1. What is the rank of India in terms of Human Development Index (HDI) as per Human Development Report 2015 released on 14 December 2015?
a) 130
b) 131
c) 132
d) 135
Answer . a
Explanation: HDI Consist of the following three parameters according to which
• Life expectancy at birth
• Expected years of schooling
• Mean years of schooling
2. Which International organisation released the “Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty report “in December 2015,
a) World Bank
b) World Trade Organisation
c) Asian Development Bank
d) International Monetary Fund
Answer . a
Explanation: World Bank released this report in the month of December 2015.
3. The 10-day long Losar festival that began on 12 December 2015 in Ladakh region marks which of the following occasions for Buddhists?
a) Buddha’s birth anniversary
b) New Year
c) Arrival of winter
d) Buddha’s arrival to the region
Answer. b
Explanation: Before the rule of Jamiang Namgyal (1555 to 1610) this day was celebrated on the first day of Ladakhi Buddhist Year which is based in the moon and sun (quite similar to Hindus). However, the day was advanced by two days after Jamiang Namgyal decided to invade Skardu before the New Year.
4. ‘Water’ is mentioned in the ……………..List of the Constitution of India.
a. Union List
b. State List
c. Concurrent List
d. It is nowhere mentioned in the subject lists
Answer. b
Explanation : water is a matter included in Entry 17 of List-II i.e. State List. But under Entry 24 of the Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the central government can make laws on shipping and navigation on inland waterways which are classified as national waterways by Parliament by law.
5. Which of the following river has the largest catchment Area in India
a. Indus
b. Ganga
c. Brahmaputra
d. Godavari
Answer. b
Explanation: River Ganga has the largest catchment area in India. Its value is 861452 + Sq. Km.
Indus: 321289 + Sq. Km., Brahmaputra : 194413 +Sq. Km, Godavari: 312812 Sq. Km.
6. Consider the following statement
(i) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG),a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
(ii) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the only implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
Which of the given statement/s is/are true
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) None of them is true
Answer. c
Explanation: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). It is a registered society originally formed by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. As per the 306th amendment in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, both NGRBA and NMCG are allocated to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR,RD &GR). The Secretary to the Government of India, MoWR, RD & GR is the current chairman of the Governing Council of NMCG. As per the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the mandate of NGRBA is being implemented by, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
7. The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 was passed in Lok Sabha recently.As per the Bill, consider the following
(i) The Act establishes a Bureau for the purpose of standardization, marking and certification of articles and processes.
(ii) The Bureau of Indian Standards will be a national body which will formulate, implement and certify certain standards of quality for goods, services, articles, processes and systems.
Which of the given statement/s is/are true
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) None of them is true
Answer. c
Explanation: Both statement are correct
8. As per the proposed “The Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015”
(i) The Act permits disclosures that are prohibited under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923.
(ii) The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that the 10 prohibited categories are modelled on those under the RTI Act, 2005.
Which of the given statement/s is/are true
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) None of them is true
Answer. c
Explanation: The Act permits disclosures that are prohibited under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923. The Bill reverses this to disallow disclosures that are covered by the OSA. Unlike the RTI Act, disclosures under the Bill are not made public but in confidence to a high level constitutional or statutory authority.
9. As per the “The Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014”,
(i) The GST Council will recommend rates of tax, period of levy of additional tax, principles of supply, special provisions to certain states etc.
(ii) The GST Council will consist of the Union Finance Minister and state Finance Ministers.
Which of the given statement/s is/are true
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) None of them is true
Answer. a
Explanation: The GST Council will consist of the Union Finance Minister, Union Minister of State for Revenue, and state Finance Ministers.
10. The proposed age of juveniles for the purpose of Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2015 passed by the Rajya Sabha on 22 December 2015 is
a) 14 years
b) 18 years
c) 16 years
d) 17 years
Answer . c
