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Question 61

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Who is the pioneer of ‘White Revolution’ in India?

  1. AOption (a)

    M. S. Swaminathan

  2. BOption (b)

    Verghese Kurien

  3. COption (c)

    Amrita Patel

  4. DOption (d)

    APJ Abdul Kalam

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Verghese Kurien

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Verghese Kurien.

  • Dr Verghese Kurien is known as the father of the White Revolution in India.

Key Points

  • The White Revolution in India, also known as Operation Flood was launched in the 1970s to make India self-dependent in milk production.
  • White Revolution is associated with a sharp increase in milk production.
  • Currently, India is the world’s largest milk producer. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana are the major milk-producing states in India. India is also the largest producer of buffalo milk in the world.
  • During 1964-65, the Intensive Cattle Development Programme (ICDP) was introduced in the country in which a package of improved animal husbandry was given to cattle owners for promoting the white revolution in the country.
  • Later on, to increase the speed of the white revolution, a new programme named “operation flood” was introduced in the country by the National Dairy Development Board.

Additional Information

  • Dr M. S. Swaminathan has been called the "Father of Green Revolution in India" for his role in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat in India.
  • He is the founder of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.
  • Dr Arun Krishnan and Dr Hirlal Chaudhuri is the father of Blue Revolution, which is related to the fish.
  • The concept of the rapid increase in the production of fish and marine products through package programmes is called as blue revolution.
  • Blue Revolution was launched in India during the Seventh Five-year plan (1985-1990) when the Central Government sponsored the Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA).
  • It has brought improvement in aquaculture by adopting new techniques of fish breeding, fish rearing, fish marketing, and fish export.

Question 62

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Which of the following companies had started a rural marketing network called e-Choupal?

  1. AOption (a)

    ITC

  2. BOption (b)

    Dabur

  3. COption (c)

    Proctor and Gamble

  4. DOption (d)

    Reliance

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

ITC

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is ITC

  • The ITC had started a rural marketing network called e-Choupal.

Key Points

  • e-Choupal is an India-based business initiative by ITC Limited that provides Internet access to rural farmers.
  • The purpose is to inform and empower them and, as a result, to improve the quality of agricultural goods and the quality of life for farmers.
  • e-Choupal is launched in June 2000 and already become the largest initiative among all Internet-based interventions in rural India.
  • Currently, the 'e-Choupal' website provides information to farmers across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Additional Information

  • ITC was incorporated in the year 1910 and originally called Imperial Tobacco Company of India Ltd.
  • Later, in 1970, it was rechristened to Indian Tobacco Company Ltd and in 1974, to ITC Ltd.
  • ITC started its Agri-Business division in 1990.
  • It was set up to leverage its agri-sourcing competency and also to support the export of agricultural commodities.

Question 63

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Which of the following pairs is wrong?

  1. AOption (a)

    Samkhya - Kapil Muni

  2. BOption (b)

    Vaisheshika - Kanad

  3. COption (c)

    Mimamsa - Shankaracharya

  4. DOption (d)

    Nyaya - Gautama

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Mimamsa - Shankaracharya

Why this answer is correct

The incorrect pair is Mimamsa - Shankaracharya.

Key Points

  • The Mimamsa Sutra or the Purva Mimamsa Sutras, written by Rishi Jaimini is one of the most important ancient Hindu philosophical texts.
  • It forms the basis of Mimamsa, the earliest of the six orthodox schools (Darshanas) of Indian philosophy.

Additional Information

  • Sage Kapila is traditionally known as a founder of the Samkhya school.
  • The Sanskrit philosopher Kanada Kashyapa (2nd–3rd century) expounded its theories and is credited with founding the Vaisheshika Philosophy.
  • Gautama Muni is the founder of Nyaya Philosophy.

Question 64

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Which of the following pairs is wrong?

