August 29-2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Shishu, Kishor, and Tarun are the three categories of loans under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), with Shishu offering loans up to ₹50,000, Kishor covering loans from ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh, and Tarun providing loans from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
• Launched in 2015, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) the aimed to ignite entrepreneurship by offering collateral-free micro-loans up to ₹10 lakh.
• The Union Budget 2024 has increased the loan limit to ₹20 lakh benefiting previous MUDRA loan recipients under the Tarun category.
• The MUDRA Scheme disbursed over Rs 27.75 lakh crore to 47 crore small and new entrepreneurs, impacting the grassroots economy.
• The scheme promotes gender equality and social equity, supporting rural and semi-urban job creation and self-employment.
• It has an inclusive approach (69% of loans are held by women; 51% by SC/ST and OBC entrepreneurs).
• Non-performing assets (NPAs) under the scheme have decreased from 3.61% in FY21 to 2.1% in FY24.

Answer: (a) Loan categories under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY; Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Dried Dhaincha stems are used by villagers living in low-lying areas of Assam to use them as kindling during floods.
• It is native to Asia and North Africa, is most common in tropical Africa where it grows as a common noxious weed, and has been introduced to the Americas.
• It can grow on saline soil and is adapted to wet, heavy soil but apparently adapts easily to drought-prone or sandy regions.
• It can be grown on all season having sufficient moisture in soil.
• It is cultivated widely in India and grown in rice paddies for using it as firewood.
• The foliage makes a good fodder for livestock.
• It is generally used as green manure crop.
• It not only improves physical properties but is also a leguminous plant and thus helps in meeting nitrogen requirement of succeeding crop.

Option (a) is incorrect

• Bamboo is a grass used mainly in construction and crafts.

Option (b) is incorrect

• Neem is a different plant with distinct properties and uses.

Option (c) is incorrect

• Jatropha is primarily used for biofuel.

Answer: (d) Dhaincha; Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• India has set a target to increase ethanol blending to 20% by 2025-26, which will require producing 1,000 crore litres of ethanol annually.
• With this India aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save $4 billion annually in foreign exchange, and boost rural economies through crop cultivation.
• 20% blending requires producing 1,000 crore litres of ethanol, and an additional 310 crore litres is needed for consumable liquor and industrial uses.
• Current ethanol production capacity is 1,380 crore litres (875 crore litres from sugarcane, 505 crore litres from food grains), nearly achieving the target with a higher sugarcane component.

Statement 2 is correct

• The government supports using maize, surplus rice, and damaged grains for ethanol production to diversify the sources of ethanol.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Ethanol production has primarily come from B-heavy molasses, not C-heavy molasses, in India’s ethanol blending efforts.
• B-heavy molasses (used for sugar production) was permitted to be used by the government for ethanol production to boost the output, its high sugar content influences ethanol pricing.

Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is aimed at the development of futuristic industrial cities that can compete with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.
• It is developed as part of the PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The implementing agency of the programme is the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC).
• Monitoring and Review Mechanism is done by the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).
• The objective of the programme is to provide plug-and-play infrastructural facilities for setting up large-scale manufacturing.

Statement 2 is correct but, statement 3 is incorrect

• Each Industrial Corridor is envisaged to be implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in the form of a company set up under the Companies Act, 2013 as a joint venture between the central and state governments. State governments contribute by providing land as their share of equity in the programme.
• The NICP envisages the development of 11 industrial corridors in four phases.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Options 1, 2 and 3 are correct

• The India-Brazil strategic partnership established in 2006 has “deepened and diversified” over the years and now spans a very wide range of domains especially Strategic Partnership by deepening their cooperation in BRICS, IBSA, G4 & G20. Also, they lead the South-South cooperation and advocate for large developing countries to shape global rules.
  • G4 refers to a group of four countries (Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan) that support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the UN Security Council.
  • BRICS aims to promote economic cooperation and global governance. Both India and Brazil are members.
  • G20 is an international forum that brings together the world’s leading economies to discuss global economic issues. Both India and Brazil are members.
• In terms of bilateral trade: India has been Brazil’s 5th largest trading partner (USD 11 billion). The key exports include agrochemicals and auto components from India and crude oil and sugar from Brazil.

Option 4 is incorrect

• SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) is a regional security organization that includes China, Russia, and several Central Asian countries. India is a member, but Brazil is not.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Green Manuring involves growing leguminous plants and incorporating them into the soil after sufficient growth. These benefits contribute to sustainable agriculture and organic farming practices, making Green Manuring an effective method for maintaining soil health and fertility.
• Objectives of Green Manuring includes that it improves soil structure and water holding capacity, reduces soil erosion and weed growth, reclaims alkaline soils, adds organic matter to the soil, stimulates soil micro-organism activity, transfers nutrients from lower soil layers to the upper layer.
  • It can help farmers to achieve rise in income, remittance and social conditions.

Answer: (c) Growing of field plants belonging to leguminous family for incorporating them into the soil later for improving soil structure.; Difficulty Level: Medium