GPSC Prelims 2019 General Studies Paper II with Answers & Explanations

Explanation

In the year 2019, during the 36th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting chaired by the Union Finance Minister, the GST rate on electric vehicles was reduced from 12% to 5% to promote eco-friendly mobility in the country.

Additionally, during the same meeting, the GST rate on electric vehicle chargers and charging stations was slashed from 18% to 5%. Both of these rate cuts came into effect on August 1, 2019.

During the 28th GST Council meeting held in July 2018, several items were exempted from tax, bringing their GST rates down to 0%. These exempted goods included sanitary napkins, raw materials used in making brooms (Phool Bhari Jhadoo), Rakhi (other than those made of precious or semi-precious materials), and deities made of stone, marble, or wood.

Explanation

The Economic Survey 2018-19 highlights several key initiatives of the Government of India that successfully leverage the principles of behavioural economics and Nudge theory to drive positive social and economic transformations.

The Swachh Bharat Mission and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao schemes are prime examples of using social norms and repeated reinforcements to bring about mass behavioural change, transitioning towards Sundar Bharat and BADLAV respectively.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has altered the credit culture and corporate governance landscape by changing corporate behaviours through the credible threat of losing control.

The UJALA scheme utilizes behavioural change to motivate consumers toward energy-efficient practices, promoting the adoption of LED bulbs to reduce energy wastage and power consumption.

Explanation

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a holistic, chemical-free agricultural model that aims to promote sustainable farming practices, restore soil health, and minimize production costs.

Intercropping with leguminous crops is a major component of ZBNF. Cultivating legumes alongside main crops provides farmers with additional income and structural crop diversity.

Leguminous crops form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form like ammonia. This process enhances soil fertility and crop productivity without the need for synthetic chemical fertilizers.

ZBNF is built on the preparation of on-farm formulations such as Jeevamrutha (microbial inoculum of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and pulse flour) and Beejamrutha (for seed treatment), alongside botanical extracts like Neemasthra and Brahmastra for pest management. These preparations utilize locally sourced, natural ingredients, which drastically reduces the dependency on external market inputs, helping farmers cut down their cultivation costs.

In the context of targeted state and central policy implementations, the primary financial assistance, subsidy distribution, and capacity-building schemes for natural farming are customized to apply specifically to small and marginal landholders to alleviate agrarian distress and debt.

Explanation

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) for the United Nations released the World Happiness Report 2019. This report ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be, evaluating them based on six key variables: GDP per capita (income), social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and trust (perceived absence of corruption).

India witnessed a decline in its happiness ranking, sliding to the 140th position in 2019 from the 133rd position in 2018.

Finland secured the top spot on the list as the world's happiest country for the second consecutive year, having also topped the rankings in 2018.

Explanation

In the financial year 2018-19, State Goods and Services Tax was the largest contributor to the own tax revenue of Gujarat, accounting for approximately ₹34,889 crore.

Sales Tax and VAT, which is primarily levied on petroleum products and alcoholic liquor for human consumption that remain outside the purview of GST, was the second largest component of the state tax revenue, generating around ₹22,414 crore.

Explanation

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) were introduced in 1997-98 with the primary objective of providing quality middle and high-level education (Class VI to XII) to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas. The scheme operates on a demand-driven model, where schools are sanctioned based on the proposals received from State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Furthermore, the funding for establishing and running these schools is entirely provided by the Central Government through grants allocated under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2009-10, with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment serving as the apex nodal ministry for its implementation. The scheme focuses on the integrated development of selected villages that have a Scheduled Castes population of more than 50%. It aims to ensure the holistic development of these villages through the convergence of various central and state schemes, along with providing critical gap-filling funds to meet infrastructural and socio-economic needs.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are statutory financial institutions created under the provisions of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976.

Statement 2 is correct because the first RRB, Prathama Grameen Bank, was established on 2nd October 1975, following the promulgation of the Regional Rural Banks Ordinance in 1975.

Statement 3 is incorrect because the priority sector lending targets for RRBs are not at par with commercial banks. While scheduled commercial banks are required to direct 40% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit to the priority sector, RRBs are mandated to direct a higher target of 75% of their credit to the priority sector to ensure credit availability to rural and weaker sections of society.

Explanation

The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 contains the following key provisions:

Regarding Statement 1, the Act legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thereby covering nearly two-thirds of the total population.

Regarding Statement 2, Section 3 of the Act specifies that foodgrains are to be made available at highly subsidized prices of ₹3, ₹2, and ₹1 per kg for rice, wheat, and coarse grains respectively for an initial period of three years. Thereafter, the prices can be fixed by the Central Government from time to time, but they cannot exceed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat and coarse grains, and the derived MSP for rice.

Regarding Statement 3, the Act provides a statutory right to nutritional support for children up to 14 years of age. Specifically, children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years are entitled to receive age-appropriate free meals or take-home rations through local Anganwadis to meet the prescribed nutritional standards. Similarly, children in the age group of 6 to 14 years (or up to Class VIII) are entitled to a free mid-day meal everyday in government and government-aided schools.

Explanation

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is an investor-owned fund manager anchored by the Government of India in partnership with domestic and global institutional investors. The Government of India holds a 49% stake in NIIF, while the remaining 51% is held by international and domestic institutional investors, making it a collaborative, investor-owned platform.

It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, which allows it to raise capital and invest in infrastructure and other growth sectors.

NIIF was established in 2015 as India's first-ever sovereign wealth fund, serving as a quasi-sovereign vehicle. It operates as an investment platform to mobilize long-term international and domestic capital into critical infrastructure-related projects across greenfield, brownfield, and stalled initiatives.

Explanation

NITI Aayog cleared six futuristic mass rapid transport technologies proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for trial runs. These six technologies include Metrino, Hyperloop, Pod taxis, Stadler buses, Hybrid buses, and Freight pipeline/railroad. The bullet train project is under the purview of the Ministry of Railways and is not part of these six proposals.

Explanation

Capital gain is the profit realized when an investment is sold for a price higher than its original purchase cost. This capital gains tax is only triggered upon the actual realization or transfer of the asset, meaning that paper gains or unrealized appreciation accumulated while the investor holds the asset are not taxed. Under standard tax rules, the default holding period to distinguish short-term capital assets from long-term capital assets is 36 months, while the 24-month threshold applies only to specific classes of assets such as immovable property and unlisted shares. This makes only the first and second statements correct.

Explanation

Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement is a bilateral treaty signed between two countries with the primary objective of ensuring that taxpayers do not have to pay tax twice on the same income. A DTAA becomes applicable in cross-border situations where a taxpayer resides in one nation but earns income in another nation, helping to allocate taxing rights between the source country and the residence country. India has built a vast network of such treaties to foster international trade and investment, having signed DTAAs with more than 80 countries.

Explanation

The Power Asset Revival through Warehousing and Rehabilitation (PARIWARTAN) scheme is an initiative designed by the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to revitalize stressed power sector assets. The plan aims to prevent the distress sale of around 25,000 MW of thermal power projects under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Under this scheme, these stressed power assets are warehoused and managed under an Asset Management and Rehabilitation Company (AMRC) to protect their economic value and stem the rise of non-performing assets in the power sector.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide social security in the form of a monthly pension to unorganized workers. To be eligible for the scheme, the applicant must be an unorganized worker aged between 18 and 40 years, with a monthly income of Rs. 15,000 or less. Any worker who is covered under organized sector social security schemes like EPFO, ESIC, or NPS, or is an income tax payer, is excluded from this scheme. Consequently, the scheme strictly targets unorganized sector workers and is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Explanation

The Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19 to develop and upgrade approximately 22,000 existing rural haats into GrAMs.

These upgraded rural markets are electronically linked to the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) portal to help small and marginal farmers access a larger national market and get better price realization.

To facilitate smooth operations, reduce transaction costs, and allow farmers to sell directly to consumers and bulk purchasers near the farm gate, these village-level retail markets are kept outside the purview of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act regulation.

Explanation

The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) score ranges from 1 to 5, rather than 1 to 10. A score of 1 represents the lowest or poorest logistics performance, while a score of 5 represents the highest or best performance. The overall LPI is calculated as a weighted average of a country's performance across six key sub-dimensions, including customs, infrastructure, and international shipments.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to promote solar energy adoption in the agricultural sector.

The scheme enables farmers to install standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps and solarize existing grid-connected agricultural pumps, ensuring a highly reliable and cost-effective daytime power supply for irrigation facilities. It also allows farmers, cooperatives, and panchayats to set up small, grid-connected solar power plants on barren, fallow, or pasture land. By selling the surplus power generated from these plants to local distribution companies (DISCOMs) at a pre-determined tariff, farmers can secure a steady source of extra income.

The scheme is focused specifically on decentralized solar energy applications and does not plan for setting up biogas-based electricity plants, which are instead supported under separate waste-to-energy and waste management programs of the government.

Explanation

Overseas Corporate Bodies (OCBs) were derecognized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an eligible class of investor in India with effect from September 16, 2003. As a result, the facility for OCBs to open fresh Non-Resident External (NRE) accounts was completely withdrawn, meaning only Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) or Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) are eligible to open them.

Furthermore, NRE accounts are Indian Rupee-denominated accounts where deposits are restricted to permitted, freely convertible foreign currencies. These foreign currency deposits are then converted into Indian Rupees at the prevailing exchange rate, meaning arbitrary or unpermitted foreign currencies are not allowed.

Explanation

Angel tax is a tax levied under Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on the capital raised by unlisted companies through the issue of shares where the share price exceeds the fair market value of the shares. The excess realization is treated as income from other sources and taxed accordingly.

It was introduced in the Union Budget of 2012 to curb the laundering of unaccounted money and its conversion into white money through high share premiums in closely held companies.

