UPSC IAS

1. Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of Ind

Consider the following statements:

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  • 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
  • 2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
  • 3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 and 2 only
2 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2017
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The correct option is D, as only statement 3 is correct.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Election Commission of India is currently a three-member body, consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. While its composition has varied in the past (single-member or multi-member with different numbers), it is not a five-member body.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Election Commission of India, not the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, is responsible for deciding the election schedule for both general elections and bye-elections. The Ministry of Law and Justice is the nodal ministry for the ECI regarding legislative matters, but the schedule is the ECI’s prerogative.
Statement 3 is correct: A key function of the Election Commission of India is to settle disputes related to splits and mergers of recognised political parties. This is based on the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order.
The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. Its primary function is to superintend, direct and control the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President held under the Constitution.

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2. What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?

What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?

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Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.
Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.
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The aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is to connect institutions of higher education with local communities to address the development challenges of rural India through appropriate technologies and knowledge transfer.
Under UBA, participating Higher Education Institutions adopt a cluster of villages and work with the local communities to understand their problems and come up with technological interventions and solutions based on the institutions’ expertise to contribute to the sustainable development of these areas.
UBA is an initiative by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education). It aims to create a virtuous cycle between society and a higher education system, with the latter providing knowledge and technology to improve rural livelihoods and the former helping the latter to shape research and education programs.

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3. What is the purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana’? 1. To enable the famous for

What is the purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana’?
1. To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.
2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools.
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2 only
3 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
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Statement 2 correctly describes the purpose of Vidyanjali Yojana: to improve the quality of education in government schools by leveraging support from the private sector and the community through volunteering.
Vidyanjali is a school volunteer initiative launched by the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) to connect schools with volunteers from various backgrounds, including retired professionals, NRIs, homemakers, and youth, who can contribute their time and skills to support school activities and enhance the learning environment.
Statement 1 is incorrect as the scheme is not related to foreign educational institutions opening campuses. Statement 3 is partially correct in that community participation might include contributions, but the primary focus of Vidyanjali is on soliciting volunteer services (time, skills, activities) rather than predominantly monetary contributions for infrastructure development, which falls under other schemes.

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4. What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eL

What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA) project?

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To detect neutrinos
To detect gravitational waves
To detect the effectiveness of missile defence system
To study the effect of solar flares on our communication systems
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UPSC IAS – 2017
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The purpose of the ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project (now referred to as LISA) is to detect gravitational waves.
LISA is a space-based observatory designed to detect gravitational waves from cosmic sources like merging black holes, neutron stars, and other violent events in the universe, particularly those producing lower frequencies than detectable by ground-based observatories like LIGO.
LISA is a collaborative mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA). It consists of three spacecraft forming a vast triangle in space, using laser interferometry to measure tiny distortions in spacetime caused by passing gravitational waves.

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5. Right to vote and to be elected in India is a

Right to vote and to be elected in India is a

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Fundamental Right
Natural Right
Constitutional Right
Legal Right
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In India, the right to vote and to be elected is considered a Constitutional Right.
Article 326 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to vote to every adult citizen (universal adult suffrage). The right to be elected is also derived from the Constitution and specified further by laws like the Representation of the People Act.
While the mechanics of voting and elections are governed by statutory laws, the fundamental right to participate in the democratic process through voting and seeking election finds its basis and legitimacy in the Constitution itself, making it a Constitutional Right rather than merely a legal or statutory right.

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6. In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report

In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?
1. Service providers
2. Data centres
3. Body corporate
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1 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Under the rules and directives issued by CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) under the Information Technology Act, 2000, it is legally mandatory for Service providers, Data centres, and Body corporate, among others, to report cyber security incidents.
The mandate for reporting cyber incidents helps CERT-In to effectively monitor, track, and respond to cyber threats across the country, enhancing overall cyber security preparedness.
The Government of India, through CERT-In, issues specific directions detailing the types of incidents to be reported, the format of reporting, and the timelines within which such reporting must be done. Failure to comply with these directions can attract penalties.

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7. What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India ?

What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India ?

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India's trade with African countries will enormously increase.
India's relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.
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The development of Chabahar Port by India provides a strategic alternative route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, reducing India’s dependence on transit through Pakistan.
Chabahar Port, located on the southeastern coast of Iran, offers India direct sea-land access to Afghanistan and beyond, bypassing Pakistan’s territory which has historically been a bottleneck for India’s trade with landlocked Central Asian countries.
The port is also a key component of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multi-modal transport route linking the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf via Iran to Russia and Northern Europe. The port is primarily aimed at enhancing connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, not directly aimed at significantly increasing trade with Africa or strengthening relations with Arab countries.

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8. Consider the following statements: 1. India has ratified the Trade F

Consider the following statements:

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  • 1. India has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of WTO.
  • 2. TFA is a part of WTO’s Bali Ministerial Package of 2013.
  • 3. TFA came into force in January 2016.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2017
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Statements 1 and 2 are correct. India ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the WTO, and the TFA was indeed part of the WTO’s Bali Ministerial Package of 2013.
The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) aims to streamline and simplify customs procedures for the movement, release, and clearance of goods across borders.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The TFA entered into force on 22 February 2017, after two-thirds of WTO members formally accepted the agreement, not in January 2016.

9. ‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen

‘Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of negotiations held between India and

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European Union
Gulf Cooperation Council
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
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The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement being negotiated between India and the European Union.
The negotiations for BTIA cover a wide range of areas, including trade in goods, services, investment protection, intellectual property rights, and dispute settlement mechanisms, aiming to enhance economic ties between India and the EU.
Negotiations for the BTIA began in 2007 but were paused in 2013. They were formally resumed in June 2022, reflecting a renewed push to deepen trade and investment cooperation.

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10. What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Serv

What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’?

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  • 1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India.
  • 2. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves.
  • 3. It will enormously increase the growth and size of economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2017
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Statement 1 correctly identifies a primary advantage of GST, which is the creation of a unified national market by subsuming multiple taxes.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) aims to simplify the indirect tax structure in India, replacing various central and state taxes with a single comprehensive tax, thereby reducing tax cascading and promoting ease of doing business across states.
Statements 2 and 3 make exaggerated and less certain claims. While GST is expected to positively impact the economy in the long run by increasing tax buoyancy and improving supply chains, drastic reduction in the Current Account Deficit or enormously increasing the growth to overtake China in the near future are not guaranteed outcomes solely due to GST implementation; these factors depend on a multitude of economic variables.

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