Daily Mock Test – 22 July 2025

✅ Correct Answer: 2. Increase in revenue expenditure

Explanation:

• 1. Disinvestment in PSUs → ✔ Yes, reduces fiscal burden by selling government stake.

• 2. Increase in revenue expenditure → ❌ No, this increases the fiscal deficit and contradicts fiscal consolidation.

• 3. Monetization of assets → ✔ A method to generate non-tax revenue.

• 4. Rationalization of subsidies → ✔ Helps reduce unnecessary spending.

✅ Correct Answer: 4. It is constituted under a separate Act of Parliament

Explanation:

• 1. Permanent constitutional body → ❌ Incorrect. It’s temporary and statutory.

• 2. Orders can be challenged → ❌ No. Its orders are final and cannot be challenged in courts.

• 3. Headed by CEC → ❌ Wrong. It is headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

• 4. Constituted under separate Act → ✔ Correct – via the Delimitation Act.

✅ Correct Answer: 1. To provide an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Explanation:

• 1. Alternative to BRI → ✔ Yes, IMEC is seen as a counter to China’s global infrastructure push.

• 2. Naval base in Red Sea → ❌ No such military aim stated.

• 3. Bypass Suez Canal → ❌ Partially true, but not the main strategic goal.

• 4. Agriculture exports to Africa → ❌ Not relevant to the IMEC corridor route.

✅ Correct Answer: 3. They boost India’s EV and battery storage goals

Explanation:

• 1. Largest in the world → ❌ No. They are significant but not globally top.

• 2. Oil energy independence → ❌ Irrelevant. Lithium isn’t related to oil.

• 3. Boost EV & battery goals → ✔ Lithium is key for batteries in EVs.

• 4. Not commercially viable → ❌ No evidence yet suggests this.

✅ Correct Answer: 3. UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Explanation:

• 1. World Bank → ❌ Doesn’t publish this report.

• 2. UNESCO → ❌ Not responsible.

• 3. UN SDSN → ✔ They publish it annually, with Gallup data.

• 4. World Economic Forum → ❌ Not involved in this report.

Explanation:

• 1. Indonesia → ✔ Recently joined BRICS (as announced in 2025 updates).

• 2. Nigeria → ❌ Not a full member yet.

• 3. Iran → ❌ Still in observer/negotiation phase.

• 4. Egypt → ❌ Not officially added in latest expansion.

✅ Correct Answer: 1. Gujarat

Explanation:

• 1. Gujarat → ✔ Announced major clean hydrogen initiative with global firms.

• 2. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan → ❌ While active in renewable energy, not yet launched such initiative.

Explanation:

• 1. Article 280 → ❌ Finance Commission

• 2. Article 324 → ✔ Correct – empowers ECI to supervise and conduct elections

• 3. Article 326 → ❌ Refers to adult suffrage

• 4. Article 312 → ❌ All-India Services

✅ Correct Answer: 3. Russia

Explanation:

• 1. Canada, 2. Japan, 4. Italy → ✔ All are G7 members

• 3. Russia → ❌ Removed in 2014 after Crimea annexation. Now, G7 = US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy.

✅ Correct Answer: b) Greece

💡 Explanation:
Greece became the 99th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in July 2024. The ISA is an Indian initiative to promote solar energy globally. This move strengthens global efforts toward clean and renewable energy.

✅ Correct Answer: d) Bhagat Singh

💡 Explanation:
The HSRA was founded in 1928 by Bhagat Singh, along with Chandra Shekhar Azad and others, to fight British rule using revolutionary methods. Their goal was to establish a socialist India.

✅ Correct Answer: a) G20 Summit 2023

💡 Explanation:
The IMEC corridor, linking India with Europe via the Middle East, was launched at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi in 2023. It’s seen as a strategic counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

✅ Correct Answer: c) Samudragupta

💡 Explanation:
The Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar Inscription) was written by Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta, and praises his military conquests. It is an important source of Gupta-era history.

✅ Correct Answer: c) European Union

💡 Explanation:
CBAM is a tax introduced by the European Union on imports from countries that don’t follow strict carbon emission norms. It affects Indian exports, especially in steel, cement, and aluminum sectors.

✅ Correct Answer: c) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

💡 Explanation:
In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament can amend the Constitution but cannot alter its basic structure — like democracy, secularism, and federalism. It’s a key pillar of Indian constitutional law.

✅ Correct Answer: c) Manas

💡 Explanation:
Manas National Park, located in Assam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, and also a Biosphere Reserve. It has rare species like the Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog.

✅ Correct Answer: d) India

💡 Explanation:
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on the lunar south pole in August 2023, making India the first country ever to achieve this feat. It’s a major milestone for ISRO and global space science.

✅ Correct Answer: c) Narmada

💡 Explanation:
Narmada River flows westward through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. Unlike most Indian rivers, it doesn’t form a delta but an estuary at its mouth.

✅ Correct Answer: b) Article 156

💡 Explanation:
Under Article 156(1), a Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President. In recent years, this clause was invoked to remove governors in politically sensitive cases, like in Tamil Nadu in 2025 (example-based).