The correct answer is Goods and services tax.

Key Points

• The goods and services tax is the most recent tax introduced by the Government of India.
• Goods and Services Tax:
  • It was introduced in India to achieve the goal of 'One Nation, One Tax, One Market'.
  • GST has subsumed a number of indirect taxes levied by the Centre and State Governments including Central Excise duty, Service Tax, VAT, Purchase Tax, Central Sales Tax, Entry Tax, Local Body Taxes, Octroi, Luxury Tax, etc.
  • The unified tax came into effect on July 1, 2017.​

Important Points

• GST Council:
  • It is a constitutional body under Article 279A.
  • The council makes recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to GST.
  • It was introduced by the Constitution by the 101st Amendment Act, 2016.
  • The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.

Additional Information

• Service tax is a tax levied by the government on service providers on certain service transactions, but is actually borne by the customers. It is categorized under Indirect Tax and came into existence under the Finance Act, 1994
• Corporation tax is a direct tax imposed on the net income or profit that enterprises make from their businesses. 
• A value-added tax, known in some countries as a goods and services tax, is a type of tax that is assessed incrementally.

The correct answer is Pallavas.

Key Points

• This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast in the 7th and 8th centuries.
• It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries).
• The city of Mahabalipuram was founded by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I.
• It has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples, including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world: the Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna's Penance.

Additional Information

• Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur was built during the reign of the Chola emperor Rajaraja and designed by the famous architect Sama Varma between 1003 and 1010 AD.
• Tiruvalisvaram Temple at Brahmadesam, Uttarakailash temple at Tiruvadi, Rajarajeshwar temple at Tanjore, Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram were built by Chola emperor Rajaraja II and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Some famous temple and monuments built during the period of Chalukyas:
  • Badami cave Temples, Karnataka.
  • Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal.
  • Ravana Phadi Cave, Aihole.
  • Sangameshvara Temple, Pattadakal.

The correct answer is Punjab, Haryana.

Key Points

• Baisakhi is a famous festival of Punjab.
• The festival Baisakhi is celebrated to mark the spring in India. 
• This festival is known also as Sikh new year and Sikhs pay tribute to their tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
• Vaisakhi Sankranti is celebrated on the first day of Vaisakha, This day is also known as Sattuā or Satwahi.

Additional Information

Some Important Festival Of India:

• ​Andhra Pradesh- Dasara, Ugadi, Deccan Festival, Brahmotsavam.
• Assam- Ambubachi, Bhogali Bihu, Baishagu, Dehing Patkai.
• Chhattisgarh- Maghi Purnima, Bastar Dussehra.
• Goa- Sunburn festival, Ladain, Mando.
• Gujarat- Navratri, Janmashtami, Kutch Utsav, Uttarayana.

The correct answer is M.

Key Point

Expenditure method of income measurement:

• The expenditure method is a system for calculating gross domestic product (GDP) that combines C + I + G + X - M where consumption (C), investment(I), government spending(G), and net exports(X-M) where M is import and X is export.
• It is the most common way to estimate GDP. It says everything that the private sector, including consumers and private firms, and government spending within the borders of a particular country, must add up to the total value of all finished goods and services produced over a certain period of time. This method produces nominal GDP, which must then be adjusted for inflation to result in the real GDP.

Additional Information

1. Product Method:
   • The product or value-added method is a way of computing the national income of a country.
   • This system is also known as the output or inventory method. This method calculates national income by adding value to a product at every stage of its production.
2. Income Method:
   • In the income method, the national income is measured by adding up the pretax income generated by the individuals and companies in the economy.
   • It consists of income from wages, rent of buildings and land, interest on capital, profits, etc.

The correct answer is Sanjiv Puri.

In News

• ITC board reappointed Sanjiv Puri as chairman & managing director in July 2023.

Key Points

• The Board of Directors of ITC has recommended reappointment of Sanjiv Puri as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company for a period of five years effective July 22, 2024.
• His present term will end on July 21, 2024.
• The board, on the recommendation of the committee, has also recommended for the approval of the members, re-appointment of Puri as a Director, not liable to retire by rotation, and as the Managing Director & Chairman of the company for a period of five years with effect from 22nd July, 2024
• Under Puri's leadership, ITC has embraced a transformative strategy called 'ITC Next,' focusing on innovation, digital acceleration, customer centricity, and cost optimization.
• This strategic framework has enabled the company to invest in new growth avenues while ensuring supply chain agility.
• The company has made significant strides in areas such as environmental conservation, rural development, and community welfare, reflecting Puri's dedication to creating a positive impact

Additional Information

• ITC:
  • Full form: Indian Tobacco Company
  • Founded in: 24 August 1910

The correct answer is Only I.

