The Earth’s surface materials differ from its interior, requiring both direct and indirect sources for study.
Direct Sources: Mining: Minerals are extracted from deep mines, like South African gold mines (3–4 km deep); Drilling Projects: Initiatives like the Deep Ocean Drilling Project explore the crust; Volcanic Eruptions: Molten magma from eruptions provides insights into Earth’s interior.
Indirect Sources: Temperature, Pressure, and Density; Seismic Activity: P- and S-wave shadow zones reveal Earth’s liquid outer core and layer densities; Gravitation; Magnetic Surveys.
2. Consider the following:
R-37M Missile
R-77 Missile
Rudram missile
Which of the above is/are designed for air-to-air combat?
[A] Only 1 & 2 [B] Only 2 & 3 [C] 1, 2 and 3 [D] Only 1
R-37M Missile: A hypersonic air-to-air missile developed by Russia, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 6. It has a range of 300 to 400 kilometers, targeting enemy aircraft beyond visual range.
R-77 Missile: An advanced air-to-air missile used by several air forces, including India’s, known for its versatility and effectiveness in dogfights and beyond visual range engagements.
The Rudram missile is an anti-radiation missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. It is an air-to-surface missile that can be launched from fighter jets.
3. India has experienced a dry winter season (January-February) in 2025. In the context of this consider the following statements:
Western disturbances are the primary drivers of winter rainfall in north and central India.
Western disturbances are extra-tropical storms from the Indian Ocean, bringing sudden showers and northwest India.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 [B] Only 2 [C] Both 1 & 2 [D] Neither 1 nor 2
Western disturbances are the primary drivers of winter rainfall in north and central India. Correct: They are indeed the primary drivers of winter rainfall in north and central India, bringing moisture from the Mediterranean region.
Western disturbances are extra-tropical storms from the Indian Ocean, bringing sudden showers and northwest India. Incorrect: They are labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow and fog in northwest India.
4. With respect to the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), which of the following statements is/are correct?
It is a statutory body constituted under Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013.
It was established as an independent authority to regulate the auditing profession and accounting standards in India.
It consists of a chairperson who will be appointed by the President and a maximum of 15 members.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
It is a statutory body constituted under Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013. Correct: It is a statutory body constituted under Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013.
It was established as an independent authority to regulate the auditing profession and accounting standards in India. Correct: It was established as an independent authority to regulate the auditing profession and accounting standards in India.
It consists of a chairperson who will be appointed by the President and a maximum of 15 members. Incorrect: The Companies Act requires the NFRA to have a chairperson who will be appointed by the Central Government and a maximum of 15 members.
5.
Consider the following trade agreements with their correct characteristics:
Trade Agreement
Characteristic
1. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
A. Based on a negative list, excluding certain products from duty reductions.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – FTAs operate on a negative list approach, meaning that duties are reduced or eliminated on most products except those specified in the list.
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) – CECAs go beyond FTAs by including goods, services, investment, competition policies, and government procurement, making them broader in scope.
Customs Union – Member countries within a customs union trade freely among themselves at zero duty while maintaining a common external tariff for non-member nations.
Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) – PTAs are initial steps towards economic integration, focusing on a positive list where only certain products get tariff reductions.
The above questions are part of Daily UPSC 20 Current Affairs MCQs Series in GKToday Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for user friendly test with detailed answers and explanations. Download Now
The above questions are part of Daily UPSC 20 Current Affairs MCQs Series in GKToday Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for user friendly test with detailed answers and explanations. Download Now
