Author: Civils Mantra

1. Which of the following statements about Western Ghats are correct?

1. Western Ghats in Karnataka are broader than those in Maharashtra

2. Western Ghats in Kerala are more continuous than those in Karnataka

3. Western Ghats in Karnataka have gentler slope than those in Kerala

4. Western Ghats in Maharashtra have gentler slope than those in Karnataka

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 4

(c) 2 and 4

(d) 1 and 3

2. First International AgroBiodiversity Congress was held in India recently. Which of the following best defines ‘AgroBiodiversity’ ?

(a) It the variety and variability of trees, plants and other vegetation that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.

(b) It the variety and variability of crops, seeds and micro-agents that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.

(c) It the variety and variability of human resources, crops and bio-fertilizers that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.

(d) It the variety and variability of animals, plant and micro-organism that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.

3. Which of the following places were visited by Buddha during his lifetime?

1. Nalanda

2. Rajagriha

3. Benaras (Varanasi)

4. Sravasti (Shravasti)

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

4. Which of the following texts describes how Chandragupta, with the assistance of Kautilya, overthrew the Nandas ?

(a) Kautilya’s Arthashastra

(b) Visakadatta’s Mudrarakshasa

(c) Megasthenes’ Indica

(d) Bhadrabahu’s Kalpasutra

5. Which of the following describes the Ashoka’s efforts to promote ‘Dhamma’ within his kingdom?

(a) The Pillar Edict VII

(b) The XIII Rock Edict

(c) Rummindei Pillar Inscription

(d) Barbara Cave Inscription

6. Of the solar energy coming into the Biosphere, what percentage of it is actually used in the photosynthesis?

(a) Less than 1 %

(b) Between 1 % and 1.5 %

(c) Between 1.5 % and 2 %

(d) More than 2 %

7. Consider the following statements:

1. European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory.

2. It is located in Geneva on the French-Swiss border.

3. India recently became the only country from the South-East Asian region to become an associate member of CERN.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

8. Consider the following islands of Japan:

1. Kyushu

2. Shikoku

3. Honshu

4. Hokkaido

What is the correct order of these islands arranged from North to South?

(a) 3-4-1-2

(b) 4-3-1-2

(c) 4-3-2-1

(d) 3-4-2-1

9. With reference to the Indian Freedom Struggle, what is the significance of August 7, 1905?

(a) In the session held on this day, the Congress split into moderates and extremists

(b) Partition of Bengal was put into effect on this day

(c) Morley-Minto reforms were announced on this day

(d) Formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made on this day

10. Consider the following statements:

1. Hematopoietic cells are the stem cells that give rise to all the other blood cells.

2. Hematopoietic cells are found only in mammals.

3. In humans, Hematopoietic cells are found only in the bone marrow.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

11. Which one of the following regions of India is the natural habitation of the Rusty Spotted Cat which is reputed to be the smallest wild cat in the world?

(a) Forests of Arunachal Pradesh

(b) Deserts of Western Rajasthan

(c) Forests of Eastern Ghats

(d) Cold environs of Middle Himalayas

12. Which of the following pairs of tribe and the state is/are correctly matched?

1. Juangs : Tamil Nadu

2. Tharu : Uttarakhand

3. Chenchu : Telangana

4. Meiteis : Manipur

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1 and 4 only

13. ‘Montreux Record’, which is sometimes in news, is related to the affairs of

(a) Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS) Programme

(b) Ramsar Convention

(c) Aichi Targets

(d) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

14. Which one of the following pairs of cities have the largest average annual rainfall difference as compared to the other three pairs?

(a) Rajkot and Ahmedabad

(b) Lucknow and Kanpur

(c) Indore and Bhopal

(d) Mumbai and Pune

15. Who presides over the Cabinet Meeting in India if the Prime Minister is not available?

(a) The Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha

(b) The Home Minister

(c) The senior most minister by rank present in the meeting

(d) No Cabinet Meeting can be held without the Prime Minister

16. Consider the following statements about Vitamin D:

Vitamin D plays an important role in the functioning of

1. Muscles

2. Brain

3. Lungs

4. Heart

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

17. Which of the following strains of viruses are related to Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)?

1. H1N1

2. H5N1

3. H7N9

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 3 only

18. Which of the following is/are among the legal provisions through which the Fundamental Duties as enumerated in the constitution can be implemented:

1. The Representation of People Act, 1951

2. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

3. The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955

4. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

Select the answer using codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

19. Which of the following writs is issued to enquire into the legality of claim of a person to a public office?

(a) Certiorari

(b) Quo-Warranto

(c) Mandamus

(d) Prohibition

20. In which of the following states are found floating masses of vegetation, often used by locals for constructing their dwellings?

