DAY – 2 : Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2025 : ECONOMY

Solution: B

About Viatina-19:
• Viatina-19 has set the Guinness World Record as the most expensive cow ever sold.
• Belongs to the Nellore breed, originally known as Ongole, native to Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Key Characteristics:
o Adapted to tropical climates, known for disease resistance and heat tolerance.
o Possesses unique genetics, not focused on milk or meat yield, but rather for breeding value and aesthetic traits (e.g., white fur, prominent hump).
o Weighs around 1,100 kg, nearly double that of average Nelore cows.
• Status in India:
o The Ongole breed is now dwindling in India, with a sharp population decline from 15 lakh (1944) to 6.34 lakh (2019 Livestock Census).

Solution: B

Types of Vitamins/ Minerals Deficiency Diseases
A (Retinol) Night blindness
B1 (Thiamine) Beri-beri
B2 (Riboflavin) Retarded growth, bad skin Anaemia
B12 (Cyanocobalamin) Scurvy, Pernicious Anaemia
C (Ascorbic acid) Deficiency Diseases
D (Calciferol) Rickets
K (Phylloquinone) Excessive bleeding due to injury
Calcium Brittle bones, excessive bleeding
Phosphorus Bad teeth and bones
Iron Anaemia
Iodine Goitre, enlarged thyroid gland
Copper Low appetite, retarded growth
Hence, option (b) is correct.

Solution: D

DNA fingerprinting is the process of determining an individual’s deoxyribonucleic acid characteristics. DNA fingerprinting is used in many ways, including:
 Criminal identification: DNA fingerprinting is used to match DNA samples from a criminal suspect to a crime scene.
 Paternity/ maternity testing: DNA fingerprinting can be used to establish paternity/ maternity in custody and child support litigation.
 Genetic research: DNA fingerprinting can be used to identify patterns of DNA sequences that are unique to an individual
 Identification of mutilated remains: Establishment of biological relationships for immigration, organ transplantation and property inheritance cases.
 Forensic wildlife: DNA can assist in establishing whether an animal was captive-bred or wild-sourced or to differentiate between look-alike species.
 Child swap DNA testing: This test uses the STR Profiling method. Due to this test, determining a newborn’s biological parents has become much easier now.
Hence, option (d) is correct.

Solution: B

In condensed matter physics, a Bose–Einstein condensate is a state of matter that is typically formed when a gas of bosons at very low densities is cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero.
Hence, option (b) is correct.

Solution: C

Golden rice is a genetically modified rice that contains beta-carotene, a plant pigment that the body converts into vitamin A. (Hence, statement 1 is correct.)
Golden rice is produced by transferring genes from a bacterium into rice. The beta-carotene is produced through genetic engineering in the edible parts of the rice. The endosperm of Golden Rice is yellow due to the accumulation of beta-carotene and xanthophylls.
Hence, statement 2 and statement 3 both are correct.

Solution: C

• Nanomicelles are typically spherical, but can sometimes take other shapes, such as cylinders and ellipsoids. The small-size and shape of nanomicelles is only possible due to the molecular geometry of the particle.
• The shapes formed also depend on the ionic strength, surfactant concentration, and pH strength of the solutions they are placed in.
• Nanomicelles are ultramicroscopic structures used in the treatment of disease. They have a hydrophilic outer shell and a hydrophobic core, making them capable of delivering poorly water-soluble drugs and protecting drug molecules.
(Hence, statement 1 is correct)
• Nanomicelles are also hypothesized to improve cancer treatment through overcoming drug resistance, improving anti-cancer drug efficacy, and reducing drug toxicity. (Hence, statement 2 is correct)

Solution: A

Satellite internet is wireless internet beamed down from satellites orbiting the Earth. It’s a lot different from land-based internet services like cable or DSL, which transmit data through wires running underground. Some satellite internet plans can even give you internet speeds similar to cable internet.

Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Satellite internet isn’t capable of offering lower latency compared to cable or fiber connections, as the signal travels a longer distance. This causes a slight delay between giving a command and getting the output.

Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Satellite Internet works by making use of radio waves. Like TV and radio broadcasts, the energy required to transmit data communications can be absorbed by water molecules in the air. As such, heavy rain or a thunderstorm could result in a weaker satellite Internet signal. (Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.)

Solution: B

Molniya orbits are highly elliptical orbits with a high inclination (around 63.4 degrees).
• This specific inclination and high eccentricity allow a satellite in a Molniya orbit to spend a significant amount of its orbital period at its apogee (the highest point in its orbit), which is positioned over high-latitude regions.
• This long dwell time at high latitudes provides near-continuous coverage of these areas, which would be difficult to achieve with geostationary satellites that are positioned over the equator.
• Providing internet services in equatorial regions: Geostationary orbits are much better suited for continuous coverage of equatorial regions.
• Global navigation satellite systems like GPS: GPS uses Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellations with multiple satellites to provide global coverage.
• Observing the Sun’s activity: Satellites designed for solar observation are typically placed in orbits that allow for a continuous or near-continuous view of the Sun, such as orbits around the L1 Lagrange point.

Solution: C

 They are a new data structure that is secure, cryptography-based, and distributed across a network. The technology supports cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and the transfer of any data or digital asset. (Hence, statement 1 is correct.)
 Spearheaded by Bitcoin, blockchains achieve consensus among distributed nodes, allowing the transfer of digital goods without the need for centralized authorisation of transactions. (Hence, statement 2 is correct.)

Solution: D

Some Applications of Machine Learning:
 Image Recognition: It classifies images, clusters them by similarities, and performs object recognition within scenes. For example, ViSENZE has developed commercial applications that can empower image recognition and tagging using their deep learning networks.
 Law Enforcement: Deep learning algorithms are important in analyzing transactional data to detect patterns indicative of fraudulent or criminal activity. For example, speech recognition like Siri or Alexa and computer vision technologies
 Financial Services: Financial institutions leverage predictive analytics powered by deep learning to inform algorithmic trading, assess business risks for loan approvals, detect fraud, and manage credit and investment portfolios.
 Healthcare: Deep learning has found extensive applications in healthcare, particularly in medical imaging detecting disease from X-ray images and classifying them into several disease types in radiology. It aids specialists in interpreting a large volume of images in less time, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy.
 Medical Research: Cancer researchers are using deep learning to automatically detect cancer cells. Teams at UCLA built an advanced microscope that yields a high-dimensional data set used to train a deep learning application to accurately identify cancer cells.
 Aerospace and Defense: Deep learning is used to identify objects from satellites that locate areas of interest, and identify safe or unsafe zones for troops.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Solution: C
• An artificial Solar eclipse mimics the natural phenomenon where the Moon blocks sunlight allowing detailed observation of the sun’s corona.
• It can be created by using two satellites aligned to block the sun’s light, creating a controlled shadow for scientific study
• This is helpful to study Sun’s corona, coronal mass injections as well as predict geomagnetic storms and disruptions to satellite and Earth based systems.
Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct
• The Proba – 3 mission or the Project for Onboard Autonomy has been launched by European Space Agency and ISRO.
• It is led by European Space Agency and has been launched by ISRO under its commercial arm New Space India Limited.
• The mission includes two spacecrafts, which will fly in formation with one satellite acting as occulter and the other as coronograph, the creating an artificial solar eclipse.
Hence statement 3 is correct

Solution: B

Directed Energy Weapons use concentrated energy from electromagnetic or particle Technology rather than kinetic energy to degrade or destroy targets. Most common DEWs include:
• High Energy lasers that have significant advantages over conventional munitions such as the ability to engage targets at the speed of light and with pinpoint accuracy.
• High power microwave weapons have a shorter range than HELs and their beam degrades over long distances; but they are not affected by weather and can impact target over a wide area.
• Millimetre wave directed energy has various non lethal military applications including crowd control and area denial
• Particle beams are weapons that have strong penetration ability, high speed, high energy and can operate in all weather conditions.
Hence options 1 and 2 are correct
• Germ Aerosol spray is a form of biological weapon, also known as bioweapon.
• Bioweapons include lethal agents like Anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulinum and other harmful viruses along with toxins or incapacitating agents that harm population at large.
Hence option 3 is incorrect

