Civils Prelims Paper-I 2015

1. With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3

c) 1 and 3

d) None

2. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate to arctic?

a) Khangchendzonga National Park

b) Nandadevi National Park

c) Neora Valley National Park

d) Namdapha National Park

3. Amnesty International is

a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars

b) a global Human Rights Movement

c) a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people

d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war – ravaged regions

4. With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar

b) Rock - cut Elephant at Dhauli

c) Rock – cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram

d) Varaha Image at Udayagiri

5. With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system?

1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority.
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land.
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

6. ‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes’ is managed by the

a) Asian Development Bank

b) International Monetary Fund

c) United Nations Environment Programme

d) World Bank

7. India is a member of which among the following?

1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 3 only

c) 1, 2 and 3

d) India is a member of none of them

8. In India, the steel production industry requires the import of

a) saltpetre

b) rock phosphate

c) coking coal

d) All of the above

9. The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to

a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes

b) determine the boundaries between States

c) determine the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats

d) protect the interests of all the border States

10. With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:

1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.
3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 2 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

11. Who/ Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India?

a) The President of India

b) The Prime Minister of India

c) The Lok Sabha Secretariat

d) The Supreme Court of India

12. Consider the following statements:

1. The Acclerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

13. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

14. In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?

1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2, 3 and 4

c) 1 and 3

d) 1, 2 and 5

15. ‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’, often seen in the news, seeks to

a) develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity

b) improve banking sector’s ability to deal with financial and economic stress and improve risk management

c) reduce the greenhouse gas emissions but places a heavier burden on developed countries

d) transfer technology from developed countries to poor countries to enable them to replace the use of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration with harmless chemicals

16. Consider the following statements:

1. The winds which blow between 30o N AND 60o S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

17. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements:

1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

18. Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?

a) Swadeshi Movement

b) Quit India Movement

c) Non-Cooperation Movement

d) Civil Disobedience Movement

19. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in

a) Meghalaya

b) Himachal Pradesh

c) Jharkhand

d) Tamil Nadu

20. Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following?

1. Gravitational force of the Sun
2. Gravitational force of the Moon
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

21. In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?

1. Assessment of crop productivity
2. Locating groundwater resources
3. Mineral exploration
4. Telecommunications
5. Traffic studies

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1, 2 and 3 only

b) 4 and 5 only

c) 1 and 2 only

d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

22. Consider the following States:

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram

In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

23. The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of

a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence

b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim

c) A scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region

d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region.

24. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.
2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.
3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

25. Which one of the following was given the classical language status recently?

a) Odia

b) Konkani

c) Bhojpuri

d) Assamese

26. With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

 27. Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?

a) Syria

b) Jordan

c) Lebanon

d) Israel

28. In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?

 a) Tropical moist deciduous forest

b) Tropical rain forest

c) Tropical thorn scrub forest

d) Temperate forest with grasslands

29. ‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’, often seen in the news, is

a) a strategy to tackle the regional terrorism, an outcome of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

b) a plan of action for sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, an outcome of the deliberations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum.

c) An agenda for women’s empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations

d) A strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a declaration of the East Asia Summit.

30. “Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.”

Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?

a) Savannah

b) Equatorial

c) Monsoon

d) Mediterranean

31. With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
2. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

d) 1, 2 and 3

32. Consider the following statements:

1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State.
2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of Legislative Council of that particular State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

33. “To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the

a) Preamble of the Constitution

b) Directive Principles of State Policy

c) Fundamental Rights

d) Fundamental Duties

34. Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?

A. A community of organism interacting with one another

B. That part of Earth which is inhabited by living organisms

C. A community of organisms together with environment in which they live

D. The flora and fauna of a geographical area

35. The fundamental objective of Panchayati Raj System is to ensure which among the following?

1. People’s participation in development
2. Political accountability
3. Democratic decentralization
4. Financial mobilization

Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2,3 and 4

36.With reference to Indian Economy, consider the following

1. Bank rate
2. Open market operations
3. Public debt
4. Public revenue

Which of the above is/are component/components of the Monetary Policy?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c)1 and 2

(d)1 ,3 and 4

37. With reference to Inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?

(a) Controlling Inflation in India is the responsibility of the Government of India only

(b) The Reserve Bank of India has no role in controlling the inflation

(c) Decreased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation

(d) Increased money circulation helps in controlling the inflation

38.Consider the following countries

1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Israel
5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1,3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 2,4 and 5 only

