1.A Bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.
2.A Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
A bill pending in the Lok Sabha does NOT lapse on prorogation — only on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Statement 1 is false. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse on Lok Sabha dissolution, since it never depended on that Lok Sabha. Statement 2 is true.
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
1.Undernourishment
2.Child stunting
3.Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)1 and 3 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
IFPRI’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) combines four weighted indicators — undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. This four-indicator formula has been used since a 2015 methodology revision, and was already current at the time of this exam. Undernourishment, child stunting, and child mortality are each genuine GHI components, so all three statements are correct. Only child wasting, not listed here, is the one GHI indicator missing from the three given.
There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which action/actions of the following can be taken by the Government to reduce the deficit?
1.Reducing revenue expenditure
2.Introducing new welfare schemes
3.Rationalizing subsidies
4.Reducing import duty
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Reducing revenue expenditure cuts government spending directly, so it shrinks the deficit. Rationalizing subsidies does the same — subsidies are a large chunk of spending, and trimming them frees up money without new borrowing.
Introducing new welfare schemes adds fresh spending commitments, which widens the deficit instead. Reducing import duty cuts a source of government revenue. That also widens the deficit, unless spending falls or borrowing rises to cover the gap.
The establishment of 'Payment Banks' is being allowed in India to promote financial inclusion. Which of the following statements is/are correct in this context?
1.Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains that are owned and controlled by residents are eligible to be promoters of Payment Banks.
2.Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit cards.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)1 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
RBI’s Payments Bank guidelines named mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains — owned and controlled by residents — as eligible promoters, so statement 1 is correct. Payments Banks can issue ATM/debit cards but are barred from issuing credit cards, so statement 2 is wrong. Payments Banks cannot undertake any lending activity, so statement 3 is correct.
The term 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
(a)pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
(b)plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
(c)capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(d)plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals
Answer: (b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
Countries submitted INDCs ahead of the Paris Agreement, at COP21 in December 2015. Once a country ratified the Agreement, its INDC became a formal NDC.
Which one of the following is a purpose of 'UDAY', a scheme of the Government?
(a)Providing technical and financial assistance to start-up entrepreneurs in the field of renewable sources of energy
(b)Providing electricity to every household in the country by 2018
(c)Replacing the coal-based power plants with natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and tidal power plants over a period of time
(d)Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies
Answer: (d) Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies
UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) launched in November 2015. Its purpose was the financial turnaround and revival of state-owned power distribution companies (DISCOMs), which were carrying huge accumulated debt. Options (a), (b), and (c) describe unrelated schemes and goals.
With reference to 'IFC Masala Bonds', sometimes seen in the news, which of the statements given below is/are correct?
1.The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.
2.They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is one of the five institutions of the World Bank Group, so statement 1 is correct. Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated bonds issued offshore, financing both public and private sector borrowers in India, so statement 2 is correct too.
Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements:
1.The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
2.Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Under Krishna Deva Raya, the land tax rate depended on the quality of the land, and private owners of workshops separately paid an industries tax. Both statements are correct.
In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms 'amber box, blue box and green box' in the news?
(a)WTO affairs
(b)SAARC affairs
(c)UNFCCC affairs
(d)India-EU negotiations on FTA
Answer: (a) WTO affairs
The WTO groups agricultural domestic-support subsidies into three categories under its Agreement on Agriculture. Amber box subsidies distort trade and are capped. Blue box subsidies also distort trade, but come with production limits, so they’re uncapped. Green box subsidies cause minimal trade distortion and are uncapped too.
Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India?
1.Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machinery, etc.
2.Loans received from foreign governments
3.Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Territories
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are true. Capital expenditure covers acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, and machinery (statement 1). Capital expenditure also covers loans and advances the Centre grants to States and Union Territories (statement 3). Capital receipts include loans India receives from foreign governments (statement 2).
What is/are the importance/importances of the 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification'?
1.It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2.It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3.It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to be added to the basket of IMF's SDR?
(a)Rouble
(b)Rand
(c)Indian Rupee
(d)Renminbi
Answer: (d) Renminbi
The IMF added China’s renminbi to the SDR basket in 2016. The decision was taken in November 2015 and took effect on 1 October 2016. The renminbi joined the US dollar, euro, yen, and pound sterling. It was the first new currency added to the SDR basket since the euro’s creation.
With reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), consider the following statements:
1.IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the direction of its work.
