additional topics Flashcards
1
Q
What position does India hold in terms of crude oil consumption globally?
A
The IEA released the “Indian Oil Market Outlook to 2030” report.
2
Q
What is projected about India’s role in global oil demand by 2030?
A
India is projected to become the largest source of global oil demand growth, surpassing China by 2027.
3
Q
By how much is India’s oil demand expected to rise by 2023?
A
India’s oil demand is set to rise by about 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2023.
4
Q
What are the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) stocks equivalent to in terms of days?
A
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) stocks are equivalent to seven days.
4
Q
What portion of the expected global oil demand growth will India’s increase represent by 2030?
A
India’s increase will constitute over a third of the expected global demand growth of 3.2 million bpd by 2030.
4
Q
What are the total oil demand projections for India in 2030?
A
India’s total oil demand projections will stand at 6.64 million bpd in 2030, up from 5.48 million bpd in 2023.
5
Q
What position does India hold in terms of crude oil consumption globally?
A
India is currently the third largest consumer of crude oil, behind the US and China.
6
Q
What is India’s domestic consumption of crude oil as per the oil ministry data?
A
India’s domestic consumption is around 5 million barrels per day (mb/d).
6
Q
What were India’s ranks in terms of global exports in 2023?
A
In 2023, India was the fourth-largest exporter of middle distillates globally and the sixth-largest refinery product exporter at 1.2 mb/d.
7
Q
When was the International Energy Agency (IEA) established?
A
The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974.
7
Q
What is the new deadline for doubling the nationwide ethanol blending in gasoline to 20%?
A
India has advanced its deadline for doubling nationwide ethanol blending to 20% in Q4 2026.
7
Q
Where is the headquarters of the IEA located?
A
The IEA is headquartered in Paris, France.
8
Q
What is India’s current ethanol blending rate, and how does it compare globally?
A
India’s ethanol blending rate is around 12%, which is among the highest in the world.
8
Q
What is the stockpile requirement for IEA member countries in terms of days?
A
IEA member countries maintain a stockpile equivalent to 90 days of their demand.
8
Q
What is JAYWAN based on?
A
UAE’s domestic card JAYWAN is based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack.
9
Q
What joint initiative are both countries supporting in Gujarat?
A
Both countries aimed at supporting the Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.
10
Q
How many association countries are there in the IEA, and does India belong to this category?
A
There are 13 association countries in the IEA, and India is one of them.
10
Q
How many member countries are part of the IEA?
A
The IEA has 31 member countries.
10
Q
What are the two digital payment platforms that India and the UAE agreed to interlink?
A
The two digital payment platforms are UPI (India) and AANI (UAE).
11
Q
What position did the UAE hold as an investor in India’s infrastructure sector in 2022-2023?
A
In 2022-2023, the UAE was the fourth biggest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) investor in India.
12
Q
Who is behind the initiative of Bharat Mart?
A
Bharat Mart is a joint initiative of DP World, a Dubai-based multinational.
12
Q
Which agreements were signed to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity between India and the UAE?
A
Agreements were signed between RITES Limited and the Gujarat Maritime Board with Abu Dhabi Ports Company to enhance port infrastructure and connectivity between India and the UAE.
13
Q
What is Bharat Mart, and where is it located?
A
Bharat Mart is a facility that combines retail, warehousing, and logistics, located at the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone in Dubai.
14
Q
Who founded the doctrine of Swaminarayan Sampradaya?
A
The doctrine of Swaminarayan Sampradaya was given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
14
What does BAPS stand for?
BAPS stands for Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha.
15
How are Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami collectively worshiped?
They are collectively worshiped as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj.
15
Who is Gunatitanand Swami and what is his significance?
Gunatitanand Swami is the first spiritual successor of Swaminarayan and is revered as Akshar.
16
x was a spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, and he lived from 1921 to 2016.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj
16
How much land was gifted for the mandir, and who was the benefactor?
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, gifted 27 acres of land for the mandir.
16
What materials were used in the construction of the mandir?
The mandir is constructed from pink sandstone from northern Rajasthan and marble from Italy.
16
When was the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE signed?
The CEPA was signed on 18 February 2022.
16
Who comprised the five-judge Constitution bench that ruled on the Electoral Bonds scheme?
The bench comprised Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra.
16
What is the architectural style of the Abu Dhabi temple?
The temple is built in the traditional Nagar style.
17
Which countries/regions has the Indian government prioritized for its revamped FTA strategy, and where does the UAE stand on that list?
Under India's revamped FTA strategy, the government has prioritized at least six countries/regions, with the UAE at the top of the list for an early harvest deal (Interim Trade Agreement). The others include the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Israel, and a group of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
17
The first traditional Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi was consecrated on 14 February 2024 by x.
