Test 27 Solutions Final

Insights Mock tests 2015: Test 27 Solutions

http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS Page 1

1. Solution: c)

http://www.fssai.gov.in/AboutFSSAI/introduction.aspx

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nestle-approaches-bombay-high-court-against-

fssai-maharashtra-fda-order-770688

It has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which

consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in

various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science

based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage,

distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for

human consumption.

Various central Acts like Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 , Fruit Products

Order , 1955, Meat Food Products Order , 1973, Vegetable Oil Products (Control)

Order, 1947,Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation)Order 1988, Solvent Extracted Oil,

De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, Milk and Milk Products

Order, 1992 etc were repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.

2. Solution: a)

Anti-dumping duty is imposed by government on imported products which have

prices less than their normal values or domestic price.

Usually countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has

been hurt because of a surge in below-cost imports.

Anti-Dumping Duty is imposed under the multilateral WTO regime and varies from

product to product and from country to country.

In India, anti-dumping duty is recommended by the Union Ministry of Commerce,

while the Union Finance Ministry imposes it.

3. Solution: c)

The Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill has been passed by the Parliament of India

on 7th May 2015.While India will gain 510 acres of land, ten thousand acres of land

will notionally go to Bangladesh. However, these are remote enclaves which India

cannot access. This legislation will redraw Indias boundary with Bangladesh by

exchanging enclaves in Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya.

Implications of the agreement are:



It will secure the long stranded boundary and enable to curb the illegal

migration, smuggling and criminal acts cross the border.

It would help those stateless citizens by granting the citizenship from their

respective countries.

It would help settle the boundary dispute at several points in Meghalaya,

Tripura, Assam, and west Bengal.

It would improve the access to the underdeveloped north-eastern state and

would further enhance the developmental works in the region.

It would help to increase the connectivity with the south-east Asia as part of

Indias North-eastern policy.

4. Solution: a)

Recently Union Home Ministry has appointed Senior IPS Officer RC Tayal as the

new Director General (DG) of Indias elite counter-terror force National Security

Guard (NSG).

It also nodal agency for counter-terror and counter-hijack operations and later was

tasked to protect high-risk VVIPs. It operates under the oversight of the Ministry of

Home Affairs and is headed by the Director General of the Indian Police Service

(IPS).

The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black drill cotton

coveralls and balaclavas or helmets they wear.

5. Solution: a)

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/us-doctors-perform-worlds-first-

skullscalp-transplant/article7285933.ece

Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from

a donor site to another location on the person's own body, to replace the recipient's

damaged or absent organ.

Organs that can be transplanted are

the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and thymus. Tissues

include bones, tendons (both referred to as musculoskeletal

grafts),cornea, skin, heart valves, nerves and veins.

Organ donors may be living, brain dead, or dead via circulatory death.

6. Solution: b)



Under the nationwide campaign a village with acute water scarcity on a pilot project

will be selected as Jal Gram.

In this identified village a comprehensive integrated development plan will be

framed and several water conservation activities will be launched.

Activities proposed under the campaign include rain water harvesting, recycling of

waste water, micro irrigation for using water efficiently and mass awareness

program. Along with it, a cadre of local water professional Jal Mitra will be created

and they will be given training to create mass awareness.

As pilot project, activities under this nation campaign will be run in one water

stressed village in each 672 districts in the country.

7. Solution: b)

Al-Birunis Kitab-ul-Hind, written in Arabic, is simple and lucid. It is a voluminous

text, divided into 80 chapters on subjects such as religion and philosophy, festivals,

astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures,

iconography, laws and metrology. Generally (though not always), Al-Biruni adopted

a distinctive structure in each chapter, beginning with a question, following this up

with a description based on Sanskritic traditions, and concluding with a comparison

with other cultures. Some present-day scholars have argued that this almost

geometric structure, remarkable for its precision and predictability, owed much to

his mathematical orientation. Al-Biruni, who wrote in Arabic, probably intended his

work for peoples living along the frontiers of the subcontinent. He was familiar with

translations and adaptations of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit texts into Arabic these

ranged from fables to works on astronomy and medicine. However, he was also

critical about the ways in which these texts were written, and clearly wanted to

improve on them.

8. Solution: c)

Recently, India has lost a poultry case against United States at World Trade

Organization (WTO) after WTOs Dispute Settlement Board (DSB) ruled that Indias

ban on import of poultry meat, eggs and live pigs from US is inconsistent with the

international norms.

India had banned imports of various agriculture products including poultry meat and

eggs from the US in 2007.



These poultry products were banned as a precautionary measure to prevent

outbreaks of Avian Influenza and bird flu fears. In March 2012, US had dragged

India to the WTO for banning these products and had contended Indias import

prohibition saying that it was not based on the relevant international standard or on

a scientific risk assessment.

Earlier in October 2014 WTO Appellate Body had ruled in favour of US and clearly

mentioned that Indias ban measures are arbitrarily and unjustifiably discrimination

on international trade and constitutes a disguised restriction on it.

Protectionism (saving domestic industries) is a clear violation of WTO rules.

9. Solution: b)

Refer to this article. It has been explained beautifully

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082113/understanding-interest-

rates-nominal-real-and-effective.asp

You should also know that the higher is the difference between the real and nominal

rates; the less profitable is the lending business to the bank.

10. Solution: a)

Corporate farming is a term used to describe companies that own or influence farms

and agricultural practices on a large scale. This includes not only corporate

ownership of farms and selling of agricultural products, but also the roles of these

companies in influencing agricultural education, research, and public policy through

funding initiatives and lobbying efforts.

