Insights Exam- 5

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

2. Consider the following statements:
1) In thorium-fuelled reactors, it is Uranium-233 that undergoes fission to produce electricity
2) India has some of the world’s largest sources of plutonium
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

3. Consider the following statements about the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC):
1) It is an organisation which is consensus based
2) India has an ‘observer’ status at the forum
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

4. India is a member of

5. Which of the following may be some applications of rare earth metals?
1. Purification of polluted rivers
2. Camera and Telescopic lenses
3. Oil refining and manufacturing
4. Electronics
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

6. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): A person’s eyes usually turn red on consuming alcohol
Reason (R): Alcohol consumption causes dilation of blood vessels
Which of the above statements is/are true?

7. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): A person’s eyes usually turn red on consuming alcohol
Reason (R): Alcohol consumption causes dilation of blood vessels
Which of the above statements is/are true?

8. With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
1) It has incorporated two new variables – 2011 population and forest cover
2) It has not made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

9. ‘Networking the networks’ is an international conference which seeks to

10. Which of the following statements about the South Asia Regional Information and Coordination Center (SARICC) is/are incorrect?
 It is a regional platform for exchange of information/intelligence on drug trafficking and related matters
 It is not a South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) initiative
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

11. ‘Labour disputes’, under the 7th Schedule in the Indian Constitution is a

12. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The Union Commerce Ministry looks into labour wage-hike related representations sent to the Centre
Reason (R): Higher wages could possibly make plantation businesses, which rely on exports and are already struggling from the global fall in commodity prices, unsustainable
Which of the above statements is/are true?

13. Corporate India’s investment performance has been rather poor in the recent past. Which of the following reasons may be considered most appropriate for the same?

14. Consider the following statements:
 Female voter turnout grew by more than twice as much as male voter turnout in Lok Sabha elections between 1971 to 2014
 A trend observed in most-recent assembly elections of all Indian states is the female voter turnout exceeding Male voter turnout
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

15. Which of the following descriptions about the three ‘doshas’ or ‘humors’ of Ayurveda is/are correct?
 Vata is related to elements of space and air only
 Pittha is related to elements of fire and water only
 Kapha is related to elements of earth only
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

16. Consider the following statements about the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC):
 It updates regularly the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases
 It is India’s National Coordination Centre for ‘Pharmacovigilance’
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

17. To give a boost to production of pulses, the Centre recently hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of rabi pulses. Which of the following statements about the MSP is/are correct?
 This is a form of insurance to agricultural producers
 It is announced by the Centre on the basis of recommendations made by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
 It is announced at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

18. Who of the following visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana?

19. Bharatmala’ is a

20. ‘UDAY’, a scheme recently launched by the Government of India,

21. Consider the following statement about the ‘Gross Enrollment Ratio’ (GER) in India’s higher education sector:
1) It has nearly doubled from around 11% in 2005-06 to 21% in 2012-13
2) The official target GER for 2020 is 30%
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

22. One of the main problems associated with gene therapy has been the inaccuracy of insertion of new (or ‘replacement’) DNA into cells. Which of the following techniques are known to possibly hold the solution to this problem?

23. Precursor Trafficking’ is

24. ‘Stubble burning’ is the deliberate setting fire of

25. Which of the following is/are implications of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement?
 It will cover about 40% of global commerce
 There is a possibility of trade diversions from India
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

26. “Migration and Development briefs” or the “Migration and Development Outlook” provide information on development implications of current migration and remittances issues. This publication is brought out by

27. Consider the following statements:
 Small Tea Growers account for over 30% of India’s annual tea crop output
 The Central Government recently extended benefits under the National Rural Health Mission to all tea plantation labourers
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

28. What are some of the issues plaguing the tea industry in West Bengal?
 Average price realization of teas have been irregular
 The Plantation Labour Act (1951) inflates costs incurred by the organized tea industry
 Labourers are illegally confined to tea estates for months on end
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

29. Consider the following statements:
1. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
2. It was designed by a British architect
3. India’s first commercial train departed from here
Which of the above statements about the ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus’ are correct?

30. It is known that drugs such as Ketoprofen and Diclofenac are largely responsible for the rapid decline of some vulture species in India. How does the presence of such drugs in waste carrion, which are consumed by vultures, cause their death?

