1.

The CAFE norms seen in news pertain to

(a) additives in beverages

(b) vehicular emissions

(c) afforestation efforts under CAMPA Fund

(d) issues of net neutrality  

2.

"Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security" was agreed in the recent past by the members of

(a) UN

(b) BRICS

(c) G7

(d) WTO

3.

Consider the following statements:

1. Hubble constant is a measure of surface temperature of the stars.

2. “Lambda CDM” Model describes the reason for Energy of the Sun.

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

4.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Ajanta and Ellora caves.                     

1. Ajanta caves are Buddhist caves while Ellora caves are multi-religious caves.                                                                                                

2. Ajanta is mostly about beautiful paintings while Ellora is all about sculpture.

3. The flying apsara and dying princess are the major sculptures in Ellora.      

4. Famous carpenter’s cave is in Ajanta.

Which of the statements given above are correct?                                      

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

5.

1. Archaea

2. Rice fields

3. Discarded household waste

4. Oceanic sediments

How many of the above release methane?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All the four

6.

Consider the following river valleys.

1. Damodar

2. Godavari

3. Mahanadi

4. Sone

How many of these have Coal reserves in India?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three 

(d) All the four

7.

With reference to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of an economy, consider the following statements: 

1. Since 2015, India has been calculating the GDP at the basic prices, rather than at the market prices. 

2. The GDP at the basic prices is derived by deducting the GDP at the market prices with net of product taxes and subsidies. 

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

8.

The following activities could be possibly used to reduce global warming.

1. Using giant mirrors in space

2. Use of bio-char

3. Increasing the amount of iron in the ocean.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

9.

"Dirty Dozen" to refer to Persistent Organic Pollutants was coined by

(a) IUCN

(b) WWF

(c) UNEP

(d) GEF

10.

Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?

(a) To maintain a large standing army at other''s expense

(b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger

(c) To secure a fixed income for the Company

(d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

11.

1. It studies the relationship between economic development and population growth.

2. It can be used to describe and predict the future population of an area.

Which of the above is/are incorrect w.r.t. Demographic Transition Theory?.

(a) Only 1
 

(b) Only 2
 

(c) Both 1 and 2
 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

12.

Which one of the following statements is not true?.

(a) Ghaggar is a tributary of river Saraswati, which ends in the Thar desert.

(b) Damodar river has a rift valley due to down warping.

(c) Nizam Sagar is situated on the Manjra River.

(d) Manjra River is a tributary of the Krishna.

13.

Consider the following statements:

1. Almost all the weather phenomena like rainfall, fog and hailstorm occur in Troposphere.

2. Meteorites burn up in Mesosphere on entering from the space.

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 are correct

(b) Only 1 is correct

(c) Only 2 is correct

(d) None is correct

14.

Which of the following is correct definition of Biosphere reserves?.

(a) Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems some of which are internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO.

(b) Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems some of which are internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNEP.

(c) Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems some of which are internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNDP.

(d) Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems some of which are internationally recognized within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of FAO.

15.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Swadeshi movement:

1. It was initiated by the moderates, but was taken over by the revolutionary nationalists at a later stage.

2. It was marked by the mass mobilization through labour strikes.

3. It promoted Atma Shakti.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 2 only

(d) 3 only

16.

What is/are true about “F-gases” that are seen in news sometimes?.

(a) They are powerful greenhouse gases.

(b) They are not included in the basket of gases controlled by the Kyoto Protocol, as they occur naturally in the atmosphere.

(c) Both (a) & (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

17.

With reference to the President''s rule, consider the following statements:

1. It is imposed under Article 365 of the Indian Constitution.

2. A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within 30 days from the date of its issue.

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

18.

For the first time the draft of the Indian Constitution was framed by

(a) Dr. BR Ambedkar

(b) Jawaharlal Nehru

(c) KM Munshi

(d) BN Rau

19.

Which of the following is/are true ?.

(a) The Buguns are a major tribe living near Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.

(b) Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is in Arunachal Pradesh.

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

20.

Which of the following is characterized by a beehive shaped curvilinear tower made up of layer upon layer of architectural elements and a cruciform ground plan?.

(a) Nagara style of temple architecture

(b) Dravidian style of temple architecture

(c) Vesara style of temple architecture

(d) Seljuq style of temple architecture

21.

Which of the following may result in loss of citizenship of an Indian citizen? 1. If the citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country.

2. If the citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for six years continuously. 

3. If the citizen has shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India. 

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

22.

In order to reduce or eliminate crowding out, expansionary fiscal policy can be accompanied by

(a) An increase in government spending

(b) A decrease in investment

(c) Expansionary monetary policy

(d) Contractionary monetary policy

23.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Alluri Sitaram Raju:

1. He was against the Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement.

2. He asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force.

3. He made astrological predictions.

Which of the statements given above are correct?.

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 3 only

24.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?.

1. Lord Cornwallis introduced English as the literary and official language of India.

2. Lord Macaulay put forth the Downward Filtration Theory.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

25.

Consider the following statements with reference to Minamata Convention:

1. Global Environment Facility is the financial mechanism for Minamata Convention.

2. The convention is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme.

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

26.

Which one of the following sequences was proposed by Darwin and Wallace for organic evolution?

(a) Overproduction, variations, constancy of population size, natural selection.

(b) Variations, constancy of population size, overproduction, natural selection.

(c) Overproduction, constancy of population size, variations, natural selection.

(d) Variations, natural selection, overproduction, constancy of population size.

27.

A dark room technician losing his job because fewer people use film cameras represents

(a) recessive unemployment

(b) frictional unemployment

(c) structural unemployment

(d) regressive unemployment

28.

Consider the following statements:

1. Swadesh Sevak Home was set up by G.D Kumar in Vancouver.

2. Komagata Maru killing happened during the First World War.

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

29.

Consider the following statements regarding Histamine:

1. It is an amino acid derivative.

2. It is a vasodilator.

3. It is released from mast cells.

4. It causes inflammation in the body.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

30.

The most complex level of organization among the following is present in

(a) Leech                                                                             

(b) Ascaris

(c) Hydra                                                                          

(d) Plasmodium

31.

Which of the following is/are found in Mohenjadaro?

1. Mother Goddess

2. Male Torso

3. Painted Earthen Jar

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 & 3 only

(d) 2 & 3 only

32.

“Ricardian Equivalence Proposition” is best described as

(a) taxation and borrowing are equivalent means of financing expenditure.

(b) wealth that can be stored in the form of money for future use.

(c) a system in which the central bank allows the exchange rate to be determined by market forces.

(d) exchange of commodities without the mediation of money.

33.

1. Directive Principles of State Policy

2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies

3. Fifth Schedule

4. Sixth Schedule

5. Seventh Schedule

How many of the above provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?.

(a) Only four

(b) Only two

(c) All the five

(d) Only three

34.

Which of the following is known as “Tight Oil”?

(a) Coal Bed Methane

(b) Methane Hydrates

(c) Shale Gas

(d) Syngas

35.

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?.

1. They are generally red in colour.

2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.

3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.

4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 1 and 4

(d) 2 and 3 only

36.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Farmers Distress Index.

1. The index will assign a value between 0 and 10 to indicate the level of distress.

2. The index Is designed by NSSO.

3. The index is based on 21 questions mapped against seven indicators.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?.

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All the three

(d) None of these

37.

Bhaga, Bhoga, Kara and Hiranya refer to

(a) handicrafts

(b) paintings

(c) taxes

(d) crops

38.

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. An increase in Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) indicates the appreciation of rupee.

2. An increase in the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) indicates an improvement in trade competitiveness.

3. An increasing trend in domestic inflation relative to inflation in other countries is likely to cause an increasing divergence between NEER and REER.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

39.

