T-20 7 August, 2020

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Monetary System
Sub Concept: Monetary Policy Committee(MPC)
Concept field :

Q1. With reference to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), consider the
following statements:
1. It is a statutory body constituted under the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934
2. It sets the inflation target once in every five years.
3. Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the chairperson ex officio
of the MPC

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended by

Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC which will bring more transparency
and accountability in fixing India's Monetary Policy.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The amended RBI Act also provides for the inflation
target to be set by the Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve
Bank, once in every five years.
Statement 3 is correct: The committee comprises six members - three officials
of the Reserve Bank of India and three external members nominated by the
Government of India.
Governor of Reserve Bank of India is the chairperson ex officio of the
committee. Decisions are taken by a majority with the Governor having the
casting vote in case of a tie.

The current mandate of the committee is to maintain 4% annual inflation until

31 March 2021 with an upper tolerance of 6% and a lower tolerance of 2%.

Question Type: fact

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

Q2 With reference to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export

Development Authority (APEDA) consider the following statements:
1. APEDA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers'
Welfare
2. It has been given the GI tag as the sole custodian of basmati rice grown
in the Indo-Gangetic plains.

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: (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: APEDA was established by the Government of India
under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority Act. It is under the Ministry of Commerce.

Statement 2 is correct: APEDA has been given the GI tag as the sole custodian
of basmati rice grown in the Indo-Gangetic plains, spread across seven states
— Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western UP (26
districts) and Delhi.

Basmati rice from the Indo-Gangetic plain, which includes the Punjab province
of Pakistan, has a special aroma attributable to it.
MP falls in the Madhya Bharat Pathar and started cultivation of varieties of
Basmati rice only around the middle of the first decade of this century. The
state claims that this rice possesses the same characteristics and qualities as
that of the rice grown in the IGP.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Land Resources and Agriculture
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q3 Which of the following are Globally Important Agricultural Heritage

Systems (GIAHS) designated sites in India?
1. Saffron Heritage of Kashmir
2. Koraput Traditional Agriculture
3. Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System

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

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is to promote public
understanding, awareness about sustainable agriculture and to safeguard the
social, cultural, economic and environmental goods and services these provide
to family farmers, smallholders, indigenous peoples and local communities.

India has 3 GIAHS designated sites –

● Saffron Heritage of Kashmir
● Koraput Traditional Agriculture
● Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System

Question Type: fact

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

Q4 With respect to Brent Oil, consider the following statements:

1. It is the only internationally-recognized type of crude oil that is used as
benchmarks for prices of crude oil.
2. It is a blend of crude oil extracted from all member countries of the
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
3. It is a dense blend of crude oil and contains high sulphur content.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 3 only
b) 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) None

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
statement 1 is not correct: Brent blend is the name of one of two
internationally-recognized types of crude oil that are used as benchmarks for
prices of crude oil. Other being the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil.
statement 2 is not correct: Brent blend is also called Brent oil, Brent Crude and
London Brent. Brent blend is a blend of crude oil extracted from oilfields in the
North Sea between the United Kingdom and Norway.

statement 3 is not correct: It is an industry-standard because it is "light,"

meaning not overly dense, and "sweet," meaning it's low in sulphur content.
Brent blend is the benchmark for most of the crude oil from the Atlantic basin
and is the benchmark used to price two-thirds of the crude oil traded
internationally.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Resources
Sub Concept: Energy resources
Concept field :

Q5 The primary objective of the 'Atomic Energy Regulatory Board ' recently
seen in news is to:
a) enhance the share of atomic energy in overall power production in the
country.
b) handle any radiation emergency when occurs in the public places by
sending its own force.
c) fulfill the requirement of Uranium/Thorium for the Pressurised Heavy
Water Reactors.
d) ensure that the use of nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk
to health and the environment.

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
The mission of the Board is to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and
nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to health and the
environment.
Regulatory and safety functions of Atomic Energy in India are carried out by an
independent body, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board was constituted on November 15, 1983, by the President of
India by exercising the powers conferred by Section 27 of the Atomic Energy
Act, 1962 (33 of 1962) to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions
under the Act. The regulatory authority of AERB is derived from the rules and
notifications promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the
Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.

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 :

Q6 “Kambala”, sometimes seen in the news, is:

a) an annual dance festival of Tripura.
b) a puppetry theatre tradition of Karnataka
c) an annual buffalo race in coastal districts of South India.
d) a fabric that recently received a GI Tag from Andhra Pradesh

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Kambala is a traditional non-competitive race of buffalo pairs one after
another in paddy fields held annually. The coastal districts of South Karnataka
and Udupi usually host the event. Kambala is considered as a thanksgiving to
the Gods for protecting the animals from diseases. The Kambala season
generally starts in November and lasts until March.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: World geography through maps
Sub Concept: Major Straits of the World
Concept field :
Q7 Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea to which of following water bodies?
a) Sea of Azov
b) Mediterranean Sea
c) Red Sea
d) Adriatic Sea

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Local Self Government
Sub Concept: Panchayati Raj Institutions
Concept field :
Q8 With reference to Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act,
consider the following statements:
1. It extends the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to both fifth and
sixth scheduled areas.
2. It empowers the Gram Sabha to safeguard and preserve the traditions
and customs of the people.