Mahant Swami Maharaj
17
When was the Angkor area designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Angkor area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
17
What are the dimensions of the mandir?
The mandir stands 108 feet tall, is 262 feet in length, and 180 feet in width.
17
When did India and the UAE formally launch negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)?
India and the UAE formally launched negotiations on the CEPA in September 2021.
18
When did India and the UAE establish diplomatic relations?
India and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1972.
18
x is recognized as the largest Hindu temple in the world.
Angkor Wat Temple
18
What significant award did Prime Minister Modi receive in 2019?
In 2019, Modi was awarded the Order of Zayed.
18
What rank does the UAE hold in terms of India's trading partners?
The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination.
18
What was the case name associated with the Supreme Court's ruling on the Electoral Bonds scheme?
The case was Association for Democratic Reforms & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.
19
When were electoral bonds launched in India?
Electoral bonds were launched by PM Narendra Modi's government on January 2, 2018.
19
What does Clause 7(4) of the electoral bond scheme state?
Clause 7(4) of the scheme completely exempts information on the purchasers of electoral bonds.
20
What is the time frame for political parties to redeem electoral bonds?
Political parties can choose to redeem electoral bonds within 15 days of receipt to finance their electoral expenses.
20
How much worth of electoral bonds have been sold so far?
So far, electoral bonds worth ₹160 billion (approximately $1.9 billion; £1.5 billion) have been sold in 29 tranches.
20
What are the denominations available for electoral bonds?
What are the denominations available for electoral bonds?
20
When can electoral bonds be purchased?
Electoral bonds are available for purchase for 10 days at the beginning of every quarter: the first 10 days of January, April, July, and October. An additional period of 30 days is specified in the year of Lok Sabha elections.
21
What section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 governs electoral bond redemption?
Answer: Section 29A.
21
What is the eligibility criterion for political parties to redeem electoral bonds?
Answer: Political parties must have received at least 1% of the votes in the last election.
21
When are electoral bonds available for purchase?
Answer: For 10 days in January, April, July, and October.
21
What additional purchasing opportunity is provided in the year of Lok Sabha general elections?
Answer: An additional 30-day period for purchasing bonds.
22
Where is the fund value of unredeemed electoral bonds remitted?
Answer: To the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), established in 1948 by the Nehru administration.
22
Question: When was the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) established?
Answer: The PMNRF was established in 1948 by the Nehru administration.
22
What amendment was made to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in 2016?
On 14 May 2016, the Finance Act, 2016 came into force, amending Section 2(1)(j)(vi) of the FCRA, 2010. The amendment allowed foreign companies that hold a majority share in Indian companies to donate to political parties, which was previously prohibited.
22
What legislation previously prohibited foreign donations to Indian political parties?
The prohibition on foreign donations was enforced under the FCRA and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
22
Which section of the FCRA was specifically amended to facilitate foreign donations?
Section 2(1)(j)(vi) of the FCRA was specifically amended to redefine "foreign source" in the context of political donations.
22
What did Section 11 of the Finance Act, 2017 amend?
It amended Section 13A of the Income Tax Act. It exempted political parties from keeping a detailed record of contributions received through electoral bonds.
23
What did Section 135 of the Finance Act, 2017 amend?
It amended Section 31 of the RBI Act. It amended Section 31 of the RBI Act.
23
What change did Section 137 introduce to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA)?
It exempted political parties from publishing contributions received through electoral bonds in "Contribution Reports."
23
What did Section 154 amend in the Companies Act, 2013?
It amended Section 182 of the Companies Act.
24
What was the previous limit on company donations to political parties before the amendment?
Companies could donate up to 7.5 percent of their net profits from the last three years.
25
When was the first tranche of electoral bonds made available for purchase?
The first tranche of electoral bonds was made available for purchase starting on 1 March 2018.
26
In which cities were the electoral bonds issued by the State Bank of India?
The electoral bonds were issued in four branches located in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
27
Which Finance Acts introduced amendments before the Electoral Bonds Scheme (EBS) was introduced?
The amendments were made through The Finance Act, 2016, and The Finance Act, 2017, before the EBS was introduced in January 2018.
27
What did the amended Section 13A of the Income Tax Act change about record-keeping for political parties?
The amended Section 13A of the Income Tax Act freed political parties from the obligation of keeping a detailed record of contributions received through electoral bonds.
27
Who represented Common Cause in the Supreme Court petitions?
Prashant Bhushan represented Common Cause in the Supreme Court.
28
Who was identified as the biggest donor in the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding electoral bonds?
The biggest donor was Future Gaming and Hotels Pvt Ltd, run by Mr. Santiago Martin.
