Answer with Explanation

Date 15/05/2018
1 With reference to the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, consider the following
statements

1. He reports directly to the President

2. The commissioner has his headquarters in Allahabad
3. The commissioner falls under the Ministry of Minority Affairs

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only
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(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3 only

Ans: (D)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters
relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution. He
would report to the President upon those matters at such intervals as the President may
direct. The President should place all such reports before each House of Parliament and
send to the governments of the states concerned.

Statement 2 is correct: The Commissioner has his headquarters at Allahabad (Uttar

Pradesh). He has three regional offices at Belgaum (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and
Kolkata (West Bengal). Each is headed by an Assistant Commissioner.

Statement 3 is correct: At the Central level, the Commissioner falls under the Ministry of
Minority Affairs. Hence, he submits the annual reports or other reports to the President
through the Union Minority Affairs Minister.

2 With reference to CAG, consider the following statements:

1. He is appointed by the President by a warrant under his hand and seal

2. The legal and regulatory audit is an obligatory duty of CAG, while the propriety audit is
discretionary

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

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(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (C)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The CAG is appointed by the president of India by a warrant under
his hand and seal.

Statement 2 is correct: The CAG has ‘to ascertain whether money shown in the accounts
as having been disbursed was legally available for and applicable to the service or the
purpose to which they have been applied or charged and whether the expenditure
conforms to the authority that governs it’. In addition to this legal and regulatory audit,
the CAG can also conduct the propriety audit, that is, he can look into the ‘wisdom,
faithfulness and economy’ of government expenditure and comment on the wastefulness
and extravagance of such expenditure. However, unlike the legal and regulatory audit,
which is obligatory on the part of the CAG, the propriety audit is discretionary.

3 With reference to the Attorney General of India, consider the following statements:

1. He is a full-time counsel for the government

2. He is debarred from private legal practice

3. He can speak and vote in proceedings of both the houses of the Parliament

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

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(C) 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (D)

Explanation:

Statement 1 & 2 are incorrect: Attorney General is not a full-time counsel for the
Government. He does not fall in the category of government servants. Further, he is not
debarred from private legal practice

Statement 3 is incorrect: In the performance of his official duties, the Attorney General
has the right of audience in all courts in the territory of India. Further, he has the right to
speak and to take part in the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament or their joint
sitting and any committee of the Parliament of which he may be named a member, but
without a right to vote.

4 Which of the following are non-constitutional bodies

(A) Election Commission

(B) National Human Rights Commission

(C) Finance Commission

(D) Joint Public Service Commission

Ans: (B)

Explanation:

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National Human Rights Commission is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. It was
established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the
Protection of Human Rights Act, 19931. This Act was amended in 2006.

5 With reference to the National Human Rights Commission, consider the following
statements:

1. It’s jurisdiction extends over the whole of India

2. It can look into a matter only within one year of its occurrence

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) Both 1 and 2

(C) 2 only

(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (C)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Jurisdiction of NHRC does not extend to Jammu and Kashmir

Statement 2 is correct: The commission is not empowered to inquire into any matter after
the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting violation of human
rights is alleged to have been committed.

6 Who among the following does is not a member of the selection committee for Central
Information Commission (CIC)?

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(a) Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha

(b) Prime Minister

(c) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

(d) Union Cabinet Minister

Ans: (A)

Explanation:

Members of CIC are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee

consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

7 Which of the following bodies was constituted on the recommendations of

Santhanam Committee?

(A) Central Information Commission

(B) National Human Rights Commission

(C) Central Vigilance Commission

(D) None of the above

Ans: (C)

Explanation:

Central Vigilance commission was established in 1964 by an executive resolution of the

Central government. Its establishment was recommended by the Santhanam Committee
on Prevention of Corruption.

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8 Which of the following cases come under the jurisdiction of the CBI?

(A) Corruption related cases

(B) Economic offences

(C) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Neither (A) nor (B)

Ans: (C)

Explanation:

The CBI is a multidisciplinary investigation agency of the Government of India and

undertakes investigation of corruption-related cases, economic offences and cases of
conventional crime. It normally confines its activities in the anti-corruption field to
offences committed by the employees of the Central Government and Union Territories
and their public sector undertakings. It takes up investigation of conventional crimes like
murder, kidnapping, rape etc., on reference from the state governments or when directed
by the Supreme Court/High Courts.

