1. Prologue
  2. Economy
  3. Defense & IR
  4. Environment & Geography
  5. Science Tech

Prologue

  • Timelimit: 30 minutes. 2 Marks for correct answer; -0.66 marks for wrong answer.
  • Mitron, my [T25] series contains 25 Mock MCQ primarily aimed at UPSC IAS/IPS Civil Service exam aspirants.
  • I usually dont give direct answer below the MCQs but indirect hints. Because, then you’ve to read the MCQ again & apply logical reasoning skills. This will improve your mental faculties compared to a scenario where direct answers are spoon-fed. In other words, T25 is not for kids but killers, दम है तो सॉल्व कर लो.
  • This 32nd set focuses mainly on Current Affairs practice MCQs from 2019-March.
  • So far I’ve done 32 sets x 25 questions each = 800 MCQs.

Economy

Q. Find correct statement(s) about National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) launched in 2019:
1. It’s an initiative by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
2. This card can be used for paying railway and bus tickets but not retail shopping.
3. The underlying technology is gifted to India by the Japanese Bullet train Corporation.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. None of the given

HINT: India’s First Indigenously developed One Nation One Card Model consists of NCMC Card, SWEEKAR (Swachalit Kiraya: Automatic Fare Collection System) and SWAGAT (Swachalit Gate). These are bank issued cards on Debit/Credit/Prepaid card product platform. The customer may use this single card for payments across all segments including metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking, smart city and retail.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)::
1. Minimum investment amount for a subscriber is ₹ 100.
2. REITs are securities linked to real estate that can be traded on stock exchanges.
3. A REITS fund manager must obtain approval from Real Estate Regulation and Development Authority (RERA) before soliciting money from investors.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. All of the given

HINT: As of April 2019 SEBI reduced the minimum investment amount in REITs and INVITS to 50k and 1lakh respectively- suffice to say they’re meant for High Networth Individual, and they’re outside RERA purview.

Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about Vande Bharat Express that was inaugurated in 2019:
1. It can obtain a maximum speed of 300 kmph.
2. Its engine has been imported from Japan.
3. Technical name of this train is ‘Train 18’.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. None of the given

HINT: Manufactured in Chennai, and it is beyond our aukaat to produce a train that can run at a speed of 300 kilometres per hour.

Q. In 2019-March Finance Ministry notified rules for minting of the Rs.20 coin. What is its shape?

  1. Circular Shape
  2. Dodecagon
  3. Decagon
  4. Octagon

HINT: New 20 Rs coin is a dodecagon is a 12-sided polygon. Reverse side contains grains depicting the agricultural dominance of the country.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP):
1. It is an externally aided project by the World Bank.
2. It is a subcomponent under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
3. It is implemented across all states of India.
4. It aims to promote women owned enterprises in the non farm sector and male owned enterprises in the farm sector.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 4
  4. 1 and 2 and 4

HINT: Started in 2011, implemented across 13 (backward) states to promote women owned farm and non-farm enterprises. Eliminate accordingly.

Q. Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN version 3.0 of Ministry of Civil Aviation aims to setup six water aerodrome sites to start seaplane and helicopter services. Which of the following site is not among them?

  1. Shatrunjay Dam: Gujarat
  2. Umrangso Reservoir-Assam
  3. Sardar Sarovar Dam-Gujarat
  4. Tehri Dam: Uttar Pradesh

HINT: Tehri is on Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand.

BTW, speaking of economy, I’m pleased to announce the launch of my new batch on Economy for Prelims-2020. Weekly LIVE classes spanning across four months in time slots convinient to both working professionals and college going students, combined with Unacademy’s subscription model that unlocks all full length courses on all subjects with weekly test series. Link for Registration: Click Me, and Use PROMOCODE “mrunal.org” to avail further 10% discount.

