21 February 2024

Q1. Consider the following pairs(Operation Name: Reason for Evacuation):

1. Operation Dost: Turkey-Syria earthquake
2. Operation Ganga: Tensions between Russia and Ukraine
3. Vande Bharat: Covid-19 pandemic
4. Operation Samudra Setu: Conflict in Yemen

How many of the above given pairs are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Operation Name Year    Reason for Evacuation
• Operation Dost 2023   Turkey-Syria earthquake
• Operation Ganga 2022   Tensions between Russia and Ukraine
• Vande Bharat 2020   Covid-19 pandemic
• Operation Samudra Setu 2020   Covid-19 pandemic
• Evacuation from Brussels 2016   Terrorist strikes
• Operation Raahat 2015   Conflict in Yemen
• Operation Maitri 2015   Nepal earthquake
• Operation Safe Homecoming 2011   Conflict in Libya
• Operation Sukoon 2006   Conflict in Lebanon
• 1990 Kuwait Airlift 1990   Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq

Q2. ‘Haiti’ shares a land border with which of the following nations?

(a) Jamaika

(b) Cuba

(c) Dominican Republic

(d) Venezuela

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• ‘Haiti’ shares land borders with Dominican Republic.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
2. The Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
5. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only two

(b) Only three

(c) Only four

(d) All five

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The correct answer is (b) 3, 4, and 5.
• Moringa (drumstick tree) is not a leguminous tree. It belongs to the family Moringaceae, not the Fabaceae family, which includes leguminous plants.
• Tamarind is indeed endemic to South Asia.
• In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce. This is a correct statement.
• India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa. This is also correct.
• Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels. This statement is correct as both moringa and tamarind seeds can be used for biofuel production.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
2. Common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.

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

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The correct answer is (b) 2 only.
• Adenoviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes, not single-stranded DNA genomes. Retroviruses, on the other hand, have single-stranded RNA genomes.
• The common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus, which is a correct statement. However, AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is a retrovirus. So, the statement is incorrect in stating that AIDS is caused by a retrovirus, without specifying HIV.

Q5. At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj

(c) Ministry of Rural Development

(d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, at the national level.