How many of the following battles was/were fought by Babur?.

1. First Battle of Panipat  

2. Battle of Khanwa

3. Battle of Chanderi       

4. Battle of Ghaghra        

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All the four

40.

Which of the following rulers was not a contemporary of Akbar?.

(a) Elizabeth of England

(b) Shakespeare

(c) Henry IV of France

(d) Queen Victoria of England

41.

Consider the following statements regarding Balance of Payments (BoP).   

1. NRI deposits are calculated under Capital Accounts while Private Remittances are calculated under Current Account.

2. The compilation and dissemination of BoP data is the prime responsibility of Central Statistical Organisation.

3. If an Indian investor earns interest or dividend in his investment abroad, that will be included in the current account of India.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?.

(a) 2 and 3 only  

(b) 1 and 3 only  

(c) 1 and 2 only  

(d) 1, 2 and 3

42.

1. At the South Pole, the sun rises on September 21 and does not set until March 22, the following year.

2. The midnight sun occurs because the earth''s axis tilts toward the sun in summer and away from the sun in winter.

3. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun never rises on the day of the winter solstice.

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

43.

A golden chain having 60 bells and weighing several ''maunds'' was fastened between the Shahburj of Agra fort and a stone pillar raised on the banks of river Jamuna. People seeking justice were required to pull this chain in order to put forth their complaints or petitions to the King. Who set up this?.

(a) Aurangazeb

(b) Jahangir

(c) Akbar

(d) Shahjahan

44.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. color perception by Human Eye.

1. The colour white comprises seven colours.

2. When red, green, and blue lights are mixed in equal amounts, they produce black light.

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

45.

Which of the following statements is/are correct w.r.t. “The Spices Board”?.

1. It is an executive body.

2. It functions under under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

46.

“Amaterasu” seen in news refer to a/an

(a) martian rock

(b) atomic mineral

(c) cosmic rays

(d) variety of Pearl

47.

Consider the following statements.

1. Upwelling elevates cold, nutrient-rich water to the euphotic zone, the upper layer of the ocean.

2. During an El Niño event, westward-blowing trade winds weaken along the Equator.

Which of the above statements is/are true?
.

(a) Only 1
 

(b) Only 2
 

(c) Both 1 and 2
 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

48.

Consider the following statements about Narrow and Broad Money: 

1. M1 includes financial assets, such as bonds.

2. M2 is the most liquid and easiest for transactions.

3. M4 is the least liquid. 

4. M3 is the most used measure of money supply. 

Which of these is/are true?.

(a) 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2 and 4

49.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Pro-cyclical Fiscal Policy.

1. Government spending increases and taxes decrease in a recession.

2. Pursuing a pro-cyclical fiscal policy could raise macroeconomic volatility.

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

50.

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) The charter act of 1793 enabled the governor general to exercise the same authority in Madras and Bombay presidencies as he did in Bengal.

(b) The charter act of 1813 laid down the undoubted sovereignty of the crown in and over the possessions of the east India company.

(c) The charter act of 1833 took away from the subordinate presidencies all powers of making law.

(d) The charter act of 1853 included Indians in the Legislative Council.  

1.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/major-rift-among-automobile-makers-over-calculation-of-carbon-credits-under-cafe-norms/article67860043.ece

 B 

2.

G7

Origin

• The origin of G7 lies in the oil shocks of 1973 and the corresponding financial crisis.
• In order to address the situation after oil shock, the heads of the world''s six leading industrial nations decided to hold a meeting in 1975.
• These six nations were - the US, UK, France, Germany (West), Japan and Italy.
• These countries were joined by Canada in 1976 and G7 came into existence.

Current Members

• US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan
• It can be said that the members of this group are the most developed and the advanced economies of the world.
• The European Union is also represented within the G7.

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/solidarity-for-peace-on-the-hiroshima-meet-of-the-g-7/article66881627.ece

C

3.

The Hubble constant tells us how fast the universe is expanding, which can be used to determine the age of the universe and its history. It gets its name from UChicago alum Edwin Hubble, who was first to calculate the constant from his measurements of stars in 1929.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/hubble-tension-cosmic-distance-ladder-riess-webb-telescope/article68064403.ece

D

4.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/ajanta-ellora-now-part-of-swadesh-darshan-scheme/articleshow/107475542.cms

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/explore-the-caves-of-ajanta-and-ellora/articleshow/37961004.cms

D  

5.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/study-says-microbes-not-fossil-fuels-produced-most-new-methane/article68124627.ece

Discarded household waste also releases large quantities of methane when it decomposes, if left to rot in landfills.

A

6.

Over 97 per cent of coal reserves occur in the valleys of Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi and Godavari. They lie in the Jharkhand-Bengal coal belt and the important coal fields in this region are Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro, Giridih, and Karanpura.

·  Jharkhand has the first rank in coal reserves and its production.

·  Most of the coalfields in the state of Jharkhand are located in a narrow belt running in the east-west direction almost along 24 degrees north latitude from the Gondwana period.

·  The main coal mining centres of the state are Auranga, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jharia, Giridh, Karanpur, Ramgarh and Hutar.

·  Jharia coalfield is one of the oldest and richest coal fields of India.

·  It lies south of Dhanbad and stores the best of metallurgical coal (bituminous) in the country.

D  

7.

https://iasgoogle.com/n/explain-the-difference-between-computing-methodology-of-indias-gross-domestic-product-gdp-before-the-year-2015-and-after-the-year-2015

A

8.

All the options given above are included under Climate engineering, also referred to as geo-engineering It is the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth''s climatic system with the aim of reducing global warming: -

ü Use of giant mirrors in space to reflect the sunlight so as to reduce the warming of earth.

ü Aerosols in space also reflect the incoming sunlight and thus reduce the warming of earth.

ü Biochar is essentially charcoal made through pyrolysis of biomass and then burying it mixed with the soil. With regard to long-term carbon storage potential, biochar can work on a large scale with, in most cases, no negative soil side effects, but increase its fertility. Some estimates show biochar having the potential to sequester one billion tons of CO₂ each year.

ü Fertilizing the oceans with iron to stimulate phytoplankton blooms to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and export carbon to the deep sea is another possible option.

 However, all these steps are still contested and yet remain a possible option to be taken up on a large scale.

B

9.

These 12 chemicals include 8 pesticides (Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex and Toxaphene), two industrial chemicals (Polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene) and 2 unintended by products- dioxins and furans.

https://www.unep.org/cep/persistent-organic-pollutants-pops-and-pesticides

C

10.

·   The Company forced the states into a “subsidiary alliance”. According to the terms of this alliance, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. They were to be protected by the Company, but had to pay for the “subsidiary forces” that the Company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, then part of their territory was taken away as penalty.

·   Napoleonic invasion of Egypt in the summer of 1798 offered Wellesly a useful tool to soften London''s resistance to expansion, although he never believed for a moment that there was any danger of a French invasion of British India either over land from Egypt or a naval attack round the Cape of Good Hope. However, to assuage London''s concerns he evolved the policy of ''Subsidiary Alliance'', which would only establish control over the internal affairs of an Indian state, without incurring any direct imperial liability.

·   There was no component of fixed income under this system.

Subsidiary Alliance

Under the Subsidiary Alliance system, the Indian ruler who is in question would be protected against any external attacks. In response to it, the rulers should:

·         Post the company army in the capital of their state.

·         Provide capital or territory for the company for maintenance of the troops.

·         Expulsion of other Europeans from the state, whether they were employed in the army or civil service.

·         A European official is to be kept as a “resident” of the capital of the state. This meant, no direct correspondence is possible with other states, without the resident’s approval.

