September 04-2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Saora tribes are predominantly found in multiple states including Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Recently, Odisha granted habitat rights to the Saora tribes, but they are not the only ones with forest rights.
• Odisha has extended these rights to the highest number of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) under the FRA 2006, making it the only state in India to do so for such a large number of PVTGs.
• The status empowers the tribes to protect and preserve natural entities, sacred sites, and places of religious and spiritual importance within their habitat.
• Section 2(h) of the Forests Rights Act (FRA) defines habitat as an area comprising the customary habitat and other habitats in reserved and protected forests of primitive tribal groups, pre-agricultural communities, and other forest-dwelling scheduled tribes.
• The granting of habitat rights is conducted under section 3(1)(e) of Forests Rights Act (FRA) 2006.

Statement 3 is correct

• Saora tribe practices Shifting and terrace cultivation, hunting, fishing, wage labour, forest collection, and animal husbandry.
• Ansir is a traditional labor cooperative among the Saora tribes to support communal labor.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

• Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Minister launched the AgriSURE Fund and Krishi Nivesh Portal.
• The Krishi Nivesh Portal is a centralized platform designed to simplify investment processes in agriculture by providing access to various government schemes for domestic and international investors.
• Significance:
  • Enhanced Investment: It simplifies the investment process, boosting agricultural growth by attracting domestic and international investors.
  • Centralised Information: The portal centralises information on government schemes, streamlining access and application for agricultural funding.
  • Empowering Women: Offers special provisions and training to empower women farmers, promoting gender inclusivity in agriculture.
  • Market Entry Guidance: Provides crucial guidelines on market entry and regulatory frameworks, facilitating smoother operations for investors.

Answer: (c) Serve as a one-stop portal for all agricultural investors to benefit from various government schemes.; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Option 1 is correct, all other options are incorrect

• Brunei shares a land border only with Malaysia. It is located on the northern coast of Borneo and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

• Official name: Brunei Darussalam. Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan.
• Location: Southeast Asian country located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo.
• Geographical Position: It consists of two non-contiguous parts and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Its coastline is along the South China Sea.
• Highest Peak: Bukit Pagon.
• Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the rest of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. It is a constitutional absolute monarchy, with the Sultan as the ruling monarch.

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

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Agriculture Infrastructure Financing (AIF) Scheme aims to enhance agricultural infrastructure by providing medium to long-term debt financing for post-harvest management projects and community farming assets.
• Funds infrastructure projects at farm-gate and aggregation points, including supply chains, warehouses, cold chains, and smart agriculture assets.
• Assistance: 3% annual subvention on loans up to two crore rupees for up to 7 years.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The scheme is operational from 2020-21 to 2032-33, with loan disbursement to be completed by the end of the financial year 2025-26.
• The scheme requires 24% of the grants-in-aid to be utilized for SC/ST entrepreneurs (16% for SC and 8% for ST), not one-third.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Chromium, an essential trace mineral, is a lustrous, brittle, hard metal. Its colour is silver-grey, and it can be highly polished. It is found naturally in rocks, plants, soil, volcanic dust, and animals.
• It is not found in its free metal form. It is found in trace amounts throughout the environment and is mined as a mineral chromite.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The most common forms of chromium that occur in natural waters in the environment are:
  • Trivalent chromium (Cr III): An essential human dietary element in many vegetables, fruits, meats, grains, and yeast.
  • Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI): It is toxic, and WHO has classified it as carcinogenic. It can cause stomach ulcers and cancers and severe damage to the kidneys and liver.
• As per Indian standards for drinking water, the maximum permissible concentration of Cr (VI) in drinking water is 50 micrograms per litre.
• The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a lower permissible concentration of 10 micrograms per liter.

Statement 3 is correct

• Sukinda Valley in Odisha contains 97% of India’s chromite ore deposits.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• A new study confirmed the existence of a dockyard at Lothal, Gujarat, during the Harappan Civilisation.
• It also revealed that the Sabarmati River flowed by Lothal during the Harappan Civilisation.
• Lothal is the world’s oldest known artificial dock and only Harappan port town located along the Bhogava River, a tributary of Sabarmati.
• Location: Bhal region of Gujarat near the Gulf of Khambat.
• It was discovered by S.R. Rao in 1954. Lothal in Gujarati means ‘the mound of the dead’.
• Other important features of Lothal include an acropolis, bead factory, warehouses, and drainage system.
• The town is divided into two parts, like most Harappan sites, the citadel and the lower town.

Statement 2 is correct

• The site has been nominated to be enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Correct

Explanation

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I.

• Operation Bhediya is launched by the UP government to capture the pack of wolves in the Bahraich district.
• Under Section 11 (1) (a) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Chief wildlife warden of a state has the authority to permit the hunting of such animals becoming dangerous to human life or disabled or diseased beyond recovery.

Answer: (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• SOC refers to the carbon content in soil derived from organic matter, such as decomposed plant and animal residues, microorganisms, and other organic compounds.
• Significance of SOC:
  • Nutrient cycling: SOC acts as a reservoir for essential nutrients, gradually releasing them to plants. This helps maintain soil fertility over time. High SOC levels can reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and thus promote sustainable agriculture.
  • Microbial activity: High levels of SOC support beneficial microbial activity, essential for nutrient cycling and the breakdown of organic matter.
  • Carbon sequestration: SOC acts as a carbon sink, storing carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.
  • Erosion control: SOC helps bind soil particles together, reducing erosion and improving soil stability.
  • Water retention: Soils rich in organic carbon have better water-holding capacity, which is crucial for plant growth, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
  • pH buffering: SOC helps maintain soil pH balance, which is vital for healthy plant growth and the functioning of soil ecosystems.

Answer: (a) SOC refers to the carbon content in soil derived from organic matter, such as decomposed plant and animal residues, microorganisms, and other organic compounds; Difficulty Level: Medium