DAY – 65 (InstaTest-65): Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2023: Topic – MODERN INDIA, PREVIOUS YEAR UPSC PAPER 2013, February 2023 CA

Solution: B

Government of India launches Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to reduce the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India levels

The Scheme aims to reduce the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% and Average Cost of Supply (ACS)-Average Revenue Realised (ARR) gap to zero by 2024-25.

The Scheme has two major components: Part ‘A’ – Financial support for Prepaid Smart Metering & System Metering and upgradation of the Distribution Infrastructure and Part ‘B’ – Training & Capacity Building and other Enabling & Supporting Activities. Financial assistance to DISCOMs is provided for upgradation of the Distribution Infrastructure and for Prepaid Smart Consumer Metering & System Metering based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmark in reforms.

Schemes of Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) along with Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP)-2015 for the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir are being subsumed in this scheme to be implemented as per their extant guidelines and under their existing terms & conditions. No new projects will be sanctioned under these schemes but projects already sanctioned will be eligible to receive funds up to 31st March 2022 under RDSS. However, projects sanctioned for Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh under IPDS and projects sanctioned under PMDP 2015 will get funds till 31st March 2023.

Solution: B

Under the ODOP- Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export potential have been identified from all 765 districts of the country.

One District One Product – Districts as Export Hubs Initiative (ODOP – DEH) is not a scheme but rather an initiative aimed at fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country. The idea is to select, brand, and promote one product from each district (One District – One Product) of the country for enabling holistic socioeconomic growth across all regions.  ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ being run by the Department of Commerce (DoC) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder.

ODOP-Districts as Export Hubs initiative is working with manufacturers/producers across districts along verticals like design, production, manufacturing, packaging, and market creation to boost sales both in the domestic as well as international market.

ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ (DEH) being run by the Department of Commerce (DoC) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. DEH Initiative highlights the need to channelize the potential and diverse identity in each district of the country to make them export hubs.

Through DEH initiative, Government of India is significantly increasing the manufacturing and exports from urban areas while focusing on generating interest and economic activity in the rural hinterland to push new businesses to export.

As ODOP-Districts as Export Hubs is not a scheme, there is no financial assistance provided.

Solution: C

Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS)

• AePS is a bank led model which allows online interoperable financial inclusion transaction at PoS (MicroATM) through the Business correspondent of any bank using the Aadhaar authentication. AePS allows you to do six types of transactions.
• The only inputs required for a customer to do a transaction under this scenario are:-
  1. Bank Name
  2. Aadhaar Number
  3. Fingerprint captured during enrollment.

Objectives

• To empower a bank customer to use Aadhaar as his/her identity to access his/ her respective Aadhaar enabled bank account and perform basic banking transactions like cash deposit, cash withdrawal, Intrabank or interbank fund transfer, balance enquiry and obtain a mini statement through a Business Correspondent
• To sub-serve the goal of Government of India (GoI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in furthering Financial Inclusion.
• To sub-serve the goal of RBI in electronification of retail payments.
• To enable banks to route the Aadhaar initiated interbank transactions through a central switching and clearing agency.
• To facilitate disbursements of Government entitlements like NREGA, Social Security pension, Handicapped Old Age Pension etc. of any Central or State Government bodies, using Aadhaar and authentication thereof as supported by UIDAI.
• To facilitate inter-operability across banks in a safe and secured manner.
• To build the foundation for a full range of Aadhaar enabled Banking services.

Solution: A

Internationalization of rupee

It is the process that involves increased use of the rupee in cross-border transactions.

Currently, while the dollar accounts for 88% of international trade, Rupee accounts for less than 1.7% of global trade.

• India currently has full convertibility of the rupee in current accounts such as for exports and imports. However, India’s capital account convertibility is not full. There are ceilings on government and corporate debt, external commercial borrowings and equity.

Need for Internationalization:

Excessive dependence on dollars combined with global inflation and economic crises has led to the depreciation of the rupee to an all-time low. If the rupee is internationalized, India would not have to depend on US Dollars for its trade.

• RBI has allowed domestic traders to settle their import-export bills in rupee.

