PRAYAS - 2022 Test - 28: Current Affairs August 2021

PRAYAS - 2022
Test – 28
Current Affairs August 2021
PRAYAS-2022
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Q.1) Consider the following statements: Q.5) Consider the following statements about e-
1. One of the iconic paintings from the Bengal School RUPI:
is 'Bharat Mata'. 1. E-rupi is a type of cryptocurrency.
2. Raja Ravi Verma is one of the Painters of the 2. It has been developed with the support of the
Bengali School Department of Financial Services and National
3. Wash Technique is related to the Bengal School Health Authority.
artists. 3. This Card is an Indian payment gateway that
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks
a) 1 and 2 only and financial institutions.
b) 1 and 3 only Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
c) 2 and 3 only a) 1 and 2 only
d) 1 only b) 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
Q.2) Consider the following statements: d) 2 only
1. Sunderbans was designated as a Biosphere
Reserve by IUCN in 2001. Q.6) Consider the following pairs of places in news
2. The Number of Kharai Camels is increasing in the and their location:
Sundarban area. Places in News Country
3. Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the 1. Ningbo Port — Bangladesh
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve. 2. Cattle Island — Tanzania
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 3. Port-au-Prince — Haiti
a) 2 and 3 only Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
b) 1 and 3 only a) 1 only
c) 3 only b) 1 and 3 only
d) None of the above c) 2 and 3 only
d) 3 only
Q.3) Consider the following statements about
Nuclear Fusion: Q.7) Consider the following statements with
1. High amounts of carbon is emitted during the reference to Great Hornbill:
Fusion reaction. 1. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
2. Fusion reactions do not occur naturally in nature. 2. It is the state bird of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? and Kerala.
a) 1 only 3. It is listed as a critically endangered bird in the
b) 2 only IUCN Red list.
c) Both 1 and 2 Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
d) Neither 1 nor 2 a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 only
Q.4) With reference to United Nations Security c) 3 only
Council,consider the following statements: d) 1, 2 and 3
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1. A No vote from any of the five non permanent

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members blocks the passage of the resolution. Q.8) Consider the following statements with
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2. Any member of the UN which is not a member of reference to Atlantic Meridional Overturning
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the Security Council may vote in the discussion of Circulation (AMOC):

any issue relating to them. 1. It is a large system of ocean currents that is driven
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3. Peacekeeping Operations are an important role of by differences in temperature and salinity.

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the UNSC. 2. Collapse of AMOC would lead to increased

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Which of the statements given above is/are heating in the Northern Hemisphere.
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incorrect? Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only a) 1 only
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b) 3 only b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only c) Both 1 and 2
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d) All of the above. d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Q.9) Which of the following is the aim of the Ubharte Which of the following national parks is described in
Sitaare Fund launched recently? the above paragraph?
a) To provide debt and equity funding to export- a) Manas National Park
oriented MSMEs b) Nameri National Park
b) To provide special funding to entrepreneurs aged c) Raimona National Park
below 21 years of age under the stand-up India d) Kaziranga National Park
scheme
c) To support cottage industries of Aspirational Q.14) The SAMRIDH Scheme was recently in news in
districts the affairs of:
d) To provide financial support to migrant workers a) Promotion of green revolution in the eastern
establishing enterprise in their home district States
b) Promotion of setting up of textile factories in rural
Q.10) Which of the following statements with areas
reference to the National Legal Services Authority is c) Promotion of Indian start-ups
correct? d) None of the above
1. It is a statutory body with the Chief Justice of India
as its Executive Chairman. Q.15) The term ‘MARBURG’ is talked about in the
2. It provides free legal services to women and context of
children, members of scheduled caste and a) Development of India’s own satellite navigation
scheduled tribes. system
Select the correct answer using the code given b) Genes introduced in the genetically modified
below: plants
a) 1 only c) Type of virus which causes hemorrhagic fever
b) 2 only d) Radio collar for wildlife tracking
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.16) In the context of Colonial India, Biku Patnaik,
Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kriplani, J.P. Narayan
Q.11) Which of the following statement with are remembered as -
reference to the national misssion on edible oil plam a) Leaders of Quit India Movement
is correct? b) Members of the Drafting Committee in the
a) It proposes to cover an additional area of 6.5 Constituent Assembly
million hectare for oil palm till the year 2025-26. c) Members of the Interim Government in 1946
b) Farmers will be provided assistance for planting d) Officers of the Indian National Army
materials of Rs. 29000 per hectare.
c) It will have special focus on Lakshadweep Islands. Q.17) With reference to India, the terms ‘Chakma’
d) None of the above and ‘Hajong’ pertain to
a) Dance forms of Northwest India
Q.12) PM-DAKSH Scheme is being implemented by b) Sacred Groves site in North East India.
which of the following ministries? c) Pre-historic cave paintings
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a) Ministry of Skill Development and d) Communities from North East India

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Entrepreneurship
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b) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Q.18) With reference to Sovereign Gold Bond
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c) Ministry of Minority Affairs Scheme, consider the following statements:

d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs 1. It will drastically reduce the India’s dependence
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on gold import.
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Q.13) It was declared as a national park in 1974. It is 2. Holder of the bond will earn some fixed interest,
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a world heritage site and famous for Great Indian payable semi annually, which is tax free.
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one-horned rhinoceros. It has also been recognised 3. Sovereign gold bond can be used as collateral to
as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International get loan.
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for the conservation of avifaunal species. Recently, it Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
became the first national park in India to be a) 1 and 3 only
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equipped with satellite phones. b) 2 and 3 only

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d) 2 only 1. It is a geospatial planning portal which will help in

facilitating new MGNREGA assets using remote
Q.19) What is the significance of places called Thol, sensing and geographic information system-based
Bhindawas and Wadhwana, that were in the news data.
recently ? 2. It is launched by Ministry of Rural Development
a) Saline Lakes and Panchayati Raj.
b) Glaciaers Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
c) Ramsar sites a) 1 only
d) rivers in North East India b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
Q.20) Recently the Government launched SUJALAM’, d) Neither 1 nor 2
a ‘100 days campaign’ as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav’ celebrations, which of the following is Q.24) Changpa tribe recently sometimes in the news,
objective of it ? found in which of the following states/Union territoy
a) To create more and more ODF Plus villages by ?
undertaking waste water management at village a) Rajasthan
level. b) Ladakh
b) To incentivize the States to increase investment c) Arunachal Pradesh
in Agriculture and allied sectors to achieve 4% d) Lakshadweep
growth in agriculture sector.
c) To ensure socio-economic development in the Q.25) He was born in a village
North-Eastern Region of India, by promoting near Thiruvananthapuram, in 1856. His father
tourism. affectionately called him Nanu. Since the childhood
d) None of the Above he had showed interest the great epic Ramayana and
Mahabharata. Later he wrote books named as Jathi
Q.21) Which of the following statements is/are Lakshanam, Advaitha Deepika, Athma Vilasam
incorrect regarding the Prime Ministers Shram Which of the following person is described in the
Awards ? above passage ?
1. The objective of the Prime Ministers Shram a) Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy
Awards is to recognize the outstanding b) Ramanujacharya
contributions made by workmen as defined in the c) Koyapalli Kelappan
Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 in organizations both d) Sree Narayana Guru
in public and private sector.
2. Workmen solely engaged in routine service duties Q.26) The ‘State of Global Climate’ report is
are not eligible for the awards published by
Select the correct answer using the codes given a) United Nation Framework Convention on Climate
below. Change
a) 1 only b) World Meteorological Organization
b) 2 only c) United Nations Environment Programme
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c) Both 1 and 2 d) World Bank.

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d) Neither 1 nor 2
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Q.27) With reference to the ‘Climate Change

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Q.22) Ethnic group called ‘Hazara’ are in news Performance Index’, consider the following
sometimes, in Which of the following countries they statements:
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are found ? 1. It is published by The Climate Change

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a) Iran Performance Index published by Germanwatch,

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b) Iraq CAN International and the NewClimate Institute

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c) Afghanistan 2. It is a biannual publication highlighting the

d) Saudi Arabia tracking of the climate mitigation performance of
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countries across the globe

Q.23) consider the following statements about the 3. India ranks in the top 10 in terms of advances in
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Yuktadhara : climate change mitigation practices of the

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recently published index.

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Which of the above statements is/are correct ? Q.32) Consider the following statements regarding
a) 1 only the” Basel Convention ":
b) 2 only 1. The agreement particularly focuses on preventing
c) 1 and 3 only. transfer of hazardous waste from developed to
d) 1, 2 and 3 less developed countries.
2. It is a legally binding agreement for waste
Q.28) In the context of climate change, what does management.
decoupling mean? Which of the statements given above is/are correct
a) Where economic growth and usage of fossil ?
fuels grows but at different rates. a) 1 only
b) Where economic growth happens but fossil fuels b) 2 only
decline. c) Both 1 and 2
c) Where economic growth is no longer strongly d) Neither 1 nor 2.
associated with consumption of fossil fuels.
d) None of the above. Q.33) Which of the following statements is not
correctly mentioned with respect to the Acid rain ?
Q.29) Which one of the following statements a) The sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react
correctly defines ‘Mitigation Potential’? with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form
a) It is a measurement of the amount of carbon that sulfuric and nitric acids which are the precursor of
can be stored in order to balance the release of acid rain.
carbon. b) Acid rain can occur at a place away from the
b) It is the process to help predict how variables such polluted area with the source of emissions
as temperature, rain, and carbon dioxide levels c) Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.
get affected by the GHG. d) The phenomenon of acid rain is entirely due to
c) It is the process of addressing impacts to the anthropogenic activities.
environment caused by human action, notably
those resulting from highway, energy, water, and Q.34) Which of the following statements correctly
other infrastructure projects. defines the mechanism of Eutrophication ?
d) It refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission a) The process when an organism absorbs a
of greenhouse gases by using renewable energy. substance at a rate faster than that at which the
substance is lost or eliminated by catabolism and
Q.30) Consider the following statements with excretion.
reference to ‘Coupled Model Intercomparison b) It is the accumulation of a chemical by an
Project (CMIP)’: organism from water and food exposure that
1. It coordinates and archives climate model results in a concentration that is greater than
simulations based on shared model inputs by would have resulted from water exposure only
modelling groups from around the world. and thus greater than expected from equilibrium.
2. The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) c) The increased availability of one or more limiting
is the parent organization for the development of growth factors and progressive enrichment with
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the CMIP. minerals and nutrients.

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Which of the above statements is/are correct ? d) All of the above

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a) 1 only
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b) 2 only Q.35) Which of the following kinds of wastes are

c) Both 1 and 2 regulated by the Basel Convention?
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d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Biomedical Wastes

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2. Used oils of motors and hydraulics

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Q.31) "Torrefaction Technology" often seen news is 3. Lead Acid Batteries wastes
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related to - 4. Persistent Organic Pollutants

a) Technology to reduce stubble burning. 5. Chemical wastes generated from industries
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b) Technology to convert municipal waste into Select the correct answer from the options given
wealth below:
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c) Technology used in formation of GM crop a) 1, 2 and 3 only

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d) Technology used to create energy from tides b) 1, 2 and 5 only

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c) 3 and 5 only Q.40) Which of the following statements is not

d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 correct with reference to ‘Fluorinated Gases’ ?
a) Fluorinated gases are man-made gases and not
Q.36) Consider the following statements with respect found naturally.
to ‘Cumulative Emissions’ b) They have a very long atmospheric lifespan and
1. Cumulative emissions is the total quantity of GHG are high in Global Warming Potential.
emissions emitted from 1751 until a given year, c) Fluorinated gases can be removed from the
measured in metric tons. atmosphere only by destruction with the help of
2. The European Union tops the chart followed by Sunlight.
the United States of America. d) Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is an example of
Which of the above statements is/are correct ? fluorinated gas.
a) 1 only
b) 2only Q.41) Which of the following statements is incorrect
c) Both 1 and 2 with respect to ‘plastic waste recycling rules’ ?
d) Neither 1 nor 2 a) Plastic packaging, as per the rules divided into
three categories.
Q.37) Consider the following statements: b) Producers of plastic would be obliged to declare
1. Greenhouse Gas Intensity is a measure of the to the government how much plastic they
number of emissions relative to GDP produce annually.
2. The United States of America tops the chart c) If entities cannot fulfil their obligations, they
followed by China for Greenhouse Gas Intensity. would on a “case basis by case ” be permitted to
Which of the above statements is/are correct ? buy certificates making up for their shortfall.
a) 1 only d) Non-compliance would invite a traditional fine
b) 2 only instead of environmental compensation.
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.42) Which of the following statements is incorrect
with respect to ‘International Energy Agency’ ?
Q.38) Consider the following statements with a) The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based
reference to Global Warming Potential (GWP): autonomous nongovernmental organisation.
1. Global Warming potential describes the impact of b) It was established under the framework of the
the Greenhouse gases only on global warming. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
2. Carbon dioxide with a GWP of ‘1’ serves as a Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the
baseline for other GWP values. 1973 oil crisis.
Which of the above mentioned statements is/are c) It is best known for the publication of its annual
correct ? World Energy Outlook.
a) 1 only d) India became an Associate member of the
b) 2 only International Energy Agency.
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.43) Who among the following is associated with
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the philosophy of Total Revolution?

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Q.39) Which of the following statements is a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

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incorrectly mentioned about the mechanism ‘Climate b) Jawaharlal Nehru

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Forcings’ ? c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

a) Climate forcing is the physical process of affecting d) Jay Prakash Narayan
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the climate system on the Earth through a

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number of forcing factors Q.44) Recently, Noble prize in economics awarded

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b) The factors responsible for the climate forcings for empirical contributions to:
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exists outside of the existing climate system a) Labour economics

c) The climate system includes the hydrosphere, b) Auction theory
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land surface, and the cryosphere. c) Developmental economics

d) None of the above statements are incorrect. d) Environmental economics
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Q.45) Which of the following statements is incorrect d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

with respect to the State of Climate Services report
2021? Q.49) Consider the following statements with
a) The report is released by World Meteorological reference to the ‘Comprehensive Environment
Organization (WMO) Pollution Index (CEPI)’:
b) It focuses on Terrestrial Water Storage. 1. The CEPI is released by the Indian Pollution
c) The biggest losses of Terrestrial Water Storage Control Association in collaboration with Niti
have occurred in Antarctica and Greenland. Aayog.
d) In India the Terrestrial Water Storage has been 2. The index monitors the various air pollutants only
lost at a rate of at least 5 cm per year. and suggests their levels of hazardness.
Which of the above mentioned statements is/are
Q.46) Consider the following statements with incorrectly mentioned ?
respect to the ‘ PUSA KRISHI’ mobile app: a) 1 only
1. Pusa Krishi Mobile App disseminates information b) 2 only
about the latest technologies developed by the c) Both 1 and 2
Indian Agricultural Research Institute. d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Pusa Krishi Mobile App is available in 9 languages
viz. English, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Oriya, Punjabi, Q.50) Consider the following statements with
Marathi, Bangla and Telugu reference to the ‘Madhukranti Portal’:
Which of the above statements is/are correct ? 1. Madhukranti portal is an initiative of the National
a) 1 only Bee Board under the National Beekeeping &
b) 2 only Honey Mission (NBHM) with an objective to
c) Both 1 and 2 maintain the quality of honey and also to prevent
d) Neither 1 nor 2 its adulteration.
2. The technical partner for development of this
Q.47) Consider the following statements with digital platform is Indian Bank.
respect to ‘Urban Services Environmental Rating Which of the above statements is/are correctly
System’ (USERS) ? mentioned?
1. USERS is aimed at improving basic services like a) 1 only
water supply, sewerage and solid waste. b) 2 only
2. It is funded by the United Nations Development c) Both 1 and 2
Programme and executed by the Ministry of d) Neither 1 nor 2
Environment and Forest and Climate Change.
Which of the above statements is/are correctly Q.51) Which of the following statements is not
mentioned ? correctly mentioned with respect to the ‘Maitri
a) 1 only Incubation Programme’ ?
b) 2 only a) The Pusa Krishi Incubator, of ICAR- Indian
c) Both 1 and 2 Agricultural Research Institute launched the
d) Neither 1 nor 2 Maitri Incubation Programme.
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b) It is a six Months Mentoring Program promoting

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Q.48) Which of the following products are included agri start-ups with innovative ideas between India
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under the ‘Eco Mark’ scheme ? & other BRICS countries.

