11. Consider the following pairs:
- Hojagiri – Uttar Pradesh
- Fugdi – Punjab
- Chang Lo – Ladakh
- Singhi Chham – Sikkim
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 4
[B] Only 3
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 4]
Notes:- Hojagiri is a folk dance, performed in the state of Tripura, India by Bru Reang clan.
- Fugdi is a Maharashtra and Goanfolk dance performed by the women in the Konkan region during Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Chang Lo dance is performed by Chang tribe of Nagaland. They perform it to celebrate their victory against enemies.
- Singhi Chham or Kanchendzonga Dance is a lion dance form in Sikkim whereby the dancers perform in a lion costume that represents the snow lion. It is a dance of the Bhutia people, and was said to have been introduced by Chador Namgyal, the third Chogyal of Sikkim, in the 18th century.
12. Which of the following pairs of rice varieties grown in India and respective states is/are matched correctly?
- Pokkali rice – Assam
- Navara rice – Punjab
- Kalanamak rice – Uttar Pradesh
- Gobindobhog rice – West Bengal
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 3
[B] Only 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 3 & 4]
Notes:- Pokkali rice is a saline-tolerant, indigenous rice variety grown in the Alappuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.
- Navara rice is one of the many types of rice found in India, and is a unique grain plant in the Oryza group. It originated somewhere in Kerala, where it is regarded as endemic. In 2007–09, geographical indication status was granted.
- Kalanamak rice is a traditional variety of paddy with a black husk and powerful aroma. It is grown in 11 regions of the terai region in the north-east of Uttar Pradesh and in Nepal. The traditional kalanamak rice is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system (2013).
- The Gobindobhog rice was allotted the GI Tag of West Bengal by the Government of India in August 2017.
13. Which of the following pairs of tribal settlements as referred in the Rig Veda and respective locations are matched correctly?
- North -West – Parsus
- Upper Sind and Punjab – Gandharis
- Western UP – Tritsus
- Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh – Matsyas
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 3 & 4]
Notes:- The position and extent of the tribal settlements referred to in the Rig Veda may be determined roughly as follows:
- The extreme north-west was occupied by the Gandharis, Pakthas, Alinas, Bhalanases and Vishanins.
- In upper Sind and the Punjab were settled the Sivas, Parsus, Kekayas, Vrichivants, Yadus, Anus, Turvasas and Druhyus.
- Further east (western UP) were the settlements of the Tritsus, Bharatas, Purus and Sirinjayas, the eastern most part being in the occupation of Kikatas.
- The Matsyas and Chedis were settled towards the south of the Punjab in the region of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
14. Consider the following statements about Bhagwanpura site:
- It is located in Punjab.
- It has revealed a culture in which the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) phase overlaps with the late Harappan phase.
- Horse bones have been found in layers belonging to this overlap culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:- Bhagawanpura, situated in Kurukshetra district, has revealed a culture in which the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) phase overlaps with the late Harappan phase. Horse bones have been found in layers belonging to this overlap culture dated to 1300–1200 BC.
- Horse bones also appear in the PGW stratum of Hastinapur around the middle of the first millennium BC.
- Several places in northern India reveal terracotta figurines of horses and bulls in the layers of the PGW phase. There is no doubt that the use of the horse and chariot contributed to the spread of the Aryans.
15. After Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Punjab, which state recently restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Telangana
[C] Kerala
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh government decided to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees, who were covered under National Pension System (NPS).
Prior to this, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Punjab have also rolled out the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). This decision will benefit over 1.36 lakh NPS employees of the state.A cabinet Sub Committee has been constituted for the implementation of granting Rs 1,500 to the women of 18 to 60 years.
16. Who inaugurated the National Genome Editing and Training Center at Mohali, Punjab?
[A] Dr. Jitendra Singh
[B] Rajeev Chandrasekhar
[C] Ashwini Vaishnav
[D] Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dr. Jitendra Singh]
Notes:
The “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” (NGETC) at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, in Mohali, Punjab, was originally inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
17. With respect to the ‘chlorpyrifos’, consider the following statements:
- It is a flame retardant.
- It was registered under the Insecticide Act of 1968.
- It is one of the ten pesticides banned by Punjab and Haryana governments in August 2022.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:- The United Nations Environment Programme’s proposal to list chlorpyrifos as POP was resisted by India.
- India had also opposed the decision to list flame retardant dechlorane plus.
- Chlorpyrifos was registered under the Insecticide Act of 1968 since 1977 and Anupam Verma Committee recommended its review for continued use in 2015.
- China and India are among the largest producers of chlorpyrifos. Nearly 48 per cent of chlorpyrifos or 24,000 tonnes was produced in India. Globally, some 50,000 tonnes of chlorpyrifos is being used annually, according to estimates by the China Crop Protection Industry Association.
- Chlorpyrifos was approved for agricultural use in 2021, which includes its use as a pesticide against pests affecting Bengal gram, rice and cotton.
- It is one of the ten pesticides banned by Punjab and Haryana governments in August 2022.
- Chlorpyrifos is approved for 18 crops in India, while it was being used for 23 crops.
18. Which of the following court cases deals with the powers of a Governor?
- Shamsher Singh & Anr vs State of Punjab
- Nabam Rebia And Etc. vs Deputy Speaker and Ors
- Mahabir Prasad v. Prafulla Chandra
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:- Shamsher Singh & Anr vs State of Punjab (1974): In this case, a seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court said that the President and Governor, custodians of all executive and other powers under various Articles, shall exercise their formal constitutional powers only upon and in accordance with the advice of their Ministers save in a few well-known exceptional situations.
- Nabam Rebia And Etc. vs Deputy Speaker and Ors (2016): SC ruled that Article 163 of the Constitution does not give the Governor a general discretionary power to act against or without the advice of his Council of Ministers
- Mahabir Prasad v. Prafulla Chandra 1969: The case revolved around the question of the nature of the governor’s pleasure under article 164(1). The governor’s pleasure under article 164(1) is subject to Article 164(2). Thus, the withdrawal of the governor’s pleasure must coincide with the withdrawal of support to the ministry by the assembly.
19. What has the Punjab government announced regarding pension schemes?
[A] They are planning to switch to the new pension scheme
[B] They are considering switching back to the old pension scheme
[C] They will continue using the current pension scheme
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [They are considering switching back to the old pension scheme]
Notes:
New pension scheme vs old pension scheme: Several states are returning to the old pension scheme. The Punjab government recently announced that they are planning about going back to OPS for its employees. Punjab will become the fourth state to switch back to the OPS if the idea were to pass. The old pension scheme is already in place in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
20. Consider the following schemes:
- Krishak Pathshala was started in Punjab.
- Gramin Bhandaran Yojana offer subsidies to build or repair rural godowns.
- Scheme on Fisheries Training and Extension to assist in undertaking fisheries extension programmes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:
The Integrated Birsa Village Development Scheme, Krishak Pathshala, was initiated in Jharkhand to enhance agriculture through advanced techniques and off-season horticulture in each district. It includes improvements in animal husbandry, fisheries, and irrigation. The Gramin Bhandaran Yojana, or Rural Godown Scheme, provides subsidies for building or repairing rural storage facilities to support farmers in storing produce and agricultural inputs. Additionally, a Fisheries Training and Extension Scheme was launched to train individuals in the fishery sector for effective extension programs.