31. Every Indian has a Fundamental Right to be defended by a lawyer. Which Article in our Constitution makes this provision?

32. A duty upon the State to provide a lawyer to any citizen who is unable to engage one due to poverty or other disability is a provision made by which of the following articles of the Indian Constitution?

33. Which of the following may be the reasons for Indian higher education institutes not figuring in global rankings?
1) Lack of high quality research
2) A large section of research work is done in vernacular languages
3) The lack of awareness among researchers regarding patents
4) Researchers not getting their works published in international journals
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

34. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The growing e-commerce transactions in some states have resulted in tax-revenue losses to these states
Reason (R): E-commerce companies are governed by Central Sales Tax laws and they don’t have to charge Value Added Tax on goods supplied to the consumer States
Which of the above statements is/are true?

35. Which of the following is/are NOT criteria for being qualified as a ‘biodiversity hotspot’?
1. Each one must be irreplaceable
2. It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation
Select the correct answer using codes given below

36. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) recently celebrated its 21st anniversary. Which of the following statements associated with NALSA is/are incorrect?
1) Providing free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society is one goal
2) It organizes Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes
3) To give effect to its policies and directions, State Legal Services Authority have been constituted in every state
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

37. ‘Hyogo Framework for Action’ and the ‘Sendai Framework’ are related to

38. Consider the following statements:
1) India has set up a target to achieve 1% share of International Tourist Arrivals by 2016-17
2) The contribution of tourism to total GDP of India, directly as well as indirectly, is more than 5%
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

39. Consider the following statements:
1) Under India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for the plantation sector, only tea is open to foreign investment
2) In case of the defence sector, proposals for FDI only in excess of 49 per cent will be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

40. For foreign investments in private banks, the government has allowed so-called full ‘Fungibility’. This means that

41. Consider the following statements about ‘Memang Narang’:
1) It is a citrus fruit
2) It belongs to Meghalaya
3) It has received the Geographical Indication (GI) registration
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

42. ‘The state shall take steps to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle and to improve their breeds’ is a provision made by which article of the Indian Constitution?

43. Which of the following states of India border Myanmar?
1) Mizoram
2) Meghalaya
3) Tripura
4) Arunachal Pradesh
5) Nagaland
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

44. The International Monetary Fund representatives have given China strong signals that the yuan is likely to soon join its basket of reserve currencies, known as ‘Special Drawing Rights’, or ‘SDR’. In this context, consider the following statements:
 The currency basket of the SDR currently includes the Dollar, Euro, Yen, Pound and the Rouble
 SDR serves as the unit of account of the IMF as also of some other international organizations
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

45. Which of the following statements about the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is/are incorrect?
 It is a statutory body
 It adjudicates any dispute between two or more service providers and between a service provider and a group of consumers
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

46. Raghuram Rajan, the Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was recently elected as vice-chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS). Which of the following statements about the BIS is/are correct?
 It is the world’s oldest international financial organization
 Once admitted as a member of the United Nations General Assembly, a country automatically becomes its member
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

47. The Indian Railways will play an important role in fulfilling the country’s commitment for reduction in emission of Green House Gases. Consider the following statements:
 Successive five-year-plans have allocated less resources to the railways compared to the transport sector as a whole
 The modal share in freight traffic is lesser for the railways vis-à-vis for roads
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

48. Karwar district in Karnataka recently hosted various games under the State-level Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan. Which of the following statements about this scheme is/are correct?
1. Sports complex is to be constructed in each block of the country, both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines
2. It also consists of provisions for financing purchase of sports equipment and furniture
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

49. Consider the following statements:
1) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is not guided by procedures laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure
2) Each state has its own NGT bench
3) ‘Right to decent environment and protection against hazardous industries’ is a part of Article 21
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

50. Subir Gokarn was recently appointed to represent the Indian constituency in the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, which is responsible for conducting its day-to-day business. The Indian constituency comprises
 India
 Sri Lanka
 Bangladesh
 Bhutan
 Nepal
 Maldives
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