(d) 1,2,3,4 and 5

39. The ideal of ‘Welfare State’ in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its

(a) Preamble

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy

(c) Fundamental Rights

(d) Seventh Schedule

40. The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production is an example of

(a) Labour-augmenting technological progress

(b) Capital -augmenting technological progress

(c) Capital –reducing technological progress

(d) None of the above

 41. There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the

(a) Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people

(b) Parliament can amend the Constitution

(c) Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved

(d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabh

42. H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?

(a) AIDS

(b) Bird Flu

(c) Dengue

(d) Swine Flu

43.With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements:

1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by the fungal inoculum.
2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

44. The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of

(a) Goods and services

(b) Gold and silver

(c) Dollars and other hard currencies

(d) Exportable surplus

45. With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements:

1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products
2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers
3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC)

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

46. Kalamkari painting refers to

(a) A hand painted cotton textile in South India

(b) A handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North –East India

(c) A block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayas region of India

(d) A hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North –Weatern India

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

(a)Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others

(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost

(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds

(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in villages and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

48. There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit?

1. Reducing revenue expenditure
2. Introducing new welfare schemes
3. Rationalizing subsidies
4. Expanding Industries

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1,2,3 and 4

49.Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication ‘ status?

1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal –Bati- Churma
3. Tirupati Laddu

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

50. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a Public Limited Government Company
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company

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

51. ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for

(a) Proving housing loans to poor people at cheaper interest rates

(b) Promoting women’s Self-help Groups in backward areas

(c) Promoting financial inclusion in the country

(d) Providing financial help to the marginalized communities

52. With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 percent to 42 percent.

2. It has made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants.

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

53. The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’, recently in the news is related to the affairs of

(a) ASEAN

(b) BRICS

(c) OECD

(d) WTO

54. A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?

1. Slowing economic growth rate

2. Less equitable distribution of national income

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

55. In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?

(a) Sea surface temperature are low

(b) Inter- Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs

(c) Coriolis force is too weak

(d) Absence of land in those regions

56.Which one of the following pairs of states of India indicates the easternmost and the westernmost States?

(a) Assam and Rajasthan

(b) Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan

(c) Assam and Gujarat

(d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujrat

57. Consider the following statements regarding the Directive Principles of State Policy:

1. The Principles spell out the socio-economic democracy in the country

2. The provisions contained in these Principles are not enforceable by any court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct/

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

58. In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?

(a) Coal production

(b) Electricity generation

(c) Fertilizer production

(d) Steel production

59. Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

(a) Bhitarkanika National Park

(b) Keibul Lamjao National Park

(c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park

(d) Sultanpur National Park

60. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government

2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

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

61. What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture?

1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur

2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place

3. Leaching of nitrate to the ground –water can occur

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

62. 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 using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

63. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the

(a) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

(b) Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices

(c) Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture

(d) Agricultural Produce Market Committee

64. What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?

(a) The Earth’s rotation on its axis

(b) Convergence of the two equatorial currents

(c) Difference in salinity of water

(d) Occurrence of the belt of calm near the equator

65. Consider the following pairs:

Place of Pilgrimage Location

1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills

2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills

3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

66. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’.

2. In the Rowlatt Satyagraha , Gandhiji tried to utilize the Home Rule League.

3. Demonstrations against the arrival of the Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

67. Among the following which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of the Ebola virus recently?

(a) Syria and Jordan

(b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia

(c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea

(d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam

68. With reference to 'fly ash' produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1.Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction

2.Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete

3.Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

 Select the correct answer using the code given below.

 (a)1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

69. With reference to `dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1.It is a herbivorous marine animal.

2.It is found along the entire coast of India.

 3.It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)1 and 2

(b)2 only

(c)1 and 3

(d)3 only

70. Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?

1.Dadabhai Naoroji

2.G. Subramania Iyer

3.R. C. Dutt

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d)1, 2 and 3

71. Which one of the following issues the `Global Economic Prospects' report periodically?

(a) The Asian Development Bank

(b) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(c) The US Federal Reserve Bank

(d) The World Bank

72. When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?

(a)India's GDP growth rate increases drastically

 (b)Foreign Institutional Investors may bring more capital into our country

 (c)Scheduled Commercial Banks may cut their lending rates

(d)It may drastically reduce the liquidity to the banking system

73. With reference to the use of nano-technology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1.Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.