To provide relief to genuine startups, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade issued a notification in February 2019 stating that a startup registered with the department would be exempt from angel tax if the aggregate amount of its paid-up share capital and share premium after the issue of shares does not exceed ₹25 crores.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: poverty is conceptually divided into Absolute poverty (inability to meet basic subsistence needs) and Relative poverty (deprivation compared to the general standard of living in society). Statement 2 is incorrect: as per estimates based on the 2011-12 Tendulkar Committee methodology, roughly 22% (about 21.9%) of India's population was below the poverty line, not 52%. Statement 3 is incorrect: the calorie norms are the reverse of what is stated here — the rural poverty line is defined at 2400 calories per person per day, while the urban poverty line is defined at 2100 calories per person per day (rural norms are higher due to greater physical labour requirements). Statement 4 is correct: rapidly rising population is widely cited as a main reason for increasing poverty, since it puts pressure on limited resources, lowers per capita income and availability of goods/services, and strains employment and infrastructure. Hence, only statements 1 and 4 are correct, making option C the right answer.

Explanation

Gujarat consistently exhibits one of the lowest unemployment rates among all Indian states. According to reports such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 periods, Gujarat recorded an exceptionally low unemployment rate compared to the national average. The state's highly industrialized economy, characterized by robust sectors in manufacturing, textiles, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, alongside a strong entrepreneurial culture, ensures high labor force participation and steady employment generation. This diverse industrial landscape and active labor market keep joblessness in the state at minimal levels relative to other major Indian states.

Explanation

The proposal to create an electronic fundraising platform, commonly referred to as the Social Stock Exchange, under the regulatory ambit of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is a separate, specific policy initiative announced in the Union Budget 2019-20 to help social enterprises and voluntary organisations raise capital. It is not included as one of the tenets of the 10-point Vision for the Decade.

Explanation

In the Union Budget 2019-20, the Government of India proposed to permit 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route for insurance intermediaries (which includes insurance brokers, third-party administrators, web aggregators, and loss assessors) rather than 75%. Prior to this policy change, the FDI limit for insurance intermediaries was capped at 49%. Thus, the proposal was to allow 100% foreign ownership in this sector to boost insurance penetration, enhance distribution capabilities, and attract foreign capital.

Explanation

Aayakar Setu is a mobile application and digital taxpayer service module launched by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in July 2017. Designed as an interactive bridge between taxpayers and the government, the app compiles multiple informative and useful tax services into a single platform. It allows users and entities to track Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), make direct tax payments, access calculators, and apply for a Permanent Account Number (PAN). By providing these services directly on a digital platform, it aims to reduce physical interface with tax authorities and simplify tax compliance.

Explanation

The National Manufacturing Policy, released in 2011, is designed to enhance the share of manufacturing in the national economy, increase employment, and improve the global competitiveness of Indian industries. Building national capabilities in roadways is not an objective of this policy. While infrastructure is a key facilitator for manufacturing, general road construction and the development of national highway networks fall entirely under the mandate of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and other infrastructure-specific programs, rather than the industrial and manufacturing framework of the National Manufacturing Policy.

Explanation

The Action Plan for Champion Sectors in Services, approved by the Union Cabinet, focuses on twelve designated champion services sectors to realize their developmental potential. These twelve sectors are Information Technology and Information Technology enabled Services (IT and ITeS), Tourism and Hospitality Services, Medical Value Travel, Transport and Logistics Services, Accounting and Finance Services, Audio Visual Services, Legal Services, Communication Services, Construction and Related Engineering Services, Environmental Services, Financial Services, and Education Services. Because construction and related engineering services, environmental services, and information technology and information enabled services are all part of this identified list, all three specified services are correct.

Explanation

Agricultural credit in India is categorized based on the tenure of the loan into three distinct types:

Short-term credit is intended for meeting working capital requirements such as purchasing seeds, manure, fertilizers, and paying wages. The duration for this credit is up to 15 months.

Medium-term credit is provided for a period ranging between 15 months and 5 years. Farmers typically use this credit to purchase cattle, agricultural implements, and pumping sets.

Long-term credit is granted for a period of more than 5 years, often extending up to 15 to 20 years. This credit is used for making permanent improvements on land, buying additional land, or purchasing heavy machinery like tractors.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Explanation

The Walled City of Jaipur was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2019 during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Baku, Azerbaijan. With this successful inscription, India achieved its 38th World Heritage Site, consisting of 30 cultural properties, 7 natural properties, and 1 mixed site.

Explanation

In the context of the Government of India's public finance, the Budget Deficit is defined as the difference between the total expenditure and the total receipts of the government.

The total receipts consist of revenue receipts and capital receipts. Capital receipts are further divided into non-debt capital receipts (such as loan recoveries and disinvestment proceeds) and debt capital receipts (which include market borrowings and other liabilities).

If we define Total Revenue as the sum of all non-debt receipts (Revenue Receipts + Non-Debt Capital Receipts), the total receipts can be expressed as:

Total Receipts = Total Revenue + Market Borrowings and other liabilities

The Budget Deficit is calculated as:

Budget Deficit = Total Expenditure - Total Receipts

Substituting the components of Total Receipts into the formula:

Budget Deficit = Total Expenditure - (Total Revenue + Market Borrowings and other liabilities)

Therefore, the difference between the Total Revenue and the sum of total expenditure plus market borrowings and other liabilities represents the Budget Deficit of the government.

Explanation

The Economic Survey 2018-19, in its chapter titled Data Of the People, By the People, For the People, highlights the transition towards treating data as a public good. It emphasizes that data of societal interest is generated by the public and should be utilized to enhance social welfare and governance. Since the private sector may not generate data in socially optimal quantities because of profit constraints, the government must view data as a public good and invest in its creation, integration, and security to improve the targeted delivery of public services and enable evidence-based policymaking.

Explanation

The Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. is the designated state nodal agency in Gujarat for implementing various schemes, subsidies, and promotional policies of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India.

The corporation plays a critical role in facilitating capital investment and infrastructure development in the food processing sector. It is responsible for receiving, scrutinizing, and recommending applications for financial assistance and subsidies, such as those under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises scheme, thereby acting as a bridge between local agri-entrepreneurs and the central ministry.

Explanation

All three statements regarding India’s performance in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report 2019 (published in 2018) are factually correct.

First, India’s most significant improvement was indeed registered in the Dealing with Construction Permits indicator, where the country’s rank jumped 129 places from 181st in the previous year to 52nd.

Second, with an overall rank of 77th, India emerged as the top-ranked country among South Asian nations, ahead of Bhutan which was positioned at 81st.

Third, India secured a position in the top 25 global economies on three parameters: protecting minority investors (ranked 7th), getting credit (ranked 22nd), and getting electricity (ranked 24th).

Since all three statements are correct, none of them are incorrect.

Explanation

The Union Government's mobile application Vidyut PRAVAH (Electricity, Price Availability and Highlights) was launched by the Ministry of Power to provide real-time information on power availability in India. It offers transparency by sharing data on current power demand met, surplus power, shortages, and price trends on the power exchange. This helps consumers and other stakeholders track the electricity supply and demand status across different states and UTs in India.

Explanation

During the British colonial rule in India, the colonial administration made no official attempt to estimate India's national income and per capita income. Consequently, several individual economists and researchers made pioneering attempts to calculate these figures to highlight the economic condition of India.

Dadabhai Naoroji made the first systematic attempt to estimate India's national income for the year 1867-68 in his landmark work, calculating the per capita income to be ₹20.

William Digby made estimates for late nineteenth-century India, particularly around 1899, which showed a low per capita income of ₹18 to highlight colonial exploitation.

V.K.R.V. Rao applied the first rigorous and scientific methodology to estimate India's national and per capita income for the year 1931-32, which is widely considered the most reliable estimate of the colonial era.

R.C. Desai estimated the national income and consumer expenditure of India for the period 1931-32 to 1940-41, providing critical insights into the living standards of Indians during the late colonial era.

Explanation

The Gadgil formula was formulated in 1969 by Dr. D.R. Gadgil, the then Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India. It was introduced during the Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969–74) to determine the allocation of Central assistance for State plans. Prior to this, the allocation of central assistance to states was largely ad-hoc and discretionary. The introduction of this formula in the fiscal year 1969-70 established an objective, criteria-based framework for resource distribution and devolution from the Centre to the States, based on defined parameters such as population, per capita income, tax effort, and special problems of the states.

Explanation

The ecological footprint measures the amount of biologically productive land and water area required to produce the resources an individual, population, or activity consumes and to absorb the waste they generate. This measurement is standardized using global hectares (gha). A global hectare represents a biologically productive hectare with world average productivity, allowing for a standardized comparison of resource consumption and waste assimilation across different regions and ecosystems globally.

Explanation

The direct tax rate is a component of fiscal policy, which is formulated and managed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Unlike monetary policy, which is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India to control money supply and interest rates, fiscal policy utilizes taxation and government spending to influence the nation's economy.

Explanation

The concept of green finance gained major international prominence and was formally integrated into global policy during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. The conference's key outcome document, "The Future We Want," highlighted the transition toward a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. This landmark document emphasized the mobilization of financial resources from both public and private sectors to achieve sustainable goals, marking the first formal mention and systematic recognition of green finance mechanisms within a major UN sustainable development framework. At this event, governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector pledged hundreds of billions of dollars to clean energy, climate adaptation, and sustainable development initiatives, laying the groundwork for the modern global green finance architecture.

Explanation

The People's Plan was drafted by the Marxist leader M.N. Roy in 1945 on behalf of the Indian Federation of Labour, emphasizing agricultural development and the nationalization of land. Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a pioneer of Indian planning, authored the landmark book Planned Economy for India in 1934, which presented the first systematic blueprint for the economic development of the country.

Explanation

Under the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana, there is no restriction or cap on family size, age, or gender of the beneficiary members. This design ensures that every member of an eligible household is covered, specifically preventing the exclusion of vulnerable individuals such as women, children, and the elderly, who might otherwise be omitted if a cap on family size or age limits were enforced.