(a) Manipur

(b) Assam

(c) Meghalaya

(d) Arunachal Pradesh

21. Which of the following factors affect the distribution of surface temperature of ocean water?

1. Latitude

2. Prevailing winds

3. Ocean Currents

4. Distribution of land and water

Which of the statements is/are correctly matched?

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

22. While travelling from Delhi to Mumbai along the National Highway 8, you shall pass through all of the following states except

1. Gujarat

2. Madhya Pradesh

3. Rajasthan

4. Punjab

5. Haryana

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 2 and 4

(b) 2, 4 and 3

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1, 3 and 5

23. Consider the following statements with reference to the Indian Banking System:

1. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is the proportion of deposits that banks have to keep as cash with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

2. Banks do not earn any interest on CRR balances kept with the RBI.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

24. Which of the following activities fall under ‘gig economy’?

1. An educational start-up employing freelancers for writing blogs.

2. A songwriter selling customized jingles and videos online to clients worldwide.

3. A person delivering Pizzas in his spare time for a consideration.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

25. Who do the ‘Angel Investors’ generally do?

(a) They provide funds to NGOs to carry out their work

(b) They invest in sick units to revive them

(c) They invest in small start-ups or entrepreneurs

(d) They provide funds to government in time of financial crisis

Solutions: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_ABk6vj90dAU1A5MEVBLU9sVkU

1. Urjit Patel Committee appointed by the RBI, which is sometimes in news, is related to the

(a) demonetization of the high denomination currency notes

(b) strengthening of the monetary policy framework

(c) framework for dealing with systemically important banks

(d) guidelines for full capital account convertibility of rupee

2. RBI recently directed the banks to adopt Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) for determining their respective base rates. Consider the following statements in this context:

1. Under the new regime, banks cannot lend below MCLR to any borrower.

2. MCLR regime is aimed at improving the transmission of policy rate cuts by RBI into the lending rate of the banks.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

3. Consider the following statements about the Priority Sector Lending Certificates (PSLCs):

1. PSLCs are tradable certificates issued against priority sector loans of banks.

2. PSLCs shall enable the banks to achieve their targets for priority sector lending.

3. Regional Rural Banks are not eligible for PSLC trading.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4 Consider the following statements about recently launched Unified Payment Interface (UPI):

1. UPI has been launched by the Reserve Bank of India as a step towards the country’s gradual transformation to a cashless economy.

2. UPI is a payment system that allows money transfer between any two bank accounts by using a smartphone.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5. At times, RBI raises the limits for the Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) accounts to shore-up foreign reserves. Consider the following statements about FCNR accounts:

1. These are savings accounts maintained by the NRIs and PIOs in foreign currency.

2. Any freely convertible currency can be maintained in the FCNR accounts.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

6. A report titled ‘An Economy for the 1%’ was recently brought out by

(a) World Trade Organisation

(b) World Economic Forum

(c) International Monetary Fund

(d) Oxfam International

7. Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is released every month by

(a) ASSOCHAM

(b) Confederation of Indian Industry

(c) Central Statistical Office

(d) National Sample Survey Organisation

8. Consider the following statements about the recently approved National Capital Goods Policy:

1. It shall be implemented by the Department of Heavy Industry.

2. It aims to increase the share of domestic production in India’s capital goods demand from 60% to 80% by 2025.

3. It aims to increase the share of capital goods in total manufacturing activity from 12% at present to 20% by 2025.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