2.The World Bank participates as observer in IMFC's meetings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
The IMFC is the IMF Board of Governors' main advisory body. It discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work, so Statement 1 is correct. It has no formal decision-making power of its own — it issues a communiqué after each meeting that guides the IMF's work programme. The World Bank participates as an observer at IMFC meetings, so Statement 2 is correct too.
'Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan' is a national campaign to
(a)rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood
(b)release the sex workers from their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood
(c)eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
(d)release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them
Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan targets the eradication of manual scavenging and the rehabilitation of manual scavengers, alongside the 2013 Act’s own legal ban on the practice.
With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:
1.Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
2.Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Siddhas (Sittars) of the Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. Lingayats of the Kannada region, founded by Basavanna, questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Both statements are correct.
Which of the following best describes the term 'import cover', sometimes seen in the news?
(a)It is the ratio of value of imports to the Gross Domestic Product of a country
(b)It is the total value of imports of a country in a year
(c)It is the ratio between the value of exports and that of imports between two countries
(d)It is the number of months of imports that could be paid for by a country's international reserves
Answer: (d) It is the number of months of imports that could be paid for by a country’s international reserves
Import cover measures how many months of imports a country’s foreign exchange reserves can pay for, not a ratio to GDP or exports. Crashing oil prices pushed India’s projected import cover from 9.8 months in September 2015 toward roughly 10.8 months by end-2015 (Business Standard, 13 January 2016).
Consider the following pairs (Community sometimes mentioned in the news : In the affairs of):
1.Kurd : Bangladesh
2.Madhesi : Nepal
3.Rohingya : Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3
(d)3 only
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Madhesi people live in Nepal’s Terai region. Rohingya people are from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Kurds are concentrated in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria — not Bangladesh, so pair 1 is wrong.
With reference to 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)', consider the following statements:
1.It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2.It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3.It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
OPCW is an autonomous, independent organization under the Chemical Weapons Convention — not an EU body working with NATO and WHO, so statement 1 is wrong. It does monitor the chemical industry to prevent new weapons, and does help member states protect against chemical threats, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.
With reference to 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana', consider the following statements:
1.Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
2.This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is false. Farmer premium is not uniform — it is capped at 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for commercial/horticultural crops, with the government paying the rest. Statement 2 is true. PMFBY covers post-harvest losses for up to 14 days after harvest, specifically against cyclones, cyclonic rains, and unseasonal rains.
Which of the following are the key features of 'National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)'?
1.River basin is the unit of planning and management.
2.It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3.One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
River basin as the planning unit and national-level leadership are genuine NGRBA features. A rotating CM chairmanship is false; the Prime Minister chairs it. Related: EnvEco0134 — National Ganga River Basin Authority.
24.Environment & Ecology
Why does the Government of India promote the use of 'Neem-coated Urea' in agriculture?
(a)Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms
(b)Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil
(c)Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields
(d)It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops
Answer: (b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil
Neem coating slows urea’s dissolution, cutting nitrogen loss, the real reason the government promotes it. Related: EnvEco0121 — Neem-Coated Urea.
1.The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
2.The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
The Chief Secretary is substantively selected by the Chief Minister, only formally issued in the Governor’s name as with all state executive action — Statement 1 is false in substance. The post has no fixed tenure; officers serve at the state government’s pleasure — Statement 2 is false.
With reference to 'Stand Up India Scheme', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2.It provides for refinance through SIDBI.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Stand Up India promotes entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs, funding new greenfield enterprises. It also carries a dedicated refinance window operated through SIDBI, with an initial allocation of ₹10,000 crore.
The FAO accords the status of 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)' to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?
1.To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity
2.To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities
3.To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
GIAHS aims to identify and safeguard traditional farm practices, landscapes, and knowledge systems, not enhance productivity or grant GI status. Related: EnvEco0138 — GIAHS.
28.Geography
Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra?
1.Dibang
2.Kameng
3.Lohit
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Dibang, Kameng, and Lohit are all real tributaries of the Brahmaputra. The Lohit and Dibang join the Siang about 30 km downstream of Pasighat to form the Brahmaputra; Kameng joins later as a right-bank tributary in Assam.
The term 'Core Banking Solutions' is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following statements best describes/describe this term?
1.It is a networking of a bank's branches which enables customers to operate their accounts from any branch of the bank on its network regardless of where they open their accounts.
