Question :

Recently, “Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO)” is in news. Consider the following statements on CXO:

1. It is an Earth based Observatory that was named after Indian-American Astrophysicist Subrhamanyan Chandrashekhar.
2. It was a joint project of NASA and ISRO.
3. Its main function is to observe how solar plasma affects the Earth’s climatic conditions.

Choose the correct statement/s from the codes given below:

A. 1 & 2 only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 1, 2, 3

D. None of these

Answer : D

Explanation :

The Chandra X-ray Observatory was earlier called as “Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) that was launched in 1999 by NASA to study the black holes, supernovas and other sources of high energy phenomenon. Hence, statement 2 and 3 are incorrect. This observatory is a space based observatory rather than Earth based observatory.
What is the benefit of space based observatory compared to Earth based observatory?
The problem with the Earth based observatory is that Earth’s Atmosphere absorbs a vast majority of X-rays, thus it does not give us a clear picture of the Space phenomenon. So, space based observatory is preferred.
Why the question on this?
In the quiz dated 14th October, we have already highlighted that CXO went into the “Safe MODE” due to failure of its Gyroscope, but it has started functioning again. So, it became relevant from our Prelims point of view.
Note: Please read the usage of “Gyroscope” in satellites in the Quiz dated 14th October (Q.No-3)

Question :

"अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आतंकवाद पर एक व्यापक अभिसमय" (सीसीआईटी) के सम्बंध में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें:

1. यह 1996 में भारत द्वारा प्रस्तावित एक मसौदा था, जिसे इस बार संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा (यूएनजीए) द्वारा स्वीकार कर लिया गया है।
2. यह अच्छे आतंकवाद और बुरे आतंकवाद के बीच स्पष्ट रूप से अंतर करता है।
3. इस बार अमेरिका और उसके सहयोगियों द्वारा सीसीआईटी का समर्थन किया गया है।

नीचे दिए गए कूट से सही कथन का चयन करें:

A. केवल 1 और 2

B. केवल 2 और 3

C. 1, 2 और 3

D. उपरोक्त में से कोई नहीं

Answer : D

Explanation :

"अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आतंकवाद पर एक व्यापक अभिसमय" (सीसीआईटी) को 1996 में भारत द्वारा प्रस्तावित किया गया था। दो दशकों के बाद भी, संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा द्वारा इसे पारित नहीं किया गया है। यह मसौदा स्पष्ट रूप से अच्छे आतंकवाद और बुरे आतंकवाद के बीच अंतर नहीं करता और साथ ही अमेरिका और उसके सहयोगियों- इस्लामी सहयोग संगठन (ओआईसी) और लैटिन अमेरिकी देशों द्वारा सीसीआईटी का विरोध किया गया है।

प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए यह प्रश्न इतना महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है?
संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा में, हमारे विदेश मंत्री ने फिर से "आतंकवाद" को स्पष्ट शब्दों में परिभाषित करने की मांग उठाई, ताकि उचित समन्वय के साथ इसे प्रभावी ढंग से निपटाया जा सके। अतः इसकी महत्ता को देखते हुए हमने छात्रों का ध्यान इसके विस्तृत स्वरूप की आकृष्ट करने का प्रयास किया है।

Question :

The cause of pollution in Delhi is attributed to crop burning in neighbouring states and wind movement. Consider the following statements vis-à-vis pollution in Delhi:

1. The change in the wind direction from Northwesterly to Easterlies coincides with the burning season of crops and hence brings the particulate matter from states like Punjab and Haryana to Delhi.
2. Delhi already has high base pollution compared to neighbouring states.

Choose the correct statement/s from the codes given below:

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Both 1 & 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : B

Explanation :

• To understand the concept, students need to keep the Latitude of Delhi in mind (It is at approximately 28 degree North), which is slightly above the Tropic of Cancer.
• As the Monsoon and Easterly winds start to withdraw by the end of September, winds blowing in from the North-west direction become prevalent again. The change in (wind) direction from Easterly to North-westerly (Due to shift in the pressure belt during winters and withdrawal of Monsoon) coincides with the crop-burning season. And, it is this wind that brings the particulate matter from the neighbouring states to Delhi adding to the worries.
• If a student sees the option, he can easily eliminate the 1st statement as it says that during that crop burning season wind is Easterlies, how it can bring the particulate matter from Punjab or Haryana (They are not located to the East of Delhi). So, with simple knowledge of the location of the city, student could have arrived at the right answer.
• Compared to other neighbouring states, Delhi already has high Base pollution due to vehicular emissions, etc. So, only correct statement is 2.

