Solution: a)

The cabinet mission plan of 1946 proposed that there shall be a Union of India which was to be empowered to deal with the defense, foreign affairs and communications.

• The Union Government and its legislature were to have limited powers, dealing with Finance, Foreign Affairs and Communications. The union would have powers necessary to raise the finances to manage the subjects.
• All subjects other than the Union Subjects and all the residuary powers would be vested in the provinces.
• Thus, the Cabinet Mission plan proposed a weak Centre with Provincial autonomy – essentially proposing a federal structure of government.

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

Solution: d)

There is some dispute about the answer. Some claim it to be A or B which are not correct. Both Khangchendzonga and Nandadevi National park do not have tropical vegetation.

Namdapha National Park is the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and is located in Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India.

The area is also known for extensive Dipterocarp forests, comprising the northwestern parts of the ecoregion of Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests.

The habitat changes with increasing altitude from tropical moist forests to Montane forests, temperate forests and at the higher elevations, to Alpine meadows and perennial snow. The park has extensive bamboo forests and secondary forests in addition to the primary forests. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdapha_National_Park#Geography http://www.knpsikkim.in/khangchendzonga-national-park-trekking/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanda_Devi_National_Park#Flora

Solution: b)

As per the website of Amnesty International, “Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.”

Source: https://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are/

Solution: b)

Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar was created in 11th AD. Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram are 7th century AD creation. At Udayagiri, it is 5th century AD creation. Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli was created during Ashoka’s reign (272-231 BC). This is the oldest among the four.

Sources: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/s/019pho000001003u0330b000.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udayagiri_Caves https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingaraja_Temple

Solution: b)

The terms feudalism and feudal system were generally applied to the early and central Middle Ages—the period from the 5th century, when central political authority in the Western empire disappeared, to the 12th century, when kingdoms began to emerge as effective centralized units of government (the period is claimed as 9th-15th century by Wikipedia).

Broadly defined, it was a way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour (lord-vassal relationship).

Use of the term feudalism to describe India applies a concept of medieval European origin, according to which the landed nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord’s land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection. The term Indian feudalism is an attempt to classify Indian history according to a European model.

Feudalism, in its various forms, usually emerged as a result of the decentralization of an empire: especially in the Carolingian empires which both lacked the bureaucratic infrastructure necessary to support cavalry without the ability to allocate land to these mounted troops.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism http://www.britannica.com/topic/feudalism

Solution: d)

The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral fund, supported by donor governments and managed by the World Bank. It seeks to promote reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector, from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+), and from sustainable agriculture, as well as smarter land-use planning, policies and practices.

Sources: http://vlscop.vermontlaw.edu/2013/11/20/the-biocarbon-fund-initiative-for- sustainable-forest-landscapes-a-bold-step-forward/

http://biocarbonfund-isfl.org/about-us

Solution: b)

India is a member of East Asia Summit. India is a member of ASEAN+6, not ASEAN. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia_Summit

Solution: c)

Saltpetre (Potassium nitrate) is not used in the production of steel. It is instead used in fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants and fireworks. It is one of the major constituents of gunpowder (blackpowder) and has been used since the Middle Ages as a food preservative.

India definitely imports coking coal. So, the answer has to be C.

It requires 0.8 tonnes coking coal to produce one tonne of steel. The government had recently imposed a 2.5 per cent duty on coking coal import.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-10/news/51300920_1_steel-industry- key-steel-making-input-basic-customs-duty

Solution: a)

Option C is incorrect because it excludes the fifth and sixth schedule areas from the application of the Panchayati Raj system. This is to ensure that the local tribal practices, customs, religious laws, social and political institutions are not tampered with.

Instead, the act known as PESA, 1996 extends the panchayati raj system to the tribal areas.

Solution: c)

The constitution establishes three types of funds – Consolidated Fund of India; Public Account; Contingency Fund.

Prior authorization is required for withdrawing from Consolidated Fund of India. For Contingency fund of India, withdrawal can be authorized by the Parliament afterwards too. For Public Account, no such authorization is needed.

Assessing the revenues from different central taxes is the primary function of the Department of Revenue and the expenditure estimates for the current and the next year for various expenditure heads are assessed by the Department of Expenditure. The Department of Expenditure also assesses the resources of the public sector undertakings (PSUs).

The Budget division is a part of the Department of Economic Affairs. The Finance Secretary coordinates the overall Budget-making process

Source: http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/feb/21budget3.htm

Solution: d (As per the whims of UPSC!)

There is a dispute whether answer should be D or A.

Arguments in favour of the Supreme court as Custodian of the Constitution:

Source:http://cbseacademic.in/web_material/doc/Legal_Studies/XI_U4_Legal_Studies.pdf

Solution: b)

The government of India launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) in 1996-

97. This program was launched to give loan assistance to the states to help them a few major irrigation projects which were in advanced stage of completion.

