Prelims bits - 3 Flashcards

Question

Huxley's Line, Lydekker’s Line and Wallace Line are

Answer 1

Wallace Line or Wallace's Line is a faunal boundary line drawn in 1859 by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and named by English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley that separates the Biogeographical realms of Asia and Wallacea, a transitional zone between Asia and Australia. West of the line are found organisms related to Asiatic species; to the east, a mixture of species of Asian and Australian origin is present. The northern part of the line was altered by T.H. Huxley to fall to the west of the Philippines (excluding Palawan). Huxley’s line is considered a more appropriate delineation by some zoogeographers because the Philippines has a highly idiosyncratic fauna. Lydekker's Line is a biogeographical boundary through Indonesia that separates Wallacea on the west from Australia-New Guinea on the east. It follows the edge of the Sahul Shelf, an area from New Guinea to Australia of shallow water with the Aru Islands on its edge.

Answer 2

The British in India, included the definitions of everyday Indian administrative terms in every rule and law, for the understanding of the British Officials and governance. Some of these terms were - Jotedar - They were rich ryots. Ryots in Bengal did not cultivate the land directly but leased it out to the under-ryots. At the end of the 18th century when most of the zamindars were facing crisis the jotedars consolidated their position in villages and became identical with the mandals. They controlled local trade as well as money lending. Mandals - They were village headmen. They had effectual influence and authority over the officers in their village. Amlah - An officer of the zamindar, appointed by the court, who visited villages at the time of rent collection to resolve and settle any dispute in the assessment and collection of rent. Adhiyars - A large part of the land of jotedars was cultivated through sharecroppers (adhiyars or bargadars) who brought their own ploughs, laboured in the field, and handed over half the produce to the jotedars after the harvest.

Answer 3

introduced GST in India. It amended the Constitution to give concurrent powers to Parliament and state legislatures to levy a Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Answer 4

constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). It has the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.Previously NCBC was a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Answer 5

reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution to provide for reservation benefit in economically weaker sections. Part III of the Indian Constitution deals with fundamental rights. While the 103rd Constitutional amendment act does include the word ‘reservation’ in Part III of the Indian Constitution, it is not the first one to do so. The word ‘reservation’ under Part III of the Indian Constitution has already been included under Article 16 (Article 16(4), Article 16(4A) and Article 16(4B)). The 103rd Constitutional amendment sets an upper limit of 10 percent for reservation to economically weaker sections in the Constitution itself. This amendment provides reservation over and above 50%.

Answer 6

extended the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and states assemblies from seventy years to eighty. It removed the reserved seats for the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Answer 7

NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) has launched the “Decarbonising Transport in India” project on 24 June, with the intention to develop a pathway towards a low-carbon transport system for India. ITF is an intergovernmental organisation for transport policy of which India has been a member since 2008 The “Decarbonising Transport in India” project will design a tailor-made transport emissions assessment framework for India. It will provide the government with a detailed understanding of current and future transport activity and the related CO2 emissions as a basis for their decision-making. India project is a part of the ITF’s wider initiative of decarbonising transport and is a part of DTEE (Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies) series of projects that are aimed at lowering carbon emissions across different regions in the world.

Answer 8

flows from the Chinese occupied Aksai Chin region administered by China to the Ladakh union territory of India. It originates to the east of the area of Samzungling on the eastern side of the Karakoram range and flows west to join the Shyok River. ecent clashes between the Indian army and the Chinese PLA occurred in this Galwan Valley due to intrusions by the Chinese soldiers. And Chinese opposition to Darbuk–Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi Road that runs along the Shyok River and almost parallel to Line of Actual Control but well within the Indian territory. The river is named after Ghulam Rasool Galwan, a Ladakhi explorer of Kashmiri descent, who first explored the course of the river. In 1899, he was part of a British expedition team that was exploring the areas to the north of the Chang Chenmo valley, when he ran into this previously unknown river valley. Nubra River is another tributary of Shyok River and the Nubra Valley is also of strategic importance as it leads to Siachen Glacier. River Shyok and Sutlej are tributaries of River Indus

Answer 9

(Article 114) states that no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by law. Accordingly an appropriation bill is introduced to provide for the appropriation , out of Consolidated Fund of India; the grants voted by the Lok Sabha The expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. The Finance Bill is introduced to give effect to financial proposals of the Government of India for the following year . It is subjected to all the conditions applicable to the money bill. No amendments can be proposed to the appropriation bill in either house of the parliament that will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant voted, or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India. Unlike the appropriation bill the amendments ( seeking to reject or reduce a tax) can be moved in the case of finance bill. Hence statement 2 is not correct. The appropriation bill becomes appropriate Act after it is assented to by the president . This act authorise( or legalise ) the payments from the the Consolidated fund of India. The Finance Act legalise the income side of the budget and complete the process of the enactment of the budget. According to the provisional Collection of Taxes Act of 1931, the Finance Bill must be enacted ( i.e. passed by the Parliament and assented to by the President) within 75 days.

Answer 10

Afghan leader who took over the Mughal Empire after defeating Humayun in 1540. Sher Shah occupied the throne of Delhi for not more than five years, but his reign proved to be a landmark in the Sub-continent. As a king, he has several achievements in his credit. He established an efficient public administration. He set up a revenue collection system based on the measurement of land. Justice was provided to the common man. Numerous civil works were carried out during his short reign; planting of trees, wells and building of Sarai (inns) for travellers was done. Roads were laid; it was under his rule that the Grand Trunk road was built. However, Sher Shah did not survive long after his accession on the throne and died in 1545 after a short reign of five years. After his death, Humayun was able to defeat his successor, Sikandar Suri and regain the crown of the Hindustan.

Answer 11

Ocean deposits usually consist of unconsolidated sediments, which can come from various sources, and are deposited at the ocean floor. Thickness of these deposits vary greatly from one ocean to another. They can be differentiated into following categories. The Muds: These are terrigenous deposits because they are derived from land and mainly deposited on the continental shelves. The muds are referred to as blue, red and green muds; their colouring depends on their chemical content. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched. The Oozes: These are pelagic deposits because they are derived from the ocean. They are made of shelly and skeletal remains of marine microorganisms with calcareous and siliceous parts. Oozes have a very fine and flour like texture and either occur as accumulated deposits or float about in suspension. Clays: These occur mainly as red clays in deeper parts of the ocean. Red clay is an accumulation of volcanic dust blown out from volcanoes during a volcanic eruption.

Answer 12

Article 244 in Part X of the Constitution envisages a special system of administration for certain areas designated as ‘scheduled areas’ and ‘tribal areas’. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The features of administration contained in the Sixth Schedule are as follows: The Governor is empowered to organise and re-organise the autonomous districts. Thus, he can increase or decrease their areas or change their names or define their boundaries. Each autonomous district has a district council consisting of 30 members, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise. Hence statement 2 is not correct. The district and regional councils administer the areas under their jurisdiction. The district and regional councils within their territorial jurisdictions can constitute village councils or courts for trial of suits and cases between the tribes. The Council can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by nontribals. But, such regulations require the assent of the governor. The district and regional councils are empowered to assess and collect land revenue and to impose certain specified taxes. The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.

Answer 13

In September 1946, the Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha gave a call to demand - Tebhaga - two-thirds’ share - to the bargardars, the share croppers instead of the one-half share. The storm centre of the movement was north Bengal. The central slogan was “nij khamare dhan tolo”- i.e., sharecroppers taking the paddy to their own threshing floor and not to the jotedar’s house, as before, so as to enforce tebhaga. The share croppers were encouraged by the fact that the Bengal Land Revenue Commission, popularly known as the Floud Commission, had already made this recommendation. The movement received a great boost in late January 1947 when the Muslim League Ministry led by Suhrawardy published the Bengal Bargadars Temporary Regulation Bill. The Muslim League Ministry failed to pursue the bill in the Assembly and it was only in 1950 that the Congress Ministry passed a Bargadars Bill which incorporated, in substance, the demands of the movement.

