T-20 10 July 2020

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Representation of People's Act
Sub Concept: Provisions of RPA Act 1951
Concept field :

Q1 Under the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person is disqualified

from being elected as a member of Parliament on which of the following
grounds?
1. holding any office of profit under the Union or state government
2. person is an undischarged insolvent
3. person is convicted for any offence resulting in imprisonment for 6
months or more.
4. promoting enmity between different groups

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 and 4 only
c) 4 only
d) 1 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Disqualification 1 and 2 are under the Constitution of India.
8 disqualifications mentioned under section 8 of Representation of People
Act, 1951:
1. He must not have been found guilty of certain election offences or
corrupt practices in the elections.
2. He must not have been convicted for any offence resulting in
imprisonment for two or more years. But, the detention of a person
under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification.
3. He must not have failed to lodge an account of his election expenses
within the time.
4. He must not have any interest in government contracts, works or
services.
 5. He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of
profit in a corporation in which the government has at least 25 per
cent share.
6. He must not have been dismissed from government service for
corruption or disloyalty to the State.
7. He must not have been convicted for promoting enmity between
different groups or for the offence of bribery.
8. He must not have been punished for preaching and practising social
crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Physiography of India
Sub Concept: The Peninsular Plateau
Concept field :

Q2 Eastern Ghats extend across which of the following states?

1. Odisha
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Tamil Nadu
4. Karnataka
5. Telangana

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 3, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
The Eastern Ghats run from the northern Odisha through Andhra Pradesh to
Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka as well as
Telangana.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Performing Arts
Sub Concept: Fairs and Festivals of India
Concept field :

Q3 Sindhu Darshan festival is held annually in which state/union territory?

a) Punjab
b) Ladakh
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Jammu and Kashmir

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Sindhu Darshan Festival is a 3 days festival held every year on full moon day
(on Guru Purnima) at Leh in Ladakh.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Government Schemes
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q4 With reference to Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs)

scheme, consider the following statements:
1. Under the scheme, existing government-funded housing complexes
will be converted into ARHCs.
2. It is a sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Union Cabinet recently gave its approval to
ARHC scheme to provide budget rental accommodation to poor and
migrant workers in urban areas.
Under the scheme, existing government-funded housing complexes will be
converted into ARHCs through concession agreements for 25 years.
Statement 2 is correct: It is a sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY)(Urban).

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Biodiversity
Sub Concept: Animal Diversity of India
Concept field :

Q5 ‘Golden Birdwing’, ‘Tamil Yeoman’, ‘Striped Hairstreak’ are

a) marine fishes
b) butterflies
c) Himalayan birds
d) water snakes
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Butterflies in news – Golden Birdwing (India’s largest butterfly), Elusive
Prince, Striped Hairstreak, Tamil Yeoman, Malabar Banded Peacock.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environment and General Issues
Sub Concept: Mitigation Strategy
Concept field :

Q6 With reference to ‘Decarbonising Transport in India’ project, consider

the following statements:
1. It was launched by NITI Aayog in collaboration with International
Transport Forum (ITF).
2. The project will design a transport emissions assessment framework
for India and will provide the government with a detailed
understanding of current and future transport activity.

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: NITI Aayog and the International Transport Forum

(ITF) of OECD jointly launched the ‘Decarbonizing Transport in India’ project.

Statement 2 is correct: The project will design a tailor-made transport

emissions assessment framework for India. It will provide the government
with a detailed understanding of current and future transport activity and
the related CO2 emissions as a basis for their decision-making.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Science and Technology in India
Sub Concept: defence
Concept field :

Q7 Consider the following pairs:

Artillery Country of Origin

1. M777 Howitzer the United States
2. K-9 Thunder South Korea
3. Advanced Towed Artillery Russia
Gun System (ATAGS)

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
M777 Howitzer – US
K-9 Thunder – South Korea
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) – India

