28 March 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to SARAS-3:

1. It is a radio telescope that is mounted on India’s first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory AstroSat.
2. It was built to detect extremely faint radio wave signals from the “Cosmic Dawn”.
3. SARAS-3 can be deployed on water bodies.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

1.  1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

C – Explanation

• SARAS-3 is an indigenously built telescope that was developed by the researchers of Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.  It is not mounted on India’s first multi-wavelength astronomical observatory AstroSat.Hence Statement 1 is not correct.SARAS-3 is a niche high-risk high-gain experimental effort to detect extremely faint radio wave signals from the depths of time, from our ‘Cosmic Dawn’. Hence Statement 2 is correct.Its chief distinguishing characteristic is that it can be deployed on water bodies. The many layers of soil were themselves a source of radio wave contamination for ground based telescopes. Given that the purpose is to detect a highly elusive signal, water would be an ideal medium, the group reckoned, to make such a sensitive measurement.Hence Statement 3 is correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to NASA’s Perseverance rover:

1. It was designed as part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission to explore the Jezero crater on Mars.
2. It uses the heat of plutonium’s radioactive decay for electric power.
3. The rover is carrying Ingenuity – the first helicopter to fly on Mars.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

D – Explanation

• The NASA Perseverance Rover is a part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Mars 2020 Mission. It is nicknamed ‘Percy’.Hence Statement 1 is correct.Perseverance carries a radioisotope power system. This power system produces a dependable flow of electricity using the heat of plutonium’s radioactive decay as its “fuel.”Hence Statement 2 is correct.Perseverance also carried the Ingenuity helicopter (nicknamed Ginny). Ingenuity is a technology demonstration to test the first powered flight on Mars. Hence Statement 3 is correct.

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Pandavleni Caves:

1. These caves are early examples of Indian rock-cut architecture and represent Hinayan Buddhist tradition.
2. The caves have the magnificent idols of Buddha and the popular Jain Tirthankaras such as Vrishabhdeo.
3. These caves house the paintings of the Gupta Period.

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

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A – Explanation

• Nasik caves are ancient rock-cut caves built on the Trirashmi hill about 3004 feet above the sea, hence are called Trirashmi Caves. They are also known as Pandavleni Caves. The Pandavleni caves are a group of 24 caves which are Hinayana Faith Buddhist Caves. Hence Statement 1 is correct.The caves have the magnificent idols of Buddha and the popular Jain Tirthankaras such as Vrishabhdeo, the icons of Bodhisattva, Veer Manibhadra Ji and Ambikadevi are also there. Hence Statement 2 is correct.Trirashmi caves are great examples of intricate carving and craftsmanship with outstanding sculptures.The Inscriptions in the Nasik Caves belong to the Kshatrapa dynasty, Satavahana dynasty. Hence Statement 3 is not correct.

Q4. River Umiam flows through which of these states?

1. Assam
2. Meghalaya
3. Mizoram
4. Arunachal Pradesh

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

A – Explanation

• The River Umiam takes its origin from the Shillong Peak, the highest point in Meghalaya .The Kiling/Umiam flows through the states of Assam and Meghalaya.It is a north flowing river originating from the northern slopes of the Khasi hill range.The river passes through Mawphu, Thieddieng, Nongsteng areas and enters the River Umiam Shella Basin, crossing the international border into Bangladesh. Hence Option A is correct.

Q5. In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by:

1.  The Preamble of the Constitution
2. A Directive Principle of state policy
3. The Seventh schedule
4. The conventional practice

B – Explanation

• Article 50 of Constitution of India is a directive principle of state policy. It gives a direction to the State to keep Judiciary independent of the Executive, particularly in judicial appointments.

Hence option B is correct

Q6. Which of the given statements is/are correct?

1. Palladium is used to coat electrodes that help control flow of electricity.
2. Palladium is used in making multilayer ceramic capacitors which are important to make smartphone screens and power circuit breakers.
3. Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of palladium.

1.  1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A – Explanation

• Most palladium is used in catalytic converters for cars. It is also used in jewellery and some dental fillings and crowns. It is used in the electronics industry in ceramic capacitors, found in laptop computers and mobile phones. Hence Statement 1 is correctIn the electronics sector, most palladium is used for multi-layer ceramic (chip) capacitors (MLCC). MLCCs store energy in electronic devices such as broadcasting equipment, mobile telephones, computers, electronic lighting and high voltage circuits. Hence Statement 2 is correctRussiais the leading global producer of palladium in recent years. Hence Statement 3 is not correct

Q7. Which of the given statements with respect to GenoMICC research project is/are INCORRECT?

1. It is a research study initiated by India that is exclusively aimed at mapping and identifying the genetic variation linked to severity of COVID-19.
2. It aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.
3. It is an initiative of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

1.   1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3.  2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

D – Explanation

• GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care)
• It is a research study done by Scientists in the United Kingdomthat brings together clinicians and scientists from around the world to find the genetic factors that lead to critical illnesses.Hence Statement 1 is not correctResearchers from the GenOMICC consortium, led by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Genomics England, sequenced the genomes of 7,491 patients from 224 intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Hence Statement 2 and 3 are not correctGenOMICC has been studying infections such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), flu and other forms of critical illness.The overarching aim of genome association studies is to not only correlate genes but also design treatments.

Q8. Which of the given statements is/are correct with respect to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority?

1. In India, the prices of all drugs including branded and generic are regulated by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
2. It fixes the ceiling price of scheduled medicines in the first schedule of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.It prepares the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) annually.

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A – Explanation

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority(NPPA) was set up as an attached office of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals on August 29, 1997.It is responsible for regulating the prices of drugs in the country and ensuring their availability, accessibility and affordability to every citizen of the country. Hence Statement 1 is correctNPPA aims to implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995/2013 in accordance with the powers delegated to it.Hence Statement 2 is correctThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India prepares the first National List of Essential Medicines of India.Hence Statement 3 is not correct

Q9. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

1. An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
2. A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
3. A bill of exchange
4. An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates

C – Explanation

• Harshavardhana was born in 590 AD to King Prabhakaravardhana of Sthaneshvara (Thanesar, Haryana). He belonged to the Pushyabhuti also called the Vardhana dynasty.Hiuen Tsang has given a very favorable account of king Harsha and his empire.
• Hundis refer to financial instruments evolved on the Indian subcontinent used in trade and credit transactions. They were used
• as remittance instruments (to transfer funds from one place to another),as credit instruments (to borrow money [IOUs]),for trade transactions (as bills of exchange).Hence Option C is correct

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was set-up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. NCRB was established on the recommendations of Santhanam Committee.
3. NCRB has the responsibility of implementation of the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

B – Explanation

• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) headquartered in New Delhi, was set-up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators. Hence, statement 1 is correct.It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Functions:
• The Bureau has been entrusted to maintain National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) and share it with the States/UTs on regular basis.NCRB has also been designated as the Central Nodal Agency to manage technical and operational functions of the ‘Online Cyber-Crime Reporting Portal’ through which any citizen can lodge a complaint or upload a video clip as an evidence of crime related to child pornography, rape/gang rape.
• The responsibility of implementation of the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) has also been given to the NCRB. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• ICJS is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for delivery of Criminal Justice in the country.