Contract farming- In contrast, Farming contracts are agreements between a farmer

and a buyer that stipulates what the farmer will grow and how much they will grow

usually in return for guaranteed purchase of the product or financial support in

purchase of inputs (e.g. feed for livestock growers).

11. Solution: c)

Franois Bernier (25 September 1620 22 September 1688) was a French physician

and traveller. He was born at Jou-Etiau in Anjou. He was briefly personal physician

to Prince Dara Shikoh, the elder son of Shah Jahan, and after Dara Shikoh's fall was

attached to the court of the Emperor Aurangzeb for around 12 years during his stay

in India.



His 1684 publication Nouvelle division de la terre par les diffrentes espces ou

races qui l'habitent is considered the first published post-Classical classification of

humans into distinct races. He also wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, which is

mainly about the reigns of Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. It is based on his own

extensive journeys and observations, and on information from eminent Mughal

courtiers who had witnessed the events at first hand.

12. Solution: a)

African countries have signed a historic The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) that

facilitates creation of Africas largest free-trade zone.



13. Solution: d)

The following are denied to foreign citizens, also called aliens:

Right against discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of

birth (Article 15).

Right to equality of opportunity in the matter of public employment (Article

16).

Right to freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement,

residence and profession (Article 19).

Cultural and educational rights (Articles 29 and 30).

Right to vote in elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly.

Right to contest for the membership of the Parliament and the state

legislature.

Eligibility to hold certain public offices, that is, President of India, Vice-

President of India, judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts, governor

of states, attorney general of India and advocate general of states.

14. Solution: d)

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area

for a long period of time (more than thirty years). Weather refers to the state of the

atmosphere over an area at any point of time. The elements of weather and climate

are the same, i.e. temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and

precipitation.

15. Solution: c)

The 1919 act divided the provincial subjects into two parts transferred and

reserved.

The transferred subjects were to be administered by the governor with the aid of

ministers responsible to the legislative Council.

The reserved subjects, on the other hand, were to be administered by the governor

and his executive council without being responsible to the legislative Council.



This dual scheme of governance was known as - dyarchy - a term derived from the

Greek word di-arche which means double rule. However, this experiment was largely

unsuccessful.

16. Solution: a)

When the Presidents rule is imposed in a state, the Parliament becomes empowered

to make laws with respect to any matter in the State List in relation to that state. A

law made so by the Parliament continues to be operative even after the presidents

rule.

All the decisions concerning the state emanate from the President based on the

advice given by Council of Ministers.

The state legislature is also either suspended or dissolved.

17. Solution: d)

In introducing the Permanent Settlement, British officials hoped to resolve the

problems they had been facing since the conquest of Bengal. By the 1770s, the rural

economy in Bengal was in crisis, with recurrent famines and declining agricultural

output. Officials felt that agriculture, trade and the revenue resources of the state

could all be developed by encouraging investment in agriculture. This could be done

by securing rights of property and permanently fixing the rates of revenue demand. If

the revenue demand of the state was permanently fixed, then the Company could

look forward to a regular flow of revenue, while entrepreneurs could feel sure of

earning a profit from their investment, since the state would not siphon it off by

increasing its claim. The process, officials hoped, would lead to the emergence of a

class of yeomen farmers and rich landowners who would have the capital and

enterprise to improve agriculture. Nurtured by the British, this class would also be

loyal to the Company.

18.Solution: d)

Union Government has launched IAP HealthPhone programme, worlds largest

digital mass education programme to address malnutrition in women and children.

This programme is initiative of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in partnership

with Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD); United Nations



Childrens Fund (UNICEF); Supported by Vodafone India. It is a public-private

partnership (PPP) initiative that seeks to educate over 6 million girls and women

between 13 and 35 years of age and their families on better health and nutrition

practices by 2018 by leveraging penetration of mobile phones in the country. It will

promote and distribute four re-edited videos from the Poshan (nutritional videos)

series in 18 Indian languages, which are jointly produced by Union Ministry WCD

and UNICEF.

The three-year intensive awareness campaign under IAP HealthPhone programme is

expected to benefit to improve health of around 60 million children born by 2025 in

India and also play important transformative role in Indias fight against

malnutrition.

19. Solution: b)

Mandamus literally means we command. It is a command issued by the court to a

public official asking him to perform his official duties that he has failed or refused to

perform. It can also be issued against any public body, a corporation, an inferior

court, a tribunal or government for the same purpose.

The writ of mandamus cannot be issued (a) against a private individual or body; (b)

to enforce departmental instruction that does not possess statutory force; (c) when

the duty is discretionary and not mandatory; (d) to enforce a contractual obligation;

(e) against the president of India or the state governors; and (f) against the chief

justice of a high court acting in judicial capacity.

20. Solution: d)

GNP is basically GDP plus net factor income from abroad (NFIA).

NFIA includes imports, exports, remittances etc. So any change in them will

immediately change the GNP.

Moreover, lower interest rates in the economy encourage consumption and boost

capital investment leading to a higher GDP (hence GNP) in the short-run.

21. Solution: d)

Article 355: Duty of the Union to protect States against external aggression and

internal disturbance - It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against



external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of

every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

Article 365: Article 365 says that where any state has failed to comply with (or to give

effect to) any directions given by the Centre, it will be lawful for the President to hold

that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on

in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. It means that, in such a

situation, the Presidents rule can be imposed in the state under Article 356.

