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SCD. Unfortunately, most people with SCD are 1. Solution: a) either too old for a transplant or don’t have a relative who is a good enough genetic match for Lichens are composite, symbiotic organisms them to act as a donor. A well-matched donor made up from members of as many as three is needed to have the best chance for a kingdoms. The dominant partner is a fungus. successful transplant. Fungi are incapable of making their own food. They usually provide for themselves as http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- parasites or decomposers. national/sickle-cell-anaemia-stalks-adivasis- says-study/article7431619.ece The lichen fungi (kingdom Fungi) cultivate partners that manufacture food by photosynthesis. Sometimes the partners are algae (kingdom Protista), other times 3. Solution: a) cyanobacteria (kingdom Monera), formerly Currency swap agreements exist to assist called blue-green algae. Some enterprising countries during periods of tight liquidity or fungi exploit both at once. balance of payments and liquidity crises.
Pioneer species are hardy species which are the Under this agreement, Sri Lanka can draw a first to colonize previously disrupted or maximum of $1.1 billion for a period of up to damaged ecosystems, beginning a chain of six months. ecological succession that ultimately leads to a more biodiverse steady-state ecosystem. The agreement is in addition to the existing Examples can be phytoplankton, zooplankton, framework on currency swap arrangement for lichens, mosses etc. the SAARC member countries, an arrangement by which SAARC members can draw currency $100 million-$400 million, with a total limit of 2. Solution: c) $2 billion, from an RBI financing facility set up for this purpose. Sickle-cell disease (SCD), also known as sickle- cell anaemia (SCA) and drepanocytosis, is a hereditary blood disorder, characterized by an 4. Solution: d) abnormality in the oxygen-carrying haemoglobin molecule in red blood cells. Zoos and botanical gardens are the most conventional methods of ex situ conservation, “Inherited” means that the disease is passed by all of which house whole, protected specimens genes from parents to their children. SCD is for breeding and reintroduction into the wild not contagious. A person cannot catch it, like a when necessary and possible. cold or infection, from someone else. Endangered plants may also be preserved in At the present time, hematopoietic stem cell part through seed banks or germ plasm banks. transplantation (HSCT) is the only cure for The term seed bank sometimes refers to a http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 1
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS cryogenic laboratory facility in which the seeds of certain species can be preserved for up to a century or more without losing their fertility.
It can also be used to refer to a special type of arboretum where seeds are harvested and the crop is rotated. For plants that cannot be preserved in seed banks, the only other option for preserving germ plasm is in-vitro storage, where cuttings of plants are kept under strict conditions in glass tubes and vessels.
Also read the drawbacks of ex-situ conservation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_situ_conser vation#Drawbacks
6. Solution: a) 5. Solution: c) Species like Blue whale and Whooping crane Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the state are highly susceptible to extinction because of governments have to notify the list of core and the reasons stated in statement 1 and 2. buffer areas of tiger reserves in their territory. Island species are also likely to be extinct Core zone (critical tiger habitats) is where because of their narrow range of distribution. tigers usually rest, reside, feed and breed. Moreover, species which are higher in food Buffer zones are areas that lie in the periphery chain have greater chances to be extinct, not of the core zone. the ones that lie at the bottom of the food Buffer zones constitute the fringe areas i.e. the chain. outside boundary of tiger reserves up to 10 kms. 7. Solution: d)
Mercury is used in laboratories for making thermometers, barometers, diffusion pumps, and many other instruments. It is used for mercury switches and other electrical apparatus. It is used as an electrode in some types of electrolysis and for making batteries (mercury cells). http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 2
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Potassium dichromate has uses in photography 9. Solution: d) and in photographic screen printing, where it is used as an oxidizing agent together with a Social forestry is defined as “Forestry outside strong mineral acid. the conventional forests which primarily aim at providing continuous flow of goods and The light sensitive silver halides, silver services for the benefit of people. This chloride, silver bromide and silver iodide, are definition implies that the production of forest used to make photographic film and goods for the needs of the local people is Social photographic paper. forestry. Thus, social forestry aims at growing forests of the choice of the local population
On the other hand, agro-forestry includes a variety of land uses where woody species are grown in combination with crops. For instance crops can be grown in between rows of saal, 8. Solution: b) teak etc.
Apart from being used in manures seaweeds or marine algae are a food source for humans especially in East Asia, it is most commonly 10. Solution: d) associated with Japanese food. Seaweeds also About 84% of total evaporation comes from the are used to make a number of food additives oceans. They receive 77% of the total such as alginates and carrageenan which is precipitation. used in cooking and baking as a vegetarian alternative to gelatine. 16% evaporation comes from land. Land receives 24% precipitation. There is a gain of Many seaweeds are used as medicine. Alginates 7% in land. are used in wound dressings and in the production of dental moulds and agar is used This excess is returned by surface run-off and very widely in Microbiology to help grow sub-surface flows to the ocean again. bacterial cultures. Thus the water cycle maintains equilibrium. Seaweeds are ingredients in toothpaste, cosmetics and paints and are used in industrial products such as paper coatings, adhesives, dyes, gels, explosives and many more.
Much of the oil and natural gas we use today formed from seaweeds which partially 11. Solution: b) decomposed on the sea floor many millions of Production functions include producing furits, years ago. woods, resins, alkaloids, medicines etc. http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 3
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Protective functions include conservation of Psedomonas is a denitrifying bacterium. It soil and water, prevention of drought, shelter converts nitrate back to Nitrogen for release in against cold, wind and radiation, noise etc. the atmosphere.
Regulative functions help improve atmosphere and temperature conditions. 14. Solution: a) The above functions tell us that the economical value of forests is very high and they play a very § It is a symbiotic relation of fungi with important role in maintaining the biological roots of vascular plants. cycle on earth. § Nearly all plants on earth rely on mycorrhizal fungi for nutrients and moisture. Many plants are 12. Solution: c) extremely dependent and can struggle to survive without the beneficial fungi Mineralization in soil science is decomposition (grapes and roses are examples). or oxidation of the chemical compounds (minerals) in organic matter into plant- § Plants and mycorrhizal fungi accessible forms. Mineralization is the opposite operate as a single working unit in of immobilization. nature. The plant performs photosynthesis and other above-ground Immobilization (or demineralisation) in soil functions, and the fungi handle science is the conversion of inorganic underground nutrition-gathering and compounds to organic compounds by micro- protect the roots. It is not normal to organisms or plants, by which it is prevented grow plants without mycorrhizae from being accessible to plants. Immobilization on the roots – this is often the is the opposite of mineralization. cause of disease and insect problems!
