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Dive deep into the world of UPSC preparation with our PYQs Answer Series!
Master the art of answering Previous Year Questions with expert guidance and detailed explanations.
Drop your answers in the comments, and let’s learn together!
#OfficersIASAcademy #UPSCPreparation #PYQsAnswerSeries #learnwithus
Answer: A
Soln:
G33 countries
● The G33 is a forum of developing countries including India, Brazil, South Africa etc.
formed during the Cancun Ministerial Conference (2003) of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), to protect the interest of the developing countries in agricultural
trade negotiations.
● It was created in order to help group countries which were all facing similar problems. The
G33 has proposed special rules for developing countries at WTO negotiations, like allowing
them to continue to restrict access to their agricultural markets.
● The group, despite its name, has 47 members currently.
Soln:
G33 countries
● The G33 is a forum of developing countries including India, Brazil, South Africa etc.
formed during the Cancun Ministerial Conference (2003) of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), to protect the interest of the developing countries in agricultural
trade negotiations.
● It was created in order to help group countries which were all facing similar problems. The
G33 has proposed special rules for developing countries at WTO negotiations, like allowing
them to continue to restrict access to their agricultural markets.
● The group, despite its name, has 47 members currently.
4. With reference to the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, consider the following statements.
1. It is located near the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic archipelago.
2. It is considered as the last line of defence against the loss of genetic diversity of crops.
1. It is located near the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic archipelago.
2. It is considered as the last line of defence against the loss of genetic diversity of crops.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
8%
A. 1 only
61%
B. 2 only
28%
C. Both 1 and 2
3%
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Soln:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: The Svalbard Global Seed Bank is located in Svalbard in a
Norwegian archipelago (an area of ocean containing many islands) in the Arctic Ocean.
● Svalbard is found north of mainland Europe, halfway between continental Norway
and the North Pole.
● The vault was launched in 2008 as a backup for the world's national and regional gene
banks that store the genetic code for thousands of plant species. The objective of the Seed
Vault is to safeguard as much of the world’s unique crop genetic material as possible,
while also avoiding unnecessary duplication.
● It has seed samples from nearly every country in the world, and played an essential role
between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria.
● Statement 2 is correct: The whole of humanity relies on the genetic diversity of crops
maintained in the world’s gene banks, and the Seed Vault is the last line of defence
against the loss of that diversity.
● For instance: The world used to cultivate over 6,000 different plants but U.N. experts say
we now get about 40% of our calories from three main crops - maize, wheat and rice -
making food supplies vulnerable if climate change causes harvests to fail.
● Svalbard also serves as a backup for plant breeders to develop new crop varieties
more resistant to climate change.
Soln:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: The Svalbard Global Seed Bank is located in Svalbard in a
Norwegian archipelago (an area of ocean containing many islands) in the Arctic Ocean.
● Svalbard is found north of mainland Europe, halfway between continental Norway
and the North Pole.
● The vault was launched in 2008 as a backup for the world's national and regional gene
banks that store the genetic code for thousands of plant species. The objective of the Seed
Vault is to safeguard as much of the world’s unique crop genetic material as possible,
while also avoiding unnecessary duplication.
● It has seed samples from nearly every country in the world, and played an essential role
between 2015 and 2019 in rebuilding seed collections damaged during the war in Syria.
● Statement 2 is correct: The whole of humanity relies on the genetic diversity of crops
maintained in the world’s gene banks, and the Seed Vault is the last line of defence
against the loss of that diversity.
● For instance: The world used to cultivate over 6,000 different plants but U.N. experts say
we now get about 40% of our calories from three main crops - maize, wheat and rice -
making food supplies vulnerable if climate change causes harvests to fail.
● Svalbard also serves as a backup for plant breeders to develop new crop varieties
more resistant to climate change.
5. Consider the following statements about Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
1. These schools aim to provide quality primary education for Scheduled Tribe students in
remote areas.
2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)
establishes, endows, maintains, controls and manages these schools.
3. Only Scheduled Tribe students can be enrolled into these schools.
1. These schools aim to provide quality primary education for Scheduled Tribe students in
remote areas.
