[Mission 2022] Insta– QUED ( Questions from Editorials ) 3 May 2022

Solution: c)

The reasons that can be attributed to the frequent landslides and debris avalanches in Himalayan region are

(i) The Himalayas are tectonically active. Thus, tectonically unstable.

(ii) They are mostly made up of sedimentary rocks and unconsolidated and semi-consolidated deposits.

(iii) The slopes are very steep.

Solution: b)

The Gadgil formula was evolved in 1969 for determining the allocation of central assistance for state plans in India. It was adopted for distribution of plan assistance during Fourth and Fifth Five Year Plans.

Solution: d)

Not only a legislation but any of the following can be challenged in the courts as violating a Fundamental Right and hence, can be declared as void.

(a) Permanent laws enacted by the Parliament or the state legislatures;

(b) Temporary laws like ordinances issued by the president or the state governors;

(c) Statutory instruments in the nature of delegated legislation (executive legislation) like order, bye-law, rule, regulation or notification; and

(d) Non-legislative sources of law, that is, custom or usage having the force of law.

Supreme Court held in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) that a Constitutional amendment can be challenged on the ground that it violates a fundamental right that forms a part of the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution and hence, can be declared as void.

Solution: a)

Some initial conditions for the emergence of a tropical cyclone are:

(i) Large and continuous supply of warm and moist air that can release enormous latent heat.

(ii) Strong Coriolis force that can prevent filling of low pressure at the centre (absence of Coriolis force near the equator prohibits the formation of tropical cyclone between 0°-5° latitude).

(iii) Unstable condition through the troposphere that creates local disturbances around which a cyclone develops.

(iv) Finally, absence of strong vertical wind wedge, which disturbs the vertical transport of latent heat.

Solution: a)

GDP is the value of the final goods and services produced within a country within an year.

Indian nationals living abroad do not contribute to India’s GDP. They do however contribute to India’s GNP.

But, the gross capital investments made during a financial year directly accounts as a part of GDP since it creates infrastructure which has an economic value.