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1. Soaps c) Only agritech startups were selected on the basis

2. Detergents of Startup India guidelines under this programme
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3. Paints and will be mentored by experts along with access

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4. Textiles to global markets.

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5. Fire extinguisher d) None of the above statements are incorrect.

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6. Leather and coir

Select the correct answer from the codes given Q.52) Consider the following statements with
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below: reference to the ‘National Bee Board’ (NBB):

a) 1, 2, 5, and 6 only 1. NBB works under the aegis of the Union Ministry
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b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only of Medium and Small Enterprises in collaboration

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c) 4 and 6 only with Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims at preserving

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the traditional way of Beekeeping and honey a) 1 only

production in India b) 2 only
2. The Union Minister of Medium and Small c) Both 1 and 2
Enterprises is the ex- officio chairman of the NBB . d) Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 only Q.56) Which of the following statements is incorrect
b) 2 only with respect to the recently in news Atmanirbhar
c) Both 1 and 2 Bharat ARISE- ANIC (ARISE-Atal New India
d) Neither 1 nor 2 Challenges) initiative?
a) It is an initiative launched under the Atmanirbhar
Q.53) Which of the following statements is not Bharat to fast track the growth of the Indian
correct with respect to the Protection of Plant MSME sector.
Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act ? b) The Atmanirbhar Bharat ARISE- ANIC initiative is
a) The PPV&FR Act was enacted to grant intellectual launched by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM),
property rights to plant breeders, researchers and NITI Aayog and driven by the Indian Space
farmers who have developed any new or extant Research Organization as one of the institutions.
plant varieties. c) Startups can also apply under the Atmanirbhar
b) The PPV & FR Act is based on the provisions of the Bharat ARISE- ANIC initiative
International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources d) None of the above statements are incorrect.
for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
c) The rights granted under this Act are heritable Q.57) Consider the following statements with
and assignable and only registration of a plant reference to Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana –
variety confers the right. Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied
d) None of the above statements are incorrect. Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) scheme:
1. It is aimed at strengthening infrastructure in
Q.54) Consider the following statements with Agriculture and Allied sectors to promote
reference to the ‘Certified Jute Seeds Programme’: Agripreneurship and Agribusiness by facilitating
1. The Union Ministry of Small and Medium financial aid and nurturing a system of business
Enterprises has launched a Certified Jute Seed incubation.
Distribution Plan under the Improved Cultivation 2. Funds granted under the (RKVY-RAFTAAR) scheme
and Advanced Retting Exercise for Jute (Jute are directly transferred to the beneficiaries bank
ICARE) Program. account.
2. The Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Exercise for Jute (Jute – ICARE) was launched in a) 1 only
West Bengal and Assam with an aim to double the b) 2 only
jute farmers income. c) Both 1 and 2
Which of the above statements is/are correct ? d) Neither 1 nor 2.
a) 1 only
b) 2 only Q.58) Recently in the news, PUSA- FSF developed by
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c) Both 1 and 2 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), is

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d) Neither 1 nor 2 related to ?

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a) High Yielding Variety of fodder variety for cattles

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Q.55) Consider the following statements with that can grow in minimum water requirement.
reference to the Biotechnology Industry Research b) Mechanism for in-situ management of paddy
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Assistance Council (BIRAC): stubble for Delhi -NCR region.

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1. The BIRAC is a not-for-profit Public Sector c) The on-farm green energy refrigeration system.
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Enterprise, set up by the Department of d) Funds for agricultural focused startups.
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Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

2. The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) is Q.59) Consider the following Statements in the
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implemented by the Biotechnology Industry context , Regional Cooperation Agreement on

Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships
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Which of the above statements is/are correctly in Asia (ReCAAP).

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1. It is the first regional government-to-government d) Neither 1 nor 2

agreement to promote and enhance cooperation
against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Q.63) With reference to Cogeneration, consider the
Asia. following statements:
2. Presently, about 21 countries are members of 1. It is the mechanism of producing a single powerful
ReCAAP and all are Asian countries only. source of energy from two different energy
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? sources.
a) 1 only 2. Cogeneration can run on any renewable fuel with
b) 2 only lower emissions and increased energy efficiency.
c) Both 1 and 2 Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
d) Neither 1 nor 2 a) 1 only
b) 2 only
Q.60) Which of the following is correct about stake c) Both 1 and 2
networking ? d) Neither 1 nor 2
a) It is made of bamboo, and is installed on the
glacier surface using the steam drill for mass Q.64) With reference to “Green Gold Collection”,
balance measurement. consider the following statements:
b) It is the practice of transporting and exchanging 1. It is a dedicated portal in the Government e-
data between nodes over a shared medium in an Marketplace (GeM) for for bamboo products
information system. 2. This initiative was launched by The Union Ministry
c) It is a type of financial network based on stock of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Botanical
price correlation used for observing, analyzing and Survey of India.
predicting the stock market dynamics. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
d) It is a direct selling business model in which a) 1 only
salespeople work independently promoting b) 2 only
products or services. c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q.61) Which of the following statements is incorrect
with respect to fuel cells ? Q.65) Consider the following statements with
a) Fuel Cells are electrochemical devices that convert reference to “Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
the chemical energy of a fuel directly into heat (MKSP)”.
and electricity. 1. It is a sub component of the Deendayal
b) A fuel cell consists of two electrodes a negative Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM (DAY-NRLM).
electrode (or anode) and a positive electrode (or 2. There is a fixed allocation of resources by the
cathode) sandwiched around an electrolyte Central Government to the states in accordance
c) Fuel Cells produce direct current (D.C) similar to with the women farmers in the country.
battery cells. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
d) Electric Vehicle running on Fuel Cell need to be a) 1 only
plugged in for charging, like battery-powered EVs b) 2 only
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c) Both 1 and 2
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Q.62) With reference to Renewable Energy in India, d) Neither 1 nor 2

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consider the following statements:

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1. India’s installed renewable energy capacity Q.66) Which of the following statements is/are
recently crossed 100 GW, making it among the incorrect with respect to ‘Exercise Indra Navy’?
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top 5 Nations of the world harnessing clean a) Indra Navy is a biennial bilateral maritime exercise
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energy. between Indian Navy and Russian Navy.

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2. The administration and targets related to b) The recent edition of exercise INDRA NAVY was
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‘Renewable Energy’ in India is managed by the held in the Caspian Sea.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. c) The previous edition of the exercise INDRA NAVY
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Which of the above statements is/are correct ? was held at the Bay of Bengal
a) 1 only d) Both b and c
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Q.67) Consider the following statements about c) 1 and 3 only

the Graded Response Action Plan: d) 1, 2 and 3
1. Graded Response Action Plan works only as an
emergency measure. Q.71) State of Global Air 2020, recently seen in the
2. The plan is incremental in nature. news is published by -
3. The GRAP is to be implemented across all the 1. UNEP
states of India including Jammu and Kashmir. 2. Health Effects Institute (HEI)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 3. Cornell University
a) 1 only Select the correct answer using the codes given
b) 2 and 3 only below:
c) 1 and 2 only a) 1 only
d) 2 only b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2 only
Q.68) Which of the following statements is/are d) 1, 2 and 3
incorrect with reference to “India Cycles for Change
Challenge”? Q.72) With reference to Green – Ag Project, consider
a) The India Cycles4Change Challenge is an initiative the following statements :
of the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing 1. It aims to promote organic farming.
and Urban Affairs as a response to the COVID-19 2. It will be implemented initially in five states in the
pandemic. country.
b) The initiative is open for all cities across the 3. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility.
country. 4. It aims to cover two protected areas, the Dampa
c) It launched launched its first report to the Tiger Reserve and the Thorangtlang Wildlife
public—’The Dawn of India’s Cycling Revolution’ Sanctuary.
d) None of the above Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 3 and 4 only
Q.69) Recently in the news, ASEEM portal is related b) 1, 2 and 4 only
to c) 2 and 3 only
a) Portal developed by the Ministry of Skill d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Development and Entrepreneurship to help skilled
people find sustainable livelihood opportunities Q.73) In the context of climate change, what does
developed. decoupling mean?
b) A Ministry of Health and Family Welfare portal to a) Where economic growth and usage of fossil
provide holistic information regarding the after fuels grows but at different rates.
effects of the Covid-19 infection. b) Where economic growth happens but fossil fuels
c) Portal developed by the Food and Agricultural decline.
Organization providing information related to c) Where economic growth is no longer strongly
endemic varieties of fruits and vegetables of India. associated with consumption of fossil fuels.
d) Portal developed by the Ministry of Food d) None of the above.
e
Processing and Industries to encourage export of

in
local varieties of products and related activities. Q.74) Consider the following statements:
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1. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

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Q.70) With reference to Geothermal Energy, consider Established in 1962 and India is a member of MTCR.
the following statements : 2. Seekho aur Kamao Scheme implemented by the
ria
1. It is the natural heat from the interior of the earth Ministry of education.
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that can be used to generate electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are
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2. In India the southern peninsula is considered a incorrect?

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geothermal area. a) 1 only

3. Geothermal energy does not pose any b) 2 only
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environmental problems. c) Both 1and 2

Which of the above statements is/are correct? d) Neither 1 nor 2
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a) 1 only
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Q.75) Changpa tribe recently sometimes in the news, a) 1 only

found in which of the following states/Union territoy b) 2 only
? c) Both 1 and 2
a) Rajasthan d) Neither 1 nor 2
b) Ladakh
c) Arunachal Pradesh Q.80) Consider the following statements with regard
d) Lakshadweep to National Gene Bank:
1. The National Gene Bank was established in 1998
Q.76) In the context of Indian polity, which of the to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources
following describes the best adjournment sine die ? (PGR).
a) It is the termination of a sitting as well as a 2. The National Gene Bank has four kinds of
session of the House. facilities, namely, Seed Genebank ,Cryogenebank,
b) It is the termination of only sitting, not a session In vitro Genebank and Field Genebank for
of the House. conservation.
c) It is the termination of a sitting of Parliament for Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
an indefinite period. a) 1 only
d) None of the Above b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
Q.77) With reference to the recently notified the d) Neither 1 nor 2
Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021,
consider the following statements: Q.81) Consider the following statements with regard
1. It prohibits all single use plastic items which have to Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):
low utility and high littering potential by 2022. 1. It aims to democratise digital commerce, moving
2. The plastic packaging waste is not covered under it from a platform centric model to an open
the phase out of single use plastic items. network.
3. In the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly 2. As UPI is to the digital payment domain, ONDC is
held in 2019, India had piloted a resolution on to e-commerce in India.
addressing single-use plastic products pollution. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct a) 1 only
? b) 2 only
a) 1 and 2 only c) Both 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3 only d) Neither 1 nor 2
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3 Q.82) Recently in the news, Pahchan Initiative is
related to ?
Q.78) The west bank, often mentioned in the news, a) Handicraft artisans.
is a territory between which of the following b) Gram Sabha.
countries? c) Water management.
a) Israel and Jordan d) Tribal empowerment.
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b) Israel and Syria

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c) Israel and Egypt Q.83) Which of the following statements is incorrect

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d) Israel and Lebanon with respect to the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran

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Pariyojana” (MKSP)?
Q.79) Consider the following statements with respect a) The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana is a sub
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to National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF): component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-
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1. The National Clean Energy Fund was created by NRLM (DAY-NRLM)

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introducing a ‘clean energy cess’ on every tonne b) It seeks to improve the present status of women
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of lignite or coal sold to the commercial sector in Agriculture, and to enhance the opportunities
2. Projects/schemes relating to innovative methods available to empower her.
ps
which adopt clean energy technology and c) MKSP recognizes the identity of “Mahila” as
research & development shall be eligible for “Kisan” and strives to build the capacity of women
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funding under the NCEF. in the domain of agro-ecologically sustainable

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d) MKSP in DAY-NRLM is a demand driven Q.87) With reference to the " Halam tribe "
programme and there is provision of State wise sometimes seen in the news, consider the following
allocation for every year. Statements:
1. The Halam community are various tribes native to
Q.84) With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Kisan the state of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal
Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Pradesh .
KUSUM) Scheme consider the following: 2. Halams live in "Tong Ghar" specially made of
1. Reduction in input cost bamboo and Chan grass.
2. GHGs emission will be reduced. Which of the Statements given above is / are
3. Increase in farmers income. incorrect?
4. Help the Discoms to achieve the RPO target a) 1 only
Which of the above is/are benefits of the PM - b) 2 only
KUSUM Scheme? c) Both 1 and 2
a) 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only Q.88) Which of the following are components of
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture
(NICRA) ?
Q.85) Recently the Indian Council for Agricultural 1. Strategic research on adaptation and mitigation.
Research (ICAR) has developed ‘Harit Dhara’ for the 2. Technology demonstration on farmers fields.
purpose of - 3. Sponsored and competitive research grants.
a) Minimizing soil pollution by using biodegradable 4. Capacity building of different stakeholders.
manures. Select the correct answer using the codes given
b) Providing subsidies to the farmers for using solar below.
power in post harvesting of crops. a) 1 and 2
c) Minimizing cattle methane emissions by b) 2 and 3 only
developing anti-methanogenic feed supplement c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) Roadmap in agricultural revolution for maximizing d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
vegetable production.
Q.89) Consider the following statements with regard
Q.86) Recently the terms " vertical and horizontal to Open Network for Digital Commerce ( ONDC) :
reservations " are sometimes seen in the news , 1. It aims to democratise digital commerce, moving
consider the following Statements regarding it: it from a platform centric model to an open
1. Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled network.
Tribes, and Other Backward Classes is referred to 2. As UPI is to the digital payment domain, ONDC is
as a horizontal reservation. to e-commerce in India.
2. Vertical reservation refers to the equal Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
opportunity provided to other categories of a) 1 only
beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the b) 2 only
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transgender community, and individuals with c) Both 1 and 2

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disabilities, cutting through the vertical d) Neither 1 nor 2

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categories.
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3. The Vertical reservation applies separately for Q.90) Consider the following statements with regard
each of the groups specified under the law. to National Gene Bank:
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4. The horizontal quota is applied separately to each 1. The National Gene Bank was established in 1998
e
vertical category, and not across the board. to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources
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Which of the statements given above is /are correct? (PGR).

