sabarmati river front have been identified for the development of Water AerodromesFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q365 Which among the following products have been classified into Minor Forest Products 1 Tamarind 2 Sandalwood3 Bamboo4 Cane5 Fuel amp TimberSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1345B 245C Only 2 amp 5D 134Ans DMajor Forest Produce and Minor Forest Products The Major Forest Products comprise Pulpwood SandalwoodSocial Forestry that incudes Fuel and Timber The Minor Forest Products include the items such as tamarind curry leaf Tendu Patta gallnut Cane Soapnut tree moss and now Bamboo alsoFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q364 Consider the following :1 Magnetic Rheological Fluid Damper2 Macro encapsulation device for treatment of Diabetes3 Smartphone based Camera SensorWhich among the above projects have been developed under the Imprint-2 Initiative A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 1Ans BMagnetic Rheological Fluid Damper Smartphone based Camera Sensor- are the projects of IMPRINT INITIATIVEFor details of the projects open the link : FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q363 Which among the following have been accorded Geographical Indication status 1 Blue pottery of Jaipur2 Tirupati ladoos3 Mahabaleshwar Strawberry4 Nagpur OrangeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 124B 2 amp 4C 234D 1234Ans DFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q362 With reference to the news what is Blockchain Bond A It is the new debt instrument issued by World Bank by using ledger technology B It is a type of bond purchased by buyers interested in earning a revenue stream from the British pound or sterlingC Republic of Seychelles has launched the Bond a novel financing initiative which taps into capital markets to fund ocean-related environmental projectsD It is the bond issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees rather than the local currencyAns AThe World Bank is turning to blockchain to help it raise moneyThe international lender is planning to issue what it says is the world’s first global blockchainbond a notable mainstream endorsement of the emerging technologyBlockchain is best known as the technology underpinning bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies It serves as a digital record of financial transactionsThe World Bank has hired Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBAUF to manage the bond which is expected to raise as much as 100 million Australian dollars 73 millionFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q361 Which of the following best describes the term “Mobilise Your City” sometimes seen in news A It is an initiative to support three Indian cities to reduce Green House Gas emissionsB It is a part of Swacch Bharat Mission to make Indian cities clean C It is the Heat Action Plan adopted in Climate Change Conference to keep global average temperature below 20 CD It is an initiative to support Indian cities to reduce atmospheric pollution as a part of health initiativeAns AIndia and France sign an implementation agreement on “MOBILISE YOUR CITY” MYC European Union agrees to Euro 35 million for investments and technical assistance within the Mobilise Your City MYC programme in India MYC aims at supporting three pilot cities viz Nagpur Kochi and Ahmedabad for reduction of Green House Gas GHG emissions related to urban transportFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q360 With reference to the PISA Programme For International Student Assessment consider the following statements :1 PISA test introduced in the year 2000 by UNICEF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund 2 The test is carried out once in every two yearsWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DPISA test introduced in the year 2000 by OECDThe test is carried out once in every three yearsThe Programme for International Student Assessment PISA is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils’ scholastic performance on mathematics science and reading It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years Its aim is to provide comparable data with a view to enabling countries to improve their education policies and outcomes It measures problem solving and cognition The 2015 version of the test was published on 6 December 2016FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q359 With reference to O-Smart scheme consider the following statements :1 It is the Earth Ministry’s scheme to address Ocean development activities 2 The scheme covers 16 sub projects with an overall cost of Rs 1700 croresWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThe scheme covers 16 sub projects with an overall cost of Rs 1623 croresFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q358 Which among the following is/are modified Operational Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana 1 Only Perennial horticulture crops are included on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY 2 Farmers will be paid 11 interest by insurance companies Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-Farmers will be paid 12 interest by insurance companies-State Governments will have to pay 12 interest for delay in release of state share of subsidy-It includes Perennial horticulture crops on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY -It provides add on coverage for crop loss -Release of upfront premium subsidy FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q357 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana consider the following statements :1 It is a life insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 years2 The annual premium of Rs12 will be paid by the Union government 3 The benefit includes Rs 2 lakhs in case of death due to any causeWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans BPradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana is a accident insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 yearsPradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a life insurance which includes age between 18 to 70 yearsPradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs12 will be paid by the Union government Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs330 will be paid by the Union government FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q356 Which among the following are mandatory to mention on the label of the food items as per regulations of Food Safety amp Standards Regulations Act2018 1Trans fats2 Sugar 3 Salt4 Genetically Engineered Goods / ingredients derived from GMO5 Folic acidWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A 145B 1234C 123D 12345Ans BThe Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI on August 17 2018 constituted a group of experts from health and nutrition sector to look into the issue of food labellingThe expert panel will be headed by B Sesikeran former director of National Institute of Nutrition NIN and comprises Hemalatha and Dr Nikhil Tandon The panel will study in detail the concerns of the industry and make recommendations The announcement regarding the constitution of the Committee was made by FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal while addressing a national consultation on the draft regulation on food labelling organised by the CUTS InternationalAgarwal also made it clear that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI will go ahead with the labelling norms even if there is no full consensus on the matter after the panel’s suggestionsIn April 2018 the FSSAI had come out with the draft of ‘Food Safety and Standards Labelling and Display Regulations 2018’ that propose mandatory red-label marking on packaged food products containing high levels of fat sugar and saltHowever for now the government has put on hold these draft regulations following the concerns raised by stakeholdersDraft provisions of Food Safety and Standards Labelling and Display Regulations 2018• The draft regulations suggest for mandatory declaration by packaged food manufacturers about nutritional information such as calories total fat trans fat sugar and salt per serve on the front of the pack• The draft pitches for a colour code proposes that the high fats such as sugar and salt trans-fat and sodium content should be coloured as ‘red’ if the value of energy from total sugar or fat is more than 10 percent of the total energy in the 100 grams or 100 ml of the product • The colour coding will make it easier for consumers to know about the nutritional value of food products and will help them make choices as per their requirements • It also makes mandatory to label food stuffs as ‘Contains GMO/Ingredients derived from GMO’ if the items contain 5 percent or more Genetically Engineered GE ingredients • The nutritional information should also be provided in the form of bar codeFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q355 Consider the following statements with reference to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that sometimes seen in news :1 It is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean2 It is located from 135°E to 155°WWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThe Great Pacific garbage patch also described as the Pacific trash vortex is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean It is located roughly from 135°W to 155°W and 35°N to 42°NThe collection of plastic floating trash halfway between Hawaii and California extends over an indeterminate area of widely varying range depending on the degree of plastic concentration used to define itThe patch is characterized by exceptionally high relative pelagic concentrations of plastic chemical sludge and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre3 Despite the common public image of islands offloating rubbish its low density 4 particles per cubic meter prevents detection by satellite imagery or even by casual boaters or divers in the area It consists primarily of an increase in suspended often microscopic particles in the upper water columnThe patch is not easily seen from the sky because the plastic is dispersed over a large area Researchers from The Ocean Cleanup project claimed that the patch covers 16 million square kilometers The plastic concentration is estimated to be up to 100 kilograms per square kilometer in the center going down to 10 kilograms per square kilometer in the outer parts of the patch An estimated 80000 metric tons of plastic inhabit the patch totaling 18 trillion pieces 92 of the mass in the patch comes from objects larger than 05 centimetersResearch indicates that the patch is rapidly accumulatingA similar patch of floating plastic debris is found in the Atlantic Ocean called the North Atlantic garbage patchFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q354 Consider the following statements with reference to the Heritage Irrigation Structures that sometimes seen in news :1 These structures have been created to ease irrigation by creating partition between the acidic amp alkaline soil2 This scheme has excluded old operational irrigation structures Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DAt the 63rd meeting of International Executive Council IEC held at Adelaide Australia on 28 June 2012 President Gao Zhanyi suggested that a process for recognition of the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites as recognized by UNESCO shall be initiated Accordingly a Task Team comprising of the following members was set up to work out objectives guidelines and procedures to select the historical irrigation structures The Scheme was discussed during the meeting of WG-HIST at 65th IEC meeting The members suggested changes in the scope of the Scheme The present Scheme has been revised and updated to include both the old operational irrigation structures as well as structures that have primarily archival value It is proposed that a historical irrigation and/or drainage structure fulfilling the criterion laid down in this document shall be recognized as “Heritage Irrigation Structure” HIS The nomination forms received by 30 June every year will be processed together and presented to the following Executive Council meeting after due processing Nominations are invited from ICID National Committees for selection of “World Heritage Irrigation Structures” WHIS thatincludes both old operational irrigation structures as well as those having an archival value A Task Team is set up every year to select historical drainage/drainage structures as received from various National Committees NCs to give recognition to the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites as recognized by UNESCO National Committee can nominate more than one structure using separate nomination form for each Associated Members and non-member countries can nominate their structures through the neighboring active national committees or by submitting directly to the ICID Central OfficeFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q353 Which of the following best describes “MOVE” sometimes seen in news A It is the Global Mobility Summit organized by Niti Ayog to make Indian cities pollution freeB It is an Intergovernmental agreement on the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse C It is the Global Mobility Summit organized by UNFCCC between the Commonwealth and the States on environment issuesD It is an inter governmental agreement for the promotion of political amp economic relations with the ASEANAns ATo showcase innovation and build a platform to shape the future of mobility NITI Aayog is proud to host the first Move Summit 2018 In New Delhi on 7th and 8th September 2018 stakeholders from across the sectors of mobility and transportation will gather to co-create a public interest framework to revolutionize transport Together government industry academia civil society and media will set the base for a transport system which is safe clean shared and connected and affordable accessible and inclusiveThe Move Summit will address these challenges through two major channels:THE CORE SUMMIT AND PARALLEL EVENTS It will help leverage a number of unique features of India’s mobility ecosystem:a Tremendous potential for a fundamental shiftb Low lock-in-effectc Scale and size d Frugal innovation ande Globally-recognized technological prowessThe Move Summit will seek to integrate India’s efforts around sustainable development urbanization clean energy and more through the unique lens of mobilityFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q352 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana consider the following statements :1 Institutional treatment is the part of this Scheme2 It will cover over 10 crore people for secondary amp tertiary care hospitalization 3 Members of the family should not be more than 5 to be eligible for the scheme Which of the statements given above is/are correct A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans B1st statement : Institution treatment means a hospital nursing facility or other It is a fabricated statement3rd statement : It is also wrong It is not the feature of this schemePrime Minister Narendra Modi launched ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PMJAY under Ayushman Bharat umbrella at Ranchi Jharkhand The scheme aims to provide annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 1074 crore beneficiary families ie over 50 crore beneficiaries across India It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme that will serve beneficiary population that equals 27-28 European countries and almost equal to population of Canada Mexico and US put together The scheme will become operational from September 25 2018 ie on birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JUNE 2018 Q351 Which of the following best describes “RIMPAC” sometimes seen in news A It is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shippingB It is the world’s largest military exercise between United States amp South Korea C It is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfareD It is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise administered by the United States Navy’s pacific fleetAns DRIMPAC the Rim of the Pacific Exercise is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise RIMPAC is held bienniallyduring June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu Hawaii It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquartered at Pearl Harbor in conjunction with the Marine Corps the Coast Guard and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii The US invites military forces from the Pacific Rim and beyond to participate With RIMPAC the United States Pacific Command seeks to enhance interoperability among Pacific Rim armed forces ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations Described by the US Navy as a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceansRIMPAC 2018On 23 May 2018 the Pentagon announced that it had disinvited China because of recent militarization of islands in the South China Sea after China had announced in January that it had been invitedThe PRC has previously attended RIMPAC 2014 amp 2016On 30 May 2018 the US Navy announced that the following navies would take part in the exercise FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JUNE 2018 Q350 With reference to the “Polargap Project” consider the following statements :1 It is an international mission to capture data about the Earth’s electrical amp magnetic field2 This project is largely funded by the World bankWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DPolarGAP is an ambitious international mission to capture new and critical data about the Earth’s global gravity field Innovative radar systems and Lidar technologies will also be deployed from Twin Otter aircraft to fill the ‘data gap’ in measurements of surface elevation over the South Pole region south of 835°Two earth observing satellite missions GOCE and CryoSat 2 mounted by the European Space Agency ESA revolutionised scientists’ ability to ‘map’ the Earth’s global gravity field and monitor how Earth’s ice fields are responding to global change However because GOCE’s orbit did not cross the Poles there is a data gap at the South PoleThe PolarGAP project will collect new gravity data and combine them with datasets from other Antarctic missions to build the first accurately constrained global gravity model This is essential as global gravity data provide unique informationon mass distribution and transport in the Earth System linked to processes and changes in the Solid Earth hydrology cryosphere oceans and atmosphere Key applications of gravity data include geodetic studies levelling and mapping navigation GPS/GLONASS and satellite orbit planningFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JULY 2018 Q349 Recently environment minister inaugurates advanced system of air quality “SAFAR” With reference to this project consider the following statements :1 It will monitor all the weather parameters like temperature wind speed amp wind direction 2 The system will also monitor existence of Benzene Methane amp TolueneWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AScienceamp Technology Earth Sciences Environment Forest amp Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan unveiled a state-of-the-art Air Quality and Weather Forecast System– SAFAR System of Air Quality and Weather Forecastingat ChandniChowkin Delhi today The giant true colour LED display gives out real-time air quality index on 24×7 basis with colour coding alongwith 72-hour advance forecastThe system first of its kind in the country was developed indigenously in record time by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune and operationalized by India Meteorological Department IMDThe minister said based on the Air Quality Index on a particular day Health advisory and related precaution will be notified to prepare citizens well in advance Dr Harsh Vardhan further added that in addition to monitoring and forecasting of regular air quality and weather parameters the ChandniChowk air quality station will also measure sun’s UV-Index and will provide measurement of online automatic ultrafine particles PM1 and Mercury both of which have direct relevance to human health Based on UVI skin advisories will be issued on display“Our mission model project SAFAR is implemented in four cities of India – Delhi Pune Mumbai and Ahmedabad as an operational service Accordingto a preliminary economic assessment of the benefits of the system if 5 of people suffering from air-pollution related diseases take advantage of the advisories and precautionsin Delhi alone it would result in a saving of nearly Rs 2500 crores in terms of health-related cost benefit” said Dr Harsh Vardhan addressing a large gathering at Town Hall in ChandniChowkThe system will be an integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi and will strengthen the existing air quality network of SAFAR Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control CommitteeSAFAR will accelerate public awareness and preparedness of air pollution and weather extremes It will also lead to better understanding of linkages among emissions weather pollution and climate It will monitor all weather parameters like temperature rainfall humidity wind speed and wind directionIn addition to regular air quality parameters like PM25 PM10 Sulfur Dioxide Ozone Nitrogen Oxides Carbon Monoxide the system will also monitor the existence of Benzene Toluene and XyleneBesides health SAFAR system would benefit cost savings to several other sectors like agriculture aviation infrastructure disaster management skill tourism and many others which directly or indirectly get affected by air quality and weather FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q348 Which of the following best describes “Global Green Bond Partnership” sometimes seen in news A This partnership will spread catchment area over 689 sq km to provide water for irrigation to cities states regionsB These bonds are issued by world bank in partnership with the government bodies private organisations or individual scientists to increase forest cover C This partnership will support efforts of cities states regions corporations private companies to accelerate issuance of green bondsD These bonds are issued by world bank in partnership with the government bodies private organisations or individual scientists to provide precious water for paddy cropsAns CThe Global Green Bond Partnership GGBP launched at the Global Climate Action Summit GCAS This new partnership will support efforts of sub-national entities such as cities states and regions corporations and private companies and financial institutions to accelerate the issuance of green bondsThe founding members of the Global Green Bond Partnership GGBP include the World Bank IFC – a member of the World Bank Group Amundi European Investment Bank Climate Bonds Initiative Ceres ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate amp Energy GCoM and the Low Emissions Development Strategies Global Partnership LEDS GPFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q347 With reference to the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme consider the following statements :1 It is proposed to cover all the oil seeds for which minimum support price is notified2 It does not involve any physical procurement of the crops3 All the payments will be done directly into registered bank account of the farmer Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 2B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans DThe Niti Aayog has released a three-year agenda for the Centre Of the several things it has touched upon one is agriculture with a focus on doubling farmers’ income The think-tank has recommended reforms in the APMC Act and tenancy laws and tweaks to the eNAM electronic National Agriculture Market It has also suggested ‘Price Deficiency Payment’ system to address the gaps in Minimum Support Price MSP based procurement of cropsWhat is itUnder Price Deficiency Payment farmers are proposed to be compensated for the difference between the government-announced MSPs for select crops and their actual market prices For crops such as rice and wheat where it is effective now MSP announcements will continue For other targeted crops price deficiency payments will be made However it has to be noted that there may be a cap on the extent to which the Centre will bridge the gap between MSP and market priceNiti Aayog has said that the farmer may be entitled to the difference up to say 10 per cent To avail this benefit eachfarmer would have to register with the nearest APMC mandi and report the total area sown The subsidy may be paid via Direct Benefit Transfer DBT into the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank accountWhy is it importantThe key benefit from the price deficiency payment is that it will reduce the need for the government to actually procure food crops transport and store them and then dispose of them under PDS The difference between the support and market prices can instead simply be paid in cash to the farmer Price deficiency payment can also keep India’s bill on food subsidies under check believes Niti Aayog India’s food subsidy schemes have frequently come under the WTO scanner Even in the meeting held in March this year there were questions raised on the minimum support price programmes for wheat sugarcane and pulses by the US EU and AustraliaThese countries see India’s procurement subsidies as trade-distorting In recent years the government has been seeing the accumulation of large food grain stocks in its godowns over and above the buffer requirement This entails storage and wastage costs that add on to the subsidy billFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q346 Recently Government has hiked customs duties of several items to curb imports of non-essential goods Which among the following items are exempted under the custom duty 1 E-cigarettes2 Aviation turbine fuel3 Decorative sheets4 Beeds amp BanglesWhich of the options given above is/are correct A 234B Only 1C 1 amp 3D Only 4Ans BCustom DutySno Item 1 Air Conditioner 2 Refrigerators3 Washing Machines Less than 10kg 4 Compressor for ACs Refrigerators 5 Speakers 6 Footwear 7 Radial car tyres 8 Non-industrial diamonds 9 Diamonds semi-processed 10 Lab grown diamonds 11 Cut polished coloured gem stones 12 Jewellery- precious metal or metal clad with precious metal 13 Goldsmith or Silversmith wares – precious metal or metal clad with precious metal 14 Shower bath bath sink wash basin of plastic 15 Plastic items- boxes case containers bottles insulated ware 16 Kitchenware tableware household items of plastic 17 Other plastic items- office stationary fitting for furniture decorative sheets statuettes beads and bangles18 Trunks suitcases brief cases travel bags and other bags 19 Aviation turbine fuel FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q345 With reference to the Price Support scheme consider the following statements :1 Physical procurement of the oilseeds pulses amp Copra will be done by NAFED amp Food Corporation of India2 Procurement expenditure amp losses due to procurement will be borne by the State governmentWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAnsAProcurement expenditure amp losses due to procurement will be borne by the Union government as per normsPhysical procurement of the oilseeds pulses amp Copra will be done by Central Nodal agencies with