Human Development

The Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) is a virtual repository or digital storehouse that contains the academic credits earned by students from recognized Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As envisioned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ABC facilitates the transfer and redemption of these credits across different HEIs, allowing students flexibility in their educational pathways.

– ABC is a credit transfer mechanism.
– It stores credits earned from registered HEIs.
– It allows redemption and transfer of credits between HEIs.
– Part of NEP 2020’s push for flexible learning.

ABC was formally launched by the UGC in July 2021. It is managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The aim is to promote multidisciplinary education and provide students with the option to combine credits from different institutions and disciplines, thereby creating their own degree or certificate program.

52. KAYAKALP awards are given annually by the Ministry of:

KAYAKALP awards are given annually by the Ministry of:

Education

Home Affairs

Health and Family Welfare

Information and Broadcasting

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

KAYAKALP awards are given annually by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

KAYAKALP is an initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control practices in public health facilities in India.

Launched in 2015, the scheme aims to recognize and felicitate public health facilities that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control activities, thereby improving the quality of care and patient satisfaction.

53. According to a UN Report, which one of the following countries has the

According to a UN Report, which one of the following countries has the highest number of living indigenous languages in the world?

India

Papua New Guinea

South Sudan

Fiji

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

According to various linguistic surveys and reports, including those from the UN (UNESCO), Papua New Guinea is widely recognized as the country with the highest number of living indigenous languages in the world. Its geographic and cultural diversity has led to the development and maintenance of a vast number of distinct language groups.

Papua New Guinea is known for having the world’s highest linguistic diversity, hosting a large number of indigenous languages.

Estimates vary, but Papua New Guinea is home to over 800 distinct living languages, representing about 12% of the world’s total. The International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019 highlighted the importance of preserving linguistic diversity globally.

54. The Justice J S Verma Committee was constituted in 2012 to propose leg

The Justice J S Verma Committee was constituted in 2012 to propose legal reforms regarding the safety of which of the following sections of Indian society?

Dalits and Backward castes

Women

Religious minorities

Children

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

The Justice J S Verma Committee was constituted in 2012 to propose legal reforms regarding the safety of women.

The committee was formed in the backdrop of the horrific Nirbhaya gang-rape incident in Delhi in December 2012.

The committee submitted its report in early 2013, recommending significant changes to laws related to sexual assault and violence against women. Many of its recommendations were incorporated into the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.

55. Which one of the following statements is correct about NISHTHA, a Gove

Which one of the following statements is correct about NISHTHA, a Government of India initiative ?

It is a training module recently introduced in LBSNAA for civil servants.

It is a teacher-training programme.

It is a training programme for the new recruits in Delhi Police to inculcate integrity of service among them.

It is a workshop for newly elected Members of Parliament organized routinely by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2024

NISHTHA stands for National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement. It is a flagship program of the Ministry of Education aimed at capacity building of teachers and school principals at the elementary level and subsequently expanded to other levels.

NISHTHA is focused on improving the quality of teaching through comprehensive teacher training.

The program aims to train teachers on various aspects including pedagogical skills, learning outcomes, school-based assessment, health and well-being, inclusive education, and the integration of ICT in teaching and learning.

56. Which one of the following statements about Mission Indradhanush, laun

Which one of the following statements about Mission Indradhanush, launched by the Government of India in 2014, is correct ?

It relates to provision for Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services.

It meets the diverse health needs of adolescents.

It aims to increase the full immunisation coverage for children.

Its objective is to achieve universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare services.

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

Mission Indradhanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in December 2014. Its primary aim is to increase the full immunization coverage of children and pregnant women against seven vaccine-preventable diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and Hepatitis B). It focuses on increasing coverage in areas with low immunization rates.

– The mission targets partial or unvaccinated children and pregnant women.
– It uses a systematic approach involving special immunization drives in identified areas.
– Subsequent phases and intensifications (e.g., Intensified Mission Indradhanush) have been launched to accelerate progress.

Option A describes the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). Option B describes the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). Option D is a broad statement related to universal health coverage, which is a larger goal reflected in policies like the National Health Policy, but not the specific defined objective of Mission Indradhanush.

57. SWAYAM is

SWAYAM is

a network that aims to tap the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs towards global excellence

a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) initiative on a national platform

an empowerment scheme for advancing the participation of girls in education

a scheme that supports differently abled children to pursue technical education

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2018

SWAYAM stands for Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds. It is a national initiative by the Government of India designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy: access, equity, and quality. The objective is to take the best teaching-learning resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. SWAYAM hosts Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), covering school level (9th to 12th) to post-graduation level across various disciplines.

– SWAYAM is a Government of India initiative for online education.
– It stands for Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds.
– It is a platform for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

SWAYAM is developed and maintained by the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) and National Co-ordinators like UGC, AICTE, NPTEL, etc., who offer courses through the platform. It provides courses in various subjects from different universities and institutions across India.

58. Infant mortality ratio of which one of the following countries is comp

Infant mortality ratio of which one of the following countries is comparable to that of India ?

China

United States of America

Sri Lanka

None of the above

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2022

None of the above.

Based on available data from international organizations (like World Bank, UNICEF) over the past few decades, India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has been significantly higher than that of China, the United States of America, and Sri Lanka. While India has made considerable progress in reducing its IMR, the rates in these other countries have been consistently lower. Therefore, the IMR of these countries is not comparable to India’s in terms of being close in value.

Infant Mortality Rate is the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. It is a key indicator of a country’s health status, socioeconomic conditions, and quality of healthcare. Countries like Sri Lanka have historically performed much better than India in terms of social indicators like IMR, despite similar levels of economic development in earlier periods.

59. The Shompens are the vulnerable tribal group of

The Shompens are the vulnerable tribal group of

Jharkhand

Odisha

West Bengal

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2019

The correct answer is D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Shompens are a vulnerable tribal group who are indigenous to the Great Nicobar Island, which is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India.

The Shompens are one of the six Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, others being Jarawas, Onge, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, and Nicobarese (though Nicobarese is not always listed as PVTG). They inhabit the interior of Great Nicobar Island, maintaining a traditional lifestyle largely dependent on hunting and gathering.

60. Which Indian social theorist had argued that the idea of a homogenized

Which Indian social theorist had argued that the idea of a homogenized Hinduism was constructed through the ‘cultural arrogance’ of post-enlightenment Europe?

Ashis Nandy

Partha Chatterjee

T. K. Oommen

Rajni Kothari

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2019

Ashis Nandy is the Indian social theorist who has argued that the idea of a homogenized Hinduism was constructed through the ‘cultural arrogance’ of post-Enlightenment Europe.

Ashis Nandy’s work critically examines the impact of colonialism and Western categories on Indian identity and culture. He argues that the colonial gaze and the post-Enlightenment Western framework of understanding religion as a unified, systematic entity contributed to the redefinition and homogenization of the diverse practices, beliefs, and traditions known as Hinduism into a single, uniform religion.

Nandy suggests that this homogenization served colonial administrative purposes and also influenced Indian nationalist thought, leading to the adoption of a more unified identity that did not fully reflect the historical and regional diversity of religious practices in India. Partha Chatterjee has written on colonial power, nationalism, and civil society, T. K. Oommen on social movements, identity, and religion, and Rajni Kothari on Indian politics and democracy, but Nandy is particularly known for this specific critique regarding the colonial construction of categories like Hinduism.