March Final Issue.pmd - CHANGE 'Gateway to All Competitive Exams'

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MARCH 2012 Get Previous Issues Free of Cost on Our Website: www.changetabloid.com 36. Scientists discovered unknown species off the coast of Antarctica. Consider the following statements: i) The temperature in this region rises to 380 degree Celsius. ii) There is plenty of light in this region. Which of the above statements is/ are correct? a) Only i b) Only ii c) Both i and ii d) Neither i nor ii Answer: (a) 37. The world’s first hybrid sharks were discovered by the researchers in Australian waters. The hybrid shark is the result of cross-breeding between which one of the following set of shark species? a) Common black tip Shark and Australian black-tip shark b) Indian black-tip Shark and Australian black-tip Shark c) Blue Whale and Common blacktip Shark d) Blue Whale and Australian black-tip Shark Answer: (a) 38. TiE Chennai (The Indus Entrepreneurs), dedicated to promote entrepreneurship launched a book Dream to destiny — the driving spirit of Chennai’s entrepreneurs in January 2012. TiE Chennai is a _. a. Non-profit organisation b. Committee of Entrepreneurs c. Multinational organisation d. Entrepreneur arm of the Commerce Ministry Answer: (a) 39. State-run Northern Coalfields (NCL) agreed to surrender land required to mine two blocks attached to the Sasan ultra mega power plant to which of the following companies giving the comapany the benefit of over Rs 6000 crore over the life of the venture? a. Reliance Power b. Adani Power c. Birla Power Solutions d. DLF Power Answer: (a) 40. Which car took home the crown of Indian Car of the Year 2012? a. Toyota Etios Liva b. Maruti Suzuki Swift c. Hyundai Verna d. Hyundai Eon Answer: (b) 41. This footballer was awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich. He won the award for the third consecutive year for the world’s outstanding footballer. Identify the footballer. a. Cristiano Ronaldo b. Xavi c. Sergio Ramos d. Lionel Messi Answer: (d) 42. Prime Minister’s Office directed cash-rich public sector undertakings (PSUs) to invest around Rs.1.76 lakh crore to act as a stimulus in the next fiscal 2012-13. What is the amount to be invested domestically? a. Rs.1.41 lakh crore b. Rs 1.57 lakh crore c. Rs 2.50 lakh crore d. Rs 3.19 lakh crore Answer: (a) 43. He was conferred with the first S K Singh Award for excellence in the Indian Foreign Service. Identify the diplomat. a. Ranjan Mathai b. Shivshankar Menon c. D Bala Venkatesh Verma d. K. Raghunath Answer: (c) 45. Writer/diplomat Pavan K. Varma’s new book set in contemporary India and in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan was launched in the New Delhi by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the Queen Mother of Bhutan in January 2012. The protagonist Anand is wrongly diagnosed with cancer. He quits his high-power job and loses himself in a Bhutanese retreat. Name the book. a. When Loss is Gain b. Ghalib: The Man c. The Great Indian Middle Class d. The Times Answer: (a) 46. Identify the photographer with the help of the following clues. 1. She was India’s first woman photo-journalist and was the only professional woman photojournalist between 1939 and 1970 2. She was commonly known by her pseudonym Dalda 13 3. She also captured the first flaghoisting ceremony at the Red Fort on August 16 1947, the departure of Lord Mountbatten from India and the funerals of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. 4. The Padma Bhushan Awardee breathed her last on 15 January 2012. a. Ronika Kandhari b. Asha Kochar c. Prabuddha Dasgupta d. Homai Vyarawala Answer: (d) 47. Which PSU lender called off its plans to set up a joint venture with Visa Inc and Elavon Inc to enter the merchant acquiring business over differences on sharing technology? a. Union Bank b. State Bank of India c. Syndicate Bank d. Corp Bank Answer: (b) 48. This company acquired Star more than 500 films like blockbusters like Salman Khan’s Dabangg, Ready, Golmaal 3, Tees Maar Khan, Thank You, No One Killed Jessica, Guzaarish, Kites and Raavan from a general entertainment channel owned by the Viacom 18 Group? a. Sony b. UTV movies c. Colors d. Sab TV Answer: (c) 49. Union government raised the ad valorem duty (export duty) on iron ore exports to what per cent from 20 per cent? a. 30% b. 33% c. 41% d. 43% Answer: (a) 50. Union government approved Reliance Industries’ (RIL) investment plan for developing four satellite fields in the flagging KG-D6 block. What was the proposed sum to be invested for developing the satellites? a. $1.500 billion b. $1.692 billion c. $1.529 billion d. $1.375 billion Answer: (c) 51. Name the auto making company which launched three new variants of the Eon-D — Lite plus, Era plus and Magna plus in the Indian market in January 2012. a. Tata Motors b. Hyundai Motor India c. Volkswagen d. Maruti Suzuki Answer: (b) 52. The Government of which of the following countries acquired 1.09 per cent stake, currently worth about Rs.2500 crore, in Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), the company’s latest shareholding data show? a. Malaysia b. Japan c. Phillipines d. Singapore Answer: (d) 53. The Board of Approval (BoA) under the Commerce Ministry approved the proposal of this company to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Identify the company. a. Reliance Industries b. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) c. Hero Motors d. Infosys Answer: (b) 54. Researchers discovered new earthworm species in Port Blair. What is the name of the new species? a) Moniligaster ivaniosi b) Annelida c) Nematoda d) Onychophora Answer: (a) 55. Which one of the following state governments decided to constitute Jaisalmer Fort development authority? a) Rajasthan b) Bihar c) Madhya Pradesh d) Gujarat Answer: (a) 56. Noted film critic who reviewed films for the Times of India died of breast cancer at 53? a. Nikhat Kazmi b. Raja Sen c. Subhash K. Jha d. Pauline Kael Answer: (a) 57. Inter-ministerial coordination committee for tourism sector Headed by Principal Secretary to the PM Pulok Chatterjee in its meeting decided to extend Visa-on-Arrival facility to Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bangaluru airports to help double the foreign tourist arrivals. With respect to this statement which of the two statements given below are true? 1. Currently, Visa-on-Arrival is extended to 11 countries including Japan, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam and Finland. 2. The Visa-on-Arrival facility is now available at four international airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 & 2 d. None of the above Answer: (c) 58. The capital market regulator SEBI on 3 January 2012 allowed auctioning of securities through stock exchanges and introduced a new method for institutional placement of stocks. Which of the following facts related to the above statement is/are not true? 1. Under the institutional placement programme (IPP), shares can be sold only to qualified institutional buyers. 2. There shall be at least 25 allottees in every IPP issuance. No single investor shall receive allotment for more than 25% of the offer size 3. The IPP method can be used to increase public holding by 10% and could be offered to only qualified institutional buyers with 25% being reserved for mutual funds and insurance companies 4. Under the IPP, companies will have to announce the ratio of buy-back, as is done in the case of rights issues and fix a record date for determination of entitlements as per shareholding on record date a. Only 1 b. Only 3 c. Only 2 d. Only 4 Answer: (c) 60. The poor performance of National Pension System, or NPS led the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to change the incentive structure for the distributors. Which of the following statements in this regard is/are not true? 1. The pension regulator on the basis of the recommendation of the G.N. Bajpai committee constituted by PFRDA to review NPS, fixed the incentive at 0.25% of the subscription amount 2. As per PFRDA’s measures announceds, a distributor will get a flat Rs 50 on initial subscription and 0.05% of the initial subscription amount 3. Every year on subsequent investments, the point of presence will be entitled to 0.25% of that amount. 4. The minimum that a point of presence can charge is Rs 20 and the maximum Rs 25000. a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Only 3 d. Only 4 Answer: (b) 61. India and Pakistan agreed to transit fee formula for Tapi gas pipeline project in New Delhi. Tasi gas pipeline project comprises a) India, Pakistan and Tajikistan b) India, Pakistan and Russia c) India, Pakistan and Iran d) India, Pakistan and Afghanistan Answer: (a) 62. The military rulers declared partial lifting of emergency in Egypt. The move came into effect from__. a) 25 January 2012 b) 22 January 2012 c) 20 January 2012 d) 28 January 2012 Answer: (a) 63. B. D. Park was appointed the President and CEO of this electronic major’s South West Asia Operations and Managing Director of its India operations. Which electronic major is in question here? a. Phillips b. Videocon c. Samsung d. LG Answer: (c) 64. Maldives authorities allowed Male International Airport operator to collect airport development and insurance charges from passengers, nearly a month after a local court barred the Bangalorebased company from doing so. Name the operator. a. GMR Infrastructure b. International Air Transport Association (IATA) c. Fraport AG d. DIAL Answer: (a) 65. Six researchers from five science streams were honoured with this prize by the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Bangalore. Name the prize in question. a. Infosys Prize b. India Science Prize c. Rolls-Royce Science Prize d. Young Scientist Award Answer: (a) 4. Which one of the following state governments launched Panch Parmeshwar scheme? a) Madhya Pradesh b) Bihar c) UP d) Kerala Answer: (a) 66. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 50 basis point. The current CRR stands at what percent? a. 5% b. 5.5% c. 6% d. 6.5% Answer: (b) 59. India signed agreement with OECD ( 44. Which Ministry prepared draft policy Organisation for Economic Cooperation 67. The Reserve Bank of India kept the seeking to increase private participation and Development) to check both tax evasion and avoidance. The headquarters of repo rate unchanged for the second and opens the doors for foreign direct consecutive time after raising it 13 times investors for expanding its network? OECD are in___. between March 2010 and October 2011. a. Railways Ministry i) Paris b) London What is the present repo rate? b. Ministry of Rural Development c) New York d) Washington DC a. 8% b. 7.5% c. 8.5% d. 9% c. Ministry of Commerce and Industry d. Defence Ministry Answer: (a) Answer: (a) Answer: (c) CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative and Detailed Coverage Every Month 32
