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GS - MOCK TEST - III - ANSWER KEY
1.
Ans (d)
Explanation: Cartosat-2 is an Earth observation satellite in
a sun-synchronous orbit and the second of the Cartosat series of
satellites. The satellite was built by ISRO and launched by using
PSLV-C
34.
The Indian
Regional
Navigation
Satellite
System or IRNSS with an operational name of NAVIC is an
autonomous regional satellite navigation system that is being set
up by India that will be used to provide accurate real-time
positioning and timing services over India and the region
extending to 1,500 kilometres around India. The NAVIC system
will consist of a constellation of 3 satellites in Geostationary
orbit (GEO),
4
satellites
in Geosynchronous
orbit (GSO),
approximately 36,000 kilometres altitude above earth surface, and
two satellites on the ground as stand-by, in addition to ground
stations. It was launched by using PSLV C-33. RLV – TD is a
series of technology demonstration missions that has been
conceived by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a
first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) re-usable
launch vehicle. A total of four RLV – TD flights are planned by
ISRO such as, HEX (Hypersonic Flight Experiment), LEX (Landing
Experiment), REX (Return Flight Experiment), SPEX (Scramjet
Propulsion Experiment).
2.
Ans (a)
Explanation: The cell membranes are made up of three factors:
these include phospholipids, glycolipids, and cholesterol.
Phospholipids are the largest component of the three.
Phospholipids are made up of saturated and unsaturated fat, and
the balance of these is what is important to the functioning of the
body. Vitamin D is highly essential for calcium absorption from
food. Protein is necessary for the growth and repair of the body
cells. Proteins provide structure to the cells and are important in
the maintenance of cells within the body. Fats are complex
molecules composed of fatty acids and glycerol. The body needs
fats for growth and energy. It also uses them to synthesize
hormones and other substances needed for the body’s activities
(such as prostaglandins). Fats are the slowest source of energy but
the most energy-efficient form of food. Each gram of fat supplies
the body with about 9 calories, more than twice that supplied by
proteins or carbohydrates. Because fats are such an efficient form
of energy, the body stores any excess energy as fat. The body
deposits excess fat in the abdomen (omental fat) and under the
skin (subcutaneous fat) to use when it needs more energy.
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3.
Ans (b)
Explanation: Filtration is used to separate particles and fluid in a
suspension, where the fluid can be a liquid, a gas or
a supercritical fluid. Depending on the application, either one or
both of the components may be isolated. So, filtration is used for
the separation of substances and not for killing the
microorganisms.
4.
Ans (a)
Explanation: The Earth is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees.
This means that as the planet rotates around the sun, first one
pole, then the other, leans closer to the sun. This lean is what
produces the seasons, including the noticeable change in sunlight
levels throughout the year. This phenomenon is directly
proportional to the distance from the equator and most dramatic
at the poles.
5.
Ans (c)
Explanation:
• Bio remediation - The use of either naturally occurring or
deliberately introduced microorganisms to consume and break
down environmental pollutants, in order to clean a polluted
site.
• Land Farming is a bioremediation technology. Contaminated
soils are mixed with soil amendments such as soil bulking
agents and nutrients, and then they are tilled into the earth.
The material is periodically tilled for aeration. Contaminants are
degraded, transformed, and immobilized by microbiological
processes and by oxidation. Soil conditions are controlled to
optimize the rate of contaminant degradation. Moisture content,
frequency of aeration, and pH are all conditions that may be
controlled. Land Farming differs from composting because it
actually incorporates contaminated soil into soil that is
uncontaminated. Composting also generally takes place in
aboveground piles.
6.
Ans (c)
Explanation: In Allahabad there is a pillar with inscriptions from
Ashoka and later inscriptions attributed to Samudragupta and
Jehangir. The pillar is located inside the Allahabad Fort. It is
assumed that the pillar was first erected at Kaushambi an ancient
town some 30 kilometres west of Allahabad that was the capital of
the Koshala kingdom. The Ashokan inscription is in Brahmi and is
dated around 232 BC.
7.
Ans (c)
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Explanation:
• The source of the Narmada is a small bowl, known as the
Narmada Kund, located at Amarkantak on the Amarkantak hill
in the Anuppur District zone of the Shahdol of eastern Madhya
Pradesh.
• The Zuari River is the largest river in the state of Goa, India. It
is a tidal river. The Zuari originates at Hemad-Barshem in
the Western Ghats.
