32A

INSIGHTS
MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST 32 SOLUTIONS

1. Solution: b)
The current national calendar of India was set

up in 1957 by the Calendar Reform Committee
that formalized a lunisolar calendar in which
leap years coincide with those of the Gregorian
calendar, and the months are named after the
traditional Indian months. This reformed
Indian calendar began with Saka Era, Chaitra 1,
1879, which corresponds to March 22, 1957.
Names of the 12 months of the Indian Civil
Calendar and Correlation with Gregorian
Calendar:
1. Chaitra (30 / 31* Days) Begins March
22 / 21*
2. Vaisakha (31 Days) Begins April 21
3. Jyaistha (31 Days) Begins May 22
4. Asadha (31 Days) Begins June 22
5. Shravana (31 Days) Begins July 23
6. Bhadra (31 Days) Begins August 23
7. Asvina (30 Days) Begins September 23
8. Kartika (30 Days) Begins October 23
9. Agrahayana (30 Days) Begins
November 22
10. Pausa (30 Days) Begins December 22
11. Magha (30 Days) Begins January 21
12. Phalguna (30 Days) Begins February
20
http://www.insightsonindia.com INSIGHTS

2. Solution: b)
Gold fell back towards a five-year low in global
markets on Wednesday as investors continued
to exit from the precious metal.
A looming rise in U.S. interest rates, the first in
nearly a decade, has dented golds investment
appeal, spurring more sellers in the
international market after Mondays three per
cent rout. Spot gold was down 0.5 per cent at
$1,095.69 an ounce intra-day, while U.S. gold
futures for August delivery were down $8.70 an
ounce at $1,094.80.
3. Solution: c)
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tpopinion/time-to-abolish-themrp/article7453670.ece
The maximum retail price (MRP) that is
printed on all packaged commodities that
consumers purchase was introduced in 1990 by
the Ministry of Civil Supplies, Department of
Legal Metrology, by making an amendment to
the Standards of Weights and Measures Act
(Packaged Commodities Rules) (1976). It was
meant to prevent tax evasion and protect
consumers from profiteering by retailers.
Before the amendment, manufacturers could
print either the maximum retail price (inclusive
of all taxes) or the retail price (local taxes
extra). When producers opted for the latter
method, it was found that retailers often
charged more than the locally applicable taxes.
Thus, the amendment was made to introduce
the compulsory printing of MRP on all
packaged commodities.
Page 1

INSIGHTS MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST 32 SOLUTIONS

5. Solution: b)
4. Solution: d)
The new bill seeks to replace Consumer
Protection Act, 1986 in order to deal with
consumer protection and safety. It aims at
simplifying the consumer dispute resolution
process along with enhancing the pecuniary
jurisdiction of the consumer grievance
redressal agencies.
Key features
Central Consumer Protection Authority
(CCPA): establishment of CCPA as an apex
regulatory authority with more powers to
protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It
will have powers to recall products and initiate
action suit against defaulting companies
including e-tailers for refunds and return of
products.
Product liability: If product or

services causes personal injury, death or
damage to property, CCPA will have
powers to take action against defaulting
manufacturers or service providers.
Speedy disposal of court cases: In
this regard, provision related to
mediation has been proposed which
will act as an alternative dispute
resolution mechanism. However,
mediation will be under the aegis of
consumer courts.

Under the existing rules of procedure

governing mercy petitions, the view of the
Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),
conveyed to the President in writing, is taken
as the view of the Cabinet, and the President
decides a mercy petition accordingly.
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ho
w-the-president-decides-matters-of-life-anddeath/#sthash.oNqmc2CR.dpuf
Once a convict has been finally awarded the
death sentence by the Supreme Court,
anybody, including a foreign national, can send
a mercy petition with regard to that person to
the Presidents Office or the MHA. A mercy
plea can also be sent to the Governor of the
state concerned, who then forwards it to the
MHA for further action.
6. Solution: a)
However, all investments lately have all been
merged in one single category. So, until a sector
receives funds upto its composite cap, its fine
with the government.
Read about the change here:
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ta
king-a-composite-view-of-foreign-investmentin-india/
Page 2


7. Solution: a)
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/m
eaning-cop-21/
The term COP stands for Conference of
Parties. Parties is a reference to the (now) 196
signatories of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, as
it is called.
The Framework Convention came into force in
1994, two years after its text was finalised at
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Every year since 1994, the parties to the
UNFCCC have met at different venues at the
end of the year to discuss a global agreement to
cut emissions of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, the main reason why average
global temperatures have been rising.
development, animal husbandry, installation of

non-conventional sources of energy,
construction of link roads or other innovative
activity.
9. Solution: c)
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ex
plained-indian-crickets-political-pitch/
In June last year, BJP president Amit Shah
took over as president of the Gujarat Cricket
Association (GCA) from Narendra Modi who
had just been elected the countrys Prime
Minister. Modi had until then controlled GCA
he took over in 2009 while being chief
minister of Gujarat.
Soon after Shah became GCA president, he
was also named BJP president.
Both of them did not have any background in
cricket.
8. Solution: a)
http://www.tribal.nic.in/Content/schemes.asp
x
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revised
Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs)
Under the Scheme, priority has been accorded
for the protection of PVTGs and their
improvement in terms of the social indicators
like education, health, nutrition and livelihood
in order to decrease their vulnerability.
Financial assistance under this scheme will be
utilized for activities like housing, agricultural
development, land distribution and land

10.
Solution: c)
The Italian government has approached the

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
(ITLOS), one of the four forums available for
international disputes, in the Italian Marines
case.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the
Sea (ITLOS) is an intergovernmental
organization created by the mandate of the
Third United Nations Conference on the Law of
the Sea. It was established by the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
signed at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December
10, 1982.
Page 3


The Convention entered into force on

November 16, 1994, and established an
international framework for law over "all ocean
space, its uses and resources". The tribunal is
based in Hamburg, Germany. The Convention
also established the International Seabed
Authority, with responsibility for the regulation
of seabed mining beyond the limits of national
jurisdiction, that is beyond the limits of the
territorial sea, the contiguous zone and the
continental shelf.
He was born on 15 October 1931 in

Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram
District of Tamil Nadu.
In 1960, he had joined Defence Research

and Development Organisation (DRDO)
as a scientist and started his career by
designing a small helicopter for the
Indian Army.
In 1969, he had joined India Space

Research Organisation (ISRO) as the
project director for Indias first
indigenous satellite launch vehicle
programme.
Under his leadership and vision, India

entered into the elite space club after
Rohini satellite was place into the
orbit in 1980.
He was a pioneer and instrumental in

development of the Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Indias
space workhorse.
In 1980, he was appointed Chairman of

Integrated Guided Missile Development
Program (IGMDP) and was brain
behind developing Agni and Prithvi
missiles. Thus he came to be known as
the Missile Man of India for his work on
the development of ballistic missile
He was appointed CSA to Prime

Minister and Secretary of DRDO in 1992
and remained till 1998.
He was Chief Project Coordinator of

Pokhran II Nuclear Test
i.e. Operation Shakti which was
conducted on 11 May 1998.
11. Solution: c)
It is a collection of professional astronomers, at
the PhD level and beyond, active in
professional research and education in
astronomy. It acts as the internationally
recognized authority for assigning designations
to celestial bodies (stars, planets, asteroids,
etc.) and any surface features on them.
The IAU is a member of the International
Council for Science (ICSU). Its main objective
is to promote and safeguard the science of
astronomy in all its aspects through
international cooperation. The IAU maintains
friendly relations with organizations that
include amateur astronomers in their
membership.
12. Solution: a)
After the expiry of Dr. Kalam, several articled
came in newspapers. Here is all that you need
to know about Dr. Kalam.