Answer 14

(RER) measures the value of currencies, taking into account changes in the price level. The real exchange rate shows what you can actually buy. While two currencies may have a certain exchange rate on the foreign exchange market, this does not mean that goods and services purchased with one currency cost the equivalent amounts in another currency. This is due to different inflation rates with different currencies. Real exchange rates are thus calculated as a nominal exchange rate adjusted for the different rates of inflation between the two currencies. A high RER implies that foreign goods are relatively cheap and domestic goods are relatively expensive. Whereas a low RER implies that foreign goods are relatively expensive and domestic goods are relatively cheap. RER is just a relative price. This means that the relative demand for domestic and foreign goods is affected by the relative price of two sets of goods. If initially, RER is low, domestic residents will buy few imported goods. For exactly the same reason, foreigners will want to buy more domestic. Therefore, net exports will be high. If RER is high, domestic residents (say Indians) will want to buy many imported goods and foreigners will want to buy a few Indian goods. So the number of net exports demanded will be very much on the low side and imports rise due to cheaper prices.

Answer 15

In March 1940, Subhas Chandra Bose convened an Anti-Compromise Conference at Ramgarh. It was a joint effort of the Forward Bloc and the Kisan Sabha. It was resolved at the conference that a world-wide struggle should be launched on April 6, the first day of the National Week, with a call to the people not to help the Imperialist War (2nd World War) with any resource—men, money or materials. He called for resistance to be offered to all forms of exploitation of Indian resources for the imperial cause. There was enthusiastic participation by the people in the struggle launched on April 6.

Answer 16

an informal group comprising of 4-10 individuals coming together for the purpose of availing bank loan on individual basis or through group mechanism against the mutual guarantee. Generally, the members of a JLG would engage in a similar type of economic activity. In certain groups, members may prefer to undertake a different type of economic activities as well. The members would offer a joint undertaking to the bank to enable them to avail loans. JLG members are expected to provide support to each other in carrying out occupational and social activities. They are typically credit groups of small or marginal tenant farmers who do not have a proper title of their farmland. Through these JLGs, banks plan to extend assistance to the financially excluded sections of the society, especially landless farmers. Objectives of Joint Liability Groups (JLGs): To augment the flow of credit to landless farmers cultivating land as tenant farmers, oral lessees or sharecroppers and small/marginal farmers as well as other poor individuals taking up farm activities, off-farm activities and non-farm activities. To serve as a collateral substitute for loans to be provided to the target group. To build mutual trust and confidence between the bank and the target group. To minimize the risks in the loan portfolio for the banks through group approach, cluster approach, peer education and credit discipline. To provide food security to vulnerable section through enhanced agriculture production, productivity and livelihood promotion through joint farming and cluster approach. Features of JLG and criteria for membership: A JLG is an Informal group in which 4 - 10 individuals come together and form a group All the members agree and avail the loan in the group through a formal agreement Members should belong to similar socio-economic status, background and environment carrying out farming and Allied activities and who agree to function as a joint liability group. This way the groups would be homogeneous and organized by like-minded farmers/Individuals and develop mutual trust and respect. The members should be residing in the same village/ area/ neighbourhood and should know and trust each other well enough to take up joint liability for group/individual Loans. Members who have defaulted to any other formal financial institution, in the past, are debarred from the Group Membership. Loans to individual farmers [including Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs)], directly engaged in Agriculture and Allied Activities, viz., dairy, fishery, animal husbandry, poultry, bee-keeping and sericulture are treated as eligible for classification under priority sector target.

Answer 17

Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age falls roughly from 10000 B.C. to 6000 B.C. It was the transitional phase between the Paleolithic Age and Neolithic Age. Mesolithic remains in India are found in Langhnaj in Gujarat, Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh and also in some places of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The paintings and engravings found at the rock shelters give an idea about the social life and economic activities of Mesolithic people. In the sites of Mesolithic Age, a different type of stone tools is found. These are tiny stone artifacts, often not more than five centimeters in size, and therefore called microliths. People did not use to build permanent settlements, but only short-period seasonal settlements. They fed themselves on hunting, picking up herbs, and lived in smaller movable groups, wandering after food or raw material at long distances. However, there seems to have been a shift from big animal hunting to small animal hunting and fishing. The use of bow and arrow also began during this period. Mesolithic people used to wear clothes made up of bark and leaves in the summers and in the winters they used to wear animal skins. began a tendency to settle for longer periods in an area. Therefore, domestication of animals, horticulture and primitive cultivation started. Animal bones are found in these sites and these include dog, deer, boar and ostrich. Occasionally, burials of the dead along with some microliths and shells seem to have been practiced. The chief characteristic features of the Neolithic culture are the practice of agriculture, domestication of animals, polishing of stone tools and the manufacture of pottery. In fact, the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals led to the emergence of village communities based on sedentary life. The people of Neolithic Age used clothes made of cotton and wool.

Answer 18

Since the mid-20th Century, average global temperatures have warmed about 0.6°C (1.1°F), but the warming has not occurred equally everywhere. Temperatures have increased about twice as fast in the Arctic as in the mid-latitudes, a phenomenon is known as “Arctic amplification. Hence option (c) is the correct answer. Why are temperatures warming faster in the Arctic than the rest of the world? The loss of sea ice is one of the most cited reasons. When bright and reflective ice melts, it gives way to a darker ocean; this amplifies the warming trend because the ocean surface absorbs more heat from the Sun than the surface of snow and ice. In more technical terms, losing sea ice reduces Earth’s albedo: the lower the albedo, the more a surface absorbs heat from sunlight rather than reflecting it back to space. However, other factors contribute as well. Thunderstorms, for instance, are much more likely to occur in the tropics than the higher latitudes. The storms transport heat from the surface to higher levels of the atmosphere, where global wind patterns sweep it toward higher latitudes. The abundance of thunderstorms creates a near-constant flow of heat away from the tropics, a process that dampens warming near the equator and contributes to Arctic amplification.

Answer 19

The greatest ruler of the Pratihara dynasty was Mihir Bhoja. He recovered Kannauj (Kanyakubja) by 836, and it remained the capital of the Pratiharas for almost a century. He built the city Bhojpal (Bhopal). Raja Bhoja and other valiant Gujara kings faced and defeated many attacks of the Arabs from west. Between 915-918 A.D, Kannauj was attacked by a Rashtrakuta king, who devastated the city leading to the weakening of the Pratihara Empire. In 1018, Kannauj then ruled by Rajyapala Pratihara was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni. The empire broke into independent Rajput states. Muhammad Ghori, the Sultan of the Ghurid Empire, between the duration of 1173-1206AD, reigned over the region of modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Northern India. In 1191, passing through the Kyber Pass, Ghori set out to invade Indian subcontinent by first capturing a fort in Bhatinda that belonged to Prithvi Raj Chauhan.

Answer 20

In the beginning of the 6th century B.C., the northern India consisted of a large number of independent kingdoms. Some of them had monarchical forms of government, while some others were republics. In course of time, the small and weak kingdoms either submitted to the stronger rulers or gradually got eliminated. Finally in the mid-6th century B.C., only four kingdoms – Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha survived. The Vatsa kingdom was situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. Its capital was Kausambi near modern Allahabad. Its most popular ruler was Udayana. He strengthened his position by entering into matrimonial alliances with Avanti, Anga and Magadha. After his death, Vatsa was annexed to the Avanti kingdom. The capital of Avanti was Ujjain. The most important ruler of this kingdom was Pradyota. He became powerful by marrying Vasavadatta, the daughter of Udayana. He patronized Buddhism. The successors of Pradyota were weak and later this kingdom was taken over by the rulers of Magadha. Of all the kingdoms of north India, Magadha emerged powerful and prosperous. It became the nerve centre of political activity in north India. Magadha was endowed by nature with certain geographical and strategic advantages. These made her to rise to imperial greatness. Her strategic position between the upper and lower part of the Gangetic valley was a great advantage. It had a fertile soil. The iron ores in the hills near Rajgir and copper and iron deposits near Gaya added to its natural assets. Her location at the centre of the highways of trade of those days contributed to her wealth. Rajagriha was the capital of Magadha. During the reign of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, the prosperity of Magadha reached its zenith.

