byju’s classes: 9980837187. first of its kind to offer a record of an arboreal crab — a species...

Current Affairs + Previous Year Questions (GS) BYJU’s Classes: 9980837187

1 Ans: C Topic: Government Schemes Level: Moderate Explanation: Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Implementing agency: Ministry of Tourism. Completely funded by central government. Swadesh Darshan Scheme is based on some of tourist circuit that will be covered under the PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) and Swadeshi Darshan. 2 Ans: A Topic: Environmental science and ecology Difficulty: Moderate Explanation: Celebes crested macaque under serious threat cause of habitat loss and hunting. Indonesian law protects the macaques and some other animals at the market but trade in exotic creatures is still thriving. It has been classified as critically endangered under IUCN’s Red Data book. IUCN Red List Categories Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups. Based on a set of criteria such as i) Rate of decline, ii) Population size, iii) Area of geographic distribution, and iv) Degree of population and v) Distribution fragmentation.

Extinct (EX) – No known individuals remaining.

Extinct in the wild (EW) – Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.

Critically endangered (CR) – Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered (EN) – High risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild.

Near threatened (NT) – Likely to become endangered in the near future.

Least concern (LC) – Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at-risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Data deficient dD – Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk of extinction.

Not evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

When discussing the IUCN Red List, the official term "threatened" is a grouping of three categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. 3 Ans: C Topic: Environment Difficulty : Factual Level: Medium Explanation: The standards, based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000. Progressively stringent norms have been rolled out since then. All new vehicles manufactured after the implementation of the norms have to be compliant with the regulations. Since October 2010, Bharat Stage (BS) III norms have been enforced across the country. In 13 major cities, Bharat Stage IV emission norms have been in place since April 2010 and It’s enforced for whole country from April 2017. In 2016, the Indian government announced that the country would skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020. 4 Ans: D Topic: Infrastructure Level: Easy Explanation: The Chenani-Nashri passage is the nation’s longest street burrow as well as happens to be Asia’s longest bi-directional parkways burrow. A perfect case of Make in India and ‘Skill India activity of the Government of India, the passage is 9.2 km long with twin-tube all-climate entry. It shapes some portion of the venture for extending of the National Highway No-44 or the old NH-1A from Jammu to Srinagar.


5 Ans: C Topic: Taxation Level: Medium Explanation: General anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) is an anti-tax avoidance Rule of India. It is framed by the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. The regulation allows tax officials to deny tax benefits, if a deal is found without any commercial purpose other than tax avoidance. It allows tax officials to target participatory notes. Under GAAR, the investor has to prove that the participatory note was not set to avoid taxes. It also allows officials to deny double taxation avoidance benefits, if deals made in tax havens like Mauritius were found to be avoiding taxes 6 Ans: C Topic: Economy and Ecology Difficulty: Moderate Explanation: What are Green Bonds? Green bonds announces the purpose for raising the capital- to fund ‘green’ projects, which typically include those relating to renewable energy, emission reductions and so on. Green bonds typically carry a lower interest rate than the loans offered by the commercial banks and are not risky too, as the bonds are tied to the insurer and not the successful implementation of the projects. 7 Ans: D Topic: Environmental Science and Ecology. Level: Factual Explanation: New species of long legged, tree- dwelling crabs have been discovered by Scientist in Western Ghats of

Kerala. First of its kind to offer a record of an arboreal crab — a species that lives in trees. The new species named Kani maranjandu after the Kani tribe in Kerala 8 Ans: C Topic: Environmental Science and Ecology. Level: Factual Explanation: Uttarayan Festival: International Kite festival held at Ahmadabad, Gujarat. It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back and that harvest season is approaching which is called Makara Sankranti. The idea of flying kites to celebrate Uttrayan was introduced by Muslims from Persia, today regardless of background or beliefs, everyone are welcomed to fly kite in Gujarat in January 9 Ans: B Topic: Economy Type: Factual Level: Medium Explantion: Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) is a tax avoidance strategy used by multinational companies, wherein profits are shifted from jurisdictions that have high taxes (such as the United States and many Western European countries) to jurisdictions that have low (or no) taxes (so-called tax havens). 10 Ans: A Topic: Current Affair Level: Moderate Explanation: Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD or monkey fever: Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia. The disease is caused by a virus The disease was first reported from Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in India in March 1957. The disease first manifested as an epizootic (a disease event in a nonhuman animal population) outbreak among monkeys killing several of them in the year 1957. Hence the disease is also


