4. Darfur, a region in Africa, seen in news often is a part of which of the following countries?
Answer: C
Soln:
● When light passes through a glass prism from air, its path bends due to a property of
the glass called refraction.
● The amount of bending depends on the material’s refractive index. It is calculated as the
ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the material.
● Some materials have more than one refractive index; that is, they slow the passage of
light to a different degree in two different directions. Such materials are said to be
birefringent.
● They occur naturally as well as can be engineered in the lab.
● Examples of naturally birefringent materials include mica and quartz; those of
synthetic ones include barium borate and lithium niobate.
● Certain materials’ birefringence can also be induced or modified by physically stressing
them or exposing them to electric or magnetic fields.
● Birefringence arises because the material has different crystal structures in different
directions, i.e. are anisotropic.
● Birefringent materials are used in LCD screens, medical microscopes, optical switches,
waveplates, frequency converters, and high-power lasers.
Soln:
● When light passes through a glass prism from air, its path bends due to a property of
the glass called refraction.
● The amount of bending depends on the material’s refractive index. It is calculated as the
ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the material.
● Some materials have more than one refractive index; that is, they slow the passage of
light to a different degree in two different directions. Such materials are said to be
birefringent.
● They occur naturally as well as can be engineered in the lab.
● Examples of naturally birefringent materials include mica and quartz; those of
synthetic ones include barium borate and lithium niobate.
● Certain materials’ birefringence can also be induced or modified by physically stressing
them or exposing them to electric or magnetic fields.
● Birefringence arises because the material has different crystal structures in different
directions, i.e. are anisotropic.
● Birefringent materials are used in LCD screens, medical microscopes, optical switches,
waveplates, frequency converters, and high-power lasers.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER
Anonymous Quiz
11%
A. Morocco
53%
B. Congo
30%
C. South Africa
6%
D. Madagascar
5. How many of the following countries are members of the “Five Eyes Alliance”?
1. United States of America
2. United Kingdom
3. Japan
4. Australia
5. Canada
1. United States of America
2. United Kingdom
3. Japan
4. Australia
5. Canada
Answer: B
Soln:
● Darfur is a region in western Sudan. Hence, option B is correct.
● Operation Kaveri was India’s mission to rescue thousands of Indian citizens stranded in
Sudan in 2023.
● Darfur region is home to many Arab and Non-Arab tribes and tension among them was
not so uncommon.
● The situation escalated in 2003 when rebels, notably the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)
and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), took up arms against the Sudanese
Government, protesting the unequal distribution of economic resources.
● This conflict pitted Sudanese Government forces, supported by allied militia known as the
Janjaweed, against rebel groups resisting the autocratic rule of former President Omar al-
Bashir.
● The result was a devastating toll on Darfur. Some 300,000 people lost their lives, and
millions were displaced, including 400,000 refugees who were forced to flee to camps in
neighbouring Chad.
● In response to these atrocities, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest
warrants against several Sudanese senior officials, including Omar al-Bashir, on
charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
Soln:
● Darfur is a region in western Sudan. Hence, option B is correct.
● Operation Kaveri was India’s mission to rescue thousands of Indian citizens stranded in
Sudan in 2023.
● Darfur region is home to many Arab and Non-Arab tribes and tension among them was
not so uncommon.
● The situation escalated in 2003 when rebels, notably the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)
and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), took up arms against the Sudanese
Government, protesting the unequal distribution of economic resources.
● This conflict pitted Sudanese Government forces, supported by allied militia known as the
Janjaweed, against rebel groups resisting the autocratic rule of former President Omar al-
Bashir.
● The result was a devastating toll on Darfur. Some 300,000 people lost their lives, and
millions were displaced, including 400,000 refugees who were forced to flee to camps in
neighbouring Chad.
● In response to these atrocities, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest
warrants against several Sudanese senior officials, including Omar al-Bashir, on
charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below.
Anonymous Quiz
6%
A. Only two
16%
B. Only three
57%
C. Only four
22%
D. All five
Answer: C
Soln:
Five Eyes Alliance:
● “Five Eyes” refers to an intelligence-sharing alliance of the United States, United
Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Japan is not a member. Hence, option C
is the correct answer.