The Command Area Development Programme was launched as a Centrally-sponsored scheme in 1974-75 with the main objectives of improving utilization of irrigation potential and optimizing agricultural productivity and production from the irrigated areas by integrating all functions related with irrigated agriculture.

Source: http://www.archive.india.gov.in/sectors/water_resources/index.php?id=10 http://www.archive.india.gov.in/sectors/water_resources/index.php?id=8

Solution: c)

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forests under ‘Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989’, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

It is the apex body to accord notified under Rules 1989, for approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recom¬binants in research and industrial production from the environ¬mental angle. The GEAC is also responsible for ap¬proval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimen¬tal field trials (Biosafety Research Level trial-I and II known as BRL-I and BRL-II).

Source: http://envfor.nic.in/major-initiatives/geac-clearances

Solution: c)

The Mekong–Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 at Vientiane at the First MGC Ministerial Meeting. It comprises six member countries, namely India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They emphasised four areas of cooperation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage in order to be solid foundation for future trade and investment cooperation in the region.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong%E2%80%93Ganga_Cooperation

Solution: b)

Basel III (or the Third Basel Accord) is a global, voluntary regulatory framework on bank capital adequacy, stress testing and market liquidity risk. It was agreed upon by the members of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in 2010–11, and was scheduled to be introduced from 2013 until 2015.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_III

Solution: b)

Westerlies flow between latitudes 30-60 degrees North and 30-60 degrees South. The statement mentions 30N-60S. So it is wrong.

The western cyclonic disturbances are weather phenomena of the winter months brought in by the westerly flow from the Mediterranean region. They usually influence the weather of the north and north-western regions of India. They are a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the Westerlies. (http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/wd.htm) Source: NCERT -9th Standard – Contemporary India-I – Chapter 4 (Climate)

1. Solution: d)

The organization was first established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 6–7 March 1997. It is an international organization consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean.

Priority areas are to promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and of the Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic co- operation. Six priority areas were identified at the 11th Council of Ministers, in Bengaluru are:

• Maritime Safety & Security,
• Trade & Investment Facilitation,
• Fisheries Management,
• Disaster Risk Management,
• Academic, Science & Technology,
• Tourism & Cultural Exchanges
• Gender empowerment Source: http://iora.net/

Solution: a)

Surat split was due to disagreements between Moderates and extremists regarding the methods for protest against the partition of Bengal (in the Swadeshi Movement).

Answer cannot be B, C or D, because moderates and extremists re-united in the Lucknow session, 1916 which was before Non-cooperation/Quit India/Civil Disobedience Movements.

Solution: a)

Meghalaya’s double-decker and single-decker root bridges are unique in the world and are a sight to behold. The bridges are tangles of massive thick roots, which have been intermingled to form a bridge that can hold several people at a time. Khasi people have been trained to grow these bridges across the raised banks of streams to form a solid bridge, made from roots. The living bridges are made from the roots of the Ficus elastic tree, which produces a series of secondary roots that are perched atop huge boulders along the streams or the riverbanks to form bridges.

The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they’re extraordinarily strong – strong enough that some of them can support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. The bridges are alive and still growing and gain strength over time.

Source: http://www.livingrootbridge.com/About-Living-Root-Bridge.php

Solution: d)

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon, Sun, and rotation of the Earth.

The times and amplitude of tides at a locale are influenced by the alignment of the Sun and Moon, by the pattern of tides in the deep ocean, by the amphidromic systems of the oceans, and the shape of the coastline and near-shore bathymetry.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide

Solution: a)

For telecommunications geo-stationary satellites are used. Hence, you can easily eliminate statement 4, which then also eliminates statement 5 (because both occur together).

Under remote sensing, Hyperspectral imaging produces an image where each pixel has full spectral information with imaging narrow spectral bands over a contiguous spectral range. Hyperspectral imagers are used in various applications including mineralogy, biology, defence, and environmental measurements.

So, the only possible answer can be A. Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_sensing#Applications_of_remote_sensing_data

Solution: c)

These are typical rain forests which grow in those areas where the annual rainfall exceeds 250 cm, the annual temperature is about 25°-27°C the average annual humidity exceeds 77 per cent and the dry season is distinctly short.

The true evergreen forests are found along the western side of the Western Ghats (between 500 to 1370 metres above sea level) south of Mumbai, in a strip running from northeast to south-west direction across Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura upto a height of 1070 metres and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Source: http://www.north-east-india.com/mizoram/flora-fauna-of-mizoram.html http://www.north-east-india.com/arunachal-pradesh/

Solution: d)

The interaction between the Arctic ice shelf and the deep sea and its influence on climate shift requires detailed studies over an annual seasonal cycle.

Therefore, IndARC, the India’s first underwater moored observatory, has been deployed in the Kongsfjorden fjord, half way between Norway and the North Pole. It will collect real- time data on seawater temperature, salinity, ocean currents and other vital parameters of the fjord.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/indias-arctic- observatory-to-aid-climate-change-studies/article6405727.ece

Solution: c)

Option B was framed to deviate you from the right answer.

