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1. 17th April

3. Which among the given statements is/are true in regard to the Speaker of Lok Sabha? 1. He is the guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as a whole and its committees. 2. He announces the government policies on the floor of the house. Select the appropriate code a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

4. • Ans a • Speaker is the final interpreter of the provisions of the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and the parliamentary precedents, within the House. • Speaker is also the guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as a whole and its committees. • However, it is the Prime Minister or Chief Minister who announces the government policies on the floor of their respective house.

5. Coriolis causes wind to move towards its right in Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Which of the above statements are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

6. • Ans d • Coriolis force: it is a deflecting force experienced due to rotation of earth. • Because of coriolis the air appears to turn towards its right in the northern hemisphere and towards its left in the southern hemisphere. • The coriolis always acts in the perpendicular direction of the motion of air. • It is zero at the equator and increases towards the poles.

7. Consider the following statements about ‘India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program’ 1. It will be implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) 2. It will be funded by the New Development Bank 3. It will help expand deployment of Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) Select the correct code: a) 1 Only b) 1 and 2 c) 2 and 3 d) 1 and 3

8. • Ans d • India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program News: Government of India and the World Bank signed a \(220 million Loan Agreement and a \) 80 million Guarantee Agreement for the India Energy Efficiency Scale-Up Program. • The $220 million loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to EESL, has a 5-year grace period, and a maturity of 19 years. · The $80 million IBRD guarantee will partially cover re-payment risks to commercial lenders or investors, to enable EESL to raise funds for its program.

9. • It will be implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) • It will help scale-up the deployment of energy saving measures in residential and public sectors, strengthen EESL’s institutional capacity, and enhance its access to commercial financing. • It will help to increase private sector participation in energy efficiency, including through private sector energy service companies. •It will help EESL expand UJALA’s deployment of efficient ceiling fans, LED street lights and LED tube lights, along with its already-successful LED bulbs procurement and distribution

10. Consider the following statements about Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platforms 1. They are treated as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) 2. They are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 3. They act as intermediaries between borrower, lender, and partner bank Select the correct statements (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

11. • Ans D • P2P lending is a crowd-funding model (largely online) where people looking to invest their money with people who want to borrow can do so. The concept is centred around savers getting higher interest by lending their money instead of saving and borrowers get comparatively lower interest rates. • Borrowers are either individuals or small businesses. But unlike a traditional savings account, one can lose money if the borrower defaults. Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platforms would be treated as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) P2P platforms leverage metrics such as credit scores and social media activity to link borrowers and lenders at favourable interest rates. • At present, such platforms have very low regulatory restrictions because they merely act as intermediaries between borrower, lender, and partner bank.

12. Which lake has now made it to the Limca Book of Records for having India’s largest floating island? A. Kolleru lake B. Vembanad lake C. Pangong lake D. Hebbagodi lake

13. • Ans d • Hebbagodi Lake has now made it to the Limca Book of Records for having India’s largest floating island. The 12,000-sqft island has strips of vegetation that crisscross the waterbody. • It comprises rafts that allow plants to grow hydroponically (without soil, and through mineral nutrient solutions) and act as cleaning agents. The floating rafts are built with reused PVC pipes

14. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘White Label ATM (WLAs)’ 1. WLAs are those ATMs where hardware and the lease of the ATM machine is owned by a service provider but cash management and connectivity to banking networks is provided by a sponsor bank 2. They can source cash only from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Select the correct statements A. 1 Only B. 2 Only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2

15. • Ans d • Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) set up, owned and operated by non-bank entities are called “White Label ATMs” (WLAs). They provide the banking services to the customers of banks in India, based on the cards (debit/credit/prepaid) issued by banks. • Non-bank entities that set up, own and operate ATMs are called “White Label ATM Operators” (WLAO). The WLAO’s role is confined to acquisition of transactions of all banks’ customers by establishing technical connectivity with the existing authorized, shared ATM Network Operators / Card Payment Network Operators. • In a step to boost activities of white label automated (WLA) teller machine operators, the RBI has allowed such entities to buy wholesale cash, above a threshold of 1 lakh pieces of any denomination, directly from the RBI and currency chests against full payment.

16. The instrument that is used to measure the relative humidity in air is known as? a) Hydrometer b) Hygrometer c) Pyrometer d) Barometer

17. • Ans b • Hygrometer is the instrument used in meteorological science to measure the humidity, or amount of water vapour in the air. • A hydrometer or aerometer is an instrument used for measuring the relative density of liquids based on the concept of buoyancy. • Pyrometer is an instrument used for measuring high temperatures, especially in furnaces and kilns. A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure.

18. Aihole inscription, is known as the Cradle of Indian architecture, was issued under the reign of a) Chalukyas b) Pallavas c) Rashtrakutas d) Marathas

19. • Ans a • Aihole was the first capital of Chalukyas where they built numerous temples dating back to the 6th century CE. • Many inscriptions found at Aihole, but the inscription which found at Meguti Temple popularly known as Aihole inscription, which has the significance in the history of India, witnessed for the many historical events of Chalukyas. • The Aihole inscription issued by Pulakeshin II gives the details of his reign.