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41. Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because

Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because

exposure to sunlight is prevented

concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased

rate of respiration is decreased

there is an increase in humidity

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Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because the low temperature significantly reduces the rate of respiration in the fruits.

Respiration is a metabolic process in fruits that consumes stored sugars and leads to ripening and senescence. By lowering the temperature, this process is slowed down, thereby extending the time before the fruit spoils.

Other factors like preventing sunlight exposure and managing humidity are also important for fruit storage, but reducing the respiration rate through low temperature is the primary mechanism by which cold storage extends shelf life. Controlled atmosphere storage (modifying CO2 and Oxygen levels) is another technique used to further extend storage life by also impacting respiration and other metabolic processes.

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42. Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand

Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand for money, there will be

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a fall in the level of prices

an increase in the rate of interest

a decrease in the rate of interest

an increase in the level of income and employment

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When the supply of money remains the same and there is an increase in the demand for money, it leads to an increase in the rate of interest.

In the money market, the demand for money (Md) is inversely related to the interest rate, while the supply of money (Ms) is typically considered fixed by the central bank. If the demand for money increases (shifts right) while the supply is fixed, the equilibrium in the money market shifts to a higher interest rate, as people are willing to pay more to hold money or borrow funds.

This concept is explained by theories of money demand, such as the Keynesian liquidity preference theory, which posits that individuals hold money for transactional, precautionary, and speculative motives. A higher demand for money, for whatever reason (e.g., increased economic activity, higher expected inflation), ceteris paribus, drives up the cost of holding or borrowing money, which is reflected in the interest rate.

43. Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in it

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?

Repayment of public debt

Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit

Borrowing from banks to finance a budget deficit

Creating new money to finance a budget deficit

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Creating new money to finance a budget deficit is likely to be the most inflationary among the given options.

Financing a budget deficit by creating new money (also known as seigniorage or printing money) directly increases the money supply in the economy without a corresponding increase in output. This is a direct monetary expansion that can lead to significant demand-pull inflation, especially if the deficit is large.

Borrowing from the public (B) involves transferring existing money from the public to the government. Borrowing from banks (C) involves credit creation by banks, which also increases money supply but often through a multiplier effect rather than directly creating base money like option D. Repayment of public debt (A), unless financed by printing money, generally doesn’t cause inflation and can even reduce demand if financed through taxation or borrowing from other sources. Direct money creation (D) is considered the most inflationary because it directly increases the monetary base.

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44. Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s fore

Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves?

Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries

Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs

Foreign-currency assets, loans from the World Bank and SDRs

Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans the World Bank

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India’s foreign-exchange reserves, maintained by the RBI, include Foreign-currency assets (FCAs), Gold holdings of the RBI, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).

Foreign exchange reserves are assets held by a central bank in foreign currencies, used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy. The major components of India’s foreign exchange reserves are FCAs (investments in foreign government securities, deposits in foreign central banks/BIS), Gold, SDRs (an international reserve asset created by the IMF), and the Reserve Position in the IMF (India’s share in the IMF quota).

Loans from foreign countries or from the World Bank are typically part of external debt, which is a liability, not an asset component of foreign exchange reserves. Maintaining adequate foreign exchange reserves helps in managing exchange rate volatility, meeting external debt obligations, and providing confidence to international investors.

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45. A rise in general level of prices may be caused by 1. an increase in

A rise in general level of prices may be caused by

1. an increase in the money supply
2. a decrease in the aggregate level of output
3. an increase in the effective demand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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All three factors listed can cause a rise in the general level of prices (inflation).

1. An increase in the money supply, if not matched by a proportional increase in output, leads to too much money chasing too few goods, causing demand-pull inflation.
2. A decrease in the aggregate level of output, with demand remaining constant or increasing, creates scarcity relative to demand, leading to cost-push or supply-side inflation.
3. An increase in effective demand (aggregate demand) that exceeds the available supply leads to demand-pull inflation.

Inflation is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors. These three points represent fundamental drivers: monetary factors (money supply), supply-side factors (output level), and demand-side factors (aggregate demand). Often, inflation is a result of a combination of these factors.

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46. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

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imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians

imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages

removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans

removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth

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The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the proposal to remove the disqualification imposed on Indian magistrates and judges regarding the trial of European British subjects in India.

The Ilbert Bill, introduced in 1883 during the tenure of Viceroy Lord Ripon, aimed to bring Indian and European judges to the same level of judicial authority. Prior to this, a European could not be tried by an Indian judge. The bill sparked widespread protest from the British community in India, leading to its amendment which significantly diluted its original intent and highlighted the racial tensions of the time.

