1.

Which of the below is/are correct?

(a) Sun is a yellow dwarf star.

(b) What we see as the visible ‘surface’ of the Sun is the Chromosphere.

(c) Both (a) & (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

2.

1. Gender Inequality Index

2. Multidimensional Poverty Index

3. Global Gender Gap Index

4. Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index

Which of the above are published by UNDP?.

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

3.

Gothenburg Protocol was established to

(a)  Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone

(b)  Reduce GHGs and VOCs

(c)  Abate Alakalinisation, Demineralisation and Nitrogen oxides

(d)  Reduce BOD and COD

4.

Which of the following industries is/are not part of Eight Core industries under Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in India?

1. Cement production and Steel production

2. Natural Gas production and Fertilizer production

3. Automobiles and Cotton and Sugar Industry

(a) 1& 2

(b) 2 & 3

(c) Only 3

(d) None of these

5.

1. Poverty Gap is a measurement of the intensity of poverty among the poor and the difference between the mean income among the poor and the rich.

2.   The Poverty Gap Index is the combined measurement of incidence of poverty and depth of poverty.

Which of these statements is/are correct?.

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 & 2

(c) Only 2

(d) Neither 1 Nor 2 

6.

It is not a function of the Reserve Bank of India.

(a) Fiscal Policy Function

(b) Ways and Means Advances

(c) Issuance, Exchange and Destruction of currency notes

(d) Monetary Authority Function

7.

Which of the following is/are example(s) of an expansionary fiscal policy?

1. Reducing SLR and CRR.

2. Reducing corporate tax rates.

3. Reducing custom and excise duties.

4. Open Market Operations by RBI.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

8.

Consider the following statements Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope:

1. It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 metre diameter.

2. It will receive radio waves from various celestial objects and convert them into images.

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

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

9.

The ITER Members include

(a) China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States

(b) China, the European Union, India, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States

(c) China, the European Union, India, Japan, France, Russia and the United States

(d) China, the European Union, India, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States

10.

Which of these is/are false?.

(a) Capital gains arise when a capital asset such as a house, other property, stocks or shares, etc. is sold at higher price than was paid for it at the time of purchase.

(b) Capital gains are excluded from national income.

(c) Both (a) & (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

11.

Consider the following statements:

1. Under global trade norms, a WTO member country''s food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production based on the reference price of 1986-88.

2. Under the Peace Clause, WTO members agreed to refrain from challenging any breach of the prescribed ceiling by a developing nation at the dispute settlement forum of the WTO.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

12.

What is/are true?.

(a) There is a legal basis for the execution of the flexible inflation targeting agenda.

(b) Stability in price is a necessary prerequisite to sustainable growth.

(c) Neither (a) nor (b)

(d) Both (a) and (b)

13.

1. India is a member of all the five constituents of the World Bank Group.

2.  International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes is not a constituent of the World Bank Group.

Which of these statements is/are correct?.

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 & 2

(c) Only 2

(d) Neither 1 Nor 2 

14.

Highest share to India''s GDP is contributed by

(a) Government Final Consumption Expenditure 

(b) Private Final Consumption Expenditure

(c) Gross Capital Formation

(d) Net Exports

15.

Which of the following is correct regarding Minimum reserve System?

(a) Under this system, the Central bank can issue currency to any extent by minimum reserve of gold and foreign exchange.

(b) Under this system, the Central bank can issue currency only equivalent to minimum reserve of gold and government Securities.

(c) Under this system, the Central bank can issue currency only equivalent to the minimum reserve of gold and foreign Securities.

(d) Under this system, the Central bank can issue currency to any extent by keeping minimum reserve of gold and foreign currencies.

16.

1. Wholesale Price Index is used as an important measure of inflation in India.

2. Inflation rate is the difference between WPI calculated at the beginning and the end of a year.

3. WPI considers a total of 676 commodities on a price level and tracks them.

Which of these is/are true?.

(a) 1, 2, 3

(b) 1 & 2

(c) 2 & 3

(d) None of these.