The facility has been formed under REDD+. Go to the link to read the four objectives of FCPF. This is implemented at country level, not al universities or individual levels.

Source: http://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/about-us

Solution: a)

This question was from UPSC Prelims GS-I paper, 2014.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140221/jsp/frontpage/story_18004148.jsp

Solution: c)

BirdLife international is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards

sustainability in the use of natural resources. It is the World’s largest partnership of conservation organisations, with over 120 partner organizations 120 partner

organizations. Together the BirdLife Partnership forms the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life.

BirdLife’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) Programme aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world’s birds and other wildlife.

Source: http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/partnership/about-birdlife

Solution: b)

Solution: a)

Tropical moist deciduous forests exist mostly in the eastern part of the country – northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Orissa and Chhattisgarh, and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.

Teak is the most dominant species of this forest. Bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, mulberry are other commercially important species.

Source: NCERT – 9th Standard– Contemporary India-I (Geography) – Chapter 5

Solution: c)

The Platform for Action is an agenda for women’s empowerment. It aims at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and at removing all the obstacles to women’s active participation in all spheres of public and private life through a full and equal share in economic, social, cultural and political

decision-making.

Source: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/plat1.htm#statement

Solution: b)

Equatorial climate is characterized by consistently high temperatures (around 30 °C), with plentiful precipitation (150–1,000 cm), heavy cloud cover, and high humidity, with very little annual temperature variation. Wet equatorial regions lie within about 12° latitude of the Equator.

Solution: b)

Due to recession in 2008, the growth rate of the Indian economy had declined for the next few years from 8-9% to 5-6%. So, statement 1 is wrong.

Even though the growth rate declined, it never became negative. So, the GDP at market prices has always increased year on year since last one decade.

Solution: d)

The maximum strength of the council is fixed at one-third of the total strength of the assembly and the minimum strength is fixed at 40 (with some exceptions).

The Chairman of the Legislative Council is elected by the council itself from amongst its members.

Source: Laxmikanth – Indian Polity – Chapter 29 (State Legislatures)

Solution: d)

It has been mentioned in Article 51-A of the Constitution (Fundamental Duties).

Solution: c)

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem

Solution: c)

There is some dispute about the answers. Some claim the answer to be A, some C and some D.

We accept that there is some subjectivity inherent in the options. However, the question can be solved on objective basis.

Statement 4 is INCORRECT because financial mobilization was never the basis for the establishment of panchayati raj. Local financial mobilization (by way of octroi taxes etc. ) is the outcome of the establishment of the PRIs, not its objective. In fact, only few states have devolved financial powers to their PRIs.

Statement 3 is also INAPPROPRIATE in the context of the question. Reasons are:

• Political accountability can be ensured in any system which is democratic/rule-based, it need not necessarily be via a local
• Grass-roots democracy was established in India not to ensure any political accountability, but to ensure citizen’s participation in governance leading to democratic decentralization. So, the term “democratic decentralization” is an appropriate replacement for the term “political accountability”.
• Moreover, political accountability already existed in the villages by way of elections to State legislatures. What has happened after 1993 is that it has only become easier to hold the representatives accountable. It is always easier to approach someone next door (ward councilor) than next district (MP or MLA/MLC).

In Karnataka, elections to Grama Panchayats are held on apolitical basis i.e. members are not elected from political party tickets.

Solution: c)

Public debt and Public revenue are matters falling under Fiscal policy. The Ministry of Finance handles these subjects.

Bank rate and OMOs fall within the jurisdiction of RBI’s monetary policy.

Solution: c)

Decreased money circulation leads to lesser money in hands of people to spend. Hence, lower demand (given the same supply) leads to falling prices fall and reduced inflation.

Solution: a)

The treaty recognizes five states as nuclear-weapon states: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China (also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council).

Four other states are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons: India, Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its nuclear weapons program.

So, you can conclude that Israel can never be a part of the answer which directly points out to option A as the answer.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Non- Proliferation_of_Nuclear_Weapons

Solution: b)

In a welfare State, the functions of the State are not only the defence of the country or administration of justice or maintaining law and order but it extends to regulating and controlling the activities of the people in almost every sphere—educational, commercial, social, economic, political and even marital.

DPSP thus promotes the ideal of a welfare state as it guides the state in making policies for the socio-economic well being of the people of India.

Preamble, option A, will NOT be the answer because it simply lists the socio-economic objectives of Indian society. It does not tell us who will design or execute policies based on the objectives.

Solution: b)

“Capital” in an economic context means machinery or capital goods which can be employed to produce other goods.

Substitution of steel can be considered as the substitution of a lesser machine by a better machine. This encourages steel production. Hence it is a capital-augmenting technological progress.

Solution: d)

Option A points to a democratic system. It does not necessarily mean a Parliamentary Democratic system. For e.g. in USA the Congress is also elected, but it is a Presidential Democracy.

Option D is correct because “Collective responsibility” of the council of ministers to the Lok Sabha (Article 75) lies at the heart of a Parliamentary democracy.

