1.Consider the following statements regarding Intranasal Vaccines
1. The vaccine here is administered by squirting or spraying the solution into the nostrils
instead of injecting it
2. Bharat Biotech will manufacture the India’s first Intranasal vaccine for COVID 19
Which of the above statements are correct?
Description
In News: How nasal vaccines for Covid-19 work: utility and concerns
Bharat Biotech announced on Wednesday it would be manufacturing up to a billion doses of a
single-dose intranasal vaccine. It is a key step towards the country getting its first vaccine
administered through this route. Hence statement 2 is correct
What is an intranasal vaccine?
Vaccines are delivered through different routes, with the most common being injectable shots
delivered into the muscles (intramuscular) or the tissue just between the skin and the muscles
(subcutaneous). Other routes of delivery, especially in some vaccines for infants, include
administering the liquid solution orally instead of injecting. In the intranasal route, the vaccine
is sprayed into the nostrils and inhaled. Hence statement 1 is correct
While traditional vaccines target the host cell by taking a longer route, nasal vaccines are able to
directly intercept the chemical pathways of the virus, since they target the virus present in the
mucosal membranes and respiratory cells, which often act as the first entry points for a virus to
attack the body.
Due to this form of application, a nasal COVID vaccine would also be able to prevent attack on
the respiratory tract and lungs, which, if not controlled in time could lead to a rapid health
decline.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-nasal-vaccines-work-utilityconcerns-6608257/
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: Both 1 and 2
2.Brahmos Missile, a joint venture between India and Russia can be best described as?
Description
In News: BrahMos missile with indigenous systems flight-tested
BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile, featuring indigenous booster
and airframe section along with several indigenous sub-systems, was successfully flighttested on Wednesday by the Defence Research and Development Organsiation
(DRDO).
BRAHMOS is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development
Organisation of India (DRDO) and the NPOM of Russia.
Brahmos is named on the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second)
air to surface missile with a flight range of around 300 km.
However, India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) has
extended the range of the BRAHMOS missile to reach 450 km-600km, a shade above its
current MTCR capped range of 300 km.
Brahmos is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, with a
weight of 2.5 tonnes.
Brahmos is a multiplatform i.e it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi
capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective
of the weather conditions.
It operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle i.e it does not require further guidance
after launch.
Brahmos is one of the fastest cruise missile currently operationally deployed with speed
of Mach 2.8, which is 3 times more than the speed of sound.
Source: The Hindu : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-test-fires-brahmossupersonic-cruise-missile/article32730424.ece
A) Intercontinental ballistic missile
B) Short range ballistic missile
C) Hypersonic cruise missile
D) Supersonic cruise missile
Correct Options: Supersonic cruise missile
Question 3)
INS Viraat India’s coveted Air craft carrier will be taken apart at Alang in Gujarat.
What is the special feature about Alang, that makes it a unique spot for Ship
recycling?
Description
In News: Here’s how INS Viraat will be taken apart at Alang
Alang is located in the Gulf of Khambhat which is known for its huge tides. The Gulf of Cambay is
known for its extreme tides.
The Gulf of Cambay is home to Alang shipyard, which is known for marine salvage industry, half
of all ships salvaged around the world are recycled here.
The state government wants to make it largest International Maritime Organization-compliant
ship recycling yard in the world and for that Gujarat has joined hands with Japan.
The industry is benefited a lot by the tides here. Large ships are beached during the twicemonthly highest tides, and are dismantled when the tide recedes.
Beaching is a process wherein during an emergency situation a ship is intentionally taken
towards shallow waters and at last grounded. This beaching process is also done when ship is to
be dismantled or recycled.
Source: The Indian Express: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-ins-viraat-willbe-taken-apart-at-alang-6646446/
A) It is surrounded by Rann of Kachch, where the air moisture content is low
B) It’s location in Gulf of Khambhat, which is known for its high tides
C) Location of Iron and steel industries around the region
D) Proximity to the Tropic of Cancer
Correct Options: It’s location in Gulf of Khambhat, which is known for its high tides
Question 4)
Consider the following statements with respect to RBI guidelines on Priority Sector
Lending (PSL):
1. All scheduled commercial banks and foreign banks with a sizable presence in India must
set aside 40% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) for PSL.
2. Regional rural banks, co-operative banks and small finance banks have to allocate 75%
of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) to PSL.
3. Bank finance to start-ups up to Rs. 20 crores shall be considered as PSL.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Description
In News: ‘Credit demand from priority sectors drops’
Despite efforts by the government to boost credit supply by offering many a scheme to MSMEs
and other priority sectors, the same has plunged to a low 1.9% in the June quarter from 10.2% a
year ago
Priority Sector Lending
Priority Sectors are those sectors that the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of
India consider as important for the development of the basic needs of the country and are to
be given priority over other sectors.(Hence statement 1 is correct.)
All scheduled commercial banks and foreign banks with a sizable presence in India must set
aside 40% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) for PSL.