Question :

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें:

1. "सांप्रदायिक अधिनिर्णय" में न केवल सिखों, एंग्लो-इंडियंस इत्यादि के लिए पृथक निर्वाचक मंडल की घोषणा की गई, बल्कि इसमें दलित वर्ग भी शामिल थे।
2. "पूना संधि" ने संयुक्त हिंदू निर्वाचक मंडल को बरकरार रखा लेकिन दलित वर्ग के लिए आरक्षित सीटों को रद्द कर दिया।
3. पूना संधि के सभी प्रावधानों को वेवेल योजना में शामिल किया गया था।

नीचे दिए गए कूट से सही कथन का चयन करें:

A. केवल 1

B. केवल 1 और 2

C. 1, 2, 3

D. केवल 3

Answer : A

Explanation :

ब्रिटिश प्रधानमंत्री रैमसे मैकडोनाल्ड ने ब्रिटिश भारत में सिखों, एंग्लो-इंडियंस, ईसाई इत्यादि के अलावा दलित वर्ग के लिए पृथक निर्वाचक मंडल की व्यवस्था प्रदान करने के लिए इसकी घोषणा की, जिसे "सांप्रदायिक अधिनिर्णय" / मैकडॉनल्ड्स पुरस्कार के रूप में जाना जाने लगा। मैकडॉनल्ड्स के इरादे को देखते हुए गांधीजी येरवदा जेल (पुणे) में उपवास पर बैठे जिससे उनकी स्वास्थ्य स्थिति बिगड़ गई। मद्रास के दलित नेता एम. सी. राजा और पंडित मदन मोहन मालवीय ने अम्बेडकर को गांधीजी के साथ एक समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर करने के लिए आश्वस्त किया जिसे "पूना संधि" के रूप में जाना जाने लगा।

पूना संधि की मुख्य विशेषताएं:
• दलित वर्ग के लिए पृथक निर्वाचक मंडल को संयुक्त निर्वाचक मंडल के साथ बदल दिया गया।
• मैकडॉनल्ड्स द्वारा आवंटित 71 सीटों के बदले, गांधीजी ने प्रांतीय विधानमंडल में दलित वर्ग के लिए 148 सीटें प्रदान कीं।
• केंद्रीय विधान सभा में कुल सीटों में से 18% दलित वर्ग के लिए आरक्षित थी।
समझौते के प्रावधान भारत सरकार अधिनियम, 1935 में शामिल किए गए थे। इसलिए, कथन 3 गलत है।

Question :

Consider the following statements about “Commercial Paper (CP)”:

1. It is a secured market instrument, whose maturity varies from 7days to 1 year.
2. CPs can be issued by Corporates, Primary Dealers and Financial Institutions.
3. Eligible participant must have A2 rating at the time of issuance.

Choose the correct statement/s from the codes given below:

A. 1 & 2 only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 1, 2, 3

D. 2 only

Answer : B

Explanation :

CPs is the unsecured money market instruments issued in the form of Promissory Note. It is a short term instrument whose maturity varies from 7days to 1 year. Hence, statement 1 stands incorrect (Our intention is to emphasise that CPs are Unsecured Loans). CPs can be issued by Corporates, Primary Dealers and Financial Institutions. Eligible participant must have A2 rating at the time of issuance. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Who can participate in CPs?
Banking companies, Mutual funds, other corporate bodies, FII, and NRIs can participate in CPs.
How CPs is related to IL & FS crisis?
If we look at the business model of IL&FS, we will find that they used to fund the projects which were of long term (15-20 years), so to fund those projects it used to borrow the money for 8-10 years, but three years back Banks stopped the refinancing of those funds and it turned towards CPs to meet the liquidity shortage, and from here the problem began, as the maturity period of these money market instruments was less than 1 year and IL&FS was having liquidity crunch, so it started defaulting on the payment and from here the small “Geyser” took the form of “Volcano”.
Note: Students need to understand that IL&FS per se has not done fraud as their loans amount to Rs 90,000 crores, but they do have asset of Rs 1.15 lakh crore, so this asset can be liquidated (as maximum of them are good assets). So, on broader sense, IL&FS crisis is the result of poor governance. This type of argument can be used in Mains answer writing.

Question :

“Triton Island”, a disputed one was recently in news. This Island belongs to -

A. Mediterranean Sea

B. Indian Ocean

C. Caribbean Sea

D. South China Sea

Answer : D

Explanation :

“Triton Island” is the most south-western of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. It is located on the south-west corner of Triton Reef and has an area of 7 hectares above sea-level. The reef including the Island measures about 120 hectares. The Island is administered by the People's Republic of China, and is also claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.
Why the question on this Island?
In July 2017, the guided missile destroyer USS Stethem navigated within 12 miles of Triton Island as part of a FONOP (Freedom of Navigation Operation). In a recent meeting held between China and US, this issue was also highlighted, so we have framed a question on this.

