01 November 2022

1. Think about the following statements in relation to the Vande Bharat Trains:

1. It is a self-propelled, semi-high-speed train that was created and constructed in the country.
2. The Integral Coach Factory produced the original Vande Bharat (ICF).
3. They use distributed traction power technology as their basis for propulsion and run with a locomotive.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• Since the launch of Rajdhani trains, this semi-high-speed, self-propelled train is being hailed as the Indian Railways’ next significant advancement in terms of speed and passenger convenience. As a result, statement 1 is true.
• The first Vande Bharat was produced at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for about Rs. 100 crore as part of the “Make in India” programme. As a result, assertion two is true.
• These trains, which were developed under the name “Train 18,” run without a locomotive and are powered by a distributed traction power technology that powers each of the train’s cars individually. As a result, assertion 3 is untrue.

2. Which of the following movements was the goal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance, which was introduced by the British colonial government?

Civil Disobedience Movement

Non-Cooperation Movement

Quit India Movement

Swadeshi Movement

Explanation

• To put an end to the Quit India movement, the British colonial government issued the Armed Forces Special Powers Ordinance on August 15, 1942. As a result, choice C is accurate.
• It served as the basis for four ordinances, including one for the “Assam disturbed areas” that was enacted in 1947 to address problems with internal security brought on by Partition.
• The Assam Disturbed Areas Act of 1955 was followed by the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act of 1958 to address the insurrection in the Naga Hills and surrounding regions.

3. Which of the following statements about inflation in India is true?

1. Only the Indian government is in charge of regulating inflation in the country.
2. No responsibility for regulating inflation rests with the Reserve Bank of India.
3. Reduced money circulation aids in inflation control
4. The circulation of more money reduces inflation.

Explanation

• Inflation control is a joint effort between the government and RBI that the RBI frequently refers to as “inflation targeting.”
• When the RBI adopts a dear money policy, it sets high interest rates to make credit difficult for the public and banks to access. As a result, people’s actual income and purchasing power decline.
• As a result, inflation is being controlled because there is less money available to purchase the same amount of commodities. Therefore, a reduction in money circulation aids in the management of inflation. As a result, choice C is accurate.

4. The Indices of the Eighth Core Industries in India have a combined weight of 37.90% in the country’s total Index of Industrial Production. Which of the following falls under the umbrella of the Eight Core Industries?

1. Cement
2. Fertilizers
3. Gas naturally
4. products of refineries
5. Textiles

Using the codes below, choose the right response:

1, 2, 3 and 4

2, 3, 4 and 5

1, 3, 4 and 5

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

• The ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’ is a mapping of the production volume in the eight most important industrial sectors of the Indian economy.
• Coal, natural gas, crude oil, refinery goods (such gasoline and diesel), fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity are all included. As a result, choice C is accurate.
• To arrive at a final number, the index assigns each of these sectors a varied weight. The heaviest item is a refinery product, whereas the lightest item is a fertiliser.
• The Index of Eight Core Industries is published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and represents 40.27 percent of the weight of products included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

5. Which of the following is related to the smartphone app SPARSH, which was recently featured in news?

1. eradication of leprosy
2. a pension check
3. children’s labour
4. Scavenging by hand

Explanation

• Mobile application for System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH)
• In accordance with the government of India’s vision of Digital India, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and “Minimal Government, Maximum Governance,” it is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence that intends to provide a comprehensive solution to the administration of pension to the defence retirees.
• It was created with the intention of giving a retired military member more control over his pension account.
• It will initially serve the newly implemented retirees before being expanded to include the current defence pensioners.
• Pension plans will be accepted, and payments will be handled centrally.
• The complaints of defence pensioners will decrease as a result.

6. Take into account the following statements:

1. By incorporating digital features into a live view, augmented reality (AR) makes your surroundings more appealing.
2. Virtual reality (VR) is an entirely immersive experience that substitutes a virtual environment for the actual world.
3. While VR does not require a headgear device, AR does.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1, 2 only