13. Solution: c) § Other benefits include enhanced rooting of cuttings, increased root generation, Bacteria that change nitrogen gas from the increased drought resistance, increased atmosphere into solid nitrogen usable by plants salt tolerance, reduced transplant shock, are called nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These and enhancement of other valuable bacteria are found both in the soil and in organisms in the soil. symbiotic relationships with plants.
Rhizobium is not a free-living bacterium. It is tied to the host legume plant in a symbiotic relationship.
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Phosphates move quickly through plants and animals; however, the processes that move them through the soil or ocean are very slow, making the phosphorus cycle overall one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles. Rain water contains phosphorus and nitrogen from air pollution.
Initially, phosphate weathers from rocks and minerals, the most common mineral being apatite. Overall small losses occur in terrestrial environments by leaching and erosion, through the action of rain. In soil, phosphate is absorbed on iron oxides, aluminium hydroxides, clay surfaces, and organic matter particles, and becomes incorporated (immobilized or fixed). Plants and fungi can also be active in making P soluble. 15. Solution: d)
It has been explained beautifully here http://www.majordifferences.com/2014/03/di 17.Solution: b) fference-between-c3-and-c4- 50% of available solar radiation is plants.html#.VavrYaSqqko photosynthetically active radiation. Rest of the C4 plants have a competitive advantage over energy is deflected by the atmosphere. plants possessing the more common C3 carbon You also need to know that visible light is the fixation pathway under conditions of drought, only band of light on the spectrum to be high temperatures, and nitrogen or CO2 considered photosynthetically active. It has the limitation. perfect amount of energy to excite the electrons needed to start photosynthesis and not damage DNA or break bonds. 16. Solution: b) Ultraviolet cannot be used for photosynthesis Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the because it has too much energy. This energy atmosphere does not play a significant role in breaks the bonds in molecules and can destroy the movement of phosphorus, because DNA and other important structures in phosphorus and phosphorus-based compounds organism. are usually solids at the typical ranges of temperature and pressure found on Earth. P cannot be found in the air as a gas. 18. Solution: d) http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 5
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Species that have strong effects on the that India and Korea will strengthen composition of communities are called their historic connection by enhancing Keystone Species. linkages of Korean people with Ayodhya.
Example: Starfish, Humming Bird, Sea Otter, • A decision was also taken to upgrade the African elephants, Beaver, Flying Fox, Prairie monument for Queen Suriratna, also dogs. know as Hur Hwang-ok, in Ayodhya as a joint project between the two countries. In addition to keystone species, there are other categories of species that are crucial to their ecosystem's survival. 20. Solution: d) Critical link Species are species which play an important role in supporting network species http://www.thehindu.com/todays- by functioning as pollinators, nutrient paper/heres-the-first-look-of- circulators or absorbers. There are a large amaravati/article7439266.ece number of critical link species in any http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150405/nati ecosystem. on-current-affairs/article/all-you-need-know- The species which are found most abundantly about-andhra-pradesh%E2%80%99s-capital- in ecotone boundary are known as edge city species.
Ecotone is defined as the place or area, where 21. Solution: c) two major communities meet and blend together. It consists of species of both the The Betwa or Betravati is a river in Northern communities. India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. Also known as the Vetravati, the Betwa rises in the Vindhya Range just north of Hoshangabad in 19. Solution: a) Madhya Pradesh and flows north-east through Madhya Pradesh and Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/The_Kar Nearly half of its course, which is not ak_clan_of_Queen_Hwang-ok/_Suri_Ratna navigable, runs over the Malwa Plateau.
• India has begun the work of tracing its The Ken River is one of the major rivers of the “shared heritage” with Korea using the Bundelkhand region of central India, and flows legendary Queen Suriratna, a princess through two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar from Ayodhya who travelled to the Pradesh. It is a tributary of the Yamuna. country to marry King Kim Suro in 48 AD, as a pivot. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- national/interlinking-of-rivers-vital-for-water- • During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s food-security-minister/article7439174.ece visit to Seoul in May, it was announced http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 6
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populations of other five union territories are too small to have any representative in the Rajya Sabha.
22. Solution: c) 24. Solution: c)
Though the President of India is not a member Under the Constitution, a person shall be of either House of Parliament and does not sit disqualified for being elected as a Member of in the Parliament to attend its meetings, he is Parliament: an integral part of the Parliament. • if he holds any office of profit under the This is because a bill passed by both the Union or state government (except that Houses of Parliament cannot become law of a minister or any other office without the President’s assent. He also exempted by Parliament). performs certain functions relating to the • if he is of unsound mind and stands so proceedings of the Parliament, for example, he declared by a court. summons and prorogues both the Houses, if he is an undischarged insolvent. dissolves the Lok Sabha, addresses both the •
Houses, issues ordinances when they are not in • if he voluntary (not expelled) gives session, and so on. up the membership of the political party on whose ticket he is elected to the House • if he is not a citizen of India or has 23. Solution: a) voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a The representatives of states in the Rajya foreign state or is under any Sabha are elected by the elected members of acknowledgement of allegiance to a state legislative assemblies. The election is held foreign state; and in accordance with the system of proportional • if he is so disqualified under any law representation by means of the single made by Parliament. transferable vote. • He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of profit in a The representatives of each union territory in corporation in which the government the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by has at least 25 per cent share. members of an electroral college specially • He must not have been dismissed from constituted for the purpose. This election is government service for corruption or also held in accordance with the system of disloyalty to the State. proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. Out of the seven union territories, only two (Delhi and Puducherry) have representation in Rajya Sabha. The 25. Solution: a) http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 7
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The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from Speaker is the final interpreter of the amongst its members (as soon as may be, after provisions of (a) the Constitution of India, (b) its first sitting). Whenever the office of the the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Speaker falls vacant, the Lok Sabha elects Business of Lok Sabha, and (c) the another member to fill the vacancy. The date of parliamentary precedents, within the House. election of the Speaker is fixed by the Powers of Chairman, Rajya Sabha are the President. same.