the proactive role of the State governments FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q344 India has recently signed COMCASA Agreement What is/are the consequence/consequences for India by signing the agreement 1 It allows the India to transfer electronic systems amp ensure secrecy of its C4ISR systems2 By signing the agreement India would have to buy American Military equipmentWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-It allows the US to transfer high tech electronic systems amp ensure secrecy of its C4ISR Command Control Communications Computers Intelligence Surveillance amp Reconnaissance systems-By signing the agreement It is not mean that India would have to necessarily buy American Military equipmentExplanation :It is one of the three foundational defence pacts that needs to be signed by a country in order to obtain high-tech military hardware from the US Before COMCASA India had signed only one of these agreements – Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement LEMOA – in 2016 The two countries are yet to begin talks on the third agreement – Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation BECA2 The agreement will give Indian military access to function on high-end secured and encrypted communication equipment which are installed on American platforms obtained by Indian Armed Forces These platforms include C-130 J C-17 P-8I aircraft and Apache and Chinook helicopters3 The act is usually known as the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement CISMOA But it was changed to COMCASA to signify its India-specific alterations4 It will also provide a legal framework for the transfer of encrypted communication security equipment from the US to India It is believed to be safer and more secure than the system that India uses right now “Signing of Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement COMCASA will enable India to access advanced technologies from USA” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while addressing the media5 The agreement was pending for almost ten years One of the major reasons for this was the fear that India may compromise its operational independence Critics had also pointed out that the agreement could jeopardise India’s established military ties with Russia and access to their weapons systemsThe agreement is also of political significance with the general elections scheduled to take place next year In 2016 the BJP government had to face a lot of criticism from the opposition parties for signing LEMOAThese agreements and Donald Trump administration’s decision to give India STA-1 status Strategic Trade Authorization-1 shows the country’s importance in the US strategic calculus“We’ll be meeting PM Modi on how to advance relationship in the new era of growth under his leadership and President Trump We had many productive and forward thinking conversations on our bilateral relationship and our shared future” Pompeo said after ‘22’ talksFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q343 Currently India is a member of which among the following organizations / groups 1 Missile Technology Control Regime2 Australia Group3 Wassenaar Arrangement4 Nuclear Suppler GroupWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 2 amp 3B 234C Only 1 amp 2D 123Ans DSome countries are opposing the Indian entry into NSG because India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty NPTQ342 With respect to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana which among the following is NOT correctA It is a social welfare scheme to provide LPG connections in BPL householdsB The scheme was launched in the year 2015C The Government has set a target of 5 crores LPG connections under the YojanaD The objective of the scheme is to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuelAns B- The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana PMUY is a welfare program of the government of India launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016The stated objective of the program is providing 50000000 LPG connections to women from families below the poverty lineFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ341 Which among the following is/are correctly matched 1 COP 11 : Minimata convention on mercury2 COP 3 : Kyoto protocol on climate change3 COP 1 : Montreal ProtocolSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D Only 2Ans BCOP-4 conference in Buenos COP 3 : Kyoto protocol on climate changegtCOP 11 : Montreal It took place between 28 November and 9 December 2005 in Montreal Quebec Canada It was the first Meeting of the Parties CMP 1 to the Kyoto Protocol since their initial meeting in Kyoto in 1997 It was one of the largest intergovernmental conferences on climate change ever gtCOP1 : Minimata convention on mercuryFRAMED FROM MAP SECTION Q340 Consider the following :1 Rajpipla range : Rajasthan2 Suket hills : Himachal Pradesh3 Kali river : DelhiSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 123D 2 amp 3Ans BRajpipla range : GujaratKali river : Source : Doon valley in UttarakhandFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q339 Which of the following is/are true with respect to the petroleum Panchayat yojna 1 It has replaced Pradhan Mantri Ujwal Yojana to deal with issue of safe use of LPG2 It was launched in 20153 Availability of refill cylinders is one of the key feature of this schemeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans DIt was launched in 23rd September 2017It is backup scheme to existing Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana LPG Panchayat will serve as an interactive platform between those who received LPG cylinders under PMUY One panchayat will have around 100 LPG customers of nearby areas The panchayats discuss issues such as safe practices quality of service provided by distributors and availability of refill cylindersFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q338 Which among the following species is/are the examples of the Waterfowl 1 Wood Sandpiper2 Little cormorant3 Painted StorkSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans D The most common waterfowl are :Gadwall shoveler common teal cotton teal tufted duck knob-billed duck little cormorant great cormorant Indian shag ruff painted stork white spoonbill Asian open-billed stork oriental ibis darter common sandpiper wood sandpiper and green sandpiper The sarus crane with its spectacular courtship dance is also found hereFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q337 Which among the following statements is/are true with respect to the Special Drawing Rights 1 These are the foreign-exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the World Bank 2 Private parties are restricted to hold or use them3 South African Rand amp British pound have been added to the XDR basket effectively from October 1 2016Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D Only 2Ans DSpecial drawing rights ISO 4217 currency code XDR1 also abbreviated SDR are supplementary foreign-exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the International Monetary Fund IMF The XDR is the unit of account for the IMF and is not a currency per se2 XDRs instead represent a claim to currency held by IMF member countries for which they may be exchanged3 The XDR was created in 1969 to supplement a shortfall of preferred foreign-exchange reserve assets namely gold and the US dollar3XDRs are allocated to countries by the IMF3 Private parties do not hold or use them4 The amount of XDRs in existence was around XDR 214 billion in August 2009 During the global financial crisis of 2009 an additional XDR 1826 billion were allocated to provide liquidity to the global economic system and supplement member countries’ official reserves By October 2014 the amount of XDRs in existence was XDR 204 billion5The value of the XDR is based on a basket of key international currencies reviewed by IMF every five years3 The weights assigned to each currency in the XDR basket are adjusted to take into account their current prominence in terms of international trade and national foreign exchange reserves3 In the review conducted in November 2015 the IMF decided that the Renminbi Chinese yuan would be added to the basket effective October 1 20166 From that date the XDR basket now consists of the following five currencies: US dollar 4173 Euro 3093 Renminbi Chinese yuan 1092 Japanese yen 833 British pound 809FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q336 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana 1 it is an annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic records only2 Philately as a hobby is an important component of this scheme3 Children must be between 10 to 18 years of age to be eligible for this schemeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D Only 2Ans DDeen Dayal Sparsh YojanaMinister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately Under the scheme of SPARSH Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude amp Research in Stamps as a Hobby it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby through a competitive selection process in all postal circles Briefing the media after the launch of the scheme Shri Sinha said that under the scheme it is proposed to award 920 scholarships to students pursuing Philately as a hobby Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of 40 scholarships representing 10 students each from Standard VI VII VIII amp IX The amount of Scholarship will be Rs 6000/- per annum Rs 500/- per monthPhilately is the hobby of collection and study of Postage stampsFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q335 Which among the following is/are the cryptocurrencies 1 Litecoin2 Bitcoin3 NamecoinSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans Dcryptocurrencies such as Litecoin Namecoin and PPCoinThe first cryptocurrency to capture the public imagination was Bitcoin which was launched in 2009 by an individual or group known under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto As of September 2015 there were over 146 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market value of 34 billion Bitcoin’s success has spawned a number of competing cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin Namecoin and PPCoinCryptocurrencies make it easier to transfer funds between two parties in a transaction these transfers are facilitated through the use of public and private keys for security purposesThese fund transfers are done with minimal processing fees allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by most banks and financial institutions for wire transfersFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q334 With reference to the news what are Bug Zappers A It is is a bio-remediation technique to get rid of oil spillB These are the fluorescent traps to eliminate bugs amp small insectsC These are the tools or methods to reduce the greenhouse gases D These are the Ultraviolet traps to eliminate various small flying insectsAns DUltraviolet traps called bug zappers are used to eliminate various small flying insects They are attracted to the UV and are killed using an electric shock or trapped once they come into contact with the device FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q333 Which among the following are the migratory wetland species 1 White-bellied Heron2 Siberian Crane3 Red-headed Vulture4 Spoon-billed SandpiperSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 4B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 2 amp 4Ans DMigratory wetland species: Baer’s Pochard Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper Non-migratory wetland species: White-bellied Heron Grassland species:Bengal Florican Great Indian Bustard Jerdon’s Courser and Sociable Lapwing Forest species:Forest Owlet Scavengers: Indian Vulture Red-headed Vulture White-backed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are now considered Extinct for all practical purposesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q332 With reference to the CITES what are Appendix II species A species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a speciesB species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by tradeC species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade in specimens of such speciesD Species that are preserved under the biosphere reserves to prevent their extinctionAns CAppendix I : species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by tradeAppendix II : species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade in specimens of such speciesAppendix III : species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a speciesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q331 What does Hedge Fund means A Funds provided for replacement and renovation of industriesB Open ended funds that pools capital from accredited individuals or institutional investorsC Start-up capital provided to new entrepreneursD Fund created by the Government of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in the countryAns BHedge Funds :A hedge fund is an investment fund that pools capital from accredited individuals or institutional investors and invests in a variety of assets often with complex portfolio-construction and risk-management techniquesIt is administered by a professional investment management firm and often structured as a limited partnership limited liability company or similar vehicleHedge funds are generally distinct from mutual funds as their use of leverage is not capped by regulators and distinct from private equity funds as the majority of hedge funds invest in relatively liquid assetsHedge funds are made available only to certain sophisticated or accredited investors and cannot be offered or sold to the general publicHedge funds are almost always open-ended and allow additions or withdrawals by their investors generally on a monthly or quarterly basis1 The value of an investor’s holding is directly related to the fund net asset valueFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q330 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Vernacular Press Act 1 The Act provided for submitting to police all the proof sheets of contents of papers before publication2 Final decision on the seditious news was to be determined by the Judiciary Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AVernacular press act:It was enacted to curtail the freedom of the Indian press and prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies—notably the opposition that had grown with the outset of the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878–80The act was proposed by Lord Lytton then Viceroy of India and was unanimously passed by the Viceroy’s Council on March 14 1878 The act excluded English-language publications as it was meant to control seditious writing in ‘publications in Oriental languages’ everywhere in the country except for the SouthLord Wellesley regulated the press again in 1799 according to which press had to show and get approval of the government before the publication of any manuscript including advertisement During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the Gagging Act” had been passed by Lord Canning which sought to regulate the establishment of printing presses and to restrain the mad of printed mater All presses had to have a license from the government with distinction between publications in English and other regional languages The Act also held that no printed material shall impugn the motives of the British Raj tending to bring it hatred and contempt and exciting unlawful resistance to its ordersAt the time the Vernacular Press Act was passed there were thirty five vernacular papers in Bengal including the Amrita Bazar Patrika the editor of which was one Sisir Kumar GhoseThe Vernacular Press Act stated that any magistrate or Commissioner of Police had the authority to call upon any printer or publisher of a newspaper to enter into a bond undertaking not to print a certain kind of material and could confiscate any printed material it deemed objectionable The Act provided for submitting to police all the proof sheets of contents of papers before publication What was seditious news was to be determined by the police and not by the judiciaryFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q329 Who among the following is/are associated with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha 1 G SubramaniaIyer2 Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi3 P AnandacharluSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans BPoona Sarvajanik Sabha:It was a sociopolitical organisation in British India which started with the aim of working as a mediating body between the government and people of India and to popularise the peasants’ legal rights1 2 It started as an elected body of 95 members elected by 6000 persons on April 2 1870The Pune Sarvajanik Sabha provided many of the prominent leaders of national stature to the Indian freedom struggle including Bal Gangadhar Tilak It was formed in 1870 by S H Chiplunkar Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi Mahadev Govind Ranade et alMany eminent personalities such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak Gopal Hari Deshmukh Maharshi Annasaheb Patwardhan5 etc served as the Presidents of the organizationMadras Mahajan Sabha:The first organisation in the Madras Presidency to agitate for the rights of Indians was the Madras Native Association which was established by publicist GazuluLakshminarasu Chetty in 1849 This organisation did not survive for long and was eventually disbandedIn May 1884 M Veeraraghavachariar G SubramaniaIyer and P Anandacharlu established the Madras Mahajana SabhaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q328 Consider the following statements :1 Deposition of iron-rich dust into ocean waters enhances carbon sequestration2 Biochar is added to a landfill or used as a soil improver to create terra preta3 Harvesting of Seeweed is done to generate electricity or as a replacement for natural gasSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DCarbon SequestrationCarbon sequestration is the process involved in carbon capture and the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide1 Carbon sequestration involves long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to mitigate or defer global warming It has been proposed as a way to slow the atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases which are released by burning fossil fuels artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers reservoirs ocean water aging oil fields or other carbon sinksCarbon dioxide may be captured as a pure by-product in processes related to petroleum refining or from flue gases from power generation5 CO2 sequestration includes the storage part of carbon capture and storage which refers to large-scale artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers reservoirs ocean water aging oil fields or other carbon sinksBiosequestration or carbon sequestration through biological processes affects the global carbon cycle Examples include major climatic fluctuations such as the Azolla event which created the current Arctic climate Such processes created fossil fuels as well as clathrate and limestone By manipulating such processes geoengineers seek to enhance sequestrationPeat bogs are a very important carbon store Wetland soil is an important carbon sink 145 of the world’s soil carbon is found in wetlands while only 6 of the world’s land is composed of wetlandsOcean iron fertilization is an example of such a geoengineering technique23 Iron fertilization24 attempts to encourage phytoplankton growth which removes carbon from the atmosphere for at least a period of timeNatural iron fertilisation events eg deposition of iron-rich dust into ocean waters can enhance carbon sequestration The iron rich feces causes phytoplankton to grow and take up more carbon from the atmosphereWhen the phytoplankton dies some of it sinks to the deep ocean and takes the atmospheric carbon with it By reducing the abundance of sperm whales in the Southern Ocean whaling has resulted in an extra 200000 tonnes of carbon remaining in the atmosphere each year’Seaweed grows very fast and can theoretically be harvested and processed to generate biomethane via Anaerobic Digestion to generate electricity via Cogeneration/CHP or as a replacement for natural gas Ideal species for such farming and conversion include Laminaria digitata Fucus serratus and Saccharina latissimaBio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS‘BECCS refers to biomass in power stations and boilers that use carbon capture and storageBiochar is charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass waste The resulting material is added to a landfill or used as a soil improver to create terra pretaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q327 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the CITES 1 CITES is the conservation agreement with the largest membership with 183 Parties2 It is legally binding on the PartiesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CCITES the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survivalIt was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCNIt provides a framework to be respected by each Party which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national levelFor many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership with now 183 PartiesCITES is legally binding on the PartiesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q326 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Bronze icon of Nataraja 1 The classical form of the depiction appears in stone reliefs by around the 6th-century2 Torso movements are visible as the most common form of Shiva’s dance 3 It typically shows Shiva dancing holding Agni fire in his left back hand the front hand in gajahasta or dandahasta mudraSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 3B 2 amp 3C Only 1D 1 amp 3Ans DBronze icon of NatarajaAffiliation Shiva SymbolsAgni TextsAnshumadbhed agamaUttarakamika agamaThe classical form of the depiction appears in stone reliefs as at the Ellora Caves and the Badami Caves by around the 6th-century45 Around the 10th century it emerged in Tamil Nadu in its mature and best-known expression in Chola bronzes of various heights typically less than four feet6 some over7 The Nataraja reliefs have been identified in historic artwork from many parts of South Asia in southeast Asia such as in Bali Cambodia and in central AsiaIt typically shows Shiva dancing in one of the Natya Shastra poses holding Agni fire in his left back hand the front hand in gajahasta or dandahasta mudra the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is in abhaya fear not mudra while pointing to a Sutratext and the back hand holding a musical instrument usually a damaru6 His body fingers ankles neck face head ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items which vary with historic period and region111 He is surrounded by a ring of flames standing on a lotus pedestal lifting his left leg or in rare cases the right leg and balancing over a demon shown as a dwarf Apasmara2 or Muyalaka who symbolizes ignoranceThe dance of Shiva in Tillai the traditional name for Chidambaram forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja He is also known as Sabesan which splits as Sabayil aadum eesan in Tamil which means The Lord who dances on the dais The two most common forms of Shiva’s dance are the Lasya the gentle form of dance associated with the creation of the world and the Tandava the violent and dangerous dance associated with the destruction of weary worldviews – weary perspectives and lifestyles• The arch of fire emerges from two makara on each end which are water creatures of water and part of Hindu mythologies • • The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a ḍamaru in Sanskrit2728 A specific hand gesture mudra called ḍamaru-hasta Sanskrit for ḍamaru-hand is used to hold the drum• • His legs are bent which suggests an energetic dance• The second left hand points towards the raised foot which suggests the viewer to be active and dance despite the circumstances or alternatively as a sign of upliftment and liberation• • The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead which symbolize the triune in Shaivism The Asanapat inscription also mentions a Shiva temple in the Saivacaryas kingdomStone reliefs depicting the classical form of Nataraja are found in numerous cave temples of India such as the Ellora Caves Maharashtra the Elephanta Caves and the Badami Caves Karnataka by around the 6th-centuryNataraja is celebrated in 108 poses of Bharatanatyam with Sanskrit inscriptions from Natya Shastra at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram Tamil Nadu IndiaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q325 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana 1 It is a Pension Scheme for the senior citizens aged 70 years and above2 The scheme is exempted from Service Tax/ GST3 On Premature exit 100 of the Purchase Price shall be refundedSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans BPradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana PMVVY is a Pension Scheme announced by the Government of India exclusively for the senior citizens aged 60 years and above which is available from 4th May 2017 to 3rd May 2018Following are the major benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana PMVVY:• Scheme provides an assured return of 8 pa payable monthly equivalent to 830 pa effective for 10 years• Pension is payable at the end of each period during the policy term of 10 years as per the frequency of monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly/ yearly as chosen by the pensioner at the time of purchase• The scheme is exempted from Service Tax/ GST• On survival of the pensioner to the end of the policy term of 10 years Purchase price along with final pension installment shall be payable• Loan upto 75 of Purchase Price shall be allowed after 3 policy years to meet the liquidity needs Loan interest shall be recovered from the pension installments and loan to be recovered from claim proceeds• The scheme also allows for premature exit for the treatment of any critical/ terminal illness of self or spouse On such premature exit 98 of the Purchase Price shall be refunded• On death of the pensioner during the policy term of 10 years the Purchase Price shall be paid to the beneficiary• The ceiling of maximum pension is for a family as a whole the family will comprise of pensioner his/her spouse and dependants• The shortfall owing to the difference between the interest guaranteed and the actual interest earned and the expenses relating to administration shall be subsidized by the Government of India and reimbursed to the CorporationEligibility Conditions and Other Restrictions1 Minimum Entry Age: 60 years completed2 Maximum Entry Age: No limit3 Policy Term : 10 years4 Minimum Pension: Rs 1000/- per monthRs 3000/- per quarterRs6000/- per half-yearRs12000/- per year5 Maximum Pension: Rs 5000/- per monthRs 15000/- per quarterRs 30000/- per half-yearRs 60000/- per yearThe modes of pension payment are monthly quarterly half-yearly amp yearly The pension payment shall be through NEFT or Aadhaar Enabled Payment SystemThe first instalment of pension shall be paid after 1 year 6 months 3 months or 1 month from the date of purchase of the same depending on the mode of pension payment ie yearly