Answer 21

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India (other than an individual who is a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh or an entity that is registered/ incorporated in Pakistan or Bangladesh). in an unlisted Indian company. in 10 percent or more of the post, issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company. In a move that is likely to have an impact on the sale of the national carrier, the government has notified amendments to Foreign Exchange Management Rules,2020, and allowed NRIs 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in Air India. The amendment removes the exception which permitted Overseas Citizens of India 100% FDI in air transport, but not Air India. This category of citizens has been replaced with NRIs, now allowed to commit 100% FDI in air transport, including Air India, through automatic route.

Answer 22

Recently around the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima being struck by the first atomic bomb to be used in war, a district court in Japan recognised survivors of the post-explosion “black rain”, who were outside a government-defined zone at the time of the event, as atomic bomb survivors. An estimated 69 per cent of the buildings in Hiroshima were destroyed by the atomic bomb. The debris and soot from this, mixed with the radioactive fallout from the bomb, rose high into the atmosphere in the form of a mushroom cloud. This material combined with the vapor in the atmosphere and came down as dark drops of liquid that has been called black rain. Black rain is full of highly radioactive material, and studies have show that exposure to it can result in serious illnesses. The rain contaminated everything it came in contact with, and dead fish were reported floating in water bodies and severely ill cattle were seen lying in the fields. Black rain has caused acute radiation symptoms (ARS) in many who were exposed to it, with reports of people suffering from nausea and diarrhoea for weeks. The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima, but it killed fewer people and its effects were confined to a smaller area due to its geographical position between hills. The blast in Nagasaki also did not produce firestorms due to the damaged area not producing enough fuel to trigger one. This meant that the material that make up black rain was less in Nagasaki when compared to Hiroshima, and consequently, the rain was confined to a smaller area.

Answer 23

The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) was created in 2010 as a temporary crisis resolution measure in the wake of the financial and sovereign debt crisis in the euro area. The mission of the EFSF is to safeguard financial stability in Europe by providing financial assistance to countries of the euro area. EFSF offered financial assistance to euro area countries in need in this context, provided they committed to undertaking certain reforms (aimed at preventing the recurrence of similar crises). This assistance was financed through the issuance of EFSF bonds and other capital market instruments. EFSF does not provide any further financial assistance, as this task is now performed solely by the ESM. Nevertheless, the EFSF continues to operate in order to: receive loan repayments from beneficiary countries; make interest and principal payments to holders of EFSF bonds; roll over outstanding EFSF bonds, as the maturity of loans provided to Ireland, Portugal and Greece is longer than the maturity of bonds issued by the EFSF Recently, the 27-member European Union has announced EU recovery deal to counter the debilitating effects of coronavirus on the region’s economies. Instead of individual countries raising funds, this time around, the EU as a whole will borrow money from the markets.

Answer 24

Article 243M of the Indian Constitution, while exempting the Fifth Schedule areas from Part IX of the Constitution, provides that Parliament may by law extend its provisions to the Scheduled and Tribal Areas subject to such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in such law and no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment to the Constitution. On the basis of the report of the Bhuria Committee submitted in 1995, the Parliament enacted the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) to extend Part IX of the Constitution with certain modifications and exceptions to the Scheduled V areas. At present Scheduled V areas exist in 10 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is the nodal Ministry for implementation of the provisions of PESA in the States.

Answer 25

economic group of 21 members, formed in 1989, with the primary goal of promoting free trade and sustainable development in the Pacific Rim economies. The creation of APCE was primarily in response to the increasing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies. Also, the proliferation of regional economic blocs, such as the European Union (EU) and the, now defunct, North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), encouraged its formation. The founding members of APEC were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the U.S. Since its launch, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, and Vietnam have joined its ranks. APEC refers to its members as economies rather than as states due to the disputed status of Taiwan and Hong Kong. Functions of APEC: APEC engages in multiple micro causes, like intellectual property rights and emergency preparedness, and has many sub-groups that aim to advance policy and awareness. APEC has been fundamental in reducing tariffs, improving customs efficiency, and closing the gap between developing and developed economies.

Answer 26

In politics, diplomacy and export control, "dual-use" refers to technology that can be used for both peaceful and military aims. The expensive technologies which would otherwise only benefit civilian commercial interests can also be used to serve military purposes when not otherwise engaged such as the Global Positioning System. Applications : Dual-use nuclear technology refers to the possibility of military use of civilian nuclear power technology. Rocket technology and intercontinental ballistic missiles Artificial intelligence for medical as well as military purposes examples Hololens. The HoloLens 2, smart glasses that allow consumers to experience augmented reality within the real world. The Integrated Visual Augmented System (IVAS) The IVAS would be used to train soldiers, as well as field medics with battlefield experience within a virtual environment. Chlorine is a chemical agent found within several household items such as Bleach and provides various benefits with its wide array of applications. However, it can also be used as a chemical weapon. The image intensifiers used in night-vision goggles and the focal plane arrays found in surveillance satellites and thermal cameras have numerous civil applications which include nature photography, medical imaging, firefighting, and population control of predator species.

Answer 27

A corporate bond is a debt issued by a company in order for it to raise capital. An investor who buys a corporate bond is effectively lending money to the company in return for a series of interest payments, but these bonds may also actively trade on the secondary market. Corporate bonds are typically seen as somewhat riskier than government bonds, so they usually have higher interest rates to compensate for this additional risk. A well developed corporate bond market supports economic development. It provides an alternative source of finance and supplements the banking system to meet the requirements of the corporate sector to raise funds for long-term investment for infrastructure. It is believed that this segment acts as a stable source of finance when the equity market is volatile, and also enables firms to tailor their asset and liability profiles to reduce the risk of maturity. It also helps in the diversification of risks in the system. In view of the huge investment required for the infrastructure sector, the presence of a well developed corporate bond market assumes significance in India. With the declining role of development finance institutions (DFIs), a developed and robust corporate bond market becomes all the more important. The corporate bond market is likely to be more beneficial for business having longer-term cash flows, where investors may be wary of risks associated with equity and long-term financing from banks may not be easily available. In India, while the banks still command a sizable presence in the economy, the corporate sector is taking recourse to the overseas markets for raising equity, debt and loans. An underdeveloped corporate bond market can encourage this trend, thereby increasing the external sector vulnerability. Therefore a well developed corporate bond would reduce external sector vulnerability.

Answer 28

Hibernation It is the type of winter sleep, performed by the warm and cold-blooded animals. It is for the whole winter. The animals' lookout for the warmer place, their metabolic activities slow down, and it is the dormant stage. Hibernation helps in maintaining the body temperature and thus avoids from any internal body damage due to low temperatures\ Examples - Bats, birds, mammals, insects, etc. Aestivation It is the type of summer sleep, performed by cold-blooded animals It is of shorter duration than hibernation. Animals search for the moist, shady and cool place to sleep. Aestivation helps in maintaining the body temperature by avoiding the excessive water loss and any internal body damaged due to high temperatures. Examples - Bees, snails, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, earthworms, crocodiles, tortoise, etc. Diapause It refers to the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. Diapause is most often observed in all the life stages of arthropods, especially insects.

Answer 29

department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) has recently notified the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to encourage domestic production of 41 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), key starting materials (KSMs) and drug intermediaries (DIs). India is a prominent and rapidly growing presence in global pharmaceuticals. It is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, occupying a 20% share in global supply by volume, and also supplies 62% of global demand for vaccines. India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 10th by value. 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed under the automatic route for greenfield pharma. 100% FDI is allowed in brownfield pharma; wherein 74% is allowed under the automatic route and thereafter through government approval route The Report of the Hathi Committee (1975) is an important landmark in the development of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry. The Hathi Committee emphasized the achievement of self-sufficiency in medicines and of abundant availability at reasonable prices of essential medicines. India was self-reliant on APIs until the mid-1990s when liberalisation in import restrictions led to a gradual influx of APIs from China. A cost-based price control system that existed until 2013 regulated the prices of both APIs and formulations. Even though India now has a less stringent drug price control policy, the dependence on Chinese imports has been growing. The share of China in India’s total import of APIs has increased from 61% in 2011 to 69% in 2019. Drug Pricing Policy in India: The approach to price control shifted from a cost-based to a market-based one since 2013. Now, prices of formulations are fixed based on the price of top-selling brands. The new price control policy does not regulate the price of APIs; it regulates the prices of formulations of those APIs, which figure in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM).