Defense & IR

Q. In March-2019 PM Narendra Modi launches 5th volume of Dictionary of Martyrs. Which Ministry has prepared it?

  1. Defense Ministry
  2. Home Ministry
  3. Culture Ministry
  4. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

HINT: 2009: UPA-II’s Culture Ministry started this project to commemorate 150th anniversary of the first war of independence in 1857. 5th Volume is the last volume.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about defense production in India:
1. Budget 2018 has announced developing two defense industrial corridors – one in Tamil Nadu and the other in Maharashtra.
2. India has entered in a Joint Venture to manufacture Kalashnikov (AK-203) assault rifles in Varanasi.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: AKs to be mfg’s in Rahul Gandhi’s original Constituency. It’s the same state where a defense industrial corridor will be developed- apart from TN.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about 7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting that was held in Cambodia in 2019:
1. It has decided to conclude the ongoing RCEP negotiation by the end of 2019 itself.
2. Britain has been added as the new member Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP).
3. RCEP is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between sixteen countries namely 10 countries of ASEAN and their six FTA partners.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. All of the given

HINT: Britain’s aukaat is not even to finalize the BREXIT-deal then which intelligent group will add it as a new member!!?

Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about single emergency helpline number 112 and its Emergency Response Support System (ERSS):
1. As of 1st January 2019 all States of India have joined this initiative.
2. Home Ministry is responsible for this initiative.
3. A victim can long press 1 or 9 in mobile to automatically dial this number.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. None of the given

HINT: Home Ministry’s single emergency number 112 provides immediate assistance services from police (100), fire (101), health (108) and women (1090). Alternatively you can long press 5 or 9 key. Around 16 states have joined as of February.

Q. Find correct pairs of Joint Military Exercises:
1. Exercise MITRA SHAKTI: India-SriLanka.
2. Military Exercise Sampriti: India-Bangladesh.
3. Naval Exercise TROPEX: India-Japan-USA

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. All of the given

HINT: Tropex is Indian Navy’s solo exercise not involving outsiders.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Mission Shakti: Anti-satellite Missile (ASAT) test conducted in 2019-March:
1. It was developed by ISRO with help of Israel.
2. India has became the fifth nations in the world to have ASAT technology apart from USA, UK, Russia and China.
3. It was launched from the Balasore Missile Test range in Odisha.
4. India is not a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty which prohibits weapons of mass destruction in outer space.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only1 and 4
  4. None of the given

HINT: UK unable to even successfully conduct BREXIT deal its beyond their aukaat to have a successful ASAT system.DRDO develops missile systems. ASAT was launched from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island formerly known as Wheeler Island near Odisha.

Environment & Geography

Q. What’s the objective of IUCN’s Bonn Challenge?

  1. Protection of critically endangered species of plants.
  2. Restoration of degraded and deforested land.
  3. Protection of critically endangered species of animals.
  4. Restoration of degraded coral reefs.

HINT: In the movie Jungle book Mowgali brings ‘Red flower’ (fire) into the forest to kill Sher Khan resulting into large scale forest fire. Mowgli definitely failed Bonn Challenge. However later the elephants built a dam to divert waterflow which not only put off the fire but also helped regenerating the jungle so they definately succeeded in Bonn Challenge.

Q. Find correct pairs(s) Cyclones and their primary target in 2019:
1. Cyclone Idai: Mozambique
2. Cyclone Fani: Tamilnadu.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Indian Navy sent humanitarian aid in Mozambique for Cyclone Idai, whereas Fani attacked the same state which obtained GI tag for Kandhamal Haldi in 2019-April.

Q. In 2019-March five varieties of Indian coffee were awarded Geographical Indication (GI). Find correct statement(s) in this regard:
1. Karnataka accounts for the highest production of Coffee.
2. India is the only country in the world where the entire coffee cultivation is grown under shade.
3. Chikmagalur district of Karnataka is considered to be the birthplace of Coffee in India.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. All of the given

HINT: Baba Budan had smuggled seven seed of coffee from Mecca while he was on a pilgrimage and he planted them in Chikmangalur. Usually the birthplaces ought to be the largest producers of a commodity. Extreme worded statements are not always wrong at least not in case of #2.

Q.Which of the following is / are not a part of Lakshadweep islands?
1. Kavaratti.
2. Shaheed Dweep.
3. Swaraj Dweep.
4. Minicoy.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 4
  4. Only 1 and 4

HINT: In 2019-Feb Government of India identifed 7 islands for seaplane operations: 4 islands in Andaman (Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Hutbay, and Long) and 3 islands in Lakshadweep (Kavaratti, Agatti, and Minicoy).

