Insights Exam-9

1. Wind circulations from the surface upwards and vice-versa are called cells, which set the pattern for the general circulation of the atmosphere. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1. The Hadley Cell is associated with the tropics whereas the Ferrel Cell is associated with the mid-latitudes
2. Changes in temperature of the polar region affects the strength of wind circulation in the tropical cell
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

2. When corals are under stress, they expel the algae living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) Corals can survive a bleaching event
2) Cold water temperatures can result in coral bleaching
3) Corals and algae live in a symbiotic relationship
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

3. Which of the following statements associated with John Maynard Keynes is/are correct?
1. He tried to theorise about and explain the fact that the economy may have long lasting unemployment
2. He advocated that government fiscal policy should be used to stabilise the level of output and employment
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

4. The strait of Bab-el-Mandeb connects

5. Consider the following State – Associated Folk Dance pairs:
1) Arunachal Pradesh – Bro-Zai
2) Assam – Bardoishikla
3) Mizoram – Cheraw
4) Sikkim – Hozagiri
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

6. Consider the following statements:
 Wholesale prices – as measured by the Wholesale Price Index – have been continuously declining for over the past year
 The continuous decline of overall merchandise exports for over the past year has been stemmed due to a sudden expansion in shipments to the United States of America
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

7. Which among the following constitute Non-Tax Revenue Receipts?
 RTI Application fees
 Spectrum charges
 Dividends from the Reserve Bank of India
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

8. Following are commodity groups in the Wholesale Price Index:
 Primary Articles
 Fuel and Power
 Manufactured Products
Select the correct answer using the code given below, where comparison is being made on the basis of weights that have been accorded to each of them:

9. India is said to be preparing to expand its sphere of operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In this context, which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
Participating country – Joint Military Exercise
1. Sri Lanka – Ekuverin
2. Maldives – Mitra Shakti
3. Seychelles – Garuda Shakti
4. Indonesia – Ex Limtaye
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

10. Which of the following statements about Ramachandra Panduranga is/are false?
1) He was a Maratha Brahmin in the service of Peshwa Baji Rao II
2) He was one of the rebel leaders in India’s first war of Independence
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

11. The regulatory authority of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is derived from the rules and notifications promulgated under the

12. ‘Albendazole’ is

13. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): There is still considerable resistance on the part of litigants in India to opt for mediation in the form of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods
Reason (R): The mediation process in India lacks proper statutory framework
Select the correct answer:

14. With reference to the Government of India’s decision to cut interest rates on short-tenure small savings schemes, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This move could result in the improvement of investor sentiment
2. The rates on such small savings schemes would from now onward be revised every quarter
3. High interest rates on small savings schemes was one of the key reasons for poor monetary policy transmission in recent times in the economy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

15. What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following regions in East Asia as one proceeds from South to North?
1) Hong Kong
2) Paracel Islands
3) Spratly Islands
4) Brunei
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

16. The Union Cabinet recently gave its ‘in principle’ approval to Project INDIGO. This project is being piloted by

17. The Ministry of AYUSH has the mandate to promote, propagate and globalize recognized Traditional and Complementary Systems of Medicine (T&CM) which include
1) Naturopathy
2) Unani
3) Siddha
4) Sowa-Rigpa
5) Homeopathy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

18. “Operation Khanij Khoj” is being undertaken by

19. Which of the following statements about ‘Sowa-Rigpa’, a recognized Traditional and Complementary System of Medicine in India, are correct?
1. It is commonly known as ‘Amchi’ system of medicine
2. Much of its theory and practice is similar to Ayurveda
3. It is practiced in some parts of Nepal, Bhutan and also in former Soviet Union
4. This medical tradition originated in Tibet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

20. Which of the following statements about the Bar Council of India is/are correct?
1) It is a statutory body
2) It prescribes standards of professional conduct and etiquette for members of the bar
3) It provides financial assistance to organizes welfare schemes for the members
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

21. The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province is known as delimitation. This job is carried out in India by the

22. With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements:
 The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law
 When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

23. It is said that in the absence of long-pending structural reforms, public sector banks (PSBs) have more to contend with than mounting Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Which of the following may be these concerns?
 The rapid emergence and adoption of Fintech
 Setting up of new as well as differentiated banks
 Staff shortage, specifically the top and middle-rung managers, in the near future
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

