2019

Statement 1 is Correct: The Asiatic lion is naturally found only in India, with its wild population restricted to the Gir National Park and surrounding areas in Gujarat. It is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The double-humped camel (Bactrian camel) is naturally found in the steppes of Central Asia, particularly in Mongolia and China. While a population exists in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, India, its natural range extends across Central Asia.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: The one-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India (primarily in Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal. Since it is native to both countries, it is not found naturally in India only.

The common feature among the places Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati is that they are all known for their water reservoirs.

- Aliyar Reservoir is located in Aliyar village, Tamil Nadu. - Isapur Dam is an irrigation project in Maharashtra. - Kangsabati Dam is located on the Kangsabati River in West Bengal.


Pair 1 is Correct: The Blue-finned Mahseer is a freshwater fish species that is naturally found in the Cauvery River. This species is also found in other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.


Pair 2 is incorrect: The Irrawaddy Dolphin is not found in the Chambal River, which is known for the Gangetic Dolphin. It is found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong (Cambodia and Laos). In India, it is found in Lake Chilika (Odisha).


Pair 3 is correct: The Rusty-spotted Cat is a small wild cat species that is found in the Eastern Ghats. It is also found in the Western Ghats, central India, and Sri Lanka.


Therefore, option (C) 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is set up under the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), which is the premier policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India.

The Atal Innovation Mission was launched by the Government of India in 2016 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.

The key objectives of the Atal Innovation Mission are : 1. To create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. 2. To establish Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India to foster a culture of innovation from a young age. 3. To set up Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) to support entrepreneurs and startups. 4. To provide mentorship and funding support to innovative startups and entrepreneurs.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Jagirdars were Mughal officers (Mansabdars) who were assigned land (Jagirs) in lieu of cash salaries for their administrative and military services. Zamindars were local landed intermediaries who held hereditary rights to collect revenue; however, they were not limited to revenue collection and were often required to perform military duties and provide 'Khidmat' (service), such as supplying troops to the state.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Jagir assignments were generally non-hereditary and Jagirdars were frequently transferred from one region to another to prevent them from becoming too powerful locally. Conversely, the rights of Zamindars were typically hereditary and based on their historical and social standing in the rural structure.

During the fourth Five-Year Plan, a sub-category was created within Scheduled Tribes, known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, to identify groups that are considered to be at a lower level of development.

Statement 1 is correct: PVTGs are spread over 18 states and one Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) in India.

Statement 2 is correct: The criteria for determining PVTG status include a pre-agricultural level of technology, a stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy, and a subsistence-level of economy.

Statement 3 is incorrect: As of now, there are 75 PVTGs officially notified in the country, not 95.

Statement 4 is correct: Both Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

So, the correct statements are 1, 2, and 4.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, pregnant women are entitled to 26 weeks of paid leave. However, the maximum period for which a woman can avail of pre-delivery leave is 8 weeks, not 3 months (12 weeks).

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Act mandates that every establishment with 50 or more employees must provide a crèche facility. The employer is required to allow the woman 4 visits a day to the crèche, which includes the interval for rest allowed to her, not 6 visits.

Statement 3 is Correct: The Act provides reduced entitlements for women who have two or more surviving children. In such cases, the paid maternity leave is limited to 12 weeks (6 weeks pre-delivery and 6 weeks post-delivery) instead of the 26 weeks provided for the first two children.

Statement 1 is correct. Wearable devices can perform several tasks, and out of given options, all three are achievable. Many smartwatches and wearables with GPS functionality can track a person's location. This can be helpful for navigation, fitness tracking, or safety purposes.

Statement 2 is correct. Wearable sleep trackers can monitor sleep patterns, including sleep duration, sleep stages (deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep), and sleep quality.

Statement 3 is correct. Some wearables can function as hearing aids, amplifying sounds and improving hearing for people with hearing loss.

Therefore, the correct answer is 1, 2, and 3.

Bandarpunch : Yamuna - This is correct. Bandarpunch is a mountain massif of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a source of the Yamuna River.

Bara Shigri : Chenab - This is also correct. Bara Shigri is the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas and it feeds the Chenab River.

Milam : Mandakini - This is incorrect. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier, not the Milam Glacier.

Siachen : Nubra - This is correct. The Siachen Glacier, one of the world's longest mountain glaciers, lies in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir and is the source for the Nubra River.

Zemu : Manas - This is incorrect. The Zemu Glacier is in Sikkim and it feeds the Teesta River, not the Manas River.

So, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4.

Statement 1 is Correct (Data storage in India): This is the core requirement of the directive. It mandates that the entire payment system data be stored in systems located only in India. This aims to improve data security and regulatory oversight.

