1.

One Future Alliance launched by India is aimed at

(1) Solar Energy

(2) Geo Thermal Energy

(3) Digital Public Infrastructure

(4) Nuclear Non-Proliferation

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) Only 4

(c) Only 3

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

   2.

In the lower layers of atmosphere, what range of wavelengths of light is predominant?

(a) Between 100-300 nm

(b) Less than 100 nm

(c) Greater than 300 nm

(d) All wavelengths are equally present

   3.

Which of the following statements about recently issued Sovereign Green Bonds is/are correct?

1. Sovereign green bonds are fixed interest-bearing financial instruments 

2. Only domestic investments are allowed to invest in these Bonds

3. These bonds are issued at a premium and hence yields are higher

4. Tax benefits are provided for investment in sovereign green bonds

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 4 only

  4.

UNICEF has dubbed this as a “child rights crisis”

(a) Climate Change

(b) Electronic Wastes

(c) Lead Pollution

(d) Radio Wastes

  5.

With reference to the World Economic Forum, consider the following statements:

1. It is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

2. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

3. Energy Transition Index is released by it.

How many statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only one statement

(b) Only two statements

(c) All three statements

(d) None of the statements

   6.

With reference to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, consider the following statements:

1. UVB photons are the highest energy photons in sunlight.

2. At the Earth''s surface we find only UVB and UVA radiation.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

   7.

De-dollarisation is caused by

1. Trade in US Dollars.

2. Expansionary monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve.

3. Invoicing foreign trade in Indian currency.

4. Trust in the US financial markets.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

   8.

Where is “Gandhi Sagar Park”?

(a) Madhya Pradesh

(b) Odisha

(c) Bihar

(d) Andhra Pradesh

   9.

“Migration and Development Brief” is released by

(a) United Nations Population Fund

(b) International Monetary Fund

(c) International Labour Organisation

(d) World Bank

 10.

VOCs are generated by

1. Paints

2. Landfills

3. Livestock

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c)  2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3

 11.

1. L₁, L₂, and L₃ are stable.

2. L₁ is about 1.5 million km from the earth.

3. The James Webb Space Telescope is now in orbit around L₂.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. Lagrange points?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 12.

1. It is located in Sunda Strait.

2. Krakatau is a caldera.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. Anak Krakatau volcano?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 13.

Countries that share land borders with Laos include

1. Myanmar

2. Thailand

3. Vietnam

4. Indonesia

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

 14.

A pyramid of numbers in grassland is

(a) spindle shaped

(b) always inverted

(c)  upright in winters only

(d) always upright

 15.

The concentration of carbon in living matter is almost 100 times greater than its concentration in the earth because

(a) carbon is produced by the living cells.

(b) living things extract carbon from their nonliving environment.

(c) carbon is biomagnified in living cells.

(d) carbon cannot be recycled.

 16.

Consider the following statements:

1. Sulphur appears as the yellow aspects of soil in many regions.

2. Galena contains sulphur.

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

 17.

“The Helmand River Treaty” seen in the news corresponds to

(a) Iran and Iraq

(b) Afghanistan and Tajikistan

(c) Iran and Turkmenistan

(d) Afghanistan and Iran

 18.

Alpha diversity is the biodiversity present

(a) Within the community

(b) Between community

(c) Ranges of communities

(d) All of the above

 19.

Consider the following statements, with reference to the “Summer Solstice”:

1. Countries in the Northern Hemisphere are nearest to the Sun

2. At the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets during the solstice.

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

 20.

Which among the following is/are true w.r.t. Agni-Prime?

(a) It is a nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile.

(b) It has dual redundant navigation and guidance system.

(c) Neither (a) nor (b)

(d) Both (a) & (b)

 21.

Which of the following is incorrect w.r.t. Sengol?.

(a) Nehru gave the Sengol to Lord Mountbatten, but took it back from him.

(b) Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a Chennai-based jeweler, is the mastermind behind the creation of the sengol.

(c) The sengol is approximately 5 feet in length.

(d) A special song, known as Kolaru Padhigam, “composed by the 7th-century Tamil saint Tirugnana Sambandar”, was rendered during the event.

 22.

Chlorine monoxide and Bromine monoxide are mainly connected with

(a) ozone depletion

(b) green house effect

(c) anti green house effect

(d) global dimming

 23.

Identify the correct statements w.r.t. X-rays:

1. They were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen.

2. An X-ray is a packet of electromagnetic energy.

3. X-rays have very small wavelengths.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 24.

1. These manuscripts include both canonical and non-canonical Buddhist works.

2. These manuscripts are birch bark and clay coated.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect w.r.t. Gilgit Manuscripts?

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 25.

Which of the following nations are part of the ‘NATO plus five’ alliance?

1. Australia

2. New Zealand

3. Japan

4. Israel

5. South Korea

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5

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

 1.

https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/g20-working-group-meeting-on-digital-economy-one-future-alliance-rajeev-chandrashekhar-8659535/

 2.

In the lower layers of atmosphere, light of wavelengths greater than 300nm are present and it is because of this reason, there is generally no ozone formation at the ground level.

 3.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/green-bonds-out-jan-25-what-they-mean-for-investors-environment-8367649/#:~:text=Green%20bonds%20are%20bonds%20issued,government%20on%20November%209%2C%202022.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/green-infrastructure-india-infrastructure-needs-infrastructure-investment-trusts-8689346/

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/world-bank-billion-green-energy-india-8758614/

 4.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/why-32-european-countries-are-facing-the-largest-climate-action-lawsuit-till-date-explained/article67337694.ece

 5.

