Human Development

21. Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal

Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India :

  • PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
  • A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
  • There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
  • Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
1, 3 and 4
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UPSC IAS – 2019
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Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is correct. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are officially recognized as residing in 18 States and one Union Territory (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) in India.
– Statement 2 is correct. A stagnant or declining population is one of the key criteria used by the Government of India to identify and categorize a tribal group as a PVTG. Other criteria include pre-agricultural level of technology, extremely low literacy level, subsistence level of economy, and isolation.
– Statement 3 is incorrect. As per official records, there are 75 PVTGs notified in the country, not 95. They are spread across 18 States and the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
– Statement 4 is correct. The Irular tribe (primarily found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and the Konda Reddi tribe (primarily found in Andhra Pradesh) are both included in the official list of PVTGs.
PVTGs are considered the most vulnerable among tribal groups due to factors like declining population, low literacy, and subsistence economy. The government runs specific schemes for the development and welfare of PVTGs, focusing on areas like education, health, livelihood, and infrastructure.

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

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

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.

23. 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.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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.

24. Consider the following pairs : Traditions Communities

Consider the following pairs :

Traditions Communities
1. Chaliha Sahib Festival Sindhis
2. Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra Gonds
3. Wari-Warkari Santhals

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
None of the above
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The correct answer is A) 1 only, because the Chaliha Sahib Festival is indeed a significant festival celebrated by the Sindhi community, while the other pairs are incorrectly matched.
– Chaliha Sahib Festival is an important 40-day festival observed by the Sindhi Hindu community to venerate Jhulelal, their patron saint.
– Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra is a famous pilgrimage and cultural event held every 12 years in Uttarakhand, associated with the Garhwali people, not Gonds. Gonds are a major tribal group in central India.
– Wari-Warkari refers to the pilgrimage (Wari) tradition of the Warkari sect in Maharashtra, who undertake annual pilgrimages (Padayatra) to Pandharpur to worship Lord Vitthal (Vithoba). Santhals are a tribal group mainly concentrated in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
The Warkari tradition is a significant cultural and religious movement in Maharashtra, emphasizing communal living, equality, and devotion through Kirtan (singing devotional songs). The Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra is one of the longest pilgrimages in the Himalayas. Understanding the geographical distribution and cultural practices of different communities is important for such questions.

25. With reference to ‘National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)’, wh

With reference to ‘National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)’, which of the statements given below is/are correct ?

  • Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning.
  • An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 2 is correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
– Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) recognizes that competency can be acquired through formal, non-formal, or informal learning (often through Recognition of Prior Learning – RPL). Certification is not limited to formal learning pathways only.
– Statement 2 is correct. A key objective of NSQF is to provide a framework that enables mobility between vocational education, general education, and the labour market. It aims to create pathways for learners to progress vertically and horizontally within education and training systems.
NSQF is a competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. These levels are defined in terms of learning outcomes which the learner must possess regardless of whether they were acquired through formal, non-formal or informal learning.

26. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statemen

With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements :

  • 1. It is a song and dance performance.
  • 2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
  • 3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1, 2 and 3
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
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The correct answer is B, which states that statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Manipuri Sankirtana is a devotional performance art form from Manipur that involves singing, drumming (especially with the pung, a type of drum), and dancing, primarily depicting the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Statement 1 is correct as Sankirtana is a blend of song, dance, and musical performance. Statement 3 is correct as the themes largely revolve around the tales of Lord Krishna. Statement 2 is incorrect because while cymbals (Manjira or Kartal) are used and are important, they are not the only musical instruments; drums like the Pung are also crucial and integral to the performance.

27. ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to

‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to

immunization of children and pregnant women
construction of smart cities across the country
India's own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
New Educational Policy
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Mission Indradhanush is a flagship program launched by the Government of India.
Its primary objective is to ensure full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years of age and pregnant women. The mission focuses on covering unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals in areas with low immunization coverage.
The mission was launched on December 25, 2014, and aims to cover all children and pregnant women who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against seven vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and Hepatitis B. Later, the list was expanded to include more diseases like Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) in select areas, and in 2017, Pneumonia (caused by Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) and Rubella were also included.

28. Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds t

Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

22nd March (or 21st March)
15th May (or 16th May)
31st March (or 30th March)
21st April (or 20th April)
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The Indian National Calendar, based on the Saka Era, was adopted in 1957. Its civil year starts on Chaitra 1. In a normal year with 365 days, Chaitra 1 of the Saka Calendar falls on the 22nd of March in the Gregorian calendar. In a Gregorian leap year, Chaitra 1 falls on the 21st of March. The option correctly provides both possibilities.
– The Indian National Calendar uses the Saka Era, with the epoch year being 78 CE.
– The calendar was adopted on March 22, 1957 (which was Chaitra 1, 1879 Saka).
– The months follow the tropical zodiac.
– The starting day of the year (Chaitra 1) aligns closely with the vernal equinox.
The Saka Calendar is used alongside the Gregorian calendar in official contexts in India, such as in the Gazette of India, news broadcasts by All India Radio, and calendars issued by the Government of India.

29. With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following st

With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:

  • 1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
  • 2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
  • 3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Statements 1 and 2 regarding Sattriya dance are correct. Sattriya is recognized as one of the classical dance forms of India, originating in the Sattras (monasteries) of Assam. It is a holistic art form combining music, dance, and elements of drama, part of the Vaishnavite Bhakti movement initiated by Srimanta Sankardeva in the 15th century. Statement 3 is incorrect because the devotional songs used in Sattriya are primarily compositions by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavadeva, not Tulsidas, Kabir, or Mirabai, who belong to different devotional traditions and regions.
– Sattriya is a major classical dance form of India from Assam.
– It combines dance (Nritta), expressional dance (Nritya), and dramatic elements (Natya).
– It developed within the Vaishnavite monasteries (Sattras) founded by Srimanta Sankardeva.
– The musical compositions (Borgeet) and plays (Ankia Naats) form the basis of its repertoire.
Sattriya was recognized as a classical dance form by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000. It has two main streams: Gayan-Bhayanar Nach (suited for males) and Kewaliyar Nach (suited for females), though both are now performed by all genders.

30. Consider the following diseases : 1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. S

Consider the following diseases :

  • 1. Diphtheria
  • 2. Chickenpox
  • 3. Smallpox

Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?

1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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The correct answer is B.
Smallpox (3) is a viral disease that was officially declared eradicated globally by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980. India was declared smallpox-free in 1977 following extensive vaccination campaigns. Diphtheria (1) and Chickenpox (2) are both vaccine-preventable diseases but have not been eradicated in India or globally; cases still occur.
Eradication means the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts. Global eradication is extremely difficult and has only been achieved for smallpox. Polio is targeted for global eradication and its incidence has been drastically reduced.
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