locally known as Monkey Disease or Monkey Fever Reservoir hosts for the disease: porcupines, rats, squirrels, mice and shrews. The vector for disease transmission is Haemaphysalis 11 Ans: A Topic: Polity Level: Moderate Explanation: Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill: introduced in Lok Sabha to accord constitutional status to the Backward Classes commission. 12 Ans: A Type: Geography Level: moderate Explanation: The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and North Sea, separating Great Britain from continental Europe

13 Ans: A Type: Current Affair Level: moderate Explanation: Seven countries that have signed but not yet ratified The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control -Argentina, Cuba, Haiti, Morocco, Mozambique, Switzerland, and the United States 14 Ans: D Topic: Economy Level: Moderate Type: Factual Explanation: States will be ranked on innovations from 2017 NITI Aayog, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion dIPP) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) together launched a mega initiative “India Innovation Index”. It will rank states on Innovations through country’s first online innovation index portal that will capture data on innovation from all Indian states on innovation and regularly update it in real time.


The India Innovation Index Framework will be structured based on the best practices followed in Global Innovation Index (GII) indicators and additionally by adding India-centric parameters those truly reflect the Indian innovation ecosystem. The Global Innovation Index (GII) The Global Innovation Index (GII), co-published by World-Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD with CII as a Knowledge Partner since inception, has been ranking world economies including India since 2007 according to their innovation capabilities and outcomes using 82 indicators among a host of other important parameters. It has established itself as both a leading reference on innovation and a ‘tool for action’ for policy makers. India currently ranks 66th out of 128 countries on the Global innovation Index (GII) 2016. 15 Ans: c Explanation: • Railway Regulatory Authority of India (RRAI) as an independent regulatory body shall ensure fair and open access and set access charges; establish tariffs in cases where there the market fails to discover a price; and adjudicate disputes between the track-owning organization and train operators; and between competitors. • Technical and non-technical services classification as suggested for recruitment process can be as follows: The Indian Railway Technical Service (IRTechS) comprising the existing five technical services (IRSE, IRSSE, IRSEE, IRSME and IRSS) and the Indian Railway Logistics Service (IRLogS), comprising the three non-technical services (IRAS, IRPS and IRTS). 16 Ans: d Explanation: PVTG are a special class of tribal groups, classified as such by the govt of India, due to their especially low development indices when compared to other local tribes. These were classified under the Dhebar Commission (1960-61), so as to better facilitate their growth, on

par with other STs on national scale, and help them include in the mainstream development, while using their indigenous knowledge. PVTG’s characteristics include: 1. Pre agricultural system of existence, i.e. they practice hunting or gathering 2. Zero or negative population growth 3. Extremely low level of literacy 4. Absence of a written language 17 Ans: D Type: Polity Level: Moderate Explanation: Before the Parliament, in 1988, inserted Section 61A in the RP Act and Rules, legitimising them, EVMs were used in select constituencies by the EC by invoking its emergency powers under Article 324. Some parties had suggested that in order to increase transparency, the EC should explore the possibility of introducing VVPAT, in which a voter immediately gets a printout of her vote, which is then deposited in the ballot box. So, every voter can see whether her vote has been registered correctly. VVPAT does not record the voter id 18 Ans: A Type: Science and Technology Level: Moderate Explanation: The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) completed the much awaited ‘rolling-in’ of the Belle-II experiment in Tsukuba, Japan, Belle-II is designed to study violations of the Standard Model of particle physics. 19 Ans: C Type: Reports Level: Moderate Explanation: The International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM) was founded in January 2006. It is an independent group of arms-control and nonproliferation experts from sixteen countries, including both nuclear weapon


