DAY 27 (13-10-23)
Q1. Consider the following statements :
- El Nino means Little Girl in Spanish.
- During El Nino year, air pressure drops over large areas of the central Pacific and along the coast of South America.
- The development of an El Nino brings drought in Australia, Indonesia, India and southern Africa.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:El Niño means Little Boy in Spanish.
Statement 2 is correct: In an El Niño year, air pressure drops over large areas of the central Pacific and along the coast of South America. Trade winds weaken. Warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas.This change in pressure pattern causes the trade winds to be reduced == Weak Walker Cell. Sometimes Walker Cell might even get reversed.This reduction allows the equatorial counter current (current along doldrums) to accumulate warm ocean water along the coastlines of Peru and Ecuador. This stops the upwelling of cold deep water along the coast of Peru.
Statement 3 is correct:Climatically, the development of an El Niño brings drought to the western Pacific, rains to the equatorial coast of South America, and convective storms and hurricanes to the central Pacific. Severe droughts occur in Australia, Indonesia, India and southern Africa.
Q2. With reference to Reserve Bank of India consider the following statements :
- Hilton Young Commission recommended the creation of a central bank for India.
- RBI was established in 1934 with the objective of ensuring monetary stability and operating the currency and credit system of the country.
- Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) andNational Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) are subsidiaries of RBI.
- RBI determines the inflation target in terms of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All Four
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance aka Hilton Young Commission (1926) recommended the creation of a central bank for India to separate the control of currency and credit from the Government and to augment banking facilities throughout the country.
Statement 2 is incorrect:RBI was established on April 1 1935 under RBI Act 1934with the objective of ensuring monetary stability and operating the currency and credit system of the countryto its advantage. RBI was nationalized in 1949.
Statement 3 is incorrect:Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL)are subsidiaries of RBI.NABARD and NHB is no more subsidiary of RBI as in 2019 it sold its entire stake to Govt of India.
Statement 4 is incorrect:As per RBI Act Central Government, in consultation with the RBI, determines the inflation target in terms of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), once in five years and notifies it in the Official Gazette. Current target is +/- 4%. If the limit is breached for 3 consecutive quarters, then it would be considered as failure. Then RBI has to come up with reasons as well as remedial actions.
Q3. Consider the following statements :
- The concept of directive principles has been borrowed from the Irish Constitution.
- DPSPs are not enforceable by any court including the Supreme Court.
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:The concept of directive principles has been borrowed from the Irish Constitution. Part IV of the constitution deals with DPSP. Articles 36 to 51 contain 20 DPSPs. The concept of directive principles is a balance between the Marxian approach to achieve egalitarian society and democracy. These principles are to act as a guiding force of the policy-making in a modern democratic State. According to Dr Ambedkar, the DPSPs are like an instrument of instruction to the State.
Statement 2 is correct: Article 37 declares that the DPSPs are not enforceable by any court including the Supreme Court. However, it is ‘fundamental to governance of the country’.
Q4. The theme of Ravana shaking Mount Kailasha has been depicted in :
(a) Ajanta
(b) Ellora
(c) Aihole
(d) Badami
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The theme of Ravana shaking Mount Kailasha has been depicted several times in the caves of Ellora. But the most noteworthy of all is the one depicted on the left wall of Kailashnath temple (Cave No.16) at Ellora. The image is dated to the eighth century CE. It is a colossal sculpture and is considered as one of the masterpieces of Indian sculpture. It depicts the episode of Ravana shaking Mount Kailasha when Lord Shiva along with Parvati and others were on the mountain.
Q5. Consider the following statements :
- Punch marked coins were present during Mahajanapada period.
- Silver Tanka and Copper Jital was introduced by Iltutmish.
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: Punch marked coins issued by various Mahajanapadas (around 6th century BC): The first Indian punch marked coins called Puranas, Karshapanas or Pana were minted in the 6th century BC by the various Janapadas and Mahajanapadas of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Statement 2 is correct: The coins had inscriptions in the form of king’s name, title and the date as per Hijri calendar. The coins did not bear any image of the issuing monarch as there was a prohibition of idolatry in Islam. For the first time, the name of the mint was also inscribed in the coins. The Sultans of Delhi issued gold, silver, copper and billon coins. Silver Tanka and Copper Jital was introduced by Iltutmish. Alauddin Khilji changed the existing design by dropping the name of the Khalif and replaced it by self-praising titles.