ENIGMA PT-1Solutions - ENIGMA PTS 2019 - ENIGMA IAS

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☆☆☆ENIGMA PRELIMS TEST SERIES2019☆☆☆

☆☆☆ENIGMA           PTS 2019☆☆☆

ENIGMA PT-1                               Solutions

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1.The correct option is A,C, D and E.

Armstrong's mixture is a highly sensitive primary explosive. It consists of Red
Phosphorus, Potassium Chlorate, Potassium perchlorate and Sulphur.

Commercially, Armstrong's mixture is used in milligram quantities on the paper caps in
toy cap guns and in party poppers. An improvised version can be made with match-heads,
ground up into a fine powder, and mixed with another fine powder, this time made of the
striker strip found on the side of match boxes.

Because of its sensitivity to shock, friction and flame, Armstrong's mixture is an
extremely dangerous explosive. Only about 10 mg of it is used per item of consumer
fireworks. Depending on composition, conditions and quantity, Armstrong's mixture can
explode violently in an enclosed space.

2. The correct option is Maharashtra

3. The correct option is Cotton.

Cotton seeds that were carried in a bucket-like tin to the far side of the Moon by a
Chinese spacecraft have sprouted, marking the first time that humans have grown plants
in off-world conditions.

The Chinese spacecraft Chang‘e 4 landed on the far side of the Moon on January 3,2019.
It carried with it a seven-inch tall bucket-like can that contained air, water, soil and seeds
of potato, cotton and Arabidopsis (the mustard family) plants. On January 15,2019
China‘s state-owned television network tweeted that the cotton seeds had sprouted.

4. The correct option is Both.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Sukhad Yatra mobile application has been prepared by National Highways Authority of
India, NHAI, to empower the Highway user. The key feature of the app includes
provision for the user to enter road quality-related information or to report any accident
or pothole on the highway. It also provides users with real-time data related to waiting
time expected at Plazas and various facilities like points of interest, highway nest/nest

☆☆☆ENIGMA PRELIMS TEST SERIES2019☆☆☆

mini, etc., available across the highway. The app can also be used by the users to
purchase the FASTag tag and further facilitate the highway user experience.

5. The correct option is 'citizen science repository on Indian mammals.'

Scientists and researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in
Bangalore have come up with a new citizen science repository on Indian mammals,
called ‗Mammals of India (MaOI)‘, which is an online, peer reviewed, freely accessible
portal that was launched late September 2018.

In one month, this citizen science initiative has seen photographs of rare species — such
as ‗Red Serow‘ from Manipur, ‗Asian Golden Cat‘ from Arunachal Pradesh and
‗Binturong‘, also known as bear cat, from East Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh .

6. The correct option is Khafz.

7. The correct option is B only.

"Project Maven", also known as the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Function Team,
launched in April 2017. Google‘s involvement was highly controversial among
employees, nearly 4,000 of whom signed a letter addressed to CEO Sundar Pichai urging
the company to pull out of the project.

The goal of Project Maven was to develop software algorithms that could distinguish
between vehicles, people, and cars, as well as track objects of interest, with the aim of
deploying the system in combat zones by 2017. It quickly surpassed that goal — the
newest iteration of the system can highlight items on a digital map and be quickly
retrained to reduce errors and track new objects.

"MAVEN Mission" is by NASA. Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission was
developed by NASA to study the Martian atmosphere while orbiting Mars. Mission goals
include determining how the planet's atmosphere and water, presumed to have once been
substantial, were lost over time.

8. The correct option is Cyclone Ockhi.

OP Sahayam: It is an Indian Navy exercise for undertaking Search and Rescue (SAR) and
providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) material support, over
Southeast Arabian Sea and L& M islands in the aftermath of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
"OCKHI‟.

9. The correct option is None.
3

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The ―Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan‖, is a collaborative effort
between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI), and State/UTs Governments. The Project aims to develop synergy among all
partners to effectively promote ―responsible tourism‖.

It aims to involve "public sector companies", private sector companies and corporate
citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism
more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist
infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites
in India.

They would become ‗Monument Mitras‘ through the innovative concept of ―Vision
Bidding‖, where the agency with best vision for the heritage site will be given an
opportunity to associate pride with their CSR activities. They would also get limited
visibility in the premises and the Incredible India website. The aim is enhancement of
tourist experience and promotion of the incredible heritage sites to bring them on tourism
map.

10. The correct option is North Korea and South Korea.

The Third Tunnel of Aggression (Third Infiltration Tunnel or 3rd Tunnel) is one of four
known tunnels under the border between North Korea and South Korea, extending south
of Panmunjom.

11. The correct option is A only.

Nipah virus infection (NiV) is a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus.Symptoms from
infection vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath, and confusion.
This may worsen into a coma over a day or two. Complications can include inflammation
of the brain and seizures following recovery.

The Nipah virus is a type of RNA virus in the genus Henipavirus. It can both spread
between people and from other animals to people. Spread typically requires direct contact
with an infected source. The virus normally circulates among specific types of fruit bats.
Diagnosis is based on symptoms and confirmed by laboratory testing.

Management involves supportive care. As of 2018 there is no vaccine or specific
treatment. Prevention is by avoiding exposure to bats and sick pigs and not drinking raw
date palm sap. As of May 2018 about 700 human cases of Nipah virus are estimated to
have occurred and 50 to 75 percent of those who were infected died. In May 2018, an
outbreak of the disease resulted in at least 17 deaths in the Indian state of Kerala.

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The disease was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia while the virus
was isolated in 1999. It is named after a village in Malaysia, Sungai Nipah.