● These partner countries share a broad range of intelligence with one another in one of the
world’s most unified multilateral arrangements.
● The alliance’s origins can be traced back to the Second World War.
● In recent years, common interests, such as balancing the rise of China, have led to a closer
alignment among the Five Eyes countries.
Soln:
Five Eyes Alliance:
● “Five Eyes” refers to an intelligence-sharing alliance of the United States, United
Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Japan is not a member. Hence, option C
is the correct answer.
● These partner countries share a broad range of intelligence with one another in one of the
world’s most unified multilateral arrangements.
● The alliance’s origins can be traced back to the Second World War.
● In recent years, common interests, such as balancing the rise of China, have led to a closer
alignment among the Five Eyes countries.
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IAS/IPS Exam...க்கு English ஒரு தடையா?
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Join Mr. R.A. Israel Jebasingh, Ex-IAS (AIR 59) and Director of Officers IAS Academy, for an eye-opening workshop on how language is not a barrier to success in the UPSC exam. Learn how to approach UPSC CSE in Tamil and achieve your dreams!
Date: Saturday, 22nd March 2025
Time: 10:30 AM
Venue: Officers IAS Academy, Chennai
Mode: Offline
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For more details, contact us: +91 93637 30226
1. Consider the following statements.
1. A country has a trade deficit when the value of its imports exceeds the value of its exports.
2. In the year 2023-24, India recorded a trade deficit with its largest trading partner.
3. The US is India’s largest trading partner in 2023-24.
1. A country has a trade deficit when the value of its imports exceeds the value of its exports.
2. In the year 2023-24, India recorded a trade deficit with its largest trading partner.
3. The US is India’s largest trading partner in 2023-24.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
11%
A. Only one
66%
B. Only two
22%
C. All the three
2%
D. None of the above
Answer: B
Soln:
● India has recorded a trade deficit with nine of its top 10 trading partners, including China,
Russia, Singapore, and Korea, in 2023-24.
● A country has a trade deficit when the value of its imports exceeds the value of its exports.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● China has emerged as India's largest trading partner with $118.4 billion of two-way
commerce in 2023-24, edging past the US.
● The data also showed that the deficit with China ($85 billion), Russia ($57.2 billion),
Korea ($14.71 billion), and Hong Kong ($12.2 billion) increased in the last fiscal compared
to 2022-23, while the trade gap with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, and Iraq
narrowed. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is incorrect.
● India has a trade surplus of $36.74 billion with the US in 2023-24.
● America is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus. The surplus is also
there with the UK, Belgium, Italy, France and Bangladesh.
● India's total trade deficit in the last fiscal narrowed to $238.3 billion as against $264.9
billion in the previous fiscal.
Soln:
● India has recorded a trade deficit with nine of its top 10 trading partners, including China,
Russia, Singapore, and Korea, in 2023-24.
● A country has a trade deficit when the value of its imports exceeds the value of its exports.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● China has emerged as India's largest trading partner with $118.4 billion of two-way
commerce in 2023-24, edging past the US.
● The data also showed that the deficit with China ($85 billion), Russia ($57.2 billion),
Korea ($14.71 billion), and Hong Kong ($12.2 billion) increased in the last fiscal compared
to 2022-23, while the trade gap with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Indonesia, and Iraq
narrowed. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is incorrect.
● India has a trade surplus of $36.74 billion with the US in 2023-24.
● America is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus. The surplus is also
there with the UK, Belgium, Italy, France and Bangladesh.
● India's total trade deficit in the last fiscal narrowed to $238.3 billion as against $264.9
billion in the previous fiscal.
2. Consider the following statements about KAVACH.
1. It is an indigenously developed system to provide protection by preventing trains to pass
the signal at Red and avoid collision.
2. It was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in
coordination with private parties.
3. It is based on radio frequency technology.
1. It is an indigenously developed system to provide protection by preventing trains to pass
the signal at Red and avoid collision.
2. It was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in
coordination with private parties.