Advantages of Internationalization:

• Appreciate currency value: It will improve the demand for the rupee in international trade.
• Mitigate exchange rate volatility: Rupee-denominated payments can help reduce price volatility associated with dollars.
• Making significant savings in Indian foreign reserves.
• Circumvent sanctions: Improving acceptance and trade in rupees can help India to diversify its trade basket by circumventing restrictions and sanctions imposed by the west.

Improve its standing as a global economic power

Solution: B

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) was constituted (view:1MB)  on 01st October,2018 by the Government of India under Sub Section (1) of section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013 (view:1MB)

Functions and Duties

As per Sub Section (2) of Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013 (View:1MB) , the duties of the NFRA are to:

• Recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government;
• Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards;
• Oversee the quality of service of the professions associated with ensuring compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service;
• Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary or incidental to the aforesaid functions and duties.

Sub Rule (1) of Rule 4 of the NFRA Rules, 2018(view:1MB)  , provides that the Authority shall protect the public interest and the interests of investors, creditors and others associated with the companies or bodies corporate governed under Rule 3 by establishing high quality standards of accounting and auditing and exercising effective oversight of accounting functions performed by the companies and bodies corporate and auditing functions performed by auditors.

Solution: D

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) February 23, 2022, called on global governments to adopt a new ‘Fire Ready Formula,’ as it warned that incidences of wildfires would rise in the future.

The new formula envisages that 66 per cent of spending be devoted to planning, prevention, preparedness and recovery. The remaining 34 per cent can be spent on response.

Ocean of flame

The UNEP report also projected that the number of wildfires is likely to increase by up to 14 per cent by 2030. It is projected to spike by 33 per cent by 2050. It would rise by 52 per cent by 2100.

The prevalence and behaviour of wildfires is changing due to numerous factors including, but not limited to, climate change. The UNEP report said this citing the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

Change in land-use and land management practices are also responsible for the increasing risks of wildfires.

Solution: A

What Is the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT)?

Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) is a member-owned cooperative providing secure messaging for international transfers of money between participating banks.

Started in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries, SWIFT began providing messaging services in 1977. Its SWIFTnet messaging system lets banks share information about financial transactions. Financial institutions use SWIFT to securely exchange information including payment instructions.

SWIFT has grown rapidly over the years to serve more than 11,000 institutions operating in over 200 countries.

Key Takeaways

• Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) provides a secure messaging system for financial transactions between participating banks.
• SWIFT serves 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries and territories.
• SWIFT assigns participating financial institutions a unique code to facilitate financial transactions.

Solution: A

What is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)?

High on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), together with its international partners, is operating the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) — a state-of-the-art telescope to study light from some of the coldest objects in the Universe. This light has wavelengths of around a millimetre, between infrared light and radio waves, and is therefore known as millimetre and submillimetre radiation. ALMA comprises 66 high-precision antennas, spread over distances of up to 16 kilometres. This global collaboration is the largest ground-based astronomical project in existence.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an astronomical interferometer of 66 radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, which observe electromagnetic radiation at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. The array has been constructed on the 5,000 m (16,000 ft) elevation Chajnantor plateau – near the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment.

ALMA is an international partnership amongst Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile.

Solution: D

International IP Index

Context: India ranks 42nd among 55 leading global economies on the International IP Index released by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce.

• Top: USA

Key findings:

Positive:

• India is ripe to become a leader for emerging markets seeking to transform their economy through IP-driven innovation.
• India has maintained continued strong efforts in copyright piracy through the issuing of “dynamic” injunction orders (banning all mirror sites with the same banned content)
• India has generous R&D and IP-based tax incentives
• India has a strong awareness-raising effort regarding the negative impact of piracy and counterfeiting
• India is a global leader in targeted administrative incentives for the creation and use of IP assets for SMEs,

Solution: D

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 1993-94.  The Scheme enables the Members of Parliament to recommend works for creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs to be taken up in their constituencies in the area of national priorities namely drinking water, education, public health, sanitation, roads etc.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has been responsible for the policy formulation, release of funds and prescribing monitoring mechanism for implementation of the Scheme.

