Day 5

• 24 Jul 2020

Welcome to the Prelims Refresher Programme 2020 - Article Page. On this page, we will provide you with 3 things:

• A list of topics for revision.
• A brief discussion of the topics if needed.
• Links to various sources for preparing these topics.

In the comments, you can ask us to clear your doubts regarding any of the topics listed on the page. We will do our best to explain and clarify your doubts. Further, we may also share links to other web based learning sources like websites or videos, or may refer to you, books, documents etc. Please be cordial to your fellow aspirants and use these doubt-clearing conversations strictly to its stated purpose.

Schedules in Indian Constitution

This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the Ninth Schedule and Anti-Defection law. Apart from it, many questions have been asked on aspects related to this topic. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• List of All Schedules in Indian Constitution
• Indepth- 6^th Schedule & ILP
• Inclusion of Reservation Laws in Ninth Schedule
• Challenge to Anti Defection Law
• Speaker and Anti-Defection Law
• Xaxa Committee on Tribal Communities of India

Previous Year Questions on Schedules in Indian Constitution

Q. The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of: (2019)

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru

(b) Lal Bahadur Shastri

(c) Indira Gandhi

(d) Morarji Desai

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Q. Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void? (2019)

(a) Third Schedule

(b) Fifth Schedule

(c) Ninth Schedule

(d) Twelfth Schedule

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Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
2. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Q. Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection? (2014)

(a) Second Schedule

(b) Fifth Schedule

(c) Eighth Schedule

(d) Tenth Schedule

Federalism

Every year several questions have been asked from the topic of federalism and issues arising out of it. Also, due to the J&K bifurcation and extension given to the 15^th finance commission, this topic becomes very important for this year’s prelims. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• Challenges For Federal Structure
• Challenges to the Federal Structure of the Indian Union
• Redesigning India's Fiscal Federalism
• Rise of Regional Parties In India
• Cooperative and Competitive Federalism in India

Previous Year Questions on Federalism

Q. Which one of the following is not a feature of Indian federalism? (2017)

(a) There is an independent judiciary in India.

(b) Powers have been clearly divided between the Centre and the States.

(c) The federating units have been given unequal representation in the Rajya Sabha.

(d) It is the result of an agreement among the federating units.

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Q. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in: (2017)

(a) Federalism

(b) Democratic decentralisation

(c) Administrative delegation

(d) Direct democracy

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Q. Consider the following statements: (2013)

1. An amendment to the Constitution of India can be initiated by an introduction of a bill in the Lok Sabha only.
2. If such an amendment seeks to make changes in the federal character of the Constitution, the amendment also requires to be ratified by the legislature of all the States of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Major Rivers in India and their tributaries

There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest news related to developmental/infrastructural projects on rivers (such as Dams, Reservoir, Hydroelectric plants), interlinking of rivers etc. Also, recently the Union government has given permission to the Kosi-Mechi project. Thus, in this context, the given topic becomes very important for this year's prelims. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• Lockdown Made Kaveri and Tributaries Cleaner
• River Linking Project
• Teesta River
• Godavari and Cauvery River Interlinking Project
• Ghataprabha River
• Wainganga River
• Kasowal Bridge on River Ravi
• Vamsadhara River Water Dispute
• Mhadei River
• River Nila

Previous Year Questions on Major Rivers in India and their tributaries

Q. Consider the following pairs Wildlife Naturally found in:

1. Blue-finned Mahseer : Cauvery River
2. Irrawaddy Dolphin    : Chambal River
3. Rusty-spotted Cat    : Eastern Ghats

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Q. Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken? (2016)

(a) Cauvery and Tungabhadra

(b) Godavari and Krishna

(c) Mahanadi and Sone

(d) Narmada and Tapti

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Q. Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra? (2016)

1. Dibang
2. Kameng
3. Lohit

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

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Q. What are the benefits of implementing the ‘Integrated Watershed Development Programme’? (2014)

1. Prevention of soil runoff.
2. Linking the country’s perennial rivers with seasonal rivers.
3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table.
4. Regeneration of natural vegetation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Various Military Exercises with other countries

In the wake of the recent Galwan valley incident, it becomes crucial to strengthen our national security. Therefore, the important military exercises that took place in the year, cannot be ignored. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• Exercise MAITREE
• Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-2020
• Exercise Indradhanush
• Indo-French Joint Exercise Shakti-2019
• Exercise INDRA 2019
• SAMPRITI - IX
• Exercise Ekuverin
• Exercise MALABAR
• Exercise Mitra Shakti
• Exercise Dharma Guardian – 2019
• SITMEX
• Exercise Samudra Shakti
• India-France Joint Patrolling

Previous Year Questions on Various military exercises with other countries

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Q. Hand-in-Hand a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008)

(a) China

(b) Japan

(c) Russia

(d) USA

Indian Judiciary

It remains a very important topic for UPSC. A lot of questions have been asked over the years. Questions on issues related to Indian Judiciary have been repeatedly asked in the successive years. Also, recently, office of Chief Justice of India was brought under RTI Act. Thus, there is a fair bit of chance that the question can be asked in the judicial system. One can find all streamlined and exam oriented information in the following links:

• Evolution of Indian Judiciary
• Supreme Court of India
• Supreme Court on Religious Practices
• CJI under the RTI Act
• India Justice Report, 2019
• Judicial Pendency: “Justice Delayed”
• The Big Picture - Strengthening Judicial Apparatus
• e-Courts
• Increasing the Strength of SC Judges
• Wish List for Judiciary

Previous Year Questions on Formation of all Indian states

Q. In India, Judicial Review implies: (2017)

(a) the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.

(b) the power of the Judiciary to question the wisdom of the laws enacted by the Legislatures.

(c) the power of the Judiciary to review all the legislative enactments before they are assented to by the President.

(d) the power of the Judiciary to review its own judgements given earlier in similar or different cases.

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Q. Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India? (2015)

(a) The President of India

(b) The Prime Minister of India

(c) The Lok Sabha Secretariat

(d) The Supreme Court of India

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Q. The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in: (2014)

(a) The President of India

(b) The Parliament

(c) The Chief Justice of India

(d) The Law Commission

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