Q1: Which of the following is/are not the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council?
- Bahrain
- Oman
- Iran
- Qatar
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer : a
Explanation
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of countries in the Arabian Peninsula.
It was established in 1981 to foster socioeconomic, security, and cultural cooperation. Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Iran is not a member of GCC.
All these member countries of the GCC come under the Persian Gulf Region.
Q2: Which of the following is/are correct regarding the office of Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) of India?
- It is a guardian of the public purse of both Centre and the state.
- The expenses of the office of the CAG is decided by Parliament.
- CAG has no control over the issue of money from the consolidated fund.
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer : a
Explanation
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Article 148 provides for an independent office of the CAG. It is the supreme audit institution of India.
Articles 149-151 (Duties & Powers, Form of Accounts of the Union and the States and Audit Reports), Article 279 (calculation of net proceeds, etc.) and
Third Schedule (Oath or Affirmation) and Sixth Schedule (Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram).
Guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels–the Centre and the state.
The accountability of the executive (i.e. Council of Ministers) to theParliament in the sphere of financial administration is secured through audit reports of the CAG.
The administrative expenses of the office of the CAG, including all salaries,
allowances and pensions of persons serving in that office are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India (thus are not subject to the vote of Parliament). The Constitution of India visualises the CAG to be Comptroller as well as Auditor General. However, in practice, the CAG is fulfilling the role of an Auditor-
General only and not that of a Comptroller.
In other words, the CAG has no control over the issue of money from the consolidated fund and many departments are authorised to draw money by issuing cheques without specific authority from the CAG, who is concerned only at the audit stage when the expenditure has already taken place.
Q3: With reference to Blue Bonds, consider the following statements and choose the correct option:
- China was the first country in the world to launch sovereign Blue Bonds.
- It is issued to raise capital to finance Hydro-electric power projects in other
countries.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : d
Explanation
Seychelles became the first country in the world to launch sovereign Blue Bonds.
It is a debt instrument issued by governments, development banks etc to raise capital
from investors to finance marine and ocean-based projects.
It will help in expansion of marine protected areas, improved governance of priority fisheries and the development of the Seychelles’ blue economy. The blue bond is inspired by the green bond concept.
Q4: With reference to Quit India Movement, consider the following statements and choose the correct option :
- Failure of Cripps mission was the immediate cause for the launch of the movement.
- The Hindu Mahasabha supported the movement with some conditions.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : a
Explanation
Causes of Quit India Movement
The immediate cause for the movement was the failure of Cripps mission.
The British assumption of unconditional support from India to British in World War II was not taken well by the Indian National Congress.
Support to Quit India Movement
Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the movement. The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement.
The League was not in favour of the British leaving India without partitioning
the country first.
The Communist party supported the British since they were allied with the Soviet Union.
The Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call for the Quit India Movement and boycotted it officially under the apprehension that the movement would create internal disorder and will endanger internal security during the war.
Q5: With reference to ‘eSanjeevani’, consider the following statements and choose the correct option
- It is a telemedicine service platform of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- It is developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 and 2
Answer : c
Explanation
‘eSanjeevani’ and ‘eSanjeevaniOPD’ are the two telemedicine service platforms of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), telemedicine is the delivery of health care services, by using Information Technology (IT) for
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, etc.
‘eSanjeevani’ is developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC)
Mohali.
C-DAC is the premier R&D organization of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for carrying out R&D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.
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