Chronology of States under Subsidiary Alliance

Features of the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty

·         The initiation of the subsidiary alliance system was done by Lord Wellesley but introduced by the French Governor-General Dupleix.

·         While entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British, the Indian rulers had to do away with their armed forces and accept the British forces in their territory.

·         He also had to pay for the maintenance of the British army and if failed to make the payments, a portion of his territory would be taken away and given to the British state.

·         In favor, the British would protect the Indian state against any form of foreign attack or any internal revolt.

·         The British promised non-interference in the internal affairs of Indian states, but this was hardly kept.

·         Indian states were not allowed to enter alliances with any other foreign power. He would also not employ any other foreign nationals other than Englishmen at his service.

·         Indian states were not allowed to enter any political connection with any other Indian state without the permission of the British.

·         The control and power of Indian rulers were hence lost concerning foreign affairs and the military. The Indian ruler became the British “protectorate”. 

Effects of Subsidiary Alliance System

Due to the imposition of the subsidiary alliances, the Indian rulers were disbanded and many people were rendered unemployed. Many of the Indian states have lost independence and most parts of the Indian subcontinent were coming under the British sway. The first one to accept the subsidiary alliance was the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798. Lord Clive introduced the subsidiary alliance in Oudh and the subsequent Treaty of Allahabad was signed; where the British promised Oudh territory from enemies like the Marathas.

Impact of Subsidiary Alliance System

·         In case of failure of the ruler to make the payment, a portion of his territory was taken and ceded to the British, in the name of maintaining the troops. 

·         Subsidiary alliances acted as “Trojan horse tactics” in case of building the empire; which disarmed the Indian rulers and placed them under the protection of the British.

·         The Governor-General placed a proxy in every Indian state which accepted a subsidiary alliance.

·         It helped the company to maintain a large standing army at the expense of Indian princes.

·         It gave the control of strategic and key positions in India and Britishers wielded considerable influence on the internal affairs of the Indian state. It also reduced the threat from the French army.

Various stages of the Subsidiary Alliance System

·         In the foremost stage of the subsidiary alliance, the English asked for a fixed army from the native rulers in exchange for a fixed sum of money.

·         Next stage, the English keep a permanent military force in the states of natives to assist the allies in exchange for an annual sum of money.

·         In the third stage, the English asked not only to maintain a fixed subsidiary force but also to keep the force within the boundaries of the allies.

·         In the final stage, a fixed and permanent force was kept within the territories of their allies, which was started by Lord Wellesley.

Subsidiary Alliance System Impacts

Nizam of Hyderabad

The Nizam of Hyderabad ties were broken with the French in 1798 and allying with the Marathas was made illegal if permission from the British was not sought. The Nizam was the first one to sign the contract of a Subsidiary Alliance.

Nawab of Awadh

Mysore became the second state under a subsidiary alliance in the year 1799 and in 1801, Nawab of Awadh was forced to join the Subsidiary Alliance policy.

Peshwa Baji Rao II

Peshwa Baji Rao II used the subsidiary alliances system to subdue his realm and by 1803 many Maratha states agreed to the policy like that of Scindia and Bhosle. Even the last of the confederation, the Holkars, also agreed on the requirements of the policy.

Treaty of Allahabad

Treaty was adopted by Lord Clive in Oudh and the Treaty of Allahabad was formed, in which the British committed to protecting the Oudh area from adversaries. Gorakhpur, Rohilkand, and Doab were also forcibly given the maintenance of troops by the company.

Advantages of the Subsidiary Alliance System on the Britishers

1.    There were many advantages of the subsidiary alliance with the Britishers. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:

2.    The French would no longer be employed in the courts of the native rulers, which was a complete advantage for the Britishers; as their influence was wiped out.

3.    There was a bridge created between the native states, as most of the things were controlled by the Britishers under the subsidiary alliance policy.

4.    The area of influence of the Britishers was expanded and the natives became entirely dependent on the Britishers due to the presence of British forces in their states. They were reduced to being the British “protectorate” under the policy of subsidiary alliances.

5.    Britishers had the plus point of maintaining a large military force at the expense of native rulers and the territories of the native rulers would be utilized in an optimum way by the Britishers.

6.    Maintenance of the subsidiary alliance policy was expensive and hence heavy financial pressure was felt by the natives; because of this natives had to surrender most of their territories; which helped to expand their hold in the country.

Disadvantages of Subsidiary Alliance System on the Native Rulers

·  The subsidiary alliance came to be a big disadvantage for the native rulers. This can be pointed out from the following:

·  They slowly lost most of the fertile lands and important locations to that the British.

·  Financial pressure was huge from the subsidiary alliance which pushed people to live in poverty, for maintaining the army felt directly on the people.

·  According to the policy, Britishers couldn’t interfere in the policies of the native rulers; however in reality they often interfered in every state matter.

·  The position and prestige of the rulers gradually felt in the eyes of the masses whom they governed and this resulted in the loss of their capacity and also personality to rule these states.

·  Subjects of the state were also no longer in control of the matters and couldn’t dethrone incompetent rulers because the British protected the allied rulers against internal and external forces.

C  

11.

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/charting-a-path-for-the-population-committee/article67825927.ece#:~:text=With%20the%20TFR%20projected%20to,of%20the%20working%2Dage%20population.

Demographic transition theory can be used to describe and predict the future population of any area. The theory tells us that population of any region changes from high births and high deaths to low births and low deaths as society progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to urban industrial and literate society. These changes occur in stages which are collectively known as the demographic cycle.

• Demographic transition is a term, first used by Warren S. Thompson (1929), and later on by Frank W. Notestein (1945), referring to a historical process of change that accounts for the trends in births, deaths, and population growth that occurred in today’s industrialized societies, especially European societies. This process of demographic change began for the most part in the later 18th century.
• The demographic transition should not be regarded as a ‘law of population growth but as a generalized description of the evolutionary process. In simple terms, it is a theory that attempts to specify general laws by which human populations change in size and structure during industrialization. It is frequently accepted as a useful tool in describing the demographic history of a country.
• The theory postulates a particular pattern of demographic change from high fertility and high mortality to low fertility and low mortality when society progresses from a largely rural agrarian and illiterate society to a dominant urban, industrial, literate and modern society.
• The model has four stages:
• pre-industrial,
• urbanizing/industrializing,
• mature industrial, and
• post-industrial. 
• The theory of demographic transition deals with the transition from high to low birth rates and death rates.
• These stages of demographic transition can be explained with the help of diagram 3 given below:
• Stage I is characterised by a high birth rate, death rate, and low rate of population growth.
• The first stage of demographic transition is characterized by high birth rates and high death rates.
• The first stage of demographic transition was experienced in India, during the period of1891-1921.
• Stage II is characterised by a high and stationary birth rate, rapidly declining death rate, and very rapid increase in population.
• India entered Stage II after 1921.
• Stage III is characterised by a falling birth rate, low and stationary death rate, and a rapidly rising population.
• Stage IV is characterised by a low birth rate and low death rate with a stationary population at a low level.

C 

12.

Indira Gandhi Canal originated from Harike barrage at Sultanpur on Sutlej but Ghaggar is a tributary of river Saraswati, which ends in the Thar desert.

Damodar is an east-flowing river with a rift valley due to down warping. A down warp denotes a segment of the earth’s crust that is broadly bent downward.

The Narmada, the biggest west streaming waterway of the Peninsula, ascends close to the Amarkantak scope of mountains in Madhya Pradesh.

Nizam Sagar is the oldest dam in the state of Telangana, situated on the Manjra River. Manjira River is a tributary of the Godavari River, between Achampet and BanjePally villages of the Kamareddy district in Telangana, India. It is located at about 144 km (89 mi) north-west of Hyderabad.