• The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the
Tunga River and the Bhadra River at Koodli which flow down
the eastern slope of the Western Ghats in the state of
Karnataka. The 2 rivers originate in Chikmagalur District of
Karnataka along with the Nethravathi (west-flowing river,
joining the Arabian Sea near Mangalore), the Tunga and the
Bhadra rise at Gangamoola, in Varaha Parvatha in the Western
Ghats at an elevation of 1198 metres.
8.
Ans (a)
Explanation: An Ecotone is a transition area between two biomes.
It is where two communities meet and integrate. It may be narrow
or wide, and it may be local i.e., the zone between a field and
forest or regional i.e., the transition between forest and grassland
ecosystems.
9.
Ans (c)
Explanation:
• The Core principle of the CR Formula was a proposal for the
Congress to offer the League the Muslim Pakistan based on
plebiscite of all the peoples in the regions where Muslims made
a majority. The main features were:
• The Muslim league was to endorse the demand for
independence for the traditional period, i.e. Muslim league
would support the congress’s demand for complete freedom and
then majority provinces would go to plebiscite especially north
eastern provinces.
• At the end of war a commission would demarcate those
contiguous areas in NWFP and NEI where Muslims were in
majority.
• In the event of separation, agreements would be and other
essential purpose. The terms would be binding only in case of
transfer by Britain of full power and responsibility for full
governance of India.
• The Muslim league endorsing the congress demand for full
independence and cooperating with it in forming an interim
government in the transition period.
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10. Ans (d)
Explanation: Constitutional Provisions
• No demand for a grant shall be made except on the
recommendation of the President.
• No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of
India except under appropriation made by law.
• No money bill imposing tax shall be introduced in the
Parliament except on the recommendation of the President, and
such a bill shall not be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
• No tax shall be levied or collected except by authority of law.
• Parliament can reduce or abolish a tax but cannot increase it.
11. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• The Lingayat movement is a socio-religious movement of
Karnataka. its proponent was Basava, a minister of the
Chalukya king Bijjala Raya of Kalyana (1157-68 AD).
Virasaivism means the Saivism of the stalwarts or heroic
Saivism.But it was not a separate caste in Hinduism.
• The Virasaivas philosophy is called Saktivisistadvait a term
which means the non-duality of God (viz, Parasiva) as qualified
by power or Shakti. There is no duality between the soul and
the Lord God. Lord God and soul are in an inseparable union
through the inalienable power called Shakti.
• In Virasaivism Parama Siva is the supreme reality. He is of the
nature of existence, intelligence and bliss. Shakti is the power
which eternally resides in Parama-Siva as his inseparable
attribute. It is the ultimate creative principal mula-prakriti or
maya which evolves itself into the phenomenal universe. They
believe in rebirth and they do funeral rites as burial.
12. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• Standing crop is the total amount of living material in a
specified population at a particular time, expressed as biomass
or its equivalent in terms of energy. The standing crop may vary
at different times of the year; for example, in a population of
deciduous trees between summer and winter.
• The Ten percent law is the transfer of energy from one trophic
level to the next was introduced by Raymond Lindeman (1942).
According to this law, during the transfer of energy from organic
food from one trophic level to the next, only about ten percent of
the energy from organic matter is stored as flesh. The remaining
is lost during transfer, broken down in respiration, or lost to
incomplete digestion by higher trophic levels. The ten percent
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law gives us a basic understanding on the cycling of food
chains. Furthermore, the ten percent law shows the inefficiency
of energy capture at each successive trophic level. The rational
conclusion being energy efficiency is best preserved by sourcing
food as close to the initial energy source as possible. The flow of
energy is unidirectional, so that for the energy requirement,
organisms at each trophic level need to depend on those at the
lower trophic level for their energy demands.
13. Ans (a)
Explanation: Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome
found in temperate regions of the world with warm summers and
cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. In most
temperate coniferous forests, evergreen conifers predominate,
while some are a mix of conifers and broadleaf evergreen trees
and/or broadleaf deciduous trees. Temperate evergreen forests are
common in the coastal areas of regions that have mild winters and
heavy rainfall, or inland in drier climates or mountain areas.
Coniferous forests are made up mainly of cone-bearing or
coniferous trees, such as spruces, hemlocks, pines and firs. The
leaves of these trees are either small and needle-like or scale-like
and most stay green all year around (evergreen). All are softwoods
able to survive cold temperatures and acidic soil. They are not
dense forest.
