06 April 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to the P75 project:

1. Project 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that is based on the Scorpene class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
2. Submarine Vagsheer is the last of the Scorpene-class submarines to be built under P75.
3. MDL has used indigenous technology for all the submarines built under P75.

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

A – Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct :Project 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene class, which are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited.Statement 2 is correct : Submarine Vagsheer is the last of the Scorpene-class submarines to be built under Project 75.Statement 3 is not correct : The Mazagon Dock Limited is manufacturing these submarines with technical assistance from the Naval Group of France. Scorpene-class submarines are jointly developed by the French Naval Group and the Spanish company Navantia. In 2005, India purchased six submarines for US$3 billion, under a technology transfer agreement.

Q2. Consider the following statements with regards to the Smart Cities Mission:

1. The mission aims to develop 100 cities into self-sustaining urban developments.
2. The mission includes setting up an Integrated Command and Control Centre for each of the smart cities.
3. During the pandemic, these centres also served as the war rooms for Covid-19 management. 

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

D – Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct :The mission was launched in 2015 with an aim to develop 100 cities into self-sustaining urban developments.Statement 2 is correct : The mission includes setting up Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) for each of the smart cities.Statement 3 is correct : During the pandemic, the municipalities used the Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) as war rooms for the Covid-19 response.

Q3. Consider the following statements with regards to the freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh? 

1. He was the chief organiser of the fight against the British in Uttar Pradesh.
2. He belonged to a family of the Ujjainiya clan of the Parmar Rajputs of Jagdispur.
3. To honour his contribution to India’s freedom movement, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp on 23 April 1966. 

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

B – Explanation

• Statement 1 is not correct :Veer Kunwar Singh was the chief organiser of the fight against the British in Bihar.Statement 2 is correct : Veer Kunwar Singh belonged to a family of the Ujjainiya clan of the Parmar Rajputs of Jagdispur (currently in Bhojpur District, Bihar).Statement 3 is correct : In 1966, the Government of India released a commemorative stamp in his honour.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary?

1. Recently it was declared as a Ramsar site.
2. It is located in Rajasthan.The sanctuary is unique having both fresh water lakes, salt and freshwater marshlands.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

B – Explanation

• Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary located in Jamnagar district of About 300 species of migratory birds have been recorded here.Hence statement 2 is not correct.In 2022, on World Wetlands Day (2 February) it was declared as a Ramsar site.Hence statement 1 is correct.The sanctuary is unique having both fresh water lakes, salt and freshwater marshlands. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements?

1. The Bamiyan valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains was a key node of the early Silk Routes.
2. The Bamiyan Buddha statue that dated back to the 5th century AD was a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
3. The remains of the Bamiyan Buddhas was the first site in Afghanistan to be inscribed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A – Explanation

• The Bamiyan valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the river Bamiyan, was a key node of the early Silk Routes, emerging as a hub of both commercial and cultural exchange. Hence statement 1 is correct.According to UNESCO, the “rise of Bamiyan was closely connected with spread of Buddhism across Central Asia.The Bamiyan Buddha statues, hewn from sandstone cliffs, are said to have dated back to the 5th century AD, and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world. In their Roman draperies and with two different mudras, the statues were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles. Hence statement 2 is correct.Called Salsal and Shamama by the locals, they rose to heights of 55 and 38 metres respectively. Salsal means “light shines through the universe”, while Shamama is “Queen Mother”.In 2003, UNESCO included the remains of the Bamiyan Buddhas in its list of world heritage sites. The first site in Afghanistan to be inscribed was the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, which was inscribed in the 26th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2002. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q6. While burning hydrocarbon fuels, if we see a blue flame it means that the fuel is?

1. made of unsaturated hydrocarbons
2. made of saturated hydrocarbons
3. Wet
4. burning completely

B – Explanation

• In saturated hydrocarbons complete combustion of the fuel takes place but in the unsaturated hydrocarbons incomplete combustion takes place. Hence saturated hydrocarbons give a blue flamewhile unsaturated hydrocarbons burn with a sooty flame. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q7. Which of the following are non-tariff measures?

1. Phytosanitary restrictions
2. Technical Barriers to Trade
3. Import licensing procedures

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

D – Explanation

• Non-tariff measure (NTMs) are defined as policy measures, other than ordinary customs tariffs, that can potentially have an economic effect on international trade in goods, changing quantities traded, or prices or both.As a result, NTMs cover a broad range of policies including traditional trade policy instruments, such as quotas or price controls.However, they also comprise technical regulatory measures that pursue important non-trade objectives that relate to health and environmental protection, such as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Cell Membrane:

1. The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane, is found in all cells and separates the interior of the cell from the outside environment.
2. The cell membrane consists of a lipid bilayer that is semipermeable.
3. It does not allow diffusion of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A – Explanation

• The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane, is found in all cells and separates the interior of the cell from the outside environment. The cell membrane consists of a lipid bilayer that is semipermeable. The cell membrane regulates the transport of materials entering and exiting the cell.Some substances (small molecules, ions) such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂), can move across the plasma membrane by diffusion, which is a passive transport process.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q9. Consider the following statements?

1. ‘Maitri Diwas’ will be celebrated to commemorated India recognising Bangladesh.
2. India accorded recognition to Bangladesh after the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

A – Explanation

• ‘Maitri Diwas’ will be commemorated on December 6 to mark India recognising Bangladesh in 1971. Hence statement 1 is correct.Ten days before the liberation of Bangladesh, India had recognised Bangladesh on December 6, 1971. Hence statement 2 is not correct.India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

Q10. India and Israel have recently entered into a Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA) to promote?

1. Development of dual use technologies
2. Development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines
3. Innovation in agriculture and irrigation
4. Deployment of cyber defence tools

A – Explanation:

• Recently India and Israel have signed a Bilateral Innovation Agreement for the development of dual use technologies. Dual use goods are products and technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications. Hence “dual-use” refers to technology that can be used for both peaceful and military aims.The agreement will help promote startups and generate technology in the areas of Drones, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Photonics, Biosensing, Brain Machine, Natural Language Processing, etc.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.