Vajiram Powerup CSP23T04Q Test Date 14/2/23 Geography
2. All the terrestrial planets lost their primordial atmosphere through the impact of solar winds.
6. Composite volcanoes are characterised by eruptions of cooler and more viscous lavas
Shield volcanoes are mostly made up of basalt
Caldera is usually so explosive that when it erupts it tends to collapse on itself
10. Convection currents are the movement of fluid as a result of differential heating or convection.
In the case of the Earth, convection currents refer to the motion of molten rock in the mantle as
radioactive decay heats up magma causing it to rise and driving the global-scale flow of magma.
The heat in the outer core results from residual energy from the Earth's formative events and
the energy generated by decaying radioactive elements
11. Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is extracted from unconventional gas reservoirs — where gas is
extracted directly from the rock that is the source of the gas
United States of America currently produces 7% of natural gas (methane) from CBM and it is the
largest producer of CBM.
14. Solifluction is the relatively slow downslope movement of water-saturated soil and/or
regolith. Solifluction, which means “soil flow”, is most common in highlatitude or high-elevation
tundra regions where there is a permafrost layer beneath the surface. Active solifluction can be
initiated by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, the gravitational pull of Earth, debris flow and landslides,
the formation of ice crystals, wet soils and regolith after heavy rainfall and snowmelt. Solifluction also
creates features called solifluction lobes, which are rounded, tongue-like slumps of soil that appear
as terraces.
Lahars is a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flow quickly down the slopes of a
volcano.
Earth flow is a downslope viscous flow of fine-grained materials that have been saturated with
water, and moves under the pull of gravity.
Soil creep defines the slow mass wasting process of soil on a slope, under the influence of gravity.
20. The convective transfer of energy is confined only to the troposphere
Transfer of heat through the horizontal movement of air is called advection. Loo is an example of
advection.
26. Nairobi comes very close to the equator as compared to Delhi which lies in the Subtropical
region. Close to equator -> more insolation -> more rainfall
28. Asthenosphere -> below lithosphere and not the uppermost part of mantle & Source of magma
29. Laccoliths are large dome-shaped intrusive bodies with a level base. Act as source of
lacalised lava.
32. Oxygen > silicon > aluminium > Iron : Mineral concentration in the crust.
38. Salts in rocks expand due to thermal action
Salt crystals in near-surface pores cause the splitting of individual grains within rocks, which
eventually fall off. This process of falling off of individual grains may result in granular disintegration
or granular foliation
In areas, with alternating wetting and drying conditions, salt crystal growth is favoured
42. Work of erosional agents- waves and groundwater determined by (lithosphere-hydrosphere and
underground character)
44. In dry climates, because of high temperature, evaporation exceeds precipitation and hence
groundwater is brought up to the surface by capillary action and in the process the water
evaporates leaving behind salts in the soil. Such salts form into a crust in the soil known as
hardpans.
50. The presence of soluble rocks, preferably limestone at the surface or sub-surface level
is an essential condition for the formation of karst topography. These rocks should be
dense, highly jointed and thinly bedded. Rocks should not be highly porous/
permeable as rainwater will be absorbed en masse through the whole body and not
through fractures.
In India karst topography is present in the Vindhya region (mainly southwestern
Bihar), the Himalayas, Panchmarhi, Chitrakoot etc.
53. Thar desert lies nearby to the Horseshoe latitude/ the Subtropical High-Pressure Belts
where the air is descending and hence dry in condition
54. The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) rises because of convection caused
by high insolation and low pressure is created
56. Sittwe (at the mouth of Kaladan river) port is west of Kyapakyu port. Both are in Myanmar.
58. Tundra - only mosses and lichens. Desert - variety of xerophytic plants
59. Absolute humidity is the ratio of the mass of water vapour actually in the air to a unit mass
of air, including the water vapour.
60. Stratus clouds are low clouds with uniform layers. The basis characteristic is their horizontal
sheet-like appearance lying in layers. These are formed mainly during winter either due to loss of
heat or the mixing of air masses with different temperatures. Stratus clouds are uniformly grey and
thick and appear like a low ceiling or highland fog. They bring dull weather with light drizzle.
These clouds reduce the visibility of aircrafts.
61. The 17 rare earth elements are: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium
(Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium
(Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), scandium (Sc), and
yttrium (Y)
China has the largest reserve (37 percent), followed by Brazil and Vietnam (18 percent each),
Russia (15 percent),
Cerium is one of the most abundant of rare-earth metals. It is found in several minerals, including
allanite or orthrite, monazite, bastnasite, cerite and samarskite. Large deposits of cerium have
been found in India, Brazil and in Southern California
India has the world’s fifth-largest reserves of rare earth elements
64. Steppes - Eurasian plains extending in Russia, Ukraine, Hungary
Pustaz - Hungary
69. The Eskimos live in Greenland, Northern Canada and Alaska as hunters, fishers and
food-gatherers. (Arctic Climate)
Samis, also known as Lapps, live in a very wide territory stretching from the coasts of Norway to
the peninsula of Kola, in Russia.
Nenets, also known as Samoyed, are a Samoyedic ethnic group inhabiting northern parts of
Eurasia in Russia.
72. Order of Water : Ocean (97.25) > Ice Caps and Glaciers (2.05) > Groundwater (0.68) > Lakes
(0.01) > Soil Moisture (0.005) > Atmosphere (0.001) > Streams and Rivers (0.0001) > Biosphere
(0.000005)
75. The city that has the highest population density in the world is Manila in the Philippines, which
has a population of 119,600 per square mile.
78. ‘Rudaceous, Arenaceous and Argillaceous’
Detrital sediments are made up of the accumulation of fragments or clastic particles of minerals or
rocks. We conventionally divide the detrital or clastic rocks according to the size classes of their
modal grains. The pebble-sized grains form the Rudaceous detrital sediments. The sand-sized
particles form the arenaceous detrital sediments. The clay-sized particles form the
Argillaceous detrital sediments.
79. Acid lavas are highly viscous with a high melting point. They are light-coloured, of low density,
and have a high percentage of silica. They flow slowly.
Basic lavas are the hottest lavas, about 1,000°C. (1,830°F.) and are highly fluid. They are dark
coloured like basalt, rich in iron and magnesium but poor in silica
80. Fumaroles are geothermal features that depend on the interactions of released volcanic
gases and the local groundwater system. These occur in areas where a magma conduit passes
through the water table.
Hot springs are heated by geothermal heat—heat from the Earth's interior
Geysers require that large amounts of groundwater fill underground cavities in an area of volcanic
activity
Mudpots are surface features that occur when limited amounts of geothermal water is mixed
with mud and clay
82. Epeirogenic processes involve the uplift or warping of large parts of the earth’s crust.
83. Upswelling takes place west of Peru coast.
Upswelling areas -> 1% of surface area -> 50% of fish
90. Youth - Rapids, cataracts and waterfalls
Mature - alluvial fans, and meanders
Old stage - meanders, flood plains, braided steam, oxbow lakes, natural levees, deltas and estuaries
93. Cyclonic circulation -> low pressure at the Centre -> anti clockwise in North Hemisphere
95.Laurentian climatic type is absent in Southern hemisphere because only a small section of the
southern continent extends south of the latitude of 40 degrees south. In southern
hemisphere, the oceanic influence is so profound that neither the continental nor the eastern
margin type of climate exists
98. Indian diaspora according to population : United Arab Emirates (3.5 million), the United States of
America (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.5 million), United Kingdom (835,000)
99. Red colour of iron upon reduction turns to greenish or bluish grey.
100. Yonggwang nuclear station, located in southwestern Jeollanam do province of South Korea
Beznau nuclear power plant is a nuclear power plant of the Swiss energy utility Axpo, located in the
municipality Döttingen, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland
GS Score All India Test Open Test (12/2/23)
1. Lahore Session, 1929 - JLN President - Congress Working Committee was authorised to
launch a programme of civil disobedience including non-payment of taxes and all members of
legislatures were asked to resign their seats.
2. The first trial was held at the Red Fort in Delhi in November 1945
The POWs who were put on trial were Prem Kumar Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurbaksh Singh
Dhillon
Defence of INA prisoners in the court was organised by Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru,
Kailash Nath Katju, Jawaharlal Nehru and Asaf Ali.
6. Chauth - refers to one quarter of the land revenue paid to the government, which was collected
as a tax by the Marathas, for insurance against plunder.
Sardeshmukhi - tax equivalent to one-tenth of the land revenue levied by Marathas on those
lands which the Marathas claimed hereditary rights
These taxes were not invented by Shivaji. The rulers of Deccan already knew about these. Koli
Maharaja Som Shah of Ramnagar initiated it
8. During the Sultanate period, different rulers started different administrative departments. Some of
these were:
● Diwan-i-Amir Kohi- It was the Agricultural Department, started by Muhammad bin
Tughluq.
● Diwani-i-Wazarat- It referred to the Revenue Department .
● Diwan-i-Riyasat - It referred to the department responsible for trade and commerce.
● Diwan-i-Arz - It referred to the Army department.
● Diwan-i-Mustakhraj - Department of Revenue to release arrears , established by Alauddin
Khilji.
● Diwan-i-Khairat - It was the charity department started by Feroz Tughluq.
● Diwan-i-Risalat - It was related to the foreign affairs. and was also responsible for religious
issues
● Diwan-i-Insha - It was associated with the government correspondence
9. Administrative hierarchy in Mughal hierarchy : Suba (State) -> Sarkar (District) -> Paragana
(Sub-district)
10. Main source of revenue in the Vijayanagara empire was the taxes on the land/ farm. The land
was well-surveyed. Normally the land tax was one-third to one-sixth of the yield, depending upon
the land category or crop quality. Tax was called shist (rai-rekha).
12. Raja Ram Mohun Roy attacked child marriage and illiteracy of women.
15. Kisan Movement - October 1920 - in Awadh; Eka movement - end of 1921, peasant
discontent resurfaced in some northern districts of the United Provinces—Hardoi, Bahraich,
Sitapur. The issues involved were high rents—50 per cent higher than the recorded rates,
oppression of thikadars in charge of revenue collection and practice of share-rents, led by lower
caste leaders; Bardoli Satyagraha in 1926 led by Sardar Patel
16. Wavell presented his Breakdown Plan to the Cabinet Mission in May 1946. It visualised a
middle course between “repression” and “scuttle”. This plan envisaged the withdrawal of the British
Army and officials to the Muslim provinces of North-West and North-East and handing over the rest
of the country to the Congress.
17. Parliament has the power to create or abolish the Legislative Council in their respective
state, but state legislature can initiate it. The legislative council is a continuing chamber and is not
subject to dissolution.
18. Good Governance Index is released by the Department of Administrative Reforms and
Public Grievances. As per the latest index of 2019, Tamil Nadu topped the Good Governance
Index. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh followed among the ‘Big
States’. Puducherry top among UT’s
21. MP Qualification : Constitution - citizen of India, make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation
before the person authorised by the election commission, must be not less than 30 years of age
in the case of the Rajya Sabha and not less than 25 years of age in the case of the Lok Sabha.
RPA 1951 - registered as an elector for any parliamentary constituency, Should be SC/ST for
contesting a reserved constituency
24. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana - (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran)
Yojana was launched in 2019 - scheme focuses to incentivise the 2nd Generation Ethanol fuel
sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem.
25. PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a multi-purpose, multi-modal
platform aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring
projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments. ASKDISHA
is an artificial intelligence-based chatbot of Indian Railways to simulate conversation with
users. Bhuvan Panchayat version 3.0 is a web portal launched by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) to provide geospatial services.
27. East Asia-Summit – The East Asia Summit (EAS) established in 2005 is a forum of 18
regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security, and economic
challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. The concept of an East Asia Grouping was first promoted
in 1991 by the then Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad. The first summit was
held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005. Kuala Lumpur Declaration: EAS is an
“open forum” for dialogue on strategic, political, and economic issues in order to promote peace,
economic prosperity, and regional integration in East Asia. The EAS comprises the ten member
states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – along with 8
members Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the
United States. The EAS membership represents around 54% of the world’s population and
accounts for 58% of global GDP. The EAS is an ASEAN-centred forum; it can only be chaired by
an ASEAN member
32. After prorogation of the Parliament, all pending notices (other than those for introducing bills)
lapse on prorogation and fresh notices have to be given for the next session.
33. Added by 42nd Amendment, 1976 - To promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the
poor., To secure opportunity for healthy development of children, To take steps to secure the
participation of workers in the management of industries. Added by 44th Amendment, 1978 - to
minimize inequalities in income, statue, facilities and opportunities.
34. ILP (Inner Line Permit) - 4 NE States Manipur (recently extended), Nagaland, Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram; only for travel purpose. ILP’s origin dates back to the Bengal Eastern Frontier
Regulations, 1873. It prohibited “British subjects” or Indians from entering into these protected
areas.
35. A solar eclipse happens during the New Moon while a lunar eclipse happens during a Full
Moon. An annular solar eclipse, on the other hand, happens when the Moon is the farthest from the
Earth.
40. National Monsoon Mission - launched in 2012 by Ministry of Earth Sciences. responsibility
of execution and coordination of this mission is vested to the Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology (IITM), Pune. Objective of the mission is to develop a state-of-the-art dynamical
prediction system for monsoon rainfall on different time scales.
43. Sea of Galilee - freshwater lake in Israel well-known in Jewish, Christian and Islamic lore, lies in
northern Israel, between the occupied Golan Heights and the Galilee region, fed by Jordan River,
which is major source of its water, lowest freshwater lake in the world and second-lowest lake
after Dead Sea.
44. Nokrek is the highest peak in the Garo Hills range of Meghalaya. The region is famous for
Nokrek National Park and Biosphere reserve. Phawngpui or the Blue Mountain is the highest peak
in Mizoram. Saramati is the highest peak in the state of Nagaland and is located on the
Nagaland-Myanmar border.
45. FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID), and
implemented by Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL), a venture formed by
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) along
with the toll plaza concessionaries.
48. Calls made over VoWiFi provides users with a shorter call connection time along with
superior call quality compared to calls made over VoLTE.
50. Gold-Coated Fungi - It is a naturally occurring strain of the Fusarium oxysporum (fungi),
discovered recently in Australia. Can be used to recover gold from waste, and Detecting larger
gold deposits below the surface for less environmentally damaging and more cost-effective
drilling.
51. Blackrock Android malware can steal information like passwords and credit card information
from about 377 smartphone applications.
53. e-SIM(Embedded SIM) is an embedded SIM in smartphone that activates telecom
subscription service on e-SIM enabled devices.
55. Arjun Mark-1A Main Battle Tank - program of DRDO and upgraded version of Arjun tank.
60. EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) 2.0 Banking Reforms Index on performance
of Public Sector Banks (PSB) from March 2018-2020 was released. Index measures performance of
each PSB on 120+ objective metrics. It is published by the Department of Financial Services
(DFS).
64. APEDA - monitoring only sugar imports,Registration of persons as exporters of the scheduled
products, Carrying out inspection of meat and meat products in slaughterhouses, processing plants,
storage premises and improving packaging. established by the Government of India under the
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the
Parliament in December, 1985. Under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
69. CPI-IW (CPI - Industrial Workers) - Base year - 2016, released by Labour Bureau from Ministry
of Labour, used to determine DA of government employees.
70. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 provides that the Centre
should take appropriate measures to limit the fiscal deficit upto 3% of the GDP by 31stMarch,
2021. NK Singh committee (set up in 2016) recommended that the government should target a
fiscal deficit of 3% of the GDP in years up to March 31, 2020 cut it to 2.8% in 2020-21 and to
2.5% by 2023.
71. Protection accorded to forests : - Reserved > Protected > Other forests
73. Seed Vault - located in Chang La, Ladakh. It was built jointly by the Defence Institute of High
Altitude Research (DIHAR) and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in 2010
under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Second largest in the
world.
75. The movement of nutrients in a food chain is cyclic; the flow of energy is unidirectional.
77. Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) - Fly ash, Bottom ash, Boiler slag, Fuel gas desulphurization
gypsum
80. Bonn Convention - Migratory species Convention of wild animals
Rotterdam - Hazardous chemicals. It establishes a list of covered chemicals and requires parties
seeking to export a chemical on that list to first establish that the intended importing country has
consented to the import.
Stockholm - Persistent Organic Convention Pollutants
Tehran - Marine Convention Environment of Caspian Sea
84. Extinction Rebellion - international movement to act justly on the Climate and Ecological
Emergency, began in the UK in 2018 in response to the IPCC Report, seeks to rebel, and asks
groups to self-organise, without the need for anyone’s permission.
87. Sloth Bear - bear species native to the Indian subcontinent, protected under Schedule-1 of the
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, currently considered extirpated, or no longer present, in Bangladesh.
88. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - characterised by some degree of difficulty with social
interaction and communication, Characteristics of autism can be detected in early childhood,
considered a lifelong disorder. This neurodevelopmental disorder covers Autistic disorder,
Pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger syndrome.
90. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally in women and in India, it is the
second most common cancer in women. Central government has said the cervical cancer
vaccine for girls aged between 9 and 14 years will be provided primarily through schools.
91. Vajrayana, the "diamond vehicle," has the reputation for being Buddhism's magic and mystery
school. It evolved out of the Indian Mahayana tradition between 300-700 A.D., moved north to
Tibet around 800 A.D., and claims to be the quick, one-lifetime, path to enlightenment. It is better
known here as Tibetan Buddhism.
93. Krishi Nivesh Portal - one stop portal for agri-investors to avail benefits of various
government schemes, aims to provide welfare and various government schemes to the farmers.
96. Sittanavasal Cave is a Jain complex of caves dating back to the 2nd century, located in Tamil
Nadu, considered to be carved out of a single rock.
97. All social media intermediaries to identify the first originator of the information on its platform
under certain conditions — Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
98. Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) available to Persons working in
Central Forces, Media persons authorized by ECI for poll day coverage, Persons with
disabilities, Government officials deployed in embassies outside the country
99. Blue Flag accreditation by Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education
(FEE). Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in
Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar, Golden in Odisha,
Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry. Now, Thundi and Kadmat beaches of
Lakshadweep have been added to the list
100. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
contributes to progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate
action.
supports the intergovernmental negotiations that enable countries to implement the Convention, the
Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and to take climate actions.
Vision IAS Open Test 1 28/1/23
3. There are three different types of artificial cloning: gene cloning, reproductive cloning, and
therapeutic cloning.
○ Gene cloning produces copies of genes or segments of DNA.
○ Reproductive cloning produces copies of whole animals.
○ Therapeutic cloning produces embryonic stem cells for experiments aimed at
creating tissues to replace injured or diseased tissues.
A human clone is identical to its parent in every aspect like DNA, blood groups, etc except
fingerprints as their formation is decided in the womb.
In reproductive cloning, researchers remove a mature somatic cell, such as a skin cell, from an
animal that they wish to copy. They then transfer the DNA of the donor animal's somatic cell into an
egg cell, or oocyte, that has had its own DNA-containing nucleus removed.
4. Hyperspectral Imaging is a new analytical technique based on spectroscopy. It collects hundreds
of images at different wavelengths for the same spatial area. Hyperspectral imaging is employed in
different fields such as astronomy, agriculture, molecular biology, biomedical imaging,
mineralogy, geology, physics, cultural heritage, food processing, environment and
surveillance.
5. DoD’s Space Surveillance Network tracks discrete objects as small as 2 inches (5
centimeters) in diameter in low-Earth orbit and about 1 yard (1 meter) in geosynchronous orbit.
8. An antibody is a protein component of the immune system that circulates in the blood,
recognizes foreign substances like bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes them. Insulin is a peptide
hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the INS gene.
10. Ancient art of double ikat or Patola woven in pure silk dates back to the 11th century. The
Patola fabrics bear an equal intensity of colours and design on both sides. The last surviving family
in Patola weaving is the Salvi family in Patan in North Gujarat. Sambalpuri Bandha is a
geographically tagged product of Odisha since 2007. It is produced in the Bargarh, Sonepur,
Sambalpur, Balangir and Boudh District of Odisha. Pochampally and the cluster of many villages in
the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana.
12. Nayankara system of the Vijayanagara empire : Amaranayankara was a designation
conferred on a military officer or chief, nayakas possessed revenue rights over land or territory
called amaram.
13. The Cholas undertook a military expedition to Sri Lanka (during the time of Rajaraja I) and Sri
Vijaya (during the time of Rajendra I). Pallippadai (present Ramanatha Koyil) built by Rajendra
Chola I emerged as centre of the Pasupata sect of Shaivism. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a
contemporary of Rajendra I.
14. Tara, a powerful Buddhist goddess, appears a thousand years after the Buddha, five
centuries after the first Buddhist art. This is part of a new school known as Mahayana where Buddha
is more of a deity than a teacher.
18. In the Constitution, the impeachment process is provided for the President and no one else.
21. He must not have been dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the
State. Mandated by Representation of the People Act (1951)
22. In February 2010, restrictions were imposed only on exit polls through the introduction of
Section 126(A) in the The Representation of the People Act, 1951.
23. The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee recommended the establishment of the scheme of
'democratic decentralisation' which finally came to be known as Panchayati Raj. It also made the
recommendation that the village panchayat should be constituted with directly elected
representatives, whereas the panchayat samiti and zila parishad should be constituted with
indirectly elected members. Ashoka Mehta committee made recommendations to revive and
strengthen the declining Panchayati Raj system in the country. Recommendation that the three-tier
system of panchayati raj should be replaced by the two-tier system, that is, zila parishad at the
district level, and below it, the mandal panchayat consisting of a group of villages. Gadgil
committee made the recommendation that the term of Panchayati Raj institutions should be fixed at
five years and the members of the Panchayats at all the three levels should be directly elected.
Thungon committee suggested strengthening the Panchayati Raj system and giving it
constitutional status.
24. NCW - Chairperson, committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the Central
Government (there is no mention of NCW to be headed by woman chairperson only). 5
Members to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity.
26. 5 AIFI - NABARD, SIDBI, EXIM, NHB, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and
Development (NaBFID) became 5th AIFI in 2021. Not required to maintain reserve ratios.
27. While the nominal exchange rate measures the rate at which currencies of the two countries are
exchanged, real exchange rate measures the rate at which domestic goods can be exchanged for
foreign goods. The real effective exchange rate (REER) is the weighted average of real exchange
rates with all its trade partners the shares of different countries in its total trade are used as weights.
An increase in REER implies that exports become more expensive and imports become
cheaper; therefore, an increase indicates a loss in trade competitiveness.
29. National Financial Switch (NFS) is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It
is the largest network of shared automated teller machines (ATMs) in India
30. Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) is a liquidity management instrument that allows RBI to absorb
liquidity from Scheduled Commercial banks (SCBs) without any collateral/government securities in
return. SDF rate will be 25 bps below the policy rate (Repo rate).
