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DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU COMPLETE THE TEST ANSWER BOOKLET GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-I Free Mock Test-1

Answer Key

1. A 35. B 69. A 2. C 36. A 70. D 3. B 37. B 71. D 4. D 38. B 72. A 5. D 39. C 73. D 6. B 40. B 74. B 7. C 41. A 75. C 8. B 42. A 76. B 9. D 43. D 77. A 10. D 44. A 78. D 11. B 45. C 79. B 12. D 46. B 80. A 13. A 47. A 81. A 14. A 48. C 82. A 15. A 49. C 83. A 16. B 50. A 84. B 17. B 51. A 85. A 18. D 52. B 86. B 19. A 53. D 87. C 20. D 54. C 88. D 21. D 55. D 89. A 22. A 56. C 90. C 23. A 57. C 91. B 24. C 58. C 92. C 25. D 59. D 93. D 26. B 60. A 94. D 27. C 61. A 95. B 28. B 62. A 96. C 29. A 63. B 97. B 30. D 64. A 98. A 31. C 65. C 99. A 32. A 66. B 100. B 33. D 67. D 34. C 68. A

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OAS Prelims-2020 OBJECTIVE IAS 2

Q1. Implicit Cost: An implicit cost is proportion with production output. any cost that has already occurred but Variable costs increase or decrease is not necessarily shown or reported as depending on a company’s production a separate expense. It represents an volume; they rise as production opportunity cost that arises when a increases and fall as production company allocates internal resources decreases toward a project without any explicit compensation for the utilization of Q2. Escrow Account: Escrow is a legal resources. This means that when a concept in which a financial instrument company allocates its resources, it or an asset is held by a third party on always forgoes the ability to earn behalf of two other parties that are in money off the use of the resources the process of completing a elsewhere. transaction. The funds or assets are held by the escrow agent until it Explicit Cost: An explicit cost is a cost receives the appropriate instructions or that occurs, is easily identified, and is until predetermined contractual accounted for in business documents obligations have been fulfilled. Money, or financial statements. It represents securities, funds and other assets can clear, obvious cash outflows that all be held in escrow. reduce a business’s bottom-line profitability. Q3. Philips Curve: The Phillips curve is an economic concept developed by A. Examples of explicit costs would be W. Phillips stating that inflation and items such as wage expenses, rent, or unemployment have a stable and lease costs; it is easy to identify the inverse relationship. The theory claims sources of those cash outflows and the that with economic growth comes business activities to which the inflation, which in turn should lead to expenses are attributed. more jobs and less unemployment. However, the original concept has been Fixed Cost: A fixed cost is an expense somewhat disproven empirically due to or cost that does not change with an the occurrence of stagflation in the increase or decrease in the number of 1970s, when there were high levels of goods or services produced or sold. both inflation and unemployment. Fixed costs are expenses that have to be paid by a company, independent of The concept behind the Phillips curve any business activity. It is one of the states the change in unemployment two components of the total cost of within an economy has a predictable running a business, the other being effect on price inflation. The inverse variable costs. relationship between unemployment Variable Cost: A variable cost is a and inflation is depicted as a downward corporate expense that changes in sloping, concave curve, with inflation

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on the Y-axis and unemployment on the partners and beneficiaries of X-axis. Increasing inflation decreases economic growth. It should unemployment, and vice versa. diversify livelihood for the tribal Alternatively, a focus on decreasing population. unemployment also increases inflation, c) The Inclusive growth addresses and vice versa. the constraints of the excluded and the marginalised. It has to Potential output i.e. natural Gross open up opportunities for them Domestic Product is an important to be partners in growth. concept in relation to inflation. It is the d) Inclusive growth should be level of GDP where the economy is at nondiscriminatory and its optimal level of production, given favourable for the excluded. This various constraints- institutional and implies that inclusive growth has natural. This level of output to be broad-based in terms of corresponds to the Non-Accelerating coverage of regions, and labour- Inflation Rate of Unemployment intensive in terms of creating (NAIRU). large-scale productive employment opportunities in the Q4. Inclusive Growth: The growth is economy. inclusive growth when it is socially e) Inclusive growth is expected to inclusive, regionally balanced, which reduce poverty among enables every state to do better than in Backward Classes faster in the the past, which narrows the gap sense that it has to have a higher between different communities, which elasticity of poverty reduction. also brings in our concern for gender f) Inclusive growth has to ensure equality, upliftment of women, access of people to basic improving their educational condition infrastructure and basic and social status. services/ capabilities such as basic health and education. This The key features of Inclusive growth access should include not only are as follows: the quantity, but also the quality a) Economic growth is a of these basic services. precondition for inclusive g) Inclusive growth should reduce growth, though the nature and vertical as well as horizontal composition of growth has to be inequalities in incomes and conducive to inclusion. assets. b) Inclusive growth is to include the poor and lagging socio- Q5. Tier II Capital of the Bank Includes: economic groups such as ethnic a) Undisclosed reserves and / tribal groups, weaker sections cumulative perpetual preference as well as lagging regions as shares.

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b) Revaluation Reserves as value Total stock of money is the broader of building. term which includes all the money held c) A typical example of this is by the public as well as the suppliers of building owned by the bank money such as the Government and d) Hybrid debt capital instruments RBI. Current account deposits held by such as bonds. the public in commercial banks come e) Long term unsecured loans. under the concept of money as it can be f) General Provisions and loss used in transactions. reserves. g) Debt Capital Instruments. Q7. Inflation: Inflation means a h) Redeemable cumulative sustained increase in the general price Preference shares level. However, this increase in the cost i) Perpetual cumulative preference of living can be caused by different shares. factors. a) Creeping or mild inflation is Q6. Money: Anything that can be when prices rise 3 percent a year generally acceptable as payment for or less. goods and services or settlement of b) Trotting Inflation is when debts is Money. It is the element of inflation rises to 10 percent or confidence that others will accept it as more. a payment is what gives the purchasing c) Core inflation is a measure of power to money. The major functions inflation that excludes certain of money are: items that face volatile price a) It is a medium of exchange movements (like food and b) It is a unit of account energy) because in finding out c) It is a store of a value the legitimate long run inflation, short-term price volatility and Double coincidence of wants is a transitory changes in price must prerequisite for the barter system. In be removed. Core inflation case of money use no such thing is reflects the long term trend in a required. particular price level. d) Disinflation is a decrease in the Currency and money are not the same rate of inflation – a slowdown in thing. Currency is a form of money and the rate of increase of the it has some value which can increase general price level of goods and and decrease day by day.Money is services in a nation’s gross something used for Medium of domestic product over time. It is Exchange. Value of money can't be the opposite of reflation. counted. Value of currency can be Disinflation occurs when the counted. increase in the “consumer price level” slows down from the

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previous period when the prices g) It can also issue other prepaid were rising. payment instruments. h) It can also distribute non-risk Q8. Increase in CRR will reduce the sharing simple financial money supply as banks will have less products like mutual funds and money to lend thus reducing liquidity insurance products. and inflation. On similar lines, sale of securities in the open market will prune Q10. Functions of the IMF: The the excess liquidity in the market and International Monetary Fund is an thus reducing money supply and organization of 189 member countries. inflation. It stabilizes the global economy in three ways. Q9. Indian Post Payment Bank (IPPB): a) First, it monitors global economy IPPB has been set up as Public Limited conditions and identifies risks. Company under Department of Posts b) Second, it advises its members (DoP) with 100% Government of India on how to improve their (GOI) equity. economies. a) It was launched on September 1, c) Third, it provides technical 2018 in New Delhi. It has begun assistance and short-term loans operations with 650 branches to prevent financial crises and 3,250 access points across the country. The IMF was originally created in 1945 b) It leverages DoP’s network, as part of the Bretton Woods resources and reach to make agreement, which attempted to low-cost, quality and simple encourage international financial financial services easily cooperation by introducing a system of accessible to customers in the convertible currencies at fixed country. exchange rates. The IMF’s goal is to c) It offers basic banking services, prevent these disasters by guiding its acceptance of demand deposits, members. remittance services, internet a) It provides emergency banking and other specified assistance to support recovery services. from natural disasters. d) It does not provide lending b) It plays an important role in fight services. against money laundering and e) It can accept deposits up to Rs. terrorism. 1 lakh per account from c) The IMF’s primary methods for individuals and small achieving these goals are businesses. monitoring, capacity building, f) It can issue ATM/debit cards but and lending. not credit cards.

