Sol. Ans (b) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization (NGO). Created in 1971 by a small group of French doctors and journalists who believed that human needs go beyond national borders. It is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1999, Peace). Thus, option (a) is wrong. Option (c) and (d) are also wrong. Option (b) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) An excellent question on TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) that refers to the dangerous consequences of biodiversity depletion. In March 2007, environment ministers from the G8+5 countries meeting in Germany proposed to initiate the process of analyzing the global economic benefit of biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective conservation. In response to this proposal, a global study was jointly initiated that same year, led by Pavan Sukhdev. TEEB aims at helping decision-makers understand the value of ecosystems. Hence, option (c) is correct [ 2 and 3 only ]. You can eliminate 1 easily, and that eliminates options (a) and (d).

Sol. Ans (a) Red Sanders is also called Laal Chandan. It is a non-aromatic sandalwood variety, with technical name Pterocarpus santalinus. It occurs in the forest formation which is classified as ”5A/C3 Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests” as per Champion and Seth Classification and falls in the eco-terrestrial region IM1301 Deccan Thorn Scrub Forests and as well as IM0201 Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests. Hence only statement 1 is correct, not 2. Hence option (a) is correct. A basic knowledge of climate of India would have helped here.

Sol. Ans (d) A tricky question. The UN-REDD ( http://www.un-redd.org/) can be confused with REDD+ which is a similar programme but at later stage. The question made a mistake in naming it UN-REDD+ . There is no such programme, it is only UN-REDD without any plus sign! The UN-REDD Programme, and other multilaterals including the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and Forest Investment Program (FIP), facilitated by the World Bank, support developing countries with financial and technical assistance to build the capacities to design and implement REDD+ strategies. However, REDD+ is a climate change mitigation solution being developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), that incentivizes developing countries to keep their forests standing. These developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions to reduce forest carbon emissions. The impact would include all three statements 1,2 and 3. Hence answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (a) The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (http://www.ghgprotocol.org/) is explained on the official site as – “The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions”. It is a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). So option (a) is correct, and (b), (c) and (d) are wrong. The name should have given a clue (accounting).

Sol. Ans (c) This Council was a result of panic post-2008 recession, which hinted at the government’s need to do inter-regulatory supervision for the entire financial sector of India. All details here - http://finmin.nic.in/fsdc/StrucFSDC.pdf . Of course, it cannot be a part of NITI Aayog, hence 1 is wrong. So options (a) and (d) are wrong. Option (c) is correct.

Sol. Ans (a) A trick question. Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. So 1 is correct. But it is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 and not the one held at Johannesburg in 2002. Hence 2 is wrong. Hence option (a) is correct.

(Reference - https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf)

Sol. Ans (c) One of the easiest questions, if only you knew the state associated. The Satya Shodhak Samaj was established by Jyotirao Phule in Pune (Maharashtra) in 1873 with the ideals of human well being in broader aspects, human happiness, unity, equality, and easy religious principles and rituals. It was an anti-caste system movement. Answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (d) Viruses are potent infectious agents which can infect all life forms including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, plants, and animals. They can work only inside the living cells of other organisms, not outside it. Viruses are “organisms on the edge of life” as they are not fully classifiable as life-forms due to absence of cell structures. Answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (b) This made news several times in past two years, first with the controversies surrounding Google, Apple and others regarding their tax avoidance strategies by locating key units outside home countries; and recently with the Panama Papers expose that laid the mechanism bare. Related concept is the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of USA). Best answer is (b).

Sol. Ans (a) The DIPP had since 2011 given in-principle approval to 12 NIMZs in Nagpur in Maharashtra; Tumkur, Kolar, Gulbarga and Bidar in Karnataka; Medak in Telangana; Chittor in Rajasthan and Kalinganagar in Odisha, among others. However, none of the states other than Andhra Pradesh has been able to make any headway yet. Answer is (a).

Sol. Ans (b) The District Mineral Foundations (DMF) are trusts set up as non-profit bodies, in those districts affected by the mining works, to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations. Contributions from miners fund it and it comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government. It was mandated through the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, (MMDRA) 2015. If you could crack the word “Foundations”, you could easily reach option (b) i.e. statement 2.

Sol. Ans (d) This was hot off the plate! SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active –Learning for Young Aspiring Minds is an Information Technology platform by Ministry of HRD which will host Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and provide high quality education on various subjects from school level to Under Graduate and Post Graduate students, covering all disciplines. About 2000 courses shall be launched backed by a network that is expected to support 10 lakh concurrent users on anytime, anywhere basis.

