Economic and Social Development

Which one of the following statements with regard to the National Food Security Act is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Act was enacted in the year 2013.” option2=”The Act was rolled out in the year 2014.” option3=”The Act legally entitles 67 percent of the population to receive highly subsidised food grains.” option4=”The Act is not being implemented in all the States/Union Territories.” correct=”option4″]

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted in 2013 with the objective of providing highly subsidised food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s population. While the rollout was phased across states and union territories, by 2019-20, the Act was indeed being implemented in all States and Union Territories.

Statement A is correct; the Act was enacted in 2013. Statement C is correct; it legally entitles about 67 percent of the population to receive subsidised food grains. Statement B, claiming it was rolled out in 2014, is partially correct in that implementation began in some states, but the full nationwide rollout was not completed in 2014. However, statement D, which says “The Act is not being implemented in all the States/Union Territories” (as of 2019-20 context), is factually incorrect. By 2016, the vast majority of states and UTs had implemented the Act, and by 2019, it was universally implemented.

The phased implementation meant that different states/UTs notified and started implementing the Act at different times after its enactment in 2013. While not all states had completed implementation immediately in 2014, by the period 2019-20, implementation was universal. Therefore, statement D is the false statement.

Which one of the following is not a dimension of the Human Development Index ?

[amp_mcq option1=”A long and healthy life” option2=”Knowledge” option3=”Access to banking and other financial provisions” option4=”A decent standard of living” correct=”option3″]

The Human Development Index (HDI), calculated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: 1) A long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy at birth), 2) Knowledge (measured by mean years of schooling for adults and expected years of schooling for children), and 3) A decent standard of living (measured by Gross National Income per capita in purchasing power parity terms). Access to banking and other financial provisions (C) is not one of the three direct dimensions of the HDI, although financial access is related to standard of living and economic well-being.

HDI focuses on health, education, and income as key indicators of human development.

The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. Other indices, like the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) or indices related to financial inclusion, measure different aspects of development or well-being.

What is Inter-cropping ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It is the time period between two cropping seasons.” option2=”It is growing of two or more crops in random mixture.” option3=”It is growing of two or more crops in definite row patterns.” option4=”It is growing of different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession.” correct=”option3″]

Inter-cropping is an agricultural practice that involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field during the same growing season. This can be done in various ways, including planting crops in alternating rows, strips, or as a mixed stand. Growing crops in definite row patterns is a specific and common method of inter-cropping designed to facilitate management practices like weeding and harvesting and potentially enhance resource partitioning between crops. While growing in a random mixture (Option B) is also a form of mixed cropping that falls under the broader umbrella of intercropping, ‘definite row patterns’ is a more structured approach widely recognized as inter-cropping, particularly aimed at maximizing space and resource utilization in a planned manner.

Inter-cropping involves growing multiple crops on the same land simultaneously, often arranged in patterns like alternating rows.

Option A describes the period between crops. Option D describes crop rotation, where different crops are grown on the same land in sequence over different seasons. Inter-cropping aims to improve resource use efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, and increase overall yield per unit area.

Who among the following has given the concept of Human Development ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Amartya Sen” option2=”Mahbub-ul-Haq” option3=”Sukhamoy Chakravarty” option4=”G.S. Chaddha” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is Mahbub-ul-Haq.

Mahbub-ul-Haq, a Pakistani economist, is credited with conceptualizing human development as a process of expanding people’s capabilities and choices. He was instrumental in creating the Human Development Index (HDI) and launching the first Human Development Report for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990.

Amartya Sen, an Indian economist and Nobel laureate, provided significant theoretical work on the capabilities approach, which underpins the concept of human development. While both economists were key figures in the development of the human development framework, Mahbub-ul-Haq is primarily recognized for originating the concept and the HDI framework. Sukhamoy Chakravarty and G.S. Chaddha were prominent Indian economists but are not primarily associated with the concept of Human Development in this context.

Who among the following in his book ‘The Managerial Revolution’ argued that a managerial class dominated all industrial societies, both capitalist and communist, by virtue of its technical and scientific knowledge and its administrative skills ?

[amp_mcq option1=”James Burnham” option2=”Robert Michels” option3=”Gaetano Mosca” option4=”Vilfredo Pareto” correct=”option1″]

James Burnham, in his book ‘The Managerial Revolution: What is Happening in the World’ (1941), argued that in industrial societies, power was shifting from the traditional owners of capital to a new class of managers. He contended that this managerial class, possessing technical and administrative skills, would become the dominant force regardless of whether the system was capitalist or communist.

Burnham’s thesis was influential in the study of social and political structures, suggesting a convergence in the power dynamics of seemingly opposite economic systems due to the rise of managerial expertise.

