Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 10 May 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which of the following statements is correct with respect to Preamble of India.

1. It derives its authority from the Constitution of India.
2. It is a part of the constitution and can be amended
3. It inflicts a prohibition upon the powers of legislature.
4. It is justiciable, making its provisions enforceable by the courts.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 9 May April 2023

Explanation:

Ruling party of India has alleged that one of the leaders of the opposition called for upholding ‘sovereignty’ of a state during election campaigning.

• Option (2) is correct: The origin of preamble can be traced back to the ‘objective resolution’ passed by Jawaharlal Nehru in the constituent assembly.
• Preamble is a part of the constitution and can be amended.
• It derives its authority from people of India.
• It is non-justiciable, making its provisions non-enforceable by the courts.
• It is neither a source of power to legislature either a prohibition upon the powers of legislature.
• The preamble has been amended only once in 1976 by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment act, which added the words ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’.

Q) Consider the following statements with respect to Caste census in India:

1. The first Caste census in India was conducted in 1931 during the colonial rule.
2. The Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011 was the first caste census in independent India.
3. The Socio-Economic Caste Census was conducted under the 1948 Census of India Act

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

A leader of the opposition in the Indian Parliament has re-iterated his demand for caste-based census.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Caste census in India began in 1871 during the colonial rule. However, the practice was discontinued after the 1931 Census.
• Statement 2 is correct but Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ministry of Rural Development Government of India, commenced the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, in June 2011 through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across the country. SECC-2011 is a study of socio economic status of rural and urban households and allows ranking of households based on predefined parameters. The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 was the first caste census after the 1931. The SECC was not conducted under the 1948 Census of India Act as the disclosure of information was not mandatory.

Q) Which of the following statements is/are not correct?

1. The Indian automobile industry contributes nearly 25 percent of India’s GDP.
2. Diesel vehicles emit higher levels of pollutants compared to petrol vehicles.
3. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended a ban on the use of diesel-powered four-wheel vehicles throughout India by 2027.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian automobile industry contributes almost 6.4% of India’s GDP and 35% of manufacturing GDP and is a leading employment provider.
• Statement 2 is correct: Diesel vehicles are known to emit higher levels of pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which contribute to air pollution and have adverse effects on public health. Diesel fuelled engines produce more CO2 per gallon of fuel combustion. One diesel vehicle causes pollution equivalent to 24 petrol vehicles or 40 CNG vehicles.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A panel formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended a ban on the use of diesel-powered four-wheel vehicles by 2027 in cities with a population of more than 1 million. The ban on diesel-powered four-wheel vehicles in cities with a population of more than 1 million is aimed at addressing the high pollution levels in urban areas. The proposal also recognizes the potential of alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the commercial vehicle segment.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. The commercial surrogacy is completely banned in India.
2. The surrogacy carried out for altruistic purposes are allowed in India.
3. In gestational surrogacy, an embryo is created through In vitro fertilization.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

The Centre in the Supreme Court has said that same-sex couples and live-in partners are not included in surrogacy and assisted reproduction laws to avoid ‘misuse’ and provide children a ‘complete family’.

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Surrogacy is a practice where a woman agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term themselves. The woman who carries the pregnancy is known as a surrogate, and she may use her own eggs or the eggs of the intended mother or a donor, fertilized by sperm from the intended father or a donor. In India, commercial surrogacy is not allowed, and surrogacy can only be carried out for altruistic purposes with strict restrictions and no monetary consideration allowed.
• Statement 3 is correct: In gestational surrogacy, an embryo is created through In vitro fertilization (IVF) using the eggs and sperm of the intending parents or donors, and the embryo is implanted in the uterus of the surrogate mother. The child is genetically related to the intending parents or donors and not the surrogate mother.

Q) Consider the following statements with respect to Rabindranath Tagore:

1. He was popularly known as Bard of Bengal
2. He actively participated in the Swadeshi movement of 1905.
3. He was guided by the Upanishadic doctrine of Satyam, Sivamand
4. Viswa Bharti University in Shantiniketan was founded by him.

How many statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

The Prime Minister of India recently paid tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his 162nd birth anniversary.

• Option (d) is correct: He was born to mother Sarada Devi and father Debendranath Tagore on 7th May 1861 in Jorasanko Thakurbai in Kolkata. He was also a cultural reformer who modified Bengali art by rebuffing the strictures that confined it within the sphere of classical Indian forms. He was popularly known as Bard of Bengal and people used to call him Gurudev. He was guided by the Upanishadic doctrine of Satyam, Sivam and  Advaitam (truth, of goodness and unity). He who actively participated in the Swadeshi movement of 1905 and composed several patriotic songs, yet withdrew from the movement, being shocked when it broke into communal violence. Viswa Bharti University in Shantiniketan was founded by him. Moreover, the national anthem of India, “Jana Gana Mana” was composed by him. He penned the national anthem for Bangladesh and he is also remembered for his song ‘Ekla Chalo Re’.

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