01. Consider the following pairs :
Rivers Well known origin places
1) Chaliyar : Tamil Nadu
2) Iruvanjippuzha : Kerala
3) kabini : Kerala
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only One
- Only two
- All three
- None
Answer: (C)All three
In NEWS: Swollen river changes course and floods neighbouring localities
EXPLANATION:
1)chaliyar : Tamil Nadu pair 1 is correct.
Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River
It originates at the Ilambaleri hills of Nilgiri Mountains in Nilgiris district (Ooty district), which is also near Wayanad – Malappuram district border.
2) Iruvanjippuzha : kerala pair 2 is correct.
Iruvazhanjippuzha, or Iruvanjipuzha, is a major tributary of River Chaliyar and joining to Chaliyar at Koolimadu near Cheuvadi. Its major tributary is Chalippuzha,It originates at near the Thiruvambady town.
3) kabini : kerala pair 3 is correct.
The Kabani, also called Kabini or Kapila, is a river in southern India. It originates in the Wayanad District of Kerala state by the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River. It flows eastward to join the Kaveri River at Tirumakudalu Narasipura in Karnataka.
02. “Madhav Gadgil Committee” is sometimes seen in news with reference to which one of the following?
(a) protection of himalayas
(b) ethnic violence
(c) protection of western ghats
(d) sexual harassment in workplace
Answer: (c) protection of western ghats
In NEWS: Kerala ignored recommendations to prevent such disasters, says Gadgil
EXPLANATION:
About Madhav Gadgil Committee
- To assess the current ecological status of Western Ghats
- To identify and demarcate ecologically sensitive areas within Western Ghats and recommend for notification of such areas as ecologically sensitive zone following the EPA 1986). Hence option (c) is correct
- To recommend for conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats after consulting the people and Government of the Ghats states
- To suggest effective modalities for the establishment of Western Ghats Ecology authority under EPA 1986 so that sustainable development is ensured in the region
- To deal with any other relevant environmental and ecological issue pertaining to the Western Ghats
- As an afterthought the ministry asked the panel to include in its mandate Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg while co opting its coastal areas and to specifically examine – Gundia and Athirappilly Hydro Electric Projects.
- The committee was also instructed to make recommendation on the moratorium on new mining licenses in Goa.
03.Consider the following statements with respect to Bar council of india
- It is a non statutory body.
- It defends the legal principles of democracy and rule of law.
- Providing better access to the legal information of the two countries
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
Answer: d) 2 and 3 only
In News:Bar Councils cannot charge exorbitant enrollment fee: Supreme Court
Explanation:
- It is a statutory body. Hence statements 1 is incorrect.
- It defends the legal principles of democracy and rule of law. Hence statements 2is correct.
- Providing better access to the legal information of the two countries .Hence statements 3 is correct.
- Statutory, an autonomous body established under the Advocates Act, 1961.
- Nodal ministry: Ministry of Law and Justice ( Department of Legal Affairs)
Functions of Bar Council of India
- Lay Procedure: to be followed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committee of each State Bar Councils. safeguard rights, privileges, and interests of advocates; promote and support law reform.Supervision and Control, Exercise general supervision and control over State Bar Councils.
- Promote Legal Education: And lay down standards of legal education.
- Recognised Universities, Whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate.
- Recognise (on a reciprocal basis) foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India.
The Significance and Objectives:
- Purposes of Affiliation: The affiliation would be formed for:
- Defending the legal principles of democracy and rule of law.
- Providing better access to justice to the people of the two nations.
- Representing its members in their dealings with other lawyer organisations around the world
- Providing better access to the legal information of the two countries
- Providing a point of legal assistance and advice in dealings between the two nations resulting in binding treaties, conventions or protocols.
- Formulating a common code of conduct relating to interactions between the members of the affiliated Bar.
- Formulation of committees which would consist of the members of the two Bar to advise the government about cross-border transactions.
