1. Which of the following is an initiative of European Union that involves the creation of a zone for the euro wherein all electronic payments are considered domestic, and a difference between national and intra-European cross border payments doesn’t exist?
[A] Euro zone
[B] Single Euro Payment Area
[C] Eurocheque
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Single Euro Payment Area]
Notes:
The correct answer is “Single Euro Payment Area” (SEPA). SEPA is an initiative by the European Union aimed at simplifying bank transfers denominated in euros. It allows for seamless electronic payments across member states, treating them as domestic transactions. Established in 2008, SEPA enhances efficiency and reduces costs for consumers and businesses, promoting financial integration within the Eurozone.
2. Who among the following was the last Director-General of GATT, and the first of the WTO ?
[A] Arthur Dunkel
[B] Peter Sutherland
[C] Renato Ruggiero
[D] Olivier Long
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Peter Sutherland]
Notes:
Peter Denis Sutherland was an Irish businessman, barrister and politician. He served as last Director-General of GATT, and the first of the WTO.
3. Who among the following authors wrote “Tabuqat-i-Akbari”?
[A] Mulla Daud
[B] Abbas Khan Sherwani
[C] Ziauddin Barni
[D] Nizamuddin Ahmed
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Nizamuddin Ahmed]
Notes:
Khwajah Nizamuddin Ahmed wrote “Tabuqat-i-Akbari” in the reign of Akbar, it was completed in 1593 AD. The book compiled the history of India from 986 AD to 38th year of Mughal emperor Akbar’s reign. It is a very important source for the history of the Sayyid and Lodi Sultans.
4. Who is eligible to be recruited as a Home Guard in India?
[A] All male citizens of India, aged 18-50 years
[B] All citizens of India, aged 18-50 years
[C] All graduate male citizens, aged 18-50 years
[D] All citizens with secondary education, aged 18-50 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [All citizens of India, aged 18-50 years]
Notes:
Home Guards, under State/UT Acts, recruit all Indian citizens aged 18-50 from varied professions. They serve voluntarily in emergencies like natural disasters and epidemics, contributing spare time to community safety. Both men and women can join, regardless of occupation or educational qualification, within the specified age.
5. Consider the following organizations:
- G-20
- ASEAN
- SAARC
- APEC
- IORA
With reference to India, which of the organizations given above is / are those where India is NOT a member?
[A] 4 Only
[B] 2 and 4 Only
[C] 2, 4 and 5 Only
[D] 2 and 4 Only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [2 and 4 Only]
Notes:
India is not a member of ASEAN and APEC. ASEAN is a Southeast Asian regional body and India is a dialogue partner, not a member. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) also does not include India. India is a member of the G-20, SAARC, and IORA.
6. Who is the author of the book ‘Panchashati Galpo’?
[A] Krishna Sobti
[B] Nirmal Verma
[C] Mannu Bhandari
[D] Atin Bandyopadhyay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Atin Bandyopadhyay]
Notes:
Atin Bandyopadhyay (85), the renowned Bengali writer, has passed away in Kolkata on 19th January, 2019. Born in 1934 in Dhaka, he had taken up various jobs as a sailor, school teacher, factory manager, journalist to finally became a writer. He won the 2001 Sahitya Akademi award for his compilation of short stories ‘Panchashati Galpo’. His masterpiece is considered to be a four-part tetralogy on the Partition: “Nilkantha Pakhir Khonje”, ”Manusher Gharbari”, “Aloukik Jalajan” and “Ishwarer Bagan”.
7. The 3rd Indo-German Environment Forum was held in which of the following cities?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Pune
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Panaji
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New Delhi]
Notes:
On 13th Feb, the 3rd Indo-German Environment Forum was held in New Delhi with the theme “Cleaner Air, Greener Economy”. The one-day event focuses on challenges, solutions and necessary framework conditions of air pollution control, waste management and circular economy as well as implementation of NDCs and SDGs based on Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 of UN respectively. Around 250 representatives of ministries, business and science as well as non-governmental organizations participated in the forum, which is organized by the two environment ministries in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Forum provided a platform for the bilateral exchange of high-level policy-makers and other key players on international environmental and climate policy and cooperation between the two countries.
8. Which of the following was the earlier name of WTO? (UPSC Prelims 2001)
[A] UNCTAD
[B] GATT
[C] UNIDO
[D] OECD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [GATT]
Notes:
The WTO’s predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), was established by a multilateral treaty of 23 countries in 1947 after World War II in the wake of other new multilateral institutions dedicated to international economic cooperation—such as the World Bank (founded 1944).
9. With reference to Indian defence, which one of the following statements is not correct? (UPSC Prelims 2003)
[A] With the induction of Prithvi II, the IAF is the only airforce in the world with surface-to-surface ballistic missiles under its command
[B] Sukhoi-30 MKI jet fighters can launch air-to-air and air-to-surface precision missiles
[C] Trishul is a supersonic surface to-air missile-with a range of 30 km
[D] The indigenously built INS Prabal can launch surface-to-surface missiles
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [With the induction of Prithvi II, the IAF is the only airforce in the world with surface-to-surface ballistic missiles under its command]
Notes:
With the induction of Prithvi-II, the IAF is the only air force in the world with surface to surface ballistic missiles under its command.
10. Consider the following statements:
I. Kofi Annam – the UN Secretary General is from Nigeria.
II. Kofi Annam is the first UN Secretary General to be appointed from the ranks of the United Nations staff.
III. Kofi Annam was appointed for a second term to the office of the UN Secretary General.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2006)
[A] I, II and III
[B] I and II only
[C] II and III only
[D] None of these
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [II and III only]
Notes:
Kofi Annan of Ghana is the seventh Secretary- General of the United Nations. The first Secretary- General to be elected from the ranks of United Nations staff, he began his term on 1 January 1997. On 29 June 2001, acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2006.