14. Ans (d)
Explanation: Pagodas are commonly made of wood, brick, or
stone, and have as many as fifteen stories, each with an upcurved,
overhanging roof. Pagodas are constructed around a central
staircase and can have many forms. A pagoda has three sections;
a base, a body, and a top, which often takes the form of a
miniature pagoda. The pagoda form is intended primarily as a
monument and has very little usable interior space.It was
developed from Gandhara school of art,Buddhist tradition and
later Hindu traditions.
15. Ans (a)
Explanation: A thinai consists of a complete poetical landscape a definite time, place, season in which the poem is set - and
background elements characteristic of that landscape - including
flora and fauna, inhabitants, deities and social organisation.
.Classical authors recognised two broad categories of thinais.
Akam thinais (literally, "the inner genre") consisted of modes used
in love poetry, associated with specific aspects of a relationship or
specific stages in the development of a relationship. Puram thinais
(literally, "the outer genre") consisted of modes that corresponded
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closely to the akam modes, but were used in heroic, philosophical
and moral poetry, to describe the stages of a battle or particular
patterns of thought. Later commentators added further categories,
such as akappuram, which consisted of modes that mixed
elements of akam and puram poetry, and purappuram, which
consisted of modes used for peripheral puram themes.The five
tinais were Kurinji (hilly backwoods), Palai ( parched zones),
Mullai (pastoral tract), Marutam (wetlands) and Neital (littoral
land).
16. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army
Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia —
Ejército del Pueblo, FARC–EP and FARC) is a guerrilla
movement involved in the continuing Colombian armed conflict
since 1964.
• On June 23, 2016, the FARC signed a ceasefire accord with the
President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos in Havana.
17. Ans (b)
Explanation: Annual range of temperature is high in cold desert,
diurnal range of temperature is high in tropical desert.
18. Ans (d)
Explanation:
19. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• Printing more money will result in hyperinflation (the general
price level within an economy rapidly increases as the currency
quickly loses real value).
• Under the FRBM Act, Printing currency is not advisible for
deficit financing.
20. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• Issuing currency and Inflation controlling techniques are the
tools of Monetary Policy
• As a Banker's Bank, RBI is encouraging banks to enhance the
access to financial accessibility and inclusion, which is known
as development role of RBI
21. Ans (d)
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Explanation: From the basic principles of Jainism it is evident
that the inherent powers of the soul are crippled by its association
with Karmic matter and that is why we find every person in an
imperfect state. The real and everlasting happiness will be
obtained by a person only when the Karmas are completely
removed from the soul and Jainism firmly believes that even
though man is imperfect at present, it is quite possible for him to
rid himself of the Karmas by his own personal efforts without any
help from an outside agency. The highest happiness is to escape
from the Cycle of Births and Deaths and be a liberated soul, that
is, to obtain Moksha. This world is full of sorrow and trouble and
it is quite necessary to achieve the aim of transcendental bliss by
a sure method. When the goal has been fixed the next question
arises regarding the way how to achieve that objective. To this
question Jainism has a definite answer. It emphatically states that
Samyag-darsana, i.e., right belief, Samyag-jnana, i.e., right
knowledge, and Samyak-charitra, i.e., right conduct together
constitute the path to salvation. Right belief, right knowledge and
right conduct are called Ratnatraya or the three jewels in Jaina
works.
22. Ans (b)
Explanation: Badruddin tayabji was third President of Indian
National Congress Session.Dadabai Naoroji was the second
President of Indian National Congress session.
23. Ans (c)
Explanation: Mahad Satyagraha was first collective protest of
untouchables under the leadership of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
This movement was although withdrawn but gave confidence to
the untouchables to fight against social disability. Every year,
March 20 is observed as Social Empowerment day in India to
commemorate the Mahad Satyagrah.
24. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• Nominal GDP is a macroeconomic assessment that includes
current prices in its measure.
• The main differentiating factor between nominal GDP and GDP
is nominal GDP includes inflation and is therefore normally
higher than GDP.
• Real gross domestic product (GDP) is an inflation-adjusted
measure that reflects the value of all goods and services
produced by an economy in a given year, expressed in baseyear prices.
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Unlike nominal GDP, real GDP can account for changes in price
level and provide a more accurate figure of economic growth.
25. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• Increase in Public expenditure - raising aggregate demand for
goods and services.
• Black Marketing and Hoarding of Essential Commodities disrupts supply of goods and services.
• Inadequate rise in Industrial production results into shortage of
goods and services.
26. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• First and second statements are self explanatory in Nature.
• Money accrued from the sale of Government shares to the
public means the concepts of disinvestment.
