UPSC EPFO Mock Test - 5 - UPSC MCQ

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) constructed the supercomputer known as SAGA-220 (Supercomputer for Aerospace with GPU Architecture-220 Teraflops).

Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, the ISRO Chairman, unveiled it on May 2, 2011. It is no longer the fastest supercomputer in India as of January 8, 2018, having been eclipsed by the Pratyush supercomputer, which has a theoretical maximum speed of 220 TFlops.

• The cash reserve ratio (CRR) is the ratio (fixed by the RBI) of the total deposits of a bank in India which is kept with the RBI in the form of cash.

• This was fixed to be in the range of 3 to 15 per cent. A recent Amendment (2017) has removed the 3 per cent floor and provided a free hand to the RBI in fixing the CRR.

Evidence in support of a business transaction is called Voucher. Vouchers are the primary evidence of business transactions having taken place.

Laconic – (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.
concise – giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive.

• A 'Closed Shop' is a term used in the context of labor unions and employment. It refers to a type of agreement between the employer and the labor union where the employer agrees to hire only those workers who are already a member of the union.
• In such a setup, the prospective employee must be a member of the relevant union before they can be employed. This means that the option A: 'Joining union first and then employment' is the correct explanation of a 'Closed Shop'.
• This type of arrangement is often established to strengthen the bargaining power of the union and ensure that all employees receive the benefits negotiated by the union.
• However, it's important to note that 'Closed Shop' agreements are considered illegal in some jurisdictions due to their restrictive nature.
• In contrast, an 'open shop' is a place of employment where one is not required to join or financially support a union as a condition of hiring or continued employment.
• 'Closed Shop' should not be confused with the term 'union shop', which is a type of employment situation where it is not necessary to belong to a union before being hired, but there is a requirement to join the union within a certain period after commencement of employment.

Cash account can be classified as a real account. A real account is an account that retains and rolls forward its ending balance from period to period. The areas in the balance sheet in which real accounts are found are assets, liabilities, and equity.

Distribution of Legislative Power and Labour Legislations
The Indian Constitution, under its Seventh Schedule, divides the jurisdiction for enactment of labour legislations. This division is known as the 'Distribution of Legislative Power'. It is divided into three lists:

• Union List: This includes subjects on which only the central government can make laws. Examples of labour-related subjects in this list are bankruptcy and insolvency, social security and social insurance; employment, unemployment, etc.
• State List: This includes subjects on which only the state governments can make laws. Examples of labour-related subjects in this list are unemployment, old-age pensions, and the administration of the relief of the disabled and unemployable.
• Concurrent List: This includes subjects on which both the central and state governments can make laws. Examples of labour-related subjects in this list are bankruptcy and insolvency, marriage and divorce, bankruptcy and insolvency, education, etc.

• Statement 1: Lymph is another medium of circulation in the human body.


• Statement 3: Lymph protects the body by killing the germs drained out of the body tissues with the help of Lymphocytes.

• Lymph Circulation: Lymph is a clear fluid that travels through the lymphatic system, which is a part of the circulatory system. It carries white blood cells and helps remove waste and toxins from tissues.


• Direction of Lymph Flow: Lymph flows in one direction, primarily from the body tissues towards the heart. This unidirectional flow is facilitated by one-way valves in the lymphatic vessels.


• Role of Lymphocytes: Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system. They help protect the body by identifying and destroying harmful pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, present in the lymph.

Therefore, based on the given statements, it can be concluded that both Statement 1 and Statement 3 are correct. Lymph serves as a medium of circulation and also aids in the body's defense mechanism by utilizing lymphocytes to combat infections.

The word “regulation” after the first blank indicates that the word describes the type of regulation the “mainstream media” falls under. In the context of the sentence, the words which are suitable for the first blank are “inclusive”, “comprehensive” and “extensive”. Hence options B and E are eliminated.

