Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. The Battle of Saraighat fought in 1671 was the last battle in the last major attempt by the Mughals to extend their empire into Assam.
2. The Battle was between the Mughal Empire, led by Raja Ramsingh I and the Ahom Kingdom, led by Lachit Borphukan, on the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat.
3. The Ahom Army defeated the Mughal Army.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. Only one statement
b. Only two statements
c. All the statements
d. None
Ans: c
The Battle of Saraighat was the last major attempt by the Mughals to extend their empire into Assam(Note: Last battle between Ahoms and Mughal forces was Battle of Itakhuli). The Battle was fought in 1671 between the Mughal Empire, led by Raja Ramsingh I and the Ahom Kingdom, led by Lachit Borphukan, on the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat.
The Ahom Army defeated the Mughal Army by brilliant uses of the terrain, clever diplomatic negotiations to buy time, guerrilla tactics, psychological warfare, military intelligence and by exploiting the weak navy force of the Mughal forces.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
1. Mission Basundhara is a flagship program launched on 2nd October 2021 by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Assam.
2. It has been developed in a bid to streamline and resolve and to make land revenue services more accessible to citizens.
3. The service aims to protect land rights of indigenous landless families
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. Only one statement
b. Only two statements
c. All the statements
d. None
Ans: c
Explanation: Mission Basundhara is a flagship program launched on 2nd October 2021 by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Assam.
It has been developed in a bid to streamline and resolve and to make land revenue services more accessible to citizens.
The service aims to protect land rights of indigenous landless families by providing them land pattas for agriculture and housing slums based on the existing land policy of the Government of Assam.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
1. Variant of Interest (VOI) includes variants with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding
2. Specific genetic markers that are predicted to affect therapeutics, transmission, diagnostics or immune escape are an attribute of VOI.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
Ans: c
Explanation: Variant of Interest (VOI): This includes variants with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, decreased neutralisation by antibodies generated against vaccination/previous infection, lessened efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity. The following are the possible attributes of a VOI.
Specific genetic markers that are predicted to affect therapeutics, transmission, diagnostics or immune escape.
Evidence that it is the cause of an increased proportion of cases or unique outbreak clusters.
Q4. What is the primary responsibility of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), a constituent of the National Statistical Office (NSO)?
a) Monthly release of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
b) Conducting all-India Economic Censuses.
c) Providing grants-in-aid to NGOs.
d) Coordinating statistical work across government ministries.
Answer: b)
Explanation: The NSSO, as part of NSO, is actively involved in organising periodic all-India Economic Censuses, contributing essential data on various economic aspects.
Q5. What is the primary responsibility of the National Statistical Office (NSO) in India?
a) Industrial production monitoring.
b) Economic census and enterprise surveys.
c) Planned development of the statistical system.
d) All of the above.
Answer: c
The NSO is mandated with the planned development of the statistical system in the country, covering various aspects like norms, standards, and methodologies.
Q6. The MSP is declared/approved by?
a) Finance minister
b) Cabinet Committe on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
c) Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP)
d) Ministry of Agriculture.
Answer: b
Explanation: MSP is based on the recommendation of Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP). It recommends about 22 crops for msp. Approval is given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
Q7. ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases is located in?
a) Karnal
b) Bhopal
c) Chennai
d) Telangana
Answer: b
Explanation: ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases is located in Bhopal. It mainly conducts research on exotic and emerging pathogens of animals. It came into existence on 8th Aug. 2014.
Q8. In which year was SEBI established?
a) 1987
b) 1992
c) 1962
d) 1953
Answer- b
Explanation: The securities and exchange board of India was established in 1992 as a statutory body.
Q9. Consider the following statements
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realisation of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (c)
Explanation: Biodiversity Governance in India: India’s Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BD Act), is in close synergy with the Nagoya Protocol and aims to implement provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The Nagoya Protocol sought to ensure commercial and research utilisation of genetic resources led to sharing its benefits with the government and the community that conserved such resources.
Under Section 41(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, every local body in the State shall constitute a Biodiversity Management Committee within its area of jurisdiction. Hence,
statement 1 & 2 are correct.
The main function of the BMC is to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) in consultation with local people. The BMC shall be responsible for ensuring the protection of the knowledge recorded in PBR, especially to regulate its access to outside persons and agencies.
Q10. Consider the following statements:
1. GMRT(Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) is a low-frequency radio telescope used for
investigating various radio astrophysical phenomena.
2. GMRT is a project of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
3. The telescope consists of 30 fully-steerable dish-type antennas.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. Only one statement
b. Only two statements
c. All the statements
d. None
Ans: c
Explanation:
GMRT is a low-frequency radio telescope used for investigating various radio astrophysical phenomena, ranging from nearby solar systems to the edge of the observable universe.
It is located at Khodad, situated 80 km north of Pune, and is operated by the National Centre of Radio Astrophysics (NCRA).
The NCRA is a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) based in Mumbai.
GMRT is a project of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and operates under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
The telescope consists of 30 fully-steerable dish-type antennas, each with a diameter of 45 meters, spread over a 25-km region.
Presently, GMRT holds the distinction of being the world’s largest radio telescope operating at meter wavelengths.
Q11. Consider the following statements:
1. Pluralism denotes the presence of diverse groups within a nation or society, characterized by differences in ethnicity, cultural practices, languages, religious beliefs, and other such factors.
2. Indian society is pluralistic in nature.
Which of the above statements are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
Ans: c
Explanation: Indian society is inherently pluralistic, characterized by the coexistence of various groups with distinct ethnic backgrounds, cultural traditions, languages, religions, and other unique attributes within the nation.
The Indian culture followed the concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family) resulting in a great cultural heritage.