2.It is an effort to increase RBI's control over commercial banks through computerization.
3.It is a detailed procedure by which a bank with huge non-performing assets is taken over by another bank.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Core Banking Solutions (CBS) is a networking of a bank’s branches, letting customers operate their account from any branch on that network, regardless of where they opened it. Statement 1 is correct. Statements 2 and 3 are fabricated distractors: CBS is not an RBI mechanism to increase its regulatory control over commercial banks, and it is not a procedure for a strong bank to take over a bank with huge non-performing assets. Correct answer: (a) 1 only.
Consider the following pairs (Terms sometimes seen in the news : Their origin):
1.Annex-I Countries : Cartagena Protocol
2.Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol
3.Clean Development Mechanism : Kyoto Protocol
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 3 only
Only pair 3 is correct. Annex-I Countries and Certified Emission Reductions are both Kyoto Protocol terms, not Cartagena or Nagoya Protocol terms. Related: EnvEco0018 — International Initiatives on Climate.
Which of the following best describes/describe the aim of 'Green India Mission' of the Government of India?
1.Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the 'green accounting'
2.Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future
3.Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 3 only
Green India Missions real aim is restoring forest cover through adaptation and mitigation, not green accounting or a second green revolution. Related: EnvEco0139 — Green India Mission.
34.Economy
With reference to pre-packaged items in India, it is mandatory to the manufacturer to put which of the following information on the main label, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011?
1.List of ingredients including additives
2.Nutrition information
3.Recommendations, if any, made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions
4.Vegetarian/non-vegetarian
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1, 2 and 4
(d)1 and 4 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4
The Packaging and Labelling Regulations, 2011 require the ingredient list on the main label. Nutrition information and a veg or non-veg mark are mandatory too. The rules do not require any claim about medical-profession recommendations. In fact, they ban labels that claim to be “recommended by the medical profession.”
India's ranking in the 'Ease of Doing Business Index' is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?
(a)Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
(b)World Economic Forum
(c)World Bank
(d)World Trade Organization (WTO)
Answer: (c) World Bank
The World Bank published this ranking in its annual Doing Business Report. India’s rank rose 79 places, from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019. The Bank discontinued the report in 2020, after a data-integrity scandal; its replacement, B-READY, covers India for the first time in 2026.
With reference to the 'Gram Nyayalaya Act', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases.
2.The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 empowers these village courts to hear both civil cases and petty criminal (cognizable) offences — not civil cases only. Statement 1 is false. The Act does allow local social activists to serve as mediators or conciliators in the settlement process. Statement 2 is true.
With reference to the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', consider the following statements:
1.It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2.It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
TPP wasn’t an agreement covering all Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia. It had just 12 signatories, leaving out many other Pacific nations too. It’s a trade agreement, not a maritime-security alliance.
Consider the following statements: The India-Africa Summit
1.held in 2015 was the third such Summit
2.was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
The October 2015 India-Africa Forum Summit was indeed the third in the series — the first was in 2008, the second in 2011. But the formal summit mechanism began in 2008, not in 1951.
What is/are the purpose/purposes of the 'Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)' announced by RBI?
1.These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances.
2.These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. MCLR guidelines, effective from 1 April 2016, made banks’ interest-rate methodology far more transparent than the old Base Rate system. They also aimed to keep bank credit fairly priced, for borrowers and for banks alike.
What is/are unique about 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?
1.It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2.It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3.It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The Kharai camel genuinely swims up to three kilometres and grazes on mangroves. It is domesticated, not wild. Related: EnvEco0135 — Kharai Camel.
45.Environment & Ecology
Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
Which one of the following is the best description of 'INS Astradharini', that was in the news recently?
(a)Amphibious warfare ship
(b)Nuclear-powered submarine
(c)Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
(d)Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Answer: (c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
INS Astradharini is India’s first indigenously designed torpedo launch and recovery vessel. It was commissioned in October 2015 at Visakhapatnam, replacing the earlier INS Astravahini.
With reference to 'Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach.
2.Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme.
3.An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and microirrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are accurate. INSIMP used a cluster approach to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technology, and poor, small, marginal, and tribal farmers had the largest stake in it. Statement 3 is false. INSIMP’s free kits supplied nutrients, micro-nutrients, fertilisers, and pesticides, not micro-irrigation equipment, and the scheme was not designed to shift commercial-crop farmers into millets.
