51. In which one of the following states, India’s Largest Private sector sea port been commissioned recently ?
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Karnataka
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil nadu

Ans : a

• Country’s biggest private sector port at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

52. Which one of the following pairs is NOT correctly Matched .
(a) Japan                    :       Nikkei
(b) Singapore             :       Shcomp
(c) UK                       :         FTSE
(d) USA                     :         Nasdaq

Ans : b

• Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index (SHCOMP) is in China
• Japan’s majot stok Exchange is JEGT (Japan Exchange Group – Tokyo)

53. Consider  the following statements :
1. INS Sindhughosh is an aircraft carrier.
2. INS Viraat is a Submarine

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 and only
(b) 2 and only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 Nor 2

Ans : d

• INS Sindhughosh (S55) is the lead ship of Sindhughosh-class of diesel-electric submarines of the Indian Navy.The submarine was commissioned in April 1986 in Riga, Latvia.
• INS Viraat is a Centaur-class aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Navy. INS Viraat was the flagship of the Indian Navy before INS Vikramaditya was commissioned in 2013. The last British-built ship serving with the Indian Navy, she is the oldest carrier in service in the world and is one of three aircraft carriers based in the Indian Ocean Region. The carrier may be decommissioned by 2018

54. Consider the following statements :
1. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends the minimum Support Prices for 32 crops.
2. the Union Ministry of consumer Affairs, Food and public Distribution has launched the national food Security Mission .

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 Nor 2

Ans : b

Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices: (It has also been akked many times in interview)

• The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP since 1985, earlier named as Agricultural Prices Commission) came into existence in January 1965.
• Currently, the Commission comprises a Chairman, Member Secretary, one Member (Official) and two Members (Non-Official). The non-official members are representatives of the farming community.
• It is mandated to recommend minimum support prices (MSPs) to incentivize the cultivators to adopt modern technology, and raise productivity and overall grain production in line with the emerging demand patterns in the country.
  
• MSP for major agricultural products are fixed by the government, each year, after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission. As of now, CACP recommends MSPs of 23 commodities, which comprise 7 cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, barley and ragi), 5 pulses (gram, tur, moong, urad, lentil), 7 oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soyabean, seasmum, sunflower, safflower, nigerseed), and 4 commercial crops (copra, sugarcane, cotton and raw jute).
• CACP submits its recommendations to the government in the form of Price Policy Reports every year, separately for five groups of commodities namely Kharif crops, Rabi crops, Sugarcane, Raw Jute and Copra. Before preparing aforesaid five pricing policy reports, the Commission draws a comprehensive questionnaire, and sends it to all the state governments and concerned National organizations and Ministries to seek their views. Subsequently, separate meetings are also held with farmers from different states, state governments, National organizations like FCI, NAFED, Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Jute Corporation of India (JCI), trader’s organizations, processing organizations, and key central Ministries. The Commission also makes visits to states for on-the-spot assessment of the various constraints that farmers face in marketing their produce, or even raising the productivity levels of their crops. Based on all these inputs, the Commission then finalizes its recommendations/reports, which are then submitted to the government. The government, in turn, circulates the CACP reports to state governments and concerned central Ministries for their comments. After receiving the feed-back from them, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government takes a final decision on the level of MSPs and other recommendations made by CACP.

National food Security Mission:

• The National Development Council (NDC) in its 53rd meeting held on 29th May, 2007 adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). Accordingly, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ‘National Food Security Mission’ (NFSM), was launched in October 2007. The Mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat, 4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.
  The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) during the 12th Five Year Plan will have five components (i) NFSM- Rice; (ii) NFSM-Wheat; (iii) NFSM-Pulses, (iv) NFSM-Coarse cereals and (v) NFSM-Commercial Crops.