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a) 1 and 2 only 2. The National Gene Bank has four kinds of

b) 3 and 4 only facilities, namely, Seed Genebank ,Cryogenebank,
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c) 1 and 3 only In vitro Genebank and Field Genebank for

d) 1,2 and 3 conservation.
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Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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b) 2 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q.91) Which of the following statements is incorrect Q.95) Consider the following statements with
with respect to the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran reference to the National Mission on Edible Oil:
Pariyojana? 1. It is a Central sector Scheme with a special focus
a) It is a sub component of the Deendayal Antyodaya on the North east region and the Andaman and
Yojana-NRLM (DAY-NRLM) Nicobar Islands.
b) It seeks to improve the present status of women 2. It aims to make India self-reliant in edible oil and
in Agriculture, and to enhance the opportunities to raise the domestic production of palm oil by
available to empower her. three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26.
c) Upto 60% of the funding support for such projects Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
is provided by the Central Government for North a) 1 only
Eastern States) b) 2 only
d) The program is being implemented by the c) Both 1 and 2
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare d) Neither 1 nor 2
(DA&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare. Q.96) Consider the following statements with
reference to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Q.92) Consider the following statements with Yojana(PMUY) 2.0:
reference to the e-RUPI: 1. Under this scheme, targets of an additional Five
1. It will be India’s electronic voucher based digital crore LPG connection are announced
payment system. 2. The migrants would only be required to submit a
2. This e-voucher will be redeemable at specific self-declaration of their residential address to get
accepting centres without any credit or debit card. the gas connection.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only a) 1 only
b) 2 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q.93) Which of the following is best described as Q.97) Consider the following statements with
Retrospective tax? reference to the Gati Shakti:
a) It is a tax imposed on a transaction or deal that 1. It is a National Infrastructure Master Plan which
was conducted in the past. will lay the foundation of holistic Infrastructure in
b) It is a tax imposed on a transaction or deal that India.
was conducted in the future. 2. It is aimed at easier inter-connectivity between
c) It is a tax which is based on the taxpayer's ability road, rail, air and waterways to reduce travel time
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to pay. and enhance industrial productivity.

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d) None of the above. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

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a) 1 only
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Q.94) Consider the following statements with b) 2 only

reference to the PM-DAKSH: c) Both 1 and 2
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1. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Social d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Justice and Empowerment from the year 2020-

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21. Q.98) Consider the following statements with

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2. The purpose of the scheme is to increase the skill reference to the Open Market Operations :
levels of the target youth by providing for long 1. It is one of the quantitative monetary policy tools
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term and short term skills, followed by which is employed by the central bank of a
employment/self- employment. country to control the money supply in the
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Which of the above statements is/are correct ? economy.

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2. RBI carries out the OMO through commercial

banks and does not directly deal with the public
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q.99) Consider the following statements with

reference to the SAMRIDH Scheme:
1. It is launched by Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology to create a conducive
platform to Indian Software Product star-ups
2. The scheme will focus on accelerating the start-
ups by providing customer connect, investor
connect, and international immersion in the next
five years
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q.100) The term ‘Karez System, used in the context

of -
a) Coinage
b) Climate change.
c) Paintings.
d) Water harvesting.
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e ria
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Q.1) Ans: b • Statement 3 is correct: The Haliday Island Wildlife

Exp: Sanctuary is a part of the Sundarbans Biosphere
Reserve. It is one of the three Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Statement 1 is correct: The Bengal School of Art of the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, the other
commonly referred as Bengal School, was an art two being the Sajnekhali WildLife Sanctuary and
movement and a style of Indian painting that the Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary. This Island is
originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and located on the river Matla, very close to the
Shantiniketan, and flourished throughout the confluence of the Bay of Bengal.
Indian subcontinent, during the British Raj in the
early 20th century.One of the prominent Paintings Q.3) Ans: d
of Bengal mSchool is the “Bharat Mata” Exp:
by Abanindranath Tagore.He made this painting • Statement 1 is incorrect: Fusion is among the
during the Swadeshi Movement boycotting the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.
British goods and creating a sense of patriotism Fusion reactions don't emit harmful toxins like
and self-love for our country. carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases into the
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Raja Ravi Verma Varma atmosphere. Its major by-product is helium: an
was patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal, the then inert, non-toxic gas. Also, No long-lived
ruler of Travancore.He was best known for radioactive waste is emitted.
uniting Hindu mythological subject matter with • Statement 2 is incorrect: Fusion occurs when two
European realist.His paintings, which revolve atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like
mainly around the Puranas (ancient mythological when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one
stories) and the great Indian epics - Mahabharata helium atom. This is the same process that
and Ramayana powers the sun and creates huge amounts of
• Statement 3 is correct:TheJapanese technique energy—several times greater than fission.
namely 'wash technique ' was used in Bengal Natural occurrence of the Fusion process occurs in
School.In painting it is a technique in which a stars, such as the sun. Whereas, Fission reaction
paint brush that is very wet with solvent and holds does not normally occur in nature.
a small load of paint or ink is applied to a wet or
dry support such as paper or primed or raw Q.4) Ans: a
canvas. Exp:
• Statement 1 is incorrect: Each member of the
Q.2) Ans: c Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the
Exp: Security Council on matters are made by an
• Statement 1 is incorrect: Sunderbans is a vast affirmative vote of nine members including the
contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the concurring votes of the permanent members.A
coastal region of Bay of Bengal spread over India "No" vote from one of the five permanent
and Bangladesh on the delta (world’s largest) of members blocks the passage of the resolution.
the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.It • Statement 2 is incorrect: Any member of the UN
was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by which is not a member of the Security Council
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UNESCO in 2001.Sundarban Wetland, India was may participate, without vote, in the discussion of
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recognised as the ‘Wetland of International any question brought before the Security Council
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Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in whenever the latter considers that the interests of
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January 2019. that member are specially affected.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Kharai • Statement 3 is correct: UN peacekeeping missions
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Camels/Swimming Camels are found only in are mandated by the Security Council to provide
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Gujarat's Bhuj area. They are recognized as a security and political and peacebuilding support
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separate breed of camels by the National Bureau to countries in conflict or post-conflict

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of Animal Genetic Resources(NBAGR) for better situations. They are guided by the principles of
conservation. This camel is adapted to the consent of the host country, impartiality, and non-
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extreme climate of Rann of Kutch where shallow use of force except in self-defence, defence of the
seas and high salinity is prevalent.The Kharai
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mandate, or protection of civilians if so authorized

breed has the special ability to survive on both dry by the Council.
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Q.5) Ans: d • Pair 2 is incorrect: Cattle island is one of three

Exp: islands in the Hirakud reservoir, Odisha. The
• Statement 1 is incorrect: E-Rupi is not a island is a submerged hill, and before the
cryptocurrency.It is not even a digital form of construction of Hirakud Dam it was a developed
Indian Rupee. E-RUPI is a prepaid, social-service village.
voucher system launched by the Indian • Pair 3 is correct: Port-au-Prince is the capital of
government. It is more of a digitized form of
payment. It is a cashless and contactless method
for digital payment. It is a Quick Response (QR)
code or SMS string-based e-voucher, which is
delivered to the mobile of the users.It means
consumers can complete entire transactions on
their cellphones, without having to transfer
“money” in the traditional sense.
• Statement 2 is correct: e-RUPI is a digital payment
solution developed with the support of DFS
(Department of Financial Services) and NHA
(National Health Authority) and is powered by
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Haiti and was recently faced with an earthquake.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: RuPay Card is an Indian
payment gateway. It is an Indian domestic card Q.7) Ans: d
conceived and launched by NPCI in 2012. It was Exp:
introduced in the Indian payment system to Option D is correct (All the statements are incorrect)
reduce the monopoly of foreign gateways like Visa About Great Hornbill:
and MasterCard. It also works like Visa or • The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is also
MasterCard and its commission is low. RuPay known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great
facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill.
and financial institutions. • It is found in the Indian
subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Q.6) Ans: d • The most prominent feature of the Great Hornbill
Exp: is the bright yellow and black casque (hard
• Pair 1 is incorrect: Ningbo port is located structure on the head of some birds) on top of its
in China and is the world’s third-busiest container massive bill.
port. The Meishan terminal at Ningbo-Zhoushan • The Hornbill Festival celebrated in Nagaland is
port, which is south of Shanghai, accounts for named after the bird – Hornbill, which is the most
over a fourth of the revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
o container cargo handled at the Chinese port. • They are the cultural symbols of some ethnic
Meishan terminal mainly services trade communities in the northeast, specifically
destinations in North America and Europe. the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.
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• Great Hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal

in
Pradesh and Kerala.

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• It is listed in Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act,

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1972 and categorised as Vulnerable in IUCN Red

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list.
• Hornbills are hunted for their casques — upper
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beak — and feathers for adorning headgear. They

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are also poached for their meat and medicinal

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value of their body parts.

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Q.8) Ans: a
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o To identify Indian enterprises with potential

advantages by way
of technology, products or processes along
with export potential, but which are currently
underperforming or unable to tap their latent
potential to grow.
o The main purpose is to encourage MSMEs as they
are vital to the economy in terms of creating jobs,
fostering innovations and reviving the economy.
• The fund is a mix of structured support,
both financial and advisory services.
• It will also have a Greenshoe Option of Rs 250
crore.
• The Fund covers potential companies, across
various sectors such as pharma, auto
components, engineering solutions, agriculture,
• Statement 1 is correct: Atlantic Meridional and software etc.
Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a large system
of ocean currents that carry warm water from Extra Edge by OnlyIAS
the tropics northwards into the North Atlantic. It About Alternative Investment Fund:
is driven by differences in temperature and salt • Alternative Investment Fund
content – the water’s density. As warm water comprises pooled investment funds which
flows northwards it cools and some evaporation invest in venture capital, private equity,
occurs, which increases the amount of salt. Low hedge funds, managed futures etc.
temperature and a high salt content make • AIF does not include funds covered under
the water denser, and this dense water sinks the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations,
deep into the ocean. The cold, dense water slowly 1996, SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes)
spreads southwards, several kilometres below Regulations, 1999 or any other regulations of
the surface. Eventually, it gets pulled back to the the Board to regulate fund management
surface and warms in a process called “upwelling” activities.
and the circulation is complete. • Nonetheless, the alternative investment funds
have to register with SEBI.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: If the AMOC collapsed, About Greenshoe Option:
it would increase cooling of the Northern • A greenshoe option is an over‐allotment
Hemisphere, sea level rise in the Atlantic, an option, which is a term that is commonly used
overall fall in precipitation over to describe a special arrangement in a share
Europe and North America and a shift in offering for example an IPO (Initial Public
monsoons in South America and Africa. Offering) that will enable the investment
bank to support the share price after the
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Q.9) Ans: a offering without putting their own capital at

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Exp: risk.
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Option A is correct
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About Ubharte Sitaare Fund:

Q.10) Ans: b
• It is a Rs. 250 crore worth Alternative Investment
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Exp:
Fund to provide debt and equity
• Statement 1 is incorrect: National Legal Services
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funding to export-oriented MSMEs as well as

Authority is a statutory body constituted under
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providing them with the required technological

the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its aim is
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support to make their businesses more

to ensure that opportunities for securing
competitive.
justice are not denied to any citizen by reasons of
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• The fund has been set up jointly by Exim Bank economic or other disabilities. It organises Lok
and Small Industries Development Bank of India.
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Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. As

• The objective of the fund is
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the Chief Justice of India shall be the Patron-in- plant is being given to replant old gardens for
Chief. Second senior-most judge of the Supreme rejuvenation of old gardens.
Court of India is the Executive-Chairman. • Seed gardens will be provided assistance up to Rs
• Statement 2 is correct: The persons eligible for 100 lakhs for 15 hectares in the North-East and
free legal service include: Andaman regions and Rs 80 lakhs for 15 hectares
o Women and children in the rest of India to address the issue of
o Members of SC/ST shortage of planting material in the country.
o Industrial workmen
o Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, Q.12) Ans: b
earthquake industrial disaster Exp:
o Disabled persons Option B is correct:
o Persons in custody About PM-DAKSH Scheme:
o Persons whose annual income does not exceed ₹1 • Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann
lakh (in the Supreme Court Legal Services Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana is being
Committee the limit is ₹1,25,000/-) implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and
o Victims of trafficking in human beings or begar. Empowerment from 2020-21.
• It is a National Action Plan for the marginalized
Q.11) Ans: b persons of SC, OBC, Economically backward
Exp: classes (EBC), Senior Citizens, De-notified
Option B is correct Tribes (DNTs), Safai karamcharies including waste
About National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm pickers, and women.
• It is a new centrally sponsored scheme and • Through this scheme, MoSJ&E empowers the
will subsume the current National Food Security socially, educationally and economically
Mission-Oil Palm programme. marginalized sections of the society, by
• Under this scheme, it is proposed to cover providing skill development training
an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectare (ha.) (6.5 programmes to the eligible target groups on,
million hectare would be equal to 65 lakh hectare) o Up-skilling/Re-skilling,
for oil palm till the year 2025-26 and thereby o Short Term and Long-Term Training Programmes,
reaching the target of 10 lakh hectares and
ultimately. o Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).
• It will have a special focus on the Northeast • These training programs are
region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. being implemented through Government
• Price assurance to the oil palm farmers on the Training Institutes, Sector Skill
lines of the minimum support price (MSP) for Councils constituted by the Ministry of Skill
the Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) from which oil is Development and Entrepreneurship and other
extracted by the industry. This will be known as credible institutions.
the Viability Price (VP). • The following Apex Corporations functioning
• The assurance to the farmers will be in the form under the MoSJ&E provide loans at concessional
of the viability gap funding and the industry will interest rates and skill development training to
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be mandated to pay 14.3% of the CPO (Crude the above target groups for self-employment,
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Palm Oil) price which will eventually go up to o National Scheduled Castes Finance and
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15.3%. Development Corporation,

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• To give impetus to the North-East and Andaman, o National Backward Classes Finance and
the Government will additionally bear a cost of Development Corporation,
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2% of the CPO price. o National Safai Karamchari Finance and

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• Assistance to farmers for planting materials of Rs Development Corporation

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29,000 per hectare, a steep increase from Rs

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12,000 per hectare earlier. Q.13) Ans: d

• Further substantial increase has been made Exp:
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for maintenance and inter-cropping Option D is correct

interventions. A special assistance @ Rs 250 per About Kaziranga National Park
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• Kaziranga National Park lies partly in Golaghat

endemic species which has been named as the
District and partly in Nagaon District of Assam.
mascot of Bodoland region.
• It is the oldest park in Assam covering an area of
430 sq km along the river Brahmaputra on
the North and the Karbi Anglong hills on the
South.
• National Highway 37 passes through the park
area.
• It is a world heritage site that is famous for
the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
• It was declared a National Park in 1974.
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by
BirdLife International for the conservation of
avifaunal species.
• The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest,
tall elephant grass,
rugged reeds, marshes & shallow pools.
• It is inhabited by the world’s largest population of
one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many
mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers
and bears, and thousands of birds. Q.14) Ans: c
Recently, Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has Exp:
become the first national park in India to be Option C is correct
equipped with satellite phones. About SAMRIDH Scheme
Extra Edge by OnlyIAS • SAMRIDH stands for Start-up Accelerators of
About Manas National Park: MeitY for pRoduct Innovation, Development and
Manas National Park is a Project Tiger reserve, growth. It was recently launched by the Ministry
an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. It is of Electronics & Information Technology.
a UNESCO world heritage site under the natural • It aims to create a conducive platform for Indian
site category. It is located in the Himalayan Software Product start-ups to enhance their
foothills in Assam on the northern side of products and secure investments for scaling their
the Brahmaputra river. It is contiguous with business.
the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. • Firstly, the scheme will focus on accelerating the
About Nameri National Park: 300 start-ups by providing customer connect,
Nameri National Park is located in the foothills of investor connect, and international immersion in
the Eastern Himalayas in Assam. The Pakhui the next three years.
(Pakke) Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh adjoins • Secondly, an investment of up to ₹ 40 lakh to the
the Park on its North-Eastern point. It consists start-up based on the current valuation and
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of semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests with growth stage of the Start-Up will be provided
in
cane and bamboo brakes and narrow strips of through selected accelerators.
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open grassland along rivers. • The scheme will be implemented by MeitY Start-
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About Raimona National Park: up Hub.

