The 2015 Codex
Questions 51 to 60 (Set A)
With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) 1 only
The Cabinet Mission (1946) was sent by the British Government to negotiate the transfer of power to Indian leadership.
- Statement 1 is True: The Mission explicitly rejected the Muslim League's demand for a separate sovereign state of Pakistan. Instead, it proposed a three-tier federal government structure (a Union of India consisting of British Provinces and Princely States), with the Central Government handling only Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Communications.
- Statements 2 and 3 are False: The Cabinet Mission plan focused entirely on constitutional arrangements, the grouping of provinces, and the formation of the Constituent Assembly. It contained absolutely no provisions regarding the enlargement of judicial powers or increasing Indian quotas in the Indian Civil Service (ICS).
The Three-Tier Blueprint
The Vertical Spectrum
Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) Namdapha National Park
Namdapha National Park is a globally unique biodiversity hotspot located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Its defining geographic feature is its extreme altitudinal variation. It rises dramatically from the low-lying river valleys at around 200 meters right up to the permanently snow-capped peaks of the Dapha Bum range at over 4,500 meters. Because of this massive vertical rise, the park's climate and vegetation seamlessly transition from humid tropical rainforests at the bottom, through subtropical and temperate forests, all the way to arctic/alpine conditions at the summit.
Note: Nandadevi and Khangchendzonga start at much higher base elevations, skipping the true "tropical" zone.
Route: [REALM 93: Protected Areas (National Parks)]Amnesty International is
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) a global Human Rights Movement
Founded in London in 1961 by lawyer Peter Benenson, Amnesty International is a massive, independent non-governmental organization (NGO) with millions of members worldwide. It is specifically dedicated to campaigning for the protection of human rights globally, focusing heavily on releasing prisoners of conscience, abolishing the death penalty, and ending torture. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. It is entirely independent of the UN and is not a medical or poverty-relief agency.
Route: [REALM 191: Global NGOs & Human Rights]The Light in the Dark
The Stone Timeline
With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli
This requires tracing the dynastic chronology of Indian art.
- Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli (Odisha): Carved during the reign of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (approx. 3rd Century BCE). It marks the site of the Kalinga war. (Earliest)
- Varaha Image at Udayagiri (MP): Carved during the reign of Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire (early 5th Century CE).
- Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram (TN): Built by the Pallava kings (Narasimhavarman I) in the 7th Century CE.
- Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar (Odisha): A majestic structural temple built by the Somavamsi dynasty in the 11th Century CE.
With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system?
1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 2 and 3 only
Indian feudalism (often debated by historians like R.S. Sharma) emerged prominently in the early medieval period due to the widespread practice of land grants.
Statement 1 is False: Feudalism is defined by political fragmentation. It results in a very weak centralized authority and extremely strong provincial/local lords (Samantas) who act as mini-kings. The statement completely inverts this.
Statement 2 is True: The entire administrative, judicial, and military structure becomes tied to the possession and control of land grants.
Statement 3 is True: The hierarchy is built on a direct lord-vassal relationship. The overlord (king) grants land to the feudal lord (vassal), who in return pledges military service and tribute.
Route: [REALM 23: Early Medieval Indian Feudalism]The Decentralized Pyramid
The Forest Banker
'BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes' is managed by the
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) World Bank
The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral fund entirely managed by the World Bank (supported by donor countries like Norway, UK, USA). It promotes and rewards greenhouse gas emission reductions from the land sector, focusing heavily on smarter land-use planning, combating deforestation, and creating sustainable agricultural practices in developing countries.
Route: [REALM 200: Climate Finance (World Bank Funds)]India is a member of which among the following?
1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 3 only
This tests India's exact membership status in major regional blocs:
- 1. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation): False. India is not a member (it has only requested membership, which is stalled).
- 2. ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations): False. ASEAN is strictly for 10 Southeast Asian nations. India is a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" and a "Summit Level Partner", but it is absolutely not a member of ASEAN.
- 3. East Asia Summit (EAS): True. The EAS is a forum of 18 regional leaders (10 ASEAN states + 8 dialogue partners including India, China, USA, Russia). India is a founding member of the EAS.
The Membership Venn
The Blast Furnace
In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) coking coal
Making steel in a blast furnace requires three main raw materials: Iron Ore, Limestone, and Coking Coal (metallurgical coal).
While India has massive reserves of iron ore, it is severely deficient in high-quality coking coal (which is necessary to act as a reducing agent to melt the iron). Consequently, the Indian steel industry relies heavily on massive imports of coking coal, predominantly from Australia.
Note: Saltpetre (potassium nitrate) is used in explosives. Rock phosphate is imported for making fertilizers, not steel.
Route: [REALM 68: Coal Reserves in India] & [REALM 148: Iron and Steel Industry]The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
This is a foundational concept of Indian Constitutional Law regarding tribal autonomy.
- Fifth Schedule: Deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes residing in any state *except* the four Northeastern states.
- Sixth Schedule: Deals specifically with the administration of Tribal Areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram (AMTM), creating autonomous district councils.
Both schedules are exclusively designed to protect the lands, culture, and governance autonomy of Scheduled Tribes.
Route: [REALM 145: Scheduled and Tribal Areas (Part X)]The Tribal Shield
The Exchequer's Vaults
With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
2. No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.
3. All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 2 only
This deeply tests the mechanics of Government funds and the Finance Ministry.
- Statement 1 is False: Within the Ministry of Finance, it is strictly the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) (specifically its Budget Division) that prepares the Union Budget, not the Department of Revenue (which only handles tax collection).
- Statement 2 is True: Under Article 266, the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) is securely locked by the legislature. Not a single rupee can be withdrawn from the CFI without parliamentary approval (via the Appropriation Act).
- Statement 3 is False: The Public Account of India (PF, small savings) holds money where the government simply acts as a banker/trustee. Disbursements from the Public Account do not require parliamentary authorization and are made entirely by executive action.