Explanation

MUDRA stands for Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Limited, which is a refinancing institution set up by the Government of India to provide funding to non-corporate, non-farm sector micro and small enterprises. Under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, loans are categorized into three distinct schemes based on the funding stage of the beneficiary: Shishu for loans up to ₹50,000, Kishor for loans above ₹50,000 and up to ₹5 lakh, and Tarun for loans above ₹5 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh. These loans are designed to support various micro-business activities and include financial products like business installment loans, commercial vehicle loans, and working capital requirements to help small-scale entrepreneurs generate income.

Explanation

The agricultural crop year in India begins on July 1 and concludes on June 30 of the subsequent year. The cropping pattern is divided into three major seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. The Kharif cropping season coincides with the onset of the southwest monsoon, typically lasting from July to October. The Rabi cropping season begins with the onset of winter, running from October to March. Jowar, Bajra, and Maize are major Kharif crops since they require warm weather and substantial moisture for their growth, while crops like wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard are the primary Rabi crops.

Explanation

The rise in Non-Performing Assets of public sector banks in India can be attributed to all four factors.

First, lower economic growth directly reduces corporate profitability and revenues, making it difficult for borrowers to service their debt obligations.

Second, aggressive lending by banks during the high-growth phase to infrastructure, steel, and power sectors, often with lax credit appraisal, resulted in highly leveraged projects that eventually became unviable due to regulatory and fuel supply issues.

Third, the lack of an efficient, time-bound loan recovery mechanism and legal framework before the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code led to prolonged delays in resolving bad loans through older channels like Debt Recovery Tribunals and SARFAESI.

Fourth, the transition to system-based automatic identification of non-performing assets and the Reserve Bank of India's Asset Quality Review forced banks to stop manually restructuring bad loans and proactively declare hidden stressed assets on their balance sheets.

Explanation

The Lead Bank Scheme was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in December 1969 based on the recommendations of the Gadgil Study Group and the Nariman Committee. The scheme adopted an area approach to rural credit and financial inclusion. Under this model, individual commercial banks are allotted specific districts to act as the lead bank. The lead bank is responsible for surveying the resource potential, estimating credit gaps, coordinating with other financial institutions and local government administrative bodies, and preparing the District Credit Plan to ensure the intensive and integrated development of the designated district.

Explanation

The National Small Savings Fund, established in the Public Account of India, pools the collections from various small savings instruments. These instruments are officially classified into three distinct categories. First, postal deposits comprise savings accounts, recurring deposits, time deposits of varying maturities, and monthly income schemes. Second, savings certificates include instruments like the National Savings Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra. Third, social security schemes encompass the Public Provident Fund, the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, and the Sukanya Samriddhi Account. All three classifications represent the core components of the small savings portfolio managed by the government to encourage household savings across the nation.

Explanation

The Economic Survey 2018-19 emphasizes that Indian agriculture needs to shift its focus from land productivity to irrigation water productivity to manage critical water resource challenges. It mentions that almost 89% of the groundwater extracted in India is utilized for irrigation purposes. Furthermore, highly water-guzzling crops like paddy and sugarcane account for more than 60% of the irrigation water consumption in the country. On the other hand, the trend of fertilizer consumption in India was continually increasing from 2002 onwards and exhibited a declining trend after 2011, making the fourth statement incorrect.

Explanation

Land reforms in India post-independence were institutional measures aimed at establishing social justice, removing exploitative structures, and improving agricultural productivity. The first phase involved the abolition of intermediaries such as Zamindars and Jagirdars to establish a direct relationship between the state and the actual tillers of the soil. The second component, tenancy reforms, focused on regulating rent, providing security of tenure, and granting ownership rights to tenants. The third component, reorganization of agriculture, focused on land ceiling limits to redistribute surplus land to landless laborers, along with the consolidation of fragmented land holdings to make farming more economically viable.

Explanation

Wages paid under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) are revised and notified annually by the Central Government based on the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL). This index, compiled and published by the Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, measures changes over time in the retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services consumed by agricultural labourers. This annual indexation ensures that the wages under the social security scheme are periodically adjusted to compensate workers for rural inflation and changes in the cost of living.

Explanation

The e-Shakti initiative of NABARD is a pilot project launched for the digitization of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across India.

The primary objectives of this initiative include:

Improving the quality of bookkeeping of SHGs by replacing manual ledger maintenance with digital data entry, which reduces errors, increases transparency, and saves time.

Creating a robust Management Information System (MIS) to capture real-time financial and non-financial data of SHGs. This database enables banks to assess the creditworthiness of SHGs easily and make informed, hassle-free credit decisions.

Integrating and main-streaming SHG members with the national Financial Inclusion agenda by bringing them under the fold of formal banking and financial systems, facilitating access to a wider range of financial services.

Explanation

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is implemented as a Sub-Mission under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

The scheme focuses on the development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers. It aims to develop crop-specific organic production clusters with necessary infrastructural, technical, and financial support to transition traditional subsistence farming into sustainable commercial organic enterprises.

This scheme is actively implemented in all the eight North Eastern States of India, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.

Explanation

Tokyo is located in the Japan Standard Time zone (UTC+9), while San Francisco is in the Pacific Standard Time zone (UTC-8). Tokyo is 17 hours ahead of San Francisco.

When the ship departs Tokyo on Sunday at 8 AM, the local time in San Francisco is calculated by subtracting 17 hours from the Tokyo time: Sunday 8 AM - 17 hours = Saturday 3 PM.

Since the voyage takes 8 hours, we add the travel time to the local departure time in San Francisco: Saturday 3 PM + 8 hours = Saturday 11 PM.

The ship reaches San Francisco on Saturday.

Explanation

The subtropical high-pressure belts, situated at approximately 30° to 35° latitude in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, are characterized by high pressure, dry descending air, and extremely weak winds or calm conditions. Historically, Spanish sailing vessels transporting horses to the Americas frequently became stranded or becalmed in these latitudes due to the lack of wind. To conserve drinking water and lighten the ships in hopes of catching a breeze, sailors would cast horses overboard, which led to these regions being called the Horse Latitudes.

Explanation

Corals are marine invertebrates belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. Individual coral animals are called polyps, which are indeed living organisms. Each polyp secretes a protective exoskeleton of calcium carbonate, and the cup-shaped skeletal structure in which the polyp lives is known as a corallite. As colonies grow, new polyps deposit calcium carbonate on top of the skeletons of older generations. Over long periods, these skeletons accumulate and undergo biochemical processes that cement them together into rigid, wave-resistant, and hard structures known as coral reefs. This cementation process involves coralline algae and chemical precipitation, converting the loose skeletal components into a solid, durable calcareous framework.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because the steep and high-rainfall slopes of the Western Ghats and Nilgiris are highly unstable and prone to frequent landslides, classifying them under the Very High Landslide Vulnerability Zone.

Statement 2 is incorrect because the states of the north-eastern region, with the exception of the plains of Assam, are covered under the High Landslide Vulnerability Zone, rather than the moderate to low zone.

Statement 3 is incorrect because the coastal regions of the southern states are flat plains that are highly stable and generally safe from landslides, classifying them outside the high landslide vulnerability zone.

Explanation

According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, the annual population growth rate of India is set to decline, not increase, from 1.1% in 2011-21 to 0.5% in 2031-41. This makes statement 1 incorrect.

The services sector (excluding construction) accounted for a 54.3% share of India's Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2018-19, which makes statement 2 correct.

The services sector's share of employment was estimated at 34% in 2017, showing that the sector does not generate jobs in proportion to its GVA share, making statement 3 correct.

Additionally, the survey highlights that India accounts for 18% of the global population but utilizes only 6% of the world's primary energy, which makes statement 4 correct.

Explanation

Dawn and twilight refer to the transitional periods of partial light before sunrise and after sunset, caused by the scattering of sunlight in the upper atmosphere. The duration of this light depends on the angle at which the sun crosses the horizon. Near the equator, the sun rises and sets almost vertically, crossing the horizon rapidly and resulting in a brief twilight period. As latitude increases towards the poles, the sun's apparent path across the horizon becomes highly oblique. At the poles, the sun's path is at an extremely shallow angle to the horizon. Because of this very gradual, slanted path, the sun remains just below the horizon for weeks at a time, resulting in dawn and twilight lasting for a maximum period of several weeks.

Explanation

The Dead Sea is a landlocked endorheic lake with no outlets, meaning water can only escape through evaporation. Because of the extremely hot and arid climate of the Jordan Rift Valley, evaporation rates are exceptionally high. As freshwater evaporates, it leaves behind all the dissolved salts and minerals carried into it by the Jordan River and other tributaries. This continuous process over thousands of years has accumulated massive amounts of minerals, resulting in an exceptionally high salinity level of approximately 34.2%.

Explanation

The Rotterdam Convention promotes shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides through the Prior Informed Consent procedure.

The Basel Convention regulates the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes, obligating its parties to ensure that such wastes are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants by restricting and eliminating their production, use, trade, release, and storage.

The Minamata Convention is a global treaty specifically dedicated to protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds, rather than lead.

Explanation

The Par River originates in the Sahyadri hill ranges in the Nashik district of Maharashtra and flows westward through the Valsad district of Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea. It does not flow through the Dang district.

Explanation

According to the Gujarat Budget Analysis for 2019-20, the state's sector-wise allocations align precisely with all three statements. Specifically, Gujarat allocated 14.4% of its total expenditure on education, which is slightly lower than the average education expenditure of other states. For the health sector, the state earmarked 5.8% of its total expenditure, which is higher than the average of 4.5% observed in other states. Furthermore, the allocation towards agriculture and allied activities was 4.5% of the total budget. Hence, all three statements are correct.

Explanation

The Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) is developed along the alignment of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) as its transport backbone. Unlike other major industrial corridors in India that receive financial and technical assistance from foreign governments or multilateral development banks, the AKIC project is wholly funded by the Government of India. The project is implemented using domestic resources, with the Central Government providing financial assistance and budgetary support for the development of trunk infrastructure, project master planning, and the setting up of Integrated Manufacturing Clusters (IMCs) across the corridor states.