The controversy, often termed the ‘White Mutiny’, exposed the racial prejudices prevalent among the British in India and contributed to the growth of Indian nationalism by demonstrating the discriminatory nature of the colonial administration and fostering a sense of unity among Indians against the common adversary.

47. In the context of Indian economy, ‘Open Market Operations’ refers to

In the context of Indian economy, ‘Open Market Operations’ refers to

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borrowing by scheduled banks from the RBI

lending by commercial banks to industry and trade

purchase and sale of government securities by the RBI

None of the above

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In the context of the Indian economy, ‘Open Market Operations’ (OMO) refers to the purchase and sale of government securities by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the open market.

OMO is a quantitative monetary policy tool used by the central bank to manage liquidity in the economy. When the RBI buys government securities from the market, it injects liquidity (money supply increases). When it sells government securities, it absorbs liquidity (money supply decreases).

OMO is a key instrument used by the RBI to influence interest rates and control inflation. Other monetary policy tools include the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Bank Rate, and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF).

48. Consider the following liquid assets : Demand deposits with the bank

Consider the following liquid assets :

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Demand deposits with the banks
Time deposits with the banks
Savings deposits with the banks
Currency

The correct sequence of these assets in the decreasing order of liquidity is

1-4-3-2

4-3-2-1

2-3-1-4

4-1-3-2

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The correct sequence of the given liquid assets in decreasing order of liquidity is Currency, followed by Demand deposits, then Savings deposits, and finally Time deposits. This corresponds to the order 4-1-3-2.

Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its price. Currency is the most liquid asset as it is readily spendable cash. Demand deposits (like current accounts) are highly liquid as funds can be withdrawn on demand. Savings deposits are generally less liquid than demand deposits due to possible limits on withdrawals, though in practice, they are often very liquid. Time deposits (like Fixed Deposits) are the least liquid among these options, as premature withdrawal incurs penalties.

This hierarchy of liquidity is fundamental to understanding monetary aggregates (like M1, M2, M3, M4) where assets are grouped based on their liquidity levels. M1 typically includes currency and demand deposits, being the most liquid forms of money.

49. Consider the following pairs : Tribe : State 1. Limboo (Limbu) : Sik

Consider the following pairs :
Tribe : State

1. Limboo (Limbu) : Sikkim
2. Karbi : Himachal Pradesh
3. Dongaria Kondh : Odisha
4. Bonda : Tamil Nadu

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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1 and 3 only

2 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

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The correctly matched pairs are 1 (Limboo in Sikkim) and 3 (Dongaria Kondh in Odisha). Pair 2 (Karbi in Himachal Pradesh) and Pair 4 (Bonda in Tamil Nadu) are incorrectly matched.

Limboo (Limbu) people are native to the Himalayan region, including Sikkim, Nepal, and parts of India (West Bengal, Assam). Karbi people are primarily concentrated in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam and also found in Meghalaya. Dongaria Kondh are a PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) residing in the Niyamgiri hills of Odisha. Bonda, another PVTG, inhabit the remote hilly areas of the Malkangiri district of Odisha.

Knowledge of the geographical distribution of major tribes across India is important for general awareness, particularly for regions with high tribal populations. The classification of tribal groups often considers factors like language, culture, location, and vulnerability status (like PVTGs).

50. During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the m

During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the

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meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky
lightning that separates the nimbus clouds
violent upward movement of air and water particles

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1 only

2 and 3

1 and 3

None of the above produces the thunder

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Thunder is produced by the rapid expansion of air heated by lightning. Option 2 mentions lightning, which is the direct cause. Option 3, the violent upward movement of air and water particles (convection), is a necessary process within a thunderstorm that leads to charge separation and thus lightning. While not the direct producer of the *sound*, it is essential for the occurrence of lightning, which in turn produces thunder. Considering the options, 2 and 3 together represent the phenomena directly linked to the generation of thunder within a thunderstorm.

Lightning is an electrical discharge within a thunderstorm cloud or between the cloud and the ground. The intense heat from the lightning channel causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly, creating a shockwave that we hear as thunder. The violent upward movement of air and water particles (updrafts) within cumulonimbus clouds leads to the collision of particles, charge separation, and eventually the buildup of electrical potential that results in lightning. Thus, updrafts are integral to the process leading to lightning and, consequently, thunder.

Statement 1, the meeting of cumulonimbus clouds, is not a direct cause of thunder. Cumulonimbus clouds are the type of clouds where thunderstorms occur, but their meeting doesn’t produce the sound. While statement 2’s phrasing “lightning that separates the nimbus clouds” is awkward, it points to lightning as the cause. Statement 3 describes the process of convection which is a prerequisite for severe thunderstorms and lightning. In the context of MCQ options, 2 and 3 are the most relevant phenomena listed that lead to thunder.