Prelims bits - 2

Question 1

Crocodile conservation programmes in India

Answer 1

1st in Odisha early 1975
Mugger conservation programme- Odisha all 3 species of Indian crocodilians. Funds, technical support UNDP/ FAO through the Govt

‘Baula’ project at Dangamal: for Saltwater Crocodile. Dangmal is in Bhitarkanika sanctuary.

Mugger project at Ramatirtha: The Ramatirtha center, Odisha for Mugger crocodiles.

Gharial project at Tikarpada, Odisha.

Captive breeding of crocodiles at Nandankanan, Odisha

Question 2

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Answer 2

Estabd in 1927, on the advice of Gandhi by GD
Birla, Purushottam Das Thakurdas,
largest, oldest, apex business org in India.
non-government, not-for-profit organisation. membership from the corporate sector
HQ New Delhi

sector specific business policy consensus building, business promotion,
networking.

Question 3

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Answer 3

specialized agency of UN
coordinates postal policies among members, worldwide postal s/m.

Established in 1874, 2nd oldest intl orgn worldwide after Intl Telecommunication Union (ITU), established in 1865.

HQ Berne, Switzerland, 192 member countries.

UPU has 4 units: Congress, Council of Admn, International Bureau, and Postal Operations Council.

India joined the UPU on July 1, 1876 and Pakistan on November 10, 1947.

Other than UPU, 3 agreements cover postal exchange between India-Pakistan —
Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948; Exchange of Postal Article, 1974; and International Speed Post Agreement, 1987

Question 4

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Answer 4

biologically richest coastal region in India.
many species of mangrove act as important fish
nurseries.
>10,500 sq. km, many islands with continuous stretches of coral reef.

proposed Sethu Samudram Canal on the coast
of TN. canal threatens to destroy near pristine BR

Question 5

members of the Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth as constituted in 2019

Answer 5

Prime Minister.
Minister of Defence
Minister of Home Affairs.
Minister of Road Transport & Highways,
Minister of MSME
Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs.
Minister of Railways & Commerce & Industry

Question 6

biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI Index 2020)

Answer 6

ranks 180 countries on 32 performance indicators across 11 categories
environmental health and ecosystem vitality.

quantifying and numerically marking the environmental performance of a state’s policies.

supplement the environmental targets set forth in UN MDG

India secured 168th rank.
India’s rank was 177 (with a score of 27.6 out of 100) in 2018.

India scored below the regional avg on all five key parameters on environmental health, including air quality, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals and waste management.
It has also scored below the regional avg on parameters related to biodiversity and
ecosystem services too.

Only above Afghanistan

Question 7

Copernicus/ Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme (GMES)

Answer 7

European Commission, European Space
Agency (ESA).

Services: land management, marine environment, atmosphere emergency response, security and climate change.

most ambitious Earth observation programme to date.

accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the
environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security

family of satellites, called Sentinels, specifically for the operational needs- all-weather, day and night radar images

Question 8

Kuchipudi

Answer 8

roots in an Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra.

religious art linked to traveling bards,
temples and spiritual beliefs.
conceived by Siddhendra Yogi, a talented
Vaishnava poet of 17th century.

begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha followed by nritta (non-narrative and
abstract dancing); shabdam (narrative dancing) and natya.
accompanied by Carnatic music. instruments like
mridangam, violin, flute and tambura.

originated in a village of Krishna
district in modern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It derives its name from this village.

Question 9

Supplementary Grant:

Answer 9

if amnt authorized by parlt (thr appropriation act) to be expended for a particular service for the current FY is found to be insufficient for the purpose of that year.

Question 10

Additional grant

Answer 10

granted when a need has arisen during the current FY for addnl expenditure upon some new service not contemplated in the budget for that year

Question 11

Excess grant

Answer 11

granted when money has been spent on any service during a FY in excess of the amount granted for that service in the budget for that year. It is voted by the LS after the financial year

Question 12

Vote of credit

Answer 12

granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India, when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service, the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in a budget. blank cheque given to the Executive by the Lok Sabha.

Question 13

Exceptional grant

Answer 13

granted for a special purpose and forms no part of the current service of any FY

Question 14

PM Svanidhi, or Pradhan

Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi scheme

Answer 14

special micro-credit facility; ₹10,000; >50 lakh street vendors.
valid until March 2022.

SIDBI implementation; manage the credit guarantee to lending institutions through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.

Question 15

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

Answer 15

Founded in 2008, not-for-profit org registered under Companies Act.
promoted by RBI - developing UPI - cashless society; completed the development of a domestic card payment network called RuPay,
reducing the dependency on international card schemes.

BBPS authorizes NPCI to take key decisions, for e.g. Certificate of Authorisation for opn of National Financial Switch (NFS) ATM Network.
NPCI has 10 promoter banks

Question 16

Laffer curve

Answer 16

tax rates vs amount of tax revenue collected by
governments.
as taxes increase from low levels, tax revenue collected increases.

tax rates increasing after a certain point (T*) would cause people not to work as hard or not at all, thereby reducing tax revenue.
Eventually, if tax rates reached 100%, shown as the far right on his curve, all people would choose
not to work because everything they earned would go to the government.

