Q1. {IR – Laws} Consider the following statements regarding the Montreux Convention:
The USA is an original signatory of the Montreux Convention, an agreement governing the access to the Turkish Straits.
The convention guarantees “complete freedom” of passage for all civilian and military vessels during peacetime.
According to the terms of the Convention, in wartime, the warships of the nations at war may not pass through the Turkish Straits, no matter what.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
none
Q2. {Polity – IC – Parliament} Consider the following statements about the Privileges of Members of Parliament (MPs):
Under Article 105, MPs enjoy certain privileges so that they can perform their parliamentary duties without any hindrance.
Parliament has not made any special law to exhaustively codify all the privileges.
As part of these privileges, the members enjoy freedom from arrest in all civil and criminal cases 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house and also when the house is in session.
How many of the statement(s) above is/are correct?
Only one
Only two
Only three
None of the above
Q3. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding the White-bellied sea eagle:
It is a large diurnal bird of prey.
It is seen only in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
It inhabits inshore seas, islands, coasts, mangroves, estuaries and terrestrial wetlands.
Recently, the species was declared the official bird of a district in Rajasthan.
How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
The Act empowers the State government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species.
The Act provides for proper implementation of the provisions of the CITES in India.
The Act reduced the number of schedules from Six to Four by removing the schedule of protected plants, as it is already included in the Biodiversity Management Act.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1 and 2
2 and 3
2 only
1 and 3
Q5. {Envi – Laws} The standing committee of the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) is headed by the:
{Polity – Bodies – GoI Agencies} Recently, ‘Operation Chakra-II’ to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes in India was launched by?
Enforcement Directorate ( ED)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Serious Fraud Investigation Officer (SFIO)
National Investigation Agency (NIA)
Q6. {IR – PIN} Consider the following pairs of border crossing points and the location:
Joda border point ꟷ Ukraine-Poland
Rafah crossing ꟷ Gaza-Egypt
San Ysidro ꟷ Mexico-U.S.A
How many of the above pair(s) is/are correct?
Only one
Only two
All three
None of the above
Questions With Solution and Explanation
Q1. {IR – Laws} Consider the following statements regarding the Montreux Convention:
The USA is an original signatory of the Montreux Convention, an agreement governing the access to the Turkish Straits.
The convention guarantees “complete freedom” of passage for all civilian and military vessels during peacetime.
According to the terms of the Convention, in wartime, the warships of the nations at war may not pass through the Turkish Straits, no matter what.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
none
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect
The Montreux Convention is an agreement that governs Turkey’s Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, critical maritime passages linking the Black and Mediterraneanseas.
The USA was never a party to the Montreux Convention.
Statement 2 is incorrect
The convention guarantees “complete freedom” of passage for all civilian vessels during peace.
Military vessels are limited by condition of number, cargo, and weaponry, with specific provisions governing their mode of entry and duration of stay in peacetime.
Under the Montreux Convention, Turkey will restrict Black Sea access to warships from non-bordering nations due to the Russia-Ukrain war.
Statement 3 is incorrect
In wartime, if Turkey is not involved in the conflict, warships of the nationsat warmay not pass through the Straits except when returning to their base (exception given in Article 19).
For example, a Russian fleet registered in the Black Sea but currently located in the Mediterranean Sea is allowed to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and return to its base.
Answer: (d) none
Q2. {Polity – IC – Parliament} Consider the following statements about the Privileges of Members of Parliament (MPs):
Under Article 105, MPs enjoy certain privileges so that they can perform their parliamentary duties without any hindrance.
Parliament has not made any special law to exhaustively codify all the privileges.
As part of these privileges, the members enjoy freedom from arrest in all civil and criminal cases 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house and also when the house is in session.
How many of the statement(s) above is/are correct?
Only one
Only two
Only three
None of the above
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
Under Article 105, MPs enjoy certain privileges so that they can perform their parliamentary duties without any hindrance.
Under Article 105(2), MPs are protected from legal action for what they say or vote in Parliament.
The purpose of conferring immunity is to encourage free speech and an unrestrained dialogue.
Statement 2 is correct
Parliament has not made any special lawto exhaustively codify all the privileges. They are rather based on:
Constitutional provisions
Various laws made by the Parliament
Rules of both the Houses
Parliamentary conventions
Statement 3 is incorrect
The freedom from arrest, as part of privileges, is available only in civil cases
When the house is in session
40 days before and after the adjournment.
Answer: (b) Only two
Q3. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding the White-bellied sea eagle:
It is a large diurnal bird of prey.
It is seen only in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
It inhabits inshore seas, islands, coasts, mangroves, estuaries and terrestrial wetlands.
Recently, the species was declared the official bird of a district in Rajasthan.
How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
1 and 4 only
2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
White-bellied sea eagle (or white-breasted sea eagle) is a large diurnal bird of prey.
Statement 2 is incorrect
It is a resident of India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Statement 3 is correct
It inhabits inshore seas, islands, coasts, mangroves, estuaries and terrestrial wetlands.
Statement 4 is incorrect
Kasaragod district of Kerala has become the first districtin India to officially designate its own tree (Kanjiram), flower (Malabar River Lily) and bird species (White-bellied sea eagle)
The Act empowers the State government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species.
The Act provides for proper implementation of the provisions of the CITES in India.
The Act reduced the number of schedules from Six to Four by removing the schedule of protected plants, as it is already included in the Biodiversity Management Act.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1 and 2
2 and 3
2 only
1 and 3
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect
The 2022 Act defines invasive alien speciesas non-native animals or plants in India that could harm wildlife or its habitat through their introduction or spread
It empowers the Central Government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession, or proliferation of invasive alien species.
Statement 2 is correct
The 2022 Act provides for proper implementation of the provisions of the CITES in India.
It provides for the GoI to designate a:
Management Authority (MA): Grants export or import permits for trade of specimen.
Scientific Authority: Provides advice on how trade affects the survival of traded species.
Statement 3 is incorrect
The 2022 Act reduces the number of schedules to four.
It removed the schedule for vermin species.
It inserted a new schedule for specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES.
The schedules are as follows,
Schedule I: Animal species that will enjoy the highest level of protection
Schedule II: Animal species that will be subject to a lesser degree of protection
Schedule III:Protected Plant species
Schedule IV: Specimens are listed in the Appendices under CITES
Answer: (c) 2 only
Q5. {Envi – Laws} The standing committee of the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) is headed by the:
The committee would be headed by theEnvironment Minister(NBWL’s vice-chairperson) and consist of not less than ten membersthat the Minister nominates from among the Board’s members.
Answer: (b) Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
{Polity – Bodies – GoI Agencies} Recently, ‘Operation Chakra-II’ to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes in India was launched by?
Enforcement Directorate ( ED)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Serious Fraud Investigation Officer (SFIO)
National Investigation Agency (NIA)
Explanation
Option (b) is correct; options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched Operation Chakra-II to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimesin India.
For this, India’s federal agency has partnered with Microsoft and Amazon and with national and international agencies to combat and dismantle the infrastructure of illegal call centres.
Answer: (b) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Q6. {IR – PIN} Consider the following pairs of border crossing points and the location:
Joda border point ꟷ Ukraine-Poland
Rafah crossing ꟷ Gaza-Egypt
San Ysidro ꟷ Mexico-U.S.A
How many of the above pair(s) is/are correct?
Only one
Only two
All three
None of the above
Explanation
Pair 1 is incorrect
Many people fleeing the vicious conflict in Sudan are crossing into neighbouring South Sudan at the Joda border point in Upper Nile State (South Sudan).