17.

Match the following:

Select the answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A

(b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B

(c) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C

(d) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A

18.

Which of the following organization publishes the list of Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) by consulting the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision?.

(a) World Bank

(b) Financial Action Task Force

(c) Financial Stability Board

(d) World Economic Forum

19.

(i) It involves the introduction of a new gene from the outside.

(ii) It replicates a natural defence mechanism in some bacteria.

Which of the above is / are true w.r.t. CRISPR technology?

(a)  Only (i)

(b)  Only (ii) 

(c)  Both (i) and (ii) 

(d)  Neither (i) nor (ii)

20.

1. He was nominated to the Viceroy’s Legislative Council in 1878.

2. He founded the Scientific Society of Aligarh.

3. He batted for a ban on cow slaughter.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. Syed Ahmad Khan?

(a) Only 1 statement

(b) Only 2 statements

(c) All the 3 statements

(d) None of the statements

21.

1. 1G bioethanol plants utilise sugarcane juice and molasses to produce bioethanol.

2. 2G plants utilise surplus biomass and agricultural waste to produce bioethanol.

Which of these statements is/are correct?.

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 & 2

(c) Only 2 

(d) Neither 1 Nor 2 

22.

GNP is the GDP of a country added to its income earned from abroad. Which of the following is/are inlcuded under income from abroad?

1.Private remittances

2.Interest on external loans

3.External grants

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

23.

Which of the following countries are members of both G7 and G20?

1.Canada

2.Australia

3.France

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

24.

Which of the following is/are Market Infrastructure Institutions in India?.

1. Multi Commodity Exchange of India

2. National Securities Depository Ltd

3. Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation

4. National Housing Bank

Select the correct answer using code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

25.

Sea slugs are

(a) Molluscs 

(b) Echinodermates

(c) Annelids

(d) Sponges

1.

https://www.universetoday.com/40631/parts-of-the-sun/

A 

2.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) releases five composite indices each year: the Human Development Index (HDI), the Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), the Gender Development Index (GDI), the Gender Inequality Index (GII), and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Global Gender Gap Index is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the relative access to education of males and females. This index is released by WEF.

B  

3.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/what-next-for-clean-air/article68021073.ece

https://iasgoogle.com/n/discuss-in-detail-the-photochemical-smog-emphasizing-its-formation-effects-and-mitigation-explain-the-1999-gothenburg-protocol-upsc-cse-mains-2022-general-studies-paper-3

Gothenburg Protocol 1999 (Multi Effect Protocol)

·        The official title of the protocol is UNECE Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication, and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol) (Protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP))

·        The Gothenburg Protocol was established to address pollutants that cause acidification and ground-level ozone.

·        It sets limits on air pollutants including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds that are hazardous to human health and the environment.

·        It was updated in 2012 to include particulate matter (PM) and black carbon (as a component of PM) and to include new commitments for 2020.

The Protocol establishes legally binding emissions reduction commitments for 2020 and beyond for the major air pollutants:

1.       sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and delicate Particulate Matter (PM5).

2.       these chemicals also contribute to photochemical smog formation.

The objective of the Gothenburg Protocol under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) LRTAP Convention is:

1.     to control and reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and PM that are caused by human activities.

2.     to ensure that atmospheric depositions or concentrations do not exceed critical loads/levels;

3.     that Parties give priority, to implementing measures to reduce PM, to sources that are also significant sources of black carbon to provide benefits for human health and the environment and to help mitigation of near-term climate change.

·        This multi-pollutant, multi-effect protocol is meant to eventually replace the older protocols that cover the same pollutants.

·        Thus, when all Parties ratify the amended Protocol, their obligations under the following existing protocols: SO2 (1985 Helsinki and 1994 Oslo Protocols); NOx (1988 Sofia Protocol); and VOC (1991 Geneva Protocol); will become null and void.

·        India has not signed the protocol.

A

4.

·  Following are 8 core industries which form IIP - Coal, Crude Oil, Petroleum Refinery Products , Natural Gas, Fertilizer, Steel, Cement, Electricity

C  

5.

