[DAY 53] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2024 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT TEST SERIES!

Solution (c)

Taxonomic hierarchy is the process of arranging various organisms into successive levels of the biological classification either in a decreasing or an increasing order from kingdom to species and vice versa.

In Ascending Order:

• Kingdom: Animalia
  • Multicellular organisms; cells with a nucleus, with cell membranes but lacking cell walls
• Phylum: Chordata
  • Animals with a spinal cord
• Class: Mammalia
  • Warm-blooded chordates that bear live young; females have mammary glands that secrete milk to nourish young
• Order: Primates
  • Mammals with collar bone; eyes face forward; grasping hands with fingers; two types of teeth (incisors and molars)
• Family: Hominidae
  • Primates with upright posture, large brain, stereoscopic vision, flat face, different use of hands and feet
• Genus: Homo
  • A group of similar species forms a genus. The scientific name for humans is Homo sapiens. Homo is the genus name, while sapiens is the species name.
• Species: Homo sapiens
  • Humans with high forehead, well-developed chin, thin skull bones

Solution (a)

Trypsin, Pepsin and Ptyalin are digestive enzymes.

• Trypsin is an enzyme that helps us digest protein. Pepsin is a stomach enzyme that serves to digest proteins found in ingested food. Ptyalin is a digestive enzyme which is formed from the acinar cells present in the mouth. It is an enzyme that is released by the salivary glands along with the salivary amylase.
• Gastrin is a peptide hormone that stimulates secretion of gastric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach and aids in gastric motility. It is released by G cells in the pyloric antrum of the stomach, duodenum, and the pancreas.

Solution (b)

Also called the thigh bone, Femur is the longest bone in the human body.

Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal skin infection that usually begins between the toes. It commonly occurs in people whose feet have become very sweaty while confined within tight-fitting shoes.

Solution (b)

When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit, which is normal for a virus. These changes are called “mutations”. A virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a “variant” of the original virus.

Viruses are continuously changing as a result of genetic selection. They undergo subtle genetic changes through mutation and major genetic changes through recombination. Mutation occurs when an error is incorporated in the viral genome. Recombination occurs when coinfecting viruses exchange genetic information, creating a novel virus.

Solution (a)

Solution (b)

Carbon monoxide has 210 times greater affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen. CO binds to haemoglobin and affects by decreasing the oxygen level.

Solution (c)

Antioxidants are found in certain foods and may prevent some of the damage caused by free radicals by neutralising them. These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium.

Other dietary food compounds, such as the phytochemicals in plants, are believed to have greater antioxidant effects than vitamins or minerals. These are called the non-nutrient antioxidants and include phytochemicals, (such as lycopenes in tomatoes and anthocyanins found in cranberries).

Solution (a)

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in human.

Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for allowing glucose in the blood to enter cells, providing them with the energy to function. A lack of effective insulin plays a key role in the development of diabetes.

Solution (a)

The first vertebrate to evolve is the bony fish which evolved from a jawless fish. The amphibians evolved next after fish.

The first amphibians have evolved from a lobe-finned fish ancestor about 365 million years ago.

The reptiles evolved from the amphibians. They lived completely on land. They laid amniotic eggs and had fertilization.

They were the first vertebrates that didn’t have to return to water for reproduction.

Reptiles developed certain added features such as feather, hollow bones, and warm body. These animals were called birds or Aves. Mammals and birds both evolved from reptiles like ancestors.

Solution (c)

Solution (a)

Solution (b)

• Light enters the eye through a thin membrane called the cornea.
• The size of the pupil is controlled by the iris.
• The iris is the part of that eye which gives it its distinctive colour.
• When we say that a person has green eyes, we refer actually to the colour of the iris.
• The iris controls the amount of light entering into the eye through the pupil by opening or closing.
• Retina contains several nerve cells. Sensations felt by the nerve cells are then transmitted to the brain through the optic nerve.
• Most of the refraction for the light rays entering the eye occurs at the outer surface of the cornea.

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Microorganisms are divided into seven types: bacteria, archaea, protozoa, algae, fungi, viruses, and multicellular animal parasites (helminths).

Each type has a characteristic cellular composition, morphology, mean of locomotion, and reproduction.

Microorganisms are beneficial in producing oxygen, decomposing organic material, providing nutrients for plants, and maintaining human health, but some can be pathogenic and cause diseases in plants and humans.

Most decomposers are microscopic organisms, including protozoa and bacteria.

