41. What is the term of office of the Chairperson and Members of the Natio

What is the term of office of the Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission?

5 years or up to 70 years of age
3 years or up to 70 years of age
5 years or up to 65 years of age
3 years or up to 65 years of age
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The term of office of the Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission is 3 years or up to 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
– The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 initially stipulated a term of 5 years or until the age of 70 years for the Chairperson and Members.
– The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 reduced the term of office for the Chairperson and Members of the NHRC to three years.
– The age limit for holding office remains at 70 years. So, the term is 3 years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
The 2019 amendment also allowed the Chairperson and Members to be eligible for re-appointment. The Chairman must be a former Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court, while members include a Judge of the Supreme Court, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and persons with knowledge or practical experience in matters relating to human rights.

42. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The 15th ASEAN-

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held virtually in March 2022.
  • 2. European Union is India’s largest regional trading partner.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
Statement 2 is correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is incorrect: The 15th ASEAN-India Summit was held in November 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The ASEAN-India Summits are typically held annually. While virtual summits occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the summit number and date in the statement do not match the actual 15th Summit or any major ASEAN-India Summit in March 2022. The 18th ASEAN-India Summit was held virtually in October 2021, and the 19th was held in person in November 2022.
– Statement 2 is correct: The European Union (EU) is often cited as India’s largest regional trading partner block. While individual countries like the USA and China are larger bilateral trading partners overall, the EU as a collective bloc represents a significant portion of India’s total trade and is considered its largest regional partner.
India’s relationship with ASEAN is a cornerstone of its ‘Act East’ policy. India and the EU have a Strategic Partnership and are working towards a Free Trade Agreement. Trade data fluctuates annually, but the EU bloc consistently ranks among India’s top trading partners, often as the largest regional bloc.

43. Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlan

Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

Hungary
Poland
Belarus
Turkey
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
Belarus is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
– NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
– Hungary, Poland, and Turkey are all member states of NATO. Hungary and Poland joined in 1999, and Turkey joined in 1952.
– Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, allied with Russia, and is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), not NATO.
As of 2024, NATO has 32 member states. Membership is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. Belarus has no intention of joining NATO and has historically viewed the alliance with suspicion due to its close ties with Russia.

44. Which of the following statements about the Border Roads Organization

Which of the following statements about the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is/are correct?

  • 1. BRO is concerned with the construction and maintenance of roads in strategically sensitive areas.
  • 2. BRO undertakes snow clearance in high altitude areas.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
Both statements about the Border Roads Organization (BRO) are correct.
– Statement 1 is correct: The BRO is a premier road construction agency in India that develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighbouring countries, which are often strategically sensitive regions.
– Statement 2 is correct: The BRO is responsible for snow clearance operations on important mountain passes and roads in high-altitude border areas to ensure connectivity throughout the year, which is crucial for both civilian movement and defence logistics.
The BRO was formed on 7 May 1960 with the objective of securing India’s borders and developing infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-east states. It functions under the Ministry of Defence. Its activities are vital for the economic development of border areas and for meeting India’s strategic needs.

45. Which one of the following geologic time periods is associated with th

Which one of the following geologic time periods is associated with the first appearance of the marsupials?

Lower Cretaceous
Upper Cretaceous
Early Jurassic
Middle Jurassic
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The first appearance of marsupials in the fossil record is associated with the Upper Cretaceous geologic time period.
– Marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria) are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor during the Cretaceous period.
– The earliest definitive marsupial fossils date back to the Upper Cretaceous, specifically from North America and Asia.
The Cretaceous period spans from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. It is divided into the Lower Cretaceous (145-100.5 million years ago) and the Upper Cretaceous (100.5-66 million years ago). Mammals, including early marsupials and placentals, diversified significantly during the Cretaceous, particularly after the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the period. Earlier mammal forms existed in the Jurassic, but the divergence and appearance of distinct marsupial lineage fossils occurred later.

46. Solifluction is a geomorphic process involving a special type of soil

Solifluction is a geomorphic process involving a special type of soil flow that is noticed in

desert regions
karst regions
permafrost regions
savanna regions
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is C) permafrost regions.
– Solifluction is a specific type of mass wasting process common in cold climates, particularly in regions with permafrost.
– It involves the slow flow of water-saturated soil down a slope. This occurs when the surface layer of soil (active layer) thaws in summer but is underlain by impermeable permafrost, preventing drainage and causing the soil to become saturated and mobile.
– Permafrost is ground (soil, rock, or sediment) that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years. It is found in high latitudes and high altitudes.
– While slow mass movement (creep) can occur in various environments, solifluction specifically refers to the saturated flow condition over a frozen layer and is characteristic of permafrost environments or places with seasonal ground freezing that mimics the effect.

47. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I (Regional block) List-II (Headquarters)
A. ASEAN 1. Brussels
B. CIS 2. Vienna
C. EU 3. Minsk
D. OPEC 4. Jakarta

Code :

A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is A) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2.
– ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
– CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) has its headquarters (Executive Committee) in Minsk, Belarus.
– EU (European Union) has its main political headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
– OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
– Regional blocks are intergovernmental organizations or groups formed to promote cooperation and achieve shared goals, often economic or political, among member states in a particular geographical area.
– Their headquarters serve as the administrative centres for their secretariats and official meetings.

48. Consider the following statements about the seaports in India : 1. T

Consider the following statements about the seaports in India :

  • 1. There are 4 major and 25 minor seaports in India.
  • 2. The major ports are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  • 3. The minor ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Board/State Government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1, 2 and 3
3 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is D) 2 and 3 only.
– Statement 1 is incorrect. India has 12 major ports and one corporatized port (Kamarajar Port/Ennore Port), totaling 13 major ports under the central government. The number of non-major (minor/intermediate) ports is much larger, exceeding 200.
– Statement 2 is correct. Major ports in India are under the administrative control of the central government, specifically the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
– Statement 3 is correct. Non-major ports fall under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the respective State Maritime Boards or State Governments.
– The categorization into ‘major’ and ‘non-major’ (minor/intermediate) ports is based on administrative control and, historically, traffic volume. Major ports are governed by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, or the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (for Kamarajar Port), while non-major ports are governed by the Indian Ports Act, 1908, under the respective state governments.

49. When was the first All India Census attempted?

When was the first All India Census attempted?

1871
1872
1881
1861
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is B) 1872.
– The first attempt at a comprehensive, albeit non-synchronous, census covering various parts of British India was conducted in 1872.
– This census was not conducted simultaneously across the entire country but consolidated data collected at different times in different regions.
– The first *synchronous* all-India census, meaning it was conducted simultaneously across the country, was carried out in 1881.
– Since 1881, India has conducted a decennial census every 10 years without interruption until the 2021 census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

50. Which one of the following cities on the banks of Ganges declined in i

Which one of the following cities on the banks of Ganges declined in importance when the railway link to Bombay started operating?

Benaras
Kanpur
Mirzapur
Patna
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is C) Mirzapur.
– Mirzapur, located on the Ganges, was historically a significant trading hub, serving as a major river port and an inland trade centre, particularly connecting to Central India.
– With the development of railways linking key inland areas directly to the port of Bombay (now Mumbai), trade routes shifted. The reliance on riverine transport via cities like Mirzapur diminished, leading to a relative decline in its commercial importance compared to its peak period.
– Cities like Benaras (Varanasi), Kanpur, and Patna also have historical importance, but Mirzapur’s specific role as a riverine entrepôt whose significance was directly challenged by the rise of rail links to Bombay is a well-documented aspect of colonial economic history in India.