24. ‘Ibadat Khana’ from the Mughal Empire may refer to

25. Akbar’s ‘Ibadat Khana’ is located in

26. With reference to Emperor Ashoka, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1) He believed that an individual harmed others’ as well as his own religion when that individual honoured his religion and condemned others’
2) He established the Mauryan Empire in the third century BCE
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

27. During the second half of the nineteenth century, modern industry began to take root in India but its progress remained very slow. In this context, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
 Initially, this development was confined to the setting up of jute and cotton textile mills
 In the early years of the modern industry in India, the cotton textile mills were mainly dominated by Indians while the jute mills were dominated by the foreigners
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

28. A ‘flag march’ is

29. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Many victims of extreme hypothermia peel off most or all of their clothing
Reason (R): Extreme hypothermia causes sudden, uncontrolled and intermittent spikes in body temperature
Select the correct answer:

30. Which of the following statements about the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is/are incorrect?
 It is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB), and is also used as an additive in a number of cancer vaccines
 The BCG vaccine, in use at present, can only protect against severe forms of the disease in children but cannot prevent pulmonary TB in all age groups, including children
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

31. Which of the following is NOT one of the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission?

32. With reference to the FRBM Act, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
 The thirteenth finance commission had suggested setting up of a body which would undertake an ex ante analysis of the financial implications of budget proposals
 At present, the Comptroller Auditor General periodically monitors the compliance by the Government with the provisions of the Act (ex-post review)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

33. What is a ‘Bad Bank’, often mentioned in the news?

34. Which of the following is a provision made by Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code?

35. ‘Unemployment Rate’ is defined as

36. Consider the following statements with regard to the findings of the recently released National Sample Survey Office’s employment and unemployment survey:
1) Self-employment is the major source of income for almost half the households, across all religious groups, in rural areas
2) In urban areas, the proportion of households deriving major income from regular wage or salary earnings is the highest
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

37. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Christians in India have the highest rate of unemployment in both rural and urban areas
Reason (R): Unemployment level in India is highest among those people who are richer and more educated
Select the correct answer:

38. ‘Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha’ is

39. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has extended the ‘general approval’ for creation of critical public utility infrastructure by government departments, in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, up to 2018. Under which act has this ‘general approval’ been accorded?

40. The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) recently held its centenary year celebrations. In this context, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1. Gandhiji’s first major public appearance in India was at the opening of the BHU
2. BHU’s inauguration marked the opening of a nationalist university, sustained by Indian money and Indian initiative
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

41. Which of the following statements about CERN is/are correct?
1) It stands for ‘European Organisation for Nuclear Research’
2) It is the birthplace of ‘www’ – the World Wide Web
3) The touch screen widely used in smartphones was also first developed by it
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

42. An application to become an ‘Associate Member (AM)’ of CERN has been submitted by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) Pakistan is already an AM of CERN
2) AMs don’t have to contribute to the CERN budget
3) AMs have reduced voting rights in comparison to Members of CERN
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

43. Which of the following statements about the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is NOT correct?

44. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1) The division of India into a number of seismic zones is termed ‘Seismic Microzonation’
2) The impact of an earthquake does not necessarily decrease as one moves away from its epicenter
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

45. Consider the following statements about Britain and its relationship with the European Union (EU):
1) Britain is a member of the EU
2) Britain does not share the Euro but is a part of the Schengen border-free zone
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

46. Consider the following statements:
 River Bhadra originates from here
 It consists of montane grasslands as well as tropical rainforests
 This is a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The above statements refer to

47. An exhibition on the “Coin and Currency of India” was recently organised by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Consider the following statements regarding coinage in India:
1. The earliest of documented coinage is deemed to start with coins issued around the 3rd century BCE
2. The earliest coins were mostly made of silver and were punch-marked
3. Coins are considered to have been issued initially by merchant guilds and later by states
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

48. Under what circumstances is the Army requisitioned by the civilian administration?

49. The International Roma Conference and Cultural Festival was recently took place in Delhi. In this context, which of the following statements about ‘Roma’ is correct?