Sol. Ans (d) ) The British had realized by 1916 that Indian aspirations could not be suppressed in their governing model any more. The Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (Mont-Ford) were introduced to bring self-governing institutions gradually to India. The reforms formed the basis of the Government of India Act 1919. These were rejected by nationalist leaders. Obvious answer is (d). This is a typical civil services exam question!

Sol. Ans (b) An excellent question that asks you to compare. The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad (Maharashtra) are 30 rock-cut cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE. Present day Mahabalipuram site was a seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century AD) and Ptolemy (AD 140). It was established as a town in the 7th century by the Pallava kings who ruled south of Chennai. In subsequent periods it became famous more for its rock-cut temples and caves and also structural Hindu temples built between 630 and 728 AD. So strictly speaking, 1 is wrong. Time periods are not exactly the same. 2 is also wrong. Only 3 is correct.

Sol. Ans (b) Bitcoins toh aana hi tha! Of course, Bitcoins are not regulated or tracked by central banks. Of course, the central banks may study their evolution but “track” could mean day-to-day recording of volumes and trends etc. Hence options (a) and (d) can be ruled out. Both 2 and 3 are correct. Hence answer is (b). A good reference link is - https://bitcoin.org/en/faq

Sol. Ans (b) The New Development Bank was previously known as the BRICS bank. So the five BRICS countries started it, not APEC. Hence 1 is wrong. So options (a) and (c) are wrong. NDB’s HQ is in Shanghai, and the first President is Mr K V Kamath of India, a matter of great pride.

Sol. Ans (d) The Madhav Gadgil Committee (formally known as Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)) submitted its Report on Western Ghats to the Government of India on 31 August 2011. But later, the Kasturirangan Committee was constituted to examine the WGEEP report. The committee is often called HLWG –denoting the 10 member high-level working group (HLWG), headed by Kasturirangan. Western Ghats’ ecological preservation is a very controversial issue right now.

Sol. Ans (b) This was a tough one. In 1868, Keshub Sen laid the foundation stone of his new church - the Tabernacle of New Dispensation on 24th January. In 1870, he visited England as a spokesman for the Hindu reformation. He set up the Indian Reform Association on 29th October 1870, primarily to publish cheap literature for the poor, fight against alcoholism and to educate women. The Calcutta Unitarian Committee was setup in 1823 by Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore, and William Adam. Answer is (b). The exam is expecting you to remember all the associations (even relatively less known ones) and their founders. Modern history and Indian independence movement can have its subtler shades for sure!

Sol. Ans (a) The GCC consists of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf, except for Iraq. Members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran is not an Arab country. What territory do Arabs inhabit? The Arab conquests of the seventh century spread the Arabic language and civilization from North Africa to central Asia. Iran is alone among the Middle Eastern peoples conquered by the Arabs, because the Iranians did not lose their language or their identity. Ethnic Persians make up 60 percent of modern Iran, and modern Persian is the official language. (Persian also has official status in Afghanistan, where Dari, or Afghan Persian, is one of two official languages.) In addition, the majority of Iranians are Shiite Muslims while most Arabs are Sunni Muslims.

Sol. Ans (c) Physical gold lying idle with Indian households has been the bane of governments. The aim of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) is to curb the import of gold as it will offer benefits and is linked to the prevailing price of physical gold. The Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) was also announced on 15 September 2015 to mobilize gold held by households and institutions and facilitate its use for productive purposes and, in the long run, reduce India’s reliance on gold imports. Statement 2 is incorrect. Best answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (d) One of the easiest questions! The obvious answer is (d) – China. President Xi Jinping’s dream project is the One Belt One Road (OBOR) scheme that ambitiously aims to link China with the rest of Eurasia. It has two main components, the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" (SREB) and oceangoing "Maritime Silk Road" (MSR). China wants to take a bigger role in global affairs, and has a need to export the production capacity in areas of overproduction such as steel manufacturing. Best answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (a) The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana under the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank has been set up for development and refinancing activities relating to micro units and to provide funding to the non corporate small business sector. The government wants youth to be job creators and not job seekers. Three categories of credit are – Shishu (upto Rs.50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh). Best answer is (a).

Sol. Ans (d) Indian shale reserves are in six regions – Cambay basin, Gondwana, Assam-Arakan, Krishna-Godavari basin, Cauvery basin and Indo-Gangetic basin. Best answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (b) A half-yearly report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that assesses the stability of global financial markets and emerging market financing. It focuses on current conditions that could risk an upset in global financial stability and access to financing by emerging market countries. IMF's other publication is the World Economic Outlook. (World Bank publishes the World Development Report) Best answer is (b).