2.Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.

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

74. In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

(a) Essential Commodities Act, 1955

(b)Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States

(c)Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937

(d)Food Products Order,1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973

75. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

(a)Saltwater crocodile

(b)Olive ridley turtle

(c)Gangetic dolphin

(d) Gharial

76. With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements :

1.It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.

2.It wanted to establish the dictatorship of proletariat.

3.It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.

 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)3 only

(c)1, 2 and 3

(d)None

77. Consider the following statements :

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill.

2.The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.

3.The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)1 and 2 only

(c)2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

78. The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined

(a) The separation of power between the judiciary and the legislature

 (b) The jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments

(c) The powers of the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy

(d)None of the above

79. Which of the following brings out the `Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers'?

(a)The Reserve Bank of India

(b)The Department of Economic Affairs

(c)The Labour Bureau

(d) The Department of Personnel and Training

80. In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about `IceCube', a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news :

1.It is the world's largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.

2.It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter

3.It is buried deep in the ice.

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

81. The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', `Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and Peace Clause' appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the

(a)Food and Agriculture Organization.

(b)United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change

(c) World Trade Organization

(d) United Nations Environment Programme.

82. With reference to 'Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1.It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields.

2.NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other.

3.NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)3 only

(c)1 and 3 only

(d)1, 2 and 3

83. The area known as 'Golan Heights' sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to

(a)Central Asia,

(b)Middle East

(c)South-East Asia

(d)Central Africa

84. Convertibility of rupee implies

(a)being able to convert rupee notes into gold.

(b)allowing the value of rupee to be fixed by market forces

(c)freely permitting the conversion of rupee to other currencies and vice versa

(d)developing an international market for currencies in India

85. Consider the following pairs :

Medieval Indian Present Region

State

1.Champaka : Central India

2.Durgara : Jammu

3.Kuluta : Malabar

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a)1 and 2

(b)2 only

(c)1 and 3

(d)3 only

86. Consider the following rivers :

1.Vamsadhara

2.Indravati

3.Pranahita

4.Pennar

Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?

(a)1, 2 and 3

(b)2, 3 and 4

(c)1, 2 and 4

(d)2 and 3 only

87. When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by

(a)a simple majority of members present and voting

 (b)three-fourths majority of members present and voting.

(c)two-thirds majority of the Houses.

(d)absolute majority of the Houses.

88. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

(a)North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

(b)South-West Bengal

(c)Southern Saurashtra

(d)Andaman and Nicobar Islands

89. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1.Avanti

2.Gandhara

3.Kosala

4.Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 , 3 and 4

(d) 3 and 4 only

90. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

(a) Bretton Woods Conference

(b)Montreal Protocol

(c)Kyoto Protocol

(d)Nagoya Protocol

91. Consider the following :

The arrival of Babur into India led to the

1.introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent

2.introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture

3.establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)3 only

(c)1 and 3 only

(d)1, 2 and 3

92. The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the

(a)Human Rights Commission

(b)Finance Commission

(c)Law Commission .

(d)Planning Commission

93. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

(a)It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

(b)It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.

(c)It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.

(d)It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

94. Consider the following statements :

1.The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.

2.The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(c)Both 1 and 2

(d)Neither 1 nor 2

95. The term `Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of

(a)the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth

(b)regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available

(c)search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

(d)search for meteorites containing precious metals

96. Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

(a)V. 0. Chidambaram Pillai

(b)C. Rajagopalachari

(c)K. Kamaraj

(d)Annie Besant.

97. Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

(a)Amoghavarsha I

(b)Ballala II

(c)Harihara I

(d) Prataparudra II

98. Consider the following statements :

1.The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.

2. The first Muslim woman President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

 (c)Both 1 and 2

(d)Neither 1 nor 2

99. Which of the following statements regarding 'Green Climate Fund' is/are correct?

1.It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

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

100. Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which one of the following?

(a)Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

(b)Indian Institute of Science

(c) Indian Space Research Organization

(d) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

July 2015

PM visit to Central Asia and Russia

PM to visit Central Asia and Russia on eight day tour. In Uzbekistan, PM interacted with Indologists. In Kazakhstan,PM launched first exploratory drilling of Satpayev oil block by OVL and KazMunaiGaz. OVL brought 25% share of the block in 2011 and is investing $400 million for exploration in the block.

