1.

Which of the following have been provided under the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act 1996?.

1. Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes must not be less than half of the total number of seats.

2. All the seats of Chairpersons at all levels must be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

(a) Only 2

(b) Only 1

(c) Both 1 and 2
 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.

Which of the following statements with reference to the capabilities of the Scorpene submarines is/are correct?

1. They can reach the speeds of 37 km/h when surfaced and 20 km/h when submerged.

2. They use diesel electric propulsion systems.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

3.

With reference to the Salt Caverns, consider the following statements

1. They require a large amount of water to create and maintain.

2. They are naturally well-sealed.

3. They have low oil absorbency.

4. Its development is time consuming.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4

4.

1. Ctenophora is a phylum of exclusively marine invertebrates.

2. Ctenophores have a defined nervous system.

Which of the above statements is/are correct w.r.t. Ctenophora?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5.

1. It is the claim line for India.

2. China considers it to be 3,488 km long.

Which of the above statements is/are correct w.r.t.  Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

6.

1. Palestine

2. Syria

3. Lebanon

4. Yemen

Members of Arab League include

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 3 and 4  

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 2 and 4

7.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said in Delhi tussle that “….the principle of triple chain of accountability will be redundant.” The triple chain of command includes

1. Civil service officers

2. Ministers  

3. Parliament

4. Judges

(a) 1, 2. 3

(b) 1, 3. 4

(c) 2, 3. 4

(d) 1, 2. 4

8.

Consider the following statements regarding autonomous districts under the sixth schedule:

1.They fall outside the executive authority of the concerned state.

2. All the members of district council in each autonomous district is nominated by Governor in his discretion.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

9.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

1. It bypasses the principle of ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities’.

2. It took effect from January 1, 2024.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

10.

Consider the following statements.

1. Amber Box refers to the commitments to reduce their trade-distorting domestic supports to 10% in the case of developing countries.

 2. Peace clause is made for the developing countries that breach the 10 percent trade distortion without inviting any action from WTO.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1 is correct

(b) 1 and 2 are correct

(c) Only 2 is correct

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct

11.

I. Article 366(25) of Indian Constitution provides a process to define SCs and STs.

II. Fifth Schedule deals with the administration of the tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

III. The President of India is empowered to declare an area a Scheduled Area under Article 244(1) of Indian Constitution.

IV. Article 275(I) of the Indian Constitution provides for development of infrastructure in the tribal areas.

Correct statements include

Codes 

(a) II, III and IV

(b) I and II only

(c) III and IV

(d) I, II, III and IV

o  

12.

I. Supreme Court can directly grant a decree of divorce to consenting parties.

II. The Supreme Court has extraordinary discretion under Article 142.

Which of the above statements is/are true?.

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

13.

Pheromones refer to

(a) Hormones in Plants

(b) Hormones in LGBT individuals

(c) Lab made Hormones

(d) None of these

14.

The jurisdiction of Lok Adalats extends to

1. Labour disputes

2. Land acquisition cases

3. Family disputes

(a) 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

15.

Which of the FOLLOWING defines “the money given to the government when the already allocated money for expenditure for that year does not turn out to be enough and extra money is sought as provided under Article 115 of the Indian Constitution”?.

(a) Excess grant

(b) Supplementary Grant

(c) Exceptional grant

(d) Additional Grant

16.

Which of the following matters has not been kept outside the functional jurisdiction of UPSC?

1. Matters related to re-employment of certain retired civil servants

2. Making reservations of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class

3. Matters of temporary appointments for period exceeding one year

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

17.

With reference to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, which one among the following is incorrect?.   

(a) It was enacted in response to India''s obligation to combat money laundering under the Vienna Convention.

(b) The main motive for enacting such a legislation was to combat the crime of legalising the economic gains obtained from illegal sources.

(c) The provisions of this act are applicable to all financial institutions, banks including RBI, mutual funds, insurance companies, and their financial intermediaries.