Answer 30

located in Southwestern Indian Ocean. Hence pair 3 is not correctly matched. It is an affiliation of the island nations Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Comoros, Mayotte in the Indian Ocean to form a new travel destination. Aim of the Vanilla Island that has been founded in 2010 to pool forces and jointly market the region compared to the sole individual marketing of each island in the past.

Answer 31

Natuna Regency is an archipelago of 272 islands located in the south part of the South China Sea in the Natuna Sea. It is part of the larger Tudjuh Archipelago, off the northwest coast of Borneo. Administratively, the islands constitute a regency within the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia. China has sparked a major maritime confrontation with Indonesia near the South China Sea with dozens of Chinese fishing vessels, along with a coast guard escort, entering waters off the Natuna Islands, which are within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone but are also claimed by China.

Answer 32

an island within the Solomon Islands, which are located in the South Pacific, directly between Australia and the U.S. It was the administrative seat (from 1893) of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate until it was destroyed by the Japanese (1942) during World War II. A Beijing-based company which has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party has secured exclusive development rights for the entire island of Tulagi and its surroundings.

Answer 33

complement the Consumer Protection Act 2019 with regards to the protection of consumers from unfair trade practices and other practices of e-commerce platforms. The new rules will be applicable to all electronic retailers (e-tailers) registered in India or abroad but offering goods and services to Indian consumers. According to the new rules, the e-commerce players will have to display the total price of goods and services offered for sale along with a break-up of other charges. They are also required to mention the 'expiry date' of goods offered for sale and the 'country of origin' of goods and services that are necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage. Companies are also not allowed to “manipulate the price" of goods and services offered on their platforms to make “unreasonable profit", discriminate between consumers or make any arbitrary classification of consumers affecting their rights under the Act. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has come into force from 20th July 2020. As provided in section 10 of the Act, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established w.e.f. 24th July 2020. CCPA will not only protect the rights of consumers purchasing goods and services both online and offline but also have the power to initiate class-action against companies including enforcing recalls, refunds and returns. The violation of the rules will attract penal action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Answer 34

Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert). The people living in these five divisions had their respective chief occupations as well as gods for worship. Kurinji – chief deity was Murugan – chief occupation, hunting and honey collection. Mullai – chief deity Mayon (Vishnu) – chief occupation, cattle-rearing and dealing with dairy products. Marudam – chief deity Indira – chief occupation, agriculture. Neydal – chief deity Varunan – chief occupation fishing and salt manufacturing. Palai – chief deity Korravai – chief occupation robbery.

Answer 35

first comprehensive assessment of range, abundance and conservation status of birds in India, has underlined concerns about some bird species and good news about a few others. Released during CMS COP13, the international conference held recently in Gandhinagar, the report was prepared as a partnership among 10 organisations including the World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Institute of India and Nature Biodiversity Authority-India. Much of its data is based on citizen science — information provided by birdwatchers through various platforms. The number of bird species whose status was assessed. This assessment is based on three indices: long-term trend in abundance (over 25+ years); the current annual trend in abundance (last 5 years); and distribution range size. The national bird since 1963, the species finds itself under the highest level of legal protection, placed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and further amendments. Peafowl is spread across plains and hills of India, except in extremely dry or wet regions. The report finds that the abundance trend is that of a general increase, both long term and currently.

Answer 36

significant role in the bhakti movement at large. Many of these women had to struggle for acceptance within the largely male-dominated movement. Only through demonstrations of their utter devotion to the Divine, their outstanding poetry, and stubborn insistence of their spiritual equality with their contemporaries were these women reluctantly acknowledged and accepted within their ranks. Their struggle attests to the strength of patriarchal values within both societies and within religious and social movements attempting to pave the way for more egalitarian access to the Divine. Women bhaktas wrote of the obstacles of home, family tensions, the absent husband, meaningless household chores, and restrictions of married life, including their status as married women. In many cases, they rejected traditional women’s roles and societal norms by leaving husbands and homes altogether, choosing to become wandering bhaktas; in some instances, they formed communities with other poet-saints. Their new focus was utter devotion and worship of their Divine Husbands. The Alvar women poets (Tamil poet-saints), like Andal and others, gave expression to their love for the divine. Lal Ded (1320-1384), the Muslim poetess from Kashmir, represented the Sant tradition of bhakti and wrote Vakhs (maxims), which are peerless gems of spiritual experience. Meera Bai, in Gujarati, Rajasthani and Hindi (she wrote in three languages), Avvayyar, in Tamil, and Akkamahadevi in Kannada, are well known for their sheer lyrical intensity and concentrated emotional appeal. Their writings speak to us about the social conditions prevailing at that time, and the position of woman at home and in society. They all wrote small lyrics or poems of devotional fervour, metaphysical depth, and with a spirit of dedication and utmost sincerity. Behind their mysticism and metaphysics is a divine madness. They turned every wound inflicted by life into a poem.

Answer 37

On June 14, 2019 a robot named Bumble became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space. Bumble and a second Astrobee, 'Honey,' launched to the space station in April. A third robot named 'Queen' launched in July. Astrobee is a free-flying robot system that will help researchers test new technologies in zero gravity and perform routine work alongside astronauts aboard the International Space Station , It will help astronauts reduce the time they spend on routine duties, leaving them to focus more on the things that only humans can do. Working autonomously or via remote control by astronauts, flight controllers or researchers on the ground, the robots are designed to complete tasks such as taking inventory, documenting experiments conducted by astronauts with their built-in cameras or working together to move cargo throughout the station. In addition, the system serves as a research platform that can be outfitted and programmed to carry out experiments in microgravity - helping us to learn more about how robotics can benefit astronauts in space. The Astrobee system consists of three cubed-shaped robots, software and a docking station used for recharging. Astrobee's navigation system uses a camera to observe the robot's surroundings and compares what the camera sees to a map of the space station's interior. Astrobee robots can move in any direction and turn on any axis in space. The robots can fly solo, going about their business independently or they can be managed by astronauts or flight controllers. Equipped with cameras, a microphone, and other sensors, they provide flying eyes and ears that will allow flight controllers to remotely monitor conditions and remotely perform work on the station from the ground.

Answer 38

Between March and May of 1947, Mountbatten decided that the Cabinet Mission Plan had become untenable and formulated an alternative plan – referred to as the Plan Balkan. This plan envisaged the transfer of power to separate provinces (or to a confederation, if formed before the transfer), with Punjab and Bengal given the option to vote for partition of their provinces. The various units thus formed along with the princely states (rendered independent by lapse of paramountcy) would have the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining separate. Jawaharlal Nehru strongly objected to it. He made it clear that Congress would not accept the break-up of the Indian Union and the transfer of sovereignty to the provinces. Any plan should start with the Union and opting out of certain areas rather than a number of sovereign units coming together if the so desired. To jettison the basic conception of India and denude the Constituent Assembly of its significance was to yield to the League and ignore the views of all other sections of opinion in India. The inevitable consequences would be to invite the Balkanization of India, provoke civil conflict, and add to violence and disorder, ensure a further breakdown of the central authority and demoralize the army, the police and the civil service. Mount batten consequently abandoned the 'Plan Balkan' and started on a fresh plan by asking his advisors to recast the whole plan to meet Nehru's main objection.