33. The share of agricultural imports to agricultural GVA decreased from 6.54 per cent in
2016-17 to 4.36 per cent in 2020-21 indicating decreased dependence on import of agricultural
products in India. Share of agricultural exports in total exports ~15%.
35. In April 2022, China and the Solomon Islands finalised a controversial security agreement.
Recently the Solomon Islands has joined 13 other Pacific nations in signing a wide-reaching
US-led partnership agreement.
36. The mesopelagic zone is sometimes referred to as the twilight zone or the midwater zone as
sunlight this deep is very faint. Temperature changes the greatest in this zone as this is the zone
which contains the thermocline.
37. Halari, Sindhi, Kachchhi and Spiti are breeds of donkeys
38. Polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s
poles. It is cold air current that occurs in an upper level of the atmosphere known as the
stratosphere. When the polar vortex is "strong," cold air is less likely to plunge deep into
North America. However, when the polar vortex weakens or even splits, it allows frigid air to
escape and push southward toward the United States. Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) are
formed mainly during the event of polar vertex in winter when water vapour enters the
stratosphere and when temperatures are cold enough for water vapor to condense there.
40. 120 countries were contributing a total of 74,892 personnel in Peacekeeping Operations, with
Bangladesh leading the tally (6,700), followed by India (5,832) and Nepal (5,794).
41. European Council brings together the heads of state or government of every EU country and
decides on the political direction of the EU. European Commission is the EU's politically
independent executive arm. It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European
legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the
EU. Council of the European Union consists of one government minister from every member
state. The Council is part of the law making process in the European Union. European
Parliament is the only directly elected institution of the European Union, it is responsible to
legislate but cannot initiate legislation.
42. United Nations Commission on Status of Women (CSW) - established by the Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, elected by the Economic and Social Council on
the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Commission served as the preparatory body for the
1995 Fourth World Conference on Women , which adopted the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action.
43. CITES administered through UNEP with secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.
44. India has 75 Ramsar sites. 21 out of 28 Indian states have at least 1 Ramsar site. Tamil Nadu
has the highest number of Ramsar sites (14 sites). The following 7 states have no Ramsar sites;
Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.
45. Project Elephant was launched in 1992, Project Tiger is a tiger conservation program launched
in April 1973
46. Kanha National Park is spread across an area of 940 sq km in the Maikal chain of hills.
Bandhavgarh National Park is spread across the Vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh.
48. Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 recognises National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation reserves,
Community reserve as reserved areas.
50. The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm was the first world
conference to make the environment a major issue. EPA, 1986 was passed to give effect to this
Conference.
51. In the 1901 Calcutta Session, that the first time Mahatma Gandhi appeared on the Congress
platform. Then a lawyer based in South Africa, Gandhi ji urged the Congress to support the
struggle against racial discrimination and exploitation in the country. In the Bombay Session
of 1934, that a number of changes in the Congress constitution were affected. For instance, the
wearing of Khadi was made a necessary criterion for elective membership.
52. It was the Charter Act of 1853 that introduced, for the first time, local representation in the
Indian (Central) Legislative Council.
53. Chindits, known officially as the Long Range Penetration Groups, were special operations
units of the British and Indian armies.
55. Viceroyship of Lord Chelmsford (1916-1921) witnessed the Launch of Non-Cooperation and
Khilafat Movements.
58. Kisan Credit Card is also available to tenant farmers
59. ‘PM Schools for Rising India’ (PM SHRI) scheme to turn existing government schools into
model schools. The scheme will be implemented as a Centrally sponsored scheme. States and
UTs interested in getting included under the scheme will have to first agree to implement the NEP
in its entirety.
62. COP 27 also saw the operationalization of Santiago Network. The Santiago Network was
previously established at COP 25 in 2019 with the aim of providing technical support to help
developing countries deal with loss and damage from climate change. Sharm el-Sheikh
Implementation plan emphasised that a global transition to a low-carbon economy will require at
least $4-6 trillion in annual spending.
64. Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is a statutory body of the Ministry of Environment Forests
and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It considers questions on the diversion of forest land for
non-forest uses. Members - Director General of Forests, Additional Director General of Forests.
65. Both corals and sponges can form symbiotic relationship, be found in deep waters, and be
bleached in case of marine heatwave.
66. Restoration Barometer was launched in 2016 as the Bonn Challenge Barometer by IUCN.
The Barometer has eight indicators that build a comprehensive picture of a country’s restoration
progress.
70. A Vostro account is an account that a domestic bank holds for a foreign bank in the
domestic bank’s currency — which, in the case of India, is the rupee. A Nostro account is a bank
account established in a foreign country usually in the currency of that country for the purpose
of carrying out transactions there.
71. Information Technology Agreement (ITA) was reached on 13 December 1996, through a
“Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products”, at the first WTO Ministerial
Conference, held in Singapore. India is a signatory to the Information Technology Agreement
(ITA) (now also known as ITA-1), a plurilateral agreement of WTO. ITA requires each participant to
eliminate and bind customs duties at zero for all products specified in the Agreement. Because
the ITA concessions are included in the participants' WTO schedules of concessions, the tariff
elimination is implemented on a most-favoured nation (MFN) basis. This means that even countries
that have not joined the ITA can benefit.
75. Ministry of Home Affairs is concerned with issue of notifications of appointment and
resignation of the Parliamentary Secretaries, and Salaries and Allowances of Parliamentary
Secretaries, while the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is concerned with the functions of
Parliamentary Secretaries.
76. SC opined that livestreaming of court proceedings is part of the right to access justice under
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, in the Swapnil Tripathi judgement.
77. Deputy Speaker has one special privilege, that is, whenever he is appointed as a member of a
parliamentary committee, he automatically becomes its chairman.
78. “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future” drawn from Maha
Upanishad.
80. Jaina philosophy conceives of an infinite number of jivas. Jain doctrine holds that Jiva
transmigrates due to karma.
81. Vindhyashakti (250 – 275 CE) was the founder of the Vakataka dynasty; Mahendravarman I
(600–630 CE) was a Pallava emperor; Mayurasharma established the Kadamba kingdom about
345 CE; Dantidurga (reigned 735–756 CE), also known as Dantivarman II was the founder of the
Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta; Ganga dynasty was founded by Konkanivarman around 350
CE
82. Science of cookery known as Supasastra
83. Sukapaika is a distributary of the mighty Mahanadi river in Odisha. It branches away from
the Mahanadi at Ayatpur village in the Cuttack district of Odhisa. and flows for about 40 kilometers
before rejoining its parent river at Tarapur in the same district.
85. Some cacti can be found in humid environments.
86. Ecological niche is a term for the position of a species within an ecosystem. Fundamental
niche is the entire set of conditions under which an animal (population, species) can survive and
reproduce itself. Realized niche is the set of conditions actually used by a given animal.
91. GLSV Mk III is capable of placing the 4-tonne class satellites of the GSAT series into
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.
92. Tidal disruption events (TDE) occur when a star passes too close to a compact object, such as
a supermassive black hole (SMBH), that the tidal field of the compact object is able to
overcome the stellar self-gravity and tear the star apart.
93. Global Lighthouse Network - To accelerate a more comprehensive and inclusive adoption of
advanced technologies in manufacturing, initiated by WEF.
94. Thermobaric weapons are not prohibited by any international law or agreement
97. A civil servant, as well as defense personnel of the Union, works at the pleasure of the
President. A civil servant under a State works at the pleasure of the Governor of that State.
100. On the evening of 10 March 1922, the superintendent of police for Ahmedabad, Daniel Healy,
arrived at Sabarmati Ashram with warrants for the arrest of Gandhi and Shankerlal G. Banker, the
publisher of Young India. C.N. Broomfield was the British Judge who presided over the Gandhiji
sedition trial in 1922.
Vision Physical Geography Date 3/2/23 Test # 3787 CSP23ET03
2. Khelo India Scheme is a central sector scheme of Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. It aims
to set up 1000 Khelo India centres across all districts of the country.
4. Warm Temperate Eastern Margin Climate (China Type): Influenced by the on-shore Trade
Winds all the year-round, without any monsoon variations. Fairly uniform distribution of rainfall
throughout the year.
12. Undisturbed type of plain -> Structural plain. Peniplain and pediplain are formed by erosion.
18. Two high tides and two low tides occur during every 24-hour period.
21. Stalactites hang as icicles of different diameters (from the ceiling of underground caves).
Stalagmites rise up from the floor of the caves. Stalagmites form due to dripping water.
22. SIMBA - Software with Intelligent Marking Based identification of Asiatic lions. Used to count
lions in the Gir Forest Area.
23. 14 countries with which India has forged civil nuclear agreements: Argentina, Australia,
Canada, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, South Korea,
United Kingdom, US and Vietnam
24. The word El-Nino means 'Child Christ', because this current appears around Christmas in
December. December is a summer month in Peru (Southern Hemisphere) and in almost every three
to seven years, this sets in warm currents off the coast of Peru in the eastern Pacific and
affects the weather in many places including India. El-Nino is merely an extension of the warm
equatorial current which gets replaced temporarily by cold Peruvian current or Humbolt current.
El-Nino is used in India for forecasting long range monsoon rainfall. The El-Nino event has led to
delayed or total failure of monsoon over most parts of the country in 1990-91, 1998, 2006-07 and
2015-16.
25. Kuroshio Current begins off the east coast of Philippines and Taiwan and flows
northeastward past Japan, where it merges with the easterly drift of the North Pacific Current.
26. Zoji La is a high mountain pass state of Jammu and Kashmir, located between Srinagar and
Leh in the Western Himalayan mountain range. Bara Lacha La is a mountain pass in Zanskar
range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. Shipki La
is a mountain pass on the India-China border. It is located in Kinnaur district in the state of
Himachal Pradesh. Jelep La is a mountain pass between Sikkim (India) and Tibet (China) is a
mountain pass that connects Tibet with India.
27. Hydrological Drought: It results when the availability of water in different storages and
reservoirs like aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. falls below what the precipitation can replenish.
35. Tropic of Cancer passes through eight states in India: Gujarat (Jasdan), Rajasthan (Kalinjarh),
Madhya Pradesh (Shajapur), Chhattisgarh (Sonhat), Jharkhand (Lohardaga), West Bengal
(Krishnanagar), Tripura (Udaipur) and Mizoram (Champhai)
36. Biological Weapons Convention was negotiated by the Conference of the Committee on
Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. It opened for signature on 10 April 1972 and entered into
force on 26 March 1975. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire
category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
37. NTPC awarded India‘s first Green Hydrogenbased Microgrid Project at Simhadri, Andhra
Pradesh.
44. Steppe climate in Southern Hemisphere : There are three months (June, July and August)
without any rain. This is the period of drought. The dry season is particularly pronounced in
temperate grasslands adjoining deserts, for example in Australia.
47. Borders with the Mediterranean Sea: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel,
Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
48. Vigil Mission is a European Space Agency's (ESA) upcoming space weather mission that will
monitor our active and unpredictable Sun to protect vital infrastructure on Earth.
64. Meanders are formed in old stage. Jhelum forms meander near Srinagar.
65. Inland Water Transit and Trade between India and Bangladesh - can transit only between
specified waterways not all waterways. Overall ambit of Inland Water Authority of India.
66. Area under mangrove forests in Indian provinces : WB > GJ > ANC Island > AP > MH > OD
67. Van Gujjars are nomadic pastoral community of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. They continue
to practice seasonal migration across forests in Uttarakhand.
69. Stree Manoraksha project was launched during the Women's day celebrations. It was
launched by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro - Science (NIMHANS) and the Union
Minister for Women and Child Development (MfWCD).
71. Bucharest Nine is a group of nine NATO countries in Eastern Europe that became part of the
US led military alliance after the end of the Cold War. Romania and Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria,
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
72. Beyond the Tropic of Cancer, Northern India does not observe overhead Sun on the
summer solstice of the northern hemisphere.
73. All planets orbit around the sun in a counter-clockwise direction, and Earth has the highest
density.
75. Foehn and Chinook are the local winds of the Temperate Continental Climate. Foehn in
Switzerland and the Chinook on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Hot winds that melt the snow
and are beneficial for agriculture. Sirocco and Mistral are the local winds of the Mediterranean
Climate. Sirocco Climate. Sirocco is a hot, dry dustywind that originates in the Sahara Desert;
usually during the Spring. Mistral is a cold wind that rushes down the Rhone valley in France.
77. CDN (Content Delivery Networks) in India are regulated by TRAI
79. Lakshadweep separated by the 11 degree channel.
80. Hamada is a rocky desert. Reg or stony desert. Erg or sandy desert.
82. Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software short termed as (SUVAS) is a machine assisted
translation tool trained by Artificial Intelligence. The Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court‘s
Efficiency (SUPACE) is a tool that collects relevant facts and laws and makes them available to a
judge.
86. Kudremukh National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and
Chikmagalur districts of the state of Karnataka. Nestled in the Western Ghats. Three important
rivers, the Tunga, the Bhadra, and the Netravati are said to have their origin here.
87. Temperature increases with increase in altitude in stratosphere and ionosphere.
88. Peatlands occupy only 3 per cent of the global land surface.
92. Imports of edible oils have not steadily increased in the past five years, but imports have
increased.
94. Mango Shower / Kalbaisakhi - help in cultivation of rice, jute, tea, coffee. Also Mustard is a
Rabi crop.
97. Usual for seafarers to refer to the Westerlies as the Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties and
Shrieking Sixties, according to the varying degree of storminess in the latitudes which they blow.
Insights Open Test 2
1. The Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple, more commonly known as Srisailam Temple and is
located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is built on the top of the Nallamala
hills situated on the banks of River Krishna. Two separate temple complexes present inside dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramarambha. Sapt-Parakram - for temple centered
settlement. Dravidian style of settlement. First historically significant inscription found at Srisailam
belongs to Pradaba Rudra of 1313 A.D.
2. Gaan Ngai is the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong people who live in different parts of Manipur,
Nagaland and Assam. The festival marks the parting of the dead from the living. It is also
celebrated as a thanksgiving to God for a good harvest. Thullal is a dance and poetic performance
form of Kerala. Tullul is significant because it is the culmination of various traditions in art and
literature. Sagol Kangjei is the name of the game of polo played in Manipur. Sagol means pony /
horse, kang means a ball or round object, and jei is a stick used for hitting. It has been the game for
common man in Manipur.
3. The third Khanda of the Vishnudharmottara Purana, a fifth century text has a chapter
Chitrasutra, which should be considered as a source book of Indian art in general and painting.
It talks about the art of image making called pratima lakshana, which are canons of painting.
Kalpasutra recites events from the lives of the 24 Tirthankaras from their births to salvation.
Uttaradhyana Sutra contains the teachings of Mahavir that prescribe the code of conduct that
monks should follow. Sangrahini Sutra is a cosmological text composed in the twelfth century that
comprises concepts about the structure of the universe and the mapping of space.
4. Rangdum monastery in Kargil - 18th century monastery perched picturesquely on a top of a
hillock like an ancient fort; Tibetan Buddhist monastery that belongs to the Gelugpa sect;
developed by Gelek Yashi Takpa 200 years ago; period belongs to King Tsewang Mangyul and
only 40 monks live in this monastery.
5. Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Bodleian Library, Oxford) or the ‘Perfection of Wisdom’ written in
eight thousand lines. Palm leaf manuscript was written during the reign of the Pala King,
Ramapala, in the last quarter of the eleventh century.
6. The fourth division called the Shudras appeared towards the end of the Rig Vedic period. The
term shudra is mentioned for the first time in the Rig Veda in its tenth book. Economy was
mainly pastoral and not food producing. In Rig Vedic times slaves were not used directly in
agriculture or other productive activities.
8. The terms nishka and satamana in the Vedic texts are taken to be names of coins, but they
seem to have been prestige objects made of metal.
10. According to Megasthenes, land in the Mauryan empire was measured in the same way as in
Egypt. He did not notice slaves in India, but they were there in Rig Vedic times as mentioned.
11. After death of Harsha, Punjab and Kashmir was brought under control by Kashmir’s ruler
Lalitaditya. Kannauj was considered as the linchpin of the North, the position which was later
acquired by Delhi. The Pala rulers also had close cultural relations with Tibet. The noted
Buddhist scholars, Santarakshita and Dipankara (called Atisa), were invited to Tibet, and they
introduced a new form of Buddhism there.
12. The directly administered territories in the Pala and Pratihara empires were divided into bhukti
(provinces), and mandala or visaya (districts). The governor of a province was called upariika and
the head of a district, visayapati. In the Pala and Pratihara empires, the unit below the visaya was
called pattala. Important feature of the period was the rise in the Deccan of hereditary revenue
officers called nad gavundas or desa gramakutas. Smaller chieftains were called
samanta/bhogapati.
14. A high watermark in the Iranian renaissance was reached with Firdausi’s Shah Namah.
Firdausi was the poet laureate at the court of Mahmud. He transported the struggle between Iran
and Turan to mythical times, and glorified the ancient Iranian heroes.
16. Coronal holes appear as dark areas in the solar corona in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and
soft x-ray solar images. They appear dark because they are cooler, less dense regions than the
surrounding plasma and are regions of open, unipolar magnetic fields. Coronal holes are most
prevalent and stable at the solar north and south poles. At times of high solar activity,
geomagnetic storms are generally the result of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) intersecting the
Earth's orbit, but at times of low solar activity, coronal holes are the most common source of
geomagnetic storms. Geomagnetic storms originating from coronal holes have a gradual
commencement and are not as severe as storms caused by CMEs.
18. Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth's surface due to the
removal or displacement of subsurface earth materials.
19. All processes that move, elevate or build up portions of the earth’s crust come under
diastrophism.
25. Kosi is an antecedent river rising north of Everest where its main stream Arun rises.
26. An important military contribution made by the Portuguese onshore was the system of drilling
groups of infantry, on the Spanish model, introduced in the 1630s as a counter to Dutch pressure.
Use of ship based innovations was spurred by the Portuguese, like use of body armour, matchlock
men, guns landed from the ships, castled prow and stern was a noteworthy method by which to
repel or launch boarding parties.
27. Treaty of Ryswick concluded in September 1697 restored Pondicherry to the French, the
Dutch garrison held on to it for two more years.
28. A distinct feature of the literary life of the 18th century was the growth of the Urdu language and
poetry. It was the period of Urdu poets like Mir, Sauda, Nazir, and Mirza Ghalib. In Kerala, the
Padmanabhapuram Palace, famous for its architecture and mural paintings. Sawai Jai Singh also
prepared a set of time-tables called Jij Muhammad-shahi, to help the people in the study of
astronomy. Heer Ranjha, the romantic epic in Punjabi literature, was composed by Warris Shah. In
Sindhi literature, Shah Abdul Latif composed Risalo, a collection of poems.
32. Under Permanent Settlement, land rights were made both hereditary and transferable.
34. Satya Prakash by Karsondas Mulji advocated widow remarriage.
35. Ashwini Kumar Dutt - militant nationalist school of thought.
36. Virtual Courts require identification of offences that can be disposed by them. Some of
them have been identified by - Offences under Motor Vehicle Act (Traffic Challan Cases) and Petty
Offences where summons can be issued under Section 206.
40. The Office of the Registrar-General of India (RGI) is following the set of criteria set out by the
Lokur Committee nearly 60 years ago to define any new community as a Scheduled Tribe - Office
of the RGI’s nod is mandatory; Criteria set out by the Lokur Committee for defining a community as
a tribe are: indications of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of
contact with the community at large, backwardness. Process begins at the level of a State or Union
Territory; Final notification by the President under 341 and 342.
44. Article 20 available to friendly aliens but not enemy aliens.
51. Astrobee robots have operated on the International Space Station one at a time or with support
from human operators. Astrobee robots are cube-shaped and about 32 centimetres wide. They
could manage routine chores that would free up human operators for more complex work.
53. 1948 – The Factories Act and Amendment in 1987 was the first to express concern for the
working environment of the workers. The amendment of 1987 has sharpened its environmental
focus and expanded its application to hazardous processes. 1981 - The Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act provides for the control and abatement of air pollution. It entrusts the
power of enforcing this act to the CPCB . 1982 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Rules defines the procedures of the meetings of the Boards and the powers entrusted to them. 1982
- The Atomic Energy Act deals with the radioactive waste. 1988 - The Motor Vehicles Act states
that all hazardous waste is to be properly packaged, labelled, and transported. 1987 - The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act empowers the central and state pollution
control boards to meet with grave emergencies of air pollution.
58. Bio-piracy of traditional knowledge - knowledge and /or genetic resources belonging to a
region, community or country is stolen or claimed as one's own; use of this knowledge or genetic
resource in the area of its origin or traditional usage may be hampered; unfair profit from patent.
59. Anthozoa is a class of marine invertebrates which includes the sea anemones, stony
corals and soft corals. Adult anthozoans are almost all attached to the seabed, while their larvae
can disperse as part of the plankton. The basic unit of the adult is the polyp; this consists of a
cylindrical column topped by a disc with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.
60. Researchers have identified a new species of evergreen tree belonging to the genus Miliusa
from the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve in the Thiruvananthapuram district in the Western Ghats.
Miliusa paithalmalayana is an evergreen tree species found in the Western Ghats.
62. Kanjar - Punjab; Sansi - Haryana; Virhor - Jharkhand; Gavali - Maharashtra = DNT-States pair
64. More than 70 per cent of all the species recorded are animals, while plants (including algae,
fungi, bryophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms) comprise no more than 22 per cent of the total.
Among animals, insects are the most species-rich taxonomic group, making up more than 70 per
cent of the total. That means, out of every 10 animals on this planet, 7 are insects, and out of all
species about 49% (70% insects of 70% animals among all species) are insects. Also, the number
of fungi species in the world is more than the combined total of the species of fishes, amphibians,
reptiles and mammals.
65. Fungi have a symbiotic relationship, they can transfer phosphorus from the soil but not
nitrogen. While bacteria can absorb Nitrogen from the soil. Cyanobacteria are autotrophic
microbes widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments many of which can fix
atmospheric nitrogen, e.g. Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria, etc. In paddy fields, cyanobacteria
serve as an important biofertilizer. Blue green algae also add organic matter to the soil and
increase its fertility
67. Forest Conservation Act, 1980 prohibits the felling of forests for any “non-forestry” use
without prior clearance by the central government. CAMPA- Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are meant to promote afforestation and
regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non- forest uses.
CAMPA was constituted as a National Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Union
Minister of Environment & Forests for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of
compensatory afforestation activities. Except for Green India Mission, in all other centrally sponsored
programmes there is a lack of priority and policy support to ensure the participation of local
communities like IDWH, Project Tiger.India did not become a signatory of the Glasgow Leaders’
Declaration on Forests and Land Use.