Statement 2 is Incorrect (Public sector ownership): The directive doesn't specify ownership requirements for the data storage systems. Private companies can also store data as long as the systems are located within India.

Statement 3 is Incorrect (Audit report submission): The directive des not have reporting requirements for system audits to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which typically audits government entities.

All three statements (1, 2, and 3) are features of Mahayana Buddhism.

Deification of the Buddha: While Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the Buddha as a human who attained enlightenment, Mahayana portrays the Buddha as a transcendent being who can exist in multiple forms.

Treading the path of Bodhisattvas Mahayana: Buddhism emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal, where individuals strive for enlightenment not just for themselves but for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Image worship and rituals: Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elaborate rituals and devotional practices involving statues and images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. These practices are seen as a way to connect with the divine and progress on the path to enlightenment.

Nationalisation: Yes, the coal sector was nationalised by the Indira Gandhi government in phases during the 1970s. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct.

Coal block allocation: Coal blocks are not allocated through a lottery system. They are currently allocated through auctions, a shift from the previous system of administrative allocation. Hence, Statement 2 is Incorrect.

Coal self-sufficiency: India is not entirely self-sufficient in coal production. While domestic production has increased, there is still a gap that is met through imports. Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect.

Kanganahalli, located near Sannati in Karnataka, is an archaeological site known for its Buddhist stupas, sculptures, and inscription slabs. One particular relief sculpture depicts a royal figure with attendants, identified through the Brahmi inscription as 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka). This is the first and only known stone portrait of Emperor Ashoka with his name inscribed.

- Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh): Famous for its Great Stupa, built under Ashoka's patronage, but it does not contain an inscribed stone portrait of the king. - Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan): Contains Ashokan Rock Edicts written in the Kharosthi script. These edicts promote Dhamma (moral law) but do not include a stone portrait. - Sohgaura (Uttar Pradesh): Known for a copper-plate inscription (Mauryan period) regarding famine relief measures, not a relief sculpture of Ashoka.

Statement 1 is incorrect. A digital signature doesn't directly identify the certifying authority that issued it. It uses a complex cryptographic process involving a public-key infrastructure (PKI) where a trusted third party (Certificate Authority) verifies the signer's identity and issues a digital certificate used for creating the signature.

Statement 2 is incorrect. While digital signatures can be used for authentication purposes in certain scenarios, they are not the primary method for user identification when accessing information or servers on the internet. Usernames, passwords, and other credentials are more commonly used.

Statement 3 is correct. It ensures the integrity of an electronic document by creating a unique digital fingerprint that is linked to the content. Any alteration to the document would invalidate the signature.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air is one of the three protocols that supplement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), not the UNCAC.

Statement 2 is Correct: The UNCAC is the first and only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2003 and entered into force in 2005.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Asset recovery is a fundamental principle and a specific highlight (Chapter V) of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), not the UNTOC.

Statement 4 is Correct: The UNODC is mandated by its member states to assist in the implementation of both the UNCAC and UNTOC. It also assists in the implementation of the three UN Drug Conventions of 1961, 1971, and 1988.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Ramsar Convention requires contracting parties to designate suitable wetlands for the List of Wetlands of International Importance and promote their conservation and "wise use." It does not impose a mandatory legal obligation to protect and conserve every single wetland within the entire territory of a country.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. They were not framed based on specific recommendations of the Ramsar Convention, although they align with the general spirit of wetland conservation.

Statement 3 is Correct: According to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, the definition of a 'wetland' includes the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority. This allows for a more comprehensive protection of the ecosystem's hydrological cycle.

Pair 1 is correct: All India Anti Untouchability League: It was formed by Mahatma Gandhi then later renamed as Harijan Sewak Sangh.

Pair 2 is correct: All India Kisan Sabha: It was formed by Sahajanand Saraswati in the Lucknow Session of 1936.

Pair 3 is correct: Self-Respect Movement: EV Ramaswamy Naicker was an important leader of self respect movement in 1925. It was an anti-caste movement against Brahmanism.

* The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted by the European Union (EU) in April 2016 and came into effect on 25th May 2018.

* The GDPR is a landmark regulation aimed at strengthening data protection and privacy rights for individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

* It sets strict guidelines on how personal data is collected, stored, and processed, and applies to organizations handling the data of EU citizens, regardless of where they are based.

* Australia, Canada, and the United States of America have their own data protection laws, but they are separate from GDPR.

Sohgaura is not a Harappan site and is situated in Uttar Pradesh. It is famous for its copper inscription written in Prakrit in the Brahmi script. It belongs to the Mahajanapad and Mauryan periods.

All the other three are Harappan sites. Chanhudaro in Sindh, Pakistan, Kot Diji in Sindh, Pakistan, Desalpur in Gujarat, India.