The Painganga River is the central stream of the Buldhana area, Hingoli region, Nanded locale, Yavatmal region, Chandrapur region, and Washim region in the Maharashtra state in India.

A 

13.

Mesosphere: This is the third layer of the atmosphere. It lies above the stratosphere. It extends up to a height of 80 km. Meteorites burn up in this layer on entering from the space.

Weather Phenomena in the Troposphere

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth''s atmosphere, extending from the Earth''s surface up to an average height of about 7-20 kilometers (4-12 miles). It is the layer in which weather phenomena occur. Here is a detailed explanation of the weather phenomena that occur in the troposphere:

1. Rainfall

Rainfall is a common weather phenomenon that occurs in the troposphere. It is the result of the condensation of water vapor in the air, which forms clouds. When the water droplets in the clouds become too large to be suspended in the air, they fall to the ground as precipitation, which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

2. Fog

Fog is another weather phenomenon that occurs in the troposphere. It is a cloud that forms near the ground when the air is cooled to its dew point, causing the water vapor in the air to condense into water droplets. Fog reduces visibility and can be formed by various processes such as radiation fog, advection fog, and upslope fog.

3. Hailstorm

Hailstorms are severe weather events that can occur in the troposphere. They are characterized by the formation of large hailstones, which are balls of ice that can range in size from small pebbles to golf balls or even larger. Hailstones are formed when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, where they freeze and accumulate layers of ice. Eventually, the hailstones become too heavy for the updrafts to support and fall to the ground during a hailstorm.

A

14.

A

15.

The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi movement was made on August 7, 1905 at a meeting held at the Calcutta Town Hall. Leaders like Surendranath Banerjee, Ananda Mohan Bose, K. K. Mitra. Prithwischadra Ray attempted to bring the people of Bengal through addressing a huge gathering. Soon the movement spread to other parts of the country; in Pune and Bombay under Tilak, in Punjab under Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh, in Delhi under Syed Haider Raza and in Madras under Chaidamabaram Pillai.

The Swadeshi Movement introduced the concept of boycotting foreign goods, which aimed to hit the british economically. it became a means for indians to assert their economic independence and protest against british policies. the movement also emphasized the importance of national education and enterprises, promoting self-rule (swaraj) and self-assurance (atma shakti).

A  

16.

Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) highly contribute to global warming. Their warming impact is often thousands of times higher than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Initially introduced to replace ozone-depleting substances (ODS), F-gases were found to trap heat from the sun and thus make the planet warm up faster.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF₆) are collectively known as fluorinated greenhouse gases.

A

17.

• President’s Rule :
• Grounds of Imposition :
• Article 356 empowers the President to issue a proclamation if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of a state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Notably, the president can act either on a report of the governor of the state or otherwise too (i.e., even without the governor’s report).
• Article 365 says that whenever a state fails to comply with or to give effect to any direction from the Centre, it will be lawful for the president to hold that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
• Parliamentary Approval and Duration :
• A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
• However, if the proclamation of President’s Rule is issued at a time when the Lok Sabha has been dissolved or the dissolution of the Lok Sabha takes place during the period of two months without approving the proclamation, then the proclamation survives until 30 days from the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after its reconstitution, provided the Rajya Sabha approves it in the meantime.
• If approved by both the Houses of Parliament, the President’s Rule continues for six months.
• It can be extended for a maximum period of three years with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.
• Consequences of President’s Rule :
• S/He can take up the functions of the state government and powers vested in the governor or any other executive authority in the state.
• S/He can declare that the powers of the state legislature are to be exercised by the Parliament.
• S/He can take all other necessary steps including the suspension of the constitutional provisions relating to anybody or authority in the state.
• The President either suspends or dissolves the state legislative assembly. In case of dissolution, fresh elections are held for constituting a new legislative assembly in the state. 

A    

18.

First draft of the Indian constitution was prepared by B N Rau.

·       Constituent Assembly had appointed 22 committees and assigned different issues to deal with.

·       These committees submitted their reports between April and August 1947.

·       Then based on these reports BN Rau, the constitutional advisor to the constituent assembly drafted the initial draft of the Indian constitution in October 1947.

·       That draft contained 240 clauses and 13 schedules.

·       Then this draft was forwarded to the Drafting Committee for further procedure.

D

19.

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-tribe-donates-land-for-critically-endangered-songbird-bugun-liocichla-2940635

C   

20.

Seljuk architecture is characterized by its use of stone and brick, its elaborate geometric and vegetal decoration, and its towering minarets. Khilji Bas ruled from 1290 AD to 1320 AD and established the Saljuk style of architecture. The specialty of the construction of this period is the use of red sandstone. Along with this, the arched style gained prominence in this period. Seljuq architectural tradition is noticed in 1. The Alai Darwaza in the Qutub complex 2. Jamat Khana Masjid at Nizamuddin.

Vesara is a combination of Nagara and Dravidian style of temple architecture styles. The term Vesara is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word vishra meaning an area to take a long walk. Many historian agree that the Vesara style originated in the what is today Karnataka.

The trend was started by the Chalukyas of Badami (500-753AD) who built temples in a style that was essentially a mixture of the Nagara and the Dravida styles, further refined by the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (750- 983AD) in Ellora, Chalukyas of Kalyani (983-1195 AD) in Lakkundi, Dambal, Gadag etc. and epitomized by the Hoysalas (1000-1330 AD)

The Hoysalas temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpura are prime examples of this style.

Unique features of Vesara style of temple architecture

• Ornamentation: In case of ornamentation of temple walls and pillars, Chalukyan temple shows indigenous quality.
• Transformation of Dravida tower: The Chalukyan builders modified the Dravida towers by minimizing the height of each storey and arranging them in descending order of height from base to top with much ornamentation in each storey.
• Transformation of Nagara tower: Instead of inclined storey here modification is seen in the vertical shape of the tower
• Two special features of Chalukya temples – Mantapa and Pillars:

1. Mantapa: The mantapa has two types of roof – domical ceilings (the dome like ceilings standing on four pillars are very attractive) or Square ceilings (these are vigorously ornamented with mythological pictures).
2. Pillars: the miniature decorative pillars of Chalukya temples stands with its own artistic value.

• Famous temples built with this style include: Kallesvara temple, Kukkanur; Ramalingesvara temple, Gudur; Mahadeva temple, Ittagi; Kasivisvesvara temple, Lakkundi (and several other temples at Lakkundi); Brahmadeva temple, Savadi – notable for being fully stellate; Mallikarjuna temple, Sudi (and Joda-kalasha temple)

Influence of Nagara and Dravidian style of temple architecture on the style of Vesara

• The plan of shrine, subsidiary shrine, panchayatan style bears similarity to Nagara School.
• The plan of vestibule joining the sanctum to mantapa bears resemblance to Odishan temples.
• The most of the temple pillars in Karnataka region bears similarity to sekhari and bhumija type of pillars in northern India.

• The stepped diamond plan that is a plan of design arrangement as seen in Chalukya temples is from northern region.
• The most of the temples in kalyani portrays Nagara articulation projecting stepped diamond or stellate plan.
• The Dravida influence is mainly visible in vimana of the Chalukya temples in first part of the Chalukya rule
• Miniature decorative towers and ornamentation of walls in Chalukya temples show combination of both Nagara and Dravida style.