Page 4


He was the 11th President of India and

was in office from 2002 to 2007. He was
Indias most popular President and
famously known as Peoples President.
Awards and Honours: Bharat Ratna

(1997), Padma Vibhushan (1990),
Padma Bhushan (1981).
He has unique honour of receiving

honorary doctorates from 30
universities and institutions. United
Nations had recognised his 79th
birthday as World Student Day.
Switzerland has declared 26 May as

Science Day to commemorate visit of A
P J Abdul Kalam to the country in 2005
Coronary stent in India became popular as

Kalam-Raju stent and helped to bring down
cost of the device in the market.
Dr. Soma Raju said Mr. Kalam used to visit the
Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences to call on
colleagues admitted there in 1980s.
During one of the visits, Dr. Soma Raju had a
conversation with him about the high costs of
imported devices when the former President
suggested that indigenous devices should be
made with technology available in the country.
14. Solution: c)
http://www.thehindu.com/todayspaper/abdul-kalam-peoples-president-passesaway/article7471640.ece
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nodNTgMC
TsS5dfnqajZjpK/Abdul-Kalam-admitted-tohospital.html
13. Solution: a)
It was in news because of Late Dr. Kalam.
A coronary stent is a tube-shaped device placed
in the coronary arteries that supply blood to
the heart, to keep the arteries open in the
treatment of coronary heart disease. It is used
in a procedure called percutaneous coronary
intervention (PCI).

The elections to the Constituent Assembly (for

296 seats allotted to the British Indian
Provinces) were held in JulyAugust 1946. The
Indian National Congress won 208 seats, the
Muslim League 73 seats, and the small groups
and independents got the remaining 15 seats.
However, the 93 seats allotted to the princely
states were not filled as they decided to stay
away from the Constituent Assembly.
The representatives of the princely states, who
had stayed away from the Constituent
Assembly, gradually joined it. On April 28,
1947, representatives of the six states5 were
part of the Assembly. After the acceptance of
the Mountbatten Plan of June 3, 1947 for a
partition of the country, the representatives of
most of the other princely states took their
seats in the Assembly. The members of the
Muslim League from the Indian Dominion also
entered the Assembly.
Page 5


15. Solution: d)
An independent judiciary is needed: one, to
protect the supremacy of the Constitution by
exercising the power of judicial review; and
two, to settle the disputes between the Centre
and the states or between the states.
The Constitution contains various measures
like security of tenure to judges, fixed service
conditions and so on to make the judiciary
independent of the government.
Also, since the judiciary is also administratively
controlled by the higher judiciary,
independence is strengthened.
16. Solution: b)
The order is as follows:
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Prime Minister
4. Governors of states within their
respective states
5. Former presidents
5A. Deputy Prime Minister
6. Chief Justice of India
Speaker of Lok Sabha
7. Cabinet Ministers of the Union
Chief Ministers of States within their
respective States

Deputy Chairman, Planning

Commission
Former Prime Ministers
Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha
and Lok Sabha
MPs are ranked at number 21 after all the
ministers in the Union and states.
17. Solution: a)
The foreign policy of India is opposed to arms
race and advocates disarmament, both
conventional and nuclear. This is aimed at
promoting world peace and security by
reducing or ending tensions between power
blocs and to accelerate economic development
of the country by preventing the unproductive
expenditure on the manufacture of arms.
India has been using the UNO platform to
check the arms race and to achieve
disarmament. India took the initiative of
holding a six-nation summit at New Delhi in
1985 and made concrete proposals for nuclear
disarmament.
By not signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation
Treaty (NPT) of 1968 and the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) of 1996, India has kept
its nuclear options open. India opposes NPT
and CTBT due to their discriminatory and
hegemonic nature. They perpetuate an
international system in which only five nations
(USA, Russia, China, UK and France) can
legitimately possess nuclear weapons.
18.Solution: d)
Page 6


In 2003, the following two changes were

introduced with respect to elections to the
Rajya Sabha:
Domicile or residency requirement of a
candidate contesting an election to the
Rajya Sabha was removed. Prior to this,
a candidate had to be an elector in the
state from where he was to be elected.
Now, it would be sufficient if he is an
elector in any parliamentary
constituency in the country.
Introducing open ballot system, instead
of secret ballot system, for elections to
the Rajya Sabha. This was done to curb
cross-voting and to wipe out the role of
money power during Rajya Sabha
elections. Under the new system, an
elector belonging to a political party has
to show the ballot paper after marking
his vote to a nominated agent of that
political party
19. Solution: b)
At of 2013, a party is recognised as a national

party if any of the following conditions is
fulfilled:
If it secures six per cent of valid votes

polled in any four or more states at a
general election to the Lok Sabha or to
the legislative assembly; and, in
addition, it wins four seats in the Lok
Sabha from any state or states; or
If it wins two per cent of seats in the Lok
Sabha at a general election; and these
candidates are elected from three states;
or
If it is recognised as a state party in four
states.

20.
Solution: b)
The 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 provided for

the disqualification of the members of
Parliament and the state legislatures on the
ground of defection from one political party to
another. For this purpose, it made changes in
four Articles of the Constitution and added a
new Schedule (the Tenth Schedule) to the
Constitution. This act is often referred to as the
anti-defection law.
These provisions facilitate democratic
realignment of parties in the legislature by way
of merger of parties. It also reduces corruption
at the political level as well as nondevelopmental expenditure incurred on
irregular elections. And, for the first time, it
gives, a clear-cut constitutional recognition to
the existence of political parties.
21. Solution: a)
Article 323 A empowers the Parliament to
provide for the establishment of administrative
tribunals for the adjudication of disputes
relating to recruitment and conditions of
service of persons appointed to public services
of the Centre, the states, local bodies, public
corporations and other public authorities.
Under Article 323 B, the Parliament and the
state legislatures are authorised to provide for
the establishment of tribunals for the
adjudication of disputes relating to the
following matters: (a) Taxation; (b) Foreign
exchange, import and export;(c) Industrial and
labour; (d) Land reforms; (e) Ceiling on urban
Page 7


property; (f) Elections to Parliament and state

legislatures; (g) Food stuffs; (h) Rent and
tenancy rights.
22.
Solution: a)
The Constitution imposes a duty upon the

Centre to promote the spread and development
of the Hindi language so that it may become
the lingua franca of the composite culture of
India.
Further, the Centre is directed to secure the
enrichment of Hindi by assimilating the forms,
style and expressions used in hindustani and in
other languages specified in the Eighth
Schedule and by drawing its vocabulary,
primarily on sanskrit and secondarily on other
languages.
Also, the members of these languages are to be
given representation in the Official Language
commission. The Commission consisted of a
chairman and other members representing the
different languages specified in the Eighth
Schedule of the Constitution.
23.
Solution: a)
The functions of the Commission are, inter

alia:
To inquire into any violation of human

rights or negligence in the prevention of
such violation by a public servant, either

suo motu or on a petition presented to it

or on an order of a court.
To intervene in any proceeding
involving allegation of violation of
human rights pending before a court.
To visit jails and detention places to
study the living conditions of inmates
and make recommendation thereon.
To review the constitutional and other
legal safeguards for the protection of
human rights and recommend measures
for their effective implementation.
To review the factors including acts of
terrorism that inhibit the enjoyment of
human rights and recommend remedial
measures.
To study treaties and other international
instruments on human rights and make
recommendations for their effective
implementation.
24.
Solution: b)
The Union Executive consists of the President,

