1. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government

2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

 Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2. Among the following which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?

(a) Syria and Jordan

(b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia

(c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea

(d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam

3. With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using the coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction

2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete

3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

4. With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology

2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5. In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news :

1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.

2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter

3. It is buried deep in the ice.

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 only

6. With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields

2. NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other

3. NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3

7. The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

(a) the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth
(b) regions inside the Earth-like planets in outer space
(c) search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
(d) search for meteorites containing precious metals

8. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which of the following?

(a) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(b) Indian Institute of Science
(c) Indian Space Research Organization
(d) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

9. Amnesty International is

(a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars
(b) a global Human Rights Movement
(c) a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people
(d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions

10. India is a member of which of the following?

1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.

2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.

3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1, 2, and 3

(d) India is a member of none of them

11. Consider the following statements:

1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor fanners.
2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.

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

12. In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/ participants?
    1. Bangladesh
    2. Cambodia
    3. China
    4. Myanmar
    5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 5

13. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements:

1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills

2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

14. The term ‘IndARC’ sometimes seen in the news, is the name of?

(a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence

(b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim

(c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region

(d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region

15. ‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’ often seen in the news, is

(a) a strategy to tackle the regional terrorism, an outcome of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

(b) a plan of action for sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, an outcome of deliberations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum

(c) an agenda for women’s empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations

(d) a strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a declaration of the East Asia Summit

16. Consider the following countries

1. China

2. France

3. India

4. Israel

5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Eliminate Pakistan, in the question, that is and we are left with option (a).

17. H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?

(a) AIDS
(b) Bird flu
(c) Dengue
(d) swine flu

18. With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements:

1.The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.
2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.
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

19. With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity. Consider the following statements:

1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products.
2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).

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

19. Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept?

(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

21. Which of the following has/have been accorded “Geographical Indication’ status?

1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3