2016

21. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:

In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:

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TermDescription
1. Eripatti: Land, revenue from which was set apart for the main tenance of the village tank
2. Taniyurs: Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
3. Ghatikas: Colleges generally attached to the temples

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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1 and 2
3 only
2 and 3
1 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2016
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Pair 1 is correctly matched. ‘Eripatti’ or ‘Eri-patti’ (also Eri-ayam) in South Indian history, particularly under the Cholas, referred to land the revenue from which was specifically earmarked for the maintenance of the village tank (eri).
Pair 3 is correctly matched. ‘Ghatikas’ or ‘Ghatikastanams’ were centers of learning or colleges, often associated with temples in South India (e.g., Kanchi, Ennayiram, Tirumukkudal).
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. ‘Taniyurs’ (also ‘Tan-kurus’ or ‘Tan-nadu’) were large single villages or groups of villages that were administered as independent units, separate from the surrounding ‘Kurrams’ (sub-divisions of a district). They were not specifically defined as villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins; such donations were known as ‘Brahmadeya’ or ‘Agrahara’ grants.
Eripatti is linked to tank maintenance. Taniyurs are self-governing large villages/units. Ghatikas are temple-attached colleges. Brahmadeya/Agrahara are land grants to Brahmins.
The Chola administration is well-known for its detailed village administration and land classifications, including specific assignments of land revenue for public works like tank maintenance (Eripatti) and the existence of autonomous large village units (Taniyurs). Educational institutions like Ghatikas played a significant role in the spread of learning, particularly Vedic studies and philosophy.

22. India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Exper

India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?

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It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
It can build fusion reactors for power generation
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The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a project aimed at demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power on an industrial scale. Fusion is the process that powers the sun, where atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing vast amounts of energy. If ITER succeeds, it would pave the way for building commercial fusion power plants. For India, as a member of ITER, the immediate advantage would be the acquired knowledge and technology enabling it to build its own fusion reactors for power generation.
ITER is a global collaborative project to build the world’s largest tokamak fusion device and prove the potential of fusion as a sustainable energy source.
ITER is being built in Cadarache, France. Its members are the European Union (as a single entity), China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. Fusion energy is seen as a potential clean and virtually limitless energy source for the future, unlike nuclear fission which produces radioactive waste and uses finite resources like uranium.

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23. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears i

The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as

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G20
ASEAN
SCO
SAARC
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The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ (RCEP) refers to a free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their five existing FTA partners: Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Although India was one of the negotiating partners, it withdrew from the agreement in 2019. The negotiation and context of RCEP are deeply linked to ASEAN and its regional economic integration efforts.
RCEP is a mega-regional free trade agreement centered around ASEAN countries and their major trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
RCEP came into force on 1 January 2022. It is the world’s largest trade bloc by GDP. ASEAN played a central role in initiating and guiding the negotiations for RCEP.

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24. Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/

Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

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  • It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers.
  • Only one member of a family can join the scheme.
  • Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber’s death.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is correct. Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is indeed a minimum guaranteed pension scheme primarily targeted at workers in the unorganized sector, providing them with social security benefits. Statement 2 is incorrect. APY allows both husband and wife to join the scheme individually, provided they meet the eligibility criteria (age between 18 and 40, not covered by any statutory social security scheme). Statement 3 is correct. Upon the subscriber’s death, the spouse is entitled to receive the same guaranteed pension amount for life. After the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the nominee receives the accumulated pension wealth. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a social security scheme offering a guaranteed minimum monthly pension from age 60, depending on contributions and the chosen pension amount.
The scheme is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS). The government also co-contributes a certain amount for eligible subscribers for a limited period.

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25. ‘Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the

‘Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the

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European Central Bank
International Monetary Fund
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
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The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) is a half-yearly report published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It assesses key risks to global financial stability and highlights structural issues that could undermine financial resilience.
The Global Financial Stability Report is a publication that provides an assessment of trends and systemic risks in the global financial system.
The IMF is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The GFSR is one of its flagship publications, along with the World Economic Outlook (WEO).

