General Knowledge and Current Affairs

(a) Au

Gold's chemical symbol is Au, from the Latin word aurum. The other options are different elements: Ga is gallium, Gd is gadolinium, and Ag is silver.

(b) 2790°C

Gold melts at about 1064°C and boils at about 2790°C (commonly quoted value; more precise modern figure ≈ 2856°C), so among the given options 2790°C is correct.

(c) Precious metals in bulk form, valued by weight and purity

Bullion refers to gold, silver, or other precious metals in bars, ingots, or coins, whose value is determined by weight and purity rather than by any minted face value.

(c) Ounce

The international price of gold is quoted per troy ounce (about 31.1 grams) on world markets such as London and New York. Gram and tola are used in local retail markets in Nepal and South Asia.

(d) Ductility and shine

Gold is highly malleable and ductile (it can be beaten into very thin sheets and drawn into fine wires) and it has a bright, lasting lustre that does not tarnish in air. These properties make it ideal for jewellery. It is not corrosive, and it is soft but not transparent.

(a) XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence)

XRF testing is used to measure the purity of silver (and gold) by reading the characteristic X-rays the metal emits, which reveals its exact elemental composition. Refractometry measures the refractive index of gemstones, while ultrasonic and vibration tests are used to detect internal flaws or cracks, not purity.

(c) 20.27

As per the Nepal Living Standards Survey (NLSS) IV, 2022–23, conducted by the National Statistics Office, the percentage of people living below the absolute poverty line in Nepal is 20.27% (about one-fifth of the population). For comparison, the earlier NLSS III (2010–11) had put this figure at 25.16%, so poverty has declined but remains substantial.

(c) Shambhala

Min Bahadur Bham's Shambhala was selected as Nepal's official entry in the International Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards (2025). It did not make the final shortlist.

(d) All of the above

Customer Due Diligence has three levels — Simplified CDD (for low-risk customers), Normal/Standard CDD (for ordinary customers), and Enhanced CDD (for high-risk customers such as PEPs and high-value accounts). Hence all three options are types of CDD.

(b) Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission

Parliamentary hearing by the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee is required for the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Judicial Council, the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, the Auditor General, the Chairman and members of the Public Service Commission, the Chairman and members of the National Human Rights Commission, and Nepalese Ambassadors. The Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers and does not require parliamentary hearing.

(b) Tilicho

Tilicho Lake, in Manang district, lies at about 4,919 m and is the standard answer given in Nepali GK books as the highest lake of Nepal. (Rara is about 2,990 m, She-Phoksundo about 3,611 m, and Imja about 5,010 m but is a glacial lake of the Everest region.)

(c) Darchula

Api Himal (7,132 m) lies in the Darchula district of Sudurpashchim Province, on the Nepal–India border in the far north-west of the country.

(d) Tusu

Tusu Parab (Tusu festival) is the main festival of the indigenous and tribal communities of Bankura in West Bengal, celebrated in the month of Poush/Magh.

(d) Mahendra Malla

Mahendra Malla, the king of Kantipur, is regarded as the first king in Nepal to issue silver coins (Mohar).