22. Solution: b)

British General Charles Cornwallis, the 2nd Earl Cornwallis, was appointed in

February 1786 to serve as both Commander-in-Chief of British India and Governor of

the Presidency of Fort William, also known as the Bengal Presidency. Based in

Calcutta, he oversaw the consolidation of British control over much of peninsular

India, setting the stage for the British Raj. He was also instrumental in enacting

administrative and legal reforms that fundamentally altered civil administration and

land management practices in India. According to historian Jerry Dupont,

Cornwallis was responsible for "laying the foundation for British rule throughout

India and setting standards for the services, courts, and revenue collection that

remained remarkably unaltered almost to the end of the British era."

23. Solution: b)

Scientific forestry is the science of managing forests. It was a system introduced in

the colonial times.

Plantation crops were introduced by replacing the local forests with one type of trees

introduced in a row.

Moreover, the forests were surveyed by officials and various plans were made for

better forest management.

Essentially, the main goal is to create and implement systems that allow forests to

continue a sustainable continuation of environmental supplies and services. The

challenge is to create systems that are socially accepted while sustaining the resource

and any other resources that might be affected.

24. Solution: a)

The Battle of Karnal (February 24, 1739 was a decisive victory for Nader Shah, the

emperor of the Iranian Afsharid dynasty during his invasion of India. The Shah's



forces defeated the army of Muhammad Shah which was roughly six times the size of

his own in what is regarded as the crowning achievement in a spectacular military

career. the Indian army was lured into battle in segments and defeated in detail, in

little more than three hours, paving the way for the Afsharid sack of Delhi. The battle

took place near Karnal, 110 kilometres (68 mi) north of Delhi, India.

Aurangzeb had died in 1707 itself. Hence statement 1 is wrong.

25. Solution: a)

Read the mechanism here http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/cyclone-

ashobaa-slows-monsoon-progress-india

The southwest monsoon winds have entered east and northeast India. Heavy rains

have already been reported in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya.

26. Solution: d)

Monetary Authority:

Formulates, implements and monitors the monetary policy.

Objective: maintaining price stability and ensuring adequate flow of credit to

productive sectors.

Regulator and supervisor of the financial system:

Prescribes broad parameters of banking operations within which the country's

banking and financial system functions.

Objective: maintain public confidence in the system, protect depositors'

interest and provide cost-effective banking services to the public.

Manager of Foreign Exchange

Manages the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Objective: to facilitate external trade and payment and promote orderly

development and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India.

Issuer of currency:

Issues and exchanges or destroys currency and coins not fit for circulation.

Objective: to give the public adequate quantity of supplies of currency notes

and coins and in good quality.



Developmental role

Performs a wide range of promotional functions to support national

objectives.

Related Functions

Banker to the Government: performs merchant banking function for the

central and the state governments; also acts as their banker.

Banker to banks: maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks.

27. Solution: d)

Read the link for understanding the issue.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/environment-ministry-may-allow-hunting-

nuisance-wild-animals

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is planning to

allow the legitimate hunting of wild animals such as blue bulls (nilgai) and wild boars

to tackle man-animal conflict.

According to environment minister Prakash Javadekar, the ministry is mulling the

implementation of an office memorandum passed in December last year, which

states that wild animals which destroy crops should be treated as vermins. However,

the ministrys move has drawn flak from animal rights groups.

28. Solution: b)

Maanikavasagar was a 9th-century Tamil poet who wrote Tiruvasakam, a book of

Shaiva hymns. Manikkavasakar was one of the main authors of saivite tirumurai: his

work forms one volume of the Tirumurai, the key religious text of Tamil Shaiva

Siddhanta. A minister to the Pandya king Varagunavarman II (c. 862 C.E. 885

C.E.) (also called Arimarthana Pandiyan), he lived in Madurai. His work is a poetic

expression of the joy of God-experience, the anguish of being separated from God.

Although he is a prominent saint in Southern India, he is not counted among the

sixty-three nayanars.

29. Solution: b)

The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the

tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of



the troposphere near the Earth's equator. The trade winds blow predominantly from

the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern

Hemisphere, strengthening during the winter and when the Arctic oscillation is in its

warm phase. Historically, the trade winds have been used by captains of sailing ships

to cross the world's oceans for centuries, and enabled European empire expansion

into the Americas and trade routes to become established across the Atlantic and

Pacific oceans.

30. Solution: d)

Tax expenditures are revenue losses attributable to tax provisions that often result

from the use of the tax system to promote social goals without incurring direct

expenditures.

Income tax provisions generally seek to promote one or more of three broad

objectives: measuring income accurately, distributing fiscal benefits and burdens

based on a households ability to pay, and promoting activities or behavior that are

considered socially desirable. Tax expenditures are tax provisions that are not

structural features of the income tax or necessary to measure income accurately.

31. Solution: d)

Printing money is more or less always inflationary if not backed up immediately with

supply side augmentations.

Rupee depreciation feeds in the cost of our imports especially making oil costlier.

This impacts the vital transportation sector from where inflation is fed in other

sectors of the economy too quickly.

High tax rebates quickly increase the purchasing power of the citizens. This leads to

higher demand, and if not backed by greater supply, will lead to inflationary

pressures.

32. Solution: a)

It has been explained here. Giving the account of the crisis here would be difficult.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/explaining-the-greek-economic-crisis-

with-students.shtml

Also read the introduction of this article

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_government-debt_crisis



No need to read in-depth. Just get a general idea.