Answer 39

With a view to improving the liquidity position of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) as well as Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), the government launched a Special Liquidity Scheme of Rs. 30,000 crore. The Scheme was launched on July 1, 2020, through a Special Purpose Vehicle in the form of SLS Trust set up by SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAP). RBI will provide funds for the Scheme by subscribing to government-guaranteed special securities issued by the Trust. The total amount of such securities issued outstanding shall not exceed Rs. 30,000 crores at any point in time. The government of India will provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee to the special securities issued by the Trust. Any NBFC including Microfinance Institutions registered with RBI under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (excluding those registered as Core Investment Companies) and any HFC registered with the National Housing Bank (NHB) under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 which is complying with the following broad conditions will be eligible to raise funding from the said facility: Compliance with RBI regulations on Capital adequacy Net NPA is less than 6% as on 31.03.2019 Net profit in at least one of the two preceding financial years Rated as investment grade by a rating agency Is not reported under SMA-1 or SMA-2 category by any bank for their borrowing during the period one year prior to 01.08.2018 The Scheme will remain open for 3 months for making subscriptions by the Trust. The period of lending (CPs/NCDs of NBFCs/HFCs for short duration of upto 90 days) by the Trust shall be for a period of up to 90 days. The financing would be used by the NFBCs/HFCs only to repay existing liabilities and not to expand assets.

Answer 40

The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) is an innovative technological solution aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems across the country. This is being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. eVIN aims to provide real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures across all cold chain points in the country. This robust system has been used with the requisite customization during the COVID pandemic for ensuring the continuation of the essential immunization services and protecting our children and pregnant mothers against vaccine-preventable diseases. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network has helped create a big data architecture that generates actionable analytics encouraging data-driven decision-making and consumption-based planning that helps in maintaining optimum stocks of vaccines leading to cost savings. Vaccine availability at all times has increased to 99% in most health centres.

Answer 41

National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) is a nation-wide centralised payment system owned and operated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). NEFT offers the following advantages for funds transfer or receipt: Round the clock availability on all days of the year. Near-real-time funds transfer to the beneficiary account and settlement in a secure manner. Pan-India coverage through a large network of branches of all types of banks. Positive confirmation to the remitter by SMS / e-mail on credit to the beneficiary account. Penal interest provision for the delay in credit or return of transactions. No levy of charges by RBI from banks. No charges to savings bank account customers for online NEFT transactions. Besides funds transfer, NEFT system can be used for a variety of transactions including the payment of credit card dues to the card-issuing banks, payment of loan EMI, inward foreign exchange remittances, etc. Available for one-way funds transfers from India to Nepal. The outbound remittances through NEFT system are permitted only to Nepal under Indo-Nepal Remittance.

Answer 42

In 1890, Kadambini Ganguly, the first woman graduate of Calcutta University, addressed the Congress session. This was symbolic of the fact that India's struggle for freedom would raise Indian women from the degraded position to which they had been reduced for the past centuries.

Answer 43

Anandibai Joshi: was the first Indian female physician, alongside Kadambini Ganguly. She was the first woman from the erstwhile Bombay presidency of India to study and graduate with a two-year degree in western medicine in the United States.

Answer 44

Sarojini Naidu: political activist and poet. Naidu's work as a poet earned her the sobriquet Nightingale of India by Mahatma Gandhi. She was called Bharat Kokila by Rabindranath Tagore. She was appointed the President of the Indian National Congress in 1925 (First Indian Woman to be appointed as President) and later became the Governor of the United Provinces in 1947, becoming the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the Dominion of India.

Answer 45

Bina Das: was an Indian revolutionary and nationalist from West Bengal. She was a member of Chhatri Sangha, a semi-revolutionary organisation for women in Kolkata. On 6 February 1932, she attempted to assassinate the Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson, in the Convocation Hall of the University of Calcutta. After her early release in 1939, Das joined the Congress party. In 1942, she participated in the Quit India movement and was imprisoned again from 1942–45. From 1946–47, she was a member of the Bengal Provincial Legislative Assembly and, from 1947–51, of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Answer 46

In the First Afghan War (1839-42), the British intention was to establish a permanent barrier against schemes of aggression from the north-west (Russia). An English army entered triumphantly into Kabul (August 1839) after a successful attack. Most of the tribes had already been won over by bribes. Dost Mohammed surrendered (1840) and Shah Shuja was made the Amir of Afghanistan. But Shah Shuja was unacceptable to the Afghans. As soon as the British withdrew, the Afghans rose in rebellion, killing the garrison commander in Kabul. The British were compelled to sign a treaty (1841) with the Afghan chiefs by which they agreed to evacuate Afghanistan and restore Dost Mohammed. Under a new expedition, the British re-occupied Kabul in September 1842, but having learned their lesson well, they arrived at a settlement with Dost Mohammed by which the British evacuated from Kabul and recognised him as the independent ruler of Afghanistan. John Lawrence (1864-1869) started a policy of masterly inactivity which was a reaction to the disasters of the First Afghan War and an outcome of practical common sense and intimate knowledge of the frontier problem and of Afghan passion for independence. Even when Dost Mohammed died in 1863, there was no interference in the war of succession. Lawrence’s policy rested on the fulfilment of two conditions: that the peace at the frontier was not disturbed, and that no candidate in civil war sought foreign help. And as Sher Ali established himself on the throne, Lawrence tried to cultivate friendship with him.

Answer 47

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released its first-ever “Digital Economy Report 2019” that analyses the world’s digital economy. The 3 main components of the digital economy as stated in the DER 2019 include: Core aspects: Core aspects or foundational aspects of the digital economy comprises of fundamental innovations (semiconductors, processors), core technologies (computers, telecommunication devices) and enabling infrastructures (Internet and telecoms networks). Digital and IT sectors: It includes key products or services that rely on core digital technologies, including digital platforms, mobile applications and payment services. Digitalizing sectors: It includes those products where digital products and services are being increasingly used e.g. for e-commerce. Key highlights of the Report: US and China are the top wealth creators in the digital economy, whereas Africa and Latin American countries are lagging far behind. US and China account for 90% of the market capitalization value of the world’s 70 largest digital platform companies, 75% of all blockchain technologies patents, 50% of global spending on IoT, and more than 75% of the cloud computing. Global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic has grown from about 100 gigabytes (GB) per day in 1992 to more than 45,000 GB per second in 2017. By 2022, global IP traffic is projected to reach 150,700 GB per second. Estimates of the size of the digital economy range from 4.5% to 15.5% of the world’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Regarding value-added in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, the United States and China together account for almost 40% of the world’s total. The ICT sector is the largest in Taiwan Province of China, Ireland, and Malaysia. The global computer services industry is dominated by the United States. India has the largest share among developing countries in the computer services industry. Also, India ranked fourth in terms of growth in the share of the ICT sector’s value-added in GDP between 2010 and 2017. In “Share of ICT services in total exports of services: Top 20 countries, 2017”, India ranked 2nd which is topped by Ireland. India is the largest developing-country exporter of such services. Seven “super platforms” – Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tencent and Alibaba − account for 2/3rd of the total market value of the top 70 platforms.

Answer 48

The Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) is a joint UK-India Fund, specifically designed to promote sustainable energy projects. The fund, established in 2018, is focused on identifying, investing and supporting growth in zero carbon and low carbon energy solutions in the country. Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF) established with anchor investment from India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and the Department for International Development (DFID), Government of UK. The Fund is based in Mumbai (India) and shall invest in scalable operating companies and platforms across renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, e-mobility, resource conservation and associated value chains. GGEF aims to raise GBP 500 million from international institutional investors to invest into areas such as renewable energy, clean transportation, water, sanitation, waste management, emerging technologies and similar industries in India which offer significant investment opportunities and potential for attractive returns. EverSource Capital, an equal joint venture between Everstone Group and Lightsource BP was selected as the fund manager for GGEF.

