Question Number: 1

Question Type: fact

Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: Indian Geography
Concept: vegetation and wildlife

Q.1) Which one among the following states has the maximum number of
‘national parks’? Commented [1]: grammar. capitalized key words &
numbers of national parks.
a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
b) Arunachal Pradesh
c) Assam
d) Meghalaya
Answer: a
Explanation: Total number of national parks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is
nine (9). Whereas Assam has five; Arunachal has two and Meghalaya has also
two national parks.

National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. India's first national
park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett
National Park, Uttarakhand. By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972,
India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the
habitats of conservation reliant species. Further federal legislation strengthening
protection for wildlife was introduced in the 1980s. As of May 2020, there were
105 national parks encompassing an area of 40,501.13 km2 (15,637.57 sq. mi),
under protected areas of India category II comprising 1.23% of India's total
surface area.

Question Number: 2
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: newspapers
Concept: pib news analysis

Q.2) ‘Sweet Revolution’ is related to?

a) Honey production
b) Sugar production
c) both (a) and (b)
d) neither (a) nor (b)
Answer: a
Explanation: Government has launched the ‘Honey Mission’ as part of ‘Sweet
Revolution.’ The ‘Sweet Revolution’ is a strategic step to emphasize the increase
in honey production The Government has allocated a corpus worth Rs.500 crore
under the Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan for promotion of beekeeping. According to the
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, India ranks 8th in the
world in terms of honey production. It produces 64.9 thousand tonnes of honey
per year. On other hand, China stands first in Honey production. It produces 550
thousand tonnes of honey per year.
The Union Agriculture Minister recently inaugurated a cooperative programme
for the beekeepers and honey collectors. The programme was launched in 5
states.

Question Number: 3
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: very easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: Indian polity
Concept: indian constitution

Q.3) Which article of the Constitution of India abolishes untouchability?

a) Article 18
b) Article 17
c) Article 16
d) Article 15
Answer: b
Explanation: Article 17 of the Constitution of India reads: Untouchability is
abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any
disability arising out of Untouchability shall be an offence punishable in
accordance with law.

Question Number: 4
Question Type: concept
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: physical Geography
Concept: Lithosphere (Geomorphology)

Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding the mineral Quartz

1. Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms.
2. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, behind
feldspar.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: c
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral
composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. The atoms are linked in a continuous
framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared
between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2.
Statement 2 is correct. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's
continental crust, behind feldspar.
Recently, Nagaland has been in news after photos and videos of diamonds being found
in Wanching, a village in Mon district of the state, went viral on social media.
The video clips and photographs showed villagers gathered in large numbers,
digging soil on a hillock and displaying small crystalline finds on their palms.
 However, the team of four geologists constituted by the geology and mining
department has reportedly affirmed that the glittering rocks are not diamonds
but just quartz crystals.

Question Number: 5
Question Type: concept
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: current affairs
Concept: current affairs

Q.5) Which one of the following becomes first privately operated shuttle to dock
at the space station after test flight?
a) SpaceX
b) Rocket-lab
c) Blue origin
d) Aerojet
Answer: a
Explanation: Recently, the NASA successfully launched four astronauts on
SpaceX Crew Dragon craft “Resilience” to the International Space Station. This
was NASA’s first full-fledged mission of sending a crew in a privately-owned
spacecraft. The Crew Dragon capsule lifted three Americans – Michael Hopkins,
Victor Glover, and Shannon Walke – and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi
from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is an American aerospace
manufacturer and space transportation services company headquartered in
Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of
reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX
has developed several launch vehicles, the Starlink satellite constellation, the
Dragon cargo spacecraft, and flown humans to the International Space Station
on the SpaceX Dragon 2.
Question Number: 6
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: Indian polity
Concept: indian constitution

Q.6) Which schedule of the Indian Constitution is related to the responsibilities

of Municipalities?
a) 12th
b) 11th
c) 10th
d) 9th
Answer: a
Explanation: Twelfth Schedule was added by 74th amendment and enlists the
subjects under Municipalities or urban local government.