Sol. Ans (c) Statement 1 is correct. The APY is targeted at unorganized sector workers to give them social security. Another clause relevant to the question is “In case of death of subscriber, pension would be available to the spouse and on the death of both of them (subscriber and spouse), the pension wealth accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber would be returned to the nominee.” So Statement 3 is correct. Regarding 2, it is not mentioned anywhere, hence wrong. (Reference link is http://www.jansuraksha.gov.in/) Best answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (b) The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between ASEAN’s ten members (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand). The RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which includes the United States but excludes China. Answer is (b). Recently RCEP and Doctors without Borders both have been in news. Doctors without Borders has requested India not to accept RCEP due to concerns on affordable medicines (patents and IPR related), and the ASEAN has asked India to either reduce the tariffs or quit the talks on FTA held by RCEP.

Sol. Ans (d) The Objectives of Standards & Labeling Program is to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving and thereby the cost saving potential of the marketed household and other equipment. The scheme was launched in 2006 and is currently used for equipments/appliances like Room Air Conditioner, Ceiling Fan, Colour Television, Computer, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Distribution Transformer, Domestic Gas Stove, Frost Free Refrigerator, General Purpose Industrial Motor, Monoset Pump, Openwell Submersible Pump Set, Stationary Type Water Heater, Submersible Pump Set, Tfl, Ballast, Solid State Inverter, Office Automation Products, Diesel Engine Driven Monosetpumps For Agricultural Purposes, Diesel Generator Set, Led Lamps, Inverter Ac etc. Answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (d) An excellent question from Science and Technology. Fusion power has the potential to provide sufficient energy to satisfy mounting demand, and to do so sustainably, with a relatively small impact on the environment. The ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject, which will be the world's largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment. It is an experimental nuclear fusion reactor that is being built in France. The ITER project aims to make the long-awaited transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to full-scale electricity-producing fusion power stations. The project is funded and run by seven member entities—the European Union, India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (d) The Eripatti land was basically Tank land. These were lands registered in the name of a particular tank; expenses for periodical dredging and maintenance of the tank were to be carried out with the funds generated as revenue from these lands. Ghatikas was the most important medieval Karnataka educational institution of the Pallavas, located near temples. Taniyurs is a term from the Chola kingdom (850 – 1200 AD). Every village was a self-governing unit. A number of such villages constituted a Korram or nadu. Taniyur was a large village big enough to be a Kurram by itself. Best answer is (d).) This question from ancient and medieval India is a classic civil services one.

Sol. Ans (a) International Solar Alliance, headquartered in India, is the brainchild of PM Modi. The sunshine countries are major countries between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Modi launched the initiative to form a group of 107 sunshine countries countries (not all UN members) at the India Africa Summit and held a meeting among them before the conclave of 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris on 30 November 2015. Answer is (a).

Sol. Ans (b) The European Stability Mechanism has been in news all through the Eurozone debt crisis that flared up post 2010. It was made to provide financial support to Eurozone countries. Answer is (b).

Sol. Ans (c) The classical ‘leaching requirement’ approach for salinity management does not work well with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), because irrigation with SDI results in no leaching above the depth of the drip tape, and salts will accumulate throughout the growing season. Irrigation with SDI can maintain suitable root-zone salinity, but surface salt accumulation will occur unless there is adequate leaching due to rainfall or supplemental surface irrigation. Reduction in weed and less soil erosion are definite benefits of drip irrigation. Answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (c) Obviously statement 1 is correct. DigiLocker is a GoI scheme under Digital India. Statement 2 is also correct. Official document says - DigiLocker is aimed at the concept of paperless governance. It offers the following benefits: 1. Citizens can access their digital documents anytime, anywhere and share it online. This is convenient and time saving. 2. It reduces the administrative overhead of Government departments by minimizing the use of paper. 3. Digital Locker makes it easier to validate the authenticity of documents as they are issued directly by the registered issuers. 4. Self uploaded documents can be eSigned which is similar to the process of self-attestation. (Reference link is https://digilocker.gov.in) ) Best answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (b) With the launch of the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme in Andhra Pradesh in September 2015, flood water from the river Godavari was pumped into the Polavaram right canal that empties into the river Krishna in Vijayawada.The interlinking of the Godavari and the Krishna was on the anvil for almost five decades and with the commissioning of the Pattiseema scheme, four major rivers in Andhra Pradesh are now connected to one another: Godavari-Krishna, Krishna-Pennar and Pennar-Tungabhadra.