Source: Laxmikanth – Indian Polity – Chapter 12 (Parliamentary System)

Solution: d)

Influenza A (H1N1) virus is the most common cause of human influenza (flu). In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new strain of swine-origin H1N1 as a pandemic. This strain is often called swine flu by the public media.

Solution: d)

Under the bio-toilet concept of the DRDO, the bio-digester tank in every toilet is filled with inoculums containing four types of bacteria. The water trap system in the toilet prevents air from getting into the tank, the human waste is processed by anaerobic bacteria in seven chambers in the tank and the methane gas is allowed to escape into the air.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/biotoilets-in-trains-by- 2022/article6069104.ece

Solution: c)

The concept of international liquidity is associated with international payments. These payments arise out of international trade in goods and services and also in connection with capital movements between one country and another. International liquidity refers to the generally accepted official means of settling imbalances in international payments which is basically dollars and hard currencies.

Source: http://capital-flow-watch.net/2006/02/19/what-is-international-liquidity/ http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Periodicals/De/pdf/65_03_05.pdf

Solution: a)

The purpose of a fuel cell is to produce an electrical current that can be directed outside the cell to do work, such as powering an electric motor or illuminating a light bulb or a city.

One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution–much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combines to form a harmless byproduct, namely water alongwith releasing heat.

A single fuel cell generates a tiny amount of direct current (DC) electricity. In practice, many fuel cells are usually assembled into a stack.

If alternating current (AC) is needed, the DC output of the fuel cell must be routed through a conversion device called an inverter.

Source: http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/basics.htm http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/fuel-cell1.htm

Solution: a)

Kalamkari painting is a type of Indian folk textile art that involves free hand drawing and painting or printing on cloth, mostly cotton. Derived from the Persian language meaning ‘drawing or crafting with pen’, Kalamkari is an ancient form of painting that developed in India over a period of 3,000 years.

Kalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the nerve centres of this art continue to be beehives of Kalamkari activity.

Source: http://lepakshihandicrafts.gov.in/kalamkaripaintings.html

Solution: b)

A village, wherein trained group of fanners are involved (generally in a self-help group) in production of seeds of various crops and cater to the needs of themselves, fellow fanners of the village and fanners of neighboring villages in appropriate time and at affordable cost is called “a seed village”.

Source: http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/seed_certification/seed_tech_Seed%20Village.html

Solution: a)

Introducing new welfare scheme will further inflate the budget.

Expanding industries by budgetary support will not add anything in the short-run to the tax revenues of the government, and thus will increase the budget deficit.

Rationalizing subsidies and reducing revenue expenditure are two direct ways of reducing the fiscal burden of the government of India.

Solution: c)

The world famous Banarasi saree and brocade got GI status on September 4 2009.

Dal– Bati– Churma of Rajasthan has not been given Geographical Indicator Tag.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Geographical_Indications_in_India

Solution: c)

 IREDA has been awarded “Mini Ratna” (Category -I) status in 2015 by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987 under the administrative control of MNRE to promote, develop and extend financial assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency /conservation projects with the motto: “ENERGY FOR EVER”.

Source: http://ireda.gov.in/

Solution: c)

Explanation:

Pradhan Mantri Jan–Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.

Reference link: http://jandhanyojana.net/

Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct.

The commission has recommended states’ share in net proceeds of tax revenues be 42 percent, a huge jump from the 32 per cent recommend by the 13th Finance Commission, the largest change ever in the percentage of devolution. As compared to total devolutions in 2014-15, total devolution of states in 2015-16 will increase by over 45 per cent.

No sector specific grant recommendations were made. Please read the link below for detailed recommendations.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/14th-finance- commission-recommendations-115022500066_1.html

Solution: b)

Explanation: The declaration was one of the outcomes of 6^th BRICS summit. The declaration commits BRICS to setup a $100 billion reserve fund to be used by its members as a cooperative venture.

Solution: A

Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct.

What is Tax-to-GDP ratio?

A tax-to-GDP ratio is a gauge of a nation’s tax revenue relative to the size of its economy as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). The ratio provides a useful look at a country’s tax revenue because it reveals potential taxation relative to the economy. It also enables a view of the overall direction of a nation’s tax policy as well as international comparisons.

About Statement 1: It is correct since slowing economic growth is one of the main reasons behind decrease in tax-to-GDP ratio. In India, this trend was observed at various instances. Ex: India’s gross tax-to-GDP ratio fell to 10.9 per cent in 2018-19 on account of lower than estimated GST collection. This resulted in lower tax-to-GDP ratio (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/budget-faqs/what-is-tax-to-gdp-ratio-where-does-india-fare-on-this-indicator/articleshow/73222499.cms?from=mdr)
About Statement 2: It is incorrect since, less/greater equitable distribution of national income happens over a long period of time. If the distribution of national income is not equitable, it may mean a perennial LOW TAX-GDP ratio, but not a DECREASE in TAX-GDP ratio over the years. A decrease in tax- GDP ratio is a short-term phenomenon. It happens for reasons mentioned above.