and non-nuclear weapon states. The mission of the IPFM is to analyze the technical basis for practical and achievable policy initiatives to secure, consolidate, and reduce stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and plutonium. These fissile materials are the key ingredients in nuclear weapons, and their control is critical to nuclear disarmament, halting the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and ensuring that terrorists do not acquire nuclear weapons. The Global Fissile Material Report is released by IPFM 20 Ans: B Type: Current Affairs Level: moderate Explanation: Gender Parity Index: Commissioned jointly by FLO(FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO)) and FICCI. The Index will serve as framework for measuring gender parity and produce an overall score of an organization and reflect it on the index. 21 Ans: B Topic: Defence Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Agni-III is an intermediate range (3,000 km to 5,000 km) missile with two stages. It is surface-to-surface nuclear capable intermediate-range ballistic missile indigenously developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. It is 17 metres tall and weighs about 48 tonnes. The missile has been equipped with the hybrid guidance, navigation and control systems along with an advanced onboard computer

22 Ans: D Topic: Current affairs – Social issue Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Kerala has conducted the country’s first-ever transgender one-day athletic meet in Thiruvananthapuram. The event saw the participation of 132 participants belonging to 12 districts of the state. No participant representing Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts participated in the event. The event was jointly organized by Kerala sports council and Sexual Gender Minority Federation of Kerala 23 Ans: C Topic: Current affairs – Women empowerment Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: The Home Ministry has planned to raise an all-woman India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision has been taken in the wake of girl students throwing stones at security forces in Srinagar a few days ago. The all-woman battalion will be one among the five IRBs that has been sanctioned by the Central government for the State last year. The decision was taken after the Home Minister reviewed various developmental and infrastructure projects in the State. The all-woman battalion’s major role would be to tackle protesters. Apart from that, it would also be assigned other law and order duties 24 Ans: C Topic: Current affairs – Science and technology Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: TAL Manufacturing Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors has unveiled India’s first ‘conceptualized, designed and manufactured articulated industrial robot’ called “BRABO”. BRABO stands for “Bravo Robot”. The robot has been developed indigenously for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in India. The robot is primarily developed to complement the human workforce and repeatedly perform high volume,


dangerous and time-consuming tasks ranging from handling of raw materials to packaging of finished products. BRABO was designed and manufactured at the TAL’s Pune factory. Other than the motors and drives for the Robo-arm, all the other parts of the robot were indigenously manufactured in India. BRABO has four patents registered in its name and TAL has also applied for an intellectual property (IP) certification for the robot. 25 Ans: B Topic: Current affairs - Health Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Union Health Minister JP Nadda has launched the Test and Treat policy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients. As per this new policy, anyone who is tested and found positive will get the necessary treatment free of cost. Anyone found positive will be provided with ART (Anti- Retroviral Therapy) irrespective of his CD count. The scheme will be a centrally sponsored scheme. All men, women, adolescents and children who have been diagnosed positively can benefit under this new policy. HIV destroys the CD4 T cells in the human body and weakens the immunity levels. A person who has CD4 cell count below 200 is considered to be at significant risk of developing serious illnesses. 26 Ans: A Topic: Current affairs - Environment Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: The wax worm, the larvae of insect Galleria mellonella, is found to possess the ability to biodegrade polyethylene, which is one of the toughest and most used plastics. The scientists have observed that

