Hot Topics 2020
Day 6
- 25 Jul 2020
- 12 min read
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.
Important Constitutional And Non-Constitutional Bodies
This is an all time favourite topic for UPSC, as a lot of questions have been asked over the years. By analyzing the kind of questions asked on this topic, one can have a fair idea on what can be expected in the prelims.
Constitutional Bodies
- Election Commission of India
- State Election Commission's Autonomy
- Need to set up State Finance Commission
- Constitutional Status for National Commission for Backward Classes
- National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
- Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG)
- Attorney General of India
- Tribunals
- Supreme Court of India
Non-Constitutional Bodies
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- National Investigation Agency
- Food Corporation of India (FCI)
- Competition Commission of India
- Law Commission of India
- Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Lokpal and Lokayukta
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- National Green Tribunal (NGT)
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Reserve Bank of India
- Financial Stability and Development Council
Previous Year Questions on Schedules in Important Constitutional And Non-Constitutional Bodies
Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)
- The Election Commission of India is a five member body.
- Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
- Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Q. Consider the following statements: (2013)
Attorney General of India can
- take part in the proceedings of the Lok Sabha
- be a member of a committee of the Lok Sabha
- speak in the Lok Sabha
- vote in the Lok Sabha
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only
Q. In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)? (2012)
- CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency.
- CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.
- Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.
- While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q. Who of the following shall cause every recommendation made by the Finance Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament? (2010)
(a) The President of India
(b) The Speaker of Lok Sabha
(c) The Prime Minister of India
(d) The Union Finance Minister
Q. How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? (2018)
- The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
- The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.
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
Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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
Q. The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the: (2015)
(a) Human Rights Commission
(b) Finance Commission
(c) Law Commission
(d) Planning Commission
Right To Information
This is an important topic for this year's prelims, as it has remained in the news because of the controversy over the PM CARES, RTI Amendment 2019, 15th anniversary of RTI Act. 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:
Context:
- Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005
- CJI under the RTI Act
- Challenges Related To RTI Act
- PM-CARES Not Under RTI
- Good Governance
- EVMs Not Under RTI Act
- Compliance to the RTI Act, 2005
- Jan Soochna Portal
- Explainer: The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Wetlands
There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest news related to different wetlands/water bodies etc. This can be depicted from the previous year questions. Thus, in this context, the present topic becomes very important for this year's prelims.
Context: Destruction of wetlands
- Wetlands
- World Wetlands Day
- Wetlands Restoration
- Addition to Ramsar Sites
- Sukhna Lake
- India Backs Dhanauri for Ramsar Site Tag
- Oussudu Lake
- Agreement to Save Coastal Wetlands
- The Coast is Unclear: On the 2018 CRZ Notification
Previous Year Questions on Schedules on Wetlands
Q. Consider the following statements:
- Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q. Consider the following pairs: (2014)
Wetlands Confluence of rivers
- Harike Wetlands : Confluence of Beas and Satluj/Sutlej
- Keoladeo Ghana : Confluence of Banas and National Park Chambal
- Kolleru Lake : Confluence of Musi and Krishna
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Q. With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements: (2012)
- The country’s total geographical area under the category of wetlands is recorded more in Gujarat as compared to other States.
- In India, the total geographical area of coastal wetlands is larger than that of inland wetlands.
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
Panchayati Raj Institution
It remains a very important topic for UPSC. A lot of questions have been asked over the years. Questions on Panchayati Raj Institution have been repeatedly asked in the successive years. So there is a fair bit of chance that the question can be asked on it this year too.
Context:
- Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)
- Panchayati Raj Institutions and Participative Democracy
- National Panchayati Raj Day
- Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Growth Models for Rural India
- Bhuvan Panchayat 3.0
- Quota for Disabled in Panchayats
- Democratic Decentralisation in India
- National Rural Economic Transformation Project
Previous Year Questions on Schedules in Panchayati Raj Institution
Q. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in: (2017)
(a) Federalism
(b) Democratic decentralisation
(c) Administrative delegation
(d) Direct democracy
Q. The fundamental object of the Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following? (2015)
- People’s participation in development
- Political accountability
- Democratic decentralization
- Financial mobilization
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q. The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is not identified as its objective? (2013)
(a) To provide self-governance
(b) To recognize traditional rights
(c) To create autonomous regions in tribal areas
(d) To free tribal people from exploitation
Coalition For Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Indian Prime Minister, at the Hamburg G20 meet in 2017, proposed a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and many disasters this year. Thus, in this context this topic becomes a hot topic for this year’s prelims. One can find related articles in the following links.
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
- International Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
- Flood Management In India
- Cyclone Amphan
- Swarm of Desert Locust
- Vizag Gas Leak
- Civil Defence Volunteers Against Covid-19
- Operation Sanjeevani
- PM - CARES Fund
- Disaster Management Tool