(d) Serious Fraud Investigation Office has been given the responsibility to enforce its provisions.

18.

1. Cellular homeostasis

2. Osmotic action

3. Muscle and nerve cell function

4. Transport of nutrients through plasma membranes

India is far behind in reaching the target of the mean population sodium intake by 2025, says WHO. However, the human body requires a small amount of sodium for critical functions, Sodium intake is essential for

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 2, 3 and 4

19.

1. It is based on laser manipulation and detection of neutral atoms.

2. It avoids potassium-41 atoms, which are similar to calcium-41 atoms.

Which of the above statements is/are correct w.r.t.  Atom-Trap Trace Analysis?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

20.

1. Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is statutory.

2. It is in sync with the mandate that has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution.

(a) Only (1) is true

(b) Only (2) is true

(c) Both (1) & (2) are true

(d) Neither (1) Nor (2) is true

21.

Applications of Raman spectroscopy include

1. to produce solar cells

2. to analyze pollutants

3. to detect for cancer

4. to identify contaminants

5. to sense the minerals in Mars

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

22.

Consider the following statements about the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council

(1) It is a non-statutory, permanent and independent body.

(2) The prime aim is to analyse all the critical issues, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him thereon.

(3) The Prime Minister is the Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

23.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Aadhaar enabled Payment System.

I. It is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India.    

II. Bank details are no longer required to be furnished while carrying out the financial transactions.

Which of the above statements is/are true?.

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

24.

Consider the following statements with respect to Geckos.

1. They are found on all the continents except Antarctica.

2. They are are nocturnal.

3. They do not lay eggs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?.

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 1 and 2

(d) 1, 2 and 3

25.

GST Council consists of

1. Union Finance Minister as Chairperson

2. Union Minister of State, in charge of Revenue of Finance

3.Minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated   by each State government, as members.

(a) 1, 2, 3

(b) 1 & 2

(c) 1 & 3

(d) 2 & 3

1.

·  According to the PESA Act, the reservation of seats in the Scheduled Areas in every Panchayat shall be in proportion to the population of the communities for whom reservation is sought to be given under Part IX of the Constitution. However, the reservation for the Scheduled Tribes shall not be less than one-half of the total number of seats. Further, all seats of Chairpersons of Panchayats at all levels shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

c

2.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/scorpene-class-submarines-indian-navy-8837114/

B

3.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/explained-economics-oil-reserves-in-salt-caverns-8643242/

A  

4.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/ctenophora-syncytial-nerve-net-neurons-surprising/article66834771.ece

C  

5.

Line of Actual Control (LAC)

• The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.
• India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
• India’s claim line is the line seen in the official boundary marked on the maps as released by the Survey of India, including both Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan. This means LAC is not the claim line for India.
• In China’s case, LAC is the claim line except in the eastern sector, where it claims the entire Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.

 LAC vs Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan:

• The LoC emerged from the 1948 ceasefire line negotiated by the UN after the Kashmir War.
• It was designated as the LoC in 1972, following the Shimla Agreement between the two countries (India and Pakistan).
• It is delineated on a map signed by DGMOs of both armies and has the international sanctity of a legal agreement.
• On the other hand, the LAC is only a concept. It is not agreed upon by the two countries, neither delineated on a map or demarcated on the ground.

 Disagreement over the LAC:

• The major disagreements are in the western sector where the LAC emerged from two letters written by Chinese PM Zhou Enlai to PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959, after he had first mentioned such a ‘line’ in 1956.
• After the 1962 War, the Chinese claimed they had withdrawn to 20 km behind the LAC of 1959, which coincides with the so-called McMahon Line in the eastern sector.
• India’s Response to China’s Designation of the LAC:
• India rejected the concept of LAC in both 1959 and 1962, as it is the line China has created.
• The Chinese line was a disconnected series of points on a map that could be joined up in many ways.
• The line should omit gains from aggression in 1962 and therefore should be based on the actual position on September 8, 1962 before the Chinese attack.
• This vagueness of the Chinese definition left it open for China to continue its creeping attempt to change facts on the ground by military force.
• During the Doklam crisis in 2017, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged India to abide by the “1959 LAC”.