the degradation rate of the wax worm is extremely fast when compared to other recent discoveries. Last year, a bacteria was found to biodegrade plastics at a rate of just 0.13mg a day. 27 Ans: B Topic: Current affairs – World Map Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Recently, India and Cyprus have signed four agreements following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in New Delhi. The two sides discussed various bilateral and regional issues and agreed on the need on the part of all countries to act decisively against those countries that shelter and sustain violence factories in their regions. The two sides also called for the need for early reforms of the United Nations Security Council. Cyprus reiterated its support to India’s bid for inclusion a permanent member in the UNSC. Cyprus will also award its highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, on President Pranab Mukherjee 28 Ans: C Topic: Current affairs - Environment Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Recently a parliamentary standing committee demanded lift of ban on shahtoosh trade in Kashmir. Globally, shahtoosh trade was banned in 1975 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which India is a signatory. Shahtoosh wool is obtained from Tibetan antelope, Chiru which migrates from Tibet to Ladakh in summer. It is listed in Schedule I of the India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act. Its IUCN status is near threatened. The committee demands a removal of the ban because trade in shahtoosh provides livelihood security to people of kashmir specially the women. It further recommends that government should undertake rearing of the antelope so that trade becomes regulated and does not lead to exploitation 29 Ans: D Topic: Current affairs - Health


Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD are diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions such as Malaria, TB, HIV, Hepatitis, lymphatic filariasis etc. Mostly affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and livestock. In April 2017, WHO released its fourth report on neglected tropical disease and progress made for achieving the roadmap target for 2020. 30 Ans: C Topic: Current affairs - Architecture Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation:The Channakeshava temple (aslo known as Vijayanarayana Temple) in Belur in Hasan district, Karnataka turned 900 this year. The temple has been built by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty between 1106-1117 AD. About Hoysala Architectural style : The Hoysala architectural style is considered an intermediate between the Indo-Aryan and Dravidian traditions. They were influenced by the western Chalukyan architecture and employed their craftsmen as well 31 Ans: D Topic: Current affairs – Freedom Struggle Type: Factual Level: Medium Explanation: About Paika Rebellion (Also known as Paika Bidroh)

Paiks were the traditional landed militia of Odisha, used to perform policing functions. Paiks owned rent-free land that had been given to them for their military service to Kingdom of Khurda. However problem started when British forcefully usurped their land rendering them landless. They were also subjected to repressive land revenue policies and humiliation by the British. At that critical juncture, Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, the military chief of the King of Khurda, led army of Paikas forcing the East India Company forces to retreat. Though this rebellion predates the first war of independence of 1857 but did not get similar recognition. 32 Ans: b Topic: Infrastructure Type: Factual Level: Moderate Explanation: Indian Railways has introduced India’s first high speed, air-conditioned Tejas Express between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai and goa. Tejas Express is a state of the art train capable of running at the speed of 200 kmph with ultra modern amenities. • Humsafar would be fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals. • Tejas on the other hand will showcase the future of train travel in India. Operating at speeds of 130 kmph or more, it will have on-board services such as entertainment, local cuisine, Wi-Fi etc. • Utkrisht Double-Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY) Express will be introduced on the busiest routes, which has the potential to increase carrying capacity by almost 40%. • Antyodaya Express is a long-distance, fully unreserved, super-fast train service, for the common man to be operated on dense routes. 33 Ans:a Topic: Government Schemes and Programmes Type: Factual Level: Moderate Explanation: The Union Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to Pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Program which now has been extended to all districts of the country. The Maternity Benefit Program will provide compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentives so that the women can take adequate rest before and after delivery and not be deprived of proper nutrition.


It is a centrally sponsored scheme and the cost sharing between Centre and states is 60:40 for all the states and union territories (with legislature), 90:10 for NER and Himalayan States and 100% Centre share for union territories without legislatures. All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM), excluding the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who are in regular employment with the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertakings or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being 34 Ans: c Topic: International Relations Type: Factual Level: Easy Explanation: RCEP is proposed between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. 35 Ans: c Topic: E-Governance Type: Factual Level: Moderate Explanation: The government has launched the Saral Eindhan Vitaran Application (SEVA), developed in-house by Coal India Limited (CIL) for power sector consumers.SEVA is a part of ‘Digital India’ initiative, which is aimed at increasing the Consumer Connect as well as the Transparency and Accountability in Coal dispatch.