Explanation

Coorg, located in Karnataka, is renowned for its extensive coffee plantations and is one of the leading coffee-producing regions in India. Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Pampore region, is famous for producing high-quality saffron and is widely recognized as a major hub for saffron cultivation. The Godavari region in Andhra Pradesh, spanning the East and West Godavari districts, is a prominent area for cocoa cultivation, where cocoa is widely grown as an intercrop in coconut and oil palm plantations. Chickmagalur is historically recognized as the birthplace of coffee in India and is a major coffee-producing district, rather than being primarily known for tea plantations.

Explanation

Salinity of ocean water is defined as the total amount of dissolved solid material in grams contained in one kilogram (1000 grams) of seawater. Because it compares grams of salt per 1000 grams of water, it is standardly expressed in parts per thousand, represented by the symbol ‰. The average salinity of the world's oceans is approximately 35 parts per thousand, which means there are 35 grams of dissolved salts in every 1000 grams of seawater.

Explanation

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is the statutory body mandated under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to conduct the All India Tiger Estimation, commonly known as the tiger census. Conducted once every four years, this assessment is spearheaded by the NTCA in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and various state forest departments to monitor tiger populations, their co-predators, and prey across India.

Explanation

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is built at the confluence of the Godavari and Pranahita rivers in Kaleshwaram, Telangana. The project taps the water of the Pranahita river at its point of convergence with the Godavari river, utilizing massive underground pumping stations and reservoirs to lift water to high-elevation areas for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial use.

Explanation

A black hole is defined as a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including particles and electromagnetic radiation such as light, can escape from it. This boundary of no escape is called the event horizon.

In April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, using a global network of radio observatories, successfully captured and published the first-ever direct visual image of a black hole. This image depicted the supermassive black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy, surrounded by a bright, glowing ring of gas.

Explanation

The Andes mountain range is the longest continuous continental mountain chain in the world, stretching approximately 7,000 kilometers (4,300 miles) along the western coast of South America. It passes through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. This massive mountain belt was formed by the ongoing subduction of the oceanic Nazca Plate and Antarctic Plate beneath the continental South American Plate, creating an uninterrupted chain of high peaks, extensive plateaus, and active volcanoes.

Explanation

The Wallace Line is a major biogeographical boundary drawn by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. It represents a sharp faunal transition line separating the ecozones of Asia and Australia. West of this line, the flora and fauna are predominantly of Asian origin, featuring placental mammals like elephants, tigers, and apes. East of the line, the ecosystems are characterized by species of Australian origin, including marsupials and unique bird families. This distinct division exists because deep-water ocean trenches along the line remained barriers to the migration of land species even during ice ages when sea levels were significantly lower and continental shelves were exposed.

Explanation

The Agulhas Current is a major warm western boundary current of the southern Indian Ocean. It flows southward along the east coast of Africa, from the region of the Mozambique Channel down to the southern tip of the continent at Cape Agulhas, before retroflecting back into the South Indian Ocean. It plays a crucial role in transporting heat and moisture from the tropical regions towards the higher latitudes.

Explanation

Port Blair, the administrative capital and the largest town of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is situated on the eastern coast of South Andaman Island. This island houses key historical sites like the Cellular Jail, the local administrative headquarters, and the primary seaport and airport (Veer Savarkar International Airport) that connect the archipelago to mainland India.

Explanation

Blood Rain matches Italy because the hot, dust-laden Sirocco wind from the Sahara Desert picks up moisture over the Mediterranean Sea and falls as reddish rain in southern European countries like Italy.

Maize Rain matches Africa, where the onset of seasonal rainfall is closely associated with agricultural cycles, particularly the cultivation and planting of maize.

Mango Shower matches India, referring to the pre-monsoon showers in Karnataka and Kerala that assist in the early ripening of mangoes.

Plum Rain matches Japan, representing the early summer rainy season known as tsuyu, which coincides with the ripening period of plums.

Explanation

The Coriolis force is an apparent deflective force that arises directly due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis. It causes moving fluids, such as air currents and ocean currents, to deflect to the right of their path in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

The magnitude of this force is mathematically represented as: F = 2 v ω sin φ

In this relation, v is the wind velocity, ω is the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation, and φ is the latitude. At the equator, where the latitude φ is 0°, sin 0° equals 0, making the Coriolis force completely absent. As latitude increases toward the poles, the value of sin φ progressively increases, reaching its maximum value of 1 at the poles where φ is 90°. This mathematically explains why the Coriolis force is zero at the equator and increases progressively polewards.

Explanation

The Eastern Coastal Plain of India is divided into two major sections: the North Circar Coast in the north and the Coromandel Coast in the south. The North Circar Coast stretches from the Subarnarekha River to the Krishna River delta, encompassing the coastal regions of Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. Chilika Lake, which is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, is situated in the state of Odisha, placing it geographically within the North Circar Coast.

Explanation

Lateritic soils are typically found in the humid tropical and equatorial zones that experience high temperatures and heavy, intense rainfall. Under these hot and wet climatic conditions, active chemical weathering and intense leaching take place. The heavy rainfall washes away soluble silica and nutrients from the upper soil horizons, leaving behind insoluble residues of iron and aluminum oxides. This chemical process, known as lateritisation, produces a highly weathered, acidic, and nutrient-poor red soil rich in iron and aluminum sesquioxides, which is characteristic of equatorial and tropical forest ecosystems.

Explanation

India holds the largest thorium reserves in the world, with estimates indicating the country possesses nearly 25% of global thorium deposits. This vast reserve represents a crucial pillar of India's three-stage nuclear power program, which aims to achieve energy independence.

The primary source of thorium in India is monazite sand. These sands are found in massive concentrations along the coastal beach placer deposits of the country, particularly in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Monazite is a phosphate mineral that typically contains around 9% to 10% thorium oxide, making it the most significant and abundant commercial source of thorium.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect because groundnut is a semi-arid crop that thrives under moderate rainfall conditions of 50 to 100 cm. In contrast, paddy and sugarcane are highly water-intensive crops requiring much higher annual rainfall, usually ranging from 150 to 250 cm for paddy and over 100 to 150 cm for sugarcane.

Statement 4 is incorrect because the National Research Centre for Groundnut, which was established in 1979 and later elevated to the ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, is located in Junagadh, Gujarat, and not in Jagudan. Jagudan is instead known for the Main Castor and Mustard Research Station under Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University.

Explanation

Ozone (O₃) is an extremely scarce trace gas in the atmosphere, with an average volume concentration of approximately 0.07 parts per million (ppm). This is equivalent to about 0.000007% (or 7 × 10⁻⁶%) of the total gaseous composition of the atmosphere. While ozone plays a critical environmental role by absorbing harmful solar ultraviolet radiation, its physical presence remains minute, as it is primarily concentrated within the stratosphere and exists in even smaller trace amounts throughout the lower atmosphere.

Explanation

Atmospheric water vapour is primarily concentrated in the lower layers of the troposphere, with nearly 90% of all atmospheric moisture lying below an altitude of 5 km. The amount of water vapour decreases rapidly with increasing altitude because the primary source of moisture is evaporation and transpiration from the Earth's surface. Furthermore, the temperature of the troposphere decreases with altitude. Since the capacity of air to hold water vapour depends directly on its temperature, the colder air at higher altitudes can hold very little moisture, resulting in a sharp decline in water vapour content as altitude increases.

Explanation

Tornadoes are fundamentally distinct in their origin, development, and physical characteristics. While atmospheric systems like hurricanes, typhoons, and thunderstorms are primarily driven by thermodynamic buoyancy and the release of latent heat from condensation, the formation of a tornado is critically dependent on mechanical environmental wind shear. Strong vertical wind shear creates a horizontal rotating column of air near the surface, which is subsequently tilted into a vertical position by the powerful updraft of a parent supercell thunderstorm. In terms of characteristics, tornadoes operate on a micro-to-meso scale, possessing extremely narrow damage paths, brief lifespans of only a few minutes to an hour, and exceptionally violent wind speeds that can exceed 480 km/h, far surpassing the typical wind velocities of other atmospheric disturbances.

Explanation

Iron is the most abundant element in the Earth as a whole, accounting for approximately 32.1% of its total mass. This immense abundance is primarily concentrated in the Earth's core, which is composed of a dense iron-nickel alloy. Because the core makes up nearly one-third of the planet's mass, the high concentration of iron within it makes this metal the single most dominant element of the entire planet by mass.

Explanation

Marble matches with Rajasthan as the state is India's leading producer of high-quality marble, including the famous Makrana marble. Rock Salt matches with Himachal Pradesh because the Mandi district is the sole source of mined rock salt in India. Basalt matches with Maharashtra because the state lies on the Deccan Traps, a massive volcanic plateau dominated by basalt rock. Limestone matches with Karnataka due to its vast reserves of high-grade limestone found in the Bhima and Kaladgi geological formations.

Explanation

The Prairie region of North America is renowned worldwide for commercial grain farming, particularly wheat cultivation, earning it the title of the Granary of the World. The vast, flat, and gently undulating plains of the Prairies, coupled with fertile soils and a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, make the region highly conducive to large-scale, highly mechanized agriculture. Extremely large farm sizes allow for the extensive use of modern machinery like tractors, seed drills, and combines, which maximizes productivity with minimal manual labor.

Explanation

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through its National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS | LUP) based in Nagpur, identified and delineated the Agro-Ecological Regions (AERs) of India. The country was divided into 20 distinct agro-ecological regions (and further subdivided into 60 sub-regions) based on parameters including physiography, climate, soil types, and the length of the growing period. This classification provides a scientific framework for regional land use planning, identifying crop suitability, and transferring location-specific agricultural technologies.

Explanation

Nagaland was the only Indian state to record a negative population growth rate during the 2001 to 2011 decade. According to the 2011 Census, its population decreased from 1,990,036 in 2001 to 1,978,502 in 2011, which corresponds to a decadal growth rate of -0.58%. This decline is largely attributed to the correction of previously inflated census data from the 2001 counts.