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26. In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources fou

In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?

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  • 1. Cambay Basin
  • 2. Cauvery Basin
  • 3. Krishna-Godavari Basin

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 and 2 only
3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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India has significant potential for shale gas resources in several basins. The major prospective basins identified in India are Cambay Basin (Gujarat), Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin (Andhra Pradesh), Cauvery Basin (Tamil Nadu), Assam-Arakan Basin (North-East), and Gondwana Basins (various states). The options list Cambay Basin, Cauvery Basin, and Krishna-Godavari Basin, all of which are known regions with shale gas potential.
Shale gas is natural gas trapped within shale rock formations. Exploration and extraction require hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
India is currently in the exploration phase for shale gas, and commercial production has not yet started on a large scale. State-owned companies like ONGC and RIL have been involved in exploratory activities in these basins.

27. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at

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bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system
providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops
providing pensions to old and destitute persons
funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation
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Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched by the Government of India to provide loans up to ₹10 Lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. It aims to fund the ‘unfunded’ segment of the economy, which includes small manufacturers, shopkeepers, fruits/vegetable vendors, truck operators, etc., thereby bringing them into the formal financial system.
MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) is a scheme providing access to formal financial credit for micro and small enterprises.
Under MUDRA Yojana, loans are given in three categories: ‘Shishu’ (up to ₹50,000), ‘Kishore’ (₹50,001 to ₹5,00,000), and ‘Tarun’ (₹5,00,001 to ₹10,00,000). The scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship and generate employment by facilitating credit flow to micro-enterprises.

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28. ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the c

‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

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African Union
Brazil
European Union
China
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The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI), also known as One Belt, One Road (OBOR), is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government to invest in more than 150 countries and international organizations. It aims to build a network of land and maritime routes connecting China to Central Asia, Europe, Africa, and other parts of Asia. Therefore, it is widely associated with the affairs of China.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a major infrastructure and investment project launched by China to enhance global connectivity.
The initiative comprises two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt (land-based routes) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (sea-based routes). It involves various infrastructure projects like railways, highways, ports, power plants, and telecommunications.

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29. What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond

What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and ‘Gold Monetization Scheme’?

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  • 1. To bring the idle gold lying with Indian households into the economy
  • 2. To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector
  • 3. To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statement 1 is correct. Both the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme (SGBS) and the Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) aim to mobilize the large quantity of idle gold held by households and institutions in India, bringing it into the formal financial system. Statement 2 is incorrect. The schemes are primarily focused on domestic gold and reducing reliance on imports, not on promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the gold and jewellery sector. Statement 3 is correct. By providing alternatives to holding physical gold and encouraging the use of domestic idle gold, the schemes aim to reduce the demand for gold imports, thereby helping to manage the current account deficit. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 correctly describe the purposes.
Sovereign Gold Bonds offer an alternative to holding physical gold, providing returns linked to gold prices plus an interest. The Gold Monetization Scheme allows individuals/institutions to deposit idle physical gold with banks, earn interest, and get principal and interest in gold or rupees.
The SGBS is a scheme where investors can buy bonds in denominations of grams of gold. These are issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government. The GMS aims to convert physical gold into deposit certificates. Both schemes are part of the government’s strategy to reduce reliance on gold imports and promote financial savings.

30. Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?

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Iran
Saudi Arabia
Oman
Kuwait
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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf, except Iraq. Its members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Among the options provided, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait are members of the GCC. Iran is not a member; it is located across the Persian Gulf but is not an Arab state and has historically had complex relations with GCC members.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
The GCC was established in 1981. Its headquarters are located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main purpose of the GCC is to enhance cooperation and coordination among its member states in various fields, including politics, economy, defense, security, and social affairs.

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