Explanation: D. If the Rajya Sabha declares that it is necessary in the national interest that Parliament should make laws on a matter in the State List, then the Parliament becomes competent to make laws on that matter. Such a resolution must be passed by the Rajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-third of its members present and voting.

1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. The minimum age to contest Panchayat elections is 21 years.

1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases.
2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/ reconciliators.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. 2 only.

Explanation: B. The Malavikagnimitra is a Sanskrit play by Kalidas. The play tells the love story of Agnimitra, the Shunga Emperor. He falls in love with the picture of an exiled servant girl named Malavika.

1. Eripatti Land : revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
2. Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
3. Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to the temples

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Explanation: D. A special category of land, eripatti or land, is mentioned. Donated by individuals, the revenue from this land was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank. Occasionally a very large village would be administered as a single unit and this was called Taniyur.

Explanation: D. In India, Banjara people were transporters of goods from one place to another and the goods they transported included salt, grains, firewood and cattle.Thus, Banjaras were trader-nomads.

Explanation: B. In 1837, British archeologist and historian James Prinsep decoded the edicts of emperor Ashoka. Prinsep's inscription proved to be a series of edicts issued by a king calling himself "Beloved-of-the- Gods, King Piyadasi."

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Mahayana doctrines of Buddhism. The term 'bodhisattva' literally means 'one who has enlightenment as his/her essence'. A bodhisattva is a being who is destined for enlightenment rather than one who has gained it already. A bodhisattva is also normally thought of as consciously working towards enlightenment: you can

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. First and second statements are wrong because Ajanta (Buddhist caves) was built from 2nd Century BCE to 5th Century CE, while Mahabalipuram (Hindu temple) was built during 7-8th Centuries by Pallava Kings. Third statement is correct- both are rock cut monuments.

Explanation: C. The Persian wheel is a mechanical water lifting device operated usually by draught animals like bullocks, buffaloes or camels. It is used to lift water from water sources typically open wells. In Sanskrit the word Araghatta has been used in the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel. The 'ara-ghatta' comes from the combination of the words 'ara' meaning spoke and 'ghatta' meaning pot.

Explanation: D. The Maagadha and the suutas were associated with memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epic tales.

1. Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand
2. Khajuraho :Bundelkhand
3. Shirdi : Vidarbha
4. Tirupati :Rayalaseema

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Explanation: C. Khajuraho is located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Tirupati is located in Rayalaseema region.

1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: C. Siddhas means the refined monotheistic creed existed. Sittar implies an expert in occultism, alchemy and so on with magic or superstitious powers. The lingayats believed that on death the devotee will be reunited with Shiva and not return to this world. Therefore instead of cremating the body, they ceremonially bury their dead. They criticised the caste system and questioned belief in the theory of rebirth. Certain practices were encouraged by the lingayats such as post-puberty marriages and widow remarriage. Knowledge of the Virashaiva tradition has been derived from vachanas (sayings) composed in Kannada by those who had joined.

1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
2. Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: C. In reign of Krishna Deva, land revenue was the main source of income of the government. To assess the proper revenue entire land was classified into four parts: the wet land, the dry land, the orchards and the woods. The government also levied other taxes like the grazing tax, the customs duty, tax on gardening and industries taxes on manufacture of various articles.

Explanation: C. Satyashodhak Samaj is a society established by Jyotirao Phule on September 24, 1873. This was started as a group whose main aim was to liberate the social shudra and untouchable castes from exploitation and oppression.

Explanation: D. The Montagu

1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee
2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation
3. Indian Reform Association

Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?

Explanation: B. Correct option is B.

Explanation: B. Extremists and moderates both seemed to be locking horns. The Extremists thought that the people had been encouraged and the battle for freedom had begun. They felt the time had come for the big push to drive the British out and considered the Moderates to be a stumbling block to the movement. So, Surat split occurred because extremists were dissatisfied with Moderates

Explanation: D. The main proposals of the plan of Sir Stafford Cripps was that an Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies. Cripps proposed to give dominion status to India after WW2.

Explanation: A. The British Government's decision to partition Bengal had been made public in December 1903. The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement was an effort by Indian people to oppose British rule. It began when British officials separated the Bengal province, dividing it by Bengali, Hindi and Oriya languages and Muslim and Hindu religions. Indians responded by boycotting British products and using only Indian-made goods. Swadeshi and Boycott started against Partition of Bengal in 1905.

1. Dibang
2. Kameng
3. Lohit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: D. The Brahmaputra enters India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh from its original source Tibet, and is joined by the Dibang River and the Lohit River at the head of the Assam Valley. It is joined in Sonitpur by the Kameng River (or Jia Bhoreli). Brahmaputra's main left bank tributaries, viz., Dibang or Sikang and Lohit. The important right bank tributaries are the Subansiri, Kameng, Manas and Sankosh.