You can refer to the link to understand more about the issue:

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tax-to-gdp-ratio.asphttp://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-07-09/news/51248100_1_jahangir-aziz-gdp-ratio-economic-survey

Solution: B

Explanation: ITCZ stays at or near the equator and does not shift southward over the south Atlantic or south Pacific region. Therefore, these regions do not have the ITCZ over them which is a major cause of lack of cyclone in this region.

Explanation:

Standard NCERT question! In the diagram, west of the line falls in Gujarat, while the east falls in Arunachal Pradesh.

Solution: c)

Explanation: Both the statements are correct since:

• Socio-economic democracy is spelt out because it provides for the idea of a welfare state. For e.g. consider Article 39 (b) and (c) which provide for minimizing inequalities in income and wealth; and ensuring that the wealth is not concentrated in the hands of few. While other article provide for the health of children, rights of working women etc.
• DPSP is not enforceable by courts. Only Fundamental rights can be enforced by the courts.

Solution: b)

Explanation: Electricity has 10.32% weightage; steel 4.9%; coal 4.38%; fertilizers 1.25%.

Source: https://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/eight-core-industries-index-growth- 135803773.html

Solution: b)

Explanation:

• It is the only floating park in the world, located in Manipur, North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.
• The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called Phumdis.
• The park is a swamp established by Mann Sharma with floating mass of vegetation (created by accrual of organic garbage and biomass with soil particles that has been thickened into a solid form called Phumdis, at the south–eastern side of the Loktak Lake, which has been declared a Ramsar site. Two third’s to three fourth’s of the total park area is formed by Phumdis.

Source: http://www.north-east-india.com/manipur/keibul-lamjao-national-park.html

Solution: a)

Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct.

• National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF) is an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (India), Government of India. It was set up in February 2000 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India to provide institutional support for scouting, spawning, sustaining and scaling up the grassroots innovations across the country.
• NIF conducts a biennial national competition for grassroots green technologies (not highly advanced) developed by farmers, mechanics, artisans and others through their own genius without any recourse to professional help. NIF validates these innovations with the help of experts, and, ascertains the novelty in these innovations by doing prior art search. If the innovation is deemed novel, NIF files a patent on behalf of the innovator. NIF also funds value addition initiatives in these innovations to upscale them and make them more useful for a larger segment of people.

 Source: http://nif.org.in/aboutnif

Solution: c)

Explanation: Only statement 2 and 3 are correct.

• Statement 1 is absurd. Increasing the amount of nitrogen based fertilizer does not lead to more micro-organisms in the field. If it did, just one dose of fertilizer would make farm nitrogen rich for years together.
• Statement 2: Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers resulting in soil acidity is a well-known fact.
• Statement 3: Nitrogen fertilizers break down into nitrates and travel easily through the soil. Because it is water-soluble and can remain in groundwater for decades, the addition of more nitrogen over the years has an accumulative effect.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/pubs/fs_swpp_fertilizer.pdf

Solution: b)

Explanation: Only statement 2 and 3 are correct.

IUCN is a voluntary organization, not an agency of United Nations. Even if you knew this much, you could eliminate all other options to select B. Some facts about IUCN:

• Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organisation
• Today the largest professional global conservation network
• A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development
• More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non- government organizations
• A neutral forum for governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities to find practical solutions to conservation and development challenges
• Thousands of field projects and activities around the world

CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). States (countries) adhere voluntarily to the agreement.

States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as Parties.

Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

Sources: https://www.iucn.org/about/ https://cites.org/eng/disc/what.php

Solution: a)

Explanation:

• CACP recommends the fair and remunerative prices based on inter-crop price parity, inflation considerations, fair return to farmers and a host of other factors.
• It is the cabinet Committee on Economic affairs that finally approves it.

Sources: http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/cabinet-approves-fair-and- remunerative-price-of-sugarcane-payable-by-sugar-mills-113110712710_1.html http://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/?tag=fair-and-remunerative-price

Solution: b)

Explanation:

• The equatorial countercurrents are driven by a distinct surface wind pattern in the tropics. Strong westward trade winds result in westward surface flow in most of the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, several hundred mi. (km.) north of the equator the winds are much weaker, in comparison.
• The stronger winds to the south pile up water where the winds are weak. As a result, the surface of the ocean can be up to 6 in. (15 cm.) higher and the thermocline (region of strongest decrease of temperature with increasing depth) as much as 328 ft. (100 m.) deeper than it is directly to the north. The excess water flows eastward under the influence of the Earth’s rotation, giving rise to the equatorial counter-currents.