Famous temples built during the reign of several empires in South India

Chalukyan architecture

• Their architecture consisted of admixture of Nagara and Dravidian styles.
• Temples built during this time can be found in- Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal
• Temples built during their time period do not have a covered ambulatory path
• The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal built in imitation of Kailashnath temple is the jewel of Chalukyan architecture
• The Rameshwaram temple at Ellora built in 7^th century was also built during the Chalukyan time period
• Lad Khan temple and Durga temple at Aihole are other noteworthy monuments built during this time period

Rashtrakuta architecture

• They were the successors of the Chalukyas
• Their temples were built mostly imitating the Chalukyan style
• The Kailas temple at Ellora, built during the time of Krishna II is the representative form of architecture of the empire
• The Navalinga Temples in Kukkanur is another temple built during this period

Hoysala temple architecture

• Kesava temple at Belur built during the time of Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas is a representative art of this period
• In this temple, there are multiple shrines grouped around a central pillared hall and laid out in the shape of an intricately-designed star
• Such an arrangement could be found in temples during this time in Halebid, Somnathpur and elsewhere
• Hoysaleswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is another famous temple built during this period

 Vijayanagara architecture

• It is a vibrant combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya, and Chola styles
• Local hard granite was the building material of choice, as it had been for the Badami Chalukyas.
• Vijayanagar temples are characterized by ornate pillared halls and rayagopurams, or monumental towers adorned with life-sized figures of gods and goddesses that stand at the entrance of the temple.
• Vijayanagar temples are also known for their carved pillars , which depict charging horses, figures from Hindu mythology, and yali (hippogriphs)
• Some of the larger temples are dedicated to a male deity, with a separate shrine intended for the worship of his female counterpart. Some famous temples exemplifying the Vijayanagar style include the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi and the Hazara Rama temple of Deva Raya I.

A  

21.

The Citizenship Act, 1955, prescribes three ways of losing citizenship whether acquired under the Act or prior  to it under the Constitution, viz, renunciation, termination and deprivation: When an Indian citizen voluntarily (consciously, knowingly and without duress, undue influence or  compulsion) acquires the citizenship of another country, his Indian citizenship automatically terminates. This provision, however, does not apply during a war in which India is engaged. 

Deprivation is a compulsory termination of Indian citizenship by the Central government, if:

·      the citizen has obtained the citizenship by fraud: 

·      the citizen has shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India:

·      the citizen has unlawfully traded or communicated with the enemy during a war;

·      the citizen has, within five years after registration or naturalisation, been imprisoned in any country for two years; and

·      the citizen has been ordinarily resident out of India for seven years continuously.

B 

22.

Crowding out reduces the effectiveness of any expansionary fiscal policy, whether it be an increase in government purchases, an increase in transfer payments, or a reduction in income taxes.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/crowding-out-effect

C  

23.

·      Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary involved in the Indian independence movement.

·      He was born in present-day Andhra Pradesh in 1897 or 1898.

·      He became a sanyasi at the age of 18 and gained a mystical aura among the hill and tribal peoples with his austerity, knowledge of astrology and medicine, and his ability to tame wild animals.

·      At a very young age, Raju channelled the discontent of the hill people in Ganjam, Visakhapatnam, and Godavari into a highly effective guerrilla resistance against the British.

·      He became involved in anti-British activities in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which effectively restricted the free movement of Adivasis (tribal communities) in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing a traditional form of agriculture known as podu (shifting cultivation).

·      Rising discontent towards the British led to the Rampa Rebellion/Manyam Rebellion of 1922, in which he played a major part as a leader.

·      The Rampa Rebellion coincided with Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. He persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking.

·      But at the same time, he asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence.

·      He was nicknamed "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungle) by local villagers for his heroic exploits.

·      In 1924, Raju was taken into police custody, tied to a tree, and shot by a public execution, effectively ending the armed rebellion.

C 

24.

Macaulay introduced English as the literary and official language of India.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial/lord-macaulay-s-minute-1835

B    

25.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/skin-bleaching-safety-tips-skincare-8509896/

Minamata Convention is an international treaty signed in 2013. The convention aims to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of Mercury and its compounds. It caters to the release of mercury emissions and its releases into the environment. The convention is named after the Japanese City Minamata due to its symbolic importance as the city went through a devastating incident of Mercury poisoning. It is a UN treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme. India is a party to the convention and ratified it in 2018. India has ratified Minimata Convention in 2018.

https://minamataconvention.org/en/implementation/gef

Harmful products such as Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, and Mercury are present in many skin lightening products. Hydroquinone is considered as a primary topical ingredient for inhibiting melanin production because it reduces the skin’s production of melanin which is responsible for skin color.

Minamata Convention is an international treaty signed in 2013. The convention aims to protect the human health and environment from the harmful effects of Mercury and its compounds. It caters to the release of mercury emissions and its releases in the environment.

Applications of Mercury:

·  Thermometers and Barometers: Mercury''s high coefficient of thermal expansion and easy visibility make it suitable for use in traditional thermometers and barometers.

·  Chemical and Mining Processes: Mercury has been used in various chemical and mining processes, including the production of chlorine and mining of gold.

Electronics and Electrical Switches: Mercury-wetted switches are used in various electrical applications because mercury''s conductivity and low resistance make it suitable for creating a reliable electrical connection.

Sources of Mercury Pollution:

Natural Sources:

·  Volcanic eruptions release small amounts of mercury.

·  Erosion of rocks and soil can release mercury into water bodies.

Anthropogenic Sources:

·  Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): ASGM is a major source of mercury pollution, where mercury is used to extract gold from ore.

·  Mercury is used to extract gold particles from ores, creating amalgams that are later heated to evaporate the mercury, leaving behind gold.

·  Artisanal gold mining operations are responsible for 37% of global mercury pollution.

·  Industrial Processes: Various industries, such as chlorine production, cement manufacturing, and waste incineration, emit mercury.

·  The cement industry is responsible for around 11% of global anthropogenic mercury emissions.

·  Waste Disposal: Improper disposal of e-waste products containing mercury, such as fluorescent bulbs and batteries, leads to mercury leaching into the environment.

Associated Impact:

·  Methylmercury accumulates in aquatic organisms like fish. People primarily come into contact with methylmercury through the consumption of fish and shellfish.

·  This compound carries a higher risk of causing Minamata disease, a condition characterized by sensory impairment, tremors, and both auditory and visual deficits.

·  This illness was initially observed in the residents of Minamata Bay, Japan, who consumed mercury-contaminated fish due to industrial waste pollution.

·  Note: Methylmercury and ethylmercury differ significantly. While methylmercury is linked to health issues, ethylmercury is utilized as a preservative in certain vaccines and is not associated with health concerns.

Way Forward

·  Mercury-Removing Filters: Innovative mercury-removal filters for industrial emissions, wastewater treatment, and consumer products can be designed and deployed.

·  These filters could selectively capture and adsorb mercury particles from air and water streams.

·  Phytoremediation: Phytoremediation, allows plants to absorb and accumulate mercury from soil, water, or sediments. These plants can then be harvested and safely disposed of, effectively removing mercury from the environment.

·  Implementing planetGOLD Program: There is a need for global implementation of the planetGOLD program, led by UNEP, which seeks to eliminate mercury from artisanal gold mining and create safer working conditions. It operates under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

·  Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the program provides financial and technical support to help miners transition away from mercury use.

·  planetGOLD''s mercury-free processing plant in Burkina Faso serves as a model for transitioning away from mercury.

C   

26.

Darwin and Wallace proposed the theory of organic evolution, which is based on the following sequence:

1. Overproduction: Organisms have the potential to produce more offspring than the environment can support. This leads to competition for limited resources.

2. Variations: Within a population, individuals exhibit variations in their traits. These variations can be inherited from parents or arise due to random mutations.

3. Constancy of population size: Despite the overproduction of offspring, populations tend to remain relatively stable in size over time. This is due to limited resources and other factors such as predation, disease, and competition.

4. Natural selection: In a population with variations, individuals with traits that are advantageous in their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This is known as natural selection. Over time, the frequency of advantageous traits increases in the population, leading to evolutionary change.