Answer 49

one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words patta, meaning canvas, and Chitra, meaning picture. Pattachitra is thus a painting done on canvas and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction. Making the patta is the first thing that comes in the agenda, and the painters, also called chitrakars, go about their work in preparing a tamarind paste, which is made by soaking tamarind seeds in water for three days. The seeds are later pounded with a crusher, mixed with water, and heated in an earthen pot to turn it to a paste, which is called niryas kalpa. The paste is then used to hold two pieces of cloth together with it, and coated with a powder of soft clay stone a couple of times till it becomes firm. Soon as the cloth becomes dry, the final touch of polishing it with a rough stone and then a smooth stone or wood is given, until the surface becomes smooth and leathery, and is all ready as a canvas to be painted on. Preparing the paints is perhaps the most important part of the creation of Pattachitra, engaging the craftsmanship of the chitrakars in using naturally available raw materials to bring about indigenous paints. The gum of the kaitha tree is the chief ingredient, and is used as a base for making different pigments, on which diverse raw materials are mixed for diverse colours. Powdered conch shells, for instance, are used for making a white pigment, while lamp soot is used for a black pigment. The root of the keya plant is usually used for making the common brush, while mouse hair is used on the requirement of finer brushes, to be attached to wooden handles. The creation of the Pattachitra paintings is a disciplined art form, and the chitrakars maintain rigidity in their use of colours and patterns, restricting the colours to a single tone.

Answer 50

Researchers have developed an Artificial Intelligence-powered tool that has been trained to “look” at color images and identify galaxy clusters quickly. About DEEP-CEE (Deep Learning for Galaxy Cluster Extraction and Evaluation.) Deep-CEE builds on Abell’s approach for identifying galaxy clusters. It replaces the astronomer with an Artificial Intelligence model. Deep-CEE model is based on neural networks. These neural networks are designed to mimic the way a human brain learns to recognize objects by activating specific neurons when visualizing distinctive patterns and colors. Artificial Intelligence models are repeatedly trained until the algorithm is able to learn to associate objects on its own. Galaxy clusters: They are some of the most massive structures in the cosmos, consisting of hundreds of galaxies spread in not so vast area, usually it is limited to a few million light-years across. At their core, these clusters have big population of elliptical yet massive galaxies. These clusters are believed to be formed stars a long time ago but not making stars anymore.

Answer 51

Temperatures at the earth's surface have increased by between 0.2 and 0.4 degrees C in the past 30 years. This warming trend is attributed to higher concentrations of greenhouse gases – CO2, methane, CFCs, and others – which warm both the earth's surface and lower atmosphere by holding heat in. Most of the atmospheric greenhouse gases are concentrated in the upper troposphere. The lower stratosphere, approximately between six and 30 miles above the Earth’s surface, is mostly above the layer of greenhouse gases that trap heat. Temperatures decrease with altitude in the troposphere at a rate of about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer, depending on the weather. While in stratosphere, temperature increase with altitude. It is because the ozone layer absorbs the greater part of the solar ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is an absorbing agent that protects life on Earth.

Answer 52

Construction of check dams: A permanent or temporary wall constructed against the flow of water current in order to check it against going away and also in order to raise the existing water level is called as a check dam. Temporary check dams are constructed by using different types of locally available materials like wood, pebbles, rock pieces, or wire nets. Construction of Irrigation Ponds: These are artificially constructed ponds in the area of watersheds for the collection of water for irrigation. This practice is very much popular in South India. Construction of Percolation Ponds or Percolation Pits: These are artificially constructed ponds in low lying areas to collect the rainwater. Invertedtube wells and dug wells are constructed in the bottoms of ponds so as to allow easy percolation of water inside the ground and to recharge the groundwater level. Construction of Tunnels: These are deep structures in the ground, dug in order to collect the rainwater in them. The rainwater so collected, in tunnels, recharges the groundwater table. Sub strata-Dykes or Subsurface dams: These are long thick walls built undergrounds in the bed of some streams to stop flooding on to a low area of land or checking the sub-surface flow of water. Inverted Tube wells: These are deep bore wells through which the rainwater is allowed to enter into the earth to recharge the groundwater. Tube wells are used to extract the groundwater. Gully Plugs: The deep incision that cuts into the bedrock due to surface runoff of water is called a gully. Gullies are formed in steep areas due to the erosion of soil by rainwater. Gully plugs are stones, sandbags or wood logs that are used as obstructions against the flow of water through gullies.

Answer 53

Recently the Indian Railways has initiated the process to allow private firms to operate passenger trains on its network by inviting entities to participate on 109 origin-destination routes through 151 new trains. In return, private operators will have to pay fixed haulage charges, energy charges on the basis of actual consumption, and a share of their gross revenue to the Railways. The FDI Policy permits 100% FDI in railways infrastructure sector. FDI is permitted in the construction, operation and maintenance of the railway transport sector: Suburban corridor projects through PPP model, High-speed train projects, Dedicated freight lines, Rolling stock including train sets, and locomotives/coaches manufacturing and maintenance facilities, Railway electrification, Signalling systems, Freight terminals and Passenger terminals. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp. Ltd (IRCTC), a subsidiary of Indian Railways has launched brand new Tejas Express (passenger) trains, an initiative that will help the state-run company generate additional revenue and plan for more such offerings. This is the first time that IRCTC, which manages the bookings and catering services on Indian Railways’ 120,000 km network, will be managing train services on its own. IRCTC will have the rights to advertise on these trains to earn non-fare revenues. The new Tejas trains will be the first to be run by an entity other than the national transporter. Railway Board had constituted a Committee for mobilization of resources for major railway projects and restructuring of Railway Ministry and Railway Board under the Chair of Mr. Bibek Debroy. The committee submitted its report in June 2015. The Committee recommended large scale private participation.

Answer 54

foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the RBI. Examples: ``` Medical devices: up to 100% Thermal power: up to 100% Services under Civil Aviation Services such as Maintenance & Repair Organizations Insurance: up to 49% Infrastructure company in the securities market: up to 49% Ports and shipping Railway infrastructure Pension: up to 49% Power exchanges: up to 49% Petroleum Refining (By PSUs): up to 49% ```

Answer 55

foreign entity should compulsorily take the approval of the government. It should file an application through the Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal, which facilitates single-window clearance. This application is then forwarded to the respective ministry or department, which then approves or rejects the application after consultation with the DPIIT. Examples: Broadcasting Content Services: 49% Banking & Public sector: 20% Food Products Retail Trading: 100% Core Investment Company: 100% Multi-Brand Retail Trading: 51% Mining & Minerals separations of titanium bearing minerals and ores: 100% Print Media (publications/printing of scientific and technical magazines/speciality journals/periodicals and a facsimile edition of foreign newspapers): 100% Satellite (Establishment and operations): 100% Print Media (publishing of newspaper, periodicals and Indian editions of foreign magazines dealing with news & current affairs): 26%

Answer 56

Agricultural or Plantation Activities (although there are many exceptions like horticulture, fisheries, tea plantations, Pisciculture, animal husbandry, etc.) Atomic Energy Generation Nidhi Company Lotteries (online, private, government, etc.) Investment in Chit Funds Trading in TDR’s Any Gambling or Betting businesses Cigars, Cigarettes, or any related tobacco industry Housing and Real Estate (except townships, commercial projects, etc.)

Answer 57

Specific Constitutional provisions related to water: Union List: Regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys. State List: Water that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power subject to the provisions of Union List. Article 262 of the Constitution deals with adjudication of water disputes. The provisions in this regard are: Article 262 (1): Parliament may, by law, provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley. Article 262 (2): Parliament may, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute. Under Article 262, the “Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956” was enacted by the Parliament. Till date, Nine Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunals were constituted. Recently The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in Lok Sabha. Some of the important provisions: Disputes Resolution Committee: Under the Bill, when a state puts in a request regarding any water dispute, the central government will set up a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC), to resolve the dispute amicably. Tribunal: The central government will set up an Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal, for the adjudication of water disputes. Time frames: Under the Act, the Tribunal must give its decision within three years, which may be extended by two years. The Decision of the Tribunal has the same force as that of an order of the Supreme Court. Data bank: Under the Act, the central government maintains a data bank and information system at the national level for each river basin.

Answer 58

In order to address the need for building professionally managed and shared science and technology infrastructure in the country, the Department of Science & Technology has launched a unique scheme called ‘Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes’ (SATHI). It aims to build infrastructure which is readily accessible to academia, start-ups, manufacturing, industry and R&D labs. Hence option (a) is the correct answer. These Centres are expected to house major analytical instruments to provide common services of high-end analytical testing, thus avoiding duplication and reduced dependency on foreign sources. These would be operated with a transparent open-access policy. DST has already set up three such centres in the country, one each at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and Banaras Hindu University at the cost of Rs 125 crore each

Answer 59

The invitees for the exercise also include China and Pakistan apart from other member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The invitation for participation to Kavkaz 2020, also referred to as Caucasus-2020, has been extended to at least 18 countries including China, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey apart from other Central Asian Republics part of the SCO. In June 2020, India and Chinese military contingents marched at the Victory Day Parade at Red Square in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of World War II.

