Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in Current Affairs.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam.

In the Sangham Boetfe, five Tinais of different regions are mentioned. They are Kurinchi, Mullai, Palai, Marutham and Neithal.

Kurinchi is the mountainous region, Mullai is the forest area, Palai is the dry place, Marutham is the agricultural land of the river basin, and Neithal is the shore. In the different Tinais different ways of earning livelihood existed.

The production of different crops continued even after the Perumal era. Some small changes, however, took place, until the 18^th century. In the wet soil with silt, in the compounds and lands around, agriculture was done. There was a considerable increase in agriculture. Paddy cultivation continued as before. It was the main food crop. Paddy was cultivated in the wet soil and in the low-lying areas between small hills and plateaus.

The evidences available in the Perumchellur and Kilimahur inscriptions show that rice cultivation was continued for long. From the Malayalam Books of the Middle Ages also we see that paddy was cultivated 2 or 3 times each year.

Different varieties of rice was cultivated. Kuruvachannel, Ponkali, Anakkadan, Cholan, Kadan, Modan, Killiyira and Viravittan varieties are mentioned in the book “Unnunili Sandesam”. By the 16^th century, all available wetlands were brought under cultivation. Agriculture was spread into the hillsides and valleys of small hills. The black soil fields between Kochi and Kollam were also used for cultivation.

Paddy was also imported from outside Kerala. After rice cultivation, the fields were used to plant banana. Pepper was a cash crop that was extensively cultivated at this period. It was grown in the compounds of households and also in the fields. There were no special groves for pepper. It was cultivated with other crops.

In ‘Sukasandesam’ written in the 14^th century, there is a description of the pepper vines climbing on coconut trees. Cardamom and Ginger were cultivated in the compounds of households. Turmeric was brought from Malabar. Nutmeg came from Kochi. Indigo came from Kollam. “Unniyachi Charitam” shows that indigo was sold in the markets. Cinnamon was also cultivated.

Coconut was an important item of cultivation. Coconuts were used for food and trade. In a Chinese book called “Daoyi Zhilue” written in the 14^th century, there is a description of the Kerala shore full of coconut trees. Fei Hsin, a Chinese Traveller of the 15^th century, has recorded that coconut was exported along with pepper, sh and area nut. By the 16^th century, coconut became an important trade item. By the 18th century, area nut farms spread all over Kerala. Area nut trees were found in compounds. There was a great demand for timber like teak and rosewood. Timber was collected from the forests and exported.

As the population was increasing, the cultivation of food crops had to be increased. The crops grown in the compounds were used for internal and external trade. Although there was cultivation of cash crops and food crops, a lot of land in Kerala was unfit for cultivation. It was the forests of Kerala that helped Kerala to have good economic strength.

Athulan is the author of Mooshaka Vansa Kavya.

Mamtham was the river basin area in the Tinais

Answer is Karalar

1. IMF – It works to foster global growth and economic stability by providing policy. 

2. World Bank – Provide long – term loans to developing countries for development. 

3. SAARC – The independence of nations has been increased.

A group of merchants

TFA which entered into force on 22 February, 2017 following its ratification by two – third of the WTO membership.

The main goal of WTO is to help the trading industry to become smooth, fair, free and predictable.

Free Convertibility of Indian Rupee: Indian rupee has become independent after the establishment of IMF. Earlier it was linked with pound sterling. Its value is now determined in terms of Gold. 

Hence it is freely convertible.

1. Loan For Development Activities : India got several loan facilities from IMF for its several development projects.

2. Ability To Purchase Foreign Currency : Government of India is able to purchase foreign currencies from time to time to meet the ever growing requirement of development activities.

3. Expert Advice : India used to get expert advice from IMF for solving the economic problems. It has given valuable advice to India with regard to financing its 5 year plan.

4. Timely Help : India has received timely help from IMF many a time to eliminate the deficit in its balance of payments. India got help from IMF during 1966 in the aftermath of war with Pakistan. It received assistance from IMF for combating oil shock. Between 1980 and 1983 India got assistance from IMF to manage global economic recession.