Q. In 2019-March Cook Islands is mulling to change its colonial name through referendum. Which of the following is/are false about Cook Islands?
1. It is located in the Caribbean region.
2. Its common language is Maori.
3. USA is responsible for its foreign and defence affairs.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. All of the given

HINT: It’s near the country where Christchurch mosque shootings happened in 2019-March which was streamed on Facebook. So, think who’ll be acting as ‘big brother’ and in which region would it be located?

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Paraguay and Costa Rica which were visited for the first time by our Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu:
1. Both are landlocked countries.
2. Both are located in the South American region.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Observe the school atlas, Central America and South America are two different regions.

Event Horizon Telescope

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Reko Diq mine:
1. It has world’s biggest Uranium deposits.
2. It’s located in Myanmar.
Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT:  Balochistan region’s Reko Diq mine has one of the world’s biggest untapped copper and gold deposits, PM Imran Khan keen to attract foreign investment here.

Science Tech

Q. Find incorrect pairs(s) of Atal JaiAnusandhan Biotech Missions launched in 2019-Feb:
1. GARBH-ini – A Mission to study pre-term births.
2. IndCEPI – A Mission to eliminate Japanese Encephilitis from India by 2022.
3. UNaTI – A Mission to encourage women scientists in the biotechnology field.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. None of the given

HINT: Atal JaiAnusandhan Biotech Mission – Undertaking Nationally Relevant Technology Innovation (UNaTI) aims to transform transform Health, Agriculture and Energy sectors during the next 5 years via 1) GARBH-ini – A Mission to study pre-term berth to protect mother and child 2) IndCEPI: A Mission to develop affordable vaccines for endemic diseases etc.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Prime Minister’s Science Technology and innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC):
1. ISRO chairman is the ex-officio chairman of this council.
2. This council has launched Atal JaiAnusandhan Biotech Mission.
3. This council has launched mission for Outer Planets Exploration.
4. This council has launched mission for Deep Ocean Exploration.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 4
  4. 1 and 2 and 4

HINT: Atal mission is by Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science and Technology. ISRO chairman doesn’t have birthright to be chairman of everything.This is a separate body headed by India has had a Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) since 1999. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was the first PSA. Our budget is stretched thin with missions on Moon and Mars and upcoming Manned mission Gaganyaan so unlikely there is any ₹ ₹ left for outer planets exploration! You can learn about its 9 Missions here.

Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about Asteroids:
1. They’re usually found in the belt between Mars and Mercury.
2. Planets inside the asteroid belt are called Terrestrial planets.
3. Planets outside the asteroid belt are called Outer planets.
4. Japan’s Hayabusa 2 Mission aims to collect samples from asteroid Ryugu.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 4
  4. Only 3 and 4

HINT: Hayabusa 2 is a 6 year Japanese mission to study the asteroid Ryugu and to collect samples to bring to Earth for analysis. Asteroids belt Mars and Jupiter: inside this belt are inner planets, outside this belt are outer planets. Asteroids can only be seen through largetelescopes, Asteroids take 3-6 years to orbit the Sun.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Event Horizon Telescope:
1. It is credited with capturing the first ever image of a blackhole.
2. Event Horizon Telescope works on the principal of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).
3. Both Hubble Telescope and Event Horizon Telescope are examples of space telescope.
4. Unlike Hubble Telescope the EHT telescope is not operated by NASA.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 4
  4. 1 and 2 and 4

HINT: In 2019-April EHT released first ever image of a ‘black hole’ using VLBI technology. EHT is a virtual network of eight land based satellites. EHT is operated by a consortium of multiple universities and research bodies.

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Young Scientist Programme (Yuvika) :
1. It is the brainchild of ISRO.
2. It aims to identify the bright minds among the college students in India.
3. The recipients are given 5 years scholarship to pursue PG & PHD programs in science.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2 and 3
  3. Only 1 and 3
  4. None of the given

HINT: ISRO gives 2 weeks vacation workshop to school kids. With so much fiscal deficit would Finance Ministry have allowed 5 year scholarship for something!!??

Q. Find correct statement(s) about the Abel Prize:
1. In 2019 Karen Uhlenbeck became the first woman to win Abel Prize.
2. It’s given awarded to laureates who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of Physics.

Answer Codes:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: It’s named after 19th Century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.

Visit Mrunal.org/prelims for Previous Rounds of [T25] Mock MCQ Question / Answers.