2015 Archives

51. The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available

search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

search for meteorites containing precious metals

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The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’, also known as the habitable zone or “potentially habitable zone,” refers to the range of distance from a star where a planet’s surface temperature might allow for liquid water to exist, given sufficient atmospheric pressure. The search for the Goldilocks Zone around other stars is directly related to the search for exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) that could potentially harbor life as we know it.

– The Goldilocks Zone is the region around a star where liquid water could potentially exist on a planet’s surface.
– Liquid water is considered essential for life as we know it.
– The concept is crucial in astrobiology and the search for exoplanets that might be habitable.

The term is derived from the fairy tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” where Goldilocks chose the porridge, chair, and bed that were “just right.” Similarly, the Goldilocks Zone is “just right” in terms of temperature for liquid water.

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52. Consider the following statements : 1. The Executive Power of the Un

Consider the following statements :

1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Statement 1 is incorrect. According to Article 53 of the Constitution, the executive power of the Union is vested in the President of India and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution. While the Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers which aids and advises the President, the formal executive power is vested in the President.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Cabinet Secretary of India is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board. The Prime Minister is the political head of the government but does not directly chair the Civil Services Board.

– The President is the constitutional head of the executive in India.
– The Cabinet Secretary is the head of the Civil Services Board.
– The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers and is the real executive head in the parliamentary system.

The Civil Services Board is a committee that makes recommendations for the transfers and postings of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. The Cabinet Secretary, as the head of the bureaucracy, chairs this board.

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53. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

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It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization

It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change

It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity

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The Rio+20 Conference, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012, was the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. It marked the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, which was also held in Rio de Janeiro.

– Rio+20 was a major international conference focused on sustainable development.
– It aimed to review progress since the original Earth Summit in 1992 and address current challenges.
– Key outcomes included the document “The Future We Want” and the decision to establish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference focused on two main themes: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and the institutional framework for sustainable development. It reaffirmed global commitment to sustainable development.

54. The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the

The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the

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Human Rights Commission

Finance Commission

Law Commission

Planning Commission

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NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established by a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015. Its creation replaced the Planning Commission, which was established in 1950 through an executive resolution.

– NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India.
– It replaced the Planning Commission, which was the central body for formulating India’s Five-Year Plans.
– The shift from Planning Commission to NITI Aayog reflects a move from a centralized planning model to a more decentralized, collaborative, and consultative approach involving states.

The Prime Minister of India is the chairperson of NITI Aayog. It consists of a Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories, and a number of full-time members and part-time members, besides ex-officio members. Its mandate includes fostering cooperative federalism, designing strategic and long-term policy frameworks, and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programmes.

55. Consider the following: The arrival of Babur into India led to the 1

Consider the following:
The arrival of Babur into India led to the

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1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region’s architecture
3. establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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The arrival of Babur into India led to the introduction of a significant military application of gunpowder (artillery) and the establishment of the Timurid dynasty (Mughal dynasty) in the region. The introduction of the arch and dome occurred much earlier.

Let’s evaluate each statement:
1. **Introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent:** While gunpowder technology existed in India before Babur, his invasion marked the effective introduction and large-scale use of sophisticated artillery and firearms in field warfare, which was crucial to his victories (e.g., Battle of Panipat). So, in the context of its impactful military deployment, this statement is considered true regarding Babur’s arrival.
2. **Introduction of the arch and dome in the region’s architecture:** Arches and domes were introduced to India much earlier with the arrival of the Delhi Sultanate in the late 12th/early 13th century. Examples can be seen in early Sultanate architecture. Babur and the Mughals refined these forms but did not introduce them. This statement is false.
3. **Establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region:** Babur was a descendant of Timur (Timurid) and Genghis Khan (Mongol/Chagatai). The dynasty he founded in India is known as the Mughal Dynasty, which was a branch of the Timurids who ruled Central Asia. His arrival directly led to the establishment of this dynasty in India. This statement is true.
Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Babur’s victory at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 against Ibrahim Lodi is considered the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India. His military tactics, including the use of field artillery and mobile cavalry, were significant innovations in Indian warfare at the time.

56. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and

Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

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Bretton Woods Conference

Montreal Protocol

Kyoto Protocol

Nagoya Protocol

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The Montreal Protocol is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. It was signed in 1987 and has been successful in reducing the atmospheric concentration of ODS.