2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)
establishes, endows, maintains, controls and manages these schools.
3. Only Scheduled Tribe students can be enrolled into these schools.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
18%
A. Only one
48%
B. Only two
16%
C. All the three
18%
D. None of the above
Answer: D
Soln:
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS):
● The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya
Model Residential School (EMRS) to provide quality middle and high-level education to
Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● Introduced in 1997-98, the schools are aimed to enable ST students to access the best
opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population.
● The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of
the students.
● Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Non-
ST students can be admitted in EMRSs up to 10% of the total seats. Hence, statement 3
is incorrect.
● The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous
organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, establishes, endows, maintains, controls
and manages these schools. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● The government aims to establish EMRS in every block with more than 50% ST
population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
● EMRS are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of
India.
○ Article 275(1) guarantees grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India
each year for promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
○ Infrastructure development schemes like protected drinking water, road
connectivity, electricity and housing are provided under this scheme.
Soln:
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS):
● The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya
Model Residential School (EMRS) to provide quality middle and high-level education to
Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● Introduced in 1997-98, the schools are aimed to enable ST students to access the best
opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population.
● The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of
the students.
● Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Non-
ST students can be admitted in EMRSs up to 10% of the total seats. Hence, statement 3
is incorrect.
● The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous
organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, establishes, endows, maintains, controls
and manages these schools. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● The government aims to establish EMRS in every block with more than 50% ST
population and at least 20,000 tribal persons.
● EMRS are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of
India.
○ Article 275(1) guarantees grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India
each year for promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
○ Infrastructure development schemes like protected drinking water, road
connectivity, electricity and housing are provided under this scheme.
1. Consider the following statements about the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC).
1. Venezuela is a founder member of this organisation.
2. OPEC members produce more than 80% of the global petroleum production.
(OPEC).
1. Venezuela is a founder member of this organisation.
2. OPEC members produce more than 80% of the global petroleum production.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
28%
A. 1 only
27%
B. 2 only
40%
C. Both 1 and 2
4%
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
Soln:
OPEC:
● The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent
intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations.
● Countries that belong to OPEC include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela
(the five founders), plus the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● OPEC was founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its members and to
provide member states with technical and economic aid.
● OPEC is used to work as a cartel and fix prices in a favourable band. It could bring down
prices by increasing oil production and raise prices by cutting production.
● The OPEC Secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria.
OPEC Plus
● The 2014 oil crisis, which was accentuated by oversupply of crude, brought down prices
below $30 a barrel.
● Since then, OPEC has been working with non-OPEC countries like Russia, Azerbaijan,
Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Sudan and South Sudan to fix
the global prices and supply.
● Known as the “OPEC Plus” arrangement, this alliance kept production lower and pumped
up the prices.
● Together, these nations produce about 40% of the entire world's crude oil. Hence,
statement 2 is incorrect.
Soln:
OPEC:
● The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent
intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations.
● Countries that belong to OPEC include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela
(the five founders), plus the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● OPEC was founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its members and to
provide member states with technical and economic aid.
● OPEC is used to work as a cartel and fix prices in a favourable band. It could bring down
prices by increasing oil production and raise prices by cutting production.
● The OPEC Secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria.
OPEC Plus
● The 2014 oil crisis, which was accentuated by oversupply of crude, brought down prices
below $30 a barrel.
● Since then, OPEC has been working with non-OPEC countries like Russia, Azerbaijan,
Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Sudan and South Sudan to fix
the global prices and supply.
● Known as the “OPEC Plus” arrangement, this alliance kept production lower and pumped
up the prices.
● Together, these nations produce about 40% of the entire world's crude oil. Hence,
statement 2 is incorrect.
2. Consider the following statements about the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
(NIIF).
1. It aims to provide long-term capital to India's infrastructure sector.
2. The stakes are completely held by Indian Government and Domestic Indian investors.
3. The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.
(NIIF).