Explanation

India's diverse linguistic landscape is traditionally classified into four major language families: Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austric, and Sino-Tibetan.

The Dravidian language family primarily encompasses the major languages spoken in Southern India, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Gujarati belong to the Indo-Aryan language family, which is a branch of the larger Indo-European family. The Austric family in India is represented by languages such as Santhali, Mundari, Ho, and Khasi.

Explanation

Africa was historically referred to as the Dark Continent because its vast interior remained unexplored and largely unknown to the outside world, particularly Europeans, until the late 19th century. Several major geographical barriers caused this lack of exploration.

First, the interior of the continent presented severe physical and environmental obstacles to exploration, such as dense equatorial rainforests, difficult terrain, and tropical diseases like malaria.

Second, the massive expanse of the Sahara Desert in the north acted as a formidable physical barrier, preventing easy overland transit to the central and southern parts of the continent.

Third, Africa is primarily a plateau continent where the high plateau's rim extends very close to the coastline. As a result, major rivers plunge over steep escarpments near the coast, creating rapids and waterfalls that made inland navigation by boat from the ocean impossible.

Explanation

Epiphytes grow on other plants for physical support rather than nutrients and rely on specialized structures like aerial roots to absorb moisture and nutrients directly from the air, rain, and surrounding debris.

Hydrophytes are aquatic plants, including many flowering species, that possess specific adaptations such as aerenchyma tissue to live successfully submerged in or floating on water.

Xerophytes are structurally adapted to withstand extreme water scarcity, allowing them to survive and thrive during prolonged seasonal or perennial droughts through features like succulent stems, thick cuticles, and reduced leaf surface areas.

Explanation

Coniferous forests, also known as taiga or boreal forests, stretch in a broad, continuous belt across the high latitudes of North America and Eurasia, covering vast areas of Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, and Siberia. The trees characteristic of these forests, such as pine, spruce, and fir, are typically tall, straight, and evergreen, well-adapted to survive the harsh, cold winters with needle-like leaves that conserve water and shed snow easily. Since they are evergreen, they retain their foliage throughout the year rather than shedding all their leaves in autumn, allowing them to resume photosynthesis immediately when temperatures rise in the spring. This makes the first and second statements correct, while the third statement is incorrect.

Explanation

Madhya Pradesh shares its western border with the eastern boundary of Gujarat. Therefore, Madhya Pradesh lies to the east of Gujarat, while the western side of Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea. This makes statement 4 incorrect, while all other statements regarding the geographical boundaries and features of Gujarat are correct.

Explanation

The Mahi river basin covers an area of 34,842 square kilometers. It is geographically bounded on the north and north-west by the Aravalli hills, on the south by the Vindhya Range, and on the west by the Gulf of Khambhat.

Statement 2 is incorrect because the Ukai Dam is constructed across the Tapi River in Gujarat. Statement 4 is incorrect because the Mahi River flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, but does not traverse through Maharashtra.

Explanation

Brown gold is a widely used term for lignite, a key mineral resource of Gujarat. The Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation extracts lignite from the Tadkeshwar project located in Mandvi Taluka, Surat district.

Manganese ore deposits in the state are prominently found in the Shivrajpur area of Panchmahal district, which has historically been a significant source of manganese mining.

Fluorspar, an essential industrial mineral, is mined from the world-renowned Ambadungar deposit situated in Kawant Taluka of Chhotaudepur district.

Bauxite is rich in the coastal belt of Gujarat, with major exploration and mining sites located in the Devbhoomi Dwarka district.

Explanation

Gujarat is divided into 8 distinct agro-climatic zones based on factors like rainfall, temperature, soil type, and cropping patterns. These 8 zones include both the South Gujarat (heavy rain area) Zone and the South Gujarat Zone. The North Gujarat Agro Climatic Zone features sandy loam to sandy soils. However, the South Gujarat Agro Climatic Zone is dominated by deep black clayey soils rather than sandy and saline soils, which are instead characteristic of the North West Zone of Gujarat. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Explanation

Under Koeppen's climate classification of India, the semi-arid steppe climate, designated as BShw, is found in the transitional zone between the extremely dry Thar Desert in the west and the wetter areas to the east. This zone covers Central Rajasthan, running parallel to the east of the Aravalli range, as well as parts of Haryana and Gujarat. The region is characterized by high temperatures, low and highly variable rainfall, and sparse, steppe-like vegetation consisting of short grasses and thorny shrubs.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because Himalayan rivers flow through soft, unconsolidated sediments and carry heavy silt loads, which leads to frequent course changes and bed shifting. In contrast, Peninsular rivers flow through the hard, crystalline rock structures of the stable Deccan shield, maintaining fixed, stable channels with very little scope for shifting their beds.

Statement 2 is correct because major Himalayan rivers such as the Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra originated before the uplift of the Himalayas. As the mountains rose, these rivers cut deep gorges to maintain their original paths, exhibiting an antecedent drainage pattern.

Statement 3 is correct because Peninsular rivers generally follow the natural slope of the terrain. The majority of these rivers flow from the Western Ghats toward the East coast, following the gradient of the Peninsular plateau, which is the defining characteristic of a consequent drainage system.

Explanation

Mahadeo Hills are located in Madhya Pradesh and form the central part of the Satpura Range, placing them in Central India. Mikir Hills are a group of hills located to the south of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which is in North East India.

Explanation

The meeting zones of warm and cold ocean currents create highly productive marine ecosystems. When these contrasting currents collide, it causes upwelling, which brings nutrient-rich deeper waters to the surface. This abundance of nutrients, combined with optimal sunlight and temperature conditions, stimulates the rapid growth of phytoplankton, which form the base of the marine food web. Consequently, zooplankton and diverse fish populations thrive in these regions. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland, where the warm Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador Current, and the waters off Japan, where the warm Kuroshio meets the cold Oyashio Current, are classic examples of such world-renowned fishing grounds.

Explanation

Andaman and Nicobar Islands include volcanic islands such as Barren Island, which is the only active volcano in South Asia, and Narcondam Island, which is a dormant volcano. These islands were formed due to tectonic activity and subduction of the Indian Plate under the Burma Plate, resulting in volcanic eruptions.

The Deccan Trap is a large igneous province that was formed by the outpouring of basaltic lava during the late Cretaceous period. This massive volcanic activity occurred via fissure eruptions over a hotspot, creating thick layers of volcanic basalt rocks that cover a significant portion of west-central India.

Explanation

El Nino represents the anomalous warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming disrupts global atmospheric circulation, particularly weakening the Walker Circulation. The eastward shift of the main convective zone suppresses the ascending motion of air over the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, leading to high-pressure conditions and sinking air over the region. Consequently, this weakens the pressure gradient driving the southwest monsoon winds, reducing moisture transport to the Indian Subcontinent and frequently causing deficient or weak monsoon rains.

Explanation

A device driver is a specialized software program that acts as a translator or interface between a computer's operating system and a specific peripheral hardware device. It translates the operating system's generic input and output commands into specialized instructions that the physical device can interpret and execute. Without a device driver, the operating system would not be able to send and receive data correctly to or from peripherals like printers, scanners, keyboards, or graphics cards.

Explanation

The Bharat Interface for Money is a mobile payment app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India based on the Unified Payments Interface. Launched in December 2016, the app is designed to facilitate quick, secure, and reliable cashless transactions directly through bank accounts, supporting the digital India initiative to transition the country toward a cashless economy.

Explanation

NPTEL stands for National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (often termed as National Program on Technological Enhanced Learning). It is a major online e-learning initiative jointly developed by seven premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Funded by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and launched in 2003, the platform offers free online curriculum-based video and web courses in engineering, basic sciences, humanities, and management.

Explanation

INS Khukri (K71), a Blackwood-class anti-submarine frigate built in the UK, was launched by the Indian Navy on November 20, 1956, and commissioned in 1958. Hence option (A) INS Khukri is correct.

Explanation

Maareech is the Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS) developed indigenously by DRDO labs, specifically the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in Kochi and the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam. This state-of-the-art system is used by the Indian Navy to detect, classify, locate, and counter incoming torpedo attacks on warships by using both towed and expendable decoys to divert acoustic homing torpedoes.

Explanation

The lift-off mass of Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, was 1380 kg. In comparison, Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, carried a much heavier composite payload consisting of an orbiter, the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan rover, resulting in a significantly higher total lift-off mass of approximately 3850 kg.

Explanation

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), popularly known as monkey fever, is caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. First identified in 1957 in the Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka, this zoonotic disease is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera) or through direct contact with infected monkeys.

Explanation

Lukoskin is an ayurvedic proprietary medicine developed by the Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research (DIBER), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specifically for the treatment of Leucoderma, commonly known as vitiligo. Leucoderma is a skin condition characterized by the loss of pigment, leading to white patches on the skin. Lukoskin is formulated using Himalayan herbs that work synergistically to stimulate melanin synthesis, regulate immune dysfunction, and promote skin pigmentation in affected areas.

Explanation

The photoreceptor drum of a Photostat machine is coated with a thin layer of selenium. Selenium is a photoconductive element, meaning it behaves as an electrical insulator in the dark but becomes a conductor when exposed to light. During the photocopying process, the selenium-coated drum is electrostatically charged. When light reflected from the original document is projected onto the drum, the illuminated areas of selenium become conductive and discharge. The dark areas of the document do not reflect light and therefore retain their electrostatic charge, creating a latent image that attracts the toner particles.

Explanation

ISRO set a world record on February 15, 2017, by successfully launching 104 satellites in a single mission using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, specifically the PSLV-C37. This historic launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The payload included three Indian satellites, Cartosat-2 series, INS-1A, and INS-1B, alongside 101 co-passenger nano-satellites from international customers such as the United States, Kazakhstan, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

Explanation

Coal liquefaction is the chemical process used to convert solid coal into liquid hydrocarbons, which can serve as synthetic fuels, solvents, or chemical feedstocks. This conversion is achieved through two main methods: direct coal liquefaction, where coal is dissolved in a solvent at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of hydrogen, and indirect coal liquefaction, where coal is first gasified into synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) and then synthesized into liquid fuels using the Fischer-Tropsch process.

