27 October 2022

Q. Take into account the statements made about India’s comptroller and auditor general:

1. According to Article 148 of the Indian Constitution, the CAG is a constitutional authority.
2. The CAG audits the accounting in India after the spending is made.
3. A member of the legislature is CAG.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 and 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1 and 3 only
• 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• The first statement is true. According to Article 148 of the Indian Constitution, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the country’s constitutional authority.
• In India, the CAG only has the authority of an Auditor General and not a Comptroller, unlike in Britain, it also has that of a Comptroller and an Auditor General.
• The second statement is true. In India, the CAG does an ex post facto audit of the accounts after the expenditure has been made.
• In the UK, no funds may be withdrawn from the public coffers without the CAG’s consent.
• The third statement is untrue. In Britain, CAG is a member of the Commons; in India, CAG is not a member of the parliament.

Q. Take into account the following statements about Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV):

1. It is an all-solid, two-stage vehicle.
2. It is capable of launching satellites weighing up to 300 kg into a 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 500 kg into a 500 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• Statements 1 and 2 are both untrue.
• The smallest vehicle is the 110-tonne SSLV. In contrast to the 70 days it currently takes for a launch vehicle, it will just take 72 hours to integrate.
• While the tried-and-true Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) can launch satellites weighing up to 1000 kg, it can only deliver satellites up to 500 kg into low earth orbit.
• The SSLV is a three-stage, all-solid rocket that can launch satellites up to 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 500 km altitude and 300 kg into Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
• In addition to supporting multiple orbital drop-offs, it is ideal for simultaneously launching many microsatellites.
• The primary benefits of SSLV include its low price, quick turnaround time, adaptability to accommodate many satellites, viability of launch on demand, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc.

Q. Take into account the following claims about LVM3:

1. With a maximum payload capacity of 8 tonnes for low-Earth orbit, it is India’s heaviest launch vehicle.
2. The Gaganyaan mission will use it to send Indian astronauts to space while it is presently being human-rated.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• Up to 8 tonnes can be carried by the LVM3 rocket, formerly known as the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark III or GSLV-MK3.
• With a payload capacity of between 1.4 and 1.75 tonnes, the PSLV is significantly lighter.
• The Gaganyaan mission will send Indian astronauts to space on the craft, which is presently being human-rated.
• was once referred to as the GSLV Mk 3.
• It is a three-stage rocket with a solid fuel first stage, a liquid fuel second stage, and a cryogenic third stage.

Q. Which of the following states/UTs is Hokersar Wetlands located in, according to current news reports?

• Maharashtra
• Odisha
• J & K
• Kerala

Explanation

• A natural perennial wetland next to the Jhelum basin is called Hokersar Wetlands.
• It is a migratory bird haven and a Ramsar site recognised by the international community.
• It is the only location in Jammu and Kashmir where reed beds still exist.
• Under the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Wild preservation Act of 1978, Hokersar, referred to as the “queen of wetlands” in Kashmir, was designated as a Conservation Reserve.
• As part of the national wetlands protection programme for India, it was designated as a bird sanctuary.
• In the previous ten years, the active area of Hokersar has decreased from 14 square kilometres to less than six square kilometres, according to government data.
• The Hokersar Wetland Reserve is fed by the Shaliganga Nallah in Budgam.

Q. Take into consideration the following claims about the Harappan Site “Dholavira”:

1. It is located in the Rajasthani state.
2. The distinctive feature of the location is a cascading cascade of water reservoirs.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• The first statement is untrue. In the western Indian state of Gujarat, there is an archaeological site called Dholavira in Khadirbet in the Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District.
• The walled city, which has a powerfully guarded fortress and ceremonial ground as well as alleys and homes of varying relative quality that reflect a stratified social hierarchy, was supplied with water by two seasonal streams, a scarce resource in the area.
• The second statement is true.
• The ingenuity of the Dholavira people in their quest to survive and flourish in a tough environment is demonstrated by their ingenious water management system.
• The location has a sizable cemetery with cenotaphs of six different forms attesting to the Harappans’ distinctive perspective on mortality.
• During archaeological excavations of the site, bead processing workshops and artefacts of various kinds, including copper, shell, stone, jewellery made of semi-precious stones, terracotta, gold, ivory, and other materials, have been discovered, showcasing the culture’s artistic and technological accomplishments.
• There is also proof of inter-regional trade with other Harappan cities, as well as with settlements in Mesopotamia and the Oman Peninsula.