51. The ‘Bharat Darshan’ is an annual tour conducted within India by the

52. Consider the following statements about the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
 The purpose of the fund earlier was to receive disinvestment proceeds of central public sector enterprises and invest the same to generate earnings from any projects
 The fund now cannot be utilized towards infrastructure development of brownfield projects
 It could also consider funding other greenfield projects, for example, in manufacturing
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

53. There exists a ‘Japan Plus’ cell for expediting clearances for Japanese investments in India. The nodal agency in the Central government which houses this cell, and also deals with matters relating to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is

54. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The North East connectivity project is struggling to take off one year after India and Japan jointly agreed to work on the project
Reason (R): Japan is insisting, among others, on a full-scale Environmental Impact Assessment even for improvement of existing single-lane highways
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

55. Consider the following statements about household savings in the form of physical assets:
1) Its contribution to household savings has stood around 50% all through the last decade (2004-05 – 2013-14)
2) It typically does not lend itself easily to financial intermediation in the economy
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

56. Chinese currency, noted the IMF’s (International Monetary Fund) Managing Director, could possibly be included in the IMF’s benchmark foreign exchange basket. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
 The IMF’s Executive Board has the final say in deciding whether a currency joins the basket of reserve currencies
 Review of the SDR (Special Drawing Rights) takes place once every ten years
 The ability of China to manipulate its exchange rate has now become more restricted
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

57. ‘Fisheries’ is a subject under which list of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

58. Farmers in Punjab are being pushed into the debt trap of exploitative non-institutional sources of credit. What may be reasons for the same?
1. High transaction cost of institutional credit
2. Non-availability of institutional non-collateral loans
3. Time-consuming procedure to avail Institutional loans
4. Some farmers are illiterate
5. Poor customer-service offered by banks
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

59. Evidence submitted to the judiciary by a police officer who is part of a probe team

60. Consider the following statements:
1) The port of Singapore is an important sea-route connection for India with Bangladesh
2) The biggest impediment in commencing coastal shipping between India and Bangladesh has been non-availability of the adequate ‘class’ of vessels in Bangladesh
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

61. The second “High Level Global Conference on Road Safety” was recently held in Brasilia. With reference to it, which of the following statements is/are correct?
 The ‘Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2016-2025’ was adopted at this conference
 This conference was supported by the World Health Organisation
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

62. The first Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet was recently inaugurated in New Delhi. AMRIT outlets will sell highly discounted drugs

63. ‘Ningol Chakouba’ is a festival – a grand feast for married daughters is prepared and hosted by parental households – celebrated in

64. Consider the following statements:
1. The first newspaper in India was the ‘Hickey’s Gazette’
2. It was launched by William and James Augustus Hickey
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

65. Consider the following statements about India’s first regional language newspaper:
1) ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’ was its name
2) It was a Bengali-language newspaper
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

66. This newspaper overnight turned into an English weekly in order to escape the provisions of the oppressive Vernacular Press Act. This newspaper was the

67. The ‘Indian Opinion’ was a newspaper launched in

68. Consider the following statements with regard to agricultural yield and productivity in India:
 Despite being among the leading producers of several food items, the yield gaps vis-à-vis other countries are wide
 An inverse relationship exists between increase in yield over time and the average cost of production of various crops
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

69. Agricultural yield is contingent upon several factors. These include:
1. Labour
2. Extension Services
3. Quality of water
4. Prices received by farmers
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

70. The ‘Rice Bowl of India’ refers to

71. Amur falcons are the longest travelling raptors in the world and come to Doyang Lake in Nagaland every year. With reference to these falcons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1) Until recently, Naga tribesmen used to hunt Amur falcons for their meat
2) It has been classified as a ‘vulnerable’ species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
3) They come to the lake during their flight from Mongolia to South Africa
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

72. Which of the following statements about the ‘Chhath puja’ is/are correct?
 It consists of four days of ritual dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiyya
 Mainly men do the puja, and have to go for long durations without food and water
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

73. The foundation stone of the first Mega Food Park in Telangana was recently laid. Which of the following statements about the Mega Food Parks Scheme is/are incorrect?
 Every state must set up at least one Mega Food Park under this scheme
 It includes the creation of Primary as well as Central Processing Centres
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

74. The Indian silk industry is expected to become self-reliant by 2020. In this context, consider the following statements:
1. India enjoys a unique distinction of producing all five major silk varieties
2. India has nearly doubled its raw silk production in the last 10 years
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

75. Which of the following pairs associated with the ‘International Film Festivals of India’ is/are correctly matched?
1) Permanent insignia – A celluloid camera with a single reel
2) Permanent venue – Goa
3) Permanent motto – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

76. Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept?