A

27.

https://www.vedantu.com/commerce/unemployment-and-employment-generation

C 

28.

https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=110116

World War-I & Revolutionaries

Onset of World War-I received a divided Indian response. While moderates & extremists supported British in the war, revolutionaries decided to utilise this opportunity.

America

·       G D Kumar set up Swadesh Sevak Home in Vancouver and launched a paper in Gurmukhi, Swadesh Sewak.

·       United India House in Seattle was set up in 1910 by G D Kumar and Taraknath Das.

·       There was a restriction on Indian immigration into Canada in 1908. Taraknath Das, an Indian student, and one of the first leaders of Indian community in North America to start a paper (called Free Hindustan). He realized that while the British government was keen on Indians going to Fiji to work as a labourer for British planters, it did not want them to go to North America where they might be infected by ideas of liberty.

·       Centre of revolutionary activity soon shifted to the US, which provided a free political atmosphere.

Ghadar party

·       It began in 1913 and conducted revolutionary activity in North America. It organized a weekly newspaper, The Ghadar with its headquarters in San Francisco. Ghadar means Revolt. On front page of each issue was a feature titled Angrezi Raj Ka Kacha Chittha or ‘An Expose of British Rule.’

·       Most powerful impact was made by poems that appeared in The Ghadar, soon collected & published as Ghadar di Goonj and distributed free of cost.

·       Notable members were Lala Hardayal, Bhagwan Singh, Barkatullah, Kartar Singh, Bhai Parmanand etc.

·       Plans of Ghadarites were encouraged by two events in 1914—Komagata Maru incident and outbreak of First World War.

·       Komagata Maru was a ship carrying 370 passengers, mainly Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver. Canadian authorities backturned them after two months of privation and uncertainty. It was believed that Canadian authorities were influenced by British government. The ship finally anchored at Calcutta in September 1914. Inmates refused to board the Punjab-bound train. In the ensuing conflict with police at Budge Budge near Calcutta, many died.

·       Inflamed by this and with outbreak of First World War, Ghadar leaders decided to launch a violent attack to oust British rule in India.

·       Defence of India Act was passed in 1915 primarily to smash Ghadar movement.

Europe

·       Berlin Committee for Indian independence was established in 1915 by Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay and Bhupendra Dutta.

C  

29.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/what-are-antihistamines/article68090729.ece

A mast cell is the cell of connective tissue proper. Mast cells are like basophils of blood in structure and function. When an allergic substance enters into body mast cells secrete histamine. Because of histamine a part of blood comes out and is called exudate which causes swelling.

A basophil is a type of white blood cell and a type of granulocyte. Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin, heparin, etc., and are involved in inflammatory reactions.

D 

30.

https://www.vedantu.com/question-answer/give-characteristics-of-all-phylums-under-class-11-biology-cbse-5f8e9240813eab67c14d614c

Protozoa are unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms. They are either free-living or parasites. There are around 65000 species of protozoans categorised in different groups. They lack a cell wall. There are many different cell organelles, that perform various tasks performed by different organs in higher animals, e.g. mouth, anus, intestinal tract, etc. There are many protozoa, that cause various diseases in animals and humans, e.g. Plasmodium (malarial parasite), Trypanosoma (sleeping sickness), Trichomonas (trichomoniasis), etc.

A    

31.

The Male Torso:

·      It is found at Harappa. 

·      It is made up of red sandstone. 

·      It is chiselled in the round.

·      It is remarkable for its naturalistic pose and sophisticated modeling, highlighting its physical beauty.

·      The head and arms of this figure were carved separately and socketed into the drilled holes of the torso.

Mother Goddess

The sculpture "Mother Goddess" is one of the most fascinating Indus Valley Civilisation figures. Fashioned by hand, this clay sculpture originates in Mohenjo-Daro, and dates back to around 2500 BCE. It is 22cm in height, 8.5cm in width, and 3.4cm in depth.

The people of Harappa seemed to have worshipped the Mother Goddess and Shiva Pashupati. The Mother Goddess was also known as Shakti; perhaps, they believed her to be the source of all creation. They also worshipped the male god, Shiva Pashupati. He was the lord of the animals. Shiva was also worshipped in the form of Linga and Yoni.

Painted Earthen Jar

Found in Mohenjodaro, this jar is made on a potter’s wheel with clay. The shape was manipulated by the pressure of the crafty fingers of the potter. After baking the clay model, it was painted with black colour. High polishing was done as a finishing touch. The motifs are of vegetals and geometric forms. Designs are simple but with a tendency towards abstraction.

C  

32.

Ricardian equivalence theory

This theory was developed by David Ricardo in the early 19th century and later was elaborated upon by Harvard professor Robert Barro.  For this reason, Ricardian equivalence is also known as the Barro-Ricardo equivalence proposition.

It is an economic theory that says that financing government spending out of current taxes or future taxes (and current deficits) will have equivalent effects on the overall economy.  Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

This means that attempts to stimulate an economy by increasing debt-financed government spending will not be effective because investors and consumers understand that the debt will eventually have to be paid for in the form of future taxes.

The theory argues that people will save based on their expectation of increased future taxes to be levied in order to pay off the debt and that this will offset the increase in aggregate demand from the increased government spending.   This also implies that Keynesian fiscal policy will generally be ineffective at boosting economic output and growth.

A

33.

Article 45- Provides for early childhood care and education below the age of six years. 

• Under Schedule 11 of the constitution, the Panchayati raj institutions have allowed 29 subjects to work in their local areas. Education is one of them. Similarly, Schedule 12 of the constitution provides for 18 subjects and education is included here also. 

• The Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the administration and management of Scheduled areas and Scheduled tribes where tribal communities are in majority.
• This Schedule aims to hold the state accountable for the advancement of tribals’ educational and economic objectives. It also attempts to give them social justice and protect them from all forms of exploitation. 
• According to the Sixth Schedule Autonomous District Councils (ADC) were established in four northeastern states, namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• These councils within their respective districts, shall have power to make laws with respect to education, primary and secondary and vocational training. 
• The seventh schedule of the constitution deals with the distribution of powers among states and centres via three lists i.e State List, Center List and Concurrent List. 
• 42nd amendment Act 1976 shifted below mentioned five subjects from the State list to Concurrent List:
• Education
• Forests
• Protection of wild animals and birds
• Weights and measures and
• Administration of justice, constitution and organisation of all courts except the Supreme Court and the High Courts. 

C

34.

Shale Oil

Shale gas is natural gas, one of several forms of unconventional gas (also known as methane or CH4).

It is trapped within shale formations with low permeability, which is fine-grained sedimentary rock which acts as its source as well as reservoir.

It is an unconventional oil produced from oil shale rock fragments by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution.

These processes convert the organic matter within the rock into synthetic oil and gas.

Difference from crude oil:

The key difference between shale oil and conventional crude is that the former, also called ‘tight oil’, is found in smaller batches, and deeper than conventional crude deposits.

Its extraction requires creation of fractures in oil and gas rich shale to release hydrocarbons through a process called hydraulic fracking.

Largest producers:

Russia and the US are among the largest shale oil producers in the world, with a surge in shale oil production in the US having played a key role in turning the country from an importer of crude to a net exporter in 2019.

A number of US shale exploration firms, including Halliburton, have faced litigation from citizens living in areas adjacent to shale production sites who have claimed that hydraulic fracking has contributed to groundwater contamination.

Shale oil extraction methods:

Mined shale oils are transported to the processing plants, heated to 500OC, and oil comes out from these rocks.

Situ technique: Oil shale is broken by explosion and Kerogen comes out like crude oil from these rocks.

C    

35.