Features

1. The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crore.
2. MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by S.T. population.
3. In order to encourage trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people, a ceiling of Rs. 75 lakh is stipulated for building assets by trusts and societies subject to conditions prescribed in the scheme guidelines.
4. Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election (with select exceptions). Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
5. All works to meet locally felt infrastructure and development needs, with an emphasis on creation of durable assets in the constituency are permissible under MPLADS as prescribed in the scheme guidelines. Expenditure on specified items of non durable nature are also permitted as listed in the guidelines.

Solution: B

About Mulethi

Mulethi is a sweet-tasting perennial shrub (roots have a sweet taste due to the presence of glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sucrose) that has been used as medicine in Ayurveda (known in Ayurveda as ‘Yashtimadhu’) for rejuvenation.

• It thrives in a dry and sunny climate and is cultivated in subtropical and warm temperate regions.

Other properties:

• It has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial, and boosts immunity.
• It helps in weight loss as it contains flavonoids that help to reduce excessive fats accumulated in the body.
• It helps improve the digestive system, lessens the acidic level in the intestines, and also helps to detox our body.

Solution: C

What are the Sansad Ratna Awards?

 Context: The PM of India congratulated fellow Members of Parliament (MPs) who will be conferred the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023.

The Sansad Ratna Awards:

• They were instituted in 2010, inspired by the teachings of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who launched the first edition of the Award function in Chennai.
• They seek to recognize and felicitate the top-performing MPs on the basis of their work in the apex legislative body.
• Its jury committee comprises eminent Parliamentarians and members of civil society and was chaired by the MoS, Parliamentary Affairs and co-chaired by T S Krishnamurthy (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India).
• The Awards are not given by the Government of India. It is the Prime Point Foundation which runs the awards show.

Solution: D

Jaipur Declaration

 Context: The 18^th UIC World Security Congress, jointly organized by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the International Union of Railways (UIC), concluded today with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration by the attendees.

• “Jaipur declaration” outlines an actionable agenda to help Railway organizations achieve their long-term goal of safety and security

Unique work done by Railway Protection Force 

• Operation Nanhe Farishte for the rescue of children
• Operation AAHT for rescuing women and children from the clutches of traffickers
• The Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) has rescued over 1,600 children from trafficking and facilitated the arrest of 337 alleged traffickers in collaboration with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Rajasthan during the last two years.
• People at all major railway stations were being sensitised about the issue of child trafficking.

About UIC

The UIC (est. 1922, HQ: Paris) is the worldwide professional association representing the railway sector for research, development & promotion of rail transport.

About RPF

RPF (est. 1957) is the prime security and law- enforcement organization in the field of Railway Security in India. It is responsible for the security of railway property, passenger and passenger zones.

Solution: A

Inaugural iCET dialogue

Context:  India and the US National Security Advisor are due to meet for the inaugural of the iCET dialogue ( Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies).

More about iCET:

• It was announced in 2021, the iCET is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries
• It aims to expand the India-US partnership for critical and emerging technologies– that will drive global growth, bolster both countries’ economic competitiveness, and protect shared national security interests.

 Areas of cooperation: R&D; Quantum computing; Defence innovations; Space; 6G, Semiconductors, etc.

Significance of iCET:

• iCET will accelerate America’s technology partnership and strategic convergence and policy alignment with India
• It is important for India’s role as a trusted supply chain partner
• Important for the next industrial revolution, space, and future defense needs
• This will allow the gradual lifting of the US’s export control restrictions on India.
• Sustaining a free, open, and secure global economy that can ensure the future happiness of humanity

Solution: C

UNESCO to soon declare Visva-Bharati the world’s first living heritage university

Context: Founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, Visva-Bharati University will soon get the ‘heritage’ tag from UNESCO to take the distinction of world’s first living heritage university.

• Normally heritage tag is given to a dead monument. For the first time in the world, a living university, which is functioning, is going to get the heritage tag from UNESCO. 

About Visva Bharati University:

• When founded in 1921 it was named after Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore until the Visva-Bharati Society was registered as an organization in May 1922.
• In 1922, Visva-Bharati was inaugurated as a Centre for Culture with an exploration into the arts, language, humanities, and music and these are reflected in diverse institutes that continue in their educational programmes.
• The structures in these institutes constitute a myriad of architectural expressions: the Kalo Bari, a mud structure with coal tar finish and sculpture panels; Mastermoshai studio, a single-storied structure built for the first principal of Kala Bhavan, Nandalal Bose; murals and paintings on Cheena and Hindi Bhavan, created by the illustrious artists like Benodebehari Mukhopadhyay, Nandalal Bose, Surendranath Kar, Somnath Hore with the active involvement of students.