Question 17

Tax buoyancy

Answer 17

indicator to measure efficiency, responsiveness of revenue mobilization in response to growth in the GDP or National income. A tax is said to be buoyant if the tax revenues increase more than proportionately in response to a rise in national income or output.

Question 18

Tribes of Western Ghats

Answer 18

Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malayan, etc.,
<5% of the total population of the Ghats.

Question 19

Chik Baraik

Answer 19

caste of Chhattisgarh found in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and WB, Port Blair and Orissa. known for best fabric designers for their kings and now weave clothes for their living.

Question 20

Lakshmevar Inscription of Prince Vikramaditya II

Answer 20

Chalukyan epigraph- purely administrative- relating to concessions in taxes and levies or record mutual obligations and rights of the royal authorities and local bodies.

Question 21

Mahakuta Pillar Inscription of Mangalea

Answer 21

famous Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin II. Ravikirtti, its composer, furnishes the history of dynasty prior to the rule of Pulakesin II in this record.

Question 22

Data Security Council of India (DSCI)

Answer 22

not-for-profit, industry body on data
protection in India, setup by NASSCOM.

cyber security and privacy.

engages with governments, agencies, regulators,
industry sectors, industry associations and think tanks for policy advocacy, thought
leadership, capacity building and outreach activities.

to increase India’s share in the global security product and services market through global trade development initiatives.

Question 23

Active nuclear plants in India as per NPCIL

Answer 23

Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan (Rawatbhata, Kota)
Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Tamilnadu (Kalpakkam)
Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka
Kudankulam Atomic Power Project, Tamilnadu
Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS), Uttarpradesh
Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Gujarat

Question 24

Right to Information Act, 2005

Answer 24

right to seek information held by any authority or
body or institution of self government established by Constitution/law/notification etc by
Central/state government.

Bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Central Government or a State
Government and non-Government organizations substantially financed by the Central Government
or a State Government also fall within the definition of public authority.

inspection of work, documents, records; taking notes, extracts, etc; info relating to any pvt body which can be accessed by public authority under any law for the time being in force.

some categories of info each public authority required to disclose pro-actively on suo moto basis.

Question 25

Bengal school of painting

Answer 25

declared that Ravi Verma’s style was unsuitable for depicting the nation’s ancient myths and legends.

inspiration frm medieval Indian traditions of miniature paintings and ancient art of mural paintings in Ajanta Caves, Bagh, Mogul, Rajput, Pahari

The continuity of earlier traditions maintained by borrowing from legends and classical literature like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Gita, and Puranas, the writings of Kalidasa
and Amarkavyam.

eventually led to the development of the modern Indian painting.

Question 26

National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO)

Answer 26

under the Department of S&T.
NATMO is the premier agency of applied Geo-Spatial technology and pioneer in Thematic Mapping and Atlas Cartography.

preparing different atlases, thematic maps and other documents for implementing the developmental schemes as well as by the researchers, students and common people.

world’s first braille atlas, using indigenously developed silk-screen painting technology.

Question 27

Northern European Enclosure Dam (NEED)

Answer 27

protect Northern European Countries from rising seas- climate change.

1st dam: Scotland and Norway
2nd dam: b/w France and SW England

construction will “heavily impact” marine and terrestrial ecosystems inside and outside
the enclosure, will have social and cultural implications, and affect tourism and fisheries

Question 28

Hyperspectral imaging

Answer 28

military, industrial, and scientific arenas.

capturing and processing of an image at a very large number of wavelengths. Whereas multispectral imaging might evaluate an image in 3-4 colors, hyperspectral imaging breaks the image down into 10s or 100s of colours, beyond the visible range (UV, IR).

provides spectral information in addition to 2D spatial images.

applications in industry (machine vision) and remote sensing (including satellite reconnaissance), agriculture, food quality and safety, pharmaceuticals, and particularly in healthcare, applications in dermatology for noninvasively targeting cancer detection, skin oxygenation mapping for diabetic ulcers, spectral unmixing of fluorescently labelled antigens, and more.

Question 29

Pala School of Art

Answer 29

earliest examples of miniature painting in India- illustrations to religious texts on Buddhism under the Palas of E India; Jain texts executed in W India during the 11th-12th cent A.D.

Pala dynasty around 750 A.D. The Pala school of art first flourished in Magadha region of S Bihar, homeland of Buddhist religion.

characterised by sinuous line and subdued tones of colour; naturalistic style which resembles the ideal forms of contemporary bronze and stone
sculpture, and reflects some feeling of the classical art of Ajanta.
sudden end after the destruction of the Buddhist monasteries by Muslim invaders in first half of the 13th century.

Some of the monks and artists escaped and
fled to Nepal, which helped in reinforcing the existing art traditions there

Question 30

UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

Answer 30

facilitate intl trade and investment, harmonization and unification of intl trade.

Annual sessions held alternately in New York City and Vienna HQ

Tribunal constituted in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules 1976 is seated
at the Hague, Netherlands, proceedings are administered by the Permanent Court of
Arbitration.

Question 31

Global Investment Trend Monitor report

Answer 31

compiled by UN Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

India among top 10 recipients of FDI in 2019, attracting $49 billion in inflows, a 16% increase from previous yr.

