2022

In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to a unit of currency, particularly a gold coin used in South India, especially in regions like the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayakas of Madurai, and the various states of the Deccan. The Fanam was often minted in small denominations and was widely used for trade and commerce in the region.

The statements given refer to the proposals of the Cripps Mission, which was a mission sent to India in 1942 by the British government during World War II to negotiate with Indian leaders regarding constitutional reforms.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Cripps Mission proposed setting up a Constitution-making body for India after the War, whose members would be elected by the Provincial Assemblies and nominated by the rulers in the case of the Princely States.

Statement 2 is correct: One of the proposals of the Cripps Mission was that provinces unwilling to join the proposed Constituent Assembly or accept the new constitution would have the option to negotiate separate agreements with Britain regarding their future status.

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 2 only.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Nanoparticles can exist in nature (natural nanoparticles). Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and natural weathering processes can all create nanoparticles.

Statement 2 is correct: Some cosmetics incorporate nanoparticles of ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for sun protection or other purposes.

Statement 3 is also correct: The safety of nanoparticles in consumer products is a complex issue and a growing area of research. Some nanoparticles might pose potential health or environmental risks depending on their specific properties and how they interact with the body or the environment.

The Polar Code is an international maritime regulation that sets safety and environmental standards for shipping in polar waters.

International maritime regulation, the Polar Code, is adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of shipping.

The code specifically addresses the unique challenges and risks associated with navigation in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

The code establishes mandatory requirements for aspects like ship design, construction, equipment, operational procedures, crew training, and pollution prevention to ensure safe and environmentally sound navigation in polar waters.

Out of the listed functions of wetlands, the one that best reflects the analogy of "kidneys" is option D.

Kidneys in our body function as a filtering system, removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood. Wetlands with their dense vegetation and saturated soils, wetlands act as natural filters for water. Aquatic plants and microbes in wetlands play a crucial role in - Phytoremediation: Aquatic plants can absorb and accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from water. - Nutrient cycling: Wetlands help regulate nutrient levels in water by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This prevents them from flowing into rivers, lakes, and oceans and causing harmful algal blooms.

By filtering pollutants and excess nutrients, wetlands help purify water and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems. This aligns with the concept of kidneys filtering waste from our blood.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization launched in 2004 with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam, and Beijing. It drives climate action by building and coordinating large networks of businesses and governments.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: EP100 is a global initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is not the founding partner of this initiative.

Statement 3 is Correct: EP100 brings together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to improving their energy productivity. By integrating ambitious energy targets into business strategies, these companies drive innovation in energy efficiency and increase competitiveness while meeting emission reduction goals.

Statement 4 is Correct: Several Indian companies are members of EP100. For instance, Mahindra & Mahindra was the first Indian company to join the initiative, followed by others like Dalmia Cement and UltraTech Cement.

Statement 5 is Incorrect: The Climate Group serves as the Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition, not the International Energy Agency. The coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C.

Statement 1 is Correct: SRI requires significantly fewer seeds (about 5-8 kg/ha) compared to traditional transplanting methods (60-80 kg/ha) because it involves planting single, younger seedlings with wider spacing. Statement 2 is Correct: The practice of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) prevents continuous submergence of fields, reducing anaerobic conditions and thereby significantly lowering methane emissions produced by methanogenic bacteria. Statement 3 is Correct: SRI reduces water requirement by 30-50% due to controlled irrigation; this directly leads to lower electricity or fuel consumption needed for pumping groundwater.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus region on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and does not share a border with Afghanistan. Statement 2 is Incorrect: Kyrgyzstan is located to the north of Tajikistan and does not share a border with Afghanistan. Statement 3 is Correct: Tajikistan shares a long border with Afghanistan to the north and northeast. Statement 4 is Correct: Turkmenistan shares a border with Afghanistan to the northwest. Statement 5 is Correct: Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan to the north. Afghanistan is a landlocked country. Its other neighbors include Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, and China to the northeast via the narrow Wakhan Corridor.

Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.


Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: While Section 39 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, specifies that certain wild animals are the property of the State or Central Government, this does not apply to all wild animals. Specifically, animals categorized as 'vermin' (under Schedule V) are excluded from this provision, making the absolute claim that wild animals are the 'sole property' of the government legally inaccurate.

Statement 2 is Correct: The protection status of a wild animal is determined by its listing in the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This legal protection is species-specific and applies to the animal wherever it is found, whether it is inside a designated Protected Area (like a National Park or Sanctuary) or outside in human-dominated landscapes.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Under Section 11 of the Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden can only authorize the capture or killing of a protected animal if they are satisfied that the animal 'has become dangerous to human life' or is disabled/diseased beyond recovery. Mere 'apprehension' or the fear that an animal might become a danger is not a sufficient legal ground; there must be an objective determination of actual danger.

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Vietnam's open economic policy of recent years integrating into global supply chains has made the growth success story possible. Vietnam's export-led growth strategy and global integration are among the key factors behind the country's remarkable achievements in growth and poverty. Vietnam was one among the few countries to post GDP growth rate figures in 2020 when the pandemic hit. Vietnam is projected to be the fastest-growing internet economy in Southeast Asia in the next 10 years.

Statement 2 is not correct. Vietnam is a one-party communist state, not a multi-party parliamentary democracy.


Statement 4 is correct. Thanks to an abundance of low-wage labour, Vietnam's manufacturing sector grew at a compound annual growth in the last decade. As the rest of East Asia developed and wages there rose, global manufacturers were lured by Vietnam's low labour costs and stable exchange rate. Hence,

Statement 5 is not correct. According to the Asian Development Bank Report, e-services including digital financial services are at a very nascent stage in Vietnam.

- Ants are well-known as cultivators of fungi. Certain ant species, particularly those in the tribe Attini, have evolved a symbiotic relationship with specific fungi. These ants cultivate the fungus within their nests, providing it with food and a controlled environment. In return, the fungus provides the ants with nutrients. This is a fascinating example of mutualism in nature.

- Cockroaches are omnivores and scavengers. They do not cultivate fungi.

- Crabs are primarily scavengers or predators. They are not known to cultivate fungi.

- Spiders are predators and capture their prey (insects) in webs. They do not cultivate fungi.

Statement 1 is correct. One of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is in Jyotirlinga here in Somnath.

Statement 2 is correct. Al Biruni writes that the temple was built of stone and constructed about 100 years before Mahmud's attack (which would date it to the 10th century) and that it was set in a fortress surrounded by the sea on 3 sides.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of the present-day Somnath Temple in 1951 was performed by India's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, at the invitation of K.M. Munshi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He remarked that it symbolized a victory of reconstruction over destruction.

Out of the listed effects of a major solar storm, the most likely ones are

Statement 1 is correct. A solar storm can disrupt the Earth's ionosphere, which can affect the signal transmission of GPS and other radio-based navigation systems.

Statement 3 is correct. Strong currents induced by the solar storm in power grids can damage transformers and cause widespread blackouts.

Statement 4 is correct. Solar storms can energize particles in the Earth's magnetosphere, leading to spectacular auroras at lower latitudes than usual.

Statement 6 is correct. The drag from a solar storm can alter the orbits of satellites, especially those in lower Earth orbit.

Statement 7 is correct. Similar to GPS, radio communication can be affected by disturbances in the ionosphere.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, not solar storms.

Statement 5 is incorrect. While a solar storm could potentially ignite some fires through electrical sparks, this is not a widespread effect.

Therefore, codes 2 and 5 should not form the part of answer.

Statement 1 is correct: UNCLOS allows coastal states to define the breadth of their territorial sea up to a limit of 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline established according to the Convention.

Statement 2 is correct: UNCLOS guarantees the right of innocent passage for ships of all states, including coastal and land-locked nations, through the territorial sea of another state. Innocent passage refers to non-threatening travel that doesn't harm the coastal state's security or interests.