  1. AOption (a)

    Kalaripayattu - Kerala

  2. BOption (b)

    Gatka - Punjab

  3. COption (c)

    Silambam - Karnataka

  4. DOption (d)

    Kathi Samu - Andhra Pradesh

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Silambam - Karnataka

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Silambam - Karnataka

Key Points

  • Silambam is a weapon-based Indian martial art from Tamil Nadu, but also traditionally practiced by the Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
  • It derives from the Tamil word Silam meaning "hill".
  • The Kannada word bamboo from which the English "bamboo" originates.

Additional Information

  • Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art indigenous to Kerala.
  • Kalaripayattu is specialization in indigenous medicinal practices and Kalaris are important centers of religious worship.
  • Gatka has its origins in the State of Punjab and this traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense and as a sport.
  • Gatka uses the sword as the main weapon, amongst others.
  • Kathi Samu is a martial art from Andhra Pradesh, was practiced by the royal armies.
  • Mallakhamba is a well-known sport across India and Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport.
  • Thang-Ta is a Manipur martial art that has passed into oblivion lately.

Question 65

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

‘Bahujan Hitay Bahujan Sukhay’ is the motto of ______.

  1. AOption (a)

    All India Radio

  2. BOption (b)

    Craft Council of India

  3. COption (c)

    Sahitya Akademi

  4. DOption (d)

    State Bank of India

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

All India Radio

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is All India Radio

  • All India Radio (AIR) has been serving to inform, educate and entertain the masses since it's inception, truly living up to its motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya: Bahujan Sukhaya’.

Key Points

  • The Prasar Bharati Board functions at the apex level ensuring formulation and implementation of the policies of the organization and fulfillment of the mandate in terms of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990.
  • The Executive Member functions as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation.
  • All India Radio (Prasar Bharati) Marketing offices located at Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Jallandhar, look after the marketing activities of both All India Radio and Doordarshan.
  • It aims to provide information, education and entertainment, for promoting the welfare and happiness of the masses (Bahujana Hitaya Bahujana Sukhaya).

Additional Information

  • The AIR is one of the largest public broadcasting organizations in the world.
  • It has 414 stations in 23 languages and broadcasts in 179 dialects.

Question 66

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Which of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India?

  1. AOption (a)

    Liberty of Thought

  2. BOption (b)

    Economic Liberty

  3. COption (c)

    Liberty of Expression

  4. DOption (d)

    Liberty of Belief

  5. EOption (e)

    None of the above/More than one of the above.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Economic Liberty

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Economic Liberty

  • Economic Liberty is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India.

Key Points

  • The objectives of the Preamble are to secure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.
  • The Preamble secures to all citizens of India liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship, through their Fundamental Rights, enforceable in the court of law, in case of violation.
  • Liberty is essential for the successful functioning of the Indian democratic system.
  • The preamble was amended by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976, in which three new words Socialist, Secular, and Integrity were added.
  • Sovereign means that India is an independent country and not a dominion of others.

Additional Information

  • Socialist states that the Indian version of socialism is democratic socialism unlike communism socialism i.e. involving nationalization of industry and abolition of private property.
  • In democratic socialism, the public and private sectors exist side by side.
  • Secular means that all religions irrespective of strength are having the same status and support from the state.
  • Democratic states that in India Supreme power is with the people.
  • India has indirect democracy where representatives of people exercise power on their behalf.
  • Indian democracy has social, political, and economic democracy.

Question 67

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Local self-government can be best explained as an effort in ______.

  1. AOption (a)

    Democratic centralisation

  2. BOption (b)

    Democratic decentralisation

  3. COption (c)

    Administrative delegation

  4. DOption (d)

    Administrative centralisation

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Democratic decentralisation

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Democratic decentralization

  • Local self-government can be best explained as an effort in Democratic decentralization.

Key Points

  • The first Municipal Corporation was set-up in the former Presidency town of Madras in 1688 and was followed by similar corporations in then Bombay and Calcutta in 1726.
  • Local self-government means that residents in towns, villages, and rural settlements are the hosts in their own homes.
  • People elect local councils and their heads authorizing them to solve the most important issues.
  • In order to provide for a common framework for urban local bodies and help to strengthen the functioning of the bodies as effective democratic units of self-government, Parliament enacted the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992 relating to municipalities in 1992.

