Q1. With reference to Hesaraghatta Lake, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
1.It is a manmade lake situated in the State of Tamil Nadu.
2.It is a freshwater lake.
3.This lake is built across river Arkavathi.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a)1 only (b)2 and 3 only (c)1 and 2 only (d)1,2 and 3
Ans.(b)
Explanation:
Hesaraghatta lake was built in 1894 across river Arkavathi. It is a manmade reservoir located 18 km to the north west of Bengaluru in Karnataka State. It is a fresh water lake created to meet the drinking water needs of the city.
Facts about Arkavathi river:
• Arkavathi is an important river in Karnataka, originating at Nandi Hills.
• It is a tributary of Cauvery river.
• The river has historically been used as a source of drinking water in Bangalore and the surrounding regions.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF):
1. It is the country’s first ever sovereign wealth fund and has been incorporated as a company.
2. Indian government has three fourth shareholding.
3. India Japan fund has been recently proposed under it.
Choose the correct code:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (C)
Explanation:
National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) is India’s first ever sovereign wealth fund (SWF) that was set up by the Indian Government in the year 2015.
The Indian government has a 49% stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and domestic investors.
The primary objective of setting up NIIF was to optimise the economic impact largely through investing in infrastructure related projects
It has been incorporated as a company under the Companies Act, 2013 and is acting as the investment manager to Alternative Investment Funds
The NIIF has proposed setting up its first bilateral fund, an ‘India Japan Fund’ with contributions from the government, and signed an MoU on November 9 with the Japan Bank for International Development, it told the council.
Q3. Which of the following statements regarding CITES (Convention on International trade in Endangered species of wild flora and Fauna) are correct?
1. CITES came into existence as a result of resolution adopted at 1972 Stockholm Conference.
2. It is legally binding international agreement to regulate international trade in wildlife and wildlife products and thus takes place of national laws.
3. The CITES secretariat is administered by UNEP. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a)1 only (b)2 and 3 only (c)3 only (d)1and 3 only
Ans. (c)
Exp. CITES was conceptualised as a result of resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of the (IUCN) International Union For Conservation Of Nature. It came into force in 1975 and consists of 183 member countries till date that abide by CITES regulations by implementing legislation within their own borders to enforce those regulations.
Though CITES is legally binding international agreement to regulate international trade in wildlife and wildlife products but it does not takes place of national laws. Rather, it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.
The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) and is located at Geneva, Switzerland. It plays a coordinating, advisory and servicing role in the working of the Convention (CITES).
Q4. With reference to cyclones, what is/are the difference(s) between Tropical and Extra Tropical cyclones?
1.The extra tropical cyclones have a clear frontal system which is not present in the tropical cyclones.
2. The Tropical cyclones move from West to East but Extra Tropical cyclones, move from East to West.
3.Tropical cyclones can originate over the land and sea, whereas the Extra Tropical cyclones originate only over the seas.
Select the correct answer using code given below: (a)1 only (b)3 only (c)1 and 2 only (d)2 and 3 only
Ans.(a)
• The systems developing in the mid and high latitude, beyond the tropics are called the middle latitude or extra tropical cyclones.
• The extra tropical cyclones have a clear frontal system which is not present in the tropical cyclones.
• They cover a larger area and can originate over the land and sea.
• The extra tropical cyclones move from west to east.
• Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas.
• They are known as Cyclones in the Indian Ocean, Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Typhoons in the Western Pacific and South China Sea, and Willy willies in the Western Australia.
• Tropical cyclones originate only over the seas and on reaching the land they dissipate.
• Tropical cyclones, move from east to west.
Q5. With reference to ‘Balijatra’, consider the following statements:
1.It is an open air fair festival celebrated in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
2.It celebrates the ancient trade relations between India and Southeast Asian countries. Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only (b)2 only (c)Both 1 and 2 (d)None of the above
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct: ‘Balijatra’ literally means Voyage to Bali, is an open air fair festival celebrated every year in the months of October and November in the city of Cuttack (Odisha) at Gadagadia Ghat on the Mahanadi River. Balijatra also found a place in the Guinness World Records in the year 2022 for achieving an impressive feat of ‘Origami’ which means creation of beautiful paper sculptures of boat. Another important tradition related to the fair is ‘Boita Bandana’ worship of boats, to mark the ancient trade relations between Kalinga (Odisha) and Southeast Asia.
Statement 2 is correct: It is celebrated to mark the day when Sadhabas (Odia Mariners) sailed to lands of Bali, Java, Sumatra and Sri Lanka for trade and expansion of culture. Therefore, it is organised every year to commemorate the 2000 year old maritime and cultural links between India and South and Southeast Asian countries.
Q6. Moscow format was in news recently it is a,
(a)Peace plan presented by Russia for Russia Ukraine conflict.
(b)Global aim to double tiger population.
(c)Scientific plan presented for exploration of Arctic. (d)One of the several dialogue platforms on Afghanistan.
Explanation
The Moscow format one of the several dialogue platforms on Afghanistan which began before the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
The Moscow Format was set up in the year 2017 as a six party mechanism. It involved Russia, India, Afghanistan, Iran, China and Pakistan.
Later the membership was expanded and now the grouping consists of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan also.
Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to Vikram S rocket:
1. This was the first ever private launch of rocket in the space from ISRO.
2. The thrusters used for spin stability in the vehicle have been 3D printed Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 Nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
The private sector in India will mark its first foray into the space launch market on Friday at 11.30 am when the Vikram S rocket is scheduled to lift off from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) launchpad in Sriharikota. Developed over two years by Skyroot Aerospace, a company started in 2018 when India’s space sector was not yet open to private players, Vikram-S is a single-stage solid fuel rocket meant to test nearly 80 per cent of all systems and processes before the launch of Vikram 1 scheduled for next year.
The launch will be sub orbital, with the vehicle travelling slower than orbital velocity. This means that while the vehicle will reach outer space, it will not remain in orbit around the Earth. The flight will take less than five minutes.
On the other hand, Vikram 1 will be a much larger vehicle that will undertake orbital flights. The Vikram series of rockets developed by Skyroot is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of the Indian space programme. These rockets are among the few launch vehicles in the world which have their core structure built using carbon composites. The thrusters used for spin stability in the vehicle have been 3D printed.
The engine used in the launch vehicle was named after former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The performance of the ‘Kalam 80’ will be one of the key areas that the company monitors during the flight of Vikram S.
PYQ 2022
Q. Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake Location
1.Hokera Wetland Punjab
2.Renuka Wetland Himachal Pradesh
3.Rudrasagar Lake Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a)Only one pair
(b)Only two pairs
(c)Only three pairs
(d)All the four pairs
Ans.(b)
PYQ 2017
Q. With reference to 'National Investment and Infrastructure Fund', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2. It has a corpus of Rs. 4,00,000 crore at present.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (d)
Q. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer thing the code given below.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (b)
Q. Consider the following sentences:
1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1 and 3 only
Ans.(c)
Q. Consider the following pairs: Tradition State
1.Chapchur kut festival Mizoram
2.Khongjom Parba ballad Manipur
3.Thang Ta dance Sikkim
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only (b)1 and 2 (c)3 only (d)2 and 3 ANSWER (B)
Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as ‘Arab Spring’ originally started from (a) Egypt (b) Lebanon (c) Syria (d) Tunisia
Q. Consider the following statements:
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA 3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (c)