68. India recently emerged as the largest producer of sugar in the World.
71. UNFCCC Annex 1 countries - Industrialized Countries, which committed to returning their
greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Annex 2 - have a special obligation to
provide financial resources and facilitate technology transfer to developing countries. Non
annex countries - mostly low-income developing countries; LDC - countires that need special help
to transition.
73. Bridgmanite - volumetrically most abundant mineral in mantle and core.
74. South China Sea is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait
with the Philippine Sea.
76. An endorheic basin is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to
other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes
or swamps, permanent or seasonal, that equilibrate through evaporation.
78. : Barasingha, also called swamp deer, are found in open forests and grasslands of India
and Nepal. Eastern Barasingha is endemic to Kaziranga and is not the primary prey of the
park’s carnivores, primarily the tiger. Listed in IUCN as endangered species.
80. Istanbul convention (AKA) Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating
violence against women and domestic violence. World’s first binding instrument to prevent and
tackle violence against women. Provisons would be legally binding after ratification.
81. Tropical ocean decomposers are bacteria, fungi, marine worms, echinoderms, crustaceans and
mollusks.
82. The Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) is the flagship geoeconomics conference of the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India.
84. : Similipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the
Indian state of Odisha. It is home to the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur (Indian Bison), and
chausingha (four-horned antelope).
86. The Farmers’ Produce Trade Commerce Act, 2020 permits the electronic trading of
scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural produce regulated under any state APMC Act) in the
specified trade area.
87. Following entities shall be eligible to participate in the Call, Notice and Term Money Markets,
both as borrowers and lenders: (a) Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Local Area Banks); (b)
Payment Banks; (c) Small Finance Banks; (d) Regional Rural Banks; (e) State Co-operative
Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks and Urban Co-operative Banks (hereinafter Co-operative
Banks); and (f) Primary Dealers.
88. The Urban Food Agenda is an FAO flagship initiative to enhance sustainable development,
food security and nutrition in urban and peri-urban areas, and nearby rural spaces. : The CRFS (City
Region Food Service) programme is under the umbrella of FAO Green Cities Initiative. C40 cities
are on the leading edge of climate action, and are deploying a science-based and collaborative
approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient
communities. C40 member cities earn their membership through action.
89. Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPPQ) is one of the Scheme under
Green Revolution (Krishonnati Yojana). : At present, financial assistance is provided under SMPPQ
to the States for establishing/strengthening of Pesticide testing, bio-pesticides testing and
Bio-control laboratory. Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India
(SMPMA) is a sub scheme of SMPPQ. SMPMA involves monitor, forewarn and control the desert
locust in the Scheduled Desert Area (SDA) in the States of Rajasthan & Gujarat being
International obligation and commitment.
91. Main objectives of the (Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee) CIB&RC
include i. Processing of applications for grant of registration of Insecticides, including scrutiny of a)
legal requirements; b) scientific data on Chemistry of the molecule/formulation; c) scientific data on
the efficacy, including metabolism and persistence, and working out approved usage of the
insecticide and its formulation(s); d) scientific data on the safety of the insecticide; e)
information/data on the packaging of the insecticide; and f) Verification of shelf-life claims of
insecticides. ii. Issuing of certificates of registration after approval by the RC; iii. Dealing with the
cases for inclusion of new insecticides in Schedule to the Act; iv. Processing of post registration
matters of insecticides; v. Issuing import permits for the import of sample quantities of insecticides for
research, test and trial purposes; vi. Issuing import permits for the import of import insecticides for
noninsecticidal uses; vii. Dealing with matters related to appeals, RTIs, court cases, etc pertaining to
insecticides; viii. Formulating draft guidelines for technical data generation and prescribing data
requirement for registration of insecticides; ix. Rendering advice on technical matters to Central and
State Governments as well as pesticide Industry; x. Amendments to the Act as well as the Rules; xi.
Review of insecticides for restricting, banning or continued use; and xii. Organizing CIB Meetings for
deciding policy issues and RC meetings for grant of registrations, endorsements and import permits.
92. Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is a quality assurance initiative that is locally
relevant, emphasize the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers, and
operate outside the framework of third-party certification. All the members are local and known
to each other. Being themselves practicing organic farmers have a high degree of understanding on
day-today knowledge or acquaintance of the farm. Peer appraisal instead of third party
inspections reduces cost. PGS offer every farmer with an individual certificate and each farmer is
free to market its own produce independent of group.
93. Sustainable Food Value Chains is an FAO initiative.
94. The Scheme ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ aims at
making extension system farmer driven and farmer accountable by disseminating technology to
farmers through new institutional arrangements viz. Agricultural Technology Management
Agency (ATMA) at the district level to operationalize the extension reforms on a participatory mode.
This Scheme shall focus on the following key extension reforms: • Encouraging multi-agency
extension strategies involving Public/ Private Extension Service Providers. • Ensuring an integrated,
broad-based extension delivery mechanism consistent with the farming system approach with a
focus on bottom up planning process. • Adopting group approach to extension in line with the
identified needs and requirements of the farmers in the form of CIGs & FIGs and consolidate them
as Farmers Producer Organizations; Facilitating convergence of farmer centric programmes in
planning, execution and implementation. • Addressing gender concerns by mobilizing farm women
into groups and providing training to them.
95. NADHALI project supports local governments on food systems planning as a key
component for achieving sustainable development in urban areas. The project is currently being
developed in three pilot cities: Nairobi, Dhaka and Lima.
96. RUAF Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems has partner
organisations International Water Management Institute (IWMI) based in Colombo, Sri Lanka,
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy
of Sciences (IGSNRR/CAS), based in Beijing, China; • the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems,
Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada; • the City of Toronto, Canada, Food Strategy team, and the
Toronto Food Policy Council; • the City of Ghent, Belgium; • CONQUITO, the Economic Promotion
Agency of the Municipality of the Metropolitan District of Quito; • Economia e Sostenibilita (ESTA),
an NGO based in Milan, Italy; • Mazingira Institute, an NGO in Nairobi, Kenya; • Hivos Netherlands.
98. Classical school of economic thought would lead to best economic outcome, but not the best
social outcome necessarily.
99. To promote small and budding entrepreneurs of postindependent India, the GoI decided to
establish a government agency which can mediate and provide help to small scale industries (SSI).
They established National Small Industries Corporation in 1955.
100. AIF (Agriculture Investment Fund) seeks to mobilise a medium - long term debt finances facility
for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community
farming assets through incentives and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure
in the country.
Insights Open Test 3
2. Legume nodules possess a special protein called leghaemoglobin. The synthesis of
leghaemoglobin is the result of mutualism (symbiosis) because neither bacteria alone nor legume
plant alone possesses the protein.
4. World Bank bonds are offered in all major international currencies. The objective is to
provide investors with a broad choice of currencies. In some instances, this involves opening
new markets for bond issuance, thereby promoting local capital market development. They are
subject to taxation in the local jursidiction.
9. Humanitarian corridors have been put in place since the mid 20 th century. They are
demilitarized zones, in a specific area and for a specific time - and both sides of an armed conflict
agree to them. They are available to mostly neutral parties like UN/Red Cross. These corridors
can also be used by UN observers, NGOs, and journalists to gain access to contested areas
where war crimes are being committed.
14. MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status is an economic position in which a country enjoys the best
trade terms given by its trading partner. The only exceptions are developing countries, regional
trade areas, and customs unions.
17. XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study
various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
18. Black-necked cranes are the only ones living in mountains and that they migrate between
summer and winter grounds. They inhabit the remote areas of Tibetan Plateau.
19. European Space Agency’s Vigil Mission would give warning about solar storms.
20. GSAT 7 series satellites are advanced satellites developed by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) to meet defence services’ needs. GSAT-7B satellite has a footprint of nearly
2,000 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean region. Rukmini - Named Rukmini, the satellite is mainly
used by the Indian Navy for its communication needs. It carries payloads in UHF, C-band, and
Ku-band, and helps the Navy to have a secure, real-time communication link.
21. Kautilya is an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) package, which allows the interception of
ground-based radar and also carries out electronic surveillance across India. EMISAT - An
Electromagnetic Intelligence Gathering Satellite (EMISAT), developed by ISRO, was launched in
2020 through a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C45) is an Indian reconnaissance satellite
under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) project Kautilyas.
23. Aphasia is a brain disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls
language expression and comprehension.
24. Fusobacterium necrophorum is a cause of periodontal disease, tonsillitis, peritonsillar
abscess, and thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein (Lemierre syndrome). Fusobacterium
nucleatum has a crucial role in oral biofilm structure and ecology.
29. IUCN lists the Gambusia affinis among 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species.
Mosquitofish or Gambusia affinis are released into ponds and rural areas, where they feed on
mosquito larvae.
31. India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of millets in the World.
32. Perovskite-based devices are considered heavily used semiconductor materials as they
are affordable and easy to manufacture. But, perovskite materials are extremely unstable towards
ambient (humidity and oxygen) conditions that restrict their commercialisation. The most
convenient way to harness the maximum potential of the perovskite active layer is to use a coating
of an appropriate passivation material. Perovskite-based solar cells can be manufactured at
room temperature, making them cost-effective and more eco-friendly.
33. 16.5 per cent of vertebrate pollinators are threatened with global extinction, say the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments. 75 per cent of food
crops in the world and nearly 90 per cent of wild flowering plants depend, at least to some
extent, on animal pollination. Global Coalition of the Willing on Pollinators - initiative to form a
coalition was taken by the Netherlands on December 12, 2016 at the Conference of the
Parties–Convention of Biological Diversity held in Mexico.
34. Member countries of ACD (Asian Cooperation Dialogue) are Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. Project selection and
implementation do not require consensus and proceed on a voluntary basis.
36. Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online is an initiative of WWF, TRAFFIC, and IFAW also
provide companies with updated global and regional trade trend data, training materials, policy
guidance, and educational information.
38. Cellulosic ethanol can be produced from algae, wood, grass.
39. Granite is a common rock that forms when magma cools. Granite contains the minerals
quartz, plagioclase feldspar, and potassium feldspar.
40. Anticyclones form from air masses cooling more than their surroundings, which causes the
air to contract slightly making the air denser. Since dense air weighs more, the weight of the
atmosphere overlying a location increases, causing increased surface air pressure.
41. Bureau of Indian Standards is the National Standards Body of India under the Department
of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India.
It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
43. When someone uses a credit card in a purchase, he automatically expands the money
supply. The seller receives a new deposit in his account, which increases the total of demand
deposits in the banking system -- until the buyer pays off the loan.
46. The Green-Ag Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through its sixth
funding cycle. The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) is the
National Executing Agency and FAO is the Implementing Agency.
47. Lion relocation in India has been talked about since 1995, when the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary
was identified as an alternate site. Several new sites apart from the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
have been identified under Project Lion. The six new sites include: • Madhav National Park,
Madhya Pradesh. • Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan. • Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve,
Rajasthan. • Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. • Kumbhalgarh Wildlife
Sanctuary, Rajasthan. • Jessore-Balaram Ambaji WLS and adjoining landscape, Gujarat.
48. Global Partnership on AI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the
responsible development and use of AI, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation,
and economic growth. This is also the first initiative of its type. GPAI will be supported by a
Secretariat, to be hosted by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) in Paris, as well as by two Centres of Expertise - one each in Montreal and Paris. Founding
members: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the
Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the
European Union.
50. Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement or diffusion of solvent molecules through a
selectively-permeable membrane from a region of high water potential to a region of low water
potential, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides. The
choleric bacteria populate in intestine and begin to reverse intestinal cells’ orientation through
osmosis.
51. The other name by which India was better known was Bharatavarsha or the land of the
Bharatas. Bharata, in the sense of tribe or family, figures in the Rig Veda and Mahabharata, but
the name Bharatavarsha occurs in the Mahabharata and post-Gupta Sanskrit texts.
52. Dogs were buried with masters at Burzahom in Kashmir. Only neolithic settlement with this
practice.
Only known Neolithic settlement in the Indian subcontinent, attributed to 7000 BC, is in Mehrgarh,
which is situated in Baluchistan, a province of Pakistan. Mehrgarh is located on the bank of the
Bolan River in the Kochi plain which is called the ‘bread basket’ of Baluchistan. They produced
wheat and barley from the outset. They had a settled life.
55. Sandhyakara Nandi’s Ramacharita (twelfth century) narrates the story of the conflict
between the Kaivarta peasants and the Pala prince Ramapala, resulting in the latter’s victory.
Bilhana’s Vikramankadevacharita recounts the achievements of his patron, Vikramaditya VI,
the Chalukya king of Kalyan.
Mushika Vamsha was written by Atula in the eleventh century. It is an account of the dynasty of
the Mushikas which ruled in northern Kerala.
Rajatarangini or The Stream of Kings written by Kalhana in the twelfth century.
56. Gita Govinda, the ‘Song of the Cowherd’, is a lyrical poem in Sanskrit, evoking shringara
rasa, portraying the mystical love between Radha and Krishna through worldly imageries.
Bhanu Datta, in the fourteenth century, composed Rasamanjari, interpreted as the ‘Bouquet of
Delight’. Written in Sanskrit, the text deals with the classification of heroes (nayakas) and heroines
(nayikas) in accordance with their age, physiognomic traits of appearance.
Bihari Satsai, authored by Bihari Lal, constituting 700 verses (satsai), is composed in the form of
aphorisms and moralising witticism. The Satsai has been largely painted at Mewar and less
frequently in the Pahari School.
57. The Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur was built by the mighty ruler, Rajaraja I of the Chola
Empire, is known for its grandeur and exceptional architectural features. The Brihadeswara Temple
was built without the use of mortar or any other adhesive.
Ramappa temple is the only temple to be named after its architect and the 800-year-old temple
in Telangana has received the World Heritage tag.
Rukuna Rath Yatra is the annual car festival of Lord Lingaraj of Bhubneshwar.
Tripura’s Unakoti is also famously known as the ‘Angkor Wat of the North-East’ and is vying for
a UNESCO world heritage tag.
58. Wangala is the harvest festival of the Garo community of Meghalaya. The main deity of
Wangala is the sun-god and the main soundtrack is provided by the Nagra drum.
The Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Lighting Festival of Myanmar is held on the full
moon day of the Burmese lunar month of Thadingyut.
Bathukamma is a colorful floral festival of Telangana and is celebrated by womenfolk with exotic
flowers of the region.
Nuakhai is celebrated by offering the un-ripened grain to Goddess Samaleswari, presiding deity
of Western Odisha.
59. Nyingma sect is the oldest of all Buddhist sects, and Taklung Setrung Rinpoche was a
profound scholar renowned for his expertise in Tibetan Tantric school.
Rinpoche used to live in the Takthok monastery of Ladakh, one of the oldest monasteries related
to the Nyingma sect.
The followers of Nyingma sect are spread across Tibet, Bhutan, Ladakh, Sikkim, and other
Himalayan Buddhist pockets. The Rinpoche was widely consulted by the followers of the faith.
62. The efforts of the early Pratihara rulers to extend their control over the upper Ganga valley
and Malwa were defeated by the Rashtrakuta rulers Dhruva and Gopal III.
Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu, and adopted the title of ‘Adivaraha’ which has been found
inscribed in some of his coins.
An important feature of the period was the rise in the Deccan of hereditary revenue officers called
nad gavundas or desa gramakutas.
63. Nanniah, who lived at the court of a Chalukyan king began the Telugu version of the
Mahabharata. The work begun by him was completed in the thirteenth century by Tikkanna.
64. The Mongol attempt to pass beyond the Punjab and to attack Delhi itself was due to a
change in Central Asian politics. Their rivals in the East were the Chaghatai Mongols who ruled
over TransOxiana.
Alauddin Khalji, who was ruling over Delhi, decided to face the Mongols outside Delhi for the
first time.
Mongols were gradually able to bring almost the entire Punjab as well as Kashmir under their
control, but Punjab was later recovered.
65. In the large centrally controlled area, the king granted amaram or territory with a fixed
revenue to military chiefs. -> In the Vijayanagara empire.
67. By the Charter Act of 1813, the trade monopoly of the Company in India was ended and trade
with India was thrown open to all British subjects, But trade in tea and trade with China were still
exclusive to the Company.
68. Zamindari and Ryotwari settlement methods were different from the traditional land systems
of India.
69. Brahmo Samaj had in the meanwhile continued to exist but without much life till Debendranath
Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, revitalized it.
Tatvabodhini Sabha and Tatvabodhini Patrika was founded in 1839 by Debendranath Tagore to
propagate Rammohun Roy’s ideas.
72. 20 July, 1905 - Partition order was issued.
7 August, 1905 - Anti partition movement was started.
16 October, 1905 - Partition came into effect.
76. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet. Meaning "long mountain" in Hawaiian,
it is the quintessential shield volcano in its shape signified by broad, rounded slopes. Mauna Loa
is comprised of a main summit caldera called Moku‘āweoweo and two rift zones to the northeast and
southwest. The two rift zones are historically very active.
According to the Köppen climate classification, Mauna Loa experiences a tropical climate with
relatively warm temperatures at the lower elevations and year-round cold temperatures at the
higher elevations.
The volcano's eastern or the windward side receives higher rainfall than the western or the
leeward side. Mauna Loa also strongly affects the local climate of the Hawaiian Islands.
78. : “Wet-bulb” temperature is used to measure both heat and humidity, helping estimate
whether conditions are safe for humans or not.
Being outdoors during high wet-bulb temperature can cause heatstrokes as well as
lightheadedness, nausea, organ swelling, and, in rare cases, death.
79. In the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, lives the Tiwa community. The Tiwas practice Jhum or
shifting cultivation, where the land is first cleared of any vegetation that is later set on fire.
Wanchuwa is one of the most important festivals of the Tiwa tribal community living in the hills
because of its connection with agriculture — the mainstay of their economy. Tiwas pray for a
bountiful harvest as well as protection from pests and natural calamities.
80. The traditional Tripuri female attire comprises three parts — risa, rignai and rikutu. Risa is
a handwoven cloth used as a female upper garment, and also as headgear, a stole, or a present
to express respect. Rignai can be understood as an indigenous variety of the sari of mainland
India. Rituku is mainly used as a wrap. It is also used to cover the head of newly married
Tripuri women.
86. Even though they appear similar, the power of remission under the CrPC is different from the
constitutional power enjoyed by the President and the Governor. Under the CrPC, the
government acts by itself. Under Article 72 and Article 161, the respective governments advise
the President/Governor to suspend, remit, or commute sentences.
87. The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
adopted in Vienna in 1988 (Vienna Convention) was the first treaty that called upon nations to
adopt domestic laws to combat drug trafficking.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in the G-7 Summit in Paris in 1989 in
response to mounting concern over money laundering.
The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 (Palermo Convention) also
advocated legislative and other measures to combat organised crime, and specifically called for
‘criminalising the laundering of proceeds of crime’.
The PMLA was enacted in 2002 but came into force in 2005. Its provisions gave effect to India’s
obligations to abide by international conventions.
88. Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats to
represent changes in population. In this process, the number of seats allocated to a state may also
change.
Section 8A only allows reorientation and rules out any change in the total number of
parliamentary and Assembly constituencies.
91. Section 8(4) of the RP Act, 1951 allowed convicted MPs, MLAs, and MLCs to continue in their
posts, provided they appealed against their conviction/sentence in higher courts within three
months of the date of judgment by the trial court.
92. The president is empowered to declare an area to be a scheduled area. He can also
increase or decrease its area, alter its boundary lines, rescind such designation or make fresh orders
for such redesignation on an area in consultation with the governor of the state concerned.
95. The Preamble secures to all citizens of India equality of status and opportunity. This
provision embraces three dimensions of equality–civic, political, and economic.
There are two provisions in the Constitution that seek to achieve political equality. One, no person
is to be declared ineligible for inclusion in electoral rolls on grounds of religion, race, caste, or
sex (Article 325). Two, elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies to be on the basis of
adult suffrage (Article 326).
96. Directive Principles of State Policy - do not limit the sovereignty of the Indian Parliament.
98. No legal sanction against Fundamental Duties but can be enforced by suitable legislation.
99. State legislatures can initiate constitutional amendments only if the amendment is to
abolish/create a state legislative council.
Forum IAS Open Test 1 29/1/23
3. PM PRANAM Scheme is an initiative that encourages a balanced use of fertilizers with
biofertilizers and organic fertilizers as alternative forms of nutrients. PM PRANAM stands for PM
Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana.
PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana is being launched by
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
The scheme intends to reduce the subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers.
4. A co-operative bank is a small-sized, financial entity, where its members are the owners and
customers of the Bank. They are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and are registered
under the States Cooperative Societies Act. The Urban Banks Department of the Reserve Bank
of India is vested with the responsibility of regulating and supervising primary (urban) cooperative
banks performing regulatory, supervisory and development functions.
The Banking Ombudsman Scheme is an expeditious and inexpensive forum for bank customers
for resolution of complaints relating to certain services rendered by banks. The Banking
Ombudsman Scheme is introduced under Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 by
RBI with effect from 1995. All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled
Primary Co-operative Banks are covered under the Scheme.
All commercial banks including branches of foreign banks functioning in India, local area banks and
regional rural banks are insured by the DICGC.
The 2022 notification by RBI specifies that Urban Cooperative Banks can raise capital through three
broad methods, viz: - issuance of equity shares, preference shares, and debt instruments.
5. External benchmark implies banks following interest rate anchor set by an independent entity that
is outside the bank. For example, RBI's repo rate. The Internal Benchmark Lending Rates are a set
of reference lending rates which are calculated after considering factors like the bank's current
financial overview.
In order to ensure complete transparency and standardization, RBI mandated the banks to adopt
a uniform external benchmark within a loan category.
6. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is released by the National Statistical Office. NSO is the
central statistical agency under the Statistical Services Act 1980 under the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation.
The worker-population ratio has increased from earlier 35.9% to 36.3% in urban areas in PLFS
2020-21.
7. In order to protect investors, Sebi has laid down rules for company to issue IPO such as: a)
company must have net tangible assets of at least Rs 3 crore b) net worth of Rs 1 crore in each of
the preceding three full years and c) it must have a minimum average pre-tax profit of Rs 15 crore in
at least three of the immediately preceding five years.
But, to provide sufficient flexibility, SEBI has provided the alternative route to the companies not
satisfying any of the above conditions, for accessing the primary Market, as under: Issue shall be
through book building route, with at least 75% of net offer to the public to be mandatory allotted
to the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs). The company shall refund the subscription money if the
minimum subscription of QIBs is not attained.
Also KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) are to be disclosed to SEBI.
8. Invisible trade refers to an international transaction which does not involve tangible goods,
but services, such as consultancy services, insurance, banking, intellectual property, international
tourism, etc. In other words, it is the import and export of services between countries. Invisible trade
is one type of Invisibles, which include payments made for services. However, Invisibles could also
include remittances, transfer payments, and foreign aid and relief made between individuals,
businesses, government, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
11. A credit default swap (CDS) is an instrument of risk management in which an investor 'swaps'
or offsets his credit risk with that of another investor. Taken against non repayment of loan
(principal/interest).