Sol. Ans (b) The Air Quality Index in India uses NO₂, SO₂ and CO, but not CO₂ or Methane.

Sol. Ans (d) Other than India, the US, Russia, Japan and Europe already have their own space observatories. So statement 1 is wrong. Weight of Astrosat is not 2000 kg but 1630 kg. So statement 2 is also wrong. Hence answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (c) India has had a rich tradition of science and technology. Ancient and early medieval Indian scientists had made remarkable progress in the field of astronomy, mathematics and medicine. After the coming of Turks, new technologies were introduced such as paper, spinning wheel, carder's bow, improved water wheel, widespread use of the iron- stirrup, improved metallurgy techniques and devise for cleaning gun barrels. Mughal emperor Babur had enlisted only two Indian devices – one was a time measurement device and the other was an irrigation device. He gave a description of two irrigation devices and their mechanism. One is called by different names, like saqiya or arghatta rahat and the other one is called dhenkli. Best answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (d) Maagadha was a courtier in ancient India. As historians point out, memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories, or epic tales was the work of a different group of people, the sutas and magadhas.Answer is (d).

Sol. Ans (d) The Blue Mormon is a large, swallowtail butterfly found primarily in Sri Lanka and India, mainly restricted to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts. Maharashtra has become the first State in the country to have a ‘State butterfly’. Answer is (d). Another question from the ecology of Western Ghats.

Sol. Ans (c) We all know that the Mangalyaan of ISRO was also called the MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission). India was the first country to put a spacecraft in Mars orbit in the first attempt. However, before India, the Soviet Union, USA and ESA had already reached there. Hence statement 2 is wrong. Answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (b) This is a standard question from Indian independence movement. The INC had split in 1907 at Surat due to the difference in approach of the moderates and extremists.

Sol. Ans (d) Cripps proposals had suggested a dominion status for India after the second world war. That was a key reason why it was rejected by the nationalists.

Sol. Ans (c) Khajuraho is in Bundelkhand and Tirupati is in Rayalseema. All other three are wrongly matched. Gaya is located in the Magadh Region. Shirdi is not in eastern Maharashtra (Vidarbha). Malwa doesn’t extend to Nasik in Maharashtra. This is a question mixing Indian geography and cultural landmarks.

Sol. Ans (d) There are certain conditions under which the Indian Parliament can legislate even on matters listed under the State List – (a) During President’s rule, (b) if the Rajya Sabha approves a resolution with special majority and declares that a subject is of national interest, (c) during times of national Emergency (under Article 250), (d) if two or more states request the Parliament to make law for an item in State List, or (e) for implementation of certain international treaties e.g. on agriculture etc. Thus, states do not have supreme power even on subjects in the State List. The Union ultimately reigns supreme.

Sol. Ans (d) The Government of Rajasthan had put a proposal before the IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority) to develop an inland shipping port at Jalore. It would be connected to the Arabian Sea by developing a channel along the Kutch Creek. Best answer is (d). Such developments can transform internal transportation in India in the long run.

Sol. Ans (b)  The Paris Agreement is open for signature by States and regional economic integration organizations that are Parties to the UNFCCC (the Convention), from 22 April 2016 to 21 April 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York. It will enter into force (and thus become fully effective) only if 55 countries that produce at least 55% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (according to a list produced in 2015) ratify, accept, approve or accede to the agreement. Hence statement 1 is wrong. Statement 2 is correct. For statement 3, there is no such pledge by developed countries. The conference of parties only urged the developed countries to scale up their financing to USD 100 billion. Hence option (b) is correct. A good reference link to check status is http://unfccc.int/2860.php.

Sol. Ans (b) First use of the term sustainable is attributed to “Club of Rome” but the sustainable development goals were not proposed by it. It is a United Nations initiative. Hence statement 1 is wrong. As per the agreement on sustainable development goals they have to be achieved by 2030. Statement 2 is correct. Hence (b) is the correct option.

Sol. Ans (a) The Man Who Knew Infinity is a movie based on the life of S. Ramanujan. This is part of famous personalities topic. It is a 2015 biographical film based on the 1991 book by the same name, by Robert Kanigel. Srinivasa Ramanujan was an Indian mathematician, born in Madras, and later admitted to Cambridge University.

