[DAY 14] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2023 – POLITY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT TEST SERIES!

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund)’ has been set up.
• Objectives:
• To undertake and support relief or assistance of any kind relating to a public health emergency or any other kind of emergency, calamity or distress, either man-made or natural, including the creation or up-gradation of healthcare or pharmaceutical facilities, other necessary infrastructure, funding relevant research or any other type of support.
• To render financial assistance, provide grants of payments of money or take such other steps as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees to the affected population.
• Constitution of the Trust:
• Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (Prime Minister) shall have the power to nominate three trustees to the Board of Trustees who shall be eminent persons in the field of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration and philanthropy.
• Any person appointed a Trustee shall act in a pro bono capacity.
• Other details:
• The fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organizations and does not get any budgetary support. The fund will be utilized in meeting the objectives as stated above.
• Donations to PM CARES Fund would qualify for 80G benefits for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Donations to PM CARES Fund will also qualify to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• PM CARES Fund has also got exemption under the FCRA and a separate account for receiving foreign donations has been opened. This enables PM CARES Fund to accept donations and contributions from individuals and organizations based in foreign countries. This is consistent with respect to Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). PMNRF has also received foreign contributions as a public trust since 2011.
• “The PM CARES Fund is not a public authority under the ambit of section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005,” the PMO said in response to the RTI application. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The term of the prime minister is not fixed and he holds office during the pleasure of the President. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• However, this does not mean that the president can dismiss the Prime Minister at any time. So long as the Prime Minister enjoys the majority support in the Lok Sabha, he cannot be dismissed by the President.
• In accordance with the conventions of the Parliamentary system of Government, the President has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the Lok Sabha as Prime Minister. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• Constitutionally the Prime Minister may be a member (elected or nominated) of the two houses of Parliament. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The Rules of Business provide for the establishment of Cabinet Committees. They are of two types standing and ad-hoc.
• The ad-hoc committees are appointed by the prime ministers according to the exigencies and requirement. They usually include cabinet ministers as members but non-cabinet ministers can also not debarred from its membership. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• They take decisions on behalf of the cabinet which can be reviewed by the cabinet. Their decisions are not completely final. Hence statement 1 not correct.
• They are generally headed by the prime minister, and for committees in which he is not a member other cabinet minister can head it.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is headed by the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The minimum support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Price controls of industrial raw materials and products, industrial licensing policies including industrial licensing cases for establishment of Joint Sector Undertakings, reviewing performance of Public Sector Undertakings including their structural and financial restructuring are within the purview of CCEA, as are all matters relating to disinvestment including cases of strategic sale, and pricing of Government shares in Public Sector Undertakings. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

DUTY OF THE PRIME MINISTER:

• To communicate to the President all decisions of the council of Ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the union and proposals for legislation. Hence option 4 is correct.
• To furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation as the President may call for; and
• If the President so requires, to submit for the consideration of the Council of Ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister but which has not been considered by the Council . Hence option 3 is correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament and the Lok Sabha in particular under Article 75.
• The council of ministers act as a team and swim and sink together. The principle of collective responsibility implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a vote of no confidence. Hence option 1 is correct.
• The no confidence motion is passed only in the lok sabha. Hence option 3 is incorrect.
• Members of the council of ministers are bound by consensus. Hence option 2 is correct. The government cannot have two opinions on the same issue.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Cabinet Ministers are usually top-level leaders of the ruling party in charge of the major ministries. Since it is not practical for all ministers to meet regularly and discuss everything, the decisions are taken in Cabinet meetings.
• The ministers may have different views and opinions, but everyone has to own up to the Cabinet’s decision. No minister can openly criticize the government’s decision, even if it is about another Ministry or Department. Hence option 1 is correct.
• Every ministry has secretaries, who are civil servants. The secretaries provide the necessary background information to the ministers to take decisions. In case of tussle between the ministry and departments, the Prime Minister’s decisions are final in case disagreements arise between Departments. Hence option 2 is correct.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Ministers without portfolio are also ministers officially. Hence, they are a part of the council of ministers. Hence option 1 is correct.
• The cabinet secretary, is a bureaucrat and he cannot be a part of the council of ministers for he is a civil servant who is not responsible to the Parliament and he attends the cabinet meetings. Hence option 2 is incorrect.
• The deputy ministers are not given independent charge of ministers or departments but they are attached to the cabinet ministers or state. They are not members of the cabinet and do not attend the cabinet meetings. Hence option 3 is correct.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

Cabinet Committees:

