Mission IAS (Day-13)

1.The Current Budget 2017-18 has proposed to provide ‘infrastructure status’ to
‘affordable housing’. In such a scenario a developer can:
1. Avail long term finance at cheaper rates from Banks and other Financial Institutions.
2. Contribute towards the goal of ‘Housing for All’.
3. Become eligible for claiming tax and subsidy incentives.
4. Get access to External Commercial Borrowing (ECBs).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Exp: The RBI guidelines on infrastructure status allows for all the benefits listed in the option.
This will also simplify approval process for affordable projects, create clear guidelines and
increase transparency in the housing segment.

2.Consider the following statements regarding ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Scheme:
1. It is under the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. The objective is to address declining child sex ratio
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
Exp: It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The government does not call for donation under this scheme. There have been certain reports that some people/NGOs are asking money in the name of this scheme.

3. What is a Gig economy?
A. It is a commodity based economy in which the country’s growth is dependent upon export
of commodities.
B. It is based upon full time workers who rarely change positions and hence focus upon a
lifetime career
C. It is a finance-centred economy
D. It is based upon contractual work and part time work
Answer: D
Exp: In a gig economy, temporary jobs are commonplace and companies tend toward hiring
independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees.
4. One Billion Rising (OBR) revolution is about
A. The eradication of acute poverty in Asian and African countries through multi stakeholder
involvement.
B. A movement against exploitation of women and girls worldwide.
C. Ending the abuse of children. It involves action against child labour, child pornography
and other forms of child exploitation.
D. Pan-Africanism which is a worldwide intellectual movement that aims to encourage and
strengthen bonds of solidarity between all people of African descent.
Answer: B
Exp: One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human
history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based
on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her
lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one billion women
and girls.
5. Consider the following statements about the different meanings of ‘Swaraj’ as
articulated by Mahatma Gandhi:
1. Swaraj is intimately linked with Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (adherence to
truth).
2. Swaraj has two senses - one political and one beyond the realm of politics.
3. Swaraj is something that requires time and patience to acquire.
4. With determination, Swaraj could be obtained easily and quickly.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 only
Answer: D
Exp: Getting Swaraj is a gradual process and so it cannot be obtained easily and quickly.

6. The scope of Article 21 got wider interpretation by moving from ‘procedure established
by law’ towards ‘due process of law’ - by which famous Supreme Court case?
A. Kesavananda Bharti Case, 1973
B. Menaka Gandhi Case, 1978
C. Minerva Mills Case, 1980
D. Shreya Singhal Case, 2015
Answer: B
Exp: Maneka Gandhi’s case is not only a landmark case for the interpretation of Article 21
but it also gave an entirely new viewpoint to look at the Chapter III of the Constitution. Prior
to Maneka Gandhi’s decision, Article 21 guaranteed the right to life and personal liberty only
against the arbitrary action of the executive and not from the legislative action. Broadly
speaking, what this case did was extend this protection against legislative action too

7. With reference to the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF), which of the following statements are NOT correct?
1. It is a pool of small savings scheme run by the National Savings Organisation.
2. Various schemes like Public Provident Fund (PPF), Post Office Savings, Kisan Vikas
Patra, National Savings Certificates and Senior Savings Certificates comes under it.
3. Sukanya Samriddhi Account is also managed under this fund.
4. NSSF is set up under Public Account of India.
5. Government uses this fund as a source for borrowing money.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 3, 4 and 5 only
B. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
C. 2, 4 and 5 only
D. None of the above
Answer: D
Exp: All the given statements about the NSSF are correct.

8. With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct?
1. All natural earthquakes occur in lithosphere.
2. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries.
3. Epicentre of earthquake always remains over continents only.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 2 and 3 only
Answer: B
Exp: Epicentre can be over continents and ocean. It occurs in lithosphere. When the epicentre is below the ocean it causes tsunami.

9. What was/were the formative influence(s) on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi?
1. Gandhiji was influenced by the 18th century Pranami sect that advocated the unity of
faiths.
2. Gandhiji was influenced by the theosophists.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Exp: Mahatma Gandhi's mother, Putlibai, belonged to Pranami sect. Gandhiji in his book My
Experiments With Truth mentions about this sect - "Pranami is a sect deriving the best of
both the Quran and Gita, in search of one goal - God.

10. What would be the benefits of doing away with the distinction between Plan and Non-
plan expenditure?
1. It will reduce the bias in favour of Non-Plan Expenditure
2. Neglect towards maintenance expenditure of capital asset will be addressed
3. It will bring an ease in resource allocation and its monitoring
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 3 only
Answer: B
Exp: The bias in favour of Plan expenditure by Centre as well as the state governments has
led to a neglect of essential expenditures on maintenance of assets and other establishment
related expenditures for providing essential social services.

11. Which of the following statements are correct regarding atmosphere of the Earth?
1. There is inverse lapse rate (temperature increases with altitude) in stratosphere due to
ozone.
2. Radio waves transmitted from the Earth are reflected back to the Earth because of
presence of electrically charged particles in ionosphere.
3. Meteor showers happen in mesosphere.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 1 and 3 only
Answer: C
Exp: The stratosphere lies roughly 12 to 50 km above the surface and is marked by a
temperature profile that increases with height. This is due to the absorption by Ozone of the
Sun’s UV radiation and is in sharp contrast to the lower atmosphere. There it generally gets
colder as we go higher due to the expansion of gases as the pressure decreases.
Technically, the stratosphere has a negative ‘lapse rate’ (temperature increases with height),
while the lower atmosphere’s lapse rate is positive

12. Which of the following come under fiscal consolidation?
1. Decreasing Debt to GDP ratio
2. Decreasing fiscal deficit
3. Consolidating revenue deficit
4. Increasing public expenditure in creating capital assets to stimulate growth
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 2 and 3 only
Answer: A
Exp: Fiscal Consolidation refers to the policies undertaken by Governments (national and
sub-national levels like State and Local governance) to reduce their deficits and accumulation of debt stock. the key deficits of government are revenue deficit and the fiscal deficit.

13. Consider the following statements about the Salt March:
1. It was deliberately ignored by the European media
2. It was widely covered by the American and European press
3. It was the first nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers.
4. It impressed upon the British the urgent need to devolve more power to Indians.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 3 and 4 only
D. 2 and 3 only
Answer: D
Exp: Britain’s Salt Acts prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, a staple in the Indian diet. Citizens were forced to buy the vital mineral from the British, who, in addition to exercising a monopoly over the manufacture and sale of salt, also exerted a heavy salt tax.
The participation of women was phenomenal due to its intrinsic appeal.
No urgency was shown by the Britishers to devolve more power after the Salt Satyagraha.