1.1.

Question

2points

Whichamongthefollowingconventions/protocolsaimstoensurethesafehandling,transport
anduseofGeneticallyModifiedOrganisms?
a)NagoyaProtocol
b)RotterdamConvention
c)BaselConvention
d)CartagenaProtocol
Incorrect
Solution:d.
AnappreciablenumberofpeoplehaveconcernsaboutthepotentialrisksthatGMOspose
totheenvironment(throughgeneflow)andhumanhealth(throughallergies).However,no
suchharmfuleffectshavebeenrecordedoverthe20yearsofcommercialisationofGMO
crops.ItisinrecognitionofsuchconcernsthattheglobalcommunitydevisedtheCartagena
ProtocolonBiosafetyoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversitywhichaimstoensurethesafe
handling,transportanduseofGMOs,Chikelusaid.
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/agriculturalbiotechnolgiesaboontofamily
farmers52862

2.2.Question

2points

2016hasbeendeclaredbytheUnitedNationsastheInternationalYearof
a)FamilyFarming
b)Pulses
c)Soils
d)LightandLightbasedTechnologies
Incorrect
Solution:b.
2014wastheInternationalYearofFamilyFarming.2016istheInternationalYearofPulses.
DuringaninternationalsymposiumhostedbytheFoodandAgricultureOrganization
(FAO)DirectorGeneralJosGrazianodaSilvasaid,Wecannotlosesightthat
biotechnologies,knowledgeandinnovationmustbeavailable,accessibleandapplicableto

familyfarmers,includingsmallholders.
Improvisation:http://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/agriculturalbiotechnolgiesa
boontofamilyfarmers52862

3.3.Question

2points

TheQuadrilateralCoordinationGroup(QCG)recentlyseeninthenews,consistsof
a)Afghanistan,Pakistan,ChinaandUSA
b)India,Pakistan,AfghanistanandIran
c)Pakistan,China,IranandIndia
d)Russia,China,USAandAfghanistan
Correct
Solution:a.
India,IranandRussiashouldbeincludedinthetalkswiththeTaliban,saysformer
AfghanistanPresidentHamidKarzai,whosaidthatthecurrenttalksamongthe
QuadrilateralCoordinationGroup(QCG)wereAfghanistansonlyhopeforpeacedespite
thefactthatthetalkswerebeingheldinPakistan.Mr.Karzaiscommentscameastherewas
uncertaintyinIslamabadoverjustwhenthenextroundofQCGtalksthatinclude
representativesfromtheU.S.,China,PakistanandAfghanistan,wouldbescheduled.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/hamidkarzaiforincludingindiain
afghantalks/article8318871.ece

4.4.Question

2points

Considerthefollowingstatements:
Assertion(A):GlobalfirmsthatofferonlineadvertisementservicesinIndiacannotclaimatax
credit(onaccountoftheEqualizationLevyimposedbyIndia)intheirhomecountryunder
thedoubletaxationavoidanceagreements
Reason(R):EqualisationLevyononlineadvertisementservicesisnotapartoftheIncome
TaxAct
Whichoftheabovestatementsis/aretrue?
a)AandRbotharetrue,andRisthecorrectexplanationforA

b)AandRbotharetrue,andRistheNOTthecorrectexplanationforA
c)Aiscorrect,Risincorrect
d)AisincorrectandRiscorrect
Incorrect
Ans:a.
Further,asthelevyisnotintroducedaspartoftheIncomeTaxActbutasaseparate
legislationundertheFinanceBill,globalfirmsthatoffersuchservicesinIndiacannotclaim
ataxcreditintheirhomecountryunderthedoubletaxationavoidanceagreements,experts
pointout.
http://www.thehindu.com/todayspaper/tpbusiness/levyononlineadsmayhit
startups/article8319025.ece

5.5.Question

2points

Theeffectivenessofantibioticstotreatbacterialinfectionshasbeensteadilydeclining.Which
ofthefollowingmeasures,ifadopted,canpreventtheproliferationofAntiMicrobial
Resistance?
1.Crackdownonthepracticeofthepharmaindustryincentivisingdoctorstoprescribe
certainmedicines
2.Crackdownonsaleoflooseantimicrobials
3.Betterandgreateraccesstodiagnosticfacilities
4.Bettersanitation
Selectthecorrectanswerusingthecodegivenbelow:
a)1,2and3only
b)1and3only
c)2and4only
d)1,2,3and4
Incorrect
Solution:d.
Arecentstudyreportedfixeddosecombinationsandlooseantimicrobialsfortuberculosis.
Looseantimicrobialscomewithoutpackaginganddonotmentionthenameofthedrug,its
manufacturer,thedateofmanufacture,orthedateofexpiry.
Bettersanitationandeffectiveinfectioncontrolmeasuresinhealthcaresettingswillalso

drasticallycutthespreadofdrugresistantstrains.
Inadequatediagnosticfacilities,lackofantibioticguidelinesandpatientsdemandforquick
reliefoftendetermineddoctorsprescriptionhabits,besidesincentivesfromdrugscompanies
andchemiststopushcertainproducts.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/oped/theantibioticredlineof
control/article8318355.ece

6.6.Question

2points

WhichofthefollowingstatementsaboutAsur,aParticularlyVulnerableTribalGroup,
is/areincorrect?
1.TheAsurpeopleclaimtobedescendantsofMahishasur,thebuffalodemonwhom
GoddessDurgakillsafterafightlastingninenights
2.Itisthoughtthatthesepeoplewereonceironsmelters,whichtheMagadhanempire
benefittedfrom
Selectthecorrectanswerusingthecodegivenbelow:
a)1Only
b)2Only
c)Both1and2
d)Neither1nor2
Incorrect
Solution:d.
Bothstatementsarecorrect.AninterestingarticleontheAsurpeople:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indianewsindia/meetingtheasursamarginal
tribeineasternindia/