DAY – 23 (InstaTest-23): Insta 70 Days Revision Plan-2021: Topic – POLITY, Subject-wise Test 8 &9 , Textbook-wise Tests 12 , October& November 2020 CA Revision

Solution: C

Both the statements are correct.

In the Shankari Prasad Case (1951), the constitutional validity of the First Amendment Act (1951), which curtailed the right to property, was challenged.

The Supreme Court ruled that the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution under Article 368 also includes the power to amend Fundamental Rights.

The present position is that the Parliament under Article 368 can amend any part of the Constitution including the Fundamental Rights but without affecting the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.

However, the Supreme Court is yet to define or clarify as to what constitutes the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.

Solution: D

All the statements given above are correct.

Features of Parliamentary Government

Majority Party Rule: The political party which secures majority seats in the Lok Sabha forms the government. The leader of that party is appointed as the Prime Minister by the President.

Dissolution of the Lower House: The lower house of the Parliament (Lok Sabha) can be dissolved by the President on recommendation of the Prime Minister. In other words, the prime minister can advise the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha before the expiry of its term and hold fresh elections.

Political Homogeneity: Usually members of the council of ministers belong to the same political party, and hence they share the same political ideology. In case of coalition government, the minister are bound by consensus.

Solution: C

Parliamentary System is not conductive to administrative efficiency as the ministers are not experts in their fields. The Prime Minister has a limited choice in the selection of ministers.

Against Separation of Powers In the parliamentary system, the legislature and the executive are together and inseparable. The cabinet acts as the leader of legislature as well as the executive.  Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

Government by Amateurs the parliamentary system is not conductive to administrative efficiency as the ministers are not experts in their fields. The Prime Minister has a limited choice in the selection of ministers; his choice is restricted to the members of Parliament alone and does not extend to external talent.

Solution: A

The state legislature has exclusive power to levy taxes on subjects enumerated in the State List. Both the Parliament and the state legislature can levy taxes on subjects enumerated in the Concurrent List. Hence Statement 1 is correct.

The residuary power of taxation (that is, the power to impose taxes not enumerated in any of the three lists) is vested in the Parliament. Under this provision, the Parliament has imposed gift tax, wealth tax and expenditure tax. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

Solution: D

Both the statements are incorrect.

The Preamble has been amended only once so far, in 1976, by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, which has added three new words—Socialist, Secular and Integrity—to the Preamble. This amendment was held to be valid.

The Preamble is neither a source of power to legislature nor a prohibition upon the powers of legislature. It is non-justiciable, that is, its provisions are not enforceable in courts of law.

Solution: B

During a national emergency, the executive power of the Centre extends to directing any state regarding the manner in which its executive power is to be exercised. In normal times, the Centre can give executive directions to a state only on certain specified matters.

The laws made by Parliament on the state subjects during a National Emergency become inoperative six months after the emergency has ceased to operate. Notably, while a proclamation of national emergency is in operation, the President can issue ordinances on the state subjects also, if the Parliament is not in session. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

According to Article 358, when a proclamation of national emergency is made, the six Fundamental Rights under Article 19 are automatically suspended. No separate order for their suspension is required.

Solution: B

Article 358 is confined to Fundamental Rights under Article 19 only whereas Article 359 extends to all those Fundamental Rights whose enforcement is suspended by the Presidential Order. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.

Article 358 extends to the entire country whereas Article 359 may extend to the entire country or a part of it. Article 358 suspends Article 19 completely while Article 359 does not empower the suspension of the enforcement of Articles 20 and 21. Hence Statement 2 is correct.

Solution: A

It initiated the process of decentralisation by restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies. It thus reversed the centralising tendency that started from the Regulating Act of 1773 and reached its climax under the Charter Act of 1833.

It also provided for the establishment of new legislative councils for Bengal, North-Western Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab, which were established in 1862, 1866 and 1897 respectively. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

It empowered the Viceroy to issue ordinances, without the concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency. The life of such an ordinance was six months.

Solution: D

Solution: A

Features of Government of India Act of 1919

• It introduced, for the first time, bicameralism and direct elections in the country. Thus, the Indian Legislative Council was replaced by a bicameral legislature consisting of an Upper House (Council of State) and a Lower House (Legislative Assembly).
• It relaxed the central control over the provinces by demarcating and separating the central and provincial subjects.
• It separated, for the first time, provincial budgets from the Central budget and authorized the provincial legislatures to enact their budgets.

Solution: A

Solution: B

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the state of Telangana. Currently the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers.

The Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation National project on the Godavari River in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada river in Gujarat. Four states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supply from the dam.

Solution: A

The National Skill Development Fund was set up in 2009 by the Government of India for raising funds both from Government and Non Government sectors for skill development in the country. The Fund is contributed by various Government sources, and other donors/ contributors to enhance, stimulate and develop the skills of Indian youth by various sector specific programs.