9. With reference to the history of British India, which of the following were founded by Warren Hastings?

1. Calcutta Madrassa

2. Asiatic Society of Bengal

3. Sanskrit College at Benaras

4. Fort William College

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

10. Which of the following regions of India has the highest variation in the natural vegetation that covers it?

(a) Central Highlands

(b) Western Rajasthan

(c) North-Eastern India

(d) Western Ghats

11. Which of the following is/are international rivers flowing from one country to another?

1. Tista

2. Karnaphuli

3. Manas

4. Lohit

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 1, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

12. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

1. Gulf of Guinea : Northern Africa

2. Kalahari Desert : Southern Africa

3. Mount Ankaratra : Western Africa

4. Lake Volta : Eastern Africa

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

13. In the first discovery of its kind, natural gas hydrates were recently discovered in the Krishna-Godavari basin. Consider the following statement in this context:

1. Natural gas hydrates are ice-like combination of natural gas and crude oil.

2. Natural gas hydrates are found only in the tropical regions.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

14. The New Development Bank recently issued the ‘green bonds’ for the first time. With which of the following groupings is the New Development Bank associated?

(a) SAARC

(b) BRICS

(c) IBSA

(d) BIMSTEC

15. What is the purpose of the ‘Project Insight’, a recent initiative of the government of India?

(a) To widen tax base by detecting tax evaders using technology

(b) To accommodate the views of the common man into policy initiatives

(c) To make the approval of the visa-requests faster and smoother by making it time bound

(d) To make the grants for R&D in higher education institutions result-bound

16. India’s first medical technology manufacturing cluster, Medipark, is to come up in

(a) Uttarakhand

(b) Maharashtra

(c) Tamil Nadu

(d) Madhya Pradesh

17. India and Russia recently came together to set up integrated irradiation centres in India to reduce agricultural losses. What is the main purpose of subjecting the food products to low dosage of radiation in such centres?

(a) To increase their nutritional value

(b) To increase their longevity and shelf life

(c) To prevent the loss of their nutritional content

(d) To hasten the ripening of the food products

18. The first ever ‘Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index’ to rank the States and the Union Territories on implementation of agro-reform measures has been launched recently by the

(a) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

(b) Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare

(c) Ministry of Finance

(d) NITI Aayog

19. What is ‘Himansh’ which was recently in news?

(a) A new research station established by the Indian government in Antarctica to study the reasons for the narrowing of the ozone hole discovered over it

(b) A research station established in Spiti to study and quantify the Himalayan glacier responses towards the climate change

(c) A research facility established by the Indian government in the Arctic region to study the consequences of the Arctic melting

(d) A high-altitude radio telescope established in Ladakh to scan the space for intelligent alien life

20. Recently, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) transferred its technology of seaweed cultivation to the Andaman administration. Consider the following statements about in this context:

1. Seaweed cultivation is perceived as one of the most environmentally benign types of mariculture activity.

2. Seaweed Cultivation presents scope for improved access to alternative livelihoods.

3. Seaweeds are renewable sources of food and energy.

4. Seaweeds are valuable source of raw material for various industries including pharmaceuticals and fertilizers industries.

Which of the above statements is/are not correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

21. Consider the following statements about INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage):

1. It is an autonomous institution under Ministry of Culture.

2. It was founded to spearhead the heritage awareness and conservation in India.

3. It has recently tied up with Daricha Foundation to revive ‘Alpana’, a folk art of Bengal.

Select the correct alternative using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

22. Consider the following:

1. Bank and Cheque Related Cases

2. Motor vehicle accident compensation cases

3. Civil Disputes

For disposal of which of the above are the Lok Adalats held?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

23. Consider the following statements:

1. An amendment to the ‘Motions of Thanks’ to the President for his address can be moved only in the Lok Sabha.

2. If an amendment to the ‘Motions of Thanks’ to the President for his address is passed, the government must resign.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

24. Which of the following statements about the judges of the Supreme Court is NOT correct?

(a) The retired judges are prohibited from pleading in any Court within the territory of India

(b) They can be removed from office by the President only in the manner and on the grounds mentioned in the Constitution

(c) Their salaries and allowances cannot be discussed by the Parliament

(d) They can resign from office by writing to the President

25. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technique has been in news recently. In which of the following activities can this technique be used?

1. Archaeological Surveys

2. Mineral exploration

3. Vehicle Automation

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

P.S.: @Hi everyone, From Next Sunday Edition, I wanted it to be more subject specific. Are you game? Do let me know or should I continue with the admixture?