12. The IBC specifies a time-bound insolvency resolution process for the corporate debtors.
According to the code, any resolution process must be completed within 330 days. The earlier time
frame for resolving any insolvency was 180 days plus 90 days extension. If a resolution plan is not
approved by the committee of creditors within the specified time, the company will be liquidated.
During the resolution process, the affairs of the company are managed by the resolution
professional (RP).
15. NM0 or M0 is called reserve money or base money because these are held in reserve either by
the public or banks or the RBI. These are not available for the lending purpose of banks.
M0 = Currency in Circulation + Bankers' Deposits with the RBI+ Other Deposits with RBI
16. Aceclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS) used to treat pain, fever and
other inflammatory conditions in livestock and cattle.
Aceclofenac metabolizes into diclofenac on consumption by animals.
Aceclofenac has not been banned yet.
17. Biomagnification refers to increase in concentration of the toxicant as we move up the layers of
the food chain. This happens because a toxic substance accumulated by an organism cannot be
metabolised or excreted, and is thus passed on to the next higher trophic level.
For biomagnification to occur a pollutant must be long lived for instance
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a biomagnifying pollutant, has a life of more than 15 years. If
a pollutant is short-lived, it will be broken down before it can become dangerous.
If the pollutant
is soluble in water, it will be easily excreted by the organism. Pollutants that dissolve in fats,
however, may be retained for a long time.
For biomagnification to occur a pollutant must be
biologically active otherwise it cannot be passed onto the next level of food chains. A pollutant must
be mobile for biomagnification to occur. If it is not mobile, it will stay in one place.
18. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance also known as the
Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of
Ramsar sites. Ramsar is a city located in Iran where the convention was first signed in 1971.
Wuhan declaration calls for strong will and practical actions to promote wetlands conservation. The
14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) of Ramsar convention in November 2022 adopted the
Wuhan Declaration. Wuhan Declaration recognises the important knowledge and practices of
indigenous people. The declaration called for economic valuation of ecosystem services.
19. Catalytic converters used in automobiles prevent the release of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and
hydrocarbons to the atmosphere.
20. A region to be declared as biodiversity hotspots must meet the two criteria: firstly, they should
contain at least 1,500 species of vascular endemic plant species which means they can be
found nowhere else on Earth and secondly they should have lost at least 70 percent of its
primary native vegetation. The Sundaland hotspot lies in South-East Asia and covers
Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos PDR. The part of India that falls in the Sundaland
Hotspot is the Nicobar Islands.
There are over 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and these
together represent just 2.5% of Earth's land surface. Hope Spots is a joint initiative of the
non-governmental bodies- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Mission Blue.
A hope spot is an area of an ocean that needs special protection.
21. The Raimona National Park is within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Guru Ghasidas
National Park is significant as it is considered as the Asiatic cheetah's last-known habitat in India.
The Eravikulam National Park has the highest density and largest surviving population of Nilgiri
tahr.
The 1,012.86 sq km Papikonda national park is on both sides of river Godavari in the
northern Eastern Ghats.
22. Grassland ecosystem has upright because grass’ mass is highest among the trophic levels.
23. India's first Seaweed Park is to be established in Tamil Nadu.
24. The Delhi declaration of 2019 is related to UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The Governments which are party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), met in
the Indian capital of New Delhi in 2019 for over ten days for COP14, adopting a series of
breakthrough measures in the accord, known as the Delhi Declaration. At this conference, the
Countries agree to make 'land degradation neutrality by 2030, a national target for action. Land
Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources,
necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable
or increases within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems.
25. The Deserts have rich mineral resources. The lure of mineral wealth has attracted many
immigrants into the desert. Gold brought immigrants to the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie towns of
the Great Australian Desert.
The Kalahari Desert is rich in diamond and copper. The most
arid Atacama Desert (in Northern Chile) is famous for mining of caliches (cemented gravels) from
which sodium nitrate is prepared. Beside nitrates, copper is also mined. Desert of North America Silver is mined in Mexico, Uranium in Utah and Copper in Nevada. Saharan and Arabian deserts
are today supplying Oil all over the globe.
26. Allopatric Speciation is a type of speciation caused by geographic isolation. In Parapatric
Speciation, the populations are not isolated by a physical barrier and are instead "beside" each
other. In the Sympatric speciation, the individuals in the population are not separated at all and
all live in the "same place." In peripatric speciation, it may be an extreme case of geographic
isolation.
27. Whenever a species is transported to a new environment, it's first response will be to develop
abilities to survive there. This first response of a species is called an Ecophene. Ecophenes
become ecotypes when they remain in the new environments for a long time or throughout the
lifetime. Ecotone is a zone of junction between two or more diverse ecosystems. A population is
defined as a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species that are living in a given space.
30. Internationally, dugongs are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits the trade of the species and
its parts. Dugongs are also listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
31. The Mamalla style of architecture refers to the style of temples and their elements that were
constructed during the reign of Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty (630-668 CE). He was
a prolific builder and commissioned many buildings in the port city of Mahabalipuram, which is also
known as Mamallapuram, after him. The specific style of the elements and temple architecture of the
group of buildings commissioned by him have been named the Mamalla style.
The Mamallan
style of architecture refers to the group of monuments at Mahabalipuram built under the
patronage and direction of Pallava king, Narsimhavarman I (630-668 CE). The Shore Temple,
although built at Mahabalipuram, belongs to a later date. It was built by a later Pallava ruler Narsimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (700-728) CE. Hence the Shore Temple is not an
example of Mamalla style architecture. Sculptures are mostly religious.
32. Kalakacharya Katha is the story of Kalaka, a Jain teacher who uses his magical powers to
help the Saka people. In return they help him defeat the evil king of Ujjain Gardhabilla, who had
kidnapped his sister. The Adipurana is a 9th century Sanskrit poem written by Jinasena of the
Digamabara sect of Jainism. It contains stories related to the first Jain Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. Tattvarthasutra is a Sanskrit treatise on logic, epistemology, ethics, and
astronomy and the nature of reality as perceived in the Jain faith. It was authored by Jain scholar
Umasvati in 1st century CE.
34. The Varna system of dividing society into four fold classification, was flexible in both Vedic
and Later Vedic periods. The Rig Vedic economy was mainly a Pastoral society, whereas the
LVP economy was having an increasing bias towards agriculture. Rajan was generally
hereditary in both Vedic and Later Vedic periods.
37. Agriculture was an important economic activity of the Vedic Age, especially in the Later Vedic
Period (1000 BCE to 600 BCE). Vedas contained mentions of tools like sickle, plough, etc. The
sickle has been named 'Srini', while the plough was known as Langala. The term Kadaisiyar
was used to refer to the agricultural labourers during the Sangam Age (3rd century BCE to 3rd
century CE in deep South). Aprahata was a term used to denote a type of land in Gupta
revenue administration. Kammika is a term used to refer to the Customs officials during the
Mahajanapada period of ancient Indian history.
38. Mirrors and spectacles made of glass were introduced in India by the European travellers and
merchants. Iron stirrups and gunpowder were introduced into India by the Turks. Gunpowder
consists of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal, and it was first invented in China. Later, it spread to
the Islamic society. The immigrant Turks brought gunpowder to India perhaps in late 13th or early
14th century. The instrument of Charkha/spinning wheel was not known in ancient India. The
Charkha/spinning wheel was introduced in India by the Turks. The first literary reference to this
device for weaving is found in Isami's Futuh-us Salatin (A.D. 1350).
41. Tolkappiyam is the most ancient extant Tamil grammar text and one of the oldest available
works of Tamil literature. Its composition is placed in the mythical second Sangam, variously in
1st millennium BCE or earlier. Silappadikaram is written around 6th century A.D. i.e., post
Sangam period. It was written by Ilango Adigal. Tirumurai was compiled in early part of 12th
century. Kundalakesi is written in 10th century. It is a part of post Sangam literature.
42. During the Swadeshi Movement (1905-08), the Indian capitalist class remained opposed to
congress during Swadeshi movement. During the early period of freedom struggle, the Indian
industrialists were pro-government and did not contribute much to the national movement. No
industrialist signed the satyagraha pledge against the Rowlatt Bill and very few capitalists
made donations for the Congress. It was due to the increasingly militant mass agitations. Some
industrialists such as Purshottamdas Thakurdas, Jamnadas Dwarkadas, Cowasji Jahangir and C.
Setalvad openly opposed the Non-cooperation movement. In 1920 they formed an
Anti-Non-cooperation Society in Bombay. The Indian business class initially supported the
Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Gandhi to get concessions from the British
government. They withdrew support when Gandhi resumed the movement in 1932.
44. Bengal Sati Regulation or Anti-Sati Act was legislated in 1829. Hindu Widows' Remarriage
was passed in 1856. Female infanticide prevention act was passed in 1870. Age of Consent
Act was passed in 1891.
47. Hindu Patriot, 1853 was published from Calcutta. It was initially founded by Girish Chandra
Ghosh. Shom Prakash newspaper was started by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1859 under
the editorship of Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan.
Indian Mirror was published in Early 1862 from
Calcutta. It was founded by Devendranath Tagore
Talvar was published in Berlin. It was
founded by Virendranath Chattopadhyaya.
Swadeshamitram was published from Madras. It
was a Tamil newspaper and G.S. Aiyar was its editor.
49. The word 'Hindu' appears for the first time in an inscription of Darius I at Persepolis, Iran.
Darius lists 'Hindu' as part of his empire. The Junagadh rock contains inscriptions of Ashoka,
Rudradaman and Skandagupta. It mentions the restoration work carried out by Rudraman of
Sudarshan Lake.
Mandasor stone inscription records the history of a guild of silk weavers
who migrated from Lata in Gujarat to Mandasor, then known as Dashapura.
Aihole inscription is
written in Sanskrit in kannada script. It mentions the victory of chalukyas over pallavas.
Allahabad pillar or Prayag-Prashasti consists of queen's edict mentioning the charitable deeds of
Ashoka's wife. It is an Ashokan Stambh and apart from queen edict,
51. Kelp forests are usually found in arctic and temperate waters across the world.
55. Jhelum rises from a spring at Verinag situated at the foot of the Pir Panjal in the
south-eastern part of the valley of Kashmir.
Satluj originates in the Rakas Lake near
Mansarovar at an altitude of 4,555 m in Tibet where it is known as Langchen Khambab. Teesta
River originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim. Barak
River rises in the Manipur hills and enters the plains near Lakhipur, Assam.
57. Rajasthan is the largest producer of pulses in India. In the financial year 2022, Rajasthan
produced more pulses than any other Indian state. Madhya Pradesh stands second in pulses
production. Maharashtra is the third largest producer of Pulses in India.
59. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) launched an
agroecology-based programme JIVA that will promote natural farming under its existing
watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states covering five agroecological zones. JIVA is a
culmination of several projects under the watershed programme.
61. Atmospheric rivers transports water vapor from the tropical oceans towards the
mid-latitudes and poles, rather than from the poles towards the mid-latitude regions.
62. The average salinity of the Indian Ocean is lower than the average salinity of the Atlantic
Ocean. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that the Indian Ocean receives a larger
amount of freshwater input from rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, which
discharge large amounts of freshwater and sediment into the ocean. Additionally, the Indian Ocean
is also located in a region of the world where monsoons bring large amount of precipitation.
This can also contribute to lower salinity levels.
67. Production of biofuels is one of the key applications of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology
can be used to engineer microorganisms that can convert plant material into biofuels, such as
ethanol, butanol and even hydrocarbons. This can be done by introducing new genetic information
into the microorganism or by modifying the existing genetic makeup of the microorganism.
68. Speech intelligibility is an application of multiple reflection of sound.
transportation is an example of Multiple reflection of sound.
Noise control in
70. B cells are responsible for creating antibodies. Both B and T cells are made in the bone
marrow. T cells, or T lymphocytes, play a different role in the immune response. T cells help to
coordinate the immune response by releasing chemical signals called cytokines.
Immunosuppression refers to the suppression of the immune response and can be caused by
certain diseases or treatments such as chemotherapy.
72. NFC technology transmits data through radio waves.
73. Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC) is the first national repository for life science data in India. It
is being established at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad in collaboration
with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), India. It is envisaged to emerge as a major data
repository for all life science data emerging from India. IBDC is funded by the Government of
India (GOI) through the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). IBDC is mandated by the
Government of India to archive (store) all life science data generated from publicly funded research
in India. IBDC will help in in determining the genetic basis of various diseases and finding targets
for vaccines and therapeutics.
74. Lead use in petrol was phased out by the year 2000 in India, which means vehicular
emission is not a largest source of lead pollution. The government report observed battery
recycling, occupational sources such as lead mining and scrapping of automobiles as major
sources of lead pollution.
Half of the children in India were poisoned by lead (not 1 percent).
76. Cryogenic fuels are fuels that require storage at extremely low temperatures in order to
maintain them in a liquid state. So far it has been used only in the GSLV vehicles, GSLV is a
3-stage vehicle (Solid-liquid-cryogenic fuel). ISRO's Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) is a
vehicle used for the test of Scramjet engines. The Scramjet engine uses Hydrogen as fuel and
the Oxygen from the atmospheric air as the oxidiser (not fuel).
77. The doctrine of Parens Patriae has its origin in the United Kingdom in the 13th century. It gives
the king the duty to look after the interests of those who are not able to look after themselves.
Both State and Judiciary can invoke this doctrine to protect the rights of those who cannot decide
for themselves. Under the doctrine of Parens patriae, State can assume parenthood to protect
the rights of any individual, child or animal.
78. All India Service officers can be removed by the president on the grounds of criminal charge,
interest of the security of the state or any other charges. However, Article 311 provides certain
safeguards to All India officers i.e., it protects them against any arbitrary removal, they cannot
be removed without giving them a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect to the charges
filed against them.
79. Both Parliament and state legislature can exempt offices from ‘office of profit’.
81. The Civil Courts cannot determine the question of person's citizenship on account of losing or
acquiring. It is the exclusive domain of central government. The question of whether an individual
has acquired another country's citizenship or have renounced Indian citizenship, can be decided
only by the Central government.
82. IPC prescribes the penalties and the punishment for the respective offences. CrPC provides
the process for prosecution, trial and punishment of offenders under the substantive criminal law.
The term first information report (FIR) is not defined in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of
Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, or in any other law. In police regulations or rules, information
recorded under Section 154 of CrPC is known as First Information Report (FIR).
83. Parole is a system of releasing a prisoner with suspension of the sentence. The days of leave
are not included within the sentenced period. Furlough is releasing a prisoner with remission of his
sentence. It means the sentence of convict is counted within the furlough period. Furlough is seen
as a matter of right for a prisoner, to be granted periodically. Parole is not seen as a matter of
right. it can be denied by the authority.
84. Agniveers will be given non-contributory Life Insurance Cover of Rs 48 lakh for the duration
of their engagement period in the Indian Armed Forces.
85. The fees, penalties and fines collected by the Government constitutes non-tax revenue
receipts. Contributions if any made to the Contingency Fund of India are included in the Capital
account of the Union budget.
86. General Purposes Committee considers and advises on matters concerning affairs of the
House, which do not fall within the jurisdiction of any other parliamentary committee.
Business Advisory Committee regulates the programme and time table of the House.
87. Enforcement Directorate cannot Suo-moto register the case of money laundering. They can
file Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) only after they have been intimated by the local
police authority.
88. The Constitution is silent on who performs the duties of the Vice-President, when there is
vacancy before the expiry of term or when the existing Vice-President acts as President. If the
office of the Vice-President falls vacant due to resignation, elections should be held as soon as
possible.
90. Home Minister makes the recommendation on Mercy petition to the President.
92. A full court meeting literally means one which is attended by all the judges of the court. It
does not include the administrative staff of the court.
93. Article 275 of Constitution of India provides for statutory grants to those states which are in
need of financial assistance and not to every state. Discretionary grants are made by the
Centre as well as by the states on their discretion.
95. Sattriya dance is a classical dance form from the Indian state of Assam. It is considered to be
one of the eight classical dance forms of India. The dance is traditionally performed in the
monasteries (Sattras) of the Vaishnavite tradition and is based on religious themes and stories
from Hindu mythology. Sattriya dance in modern-form was introduced by the Vaishnava Saint
Sankaradeva in the 15th century AD in Assam. The Sattriya dance tradition has strictly laid
down rules in respect of hand gestures and footwork. It combines both Lasya and Tandava
elements. The dance form of Sattriya was an amalgamation of various dance forms prevalent in
Assam, mainly Ojapali and Devadasi. Sattriya dance form was originally performed in the Sattras
and the Namghars by the male Bhokots as a part of religious rituals and for spreading the
philosophy of Vaishnavism.
96. The acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/ personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully
constituted forces and civilians are honored through gallantry awards. These awards are
announced twice a year- on the occasion of the Republic Day and the Independence Day.
97. Alliance for Industry Decarbonization consist of public and private organizations and
stakeholders operating in energy-intensive sectors. International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) is also a founding member and shall coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Alliance.
Objectives of the Alliance include facilitate dialogue on industry level and increase cooperation
to help companies develop decarbonization strategies and implement them; Facilitate exchange of
insights, experiences and best practices.
98. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, also known as 'Akademi Puraskar' is the highest Indian
recognition given in the field of performing arts- music, drama, dance, puppetry, theatres etc. It is
given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.
Jnanpith Award is the highest literary award in the country. It can be given only to the Indian
citizen for their contribution in the Indian languages (any of the 22 'Scheduled Languages') and
English.
100. Pakistan has won the maximum number of Men's Hockey World Cup tournaments (4 times1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994). India has won only once. India has hosted most number of times and
2 times consecutively. Netherlands has won the maximum number of Women's Hockey World Cups,
whereas India has not won any of the Woman's Hockey World Cup tournaments yet.
Vision Polity Vision CSP23ET09Q 23/02/2023
5. ‘The Indian Constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between Fundamental
Rights and Directive principles. To give absolute primacy to one over another is to disturb the
harmony of the constitution.’ - It was said by the Supreme Court in Miverva Mills Case, 1980.
12. CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) includes: the Republic of Armenia, the Republic
of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the
Republic of Tajikistan.
19. In India, the concept of single citizenship is adopted from the British constitution that is from
the United Kingdom.
20. In 1934, M N Roy first proposed the idea of a constituent assembly.
The demand was taken up by the Congress Party in 1935 as an official demand. British accepted it
in August Offer of 1940.
The Constituent Assembly established 13 committees to draft the constitution. A seven-member
committee prepared a draft of the constitution based on the reports of these committees.
21. Article 39A - Equal justice and free legal aid.
Article 43 - Living wage etc. for workers.
Article 43(B) - Promotion of cooperative societies.
Article 44 - Uniform civil code for the citizens.
22. The thalweg principle is the legal principle that if the boundary between two political entities is
stated to be a waterway, without further description, the boundary follows the thalweg of that
watercourse. In particular, the boundary follows the center of the principal navigable channel of
the waterway.
Kori, Padala, Pabewari, Pir Sanai and Vianbari are located along the border area in India.
24. In Shakari Prasad Judgment, the Supreme Court held that the power to amend the
Constitution under Article 368 does not include the power to amend fundamental rights and
that the word law in Article 13 (8) includes only an ordinary law.
26. The Government of India Act 1915 was an act of the Parliament of Britain, which consolidated
prior Acts of Parliament concerning British India into a single act. It was passed in July 1915 and
went into effect on 1 January 1916.
27. Steering Committee - Rajendra Prasad
House Committee - B Pattabhi Sitaramayya
States Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru
28. Backwardness and diversity are also responsible for non-justiciable nature of DPSP in the
Constitution.
30. The 86th amendment to the constitution of India in 2002, provided the Right to Education as
a fundamental right in part-III of the Constitution.
38. In a nutshell, fraternity is essentially an attitude of mutual respect and reverence towards
one's fellow men.
45. Criminal law and criminal procedure fall under the Concurrent List while matters relating to
Police and Prisons fall under the State List.
46. A new genus of parasitic flowering plant called Septemeranthus has been discovered in the
Nicobar group of islands. It grows on the plant species Horsfieldia glabra (Blume) Warb. The
parasitic flowering plants have a modified root structure spread on the stem of the tree and are
anchored inside the bark of the host tree.
48. The AMR (Anti Microbial Resistance) Industry Alliance is a private-sector coalition working to
tackle AMR, bringing together research and development pharmaceutical, generic, biotechnology
and diagnostics companies together.
Common Antibiotic Manufacturing Framework (CAMF) 2018 provides a methodology and set of
minimum requirements needed to conduct a site risk evaluation of both macro and micro
controls in our supply chains.
50. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recently launched the Scheme for
Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi
Nomadic Communities.
It includes Educational empowerment, Health insurance, Housing, Livelihoods.
52. Right to leave including travel abroad and the right to come back to the country has been
derived from the right to life and personal liberty provided under Article 21.
Any private individual encroaching on these rights of another individual does not amount to a
violation of Article 21.
55. IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas - Its objective is to provide a global
benchmark to assess whether protected and conserved areas are achieving successful
conservation outcomes.
Presently, 59 sites in 16 countries have made it to the list. No Indian site is currently part of this
list. It does not get funding from Global Environment Facility (GEF).
58. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called on global governments to adopt a new
‘Fire Ready Formula,’ as it warned that incidences of wildfires would rise in the future. UNEP’s Fire
Ready Formula Formula envisages 66% of spending to be devoted to planning, prevention,
preparedness, and recovery and the remaining 34% to be spent on response.
62. Special Leave Petition can be filed within 60 days against the order of High Court refusing
to grant the certificate of fitness for appeal to Supreme Court; OR It can be filed against any
judgment of High Court within 90 days from the date of judgment.
66. Online campaign not only includes promoting political and electoral campaign material on
social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, it also includes reaching out to
voters with audio message, phone calls, videos and LED screen-mounted vans from small town to
remote villages. Candidates need to submit authentic social media account details at the time of
nomination. Rules of pre-certification of political advertisements are applicable on social media
platforms.
68. Swaran Singh Committee provided to include 8 fundamental duties and to include
punishment if the duties are not followed.
69. Preamble was also enacted by the Constituent Assembly, but, after the rest of the
Constitution was already enacted. So it cannot have been the guiding light for the rest of the
constituent assembly.
73. Certiorari: It is issued on the grounds of the excess of jurisdiction or the lack of jurisdiction or
error of the law.
Quo-Warranto: It is issued by the court to inquire into the legality of the claim of the person to
the public office. Hence, it prevents an illegal usurpation of the public office by the person.
78. Vasant Krishan Vaidya calligraphed the Hindi translation of the original constitution, which
Nand Lal Bose exquisitely embellished and lighted.