1. Cambay Basin
2. Cauvery Basin
3. Krishna-Godavari Basin

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: D. Research is under process for presence of shale gas in Cambay basin at Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Bharuch districts of Gujarat, Cauvery basin at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and in KG Basin at East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.

1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity
2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapers, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities
3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Explanation: B. In order to safeguard and support the world's agri-cultural heritage systems, in 2002 FAO started an initiative for the dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS Initiative promotes public understanding, awareness, national and international recognition of Agricultural Heritage systems. It aims to identify and ensure global recognition of the importance of unique traditional agricultural systems for food security and sustainable development. The GIAHS initiative explicitly recognises that change in "traditional" political, social and economic processes is inevitable; they cannot be frozen or re-created. There is no provision to give Geographical indication to

1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. The scheme, through processing and value addition techniques, is expected to generate consumer demand for millet based food products. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme. 1st and 2nd statements are right. Policy aims to give free kits but "wanting to shift commercial crop farmers to millet" doesn't fit logic. There is no such mention in the scheme, nor any talk about giving micro irrigation equipment. Hence, 3rd statement wrong.

1. Reduction in weed
2. Reduction in soil salinity
3. Reduction in soil erosion

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Explanation: C. Correct option is C.

Explanation: B. Spraying urea with neem oil slows the release of nitrogen, by about 10 to 15 per cent, concomitantly reducing consumption of the fertiliser. Many research studies in India have conclusively established that neem oil acts as an effective nitrification inhibitor if coated onto urea. Spraying urea with neem oil slows the release of nitrogen, by about 10 to 15 per cent, concomitantly reducing consumption of the fertiliser.

1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.
2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
3. It presents an approach that can help decision makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a study led by Pavan Sukhdev. It is an international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. Its objective is to highlight the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem and to draw together expertise from the fields of science, economics and policy to enable practical actions.

1. protection of biodiversity
2. resilience of forest ecosystems
3. poverty reduction

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: A. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is a mechanism that has been under negotiation by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2005, with the objective of mitigating climate change through reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management in developing countries. Under REDD+ Developing country will have to prove the 'result' they have fought deforestation without harming local communities or biological diversity. Only then, they'll get the Money. Although REDD+ has galvanized significant support internationally, among both developed and developing countries, its implications for poverty alleviation at the local level remain unclear.

Explanation: A. 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. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments.

1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development
2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: A. Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regards to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Therefore, only first statement right.

1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: A. The COP-21 Climate Conference was held in Paris, France from 30 November to 12 December 2015. During this conference, India and France have launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). International Solar Alliance includes an alliance of 121 countries located between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. While ISA was launched on Sidelines of Paris Summit, therefore first statement right but it includes only the 121 countries between Capricorn and Cancer receiving sunlight for 300 days or more.

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. The agreement emphasized on urgent need to address the significant gap between the aggregate effect of Parties' mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and aggregate emission pathways consistent withholding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. The history of the SDGs can be traced to 1972 when governments met under the auspices of the United Nations Human and Environment Conference. The 'Club of Rome' is a global think tank that deals with a range of international political issues.

Explanation: B. Countries across the globe committed to create a new international climate agreement by the conclusion of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in December 2015. INDC are associated with UNFCCC-Climate change.

1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programs and supportive inter-national partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships. UNCCD is committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification.

1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the 'green accounting'
2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. The National Mission for a Green India was announced by the Prime Minister as one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It recognizes that climate change phenomenon will seriously affect and alter the distribution, type and quality of natural resources of the country. GIM puts the

Explanation: A. Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to feed electricity they do not use back into the grid. Under Net-metering system, Customer installs a solar or wind power plant on his premise, gets it grid-connected with the electricity distribution company (DISCOM).

Explanation: D. Correct option is D.

1. Ceiling fans
2. Electric geysers
3. Tubular fluorescent lamps

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: D. Correct option is D.

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Carbon monoxide
3. Nitrogen dioxide
4. Sulfur dioxide

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. Correct option is B.

1. River basin is the unit of planning and management.
2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis.

Select the correct answer using the code given Below.

Explanation: A. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the water resource ministry of India. The mission of the organisation is to spearhead the river conservation efforts at the national level.

1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometers in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: A. Correct option is A.

Explanation: A. Andaman Islands.

1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: A. Red Sanders is associated with Tropical dry deciduous forest. Red Sandalwood is a species of Pterocarpus endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India. This tree is valued for the rich red color of its wood. The wood is not aromatic.