The Raimona National Park is the 6th national park
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in Assam and is located within the Bodoland Q.15) Ans: c

e
Territorial Region. The area of the park includes Exp:

at
the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve • Recently, West Africa’s first case of the Marburg
cm
Forest, which forms the western-most buffer to virus was confirmed in Guinea.
the Manas National Park that straddles the India- • Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent
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Bhutan border. It is bounded on the west by disease that causes hemorrhagic fever.
the Sonkosh river and the Saralbhanga river on • It is in the same family as the virus that causes
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the east. It is famous for Golden Langur, an Ebola virus disease.

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• Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats. gold, while the maximum limit will be 4 kg for
The virus spreads among humans through direct individual, 4 kg for Hindu Undivided
contact with the bodily fluids of the patient, Family and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per
surfaces and materials fiscal (April-March) notified by the government
from time to time.
Q.16) Ans: a
Exp: Q.19) Ans: c
• Quit India movement and Rise of future Exp:
leaders: This movement also gave some future Above 3 places are among the 4 new Ramsar sites
prominent leaders such as Biku Patnaik, Aruna declared under the Ramsar Convention.
Asif Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kriplani, J.P.
Narayan, etc. These leaders were helping the
movement through underground activities.
Q.17) Ans: d
Exp:
• The Chakmas and Hajongs, originally residents of
the Chittagong Hill Tracts of former East Pakistan,
had to flee when their land was submerged by the
Kaptai dam project in the 1960s.
• The migrants were settled with a rehabilitation
plan and allotted permanent land and provided
with financial assistance depending on the size of
their families to help rebuild their lives.
• As per the 2011 census, there are 47,471 • Haryana’s Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is
Chakmas and Hajongs in Arunachal Pradesh. a human-made freshwater wetland. It is also the
largest in Haryana. Over 250 bird species use the
Q.18) Ans: c sanctuary throughout the year as a resting and
Exp: roosting site. The site supports more than 10
• Statement 1 is NOT CORRECT. Sovereign Gold globally threatened species including the
Bond Scheme will to help reduce India’s over endangered Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle,
dependence on gold imports but not drastically. Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and Black-bellied Tern.
• Statement 2 is NOT CORRECT. Holder of the bond • The Sultanpur National Park in Haryana supports
will earn fixed rate of 2.5% per annum, payable more than 220 species of resident, winter
semi-annually. The interest on Gold Bonds shall migratory and local migratory waterbirds at
be taxable as per the provision of the Income Tax critical stages of their life cycles. More than 10 of
Act, 1961. these are globally threatened, including the
• Statement 3 is CORRECT. Bonds can be used as critically endangered sociable lapwing, and the
collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio endangered Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon,
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is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated

in
Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Black-bellied Tern.

by the Reserve Bank from time to time. • The Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat lies
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• The bonds will be restricted for sale to resident

on the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320
l.o
Indian entities, including individuals, HUFs, trusts, bird species can be found here. The wetland
universities and charitable institutions.
ria
supports more than 30 threatened waterbird

• Denomination and tenor: The bonds will be
species, such as the critically endangered White-
e
denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with rumped Vulture and Sociable Lapwing, and the
at
a basic unit of 1 gram. The tenor will be for vulnerable Sarus Crane, Common Pochard and
cm
a period of 8 years with exit option from the 5th Lesser White-fronted Goose.
year to be exercised on the interest payment
• The Wadhvana Wetland in Gujarat is
ps
dates.
internationally important for its birdlife as it
• Minimum and Maximum limit: The minimum
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provides wintering ground to migratory

permissible investment limit will be 1 gram of
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waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate

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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
on the Central Asian Flyway. They include some • Workmen solely engaged in routine service duties
threatened or near-threatened species such as would not be eligible.
the endangered Pallas’s fish-Eagle, the vulnerable
Common Pochard, and the near-threatened
Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-headed Fish-eagle and
Ferruginous Duck.
Q.20) Ans: a
Exp:
About the SUJALAM
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti began ‘SUJALAM’, a ‘100
days campaign’ as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Q.22) Ans: c
Mahotsav’ celebrations to create more and more Exp:
ODF Plus villages by undertaking waste water The Hazaras
management at village level particularly through • The Hazaras are a Persian-speaking ethnic
creation of 1 million Soak-pits and also other Grey group native to, and primarily residing in
water management activities. the Hazarajat region in central Afghanistan and
• The effort of campaign would be directed towards generally scattered throughout Afghanistan.
achieving the ODF plus status for villages across • They are one of the third largest ethnic groups in
the country in an accelerated manner in a short Afghanistan, and are also a significant minority
time. The Campaign has started from today i.e. group in neighbouring Pakistan
25th August, 2021 and will continue to run for the • Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire in the early
next 100 days. 16th century, records the name Hazara in his
• The campaign will not only build desired autobiography. He referred to the populace of a
infrastructure i.e. soak pit for management of region called Hazaristan, located west of
greywater in villages but will also aid in the Kabulistan region. Hazaras are considered to
sustainable management of waterbodies. The be one of the most oppressed groups in
disposal of waste water and clogging of Afghanistan.
waterbodies in the villages or on the outskirts of
the villages remain one of the major problems. Q.23) Ans: c
The Campaign would help in management of the Exp:
wastewater and in turn would help to revive the • Statement 1 is correct: Yuktadhara is a new
waterbodies. geospatial planning portal. It will help in
facilitating new MGNREGA assets using remote
Q.21) Ans: d sensing and geographic information system-based
Exp: data. The portal will serve as a repository of assets
Both Statements are correct (geotags) created under various national rural
• The Prime Minister's Shram Awards were development programmes i.e. MGNREGA,
instituted in 1975 by the Government of India This Integrated Watershed Management Programme,
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national award is conferred on workers for Per Drop More Crop programme and Rashtriya
in
outstanding contributions that improve Krishi Vikas Yojana, along with field photographs.
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productivity, innovation, and indigenization, • Statement 2 is correct: The ''Yuktdhara'' portal

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resulting in saving foreign exchange. was launched by Ministry of Rural Development

The Awards will be presented to the workmen as
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and Panchayati Raj. Yuktdhara based plans will be

defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and prepared by grassroot functionary and verified by
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employed in the Departmental Undertakings of the appropriate authorities for relevance and
at
Central and State Governments, Central and State resource allocation. This would ensure quality of
cm
Public Sector Undertakings as also private sector and plan and enable a long-term monitoring of the
having minimum of 500 employees on roll and assets created over the years.
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engaged in manufacturing and productive processes

and whose performance is assessable.
.u
Q.24) Ans: b
Exp:
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Changpa Tribe • His philosophy always advocated social equality,

• The Changpa are a semi-nomadic Tibetan education for all, and spiritual enlightenment. In
people found mainly in 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma
the Changtang in Ladakh. The Changpas Paripalana Yogam (SNDP).
are nomadic pastoralists who predominantly rear • Narayana Guru, himself from the Ezhava caste,
sheep and goats. took a stone from the Neyyar river and installed it
• The Changpa nomads have been shepherding as a Sivalinga at Aruvippuram in 1888. It was
their world-class pashmina goats for centuries intended to show that consecration of an idol was
and these goats are one of their main sources of not the monopoly of the higher castes. With this
income. The famous pashmina wool is only he began a revolution that soon led to the
obtained from a special breed of goats known removal of many discriminations in Kerala’s
as ChangRa, meaning the goat of the Changpas. society.
These ChangRa are grazed on cold and high lands • The movement (Aruvippuram movement) drew
to produce fine pashmina wool. the famous poet Kumaran Asan as a disciple of
• The Changpa nomads are Buddhists. One of the Narayana Guru. In 1889, the Aruvippuram Kshetra
main purifying rituals of the Changpas is known Yogam was formed which was decided to expand
as Jyabten where they make different kinds of into a big organisation to help the Ezhavas to
food as an offering to Lord progress materially as well as spiritually.
Padmasambhava. Tangpe Chona is a festival of On the Aug 23 the birth anniversary of Sree Narayana
Changpas. Guru was celebrated in Kerala.
Q.25) Ans: d Q.26) Ans: b

Exp: Exp:
About Sree Narayana Guru • The World Meteorological Organization issued the
first state of the climate report in 1993. The
report was initiated due to the concerns raised at
that time about projected climate change. Major
findings of the report are:-
• In 2020, the Global Mean surface
Temperature(GMST) was 1.2 ± 0.1 °C warmer than
the pre-industrial baseline (1850-1900). Despite
developing La Niña cooling conditions, 2020 was
one of the three warmest years on record as per
• Sree Narayana Guru was born on August 22, 1856 the report.
in the pretty hamlet of Chempazhanthi near • Emission and Concentrations of the major
Thiruvananthapuram. His father was Madan Asan, greenhouse gases in the air increased during the
a farmer, and mother Kutti Amma and he had 2019- 2020 phase.
three sisters. He was named by his father as • Heating of the oceans(melting of glaciers) and
Narayanan; he affectionately called him Nanu, a rising of the sea levels(La Lina induced cooling)
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occurring simultaneously.
in
short name for Narayanan.

• • The most acute impacts of weather and climate
nl
Right from his childhood Nanu showed great

interest in the stories narrated to him by his are felt during extreme meteorological events
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father from the great epic Ramayana and such as heavy rain and snow, droughts,
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Mahabharata. After this elementary education he heatwaves, cold waves, and storms, including
became the disciple of Raman Pillai Asan, a great tropical storms.
e
Sanskrit scholar of Puthuppally Varanappally

at
family in Central Travancore at the age of 21. Q.27) Ans: c

cm
• He started Sree Narayana Guru Dharma Exp:

Paripalana (SNDP) Movement among the Ezhavas • Statement 1 is correct: The Climate Change
ps
of Kerala, who were a backward caste of toddy- Performance Index published by Germanwatch,
.u
tappers and were considered to be untouchables, CAN International and the NewClimate Institute
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denied education and entry into temples.

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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
evaluates and compares the climate protection – “bottom-up” and “top-down” approaches,
performance of 57 countries and the EU. which primarily have been used to assess the
• Statement 2 is incorrect: It has been published economic potential
annually since 2005 and is an independent • Bottom-up studies are based on assessment of
monitoring tool to track climate change mitigation mitigation options, emphasizing specific
practices of 57 countries and the EU. technologies and regulations. They are typically
• Statement 3 is correct: India is ranked at 10th sectoral studies taking the macro-economy as
place in the 'Climate Change Performance Index unchanged. Sector estimates have been
(CCPI) 2021', released on 7th December 2020, aggregated, as in the TAR, to provide an estimate
with a score of 63.98. It is for the second time in a of global mitigation potential for this assessment
row that India emerged among the top 10 • Top-down studies assess the economy-wide
countries with higher climate performance from potential of mitigation options. They use globally
among 58 economies. consistent frameworks and aggregated
information about mitigation options and capture
Q.28) Ans: c macro- economic and market feedbacks.
Exp:
• The term decoupling refers to breaking the link Q.30) Ans: c
between “environmental bads” and “economic Exp:
goods.” Decoupling environmental pressures from • Statement 1 is correct: The objective of the
economic growth is one of the main objectives of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) is
the OECD Environmental Strategy for the First to better understand past, present and future
Decade of the 21st Century, adopted by OECD climate changes arising from natural, unforced
Environment Ministers in the starting of the variability or in response to changes in radiative
millennium. forcing in a multi-model context. This
• Decoupling occurs when the growth rate of an understanding includes assessments of model
environmental pressure is less than that of its performance during the historical period and
economic driving force (e.g. GDP) over a given quantifications of the causes of the spread in
period. Decoupling can be either absolute or future projections.
relative. • Statement 2 is correct: The European Space
• Absolute decoupling is said to occur when the Agency has been selected by the World Climate
environmentally relevant variable is stable or Research Programme (WCRP) as the host for a
decreasing while the economic driving force is new Coupled Model Intercomparison Project
growing. (CMIP) International Project Office (IPO), which
• Decoupling is said to be relative when the growth should be fully operational from September 2021.
rate of the environmentally relevant variable is
positive, but less than the growth rate of the Q.31) Ans: a
economic variable. Exp:
• India is testing a Swedish technology —
torrefaction that can convert rice stubble into
e
Q.29) Ans: a ‘bio-coal’. The Office of the Principal Scientific

in
Exp: Advisor (PSA) to Government of India has funded

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• The concept of “mitigation potential” has been a pilot project in Punjab to evaluate the feasibility
l.o
developed to assess the scale of GHG reductions of the technology. Bioendev, a Swedish company,
has set up a pilot plant at the National Agri-Food
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that could be made, relative to emission

baselines, for a given level of carbon price Biotechnology Institute in Mohali.
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(expressed in cost per unit of carbon dioxide • It is a thermal process used to produce high-
at
equivalent emissions avoided or reduced). grade solid biofuels from various streams of
cm
Mitigation potential is further differentiated in woody biomass or agro residues.

terms of “market potential” and “economic • The end product is a stable, homogeneous, high
ps
potential”. quality solid biofuel with far greater

• Mitigation potential is estimated using different energy density and calorific value than the original
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types of approaches. There are two broad classes feedstock, providing significant benefits in
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logistics, handling and storage, as well as opening • While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that
up a wide range of potential uses. cause acid rain is from natural sources such as
volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of
Q.32) Ans: a fossil fuels. The major sources of SO2 and NOX in
Exp: the atmosphere are:
• Statement 1 is correct: Basel Convention on the
Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. It is
an international treaty that aims to reduce the
movement of hazardous waste between
countries.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Basel agreement is not
legally binding. It particularly focuses on
preventing transfer of hazardous waste from
developed to less developed countries. • Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.
• Recently, the 14th meeting of the Basel
Convention, which lays down guidelines on the • Two thirds of SO2 and one fourth of NOX in the
movement of hazardous waste, concluded in atmosphere come from electric power
Geneva on the 10th May, 2019 after two weeks of generators.
negotiations involving 187 countries. • Vehicles and heavy equipment.
• The Geneva meeting amended the 1989 Basel • Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.
Convention on the control of hazardous wastes • Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH
to include plastic waste in a legally-binding scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a
framework. The new amendment would substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is;
empower developing countries to refuse the higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the
“dumping plastic waste” by others. more alkaline it is. Normal rain has a pH of about
• The meeting also undertook to eliminate two 5.6; it is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide
toxic chemical groups — Dicofol and (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic
Perfluorooctanoic Acid, plus related compounds. acid. Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and
The latter has been used in a wide variety of 4.4.
industrial and domestic applications including
non-stick cookware and food processing Q.34) Ans: c
equipment, as well as carpets, paper and paints. Exp:
• Eutrophication, the gradual increase in the
Q.33) Ans: d concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other
Exp: plant nutrients in an aging aquatic ecosystem such
About Acid Rain as a lake. The productivity or fertility of such an
• Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ecosystem naturally increases as the amount of
nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the organic material that can be broken down into
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atmosphere and transported by wind and air nutrients increases.

