Day 47- 2 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Day 47- 2 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Based on UPSC Syllabus and Current Affairs

                      Next Quiz will be uploaded tomorrow @10:00 AM . Join us on https://t.me/kk_upsc for all important notifications

Q 1. Which of the following institutions is regarded as the 'balancing wheel' of fiscal federalism in India?

a) Comptroller and Auditor General of India
b) Estimates Committee
c) NITI Aayog
d) Finance Commission
Solution:   d Explaination   

The Constitution of India envisages the Finance commission as the balancing wheel of fiscal federalism in India. However, its role in the Centre–state fiscal relations was undermined by the emergence of the erstwhile Planning Commission, a non-constitutional and a non-statutory body. Dr P V Rajamannar, the Chairman of the Fourth Finance commission, highlighted the overlapping of functions and responsibilities between the Finance Commission and the erstwhile Planning Commission in federal fiscal transfers.

Q 2. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 led to:

1. Transfer of subject of 'local government' from Union List to State List.

2. Addition of Part-IX to the Constitution of India.

3. Addition of Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:   b Explaination   

Statement 1 is not correct: The subject of 'local government' was placed as item 5 under the State list since the inception of the Constitution of India. No transfer has ever taken place.

Statement 2 is not correct: 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 added Part-IX to the Constitution of India. This part is entitled as ‘The Panchayats’ and consists of provisions from Articles 243 to 243 O. While the 74th Amendment Act of 1992 added a new Part IX-A to the Constitution of India. This part is entitled as ‘The Municipalities’ and consists of provisions from Articles 243- P to 243-ZG.

Statement 3 is correct: The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 also added a new Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution. This schedule contains 29 functional items of the panchayats. It deals with Article 243-G. While the 74th Amendment Act of 1992 added a new Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution. This schedule contains eighteen functional items of municipalities. It deals with Article 243-W.

Q 3. India's first robotic telescope – Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH)-India has been setup in

a) Hyderabad
b) Guwahati
c) Ladakh
d) Shimla
Solution:   c Explaination   

Recently, India’s first robotic telescope – Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen(GROWTH)-India, began its operation at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanule in Ladakh.

GROWTH-India is a fully robotic telescope which has been funded by the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology. It is a 70cm telescope and the primary objective of the project is the time domain astronomy.

Q 4. With reference to the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, consider the following statements

1. He is appointed by the Chairman of the house as the administrative head of the secretariat.

2. He holds the rank equivalent to the Cabinet Secretary.

3. Recently, the first woman secretary general of Rajya Sabha was appointed.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:   a   

Each House of Parliament has its separate Secretariat which functions under the direction and control of its Presiding Officer. The SecretaryGeneral, Rajya Sabha, functions as the head of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and advisor to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. As the head of the Secretariat, he is expected to be conversant with all matters that have a reference to the Rajya Sabha and its business; whether they relate to some constitutional issue or some procedure that should be followed in a given situation. He is chose and appointed by the chairman Rajya Sabha. Hence statement 1 is correct.

In the beginning, the post of Secretary, equivalent to the Secretary to Government of India, was created for Rajya Sabha in 1952.1 It was re-designated as Secretary-General on 15 November 1973, but continued to remain equivalent to the post of Secretary to Government of India. On 23 May 1990, on the recommendation of the Committee of Parliament appointed by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, and Speaker, Lok Sabha, the pay scale, position and status of the post of Secretary-General was made equivalent to that of the post of the Cabinet Secretary in the Government of India. Hence statement 2 is correct.

In November 2017, Smt. Snehlata Shrivastava was appointed as the new Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. She will be the first woman secretary general of the Lok Sabha. Rama Devi holds the distinction of the being the first woman secretary general of the Rajya Sabha. Ramadevi was the first (and to date, only) woman to serve as Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, from 1 July 1993 to 25 September 1997. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 5. Kerch Strait sometimes in news is located between:

a) Black Sea and Aegean Sea
b) Black Sea and Sea of Azov
c) Sea of Marmara and Aegean Sea
d) Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea
Solution:   b Explaination   

The Kerch Strait is a strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea in the west from the Taman Peninsula of Russia’s Krasnodar Krai in the east.

Q 6. Delhi Dialogue, an annual event seen in news is related to

a) BIMSTEC
b) SAARC
c) BRICS
d) ASEAN
Solution:   d   

Delhi Dialogue is premier annual event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

10th edition of the Delhi Dialogue was held in New Delhi in July 2018.

Q 7. Behdiengkhlam festival is the most popular festival of which tribal group?

a) Jaintia
b) Bhutia
c) Chakma
d) Lepchas
Solution:   a    Times of India

Most popular festival of the Jaintia tribe, Behdienkhlam is celebrated in the month of July for good health, property and bumper harvest.

Q 8. Applications of NAVIC include:

1. Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation

2. Disaster Management

3. Mapping and Geodetic data capture

4. Visual and voice navigation for drivers

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2 and 3 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Solution:   d   

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC (NAVigation with Indian Constellation), is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.

NAVIC applications include:

1. Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation.

2. Disaster Management.

3. Vehicle tracking and fleet management.

4. Integration with mobile phones.

5. Precise Timing.

6. Mapping and Geodetic data capture.

7. Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travelers.

8. Visual and voice navigation for drivers.