Explanation: D. Great Hornbill in the Indian Subcontinent are found in a few forest areas in the Western Ghats and in the forests along the Himalayas.

1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister.
3. It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: C. 2nd and 3rd statements are correct.

1. It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers.
2. Only one member of a family can join the scheme.
3. Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber's death.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. There is no restriction as such that only one member of a family can join the scheme.

1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Prime Minister launched the 'Stand up India Scheme' aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and women by giving loans in the range of 10 lakh to 1 crore for setting up a new enterprise. There would be a 10,000 crore refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC) will create a corpus of 5,000 crore.

Explanation: A. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana under the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank is a new institution being set up by Government of India for development and refinancing activities relating to micro units. It was announced by the Finance Minister while presenting the Union Budget for FY 2016. The purpose of MUDRA is to provide funding to the non corporate small business sector.

Explanation: D. Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs) initiated by the Government of India with the intent to find a permanent solution to the financial mess that the power distribution is in.

1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts
2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a trust set up as a non-profit body, in those districts affected by the mining works, to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations. It is funded through the contributions from miners. Its manner of operation comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government.

Explanation: D. SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active

1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. DigiLocker is a "digital locker" service launched by the Government of India in February 2015 to provide a secure dedicated personal electronic space for storing the documents of resident Indian citizens.

1. 1Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will also seek to address a long standing demand of farmers and provide farm level assessment for localised calamities including hailstorms, unseasonal rains, landslides and inundation. Post-harvest loss is included so #2 is right. But Under the new scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two per cent for all kharif crops and 1.5 per cent for all rabi crops. For annual commercial and horticultural crops, farmers will have to pay a premium of 5 per cent.

Explanation: A. In order to boost 'Make in India' campaign, first national investment and manufacturing zone to come up in Andhra Pradesh. The state assured the Centre of availability of 10 sq km of land in one place in Prakasham district.

1. List of ingredients including additives
2. Nutrition information
3. Recommendations, if any, made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions
4. Vegetarian/non-vegetarian

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Correct option is C.

1. These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances.
2. These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rates (MCLR) which will comprise of:- 1.Marginal Cost of Funds; 2. Negative carry on account of CRR; 3.Operating Costs; 4.Tenor of premium. Banks shall review and publish their MCLR every month on a pre-announced date. Marginal Cost of Funds which will comprise of marginal cost of borrowings and return on networth.

1. Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains that are owned and controlled by residents are eligible to be promoters of Payment Banks.
2. Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit cards.
3. Payment Banks cannot undertake lending activities.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. They can enable transfers and remittance through mobile phones. The RBI guidelines say that the payments bank cannot undertake lending activities. Mobile phone companies and supermarkets are eligible. But, Payment banks can

1. It is a networking of a bank's branches which enables customers to operate their accounts from any branch of the bank on its network regardless of where they open their accounts.
2. It is an effort to increase RBI
3. It is a detailed procedure by which a bank with huge non-performing assets is taken over by another bank.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: A. Core Banking Solution (CBS) is networking of branches, which enables Customers to operate their accounts, and avail banking services from any branch of the Bank on CBS network, regardless of where he maintains his account. The customer is no more the customer of a Branch. He becomes the Bank

1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: B. Bitcoin are not maintained by the Central Bank. Bitcoins are created as a reward for payment processing work in which users offer their computing power to verify and record payments into a public ledger. They

Explanation: B. Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) is a tax avoidance strategy used by multinational companies, wherein profits are shifted from jurisdictions that have high taxes (such as the United States and many Western European countries) to jurisdictions that have low (or no) taxes (so-called tax havens). The BEPS project is said to be an "attempt by the world's major economies to try to rewrite the rules on corporate taxation to address the widespread perception that the [corporations] don't pay their fair share of taxes". BEPS aims to curb the tax evasion by MNCs.

1. Reducing revenue expenditure
2. Introducing new welfare schemes
3. Rationalizing subsidies
4. Reducing import duty

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Explanation: C. In order to reduce the fiscal deficit, the government needs to increase its earnings and reduce its expenditure. This is done by following methods: Cut down the subsidies; reforms in tax structures; improve profit generated by Public Sector Enterprises and austerity measures.

1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machinery, etc.
2. Loans received from foreign governments
3. Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Territories

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Explanation: D. The main items of capital budget are receipts and expenditure for capital (Financial) gains. It also includes loans raised by Government from public, Reserve Bank and other parties, and from foreign Governments and bodies. It also includes capital expenditure on acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, etc and loans and advances granted by Central Government to State and Union Territory Governments, Government companies, Corporations and other parties.