A public Trust set up by the Government of India is the custodian of the Fund. The Trust accepts donation, contribution in cash or kind from the Contributors for furtherance of objectives of the Fund. The Fund is operated and managed by the Board of Trustees. The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust is responsible for day-to-day administration and management of the Trust.

https://msde.gov.in/en/organizations/nsdf

Source: Kurukshetra, Feb 2020

Solution: B

The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):

The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), obtained by dividing the number of persons in the labour force by total population, is an important parameter in employment projections and formulation of employment strategies.

NSSO defines Labour force participation rate (LFPR) as the number of persons/person days in labour force per thousand persons/person days.

Worker population ratio:

The employment-to-population ratio is defined as the proportion of an economy’s working-age population that is employed. As an indicator, the employment-to-population ratio provides information on the ability of an economy to create jobs.

Worker population ratio is defined as the number of persons employed per thousand persons.
WPR= No. of employed persons x 1000
/Total population

Worker Population Ratio is an indicator used for analyzing the employment situation in the country. This is also useful in knowing the proportion of population that is actively contributing to the production of goods and services in the economy.

http://www.arthapedia.in/index.php?title=Worker_Population_Ratio

http://www.arthapedia.in/index.php?title=Labour_Force_Participation_Rate

Source: Kurukshetra, Feb 2020

Solution: A

What is PLFS?

PLFS is India’s first computer-based survey which gives estimates of key employment and unemployment indicators like the labour force participation rate, worker population ratio, proportion unemployed and unemployment rate in rural households annually and on a quarterly basis for the urban households.

1. The PLFS also gives the distribution of educated and unemployed people, which in turn can be used as a basis for skilling of youth to make them more employable by industry.
2. The survey was launched in 2017 and the first annual report was released (July 2017-June 2018), covering both rural and urban areas, in May 2019.

Key findings:

1. India’s unemployment rate fell between July 2018 and June 2019 to 5.8% from 6.1% during the same period of 2017-18, even as the labour force participation rate rose to 37.5% from 36.9%.
2. The worker population ratio also increased, to 35.3% as against 34.7% in the 2017-18.
3. Urban unemployment rate reduced to 7.7% in 2018-19 from 7.8% and in rural India to 5% from 5.3%.
4. Female participation rate improved in both urban and rural India during the period under review, going up to 18.6% in 2018-19 from 17.5% the year before.

 Challenges ahead:

To retain the falling trend in unemployment rate in 2019-20, which has witnessed a long nationwide lockdown between March and June to prevent the spread of Covid-19, resulting in job losses across sectors.

According to monthly data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, unemployment rate in India shot up significantly from 7.87% in June 2019 to 23.48% in May 2020. 

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/05/periodic-labour-force-survey-plfs-2/

Source: Kurukshetra, Feb 2020

Solution: D

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of World Economic Forum (WEF), that covers 140 economies, measures the set of factors and policies that enable sustainable development of travel and tourism sector which contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country.

Solution: C

The Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) is a Not-for-Profit Organization, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Council has been promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and leading Healthcare Industry Members representing both public and private sector, financially supported by NSDC.

The key objective of the Council is to create a robust and vibrant eco-system for quality education and skill development in paramedics and allied healthcare space in the country. In addition, the Healthcare Sector Skill Council serves as a single source of information on healthcare sector with specific reference to Skill and Human Resource Development in India.

The Council is aimed to develop National Occupational Standards & Qualification Packs for various job-roles in paramedics and allied healthcare, Identify skill-gaps, Design Courses and Training Content, Set Standards, Put-in place an Assessment & Certification Mechanism, Accredit Training Institutes, Provide Placement Support and Help Institutes Build & Upgrade their Capacity through train-the-trainer program.

It works under the ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

https://www.pmkvyofficial.org/Healthcare_Sector_Skill_Council.aspx

Source: Kurukshetra, Feb 2020

Solution: A

Ocean currents, abiotic features of the environment, are continuous and directed movements of ocean water. These currents are on the ocean’s surface and in its depths, flowing both locally and globally.

Currents affect the Earth’s climate by driving warm water from the Equator and cold water from the poles around the Earth.

Solution: B

The Mayar River is one of the tributaries of the Bhavani in Tamil Nadu. The Mayar river originates from a small town called Mayar off the Masinagudi–Ooty road.

It flows through the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR).

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/study-of-environmental-flow-of-moyar-river-being-conducted/article33523226.ece

Solution: A

Earthquake waves get recorded in seismographs located at far off locations. However, there exist some specific areas where the waves are not reported. Such a zone is called the ‘shadow zone’.

It was observed that seismographs located at any distance within 105° from the epicentre, recorded the arrival of both P and S-waves. However, the seismographs located beyond 145° from epicentre, record the arrival
of P-waves, but not that of S-waves. Thus, a zone between 105° and 145° from epicentre was identified as the shadow zone for both the types of waves. The entire zone beyond 105° does not receive S-waves. The shadow zone of S-wave is much larger than that of the P-waves.

Solution: C

Asur people are a very small Austroasiatic ethnic group living primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand, mostly in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts. A small minority live in the western part of West Bengal.

Tiwa (Lalung) is an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the states of Assam and Meghalaya in north-eastern India. They are also found in some areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland. They are recognized as a Scheduled tribe within the State of Assam.