Vice-President, PM, Council of Ministers and
Attorney General of India.
The AG is not a member of the Central cabinet.
There is a separate law minister in the Central
cabinet to look after legal matters at the
government level.
In the performance of his official duties, the
Attorney General has the right of audience in
all courts in the territory of India. Further, he
has the right to speak and to take part in the
proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament
or their joint sitting and any committee of the
Page 8


Parliament of which he may be named a

member, but without a right to vote.
25.
Solution: a)
The role of CAG is to uphold the Constitution

of India and the laws of Parliament in the field
of financial administration.
The accountability of the executive (i.e., council
of ministers) to the Parliament in the sphere of
financial administration is secured through
audit reports of the CAG.
The CAG is an agent of the Parliament and
conducts audit of expenditure on behalf of the
Parliament.
Therefore, he is responsible only to the
Parliament.
26.
Solution: c)
Though the constitution has sought to

safeguard and ensure the independence and
impartiality of the Election Commission, some
flaws can be noted, viz.,
The conditions of service and tenure of office of

the election commissioners and the regional
commissioners shall be determined by the
president.
The Constitution has not prescribed the

qualifications (legal, educational,
administrative or judicial) of the
members of the Election Commission.
The Constitution has not specified the
term of the members of the Election
Commission.
The Constitution has not debarred the
retiring election commissioners from
any further appointment by the
government.

27.
Solution: b)
The following best sums up the relationship

between the President, Administrator and the
UT government by giving the example of Delhi.
The chief minister is appointed by the
President (not by the lt. governor). The other
ministers are appointed by the president on the
advice of the chief minister. The ministers hold
office during the pleasure of the president. The
council of ministers is collectively responsible
to the assembly.
The council of ministers headed by the chief
minister aid and advise the lt. governor in the
exercise of his functions except in so far as he is
required to act in his discretion. In the case of
difference of opinion between the lt. governor
and his ministers, the lt. governor is to refer the
matter to the president for decision and act
accordingly.
28.
Solution: b)
74th Amendment Act of 1992 provides for the

constitution of the following three types of
municipalities in every state.
A nagar panchayat for a transitional

area, that is, an area in transition from a
rural area to an urban area.
A municipal council for a smaller urban
area.
Page 9


A municipal corporation for a larger

urban area
29.
Solution: d)
The controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism

and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Bill, 2015, has
been sent back to the State following an
objection by the Information Technology (IT)
Ministry.
The Home Affairs Ministry, which sent the Bill
for an inter-ministerial consultation, returned
it with the objections raised by the IT Ministry.
This means the Bill will not be sent for
Presidential assent and cannot become law yet.
Any Bill passed by an Assembly on issues
contravening Central laws needs Presidential
assent.
The Gujarat House passed the Bill again on
March 31 this year, after it was rejected thrice
by two former Presidents the late A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam in 2004 and Pratibha Patil in
2008 and 2009.
The Bill was first introduced as the GUJCOC
Bill in 2003 when Narendra Modi was Chief
Minister with provisions like increasing the
period to file charge sheet from 90 to 180 days
and strict conditions for granting bail to an
accused.
30.
Solution: b)
A Bio fertilizer is a substance which contains

living microorganisms which, when applied to
seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the

rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and

promotes growth by increasing the supply or
availability of primary nutrients to the host
plant.
Bio-fertilizers add nutrients through the
natural processes of nitrogen fixation,
solubilizing phosphorus, and stimulating plant
growth through the synthesis of growthpromoting substances.
Bio-fertilizers can be expected to reduce the
use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The
microorganisms in bio-fertilizers restore the
soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil
organic matter.
31. Solution: b)
Pakistan received $336 million from the United
States for its ongoing role in combating a
Taliban insurgency in neighbouring
Afghanistan.
Regular payments to Pakistan under the
Coalition Support Fund (CSF) programme
began in 2001 when Pakistan joined the US-led
coalition in Afghanistan as a frontline ally.
Pakistan provides use of its air bases and other
facilities in exchange for the reimbursements.
Pakistan has received a total of $13 billion in
CSF payments since the programme began.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tpinternational/pak-gets-336m-to-supportforces-in-afghanistan/article7475501.ece
Page 10


32.
Solution: d)
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/takesteps-to-prevent-sea-erosion-officialstold/article7479929.ece
Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and
the removal of beach or dune sediments by
wave action, tidal currents, wave currents,
drainage or high winds. Waves, generated by
storms, wind, or fast moving motor craft, cause
coastal erosion, which may take the form of
long-term losses of sediment and rocks, or
merely the temporary redistribution of coastal
sediments; erosion in one location may result
in accretion nearby. The study of erosion and
sediment redistribution is called 'coastal
morphodynamics'. It may be caused by
hydraulic action, abrasion, impact and
corrosion.
Secondary factors that cause it are:
Weathering and transport slope

processes
Slope hydrology
Vegetation
Cliff foot erosion
Cliff foot sediment accumulation
Resistance of cliff foot sediment to

attrition and transport
Human Activity
Tertiary factors
Resource extraction
Coastal management

33.
Solution: d)
The maritime domain awareness systems

inaugurated during Mr. Modis visit to
Seychelles, in March 2015, were the outcome of
an older initiative encompassing several Indian
Ocean countries
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tpopinion/all-form-littlesubstance/article7478857.ece
Maritime domain awareness (MDA) is defined
by the International Maritime Organization as
the effective understanding of anything
associated with the maritime domain that
could impact the security, safety, economy, or
environment. The maritime domain is defined
as all areas and things of, on, under, relating to,
adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or
other navigable waterway, including all
maritime-related activities, infrastructure,
people, cargo, and vessels and other
conveyances.
34.
Solution: b)
It is Asias highest honor and often

regarded as the regions equivalent of
the Nobel Prize.
Established: in 1957 in the memory of

Philippines 3rd President Ramon
Magsaysay who had died in air disaster
in March 1957.
Page 11


It was established by trustees of the New

York City based Rockefeller Brothers
Fund and Philippine government.
It is awarded annually to individuals or

organizations from Asia region for their
altruistic and philanthropic service.
Award carries: Medallion bearing the

likeness of the late President Ramon
Magsaysay, cash prize and a certificate.
35.
Solution: b)
The Competition Commission of India (CCI)

has imposed fine of 420 crore rupees on the
local unit of Hyundai Motor Co.
The fined was imposed after CCI investigation
had found that Hyundai was engaged in anticompetitive practices.
CCI is a quasi-judicial statutory body

whose predecessor was the MRTPC
(Monopolies and Restrictive Trade
Practices Commission).
It was established 2003 as per the

provisions of The Competition Act, 2002
and became fully functional only by
2009.
It was established with an aim to

eliminate anti-competitive practices that
adversely affect competition in different
industries/areas and protect interests of
consumers and ensure freedom of trade
and also to give opinions to statutory
authorities.