Answer: B

Explanation:
SEBI’s recent amendments to the Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) Regulations significantly broaden the definition of “connected persons.” Previously, “connected persons” focused on those who had a direct link to the company or its insiders, often through employment or professional associations. Now, the definition extends to include individuals who may not be directly employed by or formally associated with the company, but who nonetheless have potential access to unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI).

For instance, individuals living in the same household as someone with UPSI—such as roommates, family members, or even long-term housemates—can now be classified as “connected persons.” This reflects SEBI’s intent to close loopholes where sensitive information could be leaked or shared informally at home. Option (B) fits this criterion perfectly: a roommate sharing residence with an insider is likely to overhear or access UPSI indirectly.

Solution : A

• Participatory Notes are offshore derivative instruments used for making investment in stock markets.
• However they are not used within the country; these are used outside India for making investment in shares listed in the Indian stock market; hence are called Offshore Derivative Instrument.
• P-Notes are a significant source of foreign capital inflow into the Indian market.
• They contribute to the liquidity in Indian capital markets and makes it easier to buy and sell securities.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• P-Notes are issued by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) to foreign investors.
• FIIs registered with SEBI and brokers issue these stock market instruments.
• These allows foreign high net worth individuals, hedge funds and other investors to put money directly in Indian market, thus increasing inflow of foreign capital.

Hence statement 2 is correct and it correctly explains statement 1.

Solution : B

• Short Selling is a trading strategy based on the expectation that the price of the security will fall.
• It is an investment or trading strategy that speculates on the decline in a stock or other security’s price.
• It occurs when an investor borrows a security and sells it on the open market, planning to buy it back later for less money.
• Short sellers bet on and profit from a drop in security’s price; this is in contrast to long investors who want the price of security to increase.
• Short selling has high risk/reward ratio; it can offer big profits but losses can mount quickly and infinitely due to marginal calls.

Hence option B is correct

Solution : C

• Finfluencers are persons with public social media platforms offering advise and sharing personal experience about money and investment in stocks.
• Their videos cover budgeting, investing, property buying, cryptocurrency advise and financial trained tracking.
• Recently the Securities and Exchange Board of India has made guidelines for finfluencers.
• SEBI has asked brokers and mutual funds to stop using the services of unregulated financial influencers for marketing and advertising campaigns.
• Such regulations are required as the number of unregistered investment advisors giving unsolicited stock tips on social media platforms has increased many fold
• Also, certain companies use social media platform to boost their share prices through these finfluencers.

Hence option C is correct

Solution: A

• Black Box trading, better known as Algorithmic trading uses a computer program that follows defined set of instructions or an algorithm to place a trade based on timing, price, quantity or any mathematical model.
• It combines computer programming and financial markets to execute trade at precise moments.
• It eliminates human intervention and emotions allowing trade based on mathematical models, historical data and market conditions.
• It follows pre-coded algorithms to identify trading opportunities and execute orders.
• It uses technical indicators, price movements, volume and other data to determine trade entry and exit points.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• In 2008 SEBI introduced Black box trading for the first time only for institutional investors.
• Recently SEBI has proposed a framework to allow retail investors to participate in such trading through stock brokers.
• Retail investors will be required to conduct back testing of their algorithms and provide proof of their efficiency.
• Also, algorithms may require certification from the exchanges to ensure they adhere to market standards.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution : A

• Devaluation in foreign exchange market refers to the situation when exchange rate of a domestic currency is cut down by the government deliberately against any foreign currency.
• By Devaluing its currency, a country makes its money cheaper and this promotes exports rendering more competition in the Global market.
• Conversely, foreign products become more expensive so the demand for imports fall.
• Governments use devaluation to combat a trade balance and have exports exceed imports.
• Increasing the price of import protects domestic Industries, but they may become less efficient without the pressure of competition.
• Higher exports relative to imports can also increase aggregate demand which leads to inflation.
• Devaluation increases the price of imported goods in the domestic economy, there by fuelling inflation.
• This in turn increases the cost in the domestic economy including demands for wage increases, all of which eventually go into exported goods.

Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct and statement 2 correctly explains statement 1

Solution: A

• Current account is fully convertible from 1994 in India.
• It implies that full amount of the foreign exchange required by someone for current purposes will be made available at official exchange rate and there would be an unprohibited outflow of foreign exchange.
• India was obliged to do so as per Article VIII of the IMF which prohibits any exchange restrictions on current International transactions.

Hence statement 1 is correct

• India is a country of partial convertibility (40:60) in the capital account.
• After the recommendations of the S.S. Tarapore committee (1997) on capital account convertibility, India has been moving in the direction of allowing full convertibility in this account but with required precautions.
• Indian corporates are allowed full convertibility in the automatic route up to $500 million overseas Ventures (investment by Limited companies in foreign countries allowed) per annum
• Also Indian corporates are allowed to repay their ECBs via automatic route if the loan is above $500 million per annum.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution : D

• The call money market is an inter-bank money market in which funds are borrowed and lent, generally for one day and hence this is also known as overnight borrowing market or money at call.
• Funds can be borrowed for a maximum period up to 14 days (called short notice)
• Borrowing or lending in this market takes place without any collateral or securities.
• Only Scheduled commercial banks and primary dealers are allowed to operate in this market as both borrows and lenders.
• While insurance funds, mutual Funds, NABARD and IDBI can operate only as lenders.

Hence statement 1 is incorrect 

• The rate of interest in the call money market glides with the repo rate of the time.
• The principle remains very simple, longer the period, higher the interest rate.
• Depending upon the availablity and demand of fund in this market, the real call rate revolves near the current repo rate.

Hence statement 2 is correct

Solution: C

Jeju Island – South Korea Jeju Island is a volcanic island and the largest island in South Korea.

• It is a popular tourist destination, known for its unique lava tubes, Hallasan mountain, and subtropical climate.
• Jeju is located in the Korea Strait, south of the mainland.

Shandong Peninsula Islands – China

• The Shandong Peninsula is in eastern China, extending into the Yellow Sea.
• It contains several small islands, including Changdao Islands, which are known for their natural beauty and military significance.
• Shandong Peninsula is an important economic and cultural region in China.

Ganghwa Island

• Ganghwa Island does not belong to Japan; it is part of South Korea.
• It is located near the border with North Korea, along the Han River estuary.
• The island has historical significance, as it was a defensive stronghold during invasions in the Joseon Dynasty.

Hainan Island – China

• Hainan Island is China’s largest island and is located in the South China Sea.
• It is sometimes referred to as “China’s Hawaii” due to its tropical climate and tourism industry.
• The island is also strategically important, serving as a base for China’s naval and military operations.

Solution: A

Colombo Process:

• India has assumed the chair of the Colombo Process for 2024-26.
• It is a Regional Consultative Process (RCP) focusing on migrant worker origin countries from South and Southeast Asia.
• Established to enhance cooperation on labor migration policies, share best practices, and protect migrant workers.
• Objectives:
  • Provide a forum for Asian countries of origin of temporary contractual workers.
  • Share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices on overseas employment.
  • Discuss and propose solutions for migrant workers, especially vulnerable groups.
  • Enhance dialogue between countries of origin and destination.
  • Monitor the implementation of ministerial recommendations and suggest further steps.
• 12 Member Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Not linked to SAARC – It is an independent consultative initiative for labor migration governance.