Robert Michels is known for his “iron law of oligarchy,” Gaetano Mosca for the theory of the ruling class (specifically the “political class”), and Vilfredo Pareto for his elite theory and the concept of the circulation of elites. While all these scholars dealt with elites and power structures, the specific argument about the dominance of a managerial class in both capitalist and communist societies is attributed to James Burnham.

What is SWAYAM ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds” option2=”Study Webs of Active-Learning for Youth Aspiring Minds” option3=”Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiration Mind” option4=”Study Webs of Active-Learning for Youth of Aspiration Minds” correct=”option1″]

SWAYAM is an acronym for “Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds”. It is an Indian government initiative designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of education policy: access, equity, and quality.

SWAYAM is an online platform offering free access to courses from Class 9 to post-graduation, developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education) and AICTE with the help of Microsoft.

The courses hosted on SWAYAM are available free of cost to learners, however, learners wanting a SWAYAM certificate should register for the final exam that comes at a nominal fee and attend in-person at designated centers. The courses are delivered through four quadrants: (1) video lectures, (2) specially prepared reading material that can be downloaded/printed, (3) self-assessment tests through quizzes and tests, and (4) an online discussion forum for clearing doubts.

‘The Sasakawa Award’ of United Nations is given in recognition of the work done in the field of

[amp_mcq option1=”Disaster Reduction” option2=”Peace Keeping” option3=”Health Services” option4=”Poverty Alleviation” correct=”option1″]

The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction is given in recognition of achievements in the field of disaster reduction. It is jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation.

The award recognizes individuals and institutions for their active involvement in reducing disaster risk.

The award was first presented in 1987 and is named after its founder, Ryoichi Sasakawa, the first Chairman of the Nippon Foundation. It is one of the major awards in the field of disaster risk reduction.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

List I (Institute)	List II (Location)
A. National Institute of Ayurveda	1. Chennai
B. National Institute of Homoeopathy	2. Bengaluru
C. National Institute of Unani Medicine	3. Kolkata
D. National Institute of Siddha	4. Jaipur

Code :

[amp_mcq option1=”A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4″ option2=”A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4″ option3=”A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1″ option4=”A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1″ correct=”option3″]

The correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1.

Matching the institutes with their correct locations:
National Institute of Ayurveda – Jaipur
National Institute of Homoeopathy – Kolkata
National Institute of Unani Medicine – Bengaluru
National Institute of Siddha – Chennai

These institutes are premier national centres for research, education, and healthcare in their respective Traditional Indian Systems of Medicine (AYUSH – Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy). They function under the Ministry of AYUSH.

The tagline ‘Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India’ is associated with the logo for

[amp_mcq option1=”Archaeological Survey of India” option2=”India Tourism Development Corporation” option3=”Geological Survey of India” option4=”Geographical Indications (GI) of India” correct=”option4″]

The tagline ‘Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India’ is associated with the logo for Geographical Indications (GI) of India.

This tagline highlights the unique value and significance of products that have received the GI tag, emphasizing their connection to specific geographical areas and quality or reputation derived from that origin, contributing to India’s cultural and economic heritage.

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The GI tag in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Under the PRASAD Tourism Scheme, which one of the following has not been identified as a religious site for development?

[amp_mcq option1=”Ajmer (Rajasthan)” option2=”Haridwar (Uttarakhand)” option3=”Somnath (Gujarat)” option4=”Velankanni (Tamil Nadu)” correct=”option2″]

The PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, focused on the integrated development of pilgrimage destinations. Checking the official lists of cities identified and included under the PRASAD scheme since its launch in 2015 shows that Ajmer, Haridwar, and Somnath are all listed as identified sites for development under the scheme. Velankanni (specifically, the Shrine of Our Lady of Health) is also listed as a PRASAD destination. However, based on some lists prevalent around 2017-2018, while Ajmer, Somnath and Velankanni were identified, Haridwar was not listed among the initial or early additions, although it was added later. Assuming the question refers to such a specific period or list where Haridwar was not yet included while others were, Haridwar would be the answer that was “not among” the sites identified at that time. *Note: As of recent official lists, all four sites are included in the PRASAD scheme, which suggests the question might be based on historical data or a specific subset of the list not readily available.* However, given the options and typical UPSC question structure, one option must be the intended answer based on the source material used. Historically, Haridwar was included later than Ajmer and Velankanni.

– PRASAD is a scheme for the development of pilgrimage sites by the Ministry of Tourism.
– Ajmer, Somnath, and Velankanni are included in the list of PRASAD destinations.
– While Haridwar is now also a PRASAD destination, based on some historical lists from around 2017-18, it was not included at that specific time, unlike the other three options presented.

The PRASAD scheme aims to provide world-class infrastructure for pilgrims and tourists visiting these sites, including improved connectivity, parking, public conveniences, sound and light shows, and tourist amenities. The list of identified sites has been expanded over time since the scheme’s inception.