50. In economics, the ‘Laffer curve’ is

51. Which of the following statements associated with Aerosols is/are correct?
1) Aerosol Optical Depth is a measure of the extinction of the solar beam by dust and haze
2) Aerosols can either cool the surface, or warm it
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

52. Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?
 Basmati
 Nizamabad Black Pottery
 Meghalaya’s Memong Narang
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

53. Consider the following statements:
 Fiscal metrics in India are weak when compared to other countries with similar sovereign credit ratings
 India, compared to its peers, relies lower on foreign currency debt – one reason being its public debt-to-GDP ratio is lower than similarly rated countries
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

54. Certain medicines will soon carry a ‘red line’ on their packaging, differentiating them from other drugs. What is this coloured line supposed to convey?

55. Consider the following statements:
1) The penetration and success of modern card/digital payment products and services is concentrated to a large extent in the tier-l and tier-ll locations of the country
2) ‘Merchant Discount Rate’ is the rate charged to a customer by the merchant on account of bank-charges s/he bears for providing debit and credit card services
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

56. Associated with Indian History, the ‘Battle of Aberdeen’ refers to

57. Agitations for Cooch Behar to be designated as a ‘C’ category state have been ongoing. What does this ‘C’ category state mean?

58. Consider the following statements:
1. Advertising is a source of Non-fare box revenue for the Indian Railways (IR)
2. A lower figure of Operating Ratio is indicative of better financial health of a system such as the IR
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

59. Before the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011, the only effort at collecting data on different castes and their socio-economic circumstances was undertaken by the

60. The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks comes under

61. Consider the following statements:
1) In India, software in itself is not patentable
2) ‘Patent thicket’ is a term used by the developed nations to denote what they perceive to be rigid patent regimes such as India’s
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

62. The Mandal Commission was the Second Backward Class Commission. The First Backward Class Commission was the

63. What, according to the latest Economic Survey, are the most critical short term challenges confronting the Indian economy?
1. Poor monsoons
2. Impaired financial position of the Public Sector Banks
3. Impaired financial position of some corporate houses
4. Impact on inflation due to implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendation
5. The turmoil in global economy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

64. For addressing the most critical short term challenges confronting the Indian economy, the latest Economic Survey recommends adopting the ‘4R’ method. Which of these ‘R’s as mentioned below, are correctly defined?
1) Recognition: That foreign demand is weak and hence activate domestic sources of demand to prevent the growth momentum from weakening
2) Recapitalisation: Capital position of banks must be safeguarded via infusions of equity
3) Resolution: Of constraints to ease of doing business so as to instill confidence in investors and subsequently attract investment
4) Reform: The contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP must be enhanced by ushering in structural reforms
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

65. Consider the following statements:
1) In the last two years Indian services exports have been more affected than Indian manufacturing exports
2) Currently, India’s services exports constitutes about 3 percent of world exports
Which of the statements above is/are incorrect?

66. Consider the following statements:
1) As an investment proposition, the Rational Investor Ratings Index shows that India compares favourably with peer countries
2) In India, for the last year or so, even as real growth has been accelerating, nominal growth has been falling
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

67. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1) Average protein intake per capita per day rises steadily with the Monthly Per Capita Expenditure in rural as well as urban India
2) India has the highest number of undernourished people
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

68. With reference to the dairy sector in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) India ranks first in milk production, accounting for close to 20 per cent of world production
2) The per capita availability of milk in India is just below the world average
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

69. 2014-15 witnessed the highest ever increase in generation capacity of 26.5 GW compared to the average annual addition of around 19 GW over the past five years. In this backdrop, consider the following statements:
1) High tariffs and erratic supply have led to a slow but steady decline of industrial electricity purchases from utilities
2) Current power plant load factors have reached their lowest levels in recent times
Which of the statements above is/are incorrect?

70. An ‘Open Access (OA)’ policy was introduced under the Electricity Act 2003. What is the purpose of this policy?

71. The right to raise a question of privilege shall NOT be governed by which of the following conditions?
1. Not more than one question shall be raised at the same sitting
2. The question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

72. With reference to Parliamentary Privileges, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) These privileges are available not only to members of the Parliament
2) Parliamentary Privileges do not extend to the President who is also an integral part of the Parliament
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

73. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Coral reefs are vulnerable to ocean acidification
Reason (R): Any rise in acidity of water increases the susceptibility of coral skeleton to dissolve in water
Select the correct answer:

74. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Mosquitoes are unharmed by and unable to transmit HIV virus
Reason (R): T-cells or T-lymphocytes are absent in a mosquito’s digestive system
Select the correct answer:

