Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is South Africa.

Key Points

• Rare earth elements
• It is also called rare earth metals, which are a group of 17 chemical elements.
• The largest subgroup within it is the 15 lanthanides.
• The two other elements are scandium and yttrium.
• Based on the quantity, the lanthanides cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium are the most produced rare earth elements.
• Yttrium, one of the rare earth that was explored first, got its name from the town where it was discovered – Ytterby, Sweden.
• Nowadays, rare earth elements are crucial for several key technologies such as medical technology and energy technology.
• They are used, among many other things, for lasers, battery electrodes, magnets, MRI contrast agents, catalysts, alloys, etc.
• It is expected that soon, most of the rare earth metals produced will be needed for manufacturing magnets and metal alloys.
• With over 140,000 metric tons produced from mines in 2020, China was also the world's largest producer of rare-earth.
• China produces most of its rare earth in the southeastern part of the country, such as in the provinces Jiangxi and Fujian, however, the production also occurs in other parts of the country such as Inner Mongolia and Sichuan.
• The United States, which is the second-largest producer of rare earth from mines, extracted some 38,000 metric tons of these mineral commodities in the same year.
• Steenkampskraal mine, which is the world's highest-grade rare earth elements mine, is located in the West Cape Province of South Africa.
• The underground mine is owned by Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM). Steenkampskraal Holdings and Steenkampskraal Worker's Trust hold respectively hold 74% and 26% stake in SMM.
• Hence, Option 1 is correct.

The correct answer is A, B, and D only.

Key Points

• The study of coinage in history is called numismatics.
• The beginning of ancient Indian coinage can be traced between the 1^st millennium BCE to the 6^th Century BCE. This stage was comprised of coins that were made of copper and silver.
• The coins found in ancient Indian history were mainly stamped bars of metal.
• The metal stamped bars were inspired by the currency that was in circulation during the Janpadas in the early historical phase and evolved further with the emergence of different dynasties.
• Coinage by the Indo-Greeks
• Coins that were issued belong to the 2^nd/1^st century BCE by the Indo-Greeks.
• The Indo-Greeks system of coinage becomes significant because the minting was executed in a more refined manner.
• The coins were mostly made of silver, usually round, with exceptions too few rectangular or circular) bore the name of the issuing ruler along with depicting legends.
• For example, the coins of Menander and Strabo I show them passing through different stages of life, suggesting their long reigns.
• The language on these coins was Prakrit, inscribed mostly in Kharoshthi script.
• The Kushana type coins
• The Kushanas (1^st-4^th Centuries CE) were the first dynasty in the subcontinent that issued a large number of gold coins.
• The lower denomination was usually found in copper coins.
• The coins usually bore the figure, name, and title of the ruler on the obverse and the deities on the reverse.
• The legends are either entirely in Greek, or some cases in Kharoshthi on the reverse.
• Common to the coins issued by Indo - Greek and Kushana rulers are:
• Effigies of Greek and Indian deities
• Bilingual coins
• Portraits of Kings
• Hence, Option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.

Key Points

• Central Consumer Protection Authority
• Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has recently announced to set up the Central Consumer Protection Authority. Hence, Option 3 is correct.
• The authority is being constituted under Section 10(1) of The Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• The Act replaced The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and seeks to widen its scope in addressing consumer concerns.
• The CCPA, introduced in the new Act, aims to protect the rights of the consumer by cracking down on unfair trade practices, and false and misleading advertisements that are detrimental to the interests of the public and consumers.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) whose primary objective will be to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.
• It is empowered to:
• Conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints/prosecution.
• Order recall of unsafe goods and services.
• Order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.
• Impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.

The correct answer is Interest tax.