82. The Spituk Gustor Festival is a celebration of peace and prosperity. A symbol of traditional
Ladakhi culture and traditions, this two-day festival showcases vibrantly colourful festivities. It is
celebrated at the Spituk Monastery which is located approximately 8 km away from Leh.
86. Assam government issued a preliminary notification for adding 200.32 sq. km to the 78.82 sq.
km Orang National Park, the State’s oldest game reserve, thus making it more than thrice its
existing size. Orang National park is located on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra in
the Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. The park has a rich flora and fauna, including Great
Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, pigmy hog, elephants, wild buffalo and tigers. It is the only
stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river. The pygmy hog is the only
member of its genus, Porcula, and there may be as few as 200 individuals left in the wild. Endemic
to India, they are restricted to very few locations around Manas National Park, Sonai Rupai
Wildlife Sanctuary and Orang National Park. Orang National park is identified as an Important Bird
Area by Birdlife International due to its rich avian life. 222 species of Birds have so far been
recorded.
89. Whereas the Fundamental Rights establish political democracy, the Directive Principles
establish economic and social democracy.
90. The Citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes five ways of acquiring citizenship, viz, birth, descent,
registration, naturalization, and incorporation of territory. Constitution regards only people that
were there at the time of commencement of Constitution.
91. As per Article 137 of the Constitution of India and the rules made under Article 145, the
Supreme Court of India has the power to review its judgment pronounced by it.
No time limit for filing a curative petition and it is guaranteed under Article 137 of the Constitution
of India.
Supreme court of India evolved the concept of curative petition in the landmark case of Rupa
Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra and Anr. (2002).
92. The legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's council were separated by
the Charter Act 1853. This act served as the foundation of the modern parliamentary form of
government.
93. Isaiah Berlin, in his seminal essay published in 1958 titled “Two Concepts of Liberty’, speaks of
two senses of freedom. The first is what he calls “negative liberty”. This revolves around the
existence of a private sphere where an individual can do as he or she pleases, free from the
interference of any kind, whether from other individuals, communities, or the State, by oppressive
social forces. The individual is free of any external barriers or constraints. The second is what he
calls “positive liberty“, which refers to the act of taking control over one’s life and realising its
fundamental purposes.
Indian Constitution embodies the concept of Positive liberty.
94. Mandatory President’s assent to Constitutional amendment bills established by the 24th
Amendment Act, 1971 in which the president's assent to the Constitution amendment bill was made
obligatory. It was not mandatory under the original constitution. But there is no time limit within
which the President must give his assent as soon as possible.
96. Sir B.N. Rau was appointed as the constitutional advisor (Legal advisor) to the Constituent
Assembly. H.V.R. Iyengar was the Secretary to the Constituent Assembly.
97. High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most
judges. The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in
consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
100. If the motion for removal of Supreme Court judge is admitted, then the Speaker/ Chairman is
to constitute a three-member committee to investigate into the charges.
Vision IAS Test CSP23ET23 Date 2/3/23
2. Photosynthesis involves conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water
molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Tyndall effect is the phenomenon in which the particles in a colloid scatter the beams of light
that are directed at them. This effect is exhibited by all colloidal solutions and some very fine
suspensions. Therefore, it can be used to verify if a given solution is a colloid. The intensity of
scattered light depends on the density of the colloidal particles as well as the frequency of the
incident light.
Compton Effect - Photon scattering by charged particles.
7. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an immunological assay commonly used
to measure antibodies, antigens, proteins and glycoproteins in biological samples. ELISA works on
the principle that specific antibodies bind the target antigen and detect the presence and quantity
of antigens binding. Performing an ELISA involves at least one antibody with specificity for a
particular antigen.
11. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Survey is a household survey rather than a
school-based survey. ASER is limited to rural areas only. It measures proficiency with respect to
reading and arithmetic.
12. Turmeric is an acid-base indicator. When it reacts with bases, it changes color to deep red.
This red form of the indicator can change back to yellow when acids are added.
Methyl orange is a popular pH indicator that is used in titration. The colour of the solution turns red
when methyl orange is used as an indicator of acid.
Vanilla extract has a characteristic pleasant smell. If a basic solution is added to vanilla extract,
then we cannot detect the characteristic smell of vanilla extract.
15. Monera - Prokaryotic (Only bacteria)
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia - Eukaryotic
All single-celled eukaryotes are placed under Protista, but the boundaries of this kingdom are not
well defined. Members of Protista are primarily aquatic.
17. Macronutrients in plants include Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous,
Sulphur, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium.
Micronutrients or trace elements, are needed in very small amounts. These include Iron,
Manganese, Copper, Molybdenum, Zinc, Boron, Chlorine and Nickel.
20. Light enters the eye through a thin membrane called the cornea. It forms the transparent bulge
on the front surface of the eyeball as shown in fig. The eyeball is approximately spherical in shape
with a diameter of about 2.3 cm. Most of the refraction of the light rays entering the eye occurs at
the outer surface of the cornea. The crystalline lens merely provides the finer adjustment of the
focal length required to focus objects at different distances on the retina. The structure behind the
cornea is called Iris. Iris is a dark muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil. The pupil
regulates and controls the amount of light entering eye.
21. The genetic code is already in a transcribed form for protein synthesis in the case of RNA
vaccines. RNA vaccines are also believed by many scientists to be less risky than DNA vaccines
since they would not affect the host’s DNA or even have to enter the nucleus of a host cell because
the mRNA has already been formed. This also means the process of making antibodies is faster.
DNA vaccine uses a genetically altered plasmid which contains a piece of DNA from a virus in
order to activate an immune response. The vaccine is made using DNA from a virus, which codes
for an antigen. The antigen then elicits the formation of antibodies by the person’s body, which helps
in the event of exposure to the virus that the particular DNA vaccine is designed for. DNA vaccine
only contains DNA. This means an extra step is needed for making the antigen since mRNA has
to first be transcribed in the nucleus from the DNA. This means it would take longer for the
antibody response to be triggered.
23. Bhopal Declaration was released after Think20 (T20) meeting, official engagement group of
G20 which brings together leading think tanks and research centers worldwide.
24. Yeast reproduces by budding.
28. NASA's James Webb telescope has found a star formation (Called NGC 346) in a dynamic
cluster that lies within Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC).
Magellanic clouds are visible to the naked eye from southern hemisphere. But they cannot be
observed from most northern latitudes. They do not form part of the solar system.
They serve as laboratories for evolution.
29. Abscisic acid (ABA) acts as a general plant growth inhibitor and an inhibitor of plant
metabolism. It help in seed dormancy and germination.
32. Electro-cardiograph is used to obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG). ECG is a graphical
representation of the electrical activity of the heart during a cardiac cycle.
Each peak in the ECG is identified with a letter from P to T that corresponds to a specific electrical
activity of the heart.
The P-wave represents the electrical excitation (or depolarisation) of the atria, which leads to
the contraction of both the atria.
The QRS complex represents the depolarisation of the ventricles, which initiates the ventricular
contraction. The contraction starts shortly after Q and marks the beginning of the systole.
The T-wave represents the return of the ventricles from excited to normal state (repolarization).
The end of the T-wave marks the end of systole.
33. National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has published draft requirements for auditors
to prepare and publish annual transparency reports to increase transparency in management and
governance of audit firms. It recommends auditing standards. It is a company under Companies
Act, 2013. It has same power as that of a civil court.
35. The sound waves used to obtain cardiac images in echocardiography are ultrasound waves
that range in frequency from 2-12 MHz.
38. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters produced in nature by numerous
microorganisms, including through bacterial fermentation of sugars or lipids.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic polyester formally obtained by condensation of lactic acid
with loss of water. Most popular bio plastic.
39. Speed of sound increases with temperature increase. In gas, speed is inversely
proportional to density.
40. Lactase is an enzyme found in the mammalian small intestine that digests lactose.
Gastric chief cells (in the stomach) secrete pepsin.
Trypsin and chymotrypsin to digest proteins; amylase for the digestion of carbohydrates; and
lipase to break down fats. - in the stomach.
42. Sorbitol, also called D-sorbitol is a type of carbohydrate. It falls into a category of sugar
alcohols called polyol. Used as an artificial sweetener. Used with glycerol to hold together
toothpaste.
It promotes bowel movement which would not be suitable for anti diarrhea medication. Used in
manufacturing artificial Vitamin C.
45. Stevia is often used as a substitute to traditional table sugar. It is derived from a highly
refined stevia leaf extract called rebaudioside A (Reb-A). It’s about 100 to 300 times sweeter than
table sugar.
46. Sodium batteries have lower energy density than Lithium batteries.
48. Bacteria-based pesticides use subspecies and strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt making
it the most widely used microbial pesticide.
Fungal-based pesticides (mycoinsecticide) like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae
can be used to control plant diseases as well as some pests and weeds.
Microbial viral insecticides are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods. Viruses like
Baculoviruses are used as insecticides/pesticides.
Protozoa-based pesticides use the Microsporidia group to control the population of insects
including caterpillar pests, grasshoppers, corn earworms, armyworms, European corn borers,
cabbage loopers, and fall webworms.
51. Blood coagulation or clotting is an important phenomenon to prevent excess loss of blood in
case of injury or trauma. The blood stops flowing from a wound in case of injury. The blood clot or
‘coagulum’ is formed by a network of fibrin threads. Prothrombin is the inactive form of thrombin
that is present in the plasma. Thrombokinase converts prothrombin to active thrombin which in
turn activates fibrinogen to fibrin. All these clotting factors help in blood coagulation. Blood
coagulation leads to homeostasis.
Haemophilia is characterised by excessive bleeding. It is a blood clotting disorder.
55. Rare earth elements are a group of seventeen chemical elements that occur together in the
periodic table. The group consists of yttrium, scandium and the 15 lanthanide elements (lanthanum,
cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium,
dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).
Recently they were discovered in Arctic region in Sweden.
56. Food scientists and producers use Aspergillus niger to make ingredients like gluconic acid
and citric acid. Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) is a type of probiotic ("good"
bacteria) found in the digestive tract, it helps in producing lactic acid in the gut.
57. Stem Cell transplant, also called bone marrow transplant, is a procedure in which a patient
receives healthy stem cells to replace damaged stem cells. 2 main types :
Autologous transplantation: Uses patient’s own stem cells. These cells are removed, treated and
returned to his body after a conditioning regimen.
Allogeneic transplantation: Uses stem cells from a donor.
58. A ligament is a fibrous connective tissue that attaches bone to bone, and usually serves to
hold structures together and keep them stable. This tissue is very elastic. It has considerable
strength.
A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. Tendons may also attach
muscles to structures such as the eyeball. A tendon serves to move the bone or structure.
Areolar connective tissue is found between the skin and muscles, around blood vessels and
nerves and in the bone marrow. It fills the space inside the organs, supports internal organs and
helps in repair of tissues.
Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. It acts as a
shock absorber throughout your body.
60. Zinc is also involved in the activation of certain enzymes and is essential for growth
hormone production and internode elongation in plants.
61. In the standalone mode the 5G network operates with dedicated equipment, and runs
parallel to the existing 4G network, while in a non-standalone way, the 5G network is supported
by the 4G core infrastructure.
62. Graphene is impervious to the harsh ionic solutions found in the human body making it
prone to damage. Moreover, graphene's ability to conduct electrical signals means it can
interface with neurons. Graphene is also flexible and can wrap around delicate tissues.
63. Nitrogen added to packet of chips to prevent them from getting oxidised and making them
rancid.
68. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in the bones, muscles, skin,
and tendons. It is an essential component of connective tissue and plays a crucial role in holding the
body’s cells together. It also gives strength and elasticity to the skin.
69. An electoral bond would be a bearer instrument in the nature of a promissory note and an
interest-free banking instrument.
71. Erythroblastosis fetalis, also called hemolytic disease of the newborn, type of anemia in
which the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of a fetus are destroyed in a maternal immune reaction
resulting from a blood group incompatibility between the fetus and its mother.
Two blood group systems, Rh and ABO, primarily are associated with erythroblastosis fetalis.
The Rh system is responsible for the most severe form of the disease, which can occur when an Rh
negative woman (a woman whose blood cells lack the Rh factor) conceives an Rh-positive fetus.
They stimulate the production of antibodies, some of which pass across the placenta into fetal
circulation and lyse, or break apart, the red blood cells of the fetus (hemolysis). It does not usually
happen in the first pregnancy. It can affect latter pregnancies.
It is rare for a mother to become sensitized during the course of her first Rh-positive
pregnancy because the amount of fetal Rh antigen that enters maternal circulation is insufficient to
cause sensitization; usually only during labour will exposure be significant.
The risk can be reduced if the mother receives injections of Rh immunoglobulin, which
destroys fetal red blood cells in her bloodstream, during her first pregnancy. The fetus also is
protected from Rh hemolytic disease if an ABO blood group incompatibility exists
concurrently; protection is conferred by ABO antibodies, which destroy fetal blood cells in the
maternal circulation before the mother develops Rh sensitivity.
72. The wires and the filament are enclosed in like nitrogen, argon, or krypton - so that the
filament doesn't catch fire.
73. The first-ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian
Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since 14 January 2023.
76. The archeological survey of india discovered two 1200-year-old miniature votive stupas at
Nalanda Mahavihara in Bihar. Votive stupas have survived in vast numbers in the Mahabodhi
temple compound at Bodhgaya. The form of the stupa, with its distinctive domelike drum, originates
in eight cylindrical structures in which the Buddha's relics were placed after his death.
78. Convex Lens: A lens that has two spherical surfaces, bulging outwards.
Concave Lens: A lens that is bounded by two spherical surfaces, curved inwards is called a
concave lens.
79. Colloidal solutions are mixtures in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles of
one substance are suspended in another substance. Heterogeneous substance. Quite stable;
particles do not sink down. Big enough particles to scatter light.
Cow Milk, milk of magnesia, blood, and shaving cream are examples of colloidal solutions.
Tincture of iodine is an example of a homogeneous solution with iodine (solid) as the solute and
alcohol (liquid) as the solvent.
81. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young
children.
Researchers believe that tomato flu is a different clinical presentation of hand-foot-and mouth
disease (HFMD) caused by a group of enteroviruses (viruses transmitted through the intestine).
82. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry for
the implementation of FSSAI.
84. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) are examples of lipid-based drug delivery systems that
have distinctive properties such as high drug loading, and large surface area and can protect
the drug from the environment while increasing its bioavailability.
An SLN is generally spherical in shape and consists of a solid lipid core stabilized by a
surfactant.
SLNs use physiological lipids which reduces the danger of acute and chronic bio toxicity.
Some COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BionTech and Moderna) that use RNA vaccine technology coat
the fragile mRNA strands with Solid lipid nanoparticles as their delivery vehicle.
85. Godavari estuary in Andhra Pradesh has become prime habitat for Indian Skimmer.
It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the
non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.
It has breeding colonies in Chambal river, Rajasthan.
The damming of the Chambal River, in upstream Rajasthan, has adversely affected its
population at National Chambal Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. IUCN status is endangered.
92. Purana Qila was built by Mughal Emperor Humayun as a part of his new city of Dinpanah in
the 16th century. Apart from archaeology, textual sources such as Ain-i-Akbari of Abul Fazal (16th
century), mention that fort was built at site of Indraprastha.
94. Doppler effect can be observed for any type of wave - water wave, sound wave, light wave,
etc.
96. Sodium benzoate is an odorless, crystalline powder made by combining benzoic acid and
sodium hydroxide. Benzoic acid is a good preservative on its own, and combining it with sodium
hydroxide helps it dissolve in products. It is also used as a preservative in soft drinks to increase
the acidity of flavor.
Scientific research has shown that negative side effects occur when it's mixed with ascorbic
acid (vitamin C). Their studies indicate that it then turns into benzene, a known carcinogen.
97. The Autonomic Nervous System: This system governs activities which are normally not
under direct control of individuals. It controls such internal functions as breathing, blood circulation,
salivation, stomach contraction, and emotional reactions. These activities of the autonomic system
are under the control of different structures of the brain.
The sympathetic division deals with emergencies when the action must be quick and powerful,
such as in situations of fight or flight.
The Parasympathetic division is mainly concerned with conservation of energy. It monitors the
routine functions of the internal system of the body.
100. Plasma is the liquid component of blood. Plasma makes up 55% of blood’s total volume.
Fibrinogens are needed for clotting or coagulation of blood.
Globulins primarily are involved in defense mechanisms of the body and defends our body from
infections including bacteria, fungi, viruses and cancer cells.
Albumin helps in osmotic balance. It is vital for maintaining a balance of fluid, called oncotic
pressure, in the blood.
Plasma contains gamma globulins, a type of immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulins help the body
fight off infections.
VISION Open Test 1 5/3/23
1. The government imposed windfall gain taxes on the export of petrol, diesel, and aviation
turbine fuel (ATF), and on the domestic production of crude oil.
2. Reverse Currency War - Countries increasing interest rates in order to strengthen the
domestic currencies against the US dollar.
3. Currency movements are not the guiding factors for RBI’s monetary policy decisions which are
based on the domestic inflation and growth dynamics.
6. Foreign investment is not permitted in Inventory based model of e-commerce. On the other
hand, the FDI Policy allows 100% FDI under the automatic route for the marketplace model of
e-commerce activities.
FDI with a cap of 51% with permission of the Government is permitted in Multi-Brand Retail
Trading (MBRT) which also covers agricultural produces.
7. GDP by expenditure method ≡ private consumption spending+investments+government
spending+(exports−imports)
More imports would lead to a reduction in GDP.
8. UPI123 PAY uses sound waves to enable contactless, offline, and proximity data communication
on any device. User can tap any phone and make UPI payments to merchants.
14. Bodies under DoPT - UPSC, CIC (Central Information Commission), LBSNAA, CBI, LokPal,
Central Administrative Tribunal, Public Enterprise Selection Board, CBI, SSC
15. According to Section 49P of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, 'if a person representing
himself to be a particular elector applies for a ballot paper after another person (a case of identity
theft) has already voted as a such elector, he shall, on satisfactorily answering such questions
relating to his identity as the presiding officer may ask, be entitled, subject to the provisions of
this rule, to mark a tendered ballot paper in the same manner as any other elector.'
16. Autonomous District Councils formed under the sixth schedule can not prevent the
compulsory acquisition of land for public purposes by the state government.
17. High Court can refuse its writ jurisdiction because it is not fundamental right under 226.
18. Manipur is the fourth State after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram where the ILP
regime is applicable. An inner line permit is also mandatory for entering Lakshadweep.
19. Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons
appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament.
20. PPPAC (Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee) is under the Department of
Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. It is chaired by the Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs.
PPP Projects in the Central Sector with a cost exceeding Rs.100 crore or where the value of
underlying assets is more than Rs.100 crore (except Ports and NHDP projects) require Public
Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) appraisal/approval.
21. Tobacco normally requires 100 cm of annual rainfall but it can also be successfully grown in
areas of 50 cm annual rainfall provided the rainfall is fairly distributed. Irrigation is required in
areas of lower and erratic rainfall. India is the second largest producer and exporter of
tobacco in the world.
22. Despite not being a separate country recognized by the majority of UN countries, Taiwan as a
separate customs territory is a part of the World Trade organization. It became the WTO's
144th member as the customs territory of "Chinese Taipei” in 2002. Topic of Cancer passes
throuugh Taiwan.
23. Catchement area of west flowing rivers. Narmada > Tapi > Mahi > Sabarmati
24. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the difference in sea surface temperature between two
areas (or poles, hence a dipole) – a western pole in the Arabian Sea (western Indian Ocean) and
an eastern pole in the eastern Indian Ocean south of Indonesia.
During the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole, which typically peaks in
September–November, cooler-than-normal sea surface conditions west of Indonesia and
warmer-than-normal conditions in the western Indian Ocean alter the atmospheric circulation in
the Indian Ocean region. Indonesia and Australia tend to be drier than normal, which increases the
chances of bushfires, while eastern Africa and India tend to be wetter than normal, increasing
the likelihood of floods.
29. Factors behind cheetah reintroduction in Kuno - no human settlements, other predators are
present, favaurable climatic conditions.
30. International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched the Global Food Security Platform to
strengthen the private sector’s ability to respond to food crisis and boost food production.
The Global Food Security Platform will also help private entities to make new and long-term
investment on local food systems in emerging markets to make them more diversified, sustainable
and productive.
31. LiFi, also known as "Light Fidelity" is a wireless optical networking technology, which uses
light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit data. Less range than WiFi and less interference than
WiFi. In LiFi, data can be sent using visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared spectrums.
32. Helicase - helps in unzipping DNA
33. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from
the sun's atmosphere. They usually take place around sunspots.
34. Like graphene, graphyne is a layer of carbon just one atom thick. Unlike graphene,
graphyne can take on a range of two-dimensional structures. Graphyne also has both doubleand triple-bonded carbon atoms, while graphene has only double bonded atoms.
Graphyne can be used in nanofillers, transistors, sensors and desalinators.
35. Edge computing can be deployed on networks other than 5G such as 4G, LTE, but the
adequate infrastructure is a prerequisite.
36. A solid-state battery is a battery that uses a solid electrolyte and solid electrodes. Unlike a
conventional lithium-ion battery (Li- ion battery) or a lithium polymer battery that uses a liquid
electrolyte or polymer gel electrolyte for ion movement, a solid-state battery contains a solid
electrolyte. Solid state battery would be lighter and chaper than Lithium batteries.
37. Click Chemistry is a term that was introduced by K. B. Sharpless in 2001 to describe reactions
that are high yielding, wide in scope, create only byproducts that can be removed without
chromatography, are stereospecific, simple to perform, and can be conducted in easily removable
or benign solvents.
For a chemical reaction to be called click chemistry, it has to occur in the presence of oxygen
and in water, which is a cheap and environmentally friendly solvent.
The Haber-Bosch process converts hydrogen and nitrogen to ammonia. It is the dominant way
of producing cheap fertilizer and is at the heart of industrialized agriculture. However, this process is
extremely energy intensive and polluting and thus is not an example of click chemistry reaction.
Click chemistry can be used to make biomolecules that can track diseases.
39. Green crackers use alternative chemicals such as potassium nitrate and aluminium instead
of magnesium and barium as well as carbon instead of arsenic and other harmful pollutants.
40. Antivenoms are made by immunizing donor animals such as horses or sheep with snake
venoms. These animals have robust immune systems and produce powerful antibodies that can
bind to snake venom components.
42. Leela Roy founded ‘Deepali Sangha’ in 1923, an organization that educated and trained
women on social and political issues, leadership skills, and physical fitness.
