Competitive Exams : GK & GS - Mix (Set 1) | Concept of Maths

Question 1

1. Under the $10^{th}$ Schedule of the Indian Constitution, who is the final authority to decide on disqualification of a member of the Lok Sabha on grounds of defection?

A) The President of India

B) The Election Commission of India

C) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

D) The Supreme Court of India

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: According to the $52^{nd}$ Amendment Act (1985), any question regarding disqualification arising out of defection is to be decided by the presiding officer of the House. For the Lok Sabha, it is the Speaker. Note: In the famous Kihoto Hollohan case (1992), the Supreme Court ruled that the Speaker's decision is subject to judicial review.

Question 2

2. In the context of the Indian Economy, if the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decides to adopt an "Expansionary Monetary Policy", which of the following would it NOT do?

A) Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio ($SLR$)

B) Increase the Marginal Standing Facility ($MSF$) Rate

C) Reduce the Bank Rate and Repo Rate

D) Purchase Government Securities in the Open Market

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: An expansionary policy aims to increase the money supply in the market. Increasing the $MSF$ rate makes overnight commercial borrowing more expensive for banks, which is a key feature of a "Contractionary" or "Dear" money policy stance. Thus, the RBI would NOT increase this rate during expansion. Let $r$ be the policy interest rate; for expansionary intervals, $\Delta r < 0$.

Question 3

3. Consider the following statements about the "Coriolis Effect". Which one is correct?

A) It is zero at the Equator and maximum at the Poles.

Question 4

4. What is the primary objective of the "Nagoya Protocol" in the field of Environmental Governance?

A) Reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions

B) Control of Transboundary movements of hazardous wastes

C) Protection of the Ozone Layer

D) Access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits ($ABS$)

Answer

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: The Nagoya Protocol (2010) is a supplementary international treaty to the Convention on Biological Diversity ($CBD$). It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three core objectives of the $CBD$: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Question 5

5. Which Article of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment?

A) Article $61$

B) Article $72$

C) Article $123$

D) Article $161$

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Article $72$ empowers the President of India to grant pardons. For comparison, Article $161$ empowers State Governors for state laws, Article $61$ dictates the process for Presidential Impeachment, and Article $123$ frames executive Ordinance-making powers.

Question 6

6. The "Gini Coefficient" is a statistical measure used to represent which of the following properties in an economy?

A) Income Inequality

B) Rate of Inflation

C) Unemployment Rate

D) Foreign Exchange Reserves

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The Gini Coefficient ($G$) ranges mathematically from $0$ to $1$ and is calculated based on the Lorenz Curve metrics. If $A$ is the tracking area between the line of perfect equality and the true Lorenz curve, and $B$ is the lower area under the curve, then: $$G = \frac{A}{A+B}$$ A value of $G=0$ implies perfect economic equality.

Question 7

7. Which of the following mountain features or ridges acts as the primary water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river systems?

A) Zanskar Range

B) Pir Panjal Range

C) Ambala Ridge and the Aravalli Range

D) Karakoram Range

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: The Ambala Ridge (Haryana) is the structural upland geographic area that separates the drainage basin of the Indus (specifically the Sutlej basin) from the Ganga river system (the Yamuna basin). The Aravallis form the south-western component of this water divide.

Question 8

8. In an aquatic ecosystem, which of the following models is usually structured as an "inverted" pyramid?

A) Pyramid of Energy

B) Pyramid of Biomass

C) Pyramid of Numbers

D) None of the above

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: In deep aquatic ecosystems (like an open ocean or pond), the biomass of consumers (fishes, zooplankton) at any given instant is physically greater than the standing biomass of primary producers (phytoplankton). This happens due to the exceptionally high turnover rate and short lifespan of phytoplanktons. Thus, the Pyramid of Biomass is inverted. Note: The Pyramid of Energy is always upright due to the thermodynamic $10\%$ transfer law.

Question 9

9. The "Provisions relating to the Administration and Control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes" are contained in which Schedule of the Constitution?

A) Fourth Schedule

B) Third Schedule

C) Sixth Schedule

D) Fifth Schedule

Answer

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: The Fifth Schedule deals broadly with Scheduled Areas/Tribes administration across most states. By contrast, the Sixth Schedule provides specialized autonomous administrative framework exclusively for Tribal Areas inside Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram (AMTM).

Question 10

10. What does the term "Phillips Curve" describe in Macroeconomics?

A) Inverse relationship between Inflation and Unemployment

B) Direct relationship between Tax rates and Tax revenue

C) Relationship between Income and Inequality

D) Relationship between Interest rates and Investment

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The Phillips Curve models an historical inverse trade-off relationship between inflation and unemployment in the short-run. If $\pi$ is inflation and $u$ is unemployment, the relationship tracks as: $$\pi \approx f\left(\frac{1}{u}\right)$$

Question 11

11. Which type of rainfall occurs when two distinct air masses of different temperatures and moisture content converge?

A) Convectional Rainfall

B) Orographic Rainfall

C) Frontal or Cyclonic Rainfall

D) Monsoon Rainfall

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: When a warm, moist air mass collides with a cold, dry air mass, a transitional bound zone called a "front" forms. The lighter warm air is forced up over the denser cold air, cooling adiabatically, which triggers condensation and precipitation. This is known as Frontal or Cyclonic rainfall.

