DAY – 72 (InstaTest-72): Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2023: Topic – MODERN INDIA, PREVIOUS YEAR UPSC PAPER 2020, April 2023 CA

Solution: C

The six systems are usually coupled in pairs: Samkhya (based on intellectual knowledge) and Yoga (on control of the senses and inner faculties); the Vaisesika (the experimental point of view based on sensory experience) and the Nyaya (logical view based on dialectics); Vedanta (based on metaphysical speculation) and Mimamsa (deistic and ritualistic point of view based on the sacred texts). The second system of each pair is more a methodology than a metaphysical school. There are also other systems such as the Saiva Siddhanta lying outside the traditional six systems.

Solution: D

National Investigation Agency (NIA):

• It was constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reviews the manpower, financial and infrastructure requirements of NIA from time to time.
• It is a central agency to investigate and prosecute offenses:

1. Affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India
2. Security of State
3. Friendly relations with foreign States.
4. Against atomic and nuclear facilities.
5. Smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency.

• It implements international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organizations.
• Its objective is to combat terror in India.
• It acts as the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Branches: Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur and Jammu.
• The cases are assigned to the NIA by the Central Government in accordance with section VI of the NIA Act, 2008.
• The investigation of the cases is done by the Agency independently, cases are then placed before the NIA Special Court.
• For prosecuting the accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and certain other scheduled offenses, the Agency seeks the sanction of the Central Government. The sanction is granted under the UAPA based on the report of the ‘Authority’ constituted under section 45 (2) of the UAPA.
• The amendments to the NIA Act has brought the offences related to the smuggling in High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency under the definition of a terrorist Act.
• To curb various aspects of terrorist financing, a Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been created in the NIA.
• The Central Government for the trial of Scheduled Offenses, constitutes one or more Special Courts under Section 11 and 22 of the NIA Act 2008.
• The Special Court shall be presided over by a judge to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Solution: A

The name of Kalidasa, the most celebrated Indian poet (who is believed to have flourished in the reign of Candragupta II, but whose best works were written perhaps during the reign of Kumaragupta I) stands high in the realm of Sanskrit lyrics. His Meghaduta is the finest work.

The Ghatakarpara-Kavya written by Ghatakarpara (who was supposed to be one of the navaratnas in the court of Candragupta II), is another lyric poem of repute. Bhartruhari, assigned to the 7th century AD, has to his credit the three Satakas, viz., the Sringarasataka, the Nitisataka and the Vairagy-asataka. The Amarusataka is also a very popular lyric poem written by Amaru, verses from which have been frequently quoted in contemporary and later works on Sanskrit poetics.

Solution: B

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved a new centrally sponsored scheme – PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India). This will be a new scheme for development of more than 14500 schools across the country as PM SHRI Schools by strengthening select existing schools being managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies. PM SHRI Schools will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020, act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity. The PM SHRI schools will deliver quality teaching for the cognitive development of students and will strive to create and nurture holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21^st century skills.

Scheme of PM SHRI  schools (PM ScHools for Rising India) is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs. 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.

Key features

•  PM SHRI will provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.
• PM SHRI Schools will provide leadership to other schools in their respective regions by providing mentorship.
• The PM SHRI  Schools will be developed as Green schools, incorporating environment friendly aspects like solar panels and LED lights, nutrition gardens with natural farming, waste management, plastic free, water conservation and harvesting, study of traditions/practices related to protection of environment, climate change related hackathon and awareness generation to adopt sustainable lifestyle.
• Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly, in the foundational years) inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable.
• Focus will be on learning outcomes of every child in every grade. Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based.
• Assessment of the resources available and their effectiveness in terms of availability, adequacy, appropriateness, and utilisation for each of the domains and their key performance indicators will be done and gaps will be filled in a systematic and planned manner.
• Linkage with Sector Skill Councils and local industry for enhancing employability and providing better employment opportunities will be explored.
• A School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) is being developed, specifying the key performance indicators to measure outcomes. Quality evaluation of these schools at regular interval will be undertaken to ensure the desired standards.

