December 02 2023 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Questions

• The questions below are based on PMF IAS Daily Current Affairs – December 2023.

Q1. {MoHFW – Schemes} The Tele Manas Scheme, recently seen in the news, is related?

1. Prevention of domestic violence
2. Provide free mental health services
3. Prevention of child trafficking
4. Helpline number for child labour prevention

Q2. {Polity – IC – Judiciary} Consider the following statements:

1. The idea of a centralized judicial service was first deliberated by the Law Commission.
2. All India Judicial Services (AIJS) seeks to centralize the recruitment of judges at the level of additional district judges and district judges for all states.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3. {Governance – Schemes} Consider the following statements regarding Scheme for Drones to Women SHGs:

1. It is a Central Sponsored Scheme that aims to provide Drones to all women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across India.
2. A member of each SHG, who is deemed well-qualified and above 21 years of age, will be selected by LFCs (Lead Fertilizer Companies) and National Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLM) for a 15-day training.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4. {Geo – EG} Consider the following statements about natural gas:

1. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that primarily consists of methane.
2. Natural gas is always found in association with crude oil.
3. Natural gas can be stored in depleted hydrocarbon wells.
4. GAIL, India’s largest Natural Gas Company, is a Miniratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q5. {Envi – Initiative} Consider the following regarding the Green Credit Programme:

1. The Green Credit Programme is a mandatory mechanism launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
2. It gives carbon credits based on the reduction of carbon emissions.
3. It is an initiative within the GoI’s broader Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement.
4. The Central Pollution Control Board shall administer the Green Credits Programme.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q6. {Agri – Safety} Consider the following statements about the Codex Alimentarius Commission:

1. Codex Alimentarius Commission is an international food safety and quality standard-setting body.
2. It was established in 1963 by the WHO
3. The Codex Alimentarius (or Food Code) are globally accepted standards, guidelines, and practices to safeguard consumer health.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None of these

Q7. {Misc. – Awards} Consider the following statements about Lgion d’Honneur:

1. Lgion d’Honneur is the highest French civilian and military award.
2. It has been awarded to two Indian prime ministers till now.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Questions with their Answers and Explanation.

Q1. {MoHFW – Schemes} The Tele Manas Scheme, recently seen in the news, is related?

1. Prevention of domestic violence
2. Provide free mental health services
3. Prevention of child trafficking
4. Helpline number for child labour prevention

Explanation

• Tele MANAS Scheme is an initiative under the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), announced in Budget 2022-23.
• Objective: To provide free tele-mental health services across India, round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas.
• Target: To open at least one Tele-MANAS Cell in each State/UT.
• Implementing Agency: NIMHANS (apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in India).
  • Technology support by International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB)
  • Technical Support by IIT Bengaluru and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC).
• Pan India Toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) has been set up allowing callers to select the language of choice for availing services.

Answer: (b) Provide free mental health services | Difficulty Level: Easy

Q2. {Polity – IC – Judiciary} Consider the following statements:

1. The idea of a centralized judicial service was first deliberated by the Law Commission.
2. All India Judicial Services (AIJS) seeks to centralize the recruitment of judges at the level of additional district judges and district judges for all states.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The idea of a centralized judicial service was first deliberated in the Law Commission’s 1958 ‘Report on Reforms on Judicial Administration’.
• The idea was proposed again in the Law Commission Report of 1978, which discussed delays and arrears of cases in the lower courts.

Statement 2 is correct

• Article 312 (2) states that the AIJS cannot include any post inferior to that of a district judge, as defined in Article 236.
• AIJS seeks to centralize the recruitment of judges at the level of additional district judges and district judges for all states.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2 | Difficulty Level: Medium

Q3. {Governance – Schemes} Consider the following statements regarding Scheme for Drones to Women SHGs:

1. It is a Central Sponsored Scheme that aims to provide Drones to all women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across India.
2. A member of each SHG, who is deemed well-qualified and above 21 years of age, will be selected by LFCs (Lead Fertilizer Companies) and National Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLM) for a 15-day training.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanations

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected Women SHGs during the period 2023-24 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme where 80% of the cost of the drone will be provided by the union government.
• Accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh will be provided to women SHGs for them to purchase drones.
• The scheme approves holistic interventions by converging the resources and efforts that includes:
  • Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW),
  • Department of Rural development (DoRD),
  • Department of Fertilizers (DoF) and
  • Women SHGs and lead fertiliser companies (LFCs).

