20 August 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. It is a very significant pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the question of reservation of posts for backward classes.
2. It set a 50% limit on quota for reservations.
3. The concept of a creamy layer was laid down and it was directed that such a creamy layer be excluded while identifying backward classes.

The judgment being talked about is of:

1. Puttaswamy Case
2. Maneka Gandhi Case
3. Indra Sawhney Case
4. Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala Case

C – Explanation

• A nine-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court had in the Indira Sawhney case capped the reservation at 50%.It is a very significant pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the question of reservation of posts for backward classes.The concept of a creamy layer was laid down and it was directed that such a creamy layer be excluded while identifying backward classes.Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. Which of the following regions are associated with Line of Actual Control (LAC) dispute between India and China?

1. Galwan Valley
2. Gogra heights
3. Hot Springs
4. Depsang Plains
5. Pangong Tso lake

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. 1, 3, 4 and 5
3. 2, 3, 4 and 5
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer – D

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Between the 14th and 15th (Finance Commissions), the incidence of cess and surcharge has gone up.
2. A constitutional amendment is required to include Cess and surcharge in the divisible pool of revenue which is distributed between the Centre and the States.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

D – Explanation

• Cess and surcharge is not part of the divisible pool. However, it’s not in the hands of the Finance Commission to cap it. This requires a constitutional amendment. It was in 2000 during the period of (then PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee when there was a constitutional amendment that kept cess and surcharge outside the divisible pool. If cess and surcharge are to be part of the divisible pool, there has to be a constitutional amendment. Between the 14th and 15th (Finance Commissions), the incidence of cess and surcharge has gone up. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q4. Arrange the following Great Lakes of North America from West to East:

1. Erie
2. Michigan
3. Superior
4. Huron
5. Ontario

Select the correct answer code:

1. 3-4-2-1-5
2. 3-2-4-1-5
3. 4-2-3-1-5
4. 2-3-1-4-5

B – Explanation

• Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Bottom trawling:

1. Bottom trawling is a method of fishing that involves dragging heavy weighted nets across the sea floor, in an effort to catch fish.
2. Bottom trawling is considered environment friendly and does not affect the marine biodiversity.
3. Majority of the commercial fishing in India is done through the method of Bottom trawling.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 and 3 only

A – Explanation

• Bottom trawling is an industrial fishing method where a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor.When the weighted nets and trawl doors are dragged along the seafloor, everything in their path is disturbed or destroyed, including seagrasses, coral reefs or rock gardens where fish hide from predators.Bottom trawls are used in catching marine life that live on the seafloor, such as shrimp, cod, sole and flounder.The damage from bottom trawling is not limited to habitat destruction. As the net drags along the seafloor, all creatures in its path—fish, animals, marine mammals, plants, and turtles—are scooped up along the way.India has taken measures to stop bottom trawling by its fishermen in the waters near the Sri Lankan coastline.Recent initiatives taken by the Government of India to end bottom trawling in the Palk Bay area include the launch of a programme on diversification of bottom trawlers into deep-sea fishing vessels for tuna long lining under the Blue Revolution Scheme, construction of Mookaiyur and Poompuhar fishing harbours, and capacity-building programmes for fishermen of the Palk Bay area in deep sea tuna long lining.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q6. Sinjar Mountains, sometimes seen in news lies in?

1. Iraq and Iran
2. Iraq and Jordan
3. Iraq and Syria
4. Syria and Turkey

C – Explanation

• Sinjar Mountains are a 100-kilometre-long mountain range that runs east to west, rising above the surrounding alluvial steppe plains in north-western Iraq. The western and lower segment of these mountains lies in Syria. These mountains are regarded as sacred by the Yazidis. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q7. Consider the following statements:

1. Right to reputation is an integral part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
2. Defamation can only be a civil offence in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

A – Explanation

• Recently, a Delhi court has rejected a criminal defamation case filed by former Union Minister against a journalist over her tweets accusing him of sexual harassment.The right of reputation cannot be protected at the cost of the right of life and dignity of women. As per the SC, the right to reputation is an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution. Hence, statement 1 is correct.In India, defamation can both be a civil wrong and a criminal offence. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.The difference between the two lies in the objects they seek to achieve. A civil wrong tends to provide for a redress of wrongs by awarding compensation and a criminal law seeks to punish a wrongdoer and send a message to others not to commit such acts.

Q8. With reference to Perseverance Rover, consider the following statements:

1. It is the European Space Agency mission.
2. It aims to study the geology of Mars and signs of ancient life.
3. Jezero Crater on Mars is the landing site of the rover.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3 only

B – Explanation

• Recently, Perseverance Rover has landed on Mars. This was one of the most crucial aspects of the Mars 2020 Mission of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA’s). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.The mission is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life. It is different from previous missions because it is capable of drilling and collecting core samples of the rocks and soils and sending them back to Earth. Hence, statement 2 is correct.Perseverance Rover has landed in the Jezero Crater (an ancient river delta that has rocks and minerals that could only form in water). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q9. With reference to Tree Cities of the World Programme, consider the following statements:

1. It is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to urban forestry.
2. It is a programme partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the FAO.
3. Chandigarh the only city in India to get this recognition so far.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3 only

C – Explanation

• Hyderabad city (Telangana’s Capital) has been recognised as a‘2020 Tree City of the World’ by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).It is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated. Hence, statement 1 is correct.It is a programme partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the FAO. Hence, statement 2 is correct.A city is evaluated on five standards – Establish Responsibility, Set the Rules, Know What You Have, Allocate the Resources, and Celebrate the Achievements.Recently, Hyderabad has earned recognition in the Foundation’s second year of the programme along with 51 other cities in the world. It is the only City in India to get this recognition so far. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q10. ‘Vishakha Guidelines’ of the Supreme Court of India is related to which of the following?

1. Protection of SC & ST population from atrocities.
2. Regulation of the coal block allocations.
3. Police reforms in India.
4. Sexual harassment at workplace.

D – Explanation

• In the context of sexual harassment of women at workplace, judicial activism reached its pinnacle in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (Vishaka).  Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

The judgement was unprecedented for several reasons:

• Supreme Court acknowledged and relied to a great extent on international treaties that had not been transformed into municipal law;Supreme Court provided the first authoritative definition of ‘sexual harassment’ in India; and confronted with a statutory vacuum, it went creative and proposed the route of ‘judicial legislation’.