36.
Solution: c)
Kazakhstan, a member of the Russia-led

economic blocks became 162th member of
World Trade Organization (WTO).
Kazakhstans entry has ended its long wait of
20 years to become a member of WTO as its
accession talks were initiated in 1996.
The process of becoming a WTO member is
unique to each applicant country, and the
terms of accession are dependent upon the
country's stage of economic development and
current trade regime.
The process takes about five years, on average,
but it can last longer if the country is less than
fully committed to the process or if political
issues interfere.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/in
ternational/business/wto-formally-acceptskazakhstan-as-newmember/articleshow/48241244.cms
37.
Solution: d)
The population of Royal Bengal Tiger in

Sundarbans region of Bangladesh has declined
sharply to 106 from 440 in 2004. It was
revealed in recently released new Tiger census
2015 of Bangladesh.
The Tiger Census was conducted
by Bangladesh-India Joint Tiger Census
Project. It was carried under the initiative
of Strengthening Regional Cooperation for
Wildlife Protection in Asia Project. Financial
Page 12


support to this initiative was provided by the

World Bank.
Methodology: Census 2015 was conducted by
using modern technology of hidden cameras to
count tigers. Previous methodology was based
on count of counting pug marks. The camera
tapping method is more accurate than past
method.
Reasons for decline in Population: The rapid
decline in population was attributed to loss of
habitat, lack of proper forest management,
unchecked wildlife poaching and animalhuman conflict in the worlds largest mangrove
forests of Sunderbans.
It should be noted that in Bangladesh,
Sunderbans are spread over 6097 sq.km and it
is only natural habitat of Royal Bengal tigers.
There are around 74 tigers on the Indian side
of the Sundarbans which stretches for nearly
4,000 miles across both countries.
38.
appearance of time trials. The race route

passes through the mountain chains of
Pyrenees, Alps and finish on the
Champs-lyses in Paris.
39.
China recently launched two new navigational

satellites into space as part of its domestic
navigation system BeiDou (meaning Compass).
India has also been adding satellites to its
IRNSS.
These navigational satellites are a

constellation of satellite helping provide
accurate location on earth.
All such satellites seek to reduce reliance

on GPS developed by USA.
40.
Tour de France was first organized in 1903 and

currently run by the Amaury Sport
Organisation.
The prestigious cycle race is 3 weeklong, traditionally held every year in the
month of July and covers around 3,500
kms.
Each year the route of race changes but

the format remains same with the

Solution: a).
It focuses on feeder separation for rural

households and agricultural purpose.
Seeks to strengthen the distribution and

sub-transmission infrastructure,
including metering at all levels in rural
areas.
Major components of the new

scheme: strengthening of subtransmission and distribution network,
feeder separation, Metering at all levels
including at input points, feeders and
distribution transformers.
It also seeks to strengthen Micro grid

and off grid distribution network of
rural electrification.
Solution: b)
High atlas is in Africa. Cordillera is in Asia.

And Beaufort range is in Canada. Only Alps
range is in Europe covering France.
Solution: b)
Page 13


The scheme has budgetary outlay of

76,000 crore rupees for implementation
of the projects of which Union
Government will provide grant of
63,000 crore rupees.
41. Solution: c)
Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with the 3
state governments will soon start an artificial
breeding programme of Great Indian Bustard
(GIB).
Under this integrated collaborative effort, 3
states viz. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra
will take part to boost the population of GIB,
one of the critically endangered flying bird
species in the world.
The artificially breeding operations of GIBs will
begin in 2016 across these 3 states and they
will be later released from captivity to semicaptivity after some time of initial operations.
GIB has been exterminated from almost 90 per
cent of their former range even though it has
ability to survive in harsh weather conditions.
The main reasons are Habitat loss and
poaching.
42.
Solution: c)
Long March-5 rocket carrier was recently

tested in China.

Long March-5 has the carrying capacity

twice of the payload compared to other
present carriers of China.
It has payload capacity of 14 tonnes to

geostationary transfer orbit and 25
tonnes to low Earth orbits.
It will serve the final chapter in building

Chinas manned space stations and 3
step current program of orbiting,
landing and returning lunar.
ISRO has developed rockets to put satellites in

orbit: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits
and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into
geostationary orbits. These rockets have
launched numerous communications satellites
and earth observation satellites.
43.
Solution: b)
Union Government has constituted All India

Council of Sports (AICS), as an advisory body
to deliberate on matters relating to the
development and promotion of sports in the
country.
Government will duly consider the advice
rendered by this Council, but it will not be
binding and obligatory on the government.
Composition: It will be headed by a

president in the rank of Minister of State
(MoS). It will include 4 Members of
Parliament (MPs), coaches, experts,
sports personalities, administrators and
Director General (DG) of Sports
Authority of India (SAI).
Page 14


Appointments: President and members,

other than ex-officio members will be
appointed by the Union Government.
Meeting: It will meet from time to time
i.e. at least once in a quarter of year to
deliberate on matters related sports and
games in the country.
Functions: Popularize sports amongst
the youth and increase its outreach to
rural and tribal areas along with North
East and Jammu & Kashmir, areas
affected by Left Wing Extremism.
Promote inclusiveness in sports with

special focus on women, tribals and
differently-abled.
Prevent fraud of age and sexual

harassment of women in sports along
with drug abuse.
Bring transparency, professionalism and

good governance in functioning of
National Sports Federations (NFS).
Promote sports sciences and sports

medicine and augment the sports
infrastructure and ensure its proper
utilization.
Tackle the issues arising malpractices in

competitive sports especially match
fixing and early identification of sports
talent and nurturing the identified
talent.
44.
Solution: a)
Union Government has launched a national

campaign Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan in a bid to

create awareness and capacity building on Safe

and Hygienic food for all.
It was launched by Union Minister of
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi.
Objective is building a culture of food

safety in the country.
It will ensure the safe food to consumers

apart from providing them Food security
in order to address the food
requirements.
Initiated under the brand name of Jago

Grahak Jago, which is mass awareness
campaign which creates awareness of
consumer rights and demands.
It is planned by Confederation of Indian

Industry (CII) along with Consumer
Organization VOICE and National
Association of Street Vendors of India
(NASVI).
45.
Solution: a)
Formerly known as Triana, unofficially known

as GoreSat, it is a Earth observation and space
weather satellite launched by SpaceX on a
Falcon 9 launch vehicle on February 11, 2015
from Cape Canaveral.
It was originally developed as a NASA satellite
proposed in 1998 by then-Vice President Al
Gore for the purpose of Earth observation. It is
at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point,
1,500,000 km (930,000 mi) from Earth, to
monitor variable solar wind condition, provide
early warning of approaching coronal mass
Page 15


ejections and observe phenomena on Earth

including changes in ozone, aerosols, dust and
volcanic ash, cloud height, vegetation cover and
climate.
At this location it will have a continuous view
of the Sun and the sunlit side of the Earth. It
will take full-Earth pictures about every two
hours and be able to process them faster than
other Earth observation satellites.
46.
Solution: d)
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/mangro
ve-forests-help-protect-against-rising-sealevel-says-study-50598
Mangrove forests prevent the effects of
cyclones, storms and other calamities by this
simple mechanim. This is likely due to soil
building up around their mesh-like roots and
acting to reduce energy from waves and tidal
currents, scientists say.
Estuaries and recesses in coastlines that form
bays receive the run-off from erosion on steep
catchments which give them the tendency to fill
in over time.
As they fill in, movement of tidal currents over
the shallow areas create networks of sandbanks
and channels. The sand banks grow upward to
keep pace with water level changes while the
channels get deeper to efficiently drain out the
excess water out to the sea.
47.
Solution: a)