Lateritic Soils

• Laterite soils are mostly the end products of weathering.
• They are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods.
• Heavy rainfall promotes leaching (nutrients gets washed away by water) of soil whereby lime and silica are leached away and a soil rich in oxides of iron and aluminium compounds is left behind.
• ‘Laterite’ means brick in Latin. They harden greatly on losing moisture.
• Laterite soils are red in colour due to little clay and more gravel of red sand-stones.
• Chemical composition of Laterite – Lateritic Soils
• Laterite soils are rich in bauxite or ferric oxides.
• They are very poor in lime, magnesia, potash and nitrogen.
• Sometimes, the phosphate content may be high in the form of iron phosphate.
• In wetter places, there may be a higher content of humus.
• Distribution of Laterite – Lateritic Soils
• Laterite soils cover an area of 2.48 lakh sq km.
• A continuous stretch of laterite soil is found on the summits of Western Ghats at 1000 to 1500 m above mean sea level, Eastern Ghats, the Rajmahal Hills, Vindhyan, Satpuras and Malwa Plateau.
• They also occur at lower levels and in valleys in several other parts of the country.
• They are well developed in south Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka etc. and are widely scattered in other regions.​
• Crops in Laterite – Lateritic Soils
• Laterite soils lack fertility due to intensive leaching.
• When manured and irrigated, some laterites are suitable for growing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, cinchona, coconut, arecanut, etc.
• In some areas, these soils support grazing grounds and scrub forests.

C  

36.

The index will assign a value between 0 and 1 to indicate the level of distress.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/explainer-what-is-the-farmers-distress-index--90439

A

37.

C

38.

Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) & Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER)

1. An increase in Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) indicates the appreciation of the rupee.

This statement is correct. The NEER is an index that measures the value of a country’s currency relative to a basket of other major currencies, weighted by their relative trade with the country. An increase in NEER means that the Indian rupee has appreciated in value compared to this basket of currencies, which implies that it takes fewer rupees to buy the same amount of foreign currency.

2. An increase in Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) indicates an improvement in trade competitiveness.

This statement is not necessarily correct. The REER adjusts the NEER for inflation differentials between India and its trading partners. An increase in REER suggests that the Indian currency has appreciated in real terms, which could make Indian exports more expensive and imports cheaper, potentially reducing trade competitiveness. However, it is also possible that an increase in REER reflects higher productivity or quality improvements in a country’s goods and services, which could enhance competitiveness. Therefore, an increase in REER does not unambiguously indicate an improvement in trade competitiveness.

3. An increasing trend in domestic inflation relative to inflation in other countries is likely to cause an increasing divergence between NEER and REER.

This statement is correct. If India experiences higher inflation than its trading partners, the NEER may not change much, but the REER will increase because the domestic currency’s real value is eroding due to higher prices. This divergence occurs because the REER is adjusted for inflation, while the NEER is not.

C

39.

D

40.

Akbar’s period, 1556 to 1605, was the period of great rulers. His nearest contemporary was Elizabeth of England. Shakespeare was living around this time. Henry IV of France, first ruler of the Bourbon dynasty, and Abbas the Great of Persia, the strongest ruler of the Safavid dynasty, were ruling their kingdoms during his period. The revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule in Europe that commenced during this period lasted for about eighty years and ended in 1648.

D

41.

The compilation and dissemination of BoP data is the prime responsibility of RBI.

Balance of Payment

• Balance of Payment (BoP) of a country can be defined as a systematic statement of all economic transactions of a country with the rest of the world during a specific period usually one year.
• It indicates whether the country has a surplus or a deficit on trade.
• When exports exceed imports, there is a trade surplus and when imports exceed exports there is a trade deficit.
• Purposes of calculation of BoP:
• Reveals the financial and economic status of a country.
• Can be used as an indicator to determine whether the country’s currency value is appreciating or depreciating.
• Helps the Government to decide on fiscal and trade policies.
• Provides important information to analyze and understand the economic dealings of a country with other countries.
• Components of BoP:
• For preparing BoP accounts, economic transactions between a country and rest of the world are grouped under - Current account, Capital account and Errors and Omissions. It also shows changes in Foreign Exchange Reserves.
• Current Account: It shows export and import of visibles (also called merchandise or goods - represent trade balance) and invisibles (also called non-merchandise).

·  Invisibles include services, transfers and income.

• Capital Account: It shows a capital expenditure and income for a country.

·  It gives a summary of the net flow of both private and public investment into an economy.

·  External Commercial Borrowing (ECB), Foreign Direct Investment, Foreign Portfolio Investment, etc form a part of capital account.

• Errors and Omissions: Sometimes the balance of payment does not balance. This imbalance is shown in the BoP as errors and omissions. It reflects the country’s inability to record all international transactions accurately.
• Changes in Foreign Exchange Reserves: Movements in the reserves comprises changes in the foreign currency assets held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and also in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) balances.
• Overall the BoP account can be a surplus or a deficit. If there is a deficit then it can be bridged by taking money from the Foreign Exchange (Forex) Account.

·  If the reserves in the forex account are falling short then this scenario is referred to as BoP crisis.

B       

42.

The darkest time of year at the North Pole is the Winter Solstice, approximately December 21. There has been no sunlight or even twilight since early October. The darkness lasts until the beginning of dawn in early March.

Equinox vs Solstice

D

43.

Jahangir was the fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627. He is famous for his ‘golden chain of justice’. A golden chain having 60 bells and weighing several ‘maunds’ was fastened between the Shahburj of Agra fort and a stone pillar raised on the banks of river Jamuna. People seeking justice were required to pull this chain in order to put forth their complaints or petitions to the King. This act speaks highly of the importance of justice during his reign.

B 

44.

Additive and subtractive color mixing are two different ways in which colors are combined to create new colors.

·      Additive color mixing occurs when different colors of light are combined. This is the process used in devices such as computer monitors, television screens, and stage lighting. In additive color mixing, the primary colors are red, green, and blue (RGB). When these colors are combined at full intensity, they create white light. By adjusting the intensity of each primary color, a wide range of colors can be created.

·      Subtractive color mixing, on the other hand, occurs when different colors of pigment or dye are mixed together. This is the process used in traditional art, printing, and color mixing in everyday objects. The primary colors in subtractive color mixing are cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY). When these pigments are mixed together, they absorb certain wavelengths of light, resulting in the perception of different colors. When all three primary colors are combined, they absorb all wavelengths and appear black.

·      In printing, a fourth color, black (K), is often added to the CMY model to improve the reproduction of dark colors and to save on the use of colored inks. This is known as the CMYK color model.

·      The physics behind these processes involves the way light and pigments interact with each other and with our eyes. Additive color mixing involves the combination of different wavelengths of light, while subtractive color mixing involves the absorption and reflection of light by pigments.

·      A Newton''s disc can be created by painting a disc with the seven different colours: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. When the disc is rotated, it appears white. This explains that white light consists of seven colours.

·      The phenomenon due to which white light splits into seven colours on passing through a prism is called dispersion. White light is made up of seven bands of colors each having different wavelengths. Upon passing through a medium, each of the colors travels at different speeds and hence has different angles of refraction leading to the splitting of the light i.e. dispersion.

b

45.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-mdh-everest-spices-are-under-international-scrutiny-explained/article68130961.ece

The Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is a flagship regulatory and export promotion agency for Indian spices.

The board is headquartered in Kochi.

[Kochi is known by a lot of nicknames such as God''s Own Country and the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It has also been known as the Spice Capital of the world, since ancient times.]

Spices Board was constituted in 1987 under Spices Board Act 1986 with the responsibility of production/development of cardamom and export promotion of 52 spices shown in the schedule of the Act.

The Board functions an international link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad and it has been involved in various activities which touch upon every segment of the spices sector.

D

46.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/amaterasu-cosmic-ray-physics-explained/article67690711.ece 

C

47.