1. India’s first international commercial arbitration centre has been launched at

(a) Panaji

(b) Bengaluru

(c) New Delhi

(d) Mumbai

2. Consider the following pairs:

Mission : Agency
1. Gaia Space Probe : NASA
2. Rosetta Orbiter : European Space Agency
3. OSIRIS-REx : JAXA

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1 only

3. What is Sampriti ?

(a) An annual cultural extravaganza between India and Sri Lanka

(b) An annual trade facilitation event between India and Maldives

(c) An annual military exercise between India and Bangladesh

(d) A student exchange programme between India and Bhutan

4 Outside the oceans, largest percentage of water on earth’s surface is available in/as

(a) Soil moisture

(b) Streams and rivers

(c) Ice caps and glaciers

(d) Groundwater

5. ‘Equal pay for equal work’ is a provision under the

(a) Preamble

(b) Seventh Schedule

(c) Directive Principles of State Policy

(d) Fundamental Rights

6. Burning of agricultural waste in the northern States significantly contributes to the poor air quality in large parts of Indo-Gangetic basin. Which of the following is/are among the pollutants added into the atmosphere by burning agricultural residues?

1. Carbon Monoxide
2. Nitrous Oxide
3. Ammonia
4. Sulphur Dioxide

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1 and 4

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

7. A recent book titled Shadow Fighter is a biography of

(a) Mary Kom

(b) Abhinav Bindra

(c) Sarita Devi

(d) Saina Nehwal

8. Which of the following is/are among the tributaries of River Indus?

1. Shyok
2. Zaskar
3. Shetrunji
4. Gilgit

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2 and 4

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

9. Which of the following terms are generally related to the affairs of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)?

1. Domestic Content Requirements
2. Agreement on Agriculture
3. De-Minimis Provision

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

10. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the proposed mega-regional free trade agreement among several nations including

1. Japan
2. South Korea
3. Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Philippines

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 5

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(c) 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

11. Which of the following is set to bring out an ‘ease of living’ index that will rank cities globally and, among others, could include categories on social inclusion, cost of living, public transport, housing, education and health?

(a) The Cities Alliance

(b) The World Bank Group

(c) The United Nations Human Settlements Programme

(d) The International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities

12. India’s first coastal economic corridor is proposed to come up between

(a) Haldia and Chennai

(b) Kolkata and Tuticorin

(c) Mumbai and Ernakulam

(d) Ganjam and Tirunelveli

13. The recently concluded ‘New Delhi Declaration on Education’ is related to the affairs of

(a) G-20

(b) IBSA

(c) BRICS

(d) the India-Africa Forum

14. Which of the following sites has been named by the UNESCO as the India’s first ‘mixed’ World Heritage Site exhibiting the qualities of both cultural and natural significance?

(a) Valley of Flowers National Park

(b) Nanda Devi National Park

(c) Khangchendzonga National Park

(d) Namdapha National Park

15. Which of the following terms is used to denote the process of using microorganisms to degrade environmental pollutants?

(a) Bioleaching

(b) Biofortification

(c) Bioaccumulation

(d) Bioremediation

16. In which of the following contexts is the phrase ‘Red Corridor’ frequently used?

(a) The regions in the country which are Maoist-affected

(b) The regions in the country with high incidence of neonatal deaths

(c) The regions in the country with very high levels of groundwater pollution

(d) The regions in the country affected with soil degradation due to iron-ore mining

17. Which of the following companies successfully completed the first full-scale test flight of Aquila, a solar powered unmanned craft, as part of an ambitious project to take internet connectivity to remote parts of the world?

(a) Microsoft

(b) Apple Inc.

(c) Facebook

(d) IBM

18. Which of the following states has recently introduced a ‘fat tax’ on the consumption of junk food items with an aim to make people more conscious about their food choices and promote healthy eating?

(a) Punjab

(b) Tamil Nadu

(c) Gujarat

(d) Kerala

19. The government has given its accord to set up a new major port in which of the following states?

(a) Odisha

(b) Tamil Nadu

(c) Maharashtra

(d) Karnataka

20. Consider the following statements about revamped Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

1. It is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
2. It aims to impart skill training to one crore people over the next five years.