1. It aims to provide long-term capital to India's infrastructure sector.
2. The stakes are completely held by Indian Government and Domestic Indian investors.
3. The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
26%
A. Only one
63%
B. Only two
9%
C. All the three
2%
D. None of the above
Answer: B
Soln:
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
● National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is an Indian-government backed
entity established in 2016 to provide long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure
sector. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The NIIF aims to maximize the economic impact mainly through infrastructure
development in commercially viable projects.
● The Indian government has a 49 per cent stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and
domestic investors. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● NIIF got registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
Alternative Investment Funds:
● Alternative Investment Funds are private funds which are otherwise not coming under
the jurisdiction of any regulatory agency in India.
● In India, AIFs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative
Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
● The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● NIIF currently manages four funds each with its distinctive investment mandate.
○ Master Fund
■ It primarily invests in operating assets in core infrastructure sectors such as
transportation and energy.
○ Private Markets Fund
■ This fund invests in funds managed by third-party managers in
infrastructure and associated sectors.
○ Strategic Fund
■ This fund is aimed at growth and development-stage investments in large
scale projects in a broad range of sectors of economic and commercial
importance.
○ India-Japan Fund
■ This is NIIF’s first bilateral fund. IJF invests in environment preservation in
India and also seeks to enable opportunities for collaboration between
Indian and Japanese companies.
Soln:
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
● National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is an Indian-government backed
entity established in 2016 to provide long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure
sector. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The NIIF aims to maximize the economic impact mainly through infrastructure
development in commercially viable projects.
● The Indian government has a 49 per cent stake in NIIF with the rest held by foreign and
domestic investors. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● NIIF got registered with SEBI as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
Alternative Investment Funds:
● Alternative Investment Funds are private funds which are otherwise not coming under
the jurisdiction of any regulatory agency in India.
● In India, AIFs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative
Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
● The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● NIIF currently manages four funds each with its distinctive investment mandate.
○ Master Fund
■ It primarily invests in operating assets in core infrastructure sectors such as
transportation and energy.
○ Private Markets Fund
■ This fund invests in funds managed by third-party managers in
infrastructure and associated sectors.
○ Strategic Fund
■ This fund is aimed at growth and development-stage investments in large
scale projects in a broad range of sectors of economic and commercial
importance.
○ India-Japan Fund
■ This is NIIF’s first bilateral fund. IJF invests in environment preservation in
India and also seeks to enable opportunities for collaboration between
Indian and Japanese companies.
3. Consider the following statements about Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024.
1. It is an annual report that measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national
levels.
2. It is published by the World Health Organisation.
3. It is based on the parameters of Undernourishment, Child wasting, Child stunting and Child
mortality
1. It is an annual report that measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national
levels.
2. It is published by the World Health Organisation.
3. It is based on the parameters of Undernourishment, Child wasting, Child stunting and Child
mortality
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
7%
A. Only one
72%
B. Only two
20%
C. All the three
2%
D. None of the above
Answer: B
Soln:
Global Hunger Index 2024:
● The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual report that measures and tracks hunger at
global, regional, and national levels. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The Index is a peer-reviewed report jointly published by Concern Worldwide (an Irish
humanitarian organization), Welthungerhilfe (a German aid agency) and the Institute for
International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (an European academic institution).
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● The GHI determines hunger on a 100-point scale, where 0 is the best possible score (no
hunger) and 100 is the worst. Each country’s GHI score is classified by severity, from low to
extremely alarming.
● It is based on 4 indicators:
○ Undernourishment - population with inadequate calorie intake;
○ Child wasting - the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for
their height, reflecting acute undernutrition;
○ Child stunting - children under the age of five who have low height for their age,
reflecting chronic undernutrition;
○ Child mortality - the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● The reason for mapping hunger is to ensure that the world achieves “Zero Hunger by
2030” — one of the Sustainable Development Goals laid out by the United Nations. It is for
this reason that GHI scores are not calculated for certain high-income countries.
Highlights of the Index
● The 2024 GHI score for the world is 18.3, considered moderate, down only slightly from
the 2016 score of 18.8.
● The goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 now appears unreachable, and if progress remains at
the same pace, the world will not reach even low hunger until 2160.
● The report highlights the link between Gender inequality, climate change, and hunger.
