1. Consider the following statements related to India’s defence export strategy towards Southeast Asia:
- Exporting BrahMos missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia
- Joint defence production with Thailand and Malaysia
- Training Vietnamese military personnel
- Export of warships to Australia
Which of the above statements is / are correct as per the article?
[A] 1, 2 and 3 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 3 only]
Notes:The strategy as per the article includes exporting BrahMos missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, having joint defence production with Thailand and Malaysia, and training Vietnamese military personnel. No mentioning of warship exports to Australia was given in the article, thus it is incorrect.
2. Consider the following Australian external territories located in different oceans:
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Christmas Island
- Norfolk Island
- Macquarie Island
Which of the above territories are located in the Indian Ocean?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1, 2 and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:- The Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island are located in the Indian Ocean.
- Norfolk Island is located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of mainland Australia.
- Macquarie Island is located in the Southern Ocean, between New Zealand and Antarctica.
3. With reference to seismic activities, consider the following statements:
- The San Andreas Fault in Australia is known for its potential to produce large earthquakes.
- The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
- The Himalayan region is seismically active due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
- The Richter scale measures the intensity of earthquakes, providing a logarithmic scale for magnitude.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All four
[D] Only three
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only two]
Notes:- “The San Andreas Fault in Australia is known for its potential to produce large earthquakes.”
- Incorrect: The San Andreas Fault is located in California, USA, not Australia. It is a well-known transform fault where the Pacific Plate and North American Plate slide past each other, making it highly seismically active.
- “The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.”
- Correct: The Ring of Fire is a tectonically active zone surrounding the Pacific Ocean, characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to subduction zones and plate movements.
- “The Himalayan region is seismically active due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.”
- Correct: The Himalayas are one of the most seismically active regions in the world due to the ongoing collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, leading to frequent earthquakes.
- “The Richter scale measures the intensity of earthquakes, providing a logarithmic scale for magnitude.”
- Incorrect: The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, not its intensity. Magnitude refers to the energy released at the source of the earthquake, while intensity (which is measured by the Modified Mercalli Scale) describes the effects of the quake at different locations. However, the Richter scale is logarithmic.
4. With reference to the Quad grouping, which of the following observations is/are correct?
- Its members include the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.
- The Quad countries share a common concern about climate change.
- Military dominance is a core principle of Quad.
- It is primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] Only three
[D] All four
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only three]
Notes:- Its members include the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. Correct: The Quad comprises the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.
- The Quad countries share a common concern about climate change. Correct: The Quad countries have acknowledged climate change as a significant threat and have discussed it in their meetings.
- Military dominance is a core principle of Quad. Incorrect: While the Quad does involve security cooperation, its core principles focus on ensuring a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, rather than military dominance.
- It is primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region. Correct: The primary focus of the Quad is on the Indo-Pacific region.
5. Regarding naval exercises, consider the following statements:
- Exercise Malabar involves naval cooperation between India, Japan, and Australia.
- Exercise RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
- Exercise Black Sea Breeze is conducted by NATO in the Black Sea region.
- Exercise Cobra Gold is held annually in Thailand and focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All four
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All four]
Notes:- Exercise Malabar involves naval cooperation between India, Japan, and Australia: This is correct. It enhances maritime security and interoperability.
- Exercise RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise: This is correct. It includes naval forces from over 25 countries, held biennially in Hawaii.
- Exercise Black Sea Breeze is conducted by NATO in the Black Sea region: This is correct. It aims to enhance regional security and interoperability among NATO allies.
- Exercise Cobra Gold is held annually in Thailand and focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief: This is correct. It is one of the largest multinational military exercises in Asia.
Thus, all four statements are correct. The correct answer is (C) All four.
6. Consider the following:
- India
- Australia
- Indonesia
- New Zealand
Which of the above countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] Only three
[D] All four
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only three]
Notes:- India is the largest member of the Commonwealth, participating actively in its activities.
- Australia, known for its significant contributions, is a founding member of the Commonwealth.
- New Zealand, with its historical ties, is also a key member and engages in various Commonwealth initiatives.
All three countries share a commitment to democracy and development within the Commonwealth framework.
- Indonesia is a member of other international organizations, such as the United Nations and the G20, but not the Commonwealth.
7. With reference to the Great Barrier Reef, Consider the following statements:
- It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea.
- It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 only
[B] 2 only
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:- It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. Correct: It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea.
- It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth. Correct: It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth. It has an area of some 350,000 sq.km. It makes up about 10 percent of the world’s coral reef ecosystems.
8. With reference to the Wallace Line, Consider the following Statements:- It is a bio-geographical boundary separating the eco-zones of Antarctica and Australia.
- The area between the Wallace Line and Australia is known as the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine environment on Earth.
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2]
Notes:- It is a bio-geographical boundary separating the eco-zones of Antarctica and Australia. Incorrect: Wallace Line is a bio-geographical boundary separating the eco-zones of Asia and Australia. It was identified by British explorer Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863 during his explorations.
- The area between the Wallace Line and Australia is known as the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine environment on Earth. Correct: While the Wallace Line is a barrier for terrestrial species, it doesn’t stop marine life. The area between the Wallace Line and the Sahul Shelf (near Australia) is known as the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine environment on Earth.
9. In the context of global time use surveys, consider the following statements:
- India’s Time Use Survey (TUS) is conducted once every two years.
- India’s TUS is conducted by the National Statistics Office.
- Australia was the first country to conduct a national TUS.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only one]
Notes:- India’s Time Use Survey (TUS) is conducted once every two years: This is incorrect. The TUS in India is conducted every four years.
- India’s TUS is conducted by the National Statistics Office: This is correct. The National Statistics Office conducted the country’s first national-level TUS in January-December 2019.
- Australia was the first country to conduct a national TUS: This is incorrect. Sweden was the first country to conduct a national TUS in the 1980s.
Thus, only one statement is correct.
10. Consider the following statements regarding the Great Barrier Reef:
- It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea.
- It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth.
- It makes up about 10 percent of the world’s coral reef ecosystems.
- UNESCO declared the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage Site recently.
Which of the following is the correct order of these locations from east to west?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] Only three
[D] All four
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only three]
Notes:- It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. Correct: It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea.
It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth. Correct: It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth. The reef, which is large enough to be visible from space, is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs. - It makes up about 10 percent of the world’s coral reef ecosystems. Correct: It has an area of some 350,000 sq.km. It makes up about 10 percent of the world’s coral reef ecosystems.
- UNESCO declared the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage Site recently. Incorrect: UNESCO declared the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage Site in 1981.
