06 October 2022

Q1. Depreciation in the rupee would negatively impact Indian in which of the following areas?

1. Foreign education
2. Crude import
3. Foreign Travel
4. NRI sending money back home
5. Investments abroad

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2 and 5 only
2. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
3. 1, 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

B – Explanation

• Depreciation in the rupee impacts all expenditure in dollar terms— imports, foreign education, travel, investments abroad, medical treatment etc. On the other hand, if you are an exporter or an NRI sending money back home, depreciation would fetch you more rupees per dollar.A depreciating rupee increases the cost of crude import. A rise in cost of crude raises fuel prices and inflation. That, in turn, leads to a rise in interest rates, which increases our borrowing cost.Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
2. Development of inter-state rivers, water supplies, irrigation and canals come under the Union List.

Which of the above statements is/are not correct?

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

B – Explanation

• In case of disputes relating to waters, Article 262 provides:
• Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley. Hence statement 1 is correct.  Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in Clause (1).While water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments and storage fall in theState List, issues like development of inter-state rivers come under the Union List. Hence statement 2 is not correct.  

Q3. Match List 1 and List 2 and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

List 1 (waterfall)                               List 2 (State)

1. Barkana                          A. Karnataka
2. Duduma                         B. Tamil Nadu
3. Kiliyur                             C. Goa
4. Dudhsagar                     D. Odisha

Codes:

A             B             C             D

1. 1 3 2 4
2. 1 3 4 2
3. 3 1 4 2
4. 3 1 2 4

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme:

1. A park will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be wholly owned by the Central Government.
2. The Centre will provide development capital support for each greenfield and brownfield MITRA park.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

B – Explanation

PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme

• About: A park will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be owned by the Central and State Governments and in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.Each Park will have an incubation centre, common processing house and a common effluent treatment plant, and other textile-related facilities such as design centres and testing centres.
• Funding: The centre will provide development capital support for the development of common infrastructure of Rs 500 crore for each greenfield MITRA park and up to Rs 200 crore for each brownfield park. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Q5. Which of the following is/are correct regarding Coir Geotextile?

1. It is naturally resistant to rot, molds and moisture.
2. It is a permeable and natural fabric but not highly durable.
3. It is totally biodegradable.

Select the correct answers using the code given below:

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

C – Explanation

• Coir Geotextile
• Coir is a 100% natural fiber, obtained from a renewable source – the coconut husk.Coir Geo Textile is naturallyresistant to rot, molds and moisture, and free from any microbial attack hence it needs no chemical treatment. Hence, statement 1 is correct.It has a permeable, natural and strong fabric with high durability. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.It protects the land surface and promotes quick vegetation.It istotally biodegradable and helps in soil stabilization. Hence, statement 3 is correct.It can dissipate the energy of flowing water and absorb the excess solar radiation.

Q6. DaVinci Plus and Veritas have been recently in the news. It is related to which of the following?

1. New Map Mapping Exercise of the World
2. NASA’s probe to Venus
3. New Found Archaeological Sites in Italy
4. Active Volcano in the Mediterranean Sea

B – Explanation

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)announced two new robotic missions to Venus.The two sister missions aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world capable of melting lead at the surface.DaVinci Plus: It will be the first of the two, it will analyze the thick, cloudy Venusian atmosphere to determine whether the inferno planet ever had an ocean and was possibly habitable. A small craft will plunge through the atmosphere to measure the gases.Veritas: It will be the second one seeking a geologic history by mapping the rocky planet’s surface. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q7. Who is the winner of the World Food Prize 2022?

1. Shakuntala Haraksingh
2. Akshaya Patra Foundation
3. International Food Policy Research Institute
4. Cynthia Rosenzweig

D – Explanation

• The World Food PrizeFoundation announced the name of World Food Prize laureate 2022, Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig of the United States.Rosenzweig was selected for the award for her research to understand the relationship between climate and food systems and forecast how both will change in the future.In 2021 Leading nutrition expert  Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted won the prize and in 2020 Indian-American soil scientist – Dr. Rattan Lal won the prize.The World Food Prize is the foremost international honour recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. Consider the following statements with respect to Syngas:

1. Syngas is a mixture primarily consisting of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
2. It can be used to produce Liquid Fuels such as Methanol, Ethanol, Synthetic diesel.
3. It can be used to produce nitrogenous fertilizers like Ammonia.

Which of the given statements is/are not correct?

1. 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. None of the above

D – Explanation

• Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and dihydrogen. Since the mixture of the two gases is used for the synthesis of methanol, it is called syngas, or water gas. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Syngas produced from coal can be used to produce:
• Gaseous Fuels such as Hydrogen (Blue coupled with CCUS), Substitute Natural Gas (SNG or Methane), Di-Methyl Ether (DME), Liquid Fuels such as Methanol, Ethanol, Synthetic diesel. Hence statement 2 is correct.Chemicals like Methanol derivatives, Olefins, Propylene, Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG), nitrogenousfertilizers including Ammonia. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q9. Which of the following statements best describes the (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme?

1. It is a central sector scheme introduced to create modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlets.
2. It is a scheme launched to create an Integrated Textiles Value Chain right from spinning, weaving, processing/dyeing and printing to garment manufacturing, etc. at one location.
3. It is a scheme launched to bring about sustainable development of the fisheries sector by establishing modern post-harvest infrastructure and supply chain management.
4. A scheme launched for the creation of state of the art support infrastructure in a well-defined agri/horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units in the industrial plots provided in the park with a well-established supply chain.

B – Explanation

• The government has approved the setting up of seven PM MITRA Parks to create an Integrated Textiles Value Chain.The seven Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) parks will be established at Greenfield or Brownfield sites located in different states.PM MITRA is motivated by PM Modi’s 5F vision of farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; and fashion to foreign.This integrated vision will help to further the growth of the textile sector in the economy.The scheme is under the Textiles Ministry. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. Guantánamo Bay is located in Cuba.
2. The Florida Strait separates Cuba and the United States.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

C – Explanation

• Guantánamo Bay is a bay in Cuba’s southeastern province of Guantánamo. The Florida Strait, which runs south-southeast of the North American mainland, separates the United States from Cuba. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.