US remained largest recipient of FDI, followed by China with flows of $140 billion and Singapore with $110 billion

Question 32

Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CAT)

Answer 32

established by Central Govt under IT Act, 2000.

powers to regulate its own procedure including place at which it has its sittings. Every proceeding deemed to be a judicial proceeding.

same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure.

The selection of the Chairperson and Members of the Tribunal is made by the Central Government
in consultation with the CJI.
Presiding Officer - 5Yrs or 65 age

Question 33

real effective exchange rate (REER)

Answer 33

weighted average of a country’s currency
relative to an index or basket of other major currencies, adjusted for the effects of inflation.

comparing the relative trade balance of a country’s currency against each country within the index determine an individual country’s currency value relative to the other major currencies.

Question 34

Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Answer 34

bacterium Methylophilus methylotrophus produces high-quality protein from methanol. more favorable protein composition than yeast or fungi. high rate of biomass production and growth.

industrial agriculture is marked by a high water footprint, high land use, biodiversity destruction, general environmental degradation and contributes to climate change by emission of a third of all greenhouse gases, production of SCP no serious drawbacks- commonly grown on agricultural waste products

Question 35

Lanak La

Answer 35

India and China (Aksai-Chin area of Jammu and Kashmir) - this pass
provides passage between Ladak and Lhasa. A road to connect Xinjiang Province with Tibet has
been constructed by the Chinese.

Question 36

Qara Tag La

Answer 36

Indo-China borer across the Karakoram Range - located at an elevation of over six
thousand metres. Karakoram pass lies on the Indian side

Question 37

Marine West Coast Climate

Answer 37

biome characteristic of being located mid-way b/w tropics and arctic or Antarctic regions of the world, most often between 35 and 60 degrees north.
mild summers and winters and abundant annual
precipitation.
on or near the west coast of continents; hence “marine west coast climates”; absence of a dry season.
Except for W Europe, this climate is confined to narrow bands of territory, largely in mid or high latitudes, although it can appear in elevated areas of continental terrain in low latitudes, e.g. plateaus in the subtropics.

Question 38

Gadag style of architecture

Answer 38

called Western Chalukya architecture. The style flourished for 150 years (1050 to 1200 CE). Some examples are the
Saraswati temple in the Trikuteshwara temple complex at Gadag, the Doddabasappa Temple at
Dambal, the Kasivisvesvara Temple at Lakkundi, and the Amriteshwara temple at Annigeri

Question 39

Kalinga style of architecture

Answer 39

design which flourished in eastern Indian state of Odisha and Northern Andhra Pradesh. examples of Rekha Deula are Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar, Sun Temple of
Konark and Jagannath Temple of Puri. Another prominent example is Khakhara Deula is Vaital
Deula.

Question 40

Maru-Gurjara architecture

Answer 40

Maru-Gurjara architecture originated somewhere in the 6th century in and around
areas of Rajasthan. It shows the deep understanding of structures and refined skills of Rajasthani
craftmen of bygone era

Question 41

National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC)

Answer 41

1997, fulfil obligations Chemical Weapons Convention.
prohibits the development, production, execution, transfer, use, stockpiling of all chemical weapons
Parliament 2000 CWC Act which came into force in 2015 to give effect to provisions of Chemical Weapons Convention in India.
high-level steering committee under the
Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary with Secretary (Chemical and Petrochemicals),
Foreign Secretary, Secretary, Defence Research and Development, Defence Secretary and
Chairman, National Authority as its other members

responsible for implementation of CWC Act, with Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and other state parties, fulfilling of declaration obligation, negotiating facility agreements etc.

Question 42

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment GRIHA

Answer 42

attempts to minimize a building’s resource consumption, waste generation, and overall
ecological impact - acceptable limits / benchmarks.
quantify aspects such as energy consumption, waste generation, renewable energy adoption, etc. so as to manage, control and reduce
evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle,
- definitive standard for what constitutes a ‘green building’.

Question 43

Mangroves

Answer 43

plants that survive high salinity, tidal regimes, strong wind velocity, high temp, muddy anaerobic soil.
grow best in inter-tidal regions of sheltered shores, estuaries, creeks, backwaters, lagoons, marshes and mud-flats.
The mangrove ecosystems constitute a symbiotic link or bridge b/w terrestrial and marine
ecosystem.

W Bengal > Gujarat > Andaman Nicobar Islands.
not all coastal areas suitable for mangrove plantation - appropriate mix of saline and freshwater, and soft substrate like mudflats to enable it to grow and perpetuate.

Question 44

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Answer 44

member of WB Group
investing in private sector in developing countries. Established 1956, 184 members. India founding member of IFC.
important development partner for India - important sectors like infra, mfg, financial markets, agribusiness, SMEs and renewable energy.

India IFC’s single-largest country exposure. IFC has committed over US$15 bn in India since 1958.
Keeping in alignment with the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) of the World Bank Group in
India, IFC focuses on low-income states in India.