33. Solution: c)

Subsidiary Alliance was a system devised by Lord Wellesley in 1798. All those who

entered into such an alliance with the British had to accept certain terms and

conditions: (a) The British would be responsible for protecting their ally from

external and internal threats to their power. (b) In the territory of the ally, a British

armed contingent would be stationed. (c) The ally would have to provide the

resources for maintaining this contingent. (d) The ally could enter into agreements

with other rulers or engage in warfare only with the permission of the British.

34. Solution: b)

A non-bank financial institution (NBFI) is a financial institution that does not have a

full banking license or is not supervised by a national or international banking

regulatory agency. NBFIs facilitate bank-related financial services, such

as investment, risk pooling, contractual savings, and market brokering. Examples of

these include insurance firms, pawn shops, cashier's check issuers, check

cashing locations, payday lending, currency exchanges, and microloan organizations.

They provide "multiple alternatives to transform an economy's savings into capital

investment [which] act as backup facilities should the primary form of

intermediation fail.

35. Solution: a)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/rising-sea-levels-could-force-marine-life-

towards-poles

Rising sea temperatures caused by global climate change could drive many marine

creatures away from the Equator, but their move toward the poles promises to put

them in peril in habitats that are smaller and less hospitable.

36. Solution: a)

The western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter months

brought in by the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region. They usually

influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Disturbance

http://www.skymetweather.com/content/weather-faqs/what-is-western-

disturbance/

37. Solution: a)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Network_of_Biosphere_Reserves_in_Asia_a

nd_the_Pacific#India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Network_of_Biosphere_Reserves

38. Solution: d)

An 'Endemic Species' is one that is only found in that region and nowhere else in the

world. As such they are of conservation concern because they are not widespread and

may be confined to only one or two protected areas.

Sal and wild mango are two examples of endemic flora of the Pachmarhi Biosphere

Reserve. Bison, Indian giant squirrel and flying squirrel are endemic fauna of this

area.

Destruction of their habitat, increasing population and introduction of new species

may affect the natural habitat of endemic species and endanger their existence.

39. Solution: d)

In some women oviducts are blocked. These women are unable to bear babies

because sperms cannot reach the egg for fertilization. In such cases, doctors collect

freshly released egg and sperms and keep them together for a few hours for IVF or in

vitro fertilization (fertilization outside the body).

In case fertilization occurs, the zygote is allowed to develop for about a week and

then it is placed in the mothers uterus.

Complete development takes place in the uterus and the baby is born like any other

baby. Babies born through this technique are called test-tube babies. This term is

actually misleading because babies cannot grow in test tubes.



40. Solution: c)

In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Marici is a deva or bodhisattva associated

with light and the sun. She is known as Molizhitian or Molizhitian Pusa in China and

Marishi-ten in Japan and in Tibetan as 'Odzer Canma, "Woman Endowed with Rays

of Light" (Wylie: 'od zer can ma). She is one of the 20 (or 24). In Taoism and Chinese

folk religion, Marici is known under the epithet of the Lady of Dipper Mother; or

Doumu, a name sometimes used by Buddhists.

41. Solution: c)

Some gases prevent the escape of heat from the Earth. An increase in the percentage

of such gases in the atmosphere would cause the average temperatures to increase

worldwide and this is called the greenhouse effect.

Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases. An increase in the carbon dioxide

content in the atmosphere would cause more heat to be retained by the atmosphere

and lead to global warming.

Ozone concentration has no relation with the amount of carbon dioxide.

42. Solution: a)

The study has mentioned that population this bird species which is also known as the

rice bird in China has plunged by 90 percent since 1980 and disappearing from

Eastern Europe, Japan and parts of Russia.

The main reason mentioned in the study for decline of songbirds is illegal hunting for

food and sold on the black market in China.

It should be noted that Yellow-breasted buntings is Eurasian passerine bird that

belongs to the bunting family (Emberizidae). It is migratory bird wintering in south-

east Asia, India, and southern China.



43. Solution: a)

In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the combined forces of the British East India

Company and the Nizam of Hyderabad defeated Tipu, and he was killed on 4 May

1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna.

44. Solution: c)

The CVC is headed by a Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance

Commissioners.

President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed KV Chowdary new Central Vigilance

Commissioner.

Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance Commissioners are appointed

by President on the recommendations of select committee comprising of Prime

Minister as Chairperson, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Leader of the second

largest party in the Lok Sabha or majority group leader in parliament.

Its function is to monitor all vigilance activity under the Union Government and

advise various authorities in Union Government organizations in planning,

executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.

45. Solution: a)

One or two episodes from Mahabharata are chosen for the nights performance. The

main singer continuously sits throughout the performance and with powerful singing

and symbolic gestures he assumes all the characters of the episode one after another.

Pankida is sung by the peasants of Rajasthan while doing work in the fields, the

peasants sing and speak while playing algoza and manjira. The literal meaning of

the word Pankhida is lover.

46. Solution: c)

On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist

and dry deciduous. The former is found in areas receiving rainfall between 200 and

100 cm. These forests exist, therefore, mostly in the eastern part of the country

northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Orissa

and Chhattisgarh, and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Teak is the most

dominant species of this forest. Bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum,

arjun, mulberry are other commercially important species.



47. Solution: d)

The ocean crust rocks are much younger than the continental rocks. The age of rocks

in the oceanic crust is nowhere more than 200 million years old. Some of the

continental rock formations are as old as 3,200 million old.

This is due to sea floor spreading. Lava from deep in the ocean comes out on the

surface creating new sediments on the ocean floor.

Constant eruptions at the crest of oceanic ridges cause the rupture of the oceanic

crust and the new lava wedges into it, pushing the oceanic crust on either side. The

ocean floor, thus spreads.