The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the
(a)agitation against the Partition of Bengal
(b)Home Rule Movement
(c)Non-Cooperation Movement
(d)visit of the Simon Commission to India
Answer: (a) agitation against the Partition of Bengal
Swadeshi and Boycott were first adopted as methods of struggle during the agitation against the Partition of Bengal, 1905. Before this, resistance to British rule mostly meant petitions and constitutional appeals, not organised economic boycott.
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1.The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2.Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3.Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
The Bodhisattva concept is central to Mahayana, not Hinayana — that’s the trap in statement 1. Statements 2 and 3 correctly describe the Bodhisattva’s compassionate, self-delaying path.
'Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)', often in the news, is
(a)a division of World Health Organization
(b)a non-governmental international organization
(c)an inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union
(d)a specialized agency of the United Nations
Answer: (b) a non-governmental international organization
MSF was founded in France in 1971, to deliver independent, impartial emergency medical aid. It won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its humanitarian work.
With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1.It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2.It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Red Sanders is genuinely a South Indian tree species, endemic to the Eastern Ghats. But it grows in tropical dry deciduous forest, not tropical rain forest. Related: EnvEco0001 — Pollution, Ecosystems and Biodiversity.
(a)It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions
(b)It is an initiative of the United Nations to offer financial incentives to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly technologies
(c)It is an inter-governmental agreement ratified by all the member countries of the United Nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to specified levels by the year 2022
(d)It is one of the multilateral REDD+ initiatives hosted by the World Bank
Answer: (a) It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, developed by WRI and WBCSD, is an international accounting and reporting tool for governments and businesses to manage GHG emissions. Related: EnvEco0018 — International Initiatives on Climate.
With reference to 'Financial Stability and Development Council', consider the following statements:
1.It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2.It is headed by the Union Finance Minister.
3.It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
FSDC is a Ministry of Finance body, under the Department of Economic Affairs. It is not an organ of NITI Aayog, so statement 1 is false. The Union Finance Minister chairs the Council, matching statement 2. FSDC also monitors macroprudential supervision and systemic risk, matching statement 3.
With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1.It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
2.It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Agenda 21 is a global action plan for sustainable development, but it originated at Rio in 1992, not Johannesburg in 2002. Related: EnvEco0141 — Agenda 21.
58.History & Culture
Satya Shodhak Samaj organized
(a)a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar
(b)a temple-entry movement in Gujarat
(c)an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
(d)a peasant movement in Punjab
Answer: (c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
Jyotirao Phule founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj in Pune in 1873, organizing an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect
1.bacteria
2.fungi
3.plants
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. Viruses infect bacteria — these are called bacteriophages. Viruses also infect fungi, known as mycoviruses. Plant viruses infect plants too, causing diseases like tobacco mosaic disease. Related: GenSci0045 — Virus Biology Basics.
The term 'Base Erosion and Profit Shifting' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
(a)mining operation by multinational companies in resource-rich but backward areas
(b)curbing of the tax evasion by multinational companies
(c)exploitation of genetic resources of a country by multinational companies
(d)lack of consideration of environmental costs in the planning and implementation of developmental projects
Answer: (b) curbing of the tax evasion by multinational companies
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting describes how multinational companies exploit gaps between different countries' tax rules. They shift profits into low-tax jurisdictions, eroding the tax base of the countries where they actually operate.
The OECD and G20 launched a 15-point BEPS Action Plan in 2013 to curb this. India later ratified the related Multilateral Instrument, in 2019, to close these loopholes in its own tax treaties.
Recently, India's first 'National Investment and Manufacturing Zone' was proposed to be set up in
(a)Andhra Pradesh
(b)Gujarat
(c)Maharashtra
(d)Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (a) Andhra Pradesh
India's first National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) to get final government approval sits in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, in the Kanigiri revenue division. NIMZs are the flagship instrument of the National Manufacturing Policy, 2011. The Government of India gave this zone final approval in 2015.
What is/are the purpose/purposes of 'District Mineral Foundations' in India?
1.Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts
2.Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3.Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
District Mineral Foundations protect the interests of persons affected by mining operations. They don’t promote mineral exploration or authorize exploration licences. Related: EnvEco0116 — District Mineral Foundations.
'SWAYAM', an initiative of the Government of India, aims at
(a)promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas
(b)providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs
(c)promoting the education and health of adolescent girls
(d)providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free
Answer: (d) providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free
SWAYAM stands for Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds. It is a Government of India platform for free online courses. Its goal is to bring access, equity, and quality to education. Course content is free; only the certificate exam has a fee.