Question 45

Landlocked states in Europe

Answer 45

17 landlocked countries in Europe: Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Moldova, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Vatican City

Question 46

Important areas in which CBI works are

Answer 46

cyber and high technology crime
Supporting state police orgs, law enforcement agencies in ntl and intl cooperation, particularly relating to enquiries and investigation of cases
war against ntl and transnational organised crime
Upholding human rights, protecting the environment, arts, antiques and heritage of our civilisation

Some of the important CBI divisions are:
Anti-Corruption Division
Economic Offences Division
Special Crimes Division
Policy and Intl Police Cooperation Division

Question 47

Societies Registration Act, 1860

Answer 47

an Act of Parliament, comes under RTI
Act, wherein govt is legally responsible to give any info requested by any citizen of India with respect to any society
Under the Act societies may be formed, by way of a memorandum of association, by any
7 or more people associated for any literary, scientific or charitable purpose.
The act thus allows the registration of entities generally involved in the benefit of society -
education, health, employment etc.

Question 48

Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG)

Answer 48

IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) - global n/w of specialists (both scientists and non-scientists) concerned with the study, monitoring, management, conservation of Asian Elephants promote the long-term conservation of Asia’s elephants, where possible, the recovery of
their populations to viable levels.
integral part of the Species Survival Commission.
provide scientifically grounded evidence to the abundance, distribution, and demographic status of Asian elephant populations in all 13 range states.
Gajah is the bi-annual journal of the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group

Question 49

Mangrove Sites W Bengal

Answer 49

Sunderbans

Question 50

Mangrove Sites Odisha

Answer 50

Bhaitarkanika, Mahanadi, Subernarekha, Devi, Dhamra, Mangrove Genetic Resources
Centre, Chilka

Question 51

Mangrove Sites Andhra Pradesh

Answer 51

Coringa, East Godavari, Krishna

Question 52

Mangrove Sites TN

Answer 52

Pichavaram, Muthupet, Ramnad, Pulicat, Kazhuveli

Question 53

Mangrove Sites Karnataka

Answer 53

Coondapur, Dakshin Kannada/Honnavar, Karwar, Mangalore Forest Division

Question 54

Mangrove Sites Maharashtra

Answer 54

Achra-Ratnagiri, Devgarj-Vijay Durg, Veldur, Kundalika Revdanda, MumbaiDiva, Vikhroli, Shreevardhan, Vaitarna, Vasai-Manori, Malvan

Question 55

Customs Convention on Intl Transport of Goods

Answer 55

intl transit s/m under UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
seamless mvmt of goods within, amongst Parties to Convention.
70 parties to Convention, incl 69 states, EU

It covers customs transit by road, rail, inland waterway, maritime transport), as long as at least one part of the total transport is made by road.
serves as a Customs declaration, precludes the need to file multiple declns satisfying ntl laws of diff transiting countries.
By joining the convention, Indian traders will get access to fast, easy, reliable and hassle free
intl system for mvmt of goods by road or multi-modal means across the territories of other contracting parties. avoid clearances at Border Crossing Points and ports

Question 56

Horn of Africa

Answer 56

Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia

southern side of the Gulf of Aden.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia - threat to intl shipping since 2nd phase of Somali Civil War in early 21st century
equidistant from the equator, Tropic of Cancer.

lowlands of the Horn generally arid in spite of proximity to equator. because winds of tropical monsoons give seasonal rains to Sahel and the Sudan blow from the west

Question 57

India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) Project

Answer 57

underground to provide adequate shielding from cosmic background radiation,
expts for neutrino double detector, dark matters.
50,000 tonne magnetised iron calorimeter detector (ICAL).
study the properties of the neutrino, mass hierarchy among diff types of neutrino.

supported by Dept of Atomic Energy (DAE) Dept of Science & Tech (DST); DAE - nodal agency.

Question 58

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

Answer 58

75 listed nos
Odisha (13) > Andhra Pr (12)
Ministry of Tribal Affairs - Scheme of “Devlpnt of PVTGs.
Conservation-cum-Development (CCD)/Annual Plans are to be prepared by each State/UT for their PVTGs based on their need assessment.

Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Tribal Sub-Scheme(TSS), Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Orgs working for the welfare of STs and
Strengthening of Edn among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts

Question 59

criteria followed for determination of PVTGs

Answer 59

1. A pre-agriculture level of technology.
2. A stagnant or declining population.
3. Extremely low literacy.
4. A subsistence level of economy

Question 60

National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self Employed Persons

Answer 60

pension scheme for Vyaparis (shopkeepers/retail traders and self-employed persons).

Eligibility Criteria
retail trader/ shopkeeper or self-employed persons
18-40 years
Annual turnover =< Rs. 1.5 crore

not be engaged in Organized Sector (membership of EPF/NPS/ESIC)
a beneficiary of PM-SYM
an income tax payer

voluntary and contributory pension scheme.
enrolment free of cost
based upon self-certification.
minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000/- monthly on attaining the age of 60

Central Govt 50 % share of monthly contribution, remaining 50% contribution by the beneficiary. target enrolling 25 lakh subscribers in 2019-20 and 2 crore subscribers by 2023-2024.