36 Ans: b Topic: Science and Technology Type: Factual Level: Difficult Explanation: Commercial development of the globe’s huge reserves of a frozen fossil fuel known as “combustible ice” has moved closer to reality after Japan and China successfully extracted the material from the sea floor off their coastlines. Combustible ice is a frozen mixture of water and concentrated natural gas. Technically known as methane hydrate, it can be lit on fire in its frozen state and is believed to comprise one of the world’s most abundant fossil fuels. 37 Ans: d Topic: Government programmes Type: Factual Level: Moderate Explanation: UIP: Universal Immunization Programme is a vaccination program launched by the Government of India in 1985. It became a part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 and is currently one of the key areas under National Rural Health Mission(NRHM) since 2005. The program now consists of vaccination for 12 diseases- tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, Hepatitis B, Diarrhoea, Japanese Encephalitis, rubella, Rotavirus and Pneumonia 38 Ans: c Topic: Global groupings Type: Factual Level: Easy Explanation: Nauru is a tiny island country in Micronesia, northeast of Australia 39 Ans: b Topic: Government Instituions


Type: Factual Level: Difficult Explanation: National Book Trust (NBT) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education of the Government of India. NBT now functions under aegis of Ministry of Human Resource Development. India’s first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru envisioned that NBT would be a bureaucracy-free structure that would publish low-cost books. 40 Ans: a Topic: Banking Type: Factual Level: Moderate Explanation: Key facts on payment banks:

Customers can deposit only up to Rs 1,00,000.

Payments bank can issue ATM/debit cards but not credit cards.

Payments and remittance services through various channels can be done.

Customers will be able to buy insurance and mutual funds.

Bank would not carry out lending activities.

With this, the network of 1,54,000 post offices (including 1,30,000 rural post offices) will be offering banking services to the masses in the country.

Payments banks are targeting migrant labourers, low income households, small businesses, and

other unorganised sector entities.

Initial capital required for a Payments bank is Rs 100 crore.

Eligibility: Existing pre-paid payment instrument issuers, individuals, professionals, NBFCs,

corporate business correspondents, telecom companies, super-market chains, real estate sector cooperatives that are owned and controlled by residents and public sector entities may apply.

Promoter’s contribution initially must be 40% for the first 5 years. For foreign holding, it is up to 74% of paid-up capital, on a par with private banks.

The banks must maintain CRR, minimum 75% of demand deposits in government bonds of up to one year and maximum 25% in current and fixed deposits with other scheduled commercial banks for operational purposes and liquidity management

41 Ans: b Topic- Current affairs / Economy Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: Daughter funds a “FUND OF FUNDS” that works with Venture capitalist to create funds is known as

DAUGHTER FUNDS. It provides risk capital to companies developing new technologies. 42 Ans: c Topic- Current affairs / Science and Technology Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO which will be capable of launching four-tonne class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It has an indigenous cryogenic third stage, designated as C25. The C25 stage is considered as the most powerful upper stage developed by ISRO which uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) propellant combination. 43 Ans: b Topic- Current affairs / Science and development - Defence Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The 24th bilateral exercise involving Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy has commenced in South China Sea. SIMBEX stands for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises“. The exercise will be held from May 18, 2017 to May 24, 2017. This edition of the bilateral exercise aims at increasing the


interoperability among the two navies as well as developing a common understanding and procedures among the two navies for maritime security operations. 44 Ans: a Topic- Current affairs / International relations Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: SASEC program is a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and strengthening regional economic cooperation. It was established in 2001 in response to the request of the four countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal – from ADB to assist in facilitating economic cooperation among them. ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program. So far, it has supported 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in transport, trade facilitation, energy and information and communications technology (ICT). Its seven members are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka 45 Ans: d Topic- Current affairs / International Institutions Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague in the Netherlands. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (often referred to as the International Criminal Court Statute or the Rome Statute) is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Among other things, the statute establishes the court's functions, jurisdiction and structure. The Rome Statute established four core international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war

