August 31-2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• INS Arighaat can travel at a maximum speed of up to 24 knots when submerged and 1215 knots on a surface level.
• It can carry twelve K-15 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) with a range of over 3500 km.
• 83 MW pressurized light-water reactors propel it and can be submerged for extended periods.

Option (a) is incorrect

• India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighaat, was commissioned into service at Visakhapatnam.
• INS Arighaat will further strengthen India’s nuclear triad, enhance nuclear deterrence, establish strategic balance and peace, and play a decisive role in the country’s security.

Option (b) and (c) are incorrect

• It retains the same reactor and dimensions of INS Arihant but has technological upgrades with systems and equipment conceptualized, designed, and manufactured indigenously.

Answer: (d) It can carry twelve K-15 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) with a range of over 3500 km. Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

All options are correct

• Nuclear Triad is a 3-sided military-force structure consisting of ICBMs (land-based nuclear missiles), SSBNs (nuclear-missile-armed submarines) and Strategic Bombers.
• India is among very few countries (United States, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan) that have achieved the capability of nuclear triad.
• Spreading the country’s extensive nuclear arsenals across various weapons platforms and dimensions would provide a Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD).

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3. 4 and 5; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statements 1 is correct

• Objective of PMJDY Financial inclusion through Basic Savings Bank Accounts for unbanked individuals.
• Coverage: Two phases aimed at providing banking facilities to 7.5 crore unbanked households using the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile).
• Current Target (2024-25): Open over 3 crore new accounts.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• State-wise Analysis: Highest Accounts are in Uttar Pradesh (9.45 crore) followed by Bihar (6 crore), and the fewest in Lakshadweep (9,256 accounts).
• Banking Sector Breakdown: Public Sector Banks lead with 41.42 crore accounts, followed by Regional Rural Banks (9.89 crore), private sector banks (1.64 crore), and Rural Cooperative Banks (0.19 crore).
• Cost Benefits: No account opening, maintenance, or minimum balance charges.
• RuPay Debit Cards: Issued to account holders with accident insurance cover up to ₹2 lakh and an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000.
• Integration with Other Schemes: Eligible for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), and MUDRA scheme.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Financial Inclusion: Over 80% of adults have formal financial accounts, up from 53% in 2014 also since its launch, over 53 crore accounts have been opened.
• Gender Gap Reduction: 55.6% of accounts (29.56 crore) are held by women.
• Banking Infrastructure Expansion: Bank branches have increased by 46% and ATMs by 30% since 2014.
• Boost to Digital Transactions: UPI has facilitated 55.7 billion transactions by July 2024.
• Leakage Reduction: JAM Trinity has saved Rs 3.48 lakh crore by eliminating ineligible beneficiaries and reducing leakages.
• Behavioral Changes: Increased PMJDY usage has been linked to reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption and decreased thefts in states like UP, Maharashtra, and Haryana.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Economic Empowerment: The scheme has enhanced financial security and independence for marginalized groups, with 66.6% of accounts in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Increase in Banking Habits: Deposits reached Rs 2.31 lakh crore, with 36.14 crore RuPay debit cards issued. The average account balance rose from Rs 1,065 in 2015 to Rs 4,352 in 2024.
• Access to Banking Facilities: 99.95% of inhabited villages have banking access within a 5-km radius.
• Social Benefits: PMJDY has facilitated direct benefit transfers, with Rs 38.49 lakh crore transferred via DBT over the past decade, as well as COVID-19 financial assistance and PM-KISAN.

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

Correct

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• They are exotic tree species.
• Exotic species (non-native or alien species) are plants or animals introduced to a region where they do not naturally occur.
• Exotic species can outcompete native plants, harming local biodiversity.
• Exotic trees can increase allergens, worsening respiratory issues.
• Conocarpus erectus can reduce water availability in dry regions since it uses groundwater excessively and it can overshadow native plants, reducing habitat for local wildlife.
• Alstonia scholaris can cause health problems like gastrointestinal issues and stomach irritations.

• Terminalia mantaly are less resilient to cyclones and may break or fall during storms, causing damage and it can produce pollen that aggravates allergies.

Answer: (b) Trees; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Cyclone Asna is the fourth cyclone in the Arabian Sea, specifically over the Kutch coast in Gujarat and adjacent areas of Pakistan (North Indian Ocean region), after similar events in 1944, 1964, and 1976.
• The name “Asna” was provided by Pakistan, following the regional naming conventions for cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.

Answer: (c) Cyclone Asna; Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

Options (1), (2) and (3) are correct

• The commodification & trafficking of women in medieval India reveal deep-seated gender inequalities & power dynamics, whose legacy still impacts contemporary attitudes towards women.
• Historical References:
  • Antagada-Dasao: Early Jain text mentions enslaved women from Greece and Persia, indicating early slave trade networks.
  • Herodotus: This Greek historian’s accounts suggest Persian raids captured Greek women for slavery, supporting their trafficking through Persia to India.
  • Sanskrit Eulogies: 7th-century eulogies celebrate conquests with sexual and territorial imagery. Kings Vikramaditya I and Krishna I used such language to describe their victories.
  • Lekhapaddhati: A 13th-century Sanskrit text from Gujarat details individuals involved in capturing and selling enslaved girls.
  • Hero Stones: Medieval inscriptions record abductions of women, reflecting their vulnerability and the prevalence of such practices.

Options (4) and (5) are incorrect

• The Ramayana: While an important ancient text, it is from an earlier period and not specific to medieval attitudes.
• Dhammapada: A Buddhist scripture with teachings and parables, not specifically related to medieval Indian attitudes towards women.

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

Correct

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The practice of using sports events or sponsorships to improve a country’s or organization’s reputation while distracting from controversial or harmful activities.
• It involves leveraging sports’ positive image and global appeal to whitewash or mask negative aspects of a country, regime, or corporation

Answer: (a) The practice of using sports events or sponsorships to improve a country’s or organization’s reputation while distracting from controversial or harmful activities; Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct, and Statement 2 is incorrect

• The PAT scheme reduces specific energy consumption and allows the trading of excess energy savings.
• The PAT scheme focuses on relative energy efficiency without absolute emission ceilings.
• PAT:
  • Objective: Reduce energy consumption in energy-intensive industries with a market-based trading system for excess energy savings.
  • Mechanism: Firms meet energy efficiency standards; successful firms earn tradeable credits.
  • Focus: Relative energy efficiency; no cap on total energy used.
  • Definition: It is a regulatory instrument to reduce specific energy consumption in energy-intensive industries, with an associated market-based mechanism to enhance cost effectiveness through certification of excess energy saving which can be traded (The Bureau of Energy Efficiency).

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium