Insights Exam-4

1. In the ‘Wholesale Price Index’, which one of the following is accorded the highest weight?

2. The Global Hunger Index is calculated and released by the

3. To reflect the multidimensional nature of hunger, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) combines three equally-weighted indicators in one index number:
1) Proportion of undernourished
2) Proportion of under-5 underweight children
3) Mortality rate of under-5 children
4) Adult female literacy rate
5) Proportion of population living below $1 in Purchasing-Power-Parity terms per day
Which, from the above list, are the indicators?

4. Which of the following sections of the Information Technology Act grants Internet Service Providers (or intermediaries) immunity from liability, in certain cases, for the content they host?

5. Consider the following statements: 1) An exclusive rail-and-road-way will be open at Kolkata and pass through Bangladesh to end at Kaladan in Tripura
2) It will provide an alternate route of goods movement between the Northeast Indian states and mainland India
3) It will reduce pressure on the Siliguri Corridor
Which of the above statements about the ‘Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project’ are correct?

6. The ‘White Cane Day’ also known internationally as the ‘White Cane Safety Day’ was organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment recently to sensitize the common man about the challenges being faced by

7. ‘Programme for International Student Assessment’ (PISA) is a survey conducted by

8. With reference to the relationship between the State of Jammu and Kashmir and India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) An amendment made to the Indian Constitution does not apply to the state unless it is extended by a presidential order
2) Part IV and Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution are applicable to the state with some exceptions and conditions
3) While Article 1 of the Indian Constitution is applicable to the state, Article 3 is not
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

9. Through the Universal Immunisation Programme, India has achieved the elimination of which of the following diseases?
1. Polio
2. Measles
3. Small Pox
4. Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

10. Dr. Abdul Kalam’s birth place (Rameswaram) was recently included in the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformatin (AMRUT) mission for providing basic urban infrastructure. Which among the following is/are the thrust areas of the AMRUT mission?
1) Pedestrian facilities
2) Upgrading green spaces and parks
3) Storm-water drains
4) Parking spaces
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

11. The ‘International Tourism Mart’ is organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with

12. Consider the following pairs:
Stage   Reactors
 First:   Pressurised Light Water Reactors
 Second:    Fast Breeder Reactors
 Third:    Thorium-based Reactors
Which of the above pairs, with respect to India’s 3-stage nuclear power programme, are correctly matched?

13. Which of the following diseases is/are caused by parasites?
 Elephantiasis
 Malaria
 River Blindness
 Visceral Leishmaniasis
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

14. The Indian Constitution deals with the citizenship from

15. Despite showing spectacular annual growth rate in recent years like no other crop in India, onion price shocks are hitting frequently. What may the reasons be for the recurrence of abnormal rise in onion prices?
1. Unfavourable weather
2. Global glut in onion production
3. Onion area and production is concentrated in a few states
4. Cartelisation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

16. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Despite a very sharp increase in per capita availability of onion, its real price has been moving on a rising, though fluctuating, trend
Reason (R): Large expansion of eateries along with the use of it (onion) in various snacks has considerably increased its demand
Which of the above statements is/are true?

17. With reference to ‘FinTech’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) It is an abbreviated form of ‘Financial Technology’
2) Bitcoin can be classified as a FinTech innovation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

18. The proposed China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connects

19. Consider the following statements
 It is administered by the office of the Registrar General of India, which also conducts the decadal census
 Under this system, it is mandatory to register all births and deaths within 21 days of their occurrence
Which of the above statements about about India’s Civil Registration System (CRS) is/are correct?

20. The ‘Sendai framework’ – the first intergovernmental agreement of the United Nations post-2015 sustainable development era – is a framework for

21. The Government of India will host the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in 2016. Which of the following statements about this conference is/are incorrect?
1. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is a co-organiser
2. This is not the first time that India is hosting it
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

22. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Satellites and test-missiles are often launched from the east coast
Reason (R): A launch towards the east direction will get an initial boost equal to the velocity of Earth’s surface at that location
Which of the above statements is/are true?

23. Consider the following statements about the ‘Nirbhay’ missile:
1) It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed long range sub-sonic cruise missile
2) It is a 100-kilometre class cruise missile
Which of the above statements is/are true?

24. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Cruise missiles are very effective at evading detection by the enemy
Reason (R): Cruise missiles are built of RET (Radar Evasion Technology)-compliant parts
Which of the above statements is/are true?

25. With reference to the ‘Sahitya Akademi Award’, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
 Only those languages mentioned in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution are eligible for the award
 A work of translation from one Indian language to another is not eligible for the award
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

26. With reference to India, stake sales in state firms is overseen by

27. Disinvestment proceeds of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are credited to the existing Public Account under the head ‘National Investment Fund’. For what purpose can funds be withdrawn from it?
1. Financing selected social sector schemes
2. Recapitalisation of public sector insurance companies and Public Sector Banks
3. Investment in Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited
4. Subscribing to shares being issued by the CPSEs, on rights basis so as to ensure 51% ownership of the Government in them is not diluted
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

28. Recently, the ‘whitefly attack’ damaged over 75 per cent crop across the cotton belt in Punjab. How do whiteflies damage crops?

29. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Petroleum prices have not reacted to the worsening geopolitical situation in the major oil-producing regions of West Asia (Middle-East)
Reason (R): Global demand for commodities is sluggish
Which of the above statements is/are true?

30. Government of India’s long term goal is to increase its forest cover through a planned afforestation drive. This planned afforestation drive includes which of the following programmes and initiatives?
1) Green India Mission
2) Green Highways policy
3) Plantation along rivers
4) United Nations REDD-Plus programme
5) Compensatory Deforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

31. Which of the following are elements of the ‘basic structure’ of the Indian Constitution?
 Harmony between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
 Primacy of judiciary in judicial appointments
 Parliamentary democracy
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

32. Who is the final interpreter of the Indian Constitution?

33. Which of the following provisions of the Indian Constitution deal with appointments of the Supreme Court and High Court judges respectively?

34. The Agriculture Demand Side Management (AgDSM) scheme is being implemented by

35. Consider the following statements:
1) Its share of total electricity consumption has nearly doubled between 1970 and today
2) The rise in electricity consumption can be attributed to a policy of below-cost electricity supply to farmers
3) The increase in electricity consumption can also be attributed to growth of rural electrification
4) Its share of total electricity consumption has remained about the same since 1970s
Which of the above statements associated with the Agricultural sector is/are correct?

36. Consider the following pairs:
National Waterway   Associated Name/Rivers/Places
River   Ganga
Kottapuram-  Kollam
Kakinada-  Puducherry canal
River   Narmada
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

37. Which of the following articles in the Indian Constitution contain provisions which guarantee judicial review?
 Article 13
 Articles 32 and 226
 Article 131
 Article 124
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

38. Which of the following acts/subjects fall under List-II of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
1. Prevention of cruelty to animals
2. Legislations banning cow slaughter
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

39. Which of the following acts/subjects fall under List-III of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?
1) Road Safety Bill
2) Forests
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

40. Consider the following statements:
 It holds the largest store of permanent ice and permafrost outside the North and South Pole
 In the last 50 years the temperature here has increased by about three times the global average
Which region do the above statements hold true for?

41. The ‘third pole’, which is often seen in the news, refers to a region which is

42. Which of the following statements about the ‘bio-digester-based toilet’ is/are incorrect?
 It helps recharge groundwater
 It eliminates the need for manual scavenging
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

43. The ‘Sahel’ region is now flooded with arms, illicit drugs and terrorist groups. This region refers to which of the following areas?

44. What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
 Kandahar
 Bishkek
 Dushanbe
 Kabul
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

45. With reference to the Government of India, ‘Indradhanush’ may refer to

46. Researchers worry that thawing of permafrost will release methane, exacerbating climate change. Which of the following statements about permafrost are correct?
 It is perennially frozen soil that has been below zero degrees centigrade for at least two years
 Permafrost can also be found below the ocean floor
 The warming of permafrost has been linked to the development of sink holes
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

47. Which of the following statements with regard to Article 23 in the Indian Constitution are incorrect?
 It grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained under a preventive detention law
 This fundamental right is available to citizens and ‘aliens’ as well
 Legislative power with regard to preventive detention has been divided between the Parliament and the state legislatures
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

48. Which of the following reasons may be considered most appropriate for Government-of-India projects having stalled in recent past?

49. The Telangana government recently celebrated ‘Bathukamma’. Which of the following statements about it is/areincorrect?
 It is celebrated for nine days during ‘Durga Navratri’
 It is primarily a women’s festival
 It is also known as ‘Festival of Flowers’
bSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

50. The foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital was recently laid at Amaravati on the banks of river Krishna. Which among the following are tributaries of this river?
 Bhima
 Musi
 Malprabha
 Indravati
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

51. The recently concluded joint military training exercise, ‘Hand in Hand’, was conducted by which two nations?

52. Consider the following statements about the recently launched ‘India Handloom’ brand:
1) It sets a standard which is to be followed by all Handloom weavers in India
2) It is an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

53. ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’ was launched and is administered by

54. Which of the following statements about the ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’ (RSBY) scheme is/are correct?
 Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one
 The RSBY card is a biometric-enabled smart card
 A beneficiary who has enrolled from one state can use the RSBY card in any RSBY-empanelled hospital across India
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