Sol. Ans (b) The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 21 years. So statement 1 is wrong. Statement 2 is correct. Hence the correct answer is option (b). Local self government is a crucial part of Polity. The 14th Finance Commission has granted a huge budget to Rural and Urban local self governments.

Sol. Ans (b) A bill pending in the Lok Sabha does not lapse on prorogation. It can be taken up when the house re-convenes. Hence statement 1 is wrong. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha. Hence statement 2 is correct. Answer is (b). The GST dynamics have made this topic particularly important.

Sol. Ans (c) The Global Hunger Index Report combines four component indicators – (1) the proportion of the undernourished as a percentage of the population; (2) the proportion of children under the age of five suffering from wasting; (3) the proportion of children under the age of five suffering from stunting; (4) the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Hence option (c) is the correct option, as 1, 2, 3 are all used. India was ranked 80th out of 104 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2015.

Sol. Ans (c) Budget deficits can be controlled by limiting government expenditures, which can be achieved by either reducing revenue expenditure, or reducing expenditure on welfare policies or by rationalizing subsidies. Statements 1 and 3 are correct. 2 will increase the deficit. 4 has no direct link with deficits. Hence option (c) is the correct answer. This is part of fundamentals of Indian economy.

Sol. Ans (b) This was a much expected question as RBI licenses to this sector has been repeatedly in the news. The word “Payment banks” should indicate that they are not in the business of issuing credit, and thus they can’t issue credit cards. They can help people make payments. So, they will issue ATM or Debit cards. Look at the options carefully. Statement 2 is present in three options. They all have to be wrong. Hence the only possible answer is (b).

Sol. Ans (c) Li-Fi = Light Fidelity It is a new technology that uses light (visible light or infrared and near-ultraviolet waves) to carry data, instead of radio frequency waves. An improvised LED bulb functions as a router. It can achieve about 1,000 times data density of Wi-Fi. Option (c) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (b) INDCs are the post-2020 climate action commitments by parties and form the foundation of the Paris Agreement. The UNFCCC deals with climate change and individual countries will decide the amount of contribution they will make. We know that COP 21 was held in Paris from November 30 to December 12, 2015. Negotiations resulted in the adoption of the Paris Agreement on 12 December. The Indian Economic Survey also mentioned it. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions are the plan of action outlined by the member countries to combat climate change. Answer is (b). (Reference link - http://unfccc.int/focus/indc_portal/items/8766.php)

Sol. Ans (d) This is one of the toughest challenges that the Modi government has decided to tackle head-on. We know that electricity distribution companies (discoms) in India perennially have been in losses due to a complex operating environment, with losses running into several lac crores. The UDAY (Ujjwal Discoms Assurance Yojana) is a scheme to provide for financial turnaround of power distribution companies through financial restructuring, issuing of bonds etc. Correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (c) IFC is an arm of the World Bank and is issuing these bonds. Statement 2 is also correct. Hence the correct answer is option (c).

Sol. Ans (c) The Vijaynagar kingdom has an evolved structure for tax system. Both the given statements are correct. Correct answer is option (c). A typical medieval history question.

Sol. Ans (b) Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitram is based on some events during the reign of Pushyamitra Sunga. The play tells the story of the love of Agnimitra, the Sunga Emperor at Vidisha. Correct answer is (b). Medieval history question.

Sol. Ans (a) In WTO terminology, subsidies in general are identified by “Boxes” which are given the colours of traffic lights: green (permitted), amber (slow down — i.e. be reduced), red (forbidden), and there is a Blue Box for subsidies that are tied to programmes that limit production. Hence option (a) is the correct answer. This was an expected question as WTO – TFA – India – Nairobi meet were all in news.

Sol. Ans (d) Capital budget consists of capital receipts and payments. It also incorporates transactions in the public account. Capital receipts are loans raised by the government from the public which are called market loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank and other parties through sale of treasury bills, loans received from foreign bodies and governments, and recoveries of loans granted by the central government to state and union territory governments and other parties. Capital payments consist of capital expenditure on acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, and equipment, as also investments in shares, loans and advances granted by the central government to state and union territory governments, government companies, corporations and other parties. Hence all the three statements are correct and the correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (d) Desertification affects agriculture directly. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa (UNCCD), is a convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. All the three statements are correct and the correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (d) This had made news! IMF’s Statutory Drawing Rights (SDRs) can be exchanged for freely usable currencies. The value of the SDR is currently based on a basket of four major currencies: the U.S. dollar, euro, the Japanese yen, and pound sterling. The basket will be expanded to include the Chinese renminbi (RMB) as the fifth currency, effective October 1, 2016. Although we must remember that SDRs per se are not very important tools, but inclusion of renminbi has a lot of symbolic value. Hence the correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (c) The IMFC has the responsibility of advising, and reporting to, the Board of Governors on matters relating to the Board of Governors’ functions in supervising the management and adaptation of the international monetary and financial system, including the operation of the adjustment process, and in this connection reviewing developments in global liquidity and the transfer of resources to developing countries; considering proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement; and dealing with disturbances that might threaten the system. Hence statement 1 is correct. A number of international institutions, including the World Bank, participate as observers in the IMFC’s meeting. Hence statement 2 is correct and the correct answer is option (c). This is part of international institutions topic.