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environment Conservation
Sub Concept: International Environment Conservation
Concept field : Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Q8 Consider the following statements:

1. There are more than 30 Ramsar sites in India.
2. Jammu & Kashmir has the highest number of Ramsar sites in 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

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: After the addition of 10 more wetlands to sites
protected by the Ramsar Convention earlier this year, total number of
Ramsar sites in India are 37.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Jammu & Kashmir has 3 Ramsar sites – Wular,

Hokera, Surinsar-Mansar.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India. There are 7
Ramsar sites in UP - Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi,
Sarsai Nawar and Upper Ganga river.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Banking and Financial Inclusion
Sub Concept: RBI
Concept field :

Q9 With reference to Operation Twist, consider the following statements:

1. It involves simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities
by the Reserve Bank of India under open market operations (OMO).
2. It aims to increase long-term lending by banks.

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Operation Twist by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has involves simultaneous purchase and sale of government bonds in a bid
to soften long-term yields.
Statement 2 is correct: It aims to cheapen long-term borrowing and spur
bank lending.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: India & its Neighbours
Sub Concept: Indo-Pacific
Concept field : East Asia Summit Acts as a Bridge for Indo-pacific Region

Q10 East Asia Summit is a regional forum having members from 18 countries.
Which of the following countries are members of East Asia Summit?
1. India
2. the United States
3. Russia
4. China
5. Indonesia

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 4 and 5 only
c) 1, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
East Asia Summit (EAS) is a regional forum held annually by leaders of
countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian
regions.
Members – ASEAN + 6 (India, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New
Zealand) + 2(US, Russia).

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: institution, posts and bodies
Sub Concept: regulatory bodies
Concept field :

Q11 With reference to Central Electricity Authority (CEA), consider the

following statements:
1. It is a statutory body under the Electricity Act 2003, that advises the
government on policy matters and formulates plans for the
development of electricity systems.
2. It also determines the electricity tariffs of power generating
companies.

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

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) is a
statutory organisation constituted under section 3(1) of Electricity Supply
Act 1948, which has been superseded by section 70(1) of the Electricity Act
2003. The CEA advises the government on policy matters and formulates
plans for the development of electricity systems.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Electricity tariff is determined based on the

provisions contained in (a) Electricity Act 2003 and (b) Tariff Policy notified
by the Government of India. In the case of central generating stations and
where two or more states are involved, the Central Electricity Regulatory
Commission determines the tariff. In case of generating stations within a
state, tariff is determined by the respective State Electricity Regulatory
Commissions.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Pressure Groups and Their Role
Sub Concept: Challenges Faced by NGOs in India
Concept field :

Q12 Consider the following statements:

1. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010 requires all NGOs to
apply for a license to receive foreign funding.
2. NGOs that are substantially financed by government funds fall within
the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was
introduced in 2010, to consolidate the law to regulate the acceptance and
utilization of foreign contribution by individuals or associations and to
prohibit acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign
hospitality for any activities detrimental to national interest and for matters
connected therewith or incidental. It requires all NGOs to apply for a license
to receive foreign funding.

Statement 2 is correct: In September 2019 Supreme Court held that NGOs

that are “substantially financed, directly or indirectly”, by government funds
will fall within the ambit of “public authority” under the Right to
Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Indian Constitution
Sub Concept: Basic Structure
Concept field :
Q13 Consider the following statements:
1. The term ‘judicial review’ has nowhere been used in the Constitution
of India.
2. Both the Supreme Court and high courts can declare the laws enacted
by the Parliament as unconstitutional if they contravene any provision
of the Constitution.

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Though the phrase ‘judicial review’ has nowhere
been used in the Constitution, the provisions of Articles 13 and 226 explicitly
confer the power of judicial review on Supreme Court and high courts.
Statement 2 is correct: Both the Supreme court and high courts are
empowered to examine the constitutionality of legislative enactments and
executive orders of both the Central and state governments. On
examination, if they are found to be violative of the Constitution (ultra-
vires), they can be declared as illegal, unconstitutional and invalid (null and
void).