So, Rocks closer to the mid-oceanic ridges are normal polarity and are the youngest.

The age of the rocks increases as one moves away from the crest.

48. Solution: c)

After 11 years, Sundaram Ravi became the first Indian after S. Venkataraghavan to be

inducted in the International Cricket Councils (ICC) Elite Panel of Umpires

following an annual review and selection process.

The Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires was selected by the ICC Umpires Selection

Panel consisting of Chairman, Geoff Allardice, ICCs General Manager Cricket, ICC

Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, ex-England player and coach and umpire,

David Lloyd, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, the former India captain and

international umpire.

http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/88126/icc-announces-

emirates-elite-panel-of-icc-umpires-for-2015-2016

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/ravi-inducted-into-icc-elite-panel-of-

umpires/article7282542.ece

49. Solution: b)

There are sixteen nutrients which are essential for plants.

Air supplies carbon and oxygen, hydrogen comes from water, and soil supplies the

other thirteen nutrients to plants.



As far as other nutrients are concerned, here is a very important table.

50. Solution: c)

Klgh painting, short-lived style of watercolour painting produced in the 19th

century in India by artists in the Calcutta marketplace for sale to pilgrims visiting the

Klgh temple. The style is characterized by broad sweeping brush lines, bold

colours, and simplification of forms suitable for their mass production. The

paintings, usually 17 by 11 inches (43 by 28 centimetres), were done on blank sheets,

with no attempt made to fill in the backgrounds.

Most usually depicted were the popular Hindu deities, but scenes of contemporary

life are also found. The school, which rose in response to the competition of cheap

coloured lithographs, soon lost the contest and disappeared rapidly. The charm and

vigour of Klgh painting had an influence on a number of modern Indian painters,

as can be seen in the work of Jamini Roy.

51. Solution: b)

The name Pakistan or Pak-stan is coined by a Punjabi Muslim student at Cambridge,

Choudhry Rehmat Ali.

52. Solution: a)

http://khoyapaya.gov.in/mpp/home

Khoya Paya is joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Women and Child

Development (WCD) and the Department of Electronics and Information

Technology (DeitY). The first-of-its-kind web portal will serve as a platform for

people to not only report a missing child but also track the efforts towards his or her

recovery.



The website will also provide links to court orders wherein police have been

mandated to register an FIR in the matter of a child gone missing and treat it as

either abduction or trafficking unless it is proved otherwise in the investigation.

53. Solution: d)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity

adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 7.5 per cent to 7.25 per cent with

immediate effect.

The concept of repo rate has been covered in previous tests. You should understand

its consequences here http://blog.bankbazaar.com/rbi-repo-cut-how-it-affects-your-

loans-and-deposits/

54. Solution: c)

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible impacts

that a proposed project may have on the environment, consisting of

the environmental, social and economic aspects. The purpose of the assessment is to

ensure that decision makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding

whether or not to proceed with a project.

The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an

environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting,

evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of

development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments

made."

EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a predetermined

environmental outcome, but rather they require decision makers to account for

environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of

detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental

impacts.

PIB Features

55. Solution: c)

There were many reasons why the British took upon themselves the task of town

planning from the early years of their rule in Bengal. One immediate reason was

defence. In 1756, Sirajudaula, the Nawab of Bengal, attacked Calcutta and sacked the



small fort which the British traders had built as their depot for goods. The English

East India Company traders had been continuously questioning the sovereignty of

the Nawab. They were reluctant to pay customs duties, and refused to comply with

the terms on which they were expected to operate. So Sirajudaula wanted to assert

his authority.

Subsequently, in 1757, when Sirajudaula was defeated in the Battle of Plassey, the

East India Company decided to build a new fort, one that could not be easily

attacked. Calcutta had grown from three villages called Sutanati, Kolkata and

Govindapur. The Company cleared a site in the southernmost village of Govindapur

and the traders and weavers living there were asked to move out. Around the new

Fort William they left a vast open space which came to be locally known as the

Maidan or garer-math.

This was done so that there would be no obstructions to a straight line of fire from

the Fort against an advancing enemy army. Once the British became more confident

about their permanent presence in Calcutta, they started moving out of the Fort and

building residences along the periphery of the Maidan. That was how the English

settlement in Calcutta gradually started taking shape. The vast open space around

the Fort (which still exists) became a landmark, Calcuttas first significant town

planning measure.

56. Solution: a)

These committees present their report to the House or to the Speaker / Chairman.

They have a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha.

The consultative committees, which also consist of members of Parliament, are not

parliamentary committees as they do not fulfill these conditions.

The Constitution of India makes a mention of these committees at different places,

but without making any specific provisions regarding their composition, tenure,

functions, etc. All these matters are dealt by the rules of two Houses.

57. Solution: b)

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/green-climate-fund-racing-get-its-show-

road-cop-21

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of

the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to

the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries

in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. The GCF is based



in the new Songdo district of Incheon, South Korea. It is governed by a Board of 24

members and initially supported by an Interim Secretariat.

58. Solution: a)

The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, a bowl shape lake encircles

historical Sambhar Lake Town located 96 km south west of the city of Jaipur

(Northwest India) and 64 km north east of Ajmer along National Highway 8 in

Rajasthan.

59. Solution: d)

Articles 52 to 78 in part V of the Constitution deal with the Union Executive.

The Union executive consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime

Minister, the council of ministers and the attorney general of India.

Even though other officials are a part of the executive branch of the government, the

constitution does not mention them explicitly.

60. Solution: d)

Article 75 says only that the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the president.