Solution: B

Lake Kariba:

• Location: Situated on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Largest Artificial Lake: It is the world’s largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume.
• Kariba Dam & Hydroelectric Power:
  • The Kariba Dam, completed in 1960, led to the formation of Lake Kariba.
  • It supports hydroelectric power generation for both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Ecological & Economic Impact:
  • Supports fishing industries, particularly the Kapenta fishery.
  • Led to the resettlement of local communities due to flooding after dam construction.
  • Home to diverse wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, and fish species.
• Tourism & Conservation: Popular for tourism, fishing, and wildlife conservation efforts.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/el-nino-drought-leaves-zimbabwe-s-lake-kariba-only-13-full-a-disaster-for-people-wildlife-95563

Solution: D

Fungi belong to the Kingdom Fungi, a distinct group of eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic material. Unlike plants, they do not perform photosynthesis and instead decompose organic matter.

The following organisms are classified under Kingdom Fungi:

• Yeasts – Unicellular fungi used in fermentation (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
• Rusts – Parasitic fungi that affect plants, particularly crops (e.g., Puccinia species).
• Smuts – Parasitic fungi that attack cereal crops like corn and wheat (e.g., Ustilago species).
• Mildews – Fungi causing plant diseases, often appearing as powdery or downy coatings (e.g., Erysiphales).
• Molds – Multicellular fungi growing in filaments (hyphae), found in damp environments (e.g., Penicillium, Aspergillus).
• Mushrooms – The fruiting bodies of fungi, often edible or toxic (e.g., Agaricus bisporus).

All these organisms share common fungal characteristics such as chitinous cell walls, spore reproduction, and heterotrophic nutrition.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240603114314.htm

Solution: B

Eight Core Industries:

• The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) tracks the performance of eight key industries crucial to India’s industrial growth.
• Released by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Base year: 2011-12.
• Published monthly to assess short-term industrial performance.
• Significance:
  • Covers 40% of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
  • Serves as a leading indicator of industrial activity, impacting economic policies and investment decisions.
• Eight core sectors:
• Coal
• Crude Oil
• Natural Gas
• Refinery Products
• Fertilizers
• Steel
• Cement
• Electricity

Correct Option : B

Justification :

In option 1, The passage mentions the increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere due to human activities, leading to global warming. Therefore, it can be inferred that human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, are the primary cause of global warming.

Option 2 is incorrect because the passage provides various examples of the effects of global warming, such as drying up of lakes and rivers, changes in migration patterns of animals, and changes in plant growth patterns. The melting of polar ice caps and mountain glaciers is just one aspect of the broader effects of global warming

Option 3 is incorrect because the passage clearly states that animals and plants are being affected by global warming.

Correct Option : B

Justification :

Let 1 man’s 1 day work = x and 1 woman’s 1 day work = y.

Then, 4x + 6y = 1/8 and 3x + 7y = 1/10

Solving these two equations, we get:

x = 11/400 and y = 1/400

1 woman’s 1 day work = (1/400 * 10) = 1/40.

Hence, 10 women will complete the work in 40 days

Correct Option : D

Justification :

Work done by the inlet in 1 hour =[(1/8)-(1/12)] = 1/24

Work done by the inlet in 1 min. = [(1/24)´(1/60)]=1/1440

\Volume of 1/1440 part = 6 litres.

\Volume of whole = (1440´6) litres = 8640 litres.

Correct Option : D

Justification :

L.C.M. of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 is 120.

So, the bells will toll together after every 120 seconds(2 minutes).

In 60 minutes, they will toll together = ( 60/2)+1 = 31

Correct Option : C

Justification :

A, B & C work done 3 days => 1/6 + 1/8 + 1/C = 1/3

C = 1/24 or 24 days

Now Share of A, B, C

A’s share = 1/6 * 3 * 400 = 200

B’s share = 1/8 * 3 * 400 = 150

C’s share = 1/24 * 3 * 400 = 50

C’s share Rs.50