* The word 'Denisovan' is mentioned in the media about ancient humans (or an extinct human relative).

* Denisovans were a mysterious group of archaic humans who lived in Asia tens of thousands of years ago. They are most known for being discovered through genetic analysis of fossils, rather than complete skeletal remains.

Statement 1 is correct: The Swadeshi had a great impact on the handloom industry. - There was a revival in handloom, silk weaving, and some other traditional artisan crafts. - Cotton mills were set up at this time.

Statement 2 is correct: The National Council of Education (or NCE) was an organisation founded by Indian nationalists in Bengal in 1906 to promote science and technology as part of a swadeshi industrialization movement.

Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

* The Himalayan nettle, also known as Girardinia diversifolia, is a plant species native to the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and parts of China. It grows at high altitudes and is known for its long fibres that can be extracted from the stem.

* These fibres are some of the longest in the plant world and are used in the production of textiles.

* Therefore, the Himalayan nettle is found to be a sustainable source of textile fibre.

* Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627) was known for his keen interest in art and culture. While his predecessors valued illustrated manuscripts, Jahangir favoured a more personal approach to artistic expression.

* He patronized artists like Bichitr, Mansur, and Abu'l Hasan, who excelled in portraiture.

* He actively commissioned individual portraits and compiled albums showcasing a variety of subjects, including people, animals, and flora and fauna. This shift reflected a growing interest in realism and individual character studies within Mughal art during his reign.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, provides the Central Government with broad powers to take measures to protect and improve the environment. However, the Act itself does not explicitly mention the 'requirement of public participation' or the 'procedure and manner in which it is sought'. These requirements were later established through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notifications (such as those in 1994 and 2006) issued under the authority of the Act.

Statement 2 is correct: Section 3(2)(iv) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, specifically empowers the Central Government to lay down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources. This allows the government to regulate industrial and other activities to prevent environmental degradation.

Manas National Park (Assam): Situated on the banks of the Manas River, it encompasses a range of ecosystems including grasslands, tropical evergreen forests, and semi-evergreen forests.

Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh): This park boasts diverse vegetation zones, ranging from tropical evergreen forests at lower elevations to sub-alpine meadows at higher altitudes.

Neora Valley National Park (West Bengal): This park covers a range of elevations with subtropical broadleaf forests at lower levels and temperate forests at higher reaches.

The Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand): On the other hand, is situated at a high altitude (3352 to 3658 metres above sea level) and falls entirely within the temperate alpine zone, known for its meadows, low-growing vegetation, and cooler climate.


Hence, option D is the correct Answer.

Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru: He was an important leader of All India liberal federation and served as its President.

KC Neogy: He was a member of the constituent Assembly from West Bengal.

Puran Chand Joshi (14 April 1907 - 9 November 1980): He was one of the early leaders of the communist movement in India. He was the first general secretary of the Communist Party of India from 1935-47.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Charter Act of 1813 abolished the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India, opening Indian trade to all British merchants. However, the Company's monopoly over trade in tea and trade with China was continued for another 20 years.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Act explicitly asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company, marking a significant step in defining the constitutional position of British possessions in India.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: While the Act of 1813 required the Company to maintain separate accounts for commercial and territorial revenues, the direct control of Indian revenues by the British Parliament was only established through the Government of India Act 1858, following the end of the Company's rule.

Option A is the incorrect statement: While synthetic biology has enabled the creation of synthetic genomes (such as the synthetic bacterium *Mycoplasma mycoides*), creating a fully functional chromosome by joining DNA segments from different species is not currently feasible. Chromosomes are highly complex structures requiring specific regulatory elements and structural proteins that are often species-specific.

Option B is a correct statement: Synthetic biology and genetic engineering allow for the chemical synthesis of artificial DNA sequences with specific functions in a laboratory.

Option C is a correct statement: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a standard laboratory technique used to replicate or amplify specific DNA segments outside of a living cell (in vitro).

Option D is a correct statement: Cell culture and tissue culture techniques allow cells extracted from plants and animals to be grown and undergo cell division in laboratory petri dishes using artificial nutrient media.

India has consistently been the world's largest exporter of rice since 2012. For the five-year period preceding 2019 (the year of the examination), India maintained its top position globally, followed by countries like Thailand and Vietnam. In 2018, India's rice exports were valued at approximately US$7.4 billion, representing about 30% of the total global rice exports. While China is the world's largest producer of rice, it is also a significant consumer and importer, whereas India dominates the global export market.

Because of their small size, marine animals like fish, shellfish, and plankton can easily ingest microbeads. These plastic particles can block their digestive systems, leading to starvation or death.

Additionally, microbeads might absorb pollutants and toxins present in the water, concentrating them in the food chain and potentially harming larger predators, including humans.