Daily Mock Test – 19 July 2025

 Explanation:

The Ramsar Convention provides specific ecological criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance. These criteria focus on biodiversity, ecology, and waterbird populations.

 True Ramsar Criteria:

• Supports endangered or vulnerable species

• Supports species at critical stages of life cycle (like breeding or migration)

• Regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds

❌ NOT a criterion:

• Traditional human settlements — while important socially or culturally, this is not an ecological criterion under Ramsar listing.

🧠 Explanation:

The Quit India Movement (launched on 8 August 1942) was a major civil disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi demanding an end to British rule in India. Here’s why the options stand:

🔴 A. It was a violent movement from the beginning – ❌

• It was meant to be non-violent, but turned violent spontaneously in some areas after leaders were arrested.

🔴 B. It was supported by the Muslim League and Communist Party – ❌

• Both opposed the movement. The Muslim League didn’t support Congress, and Communist Party supported the British war effort due to Soviet alliance.

✅ C. It led to the formation of a parallel government in some regions – ✅

• Correct! Examples:

  • Ballia (UP) – brief control by local leaders

  • Tamluk (Bengal) – “Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar”

  • Satara (Maharashtra) – “Prati Sarkar”

🔴 D. The British immediately accepted the demand for independence – ❌

• No, they responded with repression, mass arrests, and no negotiations.

Explanation:

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is a strategic forum involving four Indo-Pacific democracies, focused on regional security, rule-based maritime order, and cooperation.

✅ Current QUAD Members:

1. India 🇮🇳

2. Japan 🇯🇵

3. Australia 🇦🇺

4. United States 🇺🇸 (Note: not listed in question but is the fourth actual member)

❌ Why South Korea is NOT a member:

• South Korea 🇰🇷 is not part of QUAD.

• It has good relations with QUAD countries but is not formally a member.

 Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: MSP is a type of market price support and is considered under WTO’s “Amber Box” subsidies.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Domestic policy ≠ exempt from WTO scrutiny. Even domestic support is subject to limits under WTO rules.

•  Statement 3 is correct: WTO’s Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) caps support at 10% of total value of production for developing countries.

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