Which of the above statements is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

21. Which of the following is/are among the members of Inter-State Council?

1. The Prime Minister
2. All the Union Cabinet Ministers
3. Chief Ministers of the all the States
4. Chief Ministers/Administrators of the all the Union Territories

Select the correct alternative using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

22. Consider the following statements:

1. The concept of “Climate-Smart Agriculture” was originally developed by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

2. Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture is a joint initiative of FAO and IMF.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

23. Which of the following pairs of the tiger reserve and the river basin in which they fall is/are correctly matched?

1. Panna Tiger Reserve : Narmada Basin
2. Simplipal Tiger Reserve : Mahanadi Basin
3. Bhitarkanika Tiger Reserve : Godavari Basin
4. Dudwa Tiger Reserve : Ganga Basin

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 4 only

(d) 1, 2 and 4

24. Which of the following crops can be used as green manure?

1. Soybean
2. Surghum
3. Sudangrass

Select the correct alternative using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

25. Which of the following places are well known for textile industry, sari making in particular?

1. Chettinad
2. Kota
3. Jalandhar

Select the correct alternative using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Previous Week Link : https://www.civilsdaily.com/sunday-edition-prelims-questions-part-1/
——————

1. Recently, ‘White-Cheeked Macaque’, was sighted in its natural habitat in which one of the following regions of India?

(a) Javadi Hills in Tamil Nadu

(b) Forests of Arunachal Pradesh

(c) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(d) Western Ghats south of Goa

2. What was CarbFix Project, that was recently in news?

(a) It involved an attempt to trap carbon dioxide into a solid mass with the potential to limit climate change

(b) It involved an attempt to limit carbohydrate content in processed foods to contain childhood obesity

(c) It involved an attempt to use carbon nanotubes to transfer heat from one point to another with minimal losses during transmission

(d)It involved an attempt to seed clouds with carbon nanoparticles to induce rain in dry regions

3. Consider the following statements about Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit:

1. She was the first woman to become the President of the United Nations General Assembly.
2. She was the first Indian to become the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

4. ‘RAPID’, a framework outlined by the Indian Prime Minister recently, is related to the

(a) modernization of railway networks

(b) cutting down on the time required to start a business entity

(c) reforms in tax administration

(d) earmarking of dedicated routes for movement of vehicles of emergency services

5. With reference to the history of medieval India, what was ‘Manipravalam’?

(a) an architectural style which used a mixture of Greek and Roman features

(b) a miniature painting design used to decorate the temple walls

(c) a method of tax administration which was based on the profession of the tax payer

(d) a literary style which used an admixture of Sanskrit and the regional language

6. ‘Basohli’ was a style of miniature painting that developed around the region of modern day

(a) Rajasthan

(b) Himachal Pradesh

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Odisha

7. To become an act, every Constitutional Amendment Bill requires to be

(a) passed by a majority of the total membership of the each House of the Parliament and a majority of two-thirds of the members of each House present and voting

(b) ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the states

(c) passed in each House of the Parliament separately

(d) passed by a simple majority of each House of the Parliament and be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the states

8. Consider the following statements about the Fundamental Rights and the Fundamental Duties:

1. Both extend to all persons whether citizens or foreigners.
2. Both were a part of the constitution as drawn by the Constituent Assembly.
3. The former are justiciable while later are not.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

9. Which of the following features of the constitution have a bearing upon the conservation of the environment?

(a) Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy

(b) Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) Preamble, Fundamental Duties, Eleventh Schedule and Twelfth Schedule

(d) Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, Eleventh Schedule and Twelfth Schedule

10. Which of the following statements is correct?

(a) The Union territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha

(b) Every State has equal representation in the Rajya Sabha

(c) The strength of Rajya Sabha has been fixed by the constitution

(d) The President cannot nominate any member to the Rajya Sabha

11. The representatives of the states in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the

(a) members of the legislative assemblies of the states

(b) elected members of the legislative assemblies of the states

(c) members of the legislative assemblies and legislative councils of the states

(d) elected members of the legislative assemblies and legislative councils of the states

12. Which of the following type of toys made in India have received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag:

1. Tanjore Dancing Dolls
2. Channapatna Toys
3. Nirmal Toys

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

13. The Gupta period witnessed a brilliant activity in the sphere of medicine. In this reference, who of the following lived during the Gupta age?

