T-20 17 July, 2020

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Socio-economic Development (polity)
Sub Concept: Health
Concept field :

Q1 Consider the following statements:

1. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal
deaths during a given time period per 1000 live births.
2. While Kerala has the lowest MMR, Assam has the highest MMR
among the states in India.
3. India has achieved the 2017 National Health Policy’s target of MMR
reduction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as the
number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 1 lakh live births.

Statement 2 is correct: At 215, Assam had the highest MMR in the country,
followed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with MMR of 197 and 173,
respectively. Kerala reported the lowest MMR of 43, followed by
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu with MMR of 46 and 60, respectively.

Statement 3 is incorrect: With a maternal mortality ratio of 113, India has

missed the 2017 National Health Policy’s target of reducing the MMR to 100.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: institutions, posts and bodies
Sub Concept: Statutory bodies
Concept field :

Q2 Consider the following statements:

1. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 does not make the killing of
animals for religious purposes an offence.
2. Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory body set up under
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 does not
make the killing of animals for religious purposes an offence. Section 28 of
the Act - Saving as respects manner of killing prescribed by religion.—
Nothing contained in this Act shall render it an offence to kill any animal in a
manner required by the religion of any community.

Statement 2 is correct: Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory body

under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: India & West Asia
Sub Concept: India-Iran
Concept field :

Q3 Farzad-B gas field is located in

a) Iraq
b) Qatar
 c) Iran
d) UAE

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Farzad B gas field is an Iranian natural gas field that was discovered in 2012.
ONGC’s foreign arm OVL has been removed from the Farzad--B gas field
exploration project.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Architecture
Sub Concept: Ancient Indian Architecture, Sculpture and Pottery
Concept field: Temple Architecture

Q4 With reference to Venkateswara temple, consider the following

statements:
1. Venkateswara temple is situated in Andhra Pradesh.
2. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
3. It is constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Venkateswara Temple is situated in the hill town of

Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Statement 2 is correct: The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of

Vishnu.

Statement 3 is correct: It is constructed in the Dravidian style of

architecture.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: India & its Neighbours
Sub Concept: India-China
Concept field :

Q5 With reference to Working Mechanism on Consultation & Coordination

(WMCC), consider the following statements:
1. It was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for
consultation and coordination for the maintenance of peace and
tranquillity in the India-China border areas.
2. It is headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

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

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: “Working Mechanism for Consultation &
Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC)” was established in
January 2012 after border talks between then-National Security Adviser
(NSA) Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart.
Statement 2 is correct: It is headed by joint secretary-level officials from
both sides. They are entrusted to help the special representative for
boundary talks, a position currently held by NSA Ajit Doval.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/as-lac-heats-up-india-and-china-
activate-border-mechanism-talks-6428896/

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: institution posts and bodies
Sub Concept: quasi judicial
Concept field :

Q6 With reference to Consumer Protection Act, 1986, consider the following

statements:
1. It provides for the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at
the Centre, State and District level to promote consumer awareness.
2. It provides for a 3-tier structure of the National and State
Commissions and District Forums for resolution of consumer disputes.
3. The provisions of this Act cover ‘goods’ as well as ‘services’.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Act mandates establishment of Consumer
Protection Councils at the Centre as well as in each State and District, with a
view to promoting consumer awareness.

Statement 2 is correct: It also provides for a 3-tier structure of the National

and State Commissions and District Forums for the speedy resolution of
consumer disputes.

Statement 3 is correct: The provisions of this Act cover ‘goods’ as well as

‘services’. The goods are those which are manufactured or produced and
sold to consumers through wholesalers and retailers. The services are in the
nature of transport, telephone, electricity, housing, banking, insurance,
medical treatment, etc.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environment Conservation
Sub Concept: Protected Area Network
Concept field: World Heritage Sites

Q7 Consider the following statements:

1. A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for having
special cultural or physical significance.
2. Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve is the only "Mixed Heritage" site of
India.
3. India has the largest number of world heritage sites.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
as having special cultural or physical significance.

Statement 2 is correct: There are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India.

These include 30 cultural sites, 7 natural sites and 1 mixed-criteria site.

Statement 3 is incorrect: China and Italy have the largest number of world
heritage sites (55 each). India has the 6th largest number of heritage sites.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Current Affairs
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q8 World Press Freedom Index is released by

a) Transparency International
b) Reporters Without Borders
c) Amnesty International
d) Freedom of the Press Foundation

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and

published by Reporters Without Borders based upon the organisation's own
assessment of the countries' press freedom records in the previous year.

According to the Press Freedom Index, 2020 India dropped two places on
the global press freedom index ranking to 142nd place in the list of 180
countries. India’s neighbours — Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka — are ranked
higher in the list.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Taxation
Sub Concept: Types of Taxes
Concept field :

Q9 Consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution allows the Centre to levy cess and surcharge which
the Centre need not share with state governments.
2. While cesses are imposed for specific purposes, surcharges are a tax
on taxes.
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

Correct Answer: (c)

Statement 1 is correct: The Constitution allows the Centre to levy cess and
surcharge which the Centre need not share with state governments.

Statement 2 is correct: While cesses are imposed for specific purposes,

surcharges are a tax on taxes, both meant to be temporary in nature.
Though the introduction of goods and services tax (GST) has subsumed
many cesses, the government has imposed fresh cesses such as Swachh
Bharat cess and Krishi Kalyan

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/centre-s-over-reliance-on-cesses-
surcharges-put-state-finances-at-risk-11594081142572.html

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Government Schemes
Sub Concept:
Concept field :

Q10 With reference to Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

(PMBJP), consider the following statements:
1. It aims to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.
2. National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is the implementing
agency for PMBJP.
3. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
(PMBJP) aims to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the
masses. PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are
available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as
expensive branded drugs.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the

implementation agency for PMBJP.

