സിവില്‍ സര്‍വ്വീസ് പരീക്ഷ: സ്പ്രാട്‌ലി, പാരസോൾ ദ്വീപുകള്‍ എവിടെയാണ് സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്നത് ?

Answer (c)

Statement 1 is not correct. The Constitution declared India as a Union of States. Although it did not use the word federation, the Indian Union is based on the principles of federalism.
Statement 2 is not correct. The Constitution originally provided for a two-tier system of government, the Union Government or what we call the Central Government, representing the Union of India and the State governments. Later, a third tier of federalism was added in the form of Panchayats and Municipalities.
 

Answer (a)

    Union List includes subjects of national importance such as defense of the country, foreign affairs, banking, communications and currency.
    State List contains subjects of State and local importance such as police, trade, commerce, agriculture and irrigation.
    The concept of ‘Concurrent List’ in the Indian Constitution has been borrowed from the Constitution of Australia. Central Government and State Government both can make laws on the subjects mentioned under the Concurrent List. However, in case of any conflict, the law made by the Central Government prevails. Eg: Education, Forest, Trade unions, Marriage, Adoption, Succession, etc.

Answer (d)

    New species of skittering frog were discovered from the surroundings of Thattekad bird sanctuary.
    The new species is named as Euphlyctis Kerala in honor of the remarkable biodiversity of the State, which is also known for many endemic species of frogs.
    The new species Euphlyctis Kerala is known to be found in the freshwater bodies of the foothills of the Western Ghats, south of the Palakkad Gap.
    Located in Ernakulam (Kerala) on the northern bank of the Periyar River, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is famous for its rich and varied birdlife.
    It is the first Bird Sanctuary in Kerala that was surveyed by Dr. Salim Ali (the birdman of India), who also called it the richest habitat he has ever seen.
 

Answer (b)

Statement 1 is not correct: Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Darrang District of Assam and is near to the international border with Bhutan.
Statement 2 is correct: The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) is a collaboration among Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust of UK, Assam Forest Department, Wild Pig Specialist Group of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Union Environment Ministry and is currently being implemented by NGOs Aaranyak and Eco-Systems India. The reintroduction programme began in 2008 with the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (35 hogs), Orang National Park (59), and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary (22). By 2025, the PHCP plans to release 60 pygmy hogs in Manas.

Answer (b)

Statement 1 is not correct. Muslin is a type of cotton textile which had its origin in Bengal, particularly, places in and around Dhaka.
Statement 2 is correct. The finest variety of muslin was called malmal. Sometimes, foreign travelers also used to refer to it as malmal shahi or malmal khas implying that it was worn by, or fit for, the royalty.

Answer (d)

Statement 1 is correct. Navaratna companies were given greater managerial and operational autonomy, in taking various decisions to run the company efficiently and thus increase their profits.
Statement 2 is correct. The Navaratna status enables the company to invest up to certain limits without prior permission from the Government.
Statement 3 is correct. The first set of Navaratna companies included Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC), Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL). Later some of these companies were granted Maharatna status. Currently, there are 14 Navaratna companies.
 

Answer (d)

Statement 1 is correct. A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of a computerized database.
Statement 2 is correct. It uses strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership.
It typically does not exist in physical form (like paper money) and is typically not issued by a central authority.
Statement 3 is correct. Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and central banking systems.

Answer (a)

    The two disputed archipelagos, the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands are located in the middle of the South China Sea waters that is a part of the Pacific Ocean.
    It is between the territory of Vietnam and the Philippines. Beijing unilaterally renamed 80 islands and other geographical features in the area, drawing criticism from neighboring countries who have also laid claim to the same territory.
    The ongoing territorial dispute is between China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia concerning the ownership of the Spratly Islands archipelago and nearby geographical features like corals reefs, cays, etc.
    Brunei has contained its objections to the use of its maritime waters for commercial fishing. Paracel Islands Located in the South China Sea, almost equidistant from China and Vietnam.
    Beijing says that references to the Paracel Islands as a part of China sovereign territory can be found in 14th-century writings from the Song Dynasty. Vietnam on the other hand, says that historical texts from at least the 15th century show that the islands were a part of its territory.

Answer (c)

    Both Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayananda Saraswati promoted women education, opposed idol worship, opposed caste discrimination, etc
    But regarding the infallibility of Vedas, they had different views. Raja Ram Mohan Roy believed Vedas are not infallible but Dayananda Saraswati believed Vedas are infallible.

Answer (a)

Statement 1 is correct. Four ashramas were recognized: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sanyasa. Generally, women were not allowed to study the Vedas, and they had to follow the ashramas chosen by their husbands. 
Statement 2 is not correct. Brahmins developed the system of Ashramas which was later followed by Buddhists and Jains. 
Statement 3 is not correct. It is used as a stage of life instead of where people live and meditate.