However, this does not imply that the president is free to appoint any one as the

Prime Minister. In accordance with the conventions of the parliamentary system of

government, the President has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the Lok

Sabha as the Prime Minister. But, when no party has a clear majority in the Lok

Sabha, then the President may exercise his personal discretion in the selection and

appointment of the Prime Minister.

Moreover, the PM can be a member of any of the houses.

61. Solution: d)

Fiscal deficit need not always be inflationary.

If enhanced government spending is supplemented by supply increases, it can

actually lead to greater economic growth and low inflation.



Supply side bottlenecks are caused by low government spending or neglect; low gross

capital formation; and lack of private sector participation in creating infrastructure.

62. Solution: d)

Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent

disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by

inserting a gene into a patients cells instead of using drugs or surgery. For e.g. it can

be used to treat developmental defects in a child/embryo.

Correction of a genetic defect involves delivery of a normal gene into the individual

or embryo to take over the function of and compensate for the non-functional gene.

Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases

(including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the

technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and

effective. Gene therapy is currently only being tested for the treatment of diseases

that have no other cures.

63. Solution: d)

As per recently published study, camels aged less than four years might be a major

source of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The study was published in

the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Refer to

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East_respiratory_syndrome_coronavirus#E

volution

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262538.php

64. Solution: c)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachana_sahitya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayanars

65. Solution: c)

For drinking purposes, water should be tested for fluoride ion concentration.



Its deficiency in drinking water is harmful to man and causes diseases such as tooth

decay etc. The F ions make the enamel on teeth much harder.

However, F ion concentration above 2 ppm causes brown mottling of teeth. At the

same time, excess fluoride (over 10 ppm) causes harmful effect to bones and teeth, as

reported from some parts of Rajasthan.

The maximum limit of nitrate in drinking water is 50 ppm. Excess nitrate (not

fluoride) in drinking water can cause disease such as methemoglobinemia (blue

baby syndrome).

66. Solution: d)

The autotrophs capture the energy present in sunlight and convert it into chemical

energy. This energy supports all the activities of the living world.

From autotrophs, the energy goes to the heterotrophs and decomposers when one

form of energy is changed to another, some energy is lost to the environment in

forms which cannot be used again.

When green plants are eaten by primary consumers, a great deal of energy is lost as

heat to the environment, some amount goes into digestion and in doing work and the

rest goes towards growth and reproduction. An average of 10% of the food eaten is

turned into its own body and made available for the next level of consumers.

67. Solution: b)

Monetary policy review falls under the RBI, which is not the government. It acts

independently of the government in deciding monetary policy.

Fiscal stimulus means greater flow of government spending in productive sectors. It

boosts growth.

Welfare transfers augment the earnings of poor households providing them with

economic security as well as enhanced purchasing power which leads to more

demand and higher economic growth.

68. Solution: d)

The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement

its member countries official reserves.



Its value is based on a basket of four key international currencies, and SDRs can be

exchanged for freely usable currencies.

The SDR is neither a currency, nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim

on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Holders of SDRs can obtain these

currencies in exchange for their SDRs in two ways: first, through the arrangement of

voluntary exchanges between members; and second, by the IMF designating

members with strong external positions to purchase SDRs from members with weak

external positions.

In addition to its role as a supplementary reserve asset, the SDR serves as the unit of

account of the IMF and some other international organizations.

69. Solution: a)

The Labour force participation rate refers to the number of people who are either

employed or are actively looking for work. The number of people who are no longer

actively searching for work would not be included in the participation rate.

During an economic recession, many workers often get discouraged and stop looking

for employment, as a result, the participation rate decreases.

70. Solution: a)

The DPSP clearly mentions in the articles 39 (a) and (b) that it is the states goal to

reduce income inequalities and ensure that surplus income is redistributed to avoid

concentration of money in the economy.

Preamble merely talks about economic and social equality in general terms.

Hence, DPSP will be a preferred option to Preamble.

71. Solution: d)

Early in 1946 fresh elections were held to the provincial legislatures. The Congress

swept the General category, but in the seats specifically reserved for Muslims the

League won an overwhelming majority. The political polarisation was complete. A

Cabinet Mission sent in the summer of 1946 failed to get the Congress and the

League to agree on a federal system that would keep India together while allowing

the provinces a degree of autonomy. After the talks broke down, Jinnah called for a



Direct Action Day to press the Leagues demand for Pakistan. On the designated

day, 16 August 1946, bloody riots broke out in Calcutta. The violence spread to rural

Bengal, then to Bihar, and then across the country to the United Provinces and the

Punjab. In some places, Muslims were the main sufferers, in other places, Hindus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Cabinet_Mission_to_India

72. Solution: c)

One method of replenishing the soil with nutrients is through crop rotation. This can

be done by growing different crops alternately.

Earlier, farmers in northern India used to grow legumes as fodder in one season and

wheat in the next season. This helped in the replenishment of the soil with nitrogen.

Farmers are being encouraged to adopt this practice.

Moreover, in the alternate rows in the field, two different crops can be grown in

different seasons alternatively.

73. Solution: d)

http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/grain/grain.htm

But, large scale storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them

from pests like rats and insects.

Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home. For storing large

quantities of grains in big godowns, specific chemical treatments are required to

protect them from pests and microorganisms.



74. Solution: c)

Westminster is a place in London where the British Parliament is located. It is often

used as a symbol of the British Parliament.

The Parliament is the legislative organ of the Union government. It occupies a pre-

eminent and central position in the Indian democratic political system due to

adoption of the parliamentary form of government, also known as Westminster

model of government.