Solution: C

AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously. The payloads cover the energy bands of Ultraviolet (Near and Far), limited optical and X-ray regime (0.3 keV to 100keV). One of the unique features of AstroSat mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.

Solution: B

Ghazal

Ghazals are commonly described as the “pride of Urdu poetry”. A ghazal is more a poetic form than a musical form. The poem in ghazals, known in Persian as qasida, used to be written in praise of a king, a benefactor or a nobleman in Iran in the 10th Century AD. Ghazals are never more than 12 shers (couplets) in their composition and on an average usually have about seven shers. In northern India ghazals began with Amir Khusrau, whereas Deccan was its home in the early stages. The patronage of Shia rulers of Golconda and Bijapur helped ghazals develop and evolve in their courts. The 18th and 19th centuries are regarded as the period of excellence of ghazal with Delhi and Lucknow being the main centres of excellence.

Solution: A

San Janv or São João is an annual Catholic festival celebrated on June 24 in Goa : After Mass, young Goan Catholic men leap into and swim in local wells, streams and ponds as a tribute to St. John the Baptist.

Background

The feast of São João is a celebration of the birthday of St. John the Baptist. St. John was the son of St. Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This feast is celebrated on 24 June. The significance of this date is that it falls three months after the feast of the Annunciation (25 March). At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear a son (Jesus), and that Elizabeth was already six months pregnant with a son (Luke 1:36). Mary visited Elizabeth, and when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby St. John ‘leapt’ in her womb (Luke 1:44).[1] The Annunciation itself occurs nine months before Christmas, the feast of Jesus’ birth.

Solution: A

About UN Habitat:

• The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development.
• It was established in 1978 as an outcome of the First UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976.
• It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
• UN-Habitat reports to the United Nations General Assembly.
• It has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Solution: A

Gen Next Democracy Network:

• It was a programme conducted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations
• Delegates from six countries- Ghana, Bangladesh, Peru, Nepal, Brunei and Norway participated in it.
• Youth from democratic countries come to India under the programme. During the programme, they get acquainted with India’s heritage, culture and functioning of Indian democracy.

About ICCR:

• It is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India.
• It was founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India.

Solution: D

Sela Macaque:

A new species of old-world monkey recorded from Arunachal Pradesh has been named after Sela Pass.

• The New Species has been named Sela Macaque.
• Selaa pass is a strategic mountain pass at 13,700 ft above sea level.
• Sela macaque as genetically closer to the Arunachal macaque.

However, Sela macaque has a tail longer than the Tibetan macaque, Assamese macaque, Arunachal macaque and the white-cheeked macaque but shorter than the bonnet macaque and toque macaque.

Solution: D

About the West Nile Virus:

• It is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family
• It is a single-stranded RNA virus.
• It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937.
• It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
• Older people, children and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

Transmission:

It spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected Culex mosquito.

Solution: C

About ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

Established in 2008, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) comprises the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and meets at least twice a year to prepare for the ASEAN Summit. The ACC coordinates the implementation of the mandate of ASEAN Leaders and all cross-pillar initiatives of ASEAN.

Solution: C

Who is Narayan Guru?

Sree Narayana Guru was a catalyst and leader who reformed the oppressive caste system that prevailed in society at the time.

• He was born in 1856 in Chempazhanthy, a village near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Belong to the Ezhava caste, Narayan Guru had experienced discrimination from the upper caste of society.
• His philosophy always advocated social equality, education for all, and spiritual enlightenment.

Significant Contribution for Society:

• He gave the famous slogan “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu).
• In 1888, Narayana Guru consecrated the first temple of Lord Shiva, where an idol was ordinated by a non-brahmin in Aruvippuram village of Kerala.
• His step sparked off the anti-caste revolution against the upper-caste Brahmin communities.
• In one temple he consecrated at Kalavancode, he kept mirrors instead of idols. This symbolized his message that the divine was within each individual.
• In 1903, he established the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) as the founder and president.
• He had set up more than 40 temples across the state as an act of protest to permit lower caste people to enter temples.