27. Ans (c)
28. Ans (d)
Explanation: Total internal reflection is a phenomenon which
occurs when a propagating wave strikes a medium boundary at an
angle larger than a particular critical angle with respect to
the normal to the surface.
29. Ans (a)
Explanation: Sound is transmitted through gases, plasma, and
liquids as longitudinal waves, also called as compression waves. It
requires a medium to propagate. Through solids, however, it can
be transmitted as both longitudinal waves and transverse waves.
The distances between molecules in solids are very small, i.e.,
solids are denser - as compared to liquids and gases. Because they
are so close, than can collide very quickly, i.e. it takes less time for
a molecule of the solid to 'bump' into its neighbour molecule.
Solids are packed together tighter than liquids and gases, hence
sound travels fastest in solids. The distances in liquids are shorter
than in gases, but longer than in solids. Liquids are more dense
than gases, but less dense than solids, so sound travels 2nd fast in
liquids. Gases are the slowest because they are the least dense:
the molecules in gases are very far apart, compared with solids
and liquids.
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30. Ans (a)
Explanation: Phosphorus is a chemical element found on Earth in
numerous compound forms, such as the phosphate ion (PO43-),
located in soil and sediments. Where, rainfall acts as a mobilizing
agent for moving the phosphate ion from the rocks to various
locations on the earth. The phosphorus cycle differs from the other
major biogeochemical cycles in that it does not include a gas
phase; although small amounts of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) may
make their way into the atmosphere, contributing—in some
cases—to acid rain. It is but natural that we can get misled by
seeing the word rainfall and assuming that rainfall can also be
considered as an option but here in question it is referred as
rainfall i.e, natural rainfall and not the acid rain. So, Phosphorous
as a nutrient in soil naturally comes only from weathering of soil.
31. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993
and introduced European citizenship.
• Lisbon Treaty in 2009 - Major amendment to the constitutional
basis to the EU.
• Rome Treaty in 1957 - created the European Economic
Community (EEC) and established a customs union.
• Amsterdam Treaty in 1999 - substantial changes to the Treaty
of Maastricht.
32. Ans (a)
Explanation: We the human beings obtain energy by aerobic
respiration. But, anaerobic respiration can sometimes take place
in our muscles. For example, anaerobic respiration takes place in
our muscles during vigorous physical exercise when oxygen gets
used up faster in the muscle cells than can be supplied by the
blood. When anaerobic respiration takes place in human muscles
the glucose is converted into lactic acid with the release of a small
amount of energy. The sudden build up of lactic acid in our
muscles during vigorous physical activity can cause muscular
cramps.
33. Ans (b)
Explanation: The Kuiper belt sometimes called the Edgeworth–
Kuiper belt, is a circumstellar disc in the Solar System beyond the
planets, extending from the orbit of Neptune to approximately 50
AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, but it is far
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larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive. Like the
asteroid belt, it consists mainly of small bodies, or remnants from
the Solar System's formation.
34. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• A national mission to improve farm productivity and ensure
better utilization of the resources in the country
• PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes
viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR), Integrated Watershed
Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land
Resources (DoLR) and the On Farm Water Management (OFWM)
of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC).
35. Ans (a)
Explanation: Credit becomes cheaper after the reduction in repo
rate.
36. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• Consumption is an economic function that is defined as the
value of all goods and services bought by people
• Economy is driven by consumer spending as a percent of its
gross domestic product
• Due to the impact of pay revision to the Union government
employees by seventh pay commission
37. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• The two main inflation indicators — the Wholesale Price Index
(WPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — are moving in
widely divergent directions.
• In the Past months, while CPI (retail inflation) has consistently
moved upwards, the WPI (headline inflation) has dramatically
contracted
• In WPI - Fuel & Power - 14.91percent Weightage
• In CPI - Fuel, light - 9.49 percent weightage
38. Ans (b)
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39. Ans (a)
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau lies to the south of the
Naramada River. It is triangular in shape. The Satpura range
makes its northern part. The Mahadev, Kaimur Hills and Maikal
range make its eastern part. The slope of the Deccan Plateau is
from west to east. It extends into the north east which
encompasses Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North
Cachar Hills. Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills are the prominent
ranges; starting from west to east.
40. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• Cauvery
• Godavari
• Yamuna
• Narmada
-
765
1465
1376
1312
41. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• National Waterway 2 (NW-2) is a section of the Brahmaputra
River having a length of 891 km between the Bangladesh border
and Sadiya. It was declared as National Waterway No. 2 on 1
September, 1988.
