Daily Mock Test – 02 August 2025

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a secure messaging network used by banks and financial institutions globally to send and receive payment instructions. It is crucial for international trade and finance.

Aadi Thiruvathirai is celebrated in Tamil Nadu to honor Rajaraja Chola I, the great Chola ruler who built the Brihadeshwara Temple and expanded the Chola Empire. The festival marks his contributions to art, architecture, and administration.

India observes National Handloom Day on August 7th every year. The first such celebration was held on 7 August 2015 to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which promoted indigenous industries such as handloom weaving. This day honours the craftsmanship of weavers and highlights the cultural and economic significance of the handloom sector

Correct Answer: 2 and 3 only

• Statement 1 is wrong – Ramsar Convention is for wetlands, not oceans.

• Statement 2 is correct – Montreux Record is part of Ramsar.

• Statement 3 is correct – India has 75+ Ramsar sites as of 2025.

This is incorrect because the Cholas had a strong navy and even sent ships to Southeast Asia.
Other statements are correct – they had a good bureaucracy, village councils, and did regular land surveys.

In India, parametric insurance is mainly used in agriculture to provide quick payouts during weather-related crop losses, helping reduce the government’s subsidy burden under traditional crop insurance schemes.

Answer: 2. Promoting use of bio-fertilizers and reducing chemical fertilizers
 Explanation:
PM-PRANAM (Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana) encourages states to reduce chemical fertilizer use and promote bio-inputs.

While Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Uraiyur were all capital cities of the Cholas at different times, Chidambaram was a major religious and cultural center, not a political capital. It is famous for the Nataraja Temple, but was not used as a Chola capital.

🟩 Answer: 1
📝 Explanation:

• ✅ Arka Shreshta is resistant to ToLCV.

• ✅ Arka Vishal is rich in TSS, ideal for processing.

• ❌ Arka Abhijit is early maturing with good shelf life, not poor.

• ✅ Arka Samrat is suitable for transportation and large-scale marketing.

Rajendra Chola I launched successful naval expeditions against the Srivijaya Empire (located in present-day Indonesia and Malaysia), showcasing the Cholas’ maritime strength and expanding their influence in Southeast Asia.

Correct Answer: A.
El Niño = warming of eastern Pacific
La Niña = cooling of eastern Pacific

Vijayalaya Chola founded the Imperial Chola dynasty in the 9th century CE by capturing Thanjavur, marking the revival of Chola power in South India.

Answer: 2. Judiciary interpreting laws independently
📘 Explanation:
Separation of powers in India is maintained by the independent judiciary, which ensures that the executive and legislature stay within their powers.

Correct Answer:  3. Dismissing a minister without CM’s advice

 Explanation:

• A Governor is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

• Dismissing a minister without the CM’s advice is unconstitutional (violates Article 164).

• ✅ Other options like reserving bills (Art. 200), report under Article 356, and even refusing to convene Assembly temporarily may be legally debatable but not strictly unconstitutional.

Answer: 2. It had a unique water management system and stone architecture
 Explanation:
Dholavira (Gujarat) is known for stone construction, drainage, and reservoirs — unlike other mud-brick Indus Valley cities.

Parametric insurance pays out based on a predefined trigger (like rainfall, wind speed, or earthquake magnitude), not actual loss.
In this case, rainfall below 50 mm for 10 days is a measurable trigger, so it qualifies. Other options involve actual loss assessment.

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:
To control inflation, RBI may increase CRR, reducing money supply. Decreasing fiscal deficit is also deflationary. But purchasing securities increases liquidity — not an inflation-control measure.

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution during the Emergency period under Indira Gandhi’s government.

Collective responsibility (of the Council of Ministers to the Lok Sabha) and an independent judiciary have been upheld by the Supreme Court as part of the basic structure of the Constitution, meaning they cannot be altered even by a constitutional amendment. However, a bicameral legislature (two Houses of Parliament) is not considered part of the basic structure and can be changed (e.g., some Indian states have unicameral legislatures).

Answer: 3. Special rights and immunities for performing legislative duties
 Explanation:
Parliamentary Privileges are special powers and immunities for MPs/MLAs to speak and act freely in the House without fear of legal action.

Parametric insurance provides quick and fixed payouts based on measurable triggers (like drought, flood, or cyclone), making it ideal for climate-related disasters where speed and predictability are crucial.

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has many glaciers and glacial lakes, making it the most vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) due to melting ice and unstable natural dams.

Answer: 2. Pollution-free beaches
 Explanation:
Blue Flag is an international eco-label awarded to clean and environment-friendly beaches that meet 33 criteria.

Correct Answer: Article 360

Article 360 allows the President to declare a Financial Emergency if India’s financial stability or credit is threatened.

• Article 352 – National Emergency

• Article 356 – President’s Rule (State Emergency)

• Article 365 – Failure of constitutional machinery in states

The Brihadeshwara Temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style, characterized by pyramidal towers (vimanas), large gopurams, and intricate carvings, typical of South Indian temple architecture.

Correct Answer: 2
Kyoto Protocol includes CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, SF₆ (not water vapour).

Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) help in GLOF preparedness by tracking temperature, rainfall, humidity, and sometimes water levels, which are key indicators of glacial lake stability and potential flood risks.

Answer: 3. Loans become costlier
 Explanation:
Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends to banks. An increase in repo means higher interest rates, making loans costlier, thereby reducing inflation.