“Lack of” before the second blank and “rules” after it shows that it has to be the opposite of the type of rules faced by the mainstream media. The only word that makes the sentence meaningfully correct is “binding” which means ‘involving an obligation that cannot be broken’. The words “delicate" and “defamation” are irrelevant to the context of this sentence. This eliminates options A and D as well.

Option C is hence the correct answer.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

The SFC, which carried out the test, is a key tri-services formation that manages and administers all the strategic assets and falls under the purview of the Nuclear Command Authority of India.

The Nuclear Command Authority is the sole body which can authorize the use of nuclear weapons. It comprises a Political Council and an Executive Council. The Political Council is chaired by the Prime Minister. The Executive Council, chaired by the National Security Advisor, provides inputs for decision-making by the Nuclear Command Authority and executes the directives given to it by the Political Council.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993. It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA).

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) was established under the Industrial Relations Act of 1975 in Great Britain. Its primary function is to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. The services provided by ACAS include:
Conciliation and Arbitration of Disputes

• The fundamental role of ACAS is to facilitate conciliation and arbitration in employment disputes. This means that ACAS steps in to help resolve disputes between employers and employees, or between different groups of employees.
• Conciliation is a voluntary process where ACAS helps the disputing parties to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. This is often a faster and less formal process than proceeding to a tribunal or court.
• Arbitration, on the other hand, is a process where a neutral third party (the arbitrator) hears the details of the dispute and then makes a decision that is legally binding on both parties.

Support for Collective Bargaining

• Although not directly stated in the options, ACAS also plays a significant role in supporting collective bargaining. This involves negotiations between an employer and a group of employees to determine the conditions of employment. ACAS can provide advice and guidance during this process to help both parties reach a satisfactory agreement.

Guljarilal Nanda's Tenure as Union Labour Minister

• Period of Tenure: Guljarilal Nanda served as the Union Labour Minister of India from 1952 to 1957. His tenure was marked by significant advancements in labor law and policy.
• Evolution of Codes: During his tenure, the Central Government evolved the majority of codes. These codes served as a framework that guided labor relations and ensured the rights and welfare of workers in India.
• Notable Contributions: Nanda played a crucial role in formulating and implementing several key labor policies. These include the Employees' Provident Fund Act and the Factories Act, which have had a profound impact on the working conditions of laborers in the country.
• Legacy: Nanda's contributions to labor law and policy have had a lasting impact, with many of the codes and policies he helped establish still in effect today. His tenure as Union Labour Minister was characterized by a commitment to improving the lives of workers and promoting social justice.
• Recognition: For his contributions, Nanda was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1997. His work in the field of labor relations continues to be recognized and appreciated in India.

The apparition (=ghost) that stalked Reshma for days, ultimately threw her off the cliff. So, ‘benevolent’ and magnanimous’ won’t fit the blank as these are positive words.

“Benevolent” means well-meaning and kindly

“Magnanimous” means generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person

“Callous” means indifferent/ showing or having an insensitive disregard. It does not make any sense in the given context, and hence, can be eliminated

Only ‘vindictive’ fits the blank appropriately.

“Vindictive” means having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge/ revengeful

Hence, option A is the correct answer.

1. He should be a citizen of India.

2. (a) He should have held a judicial office in the territory of India for ten years; or 

(b) He should have been an advocate of a high court (or high courts in succession) for ten years. 

From the above, it is clear that the Constitution has not prescribed a minimum age for appointment as a judge of a high court. Moreover, unlike in the case of the Supreme Court, the Constitution makes no provision for appointment of a distinguished jurist as a judge of a high court.

New Economic Policy and Safety Net Provision
The term "safety net provision" is commonly associated with the New Economic Policy (NEP). The NEP was a set of economic reforms that were introduced in India in 1991. The aim of these reforms was to open up the Indian economy to global markets and improve overall economic growth.
Role of Safety Net Provision in the New Economic Policy
The safety net provision forms a critical part of the New Economic Policy due to the following reasons:

• Economic stability: The safety net provision is designed to protect the most vulnerable sections of society from the shocks of economic liberalization. These can include measures such as unemployment benefits, pension schemes, and poverty alleviation programs.
• Social Security: The provision also aims to provide a sense of social security to individuals who may otherwise be adversely affected by the process of economic reforms. This can help to maintain social stability during periods of significant economic change.
• Income Redistribution: Safety net provisions can also help to address issues of income inequality that may arise as a result of economic liberalization. By providing support to those at the lower end of the income spectrum, these provisions can help to mitigate the potentially negative impacts of economic reforms on income distribution.