The poverty gap is the average shortfall of the total population from the poverty line. This measurement is used to reflect the intensity of poverty. When it is calculated it gives an index relevant for measuring poverty and depth of poverty.

C  

6.

ü      RBI as Monetary Authority of India

ü      RBI as Issuer of Currency

ü      RBI as Banker and Debt Manager to the Government

ü      Ways and Means Advances

ü      RBI as Banker of Banks 

ü      RBI as a regulator and supervisor of financial system

ü      Management of foreign exchange reserves

Developmental & Promotional roles.

A

7.

1 and 4 are part of monetary policy.

·

C

8.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/another-eye-in-sky-on-ground-india-is-now-part-of-worlds-largest-radio-telescope-project-9092577/#:~:text=GMRT%20is%20the%20world''s%20largest,time%20has%20always%20remained%20oversubscribed.

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) 

o   It is an array of thirty fully steerable parabolic radio telescopes of 45 meter diameter.

o   It functions at the meter wavelength part of the radio spectrum because man-made radio interference is considerably lower in this part of the spectrum in India and there are many outstanding astrophysics problems which are best studied at meter wavelengths.

o   Its design is based on the `SMART'' concept - for Stretch Mesh Attached to Rope Trusses.

o   National Centre for Radio Astrophysics - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, (NCRA-TIFR), Pune

Gravitational Lensing

·  It is a phenomenon in which the light emitted by the source is bent due to the presence of another massive body, such as an early type elliptical galaxy, between the target galaxy and the observer, effectively resulting in the magnification of the signal. 

·  It probes the distribution of matter in galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and enables observations of the distant universe.

It allows researchers to study the details of early galaxies too far away to be seen with current technology and telescopes.

C

9.

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-record-9153110/

https://www.iter.org/proj/inafewlines

A  

10.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-inc-pitches-for-simplification-of-capital-gains-tax-regime/article67790166.ece

D 

11.

https://www.thehindu.com/business/wto-mc13-whats-on-the-agenda-for-india/article67886382.ece#:~:text=Food%20security%20issues&text=Food%20procurement%2C%20stockholding%2C%20and%20distribution,for%20over%20800%20million%20beneficiaries.

C

12.

https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/india-is-said-to-favor-retaining-rbi-s-inflation-target-program

A   

13.

India is a member of four of the five constituents of the World Bank Group viz., International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). India is not a member of ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes). India has been accessing funds from the World Bank (mainly through IBRD and IDA) for various development projects.

D   

14.

· According to the Expenditure Method, GDP is calculated as C+G+I+ (X-M),

where C denotes the Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE), G denotes the Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE), I denotes Investments, X denotes Exports and M denotes Imports.

· The PFCE, accounting for around 55% of India''s GDP is the major driver.

The Net Exports (Exports- Imports), accounting for around -3% of India''s GDP, has the lowest share.

B

15.

Minimum reserve System:

• The reserve system provides guidelines for the issue of new currencies.
• In India, currencies are issued by the RBI with the backing of reserves comprised of gold and foreign exchange (foreign currencies). For the issue of currencies, the RBI follows the Minimum Reserve System at present. The Minimum Reserve System (MRS) is followed from 1956 onwards.
• Under the Minimum Reserve System, the RBI has to keep a minimum reserve of Rs 200 crore comprising of gold coin and gold bullion and foreign currencies.
• The minimum reserve is a token of confidence and doesn’t have any practical connection with the number of new currencies issued by the RBI. Under the Minimum Reserve System, the RBI can issue unlimited amounts of currency by keeping the reserve.

Under this system, the Central bank can issue currency to any extent by keeping minimum reserve of gold and foreign currencies.

Minimum Reserve System

·      For currency issuance, the RBI presently employs the Minimum Reserve System. It was first used in 1956. The RBI is required by the Minimum Reserve System to keep a minimum reserve of an amount of about Rs 200 crores in foreign currency, gold bullion & gold coins.

