30 June 2023

Q. Take into consideration the following statements regarding the first general election held in India:

1. In the Himachal Pradesh assembly districts of Chini and Pangi, the first general election’s preliminary round was held.
2. The same press created the Indian banknotes and ballot papers for the election.

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• Over 173 million voters participated in the First General Elections, which were held from October 15, 1951, to February 21, 1952. Before winter set in, the first round of voting took place in the Himachal Pradesh assembly districts of Chini and Pangi, while the 68th round was held in Uttar Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh’s Chini tehsil (district), the first ballots were cast in the election. The first vote in India’s 1951 general election, the country’s first election since the end of British Rule in 1947, was cast by Indian schoolteacher Shyam Saran Negi of Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh.
• The Election Commission had the Government of India Security Press in Nashik, where Indian currency notes were also printed, print the ballot papers. In order to print court fine, fiscal, postal, non-postal, and postal stationery products, the British established India Security Press, Nashik Road, in 1925. Up until 1980, this press was also used to create money notes.

Q. The National Bioenergy Program is described in the following sentences:

1. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy introduced the initiative.
2. It will consist of the Waste to Energy Programme, the Biomass Programme, the Biogas Programme, and the CNG Programme.

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• The first claim is accurate.
• The National Bioenergy Programme was announced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, on November 2.
• From FY 2021–2022 through 2025–2026, MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme. Two phases of implementation for the programme have been suggested.
• With an approved budget of Rs. 858 crore, the Program’s Phase-I has begun.
• Statement number two is false.
• The following sub-schemes make up the National Bioenergy Program:
• Large Biogas, BioCNG, and power plants can be built with the help of the Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, and Agricultural Wastes/Residues) (excluding MSW to Power projects).
• The Biomass Program (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based Cogeneration in Industries) supports the establishment of projects using non-bagasse-based power generation as well as the production of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation.
• A family-sized and medium-sized biogas can be set up in rural regions with the help of the biogas programme.

Q. Take into consideration the following statements with Exercise Malabar:

1. A multilateral naval exercise simulating a conflict was initiated in 1992.
2. The Indian and Australian navies first engaged in a bilateral exercise.
3. At the moment, it is carried out as a cooperative marine exercise inside QUAD.

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• The first claim is accurate.
• It is a multilateral naval wargame that was first conducted in 1992.
• Statement number two is false.
• The Indian and American navy initially participated in it as a bilateral exercise.
• 3 is a true statement.
• The purpose of the Malabar 2021 multinational maritime exercise, which is part of the Quad in the Western Pacific, appears to be to intimidate China.
• The informal strategic conversation between India, the USA, Japan, and Australia is known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). The four countries are committed to fostering and securing a “free, open, and prosperous” Indo-Pacific area.
• In the second week of November 2022, Japan will host the Malabar naval exercise, which will include participation from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.

Q. The name of India’s intercontinental ballistic missile is which of the following?

• Akash
• Agni
• Brahmos
• Prithvi

Explanation

• A family of medium-range to intercontinental range ballistic missiles created by India and named after one of the five elements of nature is known as the Agni missile.
• Agni missiles are surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with a great range and nuclear weapons capability.
• Nuclear weapon delivery is the purpose of intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. These deadly missiles may travel a minimum of 5,500 kilometres. Nowadays, nuclear warheads are frequently carried by multiple ICBMs. The majority of contemporary designs accommodate several independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). Therefore, one missile can carry multiple warheads, each of which will aim at a separate target. Additionally, a variety of decoys carried by ICBMs enable them to defeat hostile air defences.
• The nuclear-capable AGNI V missile, which has a range of 5,000 km, is India’s entry for the ICBM category.

Q. Which of the following species is the recently reported “Apis karyanodiyan”?

• Frog
• Honeybee
• Snake
• Apple Bat

Explanation

• The Western Ghats are home to a brand-new indigenous honeybee species.
• The common name Indian black honeybee has been given to the new species, Apis karinjodian.
• The discovery of a new species of honeybee in the Western Ghats comes after a gap of more than 200 years.
• Apis indica was the latest honeybee from India to be described, according to Fabricius in 1798. Although Apis indica was given a name by Fabricius, it wasn’t accepted as a species until recently.
• Based on a novel index called the “Radio-Medial Index (RMI)” for species discrimination in honeybees, the study team reinstated the status of Apis indica.
• The identification of Apis indica as a separate species led to the discovery of Apis karinjodian.
• The morphotypes of Apis cerana that adapted to the hot, humid climate of the Western Ghats are the ancestors of Apis karinjodian.
• The distribution of Apis karinjodian spans the States of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, from the middle Western Ghats and Nilgiris to the southern Western Ghats.

Q. Take into account the following statements about the National Pension System:

1. It is a defined contribution, voluntary retirement savings plan.
2. Individual deposits are combined into a pension fund under the NPS, where professional fund managers who are subject to PFRDA regulation invest the money.
3. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension has jurisdiction for NPS Trust, a specialised branch of PFRDA.