Explanation

Following China's first nuclear test at Lop Nur in October 1964, India faced significant strategic and political pressure to develop a deterrent. Under persistent advocacy from Homi J. Bhabha, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri authorized the Subterranean Nuclear Explosion Project (SNEP) in early 1965. This top-secret project was sanctioned to research and design nuclear explosives for peaceful purposes, representing the first official step toward developing India's underground nuclear explosion capability.

Explanation

On March 1, 2018, India, Russia, and Bangladesh signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Bangladesh. Under this landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement, Indian companies participate in construction and installation works, and supply materials and non-critical equipment for the project. Additionally, India plays a key role in capacity building, personnel training, and rendering consultancy services, as the plant is being built by Russia's state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom. This agreement represents India's first initiative to assist in building a nuclear power project in a third country.

Explanation

VoLTE stands for Voice over Long-Term Evolution. It is a technology that allows both voice calls and data transmission to be carried over the 4G LTE network simultaneously, unlike older LTE setups where voice calls fall back to 2G or 3G networks using Circuit Switched Fallback technology. Additionally, although VoLTE transmits voice calls as data packets over the internet protocol, telecom operators bill these calls based on minutes of usage (or include them in unlimited calling plans) rather than deducting them from the user's data pack. Voice calls on VoLTE are not counted against the standard data usage quota.

Explanation

Black smokers are hydrothermal vents located on the ocean floor, typically along mid-ocean ridges and volcanic arcs. They are formed when extremely hot, mineral-rich water from deep within the Earth crust is forced upward and discharges into the cold ocean water. The sudden cooling causes dissolved minerals, primarily dark metal sulfides like iron, copper, and zinc sulfides, to precipitate out of the solution immediately. This process builds up tall, chimney-like structures that discharge plumes of black, smoke-like mineral particles into the surrounding water column.

Explanation

Convex lenses are converging lenses that focus light rays to a point. They are used in reading spectacles to correct hypermetropia (farsightedness), a defect of vision where close objects appear blurry because the image is formed behind the retina. The convex lens provides additional converging power to focus the image directly on the retina.

Concave lenses are diverging lenses that spread out light rays. They are used in spectacles to correct myopia (nearsightedness), a defect of vision where distant objects cannot be seen clearly because the image forms in front of the retina. The concave lens diverges the incoming light rays before they enter the eye, allowing the image to focus precisely on the retina.

Explanation

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted in 2001, targeted an initial group of twelve hazardous chemical substances known as the dirty dozen. These persistent organic pollutants are highly toxic, resist environmental degradation, bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms, and travel long distances through air and water. The twelve chemicals initially identified include nine pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, and toxaphene), two industrial chemicals (hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs), and two unintentional by-products of combustion and industrial processes (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans).

Explanation

Lagrange points are unique positions in space where the gravitational pull of two large masses, such as the Sun and the Earth, precisely balances the centrifugal force required for a much smaller third body to move with them. This gravitational equilibrium creates stable or semi-stable regions where spacecraft can remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth and the Sun, making them excellent locations to park astronomical observatories and heliophysics missions with minimal fuel expenditure for orbit maintenance. In any two-body system, there are exactly five such points, designated as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5, which provide strategic vantage points for observing either the Sun or the deep universe.

Explanation

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign to target children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years. This massive campaign was designed to provide a single dose of the combination MR vaccine to nearly 410 million children across India in a phased manner, aiming to eliminate measles and control rubella. Measles and Rubella are highly contagious viral infections, rather than bacterial diseases, which are transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Explanation

The United Nations World Water Development Report is published annually by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, with its coordination managed by the World Water Assessment Programme. The 2018 edition of this report, themed around nature-based solutions for water, was officially launched at the 8th World Water Forum held in Brasilia, Brazil, in March 2018.

Explanation

The Ujjwala Plus scheme was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to enable individuals, corporates, and institutions to donate or sponsor LPG cooking gas connections for the benefit of poor households that are not covered under the Socio Economic and Caste Census database or the regular Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Under this initiative, donors can contribute funds through a non-profit organization established by oil marketing companies, and these donations qualify for tax benefits under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because blue waves are a natural occurrence known as bioluminescence, where living marine organisms produce and emit light through chemical reactions. This mesmerizing phenomenon is relatively rare on coastal shores and happens under specific environmental conditions when water is agitated by wave action or tides.

Statement 2 is incorrect because the electric blue glow in waves is primarily caused by bioluminescent phytoplankton, specifically microscopic single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates, such as Noctiluca scintillans. It is not caused by fluorescent corals, which exhibit a different light-emission mechanism (fluorescence rather than bioluminescence) and do not create the moving blue wave phenomenon at the ocean surface.

Explanation

The One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) is a global biennial initiative created and led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), formerly known as the Earth Hour City Challenge, rather than the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The challenge invites municipalities and cities from participating countries around the world to report their ambitious and innovative climate actions, targets, and plans. By disclosing their climate data through recognized platforms like the CDP-ICLEI Track, participating cities demonstrate how they are delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Explanation

Gene testing, or genetic testing, is highly versatile and serves multiple purposes. It is widely used in genetic genealogy to analyze specific DNA markers, allowing individuals to trace their lineage, estimate geographic origins, and determine ancestry. Additionally, gene testing plays a crucial role in healthcare by identifying gene mutations responsible for heritable diseases. Through carrier screening, prenatal testing, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, individuals can assess the risk of passing on genetic conditions to their offspring, enabling informed reproductive choices and medical interventions that help in preventing or managing genetic disorders.

Explanation

In a nuclear reactor core, uranium-235 undergoes nuclear fission when it is struck by a neutron, splitting into lighter fission fragment elements and releasing heat. Although thermal (slow) neutrons are preferred to sustain a controlled chain reaction, uranium-235 can also undergo fission when struck by fast-moving neutrons.

The nuclear fuel itself is manufactured by processing uranium into uranium dioxide, which is a ceramic material. This ceramic uranium oxide is formed into thousands of small, robust cylindrical pellets. These pellets are then stacked inside metal fuel rods, which are grouped into assemblies to constitute the core of the nuclear reactor.

Moderators are substances used to slow down fast neutrons so they can efficiently cause further fission. Petrol and diesel are highly flammable organic fuels and are never used as moderators; instead, materials like light water, heavy water, or graphite are utilized for this purpose. This makes statements 1 and 3 correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.

Explanation

The International Space Station operates in Low Earth Orbit at an average altitude of approximately 400 kilometres above the Earth's surface.

The assembly of the space station began with the launch of its first module, Zarya, in November 1998. The primary configuration and major assembly of the station concluded in 2011 with the final flights of the US Space Shuttle program, which delivered the last set of major pressurized modules and structural components.

Explanation

Stealth technology, also known as low observable technology, employs a combination of advanced techniques to minimize the detection of military vehicles by radar, infrared, sonar, and visual methods. It integrates specialized radar-absorbent paint coatings to reduce visual and radar signatures, physical design modifications with sharp angles and flat surfaces to deflect incoming radar waves away from the receiver, and composite construction materials that absorb rather than reflect electromagnetic radiation. Collectively, these features successfully reduce the overall radar cross-section of the vehicle.

Explanation

The Wild Elephant Population Census in India in 2017 estimated the total number of wild elephants in the country to be 27,312, which is approximately 30,000. This validates Statement 1.

The Southern region of India recorded the highest elephant population of 11,960, which is higher than the North-East region, which stood at 10,139 elephants. This makes Statement 2 correct.

Karnataka topped the list among all states with 6,049 elephants, followed by Assam with 5,719 and Kerala with 3,054. Tamil Nadu recorded 2,761 elephants, making Statement 3 incorrect. Therefore, only Statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect because 4D printing is based on additive manufacturing, where material is joined or solidified layer-by-layer to create a three-dimensional object, rather than multiplicative manufacturing.

Statement 2 is correct because 4D printing utilizes smart materials, such as shape-memory polymers, hydrogels, and shape-memory alloys, to construct objects that can alter their shape or properties after fabrication.

Statement 3 is correct because these smart materials are designed to undergo shape, phase, or property changes when triggered by external environmental stimuli or conditions, such as temperature, humidity, light, pH, or magnetic fields.

Explanation

Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) is an advanced bidirectional, high-speed, and fully networked wireless communication technology that represents a highly sophisticated version of Wi-Fi. It uses the visible light spectrum to transmit data at extremely high speeds, overcoming the spectrum limitations of radio waves used in Wi-Fi.

The core of Li-Fi technology is a bright Light-Emitting Diode (LED). Data transmission is achieved by varying the intensity of light emitted by the LED at extremely high speeds. A photodetector or photoreceiver then detects these rapid flickers, which are imperceptible to the human eye, and converts them back into electronic data. This modulation of light from the LED source forms the fundamental basis of Li-Fi communication.

Explanation

The Center of Excellence for Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming on Vegetables is established at Vadrad, Sabarkantha. This center incorporates advanced technologies like vegetable plug nursery production, protected cultivation techniques, and smart irrigation to address crop yield issues and input losses.

The Center of Excellence for Post Harvest Management of Date Palm is located at Kukma, Kutch. Given that Kutch is India's primary date palm cultivation hub, this center focuses on improving the post-harvest shelf life, processing, and handling practices for date palm crops.

Explanation

Ballistic missiles are launched into a high-arc trajectory, travelling outside the atmosphere of Earth before re-entering it to deliver warheads on targets. This ballistic path is primarily determined by gravity and air resistance.

Cruise missiles are jet-propelled, unmanned vehicles that travel at relatively low altitudes, staying within the atmosphere of Earth. They fly parallel to the terrain and are continuously guided throughout their flight path to adjust their trajectory.

Unlike cruise missiles which require constant guidance and propulsion, ballistic missiles are powered and guided during the initial launch phase (boost phase) when their rocket engines burn. Advanced ballistic missiles can also employ terminal guidance systems just before hitting the target to improve accuracy, while the intermediate mid-course phase of their flight is entirely unguided and governed by gravitational and aerodynamic forces.

