Daily Prelims Practise Questions (PPQs) – October 18 2023

Questions

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

Q1. {Polity – IC} Which of the following rights are protected under the Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution:

1. Right to Privacy
2. Right to Marry
3. Right to have a decent urban environment
4. Right to livelihood
5. Right to live with human dignity

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

1. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
2. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
3. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
4. All of the above

Q2. {Vulnerable Sections – Women} Consider the following statements regarding the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 (SRA 2021):

1. Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 defines surrogacy as a practice whereby one woman bears and gives birth to a child for an intending couple and intends to hand over the child to them after the birth.
2. All married couples without a child are eligible as an intending couple.
3. Unmarried women are eligible to opt for surrogacy under the act. However, the Transgender community is not eligible.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Q3. {IE – Employment} Consider the following statements regarding the “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)”:

1. “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)” is conducted under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It aims to provide yearly estimates for both rural and urban regions.
3. Usual status unemployment rates will always be lower than the Current weekly status.

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

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Q4. {Envi – Initiatives} Consider the following statements ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)’ Movement:

1. The idea of LiFE was introduced by India and France during the 15^th United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
2. The program hopes to mobilise one billion Indians and people in other countries to become individuals who practice sustainable lifestyles.
3. It has set binding targets to reduce Land degradation and desertification.

1. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. Only 1
   2. Only 2
   3. Only 3
   4. All of the above

Q5. {Social Secor – Poverty} Consider the following statements regarding ‘International Day for the Eradication of Poverty’:

1. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated annually by the United Nations.
2. The theme for 2023 was “Empowering Communities for Poverty Reduction”.

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

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

Q6. {Envi – Initiatives} Consider the following statements regarding Ecomark Scheme:

1. Ecomark (or Eco Label) is a voluntary labelling of consumer products meeting Indian environmental criteria and quality standards.
2. The Ecomark Scheme is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
3. An earthen pot is the logo of Ecomark, signifying the usage of renewable resources, like clay, which consumes less energy and has hazardous waste.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Q7. {Vulnerable Sections – STs} Who is the final authority to decide the inclusion of a community in the ST list?

1. The President’s office
2. Registrar General of India
3. Union Cabinet
4. Indian Parliament

Questions With Solution and Explanation

Q1. {Polity – IC} Which of the following rights are protected under the Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution:

1. Right to Privacy
2. Right to Marry
3. Right to have a decent urban environment
4. Right to livelihood
5. Right to live with human dignity

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

1. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
2. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
3. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
4. All of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India: In 2017, the Supreme Court highlighted that the Right to privacy comes under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Recently, The five-judge Constitution Bench unanimously agreed that the Right to marry is not a fundamental right.

Statement 3 is correct

• In the MC Mehta vs UOI case, the Supreme Court decided that Large-scale misuse of residential space for commercial purposes violates the Right to have a decent urban environment. In this case, Article 21 is read with Articles 48A and 51A (g).

Statement 4 is correct

• In the Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation case, the Supreme Court judgement provided that the pavement dwellers have the Right to Livelihood, considered in the sweep of the Right to Life.
• The petitioners lived in the slums not by choice but because of involuntary acts; it did not include a mala fide intent and thus was not a Criminal trespass.

Statement 5 is correct.

• In the Maneka Gandhi case, the SC gave a new direction to Article 21 and said that the Right to live is not merely a physical right but includes the ambit of the Right to live with human dignity.

Answer: (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

Q2. {Vulnerable Sections – Women} Consider the following statements regarding the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 (SRA 2021):

1. Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 defines surrogacy as a practice whereby one woman bears and gives birth to a child for an intending couple and intends to hand over the child to them after the birth.
2. All married couples without a child are eligible as an intending couple.
3. Unmarried women are eligible to opt for surrogacy under the act. However, the Transgender community is not eligible.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• SRA 2021 defines surrogacy as a practice whereby one woman bears and gives birth to a child for an intending couple and intends to hand over the child to them after the birth

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Not all married couples are eligible as intending couples under the act. Eligibility of Intending couples, who are Married individuals aged 23-50 for females and 26-55 for males are as follows,
  • They have no surviving child biologically or through adoption or surrogacy.
  • They have medical conditions necessitating surrogacy.
  • They must be genetically related to the surrogate baby

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The act completely excludes unmarried women, single men, and LGBTQ+.
• The provision that unmarried women cannot opt for surrogacy under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 has been challenged in the Delhi High Court recently.