in
currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, • The most common nutrients causing
nl
oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and eutrophication are nitrogen N and phosphorus P.
l.o
nitric acids. These then mix with water and other The main source of nitrogen pollutants is run-off
materials before falling to the ground. from agricultural land, whereas most phosphorus
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• Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances pollution comes from households and industry,
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and across borders making acid rain a problem for including phosphorus-based detergents.
at
everyone and not just those who live close to • Option A relates to the process of
cm
these sources. Bioaccumulation, which is the gradual

accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or
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other chemicals, in an organism. Bioaccumulation

occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a
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rate faster than that at which the substance is lost • Statement 2 is incorrect: The United States of
or eliminated by catabolism and excretion. America tops the chart, followed by the European
• Option B related to the process of Union and China.
Biomagnification, also known as bio amplification
or biological magnification, is any concentration of
a toxin, such as pesticides, in the tissues of
tolerant organisms at successively higher levels in
a food chain.
Q.35) Ans: d
Exp:
Basel Convention
• The Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 and it
came into force in 1992. It is the most
comprehensive global environmental agreement
on hazardous wastes and other wastes.
Cumulative Emissions 1751- 2017
• The Convention aims to protect human health and
the environment against the adverse effects
Q.37) Ans: a
resulting from the generation, transboundary
Exp:
movements and management of hazardous
wastes and other wastes.
• Statement 1 is correct : Greenhouse gas intensity
• The Convention covers toxic, poisonous,
is a ratio comparing the greenhouse gas (GHG)
explosive, corrosive, flammable, ecotoxic and
emissions of an activity or economic sector to the
infectious wastes. Parties also have an obligation
economic value it generates. In recent years,
to minimize the quantities that are transported, to
many countries have calculated the GHG intensity
treat and dispose of wastes as close as possible to
of their economic sectors as a basis for policy
their place of generation and to prevent or
making.
minimize the generation of wastes at source.
GHG intensity = (GHGs released in energy
Examples of wastes regulated by the Basel
consumption for production. + GHGs released in
Convention:
energy consumption for overhead. + GHGs released
· Biomedical and Healthcare wastes
by transport used for business travel. + Additional
· Used oils
GHGs released from production process).
· Used lead batteries
• Statement 2 is correct : It is highest in Russia and
· Persistent Organic Pollutant Wastes
China with the United States below the world
· Polychlorinated Biphenyls
average.
· Chemical wastes generated by industries and
other consumers.
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in
Q.36) Ans: a
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Exp:
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• Statement 1 is correct: Cumulative Emission is the

level of GHG gases concentration in the
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atmosphere, not the current level of emissions,

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which determines the extent of the warming

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effect from their presence in the atmosphere. In

cm
other words, it is the cumulative effect of past

emissions from all sources that matters – the
Q.38) Ans: b
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stock of CO2 rather than the flow. This is based on

Exp:
territorial emissions, which do not account for
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emissions embedded in traded goods.

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• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Global Warming powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat in the
Potential (GWP) was developed to allow atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
comparisons of the global warming impacts of They are stronger than naturally occurring
different gases and not only the greenhouse gases and their use is regulated.
GHGs. Specifically, it is a measure of how much • Like other long-lived greenhouse gases,
energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb fluorinated gases are well-mixed in the
over a given period of time, relative to the atmosphere, spreading around the world after
emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2). they're emitted. Fluorinated gases are removed
• Statement 2 is correct: Gases with a higher GWP from the atmosphere only when they are
absorb more energy, per pound, than gases with a destroyed by sunlight in the far upper
lower GWP, and thus contribute more to warming atmosphere.
earth.
Carbon dioxide with a GWP of ‘1’ serves as a baseline Q.41) Ans: d
for other GWP values. The larger the GWP, the more Exp:
the gas causes. For example, Methane’s 100-year • Plastic packaging, as per the rules divided into
GWP is 21, which means methane will cause 21 times three categories .
as much warming as an equivalent mass of carbon o Category 1: “Rigid” plastic
dioxide over a 100- year time period. o Category 2: “Flexible plastic packaging of a
single layer or multilayer (more than one layer
Q.39) Ans: d with different types of plastic), plastic sheets
Exp: and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags
Climate forcing or pouches.
• Climate forcing is the physical process of affecting o Category 3: It is called multilayered plastic
the climate on the Earth through a number of packaging, which has at least one layer of
forcing factors. These factors are specifically plastic and at least one layer of material other
known as forcings because they drive the climate than plastic.
to change, and it is important to note that these • Producers of plastic would be obliged to declare
forcings exist outside of the existing climate to the government, via a centralised website, how
system. much plastic they produce annually.
• The climate system includes the hydrosphere, • Companies would have to collect at least 35% of
land surface, the cryosphere, the biosphere, the target in 2021-22, 70 %by 2022-23 and 100
and atmosphere. Examples of some of the most • In2024, a minimum of 50% of their rigid plastic
important types of forcings include: variations (category 1) would have to as would 30% of their
in solar radiation levels, volcanic eruptions, category 2 and 3 plastic.
changing albedo, and changing levels • Every year would see progressively higher targets
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. and after 2026-27, 80% of their category 1 and
Each of these are considered external forcings 60% of the other two categories would need to be
because these events change independently of the recycled.
climate, perhaps as a result of changes in solar activity • If entities cannot fulfil their obligations, they
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or human-caused fossil fuel combustion. would on a “case basis by case ” be permitted to

in
buy certificates making up for their shortfall from

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Q.40) Ans: b organisations that have used recycled content in

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Exp: excess of their obligation.

Fluorinated Gases • The CPCB would develop a “mechanism ” for such
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• In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent a portal .

• Non-compliance would not invite a traditional
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and longest lasting type of greenhouse

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gases emitted by human activities. There are four fine. Instead an “environmental compensation”
cm
main categories of fluorinated gases— would be levied, though the rules do not specify
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons how much this compensation would be.
ps
(PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen

trifluoride (NF3) Q.42) Ans: a
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• Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are a Exp:

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family of gases containing fluorine. They are

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• The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based Narayan was posthumously conferred with India’s
autonomous intergovernmental organisation highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1999 .
established in the framework of the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development Q.44) Ans: a
(OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. Exp:
• The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to • Many of the big questions in the social sciences
physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as deal with cause and effect. How does immigration
serving as an information source on statistics affect pay and employment levels? How does a
about the international oil market and other longer education affect someone’s future
energy sectors. income? These questions are difficult to answer
• It is best known for the publication of its annual because we have nothing to use as a comparison.
World Energy Outlook. We do not know what would have happened if
• It has 30 members at present. The International there had been less immigration or if that person
Energy Agency family also includes eight had not continued studying.
association countries. A candidate country must • However, this year’s Laureates have shown that it
be a country of the OECD (1961). But all OECD is possible to answer these and similar questions
members are not IEA members. using natural experiments. The key is to use
• India became an Associate member of IEA in situations in which chance events or policy
March 2017 but it was in engagement with IEA changes result in groups of people being treated
long before its association with the organization. differently, in a way that resembles clinical trials
in medicine.
Q.43) Ans: d • Using natural experiments, David Card has
Exp: analysed the labour market effects of minimum
• He is also known as “Lok Nayak”. People also wages, immigration and education. His studies
affectionately called him JP. He was a freedom from the early 1990s challenged conventional
fighter and one of the pioneers of the socialist wisdom, leading to new analyses and additional
movement in India. He was a man of great insights. The results showed, among other things,
intellect and ethical values and standards. that increasing the minimum wage does not
• Contributions of JP Narayan: necessarily lead to fewer jobs. We now know that
• He worked relentlessly for the poor and the the incomes of people who were born in a
underprivileged and became a symbol in the fight country can benefit from new immigration, while
against corruption, anti-democratic conduct. people who immigrated at an earlier time risk
• He fought against the repressive practices of being negatively affected. We have also realised
Indira Gandhi’s government Bhoodan in the that resources in schools are far more important
1970s. Furthermore, he also created support for for students’ future labour market success than
the movement. However, his life had a transition was previously thought.
from socialism to Sarvodaya. This also led to the
initiation of the Total Revolution. Total Revolution Q.45) Ans: d
• It is a revolution against the Indira Gandhi Regime, Exp:
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as she was found guilty of violating electoral laws The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
in
by the Allahabad High Court. JP advocated a released a report titled the State of Climate Services
nl
program of social transformation which he report 2021. It focuses on Terrestrial Water Storage.
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termed ‘Sampoorna (total revolution) in 1974 Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS):

against corruption in public life. This resulted in • TWS is the sum of all water on the land surface
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the defeat of the Indira Gandhi government in and in the subsurface, i.e. surface water, soil
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1977 and the installation of the first-ever non- moisture, snow and ice and groundwater.
at
Congress government at the Centre.What is so • Water resources across the world are under
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great was his stature, the position President of tremendous pressure due to human and
Prime minister or was within his reach, but he naturally-induced stressors.
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chose to work for the people at the grassroots • These include population growth, urbanisation
level. This made him a true Lok Nayak.Jayaprakash and decreasing availability of freshwater.
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• Extreme weather events too have been Kisan Suvidha Mobile application which was available
responsible for the pressure on water resources in 9 languages viz. English, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati,
realised across sectors and regions Oriya, Punjabi, Marathi, Bangla and Telugu which
Global Scenario: gives information on the weather of the current day
• TWS dropped at a rate of 1 cm per year in 20 and next 5 days, dealers, market prices, agro
years (2002-2021). advisories, plant protection, IPM Practices, etc.
• The biggest losses have occurred in Antarctica and Q.47) Ans: c
Greenland. But many highly populated, lower Exp:
latitude locations have also experienced TWS • Statement 1 is correct : Rapid urbanization and
losses. development has led to the degradation of the
Indian Scenario: environment in urban areas. USERS has been
• The TWS has been lost at a rate of at least 3 cm created as a new ‘pressure mechanism’, which
per year. In some regions, the loss has been over highlights the issue and facilitates information
4 cm per year too. sharing on the subject thereby enabling adoption
• India has recorded the highest loss in terrestrial of better standards/practices. The project aims to
water storage if the loss of water storage in develop an analytical tool to measure the
Antarctica and Greenland is excluded. performance with respect to basic services
• India is the ‘topmost hotspot of TWS loss’. The delivery in local bodies (Delhi Jal Board, Municipal
northern part of India has experienced the Corporation of Delhi, Kanpur Jal Sansthan and
maximum loss within the country. Kanpur Nagar Nigam) of Delhi and Kanpur,
identified as pilot cities
World Meteorological Organization(WMO) • Statement 2 is correct : The Urban Services
• WMO is an intergovernmental organization with a Environmental Rating System (USERS) Project
membership of 192 Member States and funded by UNDP, executed by the Ministry of
Territories. Environment Forest and Climate Change and
• It originated from the International implemented by Tata Energy Research Institute.
Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was The Performance Measurement (PM) tool was
established after the 1873 Vienna International developed through a set of performance
Meteorological Congress . measurement indicators that are benchmarked
• Established by the ratification of the WMO against set targets using the input-output
Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the efficiency outcome framework.
specialized agency of the United Nations for
meteorology (weather and climate), operational Q.48) Ans: d
hydrology and related geophysical sciences.’ Exp:
• It’s Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland. • The Government of India has instituted a scheme
for labeling of environment friendly products to
be known as ECO Mark. The scheme is being
Q.46) Ans: a administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Exp: • The Scheme is being operated on a national basis
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• Statement 1 is correct : The PUSA KRISHI mobile and provides certification and labeling for house-
in
app helps the farmers to find easy solutions to hold and other consumer products which meet
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problems in their farm fields and get information certain environmental criteria along with quality
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about weather and accordingly take measures to requirements prescribed in relevant Indian
save crops.It also offers information related to Standards for the product
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new varieties of crops developed by Indian • The Ecomark Scheme covers various product
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Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), resource categories like Soaps and Detergents, Paints, Food
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conserving cultivation practices as well as farm Items, lubricating oils, Packaging

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machinery and its implementation will help in materials/Package, Architectural Paints and
increasing returns to farmers.Details of 185 Powder Coatings, Batteries, Electrical and
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technologies are available on Pusa Krishi Mobile electronic goods, Food Additives, Wood
App Substitutes, Cosmetics, Aerosols and Propellants,
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• Statement 2 is incorrect : Pusa Krishi Mobile App Plastic Products, Textiles, Fire-extinguisher,
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is available in two languages viz., Hindi and English Leather and Coir & Coir Products
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Q.49) Ans: c business-related information for achieving the

Exp: objective set by the National Bee Board under the
• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Central Pollution NBH Mission
Control Board (CPCB) has developed a The portal enables consumers to know the source of
Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index honey and assure quality of the products.
(CEPI). CPCB has done a nation wide • Statement 2 is correct : The technical and banking
environmental assessment of Industrial Clusters partner for development of this digital platform is
based on CEPI and 43 such industrial clusters Indian Bank. An MoU between National Bee Board
having CEPI greater than 70, on a scale of 0 to (NBB) and Indian Bank was signed for this project.
100, have been identified as critically polluted.
The data refers to the Comprehensive Environmental Q.51) Ans: b
Pollution Index (CEPI) scores of the critically polluted Exp:
industrial clusters/areas. The index captures the • It is a six Months Mentoring Program promoting
various dimensions of the environment including air, agri start-ups with innovative ideas between India
water and land. & Brazil. India and Brazil are the growing
Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI), economies and agriculture forms the backbone of
which is a rational number to characterize the both economies. Innovation and entrepreneurship
environmental quality at a given location following in the agri sector are one of the key reasons for
the algorithm of source, pathway and receptor have their growth, thereby promoting agri start-ups
been developed with innovative ideas. To foster excellent
• Statement 2 is incorrect: CEPI provides innovative research and development facilities
comprehensive information on the extent and across borders “Maitri” was introduced to harness
types of pollution caused by a particular industrial the best of talent, technologies and promote
cluster, which then can be used to identify technology transfer & market access across both
appropriate pollution mitigation measures. The nations for better economic growth and strong
source-pathway-receptor approach takes into bilateral relations.
account the complete geography that is affected • The Pusa Krishi Incubator, of ICAR- Indian
by a polluting industry. As this index is a Agricultural Research Institute had launched the
quantitative approach to understanding certain “Maitri - Indo-Brazil Agri-Tech Cross Border
qualitative impacts caused by the polluting Incubation Programme” at the National
industry, monitoring authorities should monitor Agricultural Science Centre Complex, provide
pollution and maintain proper records. With agritech startups access to the global market
increasing industrial activity in India, Cumulative through mutual benefits and shared learning.
Impact Assessment is gaining attention. CEPI is an • The agritech startups were selected on the basis
effective tool to concisely represent the wide and of Startup India guidelines, where the products or
diversified effects of pollution using numbers. services offered by the startups are commercially
viable.The selected startups will be a part of a six-
Q.50) Ans: c month programme in India and Brazil, where they
Exp: will get to experience workshops, networking
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• Statement 1 is correct : The National Bee Board events and mentorship opportunities, as well as
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(NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers pitch ideas to investors and other stakeholders in
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Welfare under National Beekeeping & Honey both countries.