Question Number: 3
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: current affairs
Concept: current affairrs

Q.7) A city named ‘Neom’ is in the news in the recent past. It is in which country?
a) Iran
b) Turkey
c) Syria
d) Saudi Arabia
Answer: d
 Explanation: NEOM is a planned cross-border city in the Tabuk Province of
north-western Saudi Arabia. It is planned to incorporate smart city technologies
and also function as a tourist destination. The site is near the Red Sea, and Strait
of Tiran and the borders of Egypt, Israel and Jordan (However, Saudi Arabia has
no land border with either Egypt nor Israel). It will cover a total area of 26,500
km2 (10,200 sq. mi) and will extend 460 km along the coast of the Red Sea.

Question Number: 8
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: hard
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: International relations
Concept: international organizations

Q.8) Which among the following is not a member of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO)?
 a) Uzbekistan
b) Turkmenistan
c) Tajikistan
d) Kyrgyzstan
Answer: b
Explanation: The SCO currently comprises eight Member States - China, India,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan).
Turkmenistan is not a member of the SCO.

Question Number: 9
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: current affairs
Concept: current affairs

Q.9) The Houthi insurgency is related to which of the following country?

a) Yemen
b) Iraq
c) Afghanistan
d) Syria
Answer: a
Explanation: The Houthi insurgency in Yemen, also known as the Houthi
rebellion, Sa'dah War, or Sa'dah conflict, was a military rebellion pitting Zaidi
Shia Houthis (though the movement also includes Sunnis) against the Yemeni
military that began in Northern Yemen and has since escalated into a full-scale
civil war.

Question Number: 10
Question Type: concept
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: Science and technology
Concept: science and technology in india

Q.10) Consider the following statements regarding the Doppler Weather Radar
(DWR):
1. The DWR provides advance information, enhancing the lead-time so essential
for saving lives and property, in the event of natural disaster associated with
severe weather.
2. Though the conventional radars are able to track and predict cyclones, the
DWR provides detailed information on storm’s internal wind flow and structure.
3. There is a network of 50 doppler weather radars (DWR) in India with 35 of
them being on India’s coast.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
Answer: a
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. The Doppler Weather Radar (DWR)
provides advance information, enhancing the lead-time so essential for saving
lives and property, in the event of natural disaster associated with severe weather.
Statement 2 is correct. Though the conventional radars are able to track and
predict cyclones, the DWR provides detailed information on storm’s internal
wind flow and structure. The severity of the weather systems can thus be
quantitatively estimated more accurately than ever before and more precise
advance warnings can be generated for saving human lives and property. The
polarimetric capability of the Radar will significantly improve the accuracy of
rainfall estimation leading to accurate and timely flash flood warnings.
Statement 3 is incorrect. There is a network of 27 doppler weather radars (DWR)
in India with 12 of them being on India’s coast.

Question Number: 11
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: current affairs
Concept: current affairs

Q.11) On which river, is the Bhakra Dam of India built?

a) Chenab
b) Sutlej
c) Ravi
d) Yamuna
Answer: b
Explanation: Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River in
Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The dam forms the Gobind Sagar
reservoir.
Nangal Dam is another dam in Punjab downstream of Bhakra Dam. However,
sometimes both the dams together are called Bhakra-Nangal Dam though they
are two separate dams.

Question Number: 12
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: indian geography
Concept: soils

Q.12) The term ‘Regur’ is used for which of the following soil?
a) Laterite soil
b) Arid soil
c) Alluvial soil
d) Black soil
Answer: d
Explanation: Black soil is good for cultivating crops like cotton. The term
‘Regur’ is used for Black soil.
Question Number: 13
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: newspapers
Concept: pib news analysis

Q.13) Recently, ‘Sahakar Pragya Programme’ is in the news. What is the purpose
of the programme?
a) to train the primary cooperative societies in the country.
b) to promote primary education in the country with the co-operation of non-
government organizations (NGOs)
c) to tackle the spread of the COVIDD-19 in the country with the help of non-
government organizations (NGOs).
d) None of the above.
Answer: a
Explanation: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently launched
the Sahakar Pragya. The initiative will train the primary cooperative societies in
the country. It holds 45 new training modules of National Cooperative
Development Corporation (NCDC). It will enhance the training capacity of
NCDC through a network of eighteen regional training centres. Under the
Sahakar Pragya initiative, the 45 training modules are to be delivered at LINAC.
LINAC is Laxman Rao Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research
and Development operating under NCDC.