12. The correct option is Rajasthan.

Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to launch a project to conserve
leopards by improving their prey base, mitigating conflicts with humans and controlling
poaching.

Leopard is an endangered animal under schedule one of the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972. The big cat‘s population in Rajasthan has declined over the years. According to
2015 wildlife census, there are 434 leopards in the state. Around 20 leopards have been
killed between 2014 and 2016 in accidents or by humans when they strayed into human
habitations or agricultural fields.

The project work plan will be to mitigate man-leopard conflict, conserve leopard
population by countering the threats the predator‘s faces and create goodwill between
local communities and leopards. The steering committee of Project Leopard will be
chaired by forest minister; principal chief conservator of the forest will be the vice-
chairman, chief wildlife warden, and member secretary. Directors of eight leopard
sanctuaries, chief conservator of forest of those areas and wildlife experts will be
members of the committee, the proposal said.

The committee will report to the state board of wildlife.

13. The correct option is 'an account that a bank holds in a foreign currency in another
bank.'

Nostro account refers to an account that a bank holds in a ―foreign currency in another
bank. Nostros, a term derived from the Latin word for "ours," are frequently used to
facilitate foreign exchange and trade transactions.

The opposite term ―vostro accounts‖, derived from the Latin word for "yours," is how a
bank refers to the accounts that other banks have on its books in its home currency. These
accounts are used to facilitate international transactions and to settle transactions that
hedge exchange rate risk.

14. The correct option is A-1,B-2, C-3.

* New 10 rupee note (Chocolate Brown) - motif of chariot wheel of Sun Temple, Konark

* New 50 rupee note (Fluorescent Blue) - motif of Hampi with Chariot.

* New 200 rupee note (Bright Yellow ) - motif of Sanchi Stupa
5

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* New 500 rupee note (Stone Grey) – motif of capital's Red Fort

* New 2000 rupee note (Magenta or Pink) – motif of Mangalyaan.

15. The correct option is None.

Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata), a common plant in Kerala, is locally called
Communist pacha, or ‗Communist green‘, as it spread all over the state within a short
span of time like Communism did in the 1950s.

Native to the Americas, Siam weed was an invasive plant which took over the barren
lands of Kerala. Researchers point out that wild growth of invasive alien plants is a major
environmental issue in Kerala, which needs immediate attention. Though this is a
worldwide and long-term phenomenon, now, after the Kerala floods, scientists seek
immediate attention to the issue in the state.

16. The correct option is A, B, C and D.

According to Article 12 of the Constitution of India, the term ‗State‘ can be used to
denote the union and state governments, the Parliament and state legislatures and all local
or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Indian
government.

Over the period of time, the Supreme Court has explained the ambit of ‗State‘ to include
Corporation such as LIC and ONGC since they perform tasks ―very close to
governmental or sovereign functions.‖ In fact, the term ‗State‘ also accommodates any
authority that‘s created by the Constitution of India and has the power to make laws. It
need not perform governmental or sovereign functions.

17. The correct option is None.

No minister can represent CAG in the parliament.

No minister can be called upon to take any responsibility for any actions done by him.

18. The correct option is A, C and E.

The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed
by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of— the Prime
Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee; the Leader of Opposition in the
Lok Sabha; and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
6

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When the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People has not been recognised as
such, the Leader of the single largest group in opposition of the Government in the House
of the People shall be deemed to be the Leader of Opposition.

19. The correct option is C only.

The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) is a committee of selected members of
parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India, for the purpose of examining the
reports and accounts of the public sector undertakings(PSUs) as specified in the fourth
schedule of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. This
committee along with the Public Accounts committee(PAC) and the Estimates
committee(EC) are the three financial standing committees of the Parliament of India.

The committee consists of 22 members, fifteen elected by Lok Sabha, the lower house of
the Parliament, and not more than seven members of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the
Parliament. The members are elected every year from amongst its members of respective
houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single
transferable vote.

The chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha speaker. The term of office of the
members is one year.

A minister is not eligible to become a member of the committee.

20. The correct option is A only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act 2011 relating to the co-operatives is aimed to
encourage economic activities of cooperatives which in turn help progress of rural India.

21. The correct option is Part 12.

Part XII from Article 294 to 300 deals with the property, contracts, rights, liabilities,
obligations and suits of the centre and the states

22. The correct option is "To minimise inequalities in income and status".

The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added four new Directive Principles to the original
list. They require the State:

1. To secure opportunities for healthy development of children (Article 39)

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2.To promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor (Article 39 A)

3.To take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries
(Article 43 A)

4. To protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wild life (Article
48 A)

23. The correct option is A only.

The President will constitute a finance commission at the end of every fifth year or
"earlier", as the deemed necessary by him.

It shall include a chairman and four other members.

The First Finance Commission was established by the President of India in 1951 under
Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. It was formed to define the financial relations
between the central government of India and the individual state governments.

There have been fifteen commissions to date. The most recent was constituted in 2017
and is chaired by N. K.Singh.

24. The correct option is None. That is all given options are part of basic structure
doctrine.

Some of the features of the Constitution termed as "basic" are listed below:
1. Supremacy of the Constitution
2. Rule of law
3. The principle of Separation of Powers
4.The objectives specified in the Preamble to the Constitution
5. Judicial Review
6. Articles 32 and 226
7. Federalism
8. Secularism
9. The Sovereign, Democratic, Republican structure
10. Freedom and dignity of the individual
11. Unity and integrity of the Nation
12. The balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
13. The Parliamentary system of government
14. The principle of free and fair elections
15. Limitations upon the amending power conferred by Article 368

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16. Independence of the Judiciary
17. Effective access to justice
18 . Powers of the Supreme Court under Articles 32, 136, 141, 142

25. The correct option is B only.

The questions was to select "incorrect" statements.