Solution: C

Basic or Wardha Scheme of Education (1937) Basic education, also called Nai Talim, was not so much a methodology of education as the expression of an idea for a new life and a new society. The basic premise was that only through this system of education could India build an independent, non-violent society. The scheme was first put forward by Mahatma Gandhi in 1937 in a series of articles in his weekly, the Harijan. He emphasised that the concept of free and compulsory primary education on a nationwide scale should centre around some form of manual or productive work. All other aspects to be developed or training imparted should, as far as possible, be integrated with a central handicraft chosen with due regard to the environment of the child.

Solution: B

Gopal Hari Deshmukh

A champion of new learning and social reform in Maharashtra, he was popularly known as Lokahitawadi. He made powerful rationalist attacks on Hindu orthodoxy, and preached religious and social equality.

M.G. Ranade

This famous socio-religious reformer of Maharashtra was one of the prominent members of the Prarthana Samaj as well as the source of inspiration for the foundation of the Deccan Education Society (1884) by Agarkar. He inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference in 1887. G.K. Gokhale acknowledged him as his guru.

Solution: B

Indian Mirror:  Devendranath Tagore

Bangadarshana (A Bengali monthly): Bankimchandra Chatterji

Swadeshamitram (A Tamil paper): G S Aiyar

Solution: D

Bharatendu Harishchandra (1849–1882), who brought in a modern outlook in Hindi literature, is described as the ‘Father of Modern Hindi Literature’. Radhakrishna Das, Pratapnarayan Mishra, Balkrishna Bhatta, Badrinarayan Chaudhuri and Sudhakar Dwivedi were other important writers of this phase.

The first Bengali book of prose was Ramram Basu’s Raja Pratapaditya Charita, published in 1801. The author later wrote another book Lipimala. In 1802, Batrisa Simhasana written by Mritunjaya Vidyalankar was published, the same writer also published three other books—Hitopadesh. Rajabali. (Vedanta chandrika) and Prabodh Chandrika.

Hari Narayan Apte’s (1864–1919) Madhali Sthiti was the first novel to be published in Marathi.

Solution: C

The Earl of Dalhousie

• Santhal Rebellion (1855) (15,000 Santhals were killed by the British Army during the rebellion. Elephants were used to destroy Santhal Dwellings).

The Viscount Canning

1. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (on 1 November 1858) and The Government of India Act, 1858[10]
2. System of Budget was introduced
3. Formation of Imperial Civil Services
4. Indigo Revolt in Bengal in 1859–60
5. White mutiny by the European troops in 1859
6. Enactment of Indian Penal Code in 1860
7. Indian High Courts Act 1861
8. Indian Councils Act, 1861
9. Indian Civil Service Act, 1861
10. Police Act, 1861[11]
11. Establishment of Archaeological Survey of India in 1861
12. Introduced Portfolio System which gave foundation for Cabinet System
13. Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856 (The law was drafted by The Earl of Dalhousie)
14. Indian Rebellion of 1857
15. University of Calcutta, University of Bombay, and University of Madras were set up in 1857

Solution: B

• First Famine Commission (1880):
  • After the famine of 1876-78 Government of India appointed first Famine Commission in 1778 under John Strachey, which submitted its Report in 1880.
  • It formulated general principles of famine-relief policy and suggested preventive and protective measures for famine relief.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Third Famine Commission (1901): The famine of 1899-1900 led to appointment of Third Famine Commission in 1901 under Antony MacDonell. It emphasized moral strategy of putting heart into famine-affected people and building up their will-power by rendering assistance to them immediately after danger of famine is scented.

Woodhead Commission (1944): The Bengal famine of 1943 led to appointment of Woodhead Commission. It recommended creation of All-India Food Council, monopoly procurement and distribution of food grains through a chain of fair-price shops, etc.

Solution: B

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played a major role in legalizing the widow remarriage, which led to enactment of Widow remarriage Act, 1956.