Statement 3 is correct: UNCLOS sets the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles from the baseline used to measure the territorial sea. The EEZ grants the coastal state exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage resources (living and non-living) within the zone.


Hence, all three statements about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are correct.

Statement 1 is Correct: Gucchi (Morchella esculenta) is a species of fungus belonging to the Morchellaceae family. It is highly prized for its honeycomb-like appearance and unique flavor.

Statement 2 is Correct: These mushrooms grow naturally in the temperate forest areas of the Himalayas, specifically in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. They are typically found in conifer forests following the snowmelt.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Gucchi mushrooms cannot be commercially cultivated on a large scale; they are wild-harvested by local communities. Furthermore, they are primarily associated with the Western Himalayas rather than north-eastern India.

Out of the listed plants, the following are nitrogen-fixing plants: 1. Alfalfa 3. Chickpea 4. Clover These plants have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called rhizobia. The bacteria colonize nodules in the plant's roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form (nitrates) that the plant can absorb.


The other options are not nitrogen-fixing plants: 2. Amaranth 5. Purslane (Kulfa) 6. Spinach These plants require nitrogen from the soil but cannot fix it themselves. They rely on soil nitrogen content or applied fertilizers. Remember: Purslane is a weed. If you would have known this piece of information, the question could have been easily solved by simple elimination.

Therefore, the correct answer is (1, 3, 4).

Statement 1 is incorrect. The United East India Company of the Netherlands (VOC) was formed in 1602. The Gajapati dynasty, which ruled the Odisha region, had declined significantly by 1541 (the last ruler being Kakharua Deva). Therefore, the Dutch could not have received land grants from Gajapati rulers. They typically acquired land from local rulers like the Nayakas or the Golconda Sultanate on the east coast.

Statement 2 is correct. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510 from the Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahis). This victory established the Portuguese as a formidable regional power.

Statement 3 is correct. In 1639, Francis Day of the English East India Company obtained a lease for a strip of land in Madras from the Nayaka of Chandragiri (Damarla Venkatapathy), who was a representative/vassal of the declining Vijayanagara Empire.

Acid rain is primarily caused by the excess presence of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide in the environment.

* Carbon monoxide is not a direct cause of acid rain. It is a pollutant that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, but it does not lead to the production of acid rain.

* Nitrogen oxides, which include nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, are major contributors to acid rain. When these gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, they form nitric acid, a key component of acid rain.

* Ozone is not a direct cause of acid rain. While ozone can have negative environmental impacts, it is not a precursor to the formation of acid rain.

* Sulphur dioxide is another primary contributor to acid rain. When Sulphur dioxide combines with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, it forms sulphuric acid, which is also a major component of acid rain.


The Government of India Act 1919 introduced the system of dyarchy in the provinces. Under this system, the provincial subjects of administration were divided into two categories 'Reserved' and 'Transferred'.

The 'Reserved' subjects were administered by the Governor of the province with the help of his executive council of bureaucrats. These subjects were considered more crucial and included areas such as law and order, finance, land revenue, and irrigation.

The 'Transferred' subjects were administered by the Governor with the help of Indian ministers. These subjects were considered less critical and included areas such as education, public health, and local self-government.

Therefore, among the options provided, Administration of Justice, Land Revenue, and Police were treated as 'Reserved' subjects, while Local Self-Government was a 'Transferred' subject.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India, is a viral vector vaccine. It uses a weakened chimpanzee adenovirus vector to carry genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus into human cells.

Statement 2 is correct: Sputnik V is a vector-based vaccine, similar to Covishield. It uses two different human adenovirus vectors to deliver genetic material coding for SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.

Statement 3 is correct: COVAXIN, developed by Bharat Biotech, is an inactivated virus vaccine. This means the SARS-CoV-2 virus used in the vaccine is inactivated (killed) so it cannot cause infection, but it still triggers an immune response.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants.

