- Consider the following statements with respect to Elections in India. 1. The Election Commission of India has power to remove and appoint government officials during the period of elections.
- Universal suffrage is provided in Article 326 of the Constitution of India.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer-c
Explanation
Right to vote in elections is an important constitutional right. “What is true of the right to vote is also true of right to contest election.” Many democratic governments consider participating in national elections a right of citizenship. In India, the right to vote is provided by the Constitution and the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, subject to certain disqualifications. Article 326 of the Constitution guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above the age of 18. Further, Section 62 of the Representation of Peoples Act (RoPA), 1951 states that every person who is in the electoral roll of that constituency will be entitled to vote. Thus, the Constitution and the RoPA make it clear that every individual above the age of 18, whose name is in the electoral rolls, and does not attract any of the disqualifications under the Act, may cast his vote. This is a non discriminatory, voluntary system of voting.
2.Consider the following statements.
- Recent study found the presence of Filovirus-reactive antibodies in humans and bats populations in Northeast India.
- Ebola is the member of Filovirus family.
- Bats serve as natural host reservoir only for viruses like Ebola, Rabies, Marburg and the SARS Coronavirus.
- Vaccines to protect against Ebola are under development.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer-a
Explanation
- Recent study found the presence of Filovirus-reactive antibodies in humans and bats populations in Northeast India. Bats serves as natural host for numerous viruses including Ebola virus, Nipah virus, coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the 2019 novel coronovirus. Vaccines to protect against Ebola are under development. There is no licensed Ebola treatment, but early care such as rehydration helps to improve the chances of survival. An experimental vaccine “rVSV-ZEBOV” proved highly protective and is being used in the ongoing outbreak in Congo.
- Filoviruses belong to a virus family called Filoviridae and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates. So far, three genera of this virus family have been identified: Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus.
3.Consider the following statements regarding cultural sites.
1.Rakhigarhi is the largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent.
2.Only Rakhigarhi, Hastinapur, and Dholavira will be developed as iconic sites with national museums as announced in recent economic budget.
3.A cylindrical seal with five Harappan characters on one side and a symbol of an alligator on the other is an important find from Rakhigarhi.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer-c
Explanation
The site of Rakhigarh is one of the five known biggest townships of Harappan civilization on Indian sub-continent. Other four are Harappa, Mohenjodaro and Ganveriwala in Pakistan and Dholavira (Gujrat) in India. Five interconnected mounds spread in a huge area form the Rakhigarhi’s unique site. Two mounds, out of five, were thickly populated. This site was excavated by Shri Amarendra Nath of Archeological Survey of India.
The archaeological excavations revealed mature Harappan phase represented by planned township having mud-brick as well as burnt-brick houses with proper drainage system. The ceramic industry represented by red ware, which included dish-on-stand, vase, jar, bowl, beaker, perforated jar, goblet and handis. Animal sacrificial pit lined with mud brick and triangular and circular fire alters on the mud floor have also been excavated that signifies the ritual system of Harappans. A cylindrical seal with five Harappan characters on one side and a symbol of an alligator on the other is an important find from this site.
Other antiquities included blades; terracotta and shell bangles; beads of semiprecious stones, terracotta, shell and copper objects; animal figurines, toy cart frame and wheel of terracotta; bone points; inscribed steatite seals and sealings. The excavations have yielded a few extended burials, which certainly belong to a very late stage, may be the medieval times.
Rakhigarhi, Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh, Shivsagar in Assam, Dholavira in Gujarat and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu will be developed as iconic sites with national museums.
4.Consider the following statements regarding Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and Procurement policy of crops.
1.MSPs are announced by the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation and Farmers Welfare, GoI.
2.India follows the open ended procurement policy for crops procurement.
3.FCI is the nodal central agency to implement the procurement policy.
4.MSPs are announced for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer-c
Explanation-
Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. 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). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government takes a final decision on the level of MSPs and other recommendations made by CACP. Government announces minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane. The mandated crops are 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and two other commercial crops. In addition, the MSPs of toria and de-husked coconut are fixed on the basis of the MSPs of rapeseed/mustard and copra, respectively.
The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It came into existence in January 1965. Currently, the Commission comprises a Chairman, Member Secretary, one Member (Official) and two Members (Non-Official). The non-official members are representatives of the farming community and usually have an active association with the farming community.
FCI, the nodal central agency of Government of India, along with other State Agencies undertakes procurement of wheat and paddy under price support scheme. Coarse grains are procured by State Government Agencies for Central Pool as per the direction issued by Government of India on time to time. The procurement under Price Support is taken up mainly to ensure remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce which works as an incentive for achieving better production.
5.Which of the following Island and State is correctly matched?
Island State
- Maradu Island: Kerala
- St. Mary’s Islands: Goa
- Wheeler Island: Odisha
- Kothad Island: Maharashtra
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer-a
Explanation-
2,130 Kerala islands now under CRZ cover in which Maradu and Kothad Island are also included. St. Mary’s Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in Karnataka. Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, is an island off the coast of Odisha.