55. In India, the ports are categorized as major and non-major ports. Which one of the following is a non-major port?
(a) Kochi (Cochin)
(b) Dahej
(c) Paradip
(d) New Mangalore

Ans : b

• Port Blair is major port from 2010.
• India has a coastline spanning 7516.6 kilometers, forming one of the biggest peninsulas in the world. It is serviced by 13 major ports, 200 notified minor and intermediate ports. The total 200 non-major ports are in the following States:- Gujarat (42); Maharashtra (48); Tamil Nadu (15); Karnataka (10); Kerala (17); Andhra Pradesh (12); Odisha (13); Goa (5); West Bengal (1); Daman and Diu (2); Lakshadweep (10); Pondicherry (2); and Andaman & Nicobar (23)
• Dahej is a cargo port situated on the South-west coast of Gujarat, in the Gulf of Cambay.The Petronet LNG jetty is a dedicated deep water facility for import of LNG.
• Major ports handled over 74% of all cargo traffic in 2007. All major ports, except one Ennore Port are government administered. There are also 7 shipyards under the control of the central government of India, 2 shipyards controlled by state governments, and 19 privately owned shipyards.
• Mundra Port is India’s largest private port.

Major Ports:

• Panambur port or. New Mangalore Port is a deep water all weather port and the only major port of Karnataka and one of the largest port in India. Port of Mangalore export major commodities like manganese, granite stones, coffee and cashew and main imports includes timber logs,LPG,petroleum products and cargo containers.
• Marmagao port is a best natural harbors of India located in South Goa. The natural harbor of Goa is one of India’s earliest modern ports.
• The Visakhapatnam harbors is the only Natural harbors in the bay of Bengal shore.
• The Port of Kandla is the first special economic zone in India as well as in Asia, Kandla Port is hub for major imports like petroleum, chemicals and iron also export grains,salt and textiles. Port of Kandla is one of the highest earning ports of India, another port in Gujarat is Mundra Port,India’s largest private port.
• Nhava Sheva now known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the largest container port in India, situated at the mainland of Konkan area across the Navi Mumbai Maharashtra. Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the king port of Arabian Sea at west cost and handle a large volume of international container traffic and domestic cargo traffic. The major exports are textiles,carpets,boneless meat and main imports are machinery,vegetable oils and chemicals.
• The Mumbai Port is located in the mainland of west Mumbai on the West coast of India with natural deep-water harbor. Mumbai Port is the largest port in India and handles bulk cargo traffic with its four jetties for handling Liquid chemicals, Crude and petroleum products. International container traffic of Mumbai Port is directed to the new and big Nhava Sheva port.
• The Cochin port is one of the largest port in India and the major port on the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean sea route. The port of Cochin lies on two islands of Willingdon and Vallarpadam and the largest container transshipment facility in India. Kochi Port is equipped with maritime facilities Cochin Shipyard,Kochi Refineries and Kochi Marina. Kochi city is famous for its traditional spices and well known as the port city of Fort Kochi during the European colonials. It also get its individual Kochi international airport, third international airport in the state of Kerala.
• Tuticorin Port is an artificial deep-sea harbour and one of the 12 major ports of India. It is also the second largest port in Tamil Nadu first is Chennai Port and one of the largest container terminal in India. The artificial port of Tuticorin is a all weather port and who receive a large volume of international traffic. Port of Tuticorin are a used to be best port for maritime trade and pearl fishery on the bay of Bengal. The port city is also known as Pearl City
• Madras Port is the one of the oldest port of India and the second largest port in the country. Chennai Port also the largest port in the Bay of Bengal and a hub port for cars, big containers and cargo traffic in the east coast of India. Port of the Coromandel Coast handles a variety of cargo containers,automobiles,coal,fertilizers and petroleum products.
• Haldia port or Calcutta Port is a major seaport situated near the Hooghly River in the state of West Bengal. Port of Haldia is one of the major trade center for Calcutta and receive bulk cargoes of Chemicals, Petrochemicals and oils. Port of Kolkata is also a base of Indian Coast Guard.
• Ennore Port, officially renamed Kamarajar Port Limited, is located on the Coromandel Coast about 24 km north of Chennai Port, Chennai, it is the 12th major port of India, and the first port in India which is a public company.The Kamarajar Port Limited is the only corporatised major port and is registered as a company. The Centre holds a stake of about 68 per cent in the Kamarajar Port Limited and the remaining 32 per cent is held by the Chennai Port Trust.
• Paradip Port, Orissa: The artificial, deep-water port of east coast of India is located in the Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa state. Port of Paradip is the major port in the east cost shore and situated at the confluence of great river Mahanadi and the Bay of Bengal. Paradip Port has its own railway system

