2016

Statement 1 is correct. Red Sanders, also known as Red Sandalwood or Pterocarpus santalinus, is indeed a tree species native to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of India.

Statement 2 is incorrect. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rainforest areas of South India. Red Sanders is not typically found in tropical rainforests. It grows in drier semi-arid regions of the Eastern Ghats.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Ajanta and Mahabalipuram were not built in the same period. - Ajanta is known for its rock-cut cave monuments, which were constructed from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE, primarily during the Gupta and Vakataka dynasties. - On the other hand, Mahabalipuram's rock-cut monuments and structures were built primarily during the 7th and 8th centuries CE, under the Pallava dynasty.

Statement 2 is incorrect: - Ajanta is associated with Buddhism, as the cave monuments were used as monasteries and temples by Buddhist monks. - Mahabalipuram, on the other hand, is associated with Hinduism, as the rock-cut monuments and temples are dedicated to Hindu deities and themes.

Statement 3 is correct: Both Ajanta and Mahabalipuram are known for their remarkable rock-cut monuments and structures. The Ajanta Caves are a series of rock-cut cave temples and monasteries, while Mahabalipuram is renowned for its rock-cut temples, Rathas (chariot-shaped temples), and other monumental structures carved directly out of rock.

Therefore, the only common feature between Ajanta and Mahabalipuram is that both have rock-cut monuments, as stated in statement 3.

The Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) was launched by the Ministry of Power in 2015 to provide a permanent solution for the financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies (DISCOMs). The scheme's primary mechanism involved state governments taking over 75% of the DISCOM debt (as of September 2015) and issuing low-interest sovereign bonds to lenders, which significantly reduced the interest burden on these companies. It also aimed at operational improvements, such as reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and improving energy efficiency. Option B refers to the Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana), which was launched in 2017 to achieve universal household electrification.

MCLR (Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate) This is a benchmark interest rate set by banks in India, below which they cannot lend. It represents the minimum cost of funds for the bank, considering factors like their own borrowing costs, operating expenses, and a profit margin. The purposes of MCLR as outlined by the RBI include

- Statement 1 is correct. Improved Transparency: MCLR standardizes the method for calculating the minimum lending rate. This transparency allows borrowers to better understand how banks arrive at their interest rates and facilitates comparison between different banks.

- Statement 2 is correct. Fairness for Borrowers and Banks: MCLR ensures a certain level of fairness. It prevents banks from setting arbitrarily high minimum lending rates, potentially benefiting borrowers. At the same time, it allows banks to cover their basic costs and earn a reasonable profit margin.

Therefore, both options 1 and 2 accurately reflect the purposes of the MCLR system.

The person who first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka was James Prinsep.


James Prinsep (1799-1840) was an English philologist, antiquary and administrator who served in the British East India Company. He played a crucial role in deciphering and interpreting the inscriptions and edicts of Emperor Ashoka, which were written in the Brahmi script.

In the 1830s, Prinsep was able to decipher the Brahmi script and translate Ashoka's inscriptions, which provided valuable insights into the reign and policies of the Mauryan emperor. His groundbreaking work helped establish the historical significance of Ashoka and the Mauryan empire.


Statement 1 is correct: Viruses that infect bacteria are known as bacteriophages or phages. These viruses use bacterial cells as hosts to replicate and propagate.

Statement 2 is correct: Certain viruses, called mycoviruses, can infect and replicate within fungal cells, using them as hosts.

Statement 3 is correct: Viruses that infect plants are known as plant viruses. They can hijack the cellular machinery of plant cells to replicate and spread within the plant.

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) were submitted by countries before the Paris Agreement (2015) as their initial climate action plans to combat climate change. These documents outlined how each country intended to contribute to global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapting to climate impacts.

These were preliminary pledges, meaning they were not legally binding commitments but rather expressions of intent.

Each country independently decided its contribution based on its capabilities, national circumstances, and priorities. Unlike top-down approaches in past climate treaties, INDCs followed a bottom-up approach.

The plans outlined specific measures countries intended to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy use, improve energy efficiency, and adapt to climate change impacts.

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is aimed at providing affordable credit to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the non-farm sector.

Here's a breakdown of its key objectives

- Financial Inclusion: MUDRA helps bring unbanked or underserved entrepreneurs into the formal financial system, enabling them to access loans from banks and other financial institutions. - Loan Products: The scheme offers a range of loan products categorized under three categories based on loan amount Shishu (up to Rs. 50,000), Kishore (above Rs. 50,000 up to Rs. 5 lakh), and Tarun (above Rs. 5 lakh up to Rs. 10 lakh). - Focus on Non-Farm Sector: MUDRA loans cater to income-generating micro enterprises engaged in manufacturing, trading, or service activities. - Activities allied to agriculture, like poultry, dairy, and beekeeping, are also included.

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Andhra Pradesh is set to house India's first national investment and manufacturing zone after the state assured the Centre of the availability of 2500 acres (10 sq km) of land in one place in Prakasam district.