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
1.Both were built in the same period.
2.Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3.Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)None of the statements given above is correct
Answer: (b) 3 only
Ajanta (Buddhist, 2nd c. BCE–5th c. CE) and Mahabalipuram (largely Hindu, Pallava-patronized, 7th–8th c. CE) differ in period and religion. Their only genuine common feature is rock-cut monuments.
2.The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
The New Development Bank was set up by the BRICS nations, not APEC. BRICS leaders agreed to create it at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit. Its headquarters is in Shanghai, fixed by a 2016 host-country agreement. So only the second statement is correct.
Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Tabernacle of New Dispensation (1868) and the Indian Reform Association (1870). The Calcutta Unitarian Committee was founded in 1821, before Sen’s own career began.
Which of the following is not a member of 'Gulf Cooperation Council'?
(a)Iran
(b)Saudi Arabia
(c)Oman
(d)Kuwait
Answer: (a) Iran
GCC’s six members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Iran isn’t a member — the group formed partly as a counterweight to Iran after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government's 'Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme' and 'Gold Monetization Scheme'?
1.To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy
2.To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector
3.To reduce India's dependence on gold imports
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
The Gold Monetization Scheme lets households deposit idle gold jewellery and coins with banks. Banks then lend or sell this gold, so it works in the economy again. This makes Statement 1 correct. The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme sells paper gold instead of physical gold to investors. This shifts demand away from imported physical gold, helping cut India's gold import bill. That makes Statement 3 correct too. Neither scheme targets FDI in the gold and jewellery sector, so Statement 2 is wrong.
'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of
(a)African Union
(b)Brazil
(c)European Union
(d)China
Answer: (d) China
President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative in September 2013. It has two components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
(a)bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system
(b)providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops
(c)providing pensions to old and destitute persons
(d)funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation
Answer: (a) bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system
PMMY provides collateral-free credit to non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises, refinancing lending institutions through its subsidiary MUDRA. It does not lend to farmers, pay pensions, or fund voluntary organisations.
In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?
1.Cambay Basin
2.Cauvery Basin
3.Krishna-Godavari Basin
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Shale gas resources in India are found in the Cambay Basin, Cauvery Basin, and Krishna-Godavari Basin, all three. Related: EnvEco0142 — Shale Gas Resources in India.
75.Economy
'Global Financial Stability Report' is prepared by the
(a)European Central Bank
(b)International Monetary Fund
(c)International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(d)Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Answer: (b) International Monetary Fund
The IMF publishes the Global Financial Stability Report twice a year. It assesses risks to the global financial system, across banking, currency, and credit markets. This is different from the IMF's World Economic Outlook, which tracks macroeconomic growth and inflation instead.
Regarding 'Atal Pension Yojana', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers.
2.Only one member of a family can join the scheme.
3.Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber's death.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Atal Pension Yojana is a minimum-guaranteed-pension scheme aimed mainly at unorganized-sector workers. Statement 1 is correct.
There is no rule limiting the scheme to one member per family. Any eligible person between 18 and 40 with a bank account can join on their own, including both spouses separately. Statement 2 is wrong.
After the subscriber dies, the spouse continues to receive the same guaranteed pension for life. Statement 3 is correct.
77.Int'l Relations & Defence
The term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership' often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as
(a)G20
(b)ASEAN
(c)SCO
(d)SAARC
Answer: (b) ASEAN
RCEP groups the 10 ASEAN states with five of their FTA partners: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea.
India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
(a)It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
(b)It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
(c)It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
(d)It can build fusion reactors for power generation
In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs (Term : Description):
1.Eripatti : Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
2.Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
3.Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to the temples
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2
(b)3 only
(c)2 and 3
(d)1 and 3
Questions 81–90
81.Int'l Relations & Defence
Consider the following statements:
1.The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2.The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
ISA was launched at COP21 in Paris, in November 2015. But at launch, membership was limited to intertropical countries — it wasn’t open to all UN member states at the time; that came later, through a framework amendment.
Answer: (b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries
The ESM has operated since October 2012, acting as a lender of last resort for eurozone governments facing severe financing problems, such as Greece and Cyprus.
Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?