- The affiliation could also facilitate the policy work.
04. Consider the following statements with respect to charminar
1)It is located at the heart of Hyderabad.
2) It was built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah,
3) It has been built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Only One
- Only two
- All three
- None
Answer: (c) All three
In News: Pigeons damage 135-year-old Charminar clock in Hyderabad
Explanation:
About Charminar
- Charminar,historic monument located at the heart of Hyderabad in south-central India. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It was built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, who was the fifth king of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, to mark the founding of Hyderabad and the end of a plague that had devastated the city. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The Charminar has been built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. Hence statement 3 is correct
- The materials used are granite and lime mortar.
05. Consider the following pairs :
Places Well known for
1) America : Prairie
2) Africa : Veld
3) Asia : Steppe
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only One
- Only two
- All three
- None
Answer: (C)All three
In NEWS: A grassland in Hanle, Ladakh. Such habitats are likely to be permanently changed by encroaching trees.
EXPLANATION:
- Grassland Ecosystem is an ecosystem dominated by grasses.
- There are different types of grassland ecosystems in the world, and they are known by different names, such as Veldt in South Africa, steppes in Europe and Asia, Downs in Australia, and pampas in South America. Hence all pairs are correctly matched.
- Grasslands in India are found majorly in the high Himalayas.
- Steppes and savannas make up the majority of the remaining grasslands in India.
06. Consider the following statements:
Statement -I: Tropics harbour more species than temperate or polar areas
Statement -II: Tropical environments are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable unlike temperate regions.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is the correct explanation for Statement – I
- Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is not the correct explanation for Statement – I
- Statement – I is correct but Statement – II is incorrect
- Statement – I is incorrect but Statement – II is correct
Answer: (a) Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is the correct explanation for Statement – I
In News: India’s open ecosystems facing an unusual threat: encroaching trees
Explanation:
- Tropics harbor more species than temperate or polar areas. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- Tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant and predictable. Such constant environments promote niche specialization and lead to a greater species diversity. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher productivity ,this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.
07. Consider the following statements with respect to Kadambini Ganguly
- She became the first woman to pass the University of Calcutta entrance examination.
- She was a member of the Brahmo Samaj
- she became the first female speaker at the Indian National Congress
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only One
- Only two
- All three
- None
Answer: (c) All three
In News: The forgotten legacy of Kadambini Ganguly
Explanation:
About Kadambini Ganguly:
- Kadambini Ganguly (1861 – 1923) was a trailblazing figure in the field of medicine and women’s rights in India.
- Born in Bhagalpur, Bihar, she was the first woman from Calcutta University to receive a BA degree and later became the first Indian-educated female doctor.
- She holds the distinction of being the first female practitioner of Western medicine not only in India but across South Asia.
- In 1884, Ganguly became the first woman to be accepted into Calcutta Medical College, and after completing her medical training in Scotland, she established a successful medical practice in India.
- Her achievements marked significant progress in the struggle for women’s rights in the country.
- She became the first woman to pass the University of Calcutta entrance examination. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Key Contributions:
- Kadambini Ganguly was a prominent figure in many socio-political arenas.
- She was a member of the Brahmo Samaj, a reformative movement aiming to modernize Indian socio-religious thought. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Her influence extended to political spheres where she became the first female speaker at the Indian National Congress in 1889 and was one of six representatives in the first female delegation. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- Her advocacy was not limited to medicine and politics; she was deeply involved in women’s issues.
- Alongside Kamini Roy, she worked on a government committee to investigate the conditions of women miners in Bihar and Orissa, and her efforts were instrumental in the enactment of India’s first Age of Consent Act in 1891.
- She was also pivotal in the organization of the Women’s Conference in Calcutta following the partition of Bengal in 1906.
- Additionally, her impact on education was profound, as evidenced by her lectures at Calcutta Medical College, which led to the admission of women candidates.