• Goitre is the enlargement of the thyroid gland which occurs due to deficiency of iodine in the body. Iodine is needed for the synthesis of thyroid hormone. When the iodine levels are low, the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive and enlarged to compensate for the deficiency of thyroid hormone in the body. The enlarged thyroid gland is visible as a swelling in the throat known as goitre.
• Grave's disease or exophthalmic goitre occurs due to over secretion of thyroid hormone as the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive. In exophthalmic goitre, protrusion of eyeballs occurs due to the deposition of excess fat behind the eyes. 
• The thyroid gland may also become hyperactive due to hypersecretion of TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) from the anterior pituitary and this can occur due to pituitary adenoma (benign tumours of the pituitary gland).

Excessive intake of exogenous thyroxine can't cause goitre.

We would be identifying the word that is an antonym to the given word "Adherent" from the given options.
Adherent means sticking fast to an object or surface. The opposite would thus mean to draw away or divert i.e. detractor. 
If we look into the other words,
Rival means a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity
Alien means belonging to a foreign country
Enemy means a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
Option B is correct 

• Definition: Trial balance is a statement that lists all the ledger accounts along with their closing balances to check the arithmetical accuracy of the accounting records.


• Purpose: It helps in identifying errors in the ledger accounts, ensures accuracy in the recording of transactions, and serves as a basis for preparing financial statements.


• Steps:
  
  
  
  • Collect the closing balances of all ledger accounts.
  
  
  • List down the debit balances on the debit side and credit balances on the credit side of the trial balance.
  
  
  • Total both sides to ensure that they are equal, indicating that the ledger is balanced.
  
  
  
  


• Errors Detected:
  
  
  
  • If the trial balance does not tally, it indicates errors such as posting, calculation, or omission of transactions in the ledger accounts.
  
  
  • Common errors include transposition errors, incorrect totaling, and failure to record transactions.
  
  
  
  


• Importance:
  
  
  
  • It provides a snapshot of the financial position of the business at a specific point in time.
  
  
  • It aids in the preparation of financial statements like the income statement and balance sheet.
  
  
  
  

The term "tripartite" refers to a system where three parties are involved. In the context of labour relations, these three parties usually represent the government, employers, and employees.

• Indian Labour Conference (ILC) - This is a tripartite body established by the Government of India which includes representatives from the government, workers, and employers. It serves as a platform for open dialogue on labour matters.
• Standing Labour Committee (SLC) - Similar to the ILC, the SLC is also a tripartite body that acts as a coordinating agency between the Government of India, workers, and employers on issues concerning labour.
• Minimum Wages Advisory Board - This is another tripartite body that is constituted under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. It advises the government in matters of fixing and revising minimum wages.
• Joint Management Councils (JMCs) - Unlike the other bodies mentioned, JMCs are not tripartite bodies. These councils are bipartite in nature, meaning they involve only two parties: the management (employers) and the employees. The role of these councils is to promote better industrial relations by providing a platform for workers and employers to discuss and resolve issues related to the workplace.

