Officers IAS Academy - Study Group
15.1K subscribers
3.05K photos
58 videos
352 files
2.45K links
Officers IAS Academy’s official Telegram group
Download Telegram
Answer: (A)

The Gandak River is a Himalayan transboundary river originating in Nepal and flowing into Bihar in India.

Its river system is associated with the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli streams in the Nepal Himalayas.

It is a major left-bank tributary of the Ganga and joins the Ganga in Bihar.

Like several Himalayan rivers, the Gandak carries a substantial sediment load and is prone to flooding during the monsoon.
Which of the following statements regarding the National Coastal Mission 2.0 are correct?
1. It aims to strengthen coastal resilience and promote the Blue Economy.
2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
3. It promotes Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (ICZMP) and Coastal Marine Spatial Plans (CMSP).
4. It covers nine coastal States and four Union Territories of India.
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Answer: (B)

Statement 1 is correct: The primary goal of the National Coastal Mission 2.0 (NCM 2.0) is to strengthen climate resilience, protect vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems, and sustainably harness India's Blue Economy.

Statement 2 is incorrect: National Coastal Mission 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme (fully funded and managed by the Central Government) rather than a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, though it is indeed implemented under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Statement 3 is correct: The mission integrates spatial planning by promoting and developing Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (ICZMP) and Coastal Marine Spatial Plans (CMSP).

Statement 4 is correct: It features pan-India coastal coverage spanning nine coastal States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal) and four Union Territories (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep).

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding the Controller General of Accounts (CGA):

1. The CGA is the Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.
2. The CGA is responsible for central government exchequer control and internal audit.
3. The CGA functions under the Department of Economic affairs, Ministry of Finance.
4. The CGA is the constitutional authority responsible for auditing the accounts of the Union Government.
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Answer: (B)

Apex Accounting Authority: The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is the apex accounting authority of the Central Government. It functions as the executive accounting wing under the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.

Constitutional Status: The CGA is not a constitutional body, unlike the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which derives its authority from Article 148 of the Constitution. The office of the CGA was established in 1976 following the separation of accounts from audit in the Central Government.

Principal Accounting Adviser: The CGA advises the Government on accounting policies, principles and procedures. It also ensures uniformity and consistency in accounting practices across various Union Ministries and Departments.

Exchequer Control: The CGA is responsible for exchequer control and monitoring of fund flows to ensure that government expenditure remains within the limits authorised by Parliament. This contributes to financial discipline in government spending.

Internal Audit: The CGA provides guidelines and technical support for internal audit in Central Government Ministries and Departments. Internal audit helps identify financial irregularities, weaknesses and instances of inefficient use of public funds.

Financial Reporting: The CGA compiles the monthly and annual accounts of the Union Government. It also provides important fiscal information relating to government receipts, expenditure and the fiscal position, supporting financial management and policymaking.

Administrative Structure: The CGA functions under the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. The organization is headed by the Controller General of Accounts, generally a senior officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS).

Indian Civil Accounts Organisation: The CGA heads the Indian Civil Accounts Organisation, which includes Chief Controllers of Accounts (CCAs), Controllers of Accounts (CAs) and Pay and Accounts Officers (PAOs) functioning within Central Government Ministries and Departments.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following countries:
I. United Kingdom
II. France
III. Spain
IV. Belgium
V. Netherlands
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Answer: (B)

The English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France. Among the listed countries, it directly lies between:
○ I. United Kingdom
○ II. France

The other countries—Spain, Belgium, and Netherlands—do not border or lie across the English Channel (Spain is located further south on the Iberian Peninsula, while Belgium and the Netherlands border the North Sea). Therefore, it lies between only two of the given countries.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
AFSPA continues to be relevant in India’s Northeastern security framework, particularly in areas affected by insurgency. The Act provides special powers to armed forces in officially declared “disturbed areas.”

Important for UPSC: Polity → Internal Security → AFSPA 1958 → Disturbed Areas → Northeast Insurgency → Armed Forces → Human Rights → Supreme Court Judgments.
PM E-DRIVE stands for PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement. It was launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to promote electric mobility in India.

Important for UPSC: Indian Economy → Electric Mobility → Green Transportation → EV Manufacturing → Charging Infrastructure → Make in India → Sustainable Development.
Dibru Saikhowa National Park lies within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and represents an important ecological transition between different forest and riverine habitats.

Important for UPSC: Environment & Ecology → National Parks → Assam → Brahmaputra Basin → Wetlands → Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot → White-winged Wood Duck → Feral Horses.