Latika Ghosh was the Oxford educated niece of Aurobindo Ghosh. She started the Mahila
Rashtriya Sangha (MRS) in Chiitagong in 1928 at the behest of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
46. Bomkai Sarees are the soul of Odisha Handloom. The Bomkai saree has been originated from
a small picturesque village called Bomkai in Ganjam district, 156 Km from Bhubaneswar in
Odisha.
Konrad sarees are one of the most well-known sarees. These have originated from Tamil Nadu and
have earned a great reputation on account of its traditional affluence and usage of excellent fabrics.
Baluchari Silk saree is one of the most popular types of traditional sarees. These sarees hail from
Bengal and are exquisite and beautiful just like the state.
47. The stupas were constructed over the relics of the Buddha at Rajagraha, Vaishali, Vethadipa
and Pava in Bihar; Kapilavastu, Allakappa and Ramagrama in Nepal; Kushinagar and
Pippalvina in Uttar Pradesh.
49. In later Vedic times, popular assemblies lost their importance and royal power increased
at their cost.
53. There may be slight variations in different ecosystems and ecological efficiencies may
range from 5 to 35%. Ecological efficiency (also called Lindman’s efficiency). Proportion of energy
that is transferred from one trophic level to another.
54. A 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India (SC) vide its judgment dated 03 June 2022 in
the case of T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India & Ors. has held that every protected
forest should have an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of minimum 1 km where developmental
activities shall be regulated/prohibited.
55. An example of such a close mutualistic association is that of termite and their intestinal
flagellates. Termites can eat wood but have no enzymes to digest it. However, their intestine
contains certain flagellate protists (protozoans) that have the necessary enzymes to digest the
cellulose of the wood
Sucker fish, remora often attaches to a shark by means of its sucker which is present on the top
side of its head. This helps the remora get protection, a free ride as well as a meal. Shark does not
benefit here. It is an example of commensalism where one is benefited and other has no impact.
Plants like dodder plants (Cuscuta) and mistletoe (Loranthus ) are parasites that live on
flowering plants. Flowering plants are harmed in this case. It is an example of parasitism.
56. Solar Facility is a payment guarantee mechanism under the ISA framework. It was
launched to attract investments into the solar energy sector, in line with the ISA goal of unlocking $1
trillion in solar energy investments by 2030.
57. Today, we find a total of eight bear species in the world, out of which the Asiatic Black Bear
(Moon Bear), Himalayan Brown Bear, Sloth Bear and Sun Bear are found in India.
58. Forest Conservation Rules, 2022: The Forest Conservation Rules deal with the implementation
of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980.
For forest land beyond five hectares, approval for diverting land must be given by the Central
government.
The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, delinks mandatory FRA compliance for seeking forest
clearance for infrastructure projects and puts the onus on states/UTs to ensure that it is
complied with before the forest land is handed over to the project proponent.
The new rules say that an identified non-forest land with a canopy density of 0.4 (40 per cent
tree cover) or more can be considered for swapping as compensatory land. The earlier
requirement to plant 1,000 trees a hectare has also been removed.
Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, that allow the exchange of private and deemed forests for
compensatory afforestation.
59. Terai Forest Division - Apart from Dudhwa and Pilibhit Tiger Reserves, the elephant reserve
will include Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa buffer zone,
and parts of the South Kheri forest division.
60. Climate Transparency Report is the world’s most comprehensive annual review of G20
countries’ climate action. The report was developed by experts from 16 partner organizations
from the majority of the G20 countries.
62. Conference on Disarmament (CD) - 65 Member States including India, and 38 observer states
and is the sole negotiating body for multilateral nuclear disarmament.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996 - Aims at eliminating nuclear weapons by
constraining the development and qualitative improvement of new types of nuclear weapons. It
bans all nuclear explosions in all environments. It needs eight key countries(including the US
and India) to ratify before entry into force.
Treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 1968 - NPT is the only binding
commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States
(NWSs).
Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), 2017 - Legally binding instrument and
prohibits all state parties (and not just NWSs) from developing, testing, producing,
manufacturing, acquiring, possessing or stockpiling nuclear weapons. It does not contain a
verifiable regime.
Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) - proposed international agreement that would prohibit the
production of the two main components of nuclear weapons - U and Pu
65. Saudi Arabia is a key supplier of hydrocarbons to India, supplying 16% and 22% of India’s
crude oil and LPG requirements respectively.
66. As per Reserve Bank of India (Certificate of Deposit) Directions, 2021, CDs shall be issued
in a minimum denomination of ₹5 lakh and in multiples of ₹5 lakh thereafter. Certificate of
Deposits (CDs) may be issued by Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and
Small Finance Banks.
Non-Convertible Debenture (NCD) means a debt instrument issued by a corporate (including
NBFCs).
67. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Bangalore bench has recently held that the expenses
incurred by the Company for the buy-back of shares would amount to “revenue expenditure”
for the purpose of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Depreciation would also constitute revenue expenditure.
69. The government also pays fertiliser manufacturers freight subsidies- or the cost of
ferrying their products to the end-user. The Uniform Freight Policy was released in April 2008.
Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers issued a memo announcing the implementation of the
“One Nation One Fertiliser” scheme under which a single brand and logo for fertilisers will have
to be used by all manufacturers.
70. Most Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) with a net worth of Rs. 100 crores can issue
credit cards. The exception is Regional Rural banks (RRBs) which need to collaborate with other
banks to do so.
Debit cards can only be issued to customers with Savings Bank/Current Accounts, and not to
cash credit/loan account holders.
74. Discussion on no confidence motion should be held within 10 days.
76. Parliament has passed acts empowering Central Government to establish inter river water
boards and inter river water dispute tribunals.
79. A resolution for the discontinuance of the national emergency can be passed only by the
Lok Sabha and not by the Rajya Sabha.
80. Representation of People Act (1951) - If a person is elected to both the Houses of Parliament,
he must intimate within 10 days in which House he desires to serve.
81. Ilbert Bill - passed in 1884
Arms Act - by Lytton in 1878
The Welby Commission was appointed on 24th May 1895 by Royal Warrant to inquire into the
administration and management of the military and civil expenditure.
82. The first week of October is said to mark the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Basilica
of Our Lady of Graces, one of India’s minor basilicas situated in Sardhana in Uttar Pradesh. It
was constructed in 1822 by Begum Samru (1750’s-1836), a woman of humble origins that came to
be popularly known as the only Catholic queen of India.
83. Green Pamphlet was published by Gandhi on August 14, 1896, and it exposed the
conditions of Indian indentured laborers and coolies in South Africa.
84. In 1906, Secretary of State, Morley wanted to pacify the Indian agitation through hopes for
reforms. He appointed a committee under AT Arundale.
85. Indus Valley civilisation - The variety of materials used to make beads is remarkable: stones
like carnelian (of a beautiful red colour), jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite; metals like copper,
bronze and gold; and shell, faience and terracotta or burnt clay.
Most of Harappan pottery is plain, but a substantial part is treated) with a red slip and black
painted decoration.
86. At some of the most sacred temples in South India, the main temple in which the
garbhagriha is situated has, in fact, one of the smallest towers.
87. During medieval India, there were many advancements in the field of Biology. Hamsadeva
compiled a work in the field of Biology entitled Mriga Pakshi Shastra in the thirteenth century. This
gives a general, though not always scientific, account of some animals and birds of hunting.
88. The Asan Conservation Reserve is a 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River running down to
its confluence with the Yamuna River in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.
Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra river, of great
biological importance and also essential as the only major stormwater storage basin for the city of
Guwahati.
Chandertal wetland is a high-altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley flowing to the Chandra
river of the Western Himalayas near the Kunzam pass joining the Himalayan and Pir Panchal
ranges.
90. The Isthmus of Perekop, literally the Isthmus of the Trench is the narrow, 5–7 kilometers wide
strip of land that connects the Crimean Peninsula to the mainland of Ukraine.
Situated between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra in the northwest and Java in the southeast,
the Sunda Strait links the Java Sea of the western Pacific Ocean with the eastern Indian Ocean.
91. This easterly jet stream is held responsible for the burst of the monsoon in India.
93. When an organism makes gametes, each gamete receives just one gene copy, which is
selected randomly. This is known as the law of segregation.
94. A neutron star is the densest object astronomers can observe directly.
Pulsars are rotating neutron stars observed to have pulses of radiation at very regular intervals
that typically range from milliseconds to seconds.
A magnetar is a type of Neutron star. In a magnetar, the magnetic field is trillions of times that of
the Earth's magnetic field.
95. PM-YUVA 2.0 was launched on 2nd October 2022. The scheme will help to develop a stream
of writers who can write on various facets of Democracy in India encompassing the past,
present, and future.
The National Book Trust, India under the Union Ministry of Education as the Implementing
Agency will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme.
Shankar IAS Modern History Test 4 Date - 4/3/23
3. Pollilur painting is a vividly illustrated painting depicting a historic victory of Mysore ruler Haider
Ali and his son Tipu Sultan over the East India Company. The Battle of Pollilur which took place
on September 10, 1780, as part of the Second Anglo-Mysore War, was commissioned by Tipu
Sultan as part of a large mural for the newly-built Daria Daulat Bagh in Seringapatam in 1784.
After the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British restored the Woodayar dynasty to the throne.
4. The Battle of Wandiwash, (1760), in the history of India, was a confrontation between the French,
under the Comte De Lally, and the British, under Sir Eyre Coote.
Treaty of Peace of Paris (1763) restored the French possessions in India, but the French
political influence disappeared after the war.
7. To end the British's corrupt practices, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade but not
external trade. It was one of the causes for Battle of Buxar.
8. Lord Auckland, the Governor-General in 1836, looked at Sindh from the perspective of saving
India from a possible Russian invasion and wished to obtain a counteracting influence over the
Afghans..It was a preventive measure and not reactive.
10. The word Miras means land held under hereditary title; the right of hereditary occupation.
Miras-Ijara means base or settlement of land to be enjoyed hereditary. Thus, Mirasdar is used as
title for holders of hereditary land rights.
11. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme for Fertilizers is an innovative idea which ensures many
purposes at the same, was came to effect in 2010. Under this scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy,
which is decided annually, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic and Potassic
(P&K) fertilizers, except for Urea (Nitrogeneous), based on the nutritional content present in them.
The scheme is administered by the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals
& Fertilizers.
Muriate of Potash - contains chloride and is harmful to plants
Sulphate of Potash - does not contain chloride and used for high value crops.
13. Nidhi companies are a type of non-bank lender that raise funds exclusively from their
members and give loans to them, to improve their governance and protect the public interest.
These companies are not entitled to carry on the business of Hire Purchase Financing,
Insurance, Chit Funds and Acquisition of securities or Issue of any Debt Instruments.
Nidhi companies are regulated by Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Reserve Bank of India.
18. Press Censorship was imposed by Lord Wellesley in the year 1799 through Censorship of
the Press Act which imposed strict restriction on the newspapers published from India.
The newspapers instructed to print clearly the every issue, the name of the printer, the editor and the
proprietor. The Publishers had to submit all the material for precensorship to the Secretary to
the Government.
Every publisher was required to get a license from the government, in case of default, the penalty
was Rs.400 and the Press would be ceased by the government, is a provision of Licensing
Regulations, 1823 enacted by Governor General John Adams.
19. Males have a gular pouch, which helps produce a resonant booming mating call to attract
females and can be heard up to a distance of 500 metres. Males play no role in the incubation
and care of the young, which remain with the mother till the next breeding season.
Great Indian Bustard - found in GH, RJ, MH, AP, KN
22. The Antarctic Treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole
continent. India became a signatory to this in 1983, and on September 12 of the same year, it
received consultative status. Currently, it has 54 parties.
Research stations - Maitri and Bharati
26. William Bentinck introduced local languages in the lower courts and English in the higher
courts in place of Persian.
After 1813 under Hastings, there started the process of the gradual Indianisation of the lower
branches of services, mainly the judiciary.
27. The Cuvette Centrale region in Congo Basin is the world’s largest natural tropical peatlands,
which are about the size of England.
32. The Indian or National Social Conference founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao,
met annually from its first session in Madras in 1887.
The Ahmadiyya movement forms a sect of Islam that originated from India. It was founded by
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in 1889. It was based on liberal principles.
Theosophical society has played an important role in the history of the religion, society, and culture
of modern India. It was founded in the USA (New York) in 1875.
33. Ramosi Risings (1822-1829, 1839-41) occurred in the Western Ghats and it was led by an
important rebel leader Chittur Singh. The Ramosis, the hill tribes of the Western Ghats who were
served in the lower ranks of the Maratha army and police.
34. The Baluchari Saree originated in West Bengal.It is a hand-woven saree using richly dyed silk,
with intricate motifs depicting Indian mythology woven onto its large ‘pallu’.
Madhya Pradesh is home to the world-famous Chanderi and Maheshwari saris. These saris, with
beautiful gold and silver designs embossed on light cotton, pure silk or tusser silk, are a delight in
light colours of white, yellow and green.
Molakalmur is a Taluk head quarter situated in Chitradurga district in the eastern part of Karnataka,
spread along the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states. Molakalmuru is famous for pure
silk sarees woven on primitive pit looms.
Assam produces three varieties of silk such as mulberry, eri and muga.
42. Practice of slavery was abolished in 1843, during the reign of Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844).
During the period, Lord Hardinge I (1844-1848), the governor-general, made social reforms,
including abolishing female infanticide, and suppression of the practice of human sacrifice
among the Gonds of central India.
43. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA),the transformation of Aspirational Districts
program aimed to quickly and effectively transform selected districts and was launched on April
24, 2018 as an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India.The scheme
was launched on April 24, 2018, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is proposed to be a core Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(CSS) for four years, from 2018-19 to 2021-22.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan promotes the devolution of powers and responsibilities to
Panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution and PESA Act 1996.
44. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - His works include ‘Bidhobabivah’ on the widow’s right to
remarry (1855), ‘Bahubivah’ on the banning of polygamy (1871), and Balyabivah on the flaws of
child marriage.
47. The Prarthana Samaj was founded in 1867 in Bombay by Dr. Atmaram Pandurang. It was an
off-shoot of Brahmo Samaj.
48. The immediate cause of the First Carnatic war (1740-48) was the English navy under Barnett
(1745), capture the French navy ships and for retaliation, the French under La Bourdonnais
(naval commander) attacked Madras and captured it.
Second Carnatic War - The French supported the claims of Muzaffar Jang and Chanda Sahib in
the Deccan and Carnatic, respectively, while the English sided with Nasir Jang and
Anwar-ud-din.
The Third Carnatic war (1758-63) was concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
49. The idea behind the utilitarian perspective is that the ideal of human civilization was to
achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Education Minute of 1835 by Lord Macaulay presented a strong case for the introduction of English
education. He held the view that “Indian learning was inferior to European learning”.
50. Amarnath Sehgal is become for pioneer of intellectual property rights especially, moral rights
in copyrights for Indian artists.
The case of Amarnath Sehgal v. Union of India and another, by the single bench of the Delhi High
Court was appraised as the landmark in which for the first time, the court upheld the moral rights
of the author under the Copyright Act.
Amarnath Sehgal was awarded the Lalit Kala Academy Fellowship in 1993, the highest honour in
the fine arts conferred by the Government of India for his lifetime contribution to Indian fine arts.
52. Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement, which created individual property rights
over land. He hoped that the rule of law and private property rights would liberate individual
enterprises from the shackles of custom and tradition.
Munro introduced Ryotwari Settlement with the intention of preserving India's village
communities by emphasizing the protective role of the Company's Government.
53. The Treaty of Gandamak was signed during the tenure of the Viceroy of India Lord Lytton
(1876- 1880). It officially ended the first phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
The Treaty of Seringappatnam is a significant event in the history of South India. It was signed in
1792 after the defeat of Tipu Sultan by the British. It was during the governorship of Lord
Cornwallis.
Lord Amherst (1823-1828) was the Governor-General of Bengal when The First Anglo-Burmese
war (1824-1826). This war ended with the Treaty of Yandabo (1826).
54. The term “abwabs” in British India referred to revenue paid by the peasant as extra-legal
charges to the zamindar.
56. The non-OPEC countries which export crude oil are termed as OPEC plus countries.
Non-OPEC (OPEC plus) countries are Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,
Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan and South Sudan.
58. The Special Drawing Right (SDR) is an interest-bearing international reserve asset created
by the IMF in 1969 to supplement other reserve assets of member countries.
The IMF's Board of Governors conducts general reviews of quotas at regular intervals not more than
five years.
An 85 percent majority must approve any changes in quotas of the total voting power, and a
member's own quota cannot be changed without their consent.
59. Society for the Acquisition of General Knowledge - Henry Vivian Derozio
Society for Translating European Sciences - Horace Hayman Wilson
Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science – Mahendra Lal Sarkar
Aligarh Scientific Society – Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
60. Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative and the representative
of each member must be at all times at United Nations Headquarters so that the Security
Council can meet at any time as the need arises.
Veto exercise has to be explained by the exercising party.
61. The Pitt's India Act of 1784, sometimes described as the "half-loaf system," as it sought to
mediate between Parliament and the company directors, enhanced Parliament's control by
establishing the Board of Control, whose members were selected from the British cabinet.
64. The Dutch monopolized the trade in black pepper and spices; the most important Indian
commodities the Dutch traded in were silk, cotton, indigo, rice and opium.
66. GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) is chaired by the Special
Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the
Department of BioTechnology.
The Environment Protection Act strictly prohibits the import, export, transport, manufacture,
process, use, or sale of any genetically engineered organisms except with the approval of the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).
67. Albuquerque introduced a system of permits for non-Portuguese ships.
68. The Charter Act of 1813 provided that the regulations made by the Councils of Madras,
Bombay and Calcutta were now required to be laid before the British Parliament. The
constitutional position of the British territories in India was thus explicitly defined.
The Charter Act of 1833 lifted all the restrictions on European immigration and the acquisition of
property in India by them which paved the way for the wholesale European colonisation of India.
71. Mirat-ul-Akbar (the first journal in Persian) was published in 1822 in Calcutta and was
founded/edited by Raja Rammohan Roy.
Indian Mirror was started as a fortnightly in 1861 by Devendranath Tagore and converted into daily
newspaper by Keshab Chandra Sen in 1876
East Indian (daily) was founded/edited by Henry Vivian Derozio in 1825
Surendranath Banerjee served as an editor for the newspaper “The Bengalee,” which was started
by Girish Chandra Ghosh in 1862.
Amrita Bazar Patrika was first published in 1868 by two brothers, Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal
Ghosh.
72. India has not taken an official regulatory stand on allowing the listing of SPACs, No
legislative framework under Companies Act or SEBI.
SPAC’s do not have commercial operations.
77. The Doctrine of Lapse is a policy of annexation by the East India Company in the Indian
subcontinent about the princely states and applied until 1859.
The British East India Company took over Kittur in 1824 by imposing the 'doctrine of lapse,'
even before it was officially articulated by Lord Dalhousie.
80. Shree Narayan Guru Dharma Paripalana Movement was started by Sree Narayana Guru
Swamy (1856- 1928) among the Ezhavas of Kerala. The Sree Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana
Yogam was founded by Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu, who accepted the Vice-president. Aruvippuram
Sree Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) was registered in 1903 under the Indian
Companies Act,with Narayana Guru as its permanent chairman (not as general Secretary) and
Kumaran Asan as the general secretary.
81. M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao founded the Indian Social Conference. It met annually from
its first session in Madras in 1887 at the same time and venue as the Indian National Congress. It
focused on the social issues of importance; it could be called the social reform cell of the Indian
National Congress. The conference advocated inter-caste marriages and opposed the practices
of Polygamy and kulinism.
84. The Bezbaruah Committee was constituted by the Centre in February 2014 in the wake of a
series of racial attacks on persons belonging to the northeast.
86. Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (1856-1895) was an educationist and social reformer from
Maharashtra. He started his own periodical newspaper, Sudharak, which spoke against
Untouchability and the caste system. His publications are Futke Nashib, Alankar Mimmansa,
Dongarichy Turangatil 101 divas and The Marathi translation of Hamlet. He was also the first
editor of the weekly Kesari and not Maratha, the journal started by Lokmanya Tilak. He was the
second Principal of Fergusson College and served that post from August 1892 until his death.
87. Burkendazes were the demobilised soldiers of the Muslim armies and Zamindars who
assisted The King of Darrang, Krishnanarayan in 1792 and revolted against the Ahom Ruler.
88. Mahadaji, Sindhia (1761-94) was an effective and innovative military commander. He
employed a large number of European soldiers in his force and made him an effective military
commander. His power grew rapidly after 1770. The Mughal king Shah Alam II made him the
“deputy regent” of his affairs in the mid-1780s and he zealously guarded the privileges and titles
granted to him by Shah Alam, such as amir alumara ("head of the amirs") and na'ib wakii-i
mutlaq ("deputy regent").
Maratha chief Daulat Rao Sindhia (1794-1827), who was defeated by the British and forced to
sign Treaty of Surji-Arjungaon in 1803 and also surrendered their territories including the
Ganges Yamuna doab (territory between the rivers).
93. Baralacha Pass is situated in the Zanskar Valley, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal
Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh. Two streams, namely Chandra and Bhaga, rise on the opposite
sides of the Baralacha, pass at an elevation of 4,891 meters and meet at Tandi at an elevation of
2,286 meters to form the Chenab river.
Kwar Hydroelectric Project is located on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar area of Jammu and
Kashmir.The project shall generate 1,975.54 million units in a 90 percent dependable year.
94. The Famine Code came into existence in 1883 which was based on the recommendations of
the first Famine Commission (1878-80) under Sir Richard Strachey (Not Lyall). They include
provision of funds for famine relief and construction work in the annual budget. The commission was
set up during the Governorship of Lord Lytton.
Following the famine of 1899-1900, Lord Curzon appointed a famine commission led by
MacDonnell.
95. A new Post Office Act was passed in 1854 during the governorship of Lord Dalhousie.
Throughout India irrespective of the distance over which the letter was sent, a uniform rate of half
an anna per post card was charged. Postage stamps were introduced for the first time.
The Indian Slavery Act, 1843, also known as Act V of 1843, was passed during the governorship of
Lord Ellen Borough. It outlawed many economic transactions associated with slavery.
Caste Disabilities Removal Act was passed in 1850 during the governorship of Lord Dalhousie. It
abolished all laws affecting the rights of people converting to another religion or caste.
96. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% government-owned entity under the Department of
Posts (DoP), announced the launch of 'Fincluvation' a joint initiative to collaborate with the
Fintech Startup community to co-create and innovate solutions for financial inclusion.
98. In the North Western Provinces of the Bengal Presidency (most of this area is now in Uttar
Pradesh), an Englishman called Holt Mackenzie devised the new system which came into effect in
1822. The revenue under the Mahalwari system was to be revised periodically and not fixed
permanently. Even though Holt Mackenzie devised it in 1822, it was later popularised by Lord
William Bentick in 1833 in Agra and Awadh and extended to Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
99. Warren Hastings, 1st Governor-General of Bengal with tenure of office from 1772-1785, was
an enthusiastic supporter of the Orientalists. Warren Hastings was not in favour of introducing
English laws and English ways in India. His main idea was to rule the 'conquered in their own
way'.