2 only

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

• Both augmented reality and virtual reality use simulations of real-world environments to either enhance or completely replace them.
• Using the camera on a smartphone, augmented reality (AR) often enhances your surroundings by adding digital elements to a live view.
• Virtual reality (VR) is an entirely immersive experience that substitutes a virtual environment for the actual world. As a result, statements 1 and 2 are both true.
• Unlike AR, VR requires a headgear device. As a result, assertion 3 is untrue.
• While just 25% of AR is virtual, VR is 75% virtual.
• While AR users interact with the real world, VR users navigate through a wholly made-up environment.
• In augmented reality, a virtual environment is created to cohabit with the real world in order to provide users with more information about the real world without them having to conduct a search.
• For instance, when a smartphone is pointed at a piece of malfunctioning equipment, industrial AR apps might instantly provide troubleshooting information.
• Virtual reality is a comprehensive environmental simulation that completely replaces the user’s real world with a virtual one. These virtual worlds are wholly artificial, hence they are frequently created to be larger than life.
• For instance, a user of VR could fight in a virtual boxing ring beside a cartoon version of Mike Tyson.

7.Regarding the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), take into account the following:

1. As a part of the “National Logistics Policy (NLP),” it was introduced.
2. It seeks to make conducting business easier in the logistics industry.
3. With over 1600 data fields, it integrates with 30 systems across seven ministries.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

1, 2 only

2 and 3 only

2 only

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• The National Logistics Policy’s (NLP) Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) was established with the goal of facilitating business operations in the logistics sector by streamlining logistics procedures, increasing their effectiveness, enhancing transparency and visibility, and lowering logistics costs and times. As a result, statements 1 and 2 are true.
• The ULIP platform will give market participants secure access to data about the resources and logistics offered by several Ministries. Currently, more than 100 APIs containing more than 1600 data fields have been used to integrate 30 systems from seven ministries. Therefore, statement three is true.
• The ULIP has a dedicated site that streamlines, expedites, and makes the data request process visible.

8. Which of the following countries is the Kherson region, which was recently featured in the news?

Iran

Ukraine

Russia

Canada

Explanation

• A decree recognising the purported “independence” of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson has been signed by President Vladimir Putin.
• The administrative hub of Kherson Oblast is the Ukrainian port city of Kherson.
• Kherson, a major shipbuilding hub and regional economic hub, is situated on the Black Sea and the Dnieper River.

9.Which of the following nation(s) is(are) a member of the AUKUS alliance?

1. USA
2. UK
3. Singapore
4. Korea
5. India
6. Australia

Select the right option from the list of codes below:

1, 4, and 6

1, 2, 4, 5, and 6

1, 2, and 6

1, 2, 4, and 6

Explanation

• Australia, the UK, and the US have formed a new trilateral strategic defence alliance called AUKUS. Its initial goal is to construct a class of nuclear-powered submarines, but it also aims to cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region where China’s rise is seen as a growing threat and to develop newer technologies.
• With this agreement, the US will share nuclear propulsion technology with a different ally than the UK for the first time.
• Additionally, each of the three belongs to the “Five Eyes” intelligence cooperation.
• With the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) for the Indo-Pacific region, this declaration casts doubt on the forum’s continued significance and its long-overdue actualization.

10. What would the RBI not do if it decided to pursue an expansionist monetary policy?

1. Reduce and improve the statutorily required liquidity ratio
2. The marginal standing facility rate should be raised.
3. Reduce the bank and repo rates.

Using the code below, choose the right response:

only 1 and 2

2 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• The Reserve Bank of India employs expansionary monetary policy when it wants to boost the economy. This boosts the availability of money, brings down interest rates, and raises demand.
• A lower SLR would increase the banks’ liquidity, allowing them to lend more money. This would have the tendency to lower loan rates and boost economic demand. Statement 1 is untrue because the SLR is the reserve that commercial banks in India are required to keep in the form of cash, gold reserves, and government-approved securities before extending credit to consumers.
• In the event of an emergency, such as a severe cash shortage, the commercial banks may borrow money from the RBI through the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF), a unique window. In general, MSF rate is greater than Repo rate. As a result of higher bank borrowing costs brought on by an increase in the MSF rate, the economy’s money supply is constrained. This monetary policy is contractionary. Therefore, assertion two is accurate.
• A decrease in the repo rate indicates that commercial banks will pay less to borrow money from the Reserve Bank. Banks would be further assisted by the rate reduction in lowering lending interest rates for borrowers. Repo rate is the interest rate at which a nation’s central bank (in India, the Reserve Bank of India) loans money to commercial banks in the event of a funding shortage. As a result, assertion 3 is untrue.

In times of inflation, central banks raise the repo rate since doing so discourages banks from borrowing from them. In the end, this lowers the amount of money available to the economy, which aids in halting inflation.