1. Charaka
2. Susruta
3. Vagbhata

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 3 only

14. White-bellied musk deer, poached for the musk carried by it, is endemic to which of the following regions of India?

(a) Alpine regions of Himalayas

(b) Grasslands of Central Highlands

(c) Higher reaches of Western Ghats

(d) Salt marches of Rann of Kutch

15. Which of the following states has become the first state to notify a vast expanse of its mangroves as “reserved forests”?

(a) Maharashtra

(b) West Bengal

(c) Karnataka

(d) Gujarat

16. The ‘Ecological Niche’ of an organism in a given habitat refers to the

(a) resources that the species uses in the habitat without disturbing carrying capacity of the habitat

(b) relationship that the species shares with the other species inhabiting the habitat in the food web

(c) activities and relationship of the species by which it uses the resources in the habitat for its survival and reproduction

(d) relationship that the species shares with other species living in similar conditions across different biomes

17. Consider the following statements about the Indian Standard Meridian:

1. It coincides with the 82°30΄ longitude.
2. It divides India into two separate time zones.
3. Regions to its east experience early sunrise and early sunset.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 only

18. Consider the following statements:

A law to give effect to a Fundamental Right can be made by

1. the Parliament for whole of India
2. a State Legislature for that particular state

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

19. Recently India decided to roll out “India Business Card” to allow seamless travel of businessmen from

(a) BIMSTEC countries

(b) SAARC countries

(c) African countries

(d) ASEAN countries

20. Consider the following statements about South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC):

1. Afganistan was the last country to join the grouping.
2. The first SAARC summit was held in Maldives.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are countries?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

21. Anthropocene, a term which has recently started appearing in news, is most appropriately summed up as

(a) the period in time with unprecedented rise in the man-made structures obliterating natural landscape

(b) the period after the industrial revolution resulting in unparalleled rise in the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere

(c) the period in time resulting in high level of pollution in the environment from anthropogenic factors

(d) the period in time when human activities have been the dominant factor on the climate and the environment

22. Which of the following regions has the highest degree of endemic plant diversity in India?

(a) Eastern Ghats

(b) Western Ghats

(c) Andaman & Nicobar Islands

(d) Central Highlands

23. Consider the following statements about ‘Pikas’:

1. They belong to the family of mammals.
2. They are found in mountains or temperate regions.
3. They are known for their long hibernation periods.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2, 3

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 only

24. What is the purpose of the “Mission 11 Million” programme mooted by the government of India?

(a) To decongest the cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai whose population has crossed the mark of 11 million

(b) To train 11 million ASHA workers to work in rural areas to bring down preventable death among under five children

(c) To engage more than 11 million children across the country in football related activities

(d) To train 11 million youth in vocational activities as part of Make in India initiative

25. Consider the following statements about Global Tiger Forum (GTF):

1. It is the only inter-governmental body for tiger conservation.
2. It had its genesis in the International Symposium on Tigers held in New Delhi in the year 1993.
3. The Prime Minister of India is the current Chairperson of the GTF.
4. Its secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

**While the Diwali festivities draw to a close and The Hindu Editions and the Prelims Daily questions resume, try these ones:

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI) is the largest plant conservation network in the world.
2. BGCI is an IUCN-led conservation network.
3. BGCI aims to collect and conserve samples of world’s plants to act as an insurance against their extinction in the wild.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Crinum Malabaricum (‘Kanthanga’) is a critically endangered aquatic plant and has its only known natural habitat in

(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(c) Kerala
(d) West Bengal

Q3. The R M Lodha Committee, sometimes in the news, is related to

(a) restoration of the degraded wetlands
(b) containing the child mortality
(c) recapitalization of public sector banks
(d) reforms in the game of cricket

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. Algal blooms in oceans can pose serious threats to water quality and risks to human and animal health.
2. The Bay of Bengal is relatively free of algal blooms compared to the Arabian sea.
3. Algal blooms are found only on the surface of the water bodies.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Cross-breeding of crop plants can have multiple benefits including:

1. Making agriculture more water efficient.
2. Increase in the crop yield.
3. Increase in the nutritive value of the crops.
4. Reduction in the release of certain green house gases from agricultural activities.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Which one of the following terms indicates the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding or modern biotechnology?