3. It is based on radio frequency technology.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
8%
A. Only one
40%
B. Only two
51%
C. All the three
1%
D. None of the above
3. With reference to India’s biodiversity, Gold-billed Magpie, Red-billed Magpie and Blue Magpie are
Choose the correct answer
Anonymous Quiz
60%
A. Birds
11%
B. Primates
22%
C. Reptiles
8%
D. Amphibians
Answer: C
Soln:
Kavach:
● The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by
the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the
Indian industry. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
○ RDSO is a research and development organisation under the Ministry of Railways
of India.
● It is a state-of-the-art electronic system with Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) standards. It
is meant to provide protection by preventing trains to pass the signal at Red (which marks
danger) and avoid collision. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It activates the train’s braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as
per speed restrictions.
● In addition, it prevents the collision between two locomotives equipped with functional
Kavach systems.
● ‘Kavach’ is one of the cheapest, SIL-4 certified technologies where the probability of error
is 1 in 10,000 years.
How does Kavach work?
● The Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board the
locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected with Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) tags, helps in two-way communication between the station
master and loco-pilot to convey any emergency message. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● The instrument panel inside the cabin helps the loco-pilot know about the signal in advance
without visual sighting, and the permissible speeds to be maintained.
● If a red signal is jumped and two trains come face to face on the same line, the technology
automatically takes over and applies sudden brakes.
Soln:
Kavach:
● The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by
the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the
Indian industry. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
○ RDSO is a research and development organisation under the Ministry of Railways
of India.
● It is a state-of-the-art electronic system with Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) standards. It
is meant to provide protection by preventing trains to pass the signal at Red (which marks
danger) and avoid collision. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
● It activates the train’s braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as
per speed restrictions.
● In addition, it prevents the collision between two locomotives equipped with functional
Kavach systems.
● ‘Kavach’ is one of the cheapest, SIL-4 certified technologies where the probability of error
is 1 in 10,000 years.
How does Kavach work?
● The Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board the
locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected with Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) tags, helps in two-way communication between the station
master and loco-pilot to convey any emergency message. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
● The instrument panel inside the cabin helps the loco-pilot know about the signal in advance
without visual sighting, and the permissible speeds to be maintained.
● If a red signal is jumped and two trains come face to face on the same line, the technology
automatically takes over and applies sudden brakes.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Anonymous Quiz
36%
A. Only one
40%
B. Only two
21%
C. All the three
3%
D. None of the above
4. Consider the following statements about Eco-sensitive zones.
1. In general, land falling within 10kms of the boundaries of National Parks or Wildlife
sanctuaries are categorised as eco-sensitive zones.
2. These zones are declared under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
3. Any kind of infrastructure augmentation is prohibited in this zone.
1. In general, land falling within 10kms of the boundaries of National Parks or Wildlife
sanctuaries are categorised as eco-sensitive zones.
2. These zones are declared under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
3. Any kind of infrastructure augmentation is prohibited in this zone.
Answer: A
Soln:
Magpies:
● Magpies are birds of the family Corvidae, which also includes other birds such as jays,
ravens, crows, etc. Hence, option A is correct.
● Magpies live in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
● These birds build nests in tall trees and need open grasslands nearby for feeding.
● They are widely considered to be intelligent creatures. The Eurasian magpie, for instance, is
thought to rank among the world's most intelligent creatures.
● Magpies have shown the ability to make and use tools, imitate human speech, grieve, play
games, and work in teams.
● Magpies such as Gold-billed Magpie, Red-billed Magpie, Blue Magpie are found in
India.
Soln:
Magpies:
● Magpies are birds of the family Corvidae, which also includes other birds such as jays,
ravens, crows, etc. Hence, option A is correct.
● Magpies live in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
● These birds build nests in tall trees and need open grasslands nearby for feeding.
● They are widely considered to be intelligent creatures. The Eurasian magpie, for instance, is
thought to rank among the world's most intelligent creatures.
● Magpies have shown the ability to make and use tools, imitate human speech, grieve, play
games, and work in teams.
● Magpies such as Gold-billed Magpie, Red-billed Magpie, Blue Magpie are found in
India.