The chief secretary is the head of the entire state secretariat while a secretary is a head of
one or two departments.

The Cabinet Secretary is NOT the administrative head of the Central Secretariat.

The Cabinet Secretariat functions directly under the Prime Minister. The administrative
head of the Secretariat is the Cabinet Secretary who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the
Civil Services Board.

26. The correct option is Article 338-A.

On the 89th Amendment of the Constitution coming into force on 19 February 2004, the
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has been set up under Article 338A on
bifurcation of erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under
the Constitution.

With this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely- (i) the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and (ii) the National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

27. The correct option is A only.

North-eastern states like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have adopted
English which is not mentioned in the 8th schedule of the constitution.

28. The correct option is Both.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Part IVA of the Indian Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties. As of now, there are
11 Fundamental duties. Originally, the Constitution of India did not contain these duties.
Fundamental duties were added by 42nd and 86th Constitutional Amendment acts.

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29. The correct option is B and D.

Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the
fundamental rights shall be void. In other words, it provides for the doctrine of judicial
review.

Part XX of Article 368 empowers the Parliament to amend Constitution by way of
addition, variation or repeal of any provision according to the procedure laid down
therein, which is different from the procedure for ordinary legislation.

The 24th Amendment of the Constitution of India, officially known as The Constitution
(Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1971, enables Parliament to dilute Fundamental Rights
through Amendments of the Constitution. It amended article 368 to provide expressly
that Parliament has power to amend any provision of the Constitution and that such an act
will not be a law under the meaning of Article 13. The amendment further made it
obligatory for the President to give his assent, when a Constitution Amendment Bill was
presented to him.

The 24th Amendment was enacted, by the Congress government headed by Indira
Gandhi, to abrogate the Supreme Court ruling in Golaknath v. State of Punjab. The
judgement reversed the Supreme Court's earlier decision which had upheld Parliament's
power to amend all parts of the Constitution, including Part III related to Fundamental
Rights. The judgement left Parliament with no power to curtail Fundamental Rights. To
abrogate the ruling, the government intended to amend article 368 and article 13 to
provide expressly that Parliament has power to amend any provision of the Constitution,
thereby bringing Fundamental Rights within the scope of its amending procedure, and
preventing review of those changes by the courts.

30. The correct option is A only.

CAT was established under Article 323A of the Constitution (inserted by the 42nd
Constitutional Amendment, 1976).

The Tribunal is headed by the Chairman and 65 Members, 33 from Judicial (including
Chairman) and 33 from the Administrative stream. Members are appointed by the
President.

31. The correct option is None.

The drafting committee included Motilal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Subhash Chandra
Bose, MS Aney, mangal Singh, Ali Imam, Shuab Qureshi and GR Pradhan.

☆☆☆ENIGMA PRELIMS TEST SERIES2019☆☆☆

The report demanded dominion status.

32. The correct option is Both.

Lord Curzon was Viceroy from 1899 to 1905.

Ancient Monuments Preservation Act-1904.

Universities Commission-1902.

Indian Universities Act-1904.

33. The correct option is All.
34. The correct option is 4-3-1-2.

Rowlatt satyagraha-1919.

Nehru report-1928.

Ahmedabad mill strike-1918.

Lucknow pact-1916.

35. The correct option is C only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

'Wood‘s Despatch of 1854' is considered the Magna Carta of English education in India.

36. The correct option is 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A.
37. The correct option is B only.

Pagal panthis were a semi religious sect having influence in the northern districts of
Bengal.

38. The correct option is All.
39. The correct option is 1,2,3,4,5.

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Al Masudi came to India in the 10th Century CE.

40. The correct option is 1-B,2-A,3-D,4-C.

41. The correct option is A only.

42. The correct option is B and C.

There are over 100 caves at the site, all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the
Charanandri Hills, 34 of which are open to public. These consist of 12 Buddhist (caves
1–12), 17 Hindu (caves 13–29) and 5 Jain (caves 30–34) caves,with each group
representing deities and mythologies that were prevalent in the 1st millennium CE, as
well as monasteries of each respective religion.

All of the Ellora monuments were built during Hindu dynasties such as the Rashtrakuta
dynasty, which constructed part of the Hindu & Buddhist caves, and the Yadava dynasty,
which constructed a number of the Jain caves.

*The Vishvakarma Cave: Cave 10

Notable among the Buddhist caves is Cave 10, a chaitya worship hall called the
'Vishvakarma cave' (literally the cave of one who accomplishes everything, or the
architect of the gods), built around 650 CE. It is also known as the "Carpenter's Cave",
because the rock has been given a finish that has the appearance of wooden beams.
Beyond its multi-storeyed entry is a cathedral-like stupa hall also known as chaitya-griha
(prayer house). At the heart of this cave is a 15-foot statue of Buddha seated in a
preaching pose.

Cave 10 combines a vihara with a chapel-like worship hall that has eight subsidiary cells,
four in the back wall and four in the right, as well as a portico in the front. It is the only
dedicated chaitya griha amongst the Buddhist caves and is constructed along similar lines
to Caves 19 and 26 of Ajanta.

