Daily Quiz

Solution (b)
Explanation:
• The Ministry of Rural Development is responsible for various schemes such as MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). These schemes focus on rural development and poverty alleviation. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• The SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) umbrella scheme was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It includes two sub-schemes:
o Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
o Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.
• The scheme aims to provide rehabilitation, medical facilities, counseling, education, and skill development to marginalized individuals. (Option (b) is correct)
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development oversees schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and POSHAN Abhiyaan. These schemes are focused on women and children’s welfare. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is responsible for schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and National Health Mission (NHM), which aim at providing healthcare services to the public. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1806161 & https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/after-manifesto-moment-budgetary-disappointment/article68551390.ece

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Revocation occurs when a patent is taken away due to non-use or lack of implementation, but it does not automatically grant a license to another entity to use the patent. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• It is a practice where patent holders extend their monopoly beyond the patent’s original expiry date- describes the concept of “evergreening,” where companies make minor changes to a drug to extend its patent protection beyond the original expiration date. Evergreening is a strategy used by some companies to maintain market exclusivity and is not related to compulsory licensing. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• It permits companies to retain trade secrets even after the patent term has expired- is unrelated to compulsory licensing and refers to the protection of trade secrets, which are confidential business information. Trade secrets are protected under different laws and mechanisms, and their protection does not depend on the patent’s expiration. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• Compulsory Licensing (CL) allows a government to permit the use of a patented invention without the consent of the patent holder, typically to address public health needs or other critical issues. It is often used in the pharmaceutical industry to allow generic production of essential medicines. The TRIPS Agreement under the WTO permits compulsory licensing under specific conditions. (Option (d) is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/imports-weaken-indian-pharma/article68550272.ece#:~:text=the%20Patents%20Act.-,Reliance%20on%20imports%20could%20have%20a%20chilling%20effect%20on%20the,of%20the%20domestic%20pharmaceutical%20industry.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The Van Allen Radiation Belts are zones of charged particles that are trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. These belts encircle the Earth and are located in the Earth’s magnetosphere, which is an area of space dominated by Earth’s magnetic field. The radiation belts are named after James Van Allen, who is credited with their discovery in 1958. The belts contain energetic electrons and protons that can pose a hazard to satellites and astronauts. (Option (a) is correct)
• The Sun’s atmosphere includes layers such as the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona, but it does not contain radiation belts like those found around Earth. The Sun emits solar wind and solar radiation. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• The Inner Solar System comprises the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, along with the asteroid belt. While space phenomena like solar wind and cosmic rays affect the entire solar system, the Van Allen Radiation Belts are specific to Earth and are not found throughout the Inner Solar System. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• The Outer Solar System includes the gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and the Kuiper Belt. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/96189/OPS/GRLD7PNMB.1.png?cropFromPage=true

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Article 200 of the Indian Constitution provides that the Governor may reserve certain bills passed by the State Legislature for the consideration of the President. This is usually done when the bill in question may conflict with the Constitution, may be against national interest, or may involve matters requiring the President’s assent. (Statement 1 is correct)
• Under Article 213 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor has the power to promulgate ordinances during the recess of the State Legislature. These ordinances have the same effect as laws passed by the legislature but must be approved by the legislature when it reassembles. (Statement 2 is correct)
• As per Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor appoints the Chief Minister of the state, who is usually the leader of the majority party in the State Legislative Assembly. The Governor also appoints other ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-karnataka-chief-minister-siddaramaiah-has-been-accused-of-in-the-alleged-muda-scam-9526446/

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• The Indra Sawhney case, also known as the Mandal Commission case, dealt primarily with the issue of reservations in employment and education, but it specifically excluded reservations in promotions. The Supreme Court ruled that reservations in promotions were not constitutionally valid under Article 16(4). (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The M. Nagaraj case dealt with the issue of reservations in promotions for SC/STs in public employment. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional amendments that allowed reservations in promotions but introduced conditions such as the need for quantifiable data to prove backwardness and the lack of adequate representation in services. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Jarnail Singh vs Lachhmi Narain Gupta (2018) is related to reservations in promotions and it modified the conditions laid down in the M. Nagaraj case. The Supreme Court ruled that it was not necessary to collect quantifiable data to prove backwardness for SC/STs for reservations in promotions, thus easing the conditions imposed by the Nagaraj judgement. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/lateral-entry-upsc-distance-marginalised-centres-power-9525983/