crimes, and the crime of aggression. 46 Ans: c Topic- Current affairs / Polity Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: Electoral bonds the bonds will only be issued by a notified bank. It could only be bought using cheques or digital payments. The bonds purchased by donor will be given to a political party for a fixed period of time. A political party using their notified bank account can convert these bonds into money. All political parties are required to notify their bank account to the Election Commission. This bond will be like a bearer cheque which will facilitate donor's anonymity 47 Ans: c Topic- Current affairs / Economy Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. If enacted, the agreement will eliminate 98% of the tariffs between Canada and the EU. 48 Ans: c Topic- Current affairs / Polity Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The Election Commission notified a change in its rules allowing a review of a political party’s national party status after two successive elections and not after every poll as is the present case. It can also enjoy the national tag if it has 11 Lok Sabha MPs from three states. 49 Ans: a Topic- Current affairs / Economy - Infrastructure Difficulty level-Moderate


Type-Factual Explanation: National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP), the largest and one of the most significant initiatives in Automotive sector so far, represents a unique joining of hands between the Government of India, a number of State Governments and Indian Automotive Industry to create a state of the art Testing, Validation and R&D infrastructure in the country. 50 Ans: d Topic- Current affairs / Culture Difficulty level-Moderate Type-Factual Explanation: The UNESCO’s coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from India • Koodiyattam: Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala. • Mudiyettu: theatre ritual of Kerala. • Tradition of Vedic Chanting. • Kalbelia: folk songs and dances of Rajasthan. • Ramlila: Traditional Performance of the Ramayana. • Sankirtana: singing, drumming and dancing ritual of Manipur. • Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of Garhwal Himalayas. • Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil of Thatheras: Punjab. • Chhau dance: classical Indian dance originated in the eastern Indian states. • Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. • Yoga

51. Ans: A The Tebhaga movement is a peasant movement in the history of Bengal and India. It was a movement of the peasants who demanded two-third share of their produce for themselves and one-third share to the landlord 52. Ans: C Shah Alam II spent the initial years as an emperor away from his capital due to the fear of Najib Khan Rohilla who became very powerful in Delhi and not due to foreign invasions 53. Ans: C He assumed the royal title not to save the kingdom but due to his greed for power. 54. Ans: C Ramananda (1360-1470) was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message 55. Ans: C Sankhya yoga believes that self –knowledge leads to liberation. Almost all the rest of philosophies of India adopted Sankhya as its main base. Sankhya yoga also believes in rebirth. According to Sankhya darshan each purusha experiences bhoga, apavarga and takes birth repeatedly until kaivalya.(moksa). 56. Ans: b In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for village headmen 57. Ans: b In the fourteenth and fifteenth century gun powder was used for military purpose in India and even artillery in its rudimentary form was known. The Babur's first real expedition took place in India in 1519 when he captured Bhera. The Delhi Sultanate's greatest contribution to Indian fine arts was the introduction of Islamic architectural features, including true domes and arches, and the integration of Indian and Islamic styles of architecture. The Timurid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty. Members of the Timurid dynasty were strongly influenced by the Persian culture and had established two well-known empires in history, namely the Timurid Empire (1370-1507) in Persia and Central Asia and the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in the Indian subcontinent.


58. Ans: c Ilbert bill exempted British subjects from trial by Indian magistrates and in cases involving death or transportation they could only be tried by a high court. This proposal provoked furious protests by the Indians. 59. Ans: c Annie Besant had formed and led the Home Rule Movement as she was influenced by Irish Home Rule League. She also became the President of Indian National Congress in 1917. But she was not the founder of the Theosophical Society; rather she was the second President of the society. The founder was Henry Steel Olcott. 60. Ans: b A person became a vassal by pledging political allegiance and providing military, political, and financial service to a lord. A lord possessed complete sovereignty over land or acted in the service of another sovereign, usually a king. If a lord acted in the service of a king, the lord was considered a vassal of the king. As part of the feudal agreement, the lord promised to protect the vassal and provided the vassal with a plot of land. This land could be passed on to the vassal's heirs, giving the vassal tenure over the land. 51. Ans: d Dadabhai Naoroji, R. C. Dutt, Ranade, Gokhale, G. Subramania Iyer, were among those who grounded Indian nationalism firmly on the foundation of anti-imperialism by fashioning the world's first economic critique of colonialism, before Hobson and Lenin. 62. Ans: d