Ocean acidification supports coral reef

formation as more carbon is dissolved in water
which helps forming those hard shales.
But, the higher acidity has been proven to
inhibit shell growth in marine animals and is
suspected as a cause of reproductive disorders
in some fish. Unless humans are able to control
and eventually eliminate fossil fuel emissions,
ocean organisms will find themselves under
increasing pressure to adapt to their habitat's
changing chemistry or perish.
Any changes happening in that system would
naturally cause an imbalance in the marine
ecosystem, which would further affect the food
chain.
A study has also found that the rise in ocean
acidification could lead affect phytoplankton,
which forms the base of the marine food chain.
Some researchers also observe that as ocean
acidification prompted some species to grow
faster and others slower, it also changed the
natural competition between species.
48.
Solution: d)
Audiovisual components, televisions, VCRs,

stereo equipment, mobile phones, other
handheld devices, and computer components
contain valuable elements and substances
suitable for reclamation, including lead,
copper, and gold.
One of the major challenges is recycling the
printed circuit boards from the electronic
wastes. The circuit boards contain such
Page 16


precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc.

and such base metals as copper, iron,
aluminum, etc. One way e-waste is processed is
by melting circuit boards, burning cable
sheathing to recover copper wire and open- pit
acid leaching for separating metals of value
49.
Solution: b)
It will be an Innovation Promotion Platform

involving academics, entrepreneurs and
researchers and draw upon national and
international experiences to foster a culture of
innovation, R&D and scientific research in
India.
The platform will also promote a network of
world-class innovation hubs and Grand
Challenges for India.
Initially a sum of Rs.150 crore will be
earmarked for this purpose.
50.
fifth member of the committee. The

Chairperson will nominate one of its
employees as the sixth member.
51. Solution: a)
The GST Bill seeks to establish a GST Council
tasked with optimising tax collection for goods
and services by the State and Centre
Composition: The Council will consist of

the Union Finance Minister (as
Chairman), the Union Minister of State
in charge of revenue or Finance, and the
Minister in charge of Finance or
Taxation or any other, nominated by
each State government.
The GST Council will be the body that

decides which taxes levied by the Centre,
States and local bodies will go into the
GST; which goods and services will be
subjected to GST; and the basis and the
rates at which GST will be applied.
Solution: c)
The Union government has proposed to strip

the Reserve Bank Governors veto vote on
Indias monetary policy. The government has
also proposed to grant itself the power to
appoint four of the six members of the
Monetary Policy Committee, whose remit will
include decisions on setting interest rates to
maintain inflation at the targeted level.
52.
Solution: c)
Although Indian constitution and law do not

provide for double citizenship normally, the
provision of dual citizenship is only applicable
to those children of diplomats who were born
outside India.
Under the revised draft, the nongovernment members of the committee

are to be drawn from the Reserve Bank.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/
2014-05-12/news/49795348_1_dualcitizenship-devyani-khobragade-s-indiancitizenship
The Reserve Banks Board will

nominate one of its executives as the
http://www.oneindia.com/india/mha-rejects-

Page 17


khobragade-s-plea-dual-citizenship-kids1814429.html
Children of foreign diplomats, who are born in
India, are also given dual citizenship till the
period of their parents service in India.
53.
Solution: b)
Losses of vitamins depend on cooking time,

temperature, and cooking method. Some
vitamins are quite heat-stable, whereas others
are heat-labile.
Many other factors than heat can destroy
(some) vitamins, such as: solubility in water,
exposure to air (oxidation), exposure to light
(UVs), heat, acid and alkaline solutions,
storage losses, etc.
Especially vitamin C is more vulnerable to
cooking.
54.
Solution: a)
55.
Solution: d)
There are two kinds of chalk. The mineral

Chalk is a porous form of limestone composed
of calcium carbonate. Blackboard chalk is
calcium sulphate.
Jute fibre is obtained from the stem of the jute

plant. It is cultivated during the rainy season.
In India, jute is mainly grown in West Bengal,
Bihar and Assam.
The chemical bonds are too strong to dissolve

in water. It does dissolve in acids. Many
minerals do not dissolve in water.
The jute plant is normally harvested when it is

at flowering stage.
In both versions of chalk there is low solubility

in water.
The stems of the harvested plants are

immersed in water for a few days. The stems
rot and fibres are separated by hand.
56.
Solution: b)
The solubility of a given solute in a given

solvent typically depends on temperature.

Page 18


Depending on the nature of the solute the

solubility may increase or decrease with
temperature. For many solids dissolved in
liquid water, the solubility increases with
temperature up to 100 C.
So, if you add ice first the sugar will take more
time to dissolve. In relatively warm water, it is
possible to dissolve more sugar at a faster pace.
57.Solution: d)
Plants make food in their leaves. The leaves
contain a pigment called chlorophyll, which
colors the leaves green. Chlorophyll can make
food the plant can use from carbon dioxide,
water, nutrients, and energy from
sunlight. This process is called photosynthesis.
Besides leaves, photosynthesis also takes place
in other green parts of the plant in green
stems and green branches. The desert plants
have scale- or spine-like leaves to reduce loss of
water by transpiration. These plants have green
stems which carry out photosynthesis.
58.
Solution: d)
Saprophytic organisms, or saprophytes, derive

their food from dead organisms. They secrete
enzymes that are released on food material
outside their body. These enzymes break down
complex food into simple forms. Common
examples of saprophytes are fungi (moulds,
mushrooms, yeasts) and many bacteria.
Parasitic organisms, or parasites, live on or
inside other living organisms, called hosts, and
obtain their food from them. The host does not

get any benefit from the parasite. Different

parasites, like Cuscuta (akash-bel), Cassytha
(amar-bel), hookworms, tapeworms, leeches,
etc., have different modes of feeding,
depending upon habit, habitat and
modifications.
59.
Solution: a)
Wool industry is an important means of

livelihood for many people in our country. But
sorters job is risky as sometimes they get
infected by a bacterium, anthrax, which causes
a fatal blood disease called sorters disease.
Such risks faced by workers in any industry are
called occupational hazards.
Anthrax is a rare infectious disease caused by
the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax
occurs naturally around the world in wild and
domestic hoofed animals, especially cattle,
sheep, goats, camels and antelopes. It can also
occur in humans when they are exposed to the
bacterium, usually through handling animals
or animal hides. There are three forms of
anthrax infection: cutaneous (skin), inhalation
(lungs) and gastrointestinal (stomach and
intestine). If people have been intentionally
exposed, as in a bioterrorist release, contact
with skin would be the most likely route of
exposure. Breathing in the spores that have
been spread through the air could cause
inhalation anthrax.
60.
Solution: c)
Copper is a very good conductor of heat and is

shiny in appearance. Because of these
Page 19


properties it was the preferred material for

kitchen utensils.
But its use is now confined to just outer layer of
kitchen pots that are used in cooking.
Copper toxicity is reduced to zero by using
stainless steel lining on the inner side of the
vessel.
61. Solution: d)
The indicators change their colour when added
to a solution containing an acidic or a basic
substance. Turmeric, litmus, china rose petals
(Gudhal), etc., are some of the naturally
occurring indicators.
The most commonly used natural indicator is
litmus. It is extracted from lichens. It has a
mauve (purple) colour in distilled water. When
added to an acidic solution, it turns red and
when added to a basic solution, it turns blue.
It is available in the form of a solution,
or in the form of strips of paper, known
as litmus paper.
Generally, it is available as red and blue litmus
paper
62.
Solution: d)
As the name indicates the rain containing

excess of acids is called an acid rain. The rain
becomes acidic because carbon dioxide,
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide (which
are release into the air as pollutants) dissolve
in rain drops to form carbonic acid, sulphuric
acid and nitric acid respectively.