• The cabinet works through various committees. The Cabinet Committees are organizations that are instrumental in reducing the workload of the Cabinet.
• They are extra-constitutional as they are not mentioned in the constitution.
• Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961, provides for the establishment of the cabinet committees
• They are set up by the Prime minister. Their membership varies is not fixed. They usually include only cabinet ministers. However, non-cabinet minister can be a member of cabinet committees.
• Cabinet committees are mostly headed by the Prime minister. Sometimes other cabinet minister (such as Home Minister or Finance Minister) can also act as chairman.
• Cabinet Committees sort out issues and formulate proposals for the consideration of the cabinet.
• Some of the important cabinet committees are:
• Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
• Cabinet committee on Appointment, etc.
• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation is currently headed by the Union Minister of Home affairs. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

ROLE OF CABINET: 

1. It is the highest decision-making authority in our politico-administrative system.
2. It is the chief policy formulating body of the Central government. Hence option 1 is correct.
3. It is the supreme executive authority of the Central government. Hence option 2 is correct.
4. It is the chief coordinator of the Central administration.
5.  It is an advisory body to the president and its advice is binding on him.
6. It deals with all major legislative and financial matters. Hence option 4 is correct.
7. It exercises control over higher appointments like constitutional authorities and senior Secretariat administrators.
8. It deals with all foreign policy and Foreign Affairs. Hence option 3 is correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Article 76- Provides for the office of attorney general of India. Hence option 1 is correct.
• The first serving attorney general of India and the longest serving is M.C. Setalwad. Hence option 2 is correct.
• The President of India shall appoint a person who is qualified to be a judge of supreme of court as attorney general of India and he holds office until the pleasure of the president so the term of attorney general is uncertain. Hence option 3 is incorrect.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• NATIONAL INTEGRATION COUNCIL: The National Integration Council (NIC) was constituted in 1961. It consisted of the prime minister as chairman, central home minister, chief ministers of states, seven leaders of political parties, the chairman of the UGC, two educationists, the Commissioner for SCs and STs and seven other persons nominated by the prime minister. The council was directed to examine the problem of national integration in all its aspects and make necessary recommendations to deal with it. Hence, option 1 is correct.
• National Water Resources Council: was set up by the Government of India in March 1983. To formulate a water policy for the nation and for matters incidental thereto. The Prime Minister is the Chairman, Union Minister of Water Resources is the Vice-Chairman, and Minister of State for Water Resources, concerned Union Ministers/ Ministers of State, Chief Ministers of all States & Lieutenant Governors/ Administrators of the Union Territories are the Members. Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources is the Secretary of the Council. Hence, option 2 is correct.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research: The CSIR was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body that has emerged as the largest research and development organization in India .-Although it is mainly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Organization Structure:
• President: Prime Minister (Ex-Officio). Hence, option 3 is correct.
• Vice President: Minister of Science & Technology, India (Ex-Officio) Governing Body: The Director- General is the head of the governing body.
• The other ex-officio member is the finance secretary (expenditures). Other members’ terms are three years.
• National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA): has started the Mission Clean Ganga with a changed and comprehensive approach to champion the challenges posed to Ganga through four different sectors, namely, of wastewater management, solid waste management, industrial pollution and river front development. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. Hence, option 4 is correct.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Solicitor General of India: Functions is to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time, be referred or assigned to him by the Government of India.
• He/she is subordinate to the attorney general of India. Hence option 1 is correct.
• The posts of Solicitor General of India and the Additional Solicitors General are merely statutory. Hence option 2 is incorrect.
• Solicitor general of India is appointed for period of three years by the appointment committee of cabinet headed by prime minister. Hence option 3 is correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Ordinarily, all business of the legislature requires that a motion or resolution or bill should get the support of a simple majority of the members voting at that time
• Suppose that at the time of voting on a bill, 247 members were present in the house and all of them participated in the voting on the bill. Then, the bill would be passed if at least 124 members voted in favor of the bill.
