Announcement:

RDS starts admission for Test batch – UPSC (online & offline) from Feb 22^nd 2013. Details cont: 9884372100

Topics to be covered from Hindu Paper dated on Wednesday, February 20^th 2013

Topic	Page No.
Centre takes steps to notify final award of Cauvery Tribunal	1
PM seeks Britain’s help in helicopter deal probe	1
A model for the rest of India	12
Mobility and metro rail	12
Poetic is nice, but software needs to be efficient too	13
India can build Kishenganga dam, but battle is not over yet	14
‘Integration of Naga areas not possible now’	15
For sugar industry, budget might bring news of decontrol	15
Will Assembly stay a no-woman’s land?	15
RIL-BP seek nod for investments worth $5 billion in KG Basin	18

Geography

1. The Government of India has a Ministry of Human Resource Development. The Ministry was created in 1985 with an aim to – Improve people’s skills

2. Births and deaths are the natural causes of population change. The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a country is called the – Natural growth rate

3. The watershed between India and Myanmar is formed by the – Naga Hills

4. The rivers originating in the Himalayan mountain complex consists of how many distinct drainage systems of the Indian Sub-continent? – Three

5. The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called – Soil

6. The northern boundary of the peninsular plateau of India runs parallel to the Ganga and the Yamuna from Rajmahal hills to a point near – Delhi

7. Soil is made up of organic matter, minerals and weathered rocks found on the earth. This happens through the process of – Weathering

8. The right mix of minerals and organic matter make the soil – Fertile

9. The major factors of soil formation are the nature of the patent rock and – Climatic Factors

10. The Pennines (Europe) Appalachians (America) and the Aravalis (India) are examples of – Old Mountains

11. The proportion of forest to the total national geographical area of India as in envisaged by national forest policy is – 33 per cent  

12. The Radcliffe line is a boundary between India and - Pakistan   

13. The Latitudinal differences in pressure delineate a number of major pressure zones, which correspond with – Zones of climate

14. The highest average salinity amongst all the seas is reported from – Dead sea  

Questions

1.    In context of Dryzone Agriculture, which of the following are its characteristics
    1.    Low rainfall
    2.    Lack of assured irrigation
    3.    Mainly subsistence farming practised
    4.    Low Manpower availability
    5.    Plain surface topography
    Codes:
    (a)    1, 2 and 3    (b)    3, 4 and 5
    (c)    1, 3 and 5    (d)    1, 2 and 5
    (e)    2, 4 and 5

2.    Geological Timescale is divided in Era, Period, Epoch and years. Consider the following statements:
    1.    Epoch is smaller time scale than a period and a period smaller than era.
    2.    Epoch holocene comes under Era Mesozoic
    3.    Period silurian comes under era, Palaeozoic
    4.    Epoch Plieistocene comes under period quarternary.
    5.    Epoch Palaeocene comes under period Tertiary, Era Cenozoic.
    Codes:
    (a)    1, 4 and 5    (b)    1, 3 and 5
    (c)    2, 3 and 4    (d)    2, 4 and 5
    (e)    1, 2 and 5

3.    Following is the name of the country and name of their parliaments. Choose the incorrect code:
    (a)    China - National People's Congress
    (b)    Bangladesh - Jatiya Sansad
    (c)    Japan - Diet
    (d)    Russia - Duma
    (e)    Myanmar- Rashtriya Panchayat

4.    Which of the following Day is celebrated as International Day of solidarity with Palestinian People.
    (a)    Nov. 27
    (b)    Nov. 28
    (c)    Nov. 29
    (d)    Nov. 30
    (e)    Nov. 31

5.    Match the following:
    1.    Durand Line    A.    France and Germany
    2.    McMohan Line    B.    India and Pakistan
    3.    Radcliffe Line    C.    India and China
    4.    Maginot Line    D.    Afghanistan and Pakistan
    Code:
        1    2    3    4
    (a)    D    C    B    A
    (b)    C    D    A    B
    (c)    B    A    D    C

    (d)    A    B    C    D