Background:

1. Central Asia comprises of five countries namely, 1.Kazakhstan 2.Kyrgyzstan 3.Tajikistan 4.Turkmenistan 5.Uzbekistan.
2. The Borders of Central Asia are Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Russia in the north and Afghanistan in the south.
3. Central Asia is also called as Middle Asia, stans or Turkestan.
4. Central Asia and Russia are combinedly called as the Great Pivot by Halford Mackinder in his Heartland Theory. According to the theory, the power which controls Central Asia-rich in natural resources-shall ultimately be the empire of the world.
5. All Central Asian countries are part of erstwhile USSR.
6. Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. LBS gave the call 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'

March 2015

Lee Kuan Yew

1. He is Singapore's founding father.
2. He is Singapore's first prime minister.
3. Singapore is in Southeast Asia.
4. Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.

Jan 2015

Open Billed Stork

1. Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, WB has the most number of Asian open-billed storks in India.

NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog

1. NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission.
2. It is the new policy body.
3.  Comparison of Niti Aayog and Planning Commission Chairperson

   Niti Aayog	Planning Commission
   Chairperson-PM	Chairperson-PM
   Vice Chairperson	Dy. Chairperson

4. Composition
1. Chairperson-PM.
2. Governing Council - CMs of States (29) and Lt. Governors of UTs.
3. Regional Councils - PM+CMs.
4. Vice Chairman - appointed by PM.
5. Ex-Officio members - Union Ministers.
6. CEO appointed by the PM.

Indian Science Congress

1. 102nd Indian Science Congress - University of Mumbai, Mumbai, 2015.
2. 101th Indian Science Congress - University of Jammu, Jammu, 2014.
3. 103rd Indian Science Congress - University of Mysore, Mysore, 2016.
4. 1st Indian Science Congress - Asiatic Society, Calcutta, 1914.

Dec 2014

Economy

• 5th Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Review
• Repo rate:8%; Reverse Repo rate:7%; MSF:9%; CRR:4%; SLR:22%

• Tax Administration and Reforms Commission
• Chairman:Parthasarathi Shome

Appointments

• New CBI Chief - Anil Sinha

Obituary

• Actor and Director Deven Verma passed away.

Awards

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya

Bharat Ratna

Educationist

Politician

Freedom Fighter
Mahamana

Quotes

Socrates

1. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
2. To Know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.
3. I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.
4. True wisdom comes to each of us when we realise how little we understand about life, ourselves and the world around us.
5. True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
6. I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.
7. I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing and that is that I know nothing.
8. Wisdom begins in wonder.
9. Worthless people live only to eat and drink; People of worth eat and drink only to live.
10. Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.
11. The unexamined life is not worth living.
12. It is not living that matters, but living rightly.
13. Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.
14. False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
15. An honest man is always a child.
16. Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.
17. Death may be the greatest of all human blessings.
18. I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live.
19. All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are immortal and divine.
20. I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.
21. Be as you wish to seem.
22. He is a man of courage who doesn't run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy.

Climate Talks

• The 20th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) and the 10th session of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties (CMP) to the Kyoto Protocol is hosted in Lima(Peru) in Dec, 2014. They aim at reducing the carbon emissions and are important for the success of the next climate talks. The talks are held under the UNFCCC(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

• The previous climate talks, i.e The COP-19 and CMP-9 are hosted by Warsaw(Poland) in Nov, 2013. The next climate talks, i.e. the COP-21 and CMP-11 are hosted by Paris(France) in Dec, 2015.

International Organisations

SAARC

1. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
2. It has 8 member countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
3. SAARC secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
4. Secretary-General - Arjun Bahadur Thapa.
5. By GDP(PPP) - 3rd largest economy.
6. By GDP(Nominal) - 8th largest economy.
7. SAARC - 3% of world area and 21% of world population.
8. 1st Summit - Dhaka,1985.
9. 18th Summit - Kathmandu, 2014.
10. SAFTA agreement - South Asia Free Trade Area Agreement - signed in 2004 and came into force in 2006.
11. TLP - Trade Liberalisation Programme - started in 2006 - members to bring down duties to 20% by 2009.
12. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, 1992 - 24 categories of dignitaries are provided a Special Travel Document which exempts visa within the region.
13. SAARC Award created in 2004 and was conferred only once till now and that was to Ziaur Rahman, Late President of Bangladesh.
14. Other awards - SAARC Literary Award and SAARC Youth Award.