half-yearly quarterly or monthly respectivelyFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ324 With reference to the incarnation of the Buddhas what does Ruru Jataka signifies A It is the tale of the three friends who lived in a forest: an antelope a woodpecker and a tortoiseB It is the story of The dumb Prince that is also known as Muga Pakaya JatakaC In this jataka tale the Buddha in a previous incarnation as a monkey king self-sacrifyinly offers his own body as a bridge by which his fellow monkeys can escape from a human king who is attacking themD is the story of how a past incarnation of the Buddha incarnated as a golden deer rescues a merchant from drowning in the riverAns DMahakapi Jataka : In this jataka tale the Buddha in a previous incarnation as a monkey king self-sacrifyinly offers his own body as a bridge by which his fellow monkeys can escape from a human king who is attacking them Ruru Jataka :The Ruru Jataka is the story of how a past incarnation of the Buddha incarnated as a golden deer rescues a merchant from drowning in the river bottom of medallionKurunga Miga Jataka :This story is about three friends who lived in a forest: an antelope a woodpecker and a tortoise Muga Pakaya Jataka/ Mugapakkha Jataka/ Temiya Jataka : This is the story of The dumb PrinceFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ323 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the GSF certification Gold standard foundation certificate 1 It is a standard for creating high-quality emission reductions projects in the Clean Development Mechanism CDM2 It was developed in 2003 by World Wide Fund for Nature WWF and Helio International onlySelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D GSF Gold standard foundation certificate certificationThe Gold Standard is a standard for creating high-quality emission reductions projects in the Clean Development Mechanism CDM Joint Implementation JI and Voluntary Carbon Market It was designed to ensure that carbon credits are not only real and verifiable but that they make measurable contributions to sustainable development worldwide Its objective is to add branding a label to existing and new Carbon Credits generated by projects which can then be bought and traded by countries that have a binding legal commitment according to the Kyoto ProtocolThe Gold Standard for CDM GS CER was developed in 2003 by World Wide Fund for Nature WWF SouthSouthNorth and Helio International The Voluntary Gold StandardGS VER a methodology for use within the voluntary carbon market was launched in May 2006To be eligible for Gold Standard Certification a project must:1 Be an approved Renewable Energy Supply or End use Energy Efficiency Improvement project type2 Be reducing one of the three eligible Green House Gases: Carbon Dioxide CO2 Methane CH4 and Nitrous Oxide N2O3 Not employ Official Development Assistance ODA under the condition that the credits coming out of the project are transferred to the donor country4 Not be applying for other certifications to ensure there is no double counting of credits5 Demonstrate its additionality by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s UNFCCC Large Scale Additionality Tool6 and show that the project is not a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario6 Make a net-positive contribution to the economic environmental and social welfare of the local population that hosts itFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ322 Consider the following statements :1 Barail range is an eastern extension of the Himalayan Range System in north eastern India2 The Garo Khasi and Jaintia hills are part of Deccan Plateau and not part of the Purvanchal rangeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CBarail range :The Purvanchal Mountains or Eastern Mountains are a sub-mountain range of the Himalayas in northeast IndiaThe Purvanchal Mountains cover the states of Assam Arunachal Pradesh Manipur Tripura Nagaland Meghalaya and MizoramThe range is an eastern extension of the Himalayan Range System in north eastern India It bends sharply to the south beyond the Dihang River gorge and spreads along the eastern boundary of India with Myanmar The Purvanchal range includes the hill ranges of the Patkai Barail range Manipur Mizoram Mizodisambiguation needed and Naga HillsThe Garo Khasi and Jaintia hills are part of Deccan Plateau and not part of the Purvanchal rangeFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ321 Which among the following protocols employed the principle of differential treatment in respect to climate change 1 Washington Naval Treaty2 Cartagena Protocol3 Part IV of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATTSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ACommon but Differentiated responsibilities amp respective capabilities :Common But Differentiated Responsibilities CBDR was formalized in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC of Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 1992 It was the first international legal instrument to address climate change and the most comprehensive international attempt to address negative impacts to global environment3 CBDR principle acknowledges all states have shared obligation to address environmental destruction but denies equal responsibility of all states with regard to environmental protectionCBDR is based on relationship between industrialization and climate changeCBDR was not the first differential treatments of countries in international agreements There were other protocols agreements that employed principle of differential treatment• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer Montreal Protocol• • Washington Naval Treaty• Part IV of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT 19799• principle 23 of Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 1972FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ320 Recently a national park has been set up in the Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary where clouded leopards are kept in enclosures in a zoological park Where this wildlife sanctuary is located A MeghalayaB TripuraC SikkimD Arunachal PradeshAns BFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ319 Recently in the news there was a term Superbugs What is this A These are the microorganism that are essential for the vital functions of the bodyB These are the enzymes that makes bacteria resistant to broad range of beta-lactam antibioticsC These are the bacteria that causes infection which is difficult to treatD These are the super weeds that are essential in the treatment of less fertile soilsAns CNew Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 NDM-1 is an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of beta-lactam antibiotics These include the antibiotics of the carbapenem family which are a mainstay for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections The gene for NDM-1 is one member of a large gene family that encodes beta-lactamase enzymes called carbapenemases Bacteria that produce carbapenemases are often referred to in the news media as superbugs because infections caused by them are difficult to treat Such bacteria are usually susceptible only to polymyxins and tigecyclineThe most common bacteria that make this enzyme are gram-negative such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae but the gene for NDM-1 can spread from one strain of bacteria to another by horizontal gene transferFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ318 With reference to the ancient Pandu caves consider the following statements:1 These caves depicts the characters of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic2 They are a significant group of Indian rock-cut architecture representing the Hinayana tradition 3 These are a group of 22 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3nd century CESelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans BPandav Caves:Pandu Caves or Trirashmi Leni Leni being a Marathi word for caves are a group of 24 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3nd century CE though additional sculptures were added up to about the 6th century reflecting changes in Buddhist devotional practicesThey are a significant group of early examples of Indian rock-cut architecture initially representing the so-called Hinayana tradition Most of the caves are viharas except for Cave 18 which is a chaitya of the 1st century BCEThe location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site and is located about 8 km south of the center of Nashik or Nasik Maharashtra IndiaTheir name has nothing to do with the characters Pandavas characters in the Mahabharata epicFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ317 For which among the following purpose National Water Resource Council has been constituted A It is an international thin tank established in 1996 to promote awareness build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levelsB To advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010C To resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use control and distribution of an interstate riverD It is a non-profit organization that drives economic technology and talent development to support the global water industryAns BNational Water Resource CouncilDissolved 25 November 2014Jurisdiction Commonwealth of AustraliaHeadquarters Turner Australian Capital Territory Motto Australia’s independent voice on national water issuesEmployees 48The key function that the Commission provided was to advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010 FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA :FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ316 Who among the following are the members of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium 1 India2 China3 Malaysia4 Australia5 JapanSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 245B 1345C 2345D All are correctAns CThe Western Pacific Naval Symposium are a series of biennial meetings of the Pacific nations to discuss naval matters held on even numbered years A WPNS workshop is held on odd numbered years in between the symposiumsMember countries as of 2010: Australia Brunei Cambodia Canada Chile France Indonesia Japan Malaysia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peoples’ Republic of China Philippines Republic of Korea Russia Singapore Thailand Tonga United States of America Vietnam Observers: Bangladesh India Mexico PeruFRAMED FROM GK TODAY MAGAZINEQ315 Who among the following is/are the members of the Boao Forum for Asia BFA 1 China2 India3 FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of CommerceSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans AIt is a non-profit organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large BFA is modeled after the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos SwitzerlandThe Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA :FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ314 Terai Arc Landscape program aims to protect which among the following terrestrial flagship species 1 African elephant2 Great Horned Rhinoceros3 Asian Elephant4 Golden LionSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 2B 234C Only 2 amp 3D 124Ans CTerai Arc Landscape Program:The program aims to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species the tiger the Asian elephant and the great one-horned rhinoceros by restoring corridors of forest to link 13 protected areas of Nepal and India to enable wildlife migrationFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ313 What is crowdfunding A Money collected for public welfare projects by levying an entry fee to exhibitions shows etcB Money collected by charitable organisations by placing a donation box at a prominent locationsC Money raised by innovators amp inventors by launching their products amp services through the internetD Money raised by individuals by passing the hat around to onlookers at a street performanceAns CCrowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people typically via the Internet1 Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and of alternative finance In 2015 it was estimated that worldwide over US34 billion was raised this waythe term crowdfunding refers to Internet-mediated registries This modern crowdfunding model is generally based on three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded individuals or groups who support the idea and a moderating organization the platform that brings the parties together to launch the idea Crowdfunding has been used to fund a wide range of for-profit entrepreneurial ventures such as artistic and creative projects medical expenses travel or community-oriented social entrepreneurship projectsWar bonds are theoretically a form of crowdfunding military conflictsThe Crowdfunding Centre’s May 2014 report identified two primary types of crowdfunding:1 Rewards crowdfunding: entrepreneurs presell a product or service to launch a business concept without incurring debt or sacrificing equity/shares2 Equity crowdfunding: the backer receives shares of a company usually in its early stages in exchange for the money pledgedFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ312 The meaning of carbon footprint is described by the amount of :A Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual organization or communityB Greenhouse gases emitted by industries contributing to global warmingC Carbon emissions released by the burning of jet fuelD Increase in the carbon content of the atmosphere due to the felling of treesAns AA carbon footprint is historically defined as the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual event organisation or product expressed as carbon dioxide equivalentA measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide CO2 and methane CH4 emissions of a defined population system or activity considering all relevant sources sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population system or activity of interest Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent using the relevant 100-year global warming potentialGWP100Carbon footprint is one of a family of footprint indicators which also includes water footprint and land footprint• 4Indirect carbon emissions: the carbon footprints of productso 41Foodo 42Textileso 43Materialso 44Cement• 5Schemes to reduce carbon emissions: Kyoto Protocol carbon offsetting and certificatesCarbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and the emissions of other GHGs are often associated with the burning of fossil fuels like natural gas crude oil and coal The Kyoto Protocol defines legally binding targets and timetables for cutting the GHG emissions of industrialized countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol Accordingly from an economic or market perspective one has to distinguish between a mandatory market and a voluntary market Typical for both markets is the trade with emission certificates:• Certified Emission Reduction CER• Emission Reduction Unit ERU• Verified Emission Reduction VERlocal emissions reduction schemes have no status under the Kyoto Protocol itself they play a prominent role in creating the demand for CERs and ERUs stimulating Emissions Trading and setting a market price for emissionsFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ311 Non-performing Assets decline in value when 1 Demand revives in the economy 2 capacity utilization increases3 Capacity utilization through substantive is yet optimal4 Capacity utilization decreases consequent upon merger of unitsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 134B 124C 123D 1234Ans CA Non-performing asset NPA is defined as a credit facility in respect of which the interest and/or installment of principal has remained ‘past due’ for a specified period of time In simple terms an asset is tagged as non performing when it ceases to generate income for the lenderA Non-performing asset NPA is defined as a credit facility in respect of which the interest and/or installment of Bond finance principal has remained ‘past due’ for a specified period of time NPA is used by financial institutions that refer to loans that are in jeopardy of default the so called NPL Once the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days the loan is considered to be a non-performing asset Non-performing assets are problematic for financial institutions since they depend on interest payments for income Troublesome pressure from the economy can lead to a sharp increase in NPLs and often results in massive write-downsAccordingly with effect from March 31 2004 a non-performing asset NPAis a loan or an advance where• Interest and/or installment of principal remain overdue for a period of more than 91 days in respect of a term loan• The account remains ‘out of order’ for a period of more than 90 days in respect of an Overdraft/Cash Credit OD/CC• The bill remains overdue for a period of more than 90 days in the case of bills purchased and discounted• Interest and/or installment of principal remains overdue for two harvest seasons but for a period not exceeding two half years in the case of an advance granted for agricultural purposes and• Any amount to be received remains overdue for a period of more than 90 days in respect of other accounts• Non submission of Stock Statements for 3 Continuous Quarters in case of Cash Credit Facility• No active transactions in the account Cash Credit/Over Draft/EPC/PCFC for more than 91daysFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ310 Which of the following concepts are relatable to income of members of the public while considering public welfare 1 Sensitivity of demand2 Elasticity of demand3 Sensitive of expenditure 4 Elasticity of expenditureA 1 amp 2B 2 amp 3C 3 amp 4D 1 amp 4Ans BFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ309 Consider the following statements :1 Foods containing carotene Vitamin A or cooking oils are safe to be cooked in a microwave2 Thermocol plates are poor barrier to oxygen and water vapor and has a relatively high melting pointSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DThermocol plates:-It is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene Polystyrene can be solid or foamed General-purpose polystyrene is clear hard and rather brittle It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapor and has a relatively low melting pointPolystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics the scale of its production being several million tonnes per yearPolystyrene can be naturally transparent but can be colored with colorants Uses include protective packaging such as packing peanuts and CD and DVD cases containers such as clamshells lids bottles trays tumblers disposable cutlery5 and in the making of modelsPolystyrene is very slow to biodegrade and is therefore a focus of controversy among environmentalists It is increasingly abundant as a form of litter in the outdoor environment particularly along shores and waterways especially in its foam form and also in increasing quantities in the Pacific OceanPolystyrene is chemically very inert being resistant to acids and bases but is easily dissolved by many chlorinated solvents and many aromatic hydrocarbon solvents Because of its resilience and inertness it is used for fabricating many objects of commerce It is attacked by many organic solvents which dissolve the polymer Foamed polystyrene is used for packaging chemicalsLike all organic compounds polystyrene burns to give carbon dioxide and water vapor Polystyrene being an aromatic hydrocarbon typically combusts incompletely as indicated by the sooty flamePolystyrene is generally non-biodegradable Polystyrene is commonly used in containers for food and drinks The styrene monomer from which polystyrene is made is a cancer suspect agentAnother Japanese study conducted on wild-type and AhR-null mice found that the styrene trimer which the authors detected in cooked polystyrene container-packed instant foods may increase thyroid hormone levelsWhether polystyrene can be microwaved with food is controversial Some containers may be safely used in a microwave but only if labelled as such67 Some sources suggest that foods containing carotene Vitamin A or cooking oils must be avoidedLike other organic compounds polystyrene is flammableFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ308 Bio-ethanol can be produced from which of the following feedstocks 1 Bagasses2 Sorghum3 Sugar beetSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DBio-Ethanol:Ethanol can be produced from a variety of feedstocks such as sugar cane bagasse miscanthus sugar beet sorghum grain switchgrass barley hemp kenaf potatoes sweet potatoes cassava sunflower fruit molasses corn stover grain wheat straw cotton Two types of second generation processes are under development The first type uses enzymes and yeast fermentation to convert the plant cellulose into ethanol while the second type uses pyrolysis to convert the whole plant to either a liquid bio-oil or a syngas Second generation processes can also be used with plants such as grasses wood or agricultural waste material such as strawBy-products such as straw or wood chips can be converted to ethanol Fast growing species like switchgrass can be grown on land not suitable for other cash crops and yield high levels of ethanol per unit areaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ307 Which among the following has been classified under the category of Eurythermal organism 1 Red Algae2 Coral reefs3 Golden brown AlgaeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 2 amp 3Ans AEurythermal organisms:Which can tolerate amp thrive in wide range of temperaturesEx: Cat Dog Tiger Red Algae Golden brown Algae Angiosperms sea GrassCryophillic organisms:Which can thrive at lower temperature as low as zero degree centigradeSeals Coral reefs Arctic Crustaceans Salmon FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ306 As per Kyoto Protocol agreement which among the following is/are the parties of Annex-I Countries 1 Kazakhstan2 Belarus3 TurkeySelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B 2 amp 3C Only 3D 123Ans BBelarus Malta and Turkey are Annex I Parties but do not have first-round Kyoto targetsFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ305 Consider the following :1 Bastar Iron Craft : Chhatisgarh2 Screw Pine handicraft : Odisha3 Pipili Aplique Work : KeralaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 3D Only 1Ans DBastar Iron Craft : ChhatisgarhScrew Pine handicraft : KeralaPipili Aplique Work : OdishaFROM CAPFQ304 Which of the following was/were not related to the Buddha’s life 1 Kanthaka2 Alara Kalama3 Channa4 Goshala MaskariputraWhich among the above statements is/are correct A Only 1B Only 4C 1 amp 2D 3 amp 4AnsBFROM CAPFQ303 With reference to the Wavell plan consider the following provisions :1 Under this plan India was granted dominion status2 Indians would themselves draft the constitution3 Position of secretary of state amp viceroy would remain the same4 Viceroy would retain the power of vetoWhich among the above statements is/are correct A 134B 234C Only 1 amp 4D 1234Ans DThese proposals were not to be applied to the Indian statesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q302 Which among the following is/are the examples of the Invasive Species 1 Water Hyacinth2 Wild rose3 Mimosa InvisaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B 1 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans DThe invasive water hyacinth is very common often choking the water bodies but it is cleared during destructive floods Another invasive species Mimosa invisa which is toxic to herbivores was cleared by Kaziranga staff with help from the Wildlife Trust of India in 2005Invasive species such as Mimosa and wild rose have posed a threat to the native plants in the regionFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q301 Consider the following :1 Ambubachi mela : Assam2 Anthurium Festival : Manipur3 Kut-Festival : MizoramSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 1C 1 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans B1 Ambubachi mela : Assam2 Anthurium Festival : Mizoram3 Kut-Festival : Manipur It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur FROM IES 2018 PRELIMS Q300 Consider the following statements :Consider the following statements :1 IPDS strengthens the distribution network in urban areas while DDUGJY does the same in rural areas2 DELP focuses to substitute LED bulbs for incandescent bulbs Which of the following statements is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns C |
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SpaceX is Launching the Remains of 152 Dead People Into Orbit |
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SpaceX’s 60 circling Starlink satellites arranged for a crazy photograph opp |
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The remains of 152 people are set to be blasted into orbit on board Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy after loved ones paid 5000 to place human ashes on the rocket |
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Ultradesk SPACE XXL 269€ 329€ |
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10:00 Ракета компании SpaceX совершит «похоронный полет» |
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SpaceX запустит в космос останки 152 покойников |