• It is not so in the case of an amendment bill. Amendment to the Constitution requires two different kinds of special majorities:
• In the first place, those voting in favor of the amendment bill should constitute at least half of the total strength of that House.
• Secondly, the supporters of the amendment bill must also constitute two-thirds of those who actually take part in voting.
• In the Lok Sabha total seats are 552. However, some of the seats are vacant and there are 545 members. Therefore, any constitutional amendment must be supported by a minimum of 273 members. Even if only 300 members are present at the time of voting, the amendment bill must get the support of 273 out of them.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by the Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crores. But this amount is not disbursed directly to MP but to the District Authority of the chosen district. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election.Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• A Member of Parliament shall give his  choice of  Nodal  District  in  Annexure I  of  the guidelines  to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with a copy to the State Government and to the District Magistrate of the chosen District. If a Lok Sabha Constituency is spread over more than one District, the Member of Parliament can choose any one of the Districts as Nodal District in his/her constituency. The Rajya Sabha MP can choose any District in his/her State of Election as Nodal District. Nominated Members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can choose any District in the country as Nodal District. Ministry of Statistics & Programme is the nodal ministry. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• MPLADS works can also be implemented in the areas prone to or affected by calamities like floods, cyclone, Tsunami, earthquake, hailstorm, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, landslides, tornado, drought, and fire, chemical, biological and radiological hazards.
• MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 % of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 5 % for areas inhabited by Scheduled Tribes population.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Constitution of India has opted for the British parliamentary System of Government rather than American Presidential System of Government. The parliamentary system is based on the principle of cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive organs while the presidential system is based on the doctrine of separation of powers between the two organs.
• The parliamentary system is also known as the ‘Westminster’ model of government, responsible government and cabinet government. The Constitution establishes the parliamentary system not only at the Centre but also in the states. The features of parliamentary government in India are:
• Presence of nominal and real executives
• Majority party rule
• Collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature
• Membership of the ministers in the legislature
• Leadership of the prime minister or the chief minister
• Dissolution of the lower House (Lok Sabha or Assembly)
• Even though the Indian Parliamentary System is largely based on the British pattern, there are some fundamental differences between the two. For example, the Indian Parliament is not a sovereign body like the British Parliament. Further, the Indian State has an elected head (republic) while the British State has hereditary head (monarchy).
• In a parliamentary system whether in India or Britain, the role of the Prime Minister has become so significant and crucial that the political scientists like to call it a ‘Prime Ministerial Government’.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The Committee on Public Accounts is constituted by Parliament each year for examination of :
• accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament for expenditure of Government of India,
• The annual Finance Accounts of Government of India, and such other accounts laid before Parliament as the Committee may deem fit such as accounts of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies ( except those of Public Undertakings and Government Companies which come under the purview of the Committee on Public Undertakings).
• The Committee on Public Accounts is the oldest Parliamentary Committee and was first constituted in 1921. It was constituted under the GOI act 1919. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The Committee consists of 22 Members, 15 Members are elected by Lok Sabha and 7 Members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with it.
• The Speaker is empowered to appoint the Chairman of the Committee from amongst its Members. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• A minister cannot be elected as a member of the committee. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha derives his powers and duties from three sources, that is, the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and Parliamentary Conventions (residuary powers that are unwritten or unspecified in the Rules). Hence, the correct answer is option (d).
• The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha, and its representative. He is the guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as a whole and its committees.