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d) Surveillance: The IMF collects Q11. The South Asian Free Trade Area massive amounts of data on (SAFTA): SAFTA replaces the earlier national economies, South Asia Preferential Trade international trade, and the Agreement (SAPTA) which was limited global economy in aggregate, as in scope. well as providing regularly updated economic forecasts at The SAFTA agreement incorporates the national and international trade in goods only but not in services level. These forecasts, published and financial investments. in the World Economic Outlook, are accompanied by lengthy The aim of SAFTA is to promote and discussions of the effect of enhance mutual trade and economic fiscal, monetary and trade cooperation by eliminating trade policies on growth prospects barriers in trade, promoting conditions and financial stability. of fair competition. Also, ensuring e) Capacity Building: The IMF equitable benefits to all and provides technical assistance, establishing a framework for further training and policy advice to regional cooperation to expand the member countries through its mutual benefits of the agreement. It capacity building programs. could lead to enhancement of foreign These programs include training investment among 8 South-Asian in data collection and analysis, Countries. which feed into the IMF’s project of monitoring national and Important Facts global economies. a) The South Asian Free Trade Area f) Lending: The IMF makes loans (SAFTA) is the free trade to countries that are arrangement of the South Asian experiencing economic distress Association for Regional in order to prevent or mitigate Cooperation (SAARC). financial crises. Members b) The agreement came into place contribute the funds for this in 2006. SAFTA signatory lending to a pool based on a countries are Afghanistan, quota system. These funds total Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, around SDR 475 billion ($645 Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and billion) as of Sept. 2017(IMF Sri Lanka. assets are denominated in c) SAFTA recognizes the need for special drawing rights, a kind of special and differential quasi-currency that comprises treatment for LDCs in its set proportions of the world’s preamble. For instance, LDCs reserve currencies). are allowed smaller initial tariff

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reduction and longer the economic development of a implementation periods. specific sector (for example natural resources) and a decline in other Q12. A surge in foreign capital inflows sectors (like the manufacturing sector in India would lead central banks to or agriculture). The putative intervene in foreign exchange markets mechanism is that as revenues to prevent currency appreciation by increase in the growing sector (or selling its own currency(and buying inflows of foreign aid), the given foreign exchange) in exchange for nation’s currency becomes stronger foreign currency denominated assets, (appreciates) compared to currencies thereby building up its foreign reserves of other nations (manifest in an as a happy side effect. exchange rate). This results in the nation’s other exports becoming more Money spent buying foreign assets expensive for other countries to buy, initially goes to other countries, but it and imports becoming cheaper, soon finds its way back into the making those sectors less competitive. domestic economy as payment for While it most often refers to natural exports. The expansion of the money resource discovery, it can also refer to supply can cause inflation, which can “any development that results in a large erode a nation’s export inflow of foreign currency, including a competitiveness just as much as sharp surge in natural resource prices, currency appreciation would. foreign assistance, and foreign direct investment”. The term was coined in Sterilization: Sterilization is a form of 1977 by The Economist to describe the monetary action in which a central bank decline of the manufacturing sector in seeks to limit the effect of inflows and the Netherlands after the discovery of outflows of capital on the money the large Groningen natural gas field in supply. Sterilization most frequently 1959. involves the purchase or sale of financial assets by a central bank, and Q14. Grasslands: Grasslands are is designed to offset the effect of characterized as lands dominated by foreign exchange intervention. The grasses rather than large shrubs or sterilization process is used to trees. here are two main divisions of manipulate the value of one domestic grasslands: currency relative to another, and is a) Tropical grasslands or savannas initiated in the foreign exchange b) Temperate grasslands market. These are formed over the regions of Q13. Dutch Disease: In economics, the moderate temperature and moderate Dutch disease is the apparent causal rainfall. It is an intermediate between a relationship between the increase in

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forest ecosystem and a desert food directly from green plants or ecosystem. producers. So, they are also known as primary consumers. For example, deer Regular fires promote the growth of feed on grass. Here, deer is a primary native grasses but limit the growth of consumer and grass is a producer. trees as gradually over a period of time Carnivores feed on herbivores. For due to repeated fire events the soil example, jackals feed on herbivorous loses its fertility and is rendered animals like deer, goats etc. Here, infertile. Grasslands are important for jackal is a secondary consumer. These maintaining the richness and size of secondary consumers are eaten by top livestock population as they provide the consumers like lions, tigers etc. These primary source of nutrition to livestock are known as top consumers because in the form of grasses which ensure they are not eaten by other animals. their healthy culturability. Consumers that are herbivores rely upon the chemical energy stored in The grasses found here can either be organic molecules produced by tall or short depending on the location photosynthesis. Autotrophs store of the grassland and the amount of rain chemical energy in carbohydrate food they receive. Historically, the tall-grass molecules (organic molecules) they prairie consisted of big and little build themselves. Food provides both bluestem, switchgrass, and Indian the energy to do work and the carbon to grass. These species thrive in zones of build bodies. Because most autotrophs 30-40 inch annual precipitation and transform sunlight to make food, we reach 6-8 feet in height. Within this call the process they use zone, cordgrass (Stipa spp.) and reed photosynthesis. Only three groups of grass (Phragmites spp.) are dominant organisms - plants, algae, and some species in the wetlands. Thousands of bacteria - are capable of this life-giving years of tall grass dominance (owing to energy transformation. Autotrophs managed and natural fires preventing make food for their own use, but they forest development) created a rich, make enough to support other life as fertile soil which now characterizes the well. Almost all other organisms corn belt of the USA. The short grass depend absolutely on these three prairies found in the 15-25 inch annual groups for the food they produce. The precipitation zone. producers, as autotrophs are also known, begin food chains which feed Q15. Consumers: Consumers are all life. animals that feed on other organisms. They are also called heterotrophs. Q16. Amensalism is a negative They are divided into two types, association between two species in herbivorous and which one species harms or restricts carnivorous.Herbivores obtain their the other species without itself being

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adversely affected or harmed by the Q17. In ecology, a community is a presence of the other species. group or association of populations of Organisms that secrete antibiotics and two or more different species the species that get inhibited by the occupying the same geographical area antibiotics are examples of and in a particular time, also known as Amensalism. a biocoenosis.

