12 September 2022

Q1. Which of the following taxes are not subsumed under Goods and Services Tax?

1. Anti-Dumping Duty
2. Professional Tax
3. Service Tax
4. Entertainment Tax
5. Property tax levied by local bodies

Select the correct answer code:

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

C – Explanation

• Which taxes at the Centre and State level are being subsumed into GST?
• At the Central level, the following taxes are being subsumed:
• Central Excise Duty,Additional Excise Duty,Service Tax,Additional Customs Duty commonly known as Countervailing Duty, andSpecial Additional Duty of Customs.
• At the State level, the following taxes are being subsumed:
• Subsuming of State Value Added Tax/Sales Tax,Entertainment Tax (other than the tax levied by the local bodies), Central Sales Tax (levied by the Centre and collected by the States),Octroi and Entry tax,Purchase Tax, Luxury tax, andTaxes on lottery, betting and gambling.
• Taxes not subsumed under GST includeBasic Custom Duty, Central Excise on Petroleum Products, Anti-Dumping Duty, VAT on alcohol for human consumption, Stamp Duty, Property Tax (levied by local bodies), Professional Tax.
• Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Agricultural Markets and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI):

1. Agricultural Markets and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index evaluates Indian states on the extent to which each of them undertook required agri-reforms.
2. A high AMFFRI rank implies the state is undertaking desired reforms.AMFFRI is the initiative of the Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

A – Explanation

• NITI Aayog’sAgricultural Markets and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index — AMFFRI, an index that evaluates Indian states on the extent to which each of them undertook required agri-reforms. Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.A low AMFFRI rank implies the state is undertaking desired reforms. It was found that states that undertook reforms, and were thus ranked low on AMFFRI, witnessed a relatively faster agri-GDP growth rate and states which did not undertake required reforms, and thus were ranked high on the AMFFRI, witnessed relatively lower agri-GDP growth rates. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. A short circuit is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path instead of following the circuit.
2. At the time of Short-circuit, the current in the circuit reduces substantially.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

A – Explanation

• A short circuit is an abnormal condition in an electrical circuit where the electrical current flows through an unintended, shorter pathway instead of following the circuit. Hence statement 1 is correct.This results in an excessive current flowing through the circuit. The opposite of a short circuit is an “open circuit”, which is an infinite resistance between two nodes. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Desert National Park (DNP):

1. It is spread over three districts in the State of RajasthanDNP is a spectacular representative of the desert ecosystem
2. The DNP is the most important site for the Globally Threatened Great Indian Bustard

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

B – Explanation

• Desert National Park, situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan,is one of the largest national parks. Desert National Park is situated in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.It is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Hence, statement 2 is correct.The DNP is the most critical habitat for the globally threatened Great Indian Bustards long-term survival. Other notable birds include the endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and the Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) etc. BirdLife International has identified bird species that are representative of the Biome. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q5. With respect to Millets, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. 1. Millets are gluten-free and have a low glycemic index.
   2. Their micro-nutrients composition is better as compared to rice or wheat.
   3. Karnataka is the highest producer of Ragi in India

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

D – Explanation

• Most of the millets are non-acid forming, non-glutinous, highly nutritious, and easily digestible foods. Due tolow glycaemic index (GI) being gluten-free, it helps in a slower release of glucose over a longer period of time thus reducing the risk of diabetes mellitus.Wheat, rice, and other cereal grains contain far less fiber and essential minerals than millets.Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are the top ragi producers in the country.Hence all the statements are correct.

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.

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

 C – Explanation

• In the Northern hemisphere of the tropical zone, the Northeast trade winds transport warmer water westward in the ocean. Due to trade winds, the western section of the ocean in tropical zones is warmer than the eastern section.Similarly, the Westerlies are important in transporting warm, equatorial waters and winds to continents’ western coasts.  Westerlies make the eastern section of the ocean warmer than the western section in temperate zones.Hence both the statements are correct.

Q7. Which of the following is/are the initiatives of UNESCO?

1. 1. Global Geopark Network
   2. World Heritage Education Programme
   3. Man and Biosphere Programme
   4. Creative Cities Network

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

D – Explanation

• UNESCO Global Geoparksare single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. At present, there are 169 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 44 countries.The UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, initiated as a UNESCO special project in 1994, gives young people a chance to voice their concerns and to become involved in the protection of our common cultural and natural heritage.UNESCO’s MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. Which of the given statement/s is/are not correct?

1. 1. A government resorts to a reduction of Repo rate to reduce inflation.
   2. A government cuts its spending to reduce inflation.
   3. Inflation target to be set by the Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with the Government of India, once every five years.

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

C – Explanation

• Inflation is the general rise in the prices of goods and services in an economy, over a period of time. It reduces the purchasing power of consumers, because each unit of currency can purchase fewer products with an increase in the general price levels. In the event of inflation, central banks increase the repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow from the central bank. Hence Statement 1 is not correct.The government resorts to Cuts in government spending to reduce inflation. Hence Statement 2 is correct.The amended RBI Act provides for the inflation target to be setby the Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank, once in every five years. Hence Statement 3  is not correct.

Q9. Which of the given statements with respect to INSV Tarini is/are correct?

1. 1. It is an indigenously-built sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy in 1971.
   2. The first Indian all-woman crew circumnavigated the globe in INSV Tarini.
   3. It was inducted in the Indian Navy with the objective of ocean surveillance.

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

A – Explanation

• The INSV Tarini is 55 feet in length and built in India in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Indian Navy, fructified by M/s Aquarius Shipyard, Goa. The Tarini vessel was handed over to the Indian Navy on 18 February 2017, christened INSV Tarini, after the Tara Tarini temple. Hence Statement 1 is not correct.INSV Tarini is being inducted into the Navy and is slated to be the platform for the First Indian All Women Circumnavigationof the Globe expedition of the Indian Navy. Hence Statement 2 is correct.Tarini aims to promote a spirit of adventure and camaraderie amongst the young Naval personnel in the years ahead. Hence Statement 3 is not correct.

Q10. Which of the given statements with respect to National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) is/are correct?

1. 1. NTRO was created after the 1999 Kargil war as a dedicated technical intelligence agency.
   2. It has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications externally.
   3. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Center (NCIIPC) is a unit under NTRO.
   4. The National Technical Textiles Mission was launched by NTRO.

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

C – Explanation

• India’s technical intelligence gathering agency is the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO).On the recommendations of the Girish Chanda Saxena task force, NTRO was established in 2004 as a dedicated technical intelligence agency following the Kargil war.  Hence Statement 1 is correct.It has been fighting tooth and nail to get included in the list as it has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications externally. Hence Statement 2 is correct.The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre is designated as the National Nodal Agency in terms of Critical Information Infrastructure Protection. It is a unit of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and therefore comes under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Hence Statement 3 is correct.The National Technical Textiles Mission is operational in the Ministry of Textiles.Hence Statement 4 is not correct.