*The Kailāśa temple: Cave 16

Cave 16, known as the Kailasa temple, is a particularly notable cave temple in India as a
result of its size, architecture and having been entirely carved out of a single rock.The
Kailasha temple, inspired by Mount Kailasha, is dedicated to Shiva. It is modeled along
similar lines to other Hindu temples with a gateway, an assembly hall, a multi-storey
main temple surrounded by numerous shrines laid out according to the square principle,
12

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an integrated space for circumambulation, a garbha-grihya (sanctum sanctorum) wherein
resides the linga-yoni, and a spire shaped like Mount Kailash – all carved from one rock.
Other shrines carved from the same rock are dedicated to Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, the
ten avatars of Vishnu, Vedic gods and goddesses including Indra, Agni, Vayu, Surya and
Usha, as well as non-Vedic deities like Ganesha, Ardhanarishvara (half Shiva, half
Parvati), Harihara (half Shiva, half Vishnu), Annapurna, Durga and others. The basement
level of the temple features numerous Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakti works; a notable set
of carvings include the twelve episodes from the childhood of Krishna, an important
element of Vaishnavism.

The structure is a freestanding, multi-level temple complex covering an area twice the
size of the Parthenon in Athens. It is estimated that the artists removed three million
cubic feet of stone, weighing approximately 200,000 tonnes, to excavate the temple. The
construction of the temple has been attributed to the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (r. 756-
773 CE), but elements of Pallava architecture have also been noted.

43. The correct option is C only.

Charvaka , originally known as Lokāyata and Bṛhaspatya, is the ancient school of Indian
materialism. Charvaka holds direct perception, empiricism, and conditional inference as
proper sources of knowledge, embraces philosophical skepticism and rejects Vedas,
Vedic ritualism, and supernaturalism.

Charvaka is categorized as a heterodox school of Indian philosophy. It is considered an
example of atheistic schools in the Hindu tradition. The traditional name of Charvaka is
Lokayata. It was called Lokayata because it was prevalent (ayatah) among the people
(lokesu), and meant the world-outlook of the people.

Charvaka believed that there was nothing wrong with sensual pleasure. Since it is
impossible to have pleasure without pain, Charvaka thought that wisdom lay in enjoying
pleasure and avoiding pain as far as possible. Unlike many of the Indian philosophies of
the time, Charvaka did not believe in austerities or rejecting pleasure out of fear of pain
and held such reasoning to be foolish. The Sarvasiddhanta Samgraha states the Charvaka
position on pleasure and hedonism as follows,

"The enjoyment of heaven lies in eating delicious food, keeping company of young
women, using fine clothes, perfumes, garlands, sandal paste... while moksha is death
which is cessation of life-breath... the wise therefore ought not to take pains on account of
moksha. A fool wears himself out by penances and fasts. Chastity and other such
ordinances are laid down by clever weaklings."
— Sarvasiddhanta Samgraha, Verses 9-12.

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44. The correct option is Pallavas.

The descent of the Ganges or Arjuna's Penance is portrayed in stone at the Pallava
heritage site. It is also a fresco painting in stone.

The subject is either Arjuna's Penance or the Descent of the Ganges, or possibly both. In
additive cultures like India's, logical alternatives are often conceptualized as "both-and"
rather than "either-or."

Arjuna's Penance is a story from the Mahabharata of how Arjuna, one of the Pandava
brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Shiva's weapon. The story of the
penance is narrated in the epic Mahabharata under the subtitle the Kiratarjuniya. The
boon, which Arjuna is said to have received, was called Pasupata, Shiva's most powerful
weapon.

The Ganges story is of the same kind, in which the sage Bhagiratha performs austerities
in order to bring the Ganges down to earth. Shiva had to consent to break her fall in his
hair, because otherwise its force would be too great for the earth to contain.

The symbolism of the relief supports both stories. Furthermore, both stories were
interpreted in a manner flattering to the Pallavas; the heroic Arjuna as a symbol of the
rulers, and the Ganges as a symbol of their purifying power.

45. The correct option is B only.

Ramman Festival and ritual theatre of Uttarakhand is listed by UNESCO as Cultural
Heritage The guardian deity of Saloor Dungra is Bhumichetrapal, also known as
Bhumiyal Devta. The festival is held in her honour every year after Baisakhi, a harvest
festival that also marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar New Year.

46. The correct option is B only.

Pavithravana - Andhra Prasesh
Deo Bhumi - Uttarakhand
Orans - Rajasthan

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47. The correct option is B only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) is a global renewable
energy policy multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors.
REN21's goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange, policy development and joint action
towards a rapid global transition to renewable energy. REN21 brings together
governments, non-governmental organisations, research and academic institutions,
international organisations and industry to learn from one another and build on successes
that advance renewable energy. To assist policy decision-making, REN21 provides high-
quality information, catalyses discussion and debate, and supports the development of
thematic networks. REN21 facilitates the collection of comprehensive and timely
information on renewable energy.

The REN21 Secretariat is based at UN Environment in Paris, France, and is a registered
non-profit association under German law .

The Renewables Global Status Report (GSR), the most frequently referenced report on
the renewable energy market, industry and policy trends is published by REN21.

48. The correct option is None.

Section 37 of Biological Biodiversity Act, 2002, gives power to the state government to
notify any area as Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) in consultation of local bodies. By
declaring an area under BHS, it is ensured that the biodiversity in the area is protected as
biodiversity is closely linked to ecological security and therefore human welfare.

The first waterbody to get the tag was Ameenpur lake in Telangana.

49. The correct option is B only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

MFF embraces all coastal ecosystems including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, wetlands,
beaches and seagrass beds.

MFF project is being coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) covering, initially, eight countries (including India) in South Asia, South East
Asia and Western Indian Ocean. The project involves collaboration between multiple
partners, including government agencies, NGOs, Research Institutes, UN agencies and
other multilateral bodies.