Mutualism or interspecies reciprocal Population is a group of individuals of altruism is a long term relationship the same species, inhabiting the same between individuals of different area, and functioning as a unit of biotic species where both individuals benefit community in a specific time. from each other but their relationship is not obligatory. An example of Genus is a generic term used in the mutualism is the relationship between classification of living organisms or the ocellaris clownfish that dwell binomial nomenclature. This term is a among the tentacles of Ritteri sea taxonomic rank below the family and anemones. above the species of the biological organism. In the contexts of botany, In a parasitic relationship, the parasite genus is a taxonomic group that benefits while the host is harmed. classifies more than one species of Parasitism takes many forms, from plants that are closely related in endoparasites that live within the host’s characteristics. body to ectoparasites and parasitic castrators that live on its surface and Ecophene is the variety of phenotypes micro predators like mosquitoes that (visible physical characteristics or visit intermittently. behaviours), from a single genotype (a specific combination of all alleles in a Commensalism describes a gene), that can be observed in a relationship between two living population within a particular habitat. organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or Q18. The Biosphere Reserve is helped. Commensal relationships may established mainly to fulfill the involve one organism using another for following objectives: To conserve in transportation or for housing, or it may situ genetic diversity of species. also involve one organism using a) To restore degraded something else created, after its death. ecosystems to their natural Examples of metabiosis are hermit conditions. crabs using gastropod shells to protect b) To provide baseline data for their bodies, and spiders building their ecological and environmental webs on plants. research and education.

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c) To function as an alternate model for sustainable The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment development. Act, 2002 had introduced a new protected area category called Q19. Sacred Groves: The Sacred ‘community reserve’. Sacred Groves Groves comprises patches of forest or have been put under this. Under this natural vegetation- from a few trees to significant power is given to the local forests of several acres that are usually communities with respect to dedicated to local folk deities administration of these areas. Many (Example – Ayyanar and Amman) or NGOs also work with local people for tree spirits (Vanadevatais). These their protection. spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious Q20. UNESCO World Heritage Site: beliefs and traditional rituals that run Kanha National Park is one of the tiger through several generations. reserves of India and the largest national park of Madhya Pradesh. It is The sacred groves are important not a UNESCO World Heritage site. repositories of floral and faunal diversity that are conserved by local A World Heritage Site is a landmark or communities in a sustainable manner. area which has been officially They are often the last refuge of recognized by the United Nations, endemic species in the geographical specifically by the United Nations region. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The degree of sanctity of the sacred forests varies from one grove to Kaziranga, Sundarbans and Keoladeo another. In some forests even the dry national parks have been included in foliage and fruits are not touched. the UNESCO World Heritage. People believe that any kind of disturbance will offend the local deity, Q21. Environmental Impact causing diseases, natural calamities or Assessment: According to Convention failure of crops. For example: the Garo of Biological Diversity, Environmental and the Khasi tribes of north-eastern Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process India prohibit any human interference of evaluating the likely environmental in the sacred groves. In other places, impacts of a proposed project or deadwood or dried leaves may be development, taking into account inter- picked up, but the live tree or its related socio-economic, cultural and branches are never cut. The vegetation human-health impacts, both beneficial cover of the grove thus improves the and adverse. soil stability of the area and also prevents soil erosion.

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The United Nations environment the development, finding Programme (UNEP) defines alternative designs or sites Environmental Impact Assessment which avoid the impacts, (EIA) as a tool used to identify the incorporating safeguards in the environmental, social and economic design of the project, or impacts of a project prior to decision- providing compensation for making. It aims to predict adverse impacts), and finally to environmental impacts at an early derive terms of reference for the stage in project planning and design, impact assessment; find ways and means to reduce adverse c) Assessment and evaluation of impacts, shape projects to suit the local impacts and development of environment and present the alternatives, to predict and predictions and options to decision- identify the likely environmental makers. impacts of a proposed project or development, including the By using EIA both environmental and detailed elaboration of economic benefits can be achieved, alternatives; such as reduced cost and time of d) Reporting the Environmental project implementation and design, Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA avoided treatment/clean-up costs and report, including an impacts of laws and regulations. environmental management Although legislation and practice vary plan (EMP), and a non-technical around the world, the fundamental summary for the general components of an EIA would audience. necessarily involve the following e) Review of the Environmental stages: Impact Statement (EIS), based a) Screening to determine which on the terms of reference projects or developments (scoping) and public (including require a full or partial impact authority) participation. assessment study; f) Decision-making on whether to b) Scoping to identify which approve the project or not, and potential impacts are relevant to under what conditions; and assess (based on legislative g) Monitoring, compliance, requirements, international enforcement and environmental conventions, expert knowledge auditing. Monitor whether the and public involvement), to predicted impacts and proposed identify alternative solutions mitigation measures occur as that avoid, mitigate or defined in the EMP. Verify the compensate adverse impacts compliance of the proponent on biodiversity (including the with the EMP, to ensure that option of not proceeding with unpredicted impacts or failed

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mitigation measures are Most Partners are best known outside identified and addressed in a of the Partnership by their timely fashion. organization’s name. This allows each partner to maintain its individual Q22. Prior Informed Consent national identity within the global Procedure: The Prior Informed Consent Partnership. It was earlier known as the (PIC) procedure is a means of sharing International Committee for Bird information globally regarding certain Preservation. chemicals and pesticides that have been considered hazardous to human It is the official Red List authority for health and/or the environment by the birds, for the International Union for Conference of the Parties. This clause Conservation of Nature. It publishes a was introduced in the Rotterdam quarterly magazine, World Birdwatch, Convention. which contains recent news and authoritative articles about birds, their The Rotterdam Convention was habitats, and their conservation around adopted in 1998 and entered into force the world. It publishes the scientific in 2004.The objectives of the journal, Bird Conservation International. Rotterdam Convention are to promote Q24. Sustainable Development Goal shared responsibility and cooperative Index: (SDG) Index and Dashboard efforts among Parties in the report is released by Sustainable international trade of certain hazardous Development Solutions Network chemicals to protect human health and (SDSN) and Bertelsmann Stiftung. The the environment from potential harm. index assesses the performance of countries towards achieving the The Convention creates legal binding ambitious SDGs. It ranks countries obligations for the implementation of based on their performance across the the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) 17 SDGs. procedure. India was ranked low 116 out of 157 Q23. Birdlife International is a global nations on the 2017 Sustainable partnership of conservation Development Goal (SDG) Index with a organizations that strives to conserve score of 58.1, behind countries such as birds, their habitats and global Nepal, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and biodiversity, working with people China. Pakistan was ranked 122. towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. Each BirdLife Q25. Internal Carbon Price: An internal Partner is an independent carbon price is a value that companies environmental nonprofit, non- voluntarily set for themselves, in order governmental organisation or NGO. to internalise the economic cost of their greenhouse gas emissions. It can be

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used both as a risk management tool Q26. Extended Producer and as part of a company’s Responsibility is a term under which decarbonisation strategy. An internal producers will be responsible for carbon price can help companies collection and channelization of e- enhance their global strategies to waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of become more resilient to regulatory their products to registered dismantler climate policies and more favourable to or recycler. It is defined under e-waste emission reductions. (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 as notified by the Ministry of Internal carbon pricing primarily takes Environment & two forms: Forests. a) A shadow price: which represents a carbon value Q33. 93rd constitution Amendment: (determined by the company) Empowered the state to make special that is incorporated into provisions for socially and investment decisions and educationally backward classes or the applied to the greenhouse gas Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled emissions generated by Tribes in educational institutions projects; including private educational b) An internal carbon tax: a levy institutions (whether aided or unaided that companies voluntarily apply by the state), except the minority to their operations and that educational institutions (clause (5) in increases operating costs Article 15). depending on the resulting greenhouse gas emissions; the This Amendment was enacted to nullify company then uses the the Supreme Court judgement in the proceeds of this tax as it sees fit. Inamdar case (2005) where the apex Internal Carbon price is an court ruled that the state cannot internationally recognised impose its reservation policy on business tool that enables minority and non minority unaided companies to create resources private colleges, including professional which are invested in low carbon colleges. The court declared that technologies, which help reduce reservation in private, unaided future emissions and lower educational institutions was operating costs. unconstitutional. c) In October 2016, Mahindra & Mahindra became the first Q35. The Constitution DOES NOT Indian firm to announce an provide rules for the grounds on which internal Carbon Price of $10 per the Vice President can be removed. The ton of carbon emitted. Vice-President can be removed by a formal resolution passed by the Rajya

