Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called 'rare earth metals'. Why?
1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.
2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not fo...

India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons?
1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%.
2. As a conse...

What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858)?
1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under the British Crown 3. To regulate East India Company's trade with India Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?
1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras. 3. The land slopes to the west from Central India. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?
1. It opposed idolatry.
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. 3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school:
1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of soul.
2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior ...

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?
1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.
2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates. 3. They can be installed in waste water treatment plants to cleanse wa...

The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements:
1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one's duties to oneself and to others.
2. Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the...

The Reserve Bank of India regulates the commercial banks in matters of
1. liquidity of assets
2. branch expansion 3. merger of banks 4. winding-up of banks

Why is the Government of India disinvesting its equity in the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) ?
1. The Government intends to use the revenue earned from the disinvestment mainly to pay back the external debt.
2. The Government no longer intends to retain the management control of the...

Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower atmosphere because of
1. its escape into the outer stratosphere.
2. the photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans. 3. the trapping o...

Which of the following can aid in furthering the Government's objective of inclusive growth?
1. Promoting Self-Help Groups
2. Promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 3. Implementing the Right to Education Act Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following pairs:
National Highway | Cities connected
1. NH 4 : Chennai and Hyderabad 2. NH 6 : Mumbai and Kolkata 3. NH 15 : Ahmedabad and Jodhpur Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Which of the following adds/add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on the planet Earth?
1. Volcanic action
2. Respiration 3. Photosynthesis 4. Decay of organic matter Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Consider the following animals:
1. Sea cow
2. Sea horse 3. Sea lion Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

What is/are the recent policy initiative(s) of Government of India to promote the growth of manufacturing sector?
1. Setting up of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones
2. Providing the benefit of 'single window clearance' 3. Establishing the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund S...

When the bark of a tree is removed in a circular fashion all around near its base, it gradually dries up and dies because

In the context of Indian economy, which of the following is/are the purpose/purposes of 'Statutory Reserve Requirements'?
1. To enable the Central Bank to control the amount of advances the banks can create
2. To make the people's deposits with banks safe and liquid 3. To prevent the commercia...

What are the reasons for the people's resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India?
1. Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fungus into its genome.
2. The seeds of Bt brinjal are terminator seeds and therefore, the farmers have to buy the seeds before every seas...

Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements:
1. He/She holds the office during the pleasure of the President.
2. He/She need not be a member of the House at the time of his/her election but has to become a member of the House within six months from the date...