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50. The correct option is C only.

National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga is an
authority created under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management)
Authorities Order, 2016, dissolving the National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA).

Prime Minister will be the ex-officio Chairperson for the council.

Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will
be the ex-officio Vice-Chairperson.

The National Ganga Council will be overall responsible for the superintendence,
direction, development and control of River Ganga and the entire River Basin (including
financial and administrative matters) for the protection, prevention, control and
abatement of environmental pollution in River Ganga and its rejuvenation to its natural
and pristine condition and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water in the River
Ganga and for matters connected therewith.

51. The correct option is C only.

The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French in 1739.

52. The correct option is Jainism

Anekāntavāda refers to the Jain doctrine about metaphysical truths that emerged in
ancient India. It states that the ultimate truth and reality is complex and has multiple
aspects..

53. The correct option is Both.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Sindhu is the river par excellence of the Aryans.

Dasa‘s were a branch of early Aryans .

Dasyu‘s might have been the original inhabitants of India.

54. The correct option is C only.

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In later vedic times rig vedic popular assemblies lost importance. The Vidhatha
completely disappeared.

Agriculture was the primary source of livelihood for the later vedic people.

55. The correct option is B only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Harappan seals were an urban feature and were discovered only from urban centres.

56. The correct option is A and B.

In the fourth council teachings of Mahayana school of Buddhism was finalized.

57. The correct option is 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C.
58. The correct option is Both.
59. The correct option is B only.

Asiatic Society Of Bengal was founded in 1784 in Calcutta by an English Civil Servant,
Sir William Jones. He is also credited with the translation of the Kalidasa play Abhijnana
Shakuntalam into English in 1789.

Max Mueller was a German born Indologist. He published a translated compilation of
ancient scriptures under the ―Sacred Books of the East‖ series.

60. The correct option is None.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Some Ashokan inscriptions were written in the Kharoshthi script which was written from
right to left.

Greek and Aramaic scripts were employed in writing Ashokan inscriptions in Pakistan
and Afghanistan regions.

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61. The correct option is Earth completes its rotation in 24 hours.

Earth complete its rotation(360°) in 24 h , so in 1 hour = 15° (360°/24).

The world‘s time zones are based on the fact that the Earth moves through 15 degrees of
longitude each hour. Therefore, there are 24 standard time zones (24 hours x 15 degrees =
360). Time zones are counted from the Prime Meridian, with each time zone based on a
central meridian, counted at 15 degree intervals from the Prime Meridian, and extends 7.5
degrees to either side of the central meridian.

There are some deviations in some places based of the region suitability. If each time
zone were 1 hour apart, there would be 24 in the world. But several time zones have only
30 and 45 minutes offsets, making the total number worldwide much higher.

62. The correct option is A only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

Banas, Shipra, Parbati , Mej are tributaries of Chambal river

63. The correct option is Arunachal Pradesh.

The Arunachal Himalayas -These extend from the east of the Bhutan Himalayas up to the
Diphu pass in the east. Some of the important rivers are the Kameng, the Subansiri, the
Dihang, the Dibang and the Lohit. These are perennial with the high rate of fall, thus,
having the highest hydro-electricpower potential in the country.

Numerous ethnic tribal community inhabiting in these areas. Some of the prominent ones
from west to east are the Monpa, Abor, Mishmi, Nyishi and the Nagas. Most of these
communities practise Jhumming. It is also known as shifting or slash and burn
cultivation.

64. The correct option is All.

The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India's eastern coast.
The Eastern Ghats run from the northern Odisha through Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu
in the south passing some parts of Karnataka and in the Wayanad region of Kerala. They
are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz. Godavari,
Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri.

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The mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau lies to the
west of the range, between the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The coastal plains,
including the Coromandel Coast region, lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of
Bengal. The Eastern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats.

65. The correct option is Assam.

Some Famous Local Storms of Hot Weather Season.

Mango Shower : Towards the end of summer, there are pre-monsoon showers which are
a common phenomena in Kerala and coastal areas of Karnataka. Locally, they are known
as mango showers since they help in the early ripening of mangoes.

Blossom Shower : With this shower, coffee flowers blossom in Kerala and nearby areas.

Nor Westers : These are dreaded evening thunderstorms in Bengal and Assam. Their
notorious nature can be understood from the local nomenclature of „Kalbaisakhi‟, a
calamity of the month of Baisakh. These showers are useful for tea, jute and rice
cultivation. In Assam, these storms are known as ―Bardoli Chheerha‖.

Loo : Hot, dry and oppressing winds blowing in the Northern plains from Punjab to Bihar
with higher intensity between Delhi and Patna.

66. The correct option is Narmada.

The Marble Rocks is an area along the Narmada river in central India near the city of
Jabalpur in Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh state. The river has carved the soft
marble, creating a beautiful gorge of about 8 km in length. It is a popular Indian tourist
destination. The local marble is mined and carved into various figures and transported all
over India.

The Marble Rocks are a gorge along part of the Narmada River‘s 1,077 km path through
Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, the Gorge was narrow in size and hence, monkeys could cross
over from one side to another. This gave the Gorge its local name- Bandar Kudni
(meaning- Monkey's jumping place). The white marbles are predominantly rich in
magnesium and are closer in hardness to soap stone. This softness allows them to be
carved. The area also contains blue and brown colored marble.

67. The correct option is Dry Deciduous.

Dry deciduous forest, where rainfall ranges between 70 -100 cm. On the wetter margins,
it has a transition to the moist deciduous, while on the drier margins to thorn forests.
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These forests are found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar.