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Sabha which must be passed by an the Government of India is absolute majority. This means that the concerned. majority of the total capacity of the b) To represent the Government of Rajya Sabha is needed in order to India in any reference made by remove the Vice-President. the president to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the The above resolution must then be Constitution. agreed to by the Lok Sabha too. The c) To appear (when required by the primary power of removing the Government of India) in any high VicePresident of India is rested in the court in any case in which the hands of the Rajya Sabha because the Government of India is VicePresident is primarily concerned concerned. with the Rajya Sabha. Apart from removal, the Vice-President may also Following limitations are placed on the forward his resignation to the President Attorney General in order to avoid any complication and conflict of duty: Q36. Attorney General of India: The a) He should not advise or hold a Attorney General is not a full-time brief against the Government of counsel for the Government. He does India. not fall in the category of government b) He should not advise or hold a servants. As the chief law officer of the brief in cases in which he is Government of India, the duties of the called upon to advise or appear AG include the following: for the Government of India. a) To give advice to the c) He should not defend accused Government of India upon such persons in criminal prosecutions legal matters, which are referred without the permission of the to him by the president. Government of India. b) To perform such other duties of d) He should not accept a legal character that are appointment as a director in any assigned to him by the company or corporation without president. the permission of the c) To discharge the functions Government of India. conferred on him by the Constitution or any other law. However, the Attorney General is not a full-time counsel for the Government. The President has assigned the He does not fall in the category of following duties to the Attorney General government servants. Further, he is not of India: debarred from private legal practice. a) To appear on behalf of the Government of India in all cases Q37. Comptroller & Auditor General in the Supreme Court in which (CAG): The CAG is an agent of the

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Parliament and conducts audit of expenditure on behalf of the In addition to the legal and regulatory Parliament. Therefore, he is audit, the CAG can also conduct the responsible only to the Parliament. propriety audit, that is, he can look into the ‘wisdom, faithfulness and economy’ The role of CAG is to uphold the of government expenditure and Constitution of India and the laws of comment on the wastefulness and Parliament in the field of financial extravagance of such expenditure. administration. The accountability of However, unlike the legal and the executive (i.e., council of ministers) regulatory audit, which is obligatory on to the Parliament in the sphere of the part of the CAG, the propriety audit financial administration is secured is discretionary. through audit reports of the CAG. The Constitution of India visualizes the The CAG has more freedom with regard CAG to be Comptroller as well as to audit of expenditure than with regard Auditor General. However, in practice, to audit of receipts, stores and stock. the CAG is fulfilling the role of an “Whereas in relation to expenditure he Auditor-General only and not that of a decides the scope of audit and frames Comptroller. his own audit codes and manuals, he has to proceed with the approval of the In other words, ‘the CAG has no control executive government in relation to over the issue of money from the rules for the conduct of the other Consolidated Fund and many audits.” departments are authorized to draw money by issuing cheques without The CAG has ‘to ascertain whether specific authority from the CAG, who is money shown in the accounts as concerned only at the audit stage when having been disbursed was legally the expenditure has already taken available for and applicable to the place’. service or the purpose to which they have been applied or charged and In this respect, the CAG of India differs whether the expenditure conforms to totally from the CAG of Britain who has the authority that governs it’. powers of both Comptroller as well as Auditor General. In other words, in In addition to this legal and regulatory Britain,the executive can draw money audit, the CAG can also conduct the from the public exchequer only with the propriety audit, that is, he can look into approval of the CAG. the ‘wisdom, faithfulness and economy’ of government expenditure and Q38. To Implement International comment on the wastefulness and Agreements: The Parliament can make extravagance of such expenditure. laws on any matter in the State List for

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implementing the international treaties, legislature can make laws - means it is agreements or conventions. This co-extensive with the legislative power provision enables the Central of the state legislature. government to fulfil its international obligations and commitments. Q41. Pre-Historic India: Belan River is a river in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Q39. Representation of Peoples Act It is famous for prehistoric sites on its 1951: The Representation of People banks. It originates from western part Act, 1951 is an act of Parliament of of Sonbhadra district then flows in the India to provide for the conduct of southern part of Mirzapur and elections of the Houses of Parliament, Allahabad districts. It is famous for the qualifications and disqualifications prehistoric sites, which are related with for membership of those Houses, the paleolithic, mesolithic and megalithic corrupt practices and other offences at periods. ChopaniMando in Allahabad or in connection with such elections district is one of these sites, which and the decision of doubts and deals with evidence of ancient disputes arising out of or in connection cultivation of wild cereals like rice. with such elections. Koldihwa and Mahagara (both in Allahabad district) are two important The Parliament has laid down the excavated sites, located on the disqualification in Representation of northern fringes of Vindhyas on the Peoples Act 1951. In such cases the banks of the Belan River. President's decision is final. However, he should obtain the opinion of the Q43. Archaeologically, the fifth century Election Commission and act BC marks the beginning of the Northern accordingly. In case of disqualification Black Polished Ware (NBPW) phase in on grounds of defection, the matter will the Gangetic plains, and this was a very be decided by speaker or chairman of glossy, shining type of pottery. Rajya Sabha as the case may be. The Harappan towns had disappeared Q40. Ordinance can only be in 1900 BC. Following that, for about promulgated when the Legislative 1500 years, no towns were established assembly is not in session - means it is in India. However, from about 1200 BC not a parallel power of the Governor. we notice settlements in the doab and Governor can promulgate ordinance the neighbouring areas. We find two only on the advice of Council of types of settlements in the lower doab Ministers - means it is not a in 1000–600 BC, based on size and discretionary power of Governor. location. In the same area and on the same basis, four types of settlements Ordinance can be promulgated only on are located in some parts. This those subjects on which state settlement hierarchy is regarded as the

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most important indicator of council was held in the first century A.D urbanization. The NBPW phase marked at Kundlavana in Srinagar. It was the beginning of the second presided over by Vasumitra and urbanization in India. Ashwaghosha and patronized by Kanishka. During this council Rice was the staple cereal produced in Buddhism got divided into Mahayana eastern UP and Bihar during this period. and Hinayana. Various types of paddy and paddy fields are described in the Pali texts. Q45. Potwaadhyaksha: According to Although rice was used in India in the Megasthenese, royal officers called second and third millennia BC, like iron, Agronomiques were in charge officers it became far more effective in the for the communication systems. NBPW phase. The use of the term shali Panyaadhyaksha was the Quality for transplantation is found in the Pali, controller of essential commodities. Prakrit, and Sanskrit texts of the period, Potwaadhyaksha was in charge of and it appears that large-scale paddy weights and measures. transplantation began in the age of the Akaradhyakshya in charge of all mines Buddha. except iron.

Q44. Buddhism: Ananda recited Sutta Q46. Gupta Period: Eran copper plate Pitaka - Code of conduct of, morals, and inscription, founded in SAGAR district principles for Buddhist monks. Upali of M.P was issued by Bhanugupta. It is recited Vinaya Pitaka - code of conduct the first written record evidence on the for sanghas. custom of Sati. One of the earliest Sati Pillars of India was found in Eran. This 2nd Buddhist council was held in 383 at was discovered by General Alexander Vaishali, it was preside over by Cunningham in 1874- 1875 A.D. Sabbakami and patronized by Kalasoka, the greatest king of This inscription shows that it was in the Shishunaga dynasty.Here Buddhism Gupta era 191. In addition to this got divided into two sects: various Sati Pillars ranging from Early Mahasanghikas - who favoured Medieval Period to the Modern Period changes. have been noticed in Eran. The imprints taken of these 10 Sati Pillars, which Sthiravadins or Theravadins - who threw new light about Eran and also on advocated no changes and were the position of women. The Saka followers of holders. Samvat is used in all Sati Pillars. The prayer to God occurs in the beginning of Moggaliputra Tissa composed almost all the inscriptions. After Abhidhamma Pitaka that dealt with mentioning the Samvat and date, the Buddhist philosophy. The 4th Buddhist epigraph gives the name of a dead

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person and his wife who became Sati reporters also existed who were known along with him. as Munihiyan.