Source: Old NCERT – Class XIth – Principles ofGeography

Solution: a)

Explanation: Only 1 is correctly matched

•  The town (as well as the mandal) of Srisailam is reputed for the shrine of Lord Mallikarjuna on the flat top of Nallamala Hills.
• Omkareshwar is situated on the Mandhata hills in Madhya Pradesh, known in ancient times as Shivpuri. The temple dates back to the Krita River Narmada flows here around the Mandhata hill in the form of an Om (Omkaram).
• The Mahadeo Hills are a range of hills in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. But, Pushkar lies in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Source: http://www.jyotirlinga.com/omkareshwar.html

Solution: B

Explanation: Only statement 1 and 2 are correct

Excerpt from Sumit Sarkar’s Modern India

Solution: b)

Explanation:

·         Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by Ebola viruses. Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches.

·         On March 23, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the forested rural region of southeastern Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Source: http://www.e-ir.info/2014/07/26/the-ebola-outbreak-in-guinea-liberia-and-sierra-leone/

Solution: a)

Explanation: Only statement 1 and 2 are correct.

• Fly ash from coal-fired thermal power stations is an excellent potential raw material for the manufacture of construction material like blended cement, fly ash bricks, mosaic tiles and hollow blocks. It also has other, high volume applications and can be used for paving roads, building embankments, and mine fills.
• Fly ash contains trace concentrations of heavy metals and other substances that are known to be detrimental to health in sufficient quantities. Potentially toxic trace elements in coal include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, radium, selenium, thorium, uranium, vanadium, and zinc.

Source: http://construction.about.com/od/Innovations/a/Fly-Ash-Applications.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_ash#Environmental_problems

Solution: c)

Explanation: Only statement 1 and 3 are correct.

• The dugong is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalisgigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. The dugong is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, as all species of manatee use fresh water to some degree.
• In India, it is found off the Gujarat Coast (Gulf of Kutch), Tamil Nadu coast (Gulf of Mannar), Palk Bay and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong#Northern_Indian_Ocean http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/task-force-on-dugong- soon/articleshow/21790491.cms

Solution: d)

Explanation: All are correct.

• DadabhaiNaoroji, R. C. Dutt, Ranade, Gokhale, G. SubramaniaIyer, were among those who grounded Indian nationalism firmly on the foundation of anti-imperialism by fashioning the world’s first economic critique of colonialism, before Hobson and Lenin. The drain theory was established by DadabhaiNaoroji. Increased poverty and lower wages were among the indirect products of colonial rule according to Dutt.
• Insights also asked a question on this in March Secure-2015. https://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/03/07/1-which-names-stand-out-among-the-large- number-of-indians-who-initiated-and-carried-out-the-economic-analysis-of-british-rule- during-the-years-1870-1905-analyse-how-they-interpreted-colonialism-and/

Source: Bipan Chandra – Struggle for India’s Independence, Chapter – 7

Solution: d)

Explanation:

Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group flagship report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies. It is issued twice a year, in January and June.

Source: http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects

Solution: c)

Explanation: If SLR is reduced, banks have to park lesser money with RBI in form of securities, cash etc. So, they have more money to lend and the return on lending is also greater than what they get in SLR. Hence, the scheduled commercial banks may cut their lending rates.

Solution: c)

Explanation: Both the statements are correct.

• Nano-systems have significantly different biological properties from large-sized systems (e.g. implants or micro-particles) that could be used effectively to overcome problems in drug and gene therapy. In drug therapy, we face the problems of inefficacy or nonspecific effects; hence, nano-systems are being developed for targeted drug therapy.
• In gene therapy using non-viral systems, the main issues are relatively transient gene expression and lower efficiency than viral vectors. Research efforts have focused on understanding the barriers in gene delivery so that non-viral systems can be developed that are as effective as viral systems in gene transfection.

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166905001709http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/research/lutty/nano.html

Solution: b)

Explanation:

Agricultural Markets in most parts of the Country are established and regulated under the State APMC Acts. The whole geographical area in the State is divided and declared as a market area wherein the markets are managed by the Market Committees constituted by the State Governments. Once a particular area is declared a market area and falls under the jurisdiction of a Market Committee, no person or agency is allowed freely to carry on wholesale marketing activities.

Source: http://agmarknet.nic.in/amrscheme/modelact.htm

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India. This mammal is also said to represent the purity of the holy Ganga as it can only survive in pure and fresh water.
• They are locally known as susu, because of the noise it makes while breathing. This species inhabits parts of the Ganges, Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and the Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh.
• River dolphin is a critically endangered species in India and therefore, has been included in the Schedule I for the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The main reasons for decline in population of the species are poaching and habitat degradation due to declining flow, heavy siltation, construction of barrages causing physical barrier for this migratory species.

Source: http://www.knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=8

Solution: d)

Explanation: None of the statements are correct.

The CSP advocated decentralized socialism in which co-operatives, trade unions, independent farmers, and local authorities would hold a substantial share of the economic power. As secularists, they hoped to transcend communal divisions through class solidarity. Some, such as Narendra Deva or Basawon Singh (Sinha), advocated a democratic socialism distinct from both Marxism and reformist social democracy.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_Socialist_Party

Solution: b)

Explanation: Only statement 1 and 2 are correct.