Indian constitution departs on a number of principles from the British constitution

namely federalism v/s unitary government; monarchy v/s republic; judicial review

etc.

75. Solution: b)

He is provided with a security of tenure. He can be removed only by a resolution

passed by the Lok Sabha by an absolute majority (ie, a majority of the total members

of the House) and not by an ordinary majority (ie, a majority of the members present

and voting in the House). This motion of removal can be considered and discussed

only when it has the support of at least 50 members.

Moreover, his powers of regulating procedure or conducting business or maintaining

order in the House are not subject to the jurisdiction of any Court.

He cannot vote in the first instance. He can only exercise a casting vote in the event

of a tie. This makes the position of Speaker impartial.

76. Solution: b)

Original jurisdiction means the power of a high court to hear disputes in the first

instance, not by way of appeal.

Some other matters that come under this are:

Matters of admirality, will, marriage, divorce, company laws and contempt of

court.

Cases ordered to be transferred from a subordinate court involving the

interpretation of the Constitution to its own file

Before 1973, the Calcutta, Bombay and Madras High Courts also had original

criminal jurisdiction. This was fully abolished by the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.



77. Solution: d)

It is located in Bangladesh.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noakhali_District

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noakhali_riots

78. Solution: b)

The river Indus rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar. Flowing west, it enters India in

the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. It forms a picturesque gorge in this part.

Several tributaries, the Zaskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza, join it in the

Kashmir region. The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the

mountains at Attock. The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum join

together to enter the Indus near Mithankot in Pakistan.

79. Solution: b)

It makes recommendations on the following matters:

The distribution of the net proceeds of taxes to be shared between the Centre

and the states, and the allocation between the states of the respective shares of

such proceeds.

The principles that should govern the grants-in-aid to the states by the Centre

(i.e., out of the consolidated fund of India).

The measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of a state to

supplement the resources of the panchayats and the municipalities in the state

on the basis of the recommendations made by the state finance commission.

Any other matter referred to it by the president in the interests of sound

finance.

80. Solution: c)

Manipuri is one of the main styles of Indian Art or Classical Dances.

The origin of Manipuri dance can be traced back to ancient times that go beyond

recorded history. The dance in Manipur is associated with rituals and traditional

festivals, there are legendary references to the dances of Shiva and Parvati and other

gods and goddesses who created the universe.



Lai Haraoba is one of the main festivals still performed in Manipur which has its

roots in the pre-Vaishnavite period.

The Sattriya dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great

Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva as a powerful

medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith.

81.Solution: d)

Landmarks in the Discovery and Conservation of Vijayanagara

1800 Colin Mackenzie visits Vijayanagara

1856 Alexander Greenlaw takes the first detailed photographs of archaeological

remains at Hampi

1876 J.F. Fleet begins documenting the inscriptions on the temple walls at the site

1902 Conservation begins under John Marshall

1986 Hampi declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO

Source: NCERT Class XII, History

82. Solution: c)

83. Solution: d)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agency in

India. It is an independent constitutional body. Even though its advice is not binding



on the government, it is NOT merely an advisory body (that would make its position

very weak, which is not the case).

The UPSC presents, annually, to the presi-dent a report on its performance. The

President places this report before both the Houses of Parliament, along with a

memorandum explaining the cases where the advice of the Commission was not

accepted and the reasons for such non-acceptance.

All such cases of non-acceptance must be approved by the Appointments Committee

of the Union cabinet. An individual ministry or department has no power to reject

the advice of the UPSC.

84. Solution: a)

Rotation of earth causes Coriolis force which only leads to the redistribution of heat

(insolation) by way of trade winds, cyclones etc. It does not affect the amount of

insolation received by the Earth.

Similarly, atmospheric circulation only redistributes heat on earth.

On the other hand, if earth was more tilted, it would receive even lesser solar

insolation at the poles.

Clouds reflect solar insolation back in the space. So it reduces the amount received to

earth.

85. Solution: d)

Reason for statement 1: Generally the amount of solar insolation reduces which leads

to lesser temperature and thus lesser evaporation -> lesser precipitation. This is a

general rule. There can be exceptions to it when the area is given rainfall by cyclonic

depressions etc.

Reason for statement 2: More moisture laden winds are found in the coastal areas

due to the proximity of the ocean, hence more rainfall.

Reason for statement 3: Same as above. Oceans are rich in water -> more

evaporation -> more precipitation.

86. Solution: c)

Species capture and store energy, produce and decompose organic materials, help to

cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix atmospheric gases and help



regulate the climate. These functions are important for ecosystem function and

human survival.

The more diverse an ecosystem, better are the chances for the species to survive

through adversities and attacks, and consequently, is more productive. Hence, the

loss of species would decrease the ability of the system to maintain itself.

Hence, the more the variety of species in an ecosystem, the more stable the

ecosystem is likely to be.

87. Solution: b)

When algae die, they decompose and the nutrients contained in that organic matter

are converted into inorganic form by microorganisms. This decomposition process

consumes oxygen, which reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen. The

depleted oxygen levels in turn may lead to fish kills and a range of other effects

reducing bio-diversity. Nutrients may become concentrated in an anoxic zone and

may only be made available again during autumn turn-over or in conditions of

turbulent flow.

Enhanced growth of aquatic vegetation or phytoplankton and algal blooms disrupts

normal functioning of the ecosystem, causing a variety of problems such as a lack

of oxygen needed for fish and shellfish to survive. The water becomes cloudy,

typically coloured a shade of green, yellow, brown, or red. Eutrophication also

decreases the value of rivers, lakes and aesthetic enjoyment. Health problems can

occur where eutrophic conditions interfere with drinking water treatment.