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आईएएस 2019 प्रिलिम्स -मौक सवाल-हिंदी मेँ – इस लिँक पर क्लिक करेँ MOCK Q418- FRAMED FROM Google Books Q With reference to the Dongria Kondh consider the following statements :1 These are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups worshiping Niyam Raja of sacred Niyamgiri mountain 2 Racially these belong to the Mongoloid group amp linguistically they belong to the Tibeto-Burman groupSelect the correct answer using the code given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AKarbi tribe : Racially these belong to the Mongoloid group amp linguistically they belong to the Tibeto-Burman groupDongria Kondh : Of Odisha These are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups who worship Niyam Raja of sacred Niyamgiri mountain They also won legal battle against Vedanta group over Bauxite mining in the region MOCK Q417- FRAMED FROM Google Books Q Every year a community celebrates a festival Hari Jyoti for planting fruit bearing trees at the beginning of the rains amp the new sowing season Which of the following is such community/ tribe A GondsB Dongria KondhC BondaD KarbiAns AGonds : Of Madhya PradeshKorku tribe : Of Madhya PradeshKarbi tribe : Of AssamLimbo tribe : Of SikkimBonda : Of OdishaDongria Kondh : Of OdishaKorku tribe : Of Madhya PradeshMOCK Q416- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q To fulfill the Government of India’s mission amp to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country Academia Alliance Programme has been formed With whose initiative Academia Alliance Programme has been formed A Niti AyogB Confederation of Indian IndustriesC Startup IndiaD Ministry of New amp Renewable EnergyAns CTo fulfill the Governmentof India’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country Startup India launched the Startup Academia Alliance programme a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains The Startup Academia Alliance aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications in order to increase the efficacy of these technologies and to widen their impact By creating a bridge between academia and industry the Alliance strives to create lasting connections between the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem and implement the third pillar on which the Startup India Action Plan is based – Industry Academia Partnerships and Incubation The first phase of Startup Academia Alliance was kickstarted through partnering with Regional Centre for Biotechnology The Energy and Resources Institute TERI Council on Energy Environment and Water and TERI School of Advanced Studies Renowned scholars from these institutes in fields such as renewableenergy biotechnology healthcare and life sciences were taken on board to provide mentorship and guidance to startups working in relevant arenasMOCK Q415- FRAMED FROM SPECTRUM HISTORY Q Consider the following statements :1 In 1916 session Congress accepted theMuslim League demand of separate electorates 2 Communal award accepted all the muslim communal demands contained in the 14 pointsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CIn 1916 session Congress accepted the Muslim League demand of separate electorates amp the Congress amp The League presented joint demands to the governmentCommunal award accepted all the muslim communal demands contained in the 14 pointsMOCK Q414- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation SASEC consider the following statements :1 SASEC program set up in 2001 to promote regional prosperity by improving cross border connectivity 2 World Trade Organisation serves as the secretariat for the SAESC member CountriesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns ASASEC program set up in 2001 to promote regional prosperity by improving cross border connectivityIt brings together Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Myanmar Nepal Srilanka Manila Phillipines based Asian development Bank ADB serves as the secretariat for the SAESC member CountriesMOCK Q413- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the Permanent Court of Arbitration PCA consider the following statements :1 PCA was established by treaty at the first Hague Peace Conference at Netherlands2 The order is not binding on the countries as it can be appealed in the UN tribunal3 121 member states are the part of the PCA including IndiaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans APermanent Court of Arbitration PCA:PCA was established by treaty at the first Hague Peace Conference at Netherlands in 1899The order is binding on the countries as there is no appeal process in the UN tribunal121 member states 119 members of the United Nations as well as Kosovo amp Palestine are the part of the PCA India is a part to the PCA according to the Hague Convention on 1899 MOCK Q412- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing amp Urban Development APMCHUD consider the following statements :1 Sixth edition of the conference held in New Delhi in 2016 with the theme “ A Vision for sustainable Urbanisation in The Asia Pacific by 2020”2 It was established under the aegis amp support of UN HabitatSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are in correctAns BSixth edition of the conference held in New Delhi in 2016 with the theme “ Emerging Urban Forms –Policy Reforms amp Governance Structures in the Context of New Urban Agenda”2006 THEME : “ A Vision for sustainable Urbanisation in The Asia Pacific by 2020MOCK Q411- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With respect to the International Trade Centre consider the following statements :1 ITC is the joint technical corporation agency of the UN conference on trade amp Development UNCTAD amp World Trade Organisation WTO2 They are subordinate to the United Nations amp derive most of their financial resources other than the Union Nation BudgetsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are in correctAns AITC is the joint technical corporation agency of the UN conference on trade amp Development UNCTAD amp World Trade Organisation WTOITC’s regular programme is financed in equal parts by WTO amp UNMOCK Q410- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which among the following crops have been classified under the category of Minor Forest products 1 Tendu Patta2 Bamboo3 Pulpwood 4 SoapnutSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 124B Only 1 amp 3C 134D Only 1 amp 4Ans AThe Major Forest Products comprise Pulpwood Sandalwood Social Forestry that incudes Fuel and Timber The Minor Forest Products include the items such as tamarind curry leaf Tendu Patta gallnut Cane Soapnut tree moss and now Bamboo alsoMOCK Q409- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the news what is “INSTEX” A It is a 2000 ft long device to start clean up in the North Pacific OceanB It is a transaction channel that will allow companies to continue trading with Iran despite US sanctionsC It is a natural gas pipeline being developed with the participation of the Asian Development BankD It is the rule book that sets out how countries will provide information about their Nationally Determined Contributions Ans B• The transaction channel will allow European businesses to trade with Iran despite strict US sanctions• Though the payment channel is a project of Britain France and Germany it will receive the formal endorsement of all 28 EU members• It will support legitimate European trade with Iran focusing initially on the sectors most essential to the Iranian population such as pharmaceutical medical devices and agri-food goods• In the longer term INSTEX aims to be open to third countries wanting to trade with Iran• However INSTEX is not yet operational as it needs Iran to set up a parallel structure of its own which may take some time to complete• While it is aimed at small and medium-sized companies it is expected to send an important message to Iran about Europe’s commitment to keep the nuclear deal aliveObjective The launch of the special payment channel is a clear and practical demonstration of Europe’s commitment to continuing the nuclear dealIt however does not in any way preclude the European Union from addressing Iran’s hostile and destabilising activitiesEurope has toughened its tone on Iran’s ballistic missile programme human rights record and interference in Middle East conflictsMOCK Q408- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana consider the following statements :1 Spouse will not be entitled to receive pension in case of death2 Workers covered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation will not be entitled to pension3 It is 100 funded by the Union government Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B 2 amp 3C Only 2D 1 amp 2Ans C• The unorganised sector workers with income of less than Rs 15000 per month and who belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years will be eligible for the scheme • Those workers should not be covered under New Pension Scheme NPS Employees’ State Insurance Corporation ESIC scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation EPFO• He or she should not be an income tax payerThe workers of unorganised sector can be home based workers street vendors mid-day meal workers head loaders brick kiln workers cobblers rag pickers domestic workers washer men rickshaw pullers landless labourers own account workers agricultural workers construction workers beedi workers handloom workers leather workers audio- visual workers and similar other occupationsBenefits under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan YojanaMinimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the scheme will receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 yearsIn case of death during receipt of pension: If the subscriber dies during the receipt of pension his or her spouse will be entitled to receive 50 percent of the pension as family pension This family pension is applicable only to spouseIn case of death before the age of 60 years: If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and dies before attaining the age of 60 years his or her spouse will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or may even exit the schemeEqual contribution by the Central Government: Under the PM-SYM the prescribed age-specific contribution by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government will be made on a ‘50:50 basis’MOCK Q407- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which of the following best describes SHREYAS scheme A It is the scheme launched by HRD Ministry to promote entrepreneurship by mentoring nurturing and facilitating startupsB It is the scheme implemented by Sector Skill Council for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and SkillsC It is the scheme launched by HRD ministry for translational and advanced research in Science to fund science projectsD It is the scheme implemented by Institution’s Innovation Council for self-actualisation providing opportunities for a life-long learningAns CSHREYAS: Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and SkillsFunctioning of the Scheme:The scheme will be operated in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme NAPS which provides for placing of apprentices or trainees up to 10 percent of the total work force in every industry The scheme will be implemented by the Sector Skill Councils SSCs initially in the Banking Finance Insurance Services BFSI Retail Health care Telecom Logistics Media Management services ITeS and Apparel More sectors would be added over time with emerging apprenticeship demandMOCK Q406- FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q With reference to the Sandbag Climate Campaign consider the following statements :1 It was launched as a campaign on the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme2 It addresses the negative effects of global warming as a result of heightened socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilitiesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A–Sandbag or Sandbag Climate Campaign is a Community Interest Company campaigning for changes to European climate change policy especially emissions trading The organisation was launched in 2008 by Bryony Worthington and was the first and founding member of The Guardian’s Environment NetworkSandbag was launched as a campaign on the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme allowing its members to campaign to reduce the number of permits in circulation and to purchase permits and cancel themClimate Vulnerable Forum CVF: The forum addresses the negative effects of global warming as a result of heightened socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilitiesMOCK Q405- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana consider the following statements :1 It will provide assured income to all Institutional Land holders of Rs 6000 per year2 It is based on providing guaranteed amount of Rs 1000/- or Rs2000 per hectare in case of drought or loss of crop by the animalsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi will provide assured income to small and marginal farmers• All Small and Marginal Farmers SMF with 2 hectares of cultivable land will be provided income support of Rs 6000 per year• The amount will be transferred directly into their account in 3 equal installments• The complete expenditure of Rs 75000 crore for the scheme will borne by the Union Government in 2019-20• Over 12 crore farmer families will be benefitted under the schemeThe scheme is being implemented with effect from December 2018The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme A All Institutional Land holders B Farmer families in which one or more of its members belong to following categories: 1 Former and present holders of constitutional posts2 Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councilsformer and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats3 All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees4 All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is ₹10000/-or more Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees of above category5 All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year6 Professionals like Doctors Engineers Lawyers Chartered Accountants and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practicesMOCK Q404- FRAMED FROM Spectrum- Modern India Q Swadeshi Sangam was formed to ispire the local masses through magic lantern lectures Swadeshi songsWho was/were the members of the Swadeshi Sangam 1 VO Chidambaram Pillai2 Abanindranath Tagore3 Subramania SivaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 1C 2 amp 3D 123Ans AIn Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu VO Chidambaram Pillai Subramania Siva amp Some lawyers formed the Swadeshi Sangam which inspired the local massesMOCK Q403- FRAMED FROM Spectrum- Modern India Q With reference to the Indian National Movement What was Official Secrets Act A Under this act Natu brothers were deported without trial amp Tilak imprisoned on charges of seditionB Repressive laws under IPC section 124 A were amplified with new provisions under IPC 156 AC It was the administrative measure to curb the freedom of pressD Under this act It ensured greater government control over the universitiesAns COfficial Secrets Act : 1904 It was the administrative measure to curb the freedom of press1897 : Natu brothers were deported without trial amp Tilak imprisoned on charges of sedition1898 : Repressive laws under IPC section 124 A were amplified with new provisions under IPC 156 AIndian Universities Act 1904 : greater government control over the universitiesMOCK Q402- FRAMED FROM The Hindu Q With reference to the Halogen Light Bulbs consider the following statements :1 White coating also known as Phosphor coating on the glass absorbs UV light amp protect from the UV rays2 They have the same tungsten filament as the typical incandescent light bulbs 3 Fluorescent coating is often used in these bulbs to add brightnessSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B 123C Only 2D 1 amp 2Ans CFluorescent bulbs : White coating also known as Phosphor coating on the glass absorbs UV light amp protect from the UV raysVapour lamps : Fluorescent coating is often used in these bulbs to add brightnessA halogen lamp also known as a tungsten halogen quartz-halogen or quartz iodine lamp is an incandescent lamp consisting of a tungsten filament sealed into a compact transparent envelope that is filled with a mixture of an inert gas and a small amount of a halogensuch as iodine or bromine The combination of the halogen gas and the tungsten filament produces a halogen cycle chemical reaction which redeposits evaporated tungsten to the filament increasing its life and maintaining the clarity of the envelope For this to happen a halogen lamp must be operated at a higher envelope temperature 250° C 482° F1 than a standard vacuum incandescent lamp of similar power and operating life this also produces light with higher luminous efficacy and color temperature The small size of halogen lamps permits their use in compact optical systems for projectors and illumination The small glass envelope may be enclosed in a much larger outer glass bulb for a bigger package the outer jacket will be at a much lower and safer temperature and it also protects the hot bulb from harmful contamination and makes the bulb mechanically more similar to a conventional lamp that it might replaceStandard and halogen incandescent bulbs are much less efficient than LED and compact fluorescent lamps and have been banned in many jurisdictions because of thisMOCK Q401- FRAMED FROM The Hindu Q Consider the following statements :1 Origin of Bitcoin is virtually anonymous amp is not monitored by any Central bank or Government2 Anyone with a bitcoin address can send amp receive bitcoins from anyone else with a bitcoin address Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CBitcoin is a cryptocurrency a form of electronic cash It is a decentralized digital currency without a central bank or single administrator that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain Bitcoin was invented by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto and released as open-source software in 2009 Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining They can be exchanged for other currencies products and services Research produced by the University of Cambridge estimates that in 2017 there were 29 to 58 million unique users using a cryptocurrency wallet most of them using bitcoin Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions its high electricity consumption price volatility thefts from exchanges and the possibility that bitcoin is an economic bubble Bitcoin has also been used as an investment although several regulatory agencies have issued investor alerts about bitcoinMOCK Q400- FRAMED FROM M LAXMIKANTH Q Consider the following statements :1In India Only the powers of the Federal Government are enumerated in the constitution amp the residuary powers are left to the states 2 Government of India Act 1935 provided for three fold enumeration ie Federal Provincial amp CurrentSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1 B Only 2C Both are correct D Both are incorrectAns B-In US Only the powers of the Federal Government are enumerated in the constitution amp the residuary powers are left to the states -Power to make laws with respect to the residuary subjects which are not enumerated in any of the three list is vested in the ParliamentMOCK Q399- FRAMED FROM M LAXMIKANTH Q Which among the following statement best describes “Discretionary Grants” A It empowers the Parliament to make grants to the states which are in need of financial assistance B These are the grants in lieu of export duties on Jute amp Jute products to the states of Assam BiharOrissa amp West BengalC Theses are the grants for promoting welfare of the scheduled tribes in a stateD These are the grants that empower both the centre amp states to make any grants for any public purpose even if it is not within their respective legislative competenceAns DStatutory Grants : Article 75 empowers the Parliament to make grants to the states which are in need of financial assistanceOther Grants : These are the grants in lieu of export duties on Jute amp Jute products to the states of Assam Bihar Orissa amp West BengalDiscretionary Grants :These are the grants that empower both the centre amp states to make any grants for any public purpose even if it is not within their respective legislative competenceMOCK Q398- FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the news what is Talanoa dialogue A It is a process designed to help countries enhance and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020B It is a process to help countries by forming the rule book to implement the Paris Climate AgreementC It gives countries a common framework for reporting and reviewing progress towards their climate targetsD It provides a global platform for the conservation of Migratory animals amp their habitatsAns A–The 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP23 was an international meeting of political leaders non-state actors and activists to discuss environmental issues It was held at UN Campus in Bonn Germany from 6–17 November 2017Although COP23 focused primarily on technical details of the Paris Agreement COP23 concluded with what was called the ‘Fiji Momentum for Implementation’ which outlined the steps that need to be taken in 2018 to make the Paris Agreement operational and launched the –Talanoa Dialogue – a process designed to help countries enhance and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020MOCK Q397 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Consider the following statements :1 Mangroves for the Future MFF has participation of Asian amp African nations only2 IUCN amp United Nation Development Programme UNDP developed MFF in 20063 MFF not only conserves Mangrove forests but includes all types of coastal ecosystems like coral reefsestuaries wetlands etcSelect the correct answer using the correct codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DMangroves for the Future MFFLocation: Member countries: Bangladesh Cambodia India Indonesia Maldives Myanmar Pakistan Seychelles Sri Lanka Thailand and Viet Nam Outreach countries: Malaysia Dialogue countries: Kenya and TanzaniaDuration: Established in 2006 MFF is currently in its third phase 2015 – 2018 Project Background: The devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 laid bare the vital link between coastal ecosystems and human livelihoods It was United States President Bill Clinton’s vision that rebuilding in tsunami-hit areas should improve natural infrastructure and strengthen resilience against future natural disasters In response to this vision IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP developed Mangroves for the Future in 2006 Since then MFF has grown to include eight institutional partners plus a growing number of countries At the launch of the Tsunami Legacy report at the United Nations in New York in April 2009 Bill Clinton acclaimed MFF as one of the most positive and forward-looking developments of the post-tsunami periodMangroves for the Future MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the many different agencies sectors and countries which are addressingchallenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues The goal is to promote an integrated ocean-wide approach to coastal management and to building the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal communities Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative but MFF is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystem such as coral reefs estuaries lagoons sandy beaches seagrass and wetlandsMOCK Q396 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which one of the following best describes the term Malacca Dilemma sometimes seen in news A It refers to the demarcation line used initially by the government of republic of China B ONGC Videsh Limited signed a contract with the petro Vietnam to jointly explore petroleum resourcesC It is the Nine Dash line area that covers most of the South China sea amp overlaps exclusive economic zoneD It signifies China’s dependency for the energy needs on West AsiaAns DThe “Malacca Dilemma” is a term coined by their President Hu Jintao2003 on the over-reliance on the Malacca Straitssea-route where 80 of their energy needsoil imports pass en-route from the Middle East Angola etcshipping lanes through the Malacca Straitsbetween Malaysia and Indonesia This area is also prone to piracy sometimesConflict in the region and their effect on China’s geopolitical and energy strategies and other issues that can crop up from time to time together constitute the “Malacca Dilemma”MOCK Q395 – FRAMED FROM GCCA WEBSITE Q Global Climate Change Alliance Initiative for country’s vulnerability to climate change is managed by the :A The European CommissionB The Global Environment FacilityC UNDPD World BankAns AThe Global Climate Change Alliance Plus GCCA is a European Union flagship initiative which is helpingthe world’s most vulnerable countries to address climate change Having started with just four pilot projects in 2008 it has become a major climate initiative that has funded over 70 projects of nationalregional and worldwide scope in Africa Asia the Caribbean and the Pacific This EU initiative helps mainly Small Islands Developing States SIDS and Least Developed Countries LDCs increase their resilience to climate change The GCCA also supports these group of countries in implementing their commitments resulting from the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change COP21 in line with the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the new European Consensus on DevelopmentThe GCCA initiative is making a significant contribution towards achieving the overall target of at least 20 of the EU budget spent for climate action All GCCA projects must primarily aim at facilitating the transition to a climate-resilient low-carbon future in line with the 2°C targetGCCA funding increased from EUR 3175 million in the first phase 2007-2014 to EUR 420 million in the second phase 2014-2020 Read more on financial resourcesMOCK Q394 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q Which among the following topics are exempted from the courses covered under the LEAP amp ARPIT PROGRAMME for higher education faculty 1 Establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority2 Internet of Things3 Tools techniques and experiments in reducing Greenhouse gases emission4 Methodology of Teaching SanskritSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 4B Only 1C 1 amp 3D 124Ans CHRD Ministry launches LEAP and ARPIT programmes for higher education facultyThe courses cover a diverse range of topics such as:Indian culture and Heritage Studies Tribal and Regional languages Urdu French StudiesPedagogical Innovations amp Research Methodology Tools techniques and experiments in Earth ScienceLatest Trends in Pedagogy and Assessment Mathematics Statistics Zoology Chemistry Physics Biotechnology Development and Counselling Marine Science Calculus Real Time Power Analysis and Smart GridNeural Networks and Deep Learning amp Knowledge discovery Civil Infrastructure for Smart City DevelopmentICT in Science and Maths teaching Engineering Mechanics Design Spectrum DIY Manufacturing TechnologyInnovation and Best Practices in Educational Skills Advanced Concepts in Fluid Mechanics Energy Systems EngineeringLeadership and Governance in Higher Education Engineering Mechanics Physics of Semiconductors and Devices Electrical EngineeringPublic Policy and Administration Bio-Medical engineering Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Sciences Chemical EngineeringEnglish Language Teaching Internet of ThingsHindi Literature amp Linguistics Astronomy and AstrophysicsMethodology of Teaching Sanskrit Aerospace Engineering Tourism and Hospitality ManagementEffective Creations and Innovative Researches in Medieval Gujarati Literature Political Science Economics Psychology Development Perspectives in AgricultureLibrary amp Information Science Ethics Human Rights and Environment Anthropology Gender/Women’s studies Law Social and Rural DevelopmentDisaster Management Climate change MOCK Q393 – FRAMED FROM NITIN SIGHANIA Q Which among the following is/are correctly matched :Community Place1 Dangasia Gujarat2 Gond Madhya Pradesh3 Mirgan OdishaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DDangasia GujaratGond Madhya PradeshMirgan Odisha MOCK Q392 – FRAMED FROM SPECTRUM HISTORY Q BR Ambedkar is associated With Which of the following 1 Bahishkrita Hitkarini Sabha2 Hindu Mahasabha3 Hindu Code billSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 1C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ALala Lajpat Rai involvement with Hindu Mahasabha leaders gathered criticism from the Naujawan Bharat Sabha as the Mahasabhas were non-secular which did not conform with the system laid out by the Indian National CongressHindu MahasabhaMOCK Q391 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q With reference to the Least Developed Countries Fund consider the following statements:1 This fund has been initiated in 2002 by the The Global Environment Facility GEF2 Adaptation amp Mitigation are one of the area of focus of this fundSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThis fund has been initiated in 2002 by the The Global Environment Facility GEFAdaptation is one of the area of focus of this fundMOCK Q390 – FRAMED FROM INDIAN CULTUREGOV Q