OPEC

1. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
2. 12 Members - Saudi Arabia

Trigonometry

Trigonometric Identities

sin²@+cos²@=1
sec²@-tan²@=1
cosec²@-cot²@=1

Trigonometric Ratios

Sin@=Opp. Side/Hyp.
Cos@=Adj. side/Hyp.
Tan@=Opp. Side/Adj. Side
 

Current Affairs of March, 2014

Courtesy : Wikipedia

Sikkim launched helicopter service to Kanchenjunga. Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India. It is the third highest mountain in the world with a height of 28,169 ft.

Union government cleared disinvestment in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals        limited (BHEL). Ten per cent stake in IOC is offered to ONGC and OIL, the sale would fetch about 5,300 crore rupees to the exchequer. Five per cent stake in BHEL is offered to LIC, the sale would fetch about 2,045 crore rupees.

Dubai duty free tennis championship
Singles - Roger Federer
Doubles - Rohan Bopanna & Aihsan Ul Haq Qureshi

South Africa won the ICC under-19 World Cup, 2014, beating Pakistan.

The first corner of Bahrain's Formula One circuit to be named after seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. A corner in Nurburgring circuit in Germany is already named after Schumacher. Schumacher won the inaugural Bahrain race in 2004.

The film, Gravity won seven oscar awards, the most for this year's Academy Awards ceremony.

According to Forbes magazine, Bill Gates is the world's richest person.

Aruna Asaf Ali is the only woman to be awarded the Bharata Ratna award posthumously.

Elinor Ostrom is the only female Nobel laureate in Economics.

Potometer is used to measure the water intake of a leafy shoot.

Sun is a G-type main sequence star or a yellow dwarf.

Napoleon Bonaparte is a French emperor and had died in 1821.

Java cotton is a natural fiber obtained from Kapok tree.

New Laws

Sexual harassment at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act, 2013

Protection of children from sexual offences act, 2012

Stree shakti puraskar awards are presented to mark international women's day. There are six awards named after women icons of India. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh and a citation. The awardees are nominated by state governments, MPs and VIPs, suo motu and selected by national screening  committee. The awards for 2013:

Manasi Pradhan - Rani Lakshmibai Award

M. Venkaiah - Rani Rudramma Devi Award

Bina Sheth Lashkari - Mata Jijabhai Award

T. Radha K. Prashanti - Kannagi Award

Vartika Nanda - Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award

Seema Sakhare - Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award

Ahimsa Messengers is a programme aimed at preventing violence against women and children and involves women at grass root levels.

The 1750 MW Demwe mega dam project on Lohit river in Arunachal Pradesh turned controversial as it affects the Dibru-Saikhowa National park in Assam.

Rakesh Sethi is appointed as CMD of Allahabad Bank.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee proposed "a universal linked information system" in 1989. Therefore, the web is celebrating silver jubilee ceremony (25 years) this year. Lee coined WWW in 1990. First site (of CERN) was made online in 1991. In 1993, CERN made WWW free to all.

Part of classified Henderson Brooks Report, a comprehensive operational review of India's debacle in India-China war of 1962 is made public.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is to harmonise standards and licensing procedures and waive tariffs across US-EU trade zone.

Trans-Pacific Partnership is to harmonise standards and licensing procedures and waive tariffs among the U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Chile, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

Indo-China trade was at $74 billion in 2011 and was $65 billion in 2013. India and China have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2015. India's trade deficit with china is $31.5 billion in 2013.

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia following a referendum.

Rohingya Muslims are ethnic community of Myanmar who live in Rakhine state. In 2012, ethnic clashes occurred between the Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. There has been a steady influx of Rohingya Muslims into West Bengal through Bangladesh, which is a matter of concern for India.

August 2014

The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill

1. Raises FDI cap in insurance from 26% to 49%.
2. FDIs above 26% are to be approved by FIPB.
3. Management to be retained with Indian investors.
4. Voting rights of foreign investors limited to 26%.

S.S. Mundra was appointed as RBI deputy governor.

Jaundice is a disease that causes yellow discolouration of body. The RBCs at the end of their life i.e. around 120 days, are broken down in the spleen into waste products called Bilirubin and Bilivirdin. The accumulation of these waste products in the body causes Jaundice.

The prime minister of India offered 2,500 kg of sandalwood and Rs. 25 crore to restore the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal.