• Nutrients are recycled in the atmosphere with the help of certain microorganisms these are called decomposers.
• Microorganisms live in soil and all over the atmosphere that recycle the organic molecules into useful nutrients.
• Decomposers release nutrients when they break down dead organisms. Decomposition is a biological process that occurs naturally with the help of microorganisms.

Microorganisms are used to produce many commercial and industrial chemicals, enzymes and other bioactive molecules.

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Solution (b)

The bulbourethral glands or Cowper’s glands are two small exocrine glands in the reproductive system of many male mammals.

Solution (b)

Solution (a)

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in the state of Andhra Pradesh:

• Chenchu
• Bodo Gadaba
• Gutob Gadaba
• Dongaria Khond
• Kutia Kondha
• Kolam
• Konda Reddi
• Kondasavara
• Bondo Porja
• Khond Porja
• Parengi Porja
• Tothi

Hence option a is correct.

Solution (c)

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog set up in 1989 by G7 countries. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It aims to establish international standards, and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
• Its objective is to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Its members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such.
• India became a member of FATF in 2010.
• Its members are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the UK and the US.
• Its Secretariat is located at the OECD headquarters in Paris. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The Secretariat supports the substantive work of the FATF membership and global network. Thefunding for the FATF Secretariat and other services is provided by the FATF annual budget to which members contribute.
• Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
• Currently, three countries North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are on FATF’s blacklist. Hence statement 4 is correct.

Note: Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put on the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

Solution (b)

• Using the same name for the same category of products: In Vishnudas Trading v. Vazir Sultan Tobacco Co. Ltd which involved the use of the ‘CHARMINAR’ trademark for different products. Despite both products being tobacco-related, the court ruled that they were distinct enough to warrant separate trademark registrations. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Using the same package material for different products: In Parle Products Pvt. Ltd. v JP & Co, Parle, a biscuit maker, had a trademark for their “Parle’s Glucose Biscuits” wrapper. When they noticed a similar wrapper used by JP & Co. in 1961, they took legal action. The Supreme Court decided that despite minor differences, the resemblance was enough to confuse, highlighting the importance of avoiding confusion in trademark infringement cases. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Using similar names for different categories of products/services: In Sony Corporation vs. K. Selvamurthy, Sony Corporation filed a trademark infringement suit against a tour and travel business named Sony Tours and Travels. The court ruled in favour of the defendant, stating that the businesses were distinctly different, and consumers weren’t likely to be confused. Moreover, the plaintiff’s delay in taking legal action was noted, resulting in costs awarded to the defendant. So it does not constitute trademark infringement. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

 Note: Passing off action refers to the unauthorized use of goods, services, and the goodwill attached to another person’s business, which would amount to misrepresentation. The notion of Passing off in the Indian Trademarks Act, of 1999, seeks to safeguard the goodwill associated with unregistered trademarks.

Solution (c)

• Pandavula Gutta is located in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It is home to many prehistoric habitation sites.
• This site was first discovered in the year 1990.
• Its paintings feature geometrical designs and impressions in green, red, yellow, and white pigment colours. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• These cave paintings offer a rare glimpse into prehistoric man’s rock art identified on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters, and isolated boulders.
• The rock art paintings depict wildlife like Bison, Antelope, Tiger, and Leopard, and wildlife shapes like swastika symbols, circles, and squares, as weapons such as bows, arrows, swords, lancers, etc are present in these paintings.
• It is recognised as the sole Geo-heritage site in Telangana. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• “Geoheritage” is a generic but descriptive term applied to sites or areas of geologic features with significant scientific, educational, cultural, or aesthetic value.
• It is a geological marvel older than the Himalayan hills. Hence statement 4 is correct.

Solution (c)

• Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Not being able to produce or use insulin effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood, known as hyperglycaemia. Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues.
• Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin, or the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.
• Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) Test is one of the most commonly used tests to diagnose pre-diabetes and diabetes. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• It is also known as the glycated haemoglobin or glycosylated haemoglobin test.
• Hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
• It is an important blood test that gives a good indication of how well your diabetes is being controlled.

