Question 1
Economy | Agriculture | Medium | Live Mint
SOURCE
Consider the following statements:
1. Government of Punjab has banned rice transplantation.
2. Lodging is a challenge in Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
Which of the statements is or are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Detailed Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Government of Punjab banned rice transplantation in order to promote direct seeding of rice. This was done to reduce the input costs and also to reduce the harvesting cycle of production of rice.
Statement 2 is correct: Direct Seeding of Rice omits the initial step of growing saplings in the nursery. It offers several advantages over traditional transplanting, including water and labor savings, as well as potential for higher yields and reduced costs.
Benefits of DSR:
- Water Conservation: Reduces water consumption compared to transplanting.
- Labor Efficiency: Reduces the need for manual labor.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Lower operational costs and potential for higher net returns.
- Sustainable Practices: Contributes to more sustainable rice production.
- Adaptability to Changing Conditions: Can be adapted to various weather conditions and soil types.
Potential Challenges of DSR:
- Weed Management: Greater crop-weed competition can occur in DSR systems.
- Seed Exposure: Seeds are more exposed to birds, rats, and snails in DSR.
- Lodging: Plants may be more prone to lodging in DSR due to less root anchorage.
Question 2
Economy | Markets | Medium | Live Mint
SOURCE
Arrange the following countries (from lowest to highest) by their share of oil trade in the Strait of Hormuz:
1. Russia
2. China
3. UAE
4. Canada
Choose the correct answer:
A) 1,2,3,4
B) 1,2,4,3
C) 2,1,3,4
D) 3,2,4,1
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (D) 3,2,4,1
Detailed Explanation
Question 3
Miscellaneous | NHAI | Medium | Live Mint
SOURCE
Consider the following statements: (as of 31.12.2024)
1. NHAI is a non-statutory body.
2. The total length of highways in India is around 1,30,445 kms
Which of the statements is or are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (D) None of the above
Detailed Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: NHAI Act, 1988 “An Act to provide for the constitution of an Authority for the development, maintenance and management of national highways and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto”.
Statement 2 is incorrect:
Question 4
International Relations | International Organisations | Easy | Live Mint
SOURCE
Consider the following statements:
1. The FATF was established by the G7 in 1988.
2. Countries under High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action of FATF includes Iran and Myanmar.
3. South Africa falls under the grey list of the FATF.
How many statements is or are correct?
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All the three
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (B) Only two
Detailed Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in 1989 by the G7 to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. It originally included the G7 countries, the European Commission and eight other countries.
Statement 2 is correct: Countries under High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action of FATF (Black list) includes Iran and Myanmar and North Korea.
Statement 3 is correct: South Africa falls under the grey list of the FATF. South Africa was greylisted by the global financial crime watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in February 2023 for not complying with international standards around the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
Question 5
International Relations | International Organisations | Easy | Live Mint
SOURCE
Consider the following pairs:
47th G7 Summit – Germany
48th G7 Summit – UK
49th G7 Summit – Japan
How many pairs are correctly matched?
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All the three
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (A) Only one
Detailed Explanation
• Kananaskis Summit, Canada, June 15-17, 2025
• G7 virtual summit, February 24, 2025
• Apulia Summit, Italy, June 13-15, 2024
• G7 virtual meeting, December 13, 2024
• G7 virtual meeting, December 6, 2023 (under Japan’s presidency)
• Hiroshima Summit, Japan, May 19-21, 2023 (includes statements throughout the year)
• G7 virtual meeting, February 24, 2023 (under Japan’s presidency)
• G7 virtual meeting, December 12, 2022 (under German presidency)
• G7 and NATO meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Bali Summit, November 16, 2022 (under Germany’s presidency)
• Videoconference, with Ukrainian president Voldymyr Zelensky, October 11, 2022 (under Germany’s presidency)
• Elmau Summit, Germany, June 26-28, 2022 (includes statements throughout the year)
• G7 virtual summit to discuss Ukraine, May 8, 2022 (under Germany’s presidency)
• G7 summit to discuss Ukraine, Brussels, March 24, 2022 (under Germany’s presidency)
• G7 virtual summit to discuss Ukraine, February 24, 2022 (under Germany’s presidency)
• G7 virtual summit to discuss Afghanistan, August 24, 2021 (under UK presidency)
• Cornwall Summit, England, United Kingdom, June 11-13, 2021
• G7 virtual meeting, February 19, 2021 (under UK presidency)
• U.S. Summit, United States, scheduled to be held at Camp David on Ju.ne 10-12, 2020, changed on March 19, 2020, to a videoconference from an in-person meeting and then posptoned indefinitely [see also Road to the U.S. Summit]
• Virtual summit to respond to COVID-19, hosted by the United States, March 16, 2020
• Biarritz Summit, France, August 24-26, 2019
Question 6
Miscellaneous | Indian Railways | Medium | The Hindu
SOURCE
Consider the following statements:
1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railways attained the World Heritage Status from UNESCO.
2. In south the first line was opened on 1st July, 1856 by the Madras Railway Company.
Which of the statements is or are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Detailed Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), also known as the Toy Train, attained World Heritage status from UNESCO in 1999. Specifically, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 23rd session of the World Heritage Committee held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Statement 2 is correct: In south the first line was opened on Ist July, 1856 by the Madras Railway Company. It ran between VyasarpadiJeeva Nilayam (Veyasarpandy) and Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of 63 miles. In the North a length of 119 miles of line was laid from Allahabad to Kanpur on 3rd March 1859. The first section from Hathras Road to Mathura Cantonment was opened to traffic on 19th October, 1875.
Question 7
International Relations | Places in News | Easy | The Hindu
SOURCE
Which of the following country does not border Red Sea?
A) Ethiopia
B) Yemen
C) Eritrea
D) Egypt
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (A) Ethiopia
Detailed Explanation
Question 8
Environment | Climate Change | Medium | Indian Express
SOURCE
Consider the following pairs:
Minamata Convention – 1992
Basel Convention – 2013
Rio Summit – 1989
How many pairs are correctly matched?
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (D) None of the above
Detailed Explanation
Minamata Convention – 2013
Basel Convention – 1989
Rio Summit – 1992
Question 9
Disaster Management | Acts | Medium | The Hindu
SOURCE
Consider the following statements with respect to the Disaster Management Act:
1. The Home Minister Acts as the chairperson of the NDMA.
2. The NDMA members must not exceed nine members.
Which of the statements is or are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (B) 2 only
Detailed Explanation
Establishment of National Disaster Management Authority.—(1) With effect from such date as
the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette appoint in this behalf, there shall be
established for the purposes of this Act, an authority to be known as the National Disaster Management Authority.
(2) The National Authority shall consist of the Chairperson and such number of other members, not exceeding nine, as may be prescribed by the Central Government and, unless the rules otherwise provide, Statement 2 is correct.
the National Authority shall consist of the following:—
(a) the Prime Minister of India, who shall be the Chairperson of the National Authority,
•ex officio; Statement 1 is incorrect
Question 10
Geography | Physical Geography of India | Medium | The Hindu
SOURCE
Consider the following statements:
1. Shipki La pass was first closed in 1962.
2. Passes in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh carry out more trade than Shipki La.
3. Shipki La is situated at a height of 3390 metres above the sea level.
How many statements are correct?
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None of the above
Solution & Detailed Explanation
Answer: (A) Only one
Detailed Explanation