B. 4000
Explanation: x – Principal Extra amount = 4% for 3 years = 12% of x = 480 x = (480/12)*100 = 4000

The three-member committee comprises (1). The Chief Justice or senior-most judge of the Supreme Court (2). Chief justice of the High Court and (3). A prominent jurist

Formation of the Bombay Millhands Association

• Founder: The Bombay Millhands Association was founded by Narayan Meghaji Lokhande, popularly known as N.M. Lokhande. So, the correct answer to your question is option C.
• Establishment: The Bombay Millhands Association was established in the year 1890. It was one of the earliest labor unions formed in India.
• Objective: The main objective of the Bombay Millhands Association was to improve the working conditions of mill workers in Bombay (now Mumbai). It aimed to address issues such as low wages, long working hours, and poor working conditions.
• Contribution of N.M. Lokhande: N.M. Lokhande, as the founder and leader of this association, played a significant role in advocating for the rights of mill workers. He was known as the 'Father of Trade Union Movement in India'. He also campaigned for the introduction of the Factory Act of 1881, which provided for the regulation of working conditions in factories.
• Legacy: The Bombay Millhands Association opened the doors for the formation of other labor unions in India. It set a precedent for collective bargaining and brought the issues of industrial workers to the forefront.

The top-level directory in a file system is known as the root directory or root folder. The term "root" designates the top level of the directory structure, which can be visualized as an upside-down tree. The root directory is the parent directory for all other directories present in a disc.

Royal Commission on Labour

• This commission was headed by J.H. Whitley, and thus, 'a' corresponds to 'iv' in List-II

Labour Investigation Committee

• The Labour Investigation Committee was headed by Rege, therefore 'b' corresponds to 'ii' in List-II.

First National Labour Commission

• The First National Labour Commission was headed by P.B. Gajendra Gadkari, hence 'c' corresponds to 'i' in List-II.

Second National Labour Commission

• The Second National Labour Commission was presided over by Ravindra Varma, thus 'd' matches with 'iii' in List-II.

-On Site ATM - ATMs Inside the Bank

-Off site ATM - ATM outside the bank premises but is located at other places, such as shopping centres, airports, railways station and petrol stations.

-White Label ATM - ATM Provided by NBFC (Non Banking Financial Company)

-Green Label ATM - ATM Provided for Agricultural Transaction

-Orange Label ATM - ATM Provided for Share Transactions

-Yellow Label ATM - ATM provided for E-commerce

-Pink Label ATM - ATM for women banking

-Brown Label ATM - ATM are those Automated Teller Machines where hardware and the lease of the ATM machine is owned by a service provider but cash management and connectivity to banking networks is provided by a sponsor bank .

Expand : Become larger or more extensive.
Convert : Change the form,character,or function of something.
Condense : Make denser or more concentrated.
Congest : To concentrate in a small or narrow space.
Conclude : Bring or come to an end.
Antonym of Expand is Congest.
 

• In India, the concept of single citizenship is adopted from England.
  • In India, the concept of single citizenship is adopted from the British constitution that is from England.
  • The Constitution of India provides for single citizenship for the whole of India.
  • The Citizenship Act, 1955 deals with matters relating to acquisition, determination and termination of Indian citizenship after the commencement of the Constitution.
• The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India.
• The document lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens.
• Hence, option A is correct. 

The material silicon, which makes up the majority of ICs, is common in beach sand. At standard room temperature, pure crystalline silicon exhibits extremely high resistance to electrical current, similar to other semiconducting materials.

A bipartite body is an organizational structure which involves two separate but equal parties. These parties represent different interests and come together to negotiate and make decisions on matters of common interest. In the context of a workplace, these two parties often consist of management and employees (or their representatives).

• Works Committee: This is a bipartite body as it is comprised of representatives from both the employer and the employees. This committee is designed to promote good industrial relations by providing a platform for discussion and resolution on matters of common interest.
• Canteen Committee: This committee is also a bipartite body. It usually includes representatives from the management and the employees. The committee oversees the operation of the canteen, ensuring quality food and services to the employees.
• Safety Committee: This is another example of a bipartite body. The safety committee includes representatives from both management and employees. Its purpose is to ensure safety standards are met within the workplace, preventing accidents and promoting a safe working environment.
• Standing Labour Committee: Unlike the other committees, the Standing Labour Committee is not a bipartite body. Instead, it is a tripartite body. This committee includes representatives from the government, employers, and employees. Its main role is to advise the government on issues and policies related to labour and employment. It is therefore not limited to two parties, but includes a third party, the government, in its discussions and decisions.