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Clusters will be identified where the use of drones is economically feasible and the women SHGs across various states will be selected from these identified clusters.
• The cluster level federation (CLFs) will be created which will help the SHGs to raise the balance amount (total cost of procurement minus subsidy).
• A member of each SHG, who is deemed well-qualified and above 18 years of age, will be selected by LFCs and state rural livelihood missions (SRLM) for a 15-day training.
• This will include a five-day mandatory drone pilot training and a ten-day training in nutrients and pesticides application.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2 | Difficulty Level: Medium (Factual)

Q4. {Geo – EG} Consider the following statements about natural gas:

1. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that primarily consists of methane.
2. Natural gas is always found in association with crude oil.
3. Natural gas can be stored in depleted hydrocarbon wells.
4. GAIL, India’s largest Natural Gas Company, is a Miniratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Natural gas is a fossil fuel that primarily consists of methane.
• It contains small amounts of other hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.
• It also contains nonhydrocarbon gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Types of Natural Gas
• Wet gas or Associated gas: Natural gas found in association with crude oil.
• Dry gas or Non-associated gas: When reservoirs contain only gas and no oil.
• Coalbed methane: Natural gas found in coal deposits.
• Shale gas or Tight gas: Natural gas that occurs in the pores of shale, sandstone, and other sedimentary rocks.

Statement 3 is correct

• Methods for Storing Natural Gas
• Underground storage: Utilizing depleted gas fields, salt caverns, and other geological formations.
• Above-ground storage: Utilizing specially designed tanks for smaller-scale storage.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• GAIL is India’s largest Natural Gas Company, founded in 1984.
• It is one of the seven Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under GoI.
• It is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Answer: (b) Only Two | Difficulty Level: Medium

Q5. {Envi – Initiative} Consider the following regarding the Green Credit Programme:

1. The Green Credit Programme is a mandatory mechanism launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
2. It gives carbon credits based on the reduction of carbon emissions.
3. It is an initiative within the GoI’s broader Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement.
4. The Central Pollution Control Board shall administer the Green Credits Programme.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Green Credit Programme (GCP) was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• It incentivises voluntary environmental actions of individuals, communities, and private industries.
• It will allow an individual or entity to earn Green Credit and trade it on a dedicated exchange.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• GCP is an effort to create a market-based incentive for various environment-positive actions, not just for carbon emission reductions.

Statement 3 is correct

• GCP is an initiative within the GoI’s broader Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education shall administer GCP.

Answer: (c) Only three | Difficulty Level: Tough (Very factual)

Q6. {Agri – Safety} Consider the following statements about the Codex Alimentarius Commission:

1. Codex Alimentarius Commission is an international food safety and quality standard-setting body.
2. It was established in 1963 by the WHO
3. The Codex Alimentarius (or Food Code) are globally accepted standards, guidelines, and practices to safeguard consumer health.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None of these

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an international food safety and quality standard-setting body.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• CAC was established in 1963 by the FAO and the WHO.

Statement 3 is correct

• The Codex Alimentarius (or Food Code) are globally accepted standards, guidelines, and practices to safeguard consumer health and promote fairness in the food trade.

Answer: (b) Only two| Difficulty Level: Easy

Q7. {Misc. – Awards} Consider the following statements about Lgion d’Honneur:

1. Lgion d’Honneur is the highest French civilian and military award.
2. It has been awarded to two Indian prime ministers till now.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Lgion d’Honneur is the highest French civilian and military award.
• Lgion d’Honneur (the Legion of Honour) was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
• It is awarded by the French Republic for exceptional service to France, regardless of the recipient’s nationality.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• French President Macron has awarded PM Modi the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
• He is the first Indian premier to receive this honour.

Answer: (a) 1 only | Difficulty Level: Easy