Q. Take into account the following statements about Border Road Organization (BRO):

1. The BRO is building roads to connect the country’s border regions, which are difficult and inconvenient to access.
2. It is a department of the Ministry of Highways and Road Transportation.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• The first statement is true.
• The BRO is building roads to connect the country’s border regions, which are difficult and inconvenient to access.
• The organisation currently maintains operations in 21 states, 1 UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and bordering nations like Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
• The second statement is untrue.
• Under the Ministry of Defense, it conducts business.
• Officers and soldiers from the Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police, and army personnel on extra regimental employment make up the staff of this facility.
• The Border Roads Organization has been crucial in the development of border regions as well as in maintaining security. The BRO’s tenacious labour is largely responsible for the development of India’s North Eastern states.
• The BRO’s work on the nation’s infrastructure has led to socioeconomic development in even the most remote regions of the nation.
• In addition to its activities in India, the BRO has worked in many other nations, greatly assisting in the maintenance of amicable and diplomatic relations.
• In 2008, the highly qualified BRO men started and successfully finished building the Delaram-Zaranj Highway in Afghanistan. The BRO also renovated and restored Tajikistan’s Farkhor and Ayni air bases.

Q. Which of the following Indian states or UTs produces basmati rice?

1. J & K
2. Punjab
3. Haryana
4. Delhi
5. Uttar Pradesh

Select the right option from the list of codes below:

• 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
• 2, 3, 4 and 5
• 1, 3, 4 and 5
• 1, 3 and 5

Explanation

• India is well-known for its basmati rice, with the products from seven States designated for Geographical Indication: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Basmati has a market outside and generates around 30,000 crore in foreign exchange each year. It is renowned for its mouthfeel, scent, length of the grain when cooked, and taste.
• While the European Union imports Indian Basmati as well, 75% of the export is to West Asian nations.
• In 2020 and 2021, a team of researchers led by Ashok Kumar Singh, Director of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), is expected to release five new Basmati varieties that would completely alter how this type of paddy is grown in the nation.

Q. Take into account the following statements against NewSpace India Limited:

1. It is a 100% owned by the Indian government and is managed by the department of space (DOS).
2. NSIL was established to satisfy the ever-increasing needs of the Indian space programme and to profit from the burgeoning global space market.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• Both of the claims are true.
• To commercially exploit the research and development work of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Centers and constituent units of DOS, the Union Government has already established New Space India Limited (NSIL), a wholly owned Government of India undertaking/Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS), on March 6, 2019.
• The following roles and responsibilities have been assigned to NSIL as part of its mandate: Small Satellite Technology Transfer to Industry, whereby NSIL will obtain licences from DOS/ISRO and sub-license them to Industries; Manufacturing of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in Collaboration with Private Sector; Manufacturing of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Through Indian Industry; Manufacturing and Marketing of Space Based Products and Services, Including
• NSIL was established to satisfy the ever-increasing needs of the Indian space programme and to profit from the burgeoning global space market.
• The development of NSIL has given Indian firms a boost in the space industry and allowed them to expand their manufacturing and production capacities.

Q. Take into account the following statements about Jim Corbett National Park:

1. It’s in the Uttarakhand region.
2. It is the first national park in Asia and India.
3. Asiatic elephants and Royal Bengal tigers are the park’s most famous residents.
4. The Project Tiger initiative’s original location was the park.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1, 2 and 3
• 2, 3 and 4
• 1, 3 and 4
• 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

• The statements are all true.
• The Nainital district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand is home to Jim Corbett National Park.
• As the country’s first national park, it was created in 1936 during the British Raj and given the name Haily National Park in honour of the governor of the United Provinces, where it was at the time.
• It is Asia’s first national park.
• For Independence, it was renamed Ramganga National Park after the river that runs through it, and in 1956, it underwent a third renaming to Corbett National Park.
• Its founding had been significantly aided by Jim Corbett, who passed away the year before.
• It is also being honoured for being the site of the 1973 launch of Project Tiger.
• Asiatic elephants and Royal Bengal tigers are the park’s most famous residents.
• It is one of the richest bird habitats in India with over 586 species of resident and migratory birds. The region has been designated as a “Important Bird Area” by Birdlife International.

Q. Take into account the following statements about the Vechur cattle breed:

1. One of India’s tiny cattle breeds is the vechur.
2. It is thought to be the world’s smallest breed of cattle.
3. It is recognised by the name of the Andhra Pradesh location Vechur.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

• 1 and 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1 and 3 only
• 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• The first and second statementsare true.
• Vechur is an Indian dwarf cow breed that typically measures 124 cm in length and 87 cm in height.
• It is thought to be the world’s smallest breed of cattle.
• The third statement is untrue.
• It is recognised by a location’s name. Vechur is a small settlement in the Kottayam district of South Kerala, close to Vaikam, along the Vembanad lake.
• Animals are light red, black, or white with fawn markings.
• Horn Horns are short and narrow, bending downward and forward. Sometimes they are so little that they are hardly noticeable.