Answer 60

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, (NCPOR) formerly known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa. NCPOR was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (formerly Department of Ocean Development), Government of India on the 25th May 1998. Hence statement 1 is not correct. It is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintains the Indian government's Antarctic research stations, Bharati and Maitri and also operating the Himadri and IndARC Arctic research stations in Svalbard, Norway. NCPOR operates in different fields or tasks: storing ice core samples, from Antarctica and the Himalayas. managing the oceanic research vessel ORV Sagar Kanya, the flagship of India's fleet of oceanographic study vessels. This ship has contributed significantly to India's study of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean.

Answer 61

built in the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha who reigned from 700 to 728 CE. It houses three shrines, two to Shiva, one facing east and the other west, and a middle one to Vishnu who is shown as Anantashayana. This is unusual, because temples generally have a single main shrine and not three areas of worship. This shows that it was probably not originally conceived like this and different shrines may have been added at different times, modified perhaps with the change of patrons. In the compound there is evidence of a water tank, an early example of a gopuram, and several other images. Sculptures of the bull, Nandi, Shiva’s mount, line the temple walls, and these, along with the carvings on the temple’s lower walls have suffered severe disfiguration due to erosion by salt-water laden air over the centuries. Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram is a temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Kaveri river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple The Kailashanatha temple is the largest of the rock-cut Hindu temples at the Ellora Caves, Maharashtra, Most of the excavation of the temple is generally attributed to the eighth century Rashtrakuta king Krishna I with some elements completed later. Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi in the Ballari district of Karnataka, India. It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva. The temple was built by Lakkan Dandesha, a nayaka (chieftain) under the ruler Deva Raya II of Viajaynagar Empire.

Answer 62

External Commercial Borrowings are commercial loans raised by eligible resident entities from recognised non-resident entities and should conform to parameters such as minimum maturity, permitted and non-permitted end-uses, maximum all-in-cost ceiling, etc. All entities eligible to receive FDI are also eligible to raise ECBs. Further, the following entities are also eligible to raise ECB: Port Trusts; Units in SEZ; SIDBI; EXIM Bank; and Registered entities engaged in micro-finance activities, viz., registered Not for Profit companies, registered societies/trusts/cooperatives. The negative list, for which the ECB proceeds cannot be utilised, would include the following: Real estate activities ( However, this would not include construction/development of industrial parks/integrated township/SEZ, purchase/long term leasing of industrial land as part of new project/modernisation of expansion of existing units or any activity under ‘infrastructure sector’ definition). Investment in the capital market. Equity investment. Working capital purposes except from foreign equity holder. General corporate purposes except from foreign equity holder. Repayment of Rupee loans except from foreign equity holder. On-lending to entities for the above activities.

Answer 63

Like any other opaque objects illuminated by a light source, the Moon and the Earth cast shadows into space as they block the sunlight that hits them. Each shadow has 3 different areas: the umbra, the penumbra, and the antumbra. The penumbra is the lighter outer part of a shadow. The Moon's penumbra causes partial solar eclipses, and the Earth's penumbra is involved in penumbral lunar eclipses. Umbra is the shadow's dark center portion. Antumbra is the lighter part of the shadow that begins where the umbra ends. When the Earth enters the Moon's shadow, we see a solar eclipse; when the Moon travels through the Earth's shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs. The type of eclipse depends on the type of shadow that is involved A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when Earth's outer shadow falls on the Moon's face. It is easy to miss because most of the Moon is illuminated by sunlight. During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon does not disappear partially or fully, it just becomes a bit faint, which means that humans might not be able to differentiate between the full Moon and the eclipsed Moon. It recently occurred on July 5. The eclipse was only visible from South/West Europe, much of Africa, much of North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Antarctica. It was not visible from India this time as it will be day time during the celestial event in the country. can occur more than once in a year. The next penumbral lunar eclipse will take place between November 29 to November 30.