As the dry season begins, the trees shed their leaves completely and the forest appears
like a vast grassland with naked trees all around. Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair,
axlewood, etc. are the common trees of these forests.

68. The correct option is A and B.

Saline Soils are also known as Usara soils. Saline soils contain a larger proportion of
sodium, potassium and magnesium, and thus, they are infertile, and do not support any
vegetative growth. They have more salts, largely because of "dry climate" and poor
drainage. They occur in arid and semi-arid regions, and in waterlogged and swampy
areas.

Seawater intrusions in the deltas promote the occurrence of saline soils. In the areas of
intensive cultivation with excessive use of irrigation, especially in areas of green
revolution, the fertile alluvial soils are becoming saline. Excessive irrigation with dry
climatic conditions promotes capillary action, which results in the deposition of salt on
the top layer of the soil. In such areas, especially in Punjab and Haryana, farmers are
advised to add gypsum to solve the problem of salinity in the soil.

69. The correct option is "badland topography."

A region with a large number of deep gullies or ravines is called a "badland topography."
Ravines are widespread, in the Chambal basin. Besides this, they are also found in Tamil
Nadu and Bengal.

Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have
been extensively eroded by wind and water. They are characterized by steep slopes,
minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density. They can
resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, buttes, mesas,
hoodoos and other such geologic forms are common in badlands.

70. The correct option is lost in the marshy land of the Rann of Kutch.

71. The correct option is B only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

The Indian government‗s relatively slow progress in securing lithium reserves could be a
big problem for the energy storage industry in the country. Slow progress in securing
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commodity may pose problem for energy storage in India. Lithium attracted the highest
slab, 28% GST previously. Now it has been reduced to 18%.

In 1991 Sony and Asahi Kasei released the first commercial lithium-ion battery. The first
batteries were used for consumer products and now building on the success of these
lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, many companies are developing larger-format cells for use
in energy-storage applications. Many also expect there to be significant synergies with
the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) powered by Li-ion batteries.

The flexibility of Li-ion technology in EV applications, from small high-power batteries
for power buffering in hybrids, to medium-power batteries providing both electric-only
range and power buffering in plug-in hybrids, to high-energy batteries in electric-only
vehicles, has similar value in energy storage.

Li-ion batteries have been deployed in a wide range of energy-storage applications,
ranging from energy-type batteries of a few kilowatt-hours in residential systems with
rooftop photovoltaic arrays to multi-megawatt containerized batteries for the provision of
grid ancillary services.

72. The correct option is "Impact of GST implementation".

LATE CONVERGENCE STALL - It talks about the Level of Development of different
countries but in special reference to Developing countries like India, Bangladesh, South
American or African countries etc. It argues that the countries like European, US, UK etc
which are high income countries today, prospered in the early phases of industrialisation
and grossly used methods like liberalisation and globalisation to expand their
productivities. But today, when countries that are LATE TO CONVERGE to those levels
(the developing ones) are experiencing a kind of a STALL or obstacles to their full
convergence.

The Economic Survey gives broadly 4 reasons for the same:
1. Repudiation of globalisation- the headwinds of protectionism are all over Western
Camp, barring the developing countries from taking the full benefits of open economy to
boost trade.

2. Climate Change worries which are harming the production potential of the agriculture
and posing problems of Food security.

3. Structural transformation Challenge: that is to transfer resources from low productive
capacity sectors like agro to high productivity like Services,

4. Human capital challenge - the labour now needs to be equipped with high training and
skills to innovate and work as compared to late 20th cent industries or services.

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All of this is based on an argument that there is a level of Convergence throughout the
world amongst countries overtime with respect to Economic or Social- human indicators.
But this process is being barred due to the obstacles that contribute to the so called late
convergence stall.

73. The correct option is "a surcharge that a discom levies on a customer for defraying
costs of free or subsidised power to some sections of the society."

Perhaps the clearest case of States putting the kibosh(put an end) on free market is that of
the =cross subsidy surcharge‗ (CSS). This is a surcharge that a discom levies on a
customer for defraying costs of free or subsidised power to some sections of the society.

Ideally, the costs of such subsidies should come from the State government‗s own funds,
but other customers are made to pay for it. The Electricity Act allows CSS, but the idea
clearly was that the charge .shall be progressively reduced and eliminated.. Instead, the
CSS is only increasing.

Assam, for example, saw CSS rise from 54paise in 2016-17 to .1.31 in2017-18; Bihar 79
paise to 1.79 and A.P. 1.61 to .1.65. This is happening even when there is recognition that
CSS is not quite the way to provide free or subsidised power to some sections of society
— incidentally, some of whom, such as rich farmers, do not at all deserve the freebie.
The National Tariff Policy of 2016 is clear on that point. In Section 8.3, it says "direct
subsidy is a better way to support the poorer categories of consumers than the mechanism
of cross subsidizing the tariff across the board."

74. The correct options is Companies Act, 2013.

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is a Indian body proposed in Companies
Act ,2013 for the establishment and enforcement of accounting and auditing standards
and oversight of the work of auditors.

75. The correct option is 'aggregate demand exceeds the aggregate value of output at the
full employment level'.

The ‗inflationary gap‘—a concept introduced first by Keynes. This concept may be used
to measure the pressure of inflation. If aggregate demand exceeds the aggregate value of
output at the full employment level, there will exist an inflationary gap in the economy.

An inflationary gap, also known as an expansionary gap, is the difference between the
real GDP and the full-employment real GDP. In fact, the real GDP outweighs the full

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employment real GDP because an increase in the real GDP causes the general price level
to rise in the long-term.