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Mission (NBHM) launched the Madhukranti Portal

for Traceability of Source of Honey and Other Hive Q.52) Ans: d
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Products with the help of a digital platform. It has Exp:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: National Bee Board
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the provision of online registration to achieve a

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traceability source of Honey and other beehive (NBB), a registered society under the Societies
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products. An initiative to leverage high quality Registration Act XXI of 1860, was reconstituted by
Honey Production meeting international the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation,
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standards. All Beekeepers and Entrepreneurs Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
dealing in honey production, processing, Govt. Of India with public private partnership in
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packaging, marketing and exporting are requested June, 2006.

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to register on the portal and provide authentic

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o National Bee Board (NBB) envisages overall Q.54) Ans: b

development of Beekeeping by promoting Exp:
Scientific Beekeeping in India to increase the • Statement 1 is incorrect: The Union Ministry of
productivity of crops through pollination and Textiles launched the Certified Jute Seeds
increase the Honey production for increasing the Distribution Plan and Jute Farmers Awareness
income of the Beekeepers/ Farmers. Workshop, organised at ICAR-CRIJAF Institute at
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Secretary (A C & FW), Barrackpore, West Bengal, to urge the farmers to
Deptt. of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers use certified seeds to increase their income and
Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers productivity and contribute to the country in Jute
Welfare is the ex- officio chairman of the NBB. A diversified and Technical textile products.
Beekeeping Development Board also functioned • Statement 2 is correct : The Improved Cultivation
under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (A & C) to and Advanced Retting Exercise for Jute (Jute –
coordinate the Beekeeping activities. ICARE) was launched in 2015 to
popularize/introduce some of the better
Q.53) Ans: d agronomic practices and recently developed
Exp: microbial assisted retting among farmers
• The Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers intensively in a few blocks in West Bengal and
Right Act, 2001 (PPVFR Act) is an Act of Assam on pilot basis. The improved agronomic
the Parliament of India that was enacted to practices included -- line sowing of jute using seed
provide for the establishment of an effective drill to increase yield by 10-15%; weed
system for protection of plant varieties, the rights management in jute by wheel hoeing/nail weeder
of farmers and plant breeders, and to encourage instead of hand weeding for reducing the cost of
the development and cultivation of new varieties weeding; and distribution of quality certified
of plants seeds at 50% subsidy.
• ITPGRFA also known as Seed Treaty, is a • ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and
comprehensive international agreement for Allied Fibers (ICAR-CRIJAF), established in 1953 as
ensuring food security through the conservation, Jute Agricultural Research Institute (JARI), is only
exchange and sustainable use of the world's plant research institute on jute & allied fibres crops in
genetic resources for food and agriculture India and is a constituent unit of Indian Council of
(PGRFA), as well as the fair and equitable benefit Agricultural Research (ICAR) an Autonomous Body
sharing arising from its use. It also recognizes under Department of Agricultural Research &
farmers' rights, subject to national laws. Education (DARE) under Ministry of Agriculture
• The Intellectual Property Right granted under PPV and Farmers Welfare Government of India. This
& FR Act, 2001 is a dual right – one is for the institute is located in Barrackpore, Kolkata.
variety and the other is for the denomination
assigned to it by the breeder. The rights granted Q.55) Ans: c
under this Act are heritable and assignable and Exp:
only registration of a plant variety confers the • Statement 1 is correct : Biotechnology Industry
right. Farmers are entitled to save, use, sow, re- Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-
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sow, exchange or sell their farm produce including profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector
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seed of a registered variety in an unbranded Enterprise, set up by Department of

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manner. Farmers' varieties are eligible for Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an
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registration and farmers are totally exempted Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the
from payment of any fee in any proceedings emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake
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under this Act. Farmers can claim for strategic research and innovation, addressing
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compensation if the registered variety fails to nationally relevant product development needs.
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provide expected performance under given Vision: “To Stimulate, foster and enhance the strategic
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conditions. The rights granted under this Act are research and innovation capabilities of the Indian
exclusive right to produce, sell, market, distribute, biotech industry, particularly start-ups and SME’s, for
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import and export the variety. creation of affordable products addressing the needs
of the largest section of society”.
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• Statement 2 is correct : The National Biopharma

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Mission (NBM) is an industry-academia

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collaborative mission for accelerating MANAGE-CIA, Centre for Innovation and

biopharmaceutical development in the Agripreneurship is a Centre of Excellence and
country being implemented by the Biotechnology Knowledge Partner to Ministry of Agriculture and
Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). Farmers’ Welfare for Implementation of RKVY-
BIRAC is an industry-academia interface and RAFTAAR Scheme. As a knowledge partner,
implements its mandate through a wide range of MANAGE will handhold and demonstrate best
impact initiatives, be it providing access to risk capital practices to RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness
through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP Incubators (R-ABI) which includes Indian institute
management and handholding schemes that help of Millet Research (IIMR), Tamil Nadu Agriculture
bring innovation excellence to the biotech firms and University (TNAU), Acharya N. G. Ranga
make them globally competitive. Agricultural University (ANGRAU) and Kerala
Agriculture University (KAU).
Q.56) Ans: d • Statement 2 is incorrect: Under this scheme,
Exp: funds are released to the State Governments/UTs
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, on the basis of projects related to agriculture and
launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New allied sectors, approved by the State Level
India Challenges, to spur applied research and Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by the
innovation in Indian MSMEs and startups. Chief Secretary of the concerned State/UT which
• The programme will be driven by Indian Space is the empowered body to approve projects for
Research Organization (ISRO), four ministries— implementation under this scheme. There is an
Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Food Processing Agri-Entrepreneurship & innovation component in
Industries; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; RKVY-RAFTAAR which is operated by the
and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs—and Department of Agriculture, Cooperation &
associated industries to facilitate innovative Farmers Welfare.
solutions to sectoral problems
• The objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC Q.58) Ans: c
program is to proactively collaborate with Exp:
esteemed Ministries and the associated industries • Women scientists from the Indian Agricultural
to catalyse research, innovation and facilitate Research Institute (IARI) of ICAR developed
innovative solutions to sectoral problems. The Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF & a technology
objective is also to provide a steady stream of related to extraction of gluten from wheat dough
innovative products & solutions where the Central and its regeneration. The 10x10x10 ft cold store
Government Ministries / Departments will structure designed by the scientists can stock
become the potential first buyers. The enough vegetables and fruits to fully load a Tata
Atmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC program is in line 407 mini truck It is a 100% solar-powered battery-
with the Honourable Prime Minister’s mandate of less cold store that can preserve around 2 tonnes
“Make in India”, “Startup India”, “Atmanirbhar of freshly-harvested produce at 3-4°C during the
Bharat” to fast track the growth of the Indian day and 8-12°C at night time.
MSME sector. Both the MSMEs and Startups can It minimises the post-harvest losses, by having a
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apply for the Atmanirbhar Bharat ARISE- ANIC cold store at the farm itself and running on solar
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initiative power without any electricity from the grid.

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Q.57) Ans: a Q.59) Ans: a

Exp: Exp:
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• Statement 1 is correct: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas • Statement 1 is correct : ReCAAP is the first
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Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture regional government-to-government agreement

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and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) to promote and enhance cooperation against
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with broad objectives of making farming a piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia.
remunerative economic activity through The regional body has its headquarters in
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strengthening the farmer’s effort, risk mitigation Singapore.

with major focus on development and creation of • statement 2 is incorrect : The agreement was
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pre & post-harvest infrastructure. launched in November 2006 with 14 Asian

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contracting parties. The number has increased to

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21 today (Aug, 2021), including European across multiple sectors including transportation,
countries like Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, industrial/ commercial /residential buildings, and
and the United Kingdom, Australia, and the long-term energy storage for the grid in reversible
United States. systems.
Q.60) Ans: a Q.62) Ans: a

Exp: Exp:
Stake networking • Statement 1 is correct : The total installed
• The Pensilungpa Glacier located in Ladakh’s renewable energy capacity in India, excluding
Zanskar Valley is retreating due to increase in large hydro, has recently crossed the mile-stone
temperature and decrease in precipitation during of 100 GW and with it India stands at 4th position
winters, a recent study has found. in the world in terms of installed RE capacity, 5th
• ”Based on field observations for glacier mass in solar and 4th in wind in terms of installed
balance collected via stake networking over the capacity
glacier surface from 2016-2019, they assessed the • A total of 643.66 MW of Renewable Energy
impact of climate change through the lens of past capacity was added, taking the cumulative
and present response of the Pensilungpa Glacier, installed RE capacity to 95.66 GW as of May 31,
Zanskar Himalaya, Ladakh. 2021. This includes 41.09 GW of solar capacity,
• In stake networking, a stake made of bamboo, is 39.44 GW of Wind capacity, 10.34 GW of
installed on the glacier surface using the steam Biopower and 4.79 GW of Small Hydro capacity.
drill for mass balance measurement. • Statement 2 is incorrect: Ministry of New and
• The study also points at the significant influence Renewable Energy is responsible for the
of debris cover on the mass balance and retreat of administration and future targets associated with
the glacier's endpoint, especially in summer. renewable energy in India.It is mainly responsible
Furthermore, the mass balance data for the last 3 for research and development, intellectual
years (2016–2019) showed a negative trend with property protection, and international
a small accumulation area ratio. cooperation, promotion, and coordination
in renewable energy sources such as wind
Q.61) Ans: d power, small hydro, biogas, and solar power.
Exp: • World's largest renewable energy expansion
A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or programme is 175 GW till 2022.
other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce • The Government of India has set a target of
electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, the only products 1,75,000 MW installed capacity from renewable
are electricity, water, and heat. sources by the year 2022 which includes 1,00,000
• Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run MW from Solar, 60,000 MW from Wind, 10,000
down or need recharging. They produce electricity MW from Biomass and 5000 MW from Small
and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuel cell Hydro.
consists of two electrodes—a negative electrode • India has also enhanced its ambition to install 450
(or anode) and a positive electrode (or cathode)— GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
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sandwiched around an electrolyte.

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• A fuel, such as hydrogen, is fed to the anode, and Q.63) Ans: b

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air is fed to the cathode. In a hydrogen fuel cell, a Exp:

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catalyst at the anode separates hydrogen • Statement 1 is incorrect : Cogeneration is a very

molecules into protons and electrons, which take efficient technology to generate electricity and
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different paths to the cathode. The electrons go heat. It is also called Combined Heat and Power
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through an external circuit, creating a flow of (CHP) as cogeneration produces heat and
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electricity. Both batteries and fuel cells produce electricity simultaneously.

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direct current (D.C).The protons migrate through o A single type of fuel is used to simultaneously
the electrolyte to the cathode, where they unite generate heat and electricity within a single
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with oxygen and the electrons to produce water unit. It is more efficient and cost-effective
and heat. than generating heat and electricity
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• Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of separately in two different units.
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• Statement 2 is correct : The followings are the o It is one of those rare, naturally-occurring
benefits of Cogeneration:- resources agnostic to climatic conditions, soil
o Increased energy efficiency: Cogeneration is conditions and precipitation levels available in
up to 40% more efficient than the separate 136 species.
generation of heat and power. o India is the second-largest bamboo growing
o Lower emissions as compared to conventional country in the world
sources of energy production.. o The Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance of
o Reduced energy costs: Users of cogeneration 2017 that re-classified bamboo as a grass, has
benefit from higher efficiencies and therefore opened doors to its widespread cultivation and
need less fuel to cover their heating and encouraged many bamboo manufacturing
electricity demand. organisations to mainstream their products.
o Supporting renewable energy: Cogeneration
can run on any renewable fuel and is the most Q.65) Ans: a
cost-effective way of using renewable fuels. Exp:
o Enhanced energy system • Statement 1 is correct: The Department of Rural
resilience: Cogeneration can generate the Development, Ministry of Rural Development
exact amount of electricity and heat needed launched a scheme namely ‘Mahila Kisan
at a certain time in a certain place. This brings Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)’, as a sub
flexibility and resilience to an energy system component of DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya
which has to cope with a growing number of Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission). The
intermittent renewables such as solar and focus of MKSP is on capacitating smallholders to
wind power. adopt sustainable climate resilient agro-ecology
o Economical Benefits: It reduced import and eventually create a pool of skilled community
dependency as high efficiency leads to professionals with the objective to empower
reduced fuel demand women by making systematic investments to
o Reduced transmission and distribution enhance their participation and productivity, as
costs: Cogeneration generates electricity and also create sustainable livelihoods for rural
heat at the spot. Users of cogeneration rely women.
less on electricity from the grid avoiding grid • Statement 2 is incorrect: MKSP in DAY-NRLM is a
costs both at end-user and system level. demand driven programme and there is no
provision of State wise allocation for every
Q.64) Ans: a year.The program is implemented in project mode
Exp: through State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) as
• Statement 1 is correct : Green Gold Project Implementing Agencies
Collection portal aims to provide bamboo artisans,
weavers and entrepreneurs in rural areas with Q.66) Ans: b
market access to Government buyers. It is a Exp:
dedicated portal in the Government e- • The 12th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, a
Marketplace (GeM) for bamboo products . This biennial bilateral maritime exercise between
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dedicated window will provide an electronic Indian Navy and Russian Navy was held in the
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platform for the small manufacturers and niche Baltic Sea. Initiated in 2003, Exercises INDRA
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sellers thereby vastly increasing their reach to NAVY epitomises the long-term strategic
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attract buyers and at the same time will provide relationship between the two navies. This exercise
niche products from trusted sources to the was undertaken as part of the visit of INS Tabar to
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buyers. St Petersburg, Russia to participate in the 325th

• Statement 2 is incorrect: “The Green Gold
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Navy Day celebrations of the Russian Navy.

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Collection” for bamboo products was launched by • Indian Navy and Russian Navy has commenced
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the Union Minister of State for Agriculture. It is the 11th edition of a biennial bilateral maritime
developed in collaboration with GeM and exercise “INDRA NAVY”. The biennial bilateral
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National Bamboo Mission. maritime exercise was conducted in the Bay of

• Bamboo-Green Gold Bengal in 2020. The maritime exercise “INDRA
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o Green Gold, as bamboo is often known, is NAVY” embodies the long-term strategic
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found everywhere in India. relationship between the two Navies.