Explanation

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct: Electronic Warfare aims to disable/jam enemy electronic devices and intercept or hack navigation and communication signals; Samyukta is the Indian Army's mobile integrated electronic warfare system (jointly developed by DRDO, BEL and ECIL); and Sangraha is the DRDO-Navy joint EW programme providing the naval counterpart to Samyukta for shipborne and airborne naval platforms. Statement 4 is incorrect - there is no Air Force EW system called "Garuda"; the Indian Air Force's equivalent integrated electronic warfare/ESM system is actually named "Divya Drishti", not Garuda. Since only statement 4 is wrong, statements 1, 2 and 3 only are correct, making (D) the right answer.

Explanation

Bharat Stage emission standards are regulatory standards instituted by the Government of India to control the output of air pollutants (such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter) from internal combustion engine equipment, which primarily includes transport vehicles. These standards, based on European regulations, are updated and enforced by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

These vehicular emission standards apply exclusively to mobile sources, meaning transport vehicles, and do not apply to stationary sources of pollution. Stationary sources such as power plants and small-scale industries are governed by separate, industry-specific emission and effluent standards regulated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: LED lamps do not contain mercury (unlike CFLs, which do). Statement 2 is correct: LEDs do not fail abruptly; their light output degrades gradually over their lifespan (lumen depreciation) rather than failing suddenly like CFLs/incandescent bulbs. Statement 3 is incorrect: LEDs are actually more energy-efficient than CFLs, not the other way round. Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making option (C) the right answer.

Explanation

These terms are fundamental concepts in astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics, which are central to the scientific study, observation, and understanding of the universe. The Event Horizon refers to the boundary surrounding a black hole from which nothing, not even light, can escape, while a Singularity represents the point of infinite density and gravity at the center of a black hole where space and time distort infinitely. String Theory is a theoretical framework in physics where the basic constituents of the universe are modeled as tiny, vibrating strings rather than point-like particles, aiming to reconcile gravity and quantum mechanics. The Standard Model of particle physics is the established theory that describes three of the four fundamental forces of nature and classifies all known elementary particles.

Explanation

According to the All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018 released in July 2019, Madhya Pradesh has the highest tiger population in India with 526 tigers. Karnataka occupies the second position with 524 tigers, and Uttarakhand is in third place with 442 tigers. This results in the descending order of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand.

Explanation

An object's perceived color is determined by the wavelengths of visible light it reflects back to our eyes. When light falls on a blackboard, the surface absorbs all wavelengths of the visible light spectrum and does not reflect any color. Since no light is reflected to the observer's eyes, the brain perceives this absence of reflected light as black.

Explanation

The apparent brightness of a star as observed from Earth is determined by its intrinsic luminosity and its distance from the observer. According to the inverse-square law of light, the apparent brightness (b) is related to luminosity (L) and distance (d) by the formula:

b = L / (4πd²)

Furthermore, according to the Stefan-Boltzmann law, the luminosity of a star depends on its radius (R, representing its size) and its effective surface temperature (T):

L = 4πR²σT⁴

Substituting the luminosity formula into the brightness equation yields:

b = (R²σT⁴) / d²

where σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant. This direct physical relationship demonstrates that the brightness of a star depends on its size (radius R), temperature (T), and distance from Earth (d).

Explanation

Phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃) is not used as an explosive. It is primarily used as an industrial chemical intermediate in the synthesis of other chemical products, including organophosphorus pesticides, plasticizers, flame retardants, and gasoline additives.

Explanation

Oils and fats in fried food items undergo rancidity primarily due to oxidation. When exposed to oxygen, light, or moisture over time, the unsaturated fatty acids present in the oils react with oxygen to form hydroperoxides. These hydroperoxides further break down into volatile compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids, which impart an unpleasant odor and taste to the food. Checking the date of manufacture helps ensure the food is consumed before this oxidative degradation occurs.

Explanation

Statement 1 is false: Haemophilia is an X-linked genetic disorder affecting blood clotting factors (VIII or IX), not white blood cell count. Statement 2 is false: the sex of a newborn is determined by the sperm (X or Y chromosome) contributed by the father, not by chromosomes from the mother, since the mother always contributes an X chromosome. Statement 3, as printed in the official question paper, is the one marked correct by the GPSC answer key -- it captures the fact that haemophilia incidence is much lower in women (who need both X chromosomes to carry the defective allele) than in men. Hence only statement 3 is correct, making option B ("3 only") the answer.

Explanation

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, and its deficiency leads to osteoporosis due to weakened bone density.

Vitamin E acts as a powerful antioxidant that protects body tissues from damage caused by free radicals, and its deficiency is associated with cellular damage and premature ageing.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is vital for maintaining healthy skin and mucous membranes, and its deficiency causes angular cheilitis, resulting in cracks on the skin.

Vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver, meaning its deficiency causes impaired blood coagulation and excess loss of blood during injury.

Explanation

Cereals such as rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oats are highly rich sources of carbohydrates, which typically make up about 70% to 80% of their total dry weight. They serve as the primary dietary source of energy for humans globally, primarily in the form of starch, making the statement that they are a very poor source of carbohydrates scientifically incorrect.

Explanation

Artificial insemination is a widely used fertility treatment wherein washed and concentrated semen containing sperm is directly introduced into a female's reproductive tract, specifically into the uterus (a procedure known as intrauterine insemination, or IUI), using a thin catheter. The objective of this medical procedure is to bypass potential barriers in the cervix and vaginal canal, placing a high concentration of active sperm closer to the fallopian tubes where natural fertilization of the female's own egg takes place inside her body.

Explanation

India ratified the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in August 2017, making statement 3 correct. The Doha Amendment, which was adopted in 2012, is an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol to establish its second commitment period. The Kigali Amendment is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol aimed at phasing down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. Therefore, only statement 3 is correct.

Explanation

The National Biodiversity Authority is a statutory autonomous body established in 2003 to implement the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The authority is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It performs regulatory and advisory functions for the Government of India on issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use. This mandate directly involves safeguarding the traditional knowledge and protecting the intellectual property rights of local and indigenous communities related to biodiversity, ensuring that their resources are not exploited without consent and proper benefit-sharing agreements.

Explanation

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a critically endangered crocodilian native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is characterised by its long, thin snout, which is adapted specifically for catching fish.

The National Chambal Sanctuary, situated along the Chambal River, serves as the main stronghold for this species and supports the largest remaining wild breeding population of gharials.

The IUCN Red List classifies the gharial as critically endangered, noting that the global population of mature individuals had declined to approximately 250 due to severe habitat degradation, river pollution, and fishing-related threats.

Explanation

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is primarily an air pollutant and a precursor to acid rain. It is not classified as an ozone-depleting substance because it does not directly engage in the catalytic chemical reactions that destroy stratospheric ozone. While stratospheric SO₂ can form sulfate aerosols that provide surfaces for reactions, these reactions only accelerate ozone loss when halogenated compounds from human-made sources are already present in the stratosphere; SO₂ itself does not directly destroy ozone molecules.

Explanation

According to the 22nd edition of the language database Ethnologue, the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse country in the world, topping the list with 840 living languages. India holds the fourth position globally with 453 living languages. Globally, there are 7,111 living languages, which is far greater than 5,000. Additionally, according to the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, India has 197 endangered languages, of which 42 are classified as critically endangered.

Explanation

In August 2019, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) received regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) respectively to establish a joint international derivatives platform. Under this collaboration, named the NSE IFSC-SGX Connect, trading of SGX Nifty derivatives and other index-based products was transitioned to the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This strategic initiative aimed to consolidate the liquidity pool of Nifty products under Indian jurisdiction while providing global investors with seamless access to Indian equity derivatives.

Explanation

The men's singles title at the 2019 Australian Open was won by Novak Djokovic, who defeated Rafael Nadal in the final, making the first pair incorrect.

Explanation

The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced to replace the older Consumer Protection Act, 1986 in order to address modern challenges such as e-commerce, tele-marketing, and direct selling.

It codifies six essential consumer rights. These rights include the right to be protected against the marketing of goods, products, or services that are hazardous to life and property; the right to be informed of quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price; the right to be assured of access to a variety of goods or services at competitive prices; the right to be heard; the right to seek redressal; and the right to consumer awareness.

To enforce these rights, the Bill provides for the establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) by the Central Government. The CCPA functions as a regulatory body to promote, protect, and enforce consumer rights, and has the power to regulate unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.

While the CCPA can penalize misleading advertisements, the actual penalty prescribed for a manufacturer or endorser is up to ₹10 lakh and imprisonment of up to 2 years for the first offence, which can extend to up to ₹50 lakh and up to 5 years of imprisonment only for subsequent offences.

Explanation

In July 2019, the Committee of Administrators of the Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed a three-member ad-hoc Cricket Advisory Committee. This high-profile committee was specifically tasked with selecting the next head coach for the senior Indian men's cricket team.

The three members appointed to this panel were former Indian men's team captain Kapil Dev, former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, and former Indian women's team captain Shantha Rangaswamy. The committee conducted the interview process in August 2019 and reappointed Ravi Shastri as the head coach.

Explanation

The Finance Act of 2019 introduced an increase in special additional excise duty and road and infrastructure cess of ₹1 per litre each on both petrol and diesel, resulting in an overall increase of ₹2 per litre on these fuels.

To promote a cashless economy and discourage large cash transactions, Section 194N was introduced in the Income Tax Act. Under this provision, a tax deducted at source of 2% is levied on cash withdrawals exceeding ₹1 crore in a financial year from a bank account or post office account.

The corporate tax rate was not reduced from 50% to 35%; instead, the 2019 Union Budget extended the lower corporate tax rate of 25% to all companies with an annual turnover of up to ₹400 crore.