55. The President of India recently promulgated an ordinance for the constitution of commercial courts. Which of the following statements about his ordinance-making power is/are incorrect?
 He can promulgate an ordinance only when both Houses of Parliament are not in session
 An ordinance, unlike any other legislation, cannot be retrospective
 An ordinance cannot be issued to amend the Constitution
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

56. ‘Ashokastami Mela’ is an annual fair held in the month of April in the state of

57. Which of the following statements associated with ‘Unakoti’, considered to be a ‘lost civilization’, is/are correct?
1. The pantheons are of two types – rock carved and stone images
2. A rock-carved image of Shiva’s head, 30 feet high, is known as ‘Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava’
3. It is influenced not only by the Shiva cult, but also the cults of Tantric and Hatha Yogis
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

58. Consider the following statements about the season of ‘retreating monsoon’ in India:
1) It begins with the southward shift of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
2) It is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature in North India
3) Tropical cyclones of the season can strike the coast of Bangladesh too
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

59. ‘Whooping Cough’, is another name for

60. ‘Mission Indradhanush’ is designed to be a national immunization drive with special attention to districts with low immunization coverage. Which of the following are included in the strategy for its implementation?
 Meticulous planning of campaigns
 Effective communication and social mobilization efforts
 Training of the Risk Management Task Force
 Establish an accountability framework
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

61. What colors make up the United Nations Flag?

62. Many in Telangana have started walking along the ‘eight-fold path’ or the ‘Ashtanga Marg’ to pursue the Buddhist way of life. Which of the following is/are not one of the eight principles?
1. Finding the right view
2. Right livelihood
3. Right concentration
4. Right knowledge
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

63. Which of the following statements about the ‘International Ocean Discovery Program’ is/are incorrect?
1) It is an international research collaboration that coordinates seagoing expeditions to discover new species of marine life
2) It also is involved in study of the geological history of our planet
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

64. The Citizenship Act of 1955 prescribes five ways of acquiring citizenship. Which among the following constitute these ‘ways’?
 By Birth
 By Descent
 By Naturalisation
 By Incorporation of Territory
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

65. Consider the following statements:
 It is also known as the ‘Human African Trypanosomosis’
 It does not occur in India
With reference to the ‘River Blindness’ disease, which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

66. Which of the following may be considered to be a ‘financial intermediary’?
 Investment Bankers
 Insurance Companies
 Mutual Funds
 Pension Funds
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

67. Which of the following is/are goals of India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions?
 To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 – 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
 To increase its forest cover to 33% of the total land area
 To achieve 40% of total electric power generation from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

68. Consider the following statements:
1. It is a set of ideas which are the absolute opposite to those of the first green revolution
2. This method uses fewer seeds than traditional methods of the green revolution
Which of the above statements about the ‘System of Rice Intensification’ technique is/are true?

69. Consider the following statements about ‘Hermit crabs’:
1) They lack an external shell on their soft abdomen
2) They ‘steal’ the shells of dead crab species
Which of the above statements is are correct?

70. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recently tied up with about 30 Public Sector Undertakings in order to jointly tackle man-made or natural emergencies. Which of the following is/are not associated with NDRF?
 It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world
 It imparts basic and operational level training to State Response Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards)
 It carries out public awareness campaigns
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

71. Consider the following statements:
 Seismic activity is one of the most important direct sources of information about the interior of the earth
 The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called ‘hypocentre’
 Earthquakes can be manmade
With regard to the phenomenon of Earthquakes, which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

72. Consider the following statements associated with Earthquake measurements in India:
 The country is grouped into four seismic zones viz. Zone-II to Zone-V
 The Modified Mercalli scale consists of twelve increasing levels of intensity
Which of the above statements is/are true?

73. Basmati rice usually helps farmers fetch higher returns. Which among the following statements about the crop is/are true?
 Its water requirement is lesser than regular paddy
 It can be sown late as it is a short duration paddy crop
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

74. Recently, scholars have delineated several levels of diplomacy. Which of the following ‘tracks’ of diplomacy are explained correctly?
 Track 1: Official discussions typically involving high-level political and military leaders
 Track 2: Official and non-official actors work together to resolve conflicts
 Track 3: People-to-people diplomacy undertaken by individuals and private groups, involving meetings and conferences and generating media exposure
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

75. The statue of ‘Gommateshvara Bahubali’ at Shravanabeḷgoḷa is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage destinations) in Jainism. It was constructed under the patronage of

76. Which of the following statements associated with the Central Information Commission is/are incorrect?
 Including the Chief Information Commissioner(CIC), there can be no more than ten Information commissioners (ICs)
 An IC is not eligible for reappointment, but under certain conditions is eligible for appointment as CIC
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

77. The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) was recently shut down by the Union Health Ministry. Which of the following functions were performed by it?
1. It used to help ascertain what could be culturally acceptable nutritional interventions
2. This organisation was involved only in continuous collection of data on actual dietary intakes of households as a whole
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

78. Consider the following statements:
1) In ‘Gestational Surrogacy’, the resulting child is genetically unrelated to the surrogate
2) In ‘Traditional Surrogacy’, the resulting child is genetically related to the intended father and the surrogate
Which of the above statements associated with different types of surrogacy is/are incorrect?