Explanation: B. The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) is a survey by the IMF staff published twice a year, in the spring and fall. The report draws out the financial ramifications of economic issues highlighted in the IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO). IMF prepares this report.

1. bacteria
2. fungi
3. plants

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: D. A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.

1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: D. All 12 Pacific Rim Countries have signed Trans - Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. These 12 countries are: Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Darussalam, Japan, Canada, United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Objectives of TPP: Lower track barriers such as tariffs; Establish a common framework for intellectual property; Enforce standards for labour low and environmental low; Establish an investor - state dispute settlement mechanism.

Explanation: C. It is a campaign for eradication of inhuman practice of manual scavenging and comprehensive rehabilitation of manual scavengers in India. Ashif Shaikh is well known for his role in the campaign (Rashatriya Garima Abhiyan) through various campaigns of Jan Sahas.

Explanation: A. The Government of India launched Mission Indradhanush in December 2014 with the ultimate goal to ensure that all children under the age of two years and pregnant women are fully immunized with all available vaccines.

1. It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission.
2. It is a wireless technology and is several times faster than 'Wi-Fi'.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Both 1 and 2 statements are correct.

Explanation: B. The European Stability Mechanism is a European Union agency that provides financial assistance, in the form of loans, to eurozone countries or as new capital to banks in difficulty.

Explanation: B. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (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).

Explanation: A. WTO Affairs.

Explanation: D. The value of the SDR or XDR of IMF is based on a basket of key international currencies reviewed every five years. In the review conducted in November 2015, the IMF decided that the Renminbi (Chinese Yuan) would be added to the basket effective October 1, 2016. From that date, the SDR or XDR basket will consist of the following five currencies: U.S. dollar 41.73%, Euro 30.93%, Chinese Yuan 10.92%, Japanese Yen 8.33%, British Pound 8.09%.

1. The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.
2. They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Both 1 and 2.

1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.
2. The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a Multilateral Development Bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Its headquarter is in Shanghai, China.

1. IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the direction of its work.
2. The World Bank participates as observer in IMFC's meetings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: C. The IMFC advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the International Monetary and Financial System. It also considers proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement and advises on any other matters that may be referred to it by the Board of Governors. A number of international institutions, including the World Bank, participate as observers in the IMFC

Explanation: C. World Bank.

1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Explanation: C. Four Indicators are undernourished population, wasting in Under 5 children; wasting is very low weight for height i.e very thin child; Stunting in under 5 children; stunting is very low height for age i.e. very short child; Under 5 mortality rate.

1. held in 2015 was the third such Summit
2. was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: A. Third India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi (India) in from from 26

Explanation: B. It is a non-governmental and non-military organization established by group of French doctors in 1971 - with its Headquarter in Brussels, Belgium. They were in news during 2014-15 because of their relief work in Ebola affected countries.

Explanation: A. Iran is not the member of this middle eastern organization. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries

Explanation: D. The Belt and Road (abbreviated B&R), One Belt, One Road (abbreviated OBOR) or the Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy and framework, proposed by Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily between the People

1. Kurd - Bangladesh
2. Madhesi - Nepal
3. Rohingya - Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Explanation: C. The Kurds are an ethnic group in the Middle East Asia. The Madhesi , also referred to as Teraibasi Nepali are an indigenous ethnic group of Nepalese people who are natives of the Madhesh plains of Southern Nepal in Terai belt of South Asia. The Rohingya people, are Muslim Indo-Aryan peoples from the Rakhine State, Myanmar.

1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation: B. The OPCW Member States share the collective goal of monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from re-emerging; providing assistance and protection to States Parties against chemical threats; and fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation of the Convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.

Explanation: D. In June 2015, Maharashtra government has declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as the State butterfly.

Explanation: B. India took a step forward in its ambitious but long-pending goal to interlink major rivers to form a national water grid. The Pattiseema project lifts flood water from the river Godavari and pumps it into the Polavaram right canal that empties into the river Krishna in Vijayawada. Andhra Pradesh Government is interlinking Krishna-Godavari rivers through the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme.

Explanation: D. The Rajasthan government is exploring ways to develop an artificial inland port in Jalore by bringing in Arabian Sea water into Rajasthan through Gujarat. If implemented, Rajasthan will become accessible by water transport and will be able to shed the tag of a landlocked state. Rajasthan wants to develop artificial inland shipping port at Jalore, it'll be connected to the Arabian Sea by developing a channel along the Kutch Creek.

Explanation: A. 'The Man who knew infinite' is a biographical movie of Indian Mathematician Srinivas Ramanujan (played by Dev Patel) and his association with British mathematician GH Hardy. Ramanujan was a self-taught (autodidatic) Mathematician- born and died in Madras Presidency.