Answer 64

``` A super-Earth is an extrasolar planet with a mass higher than Earth's, but substantially below those of the Solar System's ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, which are 14.5 and 17 times Earth's, respectively. These planets can be up to 10 times more massive than Earth. If the super-Earth is in the habitable zone of its star and has a life-friendly atmosphere, it could host life, but that is not a guarantee. Also called the habitable zone or life zone, the Goldilocks region is an area of space in which a planet is just the right distance from its home star so that its surface is neither too hot nor too cold. The term "Super-Earth" refers only to the mass of the planet, and so does not imply anything about the surface conditions or habitability. There are no known super-Earths in our solar system; they are all in extrasolar planetary systems. With telescope technology of today, most super-Earths have been found near M-class red dwarf stars (smaller than the sun) or G-class stars (similar to our sun). Stars that are bigger and shine brighter than the sun would simply wash super-Earths out, and make their tiny gravitational tugs hard to detect and the transit signals too small. ```

Answer 65

Plea bargaining refers to a person charged with a criminal offence negotiating with the prosecution for a lesser punishment than what is provided in law by pleading guilty to a less serious offence. It is common in the United States, and has been a successful method of avoiding protracted and complicated trials. As a result, conviction rates are significantly high there. It primarily involves pre-trial negotiations between the accused and the prosecutor. It may involve bargaining on the charge or in the quantum of sentence. Plea bargaining was introduced in 2006 as part of a set of amendments to the CrPC as Chapter XXI-A, containing Sections 265A to 265L. The Indian code makes plea bargaining a process that can be initiated only by the accused; further, the accused will have to apply to the court for invoking the benefit of bargaining. Cases for which the practice is allowed are limited. Only someone who has been charge sheeted for an offence that does not attract the death sentence, life sentence or a prison term above seven years can make use of the scheme under Chapter XXI-A. It is also applicable to private complaints of which a criminal court has taken cognisance. Other categories of cases that cannot be disposed of through plea bargaining are those that involve offences affecting the “socio-economic conditions” of the country, or committed against a woman or a child below the age of 14.

Answer 66

Once an industry is accorded infrastructure status, the sector is entitled to a number of benefits and concessions. This grant of status enables the industry to raise money from insurance companies, pension funds, and international lenders with longer tenure and on easier terms. Infrastructure status gives industries access to cheaper foreign currency funding through the external commercial borrowing route. Falling under the infrastructure category helps the sector get credit at competitive rates and on a long-term basis with enhanced limits. Furthermore, the logistics sector will also be eligible to borrow from the India Infrastructure Financing Company (IIFCL). According to infrastructure status will further simplify the approval process for affordable projects, create clear guidelines, and increase transparency in the segment. For example, Logistics has been accorded “infrastructure” status in 2017, facilitating the availability of debt on easier terms and access to external commercial borrowings, longer tenor funds from insurance companies, and pension funds, as well as investment support.

Answer 67

ndia has been ranked 112th among 153 countries in the annual Global Gender Gap Index for 2020, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). About Gender Gap Report: The WEF published its first gender gap index in 2006. The Global Gender Gap Index benchmarks 153 countries on their progress towards gender parity in four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. Report aims to serve as a compass to track progress on relative gaps between women and men on health, education, economy and politics. It measures women’s disadvantage compared to men, and is not a measure of equality of the gender gap. Iceland, Norway, and Finland occupy the top three spots in the Report. India’s position in the Index: India has slipped four places in the report to 112, behind neighbours China, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. It is due to due to rising disparity in terms of women’s health and participation in the economy. The country ranked 98th in WEF’s first report in 2006. Since then, it has fallen due to poor performance in three out of four indicators.India is also ranked in the bottom-five in terms of women’s health and survival and economic participation. The report showed that economic opportunities for women are extremely limited in India (35.4 per cent). India also ranked among countries with very low women representation on company boards.The report highlighted abnormally low sex ratios at birth in India (91 girls for every 100 boys). On health and survival, four large countries like Pakistan, India, Vietnam and China fare badly with millions of women not getting the same access to health as men. India is the only country among the 153 countries studied where the economic gender gap is larger than the political one.On a positive note, India has closed two-thirds of its overall gender gap.

Answer 68

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched the ‘YuWaah’ also known as Generation Unlimited Programme in India on November 1, 2019. According to UNICEF, Generation Unlimited Programmer, called YuWaah in India, is a multi-stakeholder alliance which aims to facilitate youth to gain relevant skills for productive lives and the future of work. It aims to ensure that every young person age 10-24 is in some form of learning, school, self-employment, training, or age-appropriate employment by 2030. The target age group of YuWaah includes adolescent girls and boys. Its key mission is to promote access to foundational, transferable and 21st century skills for youth inside and outside formal education systems, which includes defining foundational skills, life skills and flexible learning and identifying and scaling impactful delivery models. YuWaah intends to create platforms to guide youth to market opportunities (career guidance, mentorship, internships, apprenticeships) and facilitate integration of career guidance in school education.

Answer 69

India is the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the world, contributing more than 15 per cent of global anthropogenic emissions, according to a new report by Greenpeace. The primary reason for India’s high emission output is the expansion of coal-based electricity generation over the past decade, the report added. Five of the top 10 SO2 emission hotspots from coal/power generation industry across the world are in India. SO2 emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution. Its direct exposure and exposure to particulate matter PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) produced when SO2 reacts with other air pollutants to form sulphate particles both affect human health. The greatest source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and other industrial facilities. Other sources include industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore, natural sources such as volcanoes, and locomotives, ships and other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn fuel with high sulphur content. Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) is a set of technologies used to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants, as well as from the emissions of other sulfur oxide emitting processes. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had, for the first time, introduced SO2 emission limits for coal-fired power plants in December 2015. But a Supreme Court order changed the deadline for installation of FGD technology in power plants from 2017 to December 2019 in Delhi-NCR and till 2022 for other parts of the country. Recently, the Supreme Court rejected the request of the Association of Power Producers (APP) to extend the 2022 deadline for meeting pollution norms by two years.

Answer 70

Government of India has instituted a voluntary scheme for labelling of environment-friendly products to be known as ECO Mark in 1991. scheme is being administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards. So far the following product categories have been identified for coverage under this scheme: a) Soaps and Detergents; b) Paints c) Paper d) Plastics e) Cosmetics f) Textiles g) Batteries h) Wood Substitutes j) Propellants and Aerosols k) Food Items (edible oils – including Vanaspati, Tea and Coffee) m) Electrical and Electronics Goods n) Packing/Packaging Materials p) Lubricating/Speciality Oils q) Drugs r) Foods Preservatives and Additives s) Pesticides t) Leather The Scheme is being operated on a national basis and provides certification and labeling for household and other consumer products which meet certain environmental criteria along with quality requirements prescribed in relevant Indian Standards for the product.

Answer 71

Multilateral environmental agreements guide global, regional and national action on environmental issues and are a result of multilateral processes, which make them key elements of environmental, legal and governance regimes. Scholars and practitioners also refer to them as “soft laws” to indicate the nature of the instruments and compliance issues related to them. Some of the important Multilateral Environmental Agreements ratified by India are: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): It is the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources”. CBD has been ratified by 196 nations. India ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in February 1994. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. India ratified the UNCCD Convention on 17th December 1996. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Also known as Seed Treaty as it is a comprehensive international agreement for ensuring food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. India is a signatory to the treaty. Other important Environmental Agreements and global environmental conventions ratified by India include: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Convention on Wetlands (popularly known as the Ramsar Convention) Minamata Convention on Mercury United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Montreal Protocol (on Ozone Depleting Substances) Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for certain Hazardous Chemical and Pesticides in International Trade. Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal.

Answer 72

Article 351 of the Constitution speaks of the development of Hindi as the Official Language of the Union. In 1963, the Official Languages Act was enacted. It provided for the setting up of a Committee on Official Language to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for the official purpose of the Union. The Committee consists of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the people and ten shall be members of the Council of States to be elected respectively by the members of the House of the People and the members of the Council of States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The Chairman of the Committee is elected by the members of the Committee. As a convention, the Union Home Minister has been elected as Chairman of the Committee from time to time. It is the duty of the Committee to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for the Official purposes of the Union and submit a report to the President making recommendations thereon and the President shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament and sent it to all the State Governments

Answer 73

Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS): supports a standardized approach to the collection, analysis and sharing of data related to antimicrobial resistance at a global level. AWaRE tool: aimed at guiding policy-makers and health workers to use antibiotics safely and more effectively. It classifies antibiotics into three groups: Access — antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections Watch — antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system Reserve — antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort. Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP): encourages research and development through public-private partnerships. Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG): established by United Nations Secretary-General to improve coordination between international organizations and to ensure effective global action. Global Action Plan aims to ensure prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with safe and effective medicines.

Answer 74

World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) mission is to facilitate the analysis and prediction of Earth system variability and change for use in an increasing range of practical applications of direct relevance, benefit and value to society. The two overarching objectives of the WCRP are: to determine the predictability of climate to determine the effect of human activities on climate WCRP has three co-sponsors: World Meteorological Organization: WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, which is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources. WMO also hosts the WCRP Secretariat. Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO: IOC-UNESCO is the United Nations marine science organization. The purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States. International Science Council: ISC was created in 2018 as the result of a merger between the International Council for Science (ICSU) (previously a sponsor of WCRP) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC). It is the only international non-governmental organization bringing together the natural and social sciences and the largest global science organization of its type with a vision to advance science as a global public good.

Answer 75

The FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. It was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. It currently comprises 37 member countries (including India) and 2 regional organizations-European Commission and Gulf Co-operation Council. Role of FATF in combating terrorist financing: Setting global standards to combat terrorist financing. Evaluating countries’ ability to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute the financing of terrorism: FATF issues two lists namely- Black list (officially known as High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action) It sets out the countries that are considered deficient in their anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regulatory regimes. These blacklisted countries are subjected to economic sanctions and other prohibitive measures by FATF member states and other international organizations. The current FATF blacklist includes two countries: North Korea and Iran. Grey list (officially referred to as Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring) Countries on the FATF grey list represent a much higher risk of money laundering and terrorism financing but have formally committed to working with the FATF to develop action plans that will address their AML/CFT deficiencies. These countries are subjected to increased monitoring by the FATF. While grey-list classification is not as negative as the blacklist, countries on the list may still face economic sanctions from institutions like the IMF and the World Bank and experience adverse effects on trade. Assisting jurisdictions in implementing financial provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on terrorism

Answer 76

With an aim to make India a commercial arbitration hub and reduce the intervention of courts, the Government introduced amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 stems from the recommendations made by a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Justice BN Srikrishna. Important Changes brought about by the Amendment: Establishment of ACI: It will establish an independent body, namely the Arbitration Council of India (‘ACI’) that will frame policies, provide grading of arbitral institutions, and oversee the timely and cost-effective disposal of arbitration cases. The statutory body is to be chaired by a judge of the Supreme Court, or the Chief Justice of a High Court or an eminent person, having special knowledge and experience in the conduct of the arbitration. The Council will make grading of arbitral institutions on the basis of criteria relating to infrastructure, quality and caliber of arbitrators, performance and compliance of time limits for disposal arbitrations. Time frame: Section 29 A of the Act which requires completion of all the arbitral proceedings within one year of the arbitral tribunal being constituted. However, it excludes International Commercial Arbitration from the ambit of the section. The Amendment Act empowers the Supreme Court (in the case of international commercial arbitration) and the High Court (in cases other than international commercial arbitration) to designate arbitral institutions for the purpose of appointment of arbitrators. It also provided for the qualifications and experience of Arbitrators. The arbitrator, the arbitral institution and the parties to the arbitration agreement must maintain the confidentiality of all arbitral proceedings.

Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Prelims bits - 3 Flashcards

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome^TM