24 March 2023

Q1. India is a member of which of the following institutions?

1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
2. International Development Association (IDA)
3. Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
4. International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Select the correct answer using the code given below

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

A – Explanation

• The World Bank was created in 1944, as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IBRD later became the World Bank. The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries.Members: It has 189 member countries. India is also a member country.
• Major reports:
• Ease of Doing Business (Stopped publishing recently).Human Capital Index.World Development Report.
• Its Five development institutions:
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• India became a member of IBRD in December 1945.
• International Development Association (IDA)
• India one of the founding members of this concessional financing institution.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• India is a founding member of IFC
• Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• India became a member of MIGA in January 1994
• International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
• India is not a memberof this.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following statements with reference to Nitrogen:

1. Nitrification is conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gases.
2. Denitrification is conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia.

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

D – Explanation

• Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrientscritical for the survival of all living organisms.Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of our atmosphere and nitrogen is also a part of many molecules essential to life like proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and some vitamins.Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere as Nitrogen gas (N₂), it is largely inaccessible in this form to most organisms, making nitrogen a scarce resource and often limiting primary productivity in many ecosystems.Only when nitrogen is converted from Nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH₃) does it become available to primary producers, such as plants.The major transformations of nitrogen gas are through the process of:Nitrogen fixation (nitrogen gas to ammonia),Nitrification (ammonia to nitrite and nitrate). Hence statement 1 is not correct.Denitrification (nitrate to nitrogen gases). Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Q3. Which of the following statement is not correct regarding Rampa Rebellion?

1. It was anti-British activities in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act.
2. It is also known as Manyam Rebellion.
3. Alluri Sitarama Raju was among mains leaders of the revolt.
4. It led to a nationwide revolt.

D – Explanation

• Alluri Sitarama Raju became involved inanti-British activities in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which effectively restricted the free movement of Adivasis (tribal communities) in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing a traditional form of agriculture known as podu (shifting cultivation).Rising discontent towards the British led to the Rampa Rebellion/Manyam Rebellion of 1922, in which he played a major part as a leader.He was nicknamed “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungle) by local villagers for his heroic exploits.In 1924, Raju was taken into police custody, tied to a tree, and shot by a public execution, effectively ending the armed rebellion.It could not become a nationwide revolt.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q4. With reference to the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), consider the following statements:

1. India is a member of CSC.
2. It seeks to strengthen regional maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.

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

• The CSC was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.It welcomed Mauritius as a fourth member at the fifth meeting of national security advisers.Bangladesh and Seychelles attended as observers and have been invited to join the group. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The fifth meeting of national security advisers of the CSC identified key areas of cooperation to enhance and strengthen regional security in the following five pillars:
• Maritime Safety and SecurityCountering Terrorism and RadicalizationCombating Trafficking and Transnational Organized CrimeCyber Security, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and TechnologyHumanitarian Assistance and Disaster ReliefHence, statement 2 is correct.

Q5. Which of the following is/are the characteristics of a Strato volcano?

1. Tall and conical volcano
2. Periodic and explosive eruptions
3. Highly viscous lava

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

D – Explanation

• About Stratovolcano
• Astratovolcano is a tall, conical volcano composed of one layer of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.These volcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions.The lava that flows from them is highly viscous, and cools and hardens before spreading very far.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q6. Which of the following statement is correct regarding Blue Blob?

It is a warm water patch located in North Atlantic Ocean.

It is a cold water patch located in North Atlantic Ocean.

It is a cold water patch located in North Pacific Ocean.

It is a warm water patch located in South Pacific Ocean.

B – Explanation

• Blue Blobis a cold patch located south of Iceland and Greenland in North Atlantic Ocean.The cold patch was most prominent during the winter of 2014-2015 when the sea surface temperature was about 1.4 degrees Celsius colder than normal.The Arctic region is reportedly warming four times faster than the global average and Iceland’s glaciers steadily shrank from 1995 to 2010, losing an average of 11 billion tons of ice per year.Starting in 2011, however, the speed of Iceland’s melting slowed, resulting in about half as much ice loss annually and the Blue Blob has been linked to cooler air temperatures over Iceland’s glaciers and cooler waters. This trend was not seen in nearby, larger glaciers across Greenland and Svalbard.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):

1. It is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
2. It provides suggestions to the government in framing the policies.

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

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India 
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory bodyestablished under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). Hence statement 1 is correct.Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI
• Its major functions are:
• Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.Granting FSSAI food safety license and certification for food businesses.Laying down procedure and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.To provide suggestions to the government in framing the policies. Hence statement 2 is correct.To collect data regarding contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of a rapid alert system.Creating an information network across the country about food safety.Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

Q8. Consider the following statements with reference to the Seaweeds:

1. They are the primitive, marine flowering plants of marine ecosystems.
2. They are found only in shallow waters and backwaters.

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

D – Explanation

• Seaweeds
• They are the primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves, play a major role in marine ecosystems.Hence statement 1 is not correct.Large seaweeds form dense underwater forests known as kelp forests, which act as underwater nurseries for fish, snails and sea urchins.Seaweeds,found mostly in the intertidal region, in shallow and deep waters of the sea andalso in estuaries and backwaters. Hence statement 2 is not correct.The southern Gulf of Mannar’s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions have rich populations of several seaweed species.

Q9. Consider the following statements with regards to AYUSH?

1. In 2014, the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare became a ministry on its own – the Ministry of Ayush.
2. The ministry of AYUSH runs an e-AUSHADHI Portal for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters.
3. Practitioners of Ayurveda aren’t allowed to perform any surgery in India.

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

A – Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct, In 2014, the Ministry of Ayush was set up which was earlier the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Statement 2 is correct, the AYUSH Ministry launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters. The e-AUSHADHI portal is intended to increase transparency, improve information management facility, improve data usability and increase accountability.Statement 3 is not correct, The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), India’s principal regulatory body for Ayurveda education, released a notification that permits postgraduate Ayurveda practitioners to perform 58 types of surgeries.

Q10.Which of the following nation’s constitution’s 20th amendment, also known as 20A, has been in the news recently?

1. Pakistan
2. Nepal
3. Myanmar
4. Sri Lanka

D – Explanation

• Sri Lanka’s 20th constitutional amendment is also known as 20A. It provides expansive powers and greater immunity for the President.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.