29 July 2022

Q1. With respect to the Silk Industry, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

1. 1. India is the largest silk producer in the world.
   2. India is the only country producing all the five known commercial silks.
   3. Arani silk from Andhra Pradesh has received Geographical Indication (GI) status.

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. All are incorrect

B – Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct. China is the world’s largest producer and supplier of silk. India is the second-largest silk producer in the world. Statement 2 is correct. India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial silks, namely, mulberry, tropical tasar, oak tasar, eriand Statement 3 is not correct. Arani Silk is from Tamil Nadu.

Q2. With respect to the Deep Ocean Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. 1. It is a central sector scheme where the Government aims to conduct the exploration of the underwater world on similar lines as ISRO does for space.
   2. This ambitious project will be managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

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

A : Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. It is a central sector scheme where the Government aims to conduct the exploration of the underwater world on similar lines as ISRO does for space.Statement 2 is not correct.The project will be managed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation, officially founded in Bonn, Germany, in 2009.
2. The headquarter of IRENA is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
3. The IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

D : Explanation

• International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation, it was officially founded in Bonn, Germany, in January 2009. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Currently it has 164 members, India is the 77th Founding Member of IRENA.It has its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Major Functions:
• It supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.It promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q4. Which of the following is correct regarding Excess Grant?

1. It is granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India.
2. It forms no part of the current service of any financial year.
3. It must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament before submitting for voting in Lok Sabha.
4. It is not regulated by the same procedure that is applicable in the case of a regular budget.

C : Explanation

Types of Grants:

• Excess Grant:It is granted when money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service in the budget for that year.
• It is voted by the Lok Sabha after the financial year.Before the demands for excess grants are submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting, they must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
• Vote of Credit: It is granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of India,when on account of the magnitude or the indefinite character of the service, the demand cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given in a budget.
• Hence, it is like a blank cheque given to the Executive by the Lok Sabha.Exceptional Grant:It is granted for a special purpose and forms no part of the current service of any financial year.

Related Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 115 pertains to supplementary, additional or excess grants.Article 116 of the Constitution pertains to Votes on account, Votes of credit and exceptional grants.Supplementary, additional, excessand exceptional grants and vote of credit are regulated by the same procedure which is applicable in the case of a regular budget.Hence, option C is correct.

Q5. Consider the following pairs:

Type of Hydrogen: Manufactured by:

1. Brown hydrogen: Produced from Coal where the emissions are released to the air2.
2. Grey hydrogen: Produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured3.
3. Green hydrogen: Produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy4.
4. Blue hydrogen: Produced from natural gas where emissions are released to the air

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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

C : Explanation

• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
• Type of hydrogendepend up on the process of its formation:
• Green hydrogenis produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a lower carbon footprint. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
• Electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.By Products : Water, Water Vapour.Brown hydrogenis produced using coal where the emissions are released to the air. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas where the associated emissions are released to the air. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched.Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured using carbon capture and storage. Hence, pair 4 is not correctly matched.Hence, option C is correct.

Q6. Consider the following statements about the ‘Sealed Cover Jurisprudence’:

1. The Supreme Court accepts information from government agencies in sealed envelopes that can only be accessed by judges.
2. The doctrine of sealed cover is derived from Indian Penal Code, 1860.

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

Explanation

• Sealed Cover Jurisprudence is a practice used by the Supreme Court and sometimes lower courts, of asking for or accepting information from government agencies in sealed envelopes that can only be accessed by judges. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• While a specific law does not define the doctrine of sealed cover, the Supreme Court derives its power to use it from Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules and Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Rule 7 of order XIII of the Supreme Court Rules:
• According to the rule, if the Chief Justice or court directs certain information to be kept under sealed cover or considers it of confidential nature, no party would be allowed access to the contents of such information, except if the Chief Justice himself orders that the opposite party be allowed to access it.It also mentions that information can be kept confidential if its publication is not considered to be in the interest of the public.
• Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872:
• Under this act, official unpublished documents relating to state affairs are protected and a public officer cannot be compelled to disclose such documents.Other instances where information may be sought in secrecy or confidence are when its publication impedes an ongoing investigation, such as details which are part of a police case diary.

Q7. With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), consider the following statements:

1. NDMA is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India.
2. The Union Home Minister is Chairperson of NDMA.

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

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.The NDMA was formally constituted on 27th September 2006, in accordance with the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with the Prime Minister as its Chairperson and nine other members, and one such member to be designated as Vice-Chairperson. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.Its primary purpose is to coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. It is also the apex body to lay down policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.

Q8. World Happiness Report is released by which of the following institutions?

1. United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN – SDSN)
2. World Economic Forum (WEF)
3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

A : Explanation

• World Happiness Report 2022was published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN).
• This year marks the 10th anniversary of the World Happiness Report.The SDSN, launched in 2012, mobilises global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.It was established under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General.The SDSN and the Bertelsmann Stiftunghave been publishing the annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index & Dashboards Global Report since 2016.Hence, option A is correct.

Q9. Consider the following statements:

1. Swadesh Darshan is a Central Sector Scheme for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country.
2. PRASAD Scheme was launched with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
3. The International Buddhist Conclave has been organised annually since 2018 by the Ministry of Tourism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 Only
2. 1 and 3 Only
3. 2 and 3 Only
4. 1, 2 and 3

A : Explanation

• Swadesh Darshan Scheme:Under it, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for infrastructure development of 13 identified theme based circuits. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)’was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
• The name of the scheme was changed from PRASAD to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” in October 2017. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Ministry of Tourism,Government of India, has been organizing the International Buddhist Conclave biennially since 2004.
• The earlier International Buddhist Conclaves were organized in New Delhi and Bodhgaya (February 2004), Nalanda and Bodhgaya (February 2010), Varanasi and Bodhgaya (2012 and 2014) and in Sarnath/Varanasi and Bodhgaya (October 2016), New Delhi (2018). Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. It is a Central Sector Scheme where the central government pays more than 95% of the premium amount while the farmer bears 1.5-5% of the premium.
2. From 2020, the scheme was made mandatory for all the farmers who availed institutional finance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct regarding Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yogna (PMFBY)?

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

D : Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yogna (PMFBY):

• It is a central-state scheme, introduced in the 2016-17 kharif season. It aims to cushion farmers against crop loss.
• The central and state governments pay more than 95% of the premium amount while the farmer bears 1.5-5% of the premium. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.As extensive usage of technology is used to settle the claims of farmers within a stipulated time period, farmers are required to fill loss reports online which are validated by insurance companies before the compensation amount is paid directly in their accounts.Prior to 2020, the scheme was mandatory for farmers who availed institutional finance, but that was changed and made voluntary for all farmers. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.