Usually, the Speaker remains in office during Moreover, they derive their powers and duties the life of the Lok Sabha. However, he has to from three sources, that is, the Constitution of vacate his office earlier in any of the following India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of three cases: Business of Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary Conventions (residuary powers that are o if he ceases to be a member of the unwritten or unspecified in the Rules). Lok Sabha; o if he resigns by writing to the Deputy Speaker; and
o if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the 27. Solution: c) members of the Lok Sabha. The institutions of Speaker and Deputy Such a resolution can be moved only after Speaker originated in India in 1921 under the giving 14 days advance notice. provisions of the Government of India Act of When a resolution for the removal of the 1919 (Montague–Chelmsford Reforms). At that Speaker is under consideration of the House, time, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were he cannot preside at the sitting of the House, called the President and Deputy President though he may be present. However, he can respectively and the same nomenclature speak and take part in the proceedings of the continued till 1947. House at such a time and vote in the first Before 1921, the Governor- General of India instance, though not in the case of an equality used to preside over the meetings of the of votes. Central Legislative Council. In 1921, the It should be noted here that, whenever the Lok Frederick Whyte and Sachidanand Sinha were Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker does not vacate appointed by the Governor-General of India as his office and continues till the newly- elected the first Speaker and the first Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha meets. (respectively) of the central legislative assembly. In 1925, Vithalbhai J. Patel became the first Indian and the first elected Speaker of the central legislative assembly. 26. Solution: d)
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The Government of India Act of 1935 changed members are from Lok Sabha only. The Rajya the nomenclatures of President and Deputy Sabha has no representation in this committee. President of the Central Legislative Assembly These members are elected by the Lok Sabha to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker every year from amongst its members, respectively. according to the principles of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
28. Solution: c) Thus, all parties get due representation in it. The concept of ‘equality before law’ is an The term of office is one year. A minister element of the concept of ‘Rule of Law’, cannot be elected as a member of the propounded by A.V. Dicey, the British jurist. committee. The chairman of the committee is His concept has the following three elements or appointed by the Speaker from amongst its aspects: members and he is invariably from the ruling party. (i) Absence of arbitrary power, that is, no man can be punished except for a breach of law.
(ii) Equality before the law, that is, equal 30. Solution: b) subjection of all citizens (rich or poor, high or Financial committees of Estimates, PSUs, and low, official or non-official) to the ordinary law Public Accounts keep track of expenditure, its of the land administered by the ordinary law usefulness and performance of the courts. administrative spending.
(iii) The primacy of the rights of the individual, Some laws need to be filled with administrative that is, the constitution is the result of the details by the instrument of delegated rights of the individual as defined and enforced legislation. The committee on delegated by the courts of law rather than the legislation scrutinizes such rules and constitution being the source of the individual regulations formed by the executive or rights. bureaucracy.
The first and the second elements are Zero hour and question hour are used to raise applicable to the Indian System and not the any matter in Lok Sabha. The administration third one. In the Indian System, the can be held accountable. constitution is the source of the individual rights.
31. Solution: d)
29. Solution: a) Article 75 of the Constitution says that the council of ministers shall be collectively Originally, it had 25 members but in 1956 its responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that the membership was raised to 30. All the thirty http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 9
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys fundamental rights shall be void. In other confidence of the majority of the members of words, it expressively provides for the doctrine the Lok Sabha. of judicial review.
In other words, the Lok Sabha can remove the This “power” (not source of power, read ministry from office by passing a no-confidence carefully) has been conferred on the Supreme motion. The motion needs the support of 50 Court (Article 32) and the high courts (Article members to be admitted. 226) that can declare a law unconstitutional and invalid on the ground of contravention of any of the Fundamental Rights.
32. Solution: d) Thus, not only a legislation but any of the Popular sovereignty is a basic idea of above can be challenged in the courts as democracy. Popular sovereignty means that the violating a Fundamental Right and hence, can people are the ultimate source of the authority be declared as void. of their government.
Popular sovereignty means that democratic 34. Solution: d) government is by the people and for the people—for the benefit of the people, not for UPSC only certifies eligible candidates. the benefit of those who govern in their name. Appointment is done by DoPT (Government of India). Government in a democracy is the servant of the people; it is not their master. Therefore, Service Conditions of AIS are determined by those who govern are public servants—they the Parliament. hold public office only to serve the people, not to serve themselves. In a Members of AIS cannot be removed by an democracy, political authority flows from the authority subordinate to the one that appointed people to the government—not from it. President appoints members of AIS. So, they government to the People. cannot be removed by the PM.
Popular sovereignty means that the government can only exercise authority if it has 35. Solution: a) been given permission to do so by the People. Therefore, popular sovereignty limits The Appropriation Bill becomes the the powers of government. Appropriation Act after it is assented to by the President. This act authorises (or legalises) the payments from the Consolidated Fund of India. 33. Solution: c) This means that the government cannot withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund Article 13 declares that all laws that are of India till the enactment of the appropriation inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 10
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS bill. This takes time and usually goes on till the Every department and official is given end of April. information about the amount of funds they have and they have to perform within it - if it But the government needs money to carry on goes overboard then they are accountable. its normal activities after 31 March (the end of These funds are passed by the the financial year). To overcome this functional Parliament/Legislature through voting. The difficulty, the Constitution has authorised the auditing and reporting work is ex post facto as Lok Sabha to make any grant in advance in it is not easy to get the finance back once the respect to the estimated expenditure for a part Finance Ministry sanctions funds to the of the financial year, pending the completion of departments. the voting of the demands for grants and the enactment of the appropriation bill. So, ultimately Parliament has to hold the executive financially accountable. This provision is known as the ‘vote on account’. It is passed (or granted) after the general discussion on budget is over. It is generally granted for two months for an 38. Solution: d) amount equivalent to one-sixth of the total The International North–South Transport estimate. Corridor is the ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia. The route primarily 36. Solution: d) involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road. The Finance Ministry of India presents the Economic Survey in the parliament every year, The objective of the corridor is to increase just before the Union Budget. It is the trade connectivity between major cities such as ministry's view on the annual economic Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar development of the country. Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali and etc.
Economic Survey reviews the developments in Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014, the Indian economy over the previous 12 the first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas months, summarizes the performance on major and the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via development programs, and highlights the Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali. policy initiatives of the government and the prospects of the economy in the short to medium term. This document is presented to both houses of Parliament during the Budget Session (not along with the budget).