Global Economic Prospects is the World Bank flagship report.It is a semi-annual report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging markets and developing countries.

 6.

https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/ultraviolet-uv-radiation#:~:text=UVA%20rays%20have%20the%20longest,a%20small%20amount%20of%20UVB.

 7.

https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/de-dollarisation-the-race-to-attain-the-status-of-global-reserve-currency/article66805365.ece

https://www.dnaindia.com/explainer/report-dna-explainer-what-is-de-dollarization-how-can-this-help-indian-trade-and-economy-amid-recession-3046142

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/de-dollarisation-in-gold-the-world-will-trust/article67212799.ece

 8.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/cheetahs-may-be-flown-in-from-new-countries/article67349324.ece

 9.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/remittances-growth-2023-slow-8664191/  

10.

Volatile organic compounds are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs typically are industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene; fuel oxygenates, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); or by-products produced by chlorination in water treatment, such as chloroform. VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. VOCs are common ground-water contaminants.

VOCs enter the air by evaporation. VOCs are found in many products, like paints and petroleum products. Methane is a VOC that evaporates from livestock waste and landfills.

11.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/aditya-l1-sun-space-weather-forecast/article67288282.ece

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/lagrange-points-three-body-problem-aditya-l1-isro/article67360328.ece#:~:text=Lagrange%20points%20are%20found%20along,remain%20at%20rest%20between%20them.

12.

The Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.

A caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. During a volcanic eruption, magma present in the magma chamber underneath the volcano is expelled, often forcefully. When the magma chamber empties, the support that the magma had provided inside the chamber disappears.

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/indonesia-anak-krakatau-volcano-eruption-8655907/

13.

14.

Pyramid of number in a grassland/tree ecosystem is always upright. It shows the number of individual organisms at each level. In grassland, the producers, which are mainly grasses, are always maximum in number. This number then shows a decrease towards apex, primary consumers are lesser in number than the grasses; the secondary consumers are lesser in number than the primary consumers. Finally, the top consumers are least in number. Thus, the pyramid becomes upright.

15.

The concentration of carbon in living matter (18%) is almost 100 times greater than its concentration in the earth (0.19%). So living things extract carbon from their nonliving environment. For life to continue, this carbon must be recycled. Carbon exists in the nonliving environment as:

·         carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere and dissolved in water (forming HCO₃⁻)

·         carbonate rocks (limestone and coral = CaCO₃)

·         deposits of coal, petroleum, and natural gas derived from once-living things

·         dead organic matter, e.g., humus in the soil

Carbon enters the biotic world through the action of primarily photoautotrophs, like plants and algae, that use the energy of light to convert carbon dioxide to organic matter and to a small extent, chemoautotrophs - bacteria and archaea that do the same but use the energy derived from an oxidation of molecules in their substrate. Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water by respiration (as CO₂), burning, and decay (producing CO₂ if oxygen is present, methane (CH₄) if it is not.

16.

Sulphur is mainly found on Earth as sulphates in rocks or as free sulphur. Sulphur also occurs in combination with several metals such as lead and mercury, as PbS and HgS. Sulphur appears as the yellow aspects of soil in many regions. Galena is a lead sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of PbS.

17.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/what-is-the-iran-taliban-water-conflict-all-about-8642887/

18.

The spatial components of biodiversity are described in 3 terms, mainly

- Alpha diversity: It is the average diversity of species within a habitat. It is of local measure, i.e. number of species found in a certain area. If we take an example- an area has 5 species of rats, then the alpha diversity of rats in that place will be 5.

- Beta diversity: The difference in species composition is defined by beta diversity. It compares the composition between communities. In this comparison, the alpha diversity and the number of unique species of each habitat come into consideration.

- Gamma diversity: It refers to the overall number of species within the region. It is the combination of both alpha and beta diversity. In a region, all the species of all habitat sums inside gamma diversity.

19.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/everyday-explainers/what-is-summer-solstice-what-causes-it-8680843/

20.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/explained-new-gen-nuclear-capable-agni-prime-ballistic-missile/articleshow/100862625.cms?from=mdr

21.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/sengol-new-parliament-significance-nehru-8626977/

22.

https://ozone.unep.org/20-questions-and-answers

23.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/x-ray-of-a-single-atom-science-for-all/article66937731.ece#:~:text=In%20a%20phenomenal%20feat%2C%20scientists,to%20security%20screenings%20in%20airports.

Properties of X-Rays

·    They have a shorter wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum.

·    Requires high voltage to produce X-Rays.

·    They are used to capture the human skeleton defects.

·    They travel in a straight line and do not carry an electric charge with them.

·    They are capable of travelling in a vacuum.

X-Rays work

·    They are produced when high-velocity electrons collide with the metal plates, thereby giving the energy as the X-Rays and themselves absorbed by the metal plate.

·    The X-Ray beam travels through the air and comes in contact with the body tissues, and produces an image on a metal film.

·    Soft tissue like organs and skin, cannot absorb the high-energy rays, and the beam passes through them.

·    Dense materials inside our bodies, like bones, absorb the radiation.

·    Much like a camera, the X-Ray film develops depending on the areas which were exposed to the X-Rays. White areas show the denser tissues, such as bones that have absorbed the X-Rays whereas black areas on an X-Ray represent areas where the X-Rays have passed through soft tissues.

24.

https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/gilgit-manuscript#:~:text=The%20birch%20bark%20and%20clay,and%20Tibetan%20religion%2Dphilosophical%20literature.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1931043

25.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2023/jun/22/natos-growing-shadow-over-the-asia-pacific-2587261.html