Q47. Balban: Zil-E-Ilahi: Balban Q49. Mughal Administration - Land ascended the throne in 1266. ! He broke Classification System: Under the the power of Chalisa and resorted to Mughal Rule, the land was classified the prestige of the crown. That was his divided into four categories: greatest contribution towards the a) Polaj (cultivated every year). stability of the Sultanate. b) Parauti (once in two years). a) To keep himself well-informed c) Chachar (once in three or four Balban appointed spies. years). b) He created a strong centralised d) Banjar (once in five or more army to deal with internal years). disturbances and to cheek Mongols who were posing a Q50. Gandhara School of Art: serious danger to Delhi Gandhara Art was a combination of Sultanate. Hellenistic, West Asiatic and native c) He established the military elements. Greek and Roman department Diwan-i-Arz. techniques, modified according to Indian requirements, were employed in The Persian court model influenced fashioning the Gandhara sculpture Balban's conception of Kingship. He which truly represents Indian culture in took up the title of Zil-iIlahi(Shadow of a Western garb. God). He believed that he ruled on the basis of Divine Sanction and was not Its area extended from Takshila in India answerable to anyone. to the Swat Valley in Pakistan and northwards to areas in Afghanistan. It Q48. Barid-i-Mumalik: Barid-i-Mumalik was developed during the reign of was the head of the information and Kushan emperor Kanishka. The intelligence department. Only a Gandhara sculptures made images of nobleman who enjoyed the fullest Lord Buddha in the Greco-Roman style. confidence of Sultan was appointed the The images of Buddha resembled chief barid. The Barid-i-Mumalik had to Greek God Apollo. It gave more stress keep information of all that was to the bodily features and external happening in the Sultanate. beauty. In all the Buddha depicted in the Gandhara Art is shown making four At the local level there were barids who types of hand gestures and this is a used to send regular news concerning remarkable feature in this art. The the matters of the state to the central gestures are as follows: office. Apart from Barids, another set of a) Abahayamudra: Don’t fear b) Dhyana Mudra: Meditation

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c) Dharmachakra Mudra: Vishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition. Preaching mudra His ideas are one of three subschools d) Bhumisparsha Mudra: Touching in Vedānta, the other two are known as the earth. ĀdiShankara’sAdvaita (absolute monism) and Madhvāchārya’sDvaita Q51. Madhubani Painting: The (dualism) Madhubani Painting was traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls Madhavacharya ranks with and floors of huts, but now they are also Sankaracharya and Ramanuja as one of done on cloth, handmade paper and the three principal philosophers of the canvas. Madhubani paintings are Vedanta system. He propounded made from the paste of powdered rice. Dvaita or dualism. According to him, Madhubani painting has remained the final aim of man is the direct confined to a compact geographical perception of Hari which leads to area and the skills have been passed on Moksha or eternal bliss. through centuries, the content and the style has largely remained the same. Nimbarka, was a younger And that is the reason for Madhubani contemporary of Ramanuja. He was painting being accorded the coveted GI worshipper of Krishna and Radha. He (Geographical Indication) status. founded Dvaitadvaita or dualistic Madhubani paintings also use two monism. He wrote Vedanta Parijata- dimensional imagery, and the colors saurabha, a commentary on used are derived from plants. Ochre Brahmasutras. He settled in Mathura. and lampblack are also used for The Statue of Unity dedicated to the reddish brown and black respectively. iron man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is all set to be unveiled by Prime Q52. Statue of Equality: The world’s Minister Narendra Modi on 31st second tallest statue of a seated figure, October, the birth anniversary of Sardar at 216 feet of Bhakti saint Patel. Ramanujacharya is in Hyderabad, named as “Statue of Equality”. The work of 182-meter tall statue has Currently, the Great Buddha of Thailand been completed after round the is the tallest statue, at 302-feet. Once clockwork by 3,400 labourers and 250 the Ramanujacharya statue is unveiled, engineers at Sadhu Bet island on it will become the second tallest, a Narmada River in Gujarat. distinction now held by the Guanyin figure on Mount Xiqiao in China’s Q53. Company’s Struggle for Equality Guangdong region, at 203 feet. with Indian States from a Position of Subordination (1740-1765): Starting Rāmānuja’s philosophical foundation with Anglo-French rivalry with the was qualified monism and is called coming of Dupleix in 1751, the East

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India Company asserted political power to executive and controlling identity with capture of Arcot (1751). officers of a superior government. In With the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the 1833, the Charter Actended the East India Company acquired political Company’s commercial functions while power next only to the Bengal Nawabs. it retained political functions. It In 1765 with the acquisition of the adopted the practice of insisting on Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the prior approval/sanction for all matters East India Company became a of succession. In 1834, the Board of significant political power. Directors issued guidelines to annex states wherever and whenever Policy of Ring Fence (1765-1813): This possible. This policy of annexation policy was reflected in Warren culminated in usurpation of six states Hastings’ wars against the Marathas by Dalhousie including some big states and Mysore, and aimed at creating such as Satara and Nagpur. buffer zones to defend the Company’s frontiers. The main threat was from the Policy of Subordinate Union (1857- Marathas and Afghan invaders (the 1935): The year 1858 saw the Company undertook to organise assumption of direct responsibility by Awadh’s defence to safeguard Bengal’s the Crown. Because of the states’ security). Wellesley’s policy of loyalty during the 1857 revolt and their subsidiary alliance was an extension of potential use as breakwaters in political the ring fence—which sought to reduce storms of the future, the policy of states to a position of dependence on annexation was abandoned. The new British Government in India. Major policy was to punish or depose but not powers such as Hyderabad, Awadh and to annex. Now the ruler inherited the the Marathas accepted subsidiary gaddi not as a matter of right but as a alliance. Thus, British supremacy was gift from the paramount power, established. because the fiction of Indian states standing in a status of equality with the Policy of Subordinate Isolation (1813- Crown as independent, sovereign 1857): Now, the imperial idea grew and states ended with the Queen adopting the theory of Paramountcy began to the title of “Kaiser-i-Hind” (Queen develop—Indian states were supposed Empress of India). The paramount to act in subordinate cooperation with supremacy of the Crown presupposed the British Government and and implied the subordination of acknowledge its supremacy. States states. The British Government surrendered all forms of external exercised the right to interfere in the sovereignty and retained full internal spheres of states—partly in the sovereignty in internal administration. interest of the princes, partly in the British Residents were transformed interest of people’s welfare, partly to from diplomatic agents of a foreign secure proper conditions for British