The imminent final approval for the NIMZ, which is expected to give a fillip to the Prime Ministers Make in India campaign, comes four years after the concept was mooted to boost manufacturing in the country and two years after the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion gave an in-principle nod to Andhra Pradesh in this regard.

The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and not a single currency. Its value is based on a basket of five major world currencies

- US Dollar (USD) - Euro (EUR) - Japanese Yen (JPY) - British Pound Sterling (GBP) - Chinese Renminbi (RMB) (added in 2016)

The IMF reviews the composition of the SDR basket every five years to ensure it reflects the relative importance of currencies in the global trading and financial system. The inclusion of the RMB in 2016 signified the growing importance of the Chinese economy in the world.

* The Cripps Mission was a failed attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure full Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II.

* The mission was headed by a senior minister Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Privy Seal and leader of the House of Commons. * Cripps was sent to negotiate an agreement with the nationalist Congress leaders, who spoke for the majority Indians, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, who spoke for the minority Muslim population. * Cripps worked to keep India loyal to the British war effort in exchange for a promise of elections and full self-government (Dominion status) once the war was over.

* Cripps discussed the proposals, which he had drafted himself, with the Indian leaders and published them. * Both the major parties rejected his proposals, and they were also unacceptable to Churchill; no middle way was found and the mission failed.

Malavikagnimitra: A play by Kalidasa, narrates the love story of King Agnimitra, the son of Pushyamitra Shunga, the founder of the Sunga dynasty.

Swapnavasavadatta: This Sanskrit play by Bhasa does not revolve around the Sunga dynasty.

Meghadoota: This poem by Kalidasa focuses on the pining of a separated Yaksha and doesn't involve historical figures.

Ratnavali: This play by Sri Harsha also doesn't have a connection to the Sunga dynasty or its rulers.

Statement 1 is correct: Mangalyaan is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). This was its official designation.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India was not the second country to orbit Mars. Several countries had successfully sent spacecraft to Mars before Mangalyaan, including the USA, Russia, and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Statement 3 is correct: India was indeed the only country at that time to succeed in placing a spacecraft into Martian orbit on its very first attempt. This was a significant achievement for ISRO.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is correct: DigiLocker is a cloud-based digital locker system launched by the Government of India under the Digital India Programme. Its primary objective is to reduce reliance on physical documents by providing secure digital storage and access to e-documents issued by government departments, educational institutions, and other entities.

Statement 2 is correct: DigiLocker enables users to access their electronic documents (e-documents) anytime, anywhere, provided they have an internet connection. This enhances convenience, eliminates the need to carry physical documents, and ensures secure and verifiable digital storage.

Therefore, both statements are correct.

It is published by the World Bank.

Ease of Doing Business Index: This index was a global ranking that assessed the regulatory environment for business startups and operations in different economies. It measured regulations in areas like starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

Note: The World Bank discontinued the Ease of Doing Business Index in 2021 due to concerns about data irregularities in some past reports.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Dibang River is a major left-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra that flows through the Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh before joining the main river. Statement 2 is Correct: The Kameng River is a significant right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra; it originates in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the Kaziranga area. Statement 3 is Correct: The Lohit River is an important left-bank tributary that originates in eastern Tibet and flows through the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh to join the Brahmaputra in the Assam valley.

Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered a new species of banana, Musa indandamanensis, in the remote tropical rainforests of Little Andaman Island. This remarkable species stands out for its exceptional height, reaching up to 11 meters, nearly three times taller than common banana plants.

Located 16 km inside the Krishna Nalah forest, this species is globally distinct due to its unique green flowers, an unusually large fruit bunch axis (lux) thrice the size of regular banana species, and cylindrical-shaped flowers instead of the typical conical form. Additionally, the fruit pulp is orange, differing from the usual white or yellow found in common bananas.

This discovery adds significant value to botanical research and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the unique flora of the Andaman Islands.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The FSDC is not an organ of NITI Aayog. It's a separate apex-level body under the Ministry of Finance.

Statement 2 is Correct: The FSDC is headed by the Union Finance Minister.

Statement 3 is Correct: The FSDC plays a crucial role in monitoring macro-prudential supervision of the economy. Macro-prudential supervision focuses on preventing systemic risks within the financial system that could destabilize the entire economy.

Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Neem-coated Urea dissolves more slowly compared to normal Urea, which helps prevent leaching and ensures a gradual release of nitrogen into the soil. Neem has inhibitory properties that reduce nitrogen loss at multiple stages, including volatilization and denitrification. By slowing down the conversion of Urea into nitrate, it minimizes excess nitrate accumulation, reducing denitrification losses and improving nitrogen use efficiency in crops.

To curb misuse and diversion of highly subsidized Urea to the chemical industry, the Government of India made it mandatory for all Urea manufacturers to Neem-coat 100% of their production. This move not only ensures that Urea is used exclusively for agriculture but also enhances soil fertility and crop productivity by improving nitrogen retention.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The agreement did not "go into effect in 2017." It was adopted in Dec 2015, signed in April 2016, and legally entered into force on November 4, 2016, after the "55/55" threshold (55 countries representing 55% of global emissions) was met.

