Answer (d)
It is indicated by the Preamble that the source of authority of the Constitution lies with the people of India.
The preamble declares India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.
The objectives stated by the Preamble are to secure justice, liberty, equality for all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.
Answer (a)
Under The Government of India Act of 1919 with respect to the Central government, the chief executive authority was the Viceroy.
There were two lists for administration – central and provincial. The provincial list was under the provinces while the center took care of the central list.
Out of the 6 members of the Viceroy’s executive council, 3 were to be Indian members.
The governor-general could issue ordinances. He could also certify bills that were rejected by the central legislature.
Answer (a)
It is a global campaign launched by UNFCCC to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
The campaign aims to codify commitments made via the Climate Ambition Alliance (CAA), which launched ahead of last year’s COP25 in Madrid.
It encourages countries, companies, and other entities to deliver structured net-zero greenhouse-gas emission pledges by the time the talks begin.
This messaging for the campaign — carried out under the aegis of the UNFCCC— seeks to emphasize the potential for non-state actors to raise climate ambition.
The campaign refers to these as real economy actors, noting they ―cover just over half the gross domestic product, a quarter of global CO2 emissions, and over 2.6 billion people.
Answer (c)
Dugong also called Sea Cow is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India.
They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected in India under Schedule I of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972.
According to a 2013 survey report of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), there were only about 200 dugongs in the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
Dugongs are an important part of the marine ecosystem and their depletion will have effects all the way up the food chain. Proper conservation is the only way to save dugongs from extinction.
Answer (d)
The institutional structure of rural banking today consists of a set of multi-agency institutions, namely, commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), cooperatives, and land development banks. They are expected to dispense adequate credit at cheaper rates.
Recently, Self-Help Groups have emerged to fill the gap in the formal credit system because the formal credit delivery mechanism has not only proven inadequate but has also not been fully integrated into the overall rural social and community development.
Answer (c)
Statement 1 is correct. The PradhanMantriMatsyaSampadaYojana (PMMSY) is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs.20,050crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package.
Statement 2 is not correct. The investment of Rs. 20,050 crores under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector. Out of this, an investment of about Rs 12340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries, and Aquaculture and about Rs 7710 crores investment for Fisheries Infrastructure.
Statement 3 is correct: PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10% and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in the fisheries sector and allied activities.
Answer (b)
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) is a loosely affiliated entity consisting of 13 OPEC members and 10 of the world’s major non-OPEC oil-exporting nations.
OPEC+ aims to regulate the supply of oil in order to set the price on the world market.
OPEC+ came into existence, in part, to counteract other nations' capacity to produce oil, which could limit OPEC's ability to control supply and price.
OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
Answer (a)
The northern part of Punjab plain [Shiwalik hills] has been intensively eroded by numerous streams called Chaos.
This has led to enormous gullying [Arid Landforms].
Answer (a)
Alluvial soils are formed mainly due to silt deposited by Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra rivers. In coastal regions, some alluvial deposits are formed due to wave action.
The rocks of the Himalayas from the parent material. Thus, the parent material of these soils is of transported origin.
They are the largest soil group covering about 15 lakh sq km or about 46 percent of the total area. They support more than 40% of India's population by providing the most productive agricultural lands.
They are immature and have weak profiles due to their recent origin. Most of the soil is sandy and clayey soils are not uncommon.
Pebbly and gravelly soils are rare. Kankar (calcareous concretions) beds are present in some regions along the river terraces.
The soil is porous because of its loamy (equal proportion of sand and clay) nature.
Answer (b)
Statement 1 is not correct. The government of India has proposed the adoption of E20 fuel for vehicular use. E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol with gasoline (petrol) and can be used as an alternative to the fuels currently available.
Statement 2 is correct. It will help in reducing CO2, hydrocarbons which will also help to reduce the oil import bill, thereby saving foreign exchange and boosting energy security.
Statement 3 is not correct. Currently, only 10% of the blending of ethanol with gasoline is permissible in India. However, in 2019, it only reached 5.6%.