• Only the LokSabha can vote on the demand for grants.
• Rajya Sabha can only keep a money bill for not more than 14 days, before which the bill should be either returned to LokSabha with recommendations, or passed by the Rajya Sabha. In case of a disagreement between both the houses, the bill is deemed passed in the form it was passed by LokSabha.
• Every year the budget (annual financial statement as mentioned in the constitution) is discussed by the Rajya Sabha.

Source: Laxmikanth – Indian Polity – Chapter 22 (Parliament)

Solution: b)

Explanation:

• It relaxed the central control over the provinces by demarcating and separating the central and provincial subjects. The central and provincial legislatures were authorized to make laws on their respective list of subjects. However, the structure of government continued to be centralized and unitary.
• It further divided the provincial subjects into two parts—transferred and reserved which is what we know as diarchy.

Source: Laxmikanth – Indian Polity – Chapter 1 (Historical Background)

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• The CPI-IW series on scientific lines was first introduced with base 1960=100 which was based on the results of Family Living Survey conducted in 1958-59 at 50 industrially important centres. The series was then, updated on base 1982=100 and a revision in 1999- 2000 has further updated the base on 2001=100. The current series of CPI-IW with base year 2001=100 covers 78 industrially important centers spread across the country.
• It reflects the consumption pattern of the working class population.

Source: http://www.labourbureau.nic.in/indexes.htm

Solution: d)

Explanation: All the statements given above are correct.

• IceCube is a particle detector at the South Pole that records the interactions of a nearly massless subatomic particle called the neutrino. IceCube searches for neutrinos from the most violent astrophysical sources: events like exploding stars, gamma-ray bursts, and cataclysmic phenomena involving black holes and neutron stars.
• The IceCube telescope is a powerful tool to search for dark matter and could reveal the physical processes associated with the enigmatic origin of the highest energy particles in nature. In addition, exploring the background of neutrinos produced in the atmosphere, IceCube studies the neutrinos themselves; their energies far exceed those produced by accelerator beams. IceCube is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometer of ice.
• It is buried beneath the surface, extending to a depth of about 2,500 meters. Burying it deep in ice is important to enhance the precision of the detector.

Source: https://icecube.wisc.edu/science/icecube/detector

Solution: c)

Explanation:

·         The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is an international treaty of the World Trade Organization. It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO on January 1, 1995.

·         The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the WTO sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards. It allows countries to set their own standards

·         Article 13 (“due restraint”) of the Agriculture Agreement protects countries using subsidies which comply with the agreement from being challenged under other WTO agreements.

Source: http://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/14-ag_01_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/spsagr_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/negs_bkgrnd13_peace_e.htm

Solution: c)

Explanation: Only statement 1 and 3 are correct.

• Near field communication, abbreviated NFC, is a form of contactless communication based on electromagnetic radio fields between devices like smartphones or tablets. Contactless communication allows a user to wave the smartphone over a NFC compatible device to send information without needing to touch the devices together or go through multiple steps setting up a connection.
• Bluetooth can connect to devices up to 32 feet away, yet near field communication can connect to devices at a maximum distance of 4 centimeters on average.
• Both businesses and individuals benefit from near field communication technology. By integrating credit cards, subway tickets, and paper coupons all into one device, a customer can board a train, pay for groceries, redeem coupons or store loyalty points, and even exchange contact information all with the wave of a smartphone.

Source: http://www.nearfieldcommunication.org/about-nfc.htmlhttp://www.in.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/What-is-NFCand-why-is-it- in-your-phone/articleshow/38919446.cms

Solution: b)

Explanation: The Golan Heights are a rocky plateau in Western Asia that was captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. The international community recognizes the Golan Heights to be official Syrian territory and widely rejects Israeli military occupation.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/21/middleeast/israel-golan-heights-attacks-syria/index.html

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• Rupee convertibility means the system where any amount of rupee can be converted into any other currency without any question asked about the purpose for which the foreign exchange is to be used.
• Non-convertibility can generally be defined with reference to transaction for which foreign exchange cannot be legally purchased (e.g. import of consumer goods etc), or transactions which are controlled and approved on a case by case basis (like regulated imports etc). A move towards free convertibility implies a reduction in the number / volume of the above types of transaction.

Source: http://www.caclubindia.com/articles/convertibility-of-indian-rupee-1945.asp

Solution: b)

Explanation: Only statement 2 is correct matched.

The ninth century saw the rise of a number of hill states in the Himalayas, some of which maintained their identity until recent years, despite their wars with each other and the frequent raids from the men of the plains. States such as Champaka (Chamba – Himachal Pradesh), Durgara (Jammu), Trigarta (jalandhar), Kuluta (Kulu – Himachal pradesh), Kumaon and Garhwal managed to remain outside the main areas of conflict in the northern plains.