• The West Coast Canal or National Waterway No 3 is a 168-km
stretch of this inland navigational route located in Kerala, India
and runs from Kollam to Kottapuram and was declared a
National Waterway in 1993.
• National Waterway 4 (NW-4) is a 1,095 kilometres (680 mi) long
waterway in India. It has been declared as an Indian National
Waterway and is currently under development. It connects the
Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and
the union territory of Puducherry.
• National Waterway 5 (NW-5) is one of six National Waterways in
India and it covers the state of Odisha and a part of West
Bengal. It runs a total length of 623 km of which 91 km is
within West Bengal and the remaining 532 km is in Odisha. It
was declared a National Waterway in November 2008.
42. Ans (d)
Explanation: A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the
eye, a central region of clear skies, high temperatures, and low
atmospheric pressure. Typically, atmospheric pressure at the
surface of Earth is about 1,000 millibars. At the centre of a
tropical cyclone, however, it is typically around 960 millibars, and
in a very intense “super typhoon” of the western Pacific it may be
as low as 880 millibars.
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43. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• The World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is a series of
United Nations conferences focusing on disaster and climate
risk management in the context of sustainable development.
• The Third UN United Nations World Conference on Disaster
Risk Reduction was held in Sendai, Japan from 14 to 18 March
2015.
• The conference adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015-2030.
44. Ans (c)
45. Ans (d)
Explanation: Because of industrial revolution in England India
agriculture was ruined and India converted in to rural economy,
Indian industries was ruined and deindustralised, Indian trade
was disencouraged. British only encouraged the feudalism in India
by creating Zamindars, Moneylenders etc.
46. Ans (b)
Explanation: Ryotwari system of land tenure was introduced early
in the nineteenth century in Presidencies of Bombay and Madras.
Under this system the settlement was made by the government
directly with the cultivator (ryot) who thus was the proprietor, but
only for a period of time. This time was fixed for thirty years after
which it was subject to re-assessment and re-settlement on new
terms. The government share was fixed at 55% of the produce,
which was highest ever share. Though the cultivator got security
of tenure but was subject to a very heavy duty, thus leaving no
motivation for cultivation. Zamindari settlement was introduced in
1793 and Ryotwari settlement in 1820.
47. Ans (a)
Explanation: The revolt did not spread to all parts of the country.
Nor was it supported by all groups and sections of the Indian
society. South and West India remained largely outside the fold of
the revolt. Many Indian rulers refused to help the rebels and some
were openly hostile to the rebels and helped the British in
suppressing eh revolt. The middle and upper classes and the
modern educated Indians also did not support the revolt.
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48. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the
Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on
December 20, 2013.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) has been nominated to facilitate the implementation of
the Year in collaboration with Governments, relevant
organizations, non-governmental organizations and all other
relevant stakeholders.
49. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• In September 2015, it was declared that the Wheeler Island
would be renamed to honour the late Indian president, APJ
Abdul Kalam.
• The Integrated Test Range maintaining a missile testing facility
is located in the island.
• An island off the coast of Odisha, India.
50. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• At the Global Tiger Summit at St. Petersburg held in 2010, tiger
range governments agreed to act to double the number of wild
tigers by 2022 – the next Chinese year of the tiger and adopted
the Global/National Tiger Recovery Programme.
• WWF remains a major driving force behind Tx2.
• 2016 year marks the half way point of Tx2
51. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• It was an initiative by Tiger Range countries
• In the decision of the International Symposium on Tiger held at
New Delhi during February 1993 wherein a Delhi declaration on
tiger conservation was adopted by the participants of the
conference
• There was a recommendation that a Global Tiger Forum be set
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up to embark on a worldwide campaign to save the wild tiger.
• In April 2016, 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger
Conservation at New Delhi.
52. Ans (b)
Explanation: Refer the following link
http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/eri_8226.aspx
53. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), or Shanghai
Pact is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organization
which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of the
People's Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• On July 10, 2015, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan
as full members.
• The SCO is primarily centered on its member nations' Central
Asian security-related concerns, often describing the main
threats it confronts as being terrorism, separatism and
extremism.
• However evidence is growing that its activities in the area of
social development of its member states is increasing fast.
• The SCO has established relations with the United Nations,
where it is an observer in the General Assembly, the European
Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the
Commonwealth of Independent States and the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation.
54. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• The MSP is announced by the Government of India for 25 crops
currently at the beginning of each season viz. Rabi and Kharif.