Key Points

I. The Election Commission of India can be single-member or multi-member:

Correct

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) can function either as a single-member body or a multi-member body.
• Initially, it was a single-member commission but later expanded to a three-member body.

II. Till 1993, the Election Commission was single member: Incorrect.

• The Election Commission was a single-member body until 16 October 1989, when it was expanded to a three-member body.
• The change was reversed to a single-member body in January 1990 and then reverted to a three-member body again on 1 October 1993.

Additional Information

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional body that supervises the election process in India.
  • It administers the election process from the election of the President of India to the State Legislative Assembly.
•  As per Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, ECI has the supervisory and directional control of the complete process election to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the office of the President and the Vice-President of India.

Functions:

• It ensures that political parties and candidates adhere to the Model Code of Conduct.
• Allotting territorial areas for electoral constituencies in the country.
• Organise and amend electoral rolls and register eligible voters.
• Sets up polling booths.
• Inform dates and schedules of elections and scrutinize nomination papers.
• Give recognition to political parties and assign election symbols to them.
• Proposes the limit of campaign expenditure per candidate to all parties.

The correct answer is Tapeworm.

Key Points

• Platyhelminthes are also known as flatworms and belong to the Kingdom Animalia.
• The tapeworm is a member of this group and falls under the class Cestoda.
• These organisms are mostly parasites and are known to live in the digestive tracts of vertebrates.
• Tapeworms have a ribbon-like body with a distinct head (scolex) equipped with hooks and suckers for attachment.
• A single individual can contain numerous proglottids (segments), each capable of producing eggs.

Additional Information

The correct answer is the Intermediate goods method.

Key Points

• Expenditure method 
  • The expenditure method is a system for calculating gross domestic product (GDP) that combines consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports.
  • It is the most common way to estimate GDP. It says everything that the private sector, including consumers and private firms, and government spending within the borders of a particular country, must add up to the total value of all finished goods and services produced over a certain period of time.
  • This method produces nominal GDP, which must then be adjusted for inflation to result in the real GDP.
• Product Method:
  • The product or value-added method is a way of computing the national income of a country.
  • This system is also known as the output or inventory method. This method calculates national income by adding value to a product at every stage of its production.
• Income Method:
  • In the income method, the national income is measured by adding up the pretax income generated by the individuals and companies in the economy.
  • It consists of income from wages, rent of buildings and land, interest on capital, profits, etc.

Additional Information

• The expenditure on construction is calculated either by finding out the total money spent on new construction or by adding up the value of inputs used in construction.
• The expenditure on material inputs consists of expenditure on cement, steel, bricks, wood, fixtures and fittings. Besides, factor income payments to labour and capital are to be added with the expenditure on inputs to find out the value of construction.

The correct answer is Well drained loamy soil.

Key Points

• Loamy soil
  • Soil contains an equal proportion of small and big particles.
  • Consists of silt, sand, and clay.
  • Have accurate water holding capacity and humus.
  • Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food.
  • Wheat requires moderate temperature and rainfall during the growing season and bright sunshine at the time of harvest. 
  • In India, wheat is grown during the winter or rabi season. The crop is sown during November-December and harvested around April.

Additional Information

• ​Red Soil
  • The red soil is red in color because of the high iron oxide content in it.
  • It is formed by weathering the crystalline and metamorphic mixture of clay and sand.
  • It is found in the eastern part of the peninsular region covering the Chotanagpur Plateau, Odisha, eastern Chhattisgarh, etc.
  • It is suitable for the production of crops such as wheat, rice, millets, pulses, etc.
• Black soil 
  • The Black soil is also known as regur soil.
  • It covers a major part of the Deccan plateau including the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
  • It is also known as black cotton soil.
  • These are impermeable, deep, and clayey are rich in alumina, magnesia, iron, and lime.
  • Some of the crops grown on it include cotton, jowar, wheat, and linseed, etc.
• Yellow Soil
  • The red colour is due to the presence of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
  • The soil appears yellow when it is in hydrated form.
  • The fine-grained red and yellow soil is usually fertile while the coarse-grained soil is less fertile.
  • This type of soil is generally deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.​

The correct answer is Colombia.

Key Points

• Galeras Volcano:
  • It is a stratovolcano in the southwestern part of Colombia.
  • It is one of the South American country's most active volcanoes.

Additional Information 

• Volcanoes in Japan:
  • Mount Aso
  • Mount Fuji
  • Mount Ontake
  • Mount Asama
• Volcanoes in Italy:
  • Mount Itna
  • Mount Amaita
  • Mount Cavo
• Volcanoes in Columbia:
  • Doña Juana
  • Cerro Bravo
  • Cerro Machín
  • Petacas
• Volcanoes in Mexico:
  • Coronado
  • Guadalupe
  • El Jorullo
  • Volcán Bárcena