XXI commonwealth games are to be held at Goldcoast in 2018. England stood in the first place and India stood in the fifth place in medals tally of XX commonwealth games, Glasgow.

November 2014

Economy

• RBI issued guidelines for licenses to payment banks and small finance banks in private sector.
• RBI issued guidelines for licenses to Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is made the nodal body.
• Brent Crude Oil fell to a 4-year low a barrel. OPEC decided not to cut production inspite of fall in the price due to increased availability of shale oil from U.S. OPEC countries didn't wan't to loose their market share by reducing production.
• GDP growth rate in the second quarter : 5.3%.
•  Govt. to withdraw 20:80 scheme and all other restrictions on gold imports.
• Parliament passed the law regarding labour reforms.

Important Events

• 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall that bifurcated Germany into East Germany and West Germany between 1961 to 1989.

Important Persons

• Guru Nanak

• Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism
• He is the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus.
• Guru Nanak was born in Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.

•  Rohit Sharma

• Highest Individual Score in ODI Cricket ()

• Jawaharlal Nehru

• Birth Anniversary 14th November
• Celebrated as Children's Day in India
• 2014 is the year of his 125th Birth Anniversary

Important Books

• Playing It My Way - Sachin Tendulkar

Sports

Obituary

• Tapan Raychaudhari, eminent Modern Indian historian passed away.
•  Phillip Hughes, Australian Cricketer passed away due to an injury on the field.

Anthropology For Civil Services

Primitive Religion

1. Animism
2. Animatism
3. Fetishism
4. Naturism
5. Totemism

 Schools of Anthropological Thought

1. Classical Evolutionism
2. Diffusionism
3. Historical Particularism
4. Functionalism
5. Structural Functionalism
6. Structuralism
7. Culture and Personality School
8. Neo-Evolutionism
9. Cultural Materialism
10. Symbolic and Interpretive Theories
11. Cognitive Theories
12. Post-Modernism

Pioneers of different schools of anthropological thought

1.  Classical Evolutionism
1. British School - E.B. Tylor
2. German School - Bachofein, Bastein
3. American School - 
2. Diffusionism
1. British School
2. German School
3. American School
3. Historical Particularism - Franz Boas
4. Functionalism - Malinowsi
5. Structural Functionalism - 
6. Structuralism - 
7. Culture and Personality School - Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict, Ralph Linton, Abraham Kardiner, Cora-du-Bois.
8. Neo-Evolutionism
9. Cultural Materialism
10. Symbolic and Interpretive Theories
11. Cognitive Theories
12. Post-Modernism - Geertz

Margaret Mead

1. Student of Franz Boas & Ruth Benedict
2. Also inspired by Edward Saphir
3. Used Psychoanalysis
4. Coming of age in Samoa (1928)
5. Growing up in New Guinea (1930)
6. Sex & Temperment in three primitive societies (1935)
7. Cooperation & Competition in primitive people (1939)
8. And Keep your powder dry (1942)
9. Male & Female (1949)
10. Culture influences Personality

Stone Age in India

Prominent Indian Anthropologists

1. G.S. Gurye
2. J.N. Bhattacharya
3. Leela Dube
4. S.C. Dube
5. Verrier Elwin
6. B.S. Guha
7. Irawati Karve
8. M.N. Srinivas
9. L.P. Vidyarthi
10. H.D. Sankalia

Kinship and Gender in India

October 2014

1. India ranked 114 in the annual gender survey of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The survey started first in 2006.
2. Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) is launched by Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to improve the infrastructure and human development indices of tribal population.

Numbers

Squares
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225, 256, 289, 324, 361, 400, 441, 484, 529, 576, 625, 676, 784, 841, 900

Cubes
1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, 1000

Fractions


Divisibility Rules
Divisibility by 2 : if the number end in an even number
Divisibility by 3 : if the sum of the digits of the number is divisible by 3
Divisibility by 4 : if the number formed by the last two digits of the number is divisible by 4.
Divisibility by 5 : if the last digit of the number is either 0 or 5.
Divisibility by 6
Divisibility by 7
Divisibility by 8
Divisibility by 9
Divisibility by 10
Divisibility by 11
Divisibility by 13
Divisibility by 17
Divisibility by 19

Solved Problems

1. When 75 is added to 75% of a number, the answer is the number. Find 40% of that number. [CGL, 2013]
(a)100 (b)80 (c)120 (d)160
A. Let the number be 'x'. Then, 75% of the number is 0.75x. Therefore, 0.75x+75=x; x=300. Finally 40% of 300 is 120.