Contribution to National Movement:

• He was in the forefront of the movement for universal temple entry and against the societal ills like the social discrimination of untouchables.
• He provided the impetus for Vaikom agitation which was aimed at temple entry in Travancore for the lower castes.
• He captured the essence of Indianness in his poems which highlighted the unity that lies beneath the world’s apparent diversity.

Philosophy of Sree Narayana Guru:

• Sree Narayana Guru became one of the greatest proponents and re-evaluators of Advaita Vedanta, the principle of non-duality put forward by Adi Shankara.
• In 1913, he founded the Advaita Ashram at Aluva. This was an important event in his spiritual quest.
• This Ashram was dedicated to a great principle – Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra (all men are equal in the eyes of God).

Solution: B

About the law commission of India:

It is an executive body established by an order of the Government of India.

• Originally formed in 1955, the commission is reconstituted every three years and so far, 277 reports have been submitted to the government.
• The last Law Commission, under Justice B.S. Chauhan (retd.), had submitted reports and working papers on key issues such as simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies and a uniform civil code.

Composition:

• Apart from having a full-time chairperson, the commission will have four full-time members, including a member-secretary.
• Law and Legislative Secretaries in the Law Ministry will be the ex-officio members of the commission.
• It will also have not more than five part-time members.
• A retired Supreme Court judge or Chief Justice of a High Court will head the Commission.

Solution: B

First Movers Coalition:

India recently joined a global public-private partnership initiative called the First Movers Coalition.

• The initiative was launched by President of the USA Joe Biden and the World Economic Forum (WEF) at COP26.
• The coalition seeks to decarbonize the heavy industry and long-distance transport sectors that are responsible for 30 percent of global emissions.

Solution: B

Chaukhandi Stupa, an ancient Buddhist site located in Saranath, Uttar Pradesh, has been declared as a Monument and Protected Area of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

It was built to mark the place where Lord Buddha met his first disciples as he traveled from Bodhgaya to Sarnath.

Solution: C

Both the statements given above are correct.

Thanjavur painting is a classical South Indian painting style, which was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur (anglicized as Tanjore) and spread across the adjoining and geographically contiguous Tamil country.

The art form draws its immediate resources and inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art—chiefly, classical dance and music—as well as literature, both in Telugu and Tamil and painting of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples.

It is distinguished by its famous gold coating.

The paintings are mostly of Gods and Goddesses because this art of painting flourished at a time when fine-looking and striking temples were being constructed by rulers of several dynasties.

Solution: B

• The earliest reference to music was found in the works of Panini (500 BC), while the first reference to musical theory was made in Rikpratisakhya (400 BC). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• A fourth century AD creation, Natya Sastra, by Bharata, which is apparently the first work that clearly elaborated the octave and divided it into 22 keys, contained a few chapters on music.
• Natya Sastra was followed by the next major work on music, Dathilam.
  • This not only endorsed the existence of the 22 srutis per octave, but also went on to suggest that these 22 srutis were the only ones a human body could make.
• Another musicologist of the 13th century AD, Sarangadeva (patronized by Yadava king Singhana), opined the same view in his famous work Sangeeta Ratnakara.
• Some of the other important works on Indian music were Brihaddesi (written in the 9th century AD) by Matanga, which defined the word ‘Raga’;
• Sangeeta Makaranda (written in the 11^th century AD) by Narada, which enumerated 93 Ragas and classified them into masculine and feminine species.

Solution: C

Jaina Philosophy

• Jainism shows a close affinity with Samkhya system of philosophy. It was called Syadvada.
• According to Syadvada (the theory of may be), seven modes of predication (saptabhangi) are possible.
  • Closely related to the Syadvada is Nayavada (the doctrine of view point’s), which shows the seven ways of approaching an object of knowledge or study.
  • The above two doctrines of Jainism are often together called the Anekantavada (the doctrine of many-sidedness).