Consider the following :Sites Place1 Aalampur Temple : Telanagana2 European Tomb : Gujarat3 Khajurao Monuments : Madhya PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans D Other Important Sites :Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum Complex : Madhya PradeshMahabalipuram : Tamil NaduUparkot : GujaratKumarakom : KeralaMOCK Q389 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q389 The Climate Chain Coalition CCC to support collaboration among members and stakeholders to advance blockchain and related digital solutions emerged at :A 2017 United Nations Climate Change ConferenceB One Planet SummitC COP-24 Katowice D Paris Climate SummitAn BThe Climate Chain Coalition CCC was born during the One Planet Summit in December in Paris France The Coalition engages a multi-stakeholder group working on distributed ledger technology DLT to collaborate on mobilizing climate financePlz Note : The 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference was an international meeting of political leaders non-state actors and activists to discuss environmental issues It was held at UN Campus in Bonn from 6–17 November 2017 Also known as: COP23 UNFCCC CMP13 Kyoto Protocol CMA2 Paris AgreementMOCK Q388 – FRAMED FROM IUCN WEBSITE Q “Partnership for Market Readiness” is an initiative which is managed by the :A Global Environment FacilityB World BankC United Nation Environment ProgrammeD UNDPAns BPartnership for Market Readiness ADMINISTERED BY: The World BankAREA OF FOCUS Mitigation DATE OPERATIONAL: 2011MOCK Q387 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q387 With reference to the religious practices in India Sarvastivadin belongs to which ancient school A TheravadaB MahayanismC RajagirikarsD HetuvadinsAns ASarvāstivāda were an early school of Buddhism established around the reign of Asoka third century BCEIt was particularly known as an Abhidharma tradition with a unique set of seven Abhidharma worksMOCK Q386 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q386 With reference to the Initial Coin Offerings ICO consider the following statements :1 It is like Initial Public Offer that refers to the issue of cryptocurrency in consideration of funds received from investors2 17 billion has been raised globally through ICOs between 2014 amp 2017Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A27 billion has been raised globally through ICOs between 2014 amp 2017- An initial coin offering ICO or initial currency offering is a type of funding using cryptocurrenciesMostly the process is done by crowdfunding but private ICO’s are becoming more common In an ICO a quantity of cryptocurrency is sold in the form of tokens coins to speculators or investors in exchange for legal tender or other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum The tokens sold are promoted as future functional units of currency if or when the ICO’s funding goal is met and the project launches In some cases like Ethereum the tokens are required to use the system for its purposesAn ICO can be a source of capital for startup companiesMOCK Q385 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q385 Nanotechnology can significantly increase manufacturing at far reduced costs What are the advantages of the Nanotechnology 1 Anti scratch components of the automobiles are possible using the Nanotechnology2 Bullet proof amp stain resistant clothing can be made using the Nanotechnology3 Nanotechnology offer cleaner technologies amp cleaner environmentSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 2B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ANano sized particles can acculumate in various body parts such as nasal cavities lungs amp brainDue to their minute size nano particles are able to accumulate in the environmentMOCK Q384 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q With reference to the “India International Exchange” consider the following statements :1 It was opened very recently at the International Financial Services Centre IFSC in Gujarat2 With this it will be the third largest International Exchange in the world in terms of order responseSelect the correct answer using the using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-It was opened IN 2017 at the International Financial Services Centre IFSC in GujaratBUT NOT VERY RECENTLY – With this it will be the fastest International Exchange in the world in terms of order response with the trade speed of four microseconds-This is better than BSE’s domestic exchange in Mumbai which has an order response time of six microseconds- Singapore is the second fastest International exchange has the order response of 60 microsecondsMOCK Q383 – FRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q383 In Context with the “Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS” consider the following statements :1 It is a greenhouse gas mitigation technology which produces negative carbon dioxide emissions2 BECSS works by involving the process of pyrogenic carbon capture and storage PyCCS or biocharSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns A-Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS is a potential greenhouse gas mitigation technology which produces negative carbon dioxide emissions by combining bioenergy energy from biomass use with geologic carbon capture and storage1 The concept of BECCS is drawn from the integration of trees and crops which extract carbon dioxide CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow the use of this biomass in processing industries or power plants and the application of carbon capture and storage via CO2injection into geological formations2 There are other non-BECCS forms of carbon dioxide removal and storage that include technologies such as biochar carbon dioxide air captureand biomass burial3 and enhanced weatheringAccording to a recent Biorecro report there is 550 000 tonnes CO2/year in total BECCS capacity currently operating divided between three different facilities as of January 2012In the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC BECCS was indicated as a key technology for reaching low carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration targets8 The negative emissions that can be produced by BECCS has been estimated by the Royal Society to be equivalent to a 50 to 150 ppmdecrease in global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations9 and according to the International Energy Agency the BLUE map climate change mitigation scenario calls for more than 2 gigatonnes of negative CO2 emissions per year with BECCS in 205010 According to Stanford University 10 gigatonnes is achievable by this dateAccording to the OECD Achieving lower concentration targets 450 ppm depends significantly on the use of BECCS13An alternative to BECSS is pyrogenic carbon capture and storage PyCCS or biochar14 Which are superior in order to fix carbon in a more stable way: solid C for longer times Carbon dioxide injected into geologic formations eventually leaks back into the atmosphere due to seismic activity and natural faults and problems with the seal of the ancient injection pitsFRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q382 Consider the following :Tribes Place1 Bhoksa Uttarakhand2 Misting Sikkim3 Gonds Madhya PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans AMisting tribe is in AssamFRAMED FROM THE HINDU Q381 Which of the following best describes Forward linkages with respect to the economic activity 1 These refer to the transactions with the consumers2 For food processing industry these linkages are associated with the primary processing centresSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2 C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AForward linkages :-These refer to the transactions with the consumers- These linkages are associated with the retail storesBackward linkages :-These refer to the transactions with the suppliers-For food processing industry these linkages are associated with the primary processing centresFRAMED FROM LUCENT PUBLICATIONS Q380 Consider the following :Hill Ranges Place1 Rajpipla : Gujarat2 Mahadeo : Madhya Pradesh3 Maikala range : Andhra PradeshSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans CMaikala range : Madhya Pradesh amp ChhatisgarhFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q379 Consider the following statements :1 Loktak lake the biggest fresh water lake is home to the endangered Sangai deer2 Keibul Lamjao is an integral part of the Loktak LakeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1 B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CLok tak lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis heterogeneous mass of vegetation soil and organic matter at various stages of decomposition floating over it The lake is located near Moirang in Manipurstate IndiaThe etymology of Loktak is Lok stream and tak the endThe largest of all the phumdis covers an area of 40 km215 sq mi and is situated on the southeastern shore of the lake Located on this phumdi Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating national park in the world The park is the last natural refuge of the endangered Sangai state animal Rucervus eldii eldii or Manipur brown-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi one of three subspecies of Eld’s deerThe Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India It is 40 km2 154 sq mi in area the only floating park in the world located in North East India and an integral part of Loktak LakeThe national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld’s deer or brow-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi or sangai also called the dancing deer listed as an endangered species by IUCN the park which was initially declared to be a sanctuary in 1966 was subsequently declared to be a national park in 1977 through a gazette notification The act has generated local support and public awarenessFRAMED FROM SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTUNORG Q378 “Championing Green Growth and Climate Resilience” to promote green growth emerged at :A Global Green Growth InstituteB GreenpeaceC European Environment Agency D World Sustainable Development Summit 2011Ans AThe Global Green Growth Institute GGGI is a treaty-based international organization headquartered in Seoul South Korea The organization aims to promote green growth a growth paradigm that is characterized by a balance of economic growth and environmental sustainability GGGI provides research and stakeholder engagement for green growth plans especially in developing countries aiming to replace the more typical paradigm based on industrial developmentFounded to support green economic growth that simultaneously addresses poverty reduction job creation social inclusion and environmental sustainability GGGI works across four priority areas that are considered to be essential to transforming national economies including energy water land use and green citiesMotto Championing Green Growth and Climate ResilienceFormation 16 June 2010Headquarters Seoul Republic of KoreaMembership 30 Member countriesCouncil chair Ban Ki MoonDirector-General Frank RijsbermanBudget USD 55 million 2018Q377 The term “Climate Neutrality” sometimes mentioned in the news are related to :A World Wild life FundB UNFCCC SecretariatC Biocarbon FundD World wildlife TrustAns BThe UNFCCC secretariat launched its Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2015 The following year the secretariatlaunched a new pillar under its Momentum for Change initiative focused on Climate Neutral Nowas part of larger efforts to showcase successful climate action around the worldThe UNFCCC secretariat UN Climate Change was established in 1992 when countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCCWith the subsequent adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015 Parties to these three agreements have progressively reaffirmed the secretariat’s role as the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate changeSince 1995 the secretariat is located in Bonn GermanyThe secretariat provides technical expertise and assists in the analysis and review of climate change information reported by Parties and in the implementation of the Kyoto mechanisms It also maintains the registry for Nationally Determined Contributions NDC established under the Paris Agreement a key aspect of implementation of the Paris AgreementThe secretariat organizes and supports between two and four negotiating sessions each year The largest and most important is the Conference of the Parties held annually and hosted in different locations around the globe It is the largest annual United Nations conference attended on average by around 25000 participants In addition to these major conferences the secretariat organizes annual sessions of the so-called subsidiary bodies as well as a large number of meetings and workshops throughout the yearIn recent years the secretariat also supports the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action agreed by governments to signal that successful climate action requires strong support from a wide range of actors including regions cities business investors and all parts of civil society At UN Climate Change Conferences a large number of events demonstrate how non-Party stakeholders are working with governments and the UN system to implement the Paris AgreementFRAMED FROM NDC PARTNERSHIPORG Q376 With reference to the Special Climate Change Fund consider the following statements :1 It was established in 1991 under UNFCCC to finance projects which enable the adaptation to climate change2 It is operated by United Nation Environment Programme UNEP amp World Meteorological Organisation WMOSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DIt was established in 2001 under UNFCCC to finance projects which enable the adaptation to climate changeIt is operated by Global Environment Facility GEFEXPLANATION :In 2001 Parties to the UNFCCC established the Special Climate Change Fund SCCF to support climate change activities that are complementary to the GEF’s climate change projects with a special focus on the most vulnerable countries The objective of the Special Climate Change Fund SCCF is to support adaptation and technology transfer projects and programs that: are countryFRAMED FROM IUCNORG Q375 Which among the following country is not the member of the “Mangroves for The Future” A Cambodia B MyanmarC LaosD MaldivesAns CMangroves for the Future MFFLocation: Member countries: Bangladesh Cambodia India Indonesia Maldives Myanmar Pakistan Seychelles Sri Lanka Thailand and Vietnam Outreach countries: Malaysia Dialogue countries: Kenya and TanzaniaDuration: Established in 2006 MFF is currently in its third phase 2015 – 2018 Project Background: The devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 laid bare the vital link between coastal ecosystems and human livelihoods It was United States President Bill Clinton’s vision that rebuilding in tsunami-hit areas should improve natural infrastructure and strengthen resilience against future natural disasters In response to this vision IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP developed Mangrovesfor the Future in 2006 Since then MFF has grown to include eight institutional partners plus a growing number of countries At the launch of the Tsunami Legacy report at the United Nations in New York in April 2009 Bill Clinton acclaimed MFF as one of the most positive and forward-looking developments of the post-tsunami periodMangroves for the Future MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development Co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP MFF provides a platform for collaboration among the many different agencies sectors and countries which are addressing challenges to coastal ecosystem and livelihood issues The goal is to promote an integrated ocean-wide approach to coastal management and to building the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal communities Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative but MFF is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystem such as coral reefs estuaries lagoons sandy beaches seagrass and wetlandsFRAMED FROM The Hindu Q374 Which among the following is/are classified under the Third Generation Vaccines 1 DTP vaccine2 DNA Vaccine3 Polio VaccineSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 3B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D Only 2Ans DDTP vaccine – Second generation VaccineDNA Vaccine- Third generation VaccinePolio Vaccine- First generation VaccineDNA vaccination is a technique for protecting against disease by injection with genetically engineered DNA so cells directly produce an antigen producing a protective immunological response DNA vaccines have potential advantages over conventional vaccines including the ability to induce a wider range of immune response typesSeveral DNA vaccines are available for veterinary use Currently no DNA vaccines have been approved for human use Research is investigating the approach for viral bacterial and parasitic diseases in humans as well as for several cancersApplicationsNo DNA vaccines have been approved for human use in the United States Few experimental trials have evoked a response strong enough to protect against disease and the technique’s usefulness remains to be proven in humans A veterinary DNA vaccine to protect horses from West Nile virus has been approvedFirst-Generation Vaccines Attenuated and inactivated vaccines are identified in the first generation which use a primary method in their production Attenuated pathogens full organisms or inactivated bacterial toxin which are effectively immunogenic are used in making these vaccines2nd Generation Vaccines:-The second generation vaccines were created in order to minimize the risks of having the pathogen revert to a dangerous formThe way these vaccines work is that they do not contain the whole organism but rather subunits Subunits may consist of the toxins that the pathogen create if they are bacterial Another example of subunit vaccines are those that only contain protein sections of the pathogen such as an acellular formA great example of a 2nd generation vaccine is DTaP The vaccine contains diptheria toxoid tetanus toxoid pertussis toxoid as well as the acellular version of pertussisAs with the issues with the 1st generation of vaccines the 2nd generation vaccines can generate antibody response and T-helper response but AGAIN no T-Killer responseFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS Q373 Which among the following is/are the examples of The Near Field Communication 1 Public transport card readers2 Smart phones3 Touch payment terminalsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DNear-field communication NFC is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices one of which is usually a portable device such as a smartphone to establish communication by bringing them within 4 cm 16 in of each other1NFC devices are used in contactless payment systems similar to those used in credit cards and electronic ticket smartcards and allow mobile payment to replace or supplement these systems This is sometimes referred to as NFC/CTLS Contactless or CTLS NFC NFC is used for social networking for sharing contacts photos videos or files2 NFC-enabled devices can act as electronic identity documents and keycards3 NFC offers a low-speed connection with simple setup that can be used to bootstrap more capable wireless connectionsFRAMED FROM SHANKAR ENVIRONMENT Q372 With respect to the Global Tiger Forum GTF consider the following statements :1 It is an international symposium to save Tigers in the world with support of South Asian Countries2 Headquarter of the GTF is located in India because India has the largest tiger population in the world Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns BGTF is an intergovernmental body to undertake worldwide campaign amp a common programme to save tigers in the worldInternational Symposium on Tiger held at New Delhi during February 1993 adopted a Delhi declaration on Tiger conservation Headquarter of the GTF is located in India because India has the largest tiger population in the world FRAMED FROM MAJID HUSSAIN’S INDIAN GEOGRAPHY Q371 Consider the following :1 Jai Samand Lake : Largest Artificial lake2 Pulicat lake : Has a largest number of islands within3 Vembanad lake : Largest KayalsWhich among the above is/are correctly matched A Only 2B 1 amp 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans BExplanation :1Kolleru lake has the largest number of islands within Kolleru lake is formed between deltas of Godavari amp Krishna riversKolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India located in state of Andhra Pradesh and formsthe largest shallow freshwater3 lake in Asia 15 kilometers away from the city of Eluru Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas4 Kolleru spans into two districts – Krishna and West Godavari The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammilerustreams and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari irrigation systems by over 67 major and minor irrigation canals This lake is a major tourist attraction Many birds migrate here in winter such as Siberian crane ibisand painted storks The lake was an important habitat for an estimated 20 million resident and migratorybirds including the grey or spot-billed pelican Pelecanus philippensis The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 308 km2Egrets grey herons painted storks and black-headed ibises gathering in thousands at Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh IndiaKolleru Lake under Ramsar Convention allowing local communities Here: Vaddi Community to continue their occupation of culture fish and caught fish covers 90100 hectares 222600 acres and Kolleru Lake underWildlife Sanctuary covers 166000 acres 67200 ha2Pulicat lake : Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilika Lake Pulicat Lagoon is considered to be the second largest brackish water body in India measuring 759 km2 The Lagoon is one the three important wetlands to attract North-East Monsoon rain clouds during October to December season to Tamil Nadu The lagoon comprises the following regions which adds up 759 km2 according to Andhra Pradesh Forest Department: 1 Pulicat Lake Tamil Nadu-TN amp Andhra Pradesh-AP 2 Marshy/WetlandLand Region AP 3 Venadu Reserve Forest AP 4 Pernadu Reserve Forest AP The lagoon was cut across in the middle the Sriharikota Link Road which divided the water body into lake and marshy land The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre1 Major part of the lake comes under Nellore district of Andhra pradesh3 Vembanad lake:Vembanad Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol is the longest lake in India1 and the largest lake in the state of Kerala Spanning several districts in the state of Kerala it is known as Vembanadu Lake in Kottayam Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad and Kochi Lake in Kochi Several groups of small islands including Vypin Mulavukad Vallarpadam Willingdon Island are located in the Kochi Lake portion Kochi Port is built around the Willingdon Island and the Vallarpadam islandThe Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake High levels of pollution have been noticed at certain hotspots of the Vembanad backwaters Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under National Wetlands Conservation Programme4 Jai Samand Lake:Dhebar Lake also known as Jaisamand Lake is India’s second-largest artificial lake after Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar1 It is located in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan State in western India It has an area of 87 km2 34 sq mi when full and was created in the 17th century when Rana Jai Singh of Udaipur built a marble dam across the Gomati River It is about 450 km 280 mi from the district headquarters of Udaipur When first built it was the largest artificial lake in the world The surrounding Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary around Dhebar Lake can be reached by the state highway to Banswara from Udaipur It is about 270 km 168 mi from Parsad A village on National Highway No 8 Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary protects about 1620 square kilometres 16200 ha mostly teakforest on the shores of Dhebar Lake The lake has three islands measuring from 10 to 40 acres 40000 to 162000 m2 each The Dhebar Lake Marble Dam is 3000 m 9843 ft long and is a part of the Heritage Monuments of India The dam also has the Hawa Mahal Palace winter Capital of the erstwhile Maharanas of MewarFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -MAY 2018 Q370 With reference to the CLOUD ACT consider the following statements :1 It has been passed by the US Congress very recently to make artificial rain by spraying clouds with substances like Silver Iodide 2 US has enacted in 2018 by passing the Consolidated Appropriations ActSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns BCloud act – The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data CLOUD Act passed by the US Congress earlier this year seeks to de-monopolise control over data from US authorities The law will for the first time allow tech companies to share data directly with certain foreign governments This however requires an executive agreement between the US and the foreign country certifying that the state has robust privacy protections and respect for due process and the rule of law Before this Cloud Act an Indian officer investigating would have to raise a request for data to the US government where it is storedHow CLOUD act impacts law enforcement in India :- Timely access to electronic data for police is required to prevent mitigate or prosecute even a routine crime With the enactment of the CLOUD Act an Indian officer for the purposes of an investigation will no longer have to make a request to the US government but can approach the company directlyFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q369 Which among the following is/are the expected benefits to a country by signing the pact of Duqm port in Oman 1 Port is located near the Persian Gulf through which half of the world’s oil tanker pass2 It has a special economic zone where 25 billion investments are expected to be made by the Indian companiesWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AIt has a special economic zone where 18 billion investments are expected to be made by the Indian companiesPort is located near the Persian Gulf through which half of the world’s oil tanker passIt is also near the Chabahar port of IranFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q368 What is/are the consequence/ consequences of a country becoming the member of the ‘European Bank for Reconstruction amp Development’ 1 Membership would provide access to the technical amp financial assistance of the bank related to the development of the private sector2 Co-financing opportunities access to the international markets will be enhanced through the membershipWhich of the statements given above is/are correctA 1 onlyB 2 onlyC Both 1 amp 2D Neither 1 nor 2 Ans BMembership would provide access to the technical assistance amp sectoral knowledge of the bank related to the development of the private sectorCo-financing opportunities access to the international markets will be enhanced through the membershipExplanation:The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD is an international financial institution