77. A joint sitting in the Parliament of India is convened by the

78. Consider the following statements with regard to the provision of ‘joint sitting’ in the Indian Constitution:
 In the absence of the Speaker, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha presides over it
 This provision is not available for a Constitutional Amendment
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

79. Consider the following statements with regard to the consequences of passing a bill by means of a joint sitting of the two houses in the Parliament of India:
1. It could dilute the country’s federal character
2. The Lok Sabha normally wins the ‘battle’
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

80. Which of the following are some applications of Nuclear sciences?
1) Management of water resources
2) Food security
3) Measuring and controlling soil erosion
4) Diagnosis and treatment of a large numbers of health problems
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

81. Which of the following statements about ‘Dhokra art’ is/are correct?
 It is unique to the Ojha artisan community
 The statue of the bronze ‘dancing girl’ from the Harappan civilization was cast using the same technique as in the case of Dhokra artefacts
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

82. The ‘Press Council of India’ is

83. River Ken passes through which tiger reserve?

84. ‘Hydroponics’ is the process of

85. ‘Enable Makeathon’ is

86. Consider the following statements about the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India:
1) It is a Government of India undertaking
3) It designs and produces products only for the orthopedically disabled
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

87. Consider the following statements about the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) in India:
 It is under the aegis of Ministry of Science & Technology
 Providing facilitation and techno-financial support for filing patent application is one of its important activities
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

88. Consider the following statements about ‘Consultative Committees’ of the Indian Parliament:
 These are headed by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (PA)
 These provide a forum for informal discussions among the Members of Parliament on various business to be taken up by both houses of the Parliament
 Guidelines regarding their composition, functions and procedures are formulated by Ministry of PA
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

89. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
 Banni Grassland – Gujarat
 Kangayam Grassland – Mizoram
 Korangadu Grassland – Tamil Nadu
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

90. Which of the following statements associated with implementation of successive Pay Commissions’ recommendations in India have been true?
1. The manufacturing sector activity usually got a fillip
2. States have also in the past tended to implement the recommendations
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

91. “The Governor shall hold office during the pleasure of the President” is a provision made by which article of the Indian Constitution?

92. Consider the following statements:
1) The Indian Air Force as well as the Indian Army now grant Permanent Commission to women
2) A Permanent Commission in the Indian military entitles 20 years of service
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

93. The National Commission on Agriculture in India defines three types of droughts. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
 Meteorological drought is defined as a situation when there is significant decrease of normal precipitation over an area
 Hydrological drought results from prolonged meteorological drought  Agricultural drought is a situation when there is significant decrease of normal crop yield
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

94. Legislation on the India-Bangladesh land swap agreement is which amendment to the Indian Constitution to have been passed by the Parliament?

95. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The flame of a candle can be spherical in shape
Reason (R): In a region of microgravity, hot gases are not pulled in an upward direction
Which of the above statements is/are true?

96. Consider the following list of countries:
1. Brazil
2. Russia
3. India
4. China
5. South Africa
Which of the above are members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)?

97. Which of the following statements regarding the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is/are correct?
1) It is not responsible for monetary policy formulations
2) Official board directors are appointed by the RBI governor, whereas non-officials are appointed by the Government
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

98. Which of the following statements about the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is/are true?
 Title rights are to be granted to concerned families only for land that is being cultivated by them as on December 13, 2005 and not thereafter
 The rights to use and/or collect Minor Forest Produce, which includes timber
 Prior to the enactment of this law, the Forest Department was the only legally recognized guardian/protector of forests in India
Select the correct answer using codes given below:

99. Which among the following dams constructed in the Godavari river basin caters to the some parts of the Marathwada region?

100. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Usage of biodegradable plastics helps lower the physical and chemical pollution of marine ecosystems
Reason (R): Biodegradable plastics are made up of ‘micro-plastic’ particles which can quickly disintegrate
Which of the above statements is/are true?