30 September 2023

Q1. Take into account the following statements:

1. Haryana is home to the archaeological site of a city from the Harappan era called Dholavira.
2. The first Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site in India to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is Dholavira.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

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

Explanation: (B)

• The Harappan-era city’s archaeological site, Dholavira, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While Dholavira is the first Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) site in India to receive the designation, it is also the fourth site from Gujarat and the 40th from India to make the list.

Q2. Take into account the following statements about the Explanation wetting and drying (AWD) method:

1. Farmers can use the water-saving technique known as alternate wetting and drying (AWD) to lessen the amount of irrigation water used in their rice crops.
2. The interval between irrigations cannot be longer than 2 to 3 days during which the soil is not flooded.
3. The yield of rice using the AWD methodology is significantly lower than it would be with conventional farming techniques.

Which of the aforementioned statements is true?

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

Explanation (B)

• Farmers can use the water-saving technique known as alternate wetting and drying (AWD) to lessen irrigation water usage in rice fields without lowering production. AWD applies irrigation water a few days after the ponded water has disappeared. As a result, the field is alternately flooded and dry. Depending on a number of factors, including soil type, weather, and crop growth stage, the interval between irrigations might range from 1 to more than 10 days.

Q3. The following entities create the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC):

• Authorised Local Area Vendors (ALAVs)
• Farmer Produce Organisations (FPOs)
• State Government
• Local Government

Explanation (C)

• The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) is a statutory market committee established by a State Government pursuant to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by that State Government in respect of trade in certain notified agricultural, horticultural, or livestock products.

Q4. The following has published The Democracy Index:

• Global Economic Forum
• Economist Intelligence Unit
• Amnesty International
• UNICEF

Explanation (B)

• The 2019 Democracy Index is now available.
• Nearly all of the world’s population, comprising 165 independent states and two territories, is represented in the report.
• Each year, The Economist Intelligence Unit publishes it.
• It offers a picture of 165 independent states and two territories’ democratic systems worldwide.
• Five categories form the basis of the Index:
• Voting procedures and pluralism.
• liberties in society.
• how the government works.
• engagement in politics.
• political behaviour.

Q5. The absence of: is one effect of equality in society:

• Restrictions
• Privileges
• Competition
• Ideology

Explanation (A)

• This is justified by Article 18 of the constitution. A18 of the Right to Equality repeals all nominal benefits accorded to Indian citizens (apart from military and academic privileges).

Q6. The phrase “Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme” may appear in news reports in relation to:

1. certification of the abilities obtained by construction workers via conventional means.
2. enrolling the individuals in remote learning programmes at universities.
3. reserving some skilled positions in certain public sector projects for the disadvantaged in rural and urban areas.
4. certifying the abilities trainees who participated in the National Skill Development Programme gained.

Explanation: (A)

• The ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ scheme, which is currently being implemented on construction sites in five states and aims to validate skills acquired by workers through conventional learning channels.

Q7. What Indian city is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)?

1. Jaipur
2. Varanasi
3. Chennai
4. Mumbai

Using the code below, choose the right response:

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

Explanation: (D)

• Currently, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) includes the following five Indian cities:
• 2015’s Jaipur-Crafts and Folk Arts.
• (2015) Varanasi: A Creative City of Music.
• Chennai, 2017’s “Creative City of Music.”
• Mumbai, the 2019 movie.
• Hyderabad’s culinary scene (2019).

Q8. Who publishes the Global Wealth Report?

1. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
2. Oxfam International
3. Global Bank
4. Group Credit Suisse

Explanation: (D)

• The 10th edition of the annual Global Wealth Report from the Credit Suisse Group, a global investment bank with headquarters in Switzerland, has just been made public.

Q9. Who publishes the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report?

1. USCIRF, or the US Commission on International Religious Freedom
2. United Nations Economic and Social Council
3. Institute for Economics and Peace
4. United Nations Human Rights Council

Explanation: (A)

• The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) publishes the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report.

Q10. Miyawaki afforestation, which is occasionally reported on, is associated with:

1. planting trees on deteriorated soil close to mining regions
2. by converting backyards into little woods, urban afforestation.
3. A technique for reforesting severely damaged tropical land
4. North Eastern India’s traditional forest-management technique

Explanation: (B)

• By converting backyards into miniature woods, the Miyawaki technique of afforestation revolutionised the idea of urban afforestation.
• This kind of afforestation will be used in Kerala to add green cover to government office buildings, apartment complexes, school buildings and other locations.