37. Solution: c) 39. Solution: d) http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 11
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British cosmologist Steven Hawking on As powerful regional kingdoms emerged in Monday launched the biggest-ever search for various parts of India, Delhi could no longer intelligent life in the universe in a 10-year, function as an effective centre. $100-million (143-million-euro) project to scan the heavens. 41. Solution: c) • The Breakthrough Listen project, backed by Russian Silicon Valley When Alivardi Khan died in 1756, entrepreneur Yuri Milner, will be the Sirajuddaulah became the nawab of Bengal. most powerful, comprehensive and The Company was worried about his power and intensive scientific search ever keen on a puppet ruler who would willingly undertaken for signs of extra-terrestrial give trade concessions and other privileges. So intelligent life. it tried, though without success, to help one of • The project will use some of the biggest Sirajuddaulah’s rivals become the nawab. telescopes on Earth, searching far deeper into the universe than before for An infuriated Sirajuddaulah asked the radio spectrum and laser signals. Company to stop meddling in the political • The initiative is allied with the affairs of his dominion, stop fortification, and Breakthrough Message project, an pay the revenues. After negotiations failed, the international competition to create Nawab marched with 30,000 soldiers to the digital messages that represent English factory at Kassimbazar, captured the humanity. Company officials, locked the warehouse, disarmed all Englishmen, and blockaded There is no commitment to send any messages English ships. Then he marched to Calcutta to into space, and the project should spark establish control over the Company’s fort there. discussion about whether humans should be sending messages at all out into the void. On hearing the news of the fall of Calcutta, Company officials in Madras sent forces under the command of Robert Clive, reinforced by naval fleets. Prolonged negotiations with the 40. Solution: a) Nawab followed. Finally, in 1757, Robert Clive Aurangzeb was the last of the powerful Mughal led the Company’s army against Sirajuddaulah rulers. at Plassey.
He established control over a very large part of the territory that is now known as India. After 42. Solution: d) his death in 1707, many Mughal governors (subadars) and big zamindars began asserting This page deals brilliantly with Gandhian their authority and establishing regional ideology of democracy and state. kingdoms. http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 12
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS http://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/indian_de from membership, shall fulfill in good mocracy.html faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Mahatma Gandhi’s imagination of the Charter. democracy -fully encircled with non-violence - exists in no nation of the world as up to now. • All Members shall settle their Democracy of his imagination happens to be international disputes by peaceful one, which does not have any provision of means in such a manner that punishment and even an organization like international peace and security, and ‘State’ happens to be obsolete in it. This is justice, are not endangered. because Mahatma Gandhi holds, “…State is symbolical of centralized and organized • All Members shall refrain in their violence.” As non-violence is connected with international relations from the threat human soul, man can be non-violent whereas or use of force against the territorial in opposition to it, “… State is a soul-less integrity or political independence of machine. On this accord, it is impossible to get any state, or in any other manner rid of violence. Its very existence depends upon inconsistent with the Purposes of the violence.” Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, United Nations. non-violence should be admitted as invariable • All Members shall give the United part of our life and it is on the basis of this Nations every assistance in any action it dictum that modem polities must operate. takes in accordance with the present While in the present day democracy, there is a Charter, and shall refrain from giving great deal of centralization and inequality. In a assistance to any state against which the stateless democracy there is decentralization United Nations is taking preventive or and equality. enforcement action.
• The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with 43. Solution: d) these Principles so far as may be The Organization and its Members, in pursuit necessary for the maintenance of of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in international peace and security. accordance with the following Principles. • Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United • The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of Nations to intervene in matters which all its Members. are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require • All Members, in order to ensure to all of the Members to submit such matters to them the rights and benefits resulting settlement under the present Charter; http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 13
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but this principle shall not prejudice the Suffering can be ended by knowing the four application of enforcement measures noble truths and following the eightfold path. under Chapter Vll. They essentially centre on ending ignorance by following dharma, right meditation, contemplation etc.
44. Solution: c) You can understand their meanings here The Wadiyar dynasty was an Indian Hindu http://www.buddhanet.net/e- dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Mysore learning/intro_bud.htm from 1399 to 1947.
It was in news recently due to the coronation of 46. Solution: c) the new prince. Dana is a virtue and duty in Jainism. It is http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kar considered an act of compassion, and must be nataka/yaduveer-gopal-raj-urs-is-new-heir-of- done with no desire for material gain. mysuru-royal-family/article6886404.ece Four types of Dana are discussed in the texts of http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india- Jainism: Ahara-dana (donation of food), others/prince-of-mysore-srikantadatta- Ausadha-dana (donation of medicine), Jnana- narasimharaja-wodeyar-passes-away/ dana (donation of knowledge) and and Abhaya- Four wars were fought with Mysore (1767-69, dana (giving of protection or freedom from 1780-84, 1790-92 and 1799). Only in the last – fear, asylum to someone under threat). the Battle of Seringapatam – did the Company Dāna is one of ten means to gain positive ultimately win a victory. Tipu Sultan was killed karma, in the soteriological theories of Jainism. defending his capital Seringapatam, Mysore Medieval era texts of Jainism dedicate a was placed under the former ruling dynasty of substantial portion of their discussions to the the Wodeyars and a subsidiary alliance was need and virtue of Dāna. imposed on the state.
47. Solution: b) 45. Solution: d) Large Kingdoms and stately cities made their The Buddha told us, "The nature of Human life appearance in the later Vedic Period. In is suffering". (He did not say all living being Taittariya Brahmana you will notice the theory suffer). of the divine origin of kingship. This suffering has a case which is ignorance of The government machinery became more what ‘is’. elaborate than before , as a sequel to the growth of the power of the king . New civil functionaries, besides the only civil functionary http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 14
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS of the Rigvedic Period the purohita came into Vaishnavism (Vaisnava dharma) is one of the existence. These were : the Bhagadudha ( major branches of Hinduism along with Collector of taxes), the Suta/ Sarathi (the Shaivism, Smartism, and Shaktism. It is Royalherald or Charioteer ), the Khasttri focused on the veneration of Vishnu. (Chamberlain), The Akshavapa (Courier). Vaishnavites, or the followers of the Vishnu, lead a way of life promoting the central The military officials of the Rigvedic times, the importance of Vishnu and his ten avatars. Senani (the head of the village ) continued to function. Vaishnavism flourished in predominantly Shaivite South India during the seventh to tenth centuries CE and is still commonplace, 48. Solution: b) especially in Tamil Nadu, as a result of the twelve Alvars, saints who spread the sect to the Gandhi’s entry into public life began with the common people with their devotional hymns. ‘Satyagraha’ in Champaron district of Bihar in 1917. He could mobilize the peasants of this In later years, Vaishnava practices increased in district against the exploitation of European popularity due to the influence of sages like indigo planters. In 1918, Gandhiji led a “no tax Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, campaign” at Khera in Gujarat where the Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya, Vedanta peasants were not able to pay the revenue due Desika, Manavala Mamunigal, Surdas, to famine. Tulsidas, eknath, Tyagaraja, and many others. But not everyone adopted and embraced But, after the Jalianwala Bagh tragedy, the Vaishnavism government expressed no sign of regret but went ahead with more repression.
Mahatma Gandhi was shocked and suspended 50. Solution: d) the ‘Satyagraha’ declaring it as a “Himalayan http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- Blunder”. opinion/a-battle-without- It was because he had asked those people to winners/article7449218.ece pursue non-violence who could not afford to be The novel Madhorubagan, written by Perumal non-violent. The Satyagraha movement failed Murugan published four years ago, deals with a in attaining its object as the government did ritual that has been practiced in Tiruchengode not withdraw the Rowlatt Act. However, it was a century ago. As per the ritual, a women could the first experiment of non-violence of go with any man on the night of the festival. A Gandhiji in Indian politics. child born out of such a relation was treated as gift of God. In the novel, a couple is childless and the wife wants to take part in the ritual. 49. Solution: c) The husband is opposed to it but is forced to be a silent witness when the wife choses to go her http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 15
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS way. The protest by some Hindu bodies is In the Bachan singh case it gave the rarest of against the "sexual permissiveness' and rate doctrine according to which death penalty blasphemy as shown in the book. should be given only in the extreme cases and where life sentence should not at all be appropriate.
Last year, while handing down its Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of India ruling, the Supreme Court spelt out clear guidelines on the legal rights of prisoners on death row.
51. Solution: a)
The spacecraft also made several predictions 53. Solution: d) about the planet which should be read here. It is quite contrary to what was understood till Agreement for establishing NDB was signed date about Pluto. during the 6th BRICS Summit being held in Fortaleza, Brazil in April, 2014. It was formally http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- launched at the 7th BRICS summit held in Ufa, opinion/historic-flyby/article7449216.ece Russia in July 2015.
The Kuiper belt sometimes called the Purpose: To fund infrastructure projects in the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar emerging economies. It is seen as an System beyond the planets, extending from the alternative institute to west dominated World orbit of Neptune (at 30 AU) to approximately Bank and the International Monetary Fund 50 AU from the Sun. (IMF).
It is similar to the asteroid belt, but it is far Capital: It will have initial capital of US 50 larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times billion dollars and will be raised to US 100 as massive. billion dollars within the next couple of years.
Each member’s role: They will have an equal say in the bank’s management, regardless of 52. Solution: b) GDP size and contribute an equal share in The Supreme Court in Mithu vs State of Punjab establishing a startup capital. struck down Section 303 of the Indian Penal President: Eminent banker Kundapur Vaman Code, which provided for a mandatory death Kamath from India is President of Bank for the sentence for offenders serving a life sentence. first five years i.e. till 2020. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/d eath-sentences-trial-and- error/article7448579.ece 54. Solution: d) http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 16
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According to the OECD ‘Government at a (b) any information which he knows to be false, Glance 2015’ report, trust represents the but for the purpose of causing annoyance, confidence of citizens and businesses in inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, government to do what is right and perceived injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or as fair. ill will, persistently by making use of such computer resource or a communication device, Changes in trust levels could be affected by many factors, including the economic outlook, political changes such as elections or other major events such as disasters or major 56. Solution: d) scandals including corruption cases. Moreover, In its 50-year history, Japan has been the only expectations of citizens could grow at a faster Asian country to hold it with India being pace than government responses. bestowed the honor to host the 12th such This is the only survey that collects data on the International symposium now. issue of trust in governments. It is a sampling The Themes for the Symposium include survey of 1,000 citizens in each country Antarctica and Supercontinent Evolution, conducted by World Poll, which has been doing Antarctic Surface Processes, Landscapes, and it since 2005. Links with Cryosphere and Climate, Antarctic Solid Earth Structure and Interactions with the Cryosphere: Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, 55. Solution: d) and Evolution of Climate and the Global Cryosphere, amongst others. IPC Section 499/500 was in news recently.
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that defamation should remain a penal offence in 57. Solution: d) India as the defamer may be too poor to • The deal puts strict limits on Iran’s compensate the victim. It has denied that nuclear activities for at least a decade criminal defamation had any chilling effect on and calls for stringent U.N. oversight, free speech. The IPC under Section 499/500 with world powers hoping this will make criminalizes defamatory speech. This means any dash to make an atomic bomb that a person can be imprisoned for a virtually impossible. maximum period of 2 years, if found guilty. • In return, Iran will get sanctions relief although the measures can “snap back” According to the Section 66A of the IT act, any into place if there are any violations. person who sends, by means of a computer • The international arms embargo against resource or a communication device,- Iran will remain for five years but (a) any information that is grossly offensive or deliveries would be possible with special has menacing character; or permission of the U.N. Security Council. Iran has accepted allowing the U.N. http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 17
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atomic watchdog tightly-controlled The main aim of the DAC is to fast-track “managed access” to military bases. procurement process of the armed forces by • Iran will slash by around two-thirds the optimally utilising the available budget. number of centrifuges from around
19,000 to 6,104. • The deal caps uranium enrichment at 3.67% and limits the stockpile to 300 kg, all for 15 years. • Iran will be required to ship spent fuel 59. Solution: c) out of the country forever, as well as allow inspectors from the IAEA inspectors certain access in perpetuity. Heightened inspections, including tracking uranium mining and monitoring the production and storage of centrifuges, will last for up to 20 years.
58. Solution: b)
DAC was set up in October 2001 following recommendations from Group of Ministers (GoMs) on ‘Reforming the National Security System.’
The need for DAC was felt post-Kargil conflict and this high-level body is chaired by the Defence Minister.
Other members include: Minister of State for 60. Solution: a) Defence, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval It will comprise members of the Centre Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Defence Secretary, • and states to promote India’s overseas Secretary Defence Research & Development, shipments. Secretary Defence Production, Chief of Integrated Staff Committees (HQ IDS), • The council will be chaired by the Union Director General (Acquisition) and Deputy Commerce and Industry Minister and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. secretaries of key ministries and state ministers will be the members.
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• The main objective of the council will be • The Union government has agreed to facilitating trade from states in a bid to bring it under the Modified Industrial boost the country’s exports and Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme rationalising non-essential imports.. (MIIUS).
• The move comes amid declining exports which fell 5.45 per cent to $25.1 billion 62. Solution: c) in June, while imports fell 13.46 per cent to $35.4 billion. The Supreme Court recently directed the government to have a re-look at the drug • The essential issues that will be taken up pricing policy to help make life-saving with the state officials include medicines affordable for the common man. infrastructure bottlenecks in terms of road connectivity, power supply, law • The government had approved the and order and overall governance; National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy regulatory environment; and local (NPPP) in 2012. taxation-related matters particularly • This policy at bringing 348 essential where refunds are involved. drugs under price control and also lead http://indianexpress.com/article/business/bus to reduction in prices. With this, the iness-others/with-aim-to-promote-exports- Govt would control prices of 348 govt-to-set-up-trading-facilitation-council/ essential drugs. • The policy debars the companies from using the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to increase the prices of the essential 61. Solution: a) medicines on their own each year. Thus, In a major fillip to industrial infrastructure in the companies had to seek approval the Palakkad region, the Union government’s from the National Pharmaceutical Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Pricing Authority whenever they wanted (DIPP) has approved a proposal from the to increase the prices of the items Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development covered under the Drug Price Control Corporation (Kinfra) to set up the country’s Order. first defence industrial park at Ottappalam. • It covers only 348 drugs covered under National list of life saving medicines. • The proposed park will be established as part of the Make in India, Make in Kerala project 63. Solution: d) • It will have modern common infrastructure facilities aimed at The GI tag ensures that none other than those attracting component manufacturers in registered as authorised users (or at least those the defence industry. residing inside the geographic territory) are http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 19
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS allowed to use the popular product name. • The scientific programs of this natural Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged polar laboratory are designed and product in India, in 2004-05, since then by approved by the Scientific Committee on September 2010, 184 had been added to the Antarctic Research (SCAR) which has a list. These are listed below. President and two to three vice- presidents and a small secretariat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Geogra located at Cambridge, England. phical_Indications_in_India • The science research programs are Just scan through the list. Its a long one. Be proposed and co-ordinated by three aware of popular names. standing scientific groups (SSG’s) on Geosciences (GS), life sciences (LS) and physical sciences (PS) each having three chief officers. 64. Solution: d) • India currently has two permanent The “Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh” (JSK) stations, Maitri at Schirmacher oasis (National Population Stabilisation Fund) has and Bharati in the Larsemann Hill area been registered as an autonomous Society located ~1000km east of Maitri. The established under the Societies Registration first Indian station, Dakshin Gangotri, Act of 1860. located on shelf ice is now buried and lost. • The Union Health Minister heads the General Body of JSK and the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Women 66. Solution: d) and Child Development, Department of School Education & Literacy, Rural • This Bill amends the principal Act Development, Planning Commission are passed in 2013. represented by their Secretaries on the General Body of JSK. • The Bill enables the government to • All State Governments are members of exempt five categories of projects from JSK. the requirements of: (i) social impact assessment, (ii) restrictions on acquisition of multi-cropped land, and (iii) consent for private projects and 65. Solution: c) public private partnerships (PPPs) Antarctica is recognized as a heritage of • projects. mankind and as mandated by the provisions of the Antarctic treaty, signed • The five categories of projects are: (i) by 29 consultative parties, no defence, (ii) rural infrastructure, (iii) commercial activity is permitted in affordable housing, (iv) industrial Antarctica and its environment and all corridors, and (v) infrastructure claims to its territory are frozen. http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 20
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including PPPs where government owns the land.
• The Act would apply retrospectively, if an award had been made five years earlier and compensation had not been paid or possession not taken. The Bill exempts any period when a court has given a stay on the acquisition while computing the five year period.
• The Act deemed the head of a government department guilty for an offence by the department. The Bill removes this, and adds the requirement of prior sanction to prosecute a government employee.
In front of the chariot two elephants are 67. Solution: c) positioned as if they are pulling the chariot. In The stone chariot located inside the campus of fact these elephants where brought from Vittala temple is almost an iconic structure of elsewhere and positioned here at a later stage. Hampi. The Stone Chariot at the Vijaya Vittala Originally two horses were carved in that temple complex in Hampi, Karnataka will now position. The tails and the rear legs of the adorn the new Rs. 10 note. horses can be still seen just behind these elephant sculptures. An image of Garuda (eagle god) was originally enshrined within its sanctum. Garuda, according to the Hindu mythology, is the vehicle of lord Vishnu. Thus the Garuda shrine facing the temple’s sanctum is symbolic. 68. Solution: d)
In reality this stone shrine was built with many It will be adorn a Rs. 50 note as per a giant granite blocks. The joints are smartly decision taken recently by the government. hidden in the carvings and other decorative features that adorn the Stone Chariot. The Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple at chariot is built on a rectangular platform of a Konark in Odisha, India. It is believed that the feet or so high. temple was built by king Narasimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250 CE. The temple is in the shape of a gigantic chariot with elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 21
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS walls. A major part of the structure is now in ruins. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also featured on NDTV's list of Seven Wonders of India and Times of India's list of Seven Wonders of India.
The temple was originally built at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then. The temple has been built in the form of a giant ornamented chariot of the Sun god, Surya.
69. Solution: b)
Goa churches were in news as they will adorn the new Rs. 500 note. Amongst them most prominent is this church. It has been choosen to adorn new 1000 The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi currecny notes in India. Bajilika is located in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica It is a beautiful painting of Ajanta caves. This holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. segment from Gardner’s Art through the Ages: The church is located in Old Goa, which was Non-Western Perspectives (2009) describes the capital of Goa in the early days of the scene shown: Portuguese rule. The bodhisattva Padmapani sits among a 'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is crowd of devotees, both princesses and the name used for the Ecce Homo in the commoners. With long, dark hair handing countries of Portuguese colonization. The down below a jeweled crown, he stands Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and holding his attribute, a blue lotus flower, in his is considered to be one of the best examples of right hand. […] The artist has carefully baroque architecture in India. considered the placement of the painting in the cave. The bodhisattva gazes downward at 70. Solution: a) worshipers passing through the entrance to the shrine on their way to the rock-cut Buddha image in a cell at the back of the cave.
Also go through this beautiful description of Ajanta caves.
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INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ar and bursts, bringing rainfall as high as 75 t-asia/south-asia/buddhist-art2/a/the-caves- millimeters per hour. of-ajanta
72. Solution: d) 71. Solution: c) The move came after a petitioner said the non- A cloudburst is an extreme amount of native eucalyptus tree was responsible for the precipitation, sometimes accompanied by hail lowering groundwater levels in the region. and thunder that normally lasts no longer than a few minutes but is capable of creating flood • A eucalyptus tree consumes 90 litres of conditions. water a day
A cloudburst can suddenly dump 72,300 tons • During summers and times of of water over one acre. However, cloudbursts drought, its roots can go down up to 30ft are infrequent as they occur only via • It was introduced in Karnataka in 1960s. orographic lift or occasionally when a warm air In the 1970’s, eucalyptus plantations parcel mixes with cooler air, resulting in were spread across 2.1 lakh hectares. sudden condensation.