founded in 1991 As a multilateral developmental investment bank the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market economies Initially focused on the countries of the former Eastern Bloc it expanded to support development in more than 30 countries from central Europe to central Asia Similar to other multilateral development banks the EBRD has members from all over the world North America Africa Asia and Australia see below with the biggest shareholder being the United States but only lends regionally in its countries of operations Headquartered in London the EBRD is owned by 69 countries and two EU institutions 69th being Indiarecently in July 2018 Despite its public sector shareholders it invests in private enterprises together with commercial partnersThe EBRD is not to be confused with the European Investment Bank EIB which is owned by EU member states and is used to support EU policy EBRD is also distinct from the Council of Europe Development Bank CEBFRAMED FROM INDIAN EXPRESS -AUGUST 2018 Q367 STARLINK refers to :A It is a research amp development project developed by Google X to provide internet access to rural amp remote areasB It is the solar powered drone launched by facebook to provide internet access to four billion people around the world C Any type of drone that can be controlled by the Microwave signals of high wavelengthD It is the planned constellation of satellites that would provide high speed global internet connectionAns DStarlink is a satellite constellation development project underway by SpaceX1 to develop a low-cost high-performance satellite bus and requisite customer ground transceivers to implement a new space-basedInternet communication system23 By 2017 SpaceX submitted regulatory filings to launch nearly 12000 satellites to orbit by the mid-2020s4SpaceX also plans to sell satellites that use a satellitebus that may be used for military5 scientific or exploratory purposes6 In November 2018 SpaceX received FCC approval to deploy 7518 broadband satellites in addition to the 4425 satellites that were approved in March 2018 Development began in 2015 and prototype test-flight satellites were launched on 22 February 2018Initial operation of the constellation could begin in 2020 with satellite deployment beginning mid 2019The SpaceX satellite development facility in Redmond Washington houses the research and development operations for the satellite Internet projectFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q366 Which among the following sites have been identified for the development of Water Aerodromes 1 Wular lake2 Sabarmati river front3 Chilika lakeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D 123Ans CChilika lake IN Orissa Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam Sabarmati river front have been identified for the development of Water AerodromesFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q365 Which among the following products have been classified into Minor Forest Products 1 Tamarind 2 Sandalwood3 Bamboo4 Cane5 Fuel amp TimberSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1345B 245C Only 2 amp 5D 134Ans DMajor Forest Produce and Minor Forest Products The Major Forest Products comprise Pulpwood SandalwoodSocial Forestry that incudes Fuel and Timber The Minor Forest Products include the items such as tamarind curry leaf Tendu Patta gallnut Cane Soapnut tree moss and now Bamboo alsoFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q364 Consider the following :1 Magnetic Rheological Fluid Damper2 Macro encapsulation device for treatment of Diabetes3 Smartphone based Camera SensorWhich among the above projects have been developed under the Imprint-2 Initiative A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 1Ans BMagnetic Rheological Fluid Damper Smartphone based Camera Sensor- are the projects of IMPRINT INITIATIVEFor details of the projects open the link : FROM THE HINDU -AUGUST 2018 Q363 Which among the following have been accorded Geographical Indication status 1 Blue pottery of Jaipur2 Tirupati ladoos3 Mahabaleshwar Strawberry4 Nagpur OrangeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 124B 2 amp 4C 234D 1234Ans DFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q362 With reference to the news what is Blockchain Bond A It is the new debt instrument issued by World Bank by using ledger technology B It is a type of bond purchased by buyers interested in earning a revenue stream from the British pound or sterlingC Republic of Seychelles has launched the Bond a novel financing initiative which taps into capital markets to fund ocean-related environmental projectsD It is the bond issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees rather than the local currencyAns AThe World Bank is turning to blockchain to help it raise moneyThe international lender is planning to issue what it says is the world’s first global blockchainbond a notable mainstream endorsement of the emerging technologyBlockchain is best known as the technology underpinning bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies It serves as a digital record of financial transactionsThe World Bank has hired Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBAUF to manage the bond which is expected to raise as much as 100 million Australian dollars 73 millionFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q361 Which of the following best describes the term “Mobilise Your City” sometimes seen in news A It is an initiative to support three Indian cities to reduce Green House Gas emissionsB It is a part of Swacch Bharat Mission to make Indian cities clean C It is the Heat Action Plan adopted in Climate Change Conference to keep global average temperature below 20 CD It is an initiative to support Indian cities to reduce atmospheric pollution as a part of health initiativeAns AIndia and France sign an implementation agreement on “MOBILISE YOUR CITY” MYC European Union agrees to Euro 35 million for investments and technical assistance within the Mobilise Your City MYC programme in India MYC aims at supporting three pilot cities viz Nagpur Kochi and Ahmedabad for reduction of Green House Gas GHG emissions related to urban transportFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q360 With reference to the PISA Programme For International Student Assessment consider the following statements :1 PISA test introduced in the year 2000 by UNICEF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund 2 The test is carried out once in every two yearsWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DPISA test introduced in the year 2000 by OECDThe test is carried out once in every three yearsThe Programme for International Student Assessment PISA is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils’ scholastic performance on mathematics science and reading It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years Its aim is to provide comparable data with a view to enabling countries to improve their education policies and outcomes It measures problem solving and cognition The 2015 version of the test was published on 6 December 2016FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q359 With reference to O-Smart scheme consider the following statements :1 It is the Earth Ministry’s scheme to address Ocean development activities 2 The scheme covers 16 sub projects with an overall cost of Rs 1700 croresWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThe scheme covers 16 sub projects with an overall cost of Rs 1623 croresFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q358 Which among the following is/are modified Operational Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana 1 Only Perennial horticulture crops are included on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY 2 Farmers will be paid 11 interest by insurance companies Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-Farmers will be paid 12 interest by insurance companies-State Governments will have to pay 12 interest for delay in release of state share of subsidy-It includes Perennial horticulture crops on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY -It provides add on coverage for crop loss -Release of upfront premium subsidy FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q357 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana consider the following statements :1 It is a life insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 years2 The annual premium of Rs12 will be paid by the Union government 3 The benefit includes Rs 2 lakhs in case of death due to any causeWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans BPradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana is a accident insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 yearsPradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a life insurance which includes age between 18 to 70 yearsPradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs12 will be paid by the Union government Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs330 will be paid by the Union government FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q356 Which among the following are mandatory to mention on the label of the food items as per regulations of Food Safety amp Standards Regulations Act2018 1Trans fats2 Sugar 3 Salt4 Genetically Engineered Goods / ingredients derived from GMO5 Folic acidWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A 145B 1234C 123D 12345Ans BThe Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI on August 17 2018 constituted a group of experts from health and nutrition sector to look into the issue of food labellingThe expert panel will be headed by B Sesikeran former director of National Institute of Nutrition NIN and comprises Hemalatha and Dr Nikhil Tandon The panel will study in detail the concerns of the industry and make recommendations The announcement regarding the constitution of the Committee was made by FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal while addressing a national consultation on the draft regulation on food labelling organised by the CUTS InternationalAgarwal also made it clear that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI will go ahead with the labelling norms even if there is no full consensus on the matter after the panel’s suggestionsIn April 2018 the FSSAI had come out with the draft of ‘Food Safety and Standards Labelling and Display Regulations 2018’ that propose mandatory red-label marking on packaged food products containing high levels of fat sugar and saltHowever for now the government has put on hold these draft regulations following the concerns raised by stakeholdersDraft provisions of Food Safety and Standards Labelling and Display Regulations 2018• The draft regulations suggest for mandatory declaration by packaged food manufacturers about nutritional information such as calories total fat trans fat sugar and salt per serve on the front of the pack• The draft pitches for a colour code proposes that the high fats such as sugar and salt trans-fat and sodium content should be coloured as ‘red’ if the value of energy from total sugar or fat is more than 10 percent of the total energy in the 100 grams or 100 ml of the product • The colour coding will make it easier for consumers to know about the nutritional value of food products and will help them make choices as per their requirements • It also makes mandatory to label food stuffs as ‘Contains GMO/Ingredients derived from GMO’ if the items contain 5 percent or more Genetically Engineered GE ingredients • The nutritional information should also be provided in the form of bar codeFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q355 Consider the following statements with reference to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that sometimes seen in news :1 It is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean2 It is located from 135°E to 155°WWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AThe Great Pacific garbage patch also described as the Pacific trash vortex is a gyre of marine debris particles in the central North Pacific Ocean It is located roughly from 135°W to 155°W and 35°N to 42°NThe collection of plastic floating trash halfway between Hawaii and California extends over an indeterminate area of widely varying range depending on the degree of plastic concentration used to define itThe patch is characterized by exceptionally high relative pelagic concentrations of plastic chemical sludge and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre3 Despite the common public image of islands offloating rubbish its low density 4 particles per cubic meter prevents detection by satellite imagery or even by casual boaters or divers in the area It consists primarily of an increase in suspended often microscopic particles in the upper water columnThe patch is not easily seen from the sky because the plastic is dispersed over a large area Researchers from The Ocean Cleanup project claimed that the patch covers 16 million square kilometers The plastic concentration is estimated to be up to 100 kilograms per square kilometer in the center going down to 10 kilograms per square kilometer in the outer parts of the patch An estimated 80000 metric tons of plastic inhabit the patch totaling 18 trillion pieces 92 of the mass in the patch comes from objects larger than 05 centimetersResearch indicates that the patch is rapidly accumulatingA similar patch of floating plastic debris is found in the Atlantic Ocean called the North Atlantic garbage patchFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q354 Consider the following statements with reference to the Heritage Irrigation Structures that sometimes seen in news :1 These structures have been created to ease irrigation by creating partition between the acidic amp alkaline soil2 This scheme has excluded old operational irrigation structures Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DAt the 63rd meeting of International Executive Council IEC held at Adelaide Australia on 28 June 2012 President Gao Zhanyi suggested that a process for recognition of the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites as recognized by UNESCO shall be initiated Accordingly a Task Team comprising of the following members was set up to work out objectives guidelines and procedures to select the historical irrigation structures The Scheme was discussed during the meeting of WG-HIST at 65th IEC meeting The members suggested changes in the scope of the Scheme The present Scheme has been revised and updated to include both the old operational irrigation structures as well as structures that have primarily archival value It is proposed that a historical irrigation and/or drainage structure fulfilling the criterion laid down in this document shall be recognized as “Heritage Irrigation Structure” HIS The nomination forms received by 30 June every year will be processed together and presented to the following Executive Council meeting after due processing Nominations are invited from ICID National Committees for selection of “World Heritage Irrigation Structures” WHIS thatincludes both old operational irrigation structures as well as those having an archival value A Task Team is set up every year to select historical drainage/drainage structures as received from various National Committees NCs to give recognition to the historical irrigation structures on the lines of World Heritage Sites as recognized by UNESCO National Committee can nominate more than one structure using separate nomination form for each Associated Members and non-member countries can nominate their structures through the neighboring active national committees or by submitting directly to the ICID Central OfficeFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q353 Which of the following best describes “MOVE” sometimes seen in news A It is the Global Mobility Summit organized by Niti Ayog to make Indian cities pollution freeB It is an Intergovernmental agreement on the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse C It is the Global Mobility Summit organized by UNFCCC between the Commonwealth and the States on environment issuesD It is an inter governmental agreement for the promotion of political amp economic relations with the ASEANAns ATo showcase innovation and build a platform to shape the future of mobility NITI Aayog is proud to host the first Move Summit 2018 In New Delhi on 7th and 8th September 2018 stakeholders from across the sectors of mobility and transportation will gather to co-create a public interest framework to revolutionize transport Together government industry academia civil society and media will set the base for a transport system which is safe clean shared and connected and affordable accessible and inclusiveThe Move Summit will address these challenges through two major channels:THE CORE SUMMIT AND PARALLEL EVENTS It will help leverage a number of unique features of India’s mobility ecosystem:a Tremendous potential for a fundamental shiftb Low lock-in-effectc Scale and size d Frugal innovation ande Globally-recognized technological prowessThe Move Summit will seek to integrate India’s efforts around sustainable development urbanization clean energy and more through the unique lens of mobilityFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q352 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana consider the following statements :1 Institutional treatment is the part of this Scheme2 It will cover over 10 crore people for secondary amp tertiary care hospitalization 3 Members of the family should not be more than 5 to be eligible for the scheme Which of the statements given above is/are correct A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans B1st statement : Institution treatment means a hospital nursing facility or other It is a fabricated statement3rd statement : It is also wrong It is not the feature of this schemePrime Minister Narendra Modi launched ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PMJAY under Ayushman Bharat umbrella at Ranchi Jharkhand The scheme aims to provide annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 1074 crore beneficiary families ie over 50 crore beneficiaries across India It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme that will serve beneficiary population that equals 27-28 European countries and almost equal to population of Canada Mexico and US put together The scheme will become operational from September 25 2018 ie on birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JUNE 2018 Q351 Which of the following best describes “RIMPAC” sometimes seen in news A It is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shippingB It is the world’s largest military exercise between United States amp South Korea C It is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfareD It is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise administered by the United States Navy’s pacific fleetAns DRIMPAC the Rim of the Pacific Exercise is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise RIMPAC is held bienniallyduring June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu Hawaii It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet headquartered at Pearl Harbor in conjunction with the Marine Corps the Coast Guard and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii The US invites military forces from the Pacific Rim and beyond to participate With RIMPAC the United States Pacific Command seeks to enhance interoperability among Pacific Rim armed forces ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations Described by the US Navy as a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceansRIMPAC 2018On 23 May 2018 the Pentagon announced that it had disinvited China because of recent militarization of islands in the South China Sea after China had announced in January that it had been invitedThe PRC has previously attended RIMPAC 2014 amp 2016On 30 May 2018 the US Navy announced that the following navies would take part in the exercise FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JUNE 2018 Q350 With reference to the “Polargap Project” consider the following statements :1 It is an international mission to capture data about the Earth’s electrical amp magnetic field2 This project is largely funded by the World bankWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DPolarGAP is an ambitious international mission to capture new and critical data about the Earth’s global gravity field Innovative radar systems and Lidar technologies will also be deployed from Twin Otter aircraft to fill the ‘data gap’ in measurements of surface elevation over the South Pole region south of 835°Two earth observing satellite missions GOCE and CryoSat 2 mounted by the European Space Agency ESA revolutionised scientists’ ability to ‘map’ the Earth’s global gravity field and monitor how Earth’s ice fields are responding to global change However because GOCE’s orbit did not cross the Poles there is a data gap at the South PoleThe PolarGAP project will collect new gravity data and combine them with datasets from other Antarctic missions to build the first accurately constrained global gravity model This is essential as global gravity data provide unique informationon mass distribution and transport in the Earth System linked to processes and changes in the Solid Earth hydrology cryosphere oceans and atmosphere Key applications of gravity data include geodetic studies levelling and mapping navigation GPS/GLONASS and satellite orbit planningFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -JULY 2018 Q349 Recently environment minister inaugurates advanced system of air quality “SAFAR” With reference to this project consider the following statements :1 It will monitor all the weather parameters like temperature wind speed amp wind direction 2 The system will also monitor existence of Benzene Methane amp TolueneWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AScienceamp Technology Earth Sciences Environment Forest amp Climate Change Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan unveiled a state-of-the-art Air Quality and Weather Forecast System– SAFAR System of Air Quality and Weather Forecastingat ChandniChowkin Delhi today The giant true colour LED display gives out real-time air quality index on 24×7 basis with colour coding alongwith 72-hour advance forecastThe system first of its kind in the country was developed indigenously in record time by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune and operationalized by India Meteorological Department IMDThe minister said based on the Air Quality Index on a particular day Health advisory and related precaution will be notified to prepare citizens well in advance Dr Harsh Vardhan further added that in addition to monitoring and forecasting of regular air quality and weather parameters the ChandniChowk air quality station will also measure sun’s UV-Index and will provide measurement of online automatic ultrafine particles PM1 and Mercury both of which have direct relevance to human health Based on UVI skin advisories will be issued on display“Our mission model project SAFAR is implemented in four cities of India – Delhi Pune Mumbai and Ahmedabad as an operational service Accordingto a preliminary economic assessment of the benefits of the system if 5 of people suffering from air-pollution related diseases take advantage of the advisories and precautionsin Delhi alone it would result in a saving of nearly Rs 2500 crores in terms of health-related cost benefit” said Dr Harsh Vardhan addressing a large gathering at Town Hall in ChandniChowkThe system will be an integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi and will strengthen the existing air quality network of SAFAR Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control CommitteeSAFAR will accelerate public awareness and preparedness of air pollution and weather extremes It will also lead to better understanding of linkages among emissions weather pollution and climate It will monitor all weather parameters like temperature rainfall humidity wind speed and wind directionIn addition to regular air quality parameters like PM25 PM10 Sulfur Dioxide Ozone Nitrogen Oxides Carbon Monoxide the system will also monitor the existence of Benzene Toluene and XyleneBesides health SAFAR system would benefit cost savings to several other sectors like agriculture aviation infrastructure disaster management skill tourism and many others which directly or indirectly get affected by air quality and weather FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q348 Which of the following best describes “Global Green Bond Partnership” sometimes seen in news A This partnership will spread catchment area over 689 sq km to provide water for irrigation to cities states regionsB These bonds are issued by world bank in partnership with the government bodies private organisations or individual scientists to increase forest cover C This partnership will support efforts of cities states regions corporations private companies to accelerate issuance of green bondsD These bonds are issued by world bank in partnership with the government bodies private organisations or individual scientists to provide precious water for paddy cropsAns CThe Global Green Bond Partnership GGBP launched at the Global Climate Action Summit GCAS This new partnership will support efforts of sub-national entities such as cities states and regions corporations and private companies and financial institutions to accelerate the issuance of green bondsThe founding members of the Global Green Bond Partnership GGBP include the World Bank IFC – a member of the World Bank Group Amundi European Investment Bank Climate Bonds Initiative Ceres ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate amp Energy GCoM and the Low Emissions Development Strategies Global Partnership LEDS GPFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q347 With reference to the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme consider the following statements :1 It is proposed to cover all the oil seeds for which minimum support price is notified2 It does not involve any physical procurement of the crops3 All the payments will be done directly into registered bank account of the farmer Which of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 2B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans DThe Niti Aayog has released a three-year agenda for the Centre Of the several things it has touched upon one is agriculture with a focus on doubling farmers’ income The think-tank has recommended reforms in the APMC Act and tenancy laws and tweaks to the eNAM electronic National Agriculture Market It has also suggested ‘Price Deficiency Payment’ system to address the gaps in Minimum Support Price MSP based procurement of cropsWhat is itUnder Price Deficiency Payment farmers are proposed to be compensated for the difference between the government-announced MSPs for select crops and their actual market prices For crops such as rice and wheat where it is effective now MSP announcements will continue For other targeted crops price deficiency payments will be made However it has to be noted that there may be a cap on the extent to which the Centre will bridge the gap between MSP and market priceNiti Aayog has said that the farmer may be entitled to the difference up to say 10 per cent To avail this benefit eachfarmer would have to register with the nearest APMC mandi and report the total area sown The