Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System
1. ICJS is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for the delivery of Criminal Justice in the country.
2. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be responsible for the implementation of the project in association with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
3. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the States and Union Territories.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Ans. 1 Option C is correct Explanation
• ICJS is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for the delivery of Criminal Justice in the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The ICJS system would be made available through a dedicated and secure cloud-based infrastructure with high-speed connectivity.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be responsible for the implementation of the
project in association with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The project will be implemented in collaboration with the States and Union Territories. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
1. Its objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology
2. India, Israel, and Pakistan and North korea have never accepted the treaty
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. 2 Option A is the correct Explanation
• It is commonly known as the Non- Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Objective: to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete
disarmament
• Four UN member states have never accepted the NPT
• Three of which possess or are thought to possess nuclear weapons: India, Israel, and Pakistan. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• In addition, South Sudan, founded in 2011, has not joined.
Q3. A legislation that confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of the application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
A. Article 14
B. Article 28
C. Article 32
D. Article 44
Ans. 3 Option A is the correct Explanation
• Violation of Article 14
• When legislation confers unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power on the executive or administrative authority in the application of the law, it violates Article 14 of the Constitution. Hence, option A is correct.
Q4. Consider the following statements about International Space Station (ISS)
1. The space station flies at an average altitude of 400 kilometers above Earth.
2. It circles the globe every 90 min. at a speed of about 28,000 kph.
3. In one day, the station travels about the distance it would take to go from Earth to the moon and back.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Ans. 4 Option C is the correct Explanation
• The ISS is the most complex international scientific and engineering project in history and the largest structure humans have ever put into space.
• As a permanently occupied outpost in outer space, it serves as a stepping stone for further space exploration.
• The space station flies at an average altitude of 400 kilometers above Earth. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It circles the globe every 90 min. at a speed of about 28,000 kph. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• In one day, the station travels about the distance it would take to go from Earth to the moon and back. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The space station can rival the brilliant planet Venus in brightness and appears as a bright moving light across the night sky.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
1. NIIF currently manages three funds Master Fund, Fund Of Funds, and Strategic Fund.
2. The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. 5 Option C is the correct Explanation
• NIIF is an investor-owned fund manager, anchored by the Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with leading global and domestic institutional investors.
• The Indian government has a 49 % stake in NIIF with the rest held by marquee foreign and domestic investors.
• NIIF was set up as an alternative investment fund (AIF) in 2015 with a planned corpus of ₹40,000 crore.
• NIIF currently manages three funds each with its distinctive investment mandate namely Master fund, Fund Of Funds, and Strategic Fund. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Q6. Which of the following describes the term “endemic species”?
A. Species that are found in multiple regions around the world.
B. Species that are native and restricted to a specific geographic area or region.
C. Species that have recently become extinct.
D. Species that have been artificially created through genetic engineering
Ans. 6 Option B is correct Explanation
• An endemic species is a species that is restricted geographically to a particular area. Hence, Option B is correct.
• Endemism is not to be confused with indigenous, a term that refers to the origins of a species.
Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to Platypus.
1. It is the only species of mammal that lays eggs.
2. It is indigenous to the eastern coast of Australia.
3. They have electroreceptors in their bills to help them find food in rivers and streams.
4. They are classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. Only three
D. All four
Ans. 7 Option B is correct Explanation
• Platypus is a duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying mammal.
• They’re one of only five species of mammals that lay eggs – the other four are echidnas. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Habitat: In waterways throughout the east coast of Australia, from Cooktown in northern Queensland to Tasmania. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• They are solitary animals that, despite occupying overlapping home ranges, only come together during the breeding season.
• They are nocturnal hunters.
• They have electroreceptors in their bills to help them find food in rivers and streams. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
Q8. Haploclastus nilgirinus, seen in the news recently, is endemic to which of the following regions?
A. Western Ghats
B. The Himalayas
C. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
D. Semi-arid areas of North-West India
Ans. 8 Option A is the correct Explanation
• Haploclastus nilgirinus is an elusive Nilgiri large burrowing spider and a venomous species of tarantula, which is rarely seen.
• It is endemic to the Nilgiris hills of Western Ghats, it is highly sought-after in the pet trade. Hence, Option A is correct
• It shows sexual dimorphism, the males are much smaller than the females.
• It is threatened by the illegal trade in wildlife, habitat loss, and climate change.
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
1. It is formulated under the Ministry of Finance.
2. The scheme is mandatory for the loanee farmers.
3. It aims to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
How many of the statements given above is/are not correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Ans. 9 Option B is correct Explanation
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched in 2016, is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• It replaced the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).
• Farmers including sharecroppers and tenant farmers growing notified crops in the notified areas are eligible for coverage.
• It aims to provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The scheme was once mandatory for loanee farmers, but in 2020, the Centre changed it to make it optional for all farmers. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The Centre decided in February 2020 to limit its premium subsidy to 30% for unirrigated areas and 25% for irrigated ones.
• Previously, the central subsidy had no upper limit.
Q10. Consider the following statements about Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC)
1. They can accept demand deposits.
2. They can issue cheques drawn on itself.
3. They can do activities like agricultural, industrial, sale & purchase, and construction of immovable property.
4. The deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is available to depositors of NBFCs.
How many of the statements given above is/are not correct?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. Only three
D. All four
Ans. 10 Option D is correct Explanation
• NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) are a heterogeneous group of institutions (other than commercial and co-operative banks) performing financial intermediation in a variety of ways, like accepting deposits, making loans and advances, leasing, hiring purchases, etc.
• They cannot have certain activities as their principal business like agricultural, industrial, and sale, purchase or construction of immovable property. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• NBFC cannot accept demand deposits.
Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
Where was the Lighthouse Tourism Conclave 2024, held to mark the start of the 2nd…
Where is the AROHA-2024 conference being held, inaugurated recently by Chief Justice of India, Justice…
Which country re-joined the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as its 181st Member Parliament during the 149th…
Who represented India at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR)? (A)…
In which city did Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) -…
Aryna Sabalenka recently won her third consecutive WTA Wuhan 1000 singles title. She is from…