(a) Bioaccumulation
(b) Biofortification
(c) Biomagnification
(d) Phytoremediation

Q7. In a significant find, the scientists at NASA have discovered deep, steep-sided canyons flooded with liquid methane on which of the following celestial body?

(a) Charon
(b) Titan
(c) Europa
(d) Phobos

Q8. Consider the following statements:

1. Swamp deer is found in its natural habitat only along the littoral and swamp regions of the eastern coast of India.
2. Hog deer is found in its natural habitat only in the banni grasslands of Gujarat.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q9. Consider the following statements:

1. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an autonomous institution under the Environment Ministry.
2. It releases the Red Data Book of Indian Animals.
3. It shall house the country’s first repository on tigers.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Environment Ministry.
2. It is headed by the Prime Minister.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q11. Consider the following statements:

1. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is an autonomous institution under the aegis of WWF.
2. It works to safeguard the populations and preserve the habitats of wild animals only.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q12. Consider the following statements about Chhotanagpur and Meghalaya Plateaus:

1. Both are rich in minerals.
2. Both receive rainfall from South-west monsoon.
3. Both are covered with Tropical Deciduous forests.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 2 only

Q13. Which of the following is most southerly located?
(a) Chilka Lake
(b) Sunderbans
(c) Bhubaneshwar
(d) Gir Forests

Q14. Features known as ‘kayals’ are generally found in/along the

(a) Utkal Coast
(b) Malabar Coast
(c) Shiwalik Foothills
(d) Lower course of rivers

Q15. Consider the following statements about Indian vegetation:

1. Tropical Evergreen forests are found only along the slopes of Western Ghats.
2. Mangroves are not found along the Eastern coast of India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q16. According to Koeppen’s scheme of classification of climates, which of the following regions in India has ‘Aw’ type of climate?

(a) Western Rajasthan
(b) Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Peninsular Plateaus
(d) Coromandal Coast

Q17. Which of the following types of forests are generally found in regions that receive about 100-200 cm of annual precipitation?

(a) Dry Deciduous forests
(b) Tropical Evergreen forests
(c) Wet Deciduous forests
(d) Littoral and Swamp forests

Q18. Consider the following pairs:

1. Saddle Peak : Nicobar Islands
2. Saramati Peak : Garo Hills
3. Blue Mountain : Naga Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) None of the pairs above is correctly matched

Q19. Consider the following statements:

1. The State executive consists of the governor, the chief minister and the council of ministers only.
2. The governor of a state is appointed by the President only in concurrence with the chief minister of the state.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q20. Recently, the researchers revealed that ‘Bramble Cay melomys’ has become the first mammal species driven to extinction by anthropogenic climate change. The mammal was endemic to
(a) Andes Mountains
(b) Southern Alps
(c) Great Barrier Reef
(d) Marshall Islands

Q21. India recently joined the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC). Consider the following statements in this context:

1. HCoC aims at phasing out the production of ballistic missiles.
2. It is legally binding international agreement.
3. It was agreed upon in the year 1970 when the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Q22. Consider the following statements:

1. World Environment Day (WED) is a global initiative of UNEP to raise awareness to protect the environment.
2. WED was initiated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002 during the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q23. Which of the following missions to study the ‘Red Planet’ have been launched by NASA?

1. Mars Express Mission (MEM)
2. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
3. Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN)

Select the correct alternative using the codes given below.

(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q24. Consider the following statements:

1. International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
2. ISA governs the living and the non-living resources of the seabed of international waters.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q25. In recent times, there has been a scramble among the nations for harnessing the poly-metallic nodules from the ocean beds. Poly-metallic nodules contain various elements including

1. Plutonium
2. Gold
3. Silver
4. Nickel
5. Copper

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

@CD and the @Users,

Please allow me the privilege of your uninhibited opinions on the question set attached.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_ABk6vj90dATVJyMExfQXdDME0/view

TIA.