2014 Archives

61. In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or

In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significance. Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?

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The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics

The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas

The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of anti-histamines

It is a source of high quality biodiesel

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The question asks about the recent significance of cluster bean (Guar) cultivation beyond traditional uses.
A) The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics: While plant oils can sometimes be used in bioplastics, guar oil is not a prominent source for this purpose.
B) The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas: This is the primary reason for the recent surge in demand and cultivation of guar. Guar gum, specifically its derivative hydroxypropyl guar (HPG), is a key component of the fracking fluid used in hydraulic fracturing to extract oil and natural gas from shale formations. It acts as a thickening agent, helping to carry proppants (like sand) into the fractures and then degrading to allow the flow of hydrocarbons. This statement is correct.
C) The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of anti-histamines: While some plants have medicinal properties, guar is not widely known for anti-histamine properties of its leaf extract.
D) It is a source of high quality biodiesel: Guar seeds contain oil, but it is not typically considered a primary source for high-quality biodiesel compared to other oilseed crops.

– The increased significance of cluster bean (Guar) cultivation is primarily due to the demand for guar gum.
– Guar gum is extensively used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) industry for shale gas and oil extraction.

India is the world’s largest producer of cluster beans (Guar). The demand for guar gum is closely linked to the unconventional oil and gas industry, particularly in countries like the United States, where fracking is widely used. This has led to fluctuations in guar prices and cultivation area based on global energy markets.

63. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coalbed

With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coalbed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements :

1. Coalbed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
2. In India, abundant coalbed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The question asks about the correct statements regarding coalbed methane (CBM) and shale gas.
1. Coalbed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks: CBM is primarily methane stored within coal seams. Shale gas is natural gas (which is primarily methane) trapped within fine-grained sedimentary rocks like shale. Shale gas is not a mixture of propane and butane only; propane and butane are components of natural gas liquids (NGLs) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which can sometimes be found alongside methane, but the primary component of shale gas is methane. This statement is incorrect.
2. In India, abundant coalbed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found: India has significant CBM reserves and has commercial production of CBM. India also has estimated shale gas reserves in various basins (e.g., Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery basins), and exploratory drilling has confirmed the presence of shale gas. While commercial production is not as developed as CBM, sources have indeed been found. This statement is incorrect.

– Both coalbed methane and shale gas are primarily composed of methane (natural gas).
– Shale gas is found in shale formations, not just a mixture of propane and butane.
– India has identified sources of both coalbed methane and shale gas.

Coalbed methane and shale gas are considered unconventional natural gas sources. Extraction techniques like hydraulic fracturing (fracking) are often used for shale gas and sometimes for CBM, though CBM extraction can also involve dewatering. These sources have gained importance globally as potential energy sources, but their extraction methods also raise environmental concerns.

64. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements i

With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The question asks about the correct statements regarding the Agni-IV Missile.
1. It is a surface-to-surface missile: The Agni series missiles are ballistic missiles designed to be launched from the ground (surface) to hit targets on the ground (surface). This statement is correct.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only: Agni-IV is a two-stage ballistic missile that uses solid propellants. Agni-I, II, III, V, and P also primarily use solid fuel. Liquid fuel was used in earlier Indian missiles or specific stages, but Agni-IV is solid-fueled. This statement is incorrect.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away: Agni-IV has a designed range of about 4,000 km. The range of 7500 km or more is associated with longer-range missiles like Agni-V (range > 5000 km, potentially up to 8000 km). This statement is incorrect.

– Agni-IV is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
– Agni-IV is solid-fueled, not liquid-fueled only.
– Agni-IV has a range of approximately 4000 km, not 7500 km.

The Agni-IV missile is part of India’s integrated guided missile development program. It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). Understanding the types of missiles, their range classification, and propulsion systems is relevant for defence-related general knowledge.

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65. Consider the following pairs : Region often in news Country

Consider the following pairs :

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Region often in news	Country
1. Chechnya	Russian Federation
2. Darfur	Mali
3. Swat Valley	Iraq

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The question asks which of the given pairs are correctly matched regarding the region and the country they are located in. Let’s examine each pair:
1. Chechnya: This region is a federal subject of Russia, officially known as the Chechen Republic within the Russian Federation. This pair is correctly matched.
2. Darfur: Darfur is a region in western Sudan, Africa. It is not located in Mali, which is a separate country in West Africa. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. Swat Valley: The Swat Valley is located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is not located in Iraq, which is in the Middle East. This pair is incorrectly matched.

– Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation.
– Darfur is a region in Sudan.
– Swat Valley is in Pakistan.

Knowing the geographical locations of regions frequently mentioned in international news related to conflicts, political issues, or natural disasters is important for competitive exams. Chechnya has been associated with separatist movements and conflict with Russia. Darfur is known for its long-standing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The Swat Valley in Pakistan has been affected by insurgency and military operations.

66. Consider the following countries : 1. Denmark 2. Japan 3. Russian F

Consider the following countries :

1. Denmark

2. Japan

3. Russian Federation

4. United Kingdom

5. United States of America

Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?

