2015

71. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

Saltwater crocodile
Olive ridley turtle
Gangetic dolphin
Gharial
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The Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is the national aquatic animal of India.
The Gangetic dolphin was declared the national aquatic animal by the Indian government on May 18, 2009.
The Gangetic dolphin is a freshwater dolphin species found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. It is an indicator species of the health of the river ecosystem. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. The other options are also aquatic animals found in India but are not designated as the national aquatic animal.

72. In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

Essential Commodities Act, 1955
Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973
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In India, markets in agricultural products are primarily regulated under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act enacted by the respective State Governments.
The APMC Acts establish market areas (mandis) where agricultural produce can be bought and sold. The state governments have the authority to regulate the functioning of these markets, including market fees, licensing of traders, and market infrastructure.
While other acts listed are relevant to agriculture and food products, they regulate different aspects. The Essential Commodities Act deals with controlling the production, supply, and distribution of essential commodities. The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act focuses on quality standards. The Food Products Order and Meat and Food Products Order relate to the processing and quality standards of processed food items. The direct regulation of market infrastructure and trade in primary agricultural produce within states falls under the purview of the state APMC Acts.

73. With reference to the use of nano-technology in health sector, which o

With reference to the use of nano-technology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.
  • 2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements are correct. Nanotechnology is actively being researched and applied in both targeted drug delivery and gene therapy.
Nanotechnology utilizes materials on a nanoscale (typically 1 to 100 nanometers) to interact with biological systems at a molecular or cellular level. This allows for highly precise interventions.
In targeted drug delivery, nanoparticles can be engineered to encapsulate drugs and deliver them specifically to diseased cells (like cancer cells), minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This improves drug efficacy and reduces side effects. In gene therapy, nanoparticles can serve as non-viral vectors to efficiently deliver genetic material (DNA, RNA) into target cells for therapeutic purposes. Both applications are significant areas of focus in nanomedicine research and development.

74. When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio b

When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?

India's GDP growth rate increases drastically
Foreign Institutional Investors may bring more capital into our country
Scheduled Commercial Banks may cut their lending rates
It may drastically reduce the liquidity to the banking system
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When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), scheduled commercial banks are likely to cut their lending rates.
SLR is the percentage of Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) that commercial banks must maintain as liquid assets (cash, gold, government securities). Reducing SLR means banks are required to hold a smaller proportion of their deposits in these prescribed liquid assets. This frees up a larger amount of funds that banks can use for lending to the public and businesses.
Increased availability of funds for lending typically leads to increased competition among banks to disburse loans. This increased supply of loanable funds, assuming demand remains constant or increases moderately, puts downward pressure on interest rates, making it more likely for scheduled commercial banks to cut their lending rates. Options A, B, and D are less direct or incorrect consequences. Drastic GDP growth is not guaranteed. FII capital inflows are complex and influenced by many factors. Reducing SLR increases, not reduces, the liquidity available for lending in the banking system.

75. Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ repo

Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report periodically?

The Asian Development Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The US Federal Reserve Bank
The World Bank
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The ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report is a flagship publication of The World Bank.
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global economy, including forecasts for growth, trade, and financial flows. It is released periodically, typically twice a year (in January and June).
The report covers both advanced and developing economies, highlighting key risks and opportunities for global economic development. It is a widely cited source for understanding the current state and future outlook of the world economy. Other international financial institutions and development banks publish their own reports, but ‘Global Economic Prospects’ is specifically associated with The World Bank.

76. Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism i

Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?

  • 1. Dadabhai Naoroji
  • 2. G. Subramania Iyer
  • 3. R. C. Dutt

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three individuals listed – Dadabhai Naoroji, G. Subramania Iyer, and R. C. Dutt – were prominent economic critics of British colonialism in India.
These figures belonged to the early nationalist phase and extensively analyzed and critiqued the economic impact of British rule. They argued that British policies were designed to extract wealth from India (the “drain of wealth”) and were responsible for India’s poverty and deindustrialization.
Dadabhai Naoroji is famous for propounding the ‘Drain Theory’. R. C. Dutt authored “The Economic History of India under Early British Rule”, a detailed critique of British economic policies. G. Subramania Iyer, a founder of ‘The Hindu’, also wrote extensively on the economic plight of India under British rule. Their work laid the intellectual foundation for economic nationalism and influenced subsequent generations of Indian leaders.

77. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the foll

With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
  • 2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
  • 3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
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Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals and are provided the highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Statement 2 is incorrect.
Dugongs, often called ‘sea cows’, are exclusively herbivorous, feeding on seagrass beds. They are highly vulnerable and are listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, affording them maximum protection.
Dugongs are found in warm coastal waters from the western Pacific to the eastern coast of Africa. In India, their distribution is restricted to specific coastal areas and islands, notably the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay (Tamil Nadu), Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat), and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are not found along the entire coast of India. Their populations are threatened by habitat loss (seagrass destruction), entanglement in fishing gear, and poaching.

78. With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as

With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
  • 2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
  • 3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
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Statements 1 and 2 are correct regarding the uses of fly ash produced by power plants. Statement 3 is incorrect as fly ash contains more than just silicon dioxide and calcium oxide, and it can contain toxic elements.
Fly ash is a valuable by-product with established applications in construction materials. It is commonly used in manufacturing bricks and as a partial replacement for Portland cement in concrete mixes, improving properties like strength and durability. However, fly ash contains various metal oxides and trace elements, some of which can be toxic.
Fly ash typically consists primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), and calcium oxide (CaO). It also contains smaller amounts of magnesium oxide (MgO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), sulphur trioxide (SO₃), and trace amounts of other elements, including heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead, depending on the source of coal and combustion conditions. Its utilization helps in waste management and environmental protection by reducing the need for conventional materials and preventing landfilling.

79. Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for t

Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?

Syria and Jordan
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
Philippines and Papua New Guinea
Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
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The major outbreak of the Ebola virus that received extensive global attention in the years preceding this question (likely referring to the 2014-2016 epidemic) primarily occurred in West Africa.
The affected countries most frequently mentioned in the news for this particular outbreak were Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
While other Ebola outbreaks have occurred in different African countries at various times, the scale and international impact of the 2014-2016 West African epidemic made these three countries synonymous with the disease in recent news reports during that period. The other options list countries from different regions not primarily affected by this major outbreak.

80. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statement

With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’.
  • 2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilize the Home Rule League.
  • 3. Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect regarding the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was indeed based on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee, headed by Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt, which investigated ‘revolutionary crime’ in India (Statement 1 is correct). Mahatma Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha against this act and utilized the widespread network and existing infrastructure of the Home Rule League to organize protests and demonstrations across India (Statement 2 is correct). The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, almost a decade after the Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919), so demonstrations against it did not coincide with the Rowlatt Satyagraha (Statement 3 is incorrect).
The Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person without trial and conviction in a court of law, which was seen as a denial of civil liberties. The protests against it were widespread and marked the beginning of a new phase of mass mobilization in the Indian independence movement under Gandhi’s leadership. The Simon Commission faced protests because it was an all-British commission tasked with reviewing the constitutional progress in India, with no Indian representation.
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