The 2015 Codex
Questions 91 to 100 (Set A)
There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha
The bedrock, defining principle of a Parliamentary System (the Westminster model) is the continuous accountability of the executive to the legislature.
In India, this is explicitly enshrined in Article 75(3) of the Constitution, which states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). If the Council of Ministers loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha (via a No-Confidence Motion), they must resign. Options A, B, and C are features of the Indian republic, but they do not uniquely define a *parliamentary* system (for instance, the US House of Representatives is also directly elected, but the US is a Presidential system).
Route: [REALM 77: Parliamentary System (Art 75)]The Chain of Accountability
The Viral Taxonomy
H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
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Official Key: (d) Swine flu
This is a straightforward viral taxonomy question.
- H1N1 is the subtype of the Influenza A virus that was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009, popularly known as Swine Flu (because the virus was similar to those found in pigs).
- H5N1 is the highly pathogenic subtype that causes Bird Flu (Avian influenza).
- AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Dengue is caused by the Dengue virus (DENV, a flavivirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes).
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?
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Official Key: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
The bio-digester toilets used by Indian Railways were famously developed jointly by DRDO and the Indian Railways.
Statement 1 is False: The decomposition process is absolutely NOT initiated by a fungal inoculum. It uses a specially developed anaerobic bacterial consortium (psychrophilic bacteria originally isolated by DRDO from Antarctica) that thrives in cold temperatures to break down human waste.
Statement 2 is False: Anaerobic digestion does not produce just "ammonia and water vapour". The biological degradation of the waste by the bacteria yields two primary end products: water (which is chlorinated and discharged onto the tracks) and Bio-gas (primarily Methane and Carbon Dioxide), which is released into the atmosphere.
Route: [REALM 142: Solid Waste Management (Bio-digesters)]The Bio-Digester
The Global Lubricant
The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of
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Official Key: (c) dollars and other hard currencies
In macroeconomics, "international liquidity" refers to the total stock of universally acceptable assets available to settle international trade deficits and conduct global financial transactions.
Under the modern fiat monetary system (post-Bretton Woods), countries do not settle international trade in physical gold or silver. Instead, global trade relies entirely on the availability of hard currencies (primarily the US Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound) and IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). Therefore, a "liquidity crisis" strictly means a shortage of dollars or other hard currencies to pay for imports or service foreign debt.
Route: [REALM 130: External Sector & Forex Reserves]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?
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Official Key: (a) 1 only
Fuel cells are electrochemical cells that convert the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity.
- Statement 1 is True: The chemical reaction inside a hydrogen fuel cell combines H2 and O2. The only resulting by-products are pure water (H2O) and heat, making it a zero-emission power source.
- Statement 2 is False: Fuel cells are highly scalable. They can be built large enough to power entire commercial buildings or small enough (micro-fuel cells) to power portable devices like laptop computers and smartphones.
- Statement 3 is False: Like all batteries and electrochemical cells, a fuel cell fundamentally produces Direct Current (DC), not Alternating Current (AC). (An inverter must be attached to convert the DC to AC if needed).
The Clean Engine
The Pen Work
Kalamkari painting refers to
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Official Key: (a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India
The word Kalamkari is derived from the Persian words "kalam" (pen) and "kari" (craftsmanship). It refers to the ancient style of hand-painting or block-printing directly onto cotton textiles using only natural dyes (tamarind pen). This exquisite art form historically flourished, and is still practiced today, predominantly in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India (specifically in Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam).
Route: [REALM 30: Traditional Paintings & Handicrafts]Which one of the following best describes the main objective of 'Seed Village Concept'?
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Official Key: (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
The Seed Village Concept is an initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture. The core problem it solves is the lack of availability of quality, high-yielding certified seeds for farmers at the right sowing time.
Instead of relying on distant corporate seed companies, the scheme trains a cluster of local farmers within a village to scientifically produce, harvest, and store foundation/certified seeds themselves. They then sell these high-quality seeds to their neighbors in the same or surrounding villages at affordable costs, ensuring self-reliance and timely availability.
Route: [REALM 12: Agri Inputs (Seeds)]The Local Harvest
The Fiscal Balance
There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit?
1. Reducing revenue expenditure
2. Introducing new welfare schemes
3. Rationalizing subsidies
4. Expanding industries
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) 1 and 3 only
This is a conceptual twin to the 2016 question on Fiscal Deficit. A budget deficit means Expenditures > Revenues. To reduce it, you must cut spending.
- 1. Reducing revenue expenditure (True): Directly cuts the government's daily running costs, shrinking the deficit.
- 3. Rationalizing subsidies (True): Targets and reduces subsidy leakages, saving the exchequer massive amounts of money.
- 2. Introducing new welfare schemes (False): This requires spending more money, which increases the deficit.
- 4. Expanding industries (False): While this is good for long-term GDP growth, the government "expanding industries" usually implies massive upfront capital expenditure or tax breaks, which immediately widens the deficit in the short term.
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 correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 1 and 3 only
Geographical Indication (GI) tags are intellectual property rights granted to products that possess specific qualities or a reputation due to their geographical origin.
1 and 3 are True: Banaras Brocades and Sarees (Uttar Pradesh) received a GI tag for their exquisite silk weaving. Tirupathi Laddu (Andhra Pradesh) received a GI tag under the food category, protecting the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) from counterfeiters.
2 is False: Daal-Bati-Churma is a famous traditional cuisine of Rajasthan, but it has NOT been registered for a Geographical Indication status. It is a generic recipe rather than a localized, proprietary manufactured good.
Route: [REALM 30: Handicrafts & GI Tags]The Protected Heritage
The Green Financier
With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) Both 1 and 2
Statement 1 is True: Established in 1987, IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category - I) Government of India Enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It is registered as a Public Limited Government Company under the Companies Act.
Statement 2 is True: Because its primary mandate is to promote, develop, and extend financial assistance for renewable energy projects, it acts as a financial institution. It is officially registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
Route: [REALM 149: Renewable Energy Sector & NBFCs]