Day 47 (2nd January 2023) (Date : 02-01-2023)

Question 1:

With reference to Portuguese governor Alfonso de Albuquerque, consider the following statements:

He started Blue Water Policy in order to make the Portuguese the master of the Indian Ocean.
He was the first Portuguese governor to India was asked to consolidate the position of the Portuguese in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

In 1505, the King of Portugal appointed a governor in India for a three-year term and equipped the incumbent with sufficient force to protect the Portuguese interests. Francisco De Almeida, the newly appointed governor (first Governor), was asked to consolidate the position of the Portuguese in India and to destroy Muslim trade by seizing Aden, Ormuz, and Malacca. He was also advised to build fortresses at Anjadiva, Cochin, Cannanore, and Kilwa. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
- However, Albuquerque, succeeded Almeida as the Portuguese governor in India, was the real founder of the Portuguese power in the East.
Almeida’s vision was to make the Portuguese the master of the Indian Ocean. His policy was known as the Blue Water Policy (cartaze system). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Question 2:

Battle of Bidara took place between following European powers:

English and Dutch
Portuguese and Dutch
French and English
French and Portuguese

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

Battle of Bidara (1759) took place between the English and the Dutch. The English defeated Dutch and became supreme power in India. Hence, option A is correct.

Question 3:

What does ‘Chatuspathis’ represent in the Indian medieval history?

Centres of Higher Education
Group of Nobles in Mughal Administration
A type of tax levied on Agricultural income
Smallest unit in the Vijayanagar Empire

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

'Chatuspathis' or 'Tols', in Bihar and Bengal, were the centres of higher education. Some of the famous centres for Sanskrit education were Kasi (Varanasi), Tirhut (Mithila), Nadia, and Utkala.
Madrasahs were the institutions of higher learning for Persian and Arabic, Persian being the court language and learnt by the Muslims as well as the Hindus. Azimabad (Patna) was a famous centre for Persian education. People interested in the study of the Quran and Muslim theology had to acquire proficiency in Arabic

Question 4:

Consider the following pairs regarding Anglo-French Rivalry:

	War	Treaty
1.	First Carnatic War	Treaty of Aix-La Chapelle
2.	Second Carnatic War	Treaty of Pondicherry
3.	Third Carnatic War	Treaty of Paris

How many pairs given above is/are matching correctly?

One pair only
Two pair only
All Three pairs
None of the Above

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

French foundation in India in 1664, Colbert, a minister of Louis XIV, laid the foundations of Compagnie des Indes Orientales.
Anglo-French Rivalry in India: The Anglo-French rivalry in India coincided with the wars between the English and French in Europe.
Political developments in southern India and Europe provided pretexts to contest their claims which culminated in three Carnatic wars.
First Carnatic War (1740–48): It was an extension of the Anglo-French rivalry in Europe and ended in 1748 with the Treaty of Aix-La Chapelle. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
Second Carnatic War (1749–54): Although inconclusive, it undermined the French power in South India vis-à-vis the English.
- The Treaty of Pondicherry was signed in 1754 bringing an end to the Second Carnatic War. It provided that French settlement of Puducherry in French India. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
Third Carnatic War (1758–63): A decisive war, known for the Battle of Wandiwash (1760–61) It was an echo of the Anglo-French struggle in Europe.
- By the Treaty of Paris (1763), the French were allowed to use Indian settlements for commercial purposes only and fortification of settlements were banned. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Question 5:

Consider the following statements:

Hyderabad was founded by Zulfikar Khan.
The founder of the independent principality of Awadh was Burhan-ul-Mulk.
Martanda Varma established an independent state of Kerala with Travancore as his capital.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3 only
2 and 3 only

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

Regional Kingdoms:

Hyderabad: The founder of the Asaf-Jah house of Hyderabad was Chin Qalich Khan, popularly known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. It was Zulfikar Khan who had first conceived the idea of an independent state in the Deccan. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Awadh: The founder of the independent principality of Awadh was Saadat Khan, popularly known as Burhan-ul-Mulk. Saadat Khan was a Shia. He had joined in a conspiracy against the Sayyid brothers, which resulted in his being given an increased mansab. Later, driven out of the court, he was prompted to found a new independent state. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Kerala: Martanda Varma established an independent state of Kerala with Travancore as his capital. He extended the boundaries of his state from Kanyakumari to Cochin. He made efforts to organise his army along the Western model and adopted various measures to develop his state. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Question 6:

Consider the following statements in context of Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index 2022:

It was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
It measures the gender gap based on economic, political and health factors.
India’s ranking in GGG Index 2022 is 135 out of 146 countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct.
- India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to 0.629, which is its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years.
- In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.
  - The gender gap is the difference between women and men as reflected in social, political, intellectual, cultural, or economic attainments or attitudes.
GGGI benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity in four Key dimensions with Sub Metrices.
- Economic Participation and Opportunity
- Educational Attainment
- Health and Survival
- Political Empowerment. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity.
It is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.

Question 7:

Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)?

It is a Japan-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries.
India is also one of the participants of the initiative.

Choose the correct option using the codes given below:

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) US-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
The IPEF was launched with a dozen initial partners who together represent 40% of the world GDP.
India is also part of this USA-led Initiative. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Question 8:

Consider the following statements with reference to cervical cancer:

It is a common sexually transmitted infection. 
It is the second most prevalent cancer form and the second leading cause of cancer death in women of reproductive age.
It is mostly caused by long-term infection with particular forms of Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

Cervavac, a vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), has recently acquired market authorization from the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI). 
- It is India's first Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (qHPV) designed to protect women from cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- It’s a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
It is mostly caused by long-term infection with particular forms of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Hence, statement 3 is correct.
It is the second most prevalent cancer form and the second leading cause of cancer death in women of reproductive age (15-44). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Indian Perspective: According to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, India accounts for roughly one-fifth of the global burden, with 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 fatalities every year.

Question 9:

With reference to the Open Network for Digital Commerce, consider the following statements:

It is a freely accessible government-backed platform that aims to democratise e-commerce.
Providers and consumers would be able to use any compatible application of their choice for exchange of information and carrying out transactions over ONDC.
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Which of the statements is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):

ONDC is a freely accessible government-backed platform that aims to democratise e-commerce by moving it from a platform-centric model to an open network for buying and selling goods and services. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- It is a not-for-profit organization that will offer a network to enable local digital commerce stores across industries to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled applications.
Under ONDC, it is envisaged that a buyer registered on one participating e-commerce site (for example, Amazon) may purchase goods from a seller on another participating e-commerce site (for example, Flipkart).
- Providers and consumers would be able to use any compatible application of their choice for exchange of information and carrying out transactions over ONDC. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Question 10:

With reference to the Skill Council for Green Jobs, consider the following statements:

The Responsibility of Skill Council for Green Jobs is aligned with the National Skill Development Mission.
This Council works under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

The creation of the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) was approved in the 10th meeting of the National Skill Qualifications Committee held in 2015.
Skill Council for Green Jobs is one of the most recently launched initiatives of the Government of India aligned to the National Skill Development Mission. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The SCGJ was established as a not-for-profit, independent, industry-led organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860.
It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.