The RBI mandates banks to lend a certain portion of their funds to specified sectors, like
agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), export credit, education,
housing, social infrastructure, renewable energy among others. This is known as
Priority Sector Lending.
This is to ensure that adequate institutional credit reaches some of the vulnerable sectors of
the economy, which otherwise may not be attractive for banks from the profitability point of
view.
Regional rural banks, co-operative banks and small finance banks have to allocate
75% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) to PSL. (Hence statement 2 is correct.)
Bank finance to start-ups up to Rs. 50 crore shall be considered as PSL. (Hence statement
3 is incorrect.)
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/credit-demand-from-priority-sectorsdrops/article32726191.ece#!
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 3 only
D) All of the above
Correct Options: 1 and 2 only
Question 5)
The term Mekadatu Project is recently seen in the news is present in which of the
following states?
Description
Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the confluence of the rivers
Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.
Ontigondlu is the proposed reservoir site, situated at Ramanagara district in Karnataka
about 100 km away from Bengaluru. (Hence, option C is correct.)
It is the midst of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Rs. 9,000 crore project aims to store and supply water for drinking purposes for the
Bengaluru city.
Around 400 megawatts (MW) of power is also proposed to be generated through the
project.
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Kerala
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh
Correct Options: Karnataka
Question 6)
The term Kanaklata Barua is recently seen in the news is related to?
Description
In News: ICGS Kanaklata Barua: the legacy of a freedom fighter
A Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) named ICGS Kanaklata Barua was commissioned in the Indian Coast
Guard on Wednesday, in Kolkata. It is named after a teenage freedom fighter who was shot dead
in Assam during the Quit India Movement.
It is the fifth and last in a series of FPVs built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
(GRSE) Ltd. The other four are ICGS Priyadarshini (named after Indira Gandhi), ICGS Annie
Besant, ICGS Kamala Devi (after Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay), and ICGS Amrit Kaur.
These FPVs are upgraded versions of the inshore patrol vessels with a modified form of the
hull and can achieve a speed of 34 knots. Such vessels have also been delivered to Indian
Navy by GRSE. In the Coast Guard these FPVs and their earlier versions belong to the
Rajashree class of patrol vessels. The previous versions were named ICGS Rajashree,
Rajtanag, Rajkiran, Rajkamal, Rajdoot, Rajveer etc; the modified versions are named after
freedom fighters.
Officials said these are suited for patrolling, maritime surveillance, anti-smuggling, antipoaching operations and also for fishery protection, and rescue and search missions. These
FPVs are medium-range surface vessels with a length of around 50 m, and a displacement of
over 300 tonnes.
A) Fast Patrol Vessel
B) Submarine
C) Cruise missile
D) None of the above
Correct Options: Fast Patrol Vessel
Question 7)
Yakshagana is a traditional folk dance form popular in which of the following states?
Description
Yakshagana is a traditional folk dance form popular in coastal districts of Karnataka and
northern area of Kasaragod district of Kerala.
It is a rare combination of dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues and colourful
costumes.
A celestial world unfolds before the audience, as loud singing and drumming form a
backdrop to dancers clad in striking costumes.
Hence the name Yaksha (celestial) Gana (music).
This is a night-long event, with elaborately adorned performers dancing to the beat of
drums in open-air theatres – usually in the village paddy fields after the winter crop has
been harvested.
Traditionally, men portray all roles, including the female ones, though women are now
part of Yakshagana troupes.
A typical troupe consists of 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagavatha, who is the master of
ceremonies and the main storyteller.
The performances draw crowds from far and wide, with a fair-ground atmosphere
pervading the venue till dawn.
Each performance typically focuses on a small sub-story (known as ‘Prasanga’) from
ancient Hindu epics of Ramayana or Mahabharata.
The show consists of both stage performances by talented artists and commentary
(performed by the lead singer or Bhagavatha) accompanied by traditional music.
Musical instruments used in Yakshagana include Chande (drums), Harmonium,
Maddale, Taala (mini metal clappers) and flute among others.
A) Odisha
B) Karnataka
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Andhra Pradesh
Correct Options: Karnataka
Question 8)
From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in
being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?
Description
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It is
located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve between the Western and Eastern Ghats.
A) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
B) Nallamala Forest
C) Nagarhole National Park
D) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve
Correct Options: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
Question 9)
In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of
bioremediation technique?
1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation
process that occurs in nature.
2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and
completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.
3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for
bioremediation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Description
Bioremediation is a technique in which microorganisms are used to treat
pollutants in a site in which the same process of biodegradation that occurs naturally is simply
enhanced. Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect because heavy metals like
cadmium and lead are not easily absorbed by microorganisms.
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Options: 1 and 3 only
Question 10)
With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements:
1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through
Sikkim.
2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Description
The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri glacier and flows southward through
the Sikkim Himalaya. The river does not flow into the Bay of Bengal directly. It merges with the
Brahmaputra which finally flows into the Bay of Bengal. River Rangeet is the main tributary of
the River Teesta and is the largest river in Sikkim.
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Options: 2 only
