General Knowledge

UPSC 20244 questions

1. Q1

   Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization : (1) It is one of the agencies of the United Nations. (2) World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. (3) The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

   • A2 only
   • B3 only
   • C1 and 2
   • D2 and 3
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) 2 only

   Only statement 2 is correct. The World Toilet Organization is a non-profit NGO founded in Singapore in 2001; it is not a United Nations agency, so statement 1 is wrong. It did launch World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College to spur action on the sanitation crisis, so statement 2 is correct. Its focus is advocacy and awareness, not granting funds to countries, so statement 3 is wrong. Hence 2 only, giving option A.

2. Q2

   Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces? The columns are Army — Airforce — Navy: 1. Brigadier — Air Commodore — Commander ; 2. Major General — Air Vice Marshal — Vice Admiral ; 3. Major — Squadron Leader — Lieutenant Commander ; 4. Lieutenant Colonel — Group Captain — Captain Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   • A1 and 4
   • B1 and 3
   • C2, 3 and 4
   • D3 only
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 3 only

   In the tri-service rank equivalence, Major (Army) = Squadron Leader (Air Force) = Lieutenant Commander (Navy), so row 3 is correctly matched. The others are wrong: a Brigadier corresponds to a Commodore (not Commander); a Major General corresponds to a Rear Admiral (not Vice Admiral); and a Lieutenant Colonel corresponds to a Wing Commander/Commander, while a Group Captain equates to a Colonel/Captain. Hence only 3 is correct.

3. Q3

   What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs? (1) Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (2) Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs (3) Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   • A1, 2 and 3
   • B1 and 2 only
   • C2 and 3 only
   • D1 and 3 only
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 1 and 3 only

   The Chief of Defence Staff heads the Department of Military Affairs and acts as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (statement 1 true) and as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters (statement 3 true). Crucially, the CDS does NOT exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs; he coordinates but the Service Chiefs retain command of their forces, so statement 2 is false. Therefore only 1 and 3 are correct, giving option D.

4. Q4

   Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called :

   • AOperation Sankalp
   • BOperation Maitri
   • COperation Sadbhavana
   • DOperation Madad
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Operation Sadbhavana

   Operation Sadbhavana is the Indian Army's humanitarian/welfare initiative aimed at winning the goodwill of local people in remote and militancy-affected areas (notably Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) by addressing their basic needs through schools, healthcare, infrastructure and skill development. The other options are distinct operations: Sankalp (Gulf maritime security), Maitri (Nepal earthquake relief) and Madad (flood/disaster relief). Hence option C is correct.