• Jainism has a theory of reality also. According to it the world consists of two eternal, uncreated, coexisting but independent categories, namely the conscious (jiva) and the unconscious (ajiva).

Solution: B

ELLORA

Mural paintings in Ellora are found in five caves, but only in the Kailasa temple, they are somewhat preserved. The paintings were done in two series — the first, at the time of carving the caves and the subsequent series was done several centuries later. The earlier paintings show Vishnu and Lakshmi borne through the clouds by Garuda, with clouds in the background.

The sinewy figures have sharp features and pointed noses. The protruding eye typical of the later Gujarati style appears for the first time in Ellora. In the subsequent series, the main composition is that of a procession of Shaiva holy men. The flying Apsaras are graceful. Very few murals in the Jain temples are well preserved.

BAGH

The paintings of Bagh are executed in tempera. The ground prepared was a reddish-brown gritty and thick mud plaster laid out on the walls and ceilings. The mud plaster is not uniform in thickness but smoothes the rock surface for the painting. Over the plaster was lime-priming on which were executed paintings. Analyzing the technique Marshall writes, “At Bagh, as at Ajanta, the paintings are done in Tempera, not as has been often stated in Fresco and the process and colors employed at both places seems to be have been the same. At Bagh, however less care has been taken over the preparation of the first rough coat.”

Solution: A

Vesara Style

• The Vesara style is also known as the Chalukyan or Deccan style.
• Its beginnings may be traced back to the days of the early Chalukyan kings in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.
• This co-existence afforded an opportunity for a certain admixture of the ideas of the two, leading to the emergence under the later Chalukyan rulers, of a mixed or hybrid style.
• In this development, it is the Dravida, rather than the Nagara conception that played a comparatively more important role.
• The Chalukyan temple, like the Dravida, consists of two main features, the vimana and the mandapa, joined by an antarala, with occasionally, an additional open mandapa in front.
• In course of time, there is a marked tendency to compress the heights of the storeyed stages of the vimana.
• At the same time, ornamental niche motifs, repeated one above the other, up the ascent of the tower, simulate the vertical bands of the northern spire. Here is an evident inspiration from the Nagara sikhara.
• The Chalukyan temple presents an essential divergence from the Dravida in not having its sanctum cella enclosed within a covered ambulatory.
• The walls are broken up by ratha offsets in the characteristic Nagara fashion, further spaced at regular intervals by pilasters in accordance with the usual Dravida mode.

Solution: C

Main characteristics of Gupta sculptures

• While the sculptures of the Saka-Kushana period belonging to the Mathura school largely retained the volume and physicality of the earlier folk art, the Gupta sculptures, particularly those of the Sarnath school, though based on early traditions, are obviously indicative of a new aesthetic quality.
• The youthful human form became the pivot of Gupta sculpture, with the sculptors presenting the human form in different attitudes in accordance with the nature of the divine image which it was meant to represent.
• The idealized human form again with its delicate curves and nuances was shown to the fullest advantage with the help of almost transparent drapery.
• The human figure meant to represent various types of deities and its hands shown in a variety of poses (mudras) which were suggestive characterizations of their individual actions.
• The asanas (sitting postures) and the sthanaka bhangas (standing flexions of the body) also acquired distinctive variations which were now plastically rendered with graceful poise and spiritual elevation seldom attained in the later art of India.
• Sarnath was the nucleus from which the Gupta sculptural tradition spread out to various other parts of India

Solution: D

Sattriya

• The Sattriya dance form was evolved towards the end of the 15th century AD, when Vaishnava saint and reformer, Sankardeva (1449-1568) composed his dance drama and songs.
• The Sattriya dancers possess a number of hastas, choreographic patterns, distinctive costumes and a variety of masks.
• The music mostly depends upon the khol, cymbals, supporting raga, and other songs.
• It was introduced by Sankaradeva as a powerful medium for propagation of the Vaishnava faith.
• He integrated art and bhakti by creating a whole gamut of dance, drama and music for the upliftment of the Assamese society.
  • He created Sattriya Nritya as an accompaniment to the Ankiya Naat (a form of Assamese one-act plays devised by him), which were usually performed in the sattras, as Assam’s monasteries are called.
  • As the tradition developed and grew within the sattras, the dance form came to be called Sattriya Nritya.
• Today, although Sattriya Nritya has emerged from within the confines of the sattras to a much wider recognition, the sattras continue to use the dance form for ritualistic and other purposes for which it was originally created circa 500 years ago.