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environment Conservation
Sub Concept: Protected Area Network
Concept field :

Q14 Which of the following is India’s easternmost tiger reserve?

a) Pakke tiger reserve
b) Namdapha tiger reserve
c) Dampa tiger reserve
d) Buxa tiger reserve
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Namdapha protected areas is a tiger reserve and a national park in
Arunachal Pradesh. It is India’s easternmost tiger reserve.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: current affairs
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q15 To deal with burgeoning numbers in tourist traffic, a ‘Sustainable

Development Fee’ (SDF) was introduced by which of the following
countries?
a) Maldives
 b) Sri Lanka
c) Bhutan
d) Thailand

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Ending decades of free entry to Indian tourists visiting Bhutan, the
government in Thimphu has decided to levy a daily ₹1,200 ($17) fee for
“regional tourists” from India, the Maldives and Bangladesh, beginning July
2020. The fee, called a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), is meant to help
the government deal with burgeoning numbers in tourist traffic, which it is
seeking to regulate through a new tourism policy.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Cyber-Security
Sub Concept: Cyber Threats
Concept field :

Q16 The term ‘Strandhogg’ was recently seen in the news in the context of
a) first known interstellar object to visit our solar system
b) vulnerability in the Android operating system that allows malware
attacks
c) newly discovered Earth-sized plant
d) none of these

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
The Union Home Ministry in December 2019, sent an alert to all States
warning them about the vulnerability in the Android operating system that
allows malware applications to pose as legitimate apps and access user data
of all kind. Promon, a Norwegian firm specializing in In-App protection,
found proof of this dangerous Android vulnerability, which they call
'StrandHogg', old Viking tactic of raiding coastal areas to plunder and hold
people for ransom.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: current affairs
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q17 With reference to Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2020, consider

the following statements:
1. EPI is published by Germanwatch.
2. India is among the top ten ranked countries for the first time.

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

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: EPI is a biennial index prepared by Yale University
and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
Using 32 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180
countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators
provide a gauge at a national scale of how close countries are to established
environmental policy targets.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India secured 168th rank in the 12th edition of the
Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2020. India scored 27.6 out of 100 in
the 2020 EPI index and its performance was worse than all South Asian
countries, except Afghanistan.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: drainage system of India
Sub Concept: peninsular river
Concept field :

Q18 Which of the following rivers flow through a rift valley?

1. Tapi
2. Narmada
3. Damodar

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between several highlands or
mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or fault.
Narmada and Tapi are west-flowing rivers and flow through a rift valley.
The Damodar occupies the eastern margins of the Chotanagpur Plateau
where it flows through a rift valley and finally joins the Hugli.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: climate
Sub Concept: Factors Influencing the Climate of India
Concept field :

Q19 Consider the following statements:

1. Positive phase of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) usually results in above-
average rainfall in India and drought conditions in Australia.
2. El Nino usually results in below-average rainfall in India and surplus
rainfall in Australia.

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

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is an irregular oscillation of
sea surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean becomes
alternately warmer (positive phase) and then colder (negative phase) than
the eastern part of the ocean.
A positive IOD is associated with droughts in Southeast Asia & Australia and
higher than average rainfall in East Africa and India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern

Oscillation (ENSO) and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that
develops in the central Pacific off the coast of South America. El Nino is
associated with reduced rainfall over India, Indonesia and Australia.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: World geography through maps
Sub Concept: important cities
Concept field :

Q20 Arrange the following cities from west to east:

1. Karbala
2. Vladivostok
3. Nur Sultan
4. Bamako

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 3 4 1 2
b) 4 1 3 2
c) 1 3 2 4
d) 3 1 4 2

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Bamako - Mali
Karbala – Iraq
Nur Sultan – Kazakhstan
Vladivostok – Russia