For instance, the economy‘s total output is $6 trillion and the full-employment real GDP
is $4 trillion, the inflationary gap is $2 trillion, which means that the aggregate output has
to decrease by $2 trillion to eliminate the inflationary gap. To fight this gap, governments
impose a contractionary fiscal policy that increases taxation and decreases government
spending to lower disposable income and consumption, thus lowering the aggregate
demand and the general price level.

Consider an example:

Saudi Arabia employs all its available resources and produces 11.6 barrels of oil per day.
The aggregate demand for oil is estimated at 5 barrels of oil per day because there is a
growing uncertainty over oil supplies, regional conflict and price hikes, which lower
consumer confidence. In this case, since the aggregate demand (real GDP) is lower than
the full-employment real GDP, there is no inflationary gap.

Conversely, if the aggregate demand for oil was 13.2 barrels of day, and consumer
confidence was high, there would be an inflationary gap of 1.6 barrels of oil per day
because the aggregate demand (real GDP) would be higher than the full-employment real
GDP.

Therefore, when the full-employment real GDP is X, and the aggregate demand (real
GDP) is X+1, there is an inflationary gap that needs to be corrected with contractionary
fiscal policy.

76. The correct option is None.

FTSE 100 - UK
JCI - Indonesia
SET - Thailand

77. The correct option is Butter, ghee, cheese.

12% GST RATE:
1. Butter and other fats (ghee, butter oil, etc.) and oils derived from milk; dairy spreads
2. Cheese

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78. The correct option is High inflation and High unemployment.

79. The correct answer is Arunachal Pradesh.

The Sela Pass (more appropriately called Se La, as La means Pass) is a high-altitude
mountain pass located on the border between the Tawang and West Kameng Districts of
Arunachal Pradesh state in India. It has an elevation of 4170 m (13,700 ft) and connects
the Tibetan Buddhist town of Tawang to Dirang and Guwahati. The pass carries the main
road connecting Tawang with the rest of India.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech 2018 that he proposed ―to
take up construction of tunnel under Sela Pass‖ in Arunachal Pradesh with the aim of
developing ―connectivity infrastructure in the border areas‖.

80. The correct option is B only.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19
December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of
Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The bank admits the members of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly
the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional
developed countries.

As of 31 December 2016, Japan and United States hold the largest proportion of shares at
15.607%. China holds 6.444%, India holds 6.331%, and Australia holds 5.786%

81. The correct option is B only.

Andhra Pradesh is the first State to implement a ZBNF policy.

In ZBNF, yields of various cash andfood crops have been found to be significantly higher
when compared with chemical farming. Input costs are near zero as no fertilizers and
pesticides are used. Profits in most areas under ZBNF werefrom higher yield and lower
inputs.

Model ZBNF farms were able to withstand drought and flooding, which are big concerns
with regard to climate change. The planting of multiple crops and border crops on the
same field has provided varied income and nutrient
sources. As a result of these changes, there is reduced use of water and electricity,
improved health of farmers, flourishing of local ecosystems and biodiversity and no toxic
chemical residues in the environment

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82. The correct option is 'Non-performing assets'.

Project 'SASHAKT - 5 Pronged Strategy To Deal With NPAs

The Sunil Mehta Committee, set up to look into the faster resolution of stressed assets,
has recommended the creation of an asset management company for the resolution of
stressed loans worth more than Rs.500
crore.

The five-pronged strategy includes:
1. SME resolution approach,
2. Bank-led resolution approach,
3. AMC/AIF led resolution approach,
4. NCLT/IBC approach, and
5. Asset-trading platform.

Sashakt aims to strengthen the credit capacity, credit culture and credit portfolio of public
sector
banks.T - 5 Pronged Strategy To Deal With NPAs

The five-pronged strategy includes:
1. SME resolution approach,
2. Bank-led resolution approach,
3. AMC/AIF led resolution approach,
4. NCLT/IBC approach, and
5. Asset-trading platform.

Sashakt aims to strengthen the credit capacity, credit culture and credit portfolio of public
sector banks.

83. The correct option is A, C and E.

"Operation Greens" to promote farmer producer‘s organizations for agri-logistics,
processing facilities and professional management (supply-chain management). Rs.500

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crore has been allocated. The operation aims to aid farmers and help control and limit the
erratic fluctuations in the prices of "onions, potatoes and tomatoes."

The announcement to set minimum support price of all kharif crops at 1.5 times the cost
of production will increase the farmers‘ income and for consumers, tax incentives will be
given under Operation Greens. Already for Rabi crops MSP is 1.5 times the cost of
production.

The idea behind Operation Greens is to double the income of farmers by end of 2022.
Operation is essentially a price fixation scheme that aims to ensure farmers are given the
right price for their produce.

84. The correct option is A only.

In the Budget 2018 the government extended "Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana" up
to March 2020, which assures an 8% return, and raised the investment cap from 7.5 lakh
to 15 lakh.

85. The correct option is NITI Aayog.

According to the ―"Composite Water Management Index" developed by Niti Aayog,
70% of the water resources are identified as polluted. This is based primarily on data
supplied by States for calculating the index.

CWMI has been developed by NITI Aayog comprising 9 broad sectors with 28 different
indicators covering various aspects of ground water, restoration of water bodies,
irrigation, farm practices, drinking water, policy and governance (Box-1). For the
purposes of analysis, the reporting states were divided into two special groups – ‗North
Eastern and Himalayan states‘ and ‗Other States‘, to account for the different
hydrological conditions across these groups.