Question :

Recently, India has been elected to UNHRC. Consider the following statements about UNHRC:

1. It is a 47 member body within UN System, whose members are elected by UN Security Council (UNSC).
2. Seats are allocated on the basis of geographical distribution, with Western European region having the maximum number of seats.
3. The term of each seat is 3 years and no member can have two consecutive terms.

Choose the correct statement/s from the codes given below:

A. 1 & 2 only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 1, 2, 3

D. None of these

Answer : D

Explanation :

Background: It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system. It was created by UNGA on 15 March 2006 by adopting resolution 60/251 to promote human rights globally. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Functions of UNHRC: It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
Members of UNHRC: UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA) with specific number of seats allocated for each region of the globe. There are five regional grouping with African countries and Asia-Pacific states having 13 seats each. East European states have 6 seats, Latin American and Caribbean states have 8 seats and Western European states have 7 seats. Thus, statements 1 and 2 stand incorrect. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms (E.g. India was its member from 2011-14 and 2014-2017.

Question :

Consider the following statements about recently released “Human Capital Index (HCI)”:

1. It is released by UNDP.
2. Its assessment is based upon four parameters only, namely Undernourishment, Child Wasting, Infant Mortality and Child Stunting.
3. India is lower than Nepal and Bangladesh in the ranking.

Choose the correct statement/s from the codes given below:

A. 1 & 3 only

B. 2 & 3 only

C. 1, 2, 3

D. 3 only

Answer : D

Explanation :

HCI is released by “World Bank”. Hence, statement 1 stands incorrect. Its assessment is based on the parameters of Child Mortality, Health and Education. The parameters named in statement 2 are used in calculating “Global Hunger Index”. So, statement 2 stands incorrect too. This Index has been topped by “Singapore” and India is at 115th position (out of 157 Countries). It is undesirable for a country like India to be behind Nepal and Bangladesh. So, correct statement is 3 only.

Critical Analysis of this Report
• They have taken the report on “Education” from Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), but that report is of 2009 as India stopped participating in that assessment. So, the Data fails to capture the recent developments.
• India does need to improve on its ranking, but prima facie it seems the report is not up to date as after launching of schemes like “Aayushman Bharat”, India can’t lag behind the countries like Nepal, but its counter argument is, this scheme will take some time to start making the difference. So, we advise students to make the opinion on their own citing the pros and cons.

Question :

इंडोनेशिया में आये भूकंप का कारण "स्ट्राइक-स्लिप फॉल्ट" है। स्ट्राइक-स्लिप फॉल्ट के सम्बंध में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें:

1. यह सामान्य रूप से पृथ्वी की परत के बड़े हिस्से में ऊर्ध्वाधर हलचल है।
2. यह स्ट्राइक-स्लिप फॉल्ट आम तौर पर सुनामी का कारण बनती है।

नीचे दिए गए कूट से सही कथन का चयन करें:

A. केवल 1

B. केवल 2

C. 1 और 2 दोनों

D. न तो 1 और न ही 2

Answer : D

Explanation :

"सुनामी" दो शब्दों सू और नामी से मिल कर बना है। आपदाजनक सुनामी अक्सर 'मेगाथ्रस्ट भूकंप' के द्वारा प्रायः सबडक्शन क्षेत्र में तब आती है जब एक टेक्टोनिक प्लेट दूसरी प्लेट के नीचे चली जाती है, जिससे पृथ्वी की परत लंबवत हो जाती है। लेकिन, इंडोनेशिया में आये भूकंप का कारण "स्ट्राइक-स्लिप फॉल्ट" था। स्ट्राइक-स्लिप फॉल्ट पृथ्वी की परत की क्षैतिज हलचल है जो आमतौर पर सुनामी नहीं लाती है। इसलिए, दोनों कथन गलत हैं।

Question :

Arrange the following Islands of Japan from North to South:

1. Hokkaido
2. Honshu
3. Shikoku
4. Kyushu

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

A. 2-3-4-1

B. 1-2-3-4

C. 3-4-1-2

D. 4-1-2-3

Answer : B

Explanation :

Japan has four major Islands namely, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Students must be aware with some important cities present in these Islands. We have listed few of them.

Island City Present
1. Hokkaido Sapporo
2. Honshu Tokyo/Yokohama
3. Shikoku Nagoya/Hiroshima/Osaka
4. Kyushu Nagasaki

So, this question may be changed to – ‘match the following type’ of Island with the cities.

Why the Question on Japan?
We have observed that it is one of the favourite regions of UPSC, and in QUAD, Japan and India are directly involved, so it is always safe to be prepared rather than getting caught off guard.