Key Points

• Revenue Receipt
• It is made up of two words revenue and receipts.
• Any income that does not generate a liability is revenue. For example, if the Government borrows money from World Bank, it will increase its liabilities (because this money has to be paid back)- so cannot be called revenue.
• However, if the government gets the same money as the grant (donation), its revenue receipt because grants are not to be paid back.
• Taxes are the most important revenue receipts of the governments.
• However, some revenue receipts are non-tax revenues such as grants. On this basis, revenue receipts are of two types viz. Tax Revenue and Non-tax revenue.
• Non-Tax Revenue
• Non Tax Revenue Receipts are those revenue receipts that are not generated by Taxing the public.
• Money which the Government earns as Dividends and profits from its profit-making public enterprises (PSUs).
• The interest which the Government earns on the money lent by it to external or internal borrowers.
• Thus these revenue receipts may be in foreign currency as well as Indian Rupees.
• The money which the government receives out of its financial services such as stamp printing, currency printing, metal printing, etc.
• Money which the Government earns from its General Services such as power distribution, irrigation, banking services, insurance, and community services, etc. which make the part of the Government business.
• Money which the government accrues as fees, fines, penalties, etc.
• Grants the Government of India receives from external sources. In the case of the State Governments, it may be the internal grant from the central Government.
• In recent times, spectrum auctions have been one of the major sources of non-tax revenues for the government. We note here, that despite its looks that the spectrum amount should be a capital receipt, it is shown as a non-tax revenue receipt  in budget documents as one-time spectrum charges levied on telecom players.
• Tax Revenues
• Tax revenues are either from direct taxes or indirect taxes.
• Direct tax generally means a tax paid directly to the government by the persons on whom it is imposed.
• Income Tax, Gift Tax, Wealth Tax, and Property tax, etc. are direct taxes.
• Interest tax is tax revenue. Hence, Option 1 is correct.

The correct answer is Reforming the existing institutions.

Key Points

• A political party
• It is a group of people who share similar political views, come together to contest elections, and try to hold power in the government.
• The members of the political parties agree on some policies and programs for the society intending to promote the collective good.
• Political parties that wish to contest local, state, or national elections are required to be registered by the Election Commission of India (EC).
• Currently, there are 6 national parties in India.
• A political party has three components: the leaders, the active members, and the followers.
• In a modern political system, there are four types of political parties:
• Reactionary political parties, which believe in old political and socio-economic systems.
• Conservative political parties believe in maintaining the status quo.
• Liberal parties believe in reforming the existing system gradually. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
• Radical parties believe in changing the system very quickly and drastically, sometimes, even by overthrowing the existing institutions. Radical parties are called leftist, liberal as a centrist, and conservative and reactionaries as rightists.
• The Liberal Party seeks to advance its aims at every level of decision-making.
• It works outside as well as inside existing political structures and encourages people and communities to take and use power.
• The Liberal Party strives to translate its beliefs and aims into policies and programs which are kept under review to ensure that they meet changing circumstances. To this end, it fosters debate and discussion, both inside and outside the Party.
• To put its policies into effect, the Liberal Party seeks to identify suitable candidates from among its membership to stand for public office. It supports these candidates with briefings and training and by improving political campaigning methods.
• From time to time the Liberal Party campaigns on specific issues, and in doing so it may make common cause with other groups and organizations whose aims are compatible.
• The Liberal Party is an open and outward-looking organization, always seeking new members and encouraging the growth of Local Associations.

The correct answer is Watermelon.

Key Points

• A crop is a plant that is cultivated or grown on a large scale. In general, crops are grown so they can be commercially traded. In other words, a crop is any plant that is grown and harvested extensively for for-profit purposes.
• Types of Crops
• Two major types of crops grow in India. Namely, Kharif and Rabi. Let us take a look at these.
• Kharif Crops
• The word Kharif is Arabic for autumn since the season coincides with the beginning of autumn or winter.
• As cultivation of these crops happens in the monsoon season, another name for Kharif crop is monsoon crop.
• The Kharif season differs in every state of the country but is generally from June to September.
• We sow the crop at the beginning of the monsoon season around June and harvest by September or October. Rice, maize, bajra, ragi, soybean, groundnut, cotton are all Kharif crops.
• Rabi Crops
• The Arabic translation of the word Rabi is spring.
• As these crops harvest in the springtime hence the name.
• The Rabi season usually starts in November and lasts up to March or April.
• Cultivation of Rabi crop is mainly through irrigation since monsoons are already over by November.
• In fact, unseasonal showers in November or December can ruin the crop.
• Farmers sow the seeds at the beginning of autumn, which results in a spring harvest.
• Wheat, barley, mustard, and green peas are some of the major rabi crops that grow in India.
• Zaid Crops
• In between the rabi and the Kharif seasons, there is a short season during the summer months known as the Zaid season.
• Some of the crops produced during zaid are watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops. Sugarcane takes almost a year to grow. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
• There is a short season between Kharif and Rabi season from March to July. In general, Zaid crops are crops that grow in this season.
• Also, these grow on irrigated lands. So we do not have to wait for monsoons to grow them.