Cloud burst is a situation when the inter- molecular forces between the H2O molecules 73. Solution: a) get very high due to the rapid decrease in the § The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous temperature or excess of electrostatic induction Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III, is a in the clouds causing the lighting to remain launch vehicle developed by the Indian inside the cloud only, which causes hyperactive Space Research Organization. energy inside the cloud. The water molecules get denser and denser and get condensed but § GSLV Mk III is conceived and designed do not leave the cloud due to excess of to make ISRO fully self reliant in electroforces. launching heavier communication satellites of INSAT-4 class, which weigh As the water concentration get higher and 4500 to 5000 kg. higher and so the weigh gets heavier the water no longer is able to maintain force with the § It would also enhance the capability of clouds and so they fall and it precipitates. the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar commercial In the Indian subcontinent, a cloudburst launch market. The vehicle envisages usually occurs when a monsoon cloud drifts multi-mission launch capability for northwards, from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate Sea across the plains, then onto the Himalaya circular orbits. http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 23
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of India, an advisory group and a committee on the same.
• At present, the renewable energy sector is governed by the Electricity Act, 2003, which is also undergoing amendments. • The policy would enable a supportive system for growth of the sector. 74. Solution: d) • The various segments which are the Indian space industry experts recently opined focus of the policy are: Renewable that there is a need to have a space law to energy resource assessment, technical protect sovereign, public or commercial and safety standards, monitoring and interests in India. verification, manufacturing and skill development and data management. This is to ensure that space assets and • Through a separate law, the ministry of applications are used for the right causes. new and renewable energy (MNRE) There is no single space law in India. would get freedom to execute projects and not depend on other ministries and Currently, space activities are guided by a departments for necessary clearances, handful of international space agreements, the said officials. Constitution, national laws, the Satellite The law also aims to set up dedicated Communications (SatCom) Policy of 2000 and • renewable electricity investment zones. the revised Remote sensing policy or 2011. The law makes it clear who will finance, India is among the five countries that do not who will plan and monitor and what have a space law; while 15 others including the support will come from where. US, Russia, Japan, China, Kazakhstan and
Ukraine, have laws based broadly on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. 76. Solution: b)
The security legislation proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration 75. Solution: c) moved a step closer to becoming law when The government has drafted the National Parliament’s lower house approved it. The bills, Renewable Energy Bill, 2015 which aims to which seek to rewrite the country’s post-War consolidate the renewable energy sector and pacifist security policy, are now before the give it an institutional structure. upper house.
• After it is passed by Parliament it would Over a period of seven decades, Japan’s enable a National Renewable Energy security policy, shaped under a war-renouncing Policy, Renewable Energy Corporation Constitution following the misadventures of
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INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS the imperial regime, has been focussed on self- forms parallel to the boundary, to the defence. mountain range, and to the trench. Powerful earthquakes shake a wide area on both sides of But the present bills seek to replace the self- the boundary. defence doctrine with “collective self-defence”, that would allow Japan to send troops abroad This usually happens with an oceanic plate to rescue allies under attack. This big shift in being subducted under a continental plate. approach makes the legislation controversial and unpopular. Mountains are more likely to be formed when two continental plates converge. For reasons refer this article: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/j apans-security-legislation-approved-by-lower- house/article7444346.ece
79. Solution: c)
77. Solution: c) Rivers are cheap means of transport, compared Rocks that carry organic matter are broken in to roads and railway. But most rivers in Africa sediments of different sizes. are not navigable due to water falls, weeds and being seasonal. A river then carries it from higher altitude in form of sediment and then deposits it layer Africa need to combine forces to utilise this wise from high-lying areas (coarse) to low-lying rivers for irrigation, hydro electric power and areas (fine clay having organic matter). combat the big problem of transport by overcoming weeds and waterfalls. These sediments get compressed and cemented together under high temperature and pressure Navigation can be done only in Zambeji and to become sedimentary rocks. And fossil fuel at Nile river. an even greater temperature and pressure applied over a large period of time. 80. Solution: d)
Heating the atmosphere is secondary. Visible 78. Solution: d) light from the Sun penetrates the atmosphere When two plates come together, it is known as and strikes objects on the Earth's surface. a convergent boundary. The impact of the two These objects absorb that energy and re-emit colliding plates buckles the edge of one or both that energy as infra red energy that heads back plates up into a rugged mountain range, and out into space. sometimes bends the other down into a deep seafloor trench. A chain of volcanoes often http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 25
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But, the atmosphere contains gases like water By the rising and falling action of tides, they vapor and water droplet clouds that absorb that take back all the mud deposited by incoming infra red energy. So the energy is re-emitted rivers to the sea. Otherwise the water back and forth. This heats the atmosphere. availability for the ships would have reduced. Basically the atmosphere is heated by the Earth's surface which is heated by the Sun.
83. Solution: a)
81. Solution: d) Murmansk in the Arctic and the Baltic ports near St. Petersburg are both important for Katabatic wind, also called downslope wind, or Russian access to the Atlantic. Despite St. gravity wind, wind that blows down a slope Petersburg being much further south, it is because of gravity. It occurs at night, when the surrounded by ice for a month or more each highlands radiate heat and are cooled. year, while Murmansk is always ice free.
The air in contact with these highlands is thus Warm currents increase the temperature of the also cooled, and it becomes denser than the air sea water. By the action of land and sea breezes at the same elevation but away from the slope; the local area temperature is also increased. it therefore begins to flow downhill. This Hence, the ports remain ice-free. process is most pronounced in calm air because winds mix the air and prevent cold pockets from forming. 84. Solution: a)
When a katabatic wind is warmed by Most large objects in orbit around the Sun lie compression during its descent into denser air, near the plane of Earth's orbit, known as the it is called a foehn. A large-scale katabatic wind ecliptic. The planets are very close to the that descends too rapidly to warm up is called a ecliptic, whereas comets and Kuiper belt fall wind. In areas where fall winds occur, objects are frequently at significantly greater homes and orchards are situated on hill slopes angles to it. above the lowlands where the cold air accumulates. All the planets and most other objects orbit the Sun in the same direction that the Sun is rotating (counter-clockwise, as viewed from 82. Solution: a) above Earth's north pole). There are exceptions, such as Halley's Comet. Statement 4 is not true because indentation of coasts is a long term natural phenomenon. It is Venus and Uranus rotate in the opposite caused by erosion of coasts and a host of other direction to what they revolve. factors. It is not caused by tides.