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subjects and foreigners and partly in thoroughly reorganised and the interest of the whole of India. British military policy came to be dominated by the idea of Q54. The assumption of the “division and counterpoise”. Government of India by the sovereign f) The British could no longer of Great Britain was announced by Lord depend on Indian loyalty, so the Canning at a durbar at Allahabad in the number of Indian soldiers was ‘Queen’s Proclamation’ issued on drastically reduced even as the November 1, 1858. (It was by this number of European soldiers proclamation that the governor-general was increased. The concept of acquired the additional title of divide and rule was adopted with ‘Viceroy’.) Many of the promises made separate units being created on in that proclamation appeared to be of the basis of a positive nature to the Indians. caste/community/region. a) The era of annexation and Recruits were to be drawn from expansion has ended and the the ‘martial’ races of Punjab, British promised to respect the Nepal, and northwestern frontier dignity and rights of the native who had proved loyal to the princes. British during the Revolt. Effort b) The Indian states were was made to keep the army henceforth to recognise the away from civilian population. paramountcy of the British Crown and were to be treated as Q55. Lectures from Colombo to parts of a single charge. Almora (1897) are a book of Swami c) The people of India were Vivekanandabased on his various promised freedom of religion lectures. After visiting the West, without interference from British Vivekananda reached Colombo, British officials. Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 15 January d) The proclamation also promised 1897. Upon Vivekananda’s arrival in equal and impartial protection South India, a forty-foot high under law to all Indians, besides monument was built by the king of equal opportunities in Ramnad on the spot where he landed to government services celebrate his achievements in the West irrespective of race or creed. It He reached Calcutta through Madras was also promised that old on 20 January 1897. Then Vivekananda Indian rights, customs and travelled extensively and visited many practices would be given due Indian states. He reached Almora on regard while framing and 19th June 1897. The lectures delivered administering the law. by him in this period were compiled into e) The Army, which was at the the book Lectures from Colombo to forefront of the outbreak, was Almora.

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to the North, particularly Bihar and Uttar Q56. Vinoba Bhave organized an all- Pradesh. In the initial years the India federation of constructive movement achieved a considerable workers, the Sarvodaya Samaj, which degree of success, receiving over four was to take up the task of a nonviolent million acres of land as donation by social transformation in the country. He March 1956. After this the movement and his followers were to do lost momentum and very little new land padayatra,walk on foot from village to was received as donations. village to persuade the larger landowners to donate at least one-sixth Q57. The All India Trade Union of their lands as bhoodan or ‘land-gift’ Congress (AITUC) is the oldest trade for distribution among the landless and union federations in India. It is not the land poor. The target was to get as affiliated with any political party. Lala donation 50 million acres, which was Lajpat Rai was its first president and one-sixth of the 300 million acres of Diwan Chaman Lal was its first cultivable land in India. The idea was secretary. that each average family of five should give up one-sixth of their land accepting Q60. Simon Commission: An all-white, the poor landless man as a member of seven-member Indian Statutory the family. Commission, popularly known as the Simon Commission (chairman-Sir John The movement, though independent of Simon), was setup by the British the government, had the support of the government on November 8, 1927. The Congress, with the AICC urging commission was to recommend to the Congressmen to participate in it British government whether India was actively Eminent Former Congressman ready for further constitutional reforms and a prominent leader of the PSP and along what lines. (Praja Socialist Party), Jayaprakash Narayan, withdrew from active politics The liberals of the Hindu Mahasabha to join the Bhoodan Movement in 1953. and the majority faction of the Muslim League under Jinnah decided to Vinoba received the first donation of support the Congress call of boycott of land on 18 April 1951 in the village of the Simon Commission. The Muslim Pochampally in the Telangana region of league had two sessions in 1927, one Andhra Pradesh, where the under Jinnah at Calcutta where it was reverberations of the Communist decided to oppose the Simon Partyled armed peasant revolt were still Commission, and another at Lahore being felt. In less than three months he under Muhammad Shafi. had covered about 200 villages in this region and received 12,200 acres as Significant feature of this upsurge was donation. The movement then spread that a new generation of youth got their

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first taste of political action. They 30°N and S. Part of the accumulated air played the most active part in the sinks to the ground and forms a protest, giving it a militant flavour. The subtropical high. Another reason for youth leagues and conferences got a sinking is the cooling of air then it real fillip. reaches 30° N and S latitudes. Down below near the land surface the air The police came down heavily on flows towards the equator as the demonstrators; there were lathi easterlies. The easterlies from either charges not sparing even the senior side of the equator converge in the Inter leaders. Lala Lajpat Rai received Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). severe blows on his chest in October Such circulations from the surface 1928 which proved fatal and he died on upwards and vice-versa are called cells. November 17, 1928. Such a cell in the tropics is called Hadley Cell. In the middle latitudes the Dr Ambedkar was appointed by the circulation is that of sinking cold air Bombay Legislative Council to work that comes from the poles and the with the Simon Commission. In October rising warm air that blows from the 1928, Ambedkar went before the subtropical high. At the surface these commission. He argued for ‘universal winds are called westerlies and the cell adult franchise’ for both male and is known as the Ferrelcell. At polar female alike; for provincial autonomy in latitudes the cold dense air subsides the provinces and dyarchy at Centre. near the poles and blows towards middle latitudes as the polar easterlies. Q61. The pattern of the movement of This cell is called the Polar cell. These the planetary winds is called the three cells set the pattern for the general circulation of the atmosphere. general circulation of the atmosphere. The general circulation of the The transfer of heat energy from lower atmosphere also sets in motion the latitudes to higher latitudes maintains ocean water circulation which the general circulation. influences the earth’s climate. The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone Q64. Force for Continental Drift (ITCZ) near the equator rises because The drift was in two directions- Equator of convection caused by high wards due to the interaction of forces insolation and a low pressure is of gravity, pole-fleeing force and created. The winds from the tropics buoyancy (ship floats in water due to converge at this low pressure zone. buoyant force offered by water), and The converged air rises along with the Westwards due to tidal currents convective cell. It reaches the top of the because of the earth’s motion (earth troposphere up to an altitude of 14 km. rotates from west to east, so tidal and moves towards the poles. This currents act from east to causes accumulation of air at about

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west).Wegener suggested that tidal 4,800 km apart with an ocean in force also played a major role. between them. c) Placer Deposits: It is an The polar fleeing force relates to the accumulation of valuable rotation of the earth. The earth is not a minerals caused by the effect of perfect sphere; it has a bulge at the gravity on moving particles. equator. This bulge is due to the d) Botanical Evidence: Presence of rotation of the earth. [Greater glossopteris vegetation in Centrifugal force at the equator]. carboniferous rocks of India, Centrifugal force increases as we move Australia, South Africa, Falkland from poles towards the equator. This Islands (Overseas territory of increase in centrifugal force has led to UK), Antarctica, etc. can be pole fleeing. explained on the basis of the fact that parts were linked in the Tidal force is due to the attraction of past. the moon and the sun that develops e) Tillite deposits: It is the tides in oceanic waters. Wegener sedimentary rock formed out of believed that these forces would deposits of glaciers. The become effective when applied over Gondwana system of sediments many million years. According to from India is known to have its Wegener, the drift is still continuing. counterparts in six different landmasses of the Southern Causes of Drift: Gravity of the earth, Hemisphere. At the base the buoyancy of the seas and the tidal system has thick Tillite currents were given as the main factors indicating extensive and causing the drift, by Wegener. prolonged glaciation. Counter parts of this succession are Evidences found in Africa, Falkland Island, a) Distribution of Fossil: The Madagascar, Antarctica and observations that Lemurs occur Australia besides India. in India, Madagascar and Africa led some to consider a Q65. Karst Topography: In areas where contiguous landmass “Lemuria” there are alternating beds of rocks linking these three landmasses (shales, sandstones, quartzites) with b) Mesosaurus was a small reptile limestone or dolomites in between or in adapted to shallow brackish areas where limestones are dense, water. The skeletons of these massive and occurring as thick beds, are found only in South Africa cave formation is prominent. Water and Iraver formations of Brazil. percolates down either through the The two localities presently are materials or through cracks and joints

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and moves horizontally along bedding important approaches are: (a) The planes. income approach; (b) The welfare approach; (c) Minimum needs It is along these bedding planes that the approach; and (d) Capabilities limestone dissolves and long and approach. narrow to wide gaps called caves result. There can be a maze of caves at Income Approach: This is one of the different elevations depending upon oldest approaches to human the limestone beds and intervening development. Human development is rocks.Caves normally have an opening seen as being linked to income. The through which cave streams are idea is that the level of income reflects discharged. Caves having openings at the level of freedom an individual both the ends are called tunnels. enjoys. Higher the level of income, the higher is the level of human Q69. Old Age Population: The development. Longevity Dividend is used to describe the economic and health benefits that Welfare Approach: This approach would accrue to individuals and looks at human beings as beneficiaries societies if we extend healthy life by or targets of all development activities. slowing the biological processes of The approach argues for higher aging. The idea is to extend healthy life government expenditure on education, by shifting our emphasis from disease health, social secondary and amenities. management to delayed aging. People are not participants in development but only passive The Longevity Dividend is an approach recipients. The government is to public health based on a broader responsible for increasing levels of strategy of fostering health for all human development by maximising generations by developing a new expenditure on welfare. horizontal model to health promotion and disease prevention. Basic Needs Approach: This approach was initially proposed by the Unlike the current vertical approach to International Labour Organisation disease that targets individual (ILO). Six basic needs i.e.:health, disorders as they arise, the Longevity education, food, water supply, Dividend model seeks to prevent or sanitation, and housing were identified. delay the root causes of disease and The question of human choices is disability ignored and the emphasis is on the provision of basic needs of defined Q70. Human Development: There are sections. many ways of looking at the problem of human development. Some of the

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Capability Approach: This approach is Q73. Rice cultivation: Rice is a staple associated with Prof. Amartya Sen. food for the overwhelming majority of Building human capabilities in the the population in India. It is biseasonal areas of health, education and access crop which means it can grow in Kharif to resources is the key to increasing as well as Rabi season. In Himalayas human development. and north-western parts of the country, Q71. Village settlement: On the basis it is grown as a kharif crop during of forms or shapes of the settlements, southwest Monsoon season. However village settlements are defined as T- in southern states and West Bengal the shaped, double settlements etc.Double climatic conditions allow the cultivation settlements are settlements extending of two or three crops of rice in an on both sides of a river where there is a agricultural year. In West Bengal bridge or a ferry. Whereas T –shaped farmers grow three crops of rice called settlements develop at tri-junctions of ‘aus’, ‘aman’ and ‘boro’. the roads. Q74. E-RAKAM portal: E-RAKAM has Q72. Red soils: Zonal soils are defined been developed by MSTC Limited and as a soil which has experienced the CRWC (Central Rail side Warehouse maximum effect of climate and Company) Limited.It is a digital vegetation upon parent rock, assuming initiative that aims to bring together the there are no extremes of weathering, farmers, PSUs, civil supplies and buyers relief or drainage. These soils occur on on a single platform to ease the selling gently undulating land where drainage and buying process of agricultural is free and where the parent material is products. of neither extreme texture nor chemical composition. They occur in latitudinal Under this initiative, e-RaKAM centres zones. are being developed throughout the country to facilitate farmers for online The zonal soil type of peninsular India sale of their produce. The farmers will belongs to the Red soils. These are dark be paid through e-Payment directly into clayey soils which occur on the drier their bank accounts. margins of the laterites. These regions experience warm climate with wet-dry Q75. Green Corridor: The Green seasons. There are no eluviated and Corridor ensures zero toilet discharge alluvial horizons but the wholesome is on rail tracks as part of its commitment base-rich which gives these soils a dark to clean environment under the appearance. These soils support ‘Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat’ initiative. scattered trees, low scrubs and Trains in the section have been grasses. During the dry season, these equipped with bio-toilets to ensure zero soils show cracks. discharge of human waste on the rail

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tracks and preventing corrosion of the It is a unique tool, enabling scientist to tracks. predict the appearance and properties of matter on the Earth and in the rest of Indian Railway had developed the the Universe. 2019 will be the 150th environment friendly ‘Bio-toilets’, in anniversary since Dmitry Mendeleev association with Defence Research and discovered the Periodic System and Development Organisation (DRDO). has been proclaimed the “International Bio-toilets evacuate discharge into a Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical bio-digester tank, containing anaerobic Elements” (IYPT2019). bacteria, fitted underneath the train coach in a small space. The initiative for IYPT2019 is supported by IUPAC in partnership with the Q76. Big data analytics: Data mining is International Union of Pure and Applied the process of sorting through large Physics (IUPAP), European Association data sets to identify patterns and for Chemical and Molecular Science establish relationships to solve (EuCheMS), the International Council problems through data analysis. Data for Science (ICSU), International mining tools allow enterprises to Astronomical Union (IAU), and the predict future trends. International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Data mining is in fact a misnomer, (IUHPS). It was submitted by numerous because the goal is the extraction of organizations from over 50 countries patterns and knowledge from large around the world. amounts of data, not the extraction (mining) of data itself. Data mining Q78. Cloud Computing provides the techniques are used in many research infrastructures (both software and areas, including mathematics, hardware) as services on a semi – cybernetics, genetics and marketing. permanent (rented) basis User need While data mining techniques are a not add physical assets (server means to drive efficiencies and predict computers, Air conditioners, special IT customer behavior, if used correctly, a staff to maintain those server rooms business can set itself apart from its etc.) instead user are provided with competition through the use of great flexibility and choice in your predictive analysis. purchase is known as Cloud Q77.The Periodic Table of Chemical computing. Elements is one of the most significant achievements in science, capturing the Q79. Bacillus thuringiensis: Bt is an essence not only of chemistry, but also important soil organism, which of physics and biology. produces protein crystals toxic to many insects. These proteins become active in the gut of pests under alkaline

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conditions only and form pores in their antibiotic resistance, the most urgent cell lining. Subsequently, insects lose drug resistance trend. To achieve this their cellular constituents, stop feeding goal, the global action plan sets out five and ultimately die. strategic objectives: a) To improve awareness and Human stomach is acidic (low ph) understanding of antimicrobial hence the proteins remain inactive. resistance; b) To strengthen knowledge Q80. International Initiatives towards through surveillance and Microbial Resistance: World Health research; Organisation defines Antimicrobial c) To reduce the incidence of Resistance (AMR) as the ability of a infection; microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, d) To optimize the use of and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial agents. antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and anti-malarials) from Q82. Body fluids: Plasma is a straw working against it. As a result, standard coloured, viscous fluid constituting treatments become ineffective, nearly 55 per cent of the blood. Plasma infections persist and may spread to without the clotting factors others. Antimicrobial resistance is (fibrinogens) is called serum.90-92 occurring everywhere in the world, percent of plasma is water and proteins compromising our ability to treat contribute 6-8 percent of it. infectious diseases, as well as undermining many other advances in Fibrinogen, globulins and albumins are health and medicine. the major proteins in plasma. Fibrinogens are needed for clotting or The goal of the draft global action plan coagulation of blood. Globulins is to ensure, for as long as possible, primarily are involved in defense continuity of successful treatment and mechanisms of the body and the prevention of infectious diseases with albumins help in osmotic balance. effective and safe medicines that are quality-assured, used in a responsible Plasma also contains small amounts of way, and accessible to all who need minerals like Na+, Ca++, Mg++, HCO3 – them. ,Cl– , etc. Glucose, amino acids, lipids, etc., are also present in the plasma as World Health Assembly (at the Sixty- they are always in transit in the body. eight World Health Assembly in May Factors for coagulation or clotting of 2015), endorsed a global action plan blood are also present in the plasma in named Global Antimicrobial Resistance an inactive form. Surveillance System (GLASS) to tackle Q83. The indigenous Pinaka rocket antimicrobial resistance, including system of the Defence Research and

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Development Organisation (DRDO) is electricity. Individual PV cells are being evolved into a precision-guided grouped into panels and arrays of missile. Pinaka rocket system is known panels that can be used in a wide range for firing a salvo of 12 rockets in just 44 of applications ranging from single seconds, with enhanced range and small cells that charge calculators and accuracy to hit its targets. The rocket watch batteries, to systems that power has been developed by the Armament single homes, to large solar plants cluster of the DRDO. covering many acres.