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1, 2 and 3

2, 3 and 4

1, 4 and 5

1, 3 and 5

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct option is D. Denmark, Russian Federation, and United States of America are members of the ‘Arctic Council’.

The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that provides a mechanism to address issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. Its member states are the eight countries that have territory within the Arctic Circle.

The eight member states are: Canada, Denmark (representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States (representing Alaska). From the given options, Denmark (via Greenland), Russian Federation, and United States of America are the members. Japan and the United Kingdom are not Arctic countries and are therefore not members, although they hold observer status along with several other non-Arctic states.

67. Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’

Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from

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Egypt

Lebanon

Syria

Tunisia

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct option is D. The series of uprisings referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from Tunisia.

The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in Tunisia on December 18, 2010, following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, in protest against police harassment and corruption.

The Tunisian protests led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011, inspiring similar movements in other Arab countries, including Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and others. While significant events occurred in Egypt (leading to the fall of Mubarak), Libya (civil war), and Syria (ongoing civil war), the initial spark and successful overthrow of a long-standing regime first occurred in Tunisia.

68. In the context of Indian economy, which of the following is/are the pu

In the context of Indian economy, which of the following is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘Statutory Reserve Requirements’?

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1. To enable the Central Bank to control the amount of advances the banks can create
2. To make the people’s deposits with banks safe and liquid
3. To prevent the commercial banks from making excessive profits
4. To force the banks to have sufficient vault cash to meet their day-to-day requirements

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct option is B. The purposes of ‘Statutory Reserve Requirements’ (CRR and SLR) include enabling the Central Bank to control the amount of advances banks can create and making people’s deposits with banks safe and liquid.

Statutory Reserve Requirements, specifically the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), are monetary policy tools used by the Central Bank (RBI).
1. By requiring banks to hold a portion of their deposits as reserves (cash with RBI for CRR, approved securities for SLR), the RBI limits the amount of funds banks have available for lending, thereby influencing credit creation and controlling the money supply. This directly enables the Central Bank to control the amount of advances banks can create.
2. CRR and SLR ensure that banks maintain a certain percentage of their liabilities in highly liquid assets (cash or approved securities), making a portion of the depositors’ funds safe and available if needed, thus enhancing the safety and liquidity of deposits.

3. Preventing commercial banks from making excessive profits is not the primary objective of reserve requirements. While controlling lending can indirectly impact profitability, the main goals are monetary stability, inflation control, and depositor protection.
4. Reserve requirements mandate holdings with the RBI (CRR) or in specific assets (SLR), not necessarily in the bank’s own vault cash for day-to-day requirements. Banks manage their day-to-day liquidity needs through other means, although reserve requirements do contribute to overall liquidity.

69. What is/are the facility/facilities the beneficiaries can get from the

What is/are the facility/facilities the beneficiaries can get from the services of Business Correspondent (Bank Saathi) in branchless areas?

1. It enables the beneficiaries to draw their subsidies and social security benefits in their villages.
2. It enables the beneficiaries in the rural areas to make deposits and withdrawals.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct option is C. Both statements 1 and 2 describe facilities that beneficiaries can get from the services of Business Correspondents (Bank Saathi) in branchless areas.

Business Correspondents (BCs), also known as Bank Saathis, are retail agents appointed by banks to provide banking services in remote locations where establishing brick-and-mortar branches is not viable. Their main role is to promote financial inclusion by extending banking services to the underserved population, particularly in rural areas.

1. BCs enable beneficiaries of government schemes, pensions, and other social security benefits to receive their payments conveniently in their villages, often using biometric authentication.
2. BCs provide basic banking services like account opening, cash deposits, cash withdrawals, balance enquiry, and fund transfers through micro-ATMs or other digital devices at or near the customer’s location in rural areas.
Both facilities are core functions aimed at bringing banking services to the doorstep of people in unbanked or underbanked regions.

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70. The terms ‘Marginal Standing Facility Rate’ and ‘Net Demand and Time L

The terms ‘Marginal Standing Facility Rate’ and ‘Net Demand and Time Liabilities’, sometimes appearing in news, are used in relation to

banking operations

communication networking

military strategies

supply and demand of agricultural products

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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The correct option is A. The terms ‘Marginal Standing Facility Rate’ and ‘Net Demand and Time Liabilities’ are used in relation to banking operations.

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) is a facility under which scheduled commercial banks can borrow additional funds overnight from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by dipping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) portfolio up to a certain limit. The MSF Rate is the interest rate charged by the RBI for this facility, and it is a key monetary policy tool. Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) represent the total liabilities of a bank (deposits, borrowings, etc.) minus its deposits with other banks and other approved assets. It is the base on which banks’ reserve requirements like the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) are calculated by the RBI.

Both MSF Rate and NDTL are specific terms used in the context of banking regulations, monetary policy, and the operations conducted by commercial banks under the purview of the central bank (RBI) in India. They are not related to communication networking, military strategies, or supply and demand of agricultural products.

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