5. Financial Assistance during Natural Calamity : India has got a lot of financial assistance from IMF to solve the economic crises arising from natural calamities like, floods, famine, earthquake, aggressions of Chinese and Pakistan etc. It gets technical assistance from IMF.

6. Membership in World Bank : By virtue of its membership in IMF India could become member in the World Bank.

7. Help During 1991 Economic Crisis : During 1990, India faced serious economic crisis. Indian Government was almost nearing bankruptcy. It got assistance from IMF by pledging ‘ its gold reserve with it to solve its balance of payments crisis.

1. It acts as short term credit institution at the international level. 

2. It provides machinery for ordinary adjustments of exchange rates. 

3. It has a reservoir of currencies of the member countries from which a borrower can borrow currencies of other nations. 

4. It promotes economic stability and global growth by encouraging countries adopt sound economic and financial policies. 

5. It offers technical assistance and training to help member countries strengthen and implement effective policies. Technical assistance is offered in formulating banking, fiscal, monetary and exchange policies. 

6. It helps member countries correct their imbalance in balance of payment.

1. Assisting reconstruction of war – affected countries. 

2. Promoting economic growth and balanced growth of international business. 

3. Promoting infrastructural facilities like energy and transportation, road development, etc. in member countries. 

4. Encouraging agricultural and industrial development in developing countries by providing adequate resources.

5. Providing resources for promoting sanitation, education, health care and small scale enterprises in member countries. 

6. Improving standard of living of people of member countries by providing assistance by removing poverty, raising productivity,providing technical support and conducting research and development.

1. WTO is promoting international peace and creating a conducive environment for conducting international trade.

2. It settles the trade disputes amicably among the member countries.

3. It promotes the standard of living of people by increasing their income level from free trades.

4. WTO has removed quantitative restrictions and non – tariff barriers. It has facilitated free flow of foreign trade among the member countries. The countries can impose import restrictions only to correct balance of payments difficulties and not otherwise.

5. It stimulates economic growth of developing countries by providing them with much needed capital and giving them preferential treatment in trade related matters.

6. WTO organizes periodical regional and international conference. Thus developing countries get opportunity to learn the technicalities, rules and regulations governing world, trade, technical assistance available globally, trade potentials in member countries and so on.

7. WTO gives people across the world a wider choice of goods and broader range of qualities of goods to choose from by promoting free trade among the member countries.

8. WTO has lowered trade barriers and thereby allowed trade to flourish across the world. The increase in trade contributes to increase in national income and personal income of people

9. WTO provides a platform for member countries to establish trade links with one another. In the absence of WTO member countries may have to enter many multilateral agreement with so many countries across the world. It provides a greater access to all nations under one roof.

10. WTO is committed to protecting free trade. It has framed rules on subsidies and dumping.

1. It is a forum for negotiation and formalization of trade agreement among the member countries. 

2. It settles disputes and grievances relating to trade among the member countries. 

3. It frames commonly acceptable code of conduct in order to reduce trade barriers. 

4. It holds consultations with IMF and World Bank (IBRD) and its affiliates to bring about a greater understanding and co – operation in global economic policy making.

5. It supervises the operations of agreement relating to General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) and Trade

6. Related Intellectual Properties Rights (TRIPS) 

7. It regulates trade between participating countries.

1. Improving the standard of living of people in member countries 

2. Making optimum utilization of world’s resources for sustainable development of member countries. 

3. Promoting an integrated more viable and durable trading system in the sphere of international business 

4. Expansion of trade in goods and services.

5. Ensuring full employment and large steady growth volume of real income and effective demand. 

6. Protecting the environment.

From 1st October 2016 SDR basket consists of US dollar, Euro, the Chinese Renminbi, Japanese Yen and British Pound sterling. The value of SDR is regularly posted daily in IMF website. IMF member can exchange SDR for freely usable currencies by voluntary exchange or as per IMF instructions. Besides members can borrow from IMF at favorable rate of interest to correct imbalance in balance of payments.

