11. According to the 2019 Global Diplomacy Index released by Sydney-based

According to the 2019 Global Diplomacy Index released by Sydney-based Lowy Institute, which country has the maximum diplomatic posts across the world ?

USA
China
France
Japan
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
According to the 2019 Global Diplomacy Index released by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, China had the largest diplomatic network in the world, surpassing the United States for the first time. The index counts embassies, consulates, permanent missions, and other diplomatic posts.
The Global Diplomacy Index assesses the diplomatic networks of countries worldwide, providing insight into the reach and scale of their international engagement. A larger network generally indicates greater global presence and influence.
In the 2019 index, China had 276 posts, slightly more than the United States’ 273. France and Japan also ranked highly but were behind China and the US. The increase in China’s diplomatic presence reflects its growing global ambitions and economic power. Subsequent editions of the index continue to track these trends.

12. Guru Ghasidas National Park is situated in

Guru Ghasidas National Park is situated in

Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
Guru Ghasidas National Park is located in Chhattisgarh. It was formerly part of the Sanjay National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Following the bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, the part of Sanjay National Park that fell into the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh was renamed Guru Ghasidas National Park. It is situated in the Koriya and Surguja districts of Chhattisgarh.
The park is named after Guru Ghasidas, a prominent saint and social reformer of the Satnami sect. National parks are areas designated for the protection of wildlife and their habitats.
Guru Ghasidas National Park is part of the Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve, which was declared in 2021, becoming the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh. The region is known for its diverse flora and fauna, including tigers, leopards, sambar, chital, and various bird species.

13. Which of the following statements about ‘Milan 2020’ is/are correct ?

Which of the following statements about ‘Milan 2020’ is/are correct ?

  • 1. This is an international naval exercise.
  • 2. The first edition of the exercise was held in 1995.

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 CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
Statement 1: Milan is an international naval exercise. This is correct. Milan is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy. It involves participation from numerous countries, focusing on increasing interoperability and understanding among participating navies.
Statement 2: The first edition of the exercise was held in 1995. This is also correct. The Milan exercise was first conducted in 1995 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the participation of four littoral countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It has since grown into a major international naval gathering.
Since both statements are correct, the correct answer is C.
Milan is one of the major international naval exercises hosted by India, aimed at fostering friendly relations and cooperation among participating navies through exercises and professional interactions. It is distinct from bilateral or trilateral exercises like Malabar or SLINEX.
The exercise is usually held under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Navy. The number of participating nations has significantly increased over the years, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region and India’s expanding naval partnerships. Milan 2020 (though affected by the pandemic, some activities might have been planned or scaled down) was intended to be a large-scale event.

14. Which one of the following was the main theme of Defcom India 2019 ?

Which one of the following was the main theme of Defcom India 2019 ?

Information and Communication Technology for improved communication support to forward edges of tactical battle area
Communication as a decisive catalyst for jointness
Digital army infrastructure and skilled human resource
Technology as a key enabler to overcome military challenges
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
Defcom India is a biennial international exhibition and seminar organised by the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The main theme of Defcom India 2019, held in New Delhi, was “Communication as a Decisive Catalyst for Jointness”. The event focuses on leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for military applications and promoting synergy among the armed forces.
Defcom serves as a platform for interaction among military, industry, and academia to discuss advancements in military communications and their role in enhancing jointness and operational efficiency of the armed forces. The theme for each edition reflects the current priorities in defence communication.
Jointness refers to the ability of the different branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) to operate together seamlessly. Effective communication is crucial for achieving this jointness, especially in modern warfare scenarios. The theme highlighted the importance of robust and interoperable communication systems in achieving coordinated operations.

15. The first ever floodlit test cricket match was played between

The first ever floodlit test cricket match was played between

Australia and New Zealand.
India and Bangladesh.
Australia and England.
England and New Zealand.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
The first-ever floodlit (Day/Night) Test cricket match was played between Australia and New Zealand. This historic match took place from November 27 to 29, 2015, at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. The match was played using a pink ball, which is designed to be visible under artificial lights.
Day/Night Test cricket was introduced to make the longer format of the game more accessible and viewer-friendly, allowing matches to extend into the evening. The inaugural match was a significant event in the history of cricket.
While other teams have since played Day/Night Tests, including India and Bangladesh (their first Day/Night Test against each other was played in November 2019, four years after the inaugural one), the very first match was between Australia and New Zealand. The pink ball is used in Day/Night Tests to improve visibility under floodlights compared to the traditional red ball.

16. Along with Cartosat-3, 13 commercial nanosatellites were also launched

Along with Cartosat-3, 13 commercial nanosatellites were also launched by ISRO in November, 2019. These 13 commercial nanosatellites are from

Russia
Canada
USA
Japan
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
In November 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Cartosat-3 satellite along with 13 commercial nanosatellites aboard PSLV-C47. These 13 nanosatellites were commercial payloads from the United States of America. They were launched as part of commercial arrangements through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space.
ISRO frequently launches commercial satellites for various countries as part of its commercial services. In this specific launch (PSLV-C47 in Nov 2019), the commercial payloads were from the USA.
Cartosat-3 is an advanced earth observation satellite with high-resolution imaging capability. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. This mission demonstrated ISRO’s capability to launch multiple satellites in a single mission for both domestic and international customers.

17. Which one of the following aqueous solutions will be neutral ?

Which one of the following aqueous solutions will be neutral ?