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• The first claim is accurate.
• The National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary, defined contribution retirement savings plan created to help members make the best choices for their future via methodical saving throughout their working lives.
• The NPS aims to help persons develop the habit of saving for their retirement. It is an effort to discover a long-term solution to the issue of giving each Indian person a sufficient retirement income.
• The second claim is true.
• The National Pension System (NPS) pools individual savings into a pension fund, which is then invested by PFRDA-regulated professional fund managers in accordance with approved investment guidelines in diversified portfolios that include shares, corporate debt obligations, government bonds, and bills.
• Depending on the profits received on the investments placed, these contributions would increase and accrue over time.
• In addition to withdrawing a portion of the accumulated pension wealth as a lump sum, if they so desire, the subscribers may use the accumulated pension wealth under the scheme to buy a life annuity from a PFRDA accredited Life Insurance Company at the time of their retirement from NPS.
• The third statement is untrue.
• A specialised section of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, which reports to the Indian government’s Ministry of Finance, is the National Pension System Trust.

Q. Which of the following Indian states/UTs is home to the Jarawas and Shompen tribes?

• Lakshadweep
• Andaman and Nicobar
• West Bengal
• Jharkhand

Explanation

• Native inhabitants of Great Nicobar Island, which is a part of the Indian union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are known as Shompen or Shom Pen. As a Scheduled Tribe, the Shompen are recognised.
• Inhabitants of the Andaman Islands in India are also known as Jarawas. Their current population is thought to number between 250 and 400 people, and they can be found in some areas of the South and Middle Andaman Islands.
• The following are Andaman’s four principal tribes.
• Less than 50 members of the Great Andamanese tribe are still alive today. The Great Andamanese-Strait Island is a component of the North and Middle Andaman district.
• There are only 300–400 members of the Jarawa tribes still alive today; they live on the South and Middle Andaman Islands.
• Only 50–100 Sentinelese tribes are still in existence today; they are found on North Sentinel Island, which is a part of the North Andaman region.
• Less than 100 members of the Ongetribe tribe live on the Little Andaman Island.
• In addition, nine Nicobar Islands are home to very vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).

Q. Which of the following legislation safeguards children’s rights in India?

1. Act of 1988 to Prevent Illegal Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
2. Act of 2015 Concerning Juvenile Justice and Protection
3. Act of 1994 prohibiting the use of gender selection in prenatal and perinatal diagnostic procedures
4. 2006 Child Marriages Act

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 – This law allows for the prosecution of those who aid or abet the use of children in drug trafficking.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act of 2015 (JJ Act, 2015) strengthens the protections for both children who need care and protection and those who are in legal trouble.
• The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act of 1994 is the primary statute that criminalises sex-selective abortion.
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 aims to discourage child weddings by strengthening existing penalties, which include harsh two-year prison terms and/or fines of INR 1 lakh. A child is defined as a guy or female who is younger than the age of 18 or 21, respectively. According to the Majority Act, a person who has not reached the age of majority is considered a minor.

Q. Take into consideration the following statements about the fortified city of Jaipur:

1. Sawai Jai Singh II constructed the walled city of Jaipur in 1727.
2. Vastu Shastra’s Prastara plan was used to build the city.
3. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is.

What statement or statements above are true?

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

Explanation

• Both statements 1 and 3 are true.
• Sawai Jai Singh II constructed the walled city of Jaipur in the Rajasthan region of northwest India in 1727.
• Jaipur was founded on the plain and constructed using a grid system that was understood in the context of Vedic architecture, in contrast to other cities in the area that were situated on mountainous terrain.
• Statement 2 is False: In the 18th century CE, Jaipur was planned and built in a single phase using a grid-iron model that was based on the Prastara plan of the Vastu Shastra, a book on classical Hindu architecture.
• The streets’ uninterrupted colonnaded storefronts cross in the middle to form sizable public squares known as chaupars. The façade of the markets, stores, houses, and temples constructed along the main streets are all the same.
• The city’s urban planning demonstrates the flow of ideas between early modern Mughal and Western cultures as well as ancient Hindu culture.
• The grid layout is a popular design in the West, although the way the various city sectors are organised (chowkris) is based on ancient Hindu ideas. The city, which was intended to be a commercial capital, has continued to uphold its regional commercial, artisanal, and cooperative traditions.
• During the 43rd Session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Jaipur City, Rajasthan, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Q. Which of the following tribal communities finds the Wangala Festival in Meghalaya to be the most popular festival?

• Garo
• Bhils
• Santhals
• Gujjars

Explanation

• Among the Garos of Meghalaya, India, the Wangala Festival is one of the most well-known celebrations.
• Saljong, the fertility-promoting Sun god, is honoured at the harvest celebration known as Wangala Festival.
• The Wangala Festival commemoration signals the conclusion of a time of labour, which boosts field productivity. Additionally, it denotes the start of winter.
• Wangala Celebration, also known as a 100 drums festival, is when the tribal people make sacrifices to appease Saljong, the Sun God, who serves as their primary god. It is often observed for two days, however it can occasionally last up to a week.