September 2014

China's President Xi Jinping's Visit to India
Bill Gates's Visit to India
President Pranab Mukherjee's Visit to Vietnam

July 2014

Australia approved Adani's Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland province. Carmichael coal mine has potential reserves that could make it Australia's largest coal mine. The mine is in the Galilee basin which has huge coal reserves that are untapped due to heavy costs of building ports and rail lines to the east coast which is about 500 Km away.

GK: India has 2.5% of earth's landmass, 17% of world population and 8% of world's biodiversity.

NASA's Opportunity rover, which landed on Mars in 2004 set a record for longest off-Earth roving distance of 40 Km. The previous record was held by USSR's Lunakhod 2 rover.

GK: Mars is called Red planet.

Magsaysay Awards 2014

Hu Shuli

Wang Canfa

Saur Marlina Manurung

Omaha Khan Masoudi

Randy Halasan

The Citizen's Foundation

GK: Cells metabolise glucose into energy. However, fructose can be metabolised only in the liver. However, excess energy is stored in the form of fat in the liver. This may lead to fatty liver disease.

Time and Work

1. If a person can do a work in 'x' days, then, he does a work of '1/x' in 1 day.
2. If 'A' can do a piece of work in 'a' days and 'B' can do the same work in 'b' days. Then, 'A' and 'B' can combinedly do the same work in 'ab/(a+b)' days.
3. If 'A' can do a piece of work in 'a' days, 'B' can do the same work in 'b' days and 'C' can do the same work in 'c' days. Then, 'A', 'B' and 'C' can combinedly do the same work in abc/(ab+bc+ca) days.

Solved Problems

1. A can do a piece of work in 16 days and B in 24 days. They take the help of C and three together finish the work in 6 days. If the total remuneration for the work is Rs. 400. The amount (in rupees) each will receive, in proportion, to do the work is: [SSC, 2013]

(A) A:150, B:100, C:150
(B) A:100, B:150, C:150
(C) A:150, B:150, C:100
(D) A:100, B:150, C:100

Ans: (A)
A does more work than B. Therefore, A gets more remuneration than B. Such condition is satisfied only by option A.

Budget 2014-15

IT exemption limit raised from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh.
Investment IT exemption limit under 80C is increased from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh.
Defence Spending - Rs. 2.29 lakh crore
Namami Gange - Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission.
Development of Ganga Inland Waterway from Haridwar to Haldia.
Fiscal Deficit - 4.1% of GDP (2014-15), 3.6% of GDP (2014-15), 3% of GDP (2014-15)
Costlier:
Cigarettes, Gutka, Tobacco, Pan-masala, Cold Drinks
Cheaper:
CRT, LCD and LED TVs, 

Profit and Loss

1. CP=Cost Price
2. SP=Selling Price
3. Profit=SP-CP
4. Loss=CP-SP
5. Profit %=((SP-CP)/CP)*100
6. Loss %=((CP-SP)/CP)*100
7. CP=100 SP/(100+Profit%)
8. CP=100 SP/(100-Loss%)
9. SP=(100+Profit%) CP/100
10. SP=(100-Loss%) CP/100
11. Two successive discounts of d₁% and d₂% is equivalent to a single discount of d₁+d₂-(d₁d₂/100).
12. Three successive discounts of d₁% , d₂% and d₃% is equivalent to a single discount of d₁+d₂+d₃-(d₁d₂/100)-(d₂d₃/100)-(d₃d₁/100)+(d₁d₂d₃/10000).
13. When two same items are sold, one at a profit of x% and the other at a loss of x%. Then the transaction incurs a loss %=(x/10)².
14. If false weight is used then profit %=(error/(true value - error))*100.
15. Two successive profits of p₁% and p₂% results in a total profit %=p₁+p₂+(p₁p₂/100)
16. If an item is marked p% above its Costprice and a discount of l% is allowed on the marked price then profit/loss %=p-l-(pl/100)

A dealer buys a table listed at Rs. 1,500 and gets successive discounts of 20% and 10%. He spends Rs. 20 on transportation and sells it at a profit of 20%. The selling price of the table is [FCI, 2012]
A. Rs. 1,320
B. Rs. 1,350
C. Rs. 1,360
D. Rs. 1,380