NH₄Cl
NaCl
KCN
NaHSO₄
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
An aqueous solution is neutral if the salt dissolved in water is formed from the reaction of a strong acid and a strong base.
A) NH₄Cl is formed from a weak base (NH₄OH) and a strong acid (HCl). The solution will be acidic due to the hydrolysis of NH₄⁺ ions.
B) NaCl is formed from a strong base (NaOH) and a strong acid (HCl). The solution will be neutral as neither Na⁺ nor Cl⁻ ions undergo significant hydrolysis.
C) KCN is formed from a strong base (KOH) and a weak acid (HCN). The solution will be basic due to the hydrolysis of CN⁻ ions.
D) NaHSO₄ is sodium bisulfate. It is formed from a strong base (NaOH) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), which is a strong acid. However, HSO₄⁻ is the conjugate base of the strong acid H₂SO₄, but it is also an acid itself that can donate a proton (HSO₄⁻ ⇌ H⁺ + SO₄²⁻). This makes the solution acidic.
Therefore, only NaCl forms a neutral aqueous solution.
The neutrality of an aqueous salt solution depends on the strength of the parent acid and base from which the salt is derived. Salts of strong acid and strong base yield neutral solutions. Salts of strong acid and weak base yield acidic solutions. Salts of weak acid and strong base yield basic solutions. Salts of weak acid and weak base yield solutions whose pH depends on the relative strengths of the weak acid and weak base.
Hydrolysis is the reaction of an ion with water. Cations of weak bases undergo acidic hydrolysis, releasing H⁺ ions. Anions of weak acids undergo basic hydrolysis, releasing OH⁻ ions. Cations of strong bases and anions of strong acids do not undergo significant hydrolysis.

18. Manganese is extracted from Manganese dioxide by reaction with Alumini

Manganese is extracted from Manganese dioxide by reaction with Aluminium as described by the following unbalanced chemical equation :
MnO₂(s) + Al (s) → Mn (l) + Al₂O₃ (s)
The number of moles of Al (s) required to form one mole of Mn from its oxide is

1
0.75
1.33
2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
The unbalanced chemical equation is MnO₂(s) + Al (s) → Mn (l) + Al₂O₃ (s). To determine the moles of Al required to form one mole of Mn, we first need to balance the equation.
Balancing the oxygen atoms (2 on the left, 3 on the right), we find the least common multiple is 6. Multiply MnO₂ by 3 and Al₂O₃ by 2:
3 MnO₂(s) + Al (s) → Mn (l) + 2 Al₂O₃ (s)
Now, balance the aluminium atoms (1 on the left, 4 on the right). Multiply Al by 4:
3 MnO₂(s) + 4 Al (s) → Mn (l) + 2 Al₂O₃ (s)
Finally, balance the manganese atoms (3 on the left, 1 on the right). Multiply Mn by 3:
3 MnO₂(s) + 4 Al (s) → 3 Mn (l) + 2 Al₂O₃ (s)
The balanced equation is 3 MnO₂(s) + 4 Al (s) → 3 Mn (l) + 2 Al₂O₃ (s).
According to the balanced equation, 4 moles of Al react to produce 3 moles of Mn. To produce 1 mole of Mn, the number of moles of Al required is (4 moles Al / 3 moles Mn) * 1 mole Mn = 4/3 moles Al.
The question requires balancing the given chemical equation and then using stoichiometry to find the mole ratio between reactants and products. The ratio of Al to Mn in the balanced equation is 4:3.
This reaction is a type of redox reaction, specifically a thermite reaction where a metal oxide is reduced by a more reactive metal (Aluminium). Aluminium is a strong reducing agent. The value 4/3 is approximately 1.333…

19. How many moles of water would be produced by the complete combustion o

How many moles of water would be produced by the complete combustion of one mole of natural gas, CH₄, in excess of oxygen ?

1
2
3
4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
The complete combustion of natural gas, which is primarily methane (CH₄), in excess oxygen is represented by the balanced chemical equation:
CH₄(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g or l)
The coefficients in the balanced equation represent the relative number of moles of reactants and products. According to the equation, one mole of methane (CH₄) reacts with two moles of oxygen (O₂) to produce one mole of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and two moles of water (H₂O).
The stoichiometry of a balanced chemical equation gives the mole ratios of reactants and products. For the combustion of methane, 1 mole of CH₄ produces 2 moles of H₂O.
Combustion is a rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light. Complete combustion occurs when there is sufficient oxygen, yielding carbon dioxide and water as products for hydrocarbons like methane. Incomplete combustion occurs with insufficient oxygen, producing carbon monoxide and/or carbon. The question specifies “complete combustion in excess of oxygen”, ensuring the reaction proceeds as shown in the balanced equation.

20. An element has an atomic number of 16. What is the principal quantum n

An element has an atomic number of 16. What is the principal quantum number (n) of its outermost electrons ?

1
2
3
4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
An element with atomic number 16 is Sulfur (S). To find the principal quantum number (n) of its outermost electrons, we need to write its electron configuration. The atomic number represents the number of protons and, in a neutral atom, the number of electrons. So, Sulfur has 16 electrons. The electron configuration is filled according to the Aufbau principle, Hund’s rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle.
Filling order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, …
Electrons:
1s² (2 electrons)
2s² (2 electrons)
2p⁶ (6 electrons) – total 2+2+6 = 10 electrons
3s² (2 electrons) – total 10+2 = 12 electrons
3p⁴ (4 electrons) – total 12+4 = 16 electrons
The electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴. The outermost electrons are those in the highest principal energy level, which is n=3 in this case (3s and 3p orbitals).
The principal quantum number (n) of the outermost electrons corresponds to the highest energy level occupied by electrons in the atom’s electron configuration. For Sulfur (atomic number 16), the configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴, so the outermost electrons are in the n=3 level.
The outer electron shell is often referred to as the valence shell. The principal quantum number ‘n’ defines the energy level and size of the electron shell. n=1 is the first shell, n=2 is the second shell, n=3 is the third shell, and so on.