All statements are wrong. 63.Ans: b The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms which became the Government of India Act in 1919 clearly defined the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments. 64. Ans: b C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930. 65. Ans: b Annie Besant was the first woman President of Indian National Congress. She presided over the 1917 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress. Badruddin Tyabji was the "First Muslim" to become the "President of Indian National Congress 66. Ans: b Suggested in June, 1945 by the Viceroy Lord Wavell in Simla. It is also known as the Wavell Plan. 67. Ans: a K.G. Deshpande, a friend of Aurbindo from his Cambridge days, was in charge of a weekly, “Induprakash”, published from Bombay. He requested Sri Aurobindo to write upon the current political situation. Sri Aurobindo began writing a series of fiery articles under the title “New Lamps for Old”, strongly criticising the Congress for its moderate policy. 68. Ans: c He wrote a book entitled Poverty and Un-British Rule in India. 69. Ans: c Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921) was governor general when the Rowlatt Act was passed in March, 1919. 70. Ans: c Following his education at Fergusson College in Pune, Kriplani worked as a schoolteacher before joining the freedom movement following Gandhi’s return from South Africa. He was a professor of English and History. Kripalani came in contact with Gandhi in 1917 during Champaran Satyagraha.


71. Ans: a The Al-Hilal was a newspaper established by Indian leader Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and used as a medium for criticism of the British Raj in India. The newspaper also espoused the cause of the Indian independence movement and exhorted Indian Muslims to join the movement. The newspaper was shut down under the Press Act of 1914. 72. Ans: b INC was formed on 28 Dec, 1885 in Bombay and its first session was held under the presidentship of W.C. Banerjee. 73. Ans: b Subh-e Azadi dawn of freedom) was written in August, 1947 after the partition of India. 74. Ans: b R does not explain A. As in September, 1939, the viceroy unilaterally declared that India was at war with Germany without bothering to consult any Indian leader. In protest, Congress ministeries resigned in October, 1939. Muslim league declared it as the Day of Delivarance 75.Ans: b The Rowlatt committee was a Sedition Committee appointed in 1918 by the British Indian Government with Mr Justice Rowlatt, an English judge, as its president. The purpose of the committee was to evaluate political terrorism in India, especially Bengal and Punjab. In organizing his satyagraha Gandhi tried to utilize three types of political networks - The Home Rule Leagues, Certain pan Islamist groups and a satyagraha sabha which he himself started in Bombay on 24 February. 76. Ans:c

Snow's Albedo is highest. 77. Ans: d Luni river originates from Aravalli range and flows in south west direction through the hills and finally ends up in the marshy land of Rann of Kutch. 78. Ans: a Mediterrian climate have mild, rainy winter and hot, dry summers and Evergreen, Oak trees. 79. Ans: c Rotation of the earth causes wind to deflect towards left in the Southern Hemisphere. 80.Ans: b The sunlight which is very much important component for the growth of plant, donot reach the surface as the trees there are long and donot allow the sunlight to pass through them. 81. Ans: b Kolleru lake is one of the largest shallow fresh water lakes in Asia, is located between Krishna delta and the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. 82. Ans: d All the statements given in the question are correct. 83. Ans: d An amendment to the constitution of India is introduced as a bill in the Parliament. It then must be approved by both the houses of Parliament. The amendments must then be ratified by the legislatures of at least one half of the states (not all the states). Once all these stages are complete the amendment is bound to receive the assent of the President of India. 84. Ans: d National Development council is not a constitutional body. It is an extra-constitutional body. Planning Commission is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body. It was created by the Govt. of India in 1950 by a resolution. Zonal councils have been recognized in the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992.