Sol. Ans (c) In context of the Dalit debate, this is an important issue. The Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan is a national campaign for dignity and eradication of manual scavenging. The practice continues in the country in spite of efforts of several people, implementation of various schemes such as the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers since 1992 etc., and regardless of it being banned in 1993 through Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (prohibition) Act. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) The Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were puritanical and monotheistic and condemned idolatry. Hence statement 1 is correct. The Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Statement 2 is also correct and the correct answer is option (c).

Sol. Ans (d) Import cover is the stock of foreign exchange reserves in terms of months of retained imports of goods as at end of year. It measures the number of months of money available in the national bank to cover the cost of imports. For reference, India’s import cover improved to 10.9 months at the end of March 2016, from 9.8 months at end-September 2015. Option (d) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) All the three communities mentioned have been in news. Kurds belong to middle-east and have been struggling against the ISIS etc. They inhabit a mountainous region straddling the borders of Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. Hence this pair is not correctly matched. Madheshi are inNepal. They are an indigenous ethnic group of Nepalese people who are natives of the Madhesh plains of Southern Nepal in Terai belt of South Asia. Rohingyas are from Myanmar. They are Muslim Indo-Aryan peoples from the Rakhine State, Myanmar. Hence pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched and the correct answer is option (c).

Sol. Ans (b) Statement 1 is wrong. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisation, located in The Hague, Netherlands. The mission of the OPCW is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in order to achieve the OPCW’s vision of a world that is free of chemical weapons and of the threat of their use. Statements 2 and 3 are correct and the correct answer is option (b).

Sol. Ans (b) Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the rate of Insurance Charges payable by the farmer will be as follows:  For Kharif – 2% of sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, For Rabi – 1.5% of sum insured or actuarial rate, whichever is less, and for Kharif and Rabi – Annual commercial/ Annual Horticulture crops – 5% of sum insured actuarial rate, whichever is less. Hence statement 1 is wrong. Statement 2 is correct and the correct answer is option (b). This question is related to prevailing debate on agriculture in India.

Sol. Ans (d) The Great Indian Hornbill is the largest member of the hornbill family. It is found in the evergreen forest of Kerala and is distributed in the Western Ghats. They are found in the Nepal region of the Himalayas but not in Jammu and Kashmir. Hence the correct answer is option (d). Some students may have become confused between (b) and (d).

Sol. Ans (a) National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has started the Mission Clean Ganga with multiple objectives. Its functions include development of a Ganga River Basin Management Plan, regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution, to maintain water quality and to take measures relevant to the river ecology in the Ganga basin states. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. Hence statement 1 and 2 are correct and statement 3 is wrong. The correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (b) When ordinary urea is applied, it gets converted to ammonium carbamate. Some of this gets converted to ammonia gas in what is called ammonia volatilization. About 8-10 per cent nitrogen is lost during volatilization. Neem has properties that check nitrogen loss at each stage. It slows down the process of nitrate formation and hence excess nitrate is not available for identification. Hence the correct answer is option (b).

Sol. Ans (d) Statement 1 is wrong. The Chief Secretary of a state is appointed by the Chief Minister of the state and not by the State Governor. Statement 2 is also wrong. There is no fixed tenure for the post of Chief Secretary. In this context, the Administrative Reforms Commission, in its report on State Administration in 1969, had recommended that a Chief Secretary should have a minimum tenure of three to four years. This suggestion has, however, not been accepted and has not been considered feasible either because, in that case, a C.M. may find himself laden with a Chief Secretary appointed by his predecessor. Correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (c) The Stand Up India scheme is anchored by Department of Financial Services (DFS) to encourage greenfield enterprises by SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. Hence statement 1 is correct. The Stand Up India scheme provides for refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs 10,000 crore. Hence statement 2 is also correct and the correct answer is option (c).

