Day 55 - 10 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Day 55 - 10 Jan - UPSC Prelim English Quiz Solution

Based on UPSC Syllabus and Current Affairs

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Q 1. Union cabinet had approved construction of an additional 6.5 million tonnes of strategic crude oil reserves. Strategic crude oil reserves is/are located in which of the following places?

1. Visakhapatnam

2. Mangaluru

3. Padur

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Union cabinet recently approved construction of an additional 6.5 million tonnes (mt) of strategic crude oil reserves, as part of India’s evolving energy security architecture.Combined with an existing storage capacity of 5.3mt, the new strategic petroleum reserve facilities will help support 22 days of India’s crude oil requirements.

Strategic crude oil reserves, which are state-funded and meant to tackle emergency situations, allow a country to counter short-term supply disruptions. International Energy Agency (IEA) members maintain emergency oil reserves equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports

India’s strategic crude oil storages are currently located at Visakhapatnam (1.33mt), Mangaluru (1.5 mt) and Padur (2.5mt). The additional strategic petroleum reserve facilities at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka) will be underground rock caverns and will have capacities of 4mt and 2.5mt, respectively.

Q 2. Consider the following passage: 'An ordinance has been re-promulgated thrice and is slated to be cleared by the Cabinet for re-promulgation for the fourth time. However owing to exceptional circumstances, the Prime Minister seeks to re-promulgate the ordinance directly by the President without prior clearance by the Cabinet.' Which of the following statement is correct regarding the above passage?

a) The ordinance will be returned by the President for reconsideration.
b) The ordinance may be promulgated by the President.
c) The ordinance will be rejected by the President.
d) None of the above
Solution:   b Explaination   

The cabinet is a smaller body consisting of 15-20 ministers. It includes Cabinet Ministers only. In practice, it exercises the powers of the Council of Ministers and involved in mostly all the major policy decision.

Some of the major cases which are brought before the Cabinet as per business and transaction rules include -

Cases involving legislation including the issue of Ordinances.

Addresses and messages of the President to Houses of Parliament.

Proposals to summon or prorogue the Houses of Parliament or dissolve the House of the People.

Cases involving negotiations with foreign and Commonwealth countries on treaties, agreements and other important matters.

Ordinance promulgation by the President requires prior consideration by the Cabinet. However, under Rule 12 of the business and transactions rules, the Prime Minister may permit or condone a departure from these rules, to the extent he deems necessary.

Hence, the Prime Minister can seek re-promulgation of the ordinance by the President prior to the clearance by the Cabinet. Consequently, the President may promulgate the Ordinance.

Q 3. Which of the following are within the purview of original jurisdiction of High Court?

1. Disputes relating to the election of members of Parliament and state legislatures.

2. Enforcement of fundamental rights of citizens.

3. Criminal cases.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Disputes relating to the election of members of Parliament and state legislatures.Hence statement 1 is correct.

Enforcement of fundamental rights of citizens. Hence statement 2 is correct.

The four high courts (i.e., Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, and Delhi High Courts) have original civil jurisdiction in cases of higher value. Criminal Jurisdiction: Before 1973, the Calcutta, Bombay and Madras High Courts had original criminal jurisdiction. However, this was abolished by the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

High court enjoys the following jurisdiction and powers: 1. Original jurisdiction. 2. Writ jurisdiction. 3. Appellate jurisdiction. 4. Supervisory jurisdiction. 5. Control over subordinate courts. 6. A court of record. 7. Power of judicial review. The present jurisdiction and powers of a high court are governed by (a) the constitutional provisions, (b) the Letters Patent, (c) the Acts of Parliament, (d) the Acts of State Legislature, (e) Indian Penal Code, 1860, (f) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, and (g) Civil Procedure Code, 1908

Q 4. Which of the following were the recommendations of Gadgil Committee on Western Ghats?

1. It proposed that entire Western Ghats area be designated as ecologically sensitive area (ESA).It proposed that entire Western Ghats area be designated as ecologically sensitive area (ESA).

2. Within this area, smaller regions were to be identified as ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) I, II or III based on their existing condition and nature of threat.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:   c   

It defined the boundaries of the Western Ghats for the purposes of ecological management. It proposed that this entire area be designated as ecologically sensitive area (ESA).

Within this area, smaller regions were to be identified as ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) I, II or III based on their existing condition and nature of threat.

It proposed to divide the area into about 2,200 grids, of which 75 per cent would fall under ESZ I or II or under already existing protected areas such as wildlife sanctuaries or natural parks.

The committee proposed a Western Ghats Ecology Authority to regulate these activities in the area.

Q 5. When a member of the House of Parliament cannot subscribe to an Oath or Affirmation then

a) he can participate in the proceedings of the House but can not vote.
b) he is automatically disqualified from the membership of the House.
c) he can neither vote nor participate in the proceedings of the House.
d) he is liable to a penalty of Rs 5000 for each day sits in the House.
Solution:   c Explaination   

Every member of either House of Parliament, before taking his seat in the House, has to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the President or some person appointed by him for this purpose. In his oath or affirmation, a member of Parliament swears:

to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;

to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India;

to faithfully discharge the duty upon which he is about to enter.

Unless a member takes the oath, he cannot vote and participate in the proceedings of the House and does not become eligible to parliamentary privileges and immunities. Apart from this, if member is not subscribe to oath, he/she is liable to a penalty of Rs 500 for each day he sits or votes as a member in a House. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Q 6. Consider the following statements about Indian Bridge Management System(IBMS):

1. IBMS is the second largest platform in the world owned by a single owner.

2. Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number is given which will decide the importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity of the area in its vicinity.

3. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inventorized bridges/structures under Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS).

Select the correct code:

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

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inventorized 1,72,517 bridges/structures under Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS). IBMS is the largest platform in the world owned by a single owner, with database that could exceed 1,50,000 bridge structures.

2. In addition to the structural rating, the bridges are also being assigned Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number which will decide the importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity of the area in its vicinity.

Q 7. GAFA tax recently seen in news is related to

a) Tax on large technology and internet companies
b) Tax on Renewable energy products
c) Tax on new start-ups with annual turn-over of more than 1 crore
d) None of the above
Solution:   a   

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire announced the introduction of a GAFA tax—named after Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon—on large technology and internet companies in France from 1 January 2019. The French proposal is set to target only those profitable companies that have heavy annual global revenue.

The rationale behind devising a separate framework to tax online service providers is this: existing tax norms that are framed envisaging brick and mortar business models are not suitable to regulate online services. This is because the digital economy is characterized by a unique system of value creation resulting from a combination of factors such as sales functions, algorithms and personal information of users.

Q 8. Khushi Scheme to provide free sanitary napkins to school girls across the state is of which state?

a) Haryana
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Odisha
Solution:   d   

As part of its initiatives to empower women, the Odisha government, last year, launched this scheme to provide free sanitary napkins to school girls across the state.