Question 12

12. Which of the following gases exhibits the highest "Global Warming Potential" (GWP) per single molecule?

A) Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)

B) Methane ($CH_4$)

C) Nitrous Oxide ($N_2O$)

D) Sulfur Hexafluoride ($SF_6$)

Answer

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: While $CO_2$ is the most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, $SF_6$ is incredibly potent at a molecular level. Its GWP factor evaluates to approximately $23,500$ times that of $CO_2$ over a standard 100-year index period.

Question 13

13. According to Article $360$, what special power can the President exercise during a proclaimed Financial Emergency?

A) Dissolve the State Legislative Assemblies

B) Direct reduction of salaries of persons serving the Union and States

C) Suspend the Fundamental Rights under Article $19$

D) Take over the administration of any state

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Under Article $360$, the President can issue executive directives forcing the reduction of salaries and allowances of any class of persons serving the Union or States, including the sitting Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Question 14

14. High-powered money ($M_0$), also known as Reserve Money, represents the net sum of:

A) Currency with Public + Demand Deposits

B) Currency with Public + Time Deposits

C) Currency with Public + Cash Reserves of Banks + Other Deposits with RBI

D) $M_1$ + Post Office Savings

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: High-powered money components map as $M_0 = C + R + OD$, where $C$ is currency in circulation with public, $R$ is commercial banks' deposits kept with the RBI, and $OD$ tracks other operational deposits with the RBI. This serves as the monetary base for credit creation.

Question 15

15. Which ocean current is colloquially termed the "Black Stream" due to its distinctive dark blue color profile?

A) Kuroshio Current

B) Oyashio Current

C) Gulf Stream

D) Labrador Current

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The Kuroshio Current is a strong, warm western boundary current in the North Pacific Ocean. In Japanese, "Kuroshio" translates directly to "Black Stream", referencing the deep blue-black appearance of its waters caused by elevated temperature and low nutrient-carrying content.

Question 16

16. During the process of aquatic ecosystem "Eutrophication", what happens to the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) metrics?

A) It decreases significantly.

B) It increases significantly.

C) It remains constant.

D) It first increases then becomes zero.

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Nutrient loading triggers excessive algal blooms. When these algae die off, heterotrophic bacteria decompose them, consuming immense amounts of Dissolved Oxygen ($DO$). This creates a huge respiratory demand for oxygen, causing $BOD \uparrow$. High $BOD$ parameters indicate intense organic water pollution.

Question 17

17. Who holds the structural position of "Ex-Officio Chairman" of the NITI Aayog?

A) The President of India

B) The Union Finance Minister

C) The Vice-President of India

D) The Prime Minister of India

Answer

Correct Answer: D

Explanation: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the old Planning Commission layout. Modeled on its predecessor, the Prime Minister of India serves continuously as its Ex-Officio Chairperson.

Question 18

18. What is the standard structural "Base Year" utilized for computing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Combined (Rural + Urban) in India?

A) $2012$

B) $2011-12$

C) $2015$

D) $2004-05$

Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The National Statistical Office ($NSO$) computes the inflation metrics utilizing $2012 = 100$ as the base reference year for $CPI$ (Combined). For relative comparison, the Wholesale Price Index ($WPI$) tracks using a $2011-12$ base year.

Question 19

19. The "Roaring Forties" refer to:

A) High-velocity winds in the Northern Hemisphere between $40^\circ$-$50^\circ$ N.

B) Strong Westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere between $40^\circ$-$50^\circ$ S.

C) Tropical Cyclones near the $40^\circ$ latitude lines.

D) Cold ocean currents near the Antarctic circle.

Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Because the Southern Hemisphere has vast open ocean stretches with minimal continental landmass features to disrupt wind trajectories, the planetary Westerlies blow with extreme speed and constancy. They are systematically titled Roaring Forties ($40^\circ$S), Furious Fifties ($50^\circ$S), and Screaming Sixties ($60^\circ$S).

Question 20

20. Under the international Ramsar Convention framework, the "Montreux Record" is an official register tracking:

A) Endangered species of migratory birds

B) Coastal areas highly prone to Tsunami generation

C) Wetland sites where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur

D) International marine protected areas boundaries

Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: The Montreux Record is maintained as a sub-register part of the primary Ramsar List. It flags wetlands requiring immediate ecological protection. In India, Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur) are listed on it; Chilika Lake (Odisha) was removed from it back in 2002 after successful ecological restoration.

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The Coriolis force magnitude $F_c$ is calculated by the formula $F_c = 2mv\omega \sin(\phi)$, where $\phi$ represents the latitude angle. At the Equator, $\phi = 0^\circ \implies \sin(0^\circ) = 0$. At the Poles, $\phi = 90^\circ \implies \sin(90^\circ) = 1$. Therefore, the effect is zero at the Equator and maximum at the geographical Poles.

Competitive Exams : GK & GS - Mix (Set 1) | Concept of Maths