9 With reference to the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act 2011, consider the
following statements:

1. It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right

2. It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy on promotion of co-operative

societies

3. It added a new Part IX-A in the Constitution

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Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) 1 only

(B) 1 and 2 only

(C) 2 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (B)

Explanation:
th
97 Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 gave a constitutional status and protection
to co-operative societies. In this context, it made the following three changes in the
constitution:

1. It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article 19).

2. It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy on promotion of co-operative

societies (Article 43-B2). 


3. It added a new Part IX-B in the Constitution which is entitled “The Co-operative
Societies” (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).

10 Official Language Commission 1955 was set-up under the chairmanship of:

(A) G.B Pant

(B) U.N Debhar

(C) H.N Kunzru

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(D) BG Kher

Ans: (D)

Explanation:

In 1955, the president appointed an Official Language Commission under the

chairmanship of BG Kher. The commission submitted its report to the President in 1956.
The report was examined by a committee of Parliament constituted in 1957 under the
chairmanship of Gobind Ballabh Pant.

11 Which of the following pairs are incorrectly matched:

No Conventions Associated with

1 Basel Hazardous wastes
2 Bonn Hazardous chemicals
3 Roterdam Migratory species
4 Washington Trade in endangered species of
flora and fauna

Choose the correct answer from the given code:

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 ,2 and 3
(D) 3 and 4 only

Ans: (B)

Explanation:

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 No Conventions Associated with
1 Basel Hazardous wastes
2 Bonn Migratory species
3 Roterdam Hazardous chemicals
4 Washington Trade in endangered species of
flora and fauna

12 Climate change is one of the major reasons for coral bleaching. Which of the
following factors contribute to coral bleaching?

1. Rise in sea temperature

2. Unregulated ,Uncontrolled and illegal fishing
3. Ocean acidification
4. Abundant plankton

Choose the correct answer from the given code:

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 1,2 and 4 only
(C) 1,2 and 3 only
(D) All of the above

Ans: (C)

Explanation:

Disturbances affecting coral reefs include anthropogenic and natural events.Recent

accelerated coral reef decline is related mostly to anthropogenic impacts
(overexploitation, overfishing, increased sedimentation and nutrient
overloading).Natural disturbances which cause damage to coral reefs include violent
storms, flooding, high and low temperature extremes, El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) events, sub aerial exposures, predatory outbreaks, ocean acidification and
epizootics.Therefore statement 1,2 and 3 causes coral bleaching whereas Adequate
supply of oxygen and microscopic marine food, called plankton [phytoplankton], is

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essential for growth. As the plankton is more abundant on the seaward side, corals grow
rapidly on the seaward side.

13 Blue Baby Syndrome develops when the level of methemoglobin in the blood
increases, which occurs because of contamination of the ground water by which of the
following elements:

(A) Mercury
(B) Nitrates
(C) Arsenic
(D) Lead

Ans: (B)

Explanation:

Blue baby syndrome is a blood disorder occurs due to intake of water which is
contaminated with large amount of nitrates. Inside the body nitrates is metabolised and
converted to nitrites which then bind with oxy-haemoglobins and convert them to
methemoglobin.
Methemoglobin are unable to circulate oxygen throughout the different organs and
hinders the oxygen circulation. Lack of oxygen causes cyanosis and turn to bluish
colouration of the skin.
This effect is very prominent in infants.

14 Knesset is the name of the parliament of which of the following country?

(A) Spain
(B) Israel
(C) Norway
(D) Sweden

Ans: (B)

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Explanation:

The Knesset (Israel's unicameral parliament) is the country's legislative body. The
Knesset took its name and fixed its membership at 120 from the Knesset Hagedolah
(Great Assembly), the representative Jewish council convened in Jerusalem by Ezra and
Nehemiah in the 5th century BCE.

15 Savanna Natural region is characterised by which one of the following?

(A) A distinct wet and dry season

(B) Broad-leaf evergreen forests and grasses
(C) Uniformly high rainfall throughout the year
(D) No spatial variation in mean annual rainfall

Ans: (A)

Explanation:

Savanna Climate:

1. This type of climate has alternate wet and dry seasons similar to monsoon climate
but has considerably less annual rainfall.
2. Also, there is no distinct rainy season like in monsoon climate.
3. [Only two seasons – winter and summer. Rains occur in summer].
4. Floods and droughts are common.
5. Vegetation, wildlife and human life are quite different from monsoon climate
regions.

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