The correct answer is A and C only.

Key Points

• Samudragupta 
• He was the first significant ruler of the Gupta Dynasty.
• Having come to the throne, he decided to extend the boundaries of his empire to cover the multiple kingdoms and republics that existed outside its pale.
• Known as the Napoleon of India for his conquests, he was also a man of many talents and laid a firm foundation for the empire.
• The rise of the Gupta Empire and the beginning of its prosperity are attributed to him, his military conquests, and his policies.
• Samudragupta court poet and minister Harisena composed the Allahabad pillar Inscription or Prayag Prasasti. The Pillar was an Asokan Pillar erected by Asoka six centuries before him. This Inscription is a eulogy of Samudragupta and mentions the conquests of Samudragupta and the boundaries of the Gupta Empire. As per this inscription, Samudragupta defeated 9 kings in the North, 12 Kings in the South, reduced all the Atavika states to vassalage.
• Samudragupta was defeated, captured, and later released by the kings of Palakkad, Kottura, and Avamukta. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
• Violent destruction was not the only means adopted by Samudragupta.
• He made the kings of the forest states in central India his servants.
• For some other kings, it was considered sufficient if they paid tribute and gave obeisance to the Gupta emperor.
• Historical and literary evidence suggests that Chandragupta II achieved military successes against the Western Kshatrapas (also known as Shakas), who ruled in west-central India. The Allahabad Pillar inscription of Chandragupta's father Samudragupta names the Shaka-Murundas among the kings who tried to appease him. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.
• The southern conquests and his northern victories enhanced Samudra Gupta’s prestige and led to several republican states like Malavas, Arjunayanas, Yaudheyas, Abiras, Madrakas, Prarjunas, Kakas, Sanakanikas, and Kharaparikas to establish friendship with him by offering tributes. Hence, Statement 4 is incorrect.
• The rulers of these states ruled over territories like Punjab, Rajasthan, Garhwal, Rohilkhand, and a large tract of Madhya Pradesh.
• So also the rulers of the north like Kartripura (Kartarpur in Jullundar district of Punjab), the ruler of Nepal and rulers of north-eastern parts of India like Samatata (which consists of valley of Brahmaputra), Kamarupa (Assam), and Davaka (Nowgong district of Assam) hastened to establish friendly relations with him. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• The Allahabad Pillar inscription mentions that the Kushana rulers of North-West India and the Saka satraps of western India also submitted to him.
• The Kushan ruler by name of Shahanushahi is said to have personally appeared before Samudra Gupta and tendered voluntary submission and agreed to accept and circulate the imperial coins as currency in his territories and offered his daughter in marriage to the emperor.
• The empire of Samudra Gupta probably extended from Afghanistan in the west to Assam in the east and from Nepal in the north to Kanchi in the south.
• To commemorate his victories he performed Ashvamedha Yaga and donated liberally to Brahmins, the poor, and the needy.

The correct answer is Dibang valley and Lohit valley.

Key Points

• The Diffo Bridge
• The Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the 426.60 m long Pre Stressed Concrete Box Girder type Diffo Bridge over Diffo river on Roing-Koronu-Paya road in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The construction of the bridge was undertaken by the Project Udayak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• The Diffo Bridge will provide for uninterrupted access between Dibang Valley and Lohit valley region of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh together with providing an all-weather road to our troops deployed on the China border. Hence, Option 1 is correct.