56. Among other things which one of the following was the purpose for which the Deepak Parekh Committee was constituted ?
(a) to study the correct socio- economic condition of certain minority communities
(b) to suggest Measures for financing the development  of infrastructure
(c) to frame a policy on the production of genetically modified organisms
(d) To suggest measures to reduce the fiscal deficit in the Union Budget

Ans : b

• The High-Level Committee on Financing of Infrastructure under Deepak Parekh ,in 2012, made many recomendetions including revamping the working of India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL), which, set up to arrange longterm finance for infrastructure,

57. The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundech are
(a) Dhrupad vocalists
(b) Kathat Dancers
(c) Sarod maestros
(d) Tabla players

Ans : a

• Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha, known as the Gundecha Brothers, are leading Dagarvani dhrupad singers.They always sing together. So together they have been awarded Padmashree for 2012 in the field of Art – Indian Classical Music – Vocal – Madhya Pradesh.
• Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition.Its name is derived from the words dhruva and pada (verse), where a part of the poem (dhruva) is used as a refrain. The term may denote both the verse form of the poetry and the style in which it is sung.Abul Fazl, courtier and chronicler at the court of the Emperor Akbar, defines the dhrupad verse form in his Ain-e-Akbari as “four rhyming lines, each of indefinite prosodic length.”
• The earliest source that mentions a musical genre called Dhrupad is Ain-i-Akbari of Abu Fazl (1593). Later works attribute much of the material to musicians in the court of Man Singh Tomar (fl. 1486-1516) of Gwalior

58. Match  list I with list II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I                                                 List II
(Famous Person)                           (Well- Known for)

(A) Mandakini Amte                      (1) Theatre direction
(B) Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry    (2) Social service and community leadership
(C) Romila Thapar                          (3) Dance
(D) Vanashree Rao                         (4) History Writing
Code:
A              B             C             D
(a)         2               1              4             3
(b)         2               4              1             3
(c)         3               1              4             2

Ans : a

• Vanashree Rao  is Kuchipudi dance (Telugu Classical).
• Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry is a Chandigarh based theatre artist. She was awarded the 2003 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the Theatre Direction category.
• Baba Amte’s two sons, Dr. Vikas Amte and Dr. Prakash Amte, and two daughters-in-law, Dr. Mandakini and Dr. Bharati, are all doctors. All four have dedicated their lives to social work and causes similar to those of the senior Amte. Baba Amte, was an Indian social worker and social activist known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from leprosy.

59. With reference to Stree Shakti Puraskar for which one of the following is “Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award” given?
(a) Administrative skills
(b) Achievements in Scientific Research
(c) Achievements in sports and Games
(d) Courage and valour

Ans : d

• Stree Shakti Puraskar is a series of India’s national honours conferred on individual women for their exceptional achievement. The award is given in six categories, by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, recognises the spirit of courage of a women in difficult circumstances, who has established this spirit of courage in her personal or professional life. The award also recognises pioneering contribution of an individual in empowering women and raising women’s issues.
• Instituted in the year 1991, the award is conferred by the President of India on occasion of International Women’s Day i.e. 8 March every year at New Delhi.
• The award is named after eminent women in Indian history, and is given in following categories:
  1. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award: Named after Ahilya Bai Holkar, 18th-century ruler of Malwa kingdom
  2. Kannagi Award: After Kannagi, a legendary Tamil women
  3. Mata Jijabai Award: Named after Mata Jijabai, mother of Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Empire in 17th-century
  4. Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award: Named after Rani Gaidinliu, a 20th-century Naga spiritual and political leader
  5. Rani Lakshmi Bai Award: After Rani Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Jhansi
  6. Rani Rudramma Devi Award (for both men & women). Named after Rudrama Devi a 13the century ruler of Deccan Plateau

60. In which State is the Buddhist site “Tabo Monastery” located ?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Uttarakhand

Ans : b

• Tabo Monastery (or Tabo Chos-Khor Monastery) is located in the Tago village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh,. It was founded in 996 CE in the Tibetan year of the Fire Ape by the Tibetan Buddhist lotswa (translator), Rinchen Zangpo (Mahauru Ramabhadra), the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge. Tabo is noted for being the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas.

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