Solution (c)

• The issue of temple entry was first raised by Ezhava leader T K Madhavan in a 1917 editorial in his paper Deshabhimani. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• In AICC (All India Congress Committee) meeting in Kakinada 1923, K Madhavan along with Sardar Panikkar and KP Kesava Menon submitted a petition which sought to grant the right to temple entry and worship of gods for all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed, and community to the Travancore legislative council.
• The Vaikom Satyagraha was launched on 30th March 1924. It took place in the vicinity of Mahadev temple in Kottayam district of Kerala and took place during 1924-1925.
• Vaikom Satyagraha was the first anti-caste movement, as the pupils of the depressed class and untouchables were restricted from entering the temple. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It aimed to establish the rights of the oppressed classes to walk on the roads to the Shree Mahadeva Temple in Vaikom in Kottayam district.

Solution (d)

• The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It is bordered by the United States, Mexico, and the island nation of Cuba.
• The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
• The waterway is part of the important Suez Canal shipping route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean.
• The Persian Gulf is located in Western Asia between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• It is an extension of the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman) through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Countries with a coastline on the Persian Gulf are (clockwise, from the north) – Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
• The Gulf of Bothnia is part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. Hence statement 4 is correct.
• It is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea.

Solution (a)

• Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Consequently, the production of organic matter exceeds its decomposition, which results in a net accumulation of peat.
• Peatlands occur in every climatic zone and continent and cover 4.23 million km2, which corresponds to 2.84% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface.
• The majority of the world’s peatlands occur in boreal and temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, especially, Europe, North America, and Russia, where they have formed under high precipitation-low temperature climatic regimes. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• Peatlands include landscapes that are still actively accumulating peat, others that are no longer accumulating and do not support the principal peat-forming plants, and peatlands used for economic uses such as agriculture, forestry, and excavation for energy and heat generation, horticulture, and other uses.
• About 84% of the world’s peatlands are considered to be in a natural, or near-natural state.
• Peatlands are the largest natural terrestrial carbon store. They store more carbon than all other vegetation types in the world combined. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Note: Damaged peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for almost 5% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

Solution (c)

• The Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) reduces or removes rates of duty, or tariffs, on imports from eligible developing countries. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It applies to least developed countries (LDCs) as defined by the United Nations. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It applies to low-income countries (LIC) and lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) as defined by the World Bank.
• It will provide duty-free, quota-free trade to LDCs on everything but arms and duty-free, quota-free trade on 85% of eligible goods to most low LIC and LMIC countries.
• It is a scheme introduced by the United Kingdom to facilitate developing countries to integrate into the global economy. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
• It creates stronger trade and investment partnerships and strengthens supply chains.
• It is a simpler and more generous preferential trading scheme that has been designed to boost trade with developing countries to support their development.
• It does not extend to countries and territories deemed by the World Bank as upper-middle income for three consecutive years, or to LICs and LMICs who have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK. Hence statement 4 is correct.

Solution (b)

• FASTag (RFID Tag) is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables a customer to make toll payments directly from the account which is linked to FASTag.
• It is operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under the supervision of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Solution (a)

When the birds sat one on a branch, there was one extra bird.

When they sat Two to a branch one branch was extra.

Now, we go through the options;

Checking option (A);

If there were 3 branches, there would be 4 birds.

(This would leave one bird without branch as per the question.)

When 4 birds would sit Two to a branch there would be one branch free

(as per the question.).

Hence, the option (A) is correct.

Solution (c)

Given: Difference between ⅕ of a number and ⅓ of the same number is 8.

Find: ½ of the number Plan: setup an equation and solve Let the number be “n”.

(1/3)n – (1/5)n = 8

Solve for “n” Multiply both sides of the equation by the LCD 15.

15(1/3)n – 15(1/5)n = 15(8)

5n – 3n = 120

Combine like term 2n = 120 => n = 60

✅ Double Check:

1/3(60) – 1/5(60) = 20 – 12 = 8

Reasonable/Recalculated ✅ Now 1/2(60) = 30 ✅ Answer: Number = 30 Hence, option (c) is correct.

Solution (c)

Percentage of Non-tax paying employees

= (100 – 31)%

= 69%

69% of total employees = 20700

Total employees = (20700)/69 * 100

= 30000

Solution (c)

X = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29}

n(X) = 10, n(S) = 30

Hence required probability,

= n(X)/n(S)

= 10/30

Solution (c)

S1 : Bill is richer than Elon as well as Jeff, i.e. Bill > Elon / Jeff

S2 : Warren is not the richest one.

Either of the two statements alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Taking both statements together, we can conclude that:

Bill > Elon / Jeff / Warren

Thus, Bill is the richest one among the four friends.

Hence, we can say that S1 and S2 together are sufficient to answer the question.

Hence, option (c) is the answer.