An estimated 3 cr Vyaparis in the country are expected to be benefitted under the pension scheme

Question 61

Energy Transition Index (ETI)

Answer 61

WEF Fostering Effective Energy Transition initiative

enable policy-makers and businesses to plot course for a successful energy transition.
benchmarking of energy systems is carried out annually across countries.

provides a forward‑looking lens as it measures their readiness for the energy transition.
how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

Question 62

factors strongly favour the formation of deltas

Answer 62

Active erosion of river in its upper course provide sextensive gravel, sand and silt to be eventually deposited as deltas.
coast should be sheltered preferably tideless, else delta will be washed away.
sea should be shallow adjoining the delta as the sediments will disappear in the
deep waters of the sea.
no strong current running at right angle to the river mouth, as it can wash away the sediments. Any large lake in the way or river course can filter off the sediments, thus unfavourable for delta formation.

Question 63

World Bank’s Adaptation Fund

Answer 63

under Kyoto Protocol of UNFCCC.

finances projects, progs that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change. Initiatives are based on country needs, views and priorities.

Fund is financed in part by govt and pvt donors, and also from 2% share of proceeds of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism projects.

Fund supervised and managed by Adaptation Fund Board (AFB)- 16 members and 16 alternates and meets at least twice a year.

WB serves as trustee of Adaptation Fund on an interim basis.

Challenges ahead:
Adaptation Fund, ltd size, few consistent avenues for finance sourced from developed countries, over which developing countries have significant control.
challenge to keep raising money from developed countries, while retaining control in the reps of those who are most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

Question 64

Chairmanship of Speaker

Answer 64

ex-officio chairman of the Indian Parliamentary Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
ex-officio chairman of the conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies in the country

appoints the chairman of all the parliamentary committees of the Lok Sabha and supervises
their functioning.
chairman of the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the General Purpose Committee

Question 65

Kaziranga National Park

Answer 65

largest population of One Horned Rhinoceros in the world - 68% of the entire world popln

one of the highest densities of tigers in the wild in the world. almost entire popln of Eastern Swamp Deer
North Brahmaputra, entire stretch from Golaghat district boundary on the east to the Kaliabhomora bridge on Brahmaputra in the west
annual flood waters of the river bring nourishment, leading to a very high productive biomass, but phenomenon of erosion takes away lot of valuable and prime habitat.

Question 66

South China sea islands

Answer 66

Paracel, Spratly, Strait of Malacca, Java sea

Question 67

AGMARK

Answer 67

certification mark employed on agricultural
products in India, assuring that they conform to a set of standards approved by the Directorate of
Marketing and Inspection, an agency of the Government of India.
The AGMARK is legally enforced in India by the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act of
1937 (and amended in 1986).

Question 68

correct order of these capitals from West Asia from East to West would be:

1. Damascus (Syria)
2. Ankara (Turkey)
3. Baghdad (Iraq)
4. Baku (Azerbaijan)

Answer 68

Baku, Baghdad, Damascus, Ankara

Question 69

office of the Attorney General (AG)

Answer 69

citizen of India; 5 Yrs HC judge/10 YR HC advocate/ eminent jurist, acc to president.

term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. no procedure and grounds for his removal. pleasure of the president. removed by the president at any time.

During PMship of Nehru, a proposal was put forward by the Central govt that the office of the AG be merged with the office of the law
minister- did not materialise. He is an independent constitutional authority.

Question 70

Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

Answer 70

include a variety of forests such as
tropical rainforests, moist deciduous, monsoon or semi-evergreen (mixed) seasonal forests etc.
Broad-leaved forests are also found in the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats, along the
Silent Valley

Question 71

International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN)

Answer 71

agreement under International Energy Agency (IEA) and consists of reps from 25 countries- India founding Member of ISGAN- Joint Secy (Distribution), Ministry of Power, member rep.

Reports on progress and projects being undertaken in the field of Smart Grids across the
world would also be helpful in suitable deployment of Smart Grid technologies in India.

ISGAN creates a mechanism for multilateral govt-to-govt collaboration to advance development and deployment of smarter electric grid technologies, practices and systems.

Ministry of Power, hosting the 13th Executive Committee (ExCo) Meeting of the ISGAN at Gurugram. 1st ever Executive Committee Meeting of ISGAN being held in India

Question 72

soil colour/texture and the minerals responsible for the same

Answer 72

red colour- iron oxide under oxidised conditions (well drainage) in the soil;
dark colour - accumulation of highly decayed organic matter;
yellow colour -hydrated iron oxides and hydroxide;
black nodules -manganese oxides;

mottling and gleying are associated with poor drainage and/or high water table. Abundant pale yellow mottles coupled with very low pH are indicative of possible acid sulphate soils.

Colours of soil matrix and mottles are indicative of the water and drainage conditions in the
soil and hence suitability of the soil for aquaculture.

Question 73

North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP)

Answer 73

sustainable community institutions around women SHGs, Youth Groups (YG) and Community Development Groups (CDG)

capacity of community institutions for self governance, bottom up planning, democratic
functioning with transparency and accountability

Increase economic and livelihood opps by
• Managing natural resources and improving agriculture for food security and income
enhancement from farming and allied activities
• Skill development of youth for employability and establishment of self and/or group
managed enterprises

Establishing backward and forward linkages for economic enterprises
• Creating access to finance through linkages with banks and other financial institutions
• Creating critical infrastructures

Develop partnership of community institutions for natural resource management, microfinance,
market linkages, and sectoral economic services.
The project is for a period of five years. It covers two districts each in Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim
and 5 districts in Tripura.