88. Solution: d)

Irreparable computers and other electronic goods are known as electronic wastes (e-

wastes). E-wastes are buried in landfills or incinerated. Over half of the e-wastes

generated in the developed world are exported to developing countries, mainly to

China, India and Pakistan, where metals like copper, iron, silicon, nickel and gold are

recovered during recycling process.

Unlike developed countries, which have specifically built facilities for recycling of e-

wastes, recycling in developing countries often involves manual participation thus

exposing workers to toxic substances present in e-wastes. Recycling is the only

solution for the treatment of e-waste, provided it is carried out in an environment

friendly manner.



89. Solution: c)

UV radiation of wavelengths shorter than UV-Blue, are almost completely absorbed

by Earths atmosphere, given that the ozone layer is intact.

But, UV-B damages DNA and mutation may occur. It causes aging of skin, damage to

skin cells and various types of skin cancers.

In human eye, cornea absorbs UV-B radiation, and a high dose of UV-B causes

inflammation of cornea, called snow-blindness, cataract, etc. Such exposure may

permanently damage the cornea.

90. Solution: d)

Petroleum was formed from organisms living in the sea. As these organisms died,

their bodies settled at the bottom of the sea and got covered with layers of sand and

clay. Over millions of years, absence of air, high temperature and high pressure

transformed the dead organisms into petroleum and natural gas.

91. Solution: d)

You should know three things by reserved and protected forests:

Declared by the state governments (unlike Wildlife Sanctuaries or National

Parks)

These are forested lands where human activity (like hunting, logging, grazing

etc) may be permitted on a sustainable basis



The key difference between Reserved Forests and Protected Forests is that in

Reserved Forests explicit permission is required for such activities whereas in

Protected Forests such activities are permitted unless explicitly prohibited

92. Solution: d)

In the performance of his official duties, the Attorney General has the right of

audience in all courts in the territory of India.

Further, he has the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of both the

Houses of Parliament or their joint sitting and any committee of the Parliament of

which he may be named a member, but without a right to vote.

He enjoys all the privileges and immunities that are available to a member of

Parliament.

93. Solution: c)

Irrigation without proper drainage of water leads to waterlogging in the soil. Besides

affecting the crops, waterlogging draws salt to the surface of the soil.

The salt then is deposited as a thin crust on the land surface or starts collecting at the

roots of the plants.

This increased salt content is inimical to the growth of crops and is extremely

damaging to agriculture. Waterlogging and soil salinity are some of the problems

that have come in the wake of the Green Revolution.

94. Solution: d)

Biopiracy is a situation where indigenous knowledge of nature, originating with

indigenous peoples, is used by others for profit, without permission from and with

little or no compensation or recognition to the indigenous people themselves.

Moreover, it is also used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational

companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries

and people concerned without compensatory payment.

Traditional knowledge related to bio-resources can be exploited to develop modern

applications and can also be used to save time, effort and expenditure during their

commercialisation.



95. Solution: a)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadoba_Andhari_Tiger_Project

96. Solution: c)

Researchers in Peru have discovered trios of statuettes which belong to some 3,800

years ago. These statuettes are believed to be created by the ancient Caral civilization

some 3,800 years ago.

The Caral civilization had emerged some 5,000 years ago and had lived in Perus

Supe Valley. They have left behind impressive architecture including pyramids and

sunken amphitheaters.

Among discovered statuettes, two are of the figures consisting of a naked man and

woman painted in white, black and red. It is believed that they represent political

authorities. The third statue is of women with 28 fingers and red dots on her white

face. It is believed that she represent a priestess. Researchers also have unearthed

two mud figurines of womens faces wrapped in cloth and covered with yellow, blue

and orange feathers.

97. Solution: a)

FRBM Act, 2003 strives for Inter-generational equity in government finances. So, it

restricts borrowing from the RBI by the Central government other than in some

specific cases.

Moreover, it puts a rational limit on the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP to tackle

political populism.

Annual budgets are scrutinized by various Parliamentary committees and then voted

by the Parliament. Hence, the legislature ensures the executive is spending right.

98. Solution: c)

Gross Primary Deficit is Gross Fiscal Deficit less interest payments. Net Primary

Deficit is Net Fiscal Deficit minus net interest payments. Net interest payment is

interest paid minus interest receipt.

Even though government runs a primary deficit, it need not borrow to fund its

consumption requirements.



Revenue deficit (revenue receipts revenue expenditure) will mean that the

government is falling short even for regular budget expenditures.

99. Solution: a)

It is Indias first indigenously-built largest aircraft carrier. On completion it will carry

up to 36 fixed-wing jets, including MiG-29 K and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft

(LCA) Tejas.

The basic design of the carrier is done by Indian Navys Directorate of Naval Design

and was developed into detailed design by the design team of CSL.

After induction into Indian Navy its primary role will only be to defend the naval

fleet and will be positioned in the Indian Ocean region where the worlds commercial

and economic interests conflate.

100. Solution: c)

Adipurana is a 10th-century Kannada text written in Champu style, a mix of prose

and verse, dealing with the ten lives of the first tirthankara, Adinatha, also known as

Rishabhanatha . This work is known to be the first work of Kannada poet Adikavi

Pampa (941 CE). It is based on the story narrated by Jinasenacharya in his earlier

Sanskrit work Purvapurana. Vikramarjuna Vijaya and Adipurana are, in some

respects, comparable to Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.

Documents

Test 27 Solutions Final