Statement 3 is incorrect: It was launched by the Department of

Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Money Laundering
Sub Concept: Steps taken by the Government
Concept field :

Q11 Which of the following is mandated to enforce Foreign Exchange

Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act,
2002 (PMLA)?
a) Central Bureau of Investigation
b) Enforcement Directorate
c) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
d) Intelligence Bureau

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Enforcement Directorate is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with
the task of enforcing the provisions of two special fiscal laws – Foreign
Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money
Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: World geography through maps
Sub Concept: Asia through maps
Concept field :

Q12 Turkey shares a land border with which of the following countries?
a) Israel
b) Greece
c) Jordan
d) Lebanon

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Turkey shares a land border with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Greece, Iran, Iraq, Syria
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Socio-economic development
Sub Concept: Education
Concept field :

Q13 With reference to the Program for International Student Assessment

(PISA), consider the following statements:
1. It evaluates educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school
students’ scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and
reading.
2. It is coordinated annually by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD)
3. India has participated in every PISA test since 2000.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: PISA is a worldwide study by the OECD in member
and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by
measuring 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance on
mathematics, science, and reading.

Statement 2 is incorrect: It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated

every three years.

Statement 3 is incorrect: India has participated in the PISA test only once
before, in 2009. In this round of PISA, where students from Himachal
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu sat for the test, India ranked 72nd out of 73
countries, outranking only Kyrgistan. Since then, India has strayed away
from the test.
Question Type: fact
Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Indian Constitution
Sub Concept: Fundamental Rights
Concept field :

Q14 Which of the following are fundamental rights as guaranteed by the

Constitution of India?
1. Right to marry a person of one's choice
2. Right to Reservation
3. Right to form a cooperative society

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
1. In Shafin Jahan v. Asokan, the Supreme Court held that the right to
marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and
liberty) of the Constitution.
2. Recently, the Supreme Court held that the right to the reservation is
not a fundamental right.
3. According to Article 19(1)(c), the right to form a cooperative society is
a fundamental right of the citizens.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environment Conservation
Sub Concept: Protected Area Network
Concept field :

Q15 Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in

a) Chhattisgarh
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Gujarat
d) Jharkhand

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Madhya Pradesh.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Indian Constitution
Sub Concept: Devolution of Power and Finances
Concept field: Zonal Councils

Q16 Consider the following statements:

1. Zonal Councils are constitutional bodies to promote cooperation and
coordination between states, union territories and the Centre.
2. Union Home Minister is the common chairman of the five zonal
councils.

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

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the
constitutional) bodies. They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that
is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
Statement 2 is correct: The home minister of the Central government is the
common chairman of the five zonal councils. Each chief minister acts as a
vice-chairman of the council by rotation, holding office for a period of one
year at a time.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Monetary System
Sub Concept: Monetary Policy Framework
Concept field :

Q17 Which among the following sets the inflation target in India?
a) Monetary Policy Committee
b) Central Government
c) Indian Banks' Association
d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:
In May 2016, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 was amended to
provide a statutory basis for the implementation of the flexible inflation-
targeting framework. The amended RBI Act also provides for the inflation
target to be set by the Government of India, in consultation with the
Reserve Bank, once in every five years. Accordingly, the Central Government
has notified in the Official Gazette 4 per cent Consumer Price Index (CPI)
inflation as the target for the period from August 5, 2016, to March 31, 2021,
with the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent and the lower tolerance limit of
2 per cent.
https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/FS_Overview.aspx?fn=2752#:~:text=The%20a
mended%20RBI%20Act%20also,once%20in%20every%20five%20years.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: World geography through maps
Sub Concept: Asia through maps
Concept field :

Q18 Arrange the following cities from north to south:

1. Aleppo
2. Amman
3. Istanbul
4. Jeddah

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 3 4 1 2
b) 2 3 1 4
c) 3 1 2 4
d) 3 1 4 2

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Atmosphere (Climatology)
Sub Concept: Longitudes
Concept field :

Q19 As you move from Equator towards Poles, you will observe:
1. Decrease in the length of longitudes
2. Decrease in distance between longitudes

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

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Longitudes run around the Earth vertically and

meet at the North and South Poles. Unlike the parallels of latitude,
longitudes are all equal in length.

Statement 2 is correct: As longitudes converge towards the poles, the

distance between the longitudes decreases polewards.

Question Type: fact

Difficulty of Question: moderate
Expected time to solve(in seconds): 60
Concept: Environmental Pollution
Sub Concept: Water Pollution
Concept field :

Q20 Why Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a better mode used to measure
pollution load in water than Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
1. COD can measure pollution load in flowing water, which BOD cannot.
2. COD measures the pollution load due to non-biodegradable sources,
which BOD does not.
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

Correct Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Both COD and BOD can be used in flowing water.

Statement 2 is correct: Water pollution by organic wastes is measured in

terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). BOD is the amount of
dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria in decomposing the organic wastes
present in water. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a slightly better mode
used to measure pollution load in the water. It is the measure of oxygen
equivalent of the requirement of oxidation of total organic matter (i.e.
biodegradable and non-biodegradable) present in water.