The 2015 Codex
Questions 31 to 40 (Set A)
The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) World Trade Organization
These are foundational pillars of international trade law under the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) governs global agricultural subsidies (the famous Amber, Blue, and Green boxes). The SPS Agreement governs food safety and animal/plant health standards (often used as non-tariff trade barriers). The Peace Clause was a temporary mechanism protecting developing nations (like India) from being challenged at the WTO for breaching their subsidy limits while running massive public food stockpiling programs.
Route: [REALM 187: WTO Agreements]The Trade Pillars
The Contactless Tap
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.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 is True: NFC (the tech behind Apple Pay/Google Wallet "tap to pay") is a form of contactless communication based on Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) utilizing electromagnetic radio fields (specifically 13.56 MHz).
Statement 2 is False: This is the defining security feature of NFC. Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, NFC is deliberately designed to operate at an extremely short range—typically 4 centimeters or less. It absolutely cannot work at a distance of a metre. If it did, someone standing a meter away could accidentally (or maliciously) scan your credit card.
Statement 3 is True: Because it is used for high-security financial transactions, the NFC chip establishes a secure channel and heavily uses encryption protocols to securely transmit sensitive credit card or identity information.
Route: [REALM 496: Wireless Communication Tech]The area known as 'Golan Heights' sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) Middle East
The Golan Heights is a highly strategic, rocky plateau located in the Middle East. Originally part of southwestern Syria, the territory was captured and subsequently occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel effectively annexed it in 1981, a move largely unrecognized by the international community (though the US formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over it in 2019). It remains one of the core flashpoints of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Route: [REALM 122 TO 140: Middle East Map Locations]The Strategic Plateau
The Borderless Exchange
Convertibility of rupee implies
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Official Key: (c) freely permitting the conversion of rupee to other currencies and vice versa
Currency convertibility refers strictly to the freedom to convert a country's domestic currency into foreign currencies, and vice versa, for trade or investment purposes without arbitrary government restrictions or quotas.
Historically, India had strict foreign exchange controls (FERA). Post-1991, India moved to Current Account Convertibility (allowing free conversion for trade, services, and remittances) but still maintains restrictions on Capital Account Convertibility (buying foreign assets, large investments).
Note: Option (a) refers to the obsolete "Gold Standard". Option (b) refers to a "floating exchange rate," which is related but not the exact definition of convertibility.
Route: [REALM 130: Exchange Rates & Convertibility]Consider the following pairs: Medieval Indian State : Present Region
| 1. Champaka | Central India |
| 2. Durgara | Jammu |
| 3. Kuluta | Malabar |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 2 only
This maps obscure early medieval hill states (often featured in Kalhana's Rajatarangini) to their modern locations.
- 1. Champaka: False. Champaka is the ancient name for the modern-day Chamba region in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, not Central India.
- 2. Durgara: True. Durgara refers to the ancient kingdom of the Dogra people, which corresponds exactly to the modern Jammu region in J&K.
- 3. Kuluta: False. Kuluta is the ancient name for the magnificent Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh. It has absolutely no connection to the Malabar Coast (Kerala).
The Himalayan Kingdoms
The Dakshin Ganga
Consider the following rivers:
1. Vamsadhara
2. Indravati
3. Pranahita
4. Pennar
Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) 2 and 3 only
This maps the Peninsular river drainage system.
- 2. Indravati & 3. Pranahita: Both are massive, legendary left-bank tributaries of the Godavari. Pranahita (formed by the confluence of Wardha, Wainganga, and Penganga) is the largest tributary of Godavari. Indravati flows through the dense Bastar forests of Chhattisgarh to join Godavari.
- 1. Vamsadhara & 4. Pennar: These are independent east-flowing rivers that discharge directly into the Bay of Bengal. Vamsadhara flows between the Mahanadi and Godavari basins (Odisha/AP). Pennar flows south of the Krishna basin (Karnataka/AP). They are NOT tributaries of the Godavari.
When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) a simple majority of members present and voting
Article 108 of the Constitution provides for a Joint Sitting of both Houses (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) to resolve a legislative deadlock over an ordinary bill.
When the two houses convene together, their members are combined into a single pool. To pass the deadlocked bill, the Constitution requires only a simple majority of the total number of members of both Houses present and voting. Because the Lok Sabha has significantly more members (545) than the Rajya Sabha (245), a simple majority practically guarantees that the will of the Lok Sabha prevails in a joint sitting.
Route: [REALM 137: Legislative Procedure in Parliament]The Numbers Game
The Island Canopy
Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is unique globally for its ecological diversity packed into a small area. Due to its tropical, oceanic climate and jagged topography:
- The fringes and tidal creeks are heavily guarded by Mangrove forests (some of the best preserved in India).
- The windward sides receiving massive monsoon downpours are draped in dense Tropical Wet Evergreen forests.
- The leeward sides of the islands, which receive slightly less rainfall, naturally transition into Moist Deciduous forests (famous for Padauk timber).
Note: SW Bengal (Sundarbans) is entirely Mangrove/Swamp. Saurashtra is dry deciduous/scrub. Coastal AP lacks true Wet Evergreen forests.
Route: [REALM 14: Natural Vegetation of India]Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) 3 and 4 only
This maps the actual physical footprint of Gautama Buddha during his 80-year life. He lived and wandered exclusively in the eastern Gangetic plains.
- 3. Kosala: True. Buddha spent immense time here; Sravasti was the capital of Kosala where he delivered the majority of his sermons.
- 4. Magadha: True. Bodh Gaya (where he attained enlightenment) and Rajagriha (where he frequently stayed under King Bimbisara's patronage) were deep in Magadha.
- 1. Avanti & 2. Gandhara: False. Avanti was in central India (Ujjain) and Gandhara was far in the northwest (modern Pakistan/Afghanistan). Though Buddhism spread there later, the Buddha never physically visited these kingdoms during his life.
The Wandering Monk
The Stratospheric Shield
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) Montreal Protocol
This is the most successful environmental treaty in human history.
- Montreal Protocol (1987): Explicitly designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) like CFCs and Halons. (The Kigali Amendment later added HFCs).
- Kyoto Protocol: Deals with Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming.
- Nagoya Protocol: Deals with Biodiversity and Access/Benefit Sharing of genetic resources.
- Bretton Woods: Economic conference that created the IMF and World Bank.