Shankar IAS Modern History Test 11 Date - 9/3/23
2. Gandhi went to Champaran with Rajkumar Shukla early in 1917 accompanied by Rajendra
Prasad, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parekh, and J.B. Kripalani.
Indulal Yajnik assisted Gandhi in Kheda satyagraha.
Anasuya Sarabhai also played a major role in the Kheda satyagraha and was also one of the
first signatories of the ‘Satyagraha Pledge’ created by Gandhi to oppose the Rowlatt Bill.
4. The 'Bharat Mata Mandir’, or Bharat Mata temple, is dedicated to Mother India and was
constructed by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta between 1918 and 1924. It is located in Varanasi, and
was inaugurated by Gandhi in 1936.
Congress Working Committee met at Bardoli in February 1922 and resolved to stop all activity
that led to breaking of the law and to get down to constructive work. It was following the Chauri
Chaura incident.
Kakori Conspiracy, also called Kakori Conspiracy Case or Kakori Train Robbery, was a train robbery
at Kakori, a village near Lucknow, in 1925.
6. The temple at Modhera is the most important of all sun temples built in the whole of Gujarat. It
enjoys the same significance as other two well-known sun temples in Kashmir (Martand) and
Orissa (Konark). Modhera stands 24 km south of Anahitapataka (Patan) on the left bank of the
Pushpavati river. It was constructed during the reign of Chalukya King Bhima I (1022-1063 A.D.) It
has been constructed following the shilpasastra.
13. Hansa mehta was a staunch disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Hansa Mehta served as the Indian
representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission from 1947-1948, and at that
time she played a major role in ensuring that Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) and is credited with changing the phrase “All men are born free and equal’ into All human
beings are born free and equal. She was also a member of the constituent assembly.
14. The Nagpur Satyagraha of 1923 is the Flag Satyagraha, also called the Jhanda Satyagraha.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led it at Nagpur in the year 1923.
The satyagrahis were encouraged to hoist the national flag without resisting arrest or retaliating
against police, even though the British government deployed a heavy police force.
15. “Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2022 report,” is released by World bank.
17. Bal Gangadhar Tilak formed the Congress Democratic Party in 1920 for contesting the
election to fight for attaining Swaraj in the Bombay province. It was the base for the Democratic
Swaraj Party of 1937.
18. Gandhi founded the All-India Village Industries Association in Wardha in 1934.
On 30 September 1932, Gandhi founded the All India Anti Untouchability League to remove
untouchability in the society.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry was established in 1927.
Gandhi's first Ashram in India was established in the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad on 25 May
1915.
19. Mawmluh Cave is one of the most prominent caves in India located near Mawmluh, a small
hamlet in Meghalaya. It is believed to be the fourth longest cave in the Indian subcontinent with
a total length of 7 km of cave passages.
It has been selected by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) of UNESCO as
one of the “First 100 IUGS Geological Sites” in the world. It has structures of karst topography.
20. The Leader was one of India's most influential English-language newspapers during British Raj.
Founded by Madan Mohan Malviya, the paper was published in Allahabad.
The Free Hindustan was published in April 1908 by Tarakanath Das.
Krishna Kumar Mitra founded his Bengali journal "Sanjibani" in 1883.
21. As the Swadeshi movement grew in strength and violence spread, Tagore became
increasingly disillusioned. For Tagore, the view of nationalism and patriotism that the movement
was taking on was too narrow.
22. Satyagraha Sabha of Mahatma Gandhi concentrated mainly on publishing propaganda
literature and collecting signatures on the Satyagraha pledge.
23. Khilafat Committee advocated, for the first time, at the All India Khilafat Conference in Delhi
(22-23 November 1919) noncooperation with the British Government in India. It was at this
conference that Hasrat Mohani made a call for the boycott of British goods.
24. The Global Lighthouse Network is a community of over 100 manufacturers showing
leadership in applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence,
3D printing, and big data analytics.
28. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Bose organized a big labour rally in Calcutta in 1937, where
they urged the workers to unite, organize and join hands with the Congress. And also, Conservative
Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and J. B. Kripalani founded a Hindustan Majdur Sabha in
1938.
30. In 1851, both the Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society merged into the
British Indian Association. British Indian Association was established on October 29, 1851, in
Kolkata, India, with Radhakanta Deb as its first President.
Nawab Abdul Latif founded the Mohammedan Literary Society in 1863 in Kolkata, Bengal
Presidency, British Raj.
National Muhamedan Association was a political organization founded by Syed Ameer Ali in
Calcutta in 1877.
An Indian independence activist, Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty, founded the Madras Native
Association (1849) and the first Indian-owned newspaper, The Crescent.
33. Eka Movement included in its ranks many small zamindars who found themselves
disenchanted with the Government because of its heavy land revenue demand. Led by Madrasi
Pasi, Khwaja Ahmed and others. Kisan Sabha depended only on tenants.
35. The moving spirits behind the Ghadr Party were Lala Hardayal, Ramchandra, Bhagwan
Singh, Kartar Singh Saraba, Barkatullah, and Bhai Parmanand.
39. In April 1916, Bal Gangadhar Tilak set up his Indian Home Rule League. In Belgaum, Tilak
conducted his first Home Rule meeting. His league's headquarters were in Poona. His league was
restricted to Maharashtra (except Bombay), Karnataka, the Central Provinces, and Berar.
The movement brought political awareness to more areas of the country. This movement led to the
Montagu Declaration of 1917. Home Rule League focused on the oppression of colonial policy
through opposition to government policy.
40. Durgabai Deshmukh - People used to call her 'Joan of Arc' because of her courageous and
determined personality. She was prominently associated with institutions, including Andhra
Mahila Sabha, Vishwa Vidyalaya Mahila Sangh, Nari Raksha Samiti, and Nari Niketan. She
was also a member of the steering committee.
45. The strength for the Mappila resistance had first come from the Malabar District Congress
Conference held at Manjeri in April 1920. This conference supported the tenants’ cause and
demanded legislation to regulate landlord-tenant relations.
46. Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon that states that when two particles, such as a pair
of photons or electrons, become entangled (twisted), they remain connected even when
separated by vast distances. Despite their vast separation, change induced in one will affect the
other. Thus, Quantum entanglement behaves as a single unit even when separated.
Entanglement is fragile and easily lost during a photon's transit through the environment.
47. Rabindranath Tagore described nationalism as a bhougalik apadevata, a geographical
demon, towards the exorcism of which he had dedicated his Visva-Bharati.
49. The Deccan riots is the social boycott movement where the peasants found themselves
trapped in a vicious network with the moneylender as the exploiter and the main beneficiary.
This led to growing tension between the peasants and the moneylenders, grain lenders but not
against the Zamindars.
50. Ranipur wildlife sanctuary is located in the Bundelkhand region. Recently Ranipur Tiger
reserve was announced as the Fourth Tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh after Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and
Amangarh.
Phawngpui National Park, or Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park, is a national park in the Mizo
hills of Mizoram.
Durgavati Tiger Reserve is a 2339 square kilometer which will spread over the Narisinghpur,
Damoh, and Sagar districts of Madhya Pradesh.
Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary is located in the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, India. This
spreads over the districts of Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bijnore, and Jyotiba Phule Nagar of Uttar Pradesh.
51. The Salt March (civil disobedience) in 1930 marked the first time women became mass
participants in the struggle for freedom. Women had limited roles in Swadeshi and Non
Cooperation Movement.
The socialist activist Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay had persuaded Gandhiji not to restrict the
protests to men alone.
52. In 1908, Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose threw a bomb at a carriage supposed to be
carrying a particularly sadistic white judge, Kingsford, in Muzaffarpur. Kingsford was not in the
carriage. Unfortunately, two British ladies instead, got killed. Prafulla Chaki shot himself dead,
while Khudiram Bose was tried and hanged. The Ghosh brothers including the Aurobindo ghosh
and Barindra ghosh, were charged with ‘conspiracy’ or ‘waging war against the King’, in the
Alipore conspiracy case.
53. In the year 1899, against labour exploitation, the first strike took place by the Great Indian
Peninsular Railways, and it got widespread support. Tilak's Kesari and Maharatta had been
campaigning for the strike.
Narain Meghajee Lokhanday started the newspaper Deenbandhu and set up the Bombay Mill
and Millhands Association. Sasipada Banerjee started the newspaper Bharat Shramjeebi.
55. Medicinal Fungi Secondary metabolites And Therapeutics (MeFSAT) is a database that
compiles information on 184 medicinal fungi, 1830 secondary metabolites and 149 therapeutics
uses.
58. N.G. Ranga (Gogineni Ranga Nayukulu) set up the India Peasants’ Institute in 1933 in Andhra
province. The All India Kisan Congress/Sabha (AIKS) was founded in Lucknow in April 1936 with
Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and N.G. Ranga as the general secretary.
easants were mobilized mainly by the Congress Socialist Party activists in the Malabar region of
South India. Many “Karshak Sanghams” (peasants’ organizations) came into existence. Tehy
campaigned to amend the Malabar Tenancy Act, 1929.
Kirti Kisan Sabha was the party of the kirtis (workers) and kisans (peasants), fostered and, to
some extent, funded by the Ghadar Party and it was established on 12 April 1928 to organize
small agriculturists and industrial workers and other low-paid urban labour. It was started by Bhai
Santokh Singh.
61. In 1883, Surendranath Banerjee became the first Indian journalist to be imprisoned.
The Indian Press Act of 1908 was legislation promulgated in British India, imposing strict
censorship on all kinds of publications. In this act, the Local government was empowered to
demand security at registration from the printer/publisher and forfeit/deregister if it was an offending
newspaper. The printer of a newspaper was required to submit two copies of each issue to the local
government free of charge.
Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908, was aimed against Extremist nationalist activity,
the Act empowered the magistrates to confiscate press property that published objectionable
material.
63. Lok Adalat - established by NALSA.
64. Ilberts Bill purpose was to enable qualified Indians in the mofussil courts to try Europeans for
criminal offences (Not High Court). It also gave right to Europeans to appeal to the High Court if they
were not satisfied. Ilbert was the law member in Ripon’s cabinet.
66. In the proposed Wavell plan, executive council was not responsible to the Central Assembly.
68. Civil Disobedience Movement - In Bengal, the onset of the monsoon made it difficult to make
salt. It shifted to anti-chowkidara, and anti-Union Board agitation.
71. HAWK, short for 'Homing All the Way Killer,' is an American medium-range surface-to-air
interceptor missile. It would upgrade to the Stinger missile system, a smaller, shorter-range air
defense system. It entered into service during the Vietnam war.
73. In Lucknow pact, Congress accepted separate electorates and the system of weightage
and reservation of seats for minorities in the legislature. Congress accepted the principle of
separate electorates for Muslims.
74. The agrarian conflicts did not assume a communal colour until the 20th century and the
rise of communalism and that too not in most cases, for example in the Pabna agrarian riots of
1873, both Hindu and Muslim tenants fought zamindars together.
75. Community reserves in India are protected area categories that were first introduced in the
Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of
1972.
Areas are designated as conservation areas if these areas are uninhabited and completely
owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by communities, and community
areas if part of the lands are privately owned.
According to the wildlife institute of India, Nagaland has the highest number of Community Reserves
in India which has nearly 114 community Reserves, followed by Meghalaya and Manipur.
79. Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of
Telecommunications (Ministry of Communications), officially launched Telecom Technology
Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme on October 01st, 2022. The scheme is aligned with Prime
Minister’s clarion call to add Jan Anusandhaan to the new Amrit Kaal phase. It aims to fund
research and development in the rural specific technologies.
80. In Japanese, rice fields are called “Ta” or “Tambo.” Tambo Art uses rice fields as a canvas to
create huge design works by planting rice with different colored leaves and grain heads.
82. Congress Socialist Party (CSP) is a left-wing group within Congress that was formed in 1934
under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, and Minoo Masani.
Rajendra Prasad was the President of Congress at the time.
83. Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus) belongs to the family of wild oxen and is the tallest living
and the second heaviest among oxen. Considered the largest living bovine, the body length of a
gaur is usually 250-360 cm, with a height of 170-220 cm. Males may weigh between 1000-1500 kg
and females between 700-1000 kg. It is a protected species and is included in Schedule I of the
Wild Life Protection Act 1972. It is listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) Red List. 85% of the population is present in India (south India; in the Nilgiris)
The Gaur has been extinct on the Sri Lankan island since the end of the 17th century and is
believed to have ranged widely from at least 30,000 years ago. They are found in Burma and
Thailand.
89. Nation in Making book was written by Surendarnath Banerjee. Another book written by him
includes The Trumpet Voice of India.
Hind Swaraj (1909) is the only book Gandhi wrote in Gujarati.
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose wrote the Indian Struggle. An Indian Pilgrim is another book
authored by Subash Chandra bose.
90. Pokkali is a heritage heirloom rice crop cultivated in the coastal regions of Kerala, including
Ezhikkara, and Ernakulam, and supported by Palliyakal Cooperative Service Bank (PCSB).
Pokkali is a unique saline tolerant rice variety grown in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kannur
and Kottayam districts of Kerala.
Pokkali rice has all the desired qualities, including nutritional values. It was rated among the best
in terms of fiber and protein content, antioxidants with the benefits of vitamin E, and minerals
such as iron, boron and sulphur. It had the lowest carbohydrate content making it most suitable for
persons with diabetes, or those advised a low-sugar diet.
91. The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is a non-lapsable fund designed to support
various innovation initiatives, which can also be explored in this regard. Universal Access Levy is
first credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and then disbursed to the USOF as per the
budgetary proposal of the Department of Telecommunications.
93. Recently India hosted the UNSC-CTC meeting for the first time (2022), which discusses the
use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. UNSC - Counter Terrorism
Committee was established after the 9/11 attacks. It consists of the 15 security council members.
Integrating gender into counter-terrorism is one of the focus areas of CTC.
95. Main tributaries of the Mahanadi are the Seonath, the Jonk, the Hasdeo, the Mand, the ib, the
Ong, and the Tel.
96. Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally made by the body, and its production is closely tied to
light. In response to darkness, the pineal gland in the brain initiates the production of
Melatonin, and it helps to sleep, but light exposure slows or halts Melatonin production, which
affects sleep.
Exposure to blue light reduces level of melatonin the body.
98. Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the servants of India Society in 1905 to unite and train
Indians of different ethnicities and religions in welfare work. M.C. Setalvad, B.N. Rao and Alladi
Krishnaswamy Iyer were some of the recognized members of this society.
99. Children are exposed to lead in-utero through the exposure of mothers.
The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance) is a voluntary partnership formed
by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
to prevent exposure to lead by promoting the phase-out of paints containing lead.
100. China launched the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), nicknamed
Kuafu-1 in Chinese. The observatory has been placed in an orbit about 720 kilometers above the
planet, higher than the orbit of the International Space Station.
Vision IAS CSP23ET01 Polity Test
3. Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has recently released the ‘India State
of Forest Report 2021’. It is published biennially by MOEFCC which is prepared by the Forest
Survey of India (FSI). As per the reported increase of 2,261 sq km in the total forest and tree
cover of the country in the last two years as compared to the assessment of 2019. Maximum
increase in forest cover witnessed in Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km) followed by Telangana (632 sq
km) and Odisha (537 sq km).
6. The Indian constitution is also flexible unlike the case of a true federation where it will be rigid.
This is a centralizing tendency as states boundaries can be altered by the center.
10. Democracy may lead to corruption for it is based on electoral competition due to more
expenditure in elections, criminalisation of politics, etc.
12. Supreme Court in 1992 stated that Fundamental duties can be used in determining the
constitutionality of any law.
14. Champakam Dorairajan Case, 1951 - In this case, Supreme Court ruled that in case of any
conflict between FRs and DPSPs, FRs would prevail.
Golak Nath case, 1967 - In this case, Supreme Court held that Parliament can’t take away or
abridge any of the Fundamental Rights, which are ‘sacrosanct’ in nature.
Kesavanand Bharti case, 1973 - In this case, Supreme Court declared the second provision of
Article 31C as unconstitutional and invalid on the ground that judicial review is a basic feature of the
Constitution. This led to the enactment of the 42nd Amendment Act which gave legal primacy
and supremacy to the DPSPs over FRs conferred by Articles 14, 19, and 21.
Minerva Mills case, 1980 - In this case, Supreme Court held the primacy of DPSPs over FRs as
unconstitutional and invalid. It led to the subordination of DPSPs over FRs. However, FRs conferred
by Articles 14 and 19 were accepted as subordinate to the DPSPs specified under Article
39(b) and (c).
16. Recently, a giant fish-breeding colony has been discovered in the Weddell Sea of the
Antarctica region.
18. The purpose of Article 32 is to provide a guaranteed, effective, expeditious, inexpensive
and summary remedy for the protection of the fundamental rights. Only the Fundamental Rights
guaranteed by the Constitution can be enforced under Article 32.
20. Freedom of Silence and Right to telecast are guaranteed under Article 19.
21. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been designated as
the agency to monitor provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.
22. Student learning assessment (PARAKH) will conduct assessment of students and faculty
members of higher education institutes and schools. It is launched by the All India Council for
Technological Education (AICTE). AICTE is the statutory body and national level apex advisory
body to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education.
23. Indian liberalism is different from classical or western liberalism. Classical liberalism is
more concerned with individual freedom. While in India, an individual identifies himself with the
community to which he/she belongs.
25. World Employment and Social Outlook report 2022 was published by International Labour
Organisation (ILO).
26. The conditions of service and tenure of office of the election commissioners and the regional
commissioners shall be determined by the President. Under Article 324 of the Constitution of
India, the Election Commission of India is vested with the power of superintendence, direction, and
control of conducting the elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
30. A Padma awardee can be given a higher award only after five years of the conferment of the
earlier award. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes
Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons as members.
There is no provision for seeking a written or formal consent of the recipient before the
announcement of the award.
34. The Finance Commission consists of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by
the President. They hold office for such period as specified by the President in his order. They
are eligible for reappointment.
35. Every Scheduled bank enjoys two types of principal facilities: It becomes eligible for
debts/loans at the bank rate from the RBI; it automatically acquires the membership of a
clearinghouse.
Payment banks can accept deposits maximum upto 2,00,000 per person.
41. If any foreign territory becomes a part of India, the Government of India specifies the persons
who among the people of the territory shall be the citizens of India.
47. The Supreme Court has held that a religious denomination must satisfy three conditions: It
should be a collection of individuals who have a system of beliefs (doctrines), which they regard
as conducive to their spiritual well-being, It should have a common organization, It should be
designated by a distinctive name.
55. Martial law has not been defined anywhere in the Constitution. It is implicit. Also, there is no
specific or express provision in the Constitution that authorizes the executive to declare Martial Law.
However, Article 34 provides for the restrictions on fundamental rights while Martial Law is in
force in any area. Both National Emergency and Martial Law can be imposed in a part/whole of the
country.
57. Indian Councils Act of 1861 empowered Viceroys to issue ordinances without the
concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency. The life of such an ordinance was 6
months. It made a beginning of representative institutions by associating Indians with the
law-making process. It thus provided that the viceroy should nominate some Indians as
non-official members of his expanded council.
59. Parliamentary form of government defines the governing mechanism of a state. Division of
powers is nothing to do with the parliamentary form of government.
62. Bhungloti is a creeper (plants that grows close to ground and have horizontal growth) that in
combination with the pith of the roots of a jackfruit tree yields a saffron dye. It is traditionally used
in giving colour to the robes of the Buddhist monks.
67. Joint Public Service Commission (JPSC) - JPSC can be created by an act of Parliament on the
request of the state legislatures concerned. The chairman and members of a JSPSC are
appointed by the president. They hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of
62 years. : A JPSC presents its annual performance report to each of the concerned state
governors. Each governor places the report before the state legislature.
71.Transformation of the political system from federal (during normal times) to unitary (during an
emergency) is not borrowed from any Constitution of the world.
73. Eligibility conditions for Advocate General does not include minimum age limits. He must be a
person who is qualified to be appointed a judge of a high court. The remuneration of the
Advocate General is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such remuneration as the Governor
may determine.
79. Magnetars are a type of isolated neutron stars that possess the most intense magnetic fields.
They experience violent eruptions or intense bursts in the form of transient X-ray pulses which are
several orders higher than that of the Sun. Even inactive magnetars can be thousands of times
more luminous than the Sun. It is a type of slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted
to exist theoretically. The emission is highly linearly polarized, bright, persists for 30–60 s on each
occurrence and is visible across a broad frequency range.
82. Takht is a Persian word that means imperial throne. Takht (Throne) is a seat of temporal
authority for Sikhs. The Sikh Takhts issue hukamnama from time to time on issues related to the
Sikh community. At present Sikhs recognize five places as takhts. Three are in Punjab —Akal Takht
(Amritsar); Takht Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib); Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) —
and the other two are Takht Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Takht Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra).
The three takhts in Punjab are directly controlled by the SGPC, which appoints the jathedars for
these. The two takhts outside Punjab have their own trusts and boards. There is no fixed tenure.
84. The remuneration of the Attorney General is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such
remuneration as the President may determine.
91. Sri Ramanujacharya - Born in 1017 CE in Tamil Nadu; He is the most respected Acharya in
the philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism; He was also referred to as Ilaya Perumal which means the
radiant one; His philosophical foundations for devotionals were influential to the Bhakti
movement; He is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vedānta; He
wrote influential texts, such as bhāsya on the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, all in Sanskrit.
Vishishtadvaita - It is a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy. It is non-dualism of the
qualified whole, in which Brahman alone exists, but is characterized by multiplicity. It can be
described as qualified monism or qualified non-dualism or attributive monism.
95. Directive Principles of state policy cannot act as constraints/limitations on the
government because they are not enforceable and they are fundamental to the governance of a
country.
97. It would be the duty of the Special Officer (Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities) to
investigate all matters only relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under
the Constitution.
98. The Criminal Procedure Code (1973) separated the judiciary from the executive in the public
services of the state. Thus, the judicial powers vested with the district authorities like Collectors,
Tehsildars etc was taken away. It is aimed to implement Article 50 which explicitly calls for the
separation of judiciary and the executive.
Forum IAS Open Test 12/3/23
2. Establishment of major hydroelectric projects has been absolutely prohibited in such areas.
This is due to the scale of these projects and potential threats to biodiversity. Hence, such projects
are not allowed in ESZs.
Establishing hotels and resorts do not fall under the prohibited activity. Rather this is a regulated
activity. In other words, if a proposal to establish a hotel or a resort complies with the approved
master plan, it shall be allowed. Even fencing of premises of hotels and lodges is a regulated
activity.