Sol. Ans (b) The overall goal of the partnership is to identify and safeguard Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems through catalyzing and establishing a long-term programme to support such systems and enhance global, national and local bene‑fits derived through their “dynamic conservation”, sustainable management and enhanced viability. Hence the correct answer is option (b).  The key to identifying the answer is to note that GIS in statement 3 is not a part of this. Hence only (b) is left.

Sol. Ans (d) All the three rivers are tributaries of river Brahmaputra. Hence option (d) is the correct answer. Rivers are tributaries always figure in this exam.

Sol. Ans (a) This was one of the easiest questions! Statements 2 and 3 are illogical in the context of Core Banking. Only statement 1 is correct. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) Annex–I countries is a term that features in the Kyoto Protocol. Certified Emissions Reductions also features in the Kyoto protocol. And so does the term Clean Development Mechanism. Hence only the third pair is properly matched. Obviously, one needs to remember the details to solve such questions. Answer is (c).

Sol. Ans (b) The term 'transcriptome' refers to the sum total of all the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules expressed from the genes of an organism. Hence option (b) is the correct answer. The human genome is made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a long, winding molecule that contains the instructions needed to build and maintain cells. These instructions are spelled out in the form of "base pairs" of four different chemicals, organized into 20,000 to 25,000 genes. For the instructions to be carried out, DNA must be "read" and transcribed - in other words, copied - into RNA (ribonucleic acid). These gene readouts are called transcripts, and a transcriptome is a collection of all the gene readouts present in a cell. By collecting and comparing transcriptomes of different types of cells, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of what constitutes a specific cell type, how that type of cell normally functions, and how changes in the normal level of gene activity may reflect or contribute to disease. In addition, transcriptomes may enable researchers to generate a comprehensive, genome-wide picture of what genes are active in which cells. (Reference link - https://www.genome.gov/13014330/transcriptome-fact-sheet/)

Sol. Ans (a) 'Mission Indradhanush' was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) Government of India on 25th December, 2014. The objective of this mission is to ensure that all children under the age of two years as well as pregnant women are fully immunized with seven vaccine preventable diseases. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) The National Mission for a Green India is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The National Mission for a Green India has three main objectives – 1. Double the area to be taken up for afforestation /eco-restoration in India in the next 10 years, taking the total area to be afforested or eco-restored to 20 million ha. (i.e., 10 million ha of additional forest/non forest area to be treated by the Mission, in addition to the 10 million ha which is likely to be treated by Forest Department and other agencies through other interventions); 2. Increase the GHG removals by India’s forests to 6.35% of India’s annual total GHG emissions by the year 2020 (an increase of 1.5% over what it would be in the absence of the Mission). This would require an increase in above and below ground biomass in 10 million ha of forests/ecosystems, resulting in increased carbon sequestration of 43 million tons CO2-e annually; and 3. Enhance the resilience of forests/ecosystems being treated under the Mission – enhance infiltration, groundwater recharge, stream and spring flows, biodiversity value, provisioning of services (fuel wood, fodder, timber, NTFPs, etc.) to help local communities adapt to climatic variability. Hence statement 3 is correct and the correct answer is option (c). Statement 2 is related to agricultural production & not environment and climate change. Statement 1 is a financial matter not outlined in this mission.

Sol. Ans (c) As per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, it is mandatory for the manufacturer to put the following information on the main label: 1. List of ingredients including additives, 2. Nutrition information, 3. Vegetarian/ non-vegetarian. Hence statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct and the correct answer is option (c). Remember Maggi noodles controversy, and the entry of Patanjali noodles?

Sol. Ans (b) Project Loon is a research and development project being developed by X (formerly Google X) with the mission of providing Internet access to rural and remote areas. The project uses high-altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 18 km (11 mi) to create an aerial wireless network with up to 4G-LTE speeds. Hence option (b) is the correct answer. Became controversial due to security issues.

Sol. Ans (a) Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. Since India is gunning for a huge jump in its solar output, this is an expected question. Option (a) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (c) A much studied, much debated and much printed topic. The Ease of Doing Business rankings are declared by the World Bank. India as an investment destination requires a higher ranking. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (d) The Banjaras (also called Lambani, Vanjara and Gormati) are a community usually described as nomadic people from the Indian state of Rajasthan, now spread out all over Indian subcontinent. Banjaras were traditionally suppliers of bullock and salt merchants. The word Banjara is said to be derived from Sanskrit word vana chara (wanderers in jungle). The word Lambani or Lamani is derived from Sanskrit word lavana (salt) which was the principal good they transported across the country. Hence the Banjaras were essentially traders, and the correct answer is option (d). The women did embroidery but that was not a means of earning livelihood.