·      The RBI creates money in accordance with the Minimum Reserve System to ensure the appropriate availability of money in the economy. The RBI is required by the Reserve Requirement System to retain a minimum reserve of an amount of about Rs 200 crore in gold coins, gold bullion with the remainder in foreign currencies. From the amount of Rs 200 crores, a portion of Rs 115 crore should remain in the forms of gold coins or in means of gold bullion, with the remainder in foreign currency.

·      Except for one rupee note, the Reserve Bank has a monopoly on issuing national currency of all denominations. Since the one rupee note, which was issued by the Finance ministry but circulated by the Reserve Bank of India through currency financial institutions.

·      The question now is how much currency the RBI can print at one time, and how the RBI selects how many currency notes to print.

·      In India, currency notes are printed in accordance with the Minimum Reserve System (MRS). This technique has been in use in India since 1956.

·      The Reserve Bank of India is required to retain investments of at least 200 crore rupees at all times under this arrangement. The first 115 crore rupees should be in the form of gold or gold bullion, and the remaining 85 crore rupees should have been in the form of foreign currencies. Following the maintenance of the Minimum Reserve, the RBI may print an unlimited amount of currency notes to meet the needs of the economy. Although the RBI must obtain prior approval from the government.

Objectives of Minimum Reserve System (MRS)

MRS has several goals, but here are a few of them:

1.      To reassure Indian currency owners that the currency they hold is legal tender and that they will obtain the currency’s value they hold.

2.      The Minimum Reserve System gives the general public trust that the Indian government will pay them the face value of the notes since the RBI governor promises to the public, “I guarantee to pay a bearer an amount of 100/500 rupee.”

3.      The RBI intends to use MRS to ensure an adequate supply of money in the economy.

4.      The MRS allows the RBI to increase the country’s economic growth without increasing the pace of inflation.

The Minimum Reserve System is still in use in India due to its vast benefits. The sole goal of the Minimum Reserve System is to keep the economy’s money supply stable without causing inflation and to keep the general public’s faith in the currency.

The RBI Act of 1935 governs the issuance of currency notes. This act has resulted in a number of changes. Because the current currency note is a demonetized paper note, the RBI cannot issue an infinite number of them. Under present laws, the RBI may issue new currency without retaining additional reserves.

Advantages

The advantages of the minimum reserve system are as follows:

• This strategy is adaptable.
• An increase in the number of notes issued does not need a rise in the minimum reserve.
• This strategy is dependable throughout financial crises as well as calamities such as war, earthquakes, and floods.
• This approach is appropriate for low-income and developing countries.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of the minimum reserve system are as follows:

• There is a risk of over-issuance, which increases the money supply and causes inflation.
• The appropriate deployment of monetary policy instruments can produce positive results in terms of inflation management.

Reserve Requirement

The reserve requirement is the amount of liquid cash required to be held in the bank or deposited with the central bank as a percentage of the total deposit. As a result, the bank cannot use it for any commercial or economic activity.

Central banks around the world have mandated that their member banks manage the security cash held by the institutions. This reserve fund serves a variety of functions in various economies. The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, for example, has control over this criterion in the United States. For Chinese banks, the People’s Bank of China operates similarly.

Reserve Requirement Components

·        The Reserve Requirement is determined by Net Outstanding loans (NDTL). Current deposits, savings deposits, deposit accounts, and other liabilities comprise NDTL. This is also modified for other banks’ deposits. The NDTL formula becomes:

·        NDTL equals demand liabilities plus time liabilities plus additional demand and long span minus deposits with other banks.

·        Net demand and time liabilities can be used to calculate this.

·        Cash Reserve Ratio = Cash Reserve at the Central Bank divided / Net Demand and Time Liabilities.

Reserve Requirement Examples

·        Assume the Federal Reserve mandates a bank in the U.s named ABL to keep a 9.2 percent cash reserve. The bank declares $100 million in net liabilities. What is the quantity of reserve that the bank intends to deposit in the Federal Reserve?

