11. Which one of the following is not a correct mission of “Ek Bharat Shre

Which one of the following is not a correct mission of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” ?

To create an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences
To establish long-term engagements
To showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of States
To foster the feeling of nationhood
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
While fostering the feeling of nationhood is the ultimate goal and spirit behind the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative, it is usually considered the overarching objective or outcome rather than a specific ‘mission’ listed among the program’s operational goals. The missions are typically described in terms of activities undertaken to achieve this goal.
– “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” is a program aimed at enhancing interaction and mutual understanding between people of different states and Union Territories.
– Its stated objectives (missions) include celebrating unity in diversity, promoting the spirit of national integration, showcasing rich heritage and culture, establishing long-term engagements, creating an environment for learning by sharing best practices.
– Options A, B, and C directly align with these listed or clearly implied specific missions/objectives of the program.
Option D describes the intended outcome or purpose of the program. While crucial, it is distinct from the specific actions and environments (like cultural exchange, learning, engagement) that constitute the core ‘missions’ or activities undertaken under the initiative. In competitive exams, such subtle distinctions between overarching goals and specific program objectives are sometimes tested.

12. Which institution organized the ‘Fintech Open Summit’ ?

Which institution organized the ‘Fintech Open Summit’ ?

Reserve Bank of India
UIDAI
NITI Aayog
SEBI
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The ‘Fintech Open Summit’ was organized by NITI Aayog.
– The Fintech Open Summit is a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering an open and inclusive ecosystem for the Fintech industry in India.
– NITI Aayog, the government’s policy think tank, organized this event to bring together regulators, industry leaders, startups, and experts to discuss innovation and growth in the sector.
– NITI Aayog partnered with entities like PhonePe and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for the summit.
While RBI regulates the financial sector and SEBI regulates the securities market, and UIDAI deals with Aadhaar, the initiative to create a broad ‘open’ ecosystem and bring diverse stakeholders together for such a summit aligns well with NITI Aayog’s role in policy promotion, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.

13. ‘Ministry of Law and Justice’ being the oldest limb of the Government

‘Ministry of Law and Justice’ being the oldest limb of the Government of India, was the outcome of which Charter Act enacted by the British Parliament ?

The Charter Act, 1793
The Charter Act, 1813
The Charter Act, 1833
The Charter Act, 1853
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The Charter Act of 1833 was instrumental in laying the foundation for a structured legislative framework in British India and can be seen as giving rise to the need for a dedicated legal department or limb of the Government, preceding the modern Ministry of Law and Justice.
– The Charter Act of 1833 centralized the administration of British India.
– It appointed a Law Member (initially without the power to vote) to the Governor-General’s Council, tasked with advising on legislative matters and initiating the codification of Indian laws (leading to the First Law Commission chaired by Lord Macaulay).
– This established a distinct function and structure for dealing with legal and legislative affairs within the government, which evolved over time into the Ministry of Law and Justice, considered one of the oldest government departments.
Earlier acts like the Charter Acts of 1793 and 1813 dealt with aspects of administration and trade, but the 1833 Act significantly altered the governance structure and formally introduced a dedicated legislative expertise within the council, making it a pivotal point for the origin of the legislative and legal wing of the government in India.

14. Supreme Court Rules, 2013 replacing the 1966 Rules, have been framed u

Supreme Court Rules, 2013 replacing the 1966 Rules, have been framed under which Article of the Constitution of India ?

Article 145
Article 144
Article 143
Article 142
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The Supreme Court Rules, including the 2013 Rules which replaced the 1966 Rules, are framed under Article 145 of the Constitution of India.
– Article 145 of the Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court, with the approval of the President, to make rules for regulating generally the practice and procedure of the Court.
– These rules cover various aspects such as the persons practicing before the Court, the procedure for hearing appeals and other matters, the conditions for entertaining appeals, proceedings relating to contempt, and so on.
– The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, detail the procedural aspects for filing cases, hearings, and overall functioning of the court.
Article 142 deals with the Supreme Court’s power to enforce decrees and orders; Article 143 deals with the President’s power to consult the Supreme Court; Article 144 mandates civil and judicial authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court. Only Article 145 explicitly grants the rule-making power to the Supreme Court regarding its own procedure.

15. The ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken in which Union Territor

The ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken in which Union Territory (UT) to address the basic needs of the local population ?