Sol. Ans (b) King Ashoka, the third monarch of the Indian Mauryan dynasty, has come to be regarded as one of the most exemplary rulers in world history. In the nineteenth century there came to light a large number of edicts, in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. These edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars, proclaim Asoka's reforms and policies and promulgate his advice to his subjects. In 1837, James Prinsep succeeded in deciphering an ancient inscription on a large stone pillar in Delhi. Several other pillars and rocks with similar inscriptions had been known for some time and had attracted the curiosity of scholars. Prinsep's inscription proved to be a series of edicts issued by a king calling himself "Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi." Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Sol. Ans (b) As per the Gram Nyayalaya Act, 2008, the Gram Nyayalayas shall exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction in the manner and to the extent provided under this Act, hence statement 1 is wrong. As per the said Act, social activists at the village level having integrity for appointment as conciliators who possess such qualifications and experience as may be prescribed by the High Court may be allowed to act as conciliators. Hence statement 2 is correct and the correct answer is option (b).

Sol. Ans (d) Regarding 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', statement 1 seems to be correct, but is not. The key is the word “all”. There are 12 Pacific Rim nations in TPP but not all (Philippines is excluded, for example). China and Russia are not a part. The signatories of the TPP include Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Vietnam. Statement 2 is incorrect. It is not a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only, but it is a trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries. Hence the correct answer is option (d).

Sol. Ans (a) Statement 1 is correct. The India-Africa Forum Summit held at New Delhi during October 26-30, 2015 was the third such summit. Statement 2 is wrong. The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for the African-Indian relations. IAFS will be held once in every three years. It was first held from April 4 to April 8, 2008 in New Delhi, India. It was the first such meeting between the heads of state and government of India and 14 countries of Africa chosen by the African Union. Hence the correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (c) The Reserve Bank of India has brought a new methodology of setting lending rate by commercial banks under the name Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR), from April 2016 onwards. Based upon this MCLR, interest rate for different types of customers should be fixed in accordance with their riskiness. The base rate will be now determined on the basis of the MCLR calculation. The novel element of the MCLR system is that it facilitates the so called monetary transmission (a frequent complaint by the RBI against the banks). The RBI calls the effective passing of repo rate change into interest rate change by the banking system as an important part of monetary transmission. Hence both the above statements regarding MCLR are correct and the correct answer is option (c).

Sol. Ans (a) A googly indeed! The 'Kharai camel' is a type of camel breed found in the Kharai area of Kutch, Gujarat. The unique feature of Kharai camels is that they can swim up to 3 km in search of mangroves, as they survive by grazing on mangroves. So statement 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong. The kharai camels are domestic animals and are owned by people in Bhuj district of Gujarat. Hence the correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (a) The scientists at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered a new species of banana from a remote tropical rain forest on the Little Andaman islands. The species, Musa indandamanensis,was located about 16 km inside the Krishna Nalah forest in the island. The new species is about 11 metres high, whereas as the usual banana species is about three to four metres high. The fruit lux of the new species is about one metres, which is thrice the size of regular species. So the correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (c) INS Astradharani is Indian Navy's first totally indigenously-designed and built torpedo launch and recovery vessel. Hence the correct answer is option (c). In light of all the navy related accidents, weapons-purchase issues etc., this was important.

Sol. Ans (a) The GL-10 Greased Lightning is a hybrid diesel-electric tilt-wing aircraft. The full-scale GL-10 will be a diesel-electric tilt-wing. Currently, NASA has built a 50% scale 10-foot wing span all electric battery powered demonstrator. Hence the correct answer is option (a). Clean energy issue.

Sol. Ans (a) The 'Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion' aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with visible impact to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. Besides increasing production of millets, the Scheme through processing and value addition techniques is expected to generate consumer demand for millet based food products. So statement 1 is correct. Statement 3 is partly correct and hence may confuse students. The scheme provides for free kits of critical inputs of nutrients but does not provide for micro irrigation equipment. Hence statement 3 is wrong and the correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (a) The Swadeshi and Boycott were first adopted as methods of struggle during the agitation against the partition of Bengal. Hence the correct answer is option (a).

Sol. Ans (b) Bodhisattva concept is central to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, and not Hinayana sect. Hence statement 1 is wrong. Statements 2 and 3 are correct and the correct answer is option (b).