·        Solution: Because the federal reserve has a 9.2 percent cash reserve requirement, it will apply to the bank ABL’s net request and time liabilities. As a result, the bank will keep 9.2 percent of its NDTL of $100 million in reserves.

The RBI’s current currency-issuing system is known as the Minimum Reserve System. It was passed into law in 1956. The RBI is required to retain a minimum reserve of an amount of about Rs 200 crores in foreign currencies, gold coins, and gold bullion under the Minimum Reserve System.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-rbi-print-rupee-india-economy-coronavirus-6377979/

B

16.

Ø WPI refers to the price index used for determination of price of goods before it amongst the industries, on the contrary, CPI refers to the price index which is used to determine the cost of goods at which it should be sold to the final consumer.

Ø WPI measures inflation at wholesale market, while CPI measure at retail level.

Ø WPI is more or less same throughout the country but CPI vary across the region.

Ø WPI measures inflation at wholesale market, while CPI measure at retail level. Besides, the way two indices are calculated differs, both in terms of weightage assigned to products as well as the kind of items included in the baskets of products.

Wholesale prices are more or less same throughout the country but Consumer prices vary across the regions (rural and urban) and also across the cities according to the consumer preference for certain products, supplies and purchasing power.

https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/inflation-rate-india/85983/1

A  

17.

· Green Box Subsidy: Green Box contains those types of subsidies that don’t distort trade or that cause only minimum distortion. Hence they are permitted subsidies and thus are non-reducible subsidies. The Green box subsidies are provided by governments through a variety of programs like the provision of income support to farmers during crop failure, incentives to farmers to protect the environment, subsidies for research and development, food aid to the poor people, etc.

· Blue Box Subsidy: Blue Box refers to a category of domestic support or subsidies under the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture. The Blue box subsidies aim to limit production by imposing production quotas or requiring farmers to set aside part of their land. It covers payments directly linked to acreage or animal numbers (reduction).

· Amber Box Subsidy: As per the rules of the WTO, domestic support is categorized under two broad headings: trade distortion and non-trade distortion. Trade distorting support, which falls under the Amber Box subsidy. MSP comes under trade-distorting support, as per WTO provisions.

B

18.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/rbi-releases-latest-list-of-domestic-systemically-important-banks-check-changes-here/articleshow/106352050.cms?from=mdr

Financial Stability Board

·     The Financial Stability Board (FSB) was created to prevent the failure of the banking sector, similar to what happened during the global financial crisis of 2007.

·     In consultation with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the Financial Stability Board (FSB) publishes a list of Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs).

·     It consists of 68 member institutions that include several central banks, ministries of finance, etc.

·     It was established as a successor to the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) and became a not-for-profit association under Swiss law.

·     Its formation was recommended so as to increase cooperation between various national and international supervisory bodies, financial institutions and promote stability in the international financial system.

·     Membership of FSF was enlarged in 2008 to address vulnerabilities of the international financial framework.

Functions

·     It is responsible for the preparation of annual reports concerned with the implementation of reforms and their impacts.

·     It coordinates various activities of financial sector policies.

·     It conducts outreach activities.

·     Helps in building financial institutions with increased resilience.

·     It assists in the global supervision of financial markets.

·     It helps in making the derivatives market safe.

·     It increases the resilience amongst non-bank financial intermediation.

·     It formulates various policies to strengthen the global financial market.

·     It is responsible for preparing progress reports for the G20.

·     It conducts peer reviews and is responsible for analysing the impacts of reforms.

·  The Financial Stability Board was set up as an international body to strengthen the institutional framework for financial stability in a globalized world. The need for such a body was strongly felt after the global financial crisis. It helps in the dissemination of uniform standards to address financial stability across various countries.

