Day 56 (12th January 2023) (Date : 12-01-2023)
Question 1:
The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because
the Congress could not form ministries in the other four provinces
the emergence of a left-wing in the Congress made the working of the ministries impossible
there were widespread communal disturbances in their provinces
None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
- Provincial elections were held in British India in the winter of 1936-37 as mandated by the Government of India Act 1935. Elections were held in eleven provinces – Madras, Central Provinces, Bihar, Orissa, United Provinces, Bombay Presidency, Assam, NWFP, Bengal, Punjab and Sindh. The final results of the elections were declared in February 1937. Indian National Congress emerged in power in eight of the provinces – the three exceptions being Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh. All-India Muslim League failed to form the government in any province. Hence, option (a) is not correct.
- The Congress Government was formed in 8 provinces. However, after 28 months of rule the Congress ministries resigned in 1939, in protest against the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s action of declaring India to be a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting the Indian people. Hence, option (b) and (c) are not correct.
Question 2:
With reference to Dr Ambedkar, consider the following statements:
- He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
- He signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2 only
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer : C
Explanation
- Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
- He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India's first Law Minister.
- He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
- He was a well-known statesman who fought for the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes.
- He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board.
- In 1926, Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to throw open the tank to all communities. Earlier, the untouchables were not allowed to use water from the Mahad tank.
- He participated in all three Round Table Conferences. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
- His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- The organisations founded under the leadership of Dr. B R Ambedkar:
- Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
- Independent Labor Party (1936)
- Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)
Question 3:
Which of the following was not a provision of the Government of India Act, 1935?
The establishment of an All-India Federation
Provincial autonomy in place of dyarchy
The extension of separate electorates
The introduction of a presidential system of government
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
- The Government of India Act, 1935 was a major reform legislation that aimed to strengthen the governance system in British India.
- It introduced several new provisions, such as the establishment of an All-India Federation, the creation of a Federal Court, and the extension of separate electorates.
- However, it did not introduce a presidential system of government, as it retained the traditional parliamentary system of governance. Instead, it created the structure of provinces and the centre, with the power divided between them.
- Hence, option D is correct.
Question 4:
Which of the following is not a provision of Communal Awards:
The existing seats of the provincial legislatures were to be doubled.
The depressed classes were to be declared/accorded the status of minority.
Allocation of seats were to be made for labourers, landlords, traders, and industrialists.
In the province of Bombay, no seats were to be allocated for the Marathas.
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
- The Communal Award was announced by the British prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald, on August 16, 1932. The Communal Award, based on the findings of the Indian Franchise Committee (also called the Lothian Committee), established separate electorates and reserved seats for minorities, including the depressed classes, which were granted 78 reserved seats.
Main Provisions of the Communal Award
- Muslims, Europeans, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, depressed classes, women, and even the Marathas were to get separate electorates. Such an arrangement for the depressed classes was to be made for a period of 20 years.
- The existing seats of the provincial legislatures were to be doubled.
- The depressed classes were to be declared/accorded the status of minority.
- Allocation of seats were to be made for labourers, landlords, traders, and industrialists.
- In the province of Bombay, 7 seats were to be allocated for the Marathas.
- Hence, option D is correct.
Question 5:
Throughout his Harijan tour, social work and fasts, Gandhi ji stressed on certain themes. Which of the following is not correct regarding his Harijan campaign:
He stressed the need for caste Hindus to do ‘penance’ for untold miseries inflicted on Harijans.
He called for total eradication of untouchability symbolised by his plea to throw open temples to the untouchables.
He put forward a damning indictment of Hindu society for the kind of oppression practised on Harijans.
Stressed on abolition of caste system.
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
Throughout his Harijan tour, social work and fasts, Gandhi stressed on certain themes:
- He put forward a damning indictment of Hindu society for the kind of oppression practised on Harijans.
- He called for total eradication of untouchability symbolised by his plea to throw open temples to the untouchables.
- He stressed the need for caste Hindus to do ‘penance’ for untold miseries inflicted on Harijans. For this reason, he was not hostile to his critics such as Ambedkar. He said, “Hinduism dies if untouchability lives, untouchability has to die if Hinduism is to live.”
- His entire campaign was based on principles of humanism and reason. He said that the Shastras do not sanction untouchability, and if they did, they should be ignored as it was against human dignity.
- Gandhiji distinguished between abolition of untouchability and abolition of caste system. On this point he differed from Ambedkar who advocated annihilation of the caste system to remove untouchability. Gandhi felt that whatever the limitations and defects of the varnashram system, there was nothing sinful about it, as there was about untouchability. He did not stress on abolition of caste system.
- Hence, option D is correct.
Question 6:
Consider the following statements regarding ‘Diammonium Phosphate’:
- It is the second most commonly used fertiliser in India after urea.
- Nitrogen content in DAP is lower than that of Phosphorus.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
- DAP (Diammonium phosphate) is a concentrated phosphate-based fertilizer.
- Phosphorus is an essential nutrient along with Nitrogen and plays a vital role in the development of new plant tissues and the regulation of protein synthesis in crops.
- DAP is the second most commonly used fertiliser in India after urea.
- Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- DAP (46% P, 18% Nitrogen) is the preferred source of Phosphorus for farmers.
- It contains 46% Phosphorus and 18% Nitrogen.
- Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- Hence, option D is correct.
Question 7:
With reference to HELINA, consider the following statements:
- It is an Anti-tank missile.
- It is a part of Israel’s Iron Dome technology.
- It can defeat battle tanks only with conventional armor.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 and 2 only
1 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3 only
Correct Answer : B
Explanation
- HELINA is a third generation Anti-Tank missile, that has been developed by the Defense Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad under the Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS) cluster of the DRDO. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- It has a maximum range of seven kilometers and has been designed and developed for integration on the weaponized version of the ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter).
- It's an Anti-Tank missile which has been developed by India and not by part of Israel’s Iron Dome technology. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
- The missile system has all-weather, day, and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armor as well as explosive reactive armor. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Question 8:
Consider the following statements:
- Foreign visits by members of the State governments in their official capacity would require clearances from the Ministry of Home Affairs only.
- Chief Ministers are required to have approval from the Prime Minister’s Office before an official foreign visit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct.
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer : B
Explanation
- Recently, Delhi’s Chief Minister was denied permission to attend the World Cities Summit in Singapore.
- Provisions for members of state government for Foreign Visit Approval:
- Foreign visits by members of the State governments in their official capacity would require clearances from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs, Finance Ministry, and the Central Administrative Ministry.
- Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- It stated that Chief Ministers required further approval from the Prime Minister’s Office before an official visit.
- Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- Hence, option B is correct.
Question 9:
Consider the following countries:
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Greece
- Egypt
Which of the above-mentioned countries shares a boundary with the Mediterranean Sea?
1 and 2 only
2 and 4 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Answer : D
Explanation
- The countries which share coastal boundary with Mediterranean Sea are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.
- All the given countries share coastal boundaries with the Mediterranean Sea. Hence, option D is correct.
Question 10:
Consider the following statements regarding ‘Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUDTAB)’:
- It is a statutory body under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
- It advises the central and state governments in regulatory matters of Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing (ASLT) drugs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer : C
Explanation
- In accordance with the guidelines of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUDTAB) is a statutory body. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- ASLT is an indirect method of measuring and estimating the stability of a product by storing the product under controlled conditions that increase the rate of degradation occurring in the product under normal storage conditions.
- It provides regulatory advice on Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing (ASLT) drugs to the central and state governments. Hence, statement 2 is correct.