28
Which political party encashed the highest amount in electoral bonds since 12 April 2019?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) encashed the highest amount, totaling ₹6,060.51 crores.
28
What was the amount encashed by the All India Trinamool Congress in electoral bonds since 12 April 2019?
The All India Trinamool Congress encashed ₹1,609.53 crores.
28
When did Karpoori Thakur serve as Chief Minister?
First term: 1970-71.
Second term: 1977-79.
29
What significant change was made to the Electoral Bond scheme on 7 November 2022?
The amendment increased the sale days for electoral bonds from 70 to 85 in a year when any assembly election is scheduled.
29
Who is Karpoori Thakur?
Known as "Jan Nayak."
Served as Bihar's 11th Chief Minister twice.
30
What was the Mungeri Lal Commission?
Appointed in June 1970.
Recommended reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
31
What was the reservation model introduced by Karpoori Thakur in 1978?
Allocated 26% reservations.
Included quotas for OBCs, Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and women.
32
x served as the first Chief Minister of Bihar from 1946 to 1961.
Krishna Singh
32
What is the maximum limit of Bharat Ratna awards given per year as per guidelines?
Answer: The maximum limit is three awards per year. Answer: The four recipients were Jayaprakash Narayan, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi, and Ravi Shankar.
33
What position did P. V. Narasimha Rao hold in India?
Answer: He served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.
33
What important legislation was MS Swaminathan instrumental in developing?
Answer: He was instrumental in developing the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001.
34
Some of the prestigious awards received by MS Swaminathan.
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (x)
Ramon Magsaysay Award (x)
Albert Einstein World Science Award (x)
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1961)
Ramon Magsaysay Award (1971)
Albert Einstein World Science Award (1986)
34
civilian honors awarded to MS Swaminathan?
Padma Shri (x)
Padma Bhushan (x)
Padma Vibhushan (x)
civilian honors awarded to MS Swaminathan?
Answer:
Padma Shri (1967)
Padma Bhushan (1972)
Padma Vibhushan (1989)
35
What notable literary work did Narasimha Rao author?
Answer: He authored ‘SahasraPhan’, a Hindi translation of the renowned Telugu novel ‘Veyi Padagalu’.
36
Which significant Constitutional amendments did Narasimha Rao enact?
Answer: He enacted the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts. Answer: These acts mandate the reservation of one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies (ULBs).
36
Which position did Chaudhary Charan Singh hold as Prime Minister?
Answer: He served as the 5th Prime Minister of India. Answer: He led the abolition of the zamindari system in Uttar Pradesh.
37
How many recipients were conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2024 during the second breach?
Answer: Five recipients were conferred the award in 2024.
37
Who was the first person to receive the Bharat Ratna posthumously?
The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards, but this was subsequently modified in the January 1966 statute, and Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first recipient to be honored posthumously in 1966.
38
Who was the last Governor-General of India?
Answer: C. Rajagopalachari, serving from 1948 to 1950.
39
Who was the first Vice-President of India?
Answer: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1952–1962).
39
Who was the first Governor of West Bengal?
Answer: C. Rajagopalachari, serving from 1947 to 1948.
40
Who was the second President of India?
Answer: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1962–1967).
40
Which state did Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy serve as Chief Minister, and when?
Answer: He served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1948 to 1962.
40
What is Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy's nickname?
Answer: The "Maker of Modern West Bengal."
40
When is National Doctors' Day celebrated in India and why? What is the theme and when was it 1st celebrated?
Answer: National Doctors' Day is celebrated on 1 July annually, marking Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy's birthday. India first celebrated National Doctor's Day on July 1, 1991. The theme for National Doctors' Day in 2024 is "Healing Hands, Caring Hearts
41
Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India
Answer: It states, "No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State."
41
When is National Education Day celebrated in India and why?
Answer: National Education Day is celebrated on 11 November, marking Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's birthday.
41
What significant role did Morarji Desai serve in Indian politics?
Answer: He served as the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979. Answer: He was the first Prime Minister of India not from the Indian National Congress.
41
Who was Gopinath Bordoloi, and what role did he play in Indian politics?
Answer: Gopinath Bordoloi was an independence activist and politician, serving as the first Chief Minister of Assam from 1946 to 1950.
41
Which prestigious award did Morarji Desai receive from the Government of Pakistan?
Answer: He received the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the second highest civilian award of Pakistan.
41
What is the criteria for receiving the Bharat Ratna?
Answer: Initially, the award was limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but it was expanded in December 2011 to include "any field of human endeavor."
41
Where does the Bharat Ratna rank in the Indian order of precedence?
