03 May 2023

Q. Consider the following statements.

1. The Beijing Declaration led to the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) by BRICS countries.
2. BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement aims to provide short-term liquidity support to the members.
3. BRICS Payments Task Force (BPTF) coordinates between the central banks of BRICS countries for an alternative to the SWIFT payment system.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (Brazil) in 2014, the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB – Shanghai, China).
• They also signed the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement to provide short-term liquidity support to the members.
• BRICS Payments Task Force (BPTF) for coordination between their central banks for an alternative to the SWIFT payment system.

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. In India, the first Labour Day was celebrated on May 1, 1923, in Madras.
2. The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan hosted the first official Labour Day celebration in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• In India, Labour Day was commemorated for the first time in 1923. The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan hosted the first official Labour Day celebration in India on May 1 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Q. Consider the following statements about International Labour Organization (ILO):

1. It was founded in 1919 under the League of Nations.
2. It is the first and oldest specialized agency of the UN.
3. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
• Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and oldest specialised agency of the UN. The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with around 40 field offices around the world.

Q. Consider the following statements about the Thrissur Pooram festival:

1. The festival was founded by Adi Shankaracharya.
2. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on Pooram day.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The festival was founded by Shakthan Thampuran, the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1790 to 1805. The story behind the festival goes back to the year 1796 when a group of temples were banned from attending the popular Arattupuzha Pooram due to heavy rains. Upon hearing their complaints, Shakthan Thampuran decided to start his own festival, Thrissur Pooram, on the same day in May. The festival has since become a significant cultural and spiritual event in Kerala, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
• Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram day (the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam).

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the seamounts:

1. Seamount is a mountain with pointed summits, rising from the seafloor and reaching above the surface of the ocean.
2. They are volcanic in origin.
3. The Emperor seamount is situated in the Atlantic Ocean.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Seamount is a mountain with pointed summits, rising from the seafloor that does not reach the surface of the ocean.
• Seamounts are volcanic in origin.
• These can be 3,000-4,500 m tall.
• The Emperor seamount, an extension of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, is a good example.

Q. Bharat Tap is an initiative of:

(a) Narcotics Control Bureau

(b) National Security Guard

(c) Central Bureau of Investigation

(d) None of the above

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• About the Bharat Tap initiative:
• Bharat Tap is a collaborative effort for water fixtures (similar to the ratings of electrical appliances) to drive water efficiency
• Objective: To provide low-flow, sanitary ware at scale and reduce water consumption at the source.
• Estimated water saving: Approximately 40%
• Benefits Water and energy saving due to less water and energy required for pumping, transporting, and purification
• Formulated under AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)
• Collaborators Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) and manufacturers
• About AMRUT 2.0 It is a five-year program launched in October 2021 and will continue until 2025-26. It is an extension of the AMRUT mission (launched in 2015) with the goal of providing every household with access to a tap with a guaranteed supply of water and a sewer connection.

Q. Consider the following statements about the lesser flamingo:

1. It is the smallest flamingo in the world.
2. It is listed as Endangered in the IUCN red list.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards, with pale pink colour and deep red legs and bills. Their colour comes from the carotenoid pigments they consume as part of their diet.
• Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened; CITES: Appendix II

Q. The well-known painting “BaniThani” belongs to the:

(a) Bundi school

(b) Jaipur school

(c) Kangra school

(d) Kishangarh school

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• BaniThani is an Indian miniature painting painted by Nihâl Chand from the Marwar school of Kishangarh. It portrays a woman who is elegant and graceful. The painting’s subject, BaniThani, was a singer and poet in Kishangarh in the time of kingSawant Singh (1748–1764).
• She has been compared to the Mona Lisa. Inspired by Radha, BaniThani is characterized by idealized distinct features such as arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin. This painting was featured in an Indian stamp issued in 1973.

Q. With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharyaldrtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence S1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2: Tyagaraja took music training from SontiVenkataramayya. But that didn’t stop him from taking musical inspirations from various earlier poets. He was an ardent devotee of lord Rama. In his praise and honour he wrote numerous musical operas, and about twenty four thousand songs, a claim that has been speculated among music historians. Hence, S2 is correct.
• Statement 3: Tyagaraja was born on 14th May 1767 in the village of Thiruvayaru in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu whereas TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Statement 4: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence, S4 is correct.

Q. Consider the following events:

1. The first democratically elected communist party government formed in a State in India.
2. India’s then largest bank, ‘Imperial Bank of India’, was renamed ‘State Bank of India’.
3. Air India was nationalised and became the national carrier.
4. Goa became a part of independent India.

Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

(a) 4 – 1 – 2 – 3

(b) 3 – 2 – 1 – 4

(c) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3

(d) 3 – 1 – 2 – 4

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: First democratically elected communist party government formed in a state in India in 1957. The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1957 was the first assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The Communist Party of India won the election with 60 seats.
• Statement 2: Imperial bank was renamed as state bank of India in 1955.
• Statement 3: Air India was nationalised in 1953. Government of India passed the Air Corporations Act and purchased a majority stake in the carrier from Tata Sons.
• Statement 4: Goa became an independent India on 18 December 1961. Indian troops crossed the border into Goa and “liberated” it.