Additional Information 

• Project Udayank:
• Project Udayank of the Border Roads Organisation was raised in June 1990 at Doomdooma Assam.
• The name of the project Udayank is synonymous with the land of the rising sun which fits appropriately to the area it operates.
• It consists of two border road taskforces undertaking construction activities in the North-Eastern region.
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO):
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries. Border Road Organisation has also undertaken infrastructure development activities in neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The Border Roads Organisation works under the Ministry of Defence. Develop & Maintain the operational road infrastructure of General Staff (GS) in the border areas. Contribute to the socio-economic development of the border states. Developing & Maintaining roads to keep the line of control through in Original Sectors and Re-deployed Sectors.
• Executing additional tasks as laid down by the government contributing to the war effort.

The correct answer is A, B, C, and D.

Key Points

• Indo-Roman trade during the early centuries of the Current Era
• The regional ports of Barbaricum (modern Karachi), Sounagoura (central Bangladesh), Barygaza (Bharuch in Gujarat), Muziris (present-day Kodungallur), Korkai, Kaveripattinam, and Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu) on the southern tip of present-day India were the main centers of this trade, along with Kodumanal, an inland city. In Bengal, the port of Tāmralipti or Tamluk was the chief trade center since very early times and was known for its exports of good-quality muslin cloth and tortoise shells. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
• Although the volume of trade between India and Rome seems to have been large, it was not carried on its articles of daily use for the commerce people there was brisk commerce in luxury goods.
• The Romans mainly imported spices for which south India was famous.
• They imported muslin, pearls, jewels, and precious stones from central and south India.
• Iron goods, especially cutlery, formed an important item of export to the Roman empire.
• Silk was directly sent from China to the Roman Empire through north Afghanistan in Iran. But the establishment of the Parthian rule in Iran and the neighboring are created difficulties
• Therefore silk had to be diverted to the western Indian ports through the northwest part of the subcontinent.
• Sometimes it also found its way from China to India via the east coast of India.
• From there was considerable transit trade in silk between India and the Roman empire.
• The Romans exported to India wine, wine-amphorae, and various other types of pottery.
• Roman writer Pliny, who wrote his account called Natural History in Latin in A.D. 77, believed that Rome was being drained of gold on account of her trade with India.
• Since the Westerners were very much fond of Indian pepper, it is called yavanpriyai
• The concept of the balance of trade may not have been known to the people.
• But numerous finds of Roman coins and pottery in the peninsula leave no doubt that India was a gainer in its trade with the Roman Empire.
• The loss of Roman money was felt so much that eventually, steps had to be taken Rome to ban its trade with India in pepper and steel goods.
• Although Roman traders resided in south India, there is little evidence for Indians residing in the Roman empire.

The correct answer is She won the Right Livelihood Award.

• The annual Right Livelihood Award
• It was created in 1980 by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull.
• It honors courageous people and organizations offering solutions to the root causes of global problems, that the prize founder, felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes.
• Unlike most other international prizes, the Right Livelihood Award has no categories.
• It is usually shared by four Recipients but may vary from year to year.
• This year, The four laureates will receive a cash award of 1 million Swedish crowns ($103,000) each.
• Not always all Laureates receive a cash award. Often an Honorary Award is given to a person or group whose work the Jury wishes to recognize but who is not primarily in need of monetary support.
• It is Presented annually in Stockholm, Sweden.
• Although it is promoted as an "Alternative Nobel Prize", it is not a Nobel prize and does not have any organizational ties to the awarding institutions of the Nobel Prize or the Nobel Foundation.
• The Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was recently awarded the Right Livelihood Award-2019, also known as Sweden's alternative Nobel Prize. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
• She shares her award with the three other global leaders namely:
• Brazilian indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa secured the land rights of the Yanomami people.
• Chinese women's rights lawyer Guo Jianmei.
• Western Sahara human rights defender Aminatou Haidar.
• She won the award for her inspiring, unending, and amplifying efforts that demanded urgent global action from the world’s political leaders regarding climate change.
• Her FridaysForFuture campaign inspired millions of young people throughout the world to come onto the streets and demand suitable necessary actions from their respective governments$.