Answer: Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
42
Why did Abul Kalam Azad refuse the Bharat Ratna while serving as Education Minister?
Answer: He refused the award, citing that selection committee members should not be recipients of the award themselves.
42
When was the Bharat Ratna award instituted?
Answer: The Bharat Ratna was instituted on 2 January 1954.
43
When was the Bharat Ratna temporarily suspended for the first time?
Answer: The Bharat Ratna was suspended from July 1977 to January 1980.
44
Which posthumous Bharat Ratna award was opposed, and why?
Answer: The posthumous award for Subhas Chandra Bose in 1992 was opposed because many, including some members of his extended family, refused to accept the fact of his death. Answer: It was the only time when the Bharat Ratna was announced but not conferred. Answer: Following a 1997 Supreme Court decision, the press communique announcing Subhas Chandra Bose’s award was cancelled.
45
When did Morarji Desai withdraw all personal civil honours, including the Bharat Ratna?
Answer: On 13 July 1977, after becoming the fourth Prime Minister.
46
When was the suspension of the Bharat Ratna first rescinded?
Answer: The suspension was rescinded on 25 January 1980 after Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister.
46
Why was the Bharat Ratna suspended for the second time in x?
1992; Answer: It was suspended due to two Public Interest Litigations filed in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh High Courts challenging the constitutional validity of the awards.
47
When was the Bharat Ratna reintroduced after the second suspension?
Answer: The Bharat Ratna was reintroduced in December 1995 after the conclusion of the litigation.
48
Who were the non-Indians to receive the Bharat Ratna?
Answer: Abdul Ghaffar Khan of Pakistan (1987) and Nelson Mandela of South Africa (1990).
49
What feature was added to the current medal for wearing purposes?
Answer: A 2-inch-wide (51 mm) white ribbon was attached to the medal for it to be worn around the neck.
49
What was the original design of the Bharat Ratna awarded in 1954?
Answer: The original design was a circle made of gold, 1+3⁄8 inches (35 mm) in diameter, featuring an image of the sun on the obverse side.
49
What shape does the current Bharat Ratna medal take?
Answer: The current medal is shaped like a peepal leaf.
49
Where are the Bharat Ratna medals minted?
Answer: The medals are minted at the Alipore Mint in Kolkata.
50
What material was used for the medal's decoration in 1957?
Answer: The silver-gilt decoration was changed to burnished bronze in 1957.
50
Who was the first woman to receive the Bharat Ratna, and in what year?
Answer: The first woman to receive the Bharat Ratna was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971.
51
How many women have received the Bharat Ratna since its inception in 1954?
Answer: Five women have received the Bharat Ratna since 1954.
52
Which singers have been awarded the Bharat Ratna, and in what years?
Answer:
M. S. Subbulakshmi received the Bharat Ratna in 1998.
Lata Mangeshkar received the Bharat Ratna in 2001.
53
What was the Lex Loci Report of October 1840's recommendation regarding personal laws?
Answer: The Lex Loci Report suggested that the personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should be excluded from the uniform codification of Indian law.
54
What committee was formed in x to address Hindu law codification, and who was it led by?
Answer: The B. N. Rau Committee was formed in 1941 to codify Hindu law.
55
Which significant legislation was enacted as a result of the B. N. Rau Committee's recommendations?
Answer: The Hindu Succession Act was enacted in 1956 as a result of the B. N. Rau Committee's recommendations.
55
What was the outcome of the vote in the Constituent Assembly regarding the inclusion of the UCC as a fundamental right?
Answer: The vote resulted in a 5:4 majority decision by the sub-committee on fundamental rights, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to exclude the UCC from being included as a fundamental right.
56
What was the outcome of the Paulo Coutinho vs Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira case?
The 2019 case reiterated the necessity of a UCC for gender equality in personal laws.
56
What did the Sarla Mudgal Case address?
The Sarla Mudgal Case (1995) emphasized the importance of a UCC to resolve issues related to bigamy and polygamy.
56
What does Article 162 of the Indian Constitution state regarding the executive power of a State?
Article 162 indicates that the executive power of a State extends to matters for which the State Legislature has the power to make laws.
56
Which state in India has implemented a UCC?
Goa is the only state in India with a UCC, following the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867.
56
When was the expert committee on UCC constituted in Uttarakhand?
The expert committee was constituted in 2022.
56
How does Entry 5 of the Concurrent List relate to the introduction and implementation of the UCC?
Entry 5 allows for the constitution of a Committee to introduce and implement the UCC, which cannot be challenged as ultra vires.
56
Section 497 of the IPC criminalized adultery and discriminated by punishing only men for the offense.
56
How many members were there in the expert committee?
The committee consisted of five members.
56
What was the content of Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)?
