14th February 2014 IAS PCS Questions of the Day

Question 1. Consider the following statements regarding Mathura School of Sculpture

1. Mathura sculpture was made of fine red sandstone.

2. The three important aspect i.e., plasticity of modelling, sensitivity of the plastic surface and drapery are represented rather crudely in the Mathura style.

3. The earliest dated example of Gupta sculpture, so far known, belongs to the Mathura style.

4. It represents the phase of transition from the Kushinara idiom to the Sarnath idiom.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 3 and 4

(c) 1,2 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 1. (a) The Jina Image and Indigenous style of Buddha’s image was a remarkable feature of Mathura art. In Mathura school, there is boldness in carving the large images. It is made of red sandstone. Buddha was depicted as Human. It is noted for its vitality and assimilative character. Mathura arts reached its peak during the Gupta period.

Question 2. Consider the following statement about Swavalamban Yojana

1. NPS Swavalamban Model is designed to ensure ultra administrative and transactional costs, so as to make small investments viable.

2. It is open to eligible citizens of India, in the age group of 40-60 years.

3. Subscriber is free to choose the amount he/she wants to invest every year.

4. It is regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authorities (PFRDA).

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1,2 and 4

(b) 1,3 and 4

(c) 2 and 3

(d) All of these

Solution 2. (b) The scheme is open to eligible citizens of India, in the age group of 18-60 years. Subscriber is free to choose the amount he/she wants to invest every year. Eligible individuals in the unorganized sector can open an account through their aggregator and get an individual subscriber (NPS-Swavalamban) Account. It is regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA), with transparent investment norms, regular monitoring and performance review of fund managers by NPS Trust. Ultra-low cost structure with no minimum amount required per annum or per contribution.

 Question 3. Consider the following statements

1. Haemophilia is a sex-linked recessive disease

2. Down’s syndrome is due to aneuploidy.

3. Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive gene disorder.

4. Phenylketonuria is an autosomal dominant gene disorder.

5. Sickle cell anaemia is an X-linked recessive gene disorder.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 1,3 and 5

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 5

(d) 1,2,3 and 5

Solution 3. (d) Haemophilia or Bleeder’s disease is a sex-linked (X-linked recessive) disease. It is a rare human blood disorder, in which blood clotting is deficient, resulting in severe bleeding internally and externally. The condition is due to lack of fibrin in the blood and is controlled by two closely linked genes on the different clotting factors.

Down’s syndrome is caused due to trisomy of chromosome 21 (i.e., Hyperploidy type of aneuploidy). It is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosome instead of the usual 46. Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive gene disorder. It is caused by the absence or deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase which results in the accumulation of phenylalanine in all body fluids.

Sickle cell anaemia in humans, is also inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. It is caused by a change in a single base pair or DNA. It is a genetic disease reported from Negroes. In sickle cell anaemia haemoglobin the glutamic acid in β chain is replaced by valine. The individuals of sickle cell anaemia are immune to malaria.

Question 4. Which of the following statement regarding the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is incorrect?

(a) The Vice-President of India is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha

(b) The Chairman is not a member of Rajya Sabha unlike the Speaker of Lok Sabha, who is a member of Lok Sabha

(c) The Chairman does not have a casting vote in case of equality of votes

(d) The Chairman is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament unlike the Speaker of Lok Sabha

Solution 4. (c) Statement (a) is correct, since the Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Statement (b) is also correct, since the Vice President cannot be a member or either House at his election. Statement (c) is incorrect, since the power of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha in respect of procedure in the House is almost identical to those of the Speaker, including the power of casting vote.

Statement (d) is correct, since the electoral college for the election of Vice President consists of the members of both Houses of Parliament, whereas the Speaker is elected only by members of Lok Sabha. Thus, the correct answer is (c).

Question 5. Which of the following statement regarding the power of the courts to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights are incorrect?