08.The term“Prosopis Juliflora” is sometimes seen in news with reference to which one is related to
(a) butterfly
(b) animal
(c) insect
(d) plant
Answer: (d) plant
In NEWS:Woody encroachment is a direct result of human-driven factors that are changing the disturbance regimes open ecosystems
EXPLANATION:
About Prosopis Juliflora
- It is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, a kind of mesquite. Hence option (d) is correct.
- It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
- It is one of the most invasive species in arid and semi-arid areas.
- In India it is known locally by many names such as Bellary jaali, seemai karuvelam, seemai jaali, gando baval, vilayati kikar.
- It has a very wide ecological adaptability which can grow on soils from sand dune to clay soil, and from saline to alkaline soil type.
- It can grow below 200 to above 1500 m above sea level, and with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 50 to 1500 mm
- It is considered an Invasive plant.
- It is characterized by vigorous growth which helps them to outcompete indigenous plant species.
09. Consider the following statements:
Statement -I: Monsoonal rainfall is largely governed by relief and is orographic in its mode
Statement -II: The amount of rainfall decreases with increasing distance from the sea
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements
a)Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is the correct explanation for Statement – I
b)Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is not the correct explanation for Statement – I
c)Statement – I is correct but Statement – II is incorrect
d)Statement – I is incorrect but Statement – II is correct
Answer:b)Both Statement – I and Statement – II are correct and Statement – II is not the correct explanation for Statement – I
In News:How is the rainfall performance during the ongoing monsoon season
Explanation:
- The Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India, indicating the onset and progress of the crucial rainy season in the subcontinent.
- There are several theories explaining the monsoon, such as the Thermal Theory (Edmund Halley), Dynamic Theory, Jet Stream Theory, ITCZ Theory, and Indian Ocean Dipole Theory. The simplest way to understand the process of the monsoon is through the Thermal Theory, which is provided below.
- The tropical monsoon climate is primarily caused by the differential heating and cooling rates of land and sea.
- During the summer, when the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, large land masses in the northern hemisphere (Central Asia), heat up significantly, creating intense low-pressure areas, meanwhile, the surrounding seas, which warm up more slowly, remain relatively cool.
- This pressure difference causes winds from the high-pressure region in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) to blow towards the low-pressure areas, crossing the equator and transforming into the Southwest Monsoon as they reach the Indian subcontinent.In winter, the situation reverses as the sun shifts to the Tropic of Capricorn.
- Central Asia cools rapidly, forming high-pressure areas, and winds blow outwards as the Northeast Monsoon These winds cross the equator and become the Northwest Monsoon in northern Australia.
- This seasonal reversal of wind directions characterises the tropical monsoon climate,
- Monsoonal rainfall is largely governed by relief and is orographic in its mode. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The amount of rainfall decreases with increasing distance from the sea. The rainless interval during the south west monsoon season is known as ‘breaks’. Hence statement 2 is correct.
Source https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/rainfall-performance-monsoon-9479264/
10.Saint Hilarion, sometimes seen in the news recently is situated
(a) West bank
(b) Jordan
(c) Gaza strip
(d) Lebanon
Answer: (c) Gaza strip
In NEWS: UNESCO adds 4th-century monastery in Gaza to list of endangered sites
Explanation:
About:
- Founded by Saint Hilarion, the monastery is one of the oldest in the Middle East and served as a centre for religious, cultural, and economic exchanges during the Byzantine period.
- Protection: UNESCO’s decision follows the provisional enhanced protection granted to the site under the 1954 Hague ConventionRecognition: The Ministry of Tourism in Gaza reported that the monastery urgently needs preservation, a challenge worsened by regional conflict and limited resources.
- It was listed on the 2012 World Monuments Watch and categorized as “Rescue Needed” by the Global Heritage Network.
- UNESCO adds 4th-century monastery in Gaza to list of endangered sites. Hence option (c) is correct.