Answer: (a) Only one

Q3. {IE – Employment} Consider the following statements regarding the “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)”:

1. “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)” is conducted under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It aims to provide yearly estimates for both rural and urban regions.
3. Usual status unemployment rates will always be lower than the Current weekly status.

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

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Statement 2 is correct

• The PLFS aims to provide annual estimates of employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ and ‘Current Weekly Status’ in both rural and urban areas.

Statement 3 is correct

• The ‘Usual Status’ unemployment measure estimates the number of persons who remained unemployed for most of the year, giving the lowest unemployment estimates.
• On the other hand, ‘Current Weekly Status (CWS)’ measures unemployment for one week.
• Usual status unemployment rates will always be lower than CWS rates because there is a greater probability that an individual would find work over a year compared to a week.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Q4. {Envi – Initiatives} Consider the following statements ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)’ Movement:

1. The idea of LiFE was introduced by India and France during the 15^th United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
2. The program hopes to mobilise one billion Indians and people in other countries to become individuals who practice sustainable lifestyles.
3. It has set binding targets to reduce Land degradation and desertification.

1. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. Only 1
   2. Only 2
   3. Only 3
   4. All of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The idea of LiFE was introduced by India during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.

Statement 2 is correct.

• The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle focusing on ‘mindful and deliberate utilisation’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption.
• The program hopes to mobilise one billion Indians and people in other countries to become individuals who practice sustainable lifestyles.
• It will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.
• It aims to replace the ‘use & dispose’ economy with a circular economy of ‘reduce, reuse & recycle’.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• It does not set any binding targets and is an entirely voluntary initiative.
• It plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3).

Answer: (b) Only 2

Q5. {Social Secor – Poverty} Consider the following statements regarding ‘International Day for the Eradication of Poverty’:

1. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated annually by the United Nations.
2. The theme for 2023 was “Empowering Communities for Poverty Reduction”.

How many 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

• The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated annually on October 17^th by the United Nations.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The 2023 theme was “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All”.
• As of the end of 2022, 8.4% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty.

Answer: (a) 1 only

Q6. {Envi – Initiatives} Consider the following statements regarding Ecomark Scheme:

1. Ecomark (or Eco Label) is a voluntary labelling of consumer products meeting Indian environmental criteria and quality standards.
2. The Ecomark Scheme is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
3. An earthen pot is the logo of Ecomark, signifying the usage of renewable resources, like clay, which consumes less energy and has hazardous waste.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Ecomark (or Eco Label) is a voluntary labelling of consumer products meeting Indian environmental criteria and quality standards. GoI launched the Eco Mark Scheme in 1991.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Ecomark Scheme is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) (the national body for standards and certification).

Statement 3 is correct

• An earthen pot is the logo of Ecomark, signifying the usage of renewable resources, like clay, which consumes less energy and does not have hazardous waste.

Answer: (b) Only two

Q7. {Vulnerable Sections – STs} Who is the final authority to decide the inclusion of a community in the ST list?

1. The President’s office
2. Registrar General of India
3. Union Cabinet
4. Indian Parliament

Explanation

Statement (a) is correct; statements (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect

• The state government will have to send the latest anthropological and ethnographic reports supporting the inclusion of a community (e.g., Meitei) in the ST list.
• The Tribal Affairs Ministry will send this to the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI).
• On the approval of the RGI, the file will be sent to the National Commission for STs (NCST).
• If the Office of the RGI and NCST approve, the Tribal Affairs Ministry prepares a Cabinet note.
• Once the Cabinet approves, the change will have to be passed by Parliament, after which the President notifies the revised ST list.
• Therefore, the final decision rests with the President’s office issuing a notification specifying the changes under powers vested in it from Articles 341 and 342.
• The Parliament has the Ultimate Authority, while the President has the Final Authority.

Answer: (a) The President’s Office