1. Power of High Courts to issue writs is broader than the power of Supreme Court.

2. The Writ of Certiorari are available not only against judicial bodies, but also administrative bodies.

3. Courts other than Supreme Court and High Court can also be empowered to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

4. Normally, to enforce the fundamental Rights, citizens have to first go to the High Court available to them.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 and 3

(b) 1,3 and 4

(c) 2 and 4

(d) None of these

Solution 5. (d) Statement 1 is correct, while the Supreme Court has powers to issue writs for the enforcement of only Fundamental Rights of Part III, the High Courts can issue writs for both Fundamental Rights and constitutional rights outside Part III. Statement 2 is also correct. Certiorari is issued to a body, which has acted in excess of jurisdiction or acted without jurisdiction.

Question 6. Which of the following statement is/are true about BSE Carbonex, the first-of-its-kind index in India or any emerging market that would track the performance of companies in terms of their commitment to reduce emission of greenhouse gases?

1.Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), in collaboration with the Government of USA, had launched BSE Carbonex.

2. It has been launched with the aim of creating a benchmark and increasing the awareness about the risks posed by the climate change.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) None of these

Solution 6. (b) BSE, in collaboration with the UK Government, had launched BSE Carbonex.

Question 7. Consider the following statement regarding the Indian Economy

1. Balance of Payment (BoP) is a sum total of balance of trade, factor income, cash transfer and invisibles.

2. India is having a current account surplus.

3. When Indian currency depreciates against US dollar, the current account deficit of the country increases.

4. When money(rupee) depreciate against the US dollar, the export sector benefits.

Which of the statement given above are correct?

(a) 3 and 4

(b) 1,3 and 4

(c) 1,2 and 4

(d) 2 and 3

Solution 7. (a) Statement 1 is the definition for current account. BoP includes both current account and capital accounts, statements 3 and 4 are correct, because when Indian currency depreciate against US dollar, the exporters who will get money in foreign currency benefits, because of large return in terms of rupee. But, the importers need large amount rupee to buy foreign currencies. So, it is a negative one for them. India is always having a current account deficit.

Question 8. Which of the following statement regarding the election of the President is incorrect?

(a) Elected members of Legislative Councils of States also participate in the election

(b) The total value of the votes of all the Members of Parliament is half the total value of votes

(c) Even if there are more than two candidates, the successful candidate requires to win by getting an absolute majority

(d) If the Legislative Assembly of a State is dissolved during the election, then the members of that assembly do not participate in the presidential election

Solution 8. (a) Statement (a) is incorrect. The electoral college for the election of the President is made up of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, elected Members of Legislative Assemblies of the State and elected Members of Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry. The total value of MPs votes is composed equality of the total value of the MLAs. Thus, Statement (b) is correct.

The system of election of the President is proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Here, votes keep getting recounted based on the order of preference marked on the votes until a candidate gets a majority of the votes. Thus, statement (c) is also correct, Statement (d) is also correct and members of a dissolved Legislative Assembly are not qualified to vote in a presidential election. Thus, the right answer is (a).

Question 9. Consider the following statement with reference to different kinds of fibers

1. Jute fiber is obtained from the leaves of the jute plant.

2. Wool is also obtained from the hair of rabbits, yak and camels.

3. Silk fiber is drawn from the cocoon of silkworm.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3

(d) Only 3

Solution 9. (b) Jute fiber is obtained from the stem of the jute plant. The other statements are correct. Wool is also obtained from the hair of rabbits, yak and camels. Silk fiber is drawn from the cocoon of silkworm.

Question 10. Consider the following statements and identify the incorrect one about the functions of cooperative banks

(a) Cooperative banks are organized and managed on the principle of cooperation, self-help and mutual help

(b) They does not perform all the main banking functions of deposit, mobilization etc

(c) Cooperative banks are the first government sponsored, government supported and government subsidised financial agency in India

(d) They are subject to CRR and SLR requirements as other banks

Solution 10. (b) Cooperative banks also perform all the main banking functions of deposit, mobilization, supply of credit and provision of remittances facilities. They function with the rule of ‘one member, one vote’ and on ‘no profit no loss’ basis.