75. Article 130 of the Indian Constitution states that

76. Which of the following statements about the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is/are incorrect?
 He is appointed by the President of India
 He is not eligible for further office either under the Government of India or of any State after he has ceased to hold his office
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

77. It is said that urea subsidies in India has led to its misuse – it is being diverted to non-agricultural uses and smuggled to neighbouring countries. Apart from its utilization as a fertilizer, what for is it used?
1. Milk adulteration
2. Manufacture of explosives
3. Manufacture of plastics
4. Reducing air pollution
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

78. According to the Fourth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey conducted by the Labour Bureau,
1) The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for rural areas is greater than that for urban areas
2) The LFPR for women is about the same as males in rural areas but significantly lower than males in urban areas
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

79. The ‘Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girl’s Education in India’ was launched last year to help identify

80. Consider the following statements with regard to Central Government finances in India:
 Of the total receipts, revenue receipts exceed capital receipts for the fiscal year 2015-16
 Revenue Deficit includes in it expenses incurred on creation of capital assets
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

81. Which of the following statements with regard to ‘where the rupee comes from’ (Central Government Receipts), in association with the latest Annual Financial Statement is NOT correct?

82. It is estimated that the incidence of renal failure is of the order of 2.2 lakh patients a year in India. With reference to Budget 2016-17, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Dialysis services will be provided in all Government district hospitals under Public-Private-Partnership mode
2. Certain parts of dialysis equipment will be exempt from basic customs duty
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

83. The ‘Raisina Dialogue’ seeks to

84. The ‘Shangri-La’ dialogue is

85. Consider the following statements:
1) Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions have, prior to Budget 2016-17, been Exempt-Exempt-Exempt (EEE)
2) The EEE status is also available for Public Provident Fund and life insurance policies
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

86. Which of the following statements about the EPF is/are incorrect?
 All workers must involuntarily contribute at least 12 per cent of their basic salary to it
 It is an example of a ‘subsidy’ for the rich
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

87. VPM1002 is

88. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1) In Indian art and architecture, both types of caves – man-made and natural – are found
2) In Buddhist architecture, ‘vihara’ is a prayer hall while ‘chaitya’ is a monastery
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

89. Which of the following statements with regard to the ‘36th International Geological Congress (IGC)’ is/are correct?
 This will be the first time that India hosts the IGC
 It will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Earth Sciences
 Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be co-hosts
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

90. The Government of India (GoI) has NOT recently signed, with which of the following countries, agreements in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy?

91. With reference to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhauling (MRO) operations under the Civil Aviation sector in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
 About 90 per cent of MRO operation expenses of Indian carriers is currently spent outside India
 The tools and tool-kits used by the MRO operations have recently been exempted from Customs and Excise duty
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

92. The ‘Setubharatam’ project will

93. Economic Relief in India is being provided to certain industries in order to achieve which of the following objectives?
 Promoting social equity
 Provide a level playing field for Indian exports in the international markets
 Encourage savings and capital investment in the economy
 Promoting industry and commerce in certain backward areas
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

94. With reference to the pardoning power of the President of India, consider the following statements:
1. Remission denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form
2. Reprieve implies a stay of the execution of a sentence for a temporary period
3. Respite denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

95. ‘Bhuvan’, an Indian government portal, is a

96. ‘Force 18’ is

97. Consider the following statements:
1. The Cartagena Protocol, a subsidiary agreement to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, prohibits the collection of plant materials by a foreign country without an agreement with host countries on the sharing of benefits arising from such resources
2. India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is applicable for the protection of some plant species
Which of the statements above is/are incorrect?

98. It was stated that Budget 2016-17 was to be ‘built on a transformative agenda with nine distinct pillars’. Which among the following are NOT these pillars?
1) Financial Sector Reforms
2) Ease of Doing Business
3) Defense Indigenisation
4) Fiscal Discipline
5) Blue Revolution
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

99. Consider the following statements with regard to the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA):
 Budget 2016-17 states it will be amended so that more entrepreneurs would be able to operate bus services
 It is up to the States whether or not to accept the amendments to the MVA made by the centre
Which of the statements above is/are correct?

100. Article 110 of the Indian Constitution deals with the definition of money bills. A money bill is one, if it contains which of the following conditions?
 The custody of the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI)
 The custody of the Contingency Fund of India
 Increasing the amount of any expenditure charged on the CFI
Select the correct answer using the code given below: