TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) 1 Consider the following statements. 1. UN peacekeeping operations are deployed on the basis of mandates from the United Nations Security Council. 2. The UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. 3. All UN Member States share the costs of peacekeeping, but the Security Council is required to pay a larger share. 4. The General Assembly approves and oversees the peacekeeping budget. Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1, 3 and 4 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only Your Answer : Correct Answer : D Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: Chapter VI of the UN Charter deals with the “Pacific Settlement of Disputes”. UN peacekeeping operations have traditionally been associated with Chapter. However, the Security Council need not refer to a specific Chapter of the Charter when passing a resolution authorizing the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and has never invoked Chapter VI. Statement 2: In fulfilling this responsibility, the Council can establish a UN peacekeeping operation. Statement 3: As all UN Member States share the costs of peacekeeping, the Assembly apportions these expenses based on a special scale of assessments, taking into account the relative economic wealth of Member States, with the permanent members of the Security Council required to pay a larger share because of their special responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Statement 4: While not normally directly involved in political decisions on establishing or terminating UN Peacekeeping operations, the General Assembly does play a key role in peacekeeping financing. The General Assembly, through its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) approves and oversees the peacekeeping budget. This includes how specific field operations are funded and equipped, based on detailed submissions provided to it by the UN Secretary-General. Q Source: Frequently in news: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mandates-and-legal-basis-peacekeeping 2 Improved Samba Masuri (ISM) variety rice with low Glycemic Index (Gl) has been developed by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in association with Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR). What are the advantages of this variety of rice? www.insightsias.com 1 TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) 1. It consumes much lesser water despite being coarser grained than non-GM rice. 2. It is resistant to bacteria blight. 3. Rice with low Gl is considered suitable for people with Diabetes. Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3 Your Answer : Correct Answer : B Answer Justification : Justification: The Hyderabad based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in association with Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) has developed Improved Samba Masuri (ISM) variety rice with low Glycemic Index (Gl). Rice with low Gl is considered suitable for people with diabetics. Consumption of food with low Gl results in slow release of glucose into the bloodstream reducing the ill-effects of diabetes. ISM has lowest Gl against the normal in several rice varieties. It also has shown better yield and fine grain type, enhancing its market potential and profit for farmers. It is also resistant to bacteria blight. The new variety is not a transgenic one, thus improving yield of up to 40%. The ISM has been grown in 1.3 lakh hectares in 7 states including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Q Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ccmb-iirr-tie-up-for-low-gi-rice/article20607229.ec e 3 The Ilbert Bill Controversy is said to be a high watermark in the history of Indian National Movement. This is because it invoked issues of 1. Racial discrimination between Indian and Europeans 2. Security lapse on the Indian borders, especially the North-Western frontier 3. Suppression of Indian media houses and their nationalization by the Government Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 only www.insightsias.com 2 TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) B. 1 and 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1 and 3 only Your Answer : Correct Answer : A Answer Justification : Background & Justification: Lord Ripon wanted to remove two kinds of law that had been prevalent in India. According to the system of law, a European could be tried only by a European Judge or a European Magistrate. The disqualification was unjust and it was sought to cast a needless discredit and dishonour upon the Indian-born members of the judiciary. C.P. Ilbert, Law Member, introduced a bill in 1883 to abolish this discrimination in judiciary. But Europeans opposed this Bill strongly. They even raised a fund of one lakh fifty thousand rupees and established an organisation called the Defence Association. They also suggested that it was better to end the English rule in India than to allow the English to be subjected to the Indian Judges and Magistrates. The press in England joined the issue. Hence, Ripon amended the bill to satisfy the English in India and England. Learning: The Ilbert Bill controversy helped the cause of Indian nationalism. Ripon was totally disillusioned and heartbroken and he tendered his resignation and left for England. The immediate result of this awakening of India was the birth of the Indian National Congress in 1885, the very next year of Ripon’s departure. Q Source: Page 119: 12th TN History Textbook 4 With reference to the Fisheries sector, consider the following statements. 1. The sector contributes nearly 1% of the GDP of India. 2. It accounts for around 10% of the total export value of the country. Select the correct answer using the codes below. www.insightsias.com 3 TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. None Your Answer : C Correct Answer : C Answer Justification : Justification: Statement 1: Constituting about 6.3% of the global fish production, the sector contributes to 1.1% of the GDP and 5.15% of the agricultural GDP. The total fish production of 10.07 million metric tonnes presently has nearly 65% contribution from the inland sector and nearly the same from culture fisheries. Statement 2: Fish and fish products have presently emerged as the largest group in agricultural exports of India, with over 10.5 lakh tonnes in terms of quantity and over Rs. 33,000 crores in value. This accounts for around 10% of the total exports of the country and nearly 20% of the agricultural exports. More than 50 different types of fish and shellfish products are exported to 75 countries around the world Learning: With diverse resources ranging from deep seas to lakes in the mountains and more than 10% of the global biodiversity in terms of fish and shellfish species, the country has shown continuous and sustained increments in fish production since independence. With high growth rates, the different facets of marine fisheries, coastal aquaculture, inland fisheries, freshwater aquaculture, coldwater fisheries to food, health, economy, exports, employment and tourism of the country. Q Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/bjp-observes-world-fisheries-day/article2063147 0.ece http://nfdb.gov.in/about-indian-fisheries.htm 5 Being at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, the sanctuary is home to eco- systems that are unique to both the mountain ranges. The site is also a declared a tiger reserve. It is A. Kanger Ghati Wildlife Sanctuary www.insightsias.com 4 TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) B. Gugamal Sanctuary C. Biligiriranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary D. Kudremukh Sanctuary Your Answer : C Correct Answer : C Answer Justification : Justification: The hills are located at the easternmost edge of the Western Ghats and support diverse flora and fauna in view of the various habitat types supported. The sanctuary derives its name Biligiri (white hill in Kannada) from the white rock face that constitutes the major hill crowned with the temple of Lord Rangaswamy or from the white mist and the silver clouds that cover these hills for a greater part of the year. The hills are in the Yelandur, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar talukas of Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka. They are contiguous with hills in Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary. Learning: Nearby, bannerghatta national park is part of a wildlife corridor for elephants which connects the Biligiriranga Hills and the Sathyamangalam forest. Bannerghatta is the first biological park in India to have a fenced forested elephant sanctuary where elephants can roam around freely without chains. www.insightsias.com 5 TEST - 15(MOCK TEST - 12) Image: Biligiriranganatha Swamy Temple Q Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biligiriranga_Hills 6 Consider the following about Shuddhi movement, in British India. 1. It was a socio-political movement aimed at reducing the conversions of Hindus to Islam and Christianity. 2. It aimed at abolishing the practise of untouchability by converting outcasts from other religions to Hinduism. Select the correct answer using the codes below. A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. None Your Answer : C Correct Answer : C Answer Justification : Justification: Derived from ancient rite of shuddhikaran, or purification, it was started by the Arya Samaj, and its founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati and his followers like Swami Shraddhanand, who also worked on the Sangathan consolidation aspect of Hinduism, in North India, especially Punjab in early 1900s, though it gradually spread across India. Shuddhi had a social reform agenda behind its belligerent rationale and was aimed at abolishing the practise of untouchability by converting outcasts from other religions to Hinduism and integrating them into the mainstream community by elevating their position, and instilling self-confidence and self-determination in them.