Explanation

The fieldwork for the 7th Economic Census of India officially commenced on 29 July 2019 in the state of Tripura. The exercise was conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in partnership with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.

As per the official schedule established at the launch of the census in 2019, the data collection fieldwork across all states and union territories was planned for completion by the end of the year, with the final results at the national level slated to be made available by March 2020.

Explanation

The Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan Dhan Yojana is a voluntary and contribution-based pension scheme launched to provide social security to retail traders, shopkeepers, and self-employed individuals.

Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive a minimum assured monthly pension of Rs. 3000 after attaining the age of 60 years. Thus, statement 1 is correct, and statement 2 is incorrect because the pension is provided after 60 years of age, not 50.

The scheme is open to self-employed shopkeepers, retail traders, and other small traders aged between 18 and 40 years whose annual GST turnover does not exceed Rs. 1.5 crore, making statement 3 correct.

To be eligible, individuals must not be covered under any other social security schemes such as the National Pension Scheme, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, Employees' State Insurance Scheme, or be an income tax payer. Therefore, statement 4 is also correct.

Explanation

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) is a flagship centrally sponsored poverty alleviation program. Statement 1 is correct because the scheme was launched in June 2011 as the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), and it was subsequently renamed as DAY-NRLM with effect from March 2016. Statement 2 is correct as the central objective of the mission is to mobilize rural poor households, particularly women, into Self Help Groups (SHGs), providing them continuous support to access financial resources and establish sustainable economic activities. Statement 3 is correct because the project is partially funded and supported by the World Bank, which provided a credit of 1 billion USD to support the implementation of the National Rural Livelihoods Project (NRLP).

Explanation

Under the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the proposed single, permanent Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal is designed to function with multiple benches to adjudicate on different disputes concurrently. The provision for establishing multiple benches under the single permanent tribunal is aimed at accelerating the resolution process, making the claim that it cannot have other tribunal benches incorrect.

Explanation

The L1 Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth system is located at a distance of approximately 1.5 million km from the Earth, which is about 1% of the total distance between the Earth and the Sun.

Aditya-L1 is India's first space-based solar observatory mission designed to be placed in a halo orbit around this L1 point, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted observation of the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. The spacecraft carries seven scientific payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun. Its primary payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), which is designed to study the solar corona and coronal mass ejections.

Explanation

Under the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act 2019, the eligibility criteria for the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was expanded. Previously, only a retired Chief Justice of India could be appointed as the chairperson, but the amendment made retired Judges of the Supreme Court eligible for the post.

Additionally, the amendment reduced the term of office for the chairperson and members of both the National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC) from five years to three years, or until they attain the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

Explanation

Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of the Likud Party, which is a major center-right to right-wing political party in Israel. Founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties, Likud has been one of the two main political forces in the country, and Netanyahu has served as its chairman and represented the party during his multiple tenures as Prime Minister.

Explanation

The United States Senate passed a legislative provision under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020 that elevates India's defense status to a level on par with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and major non-NATO allies like Israel and South Korea. This strategic upgrade facilitates the transfer of highly sensitive, state-of-the-art military technologies and eases the acquisition of advanced defense platforms. Furthermore, the legislative provision actively promotes deeper bilateral security engagement, directly bolstering defense and maritime cooperation between India and the US in areas such as maritime security, humanitarian assistance, counter-terrorism, and joint military operations across the Indian Ocean. Since all three statements accurately reflect this legislative development, there are no incorrect statements.

Explanation

The Economic Survey 2018-19 highlights that under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), 93.1% of rural households had access to toilets. Among those households with access to toilets, 96.5% were using them in rural India, as verified by the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19. Meanwhile, as of June 14, 2019, 30 States and Union Territories had achieved 100% coverage of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) rather than 50% coverage. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct while statement 3 is incorrect.

Explanation

The Economic Survey of India 2018-19 highlights that India, with a per capita energy consumption of about one-third of the global average, must scale up its energy usage significantly to sustain its growth trajectory. The survey states that a 2.5 times increase in per capita energy consumption is necessary for India to increase its real per capita GDP by 5000 dollars at 2010 prices and enter the upper-middle-income group. Additionally, a 4 times increase in per capita energy consumption is needed for India to reach a high Human Development Index score of 0.8. On the energy capacity front, the survey notes that India stands 4th globally in wind power, 5th in solar power, and 5th in total renewable power installed capacity. Furthermore, thermal power continues to play a dominant role in India, accounting for a 60% share of electricity generation.

Explanation

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) launched the Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI) to rank states and Union Territories based on their implementation of agricultural marketing reforms, land leasing, and forestry on private land. According to the index reports, Maharashtra achieved the first rank in implementing these reforms, while Gujarat secured the second rank with a score of 71.5 out of 100.

Explanation

Uttarakhand was recognized by the Government of India as one of the best-performing states under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme in 2019. The state was felicitated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for its consistent performance and significant improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB).

Explanation

The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express, flagged off on October 4, 2019, is the first train in India to be operated by a non-railway entity, specifically the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). This initiative marked the first step by the Ministry of Railways to involve private players and corporatized operators in running passenger trains, introducing modern on-board amenities, premium services, and a unique compensation model for passenger travel delays.

Explanation

Keerthy Suresh won the Best Actress award at the 66th National Film Awards, announced in 2019. She received this prestigious honor for her critically acclaimed performance in the Telugu biographical drama film Mahanati. In the movie, she portrayed the life of the legendary South Indian actress Savitri, capturing her rise to superstardom and subsequent personal struggles with remarkable depth and authenticity.

Explanation

All of the given statements about Nanaji Deshmukh are correct, meaning none of them are incorrect.

First, Nanaji Deshmukh was a key political organizer who served as the secretary of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in Uttar Pradesh. He is widely credited with bolstering the party footprint by establishing units in every district of the state by 1957.

Second, as an educationist and social reformer, he was instrumental in establishing the first Saraswati Shishu Mandir school at Gorakhpur in 1950, which initiated a nationwide movement for value-based education rooted in Indian culture.

Third, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 for his legendary service to the nation and pioneering work in rural self-reliance, prior to being posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 2019.

Explanation

India signed the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation on August 7, 2019.

The convention is popularly and officially known as the Singapore Convention on Mediation, rather than the New Delhi Convention on Mediation.

On the day it opened for signature on August 7, 2019, a total of 46 countries, including major global economies like India, the United States, and China, signed the treaty.

The convention provides a uniform, efficient, and harmonized framework for the cross-border enforcement of international settlement agreements resulting from mediation, resolving a major gap in alternative dispute resolution.

Explanation

The One Nation One Card (also referred to as the One Nation One Ration Card) scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to facilitate nationwide portability of benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This initiative allows eligible beneficiaries to buy subsidized foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop in India using their existing ration cards, directly linking the scheme to the Public Distribution System (PDS) of India.

In August 2019, the scheme was implemented on a pilot basis across two inter-state clusters: Andhra Pradesh with Telangana, and Gujarat with Maharashtra. It has no connection with the National Registration of Citizens (NRC).

Explanation

The Nagar Kirtan is a traditional Sikh religious procession involving the singing of holy hymns. In August 2019, to mark the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, an international Nagar Kirtan carrying the holy Guru Granth Sahib was taken out from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in the Punjab province of Pakistan. This religious procession comprised and was led by Sikh devotees as they crossed over the international border via the Attari-Wagah land transit route to reach Punjab in India.

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India included Bank of China Limited in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, officially granting it permission to offer regular banking services in India. This inclusion was notified in August 2019 and enabled the Chinese state-owned lender to perform commercial banking operations in the country under RBI guidelines, starting with its first branch in Mumbai.

Explanation

According to the global GDP database compiled by the World Bank, India registered a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 2.73 trillion USD in the year 2018. While India's economy continued to expand from its 2017 valuation of 2.65 trillion USD, the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar coupled with a minor domestic growth slowdown allowed the United Kingdom and France to overtake India in nominal GDP terms. Consequently, India slipped in the global rankings to become the 7th largest economy in the world, positioned behind the United States, China, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

Explanation

The Code on Wages, 2019 stipulates that the minimum wages must be revised and reviewed by the Central or State governments at an interval of not more than 5 years, making statement 3 incorrect. Additionally, Section 16 of the Code specifies that the employer, not the employee, shall fix the wage period as daily, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, which makes statement 4 incorrect.

Explanation

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched a multi-centric Phase III clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two vaccine candidates, IMMUVAC (also known as Mycobacterium indicus pranii) and VPM 1002, in preventing tuberculosis. Known as the PreVenTB trial, this preventive trial targeted healthy household contacts of newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, who face a high risk of contracting the disease. VPM 1002 is a genetically modified recombinant BCG vaccine, while IMMUVAC is a heat-killed whole-cell vaccine, both aimed at providing robust immunity against tuberculosis infection and active disease progression.

Explanation

In August 2019, the Government of Maharashtra approved infrastructure project status for the 10 billion dollar Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop project. The state government named the DP World-Virgin Hyperloop One consortium as the original project proponent for the development. This ultra-high-speed transit system is designed to reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Pune to approximately 35 minutes by transporting passenger and cargo pods through low-pressure tubes using magnetic levitation technology.

Explanation

The Vahali Dikri Yojana (Dear Daughter Scheme) is a flagship financial assistance welfare initiative launched by the Government of Gujarat in August 2019 to improve the socio-economic status of girls, prevent child marriage, and discourage female foeticide.

The scheme was introduced to improve the child sex ratio (0 to 6 years age group) in Gujarat, which stood at 890 female children per 1000 male children as per the 2011 Census.

Under this scheme, financial assistance of ₹1,10,000 is provided to the first two girl children of eligible families in three installments: First installment: ₹4,000 is provided at the time of admission into Class 1. Second installment: ₹6,000 is provided at the time of admission into Class 9. Third installment: ₹1,00,000 (one lakh rupees) is provided upon reaching 18 years of age for higher education or marriage.

Thus, statement 3 is incorrect because the scheme does not offer ₹10,000 at the time of admission into Class 5. Consequently, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.