79. Which of the following statements about ‘Assisted Reproductive Technology’ is/are correct?
 It is another name given for the two processes of ‘In Vitro Fertilisation’ and ‘Surrogacy’
 It is used only for infertility treatments
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

80. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has the power to secure compliance of its decisions from any public authority. This does not include
 Publishing information or categories of information
 Directing the public authority to appoint a Public Information Officer where none exists
 Providing access to information in a particular form
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

81. The ‘Karamay Declaration’ recently seen in the news, is

82. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme is being implemented by

83. River Mandakini is a tributary of river

84. The Government has decided to set up a National Tribal Advisory Council for effecting monitoring and implementation of various tribal welfare schemes. The council will be chaired by the

85. The ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ is the first of its kind to be organized by the Ministry of Culture in terms of its diversity and size. Consider the following pairs:
Art form  State
 Rikampana    Arunachal Pradesh
 Godambaza    Madhya Pradesh
 Ghoomar    Karnataka
 Lai Haroba   Manipur
Which of the above art forms, being showcased at the festival, are matched correctly to their place of belonging?

86. China recently dropped its controversial one-child policy on account of, among other reasons, a low ‘Total Fertility Rate’ (TFR). Which of the following statements about TFR is/are correct?
 It represents the number of children that a woman would bear in accordance with current age-specific fertility rates if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years
 The Replacement Fertility Rate is nothing but TFR of roughly 2.1
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

87. Consider the following list:
1. Ottawa Dialogue
2. India-Pakistan Joint Business Forum
3. Chaophraya Dialogue
4. Exchange for Change
Which of the above may be classified under ‘Track-II Diplomacy’?

88. Although India has sought membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) since 2008, its application hasn’t been decided on, to this day. Which of the following statements about the NSG is/are incorrect?
1) It was set up as a reaction to India’s first nuclear tests
2) India has received from it a ‘special waiver’ to conduct nuclear trade with all nuclear exporters
3) For any resolution to come into force, the same must be passed by a two-thirds majority
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

89. India has set a target of 175GW renewable energy (RE) capacity addition by 2022, of which solar energy is to contribute the most. Arrange the following sectors in order of decreasing green power installed capacity in India today:
 Wind power
 Solar power
 Bio-power
 Small hydro power
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

90. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is an emerging trade pact among

91. Consider the following statements:
 ‘X’ is a charitable institution
 X purchased 1 kilogram worth of gold bonds over two fiscal years
 X bought gold bonds through designated post offices
Which of the above statements is/are possible with regard to the Government of India’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’?

92. The Government of India recently reiterated its stand to introduce the cleaner Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel in the country by 2020. Which of the following statements associated with BS is/are incorrect?
 This is the Euro vehicle emission standards under an Indian label
 Although lead-free fuel is sold in India, the in-force BS norms permit some sulphur content in these fuels
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

93. Armenians came to India between 16th and 17th centuries as traders travelling through Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet. Armenia is located between

94. What are some of the issues plaguing the governance of liquidation or revival of companies, viz. The bankruptcy system, in India?
1) The decision to liquidate or save a company can itself take a few years
2) No single bankruptcy code
3) Staffing constraints
4) For a single company, creditors and owners can all initiate competing proceedings in different courts
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

95. Which among the following countries in Northern Europe border Russia?

96. The ‘Hazarika Commission’ was recently constituted by the Supreme Court of India to look into the issue of

97. Precise position information from satellites can have which of the following applications?
 Optimal utilization of fertilisers by farmers
 Issuing flood alerts
 Reducing train collisions
 Air traffic management
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

98. Consider the following statements:
 Indian Public Sector oil and gas companies have made investments in Africa
 About 20% of our total crude oil import is from Africa
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

99. In 2003, the Election Commission issued an order directing every candidate seeking election to the Parliament or a State Legislature to furnish on his nomination paper some information. Consider the following statements:
1. Has the candidate been convicted, acquitted or discharged in any criminal offence in the past?
2. The assets, including bank balances, of a candidate and his/her spouse and that also of dependents
3. Liabilities, viz. Are there any dues of any public financial institution or government dues?
The order seeks which of the above information to be furnished by a candidate?

100. The ‘Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters’ is one which will most effectively tackle tax evasion while minimising costs to governments and business. This Standard has been developed by