Why are these Claim Lines Controversial in Ladakh?

• Aksai Chin in Ladakh province of the princely state of J&K was not part of British India, although it was a part of the British Empire.
• Thus, the eastern boundary was well defined in 1914 (when the Shimla Agreement on the McMahon Line was signed by British India) but in the west in Ladakh, it was not.

Current Arrangement to Reconcile Differences over LAC:

• India formally accepted the concept of the LAC when the Indian PM paid a return visit to Beijing in 1993 (after Chinese Premier Li Peng’s 1991 visit to India).
• The two sides signed the Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquility at the LAC.
• The reference to the LAC was unable to make it clear that it was referring to the LAC at the time the agreement was signed, not the LAC of 1959 or 1962.
• To reconcile the differences about some areas, the two countries agreed that the Joint Working Group on the border issue would take up the task of clarifying the alignment of the LAC.

The Plans for Expeditious De-escalation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh:

• The extent of disengagement and where on the LAC it will take place is not immediately clear.
• However, various modalities have been prepared for possible limited disengagement in phases.
• For example, since 2020, Corps Commanders of India and China have been discussing resolution of the flashpoints along the LAC.
• The talks led to some forward movement with both sides deciding to pull back troops and dismantle temporary structures from the Galwan Valley.
• Disengagement in most of these areas led to the creation of buffer zones - this stops troops of both sides from accessing areas which they patrolled earlier.

Legacy Issues that Need to be Resolved:

• Other than these friction points, the legacy issues of Depsang Plains and Demchok - which predate the 2020 incursions by the Chinese PLA - continue to fester.
• The Depsang Plains are located close to the strategically important Daulat Beg Oldie. The Depsang Plains issue began in 2013 when China carried out an 18-km incursion in the area.
• Despite the two countries agreeing then to go back from their positions, the PLA troops did not vacate the area completely.
• In Demchok, which is in the southern part of eastern Ladakh, the problem is mainly at the Charding Ninglung Nullah (CNN) junction.
• In multiple instances, the PLA also stopped Indian graziers at the Saddle Pass at the CNN junction, well within India’s perception of the LAC.

D

6.

https://iasgoogle.com/n/May-08-2023-current-affairs

A

7.

https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-delhi-government-union-centre

https://iasgoogle.com/n/May-11-2023-current-affairs

a  

8.

C

9.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial_detail/navigating-the-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism

https://iasgoogle.com/current_affair/may-27-2023-current-affairs

A   

10.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/wto-mc13-india-needs-permanent-solution-to-public-stockholding-as-peace-clause-limits-options/article67842589.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20peace%20clause%20is%20ridden,counter%20questions%20and%20even%20disputes.

Agreement On Agriculture (AoA)

§ AoA is aimed to remove trade barriers and to promote transparent market access and integration of global markets. Agreement on agriculture stands on three pillars:

o Domestic Support: It calls for reduction in domestic subsidies that distorts free trade and fair price.

§ Under this provision, the Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) is to be reduced by 20% over a period of 6 years by developed countries and 13% over a period of 10 years by developing countries.

§ Under this, Subsidies are categorized into:

1.  Green Box: subsidies that do not distort trade, or at most cause minimal distortion.

o    They are government-funded and must not involve price support.

o    They also include environmental protection and regional development programmes.

o    “Green box” subsidies are therefore allowed without limits, provided they comply with the policy-specific criteria.

2.  Amber Box: All domestic support measures considered to distort production and trade (with some exceptions) fall into the amber box as all domestic supports except those in the blue and green boxes.

o    These include measures to support prices, or subsidies directly related to production quantities.