He is the principal spokesman of the House, and his decision in all Parliamentary matters is final. In these capacities, he is vested with vast, varied and vital responsibilities and enjoys great honor, high dignity and supreme authority within the House.

• He is the final interpreter of the provisions of

(a) The Constitution of India,

(b) The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and

(c) The parliamentary precedents, within the House.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• The Speaker is elected by the Lok Sabha from amongst its members. The date of election of the Speaker is fixed by the President. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Though the Speaker being a member of the ruling party, whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker does not vacate his office and continues till the newly-elected Lok Sabha meets, in order to avoid interregnum. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• About Pro-tem Speaker:
• Pro-tem speaker is chosen for the conduct of the house when the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies have been elected and the vote for the speaker and deputy speaker has not taken place.
• The Pro-tem Speaker presides over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha, administers the oath of office to the newly elected MPs, and oversees the election of the Speaker. Once the new Speaker is elected, the office of the pro tem speaker ceases to exist. He also administers the floor test.
• Her/his Appointment: After a general election and the formation of a new government, a list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who selects a pro tem speaker. The appointment has to be approved by the President. The President appoints a member of the newly-elected Lok Sabha as the Speaker Pro Tem immediately before its first meeting.

Solution (c) 

• The Constitution of India has adopted the system of proportional representation for the election to the office of President, Vice-President and the members of the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils. Though this system helps in giving representation to all sections of the people, it has not been adopted for the election of members of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies because:
• Difficult for the voters to understand the system (which is complicated) due to the low literacy scale in the country.
• Unsuitability to the parliamentary government due to the tendency of the system to multiply political parties leading to instability in government. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
• Additionally, the system of proportional representation has the following demerits:
• It is highly expensive.
• It does not give any scope for organizing by-elections.
• It eliminates intimate contacts between voters and representatives.
• It promotes minority thinking and group interests.
• It increases the significance of the party system and decreases that of voter. As the party representing a particular section becomes more important than the voter. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Incorrect, This will be a new centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country by strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
• Statement 2 – Correct, Scheme of PM SHRI schools (PM ScHools for Rising India) is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs. 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect, the scheme does not mention anything about Self Help Groups

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct, In Einstein’s theory of Gravity, mass can bend the path of light. It is created when the light from distant objects, like galaxies, pass by an extremely large mass.

A ring-shaped image produced in this way is known as an Einstein Ring.

• Statement 2 – Correct, A gravitational lens happens when astronomers on Earth look toward a huge galaxy or galaxy cluster, so massive that its gravity distorts any light passing nearby. This creates Einstein rings
• Statement 3 – Incorrect, for the lensing by a black hole, infinite number of Einstein rings are formed by the light rays which wind around the black hole nearly on the photon sphere, which are called relativistic Einstein rings.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (b)

Explanation:

The e-daakhil portal empowers the consumer and their advocates to file the consumer complaints along with payment of requisite fees online from anywhere for the redressal of their complaints. It also facilitates the consumer commissions to scrutinize the complaints online to accept, reject or forward the complaint to the concerned commission for further processing. It was launched by National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on 7th September, 2020, for online redressal of consumer grievances.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Incorrect, The WEST programme will cater to women with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) background and empower them to contribute to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. It was launched by Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India
• Statement 2 – Correct, I-STEM is a National Web portal for sharing R&D (Research and Development) facilities. The portal facilitates researchers to access slots for the use of equipment, as well as to share the details of the outcomes, such as patents, publications and technologies.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct, The initiative would connect start-ups in India to US-based investors and start-up ecosystem leaders. It will provide mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialization. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently launched the US Startup SETU initiative.
• Statement 2 – Correct, The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth program (MAARG).MAARG is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.

Source: CLICK HERE

Solution (b)

Explanation:

Let rate of doing work be 1/A, 1/B and 1/C.

((1/A) + (1/B)) = 1/16 -> (1)

((1/B) + (1/C)) = 1/15 -> (2)

C is 20% more efficient than A.

1/C = 12/10A

Replacing 1/C in equation 2

((1/B) + (12/10A)) = 1/15 -> (3)

From 1

1/B = (1/16) – (1/A)

Replacing (1/B) in equation 3

(1/16) – (1/A) + (12/10A) = 1/15

2/10A = (1/15) – (1/16)

2/10A = 1/240

1/A = 1/48

Hence, A alone takes 48 days to complete the work.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

According to the question,

⇒ 3 × (P + Q + R) = 37% of the work

⇒ 7 × (9 + Q) = 63%

⇒ P + Q = 9%

∵ The ratio of efficiency of P and Q is 4: 5,

∴ 5x = 4y and x = 4%, y = 5% work per day.

It implies P can complete the job and in 25 days and Q in 20 days.

In 3 days, (P + Q + R) does 37% of the work

Out of this P and Q would do 27% work, i.e. (3 × 9%) of the work.

Remaining work = 37% – 27% = 10% (done by R in 3 days)

Therefore, the work of R = 10/3 = 3.33% work per day

Hence, R is the slowest and he would do the work in 30 days.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

In these types of problems, we have to take LCM of individual capabilities of working

i.e. 28 days and 42 days which is 84 units

The efficiency of Raman = 3 because (28*3 = 84)

Likewise, the efficiency of Rohini = 2

The question says Rohini has worked for 12 days and left

So, she has completed 12*2 = 24 units of work

The remaining work = 84-24 = 60 units

Now, this 60 units of work will be completed by Raman alone as Rohini has already left

Therefore, this work will be completed by Raman in 60/3 = 20 days

Solution (c)

Explanation:

Let the remaining work be completed in T days

According to the question, it is given that individual capability of A, B and C are 1/12, 1/15 and 1/10 per day respectively

Now, 2(1/12 + 1/15 + 1/10) + T(1/15 + 1/10) = 1

On solving we get T = 3 days

Therefore, the remaining work was completed in 3 days

Solution (b)

Explanation:

The road to a happier world than any known in the past lies open before us if atavistic

destructive passions can be kept in leash while the necessary adaptations are made. From this we can infer that, if man’s bestial yearning is controlled the future will be brighter

than the present.