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Q.67) Ans: c • Following provisions are required by the cities to

Exp: applying for this initiative
• Statement 1 is correct: The Graded Action Plan o Cities with a population of more than 5 lakh
was notified in 2017 for Delhi and the National o Capital cities of states/UTs.
Capital Region (NCR). These are institutionalized o Cities under the Smart Cities Mission.
measures to be taken when air quality
deteriorates, hence works only as an emergency Q.69) Ans: a
measure. The plan does not include action by Exp:
various state governments to be taken throughout • In an endeavour to improve the information flow
the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and and bridge the demand-supply gap in the skilled
combustion emissions. workforce market, the Ministry of Skill
• Statement 2 is correct: GRAP includes the Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) ‘Atma
measures which will be taken by different Nirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping
government agencies to prevent worsening of Air (ASEEM)’ portal to help skilled people find
Quality of Delhi-NCR and prevent PM10 and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
PM2.5 levels to go beyond the ‘moderate’ • Apart from recruiting a skilled workforce that
national Air Quality Index (AQI) category. If air spurs business competitiveness and economic
quality reaches the severe + stage, GRAP talks growth, the Artificial Intelligence-based platform
about shutting down schools and implementing has been envisioned to strengthen their career
the odd-even road-space rationing scheme. When pathways by hand holding them through their
the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the journeys to attain industry-relevant skills and
measures listed have to be followed since the plan explore emerging job opportunities especially in
is incremental in nature. the post COVID era.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The plan requires action
and coordination among 13 different agencies in Q.70) Ans: a
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR Exp:
areas). At the head of the table is the EPCA, • Statement 1 is correct: Geothermal energy is
mandated by the Supreme Court. Before the natural heat from the interior of the earth that
imposition of any measures, EPCA holds a meeting can be used to generate electricity as well as to
with representatives from all NCR states, and a heat up buildings.
call is taken on which actions have to be made o The core of the earth is very hot and it is possible
applicable in which town. to make use of this geothermal energy. These are
areas where there are volcanoes, hot springs, and
Q.68) Ans: b geysers, and methane under the water in the
Exp: oceans and seas.
• The India Cycles4Change Challenge launched in • Statement 2 is incorrect: In India, Northwestern
June 2020 is an initiative to inspire and support Himalayas and the western coast are considered
the cities to implement cycling friendly initiative, geothermal areas. The Geological Survey of India
to encourage cities to experiment cycling and has already identified more than 350 hot spring
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build confidence for a city-level scale-up with the sites, which can be explored as areas to tap
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goal to learn, rather than plan to perfection. The geothermal energy.

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challenge will prepare cities to implement cycling o The Puga valley in the Ladakh region has the
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friendly initiatives in response to the challenges most promising geothermal field.

that the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown. • Statement 3 is incorrect: Geothermal energy can
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• The India Cycles4Change Challenge launched its pose several environmental problems which
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first report to the public—’The Dawn of India’s includes on-site noise, emissions of gas and
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Cycling Revolution’. The report is a celebration of disturbance at drilling sites.

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the cities' efforts in the Challenge so far, and an o The steam contains hydrogen sulphide gas, which
indication of what's to come in future. It has the odour of rotten eggs, and causes air
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documents key milestones achieved by the cities, pollution.

lessons from on-ground tests and their plans for
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o The minerals in the steam are also toxic to fish Q.73) Ans: c
and they are corrosive to pipes, and equipment, Exp:
requiring constant maintenance. • The term decoupling refers to breaking the link
between “environmental bads” and “economic
Q.71) Ans: c goods.” Decoupling environmental pressures from
Exp: economic growth is one of the main objectives of
• The State of Global Air 2020 report is released by the OECD Environmental Strategy for the First
the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and it is the first- Decade of the 21st Century, adopted by OECD
ever comprehensive analysis of air pollution’s Environment Ministers in the starting of the
global impact on newborns. HEI is an millennium.
independent, nonprofit research institute funded Decoupling occurs when the growth rate of an
jointly by the USA’s Environmental Protection environmental pressure is less than that of its
Agency and others. economic driving force (e.g. GDP) over a given
• As per the report air pollution is the largest risk period. Decoupling can be either absolute or relative.
factor for death among all health risks and. o Absolute decoupling is said to occur when the
• India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal are among environmentally relevant variable is stable or
the top ten countries with the highest decreasing while the economic driving force is
PM2.5 exposures in 2019 and all of these growing.
countries experienced increases in outdoor PM2.5 o Decoupling is said to be relative when the growth
levels between 2010 and 2019. rate of the environmentally relevant variable is
• India is also among the top ten countries with positive, but less than the growth rate of the
highest ozone (O3) exposure in 2019. Also, economic variable.
among the 20 most populous countries, India
recorded the highest increase (17%) in O3 Q.74) Ans: b
concentrations in the past ten years. Exp:
Statement 1 is correct: MTCR is the acronym for
Q.72) Ans: d Missile Technology and Control Regime. MTCR is a
Exp: multilateral, consensus – based grouping of 35
• Statement 1 is incorrect: The project seeks to member countries who are voluntarily committed to
integrate biodiversity, climate change and the non-proliferation of missiles capable of carrying
sustainable land management objectives and chemical, biological and nuclear weapons of mass
practices into Indian agriculture. destruction (WMDs). It was established in April 1987
• Statement 2 is correct: The Union government by G-7 countries – USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada,
launched the Green-Ag Project in Mizoram, to Italy, and Japan, to check the spread of unmanned
reduce emissions from agriculture and ensure delivery systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons
sustainable agricultural practices. of above 500kg for more than 300km. In 1992, it was
o Mizoram is one of the five states where the extended for all types of weapons of mass
project will be implemented. Other states include destruction. Now, it has 35 full members including
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and India and 4 “non-adherent members” – Israel,
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Uttarakhand. Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia.

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• Statement 3 and 4 are correct: The Green-Ag Statement 2 is incorrect: Seekho aur Kamao is a Skill
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Project is funded by the Global Environment development scheme for the youth of the 14 – 35
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Facility, while the Department of Agriculture, years age group. Seekho aur Kamao scheme
Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) is implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It
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the national executing agency. Other key players aims at providing employment and employment
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involved in its implementation are the Food and opportunities, improving the employability of existing
at
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Union workers, school dropouts etc. The scheme is
cm
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate implemented through selected expert Project
Change (MoEF&CC). It aims to cover 35 villages Implementing Agencies (PIAs). The scheme ensures
ps
and includes two protected areas — the Dampa placements of a minimum of 75% trainees, out of
Tiger Reserve and the Thorangtlang Wildlife which at least 50% placement is in the organized
.u
Sanctuary. sector. Moreover, Post-placement support of Rs.

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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
2000/- per month is provided to placed trainees under next few days, the President issues a notification
the scheme for two months as placement assistance. for prorogation of the session. However, the
President can also prorogue the House while in
Q.75) Ans: b session.
Exp: Recently, The Lok Sabha was adjourned Sine Die two
Changpa Tribe days ahead of its scheduled date of August 13.,
• The Changpa are a semi-nomadic Tibetan
people found mainly in Q.77) Ans: b
the Changtang in Ladakh. The Changpas Exp:
are nomadic pastoralists who predominantly rear • Statement 1 is incorrect : Recently, the Ministry
sheep and goats. of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
• The Changpa nomads have been shepherding Government of India, has notified the Plastic
their world-class pashmina goats for centuries Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021,
and these goats are one of their main sources of which prohibits identified single use plastic items
income. The famous pashmina wool is only (not all) which have low utility and high littering
obtained from a special breed of goats known potential by 2022. The manufacture, import,
as ChangRa, meaning the goat of the Changpas. stocking, distribution, sale and use of following
These ChangRa are grazed on cold and high lands single-use plastic, including polystyrene and
to produce fine pashmina wool. expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be
• The Changpa nomads are Buddhists. One of the prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:-
main purifying rituals of the Changpas is known o Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for
as Jyabten where they make different kinds of balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream
food as an offering to Lord sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for
Padmasambhava. Tangpe Chona is a festival of decoration;
Changpas. o plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks,
spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or
Q.76) Ans: c packaging films around sweet boxes,
Exp: invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic
Adjournment or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
• A session of Parliament consists of many • Statement 2 is correct : The plastic packaging
meetings. Each meeting of a day consists of two waste, which is not covered under the phase out
sittings, that is, a morning sitting from 11 am to 1 of identified single use plastic items, shall be
pm and post-lunch sitting from 2 pm to 6 pm. collected and managed in an environmentally
• A sitting of Parliament can be terminated by sustainable way through the Extended Producer
adjournment or adjournment sine die or Responsibility of the Producer, importer and
prorogation or dissolution (in the case of the Lok Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste
Sabha). Management Rules, 2016. For effective
• An adjournment suspends the work in a sitting for implementation of Extended Producer
a specified time, which may be hours, days or Responsibility the Guidelines for Extended
e
weeks. Producer Responsibility being brought out have

in
Adjournment Sine Die been given legal force through Plastic Waste
nl
• Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
l.o
of Parliament for an indefinite period. In other • Statement 3 is correct : In the 4th United Nations
words, when the House is adjourned without Environment Assembly held in 2019, India had
ria
naming a day for reassembly, it is called piloted a resolution on addressing single-use

e
adjournment sine die. plastic products pollution, recognizing the urgent

at
• The power of adjournment as well as need for the global community to focus on this
cm
adjournment sine die lies with the presiding very important issue. The adoption of this
officer of the House resolution at UNEA 4 was a significant step.
ps
• The presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman)

declares the House adjourned sine die, when the
.u
Extra Edge by Only IAS

business of a session is completed. Within the
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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
• Statement 1 is correct : The National Clean

• In order to stop littering due to light weight
Energy Fund (NCEF)was constituted in the public
plastic carry bags, with effect from 30th
account of India and is created for funding
September, 2021, the thickness of plastic carry
research and innovative projects in clean energy
bags has been increased from fifty microns to
technologies. The amount required for funding
seventy five microns and to one hundred and
the projects under the NCEF will be collected as
twenty microns with effect from the 31st
coal cess.
December, 2022. This will also allow reuse of
• Statement 2 is correct : The National Clean
plastic carry due to increase in thickness.
Energy Fund is created for funding research and
innovative projects in clean energy technologies.
Q.78) Ans: a Any project/scheme relating to innovative
Exp: methods which adopt clean energy technology
and research & development shall be eligible for
The West Bank funding under the NCEF.
• The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the
Mediterranean coast of Western Asia, bordered Q.80) Ans: c
by Jordan and the Dead Sea to the east and by Exp:
Israel to the south, west and north. • Statement 1 is correct: The National Gene Bank
• The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has a established in the year 1998 to preserve the seeds
land area of 5,640 km2 plus a water area of 220 of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future
km2, consisting of the northwest quarter of the generations, has the capacity to preserve about
Dead Sea. one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of
• The "West Bank" name was given to the territory which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest
after it was captured by Jordan in the 1948 Arab– have been imported from other
Israeli War because it sits on the west side of the countries. Statement 2 is correct: National Bureau
Jordan River. Jordan subsequently annexed the of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of
territory in 1950 and held it until 1967 when it in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation
was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional
War. stations in the country. The NGB has four kinds of
• The Oslo Accords, signed between the Palestine facilities, namely, Seed Genebank (- 18°C),
Liberation Organization and Israel, created Cryogenebank (-170°C to -196°C), In vitro
administrative districts with varying levels of Genebank (25°C) and Field Genebank, to cater to
Palestinian autonomy within each area. Area C, in long-term as well as medium-term conservation.It
which Israel maintained complete civil and stores different crop groups such as cereals,
security control, accounts for over 60% of the millets, medicinal and aromatic plants and
territory of the West Bank. narcotics, etc.
Q.81) Ans: c
e
Exp:
in
• Statement 1 is correct: It is a globally first-of-its-

nl
kind initiative that aims to democratise digital

l.o
commerce, moving it from a platform centric

model to an open network. ONDC will enable
ria
buyers and sellers to be digitally visible and

e
transact through an open network, no matter

at
what platform/application they use.ONDC will

cm
empower merchants and consumers by breaking

silos to form a single network to drive innovation
ps
and scale, transforming all businesses from retail

Q.79) Ans: c goods, food to mobility.
.u
Exp:
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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
• Statement 2 is correct: As UPI is to the digital portfolio of activities currently handled by the
payment domain, ONDC is to e-commerce in Mahila Kisan.
India. It primarily focuses on ensuring the • The focus of MKSP is on capacitating smallholders
confidentiality and privacy of data in the to adopt sustainable climate resilient agro-ecology
network.It shall not mandate sharing of any and eventually create a pool of skilled community
transaction-level data by participants with ONDC professionals. Its objective is to strengthen
and work with them to publish anonymised smallholder agriculture through promotion of
aggregate metrics on network performance sustainable agriculture practices such as
without compromising on confidentiality and Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture
privacy.ONDC will be compliant with the (CMSA), Non Pesticide Management (NPM), Zero
information technology act, 2000 and The Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), Pashu-Sakhi
advisory council on ONDC was constituted by the model for doorstep animal care services,
Centre. It takes over as a guide and mentor in the Sustainable regeneration and harvesting of Non-
design, implementation and national rollout of Timber Forest Produce.
ONDC. • MKSP intervention strategy involves building a
structure on the foundation of sustainability. This
Q.82) Ans: a involves incorporating climate change resilient
Exp: and ecologically sound practices into the overall
Pahchan Initiative structure.
• It was launched in 2016 by the then Union • The program is being implemented by DAY-NRLM
Minister of Textiles.It is an initiative of the in partnership with State Rural Livelihood
Ministry of Textiles to register and provide Missions/ Community Based Organizations
Identity (ID) cards to handicraft artisans and link (CBOs)/NGOs, as implementing partners (PIAs)
them to a national database. across the country. MKSP in DAY-NRLM is a
• Pahchan cards scheme is a new upgraded ID card demand driven programme and there is no
for artisans that will be linked with their Aadhaar provision of State wise allocation for every year.
numbers and bank accounts so that they can
receive direct cash transfer benefit.It has the Q.84) Ans: d
information of handicrafts artisans viz. name & Exp:
address, Aadhaar Card number, mobile number Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan
and craft practiced. Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme
• Significance of Pahchan initiative • The Ministry of New and Renewable
o The ID card will enable the artisans to avail Energy (MNRE) has launched the PM KUSUM
easy loan at nominal interest rate. Scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps
o The ID cardholders will get the benefit of life and grid connected solar and other renewable
insurance and Rs.1200 per year for their power plants in the country.
children studying between Class IX and Class • The scheme aims to add solar and other
XII. renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022. The
Scheme consists of three components:
e
Q.83) Ans: d 1. Component -A : 10,000 MW of Decentralized

in
Exp: Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable

nl
The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
l.o
• The “Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana” 2. Component - B : Installation of 17.50 lakh

(MKSP), a sub component of the Deendayal standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of
ria
Antyodaya Yojana-NRLM (DAY-NRLM) seeks to individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.

e
improve the present status of women in 3. Component - C : Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-

at
Agriculture, and to enhance the opportunities connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump
cm
available to empower her. capacity up to 7.5 HP.