Additional Information

  • A new part IX-A relating to the Municipalities has been incorporated in the Constitution to provide for among other things.
  • Constitution provides three types of Municipalities, i.e., Nagar Panchayats for areas in transition from a rural area to an urban area, Municipal Councils for smaller urban areas and Municipal Corporation for large urban areas, fixed duration of municipalities, the appointment of the state election commission, appointment of state finance commission and constitution of metropolitan and district planning committees.

Question 68

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

The Parliament can make law for whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties ______.

  1. AOption (a)

    With the consent of all the states

  2. BOption (b)

    With the consent of the majority of states

  3. COption (c)

    With the consent of the states concerned

  4. DOption (d)

    Without the consent of any state

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

Without the consent of any state

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is without the consent of any state.

The Parliament can make a law for the whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties without the consent of any state.

Key Points

  • The Constitution of India provides for a federal system of government of the country.
  • It has divided powers (legislative, executive, and financial) between the union and the states.
  • Articles 245 to 255 in Part XI of the Constitution deal with the legislative relations between the union and the states. Besides these, there are some other constitutional provisions dealing with the same subject.
  • The constitution empowers parliament to make laws on any matter in-state list under five extraordinary circumstances -
  • Rajya Sabha passes the resolution
  • National emergency
  • States make a request
  • To implement international agreements
  • During the president's rule
  • The Indian Constitution also divides the legislative powers between the center and the states with respect to both the territory and the subjects of legislation like any other Federal Constitution.
  • The Parliament can alone make ‘extra-territorial legislation’ thus the laws of the Parliament are applicable to the Indian citizens and their property in any part of the world.
  • Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, a state legislature may make laws for the whole or any part of the state to which it belongs.
  • It is not possible for a state legislature to enlarge its territorial jurisdiction under any circumstances, except when the boundaries of the state itself are widened by an act of the Parliament.

Question 69

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

Who of the following is authorised to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India?

  1. AOption (a)

    The President of India

  2. BOption (b)

    The Parliament of India

  3. COption (c)

    The Prime Minister of India

  4. DOption (d)

    The Union Finance Minister

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

The Parliament of India

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is The Parliament of India

The Parliament of India is authorized to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India

Key Points

There are three types of funds of the Central Government:

  1. Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266)
  2. Contingency Fund of India (Article 267)
  3. Public Accounts of India (Article 266)

Additional Information

  • This is the Government of India's main account.
  • Taxation such as income tax, customs taxes, and non-tax revenue, arising from the government's conduct of its business, are the inflows to the fund.
  • The funds also receive loans raised through the issue of treasury bills.
  • All expenses including repayments of loans from the fund will be paid by the Government.
  • Without Parliament's permission, no amount may be withdrawn from the Fund.
  • This fund is established under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, Article 266 (1).

Question 70

GPSC Engineering Services 2019• General Studies

In India, the first Municipal Corporation was set up in which of the following?

  1. AOption (a)

    Kolkata

  2. BOption (b)

    Chennai

  3. COption (c)

    Ahmedabad

  4. DOption (d)

    Vadodara

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Chennai

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Chennai.

  • The first such Municipal Corporation was set-up in the former Presidency Town of Madras (in present Chennai) in 1688, and was followed by similar corporations in then Bombay and Calcutta in 1726.

Key Points

  • The Municipal City Council and Municipal Corporation, which have been created by State enactments are controlled by the Government, which bodies also receive financial assistance from the Government.
  • It is well settled that Municipal Corporations are instrumentality or agency of the Government.
  • The Mayor is the head of the municipal corporation, but in most states and territories of India, the role is largely ceremonial as executive powers are vested in the Municipal Commissioner.

Additional Information

  • After the 74th Amendment of the Indian constitution was enacted there are only three categories of urban local bodies: Mahanagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation), Nagar Palika (Municipality), Nagar Panchayat (Notified Area Council or City Council).