C 

19.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/crispr-casgevy-sickle-cell-disease-genetic-therapeutics-explained/article67641478.ece

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/with-crispr-poised-to-revolutionise-therapy-a-pause-to-consider-ethical-issues/article67822522.ece

B 

20.

https://indianexpress.com/article/research/how-the-1857-revolt-lit-the-spark-for-setting-up-aligarh-muslim-university-9143288/

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/sir-syed-ahmed-khans-125th-birth-anniversary-his-record-on-womens-rights-8986370/

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/rajon-ki-baoli-brainchild-of-a-disgruntled-nobleman-a-tribute-to-masons-9132091/

Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898)

1. Educational and Political engagement

·     Syed Ahmad Khan, a prominent figure of the 19th century, received education in both religious Scripture, the Quran, and Western sciences. 

·     His booklet, “Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind” (Reasons for the Indian Revolt of 1857), highlighted British ignorance, their aggressive expansionary policies, and the exclusion of Indians from the Legislative Council of India as major causes for growing antagonism. 

·     Interestingly, non-official Indian members were included in the Viceroy’s Council from 1861, and Syed Ahmad Khan was nominated to the Viceroy’s Legislative Council in 1878.

·     He supported the efforts of Dadabhai Naoroji and Surendra Nath Banerjee in securing Indian representation in the government and civil services.

2. Educational and Socio-religious reforms

·     Syed Ahmad Khan emphasized interfaith understanding, exemplified by his work, “Commentary on the Holy Bible.”

·     He advocated modern scientific education for Muslims, criticizing the prevailing superstitions and regressive customs of society.

·     He founded the Scientific Society of Aligarh in 1863, modelling it after the Royal Society of England. This society organized annual conferences and disseminated scientific material in English and Urdu. 

·     He established various educational institutes to promote education, most notably the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAOC) in 1875, later evolving into Aligarh Muslim University.

·     The MAOC played a pivotal role in the Aligarh Movement of the 19th century, fostering a renaissance among Indian Muslims. While founded primarily for Muslims, MAOC’s doors were open to all, emphasizing inclusivity.

·     Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, aimed  to provide modern education while preserving cultural heritage. 

·     The Aligarh Institute Gazette, initiated by him, campaigned against practices such as female infanticide, polygamy, child marriage, sati, segregation of widows, and poverty-induced marriages of young girls to older men.

·     His progressive social ideas were disseminated through his magazine, “Tahdhib-ul-Akhlaq” (Improvement of Manners and Morals).

Views of Syed Ahmad Khan on Women Education

·     Despite showing inclination for liberal values and rationality, his views on education to be imparted to women had been controversial. 

·     Syed Ahmad Khan, believed the ultimate goal for women is marriage and therefore, training for them should focus on familial duties. For women’s education he believed in a “Disorganised home-based tutor education”.

·     However, later he was convinced that the “rejection of women’s education by Muslims played a big role in the decline of the community” in comparison to others. 

Muhammadan Educational Conference: 

·     To propagate the ideas of Anglo-oriental College across India, Syed Khan established the All-India Muhammadan Educational Congress in Aligarh, U.P.

·     The first session of the congress was held in 1886 in Aligarh and was presided by Maulvi Samiullah Khan.

·     The organisation aimed to promote educational development among Muslims through conferences and also to gain University status for the Anglo-Oriental College.  

3. Aligarh movement

·     The Aligarh Movement, the first national awakening among Muslims, began at Aligarh under the leadership of Syed Ahmad Khan.

·     It was furthered by individuals like Khwaja Altaf Hussain Ali, Maulvi Wazir Ahmed, and Maulvi Shibli Numani.

·     It sought to introduce social reforms within the Indian Muslim community, challenging practices such as polygamy and the ban on widow remarriage.

·     The Aligarh Movement was rooted in a liberal interpretation of the Quran and aimed to harmonize Islam with modern, liberal culture.

4. Evolution of Syed Ahmad Khan’s political thought

(a) First Phase (Up to 1887)

·     Syed Ahmad Khan advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity, emphasizing their shared history and common interests.

·     He advocated for the separation of religious and political matters, believing that religious and spiritual issues should not impede nationalist objectives.

·     In his role on the Viceroy’s Legislative Council, he actively worked for the welfare of both Hindus and Muslims.

