Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The receipts under Public accounts mainly consist of the receipts of National Savings Certificate, Provident funds and other deposits where the Govt. acts as a banker and returns the fund after completion of the contract. This account is operated by executive action. Therefore, the disbursement out of this account does not need authorization of the Parliament.

Statement 2 is correct: The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund and a Public Account of India and of the states under Article 266 and a Contingency Fund of India and for each State under Article 267.

Statement 3 is correct: The Railway Budget was presented separately from the General Budget till 2017. In the year when the question was asked The Railway Budget was presented separately and Appropriations and disbursements under the Railway Budget were subject to the same form of parliamentary control as other appropriations and disbursements.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The National Housing Bank, the apex institution of housing finance in India. It was established on July 9, 1988, under the National Housing Bank Act of 1987. It was initially set up as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, in 2019, the ownership structure of NHB underwent a significant change. The Government of India acquired the entire stake from the RBI, making NHB a wholly-owned entity of the Government. Given that the question pertains to the year 2004 so the statement is correct.

Statement 2 is correct: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) was established on April 2, 1990, through an Act of Parliament. It was initially incorporated as a whollyowned subsidiary of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). The Shares of SIDBI are now held by the Government of India and twenty-two other institutions / public sector banks / insurance companies owned or controlled by the Central Government. Its key functions are:

Serves as the Principal Financial Institution for the MSME sector. Promotes, finances, and facilitates the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Provides credit, refinance, and developmental support to small industries. Plays a vital role in employment generation and inclusive economic development. Its operations support the government’s initiatives for the growth of small scale industries.

Explanation

The question is based on the principle of buoyancy, which means that an object fully or partly immersed in fluid experiences an upthrust or buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. When a weightless balloon filled with water is immersed into water, it displaces an amount of water equivalent to its own volume, in this case, 200 cc. The weight of this displaced water in terms of gravitational pull is equal to the weight of the balloon under these conditions. Since both weights are identical (as the balloon is also filled with water), they cancel out each other, resulting in a net weight of the balloon in water to be zero.

Explanation

The Kelkar Committee Report (2002) did not recommend raising the personal income tax exemption limit specifically for widows to Rs. 1.20 lakh. Instead, the report focused on simplifying the tax system and broadening the tax base. Key recommendations included:

Abolition of Wealth Tax to streamline the tax structure. Elimination of standard deduction for salaried employees to simplify personal income tax calculations. Exemption from tax on dividends and capital gains from listed equities to encourage market participation. The report emphasized promoting economic grow-th by reducing distortions in the tax system and encouraging compliance.

Explanation

The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, promotes and protects human rights in India. It investigates complaints, recommends actions, reviews policies, and advises the government.

Option (c) is correct: Originally, the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 allowed only a retired Chief Justice of India to be appointed as NHRC Chairperson. In 2019, this was amended to include retired Supreme Court judges as eligible candidates.

Explanation

The District and Sessions Court is one of the highest courts in a district, and it plays a crucial role in the judicial system of India.

Statement 1 is correct: The highest criminal court at the district level is indeed the Court of the District and Sessions Judge. This court deals with serious criminal cases, including those that may involve the death penalty.

Statement 2 is correct: District Judges are appointed by the Governor of the state, but the appointment is made in consultation with the High Court, ensuring that the process follows legal norms and includes judicial oversight.

Statement 3 is correct: To be eligible for the appointment of District Judge, a person must be either an advocate or pleader with at least seven years of standing or an officer in the judicial service of the Union or State. This ensures that the person has the required legal experience and qualifications.

Statement 4 is correct: When a Sessions Judge awards the death penalty, it must be confirmed by the High Court. This is a safeguard to ensure that the most severe punishment is not handed down without adequate review by a higher court. Thus, all four statements are correct.

Explanation

Article 257 states that the executive power of every State must be exercised in a manner that does not impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union. This provision ensures the supremacy of Union executive power in matters where coordination or cooperation is required between Union and State governments.

Explanation

Option (b) is incorrect: Stock Exchange is incorrectly matched. It is in the Union List (Entry 48), not the Concurrent List, as it pertains to national economic regulation. Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, classifies subjects under the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. Options (a), (c) and (d) are correct:

Forests: Correctly matched. Transferred from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Post Office Savings Bank: Correctly matched. It is in the Union List (Entry 39) as postal services are a central function. Public Health: Correctly matched. It is in the State List (Entry 6), reflecting the state’s responsibility for health-related issues.

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate and poet was knighted by the British Crown in 1915. However, in 1919 following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the repressive Rowlatt Act he renounced his Knighthood in a letter to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford as an act of powerful protest against British atrocities. His act was widely celebrated as a bold statement of defiance.

Explanation

Maulana Hasrat Mohani, a prominent figure in the Indian freedom movement, was a strong advocate for complete independence from British rule. He was one of the key leaders who pushed for the idea that Swaraj, or self-rule, should be interpreted as absolute freedom, devoid of any foreign influence or control. His stance was a significant departure from the moderate demands for self-governance and paved the way for more radical calls for full sovereignty during the independence struggle. Hasrat Mohani started bringing out a magazine in the name of ‘Urdu-e-Mualla’ in 1903.