The CWMI is an important tool to assess and improve the performance of States/ Union
Territories in efficient management of water resources. This has been done through a first
of its kind water data collection exercise in partnership with Ministry of Water
Resources, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation and all the States/ Union
Territories.The index would provide useful information for the States and also for the
concerned Central Ministries/Departments enabling them to formulate and implement
suitable strategies for better management of water resources.Simultaneously a web portal
on the subject has also been launched.

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The report released today ranks Gujarat as number one in the reference year (2016-17),
followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In North
Eastern and Himalayan States, Tripura has been adjudged number 1 in 2016-17 followed
by Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam. In terms of incremental change in index (over
2015-16 level), Rajasthan holds number one position in general States and Tripura ranks
at first position amongst North Eastern and Himalayan States. NITI Aayog proposes to
publish these ranks on an annual basis in future.

86. The correct option is Karnataka.
87. The correct option is B only.

The headquarters of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has been shifted from
Chennai to Haryana‗s "Ballabhgarh" for better coordination between the environment
ministry and the board. Established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body
advising the Government of India on animal welfare laws, and promotes animal welfare
in the country of India.

Animal Welfare Board of India was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini
Devi Arundale, well known humanitarian. The Board was initially within the jurisdiction
of the Government of India‟s Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In 1990, the subject of
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, where it now resides .

88. The initiative, IMPRINT India(Impacting Research Innovation and Technology) ‗, is
a pan-IIT and IISc joint collaboration to develop a blueprint for research of immediate
relevance to society under MHRD requiring innovation, direct scientific research into
identified areas, ensure higher funding support for research into these areas and measure
outcomes of the research efforts with reference to the impact on the standard of living in
rural/urban areas.

Under the IMPRINT-II, a fund is being created by the Department of Science and
Technology and Ministry of Human Resource Development together, in which
participation will come from industry and other interested Ministries. The project will be
run as a separate vertical in coordination with the DST.

89. The correct option is Antarctica.

Scientists have announced the discovery of a previously unknown ―supercolony of more
than 1,500,000 Adélie Penguins in the Danger Islands, a chain of remote, rocky islands
off of the Antarctic Peninsula‗s northern tip.

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90. The correct option is Ministry of Law and Justice.

91. The correct option is Yemen.

Socotra , located between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, is the largest of
four islands of the Socotra archipelago. The territory is located near major shipping
routes and is officially part of Yemen.

On April 30, 2018, the United Arab Emirates, as part of the ongoing Saudi-led
intervention in Yemen, landed troops on the island and took control of Socotra Airport
and seaport.

On May 14, 2018, Saudi troops were also deployed on the island and a deal was brokered
between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a joint military training exercise and
the return of administrative control of Socotra airport and seaport under Yemeni control.

92. The correct option is B only.

Idlib, Homs and Ghouta are all located in Syria. These places have been repeatedly
mentioned in news in relation to syrian war.

93. The correct option is Let nature shine.

Organised annually by the WWF, formerly the The World Wide Fund for Nature, Earth
Hour is observed at 8.30pm local time on the last Saturday of March.

On Earth Hour day the WWF encourages people to stop and ponder the effects of climate
change on the planet.

The WWF explains: ―Earth Hour is a global movement, which brings millions together
across the world to call for greater action on climate change. Each year, hundreds of
millions of people around the world switch off their lights and organise events – at home,
in their community or in their towns or cities – to show they care about the future of our
planet."

The theme for Earth Hour 2019 is ―Change the Way We Live‖.

94. The correct option is All.

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"Free and Open Indo-Pacific" though initially proposed by Japan and later by USA. All
the four countries United States, Japan, Australia, and India broadly subscribe to it,
however what the policy actually means varies from nation to nation.Nearly one year in
to the United States, Japan, Australia, and India‘s collective pursuit of a ―Free and Open
Indo-Pacific,‖ broad misunderstandings of the policy‘s intentions and objectives endure.

Japan and the United States have articulated their own vision for the Free and Open Indo-
Pacific Strategy (FOIPS), but Japanese panellists told a policy forum recently that Japan's
strategy was not meant to be exclusive. Rather, it is a concept that all like-minded
countries - including China - are more than welcome to join.

95. The correct option is None.

The question was to select "incorrect" statements.

The Thai Canal, also known as Kra Canal or Kra Isthmus Canal, refers to proposals for a
canal that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea across southern
Thailand. It is envisaged that such a canal would improve transportation in the region,
similar to the Panama Canal and Suez Canal.

The canal would provide an alternative to transit through the Straits of Malacca and
shorten transit for shipments of oil to Japan and China by 1,200 km. China refers to it as
part of its 21st century maritime Silk Road.

The Strait of Malacca, just under 1,000 kilometres long, is narrow, less than 2.5
kilometres at the narrowest, and just 25 metres deep at its shallowest point. It is used by
many oil tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. It is estimated that some 80 percent of
Japan's and South Korea's oil and natural gas supplies pass through it. The strait, the
world's busiest shipping route, saw a record 84,000 vessels sail through it in 2016. Its
yearly capacity is 120,000 vessels. The Maritime Institute of Malaysia forecasts that by
2025, about 140,000 vessels and freighters will seek to transit the strait.

A canal would reduce shipping times between the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea
two or three days and reduce distance travelled by at least 1,200 kilometres compared
with the strait.[8] Bunker fuel savings for a 100,000 dwt (deadweight) oil tanker could be
as much as US$350,000 per trip. The Thai Canal would link China, Japan, and other East
Asian nations with the oil fields of the Middle East and markets in Europe, Africa, and
India

96. The correct option is Biopiling.

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