Source: http://www.indiansaga.com/history/kashmir.html

Solution: d)

Explanation: Only 2 and 3 are tributaries of Godavari

• Left tributaries: Purna, Pranahita, Indravati, Sabari, Taliperu, Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha, Dudhana
• Right tributaries: Pravara, Manjira, PeddaVagu, Manair, Kinnerasani

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godavari_River

Solution: a)

Explanation: Such a sitting is summoned by the President to settle a deadlock between the two Houses on a bill. The bill is passed by a simple majority i.e. majority of the number of members present and voting.

Source: Laxmikanth – Indian Polity – Chapter 22 (Parliament)

Solution: d)

Explanation:

• The South Andaman forests have a profuse growth of epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andaman harbors mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andamans is characterized by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers.
• The North Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group.
• Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests are common in the Andamans, they are almost absent in the Nicobars. The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands#Flora

Solution: d)

Explanation: Only 3 and 4 were associated with Buddha.

• Magadha, Kosala, Vaishali, Vajjietc were the kingdoms and regions that the wandering Buddha covered relentlessly.
• Jetavana (Jeta garden) was perhaps the best known amongst the beautiful gardens provided to Buddha’s entourage and it was close to Sravasthi, capital of the Kosala kingdom.
• Perhaps the second-most important monastic resort of Buddha was the “bamboo grove” in Rajgriha, capital of Magadha, provided by king Bimbisara.

Source:

1. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/lifebuddha/2_14lbud.htmhttp://creative.sulekha.com/the-beautiful-courtesan-amrapali-in-the-life-of- buddha_595970_blog
2. The question was a repeat from the year 2014. The solution is as per UPSC Official answer key of 2014 GS Prelims.

Solution: b)

Explanation:

• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
• Bretton Woods conference relates to IMF and World Bank. Kyoto Protocol is about cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Nagoya protocol is about benefit sharing from the gains by genetic resources.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol

Solution: b)

Explanation: Only statement 3 is correct.

• Statement 1: Chinese gunpowder technology is believed to have arrived in India by the mid- 14th century, but could have been introduced much earlier by the Mongols, who had conquered both China and some borderlands of India, perhaps as early as the mid-13th century. The unification of a large single Mongol Empire resulted in the free transmission of previously top-secret Chinese technology into Mongol conquered parts of India. Regardless, it is believed that the Mongols used Chinese gunpowder weapons during their invasions of India.
• If statement 1 is wrong, the only possible option is B.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gunpowder#India

Solution: d)

Explanation:

The NITI Aayog is a public policy think tank of the Government of India, established with the aim to achieve sustainable development goals with cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach. It was established to replace Planning Commission in 2015.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NITI-Aayog-to-replace-Planning- Commission/articleshow/45713957.cms

Solution: a)

Explanation:

• The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20, or Earth Summit 2012 was the third international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals of the global community.
• Hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 22 June 2012, Rio+20 was a 20- year follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit / United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

Source: http://uncsd2012.org/about.html

Solution: d)

Explanation: Neither statement 1 and 2 are correct.

• Executive power of the Union of India is vested in the President of India.
• Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and head of all civil services under the rules of business of the Government of India.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_Secretary_of_India

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• In astronomy and astrobiology, the circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ), or simply the habitable zone (Goldilocks Zone), is the region around a star within which planetary-mass objects with sufficient atmospheric pressure can support liquid water at their surfaces.
• Researchers are finding that life can thrive in some unexpected places.

Source: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/02oct_goldilocks/

Solution: b)

Explanation: C Rajagopalchari was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyamon the Tanjore coast.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/salt-march-team- gets-warm-reception/article1208348.ece http://www.preservearticles.com/201104235858/short-biography-of-chhakrabrati- rajagopalachari.html

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• Harihara I was the founder of Vijayanagar Empire.
• His initial military exploits established his control over the valley of Tungabhadra River (a tributary of Krishna), and gradually he expanded his control to certain regions of Konkan and Malabar Coast. By that time Hoysalas had lost its last ruler VeeraBallala III who died fighting the Sultan of Madurai, and the vacuum so created facilitated Harihara I to emerge as a sovereign power. The entire Hoysala territories came under his rule directly.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harihara_I

Solution: b)

Explanation: Only statement 2 is correct.

• First woman President of INC was Annie Besant.
• First male President was W.C. Banerjee. First Muslim male President was BadruddinTyabji.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_presidents_of_Indian_National_Congress

Solution: a)

Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct.

• The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
• The Green Climate Fund was designated as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC, in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention. Arrangements will be concluded between the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Fund to ensure that it is accountable to, and functions under the guidance of, the COP.
• The Fund is governed and supervised by a Board that will have full responsibility for funding decisions and that receives the guidance of the COP.

Source: http://www.gcfund.org/about/the-fund.html

Solution: c)

Explanation:

• The Indira Gandhi Prize or the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize or the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is the prestigious award accorded annually by India to individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.
• The prize carries a cash award of 2.5 million Indian rupees and a citation. The recipients are chosen from a pool of national and international nominees.
• Angel Merkel (2013) and ISRO (2014) were the recipients of the award.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/after-success-mangalyaan-isro-wins-indira-gandhi-peace- prize-2014-614677