Women and girls are typically hardest hit by food insecurity and malnutrition. They also
suffer disproportionately from the effects of weather extremes and climate emergencies.
● India has been ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the latest Index, placing it in the
"serious" category for hunger levels.
● With a GHI score of 27.3, India is listed alongside countries like Pakistan and
Afghanistan, which also face severe hunger challenges.
● The report reveals alarming statistics: 13.7 percent of India's population is
undernourished, 35.5 percent of children under five are stunted, 18.7 percent suffer
from wasting, and 2.9 percent of children die before their fifth birthday.
Soln:
Global Hunger Index 2024:
● The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual report that measures and tracks hunger at
global, regional, and national levels. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● The Index is a peer-reviewed report jointly published by Concern Worldwide (an Irish
humanitarian organization), Welthungerhilfe (a German aid agency) and the Institute for
International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (an European academic institution).
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● The GHI determines hunger on a 100-point scale, where 0 is the best possible score (no
hunger) and 100 is the worst. Each country’s GHI score is classified by severity, from low to
extremely alarming.
● It is based on 4 indicators:
○ Undernourishment - population with inadequate calorie intake;
○ Child wasting - the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for
their height, reflecting acute undernutrition;
○ Child stunting - children under the age of five who have low height for their age,
reflecting chronic undernutrition;
○ Child mortality - the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
● The reason for mapping hunger is to ensure that the world achieves “Zero Hunger by
2030” — one of the Sustainable Development Goals laid out by the United Nations. It is for
this reason that GHI scores are not calculated for certain high-income countries.
Highlights of the Index
● The 2024 GHI score for the world is 18.3, considered moderate, down only slightly from
the 2016 score of 18.8.
● The goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 now appears unreachable, and if progress remains at
the same pace, the world will not reach even low hunger until 2160.
● The report highlights the link between Gender inequality, climate change, and hunger.
Women and girls are typically hardest hit by food insecurity and malnutrition. They also
suffer disproportionately from the effects of weather extremes and climate emergencies.
● India has been ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the latest Index, placing it in the
"serious" category for hunger levels.
● With a GHI score of 27.3, India is listed alongside countries like Pakistan and
Afghanistan, which also face severe hunger challenges.
● The report reveals alarming statistics: 13.7 percent of India's population is
undernourished, 35.5 percent of children under five are stunted, 18.7 percent suffer
from wasting, and 2.9 percent of children die before their fifth birthday.
4. Consider the following statements about the Sagarmala project.
1. It aims to develop a string of ports along India’s coast to promote “Port-led development”.
2. Coastal community development is a pillar of focus in this project.
3. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been appointed as the nodal ministry
for this initiative.
1. It aims to develop a string of ports along India’s coast to promote “Port-led development”.
2. Coastal community development is a pillar of focus in this project.
3. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been appointed as the nodal ministry
for this initiative.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
Anonymous Quiz
13%
A. 1 only
25%
B. 2 only
25%
C. 3 only
38%
D. None of the above
Answer: D
Soln:
Sagarmala:
● The Sagarmala project was launched in 2015 to develop a string of ports along India’s
7500 km long coast to promote “Port-led development”. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It aims to develop access to new development regions and enhance connectivity with main
economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road
services.
● The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been appointed as the nodal
ministry for this initiative. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● To assist in implementation of the Sagarmala Programme, the Sagarmala Development
Company Limited has been incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013.
● The vision of the programme is to reduce logistics cost for Export-Import (EXIM) and
domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment.
4-Pillars of Sagarmala
● Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Soln:
Sagarmala:
● The Sagarmala project was launched in 2015 to develop a string of ports along India’s
7500 km long coast to promote “Port-led development”. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It aims to develop access to new development regions and enhance connectivity with main
economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road
services.
● The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been appointed as the nodal
ministry for this initiative. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● To assist in implementation of the Sagarmala Programme, the Sagarmala Development
Company Limited has been incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013.
● The vision of the programme is to reduce logistics cost for Export-Import (EXIM) and
domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment.
4-Pillars of Sagarmala
● Hence, statement 2 is correct.
5. CARICOM is a group of developing countries of which of the following region?