85. Solution: b) http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 26
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If the Moon didn't spin at all, then eventually it o Angle of incidence would show its far side to the Earth while o Duration of sunshine moving around our planet in orbit. o Solar constant o Distance between the earth and However, since the rotational period is exactly the sun the same as the orbital period, the same o Transparency of the atmosphere. portion of the Moon's sphere is always facing the Earth. The vertical rays of the sun heat the minimum possible area, but on the contrary, the oblique It can be understood in detail here rays are spread over a relatively larger area, so that the amount of area over which the http://www.moonconnection.com/moon- available solar energy has to be distributed in same-side.phtml increased and the energy per unit area on the earth's surface is decreased.
In addition, the oblique rays have to traverse a larger distance through the atmosphere before they strike the surface of the earth. The longer
their path, the larger the amount of energy lost 86. Solution: d) by various processes of reflection, absorption, and scattering, etc. Prime Meridian and all other meridians are semi-circles, not circles. 88. Solution: d) Time zone of a place is decided only by its latitude. This is because the earth rotates The decision is arrived after a joint meeting around the Sun from West to East. between the Secretary of the Union Finance Ministry, the Chief General Manager of the The rotation causes the Sun pass overhead Currency Management Department, Reserve from one place from the east to west. Only Bank of India, and the Director-General of latitude makes the Sun’s entry timing different Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). in the regions. Recently they agreed to put new images on the
currency notes. For e.g. Stone chariot of Vittal, 87. Solution: a) Hampi is to be put on a Rs. 10 note.
The actual amount of insolation received at a place on the earth varies according to the conditions of the atmosphere as well as the seasons. The following astronomical and 89. Solution: a) geographical factors govern the amount of insolation received at any point on the earth's surface: http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 27
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A rise in the purchasing power (income) of the GDP grows when the present market value of consumer can sometimes induce the consumer this year’s produce is more than that of last to reduce the consumption of a good. year.
The demand for such a good can be inversely or But growth in total market value can also be positively related to its price depending on the because of high inflation and no rise in relative strengths of these two opposing effects. production. If the substitution effect is stronger than the income effect, the demand for the good and the So, real GDP indicator is used to determine price of the good would still be inversely whether there has been an actual growth in related. production.
However, if the income effect is stronger than At a constant base price (2011-12 year) in India, the substitution effect, the demand for the good increase in total value is calculated. So, real would be positively related to its price. Such a GDP will only increase if there has been even good is called a Giffen good. slight growth in production irrespective of inflation or deflation in the economy.
90. Solution: b)
Consumer welfare refers to the individual benefits derived from the consumption of goods and services. In theory, individual 92. Solution: a) welfare is defined by an individual's own assessment of his/her satisfaction, given prices To understand the concept properly refer to the and income. Exact measurement of consumer article welfare therefore requires information about http://www.ehow.com/about_6605945_intere individual preferences. st-rate-employment.html The central idea in consumer welfare is to In brief, low interest rates entice greater enhance consumer surplus which is the investments in the economy for they promise difference between what people prefer to pay better returns on projects. and what they actually pay. The greater the difference, higher is the surplus. It means that More investment leads to more employment the market is allocating goods most efficiently creation. However, this relationship need not (at competitive prices) to people. hold necessarily in the long run.
91. Solution: b) 93. Solution: b)
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The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. 95. Solution: d)
The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was Liquidity trap is a situation when expansionary initially established in Calcutta but was monetary policy (increase in money supply) permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937. The does not increase the interest rate, income and Central Office is where the Governor sits and hence does not stimulate economic growth. where policies are formulated. It is a situation in which the general public is Though originally privately owned, since prepared to hold on to whatever amount of nationalisation in 1949, the Reserve Bank is money is supplied, at a given rate of interest. fully owned by the Government of India. They do so because of the fear of adverse events like deflation, war. The constitution makes no mention of the RBI. There is a liquidity trap at short term zero percent interest rate. When interest rate is zero, public would not want to hold any bond,
94. Solution: a) since money, which also pays zero percent It refers to the process by which the RBI takes interest, has the advantage of being usable in away money from the banking system to transactions. neutralise the fresh money that enters the system from foreign capital inflows. Hence, if the interest is zero, an increase in quantity of money cannot not induce anyone to It does so by selling or buying government buy bonds and thereby reduce the interest on bonds from public. bonds below zero.
If it does not do so, money supply in the economy will shoot up in a very short period of time playing havoc with the interest rates and 96. Solution: c) inflation in the economy. The objectives of the Public Distribution Refer to the article to better understand System is to ensure food security and poverty sterilization alleviation by making available the essential commodities, specially food grains at an http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/200 affordable and uniform price at the door steps 3/02/02/stories/2003020201001400.htm of the consumers.
The department of Food and Civil supplies arranges procurement of PDS items like rice,
wheat/atta, levy sugar, iodised salt (procurement not being done now), Kerosene http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 29
INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST – 31 SOLUTIONS oil, LPG under various Govt. of India scheme employment and higher production of goods under Public Distribution System. and services.
A strong industry favours greater growth in the services as well as primary sector. 97. Solution: a) But, if an economy becomes highly dependent Devaluation of currency means more of that on the primary sector, it will not be able to currency can be purchased for any given produce adequate amount of goods and foreign currency. services for its population.
This means more of domestic goods can be On a different note, financial risks have become purchased from abroad following a fall in a part of the global economic environment. currency’s value. Better policies and institutional coordination In other words, since our currency becomes amongst global and national monetary and more affordable to the foreigners, so do the fiscal authorities is required to rationalize this goods that are priced in them. risk.
98. Solution: c) 100. Solution: a)
When economy is operating at a much lower level then there is scope for immediate increase https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Energy_an in production of goods following an increase in d_Resources_Institute demand.
If economy is already operating at its peak, then industries will find it difficult to produce more goods even by adding extra labour since the productivity of labour will be limited given the limit of capital goods (machines). Therefore, only when the industry can produce more (supply) as per the demand, a greater money supply will not lead to inflation.
99. Solution: a)
Economic development in the modern world is fundamentally based on industrialization which leads to generation of gainful http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 30