Q84. Due to collisions with various Q87. Radioisotopes and their nuclei, initial high kinetic energy of Applications: fission neutron decreases. Thus for a a) Chlorine-36: Used to measure sustained reaction, neutrons with lower sources of chloride and the age energy should be capable of causing of water (up to 2 million years). fission. Only neutrons can result in b) Carbon-14: Used to measure the sustained reaction as two or three age of water (up to 50,000 neutrons are released for each one years). absorbed by fission. c) Tritium (H-3): Used to measure ‘young’ groundwater (up to 30 Q85. Sarin is a human-made chemical years). warfare agent classified as a nerve d) Lead-210: Used to date layers of agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic sand and soil up to 80 years. and rapidly acting of the known e) Americium0241: Used in chemical warfare agents. They are backscatter gauges, smoke similar to certain kinds of insecticides detectors, fill height detectors (insect killers) called and in measuring ash content of organophosphates in terms of how coal. they work and what kind of harmful f) Caesium-137: Used for effects they cause. However, nerve radiotracer technique for agents are much more potent than identification of sources of soil organophosphate pesticides. Sarin erosion and deposition, in originally was developed in 1938 in density and fill height level Germany as a pesticide. Sarin is a clear, switches. colorless, and tasteless liquid that has g) Cobalt-60: Used for gamma no odor in its pure form. However, sarin sterilization, industrial can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and radiography, density and fill spread into the environment. Sarin is height switches. also known as GB. h) Gold-198 and Technetium-99m: Used to study sewage and liquid Q86. Photovoltaic (PV devices) or waste movements, as well as solar cells change sunlight directly into tracing factory waste causing

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ocean pollution, and to trace Wrestler Bajrang Punia and Rio sand movement in river beds Paralympics silver medalist Deepa and ocean floors. Malik has been nominated for the Khel i) Strontium-90, Krypton-85, Ratna award. Thallium-204: Used for industrial gauging. Q90. Oman wins the "Man Booker j) Zinc-65 and Manganese-54: International Prize 2019": Oman author Used to predict the behavior of Jokha Alharthi won the prestigious heavy metal components in 'Man Booker International Prize 2019' effluents from mining waste for her novel "Celestial Bodies", the water. novel that confronts Oman's history of k) Iridium-192, Gold-198 and slavery, which was abolished in the Chromium- 57: Used to label country only in 1970. sand to study coastal erosion. l) Ytterbium-169, Iridium-192 and Q91. World's largest nuclear power Selenium- 75: Used in gamma icebreaker: Russia launched the radiography and non-destructive world's largest nuclear-powered testing. icebreaker 'Ural' at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg in order to improve its Q88. International Day against Nuclear ability to tap the Arctic's commercial Tests: The International Day against potential. Russia is preparing for Nuclear Tests was observed on August shipping via the Northern Sea Route 29. The aim of the day is to create (NSR). The Ural will be given to Russia's awareness about the effects of nuclear state-owned nuclear energy weapon test explosions and achieve corporation Rosatom in 2022 after the the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free other 2 ice-breakers Arktika (Arctic) world. It was established in 2009 and Sibir (Siberia) enter into service. The Arktika was floated in 2016. Q89. National Sports Day & Khel Ratna Award: To mark the birth anniversary of Q93. Qatar to host FIFA World Cup the legendary hockey player, Major 2022: FIFA world cup 2022 will be Dhyan Chand, the National Sports Day hosted by the Gulf emirate and is observed every year on 29 August. preparations are in full swing. The This day stresses on the need to stay fit official logo of Qatar 2022 FIFA world and healthy. On this day, the President cup has been unveiled in the capital of India honors eminent sports Doha recently. Qatar celebrated the personalities with major awards release of the 2022 world cup logo by including Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, displaying in its public space in Doha Dronacharya Awards, and Dhyan Chand and cities around the world. Award.

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Q94. 'Tamanna': CBSE, NCERT's speed train equipped with world class aptitude test for Class 9, 10 students: passenger amenities. Under the supervision of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Q97. India replaces Japan to be the Central Board of Secondary Education world's largest steel producer: India (CBSE) and National Council of has replaced Japan as the world's Educational Research and Training second-largest steel producing country, (NCERT) have launched an online only behind China, which is the largest aptitude test 'Tamanna' (Try And producer of crude steel accounting for Measure Aptitude And Natural more than 51 per cent of production, as Abilities) to help students make right per the latest report by World Steel career choices. It is an aptitude test for Association. The report noted that Class 9 and Class 10 students to India's crude steel production in 2018 enable them to make a better choice of was at 106.5 MT, which is up by 4.9 per subjects in Class 11 and 12. cent from 101.5 MT in 2017. The rise in India's crude steel production in 2018 Q95. Pakistan is the First Country to means that India has replaced Japan introduce WHO-approved India made as the world's second-largest steel Typhoid Vaccine: The Vaccine will be producing country, as Japan produced used in southern Sindh province 104.3 MT in 2018, which is down by 0.3 because, since 2017, more than 10,000 per cent as compared to 2017. cases of Typhoid were documented in this area. Indian vaccines and Q98. 75th anniversary celebrations of Biotherapeutics Manufacturer, Bharat battle of KanglaTongbi: The Platinum Biotech received a Pre-Qualification tag Jubilee of the Battle of KanglaTongbi, from WHO for the TPV. also known as Battle of Imphal, was commemorated on April 7, 2019 by the Q96. Train 18 named as 'Vande Bharat Army Ordnance Corps at KanglaTongbi Express': The Union Minister of War Memorial near Imphal, Manipur. Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal on The 75th anniversary celebrations January 27, 2019 named India's first honoured the martyrs of Ordnance engine-less train, 'Train 18' as the Personnel of 221 Advance Ordnance 'Vande Bharat Express', acknowledging Depot who made their supreme its made-in-India status. The train was sacrifice during the World War-II on the manufactured by the Integral Coach night of April 6/7, 1944. The Battle of Factory (ICF) in the period of 18 months Imphal or KanglaTongbi is referred to under the 'Make in India' initiative of PM as one of the bloodiest battles of World Narendra Modi. Vande Bharat Express War-II. is the next major leap for Indian Railways in terms of speed and Q99. World's first floating nuclear convenience. It is India's first semi-high power plant to begin operations:

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Akademik Lomonosov, world's only floating nuclear power unit is ready to Q100. ISRO launching its satellite by start commercial operations in Russia. 2030: ISRO, in one of its most The plant was launched by Russia on ambitious projects, is planning to May 19, 2018 at the St Petersburg launch its own space station by 2030. shipyard. The power plant is to be the The full details of the mission will be first of a fleet of floating nuclear power revealed after the successful stations to be stationed in the Russian completion of India's first manned Arctic. It is capable of producing space mission - Gaganyaan. The weight enough electricity to power a town of of ISRO's own space station is likely to 200,000 residents, far more than the be 20 tonnes. It will be used to conduct 5,000 living in Pevek. It is expected to microgravity experiments. The ISRO operate for 40 years, with the possibility Chairman clarified that India will not of the operating life being extended to join the International Space Station 50 years and the two reactors will be (ISS) but instead build its own. refueled once every three years.

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OAS Prelims-2020 OBJECTIVE IAS