·     Cooperation between the two communities was evident in the scientific society and the Aligarh British India Association.

·     Syed Ahmad Khan even supported the ban on cow slaughter within the MAOC. 

(b) Second Phase (After 1887)

·     His perspective on the applicability of Western democracy and nationalism in India underwent a significant shift.

·     He argued that the complex, diverse nature of Indian society, with its diverse castes, religions, and races, made representative government impractical and could lead to Hindu dominance over Muslims.

·     This argument laid the foundation for the two-nation theory, which claimed that Hindus and Muslims were separate nations with distinct interests.

·     He aimed to establish an Anglo-Muslim alliance to counter the influence of the Congress, influenced by British officials and the need for their support for his college.

Syed Ahmad Khan’s influence initiated social and educational reforms among certain sections of Muslims, reflecting the dynamism of India’s diverse religious communities and their multifaceted options. It is essential to note that his major concerns were to advance the interests of the Muslim community, especially the established groups, rather than promoting hatred or division among communities.

C

21.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/gail-trualt-bioenergy-announce-72-million-investment-through-cbg-joint-venture/articleshow/106509004.cms?from=mdr

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/what-is-driving-the-global-biofuels-alliance-explained/article67316151.ece

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/1g-2g-bioethanol-plants-blending-petrol-6558162/#:~:text=What%20are%201G%20and%202G,agricultural%20waste%20to%20produce%20bioethanol

B

22.

Gross National Product (GNP) is the GDP of a country added with its ‘income from abroad’. Here, the trans-boundary economic activities of an economy are also taken into account.

The items which are counted in the segment Income from Abroad are:

·     Private Remittances: the net outcome of the money which inflows and outflows on account of the ‘private transfers’ by Indian nationals working outside of India (to India) and the foreign nationals working in India (to their home countries). On this front India has always been a gainer- till the early 1990s from the Gulf region (which fell down afterwards in the wake of the heavy country-bound movements of Indians working there due to the Gulf War) and afterwards from the USA and other European nations.

·     Interest on External Loans: the net outcome on the front of the interest payments, i.e., balance of inflow (on the money lend out by the economy) and outflow (on the money borrowed by the economy) of external interests. In India’s case it has always been negative as the economy has been a ‘net borrower’ from the world economies.

External Grants: the net outcome of the external grants i.e., the balance of such grants which flow to and from India. Today, India offers more such grants than it receives. India receives grants (grants or loan-grant mix) from few countries as well as UN bodies (like the UNDP) and offers several developmental and humanitarian grants to foreign nations.

B 

23.

G7 members: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

G20 members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

C 

24.

https://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/explained-what-are-market-infrastructure-institutions/article65086889.ece 

Specific institutions in India that qualify as MIIs:

Among stock exchanges:

The SEBI lists seven, including the BSE, the NSE, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India.

There are two depositories:

Charged with the safekeeping of securities and enabling their trading and transfer — that are tagged MIIs:

The Central Depository Services Ltd. and the National Securities Depository Ltd.

Clearing houses:

The regulator also lists seven clearing houses including the Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation.

Clearing houses, for their part, help validate and finalise securities trades and ensure that both buyers and sellers honour their obligations.

B    

25.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/zsi-names-a-newly-discovered-head-shield-sea-slug-after-president-droupadi-murmu/article67899807.ece

·      Sea slugs belong to Phylum Mollusca and Class Gastropoda. They look like naked snails, i.e., without shells.

·      Sea slugs are found in the sea and some slugs live on land as well.

·      A unique species of nudibranch sea slugs were documented on the Visakhapatnam shore.

·      These sea slugs are found in places with abundant prey bases which may vary from sponges, hydroids and algae.

·      The nudibranchs are usually found in coral reefs and their presence is a significant indicator of a strong coral ecosystem.

·      They mainly feed on algae and are usually seen in large numbers when there is an algal bloom.

·      Most nudibranchs are active throughout the day, but some species are also nocturnal.

A