Acid rain can also have a damaging effect on

many objects, including buildings, statues,
monuments, and cars. The chemicals found in
acid rain can cause paint to peel and stone
statues to begin to appear old and worn down,
which reduces their value and beauty.
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and
streams and contributes to the damage of trees
at high elevations (for example, red spruce
trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive
forest soils.
You can understand more here
http://epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_stude
nts/whyharmful.html
63.
Solution: c)
Excessive use of chemical fertilisers makes the

soil acidic. Plants do not grow well when the
soil is either too acidic or too basic.
When the soil is too acidic, it is treated with
bases like quick lime (calcium oxide) or slaked
lime (calcium hydroxide).
If the soil is basic, organic matter is added to it.
Organic matter releases acids which neutralises
the basic nature of the soil.
64.
Solution: b)
Some migratory birds travel as much as 15000

km to escape the extreme climatic conditions at
home. Generally they fly high where the wind
flow is helpful and the cold conditions allow
them to disperse the heat generated by their
flight muscles.
Page 20


But how these birds travel to the same place

year after year is still a mystery. It seems that
these birds have a builtin sense of direction
and know in which direction to travel. Some
birds probably use landmarks to guide them.
Many birds may be guided by the sun during
the day and stars at night. There is some
evidence that birds may use the magnetic field
of the earth to find direction.
And it is not only birds that migrate; mammals,
many types of fish and insects are also known
to migrate seasonally in search of more
hospitable climates.
65.
Solution: d)
All these species have been mentioned with

photographs in your 7th NCERT book. Keep an
eye on such prominent facts and details while
reading NCERTs. They are very likely to come
in exams.
66.
Solution: c)
We must take the following precautions:

Do not take shelter under an isolated tree. If
you are in a forest take shelter under a small
tree. Do not lie on the ground.
Do not take shelter under an umbrella with a
metallic end.
Do not sit near a window. Open garages,
storage sheds, metal sheds are not safe places
to take shelter. Open garages increase the risk
of an electrical shock.
Instead, a car or a bus is a safer place to take
shelter. Electric current is discharged from the
outer surface itself.
If you are in water, get out and go inside a
building.
67.
Solution: a)
The whole coastline of India is vulnerable to

cyclones, particularly the east coast.
The west coast of India is less vulnerable to
cyclonic storms both in terms of intensity and
frequency of the cyclones.
Moreover, tornadoes are also not very frequent.
Most tornadoes are weak and they rarely reach
high speeds upto 300 kmph.
Tornadoes are formed within cyclones.
68.
Solution: d)
The soil is classified on the basis of the

proportion of particles of various sizes. If soil
contains greater proportion of big particles it is

Page 21


called sandy soil. If the proportion of fine

particles is relatively higher, then it is called
clayey soil. If the amount of large and fine
particles is about the same, then the soil is
called loamy.
The best topsoil for growing plants is loam.
Loamy soil is a mixture of sand, clay and
another type of soil particle known as silt. Silt
occurs as a deposit in river beds. The size of the
silt particles is between those of sand and clay.
The loamy soil also has humus in it. It has the
right water holding capacity for the growth of
plants.
69.
Solution: c)
Our muscle cells can also respire anaerobically,

but only for a short time, when there is a
temporary deficiency of oxygen. During heavy
exercise, fast running, cycling, walking for
many hours or heavy weight lifting, the
demand for energy is high. But the supply of
oxygen to produce the energy is limited.
The cramps occur when muscle cells respire
anaerobically. The partial breakdown of
glucose produces lactic acid. The accumulation
of lactic acid causes muscle cramps. We get
relief from cramps after a hot water bath or a
massage.
Hot water bath or massage improves
circulation of blood. As a result, the supply of
oxygen to the muscle cells increases. The
increase in the supply of oxygen results in the
complete breakdown of lactic acid into carbon
dioxide and water.

70.
Solution: d)
The shape of the population pyramid tells the

story of the people living in that particular
country. The numbers of children (below 15
years) are shown at the bottom and reflect the
level of births. The size of the top shows the
numbers of aged people (above 65 years) and
reflects the number of deaths.
The population pyramid of a country in which
birth and death rates both are high is broad at
the base and rapidly narrows towards the top.
This is because although, many children are
born, a large percentage of them die in their
infancy, relatively few become adults and there
are very few old people.
71. Solution: d)
Joint sector industries are owned and operated
by the state and individuals or a group of
individuals. Maruti Udyog Limited is an
example of joint sector industry.
Co-operative sector industries are owned and
operated by the producers or suppliers of raw
materials, workers or both.
Anand Milk Union Limited and Sudha Dairy
are success stories of a co-operative venture.
72.
Solution: c)
The first successful modern textile mill was

established in Mumbai in 1854. The warm,
Page 22


moist climate, port for importing machinery,

availability of raw material and skilled labour
resulted in rapid expansion of the industry in
the region.
Initially this industry flourished in the states of
Maharashtra and Gujarat because of favourable
humid climate. But today, humidity can be
created artificially, and raw cotton is a pure
and not weight losing raw material, so this
industry has spread to other parts of India.
A weight losing material means it loses a lot of
weight after processing. So, if the loss of waste
is larger, it does not make sense to transport it
for long distances. Instead, a weight losing
material will be processed on site and therefore
industries will always be located near farms. It
is not the case with cotton.
Coimbatore, Kanpur, Chennai, Ahmedabad,
Mumbai, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Pondicherry and
Panipat are some of the other important
centres.
sunshine at the time of harvest. It thrives best

in well drained loamy soil.
74.
Solution: d)
Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits

and is released when crude oil is brought to the
surface.
In India Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta,
Tripura and some areas off shore in Mumbai
have natural gas resources.
A huge mass of Indias natural gas production
comes from the western offshore regions,
particularly the Mumbai High complex. The
onshore fields in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and
Gujarat states are also major producers of
natural gas.
75.Solution: d)
Contour ploughing is ploughing parallel to the
contours of a hill slope to form a natural
barrier for water to flow down the slope.
73.
Solution: b)
Rice is the staple diet of the tropical and subtropical regions. Rice needs high temperature,
high humidity and rainfall. It grows best in
alluvial clayey soil, which can retain water.
In favourable climatic conditions as in West
Bengal and Bangladesh two to three crops a
year are grown.
Contour ploughing follows the natural shape of

the slope without altering it. Terrace farming
alters the shape of the slope to produce flat
areas that provide a catchment for water and a
solid area for crop growth.
In Terrace farming, terraces are made on the
steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available
to grow crops. They can reduce surface run-off
and soil Erosion.
Wheat requires moderate temperature and

rainfall during growing season and bright
76.

