സിവില്‍ സര്‍വ്വീസ് പരീക്ഷ: രാജ്യത്തെ പട്ടികജാതി പട്ടികയില്‍ മാറ്റം വരുത്താനുള്ള അധികാരം ആര്‍ക്കാണ് ?

Answer (c)

Statement 1 is correct: As of now, only the President, or the Central government, can make modifications in the list of Scheduled Castes in respect of any State or Union Territory in the country. And this can be done only through a Parliamentary law.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 342A, introduced through the 102nd Amendment, is similarly worded — it says that the President notifies the Backward Classes for each State or Union Territory in consultation with the Governor in the case of a State. It also says State governments must consult the National Commission for Backward Classes on all matters of policy concerning socially and educationally backward classes.
Statement 3 is correct: The Supreme Court, while considering the validity of the reservation for the Maratha community in Maharashtra on March 8, decided that it will hear all the States on the 50% limit on total reservation imposed by the court in the Indra Sawhney case (1992). This is because the 16% quota for Marathas would take the total reservation beyond 50%.

Answer (b)

Statement 1 is incorrect: The EVMs have the NOTA option at the end of the candidates' list. Earlier, in order to cast a negative ballot, a voter had to inform the presiding officer at the polling booth. A NOTA vote doesn't require the involvement of the presiding officer.
Statement 2 is correct: The NOTA option on EVMs has no electoral value. Even if the maximum number of votes cast is for NOTA, the candidate getting the most of the remaining votes would be declared winner,
Statement 3 is incorrect: Colombia, Ukraine, Brazil, Bangladesh, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Chile, France, Belgium, and Greece allow their voters to cast NOTA votes. The US also allows it in a few cases.

Answer (a)

Statement 1 is correct: This protected area is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009
Statement 2 is correct: Altogether, 1,265 villages are located within the biosphere reserve. Approximately 73% of all inhabitants are Aboriginals. Two tribes, the ErengaKharias, and the Mankirdias inhabit the reserve’s forests and practice traditional agricultural activities (the collection of seeds and timber).
Statement 2 is incorrect: Similipal is in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha, named after the abundance of Semul (red silk cotton tree).

Answer(b)

Statement 1 is incorrect: Galaxy frog (Melanobatrachus indicus), an amphibian species endemic to the eastern part of the Western Ghats, has been identified as the flagship species for conservation in the Mathikettan Shola National Park, home to rare flora and fauna.
Statement 2 is correct: Galaxy frogs (in the genus of narrow-mouthed frogs in the family of Microhylidae) are listed as endangered in the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) Red List. Galaxy frog, though small in size, is known by that name due to its galaxy-like appearance with striking blue and yellow color to its skin.
Looking like a microcosm of a galaxy with a million stars, the galaxy frog is one of the 13 amphibian species of around 8,280 worldwide listed as most important. It is in the evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered (EDGE) list under the IUCN.

Answer(c)

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Cabinet has cleared a Bill to set up a government-owned development finance institution (DFI) with initial paid-up capital of Rs 20,000 crore so that it can leverage around Rs 3 trillion from the markets in a few years to provide long-term funds to infrastructure projects as well as for development needs of the country.
Statement 2 is correct: The DFI will be fully government-owned initially and the promoter’s stake will be brought down to 26 percent in the next few years
Statement 3 is correct: The government will provide a 10-year tax exemption to funds invested in the DFI to attract long-term players such as insurance and pension funds.

Answer (d)

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a five-member committee, headed by former RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath, for evaluating applications for universal banks and small finance banks.
    The Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) comprising eminent persons with experience in banking, the financial sector, and other relevant areas, will evaluate the applications thereafter. The tenure of this SEAC will be for three years.

Answer (b)

    Indian Naval Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L58, the eighth and last ship of the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV Class, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
    The LCU 58 is an amphibious ship, which can carry 160 troops, in addition to its crew. With a displacement of 900 tons, the ship is capable of carrying various types of combat vehicles such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), BMPs, Armored Vehicles, trucks, etc

Answer (d)

    The Trimurti is considered a masterpiece and the most important sculpture in the Elephanta caves. It is carved in relief on the south wall of the cave facing the north entrance, along the north-south axis. 
    It is also known as Sadashiva and Maheshmurti. The image depicts a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva. 
    The three heads represent three essential aspects of Shiva: creation, protection, and destruction. 

Answer (d) 

    Vijayanagara empire was founded in 1336 and Vijayanagara literally mean the city of victory ‘, which attracted a number of international travellers such as the Italian, Niccolo di Conti, the PortugueseDomingoPaes, FernaoNuniz and Duarte Barbosa and the Afghan Abd al-Razzaq, who have left vivid accounts of the city. 
    In addition, various Sanskrit and Telugu works document the vibrant literary tradition of this kingdom. Architecturally, Vijayanagara synthesizes the centuries-old Dravidian temple architecture with Islamic styles demonstrated by the neighbouring sultanates. 
    Megasthenes, ancient Greek historian and diplomat was sent by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I Nicator on embassies to the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya. 

Answer (c)

Statement 1 is correct: Raman thermometry is a thermal characterization technique that makes use of Raman scattering phenomena to determine the local temperature in microelectronics systems.
Statement 2 is correct: Raman thermometry is commonly used to study semiconductor devices, polymers, batteries, life sciences, and more.