Rice cultivation emits methane and nitrous oxide due to flooded fields and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Flooding creates anaerobic conditions, producing methane released through rice plants. Fertilizers poorly absorbed by rice lead to soil microbes converting nitrogen into nitrous oxide.

The term "Levant" refers to the geographical region located along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This region typically includes the countries of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Turkey (the southern/southeastern region).


The Levant connects Anatolia, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It encompasses the eastern Mediterranean coastline and the hinterlands that stretch inland from that coast.

The Levant has faced prolonged unrest, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian Civil War, and ethnic and religious tensions.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Nettipakarana is a Buddhist scripture (Theravada tradition) that serves as a guide to the interpretation of the Pali Canon. It is not associated with Jainism.

Statement 2 is Correct: Parishishtaparvan (also known as Sthaviravalicharitra) is a Jaina text written by the 12th-century scholar Hemachandra. It is an appendix to his larger work and provides historical accounts of early Jaina teachers.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Avadanashataka is a collection of one hundred Buddhist legends (Avadanas) written in Sanskrit. The term 'Avadana' typically refers to Buddhist literature detailing the past lives and deeds of individuals.

Statement 4 is Correct: Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana (also known as the Mahapurana) is a major Jaina text composed by the Digambara monks Jinasena and Gunabhadra in the 9th century. It details the lives of the 63 'Great Men' (Shalakapurushas) of Jainism.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Armenia is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States. Statement 2 is Correct: Azerbaijan is a founding member of the Organization of Turkic States. Statement 3 is Incorrect: Croatia is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Romania is not a member of the Organization of Turkic States. Statement 5 is Correct: Uzbekistan is a full member of the Organization of Turkic States, having officially joined in 2019.

The Organization of Turkic States (formerly known as the Turkic Council) is an intergovernmental organization established to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states. Its current full members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status.

The Golden Mahseer (*Tor putitora*) is a species of large freshwater fish, not a bird. Often referred to as the 'Tiger of the Water', it is native to the Himalayan region and inhabits the rapid streams and rivers of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. It is recognized by its large golden scales and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The other options—Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill, and White Ibis—are all avian species found in various habitats across India.

Statement 1 is correct. Probiotics can be made from both bacteria and yeast. Some common probiotic strains include bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and yeasts like Saccharomyces boulardii.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The organisms in probiotics are naturally found in the human gut. We have a complex gut microbiome with trillions of bacteria and other microbes, some of which are beneficial. Probiotics are supposed to introduce specific strains of these beneficial microbes to improve gut health.

Statement 3 is correct. Probiotics might help with lactose digestion, but it depends. Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose (milk sugar) in the gut. Some probiotic strains might produce lactase, potentially aiding digestion in lactose-intolerant individuals.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The United Nations Credentials Committee is a committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

Statement 2 is incorrect. A Credentials Committee is appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly. It consists of nine members, who are appointed by the General Assembly on the proposal of the President.

Statement 3 is correct. The Committee reports to the Assembly on the credentials of representatives. The Committee is mandated to examine the credentials of representatives of Member States and to report to the General Assembly thereon (Rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly).

The credentials of representatives and the names of members of the delegation of each Member State are submitted to the Secretary-General and are issued either by the Head of the State or Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly).

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create urban forests. Miyawaki urban forests are fascinating complex ecosystems, in balance with today's soil and climate conditions. This technique works worldwide irrespective of soil and climatic conditions.


Over 2000 forests were successfully created using this method.

Doctor Akira Miyawaki, botanist and professor, is the inventor of the technique since 1980. He is a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, which is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in ecology.

Nizamuddin Panipati, a Persian scholar, translated the "Yogavasistha" into Persian during the reign of Emperor Akbar, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1605. This translation occurred as part of Akbar's efforts to promote cultural exchange and translations of various works into Persian, the administrative language of the Mughal Empire.