Solution: c)
Page 23


Specialization is a method of production where

a business or area focuses on the production of
a limited scope of products or services in order
to gain greater degrees of productive efficiency
within the entire system of businesses or areas.
Many countries specialize in producing the
goods and services that are native to their part
of the world. This specialization is the basis of
global trade as few countries produce enough
goods to be completely self-sufficient.
78.
Solution: d)
When a currency appreciates or strengthens in

relation to other currencies, imports get
cheaper. This means your dollar will buy more
of another foreign currency so that you can
purchase foreign goods.
One of the biggest disadvantages of higher
exchange rates or a strong dollar may be that it
leads to trade deficits. Because strong
currencies lead to cheaper imports, a country
tends to import more than they export. This
causes a trade deficit (not fiscal deficit).
77. Solution: b)
The various components of money can be
aggregated together in order of liquidity. Since
money is primarily used to settle day-to-day
transactions, it needs to be readily usable as a
means of doing so. Clearly, cash and coins are
the most liquid forms of money, since they can
be used instantaneously and universally used
to settle unlimited transactions. Demand
deposits, or accounts with banks, are also quite
liquid, as they can be used to write cheques
against, in settling daily transactions. The sum
of currency in circulation and demand deposits
with banks is called M1, or 'narrow money'.
Time deposits, though not as liquid and
instantly available as transactions settling
medium as M1, are still money, since it will be
available at some point, and very often, as in
the case of fixed deposits, can be converted to
cash for some penalty. Usually, time deposits
are much larger than both currency in
circulation and demand deposits. The sum of
M1 and time deposits is called 'broad money'.

79.
Solution: b)
Central Government levies taxes on income

(except tax on agricultural income, which the
State Governments can levy), customs duties,
central excise and service tax. Value Added Tax
(VAT), (Sales tax in States where VAT is not yet
in force), stamp duty, State Excise, land
revenue and tax on professions are levied by
the State Governments.
Some taxes are levied and collected by the
Centre but shared with the States. These
include taxes on income other than agricultural
income and union excise duties on goods
included in Union List, except medicinal and
toilet preparations.
In last 10-15 years, Indian taxation system has
undergone tremendous reforms. The
Constitution (Eightieth Amendment) Act,
2000, significantly changed the manner of
Page 24


distribution of Central tax collections between

the Central and State Governments. Prior to
this amendment, income tax and Union excise
duties were the only taxes shared with the
States.
80.
Solution: c)
The main difference between revenue receipts

and capital receipts is that revenue receipts are
recurring in nature, which the government can
expect to receive year after year, whereas
capital receipts are a kind of one-time income.
So, earnings from interest rates cannot be
counted as capital receipts as they are recurring
income in nature. They come under revenue
receipts.
atmosphere around it. This is because

atmosphere has a weight.
Primordial heat is responsible for many
tectonic events on the earth like volcanism,
plate movement etc.
Coriolis force is responsible for wind
movement not attraction of atmosphere of
earth.
82.
Solution: c)
The crust forms only 0.5 per cent of the

volume of the earth, 16 per cent consists of the
mantle and 83 per cent makes the core.
Moreover, grants from governments are also

counted in the revenue receipt segment.
The main items of capital receipts are loans
raised by the government from the public
which are called market borrowings, borrowing
by the government from the Reserve Bank and
commercial banks and other financial
institutions through the sale of treasury bills,
loans received from foreign governments and
international organisations, and recoveries of
loans granted by the central government.
81.Solution: d)
83.
Solution: d)
The earth movements are divided on the basis

of the forces which cause them. The forces
which act in the interior of the earth are called
as Endogenic forces and the forces that work
on the surface of the earth are called as
Exogenic forces.
The atmosphere is the thin layer of air (gases,

dust etc.) that surrounds the earth. The
gravitational force of the earth holds the

Page 25


When it stops blowing the sand falls and gets

deposited in low hill like structures. These
are called sand dunes.
When the grains of sand are very fine and light,
the wind can carry it over very long distances.
When such sand is deposited in large areas, it
is called loess. Large deposits of loess are found
in China.
85.
Solution: b)
In economics, Veblen goods are types of

material commodities for which the demand is
proportional to its high price, which is an
apparent contradiction of the law of demand;
Veblen goods also are commodities that
function as positional goods.
Veblen goods are types of luxury goods, such as
expensive wines, jewelry, fashion-designer
handbags, and luxury cars, which are in
demand because of the high prices asked for
them.
All these forces are responsible for shaping the

earth around you.
The high price makes the goods desirable as

symbols of the buyer's high social-status, by
way of conspicuous consumption and
conspicuous leisure; conversely, a decrease of
the prices of Veblen goods would decrease
demand for the products
86.
84.
Solution: a)
When the wind blows, it lifts and transports

sand from one place to another.

Solution: b)
In thermosphere temperature rises very rapidly

with increasing height.
Ionosphere is a part of this layer. It extends
between 80-400 kms. This layer helps in radio
transmission. In fact, radio waves transmitted
Page 26


from the earth are reflected back to the earth

by this layer.
On the other hand, Mesosphere extends only
up to the height of 80 km.
False knowledge is not merely ignorance to

Naiyayikas, it includes delusion. Correct
knowledge is discovering and overcoming one's
delusions, and understanding true nature of
soul, self and reality.
Meteorites burn up in this layer on entering

from the space.
89.
87.
Solution: a)
It is calculated as the profit that a firm is

expected to earn considering the cost of inputs
and the depreciation of capital. It is influenced
by expectations about future input costs and
demand. The MEC and capital outlays are the
elements that a firm takes into account when
deciding about an investment project.
The MEC needs to be higher than the rate of
interest, r, for investment to take place.
Prattyasamutpda, commonly translated as

dependent origination or dependent arising,
states that all dharmas ("things") arise in
dependence upon other dharmas: "if this
exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that
also ceases to exist."
It is a pragmatic teaching, which is applied to
dukkha and the cessation of dukkha.
The term is also used to refer to the twelve
links of dependent origination, which describes
the chain of causes which result in rebirth. By
reverting the chain, liberation from rebirth can
be attained.
90.
88.
Solution: d)
In its metaphysics, Nyaya school is closer to

Vaisheshika school of Hinduism than others. It
holds that human suffering results from
mistakes/defects produced by activity under
wrong knowledge (notions and ignorance).
Moksha (liberation), it states, is gained through
right knowledge. This premise led Nyaya to
concern itself with epistemology, that is the
reliable means to gain correct knowledge and
to remove wrong notions.

Solution: b)
Solution: a)
The Indian National Army and Netaji Subhash

Chandra Bose were playing their remarkable
part in the freedom struggle of India.
On the eve of the Second World War Bose came
to believe that Gandhi's Non-violent Movement
might not bring independence.
In 1939 he resigned from the congress
presidentship and organised forward Bloc for a
more vigorous national struggle. The
government first imprisoned him, and
thereafter kept him confined to his house
under close watch.
Page 27


91. Solution: d)
The first war of Indian Independence was
fought in 1857 AD, during the reign of
Governor General of Lord Canning.
The immediate cause of the revolt of 1857 was
that Mangal Pandey killed two British officers
on parade at Barrackpore.
This revolt spread in Lucknow, Ambala and
Meerut cantonments. On May 10, 1857 soldiers
at Meerut refused to touch the new Enfield rifle
cartridges. The soldiers along with other group
of civilians, went on rampage.
They marched to Delhi, seized the city and
proclaimed the Bahadur Shah Zafar, emperor
of India. Due to the lack of unity and
organisation this revolt failed.
92.
Solution: c)
In July 1905, Lord Curzon, the Viceroy and

Governor-General (18991905), ordered the
partition of the province of Bengal supposedly
for improvements in administrative efficiency
in the huge and populous region. It also had
justifications due to increasing conflicts
between Muslims and dominant Hindu
regimes in Bengal.
However, the Indians viewed the partition as
an attempt by the British to disrupt the
growing national movement in Bengal and
divide the Hindus and Muslims of the region.
The Bengali Hindu intelligentsia exerted
considerable influence on local and national
politics.

