(FREE) UPSC Current Affairs 2024 PDF

Model Questions for UPSC PRE CSAT PAPER SET - 17

Passage: Instruction for question- read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Your answers to the questions should be based on the passage only.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s decision to reject the mercy petition submitted by the lone convict in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, is an instance of how public perceptions about a convict’s guilt can camouflage the government’s duty to explain the decision. The President’s decision is shrouded in secrecy, throwing little light on the principles which guided it.
Under Section 4(1) (d) of the Right to Information Act, every public authority shall provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons. This provision has no exemptions. The government erroneously denies information to RTI applicants seeking reasons for its mercy decisions, taking shelter under Article 74(2) which Only bars inquiries by courts into Ministers’ advice to the President.
The last hanging in India was that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee in 2004. One of the journalists has found from MHA files under the RTI-Act that the briefs prepared for President Kalam provided an inaccurate and incomplete view of the 10-year delay in his execution, ignoring official negligence. He suggests that a reasoned and transparent decision could have made it easy for the Supreme Court to intervene on the ground that relevant material was not placed before the President, before executing Chatterjee.
President Pranab Mukherjee missed an excellent opportunity to contribute to the rule of law, by not publicly disclosing the reasons for his decision on Kasab. Every death row convict has an inherent right under Article 21even if so far untested by the Courts - to be apprised of the reasons for the rejection of his mercy petition, which would deprive him of his life. Others are entitled to know the reasons as well under the RTI Act.

1. According to the passage

1. The government is trying to neglect its duty of disclosing the reason behind the rejection of mercy petition of Ajmal Kasab by hiding under the public perception of his guilt.
2. Ajmal Kasab, the lone convict of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack should not have been hanged secretly.
3. The President’s decision to reject Kasab’s mercy petition doesn’t throw any light behind the reason of his doing so.
4. Now a days prosecutions are guided by media and public perceptions.

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

2. According to the passage the government is shying away from its duty to reveal the reason behind its mercy decisions under the ambit of

1. Public perception, as in the case of Ajmal Kasab’s guilt.
2. Article 74(2), which falls under public domain.

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

3. Information from MHA files under RTI Act reveals a lacuna behind the execution of Dhananjoy Chatterjee in 2004. This lacuna pertains to

(a) Non intervention of Supreme Court in the matter.
(b) Hanging of Dhananjoy Chatterjee could have been commuted to life imprisonment on timely intervention of Supreme-Court.
(c) An inaccurate and incomplete view of the 10year delay in his execution was presented before the President to decide upon his mercy petition.
(d) A reasoned and transparent decision was made by the President in reviewing his mercy petition.

4. Consider the following statement

1. As per Article 21 a death row convict and general public are entitled to know the reason behind the rejection of his mercy petition.
2. Article 74(2) undermines the RTI Act.

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Passage: Instruction for question- read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Your answers to the questions should be based on the passage only.

Despite India’s rapid economic development and growing technological prowess, it continues to suffer from widespread poverty and bears a burden of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria and many other neglected diseases. The country will have to strengthen its health system to reduce this burden and make medicines accessible, especially for the poor, a latest report on India’s research and development has said.
New health technologies-such as affordable and locally adapted drugs, vaccines and diagnostics can also make a big contribution to combating disease in India. For some serious diseases, there are currently no effective drugs or vaccines, whereas for others, existing technologies are too expensive and require infrastructure that is not broadly available, or are ill suited in other ways to local needs. For instance there are no vaccines against malaria or dengue fever and no affordable and accurate point-of care tests for tuberculosis ‘India’s Role in Global Health R&D - a report by the Results for Development Institute under its Centre for Global Health Research and Development Policy Assessment programme - suggests that the capacity of Indian firms and of the Indian biomedical system as a whole to create and bring new health technologies to market is still limited. Indian firms require subsidy of some kind to work on products with very small markets, such as leishmaniasis or typhoid fever. Also, there is a class of neglected but useful disease products that these firms see as commercially viable.
Indian firms are most able to contribute in three ways: by developing more affordable or locally adapted versions of existing products; by bringing to market some new products for which technological barriers are not too high; and by participating in specific aspects of international product development initiatives in areas where they have a cost or other advantage.

5. Consider the following statement with reference to the passage

1. New health technologies-such as affordable and locally available drugs, vaccines and diagnostics are helping India in combating diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
2. There is a need for subsidy of some sort for Indian firms to develop products that can combat less prevalent diseases.

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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6. The contribution of Indian firms is inadequate as it does not address the problem of

(a) developing more affordable or locally adapted versions of existing products.
(b) development of new products for which technology is easily available.
(c) development of new products with a small market.
(d) development of international products which have a cost or other advantage.

7. Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage?

(a) India still, suffers from widespread poverty and bears a burden of infectious diseases.
(b) No affordable and accurate point-of care tests of tuberculosis is available in India.
(c) Indian firms need some kind of subsidy to develop new health care products which are technologically more sound and effective.
(d) The capacity of Indian firms and of the Indian biomedical system as a whole to create and bring new health technologies to market is still constrained.

8. Consider the following statement

1. For some serious diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya fever, there are currently no drugs or vaccines available in India.
2. There is no affordable and accurate point of care tests available for diseases like tuberculosis and typhoid fever.

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Passage: Instruction for question- read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Your answers to the questions should be based on the passage only.

The goal of keeping planet warming in check has moved further out of reach, the U.N. said in the latest of a flurry of reports pointing to looming disaster ahead of talks in Qatar. Country pledges for cutting climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions could see global average temperatures rise by three to five degrees Celsius this century, said a U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
The targeted limit is an increase of two degrees Celsius on pre-industrial levels. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported a record increase of earth-warming gases in the atmosphere, while the World Bank warned of the planet-wide devastation a rise of four degrees Celsius wound cause.
UNEP said swift action could still see the world get back on track, but it would mean increasing pledges and slashing emissions by 14 per cent to about 44 billion tonnes in 2020 from an estimated 50.1 billion tonnes per year now. Scientists say global temperatures have already risen by about 0.8 degrees Celsius on average. More than 190 countries will meet for two weeks in Qatar seeking to draft a work programme leading to a new, global climate deal to be signed by 2015 and enter into force by 2020.
They will also seek to put in place a follow-up phase for the Kyoto Protocol which binds rich nations to greenhouse gas emission cuts but runs out on December 31, 2012. UNEP said the concentration of warming gases like carbon dioxide has increase by about 20 per cent since 2000, picking up after a slump during the economic downturn of 2008-9. Barring swift action, emissions were likely to reach 58 gigatonnes in 2020.

9. According to the passage

1. Country pledges for cutting climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions is not adequate at current levels.
2. Even if swift action is taken current estimated rate of emission of 50.1 billion tonnes per year is unlikely to be reduced by 2020.
3. Qatar is going to hold world meet on climate change, to be attended by over 190 countries to renew the Kyoto Protocol.
4. If swift action is not taken the emissions may reach to 58 gigatones by 2020.

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

10. The key message conveyed in the passage is

(a) The goal of keeping planet warming in check is unlikely to be achieved out of the upcoming Qatar meet, due to lack of consensus among participating countries.
(b) An alarming increase in the earth-warming gases may worsen the situation by 2020.
(c) A flurry of reports by the UN and its organs may endanger the upcoming global meet in Qatar even before it commences.
(d) World Bank estimates are worrisome.