13th February 2014 IAS PCS Questions of the Day

Question 1. Consider the following statements related to the contempt powers of the Supreme Court

1. Supreme Court gets contempt powers by reason of its being a court of record.

2. Willful disobedience of a Supreme Court judgement is considered as criminal contempt.

3. Supreme Court can also take action against contempt of High Courts and District Courts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) Only 3

(d) All of these

Solution 1. (b) Contempt powers of a court are derived on the basis of its being a court of record. Court of record means that the proceedings of a court are recorded and can be used as evidence in any court, the court gets to set its own jurisdiction and the court can punish for contempt of itself. Thus Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect of because willful disobedience of a Supreme Court judgment is considered as a civil contempt. Criminal contempt consists of scandalizing the court, interfering with the court or obstructing the administration of justice through the court. Supreme Court can also take note of the contempt of the High Court and District Court. Thus, Statement 3 is also correct and the right answer.

Question 2. Consider the following statement regarding threat perspective of IUCN

1. A species is critically endangered when probability of extension of 50% of population in 10 years or 3rd generation

2. A species is vulnerable when the probability of extension of 10% in 100 years.

3. Near threatened species are those which are close to qualifying for vulnerable.

4. A species is endangered when the probability of extension of 20% in 20 years or 5th generation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2,3 and 4

(d) All of these

Solution 2. (d) A species is critically endangered when probability of extension of 50% population in 10 years or 3rd generation. A species is endangered, when the probability of extension of 20% population in 20 years or 3rd generation.

Question 3. Consider the following statements regarding of the Indigo Revolt (1859-60)

1. There was a complete unity among Hindu and Muslim peasants.

2. Hem Chandra Kar was one of the prominent leaders of the rebellious ryots.

3. The rebellious ryots maintained a great organization and discipline.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 2 and 3

(d) All of these

Question 3.(b) It was a result of both the major religious group of farmers in Bengal, notably a farmer. Haji Maulla of Nischindipur said that he would rather beg than sow indigo. The farmers were in no possession of any type of arms. Hem Chandra Kar was one of the prominent leaders of the rebellious ryots.

Question 4. Examine the following statements regarding the constitutional developments in India during the rule of the British Crown

1. Direct elections were introduced in India for the first time through the Indian Councils Act of 1909.

2. Separate electorate for Muslim members were introduced for the first time through the Government of India Act of 1919.

3. Dyarchy was introduced in India through Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.

4. The separate of legislative powers into Union, State, Concurrent and Residuary powers was first introduced in the Government of India Act of 1935.

5. Government of India Act introduced bicameralism for the first time in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1935.

Which of the statements given above are incorrect?

(a) 1,2 and 5

(b) 2 and 4

(c) 3 and 4

(d) 3,4 and 5

Solution 4. (a) Statement 1 is incorrect, because direct elections were introduced for the first time through the Government of India Act of 1919 only. Statement 2 is also incorrect because separate electorate or communal electorate were introduced through the Indian Councils Act of 1909. Statement 3 is correct, as the system of Dyarchy or the division of provincial legislative subjects into reserved list and transferred list was done by the Government of India Act, 1919, which is also known as Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.

Statement 4 is also correct and the present system of division of legislative subjects in independent India was first introduced through the Government of India Act of 1935 with the difference that before independence the residuary powers were with the Viceroy, while after independence the residuary powers are with the Union Parliament Statement 5 is incorrect as bicameralism in the Central Legislative Assembly was first introduced through the Government of India of Act of 1919.

Question 5. Consider the following statements regarding the Round Table Conferences (1930-32)

1. The Indian National Congress boycotted the First Round Table Conference.

2. Gandhiji attended the Second Round Table Conference.

3. After the Second Round Table Conference, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed.

4. Communal Award is associated with the Round Table Conferences.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1,3 and 4

(c) 1,2 and 4

(d) 2,3 and 4

Solution 5. (c) Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Sir Muhammad Shafi attended the First Round Table Conference but not as representatives of India National Congress as the Congress boycotted the first Round Table Conference.