Widespread agitation ensued in the streets and

in the press, and the Congress advocated
boycotting British products under the banner
of swadeshi.
93.
Solution: d)
The First World War began with an

unprecedented outpouring of support towards
Britain from within the mainstream political
leadership, contrary to initial British fears of an
Indian revolt. India contributed massively to
the British war effort by providing men and
resources.
About 1.3 million Indian soldiers and labourers
served in Europe, Africa and the Middle East,
while both the Indian government and the
princes sent large supplies of food, money and
ammunition.
However, Bengal and Punjab remained
hotbeds of anti colonial activities. Nationalism
in Bengal, increasingly closely linked with the
unrests in Punjab, was significant enough to
nearly paralyse the regional administration.
94.
Solution: b)
The British themselves adopted a "carrot and

stick" approach in recognition of India's
support during the war and in response to
renewed nationalist demands. In August 1917,
The means of achieving the proposed measure
were later enshrined in the Government of
India Act 1919, which introduced the principle
of a dual mode of administration, or diarchy, in
Page 28


which both elected Indian legislators and

appointed British officials shared power. The
act also expanded the central and provincial
legislatures and widened the franchise
considerably.
Diarchy set in motion certain real changes at
the provincial level: a number of noncontroversial or "transferred" portfolios, such
as agriculture, local government, health,
education, and public works, were handed over
to Indians, while more sensitive matters such
as finance, taxation, and maintaining law and
order were retained by the provincial British
administrators.
He also served as leader of the Indian National

Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency,
Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home
Affairs of the Indian Union and Chief Minister
of Madras state. Rajagopalachari founded the
Swatantra Party and was one of the first
recipients of India's highest civilian award, the
Bharat Ratna.
He favoured talks with both Muhammad Ali
Jinnah and the Muslim League and proposed
what later came to be known as the C. R.
Formula.
97.
95.
Solution: a)
Gandhis concept of Satyagraha was

from this movement only.
It was originally founded by Bhagat Jawahar
Mal in 1840.His main aim was to purify the
Sikh religion by removing all the abuses,
superstitions and ill-practices from it.
But after the British annexation of Punjab
revival of Sikh power and sovereignty became
the major objective of the Kukas.
This caused a great deal of anxiety in the
British official ranks.
So they took various measures between 1863
and 1872 and were finally able to suppress this
movement.
96.
Solution: b)
Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru at

its historic Lahore session in December 1929,
the Indian National Congress adopted a
resolution calling for complete independence
from the British. It authorised the Working
Committee to launch a civil disobedience
movement throughout the country. It was
decided that 26 January 1930 should be
observed all over India as the Purna Swaraj
(total independence) Day.
A special session was held in Karachi to
endorse the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Karachi
session became famous because of the two
resolutions that were adopted-one on
Fundamental rights and other on National
Economic program, both drafted by Dr.
Rajendra Prasad. The goal of Purna Swaraj was
reiterated. This was the first time the congress
spelt out what swaraj would mean for the
masses.
Solution: d)

Page 29


98.
Solution: c)
The revolutionary philosophies and movement

made their presence felt during the 1905
Partition of Bengal. Arguably, the initial steps
to organize the revolutionaries were taken by
Aurobindo Ghosh, his brother Barin Ghosh,
Bhupendranath Datta etc. when they formed
the Jugantar party in April 1906.
Jugantar party leaders like Barin Ghosh and
Bagha Jatin initiated making of explosives.
Amongst a number of notable events of
political terrorism were the Alipore bomb case,
the Muzaffarpur killing tried several activists
and many were sentenced to deportation for
life, while Khudiram Bose was hanged.
99.
Solution: d)
Towards the end of the successor of Nagabhata

II, successfully attacked Kannauj and
established control there. This was short-lived
as he was soon after defeated by the Rastrakuta
ruler, Govinda III. However, he was kept busy
in internal politics by an alliance of different
kingdoms in the south. The struggle for
Kannauj became serious after the Pratiharas
exercised control over it.
During the rule of Krishna III, there was
successful campaign against the Cholas. The
Rastrakutas also formed a matrimonial
relationship with the Gangas and defeated the
kingdom of Vengi. By the end of the 9th
Century the power of the Rastrakutas started to
decline along with the Palas.
This was seen as an ideal opportunity by the
feudal king Taila II who defeated the

Rastrakuta ruler and declared his kingdom

there. This came to be known the Later
Chalukya dynasty. Their kingdom included the
states of Karnataka, Konkan and northern
Godavari. By the end of the tripartite struggle,
the Pratiharas emerged victorious and
established themselves as the rulers of central
India.
100.
Solution: a)
Harsha died in 647, having ruled for 41 years.

His empire died with him, disintegrating
rapidly into small states. The succeeding period
is very obscure and badly documented, but it
marks the culmination of a process that had
begun with the invasion of the Huns in the last
years of the Gupta Empire.
In 648, Tang Taizong sent Wang Xuance to

India in response to Harsha sending an
ambassador to China. However once in India
he discovered Harsha had died and the new
king attacked Wang and his 30 mounted
subordinates.
This led to Wang Xuance escaping to Tibet and
then mounting a joint of over 7,000 Nepalese
mounted infantry and 1,200 Tibetan infantry
and attack on the Indian state on June 16. The
success of this attack Wang Xuance the
prestigious title of the "Grand Master for the
Closing Court." He also secured a reported
Buddhist relic for China
Page 30

32A

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

32A

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INSIGHTS

MOCK TEST SERIES 2015: TEST 32 SOLUTIONS

The current national calendar of India was set

Product liability: If product or

Under the existing rules of procedure

development, animal husbandry, installation of

The Italian government has approached the

The Convention entered into force on

He was born on 15 October 1931 in

In 1960, he had joined Defence Research

In 1969, he had joined India Space

Under his leadership and vision, India

He was a pioneer and instrumental in

In 1980, he was appointed Chairman of

He was appointed CSA to Prime

He was Chief Project Coordinator of

He was the 11th President of India and

Awards and Honours: Bharat Ratna

He has unique honour of receiving

Switzerland has declared 26 May as

Coronary stent in India became popular as

The elections to the Constituent Assembly (for

Deputy Chairman, Planning

In 2003, the following two changes were

At of 2013, a party is recognised as a national

If it secures six per cent of valid votes

The 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 provided for

property; (f) Elections to Parliament and state

The Constitution imposes a duty upon the

The functions of the Commission are, inter

To inquire into any violation of human

suo motu or on a petition presented to it

The Union Executive consists of the President,

Parliament of which he may be named a

The role of CAG is to uphold the Constitution

Though the constitution has sought to

The conditions of service and tenure of office of

The Constitution has not prescribed the

The following best sums up the relationship

74th Amendment Act of 1992 provides for the

A nagar panchayat for a transitional

A municipal corporation for a larger

The controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism

A Bio fertilizer is a substance which contains

rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and

Weathering and transport slope

Cliff foot erosion

Cliff foot sediment accumulation

Resistance of cliff foot sediment to

The maritime domain awareness systems

It is Asias highest honor and often

Established: in 1957 in the memory of

It was established by trustees of the New

It is awarded annually to individuals or

Award carries: Medallion bearing the

The Competition Commission of India (CCI)

CCI is a quasi-judicial statutory body

It was established 2003 as per the

It was established with an aim to

Kazakhstan, a member of the Russia-led

The population of Royal Bengal Tiger in

support to this initiative was provided by the

appearance of time trials. The race route

China recently launched two new navigational