3.  Blue Box: This is the “amber box with conditions”. Such conditions are designed to reduce distortion.

o    Any support that would normally be in the amber box is placed in the blue box if the support also requires farmers to limit production.

o    At present, there are no limits on spending on blue box subsidies.

§ Market Access: Market access for goods in the WTO means the conditions, tariff and non-tariff measures, agreed by members for the entry of specific goods into their markets. The market access requires that tariffs fixed (like custom duties) by individual countries be cut progressively to allow free trade. It also required countries to remove non-tariff barriers and convert them to Tariff duties.

Export Subsidy: Subsidy on inputs of agriculture, making export cheaper or other incentives for exports such as import duty remission etc are included under export subsidies. These can result in dumping of highly subsidized (and cheap) products in other country and damage domestic agriculture sector of other country.

B

11.

https://iasgoogle.com/n/May-09-2023-current-affairs

Grant-in-aid under Article 275(I) of Constitution of India provided by Govt. of India for development of infrastructure in the tribal areas.

Article 244 (1) of the Indian Constitution defines Scheduled Areas as the areas defined so by the President of India and are mentioned in the fifth schedule of the Constitution. In India, there are 10 states having scheduled areas. Article 244 deals with the Scheduled and Tribal Areas.

The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 (2) of the Constitution relates to those areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram which are declared as “tribal areas” and provides for District or Regional Autonomous Councils for such areas.

 Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution:

• It deals with provisions related to the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in any State, other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• These areas are treated differently from the other areas in the country because they are inhabited by the aboriginals, who are socially and economically rather backward, and special efforts need to be made to improve their condition.
• Declaration of Scheduled Areas:
• Article 244(1): The President of India is empowered to declare an area a Scheduled Area.
• He can direct that the whole or any specified part of a Scheduled Area shall cease to be a Scheduled Area.
• The President can increase or decrease the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State and also alter its boundary lines, but only by way of rectification of boundaries. 
• The criteria followed for declaring an area as a Scheduled Area are
• preponderance of the tribal population;
• compactness and reasonable size of the area;
• under-developed nature of the area; and
• marked disparity in economic standard of the people.
• These criteria are not spelt out in the Constitution of India but have become well established. 
• Special Provisions:
• The executive power of a State extends to the Scheduled Ares therein. 
• The Central Government can give directions to the State regarding the administration of such Areas.
• The Governor annually, or whenever required by the President, makes a report to the President regarding the administration of the Scheduled Areas. 
• Tribal Advisory Council (TAC):
• A TAC has to be established in each State, having Scheduled Areas to deal with the welfare and advancement of Scheduled tribes in states. 
• A similar council can be established in any State having Scheduled Tribes but not Scheduled Areas if the President directs.
• It consists of not more than twenty members of whom, three-fourths shall be the representatives of the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the State.
• The TAC shall advise on such matters pertaining to the welfare and the advancement of the STs in the State as may be referred to them by the Governor.
• The Governor may make rules prescribing or regulating the number of members of the Council, the mode of their appointment and the appointment of the Chairman of the Council and of the officers and servants thereof, the conduct of its meetings, and its procedure in general.
• Applicability of Laws in Scheduled Areas: The Governor may, by public notification, direct that any particular Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the State shall or shall not apply to a Scheduled Area or any part thereof in the State, subject to such exceptions and modifications as specified.
• The Governor may make regulations for the peace and good government of any area in the State, which is for the time being a SA. Such regulations may
• prohibit or restrict the transfer of land by or among members of the Scheduled tribes in such area;
• regulate the allotment of land to members of the STs in such area;
• regulate the carrying on of business as money-lender by persons who lend money to members of the STs in such area.
• In making such regulations, the Governor may repeal or amend any Act of Parliament or of Legislature of the State or any existing law after obtaining assent of the President.