85. Ans: b Out of 52 items on the concurrent list, Economic and Social Planning is placed under Article 40 of the Constitution. Directive Principles of State Policy lays down that the State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self government. Planning for economic development and social justice is one such power given to village panchayats. 86. Ans: d The 52nd Amendment act of 1985, added 10th schedule to the Constitution. This is often referred to as anti-defection law. 87. Ans: b Promotion of international peace and security is included in the Directive Principles of State as Article 51 of constitution that mentions to promote international peace and security and maintain just an honourable relations between nations between nations; to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and to encourage settlements of international disputes by arbitration. 88. Ans: a The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India deals with administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in these areas. The Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India contains provisions concerning the administration of tribal areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. 89.Ans: d The Supreme Court of India is the apex court in India. As stated by the Indian Constitution, the function of the Supreme Court of India is that of a custodian of the Constitution, a court established by the authority of a federal government, and the uppermost court of appeal.

90. Ans: d The maximum strength of the legislative council is fixed at one third of the total strength of the legislative assembly and the minimum strength is fixed at 40. The chairman of the legislative council is elected by the council itself from amongst its members. 91. Ans: d The idea behind incorporation of fundamental duties was to remind the citizens of the country that they have certain obligations towards the country and society. The fundamental duties were added to the constitution on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. There were ten fundamental duties at the time of incorporation but the eleventh was inserted by the 86th Amendment in 2002. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India is one of them. 92. Ans:d All the statements are correct. 93. Ans:a Deficit financing refers to the difference between expenditure and receipts. In public finance, it means the govt. is spending more than what it is earning. Deficit financing is a necessary evil in a welfare state as the states often fail to generate tax revenue which is sufficient enough to take care of the expenditure of the state. The basic intention behind deficit financing is to provide the necessary impetus to economic growth by artificial means. 94. Ans: d Priority sector lending constitutes the lending to– agriculture, micro and small enterprises, micro credit, education, housing and weaker sections. 95. Ans: b In India’s foreign exchange reserve, it includes foreign currency deposits, bonds, gold reserves, SDRs and IMF reserve position. Foreign exchange reserves are an important part of the international investment position of a country 96. Ans:b


Carbon Monoxide pollution occurs primarily from emissions produced by fossil fuel powered engines. The incomplete reaction of air with fuel produces the colorless, odourless and highly toxic gas. The main issue with Carbon Monoxide is its health effects. It is capable of binding to the chemicals in our blood, called haemoglobin. It does so far more effectively than oxygen and also stays bound to the hemoglobin for far longer than oxygen does. The effect is that the blood is starved of oxygen, which then affects the rest of the body. 97.Ans: d By products of power thermal plant operation need to be considered in both the design and operation. Waste heat due to the finite efficiency of the power cycle must be released to the atmosphere, using a cooling tower, or river or lake water as a cooling medium. The gas from combustion of the fossil fuels is discharged to the air; this contains carbon dioxide and water vapour, as well as other substances such as nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, and (in the case of coal-fired plants) fly ash, mercury and traces of other metals. 98.Ans: d Under the Kyoto Protocol, the 'caps' or quotas for Greenhouse gases for the developed Annex 1 countries are known as Assigned Amounts and are listed in Annex B. The quantity of the initial assigned amount is denominated in individual units, called Assigned amount units (AAUs), each of which represents an allowance to emit one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent, and these are entered into the country's national registry. 99.Ans: d Aspartame is metabolized by the body into two constituent amino acids and methanol. These hydrolysis products are handled by the body in the same way as aspartic acid, L-Phenylanine and methanol from other consumed foods. These components yield NO calory and add nothing new to the diet.

100.Ans a Ultraviolet radiation inactivates / kills harmful micro-organisms in water only.

byju’s classes: 9980837187. first of its kind to offer a record of an arboreal crab — a species...

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