The Galo are a central Eastern Himalayan tribe, who are descendants of Abotani and speak the Tani Galo language. The Galo people primarily inhabit West Siang, Lepa Rada, and Lower Siang districts of modern-day Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern India,

Solution: D

African Elephants:

• African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They are slightly larger than Asian elephants.
• African elephants are keystone species, meaning they play a critical role in their ecosystem. Also known as “ecosystem engineers,” elephants shape their habitat in many ways.
• There are two subspecies of African elephants, the Savanna (or bush) elephant and the Forest elephant. Savanna elephants are the larger of two.
• They are vulnerable as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
• Asian elephants can live up to 48 years whereas African elephants can live up to 70 years.

Solution: D

Liquidity Trap:

A liquidity trap is a situation where an expansionary monetary policy (an increase in the money supply) is not able to increase interest rates and hence does not result in economic growth (increase in output). In the case of deflation or recession, individuals hold on to the money in their possession at the given interest rates because they fear such negative events.

The concept of liquidity trap was first developed by economists J.M Keynes and J.H. Hicks in 1937, as an economic condition first observed after the Great Depression of the 1930s.

A liquidity trap exists in three main situations:

• When the nominal interest rate is zero
• The economy is currently in a recession or an economic depression
• Monetary policy is ineffective and is unable to reduce the rate of interest any further

Solution: C

Attorney General of India:

• The Attorney General for India is the central government’s chief legal advisor, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.
• He is a part of the Union Executive.
• He is not considered as a government servant and he can practise privately too as he is not debarred from private legal practice.

Appointment and eligibility:

He is appointed by the President of India under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and holds office during the pleasure of the President.

• He must be a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
• He should be an Indian Citizen.
• He must have either completed 5 years in High Court of any Indian state as a judge or 10 years in High Court as an advocate.
• He may be an eminent jurist too, in the eye of the President.

Powers and Functions:

• The Attorney General is necessary for giving advice to the Government of India in legal matters referred to him. He also performs other legal duties assigned to him by the President.
• The Attorney General has the right of audience in all Courts in India as well as the right to participate in the proceedings of the Parliament, though not to vote.
• The Attorney General appears on behalf of Government of India in all cases (including suits, appeals and other proceedings) in the Supreme Court in which Government of India is concerned.
• He also represents the Government of India in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution.
• The Attorney General can accept briefs but cannot appear against the Government.
• He cannot defend an accused in the criminal proceedings and accept the directorship of a company without the permission of the Government.
• The Attorney General is assisted by two Solicitor General and four Additional Solicitor Generals.
• He enjoys all immunities and privileges available to the Member of Parliament

Solution: D

Global Wage Report

• It is published by The International Labour Organization (ILO).
• It looks at recent trends in wages, the global economic and labour market context, and the impact that the pandemic has had on wages.
• The report also includes a number of policy recommendations to mitigate the negative impact of the crisis.
• The Average wages in two-third countries fell or grew more slowly in the first six months of 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Solution: A

Let us assume that length of both trains= x meters

Length of the bridge = y meters.

If the speed of the first train is s meters/sec then the speed of the second train is (1+20/100) *s =1.2* s meters/sec.

Now, the first train crosses a pole in 24 sec. So, it covers x meter distance in 24 sec.

Time taken = Distance/ Speed

Thus, (x)/s = 24 —-(1)

Again, the second train crosses the bridge in 30 sec. So, it covers (x+y) meters in 30 sec.

Hence, (x+y)/ 1.2s = 30 …….. (2)

Now dividing (2) with (1), we get,

((x+y)/ 1.2s)/(x/s) = 30/24

(x+y)/x = (30/24) * 1.2

(x+y)/x =30/20 =3/2

Or 2x + 2y = 3x

2y = x

x/y = 2

Therefore, the ratio of the lengths of the train and the bridge is 2:1

Solution: C

For every one route, you will have six routes to take.

So, total number of routes is 6 X 5 = 30

Solution: D

It is given that, some of those who travel by air become sick, thus option (b) can be eliminated.

It is given that, only rich can afford air travel. But it does not mean that all the rich persons travel by air. Thus, option (a) is eliminated.

It is given that, some of those who travel by air become sick. Thus, some of the rich who travel by air becomes sick. Also, we have already inferred that all the rich persons do not travel by air. Therefore, option (c) is eliminated.

Now, the statement None but the rich can afford air-travel denotes that All those who travel by air are rich.

Solution: C

It is given that, in a class of 55 students, a boy is ranked 25^th. Thus, there are 30 students ranked lower than him and 24 students ranked higher than him.

When three boys joined, total number of students became 58.

His, new rank is 26.

Thus, there are 32 students are ranked lower than him.

From the end his rank became 32+1= 33.

Ans. D.

The passage does not give a qualitative assessment of democracy as such, it is more focussed on highlighting that there are threats to it, which needs to be identified and addressed. Statement B is a wrong message which has not been conveyed by the passage. Statement C is a part of the message conveyed by the passage but statement D is more accurate.