MARCH 2012 68. Which Photography Pioneer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection making it likely for the 132-year-old trailblazer to become the most storied casualty of a digital age? a. Eastman Kodak Company b. Fuji c. Nikon d. Canon Answer: (a) 69. Which company retained its top position in Interbrand’s list of the top 100 global brands in 2011? a. Apple b. Coca cola c. Microsoft d. Google Answer: (b) 70. Scientists recently developed a new wireless device to detect the presence of termites. Consider the following statements: i) when the new device detects the presence of termites, it sends an SMS or email to a pest control firm. ii) The device is made of a tiny sensor, even smaller than a fingernail. Choose the right option: a) Both i and ii are correct. b) Only i is correct. c) Only ii is correct. d) Neither i nor ii is correct. Answer: (a) For More Current Coverage and Daily Updates Visit Our Website: www.changetabloid.com 71. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines on compensation of whole time directors, chief executive officers and other risk takers in private and foreign banks. Which of the following facts regarding the above statement is/are not true? 1. The central bank’s directions are aimed at preventing greed from destabilising the institution. 2. The guidelines include provisions to claw back pay if transactions fail years after origination 3. The norms provided also include capping the variable component of the compensation at 48% of the fixed pay in a year 4. As per the guidelines issued, banks are permitted to exclude the Employees Stock Option Plan from variable pay a. Only 2 b. Only 4 c. Only 3 d. 2 & 4 Answer: (c) 72. Which of the following bodies unveiled rules for direct investment in stocks by foreign investors, including individuals to put curbs on opaque structures to prevent routing of funds by resident Indians? a. IRDA b. FICCI c. CCI d. SEBI Answer: (d) 73. India and Japan agreed to enhance their cooperation in the ___sector. a) Infrastructure b) Tourism c) Road and Transport d) Coal and Mining Answer: (a) 74. Newly crowned Miss Belgium 2012, Laura Beyne mentioned that she mostly supports gay marriages. In which year did Belgium become the second country after the Netherlands to legalize gay marriage? a. 2000 b. 2003 c. 2005 d. 2009 Answer: (b) 75. European Union agreed in principle to ban import of Iranian Crude oil. Consider the following statements: i) The European Union( EU) is one of Iran’s biggest markets for oil. ii) The EU is a political and economical union of 27 member states. Choose the right option: a) Both i and ii are correct. b) Only i is correct. c) Only ii is correct. d) Neither i nor ii is correct. Answer: (a) 76. Scientists identified a new gene in maize plants called__. a) Meg1 b) Meg2 c) Meg3 d) Meg4 Answer: (a) 77. What is the Finace Ministry’s decision on the rates applicable on small savings instruments schemes that would be announced on April 1 each year? a. rate would remain valid till the maturity of the scheme b. rate would change in the first qurter of that respective year c. rates would change depending on different maturity period d. rates would remainvalid for six months post the maturity Answer: (a) 78. Scientists for the first time produced mixed embryo monkeys. Consider the following statements: i) Scientists produced monkeys composed of cells taken from separate embryos. ii) The cells stay together and work together to form tissues and organs. Choose the right option: a) Both i and ii are correct. b) Only i is correct. c) Only ii is correct. d) Neither i nor ii is correct. Answer: (a) 79. India extended for how many years an anti-dumping duty on import of four Chinese products like nylon filament yarn, Saccharin, cellophane transparent film etc? a. 3 years b. 5 years c. 10 years d. 12 years Answer: (b) SPECIAL COVERAGE THE COMING OF EUROPEANS TRADING COMPANIES TO INDIA By PARAMPREET SINGH ( Academic Director : Creations IAS Academy) The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration, was a period in history starting in the 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania and mapping the planet. In the initial stages the pioneers of the Age of Discovery were Portuguese and Spanish, who initiated the longdistance maritime travels in search of alternative trade routes to the Indies. The Indies is a term that has been used to describe the lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and also Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor, Malaysia and Indonesia. In a more