Statement 2 is correct: This is the core "temperature goal" of the Paris Agreement: keeping the increase well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Statement 3 is incorrect: While the agreement acknowledges "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR), the financial commitment was $100 billion per year by 2020, not $1000 billion.


The great hornbill, also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is predominantly frugivorous, but also preys on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

The great hornbill is native to the forests of India, Bhutan, Nepal, mainland Southeast Asia and Sumatra. Its distribution is fragmented in the Western Ghats and in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: TEEB was launched in 2007 by Germany and the European Commission following a proposal by the G8+5 Environment Ministers (Potsdam meeting). While the TEEB office is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the initiative is not hosted by the IMF or the World Economic Forum.

Statement 2 is Correct: TEEB is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity. It aims to highlight the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation by bringing together expertise from science, economics, and policy.

Statement 3 is Correct: TEEB follows a tiered approach to help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate, and capture the value of ecosystem services and biodiversity. This helps in integrating these values into policy-making and economic accounting.

Both statements (1 and 2) are correct regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva Raya, the ruler of Vijayanagar.

Statement 1 is correct. Land tax based on quality The Vijayanagara Empire, under Krishna Deva Raya, had a well-defined taxation system. Land revenue was the primary source of income, and the tax rate was determined based on the land's quality, fertility, and irrigation methods. This ensured a fair system where more productive lands yielded higher tax revenue.

Statement 2 is correct. Industry tax, besides land tax, the empire levied taxes on various professions and activities. Private workshops and businesses likely paid an industry tax, contributing to the state's treasury.

Statement 1 is correct: This is a classic example of Capital Expenditure. This type of spending creates physical assets for the country and is long-term in nature. Therefore, it is included in the capital budget.

Statement 2 is correct: This is a Capital Receipt. When the government receives a loan, it creates a liability (it has to be repaid in the future). Since it affects the government's liabilities, it is part of the capital budget.

Statement 3 is correct: This is also a form of Capital Expenditure. When the central government grants a loan, it creates a financial asset for itself (the loan is an asset that will earn interest and be repaid). As this spending creates an asset, it is included in the capital budget.

Since all three items are either capital expenditures or capital receipts, they are all part of the Capital Budget of the Government of India.

Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10) is an experimental, hybrid-electric aircraft developed and tested by NASA as part of its research into advanced aeronautics.

Key Features of GL-10: 1. Hybrid-electric Design: The GL-10 is a subscale, remotely-piloted aircraft that integrates both electric and conventional propulsion for efficiency and flexibility. 2. VTOL Capability: It is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, meaning it can take off and land like a helicopter but transition into fixed-wing flight for greater range and efficiency. 3. Potential Applications: NASA is testing the GL-10 as a future unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with potential applications in cargo transport, surveillance, and scientific research. 4. Distributed Electric Propulsion: The aircraft showcases distributed electric propulsion technology, which uses multiple electric motors and propellers to enhance thrust, control, and efficiency, paving the way for more advanced electric aircraft in the future.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is an international, independent medical humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO).

- Origin: It was founded in 1971 in France by a group of doctors and journalists in the wake of the war and famine in Biafra, Nigeria. - Objective: To provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare, irrespective of race, religion, or political affiliation. - Key Recognition: MSF is known for its independence and impartiality and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its pioneering humanitarian work on several continents.

1. Kurd - Bangladesh (Incorrect): Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group with a significant population in southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and northern Syria. They are not a major community in Bangladesh.

2. Madhesi - Nepal (Correct): Madhesis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group inhabiting the Terai plains of southern Nepal. They are a politically and socially aware community that has sometimes advocated for greater rights and representation within Nepal.

3. Rohingya - Myanmar (Correct): Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group facing persecution in Myanmar. They are often mentioned in the news due to human rights concerns and the ongoing Rohingya genocide.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not include all Pacific Rim countries. While it was signed by 12 nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States), many other Pacific Rim countries such as South Korea, Indonesia, Colombia, Thailand, and the Philippines were not part of the agreement.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The TPP was a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) aimed at lowering trade barriers, promoting economic integration, and establishing common standards for intellectual property, labor, and environmental protection. It was not a strategic alliance for maritime security.

Following the withdrawal of the United States in 2017, the remaining 11 members negotiated a new trade agreement known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).


India took a step forward in its ambitious but long-pending goal to interlink major rivers to form a national water grid. The Pattiseema project lifts flood water from the river Godavari and pumps it into the Polavaram right canal that empties into the river Krishna in Vijayawada.

Andhra Pradesh Government is interlinking Krishna-Godavari rivers through the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme.

Hence, option B is the correct Answer.

Statement 1 is correct: The Siddhas (Sittars) of the Tamil region were indeed monotheistic. They believed in a single ultimate reality and often rejected the traditional Hindu practices of idol worship and elaborate temple rituals.

Statement 2 is correct: The Lingayats of the Kannada region challenged the established social order. - They did not subscribe to the concept of rebirth within the caste system. - They emphasized equality and rejected the rigidities of the caste system.

Therefore, both statements are correct. Hence, option C is the correct Answer.