3. The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary co-operation. Formed in
1952, it has 87 members from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands,
Greenland and 'land. Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden were the founding members of the
Nordic Council.
4. Scheduled banks are those banks which are included in the Schedule II of RBI Act, 1934.
Scheduled banks carry out the normal business of banking activities such as accepting deposits,
giving loans and other banking services.
5. In V formation each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, resulting in a reduction of
wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired.
6. Global carbon project is formed to work with the international science community to
establish a common and mutually agreed knowledge base to support policy debate and action to
slow down and ultimately stop the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It was
established in 2001 by a shared partnership between the International Geosphere-Biosphere
Programme (IGBP), the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global
Environmental Change (IHDP), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Global
carbon project include global budgets for three dominant greenhouse gases - CO2, methane, and
nitrous oxide and not all green house gases. It is a Global Research Project of Future Earth and
a research partner of the World Climate Research Programme. Global carbon project
established the Global Carbon Atlas.
9. The Yaya Tso Lake is in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It has recently been proposed as the
Ladakh's first Biodiversity Heritage Site. It is a high altitude lake. It is also known as birds'
paradise.
Kole wetlands are spread over Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala, extending from the
northern bank of Chalakudy river in the south to the southern bank of the Bharathapuzha in
the north. Due to its high biodiversity, the area has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by
the Birdlife International.
Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the periphery of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
11. United Nations Ocean Conference, 2022 was held to ensure global cooperation towards
protection and sustenance of the Ocean ecosystem of the world. It was held to support the
implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) (Life Below Water), and has been
recently held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Lisbon declaration deals with ocean conservation and not the land conservation. It aims to
follow science-based and innovative actions on an urgent basis for the conservation of oceans.
The Lisbon Declaration has been unanimously adopted by all the 198 members of the United
Nations.
SDG 14 deals with the 'life below water' whereas SDG 15 deals with the 'life on land'.
14. Instead of free trade, the trade in species listed under Appendix-II of the CITES is strictly
controlled. Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between
them, only by the Conference of the Parties. No such unilateral action can be taken. No import
permit is necessary for the species listed under Appendix-II of the CITES. The CITES
framework does not provide for any such condition.
15. The word 'dadani' means advance. Under this system, the East India Company used to engage
local merchants to procure goods from market on its behalf. They were called dadni-merchants,
because they received advances from the company for delivering goods under stipulated terms.
They used these advances to pay to the local manufacturers for delivery of the goods. The dadni
merchant did the job for a fixed commission. Dadni system was abolished in 1753.
16. The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) was launched during COP 27 of UNFCCC.
The MARS has been launched by the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) of
the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
18. A motion for removal of Judge does not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha. The
supreme court in Sub-committee on judicial accountability vs Union of India has held that as per
article 124 and Judges enquiry act, 1968 the motion for removal of judge of supreme court does
not lapse after dissolution of Lok Sabha . All pending assurances that are to be examined by the
Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
19. In the process of nitrification, ammonia (and NOT free nitrogen) is converted into first
nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonification is the process that converts organic matter into
ammonium. Anammox is the process of converting ammonia into nitrites (nitrification) under
anaerobic conditions.
20. The Purple frog is endemic to western ghats and mainly found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Indian Black Honeybee (Apis karinjodian) has been recently discovered from the western ghats
and this species is endemic to this region.
Lion-Tailed Macaque is endemic to the western ghats and one of the smallest among macaque
species.
Namdapha Flying Squirrel is endemic to the Arunachal Pradesh. It is mostly restricted to the
Namdapha National Park, catchment area of Dihing River.
Jerdon's Courser is endemic to the eastern ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
Striped coral snake, also known as black coral snake, is endemic to western ghats.
21. The Karkotas established their rule in the Kashmir region during the early 7th century.
Durlabha Vardhana is considered as the founder of this dynasty. Karkota rulers were Hindus, but
they also patronized Buddhism.
Parihaspura town is situated near the Baramula district. It was established by the Karkota ruler
Lalityaditya Muktapida.
Liladitya Muktapida built the famous Martand Sun Temple.
Rajtarangini means the 'The River of Kings' and it deals particularly with the kings of the Kashmir.
It was written in Sanskrit by Kalhana in 12th Century CE. Apart from other kings, the book gives a
detailed account of the Karkota dynasty and its rulers.
Hieun Tsang was a Chinese pilgrim and he writes a detailed account of Kashmir. He visited
Kashmir during the reign of Durlabh Vardhana (598-634 CE) of the Karkota dynasty.
22. Mosses can survive in harsh conditions such as the Arctic region because they don't need
soil to grow and even can grow on rocks. Moss doesn't have roots, rather it has rhizoids.
Rhizoids and their shallow nature enable mosses to attach itself to rock surfaces, where it can
then suck or absorb the moisture that runs over the rock.
24. Deep hydrothermal vents are located in areas with high tectonic activity, including the edges
of tectonic plates, undersea mountain ranges and seamounts, and mid-ocean ridges. The water
escaping from deep hydrothermal vents may be clear and have low concentrations of minerals
or it may be white or black and be characterized by high concentrations of minerals. It is
characterized by extreme temperatures, pressures, toxic minerals and lack of sunlight.
Species at these environments live in commensalism or mutualism with chemosynthetic
microbes or bacteria. A variety of life form exist in these deep hydrothermal vent ecosystems which
include deep-sea mussels, giant tube worms, yeti crabs, and many other invertebrates and
fishes apart from chemotrophic bacteria. The deep-sea environment where these vents occur is
completely dark, and photosynthesis is impossible.
25. During the Chola period, Vetti was a tax, taken in the form of forced labor instead of cash. The
land revenue was known as kadamai.
Pallichchhandam was the land donated by the Chola rulers to the Jaina institutions. The lands
gifted to Brahmanas were known as Brahmadeya. Due to Brahmadeyas, large number of
Brahmana settlements emerged in the Kavery valley.
Every village was a self-governing unit. The village council and the Nadu had several
administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes.
Sabha was an assembly of prominent Brahmana landlords to look after Brahmadeyas.
Uttarmerur inscription in Chingleput district provides the details of working of a sabha.
According to this, a member of sabha must have knowledge of the Vedas.
26. Jamdani is a textile craft that involves the weaving of very fine muslin cottons. It has many
famous centres such as Varanasi (Awadhi Jamdani), Dacca (now in Bangladesh).
Ilkal is a textile weave from Karnataka. But it is not embroidery.
Himroo is a traditional brocade with a cotton base and patterned with silk. Its most famous
centre is Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
The Lambadi (also known as the Banjara) embroidery is a traditional embroidery practised by the
nomadic communities that settled down in Karnataka at the time of decline of the Mughal Empire.
31. Bharat Pravah is a platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to develop a
comprehensive vision for shipping, rivers, seas, and the people who rely on them. The Bharat
Pravah Conference highlights the significance and imagery of rivers-ports-shipping in everyday life.
It is organized as a series of regional, national, and international events (dialogues/conferences) with
participation from intellectuals, influencers, and practitioners of the society.
32. First Loss Default Guarantee system (FLDG) is a financial arrangement between the
financial institutions and third parties. In FLDG system, third parties compensate the financial
institutions to a certain extent if the borrower defaults.
First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) is a financial arrangement between third parties and
financial institutions such as Scheduled commercial banks, Non-Banking Financial companies etc.
In FLDG, third parties compensate up to a certain percentage of default in a loan provided by
the regulated entities. Hence FLDG provides protection to both SCBs and NBFCs from uncertainties
regarding their loan activities.
Third parties engaged by financial institutions are not allowed to collect fee or charge directly
from the borrowers, instead financial institutions will pay the third parties.
33. Income earned/lost due to India's investment in foreign countries/ foreign countries
investment in India belong to the capital account of balance of payment.
34. Friendshoring or allyshoring refers to relocating supply-chains to the countries where the
risk of disruption from political chaos is low. It also implies manufacturing and sourcing
components and raw materials within a group of countries that share common values and
common interests (so as to avoid political tussles). This is expected to securely extend market
access and will lower the risks of the economic shocks to the countries involved.
36. Abyei region is located along the ill-defined border between Sudan and South Sudan.
Abyei's rich oil reserves make the region economically desirable to both Sudan and South Sudan
and currently it is an area in dispute between Sudan and South Sudan.
Dadaab is a semi-arid town in Kenya and is the World's biggest refugee camp hosting more than
4,63,000 refugees (Mostly from Somalia).
37. The 'Agni Prime' is a two-stage canisterised solid-propellant missile with dual redundant
navigation and guidance system. The nuclear-capable missile has been designed and developed by
the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Agni Prime missile, the smallest and lightest among the entire Agni series of ballistic missiles.
It weighs 50 per cent less than the Agni 3 missile and has new guidance and propulsion systems.
With multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, the missile is capable of delivering a
number of warheads at separate locations at a distance of 1,000 - 2,000 km.
39. Medaram Jatara is the largest tribal festival of India in terms of footfall of pilgrims and also in
general the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest
Tribal Community of Telangana- the Koya tribe for four days. Also, as the largest tribal fair in Asia,
Medaram Jathara is conducted in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma.
Medaram Jatra is a biennial event. This means that it is celebrated once in two years.
43. The Easterly jet streams are held responsible for the burst of monsoon in India as formation
of these streams results in the reversal of upper air circulation patterns from high pressure to
low pressure.
44. Kuta, Vritta and Gaja-Pristha are the subdivisions of Dravidian temples.
45. Padubidri beach has been accorded 'Blue Flag' tag by Foundation for Environment Education
(FEE) for having grey water treatment plants, solid waste management plants, disabled-friendly
equipment to enable them to enter seawater, clean drinking water, bathing facility, disabled-friendly
and general toilets, solar power plant, solar lighting. It is situated in Karnataka and is famous for
Dakkebali ritual held once in two years.
46. River Kunthi flows through Silent Valley National Park. River Kunthi descending from the
Nilgiri hills flows about 25 km through this valley.
Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary is a protected area in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. River
Thamirabarani flows through this sanctuary.
Kuno National Park is a national park in the Sheopur district of MP established in 1981 as a wildlife
sanctuary. Kuno river which is tributary of Chambal River flows through this park.
47. : Sankaradeva introduced the monastic institution called a Satra which means a sitting during
which people of all classes assembled for religious as well as social purposes. Later the
Satras grew into full-fledged monasteries. It was here that Sankaradeva introduced the form of
dance drama called Sattriya which is recognised as one of the classical dance forms of India. He
used it to popularise and preach his ideas among the common people. Sankardeva denounced the
caste system. Most prominent Bhakti saint of WB was Chaitanya mahaprabhu.
49. Latin meaning the word Ex parte is "for one party," it refers to the motions, hearings or orders
granted on the request of and for the benefit of one party only.
50. Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 - FAO has brought out this
comprehensive assessment every five years since 1990. This report assesses the state of
forests, their conditions and management for all member countries.
India has ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last
decade.
During the decade under assessment, India reported 0.38 per cent annual gain in forest, or
266,000 ha of forest increase every year at an average. The forest area managed by local, tribal
and indigenous communities in India increased from zero in 1990 to about 25 million ha in 2015.
This has been credited to the government's Joint Forest Management programme.
India reported the maximum employment in the forestry sector in the world. ~ 12.5 million
people.
51. Tahiti is the highest and largest island located in French Polynesia which in turn is located in
the central part of the Pacific Ocean. Recently, scientists have discovered a pristine coral reef off
the coast of Tahiti that stretches almost two miles long and appears untouched by climate change
or human activities.
The Rainbow Reef is a reef in the Somosomo Strait between the Fijian islands of Taveuni and
Vanua Levu. It is one of the most famous dive sites in the South Pacific. The patch reef and marine
ecosystem of the reef contribute to its national significance as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy
and Action Plan.
Raja Ampat, is an archipelago located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of
New Guinea, in Indonesia.
53. Third of all the glaciers will be gone by 2100. It can lead to :
According to the Scientists, rise in the sea level due to glacier melting will have a positive impact on
some coral reefs.
Melting of glaciers increases the rate of ocean acidification. When glacial melt enters the ocean
waters, it reduces the salinity of the sea. This facilitates the uptake of atmospheric Carbon
dioxide (CO2) by the surface waters which in turn will cause a decrease in pH.
54. Dandin is a writer of prose romances and a poet who lived in India. He primarily wrote in the
Sanskrit language. In Sanskrit, the Kavyadarsa is the earliest systematic treatment of poetics
written by him. He has also written Dashakumaracharita which tells the story of ten princes who go
through ups and downs in their quest for love and royal power.
57. DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihhod Mission) would provide
Revolving Fund (RF) support to those SHGs which exists for a minimum period of 3 months and
follow the norms of Panchasutra.
Mandatory expenditure on Agriculture and allied activities is not a component of DAY-NRLM,
instead it is a part of MGNREGA act.
DAY-NRLM supports development of skills for rural youth and their placement, training and
self-employment through rural self-employment institutes (RSETIs).
DAY-NRLM has no provision that mandates it to provide mandatory work for women belonging
to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
Under DAY-NRLM, Participatory social assessment would be organised to identify and rank all
households according to their vulnerability.
58. Matters such as matrimonial/family disputes, land acquisition cases, labour disputes,
workmen's compensation cases, bank recovery cases, etc. are being taken up in Lok Adalats.
59. The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for the Question Hour. During this,
Members of Parliament ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of
their ministries. The questions can also be asked to the private member.
Question hour does not take place on budget day and day on which the President's address takes
place.
62. The concept of 'equality before law (EBL)' is of British origin. It means that no person whether
rich or poor, low or high, official or non-official is above law and all person are to be treated equally
and subject to same type of court interference, irrespective of their rank/position. The concept of
'equal protection of laws (EPL)' has been taken from the American Constitution. It means that
among equals the law should be equal and equally administered.
EBL is somewhat negative in concept. EPL is a positive concept.
63. Residents of Sikkim have been exempted from paying income tax, making it unique in the
country. While every taxpayer in India is mandated to file their income tax returns annually, Sikkim
has its own tax laws, which were set up in 1948, and it has been following these laws since 1975.
These laws exempt all residents of the state from paying taxes to the Central government.
64. Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties, are
high in demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan, for use in cosmetics and medicinal
products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical instruments. Red sanders is also
capable of fighting eye diseases, inducing vomiting and giving relief from mental issues. They are
endemic to the Andhra Pradesh in the Eastern Ghats.
66. Xenotransplantation research could help develop new therapies and treatments for a range
of diseases and conditions. This could include developing new drugs or therapies to prevent
transplant rejection, or even developing new treatments for diseases that are currently incurable.
Xenotransplantation faces a major challenge in overcoming transplant rejection, which occurs
when the immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue as foreign and attacks it.
Xenotransplantation is a complex and expensive process that requires extensive research,
specialized equipment, and skilled medical professionals.
69. The Manimahesh Kailash Peak is located at the Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas. The Peak is
also known as Chamba Kailash. This is considered as sacred site of Hindus believed to be the
abode of Lord Shiva. The Peak is located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
The Indrasan peak is also located at the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. It is in the Kullu district of
Himachal Pradesh.
Kamet peak lies in the Garhwal Ranges of Himalayas. It is located in the Chamoli district of
Uttarakhand. The peak is the second highest peak of the state of Uttarakhand (Nanda Devi peak is
the highest peak in Uttarakhand). It is surrounded by many glaciers.
70. By adding salt to a mixture, the freezing point of the mixture is actually decreased, not
increased. This is due to the phenomenon of freezing point depression.
74. A pairing between any pair of planets is a conjunction. Jupiter and Saturn are the two
largest planets visible to the naked eye, hence the pairing between them is called as 'Great
Conjunction'. In this event, planets appear extremely close to each other, making them look like
one bright dot in the sky.
76. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels are positively related to rainfall and increased biomass
production. Highest SOC levels (and variability) occur in areas of higher rainfall that support
increased biomass production, and on soils that are unconstrained by water availability.
Global indicators of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) - Land cover, Land productivity, Soil carbon
Stock. Globally, the largest SOC stocks are located in hot-spots such as wetlands and
peatlands, most of which occur in regions of permafrost and in the tropics.
77. The ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, 2023 is to be held in Australia and
New-Zealand. The FIFA Women's World cup is held Quadrennially.
78. Gothenburg Protocol aims to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete Ozone has been adopted by the parties to the
Vienna Convention. It regulates nearly hundred man-made chemicals which are considered as
ozone depleting substances.
79. 'International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA)' - IDRA was first announced by the
Spain at the 77th session of UN General Assembly. However, the initiative has been officially
launched during the Conference of Parties (COP) 27 of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC). India is NOT a member of this alliance. This was an initiative of the
governments of the Spain and the Senegal, who are also the co-chairs. UN entities, international
organizations, scientific institutions, development banks, non-state actors, civil society organizations
etc. can also join this initiative.
80. The scientists on Nekton Maldives Mission have discovered a new ecosystem, which has been
described as the 'trapping zone'. It was described as an 'oasis of oceanic life' 500 meters below the
surface. It is an area where the small organisms are trapped against the subsea landscapes.
83. Odissi is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Odisha. It is
included in the classical dance forms in India as recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the
Ministry of Culture. Sensuous and lyrical, Odissi is a dance of love and passion touching on the
divine and the human, the sublime and the mundane. The Natya Shastra mentions many regional
varieties, such as the south-eastern style known as the Odhra Magadha which can be identified
as the earliest precursor of present day Odissi. Archaeological evidence of this dance is found
in the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri near Bhubaneshwar. These caves date back to the 2nd
century B.C.
The tribhanga posture, i.e. the three-bended form of the body is innate to Odissi dance form.
Also, the 'Chowk' posture with hands spread out depicts masculinity.
84. Bhatukali are miniature versions of kitchen sets. Utensils and other household items were
scaled down to the greatest detail and were made from copper and brass. Though Bhatukali
existed in some form across the country, it was more predominant in Maharashtra. Bhatukali is
mentioned in the 'Dnyaneshwari' written by the 12th century Marathi saint-poet Dnyaneshwar.
85. Mullah do Piaza acted as the minister of Home Affairs in Akbar's court. Fakir Aziao-din acted
was a sufi mystic and advisor in Akbar's court. Shaikh Abu al-Fazal ibn Mubarak was also known
as Abu'l-Fazl, Abu'l Fadl and Abu'l-Fadl 'Allami. He was the author of Akbarnama and Ain-I-Akbari.
Faizi was a poet laureate and Abul Fazal's brother. Raja Todar Mal was the Finance Minister of
the Mughal empire during Akbar's reign and was one of the Navaratnas in Akbar's court.
Abdul Rahim Khan-i- Khana was a poet and one of the most important dewans of Akbar's court.
Known for his Urdu couplets and his Sanskrit books on astrology like Khetakautukam and
Dwatrimshadyogavali, the village of Khan Khana, in the Nawanshahr district of Punjab is named
after him. He was the son of Bairam Khan, Akbar's trusted guardian and mentor.
86. General Sir John Craddock, Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army ordered a new round
hat be worn by the Indian soldiers, which was rumoured to be made from cow and pig skins.
This act hurted the religious sentiment of Hindus (who regard cows as holy animals) and Muslims
(who regard pigs as social taboo). The British came down heavily on those who protested against
this and this led to Vellore mutiny.
87. Vaishnavites, through Byanjana Dwadashi festival, commemorate an episode of the
Mahabharata where Yashoda observes that her son Krishna is pale and weak. She realises that
this is because of lack of proper nutrition at a time when Krishna has devoted all his energy in
fighting demons.
88. Karakattam is a form of folk dance performed at festivals, conferences, roadshows and
primarily at Mariamman (rain goddess) festivals. It is mostly famous in Tamil Nadu but it's performed
in different parts of Kerala.
Mamita dance is performed on Mamita festival, which is harvest festival of Tripuri People. The
harvesting season of Tripuri people is in the month of October & November and held during the time
of Durgapuja or Osa Mutai.
Gotipua dance is widely regarded as the precursor to Odissi dance. In this dance form young
boys are dressed as feminine characters and perform acrobatic moves.
89. Buranji is a type of historical chronicle or narrative that originated in the Assam region of
northeast India. It typically consists of a collection of anecdotes, legends, and historical accounts
about the region, its people, and its rulers. Buranji is written in the Assamese language and often
includes genealogies, accounts of battles and wars, and descriptions of social and cultural practices.
91. Khayal is a major form of Hindustani classical music. It includes various musical materials
(raga, tala and bandish) that can be employed, the selection of different types of improvisation
(quality of classical Hindustani music), and the placement of various materials in order to produce a
balanced and pleasing performance.
Sugam sangeet is a genre of devotional music which brings classical and folk together.
In Tappa style of music rhythm plays a very important role. It is believed to be developed
from the folk songs of camel riders of North-West India.
Thumri is based on mixed ragas and is commonly considered to be semi-classical Indian
music. The compositions are either romantic or devotional in nature.
92. The title Vidyasagar (Vidya means knowledge and Sagar means Ocean) literally means Ocean
of Knowledge. This title was given to Ishwar Chandra Vidaysagar by the Sanskrit College in
Calcutta. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagr's association with Bethune school was that he acted as
secretary of Bethune School.
95. 'Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture' - The initiative has been launched by United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during COP 23 held at Bonn, Germany.
During the recently held COP 27 at Sharm-el-Sheikh, it was decided to extend this initiative for a
further period of four years. The joint work includes implementation of the outcomes of the
Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and previous activities addressing issues related to the
agriculture.
India has raised strong objections as the initiative during Conference of Parties (COP) 27 of
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sought to expand efforts to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the agriculture sector.
96. The Small Grants Programme (SGP) was launched during the Rio Earth Summit held in
1992. The SGP receives support from the governments, donors, civil society and others. Since
inception, SGP has granted funds for more than 26,000 projects across the globe. SGP supports
conservation and sustainable management activities across multiple areas, including land
degradation. SGP finances community led initiatives through a decentralized mechanism. It
grants funds directly to the local communities including indigenous people, women, community led
organizations.
98. Base editing technology can be used to engineer bacteria to produce specific chemicals
or proteins, such as insulin or antibiotics.
99. Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, also known
as Treaty of Tlatelolco, was opened for signature on 14 February 1967 in Mexico City. Its zone of
application includes areas of the high seas and the national territories of the 33 countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean.
Treaty of Rarotonga, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, opened for signature on 6
August 1985 and entered into force on 11 December 1986. The geographic scope of the Rarotonga
Treaty is vast, extending from the West coast of Australia to the boundary of the Latin
American NWFZ in the east.
Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, also known as the SEANWFZ Treaty or
Bangkok Treaty, was signed on 15 December 1995 by ten Southeast Asian States.
African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, also known as the 'Pelindaba Treaty', established the
nuclear-weapon-free zone on the African continent.