1. Free Trade Benefits Developed Countries more than Developing Countries 

2. Most Favoured Nation Principles 

3. Failure to Reduce Tariffs on Agriculture 

4. Neglect of Farmers Interest in Developing Countries 

5. Neglect Environmental Considerations 

6. Neglect of Cultural and Social Factors 

7. Inability of People in Developing Countries to Buy Life Saving Drugs

1. Monitoring and co – ordinating the development programme 

2. Determining inter – sectoral priorities

3. Mobilizing cooperation within and outside the region. 

4. Dealing with modalities of financing

GATT achieved many success but various countries felt the need to create a new international body to replace the GATT. The GATT which remained in force from 1948 to 1994 thus came to an end with the establishment of World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 1st January 1995.

Special Drawing Rights (SDR) was created by the IMF in the year 1969 as supplementary international reserve asset. It is described as paper gold.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is commonly known as World Bank.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was estabilished on 1st January 1995. The GATT was renamed as WTO with some changes.

1. International Development Association (IDA) 

2. International Financial corporation (IFC) 

3. Multinational Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

4. International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is the regional inter governmental organization and geo – political union of nations in South Asia.

(a) Washington DC

(b) General Council

(c) 1 – 1 – 1995

The headquarter of WTO is located at Geneva.

• The large manufacturing sector essentially produced goods for exchange. 
• India had an extensive network of trade for marketing the goods. 
• At the next level the producer was de-linked from marketing, the trade was undertaken by merchant intermediaries. 
• Big cities were usually major commercial centres with bazzars and shops. 
• Major parts were the nodal points in international, maritime trade. 
• Maritime trade across the Indian ocean, extending from China in the east to Africa in the West had flourished for many centuries. 
• Merchants operated at different levels. 
• Trade on a large scale could function only with the availability of financial and banking services. 
• The European trading companies realized that they could not function in India without the services of the rich and influential merchants. They entered into contracts. 
• The Indian merchants were under contract to the Europeans to supply textiles and other goods. 
• Political disturbances disrupted the economic activity.

Correct option is (a) Sambhaji Maharaj

Correct option is (c) Ahmadnagar

Sambhaji Maharaj started a campaign against Siddi in 1682 CE.

His army laid a siege to Dandarajpuri fort and battered the fort of Janjira with the artillery.

But at the same time, the Mughal army invaded Swaraj.

Sambhaji Maharaj had to abandon the Janjira campaign and turn back.

(a) Sambhaji Maharaj started a campaign against the Siddi of Janjira in 1682 CE.

(b) The Marathas laid siege to Siddi’s Dandarajpuri and battered the fort of Janjira with the artillery.

(c) But on the other hand, the Mughal army invaded Swaraj. Hence Sambhaji Maharaj returned halfway from the Janjira campaign to protect/defend his kingdom.

Marathas, Sikhs, Ruhelas and Pathans.

Answer is Mukarrabkhan

In 16th century.

In 1947 A.D.

Correct option is (d) All of these

Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British.

Tarabai’s warfare method was called ‘Safe deposit locker system’.

(a) The Jinji fort was far off in the south and was invincible.

(b) It was not an easy task for the Mughals to capture this fort.

Hence Rajaram escaped from Raigad and went to Jinji.

Aurangzeb enticed many Maratha Sardars on his side by giving them watans and jagirs.

(a) Pralhad Niraji

(b) Khando Ballal

(c) Rupaji Bhosale.

It was when trusted Sardars like Krishnaji Sawant, Khanderao Dabhada, Dhanaji Jadhav and Nemaji Shinde started the battles on various fronts against the Mughals outside Maharashtra which gave a sign of the tilting of the balance to the other end.

3. Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk introduced tea among his disciples in China. 

1. Japanese priests studying under Buddhist teachers in China carried tea seeds and leaves to Japan.

2. Turkish traders began to bargain for tea on border of Mongolia. 

4. The Chinese Emperor Hui Tsung failed to notice that Mongolia had actually taken over his empire.

Santaji and Dhanaji

The tropical Evergreen.

The Himalayas have mountain type of forests.

Rajaram Maharaj