Question 74

ASEAN Plus Three (APT) and ASEAN plus Six

Answer 74

ASEAN Plus Three (APT)- coopn b/w Association of SE Asian Nations and 3 East Asia nations of China, Japan, S Korea.

ASEAN plus Six further includes India, Aus, NZ.

The ASEAN Plus Three December 1997 with the Leaders of ASEAN and China, Japan and the ROK along Second ASEAN Informal Summit in Malaysia. The APT Summit was institutionalised in 1999

strengthen and deepen East Asia cooperation at various levels and in various areas, particularly in
economic and social, political and other fields.

Question 75

Swayam - Study Webs of Active - Learning for Young Aspiring Minds

Answer 75

MOOC initiative on a national platform
engineering, humanities and social
sciences etc.
Consortium of premier educational institutions and universities to offer flipped
online courses instantaneously after due authentication and award of certification is one of
the major planks of the scheme.
Under SWAYAM, professors of centrally-funded institutions in India — such as Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and central
universities — will offer online courses to citizens of India. It is not a part of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan SSA.

Question 76

Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program

Answer 76

intl sc and edn prog that provides students and the public worldwide opp to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment.
Announced by U.S. Government on Earth Day in 1994, GLOBE launched its worldwide implementation in 1995.

GLOBE is sponsored by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of State.
Internationally, GLOBE is implemented through
govt-to-govt agreements with each country partner responsible for in-country activities.

Question 77

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

Answer 77

constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013.

hears appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect
from 1st June, 2016; under IBC.

appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.

Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Composition:
President of the Tribunal and chairperson and Judicial Members of the Appellate
Tribunal - appointed after consultation with CJI.
Members of the Tribunal and Technical Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of:
CJI or his nominee

A senior Judge of the SC or a Chief Justice of High Court— Member.
Secy in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs—Member.
Secy in the Ministry of Law and Justice—Member.
Secy in the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance— Member.

Question 78

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Answer 78

rank of a 4-star General; equivalent to a Service
Chief.
head Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within Min of Defence, fn as its Secy.
Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Principal Military Adviser to Raksha Mantri on all tri-Services matters. 3 Chiefs continue to advise RM on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services. CDS will not exercise any military command, including over 3 Service Chiefs,
provide impartial advice to the political leadership.

As the Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee:
administer tri-services organizations. Tri-service agencies/organizations/commands related to Cyber and Space
member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri and Defence
Planning Committee chaired by NSA.

Function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.

· Bring jointness in opn, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of 3 Services, within 3 years of assuming office.
· Ensure optimal utilization of infrastructure and rationalize it through jointness among the services.
· Implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan (DCAP), and Two-Year roll-on Annual
Acquisition Plans (AAP), as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP).
· Assign inter-Services prioritization to capital acquisition proposals based on the anticipated
budget.
Bring about reforms in the functioning of 3 Services aimed at augmenting combat
capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
It is expected that this reform in the Higher Defence Management would enable the Armed Forces to implement coordinated defence doctrines and procedures and go a long way in fostering jointmanship among the three Services. The country would be benefitted by coordinated action on greater jointmanship in training, logistics and operations as well as for prioritisation of
procurements.

Question 79

DIVERSITAS (now transferred to Future Earth programme) intl research prog

Answer 79

integrating biodiversity sc for human well-being.
sponsored by the Science and Technology Alliance for Global Sustainability, comprising the International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the Belmont Forum of funding agencies, UNESCO, UNEP, UN University, World Meteorological Org

Develop common intl frameworks for collaborative research; tackle focused scientific questions;
Promote standardised methodologies; Guide and facilitate construction of global databases;
Facilitate efficient patterns of resource allocation, and undertake analysis, synthesis and
integration activities on particular biodiversity themes;
Promote practical application of cutting-edge science to support policy and contributing to
Convention on Biological Diversity.

Question 80

Department of Financial Services (DFS)

Answer 80

deals with appointment of Chairman, MD & CEOs of PSBs, their legislative matters
and international banking relations.
Appointment of Governor/Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, matters relating to NABARD,
Agriculture Finance Corporation, Co-operative Banks, RRBs and Rural/Agriculture Credit are
further dealt by it.
The Department also administers the financial inclusion programme of the government, social
security schemes and other targeted schemes aimed at facilitating flow of credit, matters relating to
insurance sector and performance of public sector insurance companies, administration of various
Insurance Acts, IRDA, NPS and PFRDA.

Question 81

Eurasian Economic Union

Answer 81

international organization for regional economic integration that came into existence on 1st January 2015.
The EAEU provides for free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor within its borders.
It pursues, coordinates, & harmonizes the policies in the sectors determined by the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.
The member states of the Eurasian Economic Union are:
The Republic of Armenia,
The Republic of Belarus,
The Republic of Kazakhstan,
The Kyrgyz Republic, and
The Russian Federation

Russia is looking forward to India concluding a new Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