subsidy may be paid via Direct Benefit Transfer DBT into the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank accountWhy is it importantThe key benefit from the price deficiency payment is that it will reduce the need for the government to actually procure food crops transport and store them and then dispose of them under PDS The difference between the support and market prices can instead simply be paid in cash to the farmer Price deficiency payment can also keep India’s bill on food subsidies under check believes Niti Aayog India’s food subsidy schemes have frequently come under the WTO scanner Even in the meeting held in March this year there were questions raised on the minimum support price programmes for wheat sugarcane and pulses by the US EU and AustraliaThese countries see India’s procurement subsidies as trade-distorting In recent years the government has been seeing the accumulation of large food grain stocks in its godowns over and above the buffer requirement This entails storage and wastage costs that add on to the subsidy billFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q346 Recently Government has hiked customs duties of several items to curb imports of non-essential goods Which among the following items are exempted under the custom duty 1 E-cigarettes2 Aviation turbine fuel3 Decorative sheets4 Beeds amp BanglesWhich of the options given above is/are correct A 234B Only 1C 1 amp 3D Only 4Ans BCustom DutySno Item 1 Air Conditioner 2 Refrigerators3 Washing Machines Less than 10kg 4 Compressor for ACs Refrigerators 5 Speakers 6 Footwear 7 Radial car tyres 8 Non-industrial diamonds 9 Diamonds semi-processed 10 Lab grown diamonds 11 Cut polished coloured gem stones 12 Jewellery- precious metal or metal clad with precious metal 13 Goldsmith or Silversmith wares – precious metal or metal clad with precious metal 14 Shower bath bath sink wash basin of plastic 15 Plastic items- boxes case containers bottles insulated ware 16 Kitchenware tableware household items of plastic 17 Other plastic items- office stationary fitting for furniture decorative sheets statuettes beads and bangles18 Trunks suitcases brief cases travel bags and other bags 19 Aviation turbine fuel FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q345 With reference to the Price Support scheme consider the following statements :1 Physical procurement of the oilseeds pulses amp Copra will be done by NAFED amp Food Corporation of India2 Procurement expenditure amp losses due to procurement will be borne by the State governmentWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAnsAProcurement expenditure amp losses due to procurement will be borne by the Union government as per normsPhysical procurement of the oilseeds pulses amp Copra will be done by Central Nodal agencies with the proactive role of the State governments FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q344 India has recently signed COMCASA Agreement What is/are the consequence/consequences for India by signing the agreement 1 It allows the India to transfer electronic systems amp ensure secrecy of its C4ISR systems2 By signing the agreement India would have to buy American Military equipmentWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D-It allows the US to transfer high tech electronic systems amp ensure secrecy of its C4ISR Command Control Communications Computers Intelligence Surveillance amp Reconnaissance systems-By signing the agreement It is not mean that India would have to necessarily buy American Military equipmentExplanation :It is one of the three foundational defence pacts that needs to be signed by a country in order to obtain high-tech military hardware from the US Before COMCASA India had signed only one of these agreements – Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement LEMOA – in 2016 The two countries are yet to begin talks on the third agreement – Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation BECA2 The agreement will give Indian military access to function on high-end secured and encrypted communication equipment which are installed on American platforms obtained by Indian Armed Forces These platforms include C-130 J C-17 P-8I aircraft and Apache and Chinook helicopters3 The act is usually known as the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement CISMOA But it was changed to COMCASA to signify its India-specific alterations4 It will also provide a legal framework for the transfer of encrypted communication security equipment from the US to India It is believed to be safer and more secure than the system that India uses right now “Signing of Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement COMCASA will enable India to access advanced technologies from USA” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while addressing the media5 The agreement was pending for almost ten years One of the major reasons for this was the fear that India may compromise its operational independence Critics had also pointed out that the agreement could jeopardise India’s established military ties with Russia and access to their weapons systemsThe agreement is also of political significance with the general elections scheduled to take place next year In 2016 the BJP government had to face a lot of criticism from the opposition parties for signing LEMOAThese agreements and Donald Trump administration’s decision to give India STA-1 status Strategic Trade Authorization-1 shows the country’s importance in the US strategic calculus“We’ll be meeting PM Modi on how to advance relationship in the new era of growth under his leadership and President Trump We had many productive and forward thinking conversations on our bilateral relationship and our shared future” Pompeo said after ‘22’ talksFRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018 Q343 Currently India is a member of which among the following organizations / groups 1 Missile Technology Control Regime2 Australia Group3 Wassenaar Arrangement4 Nuclear Suppler GroupWhich of the statements given above is/are correct A Only 2 amp 3B 234C Only 1 amp 2D 123Ans DSome countries are opposing the Indian entry into NSG because India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty NPTQ342 With respect to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana which among the following is NOT correctA It is a social welfare scheme to provide LPG connections in BPL householdsB The scheme was launched in the year 2015C The Government has set a target of 5 crores LPG connections under the YojanaD The objective of the scheme is to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuelAns B- The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana PMUY is a welfare program of the government of India launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016The stated objective of the program is providing 50000000 LPG connections to women from families below the poverty lineFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ341 Which among the following is/are correctly matched 1 COP 11 : Minimata convention on mercury2 COP 3 : Kyoto protocol on climate change3 COP 1 : Montreal ProtocolSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D Only 2Ans BCOP-4 conference in Buenos COP 3 : Kyoto protocol on climate changegtCOP 11 : Montreal It took place between 28 November and 9 December 2005 in Montreal Quebec Canada It was the first Meeting of the Parties CMP 1 to the Kyoto Protocol since their initial meeting in Kyoto in 1997 It was one of the largest intergovernmental conferences on climate change ever gtCOP1 : Minimata convention on mercuryFRAMED FROM MAP SECTION Q340 Consider the following :1 Rajpipla range : Rajasthan2 Suket hills : Himachal Pradesh3 Kali river : DelhiSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 123D 2 amp 3Ans BRajpipla range : GujaratKali river : Source : Doon valley in UttarakhandFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q339 Which of the following is/are true with respect to the petroleum Panchayat yojna 1 It has replaced Pradhan Mantri Ujwal Yojana to deal with issue of safe use of LPG2 It was launched in 20153 Availability of refill cylinders is one of the key feature of this schemeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans DIt was launched in 23rd September 2017It is backup scheme to existing Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana LPG Panchayat will serve as an interactive platform between those who received LPG cylinders under PMUY One panchayat will have around 100 LPG customers of nearby areas The panchayats discuss issues such as safe practices quality of service provided by distributors and availability of refill cylindersFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q338 Which among the following species is/are the examples of the Waterfowl 1 Wood Sandpiper2 Little cormorant3 Painted StorkSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans D The most common waterfowl are :Gadwall shoveler common teal cotton teal tufted duck knob-billed duck little cormorant great cormorant Indian shag ruff painted stork white spoonbill Asian open-billed stork oriental ibis darter common sandpiper wood sandpiper and green sandpiper The sarus crane with its spectacular courtship dance is also found hereFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q337 Which among the following statements is/are true with respect to the Special Drawing Rights 1 These are the foreign-exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the World Bank 2 Private parties are restricted to hold or use them3 South African Rand amp British pound have been added to the XDR basket effectively from October 1 2016Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 3C 2 amp 3D Only 2Ans DSpecial drawing rights ISO 4217 currency code XDR1 also abbreviated SDR are supplementary foreign-exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the International Monetary Fund IMF The XDR is the unit of account for the IMF and is not a currency per se2 XDRs instead represent a claim to currency held by IMF member countries for which they may be exchanged3 The XDR was created in 1969 to supplement a shortfall of preferred foreign-exchange reserve assets namely gold and the US dollar3XDRs are allocated to countries by the IMF3 Private parties do not hold or use them4 The amount of XDRs in existence was around XDR 214 billion in August 2009 During the global financial crisis of 2009 an additional XDR 1826 billion were allocated to provide liquidity to the global economic system and supplement member countries’ official reserves By October 2014 the amount of XDRs in existence was XDR 204 billion5The value of the XDR is based on a basket of key international currencies reviewed by IMF every five years3 The weights assigned to each currency in the XDR basket are adjusted to take into account their current prominence in terms of international trade and national foreign exchange reserves3 In the review conducted in November 2015 the IMF decided that the Renminbi Chinese yuan would be added to the basket effective October 1 20166 From that date the XDR basket now consists of the following five currencies: US dollar 4173 Euro 3093 Renminbi Chinese yuan 1092 Japanese yen 833 British pound 809FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q336 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana 1 it is an annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic records only2 Philately as a hobby is an important component of this scheme3 Children must be between 10 to 18 years of age to be eligible for this schemeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 3C 1 amp 2D Only 2Ans DDeen Dayal Sparsh YojanaMinister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately Under the scheme of SPARSH Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude amp Research in Stamps as a Hobby it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby through a competitive selection process in all postal circles Briefing the media after the launch of the scheme Shri Sinha said that under the scheme it is proposed to award 920 scholarships to students pursuing Philately as a hobby Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of 40 scholarships representing 10 students each from Standard VI VII VIII amp IX The amount of Scholarship will be Rs 6000/- per annum Rs 500/- per monthPhilately is the hobby of collection and study of Postage stampsFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q335 Which among the following is/are the cryptocurrencies 1 Litecoin2 Bitcoin3 NamecoinSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 123Ans Dcryptocurrencies such as Litecoin Namecoin and PPCoinThe first cryptocurrency to capture the public imagination was Bitcoin which was launched in 2009 by an individual or group known under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto As of September 2015 there were over 146 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market value of 34 billion Bitcoin’s success has spawned a number of competing cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin Namecoin and PPCoinCryptocurrencies make it easier to transfer funds between two parties in a transaction these transfers are facilitated through the use of public and private keys for security purposesThese fund transfers are done with minimal processing fees allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by most banks and financial institutions for wire transfersFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q334 With reference to the news what are Bug Zappers A It is is a bio-remediation technique to get rid of oil spillB These are the fluorescent traps to eliminate bugs amp small insectsC These are the tools or methods to reduce the greenhouse gases D These are the Ultraviolet traps to eliminate various small flying insectsAns DUltraviolet traps called bug zappers are used to eliminate various small flying insects They are attracted to the UV and are killed using an electric shock or trapped once they come into contact with the device FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q333 Which among the following are the migratory wetland species 1 White-bellied Heron2 Siberian Crane3 Red-headed Vulture4 Spoon-billed SandpiperSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 4B 2 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 2 amp 4Ans DMigratory wetland species: Baer’s Pochard Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper Non-migratory wetland species: White-bellied Heron Grassland species:Bengal Florican Great Indian Bustard Jerdon’s Courser and Sociable Lapwing Forest species:Forest Owlet Scavengers: Indian Vulture Red-headed Vulture White-backed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are now considered Extinct for all practical purposesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q332 With reference to the CITES what are Appendix II species A species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a speciesB species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by tradeC species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade in specimens of such speciesD Species that are preserved under the biosphere reserves to prevent their extinctionAns CAppendix I : species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by tradeAppendix II : species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade in specimens of such speciesAppendix III : species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a speciesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q331 What does Hedge Fund means A Funds provided for replacement and renovation of industriesB Open ended funds that pools capital from accredited individuals or institutional investorsC Start-up capital provided to new entrepreneursD Fund created by the Government of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in the countryAns BHedge Funds :A hedge fund is an investment fund that pools capital from accredited individuals or institutional investors and invests in a variety of assets often with complex portfolio-construction and risk-management techniquesIt is administered by a professional investment management firm and often structured as a limited partnership limited liability company or similar vehicleHedge funds are generally distinct from mutual funds as their use of leverage is not capped by regulators and distinct from private equity funds as the majority of hedge funds invest in relatively liquid assetsHedge funds are made available only to certain sophisticated or accredited investors and cannot be offered or sold to the general publicHedge funds are almost always open-ended and allow additions or withdrawals by their investors generally on a monthly or quarterly basis1 The value of an investor’s holding is directly related to the fund net asset valueFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q330 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Vernacular Press Act 1 The Act provided for submitting to police all the proof sheets of contents of papers before publication2 Final decision on the seditious news was to be determined by the Judiciary Select the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns AVernacular press act:It was enacted to curtail the freedom of the Indian press and prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies—notably the opposition that had grown with the outset of the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878–80The act was proposed by Lord Lytton then Viceroy of India and was unanimously passed by the Viceroy’s Council on March 14 1878 The act excluded English-language publications as it was meant to control seditious writing in ‘publications in Oriental languages’ everywhere in the country except for the SouthLord Wellesley regulated the press again in 1799 according to which press had to show and get approval of the government before the publication of any manuscript including advertisement During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the Gagging Act” had been passed by Lord Canning which sought to regulate the establishment of printing presses and to restrain the mad of printed mater All presses had to have a license from the government with distinction between publications in English and other regional languages The Act also held that no printed material shall impugn the motives of the British Raj tending to bring it hatred and contempt and exciting unlawful resistance to its ordersAt the time the Vernacular Press Act was passed there were thirty five vernacular papers in Bengal including the Amrita Bazar Patrika the editor of which was one Sisir Kumar GhoseThe Vernacular Press Act stated that any magistrate or Commissioner of Police had the authority to call upon any printer or publisher of a newspaper to enter into a bond undertaking not to print a certain kind of material and could confiscate any printed material it deemed objectionable The Act provided for submitting to police all the proof sheets of contents of papers before publication What was seditious news was to be determined by the police and not by the judiciaryFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q329 Who among the following is/are associated with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha 1 G SubramaniaIyer2 Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi3 P AnandacharluSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans BPoona Sarvajanik Sabha:It was a sociopolitical organisation in British India which started with the aim of working as a mediating body between the government and people of India and to popularise the peasants’ legal rights1 2 It started as an elected body of 95 members elected by 6000 persons on April 2 1870The Pune Sarvajanik Sabha provided many of the prominent leaders of national stature to the Indian freedom struggle including Bal Gangadhar Tilak It was formed in 1870 by S H Chiplunkar Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi Mahadev Govind Ranade et alMany eminent personalities such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak Gopal Hari Deshmukh Maharshi Annasaheb Patwardhan5 etc served as the Presidents of the organizationMadras Mahajan Sabha:The first organisation in the Madras Presidency to agitate for the rights of Indians was the Madras Native Association which was established by publicist GazuluLakshminarasu Chetty in 1849 This organisation did not survive for long and was eventually disbandedIn May 1884 M Veeraraghavachariar G SubramaniaIyer and P Anandacharlu established the Madras Mahajana SabhaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q328 Consider the following statements :1 Deposition of iron-rich dust into ocean waters enhances carbon sequestration2 Biochar is added to a landfill or used as a soil improver to create terra preta3 Harvesting of Seeweed is done to generate electricity or as a replacement for natural gasSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DCarbon SequestrationCarbon sequestration is the process involved in carbon capture and the long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide1 Carbon sequestration involves long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to mitigate or defer global warming It has been proposed as a way to slow the atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases which are released by burning fossil fuels artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers reservoirs ocean water aging oil fields or other carbon sinksCarbon dioxide may be captured as a pure by-product in processes related to petroleum refining or from flue gases from power generation5 CO2 sequestration includes the storage part of carbon capture and storage which refers to large-scale artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers reservoirs ocean water aging oil fields or other carbon sinksBiosequestration or carbon sequestration through biological processes affects the global carbon cycle Examples include major climatic fluctuations such as the Azolla event which created the current Arctic climate Such processes created fossil fuels as well as clathrate and limestone By manipulating such processes geoengineers seek to enhance sequestrationPeat bogs are a very important carbon store Wetland soil is an important carbon sink 145 of the world’s soil carbon is found in wetlands while only 6 of the world’s land is composed of wetlandsOcean iron fertilization is an example of such a geoengineering technique23 Iron fertilization24 attempts to encourage phytoplankton growth which removes carbon from the atmosphere for at least a period of timeNatural iron fertilisation events eg deposition of iron-rich dust into ocean waters can enhance carbon sequestration The iron rich feces causes phytoplankton to grow and take up more carbon from the atmosphereWhen the phytoplankton dies some of it sinks to the deep ocean and takes the atmospheric carbon with it By reducing the abundance of sperm whales in the Southern Ocean whaling has resulted in an extra 200000 tonnes of carbon remaining in the atmosphere each year’Seaweed grows very fast and can theoretically be harvested and processed to generate biomethane via Anaerobic Digestion to generate electricity via Cogeneration/CHP or as a replacement for natural gas Ideal species for such farming and conversion include Laminaria digitata Fucus serratus and Saccharina latissimaBio-energy with carbon capture and storage BECCS‘BECCS refers to biomass in power stations and boilers that use carbon capture and storageBiochar is charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass waste The resulting material is added to a landfill or used as a soil improver to create terra pretaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q327 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the CITES 1 CITES is the conservation agreement with the largest membership with 183 Parties2 It is legally binding on the PartiesSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CCITES the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survivalIt was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCNIt provides a framework to be respected by each Party which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national levelFor many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership with now 183 PartiesCITES is legally binding on the PartiesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q326 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Bronze icon of Nataraja 1 The classical form of the depiction appears in stone reliefs by around the 6th-century2 Torso movements are visible as the most common form of Shiva’s dance 3 It typically shows Shiva dancing holding Agni fire in his left back hand the front hand in gajahasta or dandahasta mudraSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 3B 2 amp 3C Only 1D 1 amp 3Ans DBronze icon of NatarajaAffiliation Shiva SymbolsAgni TextsAnshumadbhed agamaUttarakamika agamaThe classical form of the depiction appears in stone reliefs as at the Ellora Caves and the Badami Caves by around the 6th-century45 Around the 10th century it emerged in Tamil Nadu in its mature and best-known expression in Chola bronzes of various heights typically less than four feet6 some over7 The Nataraja reliefs have been identified in historic artwork from many parts of South Asia in southeast Asia such as in Bali Cambodia and in central AsiaIt typically shows Shiva dancing in one of the Natya Shastra poses holding Agni fire in his left back hand the front hand in gajahasta or dandahasta mudra the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is in abhaya fear not mudra while pointing to a Sutratext and the back hand holding a musical instrument usually a damaru6 His body fingers ankles neck face head ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items which vary with historic period and region111 He is surrounded by a ring of flames standing on a lotus pedestal lifting his left leg or in rare cases the right leg and balancing over a demon shown as a dwarf Apasmara2 or Muyalaka who symbolizes ignoranceThe dance of Shiva in Tillai the traditional name for Chidambaram forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja He is also known as Sabesan which splits as Sabayil aadum eesan in Tamil which means The Lord who dances on the dais The two most common forms of Shiva’s dance are the Lasya the gentle form of dance associated with the creation of the world and the Tandava the violent and dangerous dance associated with the destruction of weary worldviews – weary perspectives and lifestyles• The arch of fire emerges from two makara on each end which are water creatures of water and part of Hindu mythologies • • The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a ḍamaru in Sanskrit2728 A specific hand gesture mudra called ḍamaru-hasta Sanskrit for ḍamaru-hand is used to hold the drum• • His legs are bent which suggests an energetic dance• The second left hand points towards the raised foot which suggests the viewer to be active and dance despite the circumstances or alternatively as a sign of upliftment and liberation• • The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead which symbolize the triune in Shaivism The Asanapat inscription also mentions a Shiva temple in the Saivacaryas kingdomStone reliefs depicting the classical form of Nataraja are found in numerous cave temples of India such as the Ellora Caves Maharashtra the Elephanta Caves and the Badami Caves Karnataka by around the 6th-centuryNataraja is