UPSC Aspirant 2025-26

Pratyush Pandey (Air-21) UPSC CSE 2019

#ScienceandTech : #Quiz - 6 1. The identity platform `Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)". What does it imply? 1. It can be integrated into any electronic device. 2. Online authentication using iris is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer : c 2. With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements: 1. BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account. 2. While a chip-pin debit card has four factors of authentication, BHIM app has only two factors of authentication. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer : a 3. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch l vehicle with the first and third stages l using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct.? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only Answer : a 4. Consider the following: 1. Birds 2. Dust blowing 3. Rain 4. Wind blowing Which of the above spread plant diseases? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer : a 5. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for (a) Measuring oxygen levels in blood (b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems (c) Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems (d) Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions Answer : c

Panchayats as instruments of social and economic progress - The Hindu BusinessLine https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/panchayats-as-instruments-of-social-and-economic-progress/article31421460.ece

Exp: The Chairman of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is the Finance Minister of India. FSDC was formed to bring greater coordination among financial market regulators.

#Economics : #Quiz - 5 1. Consider the following statements regarding : Assertion (A): Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are mutual funds listed and traded on stock exchanges like shares. Reason (R): ETF simply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance. Mark correct answer as: (a) if both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A (b) if both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A (c) if A is true but R is false (d) if A is false but R is true Ans: b Exp: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are mutual funds listed and traded on stock exchanges like shares. Index ETFs are created by institutional investors swapping shares in an index basket, for units in the fund. Usually, ETFs are passive funds where the fund manager doesn’t select stocks on your behalf. Instead, the ETFs imply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance. In an ETF, one can buy and sell units at prevailing market price on a real time basis during market hours. 2. Consider the following statements : 1. Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) means any fund established or incorporated in India which is a privately pooled investment vehicle which collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in accordance with a defined investment policy. 2. AIF also includes funds covered under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 or any other regulations of the Board to regulate fund management activities. 3. An AIF under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 can be established or incorporated in the form of a trust or a company or a limited liability partnership or a body corporate. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans: a Exp: AIF does not include funds covered under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 or any other regulations of the Board to regulate fund management activities. 3. Credit rating agencies in India are regulated by: (a) RBI (b) SEBI (c) Department of Economic Affairs (d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs Ans: b Exp: All the credit rating agencies in India are regulated by SEBI (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. Currently there are six credit rating agencies in India which are registered under SEBI namely-CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, SMERA, FitchIndia, ONICRA. 4. Consider the following statements: 1. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) is an investor-owned fund manager 2. The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans: c Exp: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) is an investor-owned fund manager, anchored by the Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with leading global and domestic institutional investors. We manage over USD 3 billion of capital commitments across three funds, each with its distinct investment strategy. Our funds have investment mandates to invest in infrastructure assets and related businesses that are likely to benefit from the long-term growth trajectory of the Indian economy. Our investment objective is to generate attractive long-term risk-adjusted returns for our investors on a sustainable basis. We are professionally driven with strong governance processes. 5. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) is the RBI Governor. 2. FSDC was formed to bring greater coordination among financial market regulators. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans: b

Try to use following terms/ideas/concepts in your answers: * e-Surveillance (via Apps, Phone, etc.) * Technology v. Rights (= privacy rights, body rights, etc.) * Micro-finance * Democratisation of credit (by involving fintechs & network platforms) * Data Empowerment * Law : International law, Environmental law, Industrial law, Intellectual Property law, Information Technology law, Labour law, ...etc.. * Cooperative federalism v. Competitive federalism * Environment Justice : 3 principles - Precautionary principle, Polluters' Pay & Sustainable Development * Social Stratification * New Tech Cold War (related to 5G/Huawei b/w China-USA) * Governance-oriented politics * Need of urban-version of MGNREGA * Monetary measures v. Fiscal measures * Constitutional Crisis * Land pooling * Literacy : digital, financial,...etc. * Data governance * Need of Social Security Number (for migrants) * Policy/Measures : Short-term/medium-term/long-term * Equitable Representation (in UN, bureaucracy, politics, higher education, judiciary, ...etc.) * Engineered Defections * Per capita (land holding, income, calories intake, consumption, ...etc.)

Imp* (Harsh V. Pant) After Independence, memories of World War II were still raw, and India had decided not to align itself with either of the two superpowers. In emerging new world, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) can no longer maintain its Cold War-era institutional infrastructure. Africa is becoming a centre of power rivalry as China expands its economic footprint in the continent. What makes Africa even more important to India is its proximity to Bab el Mandeb and other chokepoints to the Indian Ocean. MEA needs to engage in Technology Diplomacy by ensuring collaboration with different partners in emerging fields like 5G, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indian-foreign-policy-and-its-aspirations/?amp

#History : #Quiz - 4 1. The term 'Apabhramsa' was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote: (a) outcastes among the Rajputs (b) deviations from Vedic rituals (c) early forms of some of the modern Indian language (d) non-Sanskrit verse metres Answer: (c) Before the rise of modern language, Apabhrams was the most vibrant language of colloquial and literary works in north India. 2. Nastaliq was: (a) a persian script used in medieval India (b) a raga composed by Tansen (c) a cess levied by the Mughal rulers (d) a manual of code of conduct for the Ulemas Answer: (a) It was a persian script during Mughal period. 3. The sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was: (a) Muin-ud-din Chisti (b) Baba Farid (c) Saiyid Muhammad Gesudaraz (d) Shah Alam Bukhari Answer: (a) Shaikh Muin-ud-din Chishti, was a saint of Chishti Silsilah, introduced in India by Shaikh Muin-ud-din Sijzi (1236 A.D.) Wahd-tul-wajud (unity of the phenomenal world) by Sama and Mehfil, which is recitation of the names of God, was a prominent feature of the silsilah, underlined by Muin-ud-din Chishti. 4. Mughal painting reached its zenith under: (a) Humayun (b) Akbar (c) Jahangir (d) Shahjahan Answer: (c) Jahangir was the Mughal Emperor from 1605–1627. 5. In medieval India, Mansabdari system was introduced for: (a) making recruitment to the army (b) facilitating revenue collection (c) ensuring religious harmony (d) effecting clean administration Answer: (d) Mansabdari system was introduced in 1595–96, was a combined status showing a noble’s civil and military capacity. #ias #upsc #prelims2021 #prelims

#Science and Tech : Quiz - 4 1. With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements: 1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units. 2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer : D 2. In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations 3. Controlling the power grids Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer : D 3. Consider the following statements: 1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer : C 4. The terms ‘Wanna Cry, Petya and Eternal Blue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to (a) Exo-planets (b) Crypto-currency (c) Cyber attacks (d) Mini satellites Answer : C 5. "3D printing" has applications in which of the following? 1. Preparation of confectionery items 2. Manufacture of bionic ears 3. Automotive industry 4. Reconstructive surgeries 5. Data processing technologies Select the correct answer using the code given below : (a) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) 2, 3 and 5 only (c) 1 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Answer : D #upsc #ias #Quiz