Question 82

Chittagong armoury raid

Answer 82

Surya Sen had participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and had become a teacher in the national school in Chittagong. He was imprisoned from 1926 to 1928 for revolutionary activity and afterwards continued working in the Congress. He was the secretary of the Chittagong District Congress Committee. He used to say “Humanism is a special virtue of a revolutionary.” He was a lover of poetry and an admirer of Tagore and Qazi Nazrul Islam.
Surya Sen decided to organise an armed rebellion along with his associates—Anant Singh, Ganesh Ghosh and Lokenath Baul—to show that it was possible to challenge the armed might of the mighty British Empire.
They had planned to occupy two main armouries in Chittagong to seize and supply arms to the revolutionaries to destroy telephone and telegraph lines and to dislocate the railway link of Chittagong with the rest of Bengal.
The raid was conducted in April 1930 and involved 65 activists under the banner of Indian Republican Army—Chittagong Branch. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The raid was quite successful; Sen hoisted the national flag, took salute and proclaimed a provisional revolutionary government.
Later, they dispersed into neighbouring villages and raided government targets. Surya Sen was arrested in February 1933 and hanged in January 1934, but the Chittagong raid fired the imagination of the revolutionary-minded youth and recruits poured into the revolutionary groups in a steady stream.

Question 83

Project Monitoring Group

Answer 83

institutional mechanism for the expedited resolution of issues and regulatory bottlenecks in projects with investments upward Rs. 500 Crores in India.
Currently, PMG is situated at Invest India, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce.
set up as a special cell in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India in 2013 and was subsequently brought under the administrative control of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in 2015.
The relocation was enabled in order to create a one-stop facilitation destination for investors at all stages of the investment process, including issue resolution.The PMG seeks to enlist the unresolved project issues in respect of all mid and large-sized Public, Private and ‘Public-Private Partnership’ (PPP) Projects
DPIIT is mandated as the nodal body for the review of public and private projects facing challenges and facilitates their resolution through PMG. The issues taken up by PMG are both at Union and State-Level.
Related information: Invest India:
Invest India is the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India and acts as the first point of reference for investors in India.
It is set up as a non-profit venture under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

Question 84

bhakti saint Ramanuja

Answer 84

Ramanuja, born in Tamil Nadu in the eleventh century, was deeply influenced by the Alvars. Ramanuja tried to assimilate bhakti to the tradition of the Vedas.
propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul, even when united with the Supreme God, remained distinct.
According to him the best means of attaining salvation was through intense devotion to Vishnu. Vishnu in His grace helps the devotee to attain the bliss of union with Him. He argued that in order to attain salvation, the grace of God was more important than knowledge about Him.
Ramanuja emphasized that the path of prapatti or total reliance on, or surrender to God was open to all, including the Shudras and the Dalits. Thus, Ramanuja tried to build a bridge between the popular movement based on bhakti, and the upper caste movement based on the Vedas.
Ramanuja established the Emar Math (Embar Mutt) in Puri and suggested King Choda Ganga Deva to build a big temple for the deity of Puri-Jagannath, who had been in worship there for several years. Ramanuja’s influence on the temple is seen in the practice of giving rice as prasada to devotees.

Question 85

Second Schedule of the Constitution contains the administrative provisions pertaining to:

Answer 85

Schedules are lists in the Constitution of India that categorize and tabulate bureaucratic activities and policy of the Government.
Second Schedule contains the provisions relating to the emoluments, allowances, privileges etc. of the following:
The President of India
The Governors of States
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the states
The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council in the states
The Judges of the Supreme Court
The Judges of the High Courts
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

provisions in the Second Schedule can be amended by a simple majority of the two Houses of Parliament outside the scope of Article 368.

Question 86

India has signed non-legally binding Memorandums of Understanding with Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) on the conservation and management of which of the following species?

Answer 86

3th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS), an environmental treaty under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme, was hosted by India during 15th to 22nd February, 2020 at Gandhinagar. As a host, India has been designated the President for the next three years. Ten new species were added to CMS Appendices at COP13. Seven species were added to Appendix I: the Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark.
The Government of India is Signatory to the Convention on Conservation of Migratory wild Animals (CMS) since 1983. India has signed non-legally binding MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016). like Dugong, under the Conservation and Recovery Action Plan.
The theme of CMS COP13 in India is, “Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home. “The CMS COP 13 logo is inspired by ‘Kolam’, a traditional artform from southern India. In the logo of CMS COP-13, Kolam art form is used to depict key migratory species in India like Amur falcon, humpback whale and marine turtles.
The mascot for CMS COP13, “Gibi - The Great Indian Bustard” is a critically endangered species which has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Related Information on CMS:
CMS has two Appendices. These appendices list migratory species to which the Convention applies.
Appendix I comprises migratory species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Appendix II covers migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status and that require international agreements for their conservation and management, as well as those that have a conservation status which would significantly benefit from the international cooperation that could be achieved by an international agreement.

Question 87

WASP 76b

Answer 87

Astronomers of Spain- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) has discovered an exo-planet WASP-76b where it rains iron.
The conditions of the exo-planet were discovered by Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exo-planets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO).
The high-resolution instrument is installed on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.
Exoplanet WASP-76b is located 360 million light-years away, toward the constellation Pisces. It has days when its temperatures exceed 2,400 degrees Celsius (4,352 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature is hot enough to evaporate metals. At nights, the strong winds, cool down the iron vapor so that it condenses into drops of Iron. The planet always keeps the same face towards its star as it rotates around it.

