Q1. Which of the following best explains the low conviction rates for crimes against women in West Bengal?
(a) High number of false cases and misuse of laws
(b) Poor investigation, weak prosecution, and systemic pendency
(c) Excessive judicial activism and interference in police cases
(d) Political instability and lack of women representation in politics
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- The major causes include poor investigation quality, weak prosecution, inadequate forensic support, and trial delays leading to acquittals.
- NCRB data and judicial observations point to systemic inefficiency rather than misuse of laws or political factors.
Q2.
Statement I: The India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) aims to connect India with Europe through the Arabian Peninsula, integrating both rail and shipping networks.
Statement II: The IMEC was launched during the 2023 BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg.
(a) Both statements are correct
(b) Both statements are incorrect
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Correct Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- IMEC integrates India–UAE–Saudi Arabia–Jordan–Israel–Europe through a multimodal (rail + sea) network.
- It was announced at the G20 Summit in New Delhi (September 2023), not the BRICS Summit.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding municipal finances in India:
- After the introduction of GST, municipalities lost several local revenue sources such as octroi and entry tax.
- The Constitution mandates a separate State Finance Commission to recommend financial devolution to urban local bodies.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct — GST subsumed local levies like octroi and entry tax, reducing fiscal autonomy.
- Statement 2: Correct — Article 243Y mandates the constitution of a State Finance Commission (SFC) every five years to recommend devolution to municipalities and panchayats.
Q4. LimeChat, Haptik and Jefferies have been in news recently in relation to:
(a) Growth of e-commerce logistics infrastructure in India
(b) AI automation replacing jobs in call-centre and BPM sectors
(c) India’s renewable energy corridor projects
(d) Rising non-performing assets in the banking sector
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- LimeChat and Haptik are AI-driven conversational platforms developing generative AI chatbots.
- Jefferies’ report highlighted how AI automation could disrupt India’s BPM and customer-service job sector.
Q5. With reference to Rare Earth Elements (REEs), consider the following statements:
- All REEs belong to the lanthanide series in the periodic table.
- Despite their name, REEs are relatively abundant in Earth’s crust but occur in low economic concentrations.
- Yttrium and Scandium are chemically similar to lanthanides and are often grouped with REEs.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only One
(b) Only Two
(c) All Three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Incorrect — REEs include 15 lanthanides + Yttrium + Scandium.
- Statements 2 and 3: Correct — They occur abundantly but in low concentrations, and Y & Sc share chemical traits with lanthanides.