Jyotiba Phule formed Satya Shodak Samaj to focus on rights of depressed groups.

Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz was a politician and Muslim League activist. In 1935, she founded the Punjab Provincial Women’s Muslim League .

Solution: D

In Tamilnadu, Kasi Viswanatha Mudaliar was an adherent of the Brahmo Samaj and he wrote a play titled Brahmo Samaja Natakam to expound the ideas of the Samaj. He also wrote a tract in support of widow remarriage. In 1864, a Tamil journal titled Tathuva Bodhini was started for the cause of the Brahmo Samaja.

An off-shoot of the Brahmo Samaj, the Prarthana Samaj, was founded in 1867 in Bombay by Atmaram Pandurang (1823– 98). The Prarthana Samaj as an organization never had any great influence but its members, like M. G. Ranade (1852-1901), R. G. Bhandarkar, and K.T. Telang, were among the great leaders of nineteenthcentury Maharashtra and they became the
founders of the social reform movement in later years.

Pandita Ramabai was foremost among the Indian leaders who worked for the
emancipation of women. Ramabai started the Sharada Sadan (shelter for homeless) for the destitute widows with the help of Ranade and Bhandarkar. But soon she was accused of converting Hindu women to Christianity and hence had to shift her activities to Khedgoan near Poona. She established a Mukti Sadan (freedom house) there

Solution: D

Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati (23 April 1858 – 5 April 1922) was an Indian social reformer, a pioneer in the education and emancipation of women in India. She was the first woman to be accorded the titles of Pandita as a Sanskrit scholar and Sarasvati after being examined by the faculty of the University of Calcutta. She was one of the 10 women delegates of the Congress session of 1889

Pandita Ramabai founded Arya Mahila Samaj. The purpose of the society was to promote the cause of women’s education and deliverance from the oppression of child marriage. When in 1882 a commission was appointed by Government of India to look into education, Ramabai gave evidence before it.

Pandita Ramabai wrote the book ‘High-Caste Hindu Woman’.  This was also the first book that she wrote in English. Ramabai dedicated this book to Dr. Joshi, The High-Caste Hindu Woman-to be specific a Brahmin woman which showed the darkest aspects of the life of Hindu women, including child brides and child widows.

Rao Bahadur Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu (16 April 1848 – 27 May 1919) was a social reformer and writer of Andhra Pradesh, India One of the greatest reforms of Veeresalingam was to promote women’s education, which was considered to be a taboo in those days. In 1876, he started a journal called Viveka Vardhini and published articles about women’s issues of that era. The magazine was initially printed at Chennai (then Madras), but with his writings gaining popularity, he established his own press at Rajahmundry.

Solution: B

Stree Purush Tulana (or Comparison of Men and Women) was written by a
Maharashtrian housewife, Tarabai Shinde, as a protest against the double
standards of a male dominated society.

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, commonly known as Begum Rokeya, was a Bengali feminist thinker, educator and political activist from British India. She is widely regarded as a pioneer of women’s liberation in South Asia.

Her major works include Matichur (A String of Sweet Pearls, 1904 and 1922), a collection of essays in two volumes expressing her feminist thoughts; Sultana’s Dream (1905), a feminist science fiction novella set in Ladyland ruled by women; Padmarag (“Essence of the Lotus”, 1924) depicting the difficulties faced by Bengali wives and Abarodhbasini (The Confined Women, 1931), a spirited attack on the extreme forms of purdah that endangered women’s lives and self-image.

Answer: A

The passage tells digital transformation is happening but yet there are many gaps, if they are bridged the SA can embrace prosperity. SAARC is a fact that cannot be considered, C is very narrow and D is not the central theme, here there is no information that rich are becoming richer, there is mention of inequality though.

Answer: B) 550

Explanation:

Total P2 products produced =

(160+140+160+90) = 550

Answer: A) 135

Explanation:

Average units of P1 produced =

(110+160+130+140)/4 = 135

Answer: C) L4 and L2

Explanation:

Location wise production =

L1 = 400

L2 = 410

L3 = 380

L4 = 410

Answer: D) 5.9%

Explanation:

Units of P1 = 540

Units of P3 = 510

Approx percentage = (540-510)/