1. Cereals (7) - paddy, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize and
ragi
2. Pulses (5) - gram, arhar/tur, moong, urad and lentil
3. Oilseeds (8) - groundnut, rapeseed/mustard, toria, soyabean,
sunflower seed, sesamum, safflower seed and nigerseed
4. Copra
5. Raw cotton
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6. Raw jute
7. Sugarcane (Fair and remunerative price)
8. Virginia flu cured (VFC) tobacco
Refer the link
http://cacp.dacnet.nic.in/ViewContents.aspx?Input=1&PageId=
36&KeyId=0
55. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has approved the
Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) as a Central Sector Scheme, with
a corpus of Rs.500 crores, to support market interventions for
price control of perishable agri-horticultural commodities.
• Procurement of these commodities will be undertaken directly
from farmers or farmers’ organizations at farm gate/mandi and
made available at a more reasonable price to the consumers.
• Initially the fund is proposed to be used for onion and potato
only.
• PSF mechanism is apart from the Minimum Support Price
(MSP) based initiatives already existing in the country for
certain agricultural goods.
• This fund was earlier under agriculture ministry but was
transferred to Consumer Affairs Ministry in February 2016.
56. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was enacted by the
Central Government in 1955 to control and regulate trade and
prices of commodities declared essential under the Act.
• The Act empowers the Central and state governments
concurrently to control production, supply and distribution of
certain commodities in view of rising prices
• The governments also have the power to fix price limits,
licensing, distribution and imposing stock limits.
57. Ans (d)
58. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• Uniting for Consensus (UfC) is a movement, nicknamed the
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Coffee Club, that developed in the 1990s in opposition to the
possible expansion of permanent seats in the United Nations
Security Council.
• Under the leadership of Italy, it aims to counter the bids for
permanent seats proposed by G4 nations (Brazil, Germany,
India, and Japan) and is calling for a consensus before any
decision is reached on the form and size of the Security
Council.
59. Ans (c)
60. Ans (c)
Explanation: An abrupt temperature gradient in a body of water
such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the
water is at different temperatures is called Thermocline.
61. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• The Hornbill festival is a celebration held every year in the first
week of December, in Nagaland.
• Also called as the 'Festival of Festivals'.
• To encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural
heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes
this festival.
62. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• It is a multilateral export control regime.
• India officially became a member on 27 June 2016 with the
consensus of the 34 member nations.
63. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• Banjul formula is the Indian-African summit which aims at
bringing foreign policy back home.
• The earlier Banjul formula of inviting only 15 heads of state or
government through the African Union has been done away
with.
• Now all 54 heads of state and government have been invited to
the five-day Third India-Africa Summit.
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
64. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• It must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular
plants as endemics.
• It has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
65. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• The Convention has three main goals:
1. Conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity);
2. Sustainable use of its components;
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic
resources
• Two protocols -Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Nagoya
Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and
Equitable Sharing of Benefits.
66. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• State animal of Manipur.
• The brow-antlered deer or the dancing deer is found in its
natural habitat only at Keibul Lamjao National Park over the
floating biomass locally called "phumdi" in the south eastern
part of Loktak Lake.
• A national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of
Manipur in India.
67. Ans (c)
Explanation:
Refer the Link
http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/ramsar_wetland_sites_8224.aspx
68. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• GHG emissions from Energy, Industry, Agriculture, and Waste
sectors constituted 58%, 22%, 17% and 3% of the net CO2 eq
emissions respectively.
• Refer the link http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/publicinformation/Report_INCCA.pdf (Page Number - 9)
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
69. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• Governor cannot pardon a death sentence. Even if a state law
prescribes for death sentence, the power to grant pardon lies
with the President and not the governor. But, the governor can
suspend, remit or commute a death sentence.
• He can grant pardon, reprieve, respite, suspension, remission
or commutation in respect to punishment or sentence by a
court-martial (military court).
70. Ans (d)
Explanation: The election commission is not concerned with the
elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this,
the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election
Commission.
71. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• Article 342 prescribes procedure to be followed in the matter of
specification of scheduled tribes.
• The criterion followed for specification of a community, as
scheduled tribes are indications of primitive traits, distinctive
culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the
community at large, and backwardness.
• This criterion is not spelt out in the Constitution but has
become well established.
72. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• The Indian Parliament cannot be regarded as a sovereign body
in the similar sense as there are ‘legal’ restrictions on its
authority and jurisdiction. The factors that limit the sovereignty
of Indian Parliament are:
1. Written Nature of the Constitution
2. Federal System of Government
3. System of Judicial Review
4. Fundamental Rights
73. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• In Bommai case (1994), the following propositions have been
laid down by the Supreme Court on imposition of President’s
Rule in a state under Article 356.