(a)Cauvery and Tungabhadra
(b)Godavari and Krishna
(c)Mahanadi and Sone
(d)Narmada and Tapti
Answer: (b) Godavari and Krishna
The Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project, opened in March 2016, links the Godavari to the Krishna via the Polavaram right canal — India’s first completed river-interlinking project.
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?
1.Carbon dioxide
2.Carbon monoxide
3.Nitrogen dioxide
4.Sulfur dioxide
5.Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1, 2 and 3 only
(b)2, 3 and 4 only
(c)1, 4 and 5 only
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are considered in Indias AQI. Carbon dioxide and methane are not. Related: EnvEco0143 — AQI Gases.
87.Science & Tech
With reference to 'Astrosat', the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2.Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Astrosat actually weighs about 1,513 kg and orbits at roughly 650 km, not 2,000 kg at 1,650 km. Other countries, such as Japan and the ESA, have also flown comparable observatories. Related: SciTech0103 — ASTROSAT.
88.History & Culture
With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to
(a)bonded labour
(b)land grants made to military officers
(c)waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
(d)wasteland converted to cultivated land
Answer: (c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
Araghatta was a wheel of pots, typically bullock-driven, used to lift water from a well for irrigation, also known as the Persian wheel.
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?
(a)Shramana
(b)Parivraajaka
(c)Agrahaarika
(d)Maagadha
Answer: (d) Maagadha
The Magadha was the professional class responsible for memorizing and reciting chronicles, dynastic histories, and epic tales, a hereditary role passed down within families.
Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1.is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2.made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3.made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Mangalyaan is genuinely also called the Mars Orbiter Mission, and India was genuinely the only country to succeed on its first Mars attempt. But India was not the second country to orbit Mars; it was the fourth, after the Soviet Union/Russia, the USA, and the ESA. Related: SciTech0178 — Mangalyaan.
92.History & Culture
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
(a)Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
(b)Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
(c)Foundation of Muslim League
(d)Aurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress
Answer: (b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
This lack of faith was the main reason for the 1907 Surat split. Communalism and the Muslim League’s founding were real events of the same period, but neither directly caused this specific Congress split.
The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War
(a)India should be granted complete independence
(b)India should be partitioned into two before granting independence
(c)India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth
(d)India should be given Dominion status
Answer: (d) India should be given Dominion status
The Cripps plan envisaged India being given Dominion status after the Second World War, with any province free to opt out and draft its own separate constitution. Congress rejected the offer partly because Dominion status fell short of full independence.
Consider the following pairs (Famous place : Region):
1.Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand
2.Khajuraho : Bundelkhand
3.Shirdi : Vidarbha
4.Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa
5.Tirupati : Rayalaseema
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a)1, 2 and 4
(b)2, 3, 4 and 5
(c)2 and 5 only
(d)1, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (c) 2 and 5 only
Only Khajuraho-Bundelkhand and Tirupati-Rayalaseema are correct. Bodhgaya is in Magadh (Bihar), Shirdi is in western Maharashtra (not Vidarbha), and Nashik is in northwest Maharashtra (not Malwa).
The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the
(a)Lok Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
(b)Lok Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership
(c)Rajya Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
(d)Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
Answer: (d) Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
Article 249 lets Parliament legislate on a State List item in the national interest only after the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution, supported by at least two-thirds of members present and voting — the Lok Sabha has no role in this specific procedure, since it protects federal/State interests through the Rajya Sabha, the House of the States.
Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to sea by a long navigational channel?
(a)Andhra Pradesh
(b)Chhattisgarh
(c)Karnataka
(d)Rajasthan
Answer: (d) Rajasthan
Rajasthan explored building an artificial inland port near Jalore, linked to the sea by a long navigation channel running from Kori Creek in the Arabian Sea, through the Rann of Kutch, to Sanchore.
With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2.The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3.Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
The Agreement was signed on 22 April 2016 and entered into force on 4 November 2016 — not by every UN member on day one, and not in 2017. The 2°C/1.5°C target is correct. The real climate-finance pledge is $100 billion a year, not $1000 billion.
1.The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
2.A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Article 243F sets the minimum age for Panchayat membership at 21 years, not 25 — Statement 1 is false (25 is the threshold for State Legislatures, not Panchayats). Article 243E provides that a Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution serves only the remainder of its original five-year term. Statement 2 is true.
English-language questions transcribed from the official Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2016 question booklet (B-APM-P-CKB/65A), General Studies Paper I. Hindi text omitted. Answer key not included.
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