Answer: A
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: Mangrove swamps are coastal wetlands found in tropical and
subtropical regions.
● Mangroves belong primarily to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae,
Combretaceae, and Arecaceae.
● Statement 2 is correct: They are characterized by halophytic (salt loving) trees, shrubs
and other plants growing in brackish to saline tidal waters.
● These wetlands are often found in estuaries, where fresh water meets salt water.
Significance of mangroves
● A wide diversity of plants and animals are found in mangrove swamps. Since these
estuarine swamps are constantly replenished with nutrients transported by fresh water
runoff from the land and flushed by the ebb and flow of the tides, they support a bursting
population of bacteria and other decomposers and filter feeders.
● Because mangroves create dense foliage and close proximity of trees, they protect
shorelines from damaging winds and waves. A series of studies in the early 2000s
discovered that mangroves with an average height of 6-10 metres could shorten a cyclone’s
waves by 60%.
● Their protective role has been widely recognized especially after the devastating Tsunami
of 2004.
● Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, and help prevent erosion by stabilising
sediments with their tangled root systems.

● Mangroves also have a big impact on climate. Mangroves are powerhouses when it comes
to carbon storage. Studies indicate that mangroves can sequester greater amounts of
carbon than other trees in the peat soil beneath. They store this carbon for thousands of
years.
● The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fish and other
organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.
● Many people living in and around mangroves depend on them for their livelihood. The
trees are a source of wood for construction and fuel. The ecosystem provides local
fishermen with a rich supply of fish, crabs and shellfish. The ecosystem also supports
tourism.
Distribution:
● Mangroves can be found in more than 120 countries and territories in the tropical and
subtropical regions of the world. The largest extent of mangroves is found in Asia (42%)
followed by Africa (20%), North and Central America (15%), Oceania (12%) and South
America (11%).
● In India, the deltas of the Ganges, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and the Cauvery rivers
contain mangrove forests. 
● The Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest mangrove region in the world and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. It spans from the Hooghly River in West Bengal to the
Baleswar River in Bangladesh. 
● Statement 3 is incorrect: Gulf of Kachchh harbours one of the major mangrove
formations of India. Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu has a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests. It is home to many aquatic bird species.
● The backwaters in Kerala also have a high density of mangrove forest.

3. Consider the following statements about the Food Corporation of India (FCI)
1) It is a statutory corporation under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
2) Maintaining a satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure national food security is one of its objectives.

Answer: C
Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a statutory corporation
under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution.
● It was setup in 1965 under the Food Corporation’s Act 1964 to fulfill following objectives
of the Food Policy:
○ Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers,
○ Distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for public distribution system
and
○ Statement 2 is correct: Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer
stocks of foodgrains to ensure national food security.

● FCI's foremost priority is to ensure food security for the nation by effectively managing the
procurement, storage, and distribution of essential commodities, thereby providing a
reliable and sufficient food supply to meet the needs of the population.

4. Which of the following statements about the Sangeet Natak Akademi is incorrect?

Answer: D
Explanation
● Sangeet Natak Akademi is the apex body in the field of performing arts in India. It is an
autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture.
● The Akademi was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast
intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and
drama.
● The management of the Akademi vests in its General Council.
● The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five
years.
● Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards
● The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on
practising artists.
● Akademi Awards may be conferred on eminent practitioners, gurus and scholars of
music, dance and theatre for sustained individual achievement of high professional order.
○ The Akademi Awards have been conferred since 1952.
● The Akademi also confers Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) on eminent artists and scholars
of music, dance and drama. It is considered as the highest honour given to an eminent
artist in the field of performing arts for his/her exceptional contribution to his/her
performing art form.
○ The Fellowship of the Akademi is a most prestigious and rare honour, which is
restricted to 40 at any given time.
○ The first Fellow of the Akademi was elected in 1954.
● The award of Akademi Fellow carries a prize money of Rs 3 lakh, while the Akademi award
carries a prize money of Rs 1 lakh, besides a 'tamrapatra' (inscriptions on copper plates)
and 'angavastram' (a traditional shoulder cloth).

5. The purpose of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is to

Answer: B
Explanation
● The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) was constituted in 2018 under the
Companies Act, 2013 to continuously improve the quality of all corporate financial
reporting in India.
● Functions and Duties:
○ Recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by
companies for approval by the Central Government;
○ Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing
standards;
○ Oversee the quality of service of the professions associated with ensuring
compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the
quality of service;
○ Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary or incidental to the
aforesaid functions and duties.

● The Authority consists of a chairperson and three full time members appointed by the
Central Government.

1. The main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) is to

Answer: C
Explanation
● The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched “Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva
Abhiyan” (PMSMA) with an aim to provide fixed-day, free of cost, assured,
comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women in their
2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities.
● Launched in 2016, PMSMA envisages to improve the quality and coverage of Antenatal Care
(ANC) including diagnostics and counseling services as part of the Reproductive Maternal
Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.
● One of the key focus areas of PMSMA is to generate demand through Information Education
& Communication (IEC), Interpersonal Communication (IPC) and Behavior Change
Communication (BCC) activities.
● Extensive use of audio-visual and print media in raising mass awareness is an integral part
of the IEC/BCC campaign.
● Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and Anganwadi
Worker (AWW) play a pivotal role in mobilization of the community and potential
beneficiaries in both rural and urban areas for availing of services during the PMSMA.

2. Consider the following statements about the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN scheme.
1. It aims at providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports.
2. The scheme offers viability gap funding to companies in addition to waiver of certain
statutory charges and taxes on jet fuel.
3. The Airports Authority of India is designated as the Implementing Agency under this Scheme.

Answer: D
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: In 2017, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Regional
Connectivity Scheme (RCS) “UDAN” (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) which aims at providing
connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of
existing air-strips and airports to make flying affordable to the common man who want to
travel to and fro the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of the country.
● UDAN has a unique market-based model. Airline routes are allocated to operators selected
through a competitive bidding mechanism.

● Statement 2 is correct: UDAN scheme offers viability gap funding to companies in
addition to waiver of certain statutory charges and taxes on jet fuel in order to offer
affordable connectivity.
● Airlines have to set aside 50% of the total aircraft capacity for cheaper fares to be offered
at the rate of Rs 2,500 per hour of flight, in return for which airlines are given a subsidy
by the Centre and the State government concerned.
● The airport that will be renovated under this scheme will be chosen after referring to the
respective State government. Together with the State government the Central government will revive the dysfunctional and unserved airports of the country.
● Statement 3 is correct: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is designated as the Implementing Agency under this Scheme.
● The scheme is now in its fourth phase with focus on bringing connectivity to priority areas like North East India, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, hilly states in other parts of the country,
and islands.

3. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is situated in

Answer: D
Explanation:
● Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve is located in the eastern Satpura hill range of Madhya Pradesh.
● With one of the highest densities of tigers, it is an extremely popular tiger reserve in the
country.
● It was declared a national park in 1968 and a tiger reserve in 1993 under the Project
Tiger.
● This area is unique from the point of biodiversity, as it comprises hills, valleys, rivers, marshes and meadows to give rise to diverse vegetation.
● Apart from the tiger population, the area is also rich in biodiversity. More than 30 species of mammals, 260 species of birds, 70 species of butterflies, reptiles and insects are found in the region.
● Bandhavgarh has the status of sheltering the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the
world.

4. With reference to the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, consider the following statements.
1. It aims at development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
2. Under the mission, Integrated cattle development centers known as ‘Gokul Grams’ are established.