Question 6.With reference to the Swadeshi Movement during the Indian freedom struggle, which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) The theme song of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal, was Rabindranath’s  Amar Sonar Bangla

(b) Syed Haider Raza led the Swadeshi Movement in Delhi

(c) The Ganapati and Shivaji festivals became a medium of propaganda in Bengal too

(d) The Surat split of the Congress in 1907, weakened the Swadeshi Movement

Solution 6. (c) The Ganapati and Shivaji festivals never became a medium of propaganda in Bengal too. They were limited to Bombay only.

Question 7. Drought is a situation occurring in any when the mean annual rainfall is less than 75% of the normal rainfall. In this regard, which of the following concept/terms is/are not correct?

1. Meteorological drought is a situation where there is a reduction in rainfall for a specific period below a specific amount.

2. Hydrological drought is associated with reduction of water.

3. Agricultural drought is concerned with the impact of meteorological/hydrological drought on crop yield. 

4. Soil moisture drought is a situation of inadequate soil moisture particularly in rainfed area which may not support crop growth.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 2 and 4 

(c) 1,2 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 7. (d) All statement are correct so the answer is (d). The Indian Meteorological Department has defined drought: as a situation occurring in any area when the mean annual rainfall is less than 75% of the normal rainfall. IMD further classified droughts, into the broad categories e.g., hydrological drought, agricultural drought, soil moisture drought, socio-economic drought, famine and ecological drought.

Question 8. Which of the following statements comparing the powers of the state legislative assembly with the legislative council (where they exist) is/are correct?

1. In case of passage of ordinary bills, the council has a equal position with the assembly.

2. Constitution Amendment Bills, which require ratification by half the states, need to be passed by both the assembly and the council.

3. Resolution to abolish the council in a State Legislative has to be passed by both the assembly and the council.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 and 2 

(b) Only 2 

(c) 2 and 3

(d) None of these

Solution 8. (d) Statement 1 is incorrect, because the council does not have equal powers to the assembly with respect to passage of Ordinary Bills. The assembly can pass any Ordinary Bill, it desires and the council even if it disagrees, it can at last only delay the Bill for some time. Statement 2 is also incorrect. The Constitution does not have any clear provision in regard to the ratification of Constitution Amendment Bills by a State Legislature having two Houses.

However, the accepted position is that just like in case of Ordinary Bills, if the council disagrees with the assembly, on the question of ratifying the Constitutional Amendment. The assembly can over-rule the council by ratifying the amendment once again. Resolution to abolish the Legislative Council of a State, has to be passed only by the state Assembly and presented to Parliament for giving effect to it. Thus, Statement 3 is also incorrect and the right answer is (d).

Question 9. Consider the following statement about gold

1. It is found in the form of quartz.

2. Auric chloride is an antidote for snake poisoning.

3. Rold gold contains about 10% gold, but fools gold contains 0% gold.

4. Colloidal gold is called purple of cassius.

Which  of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 2 and 4

(d) All of these

Solution 9. (c) Gold is found in free (native) as well as in combined state. It is also found in the form of quartz. It is reactive that’s why found in native state. Colloidal gold is also known as purple of cassius.

Auric choride, a compound of gold is used as antidote for snake poisoning. Rold gold is also called artificial gold due to its gold like appearance. It is actually a mixture of 90% Cu and 10% aluminium. Fools gold is actually iron pyrite (FeS), which also does not have gold.

Question 10. Consider the following statement about the objectives of National Knowledge Network (NKN) 

1. It is a network grid, by Government of India, to provide high speed internet connectivity among the governmental, educational and research institutes, IITs and IIMs etc.

2. Establishing connectivity for knowledge and information sharing.

3. Enabling collaborative research in emerging areas such as climate modelling.

4. Facilitating distance education in specialized fields such as medicine, emerging high tech areas covering info-bio-nano technology.

5. Facilitating an ultra high speed e-governance backbone for information sharing.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2,3 and 4

(c) 1,4 and 5

(d) All of these

Solution 10. (d) The government decision to set-up National Knowledge Network (NKN) has brought a network grid to provide high speed internet connectivity among the governmental educational and research institutes. Government has approved the scheme in 2010 for establishing connection for knowledge and information sharing enabling collaborative research in emerging areas. It facilities the distance education is specialized fields such as medicine emerging high-tech areas. It also facilities on ultra high speed e-governance backbone for information sharing. the NKN will enable scientists researchers and students from different backgrounds and diverse geographies to work closely.