• MKSP recognizes the identity of “Mahila” as Benefits of scheme
ps
“Kisan” and strives to build the capacity of women • The farmer will be able to use the generated solar
in the domain of agro-ecologically sustainable power to meet the irrigation needs and the excess
.u
practices. It has a clear vision to reach out to the solar power will be sold to DISCOMs. The
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poorest of poor households and expand the renewable power generated will be purchased by
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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
DISCOMs at a feed-in-tariff (FiT) determined by • Statement 3 and 4 are correct :

respective State Electricity Regulatory The vertical applies separately for each of the
Commission (SERC). groups specified under the
• The scheme would ensure that sufficient local law. The horizontal quota is applied separately to
solar/ other renewable energy based power is each vertical category, and not across the board.
available for feeding rural load centres and For example, if women have 50% horizontal
agriculture pump-set load. quota, then half of the selected candidates will
• As these power plants will be located closer to the have to necessarily be women in each vertical
agriculture loads or to electrical substations in a quota category — i.e., half of all selected SC
decentralized manner, it will result in reduced candidates will have to be women, half of the
Transmission losses for STUs and Discoms. unreserved or general category will have to be
Moreover, the scheme will also help the Discoms women, and so on.
to achieve the RPO target
• The solar pumps will save the expenditure Q.87) Ans: a
incurred on diesel for running diesel pumps and Exp:
provide the farmers a reliable source of irrigation • Statement 1 is incorrect : The Halam community
through solar pumps apart from preventing are various tribes native to the state of Tripura
harmful pollution from running diesel pumps. and Assam, Mizoram in India. The name Halam
was coined by Tipra Maharaja. As per their oral
Q.85) Ans: c tradition they called themselves "Riam", which
Exp: literally means "Human being".
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) • Statement 2 is correct : Halams live in "Tong
institute has developed an anti-methanogenic Ghar" specially made of bamboo and Chan
feed supplement ‘Harit Dhara’. When given to grass. Their language is similar to the Tibeto-
bovines and sheep, it not only cuts down their Burman family.Halams are also known as "Mila
methane emissions by 17-20%, but also results in Kuki". They are divided into several sub-clans
higher milk production and body weight gain. In which are referred to as “Barki-Halam".
other words, win-win for both the environment
and livestock farmers. Q.88) Ans: d
Harit Dhara acts by decreasing the population of Exp:
protozoa microbes in the rumen, responsible for National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture
hydrogen production and making it available to the • National Innovations in Climate Resilient
archaea for reduction of CO2 to methane. Agriculture (NICRA) is a network project of the
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
is an autonomous body responsible for launched in February 2011.
coordinating agricultural education and research • The project aims to enhance the resilience of
in India. It reports to the Department of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate
Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of vulnerability through strategic research and
Agriculture. The Union Minister of Agriculture technology demonstration. The research on
e
serves as its president. adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock,

in
fisheries and natural resource management.

nl
Q.86) Ans: b • Objective of the project is to enhance the

l.o
Exp: resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops,

• Statements 1 & 2 are incorrect : Reservation for livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and
ria
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other climate change through the development and
e
Backward Classes is referred to as vertical application of improved production and risk

at
reservation. Horizontal reservation refers to the management technologies. Demonstrate site

cm
equal opportunity provided to other categories of specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for
beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the adapting to current climate risks. Enhance the
ps
transgender community, and individuals with capacity building of scientists and other
disabilities, cutting through the vertical stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural
.u
categories. research and its application.

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• The Project is composed of Four Components:

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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
1. Strategic research on adaptation and mitigation Genebank (25°C) and Field Genebank, to cater to
2. Technology demonstration on farmers fields to long-term as well as medium-term conservation.It
cope with current climate variability stores different crop groups such as cereals,
3. Sponsored and competitive research grants to fill millets, medicinal and aromatic plants and
critical research gaps narcotics, etc.
4. Capacity building of different stakeholders.
Q.91) Ans: c
Q.89) Ans: c Exp:
Exp: Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana
• Statement 1 is correct: It is a globally first-of-its- • The Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, a sub
kind initiative that aims to democratise digital component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-
commerce, moving it from a platform centric NRLM (DAY-NRLM) seeks to improve the present
model to an open network. ONDC will enable status of women in Agriculture, and to enhance
buyers and sellers to be digitally visible and the opportunities available to empower her.
transact through an open network, no matter • The focus of MKSP is on capacitating smallholders
what platform/application they use.ONDC will to adopt sustainable climate resilient agro-
empower merchants and consumers by breaking ecology and eventually create a pool of skilled
silos to form a single network to drive innovation community professionals.
and scale, transforming all businesses from retail • Its objective is to strengthen smallholder
goods, food to mobility. agriculture through promotion of sustainable
• Statement 2 is correct: As UPI is to the digital agriculture practices.
payment domain, ONDC is to e-commerce in • It recognizes the identity of “Mahila” as “Kisan''
India. It primarily focuses on ensuring the and strives to build the capacity of women in the
confidentiality and privacy of data in the domain of agro-ecologically sustainable practices.
network.It shall not mandate sharing of any • Upto 60% (90% for North Eastern States) of the
transaction-level data by participants with ONDC funding support for such projects is provided by
and work with them to publish anonymised the government. The program is being
aggregate metrics on network performance implemented by the Department of Agriculture
without compromising on confidentiality and and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of
privacy.ONDC will be compliant with the Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
information technology act, 2000 and The
advisory council on ONDC was constituted by the Q.92) Ans: c
Centre. It takes over as a guide and mentor in the Exp:
design, implementation and national rollout of • Statement 1 is correct: It will be India’s electronic
ONDC. voucher based digital payment system. It will be a
person-specific and purpose-specific digital
Q.90) Ans: c payments system. It is developed by the National
Exp: Payments Corporation of India (NPCI),
• Statement 1 is correct: The National Gene Bank Department of Financial Services, Ministry of
e
established in the year 1998 to preserve the seeds Health and Family Welfare and the National
in
of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future Health Authority. This digital payments medium
nl
generations, has the capacity to preserve about will be delivered to mobile phones of beneficiaries
l.o
one million germplasm in the form of seeds. in the form of an SMS-string or a QR code
Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of • Statement 2 is correct: This e-voucher will be
ria
which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest redeemable at specific accepting centres without
e
have been imported from other any credit or debit card, a mobile app or internet
at
countries. Statement 2 is correct: National Bureau banking. e-RUPI will connect the sponsors of the
cm
of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of services with the beneficiaries and service
in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation providers in a digital manner without any physical
ps
through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional interface.

stations in the country. The NGB has four kinds of
.u
facilities, namely, Seed Genebank (- 18°C), Q.93) Ans: a

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Cryogenebank (-170°C to -196°C), In vitro Exp:

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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
Retrospective tax Castes, Backward Classes and Safai

• A retrospective tax is one that is charged for Karamcharis.
transactions in the long past. It can be a new or o Facility to register for the training institute
additional charge on transactions done in the and program of their interest.
past. o Facility to upload desired documents related
• Retrospective tax is to make adjustments when to personal information.
policies in the past and the present are so vastly o Facility to register the attendance of the
different that tax paid before under the old policy trainees through face and eye scanning
could be said to have been less. during the training period.
• Countries use this form of taxation to rectify any o Monitoring facility through photo and video
deviations in the taxation policies that, in the past, clip during training etc.
allowed firms to take benefit from any loophole.
• Retrospective tax affects companies that had Q.95) Ans: b
unknowingly or knowingly used the tax rules Exp:
differently. • Statement 1 is correct: National Mission on Edible
• Not only India, but many other countries like the Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) is a Centrally
US, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Sponsored Scheme with a special focus on the
and Italy have retrospectively taxed firms. North east region and the Andaman and
• Recently, the Indian government proposed to Nicobar Islands. Due to the heavy dependence on
withdraw all tax demands under the retrospective imports for edible oils, it is important to make
law brought in 2012, on companies like Cairn efforts for increasing the domestic production of
Energy and Vodafone, and said it will refund the edible oils in which increasing area and
money collected to enforce such levies. productivity of oil palm plays an important part.
The scheme will immensely benefit the oil palm
farmers, increase capital investment, create
Q.94) Ans: c employment generation, shall reduce the import
Exp: dependence and also increase the income of the
• Statement 1 is correct: The Pradhan Mantri farmers.
Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM- • Statement 2 is correct: To attract industry to the
DAKSH) Yojana is being implemented by the North east region and the Andaman and Nicobar
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from Islands there is a provision of Rs 5 crore of 5 mt/hr
the year 2020-21. Under this Yojana, eligible (million tonne per hectare) with pro-rata increase
target groups are being provided skill for higher capacity will be given. Objective of the
development training programmes on mission is to harness domestic edible oil prices
o Up-skilling/Reskilling that are dictated by expensive palm oil imports
o Short Term Training Programme and become self-reliant in edible oil and to raise
o Long Term Training Programme the domestic production of palm oil by three
o Entrepreneurship Development Program times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26.
(EDP).
e
These training programs are being implemented Q.96) Ans: b

in
through Government Training Institutes, Sector Skill Exp:

nl
Councils constituted by the Ministry of Skill • Statement 1 is incorrect: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
l.o
Development and Entrepreneurship and other Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of
credible institutions. women & children by providing them with a clean
ria
• Statement 2 is correct: The main purpose of the cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to
e
scheme is to increase the skill levels of the target compromise their health in smoky kitchens or
at
youth by providing for long term and short term wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood.
cm
skills, followed by settlement in employment/self- Ensuring women’s empowerment, especially in

employment. Some of the features of this portal rural India, the connections will be issued in the
ps
are as follows: name of women of the households. Recently the

o Availability of all information related to skill Government has announced the target of an
.u
development at one place for Scheduled additional one crore LPG connection. These
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Contact : +91-7007 931 912
additional connections will be provided under not directly deal with the public.The RBI uses
Ujjwala 2.0. OMO along with other monetary policy tools such
• Statement 2 is correct: Ujjwala 2.0 aims to as repo rate, cash reserve ratio and statutory
provide deposit-free LPG connections to those liquidity ratio to adjust the quantum and price of
low-income families who could not be covered money in the system.
under the earlier phase of PMUY. Along with a
deposit-free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will also Q.99) Ans: a
provide the first refill and hotplate free of cost to Exp:
the beneficiaries.Moreover, the migrants would • Statement 1 is correct: “Start-up Accelerators of
only be required to submit a self-declaration of MeitY for pRoduct Innovation, Development and
their residential address to get the gas growth (SAMRIDH)”programme launched by
connection. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
so as to create a conducive platform to Indian
Q.97) Ans: c Software Product star-ups
Exp: to enhance their products
• Statement 1 is correct: Gati Shakti will be a and securing investments for scaling their busi
National Infrastructure Master Plan for our ness. The programme is being implemented by
country which will lay the foundation of holistic MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH).
Infrastructure. This scheme of more than 100 lakh • Statement 2 is incorrect: The scheme will focus
crores rupees will result in new employment on accelerating the 300 start-ups by providing
opportunities for lakhs of youth. It also raises customer connect, investor connect, and
possibilities of new future economic zones. The international immersion in the next three years
plan will help raise the global profile of local and investment of up to ₹ 40 lakh to the start-up
manufacturers and help them compete with their based on the current valuation and growth stage
counterparts worldwide. of the Start-Up will be provided through selected
• Statement 2 is correct: It is aimed at easier inter- accelerators.India is currently the third-largest
connectivity between road, rail, air and Unicorn hub globally, with 63 Unicorns having a
waterways to reduce travel time and enhance total valuation of 168 Billion USD.The programme
industrial productivity. The holistic infrastructure aims to further the Indian start-up growth and
development programme known as 'Gatishakti', create at least 100 unicorns out of the selected
plans to improve the productivity of industries startups.
and employment opportunities. It is considered
to be the government's integrated approach to Q.100) Ans: d
developing modern railways, roadways, Exp:
waterways and airways. Karez System
• The karez system is a legacy of its Persian cultural
Q.98) Ans: a moorings. It has suffered extensive damage in 43
Exp: years of war and stares at an uncertain future
• Statement 1 is correct: Open Market Operations under the Taliban’s second regime.
e
(OMO) is one of the quantitative (to regulate or • Karez is a water harnessing technology in which
in
control the total volume of money) monetary groundwater is brought to the surface by a tunnel.
nl
policy tools which is employed by the central bank In this system, no mechanical pump or lift is used.
l.o
of a country to control the money supply in the Gravity alone brings the water from the
economy. It is conducted by the RBI by way of sale underground source. The technology originated in
ria
or purchase of government securities (g-secs) to Persia/Iran and was widely used during the
e
adjust money supply conditions. medieval period.

at
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The central bank sells g-

cm
secs to remove liquidity from the system and buys

back g-secs to infuse liquidity into the system.
ps
These operations are often conducted on a day-

to-day basis in a manner that balances inflation
.u
while helping banks continue to lend. RBI carries

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out the OMO through commercial banks and does

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41 | P a g e

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OnlyIAS Nothing Else Visit :dpp.onlyias.in

1. A No vote from any of the five non permanent

the Security Council may vote in the discussion of Circulation (AMOC):

3. Peacekeeping Operations are an important role of by differences in temperature and salinity.

the UNSC. 2. Collapse of AMOC would lead to increased

incorrect? Which of the above statements is/are correct?

d) All of the above. d) Neither 1 nor 2

OnlyIAS Nothing Else Visit :dpp.onlyias.in

a) Ministry of Skill Development and d) Communities from North East India

c) Ministry of Minority Affairs Scheme, consider the following statements:

equipped with satellite phones. b) 2 and 3 only

OnlyIAS Nothing Else Visit :dpp.onlyias.in

d) 2 only 1. It is a geospatial planning portal which will help in

c) Both 1 and 2 d) World Bank.

Q.27) With reference to the ‘Climate Change

are found ? 1. It is published by The Climate Change

a) Iran Performance Index published by Germanwatch,

b) Iraq CAN International and the NewClimate Institute

c) Afghanistan 2. It is a biannual publication highlighting the

countries across the globe

Yuktadhara : climate change mitigation practices of the

recently published index.

OnlyIAS Nothing Else Visit :dpp.onlyias.in

the CMIP. minerals and nutrients.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ? d) All of the above

b) 2 only Q.35) Which of the following kinds of wastes are

d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Biomedical Wastes

2. Used oils of motors and hydraulics

related to - 4. Persistent Organic Pollutants

c) Technology used in formation of GM crop a) 1, 2 and 3 only

d) Technology used to create energy from tides b) 1, 2 and 5 only

OnlyIAS Nothing Else Visit :dpp.onlyias.in

c) 3 and 5 only Q.40) Which of the following statements is not

the philosophy of Total Revolution?

Q.39) Which of the following statements is a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

incorrectly mentioned about the mechanism ‘Climate b) Jawaharlal Nehru

Forcings’ ? c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

the climate system on the Earth through a

number of forcing factors Q.44) Recently, Noble prize in economics awarded

exists outside of the existing climate system a) Labour economics

land surface, and the cryosphere. c) Developmental economics

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Q.45) Which of the following statements is incorrect d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

b) It is a six Months Mentoring Program promoting

under the ‘Eco Mark’ scheme ? & other BRICS countries.

1. Soaps c) Only agritech startups were selected on the basis

3. Paints and will be mentored by experts along with access

4. Textiles to global markets.

5. Fire extinguisher d) None of the above statements are incorrect.

6. Leather and coir

below: reference to the ‘National Bee Board’ (NBB):

b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only of Medium and Small Enterprises in collaboration

c) 4 and 6 only with Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims at preserving

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the traditional way of Beekeeping and honey a) 1 only

c) Both 1 and 2 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), is

d) Neither 1 nor 2 related to ?