Question Number: 14
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: very easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: art and culture
Concept: Religions in India

Q.14) Who was the founder of Sikhism?

a) Guru Gobind Singh
b) Guru Nanak
c) Guru Arjan Dev
d) Guru Ram Das
Answer: b
Explanation: Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten
Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Katak
Pooranmashi ('full-moon of the Katak'), i.e. October–November.
Question Number: 15
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: indian geography
Concept: india and its location

Q.15) Tropic of Cancer passes through which below mentioned state?

a) Maharashtra
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: c
Explanation: The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight states in India: Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and
Mizoram.

Question Number: 16
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: indian polity
Concept: indian constitution

Q.16) Under which among the following articles, President has pardoning
power?
a) Article 71
b) Article 73
c) Article 72
d) Article 74
Answer: c
Explanation: Article 72 of the Constitution of India- Power of President to grant
pardons, etc, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases
(1) The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or
remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any
person convicted of any offence
(a) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a court Martial;
(b) in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any
law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends;
(c) in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death
(2) Noting in sub clause (a) of Clause (1) shall affect the power to suspend, remit
or commute a sentence of death exercisable by the Governor of a State under any
law for the time being in force.

Question Number: 17
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: science and technology
Concept: new technologies
Q.17) Consider the following statements regarding the Hayabusa2 spacecraft
Mission.
1. The entire operation is being held by JAXA, Japanese Aerospace exploration
agency.
2. It surveyed the asteroid Ryugu for a year and half.
3. Ryugu is a carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
Answer: d
Explanation: The Hayabusa2 spacecraft of Japan is nearing the earth after a
yearlong journey from asteroid Ryugu. The asteroid is located at a distance of
about 300 million kilometres from the Earth. Ryugu is a carbonaceous near-
Earth asteroid. The carbonaceous asteroids hold the most Pristine materials in
the solar system. The spacecraft is to reach the earth in Southern Australia on
December 6, 2020 carrying precious samples from the asteroid. The entire
operation is being held by JAXA, Japanese Aerospace exploration agency.
According to the agency the capsule that is protected by a heat shield will turn
into a fire ball at its 200 kilometres from the earth surface. The parachute of the
capsule will open at about 10 kilometres. Therefore, all the given statements are
correct. Hence, (d) is the correct option.

Question Number: 18
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: medium
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: indian economy
Concept: international organizations

Q.18) The global ‘Energy Transition Index’ is released by?

a) World Economic Forum
 b) World Bank
c) International Monetary Fund
d) World Trade Organisation
Answer: a
Explanation: The global ‘Energy Transition Index’ is released by the World
Economic Forum. The index ranks 115 economies on the current performance of
their energy systems and their readiness for transition to secure and sustainable
energy systems.

Question Number: 19
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: newspapers
Concept: pib news analysis

Q.19) The Government of India recently launched “Mission COVID

Suraksha” to?
a) accelerate the production of disposable masks in the country.
b) accelerate development of vaccine in the country.
c) spread the awareness regarding the social distancing and containing the spread
of the COVID-19.
d) None of the above
Answer: b
Explanation: The Government of India recently launched Mission COVID
Suraksha to accelerate development of vaccine in the country. It will ensure that
the vaccines being developed are brought closer to the market. The mission was
introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on November 12, 2020 as a
part of 12 announcements made under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 3.0.
The Finance Minister had allocated Rs 2.65 lakh crores under the fourth
economic package. Of this, Rs 900 crores has been allocated to Department of
Biotechnology to accelerate development of COVID-19 vaccine. This fund is to
be used to implement Phase I of Mission COVID Suraksha which is to run for 12
 months. The funds allocated are to be used for the development of vaccines and
licensure of vaccines that are in clinical stage or ready to enter clinical stage. The
Department is currently supporting development of ten vaccines.

Question Number: 20
Question Type: fact
Question Difficulty Level: very easy
Marking: (+2, -0.66)
Expected time to solve: 60 seconds
Topic: indian polity
Concept: executive

Q.20) Who all are the part of the state executive?

a) Advocate General
b) Chief Minister
c) Governor
d) All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation: The governor, the chief minister, the council of ministers and the
advocate general of the state are all part of the state executive. Article 153 to 167
in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the state executive.