Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. Deemed forest refers to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by any government.
2. Deemed forests comprise about one-tenth of India’s forest land.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- A. 1 Only
- B. 2 Only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
A – Explanation
- Deemed Forests refer to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- However, the concept of deemed forests has not even been clearly defined in any law including the Forest Conservation Act 1980. Deemed forests in India comprise only about 1% of India’s forest land. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
1. DNA sequencing is the process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA.
2. Human Genome is made up of 23 chromosome pairs.
3. Genomics involves the sequencing and analysis of genomes through the use of high throughput DNA sequencing.
Which of the given statement/s is/are not correct?
- A. 1 Only
- B. 2 Only
- C. 2 and 3 Only
- D. None
D – Explanation
DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA.Human Genome is made up of 23 chromosome pairs.A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of science focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. Genomics involves the sequencing and analysis of genomes through the use of high throughput DNA sequencing. Hence all given statements are correct.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to the National Population Register (NPR):
1. The NPR is a register of the usual residents of the country.
2. For the purpose of NPR, a person who has resided in a local area for the past 7 years or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 7 years or more is a usual resident.
3. The NPR database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. All of the above
C – Explanation
- The National Population Register (NPR) is a register of usual residents of the country.It will be prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National levels under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.
- Hence statement 2 is wrong.
Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. Sex ratio is the number of men per thousand women in a given population.
2. Child sex ratio takes into account children in the age group of 0-6 years.
- Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 Only
- B. 2 Only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
B – Explanation
The sex ratio is the number of women per thousand men in a given population. Hence statement 1 is wrong.Child sex ratio takes into account children in the age group of 0-6 years. Hence statement 2 is correct.
Q5. With respect to “World Children’s Day”, consider the following statements:
1. It was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day.
2. It is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
- 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
C – Explanation
- World Children’s Day is being observed on 20 November. It is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children.
- Hence statement 1 is correct: It was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day.
- Hence statement 2 is correct: It is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
- It is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children’s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children’s rights.
- Hence option c. is correct.
Q6. With respect to “Liquefied natural gas (LNG)”, consider the following statements:
1. It is natural gas predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6.
2. It causes very less pollution than diesel but it is 40% costlier than that.
- 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
A – Explanation
- Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane, C2H6) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- It is not only almost 40% cheaper than diesel but also causes very less pollution. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
- LNG use in trucks can reduce SOx emissions by 100% and NOx emissions by 85% thus befitting society atlarge. Government will set up LNG stations at the distance of 200-300 km on golden quadrilateral, and within 3 years, we will have 1000 LNG stations on all major roads, industrial hubs and mining areas. These fifty LNG stations will be set up and commissioned in partnership by country’s Oil & Gas majors such as IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, PLL, Gujarat Gas and their Joint Venture Companies and subsidiaries.
- Hence option a. is correct.
Q7. With respect to “Chhath Puja”, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Hindu festival dedicated to the lord Shiva and his wife Parvati in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth.
2. It is a gender-specific festival and the main worshipers are called Parvaitin.
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
D – Explanation
- President Ram Nath Kovind has sent his greetings to citizens on the eve of Chhath Puja.
- Hence statement 1 is incorrect: It is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun god and his wife Usha in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth. The Goddess who is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya (also known as Usha, wife of the sun god).
- The word chhath means sixth and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kartika of the Hindu lunar Bikram Sambat calendar.The festival is observed over a period of four days. They rituals include holy bathing, fasting, standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prayers and food to the setting and rising sun.
- Hence statement 2 is incorrect: The main worshipers, called Parvaitin, are usually women. However, many men also observe this festival as Chhath is not a gender-specific festival.
- The festival is observed most elaborately in Mithila Province of Nepal, Terai-Madhesh region of Nepal, Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and UP. It is also more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence.
- Hence option d. is correct.
Q8. Borra Caves was recently in news, is situated in which of the following states?
- A. Karnataka
- B. Andra Pradesh
- C. Kerala
- D. Tamil Nadu
B – Explanation
Borra Caves are located 125.6 km from Visakhapatnam, Borra Caves are the gem that is studded in the crown of the Ananthagiri hills of Araku Valley. These limestone caves are a million-year-old and the largest caves in India at an elevation of about 705 m. The caves are spread across an area of two sq km. Discovered by William King George of the GSI, these one million-year-old caves attract a huge number of tourists every day. These are located at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level. These caves are known for stalactite and stalagmite formations such as Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi’s Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger, and Cows udder.
Q9. Consider the following statements with respect to National Population Register (NPR):
NPR is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country NPR was first collected in 2019 and then updated in 2020.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 only
- C. Both 1 and 2
- D. Neither 1 nor 2
A – Explanation
- National Population Register is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country. Its objective is to have a comprehensive identity database of people residing in the country.
- A usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place for six months or more, and intends to reside there for another six months or more.The NPR was first collected in 2010 and then updated in 2015.
- It is generated through house-to-house enumeration during the “house-listing” phase of the census, which is held once in 10 years.
- The last census was in 2011, and the next was scheduled for 2021
Q10. With reference to New Development Bank (NDB), consider the following statements:
1. It is a multilateral development bank to support infrastructure and sustainable development efforts in Asia.
2. It has observer status in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
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
B – Explanation
- New Development Bank (NDB) is a multilateral development bank jointly founded by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014. It was formed to support infrastructure and sustainable development efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology. It is not limited to Asia. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the United Nations General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the UN. Hence, statement 2 is correct. To fulfill its purpose, the Bank supports public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments. NDB has so far approved 14 projects in India for an amount of $4,183 million.