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: (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct: The provisions of Part IX of the constitution relating
to the Panchayats are not applicable to the Fifth Schedule areas. However, the
Parliament may extend these provisions to such areas, subject to such
exceptions and modifications as it may specify. Under this provision, the
Parliament has enacted the “Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the
Scheduled Areas) Act”, 1996, popularly known as the PESA Act or the Extension
Act. At present, ten states have Fifth Schedule Areas. These are: Andhra
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. PESA does not
extend to sixth schedule areas.

Statement 2 is correct: The Act provides that every Gram Sabha shall be
competent to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of the
people, their cultural identity, community resources and the customary mode
of dispute resolution.

Question Type: Concept

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Taxation
Sub Concept: Tobin Tax
Concept field :

Q9 “Tobin Tax” refers to a tax:

a) levied on sectors considered lucrative for money laundering.
b) on market activities that generate negative externalities.
c) on spot currency conversions to discourage short-term currency
speculation.
d) levied on the consumption of sin goods.

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
The Tobin tax is a tax on spot currency conversions that was originally
proposed with the intention of penalizing short-term currency speculation.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Indian Agriculture
Sub Concept: Problems of Indian Agriculture and their Solutions
Concept field :

Q10 With reference to Direct Seeded Rice system, consider the following
statements:
1. It uses less water than traditional transplanted paddy cultivation.
2. It eliminates the need for weedicides.
3. Its adoption results in increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is a method of rice cultivation wherein the rice seeds
are directly sown in the field, doing away with the raising of nurseries,
puddling and transplanting.
statement 1 is correct: standing water is not maintained in the DSR system and
the field is maintained at saturation.
statement 2 is not correct: weed control is a serious challenge for the direct
seeding approach. Weeds are one of the main reasons rice is traditionally
sprouted in nurseries and transplanted as standing water prevents germination
of competing plants.
statement 3 is not correct: Its adoption results in increased greenhouse gas
emissions.

Question Type: concept

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Role of Women
Sub Concept: Contemporary Issues Faced by Women in India
Concept field :

Q11 With reference to protection of children from sexual harassment in India,

consider the following statements:
1. The POCSO Act, 2012 protects children from offences of sexual
harassment and pornography.
2. Reporting of a sexual offence can be done only within six months of
occurrence of the crime.
3. The victims can also report the cases through SHe-Box Online Complaint
Management System.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
statement 1 is correct: POCSO Act 2012 is a gender-neutral Act which has been
enacted to strengthen the legal provisions for the protection of children from
sexual abuse and exploitation.
statement 2 is not correct: The POCSO Act does not provide for any period of
limitation for reporting the child sexual offences.

Statement 3 is not correct: The victims report the cases through POCSO e-Box.

Any woman facing sexual harassment at the workplace can register their
complaint through SHe-Box Online Complaint Management System.
.

Question Type: Concept

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

Consider the following statements regarding Environment Pollution

(Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA):
1. It derives its powers from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981.
2. It is mandated to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the
National Capital Region.

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: (b)

Explanation:
Hence, statement 1 is not correct: Environment Pollution (Prevention and
Control) Authority (EPCA) is a Supreme Court-mandated body, which is tasked
with the responsibility to protect and improve the quality of environment (and
prevent and control environmental pollution) in the National Capital Region
(NCR). It was notified in 1998 by the Environment Ministry (now Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change) under the Environment Protection
Act, 1986.
statement 2 is correct: It is also mandated to enforce the Graded Response
Action Plan (GRAP) in the NCR.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: World Climatic Types
Sub Concept: Climatic Types
Concept field :

Q13. Westerlies come all the year-round and there is a tendency towards an
autumn or winter maximum of rainfall. Light snowfalls in winter. Ports are
never frozen, but frosts do occur on cold nights. The seasons are very distinct.
The type of climate described here is
a) Marine West Coast climate
b) Moist Continental Mid-latitude Climate
c) Humid subtropical climate
d) British type climate

Correct Answer : (d)

Explanation:
The cool temperate western margins are under the influence of the Westerlies
all-round the year.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Performing Arts
Sub Concept: Indian Music
Concept field :

Q14. With reference to Kalbelia folk songs and dances, consider the following
statements:
1. These are folk traditions of Kashmir.
2. They are inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
3. These songs and dances form part of the foremost written folk traditions
for which some of the training manuals survive till date.
4. Kalbelia songs disseminate mythological knowledge through stories.