Question 88

Farakka Barrage

Answer 88

built across the River Ganges in the state of West Bengal. Farakka Barrage is 2.2 km long and carries a rail-cum-road bridge across the river to establishes direct road and rail communication links to the North-Eastern States. Canals from the Farakka Barrage provides a route for the Inland National Waterways 1, from Allahabad to Haldia using the Ganges, Bhagirathi, and Hooghly river system.

Question 89

Prakasam Barrage

Answer 89

located in the Vijayawada in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. Prakasam Barrage is built across the River Krishna connecting Guntur and Krishna districts via a 1.2km long river road bridge. Prakasham Barrage also serves the three major canals run through the entire city and become a tourist attraction of Vijayawada.

Question 90

Dowleswaram Barrage

Answer 90

built across the River Godavari near Rajahmundry in the Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. Dowleswaram Barrage is the last stretch of Godavari River before it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The 3.4Km long Barrage is located 8km from Rajamundry city where the Godavari divided into two streams

Question 91

Jobra Barrage

Answer 91

Jobra Barrage is built across the River Mahanadi near Cuttack in the Indian state of Orissa. Jobra Barrage also known as Mahanadi Barrage carries a 2.0 km long road bridge connecting Cuttack and Jagatpur. The barrage is situated near to the longest river bridge of Orissa and one of the longest in India, the Mahanadi road bridge.

Question 92

Asan Barrage

Answer 92

Asan Barrage is located in the famous Doon Valley of Dehradun District near the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Asan Barrage built across at the confluence of River Asan and Eastern Yamuna Canal near Dakpathar.

Question 93

Kota Barrage

Answer 93

Kota Barrage is built across the River Chambal at Kota City in Rajasthan.

Question 94

Dakpathar Barrage

Answer 94

Dakpathar Barrage is built across the River Yamuna near to Dakpathar in Uttarakhand state.

Question 95

Talwara Barrage

Answer 95

Talwara Barrage is built across the Beas River with big 52 Gates. It is known for world-famous Pong Dam, Goddess Chintapurni Temple, and Maharana Pratap Sagar lake.

Question 96

latest generation of Wi-Fi, known as Wi-Fi 6

Answer 96

performance improvements that aim to address limitations in older generations. Wi-Fi 6 is also known as “high-efficiency wireless”. Technically, Wi-Fi 6 has a single-user data rate that is 37% faster than 802.11ac, but what’s more significant is that the updated specification offer four times the throughput per user in crowded environments, as well as better power efficiency which should translate to a boost in device battery life.
To achieve those improvements, Wi-Fi 6 implements a variety of changes including several multi-user technologies which have been borrowed from the cellular industry – namely MU-MIMO and OFDMA – techniques that greatly improve capacity and performance by enabling more simultaneous connections and a more thorough use of spectrum. It will ultimately aid in laying a foundation for the number of nodes expected on upcoming smart infrastructure (e.g. Internet of Things devices).

Question 97

sources of data on unemployment in India

Answer 97

Unemployment data in India is primarily collected by agencies such as the National Statistical Office (NSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). The government has last year decided to merge the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) leading to the formation of an overarching body - National Statistical Office (NSO).
1. Reports of Census of India

2. Employment-Unemployment Survey of Labour Bureau
3. Annual Reports of Periodic Labour Force Survey
4. Employment Exchanges’ data

Question 98

Employment-Unemployment Survey (EUS)

Answer 98

Employment-Unemployment Survey by erstwhile NSSO is a comprehensive household survey providing labour force statistics in India. It was first conducted in 1955 and since 1972-73, is conducted every five years. It is the prime source of statistical indicators and estimates of various parameters of the labour force and activity participation of the population. The main problem with this survey is its very low frequency and the time lag between the collection and availability of results. Now, Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment releases the Employment & Unemployment Survey. The survey has been conducted in all the States/UTs by covering all the districts.

Question 99

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

Answer 99

Considering the importance of the availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, National Statistical Office (NSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) on April 2017. The objective of PLFS is primarily two-fold, one to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the Current Weekly Status (CWS) and to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both usual status and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.

Question 100

Employment Exchange

Answer 100

Employment Exchange refers to an office of the central or state government, which collects and furnishes information on the prospective employers, available vacancies and job seekers, thereby facilitating job seekers to find a suitable job and for the industry to find the suitable manpower. Directorate General of Employment and Training(DGET), Ministry of Labour, operates a National Employment Service (NES) which is entrusted with the matters of Employment Exchanges. As part of their administrative functioning, Employment Exchanges collect data on various aspects of employment and unemployment. Data on job seekers registered with the Employment Exchanges have been analyzed to evaluate the incidence of unemployment in the country.

Question 101

Population Census:

Answer 101

provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the country’s population. Data on main, marginal and non-workers is collected in Census. According to Census 2011 numbers of the 116 million Indians who were either seeking or available for work, 32 million were illiterate and 84 million literate. Among literates, unemployment rates were higher among the better qualified. The ‘unemployed’ included those who were not currently working but were seeking or available for work, as well as those in marginal employment — meaning that they worked for fewer than six months in the year preceding the Census — who were seeking or available for work. Overall, India’s unemployment rate grew from 6.8 p.c. in 2001 to 9.6 p.c. in 2011, based on official Census data. The main problem with this survey is its very low frequency since census data comes every 10 years.