Daily Prelims Practice – DNS

29 09 22
Notes

THE HINDU
1. Centre extends free ration scheme for three months Page 01
2. ASI finds Buddhist caves, temples in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in M.P. PAGE 02
3. In nature’s warning signs, a nudge to riparian states PAGE 06
4. Eastern Command’s ex-chief Anil Chauhan is Chief of Defence Staff PAGE 10

INDIAN EXPRESS
1. Rediscovery of south Page 06
2. Bank of England-IMF Warning Page 25
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Practice MCQ
Which among the following statements related to National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 is correct?
(a) The NFSA seeks to provide food security to 75% of India’s population.
(b) All the food grains under the NFSA are provided at the same subsidised prices.
(c) The NFSA provides for maternity benefit of Rs 6000 to pregnant and lactating mothers.
(d) There is no provision of food security allowance under NFSA.

Answer: c
Explanation: The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 provides food and nutritional security by ensuring
access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices. Thus, it strengthens Article 21 enshrined in
Constitution.
NFSA Act, 2013: Salient Features
Coverage: Up to 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population (67% of total population)
Entitlement:
• Priority households: 5 kg/person/month
• Antyodaya households: 35 kg/household/month
Subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat, and coarse grains.
Nutritional Support: Meals for Pregnant women and lactating mothers (PWLM) and children (6 months-14
years).
Maternity Benefit of Rs 6000 for PMLM.
Women Empowerment: Eldest woman (18 years and above) considered as head of household for issuing ration
cards.
Grievance redressal at the District and State levels.
Accountability through social audits and Vigilance Committees.
Food Security Allowance in case of non-supply of food.

Prelims 2018
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following
statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised
food grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the
purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during
pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Practice MCQ
The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) issued by the IMF can be used for which among the following?
1. Held as part of Member country's forex reserves
2. Member Countries can sell a part or all their SDR allocations.
3. SDRs can be exchanged into other freely usable currencies.
4. SDRs can be used for the Increasing the IMF Quota.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
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(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: d
Explanation: The SDRs was created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an international reserve asset
in the year 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves. The SDR is a basket of 5 currencies- Dollar,
Euro, Pound, Yen and Yuan. The SDRs are allocated to member countries in proportion to their IMF quotas. Uses
of SDRs
• SDRs can be held as part of Forex Reserves
• SDRs can be exchanges into other freely usable currencies among themselves. (This signifies that SDR is
neither claim nor currency of IMF Rather, it is potential claim on freely usable currencies of IMF
members)
• IMF members can also use SDRs in their transactions with IMF such as repayment of loans, payment of
interest, payment for increasing their IMF quota and so on.
• Members can sell a part or all their SDR allocations.

Prelims 2022
“Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which of
the following:
(a) Asian Development Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
(d) World Bank

Consider the following pairs:

Sr. no. Caves Feature

1. Bhimbetka Caves Oldest rock art in India
2. Udayagiri caves Inscription of Chandragupta II
3. Karla Caves Largest Chaitya

How many pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) None of the above

Ans. (c)
All the three pairs are correct.
• The Bhimbetka Rock Shelter has the oldest-known rock art in India, as well as is one of the largest
prehistoric complexes to be seen.
• An archaeological treasure, Bhimbetka has around 243 rock shelters and have earned the honour of
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Udayagiri Caves are twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh from the early years of
the 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu and Jain temples and
iconography in India. They are the only site that can be verifiably associated with a Gupta period
monarch from its inscriptions. One of India's most important archaeological sites, the Udayagiri hills
and its caves are protected monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Udayagiri caves contain iconography of Jainism . They are notable for the ancient monumental relief
sculpture of Parshvanatha in his incarnation. The site has important inscriptions of the Gupta
dynasty belonging to the reigns of Chandragupta II (c. 375-415) and Kumaragupta I (c. 415-55).
• The Karla Caves are a complex of ancient Buddhist Indian rock-cut caves at Karli near Lonavala,
Maharashtra. The shrines were developed over the period – from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th
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century CE. The oldest of the cave shrines is believed to date back to 160 BCE, having arisen near a
major ancient trade route, running eastward from the Arabian Sea into the Deccan.
• The group at Karla is one of the older and smaller of the many rock-cut Buddhist sites in Maharashtra,
but is one of the best-known because of the famous "Grand Chaitya" (Cave 8), which is "the largest
and most completely preserved" chaitya hall of the period, as well as containing unusual quantities of
fine sculpture, much of it on a large scale.

PYQ 2013

1. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut, architecture, consider the following statements :
1. The caves at Badami are the 'oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, eaves were made for different faiths.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

In the context of international relations, a term, ‘Global South, sometimes seen in news is related to:

(a) Countries which lie in the Southern Hemisphere

(b) Countries which are less developed socio-economically, lying primarily outside the Europe and North
America.
(c) Countries which have the exclusive rights over the resources of Antarctica.
(d) Countries which border South Atlantic ocean

Answer- (b)
Explanation-
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The concept of Global North and Global South (or North–South divide in a global context) is used to describe a
grouping of countries along socio-economic and political characteristics. The Global South is a term often used
to identify regions within Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It is one of a family of terms, including
"Third World" and "Periphery", that denote regions outside Europe and North America, most (though not all)
of these countries are low-income and often politically or culturally marginalized on one side of the divide, the
other side being the countries of the Global North (often equated with developed countries). As such, the term
does not inherently refer to a geographical south; for example, most of the Global South is geographically
within the Northern Hemisphere.

UPSC PYQ 2015:

1. The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of

(a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
(b) India’s satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
(c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
(d) India’s underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region

ANSWER- (D)

upsc 2016

The term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership' often appears in the news in the context of the affairs
of a group of countries known as
(a) G20
(b) ASEAN
(c) SCO
(d) SAARC
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Practice question

Q. Consider the following statements and choose the correct answer

1. Brahmaputra is a transboundary river that flows through China and India only.
2. India and China share hydrological information throughout the year as per the MOU signed between
the two countries in 2013.

Choose the correct code

(a) Option 1 is correct only
(b) Option 2 is correct only
(c) Both the options are correct
(d) None of the above are correct

Answer (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 : The Brahmaputra also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo has its origin in Tibet (CHINA), enters
India from Arunachal Pradesh where it is known as Siang/Dihang River, Luit in Assam and at last enters into
Bangladesh where it is known as Jamuna. Thus Brahmaputra is a transboundary river which flows through
China, India, and Bangladesh.

Statement 2 : India and China share hydrological information only during the flood season i.e from June to
September as per the MOU signed between the two countries in 2013.
Further the MOU doesniot allow India to access urbanization and deforestation on the Chinese side of the river
basin.

PYQ (2017)

Q. With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements

1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim,
2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Consider the following statements:

1. The member judges of International court of Justice (ICJ) are nominated by the governments of member
states on rotation basis.
2. Verdict of ICJ is binding on the parties and there is no appellate mechanism provided.
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Which of the statements given above is/are true?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 Nor 2
Answer: B

Explanation:
Member judges of ICJ are elected with absolute majority in both UNGA and UNSC. All States parties to the
Statute of the Court have the right to propose candidates. Such proposals are made not by the government of
the State concerned, but by a group consisting of the members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
designated by that State. This is to ensure impartiality of the judges
• Verdict of ICJ is binding on the parties and there is no appellate mechanism provided. Member States can
approach the UN Security Council for matters relating to non-compliance with ICJ rulings

"Rule of Law Index" is released by which of the following? (2018)

a. Amnesty International
b. International Court of Justice
c. The Office of UN Commissioner for Human Rights
d. World Justice Project