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• The presidential proclamation imposing President’s Rule is
subject to judicial review.
74. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• Budget Estimate for 2015-2016 is `470628 crore.
• Refer the link http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2015-16/rec/tr.pdf
75. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• It displays the estimated revenue losses from special
exclusions, exemptions, deductions, credits, deferrals, and
preferential tax rates in federal income tax law.
• Tax expenditures are also termed as revenue foregone.
76. Ans (a)
Explanation: Increasing MSP and Capital infusion will result into
Higher Fiscal Deficit.
77. Ans (b)
Explanation: The ease of doing business index is an index created
by the World Bank Group.
78. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• The main objective of the standing committees is to secure more
accountability of the Executive (i.e., the Council of Ministers) to
the Parliament, particularly financial accountability.
• A minister is not eligible to be nominated as a member of any of
the standing committees.
79. Ans (d)
Explanation: The IPAB formed under the Department of
Industrial policy and promotion, Government of India (DIPP) is all
set to hear appeals against the decisions of the Controller General
of Patents, Registrar under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection)
Act, 1999.
80. Ans (d)
Explanation: To make at least fifty government buildings disabled
friendly under the campaign in each of the state till end of 2016
and make 25 per cent of the public transport vehicles under
government as disabled friendly till mid 2017.
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
81. Ans (d)
82. Ans (b)
83. Ans (a)
Explanation: Ebola disease causes both internal and external
bleeding and Zika virus is not transmitted only through sexual
contact, apart from this it can be spread through mosquitoes,
mother to child, blood transfusion, laboratory exposure etc...
84. Ans (d)
Explanation: Big Temple is dedicated to God Lord Shiva.
85. Ans (a)
Explanation:
• Stressed assets = NPAs + Restructured loans + Written off
assets.
• Stressed assets are getting increased attention as the trend of
deteriorating asset quality has emerged as a big economic risk
for the Indian banking sector.
• Stressed assets are a powerful indicator of the health of the
banking system.
86. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• The emerging wisdom is that savings should be taxed only at
the point of contribution (TEE) or withdrawal (EET); the latter
being the best international practice on several counts.
• The Economic Survey also advocated scrapping tax benefits for
savings like PPF and taxing investments at time of withdrawal
saying the incentives are availed mostly by the well-offs.
• The EET method allows for consumption smoothening
particularly in old age since taxation of withdrawals incentivizes
postponement of consumption
• In India, most savings like public provident fund, employee
provident fund are under Exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) method
while few such as National Pension system are under EET.
• The argument was that banks worry that if they cut their
deposit rates, customers will flee to small savings instruments.
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
• Recognizing this, the Government had recently reduced rates on
some small savings schemes to make them responsive for
market conditions.
87. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• The Direct Benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme or
(Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh).
PAHAL
• for paying consumers subsidy on cooking gas (LPG) directly into
their bank accounts.
88. Ans (c)
Explanation:
• The indigo revolt gave birth to political movement and aroused
national sentiment against the alien British rulers among
Indian masses. The Neel Darpan of Din Bandhu Mitra portrayed
the oppressed peasants.
• The revolt began from Govindpur village in Nadia district of
Bengal where Biswas brothers gave up indigo cultivation. This
was followed by a struggle with the Lathiyals and revolt spread
in many parts of Bengal. Strikes, legal actions, violence, social
boycott of planters etc. were some of the tools used in the
revolt. Peasant organization to some extent, Hindu Muslim
Unity, support from Bengal intelligentsia made the revolt more
effective. Finally, Indigo commission was appointed which held
the planters guilty, and criticized them for the coercive methods
they used with indigo cultivators. The company asked ryots to
fulfill their existing contracts but also told them that they could
refuse to produce indigo in future. This was a big relief for the
peasants and gradually the plantations of Indigo came to an
end in Bengal.
89. Ans (d)
90. Ans (b)
Explanation: Just as waves spread out when a boat moves in
water or a stone is thrown in a pond, gravitational waves are
distortions in the curvature of space-time caused by motions of
matter that propagate with the speed of light. Unlike waves that
one is familiar with, such as sound and light, gravitational waves
do not travel through space; the fabric of space-time itself is
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
oscillating in response to the disturbances caused by moving
masses. According to Einstein’s theory, the presence of a mass
warps the space-time structure in its neighbourhood just as a ball
does when placed on a rubber sheet. The curvature of the warp
determines its gravitational force. So when large masses move
around or rapidly accelerate, the disturbance causes distortions in
the static but warped space-time. A gravitational wave is this
travelling distortion of space-time geometry itself.