C   

12.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-says-it-can-grant-divorce-on-ground-of-irretrievable-breakdown/article66799200.ece

C  

13.

https://iasgoogle.com/n/May-07-2023-current-affairs

Pheromones are chemicals secreted by many species of insects to attract potential mates. Insects like honey bees also use pheromones to communicate with each other. Many of these compounds have been isolated in the laboratory and are used as pest control. They lure insects into a sticky trap and reduce their spread.

D

14.

The jurisdiction of a LokAdalat extends to the following:

ü Any case pending before any court.

ü Any matter which is falling within the jurisdiction of any court and is not brought before such court (i.e. disputes at pre-litigation stage).

Matters under jurisdiction of LokAdalat:

ü Matrimonial/Family Disputes

ü Criminal (compoundable offences) cases (the jurisdiction of the LokAdalat does not extend to noncompoundable offences)

ü Land acquisition cases

ü Labour disputes

ü Workmen''s compensation cases

ü Bank recovery cases  

Electricity matters etc.

D

15.

The budget contains the ordinary estimates of income and expenditure in a financial year.  The parliament can make various other grants under extraordinary or special circumstances. These include:

1. Supplementary Grant: It is granted if the amount authorized by the parliament through the appropriation act to be expended for a particular service for the current financial year is found to be insufficient for the purpose of that year.

2. Additional Grant: It is granted when a need has arisen during the current financial year for supplementary or additional expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the Budget for that year.

3. Excess Grant:  It is granted when money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that year.  The demands for excess grants are made after the expenditure has actually been incurred and after the financial year to which it relates, has expired.  All cases involving such excesses are brought to the notice of parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General through his report on the appropriation accounts. The excesses are then examined by the Public Accounts Committee which makes recommendations regarding their regularisation in its report to the House.

4. Vote of Credit:  It is granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service the demand cannot be stand with the details ordinarily given in an annual financial statement.

5. Exceptional Grants: It is granted for an exceptional purpose which forms no part of the current service of any financial year

6. Token Grant: It is granted when funds to meet proposed expenditure on a new service can be made available by re-appropriation, a demand for the grant of a token sum may be submitted to the vote of the House and, if the House assents to the demand, funds may be so made available.

Supplementary, additional, excess and exceptional grants and vote of credit follows the same procedure as the enactment of the budget.

A   

16.

Refer our Indian Polity Book

C

17.

ED has been given the responsibility to enforce its provisions.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial/what-is-the-prevention-of-money-laundering-act-pmla-2002

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)

·     It is a corporate fraud investigating agency set up by the Government of India.

·     The SFIO was established on 21st July, 2015, and operates under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

·     Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013, accorded a statutory status to the SFIO.

·     Objective: The core objective of the SFIO is to be an investigative and law enforcement agency to detect and prosecute or recommend to prosecute white-collar frauds or crimes.

·     Types of Investigations: SFIO will usually take up the following types of cases sent by the Central Government:

·     Complex cases needing investigation across multi-discipline and inter-departmental affairs.

·     Cases with a huge monetary impact on the public.

·     Cases where investigation can lead to the cleaning up of systems and the implementation of changes in laws and procedures.

·     Serious fraud cases sent by the Department of Company Affairs.

·     SFIO can also take up cases on its own only when decided by the Director of the SFIO, and also giving the reasons for taking up the case in writing.

·     Upon assignment of a case to the SFIO, no other investigative agency can proceed with an investigation for any offence under the Act.

·     The Central Government can ask the SFIO to investigate a company in the following cases:

·     When it receives a report from the Registrar or Inspector under Section 208 of the Companies Act 2013.

·     When the company itself passes a special resolution and requests an investigation.

·     Where there is a huge monetary impact on the public or for other large-scale public interest cases.

·     When any Central Government or State Government department makes a request for an investigation.

·     Organisational Structure:

·     It consists of experts in the fields of accountancy, forensic auditing, law, information technology, investigation, company law, capital markets and taxation.