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

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

Correct Answer : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect and 2 is correct: Rajasthani songs and dances, under

UNESCO heritage list, are an expression of the Kalbelia community’s traditional
way of life. Once professional snake handlers, Kalbelia today evoke their
former occupation in music and dance that is evolving in new and creative
ways. Today, women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl, replicating the
movements of a serpent, while men accompany them on the ''khanjari''
percussion instrument and the ''poongi,'' a woodwind instrument traditionally
played to capture snakes.
Statement 3 is incorrect and 4 is correct: Transmitted from generation to
generation, the songs and dances form part of an oral tradition for which no
texts or training manuals exist.

Question Type: fact

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

Q15. Which of the following are used as both fertilizer as well as explosive?
1. Calcium sulphate
2. Ammonium nitrate
3. Potassium as used in NPK fertilizers

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Correct Answer : (a)

Explanation:
Ammonium nitrate, or NH4-NO3, is frequently added to improve a fertilizer's
nitrogen content. It's relatively stable under most conditions and is inexpensive
to manufacture. But ammonium nitrate has a potentially lethal downside: If it
comes into contact with an open flame or other ignition source, it explodes
violently.

The main use of calcium sulfate is to produce plaster of Paris and stucco. These
applications exploit the fact that calcium sulfate which has been powdered and
calcined forms a moldable paste upon hydration and hardens as crystalline
calcium sulfate dihydrate.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: resources
Sub Concept:
Concept field :
Q16. Algal biofuel is advantageous in which of the following ways?
1. Producing algae for bio-fuels usually requires lesser capital investments
than subsistence agriculture
2. Least Developed countries (LDCs) are the source of most of the algal
biofuel produced in the world.
3. Algaculture can be initiated on saline water or even wastewater.

Select the correct answer using the codes below.

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

Correct Answer : (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 and 2 and incorrect: Producing algae for bio-fuels (excluding
simple seaweed production) requires significant capital investments, which
may be a significant barrier in developing countries that have a weak
investment climate.
Producing biofuels from algae is still in a pre-commercial state of technology
development. Most production plants are therefore prototypes, and the
development and engineering of such plants requires a high level of expertise.
Statement 3 is correct: Algaculture (farming algae) can be initiated on land
unsuitable for agriculture or saline water or wastewater.

Question Type: fact

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

Q17. Which of the following methods could be used for carbon sequestration?
1. Afforestation
2. Biochar making
3. Ocean fertilization
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2, and 3
c) 2 only
d) 1 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Afforestation: Forests currently sequester on the order of 2 Gt CO2 per year.

Biochar making: Partly burn materials such as logging slash or crop waste to
make a carbon-rich, slow- to-decompose substance known as biochar, which
can then be buried or spread on farmland. Biochar has been used for centuries
to enrich the soil for farming, but of late has been drawing increased attention
for its ability to sequester carbon.

Ocean fertilization: Plants and plant-like organisms that live in the ocean
absorb immeasurable amounts of CO2 each year. Fertilizing the ocean means
bringing nutrients up from the depths to hyperdrive plants' ability to trap and
store carbon.

Question Type: fact

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

Q18. Consider the following about LIDAR.

1. It is a remote sensing technique in which the data is often collected by
air.
2. The use of LIDAR is restricted to natural environments.
3. It can be used to generate three-dimensional information about the
shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1 only

Correct Answer : (b)

Explanation:
LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing
method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges
(variable distances) to the Earth.
These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne
system— generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of
the Earth and its surface characteristics. A LIDAR instrument principally
consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver. Airplanes and
helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring LIDAR data
over broad areas.

Question Type: Concept

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Judiciary
Sub Concept: Supreme Court
Concept field :

Q19. Consider the following about Special Leave Petitions in India (SLP).
1. Special leave to appeal has been enshrined as a constitutional right
under Article 136.
2. This can be invoked only in cases involving substantial questions of law
public morality national security and grave injustice.
3. Supreme Court and High Courts both exercise this power under their
original jurisdiction.
4. Matters under SLP must be brought as appeals from lower courts or
tribunals functioning in India.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
a) 2, 3 and 4 only
b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
c) 4 only
d) 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (c)

Statement 1 and 2 are incorrect: Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant
special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or
order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the
territory of India.

Statement 3 is incorrect: It is a discretionary power vested in the Supreme Court of India

and the court may in its discretion refuse to grant leave to appeal. It is not available to the High
Court. Also, the Special Leave Petition comes under the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court.

Question Type: fact

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

Q20. Which of the following statements best describes Standing Deposit

Facility?
a) It allows the government to access funds from banks at lower interest
rates.
b) It is a contingent fund available with RBI for lending to Banks with huge
NPAs.
c) It is deposit account available with Scheduled Commercial Banks with
higher rate of returns.
d) It is a facility which allows RBI to absorb liquidity from commercial banks
without giving government securities in return to the banks.
Correct Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Standing Deposit Facility is a remunerated facility which allows the Reserve
Bank of India to absorb liquidity (deposit) from commercial banks without
giving government securities in return to the banks.