Solution: A

Sangita ratnakara

• Written by Sarangadeva (1210–47), it is one of the most important musicological texts from India.
• Both Hindustani and Carnatic schools regard it as a definitive text on Indian classical music.
• The text is also known as Saptadhyayi as it is divided into seven chapters.
  • The first six chapters deal with the various aspects of music and musical instruments while the last chapter deals with dance.
• The significant commentaries on the text include the Sangitasudhakara of Simhabhupala (1330) and the Kalanidhi of Kallinatha (1430).
• This work was written in the mid-13^th century. The author was attached to the court of Yadava King Singhana.

Solution: B

Konark Temple

• Konark Sun Temple, located in the East Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
• Built in 13^th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264). Its scale, refinement and conception represent the strength and stability of the Ganga Empire as well as the value systems of the historic milieu. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot. It is dedicated to the sun God. In this sense, it is directly and materially linked to Brahmanism and tantric belief systems.
• The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work.
• It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy and the rhythm of life all its wondrous variety.
• It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984.
• There are two rows of 12 wheels on each side of the Konark sun temple. Some say the wheels represent the 24 hours in a day and others say the 12 months.
• The seven horses are said to symbolize the seven days of the week.
• Sailors once called this Sun Temple of Konark, the Black Pagoda because it was supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks.
• Konârak is the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which originating in Kashmir during the 8th century, finally reached the shores of Eastern India.

Answer – Option C) 37%

Explanation –

→ No. of illiterate female from village B = 60 % (700) = 420

→ No. of illiterate from village B = (9/20)×2000=900

Therefore,

→ No. of illiterate male from village B = 900 – 420 = 480

→ No. of male from village B = 65 %( 2000) = 1300

→ % of male, who is illiterate from village B = (480/1300)×100 = 36.9 ≈ 37

Answer – Option B) 53%

Explanation –

→ No. of Literate from village A = (2/5)×750 = 300

→ No. of Literate from village B = (11/20)× 2000 = 1100

→ No. of Literate from village C = (13/1)× 1500 = 1300

→ No. of Literate from village D = (4/5)× 2750 = 2200

→ No. of Literate from village E = (1/4)× 2500 = 625

→ No. of Literate from village F = (11/30)× 3000 = 1100

→ Total no. of literate in all villages= 300 + 1100 + 1300 + 2200 + 625 + 1100 = 6,625

→ Total no. of people in all villages= 750 + 2000 + 1500 + 2750 + 2500 + 1100 = 12,500

→ % of literate people in all villages = (6625/12500)× 100 = 53 %

Answer – Option C) 330:527

Explanation –

→ Illiterate from village B = 2000 – 1100 = 900

→ Illiterate from village C = 1500 – 1300 = 200

→ Illiterate from village D = 2750 – 2200 = 550

→ Female from village A = 48% (750) = 360

→ Female from village E = 61% (2500) = 1525

→ Female from village F = 25% (3000) = 750

→ Ratio = (900 + 200 + 550) : (360 + 1525 + 750) = 1650 : 2635 = 330 : 527

Answer – Option D) Cannot be determined

Explanation –

→ Since we don’t have enough data for village F

→ We cannot determine the answer

Answer – Option A) 24.76%

Explanation –

→ Female from village A = 360

→ Female from village C = 825

→ Total = 1185

→ Female from village D = 825

→ Female from village F= 750

→ Total= 1575

→ Less% = [(1575–1185)/1575]×100

=(390/1575)×100=24.76 %