16th February 2014 IAS PCS Questions of the Day

Question 1. Consider the following statements regarding the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA rules notified by the government 

1. APA will help in curbing black money outflow from India.

2. APA is applicable for transactions within the group entity of the company.

3. The agreement on tax liability once decided in advance will be binding in the future.

4. There is no fee for entering into an APA.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 3 and 4

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 1. (c) According to Global Financial integrity (GFI), transfer pricing is the prime mode for transfer of illicit funds out of a country. The APA will help in curbing such flows. Transfer pricing is done between the entities, which are part of the same group but located in different tax jurisdictions. APA is meant to ascertain in advance the tax liability in respect of transfer pricing. The rulings reached under APA will be binding on the taxpayer. Except under certain exceptional circumstances, the fee for entering into APA would be Rs. 10 lakh for transaction upto Rs. 100 crores, Rs. 15 lakh for those upto Rs. 200 crore and Rs. 20 lakh for transaction above Rs. 200 crore.

Question 2. Who among the following individuals were associated with setting up of the Indian Independence Committee in 1915 in Berlin?

1. Rash Behari Ghose

2. Madam Cama

3. Virendranath Chattopadhyay

4. Bhupendra Nath Dutta

5. Shyamji Krishna Varma

6. Lala Hardayal

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1,2,3 and 4

(b) 3,4 and 6

(c) 1,2,5 and 6

(d) All of these

Solution 2. (b) Indian Independence Committee, commonly known as the ‘Berlin Committee’ was formed in Berlin, Germany in 1915. Prominent among its early members were Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Ghulam Nabi Khan, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, Shrish Chandra Sen and Sambasiva Rao. Others joining the committee were Champakaraman Pillai, Bhupendra Nath Dutta and Lala Hardyal.

Question 3. Consider the following statements the currency system in Vijayanagara Empire was of high standard and remarkable

1. Inscriptions tell that Varah, weighed about 56 grains.

2. Along with gold coins, bronze coins were also prevalent in Vijayanagara empire.

3. Abdur Razzak gives the description of a mint, where coins were struck and also tells that mints were exclusively owned by government.

4. Harihara I and Bukka I struck coins with the images of Hanuman.

5. The coins testify that the religion of the majority rulers was Vaishnavism.

Which of the statement given above are incorrect?

(a) 3, 4 and 5

(b) 1,4 and 5

(c) 1,2 and 3

(d) 1,2 and 5

Solution 3. (c) Inscriptions tell that the weight of Varah was about 52 grams. Bronze coins were never minted in Vijayanagara empire, however along with gold coins the silver and copper coins were prevalent. Coins were struck both in government and private mints.

Question 4. Consider the following statement with reference to the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram 

1. It is a newly launched scheme by Ministry of HRD and social justice.

2. It assures a package of health services for children upto 18 years of age.

3. It is not a part of the National Rural Health Mission.

4. It also aim to cover all children of 0-6 years of age group in rural areas and urban slums, in addition to children enrolled in classes 1st to 12th in government and government aided schools.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 4

(c) 3 and 4

(d) All of these

Solution 4. (b) The programme was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It assures a package of health services for children upto 18 years of age. The initiative is a part of the National Rural Health Mission. The other statements are correct.

Question 5. Consider the following statements regarding the Banking Ombudsman

1. Banking Ombudsman is appointed by RBI.

2. Appeal against Banking Ombudsman can be taken to Governor of RBI.

3. All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Primary Cooperative Banks are covered under Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 1 and 3

(d) All of these 

Solution 5. (c) Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The appellate authority is Deputy Govenor and not the Governor. If one is not satisfied with the decision passed by the Banking Ombudsman, one can approach the appellate authority against the Banking Ombudsman’s decision. Appellate authority is vested with a Deputy governor of the RBI. One can also explore any other recourse and/or remedies available to him/her as per the law. The bank also has the option to file an appeal before the appellate authority under the scheme.

Question 6. Consider the following statements

1. About 2500 years ago, inscriptions were the orders of the kings or kingdoms.

2. These inscriptions often kept records of victories in battle.

3. These inscriptions were written in Greek and Aramaic, about 2500 years ago.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 1 and 3

(d) All of these 

Solution 6. (d) The kings got their orders inscribed, so that people could see, read and obey them. These are other kinds of inscription, in which kings often kept records of victories in battle. These inscriptions were written in Greek, Aramaic, Sanskrit and Prakrit etc.

Question 7. Consider the following statements about Amir Khusro

1. The real name of Amir Khusro was Abul Hasan.

2. Amir Khusro was the Indian born  son of a Turkish immigrant

3. Amir Khusro was disciple of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 1 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 7. (c) Amir Khusro (1253-1325) was the most outstanding of the Persian scholars. Abul Hasan was the real name of Amir Khusro. His works represent the beginning of a new trend in Indian-based Persian literature. Amir Khusro was the Indian born son of a Turkish immigrant. He began his career as a courtier and poet during the reign of Sultan Balban. He became a disciple of Sufi saint Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Auliya, the famous Sufi saint of the Chishti order (Silsila).

Question 8. Bead making was a craft known to the Harappans. Which among the following is the correct statement ?

(a) The Harappans long burrel cylinder beads made out of carreliam were found in the royal places of China.

(b) Beads were made on at Chanhudaro

(c) The Harappans crafts people made beads only from terracotta and shell

(d) A new type of cylindrical stone drill was devised and used to perforate beads of semi-precious stones

Solution 8. (b) Chanhudaro is known as the Lancashire of India. Archaeologists have discovered here shops of shell ornament makers, bead makers and metal workers.

Question 9. Four Children belonging to the same parents have the following blood groups A, B, AB and O.  Hence, the genotype of the parents are

(a) both parents are homozygous for ‘A’ group

(b) one parent is homozygous for ‘A’ and another parent is homozygous for ‘B’

(c) one parent is heterozygous for ‘A’ and another parent is heterozygous for ‘B’

(d) both parents are homozygous for ‘B’ group

Solution 9. (c) the four children of blood groups A, B, AB and O will be born, if one parent is heterozygous for A and another parent is heterozygous for group B.

Question 10. Consider the following statement about Guler paintings

1. It is the early phase of Kangra paintings.

2. It is a unique mixture of Mughal style of paintings and Hindu painters of Guler.

3. these painters are renowned for creating natural canvasses.

4. This style also accentrated the elegance and grace of the Indian women.

5. Its color is pure, but not delicate.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1,2, 4 and 5

(b) 2,3, 4 and 5

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 5

(d) 2 and 4

Soltuion 10. (a) The Guler style of paintings developed somewhere around the year 1800. It was a more naturalized version of painting with visible difference in the treatment of eyes and modeling of the face. Landscapes were also commonly used as themes. Along with that, this style also accentrated the elegance and grace of the Indian woman.