restricted sense, the Indies can be used to refer to the islands of Southeastern Asia, especially the Malay Archipelago. The name “Indies” is derived from the river Indus and is used to connote parts of Asia that come under Indian cultural influence. The Portuguese began systematically exploring the Atlantic coast of Africa from 1418, under the sponsorship of Prince Henry, reaching the Indian Ocean by this route in 1488. In 1492, racing to find a trade route to Asia, the Spanish monarchs funded Christopher Columbus plan to sail west to reach the “Indies” by crossing the Atlantic. He landed on an uncharted continent, then seen by Europeans as a “new world”, America. To prevent conflict between Portugal and Spain, a treaty was signed dividing the world into two regions of exploration, where each had exclusive rights to claim newly discovered lands. to the valuable “spice islands” in 1512, landing in China one year later. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India. Under new king Manuel I of Portugal, on July 1497 a small exploratory fleet of four ships and about 170 men left Lisbon under command of Vasco da Gama. On 21 May 1498, they arrived at Calicut. The efforts of Vasco da Gama to get favorable trading conditions were hampered by the low value of their goods, compared with the valuable goods traded there. Nevertheless, da Gama’s expedition was successful beyond all reasonable expectation, bringing in cargo that was worth sixty times the cost of the expedition. In 1595, the Dutch, French and English, who entered the race of exploration shortly after learning of these exploits, defied the Iberian monopoly on maritime trade by searching for new routes, first to the north, and into the Pacific Ocean around South America, but eventually by following the Portuguese around Africa into the Indian Ocean; discovering Australia in 1606, New Zealand in 1642, and Hawaii in 1778. Meanwhile, from the 1580s to the 1640s Russians explored and conquered almost the whole of Siberia. What attracted the Europeans trading companies to India? European trading companies ventured across the oceans so as to look for new lands from where they could buy goods at a cheap price, and carry them back to Europe to sell at higher prices. The fine qualities of cotton and silk produced in India had a big market in Europe. Indian spices like Pepper (kaalee mirch), Cloves (laung), Cardamom (Elaichi) and Cinnamon (Dalchini) too were in great demand as European depended mainly on meat which could only be preserved and its taste improved with the use of spices. Hence, European trading companies were attracted to India. BEGINNING OF EUROPEAN COMMERCE The landing of the Portuguese under the leadership of Vasco da Gama at Calicut, by the close of the fifteenth century (May 21, 1498), is considered to be a landmark in the history of India’s maritime trade. Their arrival on the Indian soil was followed by the advent of other European companies and the resultant monopolization of India’s coastal and maritime trade by the Europeans. India had maintained its trade relations with the foreign merchants even during the earlier centuries. But there was a great difference between the foreign merchants who had earlier settled in and conducted brisk trade from India, and the Europeans who came to India during the Fifteenth and Seventeenth centuries. The earlier foreign merchants had mere commercial motives and had very little or no support from their native governments. But the European merchants who came to India during this period had the political and military support of their respective governments. They were not individual merchants but represented their respective nations and tried to establish and safeguard their maritime trade on the strength of their superior naval power. Military superiority was the backbone of their commercial enterprise and they established their fortified trading settlements, called factories, on the coastal parts of India, immune from the administrative control of the local power. In 1498, a Portuguese expedition commanded by Vasco No doubt, due to the participation of the Portuguese, da Gama finally achieved the dream of reaching India by the Dutch, the English, the Danes and the French India’s sailing around Africa, opening up direct trade with foreign trade grew phenomenally in the sixteenth and “Asia”. Soon, the Portuguese sailed further eastward, cont.... CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative and Detailed Coverage Every Month 33
Page 1 and 2: MARCH 2012 Govt Appoints B K Batra
Page 3 and 4: MARCH 2012 Infosys Prize Conferred
Page 5 and 6: MARCH 2012 SUMMIT | CONFERENCE 15th
Page 7 and 8: MARCH 2012 India Signs Internationa
Page 9 and 10: MARCH 2012 Government Notifies 100%
Page 11 and 12: MARCH 2012 RBI Decided to Ease Liqu
Page 13 and 14: MARCH 2012 2G case: SC Allows Swamy
Page 15 and 16: MARCH 2012 For More Current Coverag
Page 19 and 20: MARCH 2012 CCS Clears 950 Million E
Page 21 and 22: MARCH 2012 RAJASHTHAN Rajasthan Gov
Page 27: MARCH 2012 1. Scientists produced a
Page 35 and 36: MARCH 2012 SOCIOLOGY AS AN OPTIONAL

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