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

C

48.

M1 = Currency with the Public + Demand Deposits with the Banking System + ‘Other’ Deposits with RBI*

=Currency with the Public + Current Deposits with the Banking System + Demand Liabilities Portion of Savings Deposits with the Banking System + ‘Other’ Deposits with RBI*

M2=M1+ Time Liabilities Portion of Savings Deposits with the Banking System + Certificates of Deposit issued by Banks + Term Deposits of residents with a contractual maturity of up to and including one year with the Banking System

=Currency with the Public + Current Deposits with the Banking System + Savings Deposits with the Banking System + Certificates of Deposits issued by Banks + Term Deposits of residents with a contractual maturity up to and including one year with the Banking System + ‘Other’ Deposits with RBI*.

M3=M2+ Term Deposits of residents with a contractual maturity of over one year with the Banking System + Call/Term borrowings from ‘Non-depository’ financial corporations by the Banking System.

Note: * ‘Other’ deposits with RBI comprise mainly: (i) deposits of quasi-government and other financial institutions including primary dealers, (ii) balances in the accounts of foreign Central banks and Governments, (iii) accounts of international agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, etc.

M1 and M2 are known as narrow money while M3 and M4 are known as broad money. These measures are in decreasing order of liquidity. M1 is most liquid and easiest for transactions whereas M4 is least liquid of all. M3 is the most commonly used measure of money supply.

C  

49.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/in-a-pre-election-budget-stability-not-political-gestures-9139712/

B 

50.

Charter Act of 1853 was passed when charter act of 1833 timed out and had to be renewed. It was renewed but no substantial changes were made. However, this was for the first time, that this charter act, unlike other charter acts, did not fix any limit for the continuance of the administration of the company in India. The act provided that the Indian territories will remain under the Governance of the company, until the parliament otherwise directed.

The Charter Act of 1853 has some of the everlasting impression as it marked the journey of the Parliamentary system in India and became an integral part of the Indian polity and constitution in the forthcoming years.

Several issues got their peak in 1853 and the situation compelled to demand the decentralization of powers thus empowering the local Indian citizen’s share in business and management. The trade and business underwent several delays, unnecessary expenditures as the control and regulating powers of dispatch were under the Court of directors. There were annexation of Sindh and Punjab territory and many other political changes took place after the act of 1833. There were certain veiled whispers and allegations on the Governor-General of India being in favour of Bengal and making certain favourable decisions for them. The above-mentioned reasons and the prevalence at that time compelled the British parliament to renew the East India Company’s charter as in 1853. Two Committees were set up and based on their reports, the Charter Act 1853 was formulated.

Charter Act of 1853

·  The Charter Act of 1853 was a significant legislative enactment during British rule in India.

·  It aimed to reform various aspects of governance and administration in British India.

·  This act introduced significant changes, particularly in the realm of education and legislative powers.

Features

·  The Charter Act of 1853 introduced several notable features aimed at reforming governance in British India.

·  It expanded the powers of legislative councils and introduced a system of open competition for civil service recruitment.

·  The act also addressed issues related to Indian finances and judicial administration.

·  Understanding the features of the Charter Act of 1853 is crucial for comprehending its impact on the administrative and legislative framework in colonial India.

Key Provisions 

 Changes to the Legislative Powers:

·       The executive functions were separated from the Governor-legislative General’s Council for the first time.

·       It created a distinct Legislative council (known as the Indian Central Legislative council) which ordered the addition of six new members to the council making it 12 members in total. The twelve members were: one Commander-in-Chief, one Governor-General, four members of the Governor-General’s Council, one judge of the Calcutta Supreme court, one Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, and four other representative members having the criteria of being company’s servants with at least 10 years tenure and should be appointed by the local legislature of Bengal, Madras, North-Western Provinces, and Bombay.

·       The right to veto a bill was transferred to Executive Council as it was earlier with the legislative council.  

·       It was during this charter that the Legislative council was considered as a distinct government body and required specialized procedures.

·       The legislative matter was carried out in public discussion and the bills were passed to the Select Committee rather than to any individual member.

 Changes to the Salary Provision:

·       The salaries of the Boards of controls, its Secretary, and other officers would be approved by the British government and payable by the East India Company.

·       The court of directors number was reduced from 24 to 18 and out of it, 6 members were to be nominated by the British Crown. Furthermore, the court of directors’ powers was weakened in terms of their patronage, subjects of the high posts were brought to equal opportunities through competitive exams and thus selection was made irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, etc.

·       This scheme was further highlighted by the formation of The Macaulay Committee of 1854, constituting the Indian Civil exams sets and procedures.

·       The Court of Directors was assigned with the power of forming a new Presidency, altering the state boundaries, incorporating the newly acquired state. This provision thus empowered the formation of a separate Lieutenant Governorship for Punjab, 1859.

 Changes to the Law Commission Powers and Provision

·  The British Crown now had the power to appoint a Law Commission in England as per the Charter Act 1853.  

·  The law commission was assigned with the powers and duty to analyse the papers, reports, drafts of the Indian Law Commission.

·  The members of the Law Commission were to be elected from the Governor-General’s Executive Council and for this purpose, the Council membership was extended by six members.

·  The representatives in the Provinces should be civil servants for more than or at least 10 years.

 Changes to the Powers for the Presidency

·        As per the Charter Act 1853, the Governor-General of Bengal Presidency appointment provisions were made. Until the Bengal Governor-general was appointed, the Court of Directors had the power to appoint a civil service candidate with 10 years of service or more as the Lieutenant-Governor of the province.

·        This empowerment of altering the existing province boundaries and incorporation of acquired states, to constitute a new province by the Court of Directors was brought into effect with the creation of Punjab into a Lieutenant-Governorship.

·        This empowerment further leads to the formation of Central Province, Assam, and Burma.

 Changes to the  Civil service (Open Competition)

·   It laid down the foundation of civil service exams and opened the gates of a fair competition system for civil servants’ recruitment and selection.

·   Thus as per the provision for ICS (Indian Civil Service), it opened the gates to Indians as well as the service was made available to Indians as well.

·   The Macaulay Committee was formed in 1854, to serve the purpose and is known as the Committee on Indian Civil Service.

Some of the Major Significance of the Charter Act 1853

·       It was the Charter Act, of 1853 that separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s council for the first time.

·       The Governor-General’s Council proved to be a basic foundation for the modern-day Parliamentary and Government structure. The legislative wing was a model of the British Parliament.

·       It differed from the previous Charter act of 1793, 1813, and 1833 as it allowed the East India Company’s Rule for an indefinite period, thus could be acquired by the British Government at any point.

·       This act has taken over company power and thus reduces its influence as Board of Directors, and those will be nominated by the British Crown.

·       It introduced ICS (Indian Civil Service) and opened the gates to all Indians by appearing in ICS.

·       This act for the first time introduced the local members from the governments of Bengal, Bombay, Madras and North Western Provinces into the legislative council.

Criticism or Drawbacks of the Charter Act, 1853

·       The major drawback of the Charter Act 1853 is it failed to include Indians in the Legislative Council.  

·       The Charter Act 1853, has not given the East India Company the legal period of 20 years for its governance, rather it has given the power to the Crown Government to step in at any point of time and take over from East India Company. This was further taken the pace after the 1857 Revolution or Mutiny.

Importance of Charter Act 1853

·   The Charter Act of 1853 holds significant importance in the history of British colonial rule in India.

·   It marked a turning point in administrative reforms and governance policies in British India.

·   The act’s provisions influenced various aspects of Indian society, including education, administration, and legislative procedures.

·   Recognizing the importance of the Charter Act of 1853 is essential for understanding the dynamics of British colonialism and its impact on Indian governance.

D