16 August 2022

Q1. Which of the following Tiger Reserves have no Tigers?

1. Dampa Tiger reserve
2. Palamau Tiger reserve
3. Kamlang Tiger Reserve

Select the correct answer code:

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

A – Explanation 

• Mizoram’s Dampa reserve, West Bengal’s Buxa reserve, and Jharkhand’s Palamau reserve are the three reserves with no tigers. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2. The states which is/are the major producer(s) of pulses in India include:

1. Kerala
2. Uttarakhand
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Manipur

Select the correct answer code

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

B – Explanation

• Hardly any pulses are grown in Uttarakhand, Manipur and other NE states (except Assam), Kerala, HP and J&K. MP is leading producer of pulses along with Maharashtra, UP, Rajasthan and Karnataka.In all other states pulse production is comparatively lower.Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q3. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes which of the following medical procedures?

1. In-vitro fertilization
2. Cryopreservation
3. Surrogacy

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

• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) comprises procedures such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), intra-uterine insemination (IUI), oocyte and sperm donation, cryopreservation and includes surrogacy as well. Although not all surrogacy arrangements involve ART.The technology works to remove an egg from a woman’s body and fertilize it with a man’s sperm to make an embryo.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. The largest volcano in the solar system is on Mars.
2. Martian year is longer than the Earth year.
3. Phobos and Deimos are martian moons.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

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

D – Explanation

• Mars’ Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the solar system. It’s approximately 374 miles across, 16 miles tall, and has a 50-mile-wide crater at its summit.Martian year is longer than the Earth year. Mars revolves or orbits around the Sun once every 1.88 Earth years, or once every 686.93 Earth days.Phobos and Deimos are martian moons.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q5.  Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is located in:

1. Karnataka
2. West Bengal
3. Odisha
4. Assam

C – Explanation

• Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district in Odisha. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q6. Consider the following statements with respect to exercise Jidar-ul-Hadeed:

1. It is a multinational naval exercise with participation from the U.S., Russia, China and Turkey.
2. The exercise is hosted by Pakistan.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

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

A – Explanation

• The Pakistan Army is holding a month-long exercise in the Thar Desert, located in the Sindh province, to prepare for conflict in extreme desert environments. The exercise is code-named ‘Jidar-ul-Hadeed’.Aman-2021 is the multinational naval exercise hosted by Pakistan. As many as 45 countries, including the U.S., Russia, China and Turkey, are participating in the exercise. Hence, only statement 1 is incorrect.

Q7. Which of the following crops are covered under Operation Greens?

1. Tomato
2. Oilseeds
3. Onion
4. Potato

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

C – Explanation

• Recently, the Central Government admitted that no actual assessment of farm income has been carried out since 2013. One of the objectives of the Operation Greens is to double the income of farmers by the end of 2022.“Operation Greens” was announced on the lines of “Operation Flood”, to promote Farmer Producers Organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities for integrated development of Tomato-Onion-Potato (TOP) value chain. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.Development of the TOP value chain will ensure that a higher share of consumer’s rupee goes to farmers and stabilize their prices. The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Q8. Which of the following best describes ‘Dickinsonia’?

1. It is the rare species of frog endemic to Eastern Ghats.
2. It is an asteroid that is seen revolving between the orbit of Earth and Moon.
3. It is a rare herbal species found in lower himalayas used for the treatment of snake bite.
4. It is a fossil of the earliest known living animal discovered from the Bhimbetka rock shelters.

D – Explanation

• Recently, researchers have discovered three fossils of the earliest known living animal, the 550-million-year-old ‘Dickinsonia’on the roof of the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Arbitration Council of India (ACI)?

1. Article 51 of the Indian Constitution provides the basis for setting up of ACI.
2. All the appointments of arbitrators will be made by the institution designated by the Supreme Court.

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

A – Explanation

• Article 51 of the Indian Constitution obliges India to Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organized peoples with one country and; Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. ACI is a step in realisation of this constitutional obligation. The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 seeks to establish an independent body called the Arbitration Council of India (ACI) for the promotion of arbitration, mediation, conciliation and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Appointment of Arbitrators: Under the Act, the Supreme Court and High Courts may designate arbitral institutions, which parties can approach for the appointment of arbitrators.

• For international commercial arbitration, appointments will be made by the institution designated by the Supreme Court. For domestic arbitration, appointments will be made by the institution designated by the concerned High Court. In case there are no arbitral institutions available, the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court may maintain a panel of arbitrators to perform the functions of the arbitral institutions. An application for the appointment of an arbitrator is required to be disposed of within 30 days. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Q10. One Health Concept, recently seen in the news means?

1. Strategies to prevent Non-communicable diseases
2. Providing health insurance to all the individuals
3. Inter-connectivity among human health, animal health, and the environment
4. Prioritizing human health over animal health

C – Explanation

• The Union Budget proposed to strengthen One Health surveillance, linking microbial migration pathways from wildlife to veterinary and human populations.The World Organization of Animal Health, commonly known as OIE (an abbreviation of its French title), summarises the One Health concept as “human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist”.The philosophy of One Health recognises inter-connectivity among human health, the health of animals, and the environment. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.