celebrated in 108 poses of Bharatanatyam with Sanskrit inscriptions from Natya Shastra at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram Tamil Nadu IndiaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q325 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana 1 It is a Pension Scheme for the senior citizens aged 70 years and above2 The scheme is exempted from Service Tax/ GST3 On Premature exit 100 of the Purchase Price shall be refundedSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans BPradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana PMVVY is a Pension Scheme announced by the Government of India exclusively for the senior citizens aged 60 years and above which is available from 4th May 2017 to 3rd May 2018Following are the major benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana PMVVY:• Scheme provides an assured return of 8 pa payable monthly equivalent to 830 pa effective for 10 years• Pension is payable at the end of each period during the policy term of 10 years as per the frequency of monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly/ yearly as chosen by the pensioner at the time of purchase• The scheme is exempted from Service Tax/ GST• On survival of the pensioner to the end of the policy term of 10 years Purchase price along with final pension installment shall be payable• Loan upto 75 of Purchase Price shall be allowed after 3 policy years to meet the liquidity needs Loan interest shall be recovered from the pension installments and loan to be recovered from claim proceeds• The scheme also allows for premature exit for the treatment of any critical/ terminal illness of self or spouse On such premature exit 98 of the Purchase Price shall be refunded• On death of the pensioner during the policy term of 10 years the Purchase Price shall be paid to the beneficiary• The ceiling of maximum pension is for a family as a whole the family will comprise of pensioner his/her spouse and dependants• The shortfall owing to the difference between the interest guaranteed and the actual interest earned and the expenses relating to administration shall be subsidized by the Government of India and reimbursed to the CorporationEligibility Conditions and Other Restrictions1 Minimum Entry Age: 60 years completed2 Maximum Entry Age: No limit3 Policy Term : 10 years4 Minimum Pension: Rs 1000/- per monthRs 3000/- per quarterRs6000/- per half-yearRs12000/- per year5 Maximum Pension: Rs 5000/- per monthRs 15000/- per quarterRs 30000/- per half-yearRs 60000/- per yearThe modes of pension payment are monthly quarterly half-yearly amp yearly The pension payment shall be through NEFT or Aadhaar Enabled Payment SystemThe first instalment of pension shall be paid after 1 year 6 months 3 months or 1 month from the date of purchase of the same depending on the mode of pension payment ie yearly half-yearly quarterly or monthly respectivelyFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ324 With reference to the incarnation of the Buddhas what does Ruru Jataka signifies A It is the tale of the three friends who lived in a forest: an antelope a woodpecker and a tortoiseB It is the story of The dumb Prince that is also known as Muga Pakaya JatakaC In this jataka tale the Buddha in a previous incarnation as a monkey king self-sacrifyinly offers his own body as a bridge by which his fellow monkeys can escape from a human king who is attacking themD is the story of how a past incarnation of the Buddha incarnated as a golden deer rescues a merchant from drowning in the riverAns DMahakapi Jataka : In this jataka tale the Buddha in a previous incarnation as a monkey king self-sacrifyinly offers his own body as a bridge by which his fellow monkeys can escape from a human king who is attacking them Ruru Jataka :The Ruru Jataka is the story of how a past incarnation of the Buddha incarnated as a golden deer rescues a merchant from drowning in the river bottom of medallionKurunga Miga Jataka :This story is about three friends who lived in a forest: an antelope a woodpecker and a tortoise Muga Pakaya Jataka/ Mugapakkha Jataka/ Temiya Jataka : This is the story of The dumb PrinceFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ323 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the GSF certification Gold standard foundation certificate 1 It is a standard for creating high-quality emission reductions projects in the Clean Development Mechanism CDM2 It was developed in 2003 by World Wide Fund for Nature WWF and Helio International onlySelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns D GSF Gold standard foundation certificate certificationThe Gold Standard is a standard for creating high-quality emission reductions projects in the Clean Development Mechanism CDM Joint Implementation JI and Voluntary Carbon Market It was designed to ensure that carbon credits are not only real and verifiable but that they make measurable contributions to sustainable development worldwide Its objective is to add branding a label to existing and new Carbon Credits generated by projects which can then be bought and traded by countries that have a binding legal commitment according to the Kyoto ProtocolThe Gold Standard for CDM GS CER was developed in 2003 by World Wide Fund for Nature WWF SouthSouthNorth and Helio International The Voluntary Gold StandardGS VER a methodology for use within the voluntary carbon market was launched in May 2006To be eligible for Gold Standard Certification a project must:1 Be an approved Renewable Energy Supply or End use Energy Efficiency Improvement project type2 Be reducing one of the three eligible Green House Gases: Carbon Dioxide CO2 Methane CH4 and Nitrous Oxide N2O3 Not employ Official Development Assistance ODA under the condition that the credits coming out of the project are transferred to the donor country4 Not be applying for other certifications to ensure there is no double counting of credits5 Demonstrate its additionality by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s UNFCCC Large Scale Additionality Tool6 and show that the project is not a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario6 Make a net-positive contribution to the economic environmental and social welfare of the local population that hosts itFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ322 Consider the following statements :1 Barail range is an eastern extension of the Himalayan Range System in north eastern India2 The Garo Khasi and Jaintia hills are part of Deccan Plateau and not part of the Purvanchal rangeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns CBarail range :The Purvanchal Mountains or Eastern Mountains are a sub-mountain range of the Himalayas in northeast IndiaThe Purvanchal Mountains cover the states of Assam Arunachal Pradesh Manipur Tripura Nagaland Meghalaya and MizoramThe range is an eastern extension of the Himalayan Range System in north eastern India It bends sharply to the south beyond the Dihang River gorge and spreads along the eastern boundary of India with Myanmar The Purvanchal range includes the hill ranges of the Patkai Barail range Manipur Mizoram Mizodisambiguation needed and Naga HillsThe Garo Khasi and Jaintia hills are part of Deccan Plateau and not part of the Purvanchal rangeFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ321 Which among the following protocols employed the principle of differential treatment in respect to climate change 1 Washington Naval Treaty2 Cartagena Protocol3 Part IV of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATTSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans ACommon but Differentiated responsibilities amp respective capabilities :Common But Differentiated Responsibilities CBDR was formalized in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC of Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 1992 It was the first international legal instrument to address climate change and the most comprehensive international attempt to address negative impacts to global environment3 CBDR principle acknowledges all states have shared obligation to address environmental destruction but denies equal responsibility of all states with regard to environmental protectionCBDR is based on relationship between industrialization and climate changeCBDR was not the first differential treatments of countries in international agreements There were other protocols agreements that employed principle of differential treatment• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer Montreal Protocol• • Washington Naval Treaty• Part IV of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT 19799• principle 23 of Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 1972FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ320 Recently a national park has been set up in the Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary where clouded leopards are kept in enclosures in a zoological park Where this wildlife sanctuary is located A MeghalayaB TripuraC SikkimD Arunachal PradeshAns BFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ319 Recently in the news there was a term Superbugs What is this A These are the microorganism that are essential for the vital functions of the bodyB These are the enzymes that makes bacteria resistant to broad range of beta-lactam antibioticsC These are the bacteria that causes infection which is difficult to treatD These are the super weeds that are essential in the treatment of less fertile soilsAns CNew Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1 NDM-1 is an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of beta-lactam antibiotics These include the antibiotics of the carbapenem family which are a mainstay for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections The gene for NDM-1 is one member of a large gene family that encodes beta-lactamase enzymes called carbapenemases Bacteria that produce carbapenemases are often referred to in the news media as superbugs because infections caused by them are difficult to treat Such bacteria are usually susceptible only to polymyxins and tigecyclineThe most common bacteria that make this enzyme are gram-negative such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae but the gene for NDM-1 can spread from one strain of bacteria to another by horizontal gene transferFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ318 With reference to the ancient Pandu caves consider the following statements:1 These caves depicts the characters of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic2 They are a significant group of Indian rock-cut architecture representing the Hinayana tradition 3 These are a group of 22 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3nd century CESelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D Only 3Ans BPandav Caves:Pandu Caves or Trirashmi Leni Leni being a Marathi word for caves are a group of 24 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3nd century CE though additional sculptures were added up to about the 6th century reflecting changes in Buddhist devotional practicesThey are a significant group of early examples of Indian rock-cut architecture initially representing the so-called Hinayana tradition Most of the caves are viharas except for Cave 18 which is a chaitya of the 1st century BCEThe location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site and is located about 8 km south of the center of Nashik or Nasik Maharashtra IndiaTheir name has nothing to do with the characters Pandavas characters in the Mahabharata epicFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA : FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ317 For which among the following purpose National Water Resource Council has been constituted A It is an international thin tank established in 1996 to promote awareness build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levelsB To advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010C To resolve the water disputes that would arise in the use control and distribution of an interstate riverD It is a non-profit organization that drives economic technology and talent development to support the global water industryAns BNational Water Resource CouncilDissolved 25 November 2014Jurisdiction Commonwealth of AustraliaHeadquarters Turner Australian Capital Territory Motto Australia’s independent voice on national water issuesEmployees 48The key function that the Commission provided was to advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010 FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA :FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ316 Who among the following are the members of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium 1 India2 China3 Malaysia4 Australia5 JapanSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 245B 1345C 2345D All are correctAns CThe Western Pacific Naval Symposium are a series of biennial meetings of the Pacific nations to discuss naval matters held on even numbered years A WPNS workshop is held on odd numbered years in between the symposiumsMember countries as of 2010: Australia Brunei Cambodia Canada Chile France Indonesia Japan Malaysia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peoples’ Republic of China Philippines Republic of Korea Russia Singapore Thailand Tonga United States of America Vietnam Observers: Bangladesh India Mexico PeruFRAMED FROM GK TODAY MAGAZINEQ315 Who among the following is/are the members of the Boao Forum for Asia BFA 1 China2 India3 FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of CommerceSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans AIt is a non-profit organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large BFA is modeled after the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos SwitzerlandThe Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA :FROM OUR MOCK SERIES 2018 PRELIMSQ314 Terai Arc Landscape program aims to protect which among the following terrestrial flagship species 1 African elephant2 Great Horned Rhinoceros3 Asian Elephant4 Golden LionSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 2B 234C Only 2 amp 3D 124Ans CTerai Arc Landscape Program:The program aims to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species the tiger the Asian elephant and the great one-horned rhinoceros by restoring corridors of forest to link 13 protected areas of Nepal and India to enable wildlife migrationFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ313 What is crowdfunding A Money collected for public welfare projects by levying an entry fee to exhibitions shows etcB Money collected by charitable organisations by placing a donation box at a prominent locationsC Money raised by innovators amp inventors by launching their products amp services through the internetD Money raised by individuals by passing the hat around to onlookers at a street performanceAns CCrowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people typically via the Internet1 Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and of alternative finance In 2015 it was estimated that worldwide over US34 billion was raised this waythe term crowdfunding refers to Internet-mediated registries This modern crowdfunding model is generally based on three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded individuals or groups who support the idea and a moderating organization the platform that brings the parties together to launch the idea Crowdfunding has been used to fund a wide range of for-profit entrepreneurial ventures such as artistic and creative projects medical expenses travel or community-oriented social entrepreneurship projectsWar bonds are theoretically a form of crowdfunding military conflictsThe Crowdfunding Centre’s May 2014 report identified two primary types of crowdfunding:1 Rewards crowdfunding: entrepreneurs presell a product or service to launch a business concept without incurring debt or sacrificing equity/shares2 Equity crowdfunding: the backer receives shares of a company usually in its early stages in exchange for the money pledgedFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ312 The meaning of carbon footprint is described by the amount of :A Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual organization or communityB Greenhouse gases emitted by industries contributing to global warmingC Carbon emissions released by the burning of jet fuelD Increase in the carbon content of the atmosphere due to the felling of treesAns AA carbon footprint is historically defined as the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual event organisation or product expressed as carbon dioxide equivalentA measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide CO2 and methane CH4 emissions of a defined population system or activity considering all relevant sources sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population system or activity of interest Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent using the relevant 100-year global warming potentialGWP100Carbon footprint is one of a family of footprint indicators which also includes water footprint and land footprint• 4Indirect carbon emissions: the carbon footprints of productso 41Foodo 42Textileso 43Materialso 44Cement• 5Schemes to reduce carbon emissions: Kyoto Protocol carbon offsetting and certificatesCarbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and the emissions of other GHGs are often associated with the burning of fossil fuels like natural gas crude oil and coal The Kyoto Protocol defines legally binding targets and timetables for cutting the GHG emissions of industrialized countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol Accordingly from an economic or market perspective one has to distinguish between a mandatory market and a voluntary market Typical for both markets is the trade with emission certificates:• Certified Emission Reduction CER• Emission Reduction Unit ERU• Verified Emission Reduction VERlocal emissions reduction schemes have no status under the Kyoto Protocol itself they play a prominent role in creating the demand for CERs and ERUs stimulating Emissions Trading and setting a market price for emissionsFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ311 Non-performing Assets decline in value when 1 Demand revives in the economy 2 capacity utilization increases3 Capacity utilization through substantive is yet optimal4 Capacity utilization decreases consequent upon merger of unitsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 134B 124C 123D 1234Ans CA Non-performing asset NPA is defined as a credit facility in respect of which the interest and/or installment of principal has remained ‘past due’ for a specified period of time In simple terms an asset is tagged as non performing when it ceases to generate income for the lenderA Non-performing asset NPA is defined as a credit facility in respect of which the interest and/or installment of Bond finance principal has remained ‘past due’ for a specified period of time NPA is used by financial institutions that refer to loans that are in jeopardy of default the so called NPL Once the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days the loan is considered to be a non-performing asset Non-performing assets are problematic for financial institutions since they depend on interest payments for income Troublesome pressure from the economy can lead to a sharp increase in NPLs and often results in massive write-downsAccordingly with effect from March 31 2004 a non-performing asset NPAis a loan or an advance where• Interest and/or installment of principal remain overdue for a period of more than 91 days in respect of a term loan• The account remains ‘out of order’ for a period of more than 90 days in respect of an Overdraft/Cash Credit OD/CC• The bill remains overdue for a period of more than 90 days in the case of bills purchased and discounted• Interest and/or installment of principal remains overdue for two harvest seasons but for a period not exceeding two half years in the case of an advance granted for agricultural purposes and• Any amount to be received remains overdue for a period of more than 90 days in respect of other accounts• Non submission of Stock Statements for 3 Continuous Quarters in case of Cash Credit Facility• No active transactions in the account Cash Credit/Over Draft/EPC/PCFC for more than 91daysFROM IES 2018 PRELIMSQ310 Which of the following concepts are relatable to income of members of the public while considering public welfare 1 Sensitivity of demand2 Elasticity of demand3 Sensitive of expenditure 4 Elasticity of expenditureA 1 amp 2B 2 amp 3C 3 amp 4D 1 amp 4Ans BFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ309 Consider the following statements :1 Foods containing carotene Vitamin A or cooking oils are safe to be cooked in a microwave2 Thermocol plates are poor barrier to oxygen and water vapor and has a relatively high melting pointSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns DThermocol plates:-It is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene Polystyrene can be solid or foamed General-purpose polystyrene is clear hard and rather brittle It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapor and has a relatively low melting pointPolystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics the scale of its production being several million tonnes per yearPolystyrene can be naturally transparent but can be colored with colorants Uses include protective packaging such as packing peanuts and CD and DVD cases containers such as clamshells lids bottles trays tumblers disposable cutlery5 and in the making of modelsPolystyrene is very slow to biodegrade and is therefore a focus of controversy among environmentalists It is increasingly abundant as a form of litter in the outdoor environment particularly along shores and waterways especially in its foam form and also in increasing quantities in the Pacific OceanPolystyrene is chemically very inert being resistant to acids and bases but is easily dissolved by many chlorinated solvents and many aromatic hydrocarbon solvents Because of its resilience and inertness it is used for fabricating many objects of commerce It is attacked by many organic solvents which dissolve the polymer Foamed polystyrene is used for packaging chemicalsLike all organic compounds polystyrene burns to give carbon dioxide and water vapor Polystyrene being an aromatic hydrocarbon typically combusts incompletely as indicated by the sooty flamePolystyrene is generally non-biodegradable Polystyrene is commonly used in containers for food and drinks The styrene monomer from which polystyrene is made is a cancer suspect agentAnother Japanese study conducted on wild-type and AhR-null mice found that the styrene trimer which the authors detected in cooked polystyrene container-packed instant foods may increase thyroid hormone levelsWhether polystyrene can be microwaved with food is controversial Some containers may be safely used in a microwave but only if labelled as such67 Some sources suggest that foods containing carotene Vitamin A or cooking oils must be avoidedLike other organic compounds polystyrene is flammableFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ308 Bio-ethanol can be produced from which of the following feedstocks 1 Bagasses2 Sorghum3 Sugar beetSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 2 amp 3D 123Ans DBio-Ethanol:Ethanol can be produced from a variety of feedstocks such as sugar cane bagasse miscanthus sugar beet sorghum grain switchgrass barley hemp kenaf potatoes sweet potatoes cassava sunflower fruit molasses corn stover grain wheat straw cotton Two types of second generation processes are under development The first type uses enzymes and yeast fermentation to convert the plant cellulose into ethanol while the second type uses pyrolysis to convert the whole plant to either a liquid bio-oil or a syngas Second generation processes can also be used with plants such as grasses wood or agricultural waste material such as strawBy-products such as straw or wood chips can be converted to ethanol Fast growing species like switchgrass can be grown on land not suitable for other cash crops and yield high levels of ethanol per unit areaFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ307 Which among the following has been classified under the category of Eurythermal organism 1 Red Algae2 Coral reefs3 Golden brown AlgaeSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 2D 2 amp 3Ans AEurythermal organisms:Which can tolerate amp thrive in wide range of temperaturesEx: Cat Dog Tiger Red Algae Golden brown Algae Angiosperms sea GrassCryophillic organisms:Which can thrive at lower temperature as low as zero degree centigradeSeals Coral reefs Arctic Crustaceans Salmon FRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ306 As per Kyoto Protocol agreement which among the following is/are the parties of Annex-I Countries 1 Kazakhstan2 Belarus3 TurkeySelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 1 amp 3B 2 amp 3C Only 3D 123Ans BBelarus Malta and Turkey are Annex I Parties but do not have first-round Kyoto targetsFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIAQ305 Consider the following :1 Bastar Iron Craft : Chhatisgarh2 Screw Pine handicraft : Odisha3 Pipili Aplique Work : KeralaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 2C 1 amp 3D Only 1Ans DBastar Iron Craft : ChhatisgarhScrew Pine handicraft : KeralaPipili Aplique Work : OdishaFROM CAPFQ304 Which of the following was/were not related to the Buddha’s life 1 Kanthaka2 Alara Kalama3 Channa4 Goshala MaskariputraWhich among the above statements is/are correct A Only 1B Only 4C 1 amp 2D 3 amp 4AnsBFROM CAPFQ303 With reference to the Wavell plan consider the following provisions :1 Under this plan India was granted dominion status2 Indians would themselves draft the constitution3 Position of secretary of state amp viceroy would remain the same4 Viceroy would retain the power of vetoWhich among the above statements is/are correct A 134B 234C Only 1 amp 4D 1234Ans DThese proposals were not to be applied to the Indian statesFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q302 Which among the following is/are the examples of the Invasive Species 1 Water Hyacinth2 Wild rose3 Mimosa InvisaSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A Only 1B 1 amp 3C 1 amp 2D 123Ans DThe invasive water hyacinth is very common often choking the water bodies but it is cleared during destructive floods Another invasive species Mimosa invisa which is toxic to herbivores was cleared by Kaziranga staff with help from the Wildlife Trust of India in 2005Invasive species such as Mimosa and wild rose have posed a threat to the native plants in the regionFRAMED FROM WIKIPEDIA Q301 Consider the following :1 Ambubachi mela : Assam2 Anthurium Festival : Manipur3 Kut-Festival : MizoramSelect the correct answer using the codes given below :A 2 amp 3B Only 1C 1 amp 3D 1 amp 2Ans B1 Ambubachi mela : Assam2 Anthurium Festival : Mizoram3 Kut-Festival : Manipur It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur FROM IES 2018 PRELIMS Q300 Consider the following statements :Consider the following statements :1 IPDS strengthens the distribution network in urban areas while DDUGJY does the same in rural areas2 DELP focuses to substitute LED bulbs for incandescent bulbs Which of the following statements is/are correct A Only 1B Only 2C Both are correctD Both are incorrectAns C |
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