·     SFIO is headed by a Director as Head of Department in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India.

·     The Director is assisted by Additional Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, Senior Assistant Directors, Assistant Directors Prosecutors, and other secretarial staff.

·     Headquarters: The headquarters of SFIO is in New Delhi, with five regional offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

D

18.

https://iasgoogle.com/current_affair/may-22-2023-current-affairs

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/why-india-should-cut-down-on-its-salt-intake/article66695361.ece

https://www.cnbctv18.com/photos/healthcare/salt-myths-facts-who-recommended-intake-indian-population-suffers-from-hypertension-17883501-10.htm

https://enewsroom.in/india-sodium-intake-by-2025-who-salt/  

According to the WHO Global Report on Sodium Intake, Reduction two million deaths can be prevented by 2025 and seven million by 2030 if policies recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce sodium intake are implemented,

Key Highlights of the report:

• Of the 194 WHO member states, 55 per cent have implemented sodium reduction policies and other measures through mandatory and voluntary approaches.
• The global average salt intake is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day, more than double the WHO recommendation of fewer than 5 grams of salt per day (one teaspoon).
• Bread and bread products are the most targeted food category for sodium reduction across the implemented reformulation policies in member states.
• This was followed by meat, poultry, game or fish, ready-made and convenience foods and composite dishes and savoury snacks.
• Key salt reduction measures will generate an extra year of healthy life for a cost that falls below the average annual income or gross domestic product per person.

What is Sodium?

• Sodium (Na) is a chemical element of the alkali metal group (Group 1 ) of the periodic table.
• It is a very soft silvery-white metal.
• It is the most common alkali metal and the sixth most abundant element on Earth, comprising 2.8 per cent of Earth’s crust.
• It shows an exploding reaction with water.
• It occurs abundantly in nature in compounds, especially common salt—sodium chloride (NaCl)—which forms the mineral halite and constitutes about 80 per cent of the dissolved constituents of seawater.

B   

19.

https://iasgoogle.com/current_affair/may-21-2023-current-affairs

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/calcium-41-radiometric-dating-atom-trap-trace-analysis-china/article66853060.ece  

C  

20.

It is not statutory but Political Parties, Candidates and Polling Agents are expected to observe the norms, on matters ranging from the content of election manifestos, speeches and processions, to general conduct etc.

B

21.

·     The Raman Effect is a scattering of photon particles by molecules that encourage higher vibrational or rotational energy levels. It is also called Raman scattering. In simple words, it is a change in the wavelength of light which is caused by the rays of light being deflected by the molecules.

·     When a ray of light passes through a dustless and transparent sample of a chemical compound, a small portion of the light emerges in other directions than the direction of the incident ray.

·     The wavelength of most of this scattered light remains unchanged.

·     Raman spectroscopy is used in many varied fields – in fact, any application where non-destructive, microscopic, chemical analysis and imaging is required.  Whether the goal is qualitative or quantitative data, Raman analysis can provide key information easily and quickly.  It can be used to rapidly characterise the chemical composition and structure of a sample, whether solid, liquid, gas, gel, slurry or powder.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/one-litre-of-bottled-water-contains-around-one-lakh-micro-nano-plastic-particles-study/article67756402.ece

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/using-the-raman-effect-more-effectively-to-study-tiny-particles-5060078/

D  

22.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?.

It is a non-statutory, non permanent and independent body.

Prime Minister is not the Chairman of PM-EAC.

B   

23.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/aadhaar-enabled-payment-comprised-11-of-financial-frauds-i4c-analysis/article67706780.ece#:~:text=AePS%20is%20a%20payment%20service,through%20a%20Business%20Correspondent%2FAgent.

C

24.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/May/14/brookiish-gecko-species-discovered-in-thoothukudi-2575234.html

C

25.

https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/gst-council-puts-proposal-to-vote-for-first-time-fixes-28-tax-for-lottery-across-india-1629478-2019-12-18

A