Delhi
Andaman and Nicobar
Jammu and Kashmir
Lakshadweep
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is being undertaken by the Indian Army primarily in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (and Ladakh) to address the basic needs of the local population.
– Operation Sadbhavana is an initiative of the Indian Army aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people in regions affected by militancy or having difficult living conditions.
– The operation focuses on various welfare activities, including running schools, providing healthcare facilities, organizing skill development programs, and undertaking community development projects like building infrastructure.
– While the Army undertakes similar welfare activities in other areas as well, ‘Operation Sadbhavana’ is specifically known in the context of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The operation contributes to nation-building efforts and helps in integrating the local population by providing essential services and improving their quality of life, often in remote or challenging areas where government reach may be limited.

16. The Parliamentary Standing Committee report strongly recommended and p

The Parliamentary Standing Committee report strongly recommended and proposed for ‘guaranteed number of days of work’ in MGNREG scheme from

60 days to 90 days
100 days to 120 days
100 days to 150 days
60 days to 180 days
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
Parliamentary Standing Committee reports have strongly recommended increasing the guaranteed number of days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 days to 150 days.
– The MGNREGA currently guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
– Various committees and studies have highlighted that 100 days may not be sufficient to address rural distress, especially in regions facing drought or other environmental challenges.
– A prominent recommendation from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and other bodies has been to increase this guaranteed period to 150 days per household per year to provide more substantial income support.
Increasing the guaranteed days aims to provide greater income security to rural poor households and act as a more effective safety net, particularly during periods of economic slowdown or agricultural distress.

17. The 15th India-European Union Summit which endorsed “India-EU Strategi

The 15th India-European Union Summit which endorsed “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” was held on

15th July, 2020
20th December, 2021
15th July, 2022
20th December, 2022
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The 15th India-European Union Summit, during which the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” was endorsed, was held on 15th July, 2020.
– This summit was held in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– The “Roadmap to 2025” is a framework guiding joint action and strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the EU over the following five years.
– It covers various areas of cooperation including foreign policy and security, trade and investment, digital transformation, climate action, energy, connectivity, and cooperation on global challenges.
Subsequent summits have built upon this roadmap. The date is a key detail for this specific summit and the endorsement of the 2025 roadmap.

18. Which park among the following has been declared as the India’s first

Which park among the following has been declared as the India’s first “Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures” (OECM) site ?

The Corbett National Park - Uttarakhand
The Aravalli Biodiversity Park - Haryana
The Ranthambore National Park - Rajasthan
The Bandipur National Park - Karnataka
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurugram, Haryana, has been declared as India’s first “Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures” (OECM) site.
– OECM status is accorded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
– An OECM is a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and cultural, spiritual, socioeconomic, and other local relevant values.
– The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is a restored forest area on degraded mining land, showcasing how ecological restoration can significantly contribute to biodiversity conservation outside traditionally protected areas.
This declaration highlights the importance of conserving biodiversity in urban landscapes and through community-led restoration efforts. While Corbett, Ranthambore, and Bandipur are well-known National Parks, they fall under the category of ‘Protected Areas’ and not OECM sites.

19. The motto “Satyameva Jayate” – Truth alone Triumphs is written in whic

The motto “Satyameva Jayate” – Truth alone Triumphs is written in which one of the following scripts ?

Kannada
Marathi
Telugu
Devanagari
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The motto “Satyameva Jayate” is written in the Devanagari script.
– “Satyameva Jayate” (सत्यमेव जयते) means “Truth alone triumphs”.
– It is a mantra from the ancient Indian scripture Mundaka Upanishad.
– It is the national motto of India.
– It is inscribed in Devanagari script at the base of the State Emblem of India, which is based on the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
Devanagari is a widely used script in India for languages like Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Sanskrit, etc. The other options (Kannada, Marathi, Telugu) are names of languages, while Kannada and Telugu also refer to their respective scripts. Marathi language uses the Devanagari script.

20. Which one among the following Union Ministries launched the ‘Services

Which one among the following Union Ministries launched the ‘Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (SeHAT)’ initiative in India ?

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The ‘Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (SeHAT)’ initiative is a teleconsultation service launched specifically for the armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families. Given its focus on the ‘Services’ (armed forces), the responsible ministry is the Ministry of Defence.
The SeHAT initiative is a telemedicine service aimed at providing healthcare consultations to the armed forces community.
The SeHAT platform aims to provide convenient and accessible healthcare advice by connecting patients with doctors via tele-mode, reducing the need for physical travel, especially beneficial for those in remote areas or with mobility issues. It is part of the broader digital health initiatives in India.