– **Bretton Woods Conference (1944):** Established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, now part of the World Bank Group), focusing on international monetary and financial regulation.
– **Kyoto Protocol (1997):** An international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
– **Nagoya Protocol (2010):** An international agreement aiming at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

57. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the B

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

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1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

1, 3 and 4

3 and 4 only

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The kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha were significantly associated with the life of the Buddha.

Gautama Buddha spent most of his life after enlightenment preaching and travelling within the territories of Kosala and Magadha Mahajanapadas.
– He was born near Kapilavastu, which was located in the foothills bordering the Kosala kingdom.
– He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and gave his first sermon at Sarnath, both of which were in or near the Magadha kingdom.
– He frequently visited and preached in major cities of these kingdoms like Rajagriha (capital of Magadha) and Shravasti (capital of Kosala). Kings like Bimbisara and Ajatashatru of Magadha and Prasenajit of Kosala were his contemporaries and patrons.
Avanti (capital Ujjain) and Gandhara (north-western region) were important Mahajanapadas, but the Buddha’s direct interactions and travels were primarily concentrated in the middle Gangetic plain, encompassing Kosala and Magadha.

The Buddhist scriptures (like the Pali Canon) primarily describe the Buddha’s activities within the geographical area covered by Kosala and Magadha, and neighbouring republics and small kingdoms in the vicinity.

58. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangr

Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

South-West Bengal

Southern Saurashtra

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands region of India is known for having a combination of mangrove forests, evergreen forests, and deciduous forests.

The diverse topography, rainfall patterns, and coastal/island geography of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands support these different forest types:
– **Mangrove forests:** Found along the coasts and creeks, adapted to saline water and tidal conditions.
– **Tropical Evergreen forests:** Cover large parts of the islands, especially in areas with high rainfall, characterised by dense canopy and diverse species.
– **Moist Deciduous forests:** Found in slightly drier areas or on certain slopes, where trees shed their leaves during a part of the year.
Other options like South-West Bengal (primarily mangroves and some deciduous), North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (mangroves and dry deciduous), and Southern Saurashtra (dry deciduous and scrub) do not typically exhibit the extensive combination of all three major forest types as found in the Andamans.

The islands are a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, contributing to the richness of flora and fauna found there. This combination of forest types makes the region ecologically unique in India.

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59. When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the P

When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by

a simple majority of members present and voting

three-fourths majority of members present and voting

two-thirds majority of the Houses

absolute majority of the Houses

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When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), it is passed by a simple majority of members present and voting.

Article 108 of the Constitution of India provides for joint sittings of both Houses in certain disagreements over a bill. Article 118(4) states that at a joint sitting, the Speaker of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) shall preside, and the rules of procedure shall be made by the President after consultation with the Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the Speaker of the House of the People. The key rule for passing a bill at a joint sitting is that it must be passed by a simple majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting. This means more than half of the members present and casting a vote must vote in favour of the bill.

Joint sittings are rare and are usually convened by the President when there is a deadlock between the two Houses on an ordinary bill (not a Money Bill or a Constitution Amendment Bill). Due to the Lok Sabha having more members than the Rajya Sabha, a simple majority in a joint sitting usually favours the Lok Sabha’s position.

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60. Consider the following rivers : Vamsadhara Indravati Pranahita Pe

Consider the following rivers :

Vamsadhara
Indravati
Pranahita
Pennar

Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?

1, 2 and 3

2, 3 and 4

1, 2 and 4

2 and 3 only

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The correct option is D. Indravati and Pranahita are tributaries of the Godavari river.

– The Godavari river is the second-longest river in India and flows east through the Deccan Plateau.
– Vamsadhara is a river that flows through Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and drains directly into the Bay of Bengal. It is not a tributary of Godavari.
– Indravati is a major tributary of the Godavari, flowing through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
– Pranahita is the largest tributary of the Godavari, formed by the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers, and flows along the border of Maharashtra and Telangana.
– Pennar (also spelled Penna) is a river in South India, flowing through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and draining into the Bay of Bengal. It is not a tributary of Godavari.

Major tributaries of Godavari include Pravara, Purna, Manjira, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranahita, Indravati, and Sabari.

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