91. Ans (a)
Explanation: Fog is a kind of visible liquid-droplet aerosol, which
in other terms to be called as visible mist, composed of high
particle concentration. Smoke is a kind of visible aerosol resulting
from incomplete combustion less than 1 micron. It is a kind of
solid/liquid particle aerosol and not the combination of solid
liquid particles. Fume is produced by condensation of vapours or
gaseous combustion products. It is a kind of solid particle
aerosols. Soot includes the fine black particles, chiefly composed
of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood,
or other fuels. Soot can consist of acids, chemicals, metals, soils,
dust and not the fine ash.
92. Ans (c)
93. Ans (c)
Explanation: The symptoms and impacts of eutrophication are:
™ Increase in production and biomass of phytoplankton,
attached algae, and macrophytes.
™ Shift in habitat characteristics due to change in
assemblage of aquatic plants.
™ Replacement of desirable fish (e.g. salmonids in western
countries) by less desirable species.
™ Production of toxins by certain algae.
™ Increasing operating expenses of public water supplies,
including taste and odour problems, especially during
periods of algal blooms.
™ Deoxygenation of water, especially after collapse of algal
blooms, usually resulting in fish kills.
™ Infilling and clogging of irrigation canals with aquatic
weeds.
™ Loss of recreational use of water due to slime, weed
infestation, and noxious odour from decaying algae.
™ Impediments to navigation due to dense weed growth.
™ Economic loss due to change in fish species, fish kills, etc
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
94. Ans (d)
Explanation: Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) are used to
compare the abilities of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in
the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is used as the base for all the
calculations, so its global warming potential is 1. The higher the
GWP, the more heat the specific gas can keep in the atmosphere.
So the more HGWP gases enter the atmosphere, the faster our
climate will change.
Global Warming Potentials of Greenhouse Gases
(when compared to CO2)
GWP After 20
GWP After
Greenhouse Gas
Years
100 Years
Carbon Dioxide
1
1
72
25
289
298
12000
14800
CF4
5210
7390
C2F6
8630
12200
SF6
16300
22800
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
HFC-23
95. Ans (d)
Explanation:
Hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential
threats to public health or the environment. Characteristic
hazardous wastes are materials that are known or tested to
exhibit one or more of the following four hazardous traits:
™ Ignitability
™ Reactivity
™ Corrosivity
™ Toxicity
96. Ans (d)
Explanation:
• Governor can summon or prorogue the state legislature and
dissolve the state legislative assembly.
• The Chairman is elected by the council itself from amongst its
members.
• The writ of madamus cannot be issued (a) against a private
individual or body; (b) to enforce departmental instruction that
does not possess statutory force; (c) when the duty is
discretionary and not mandatory; (d) to enforce a contractual
obligation; (e) against the President of India or the state
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY
Governors; and (f) against the chief justice of a high court
acting in judicial capacity.
97. Ans (a)
Explanation: Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism or
environment to maintain stability in spite of changes. The human
body is full of examples of homeostasis. Regulation of body
temperature, fighting against pathogens, regulating the blood
glucose level etc... These were certain kind of homeostatic
mechanism that is seen in the human body.
98. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• The Amur falcon is a small raptor of the falcon family.
• It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before
migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea
to winter in Southern Africa.
• Every year, from October to November, a large number of Amur
falcons arrive in the northeast, especially at Doyang lake in
Nagaland for roosting, from Mongolia en route to their final
destination — South Africa.
• The falcons travel up to 22,000 km a year — known to be one of
the longest distance migration of birds.
• The Centre is planning to the Doyang Lake in Nagaland as an
eco-tourism spot.
99. Ans (a)
Explanation: Article 13 declares that all laws that are
inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights
shall be void. In other words, it expressively provides for the
doctrine of judicial review. This power has been conferred on the
Supreme Court (Article 32) and the high court’s (Article 226) that
can declare a law unconstitutional and invalid on the ground of
contravention of any of the Fundamental Rights.
100. Ans (b)
Explanation:
• If the proclamation of emergency is issued at a time when the
Lok Sabha takes place during the period of one month without
approving the proclamation, then the proclamation survives
until 30 days from the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after its
reconstitution, provided the Rajya Sabha has in the meantime
approved it.