Q. Consider the following statement regarding “Big Bang Theory”:

1. Big Bang theory attempts to explain the origin of the universe.
2. According to this theory, the universe contracted and temperature increased to create clouds comprising of various gases.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

▪️Statement 1 is correct: The universe is very old – almost 20 billion years old. Huge clusters of galaxies comprise the universe. Galaxies contain stars and clouds of gas and dust. Considering the size of the universe, earth is indeed a speck. The Big Bang theory attempts to explain to us the origin of the universe.

▪️Statement 2 is incorrect: It talks of a singular huge explosion unimaginable in physical terms. The universe expanded, not contracted and hence, the temperature came down. Hydrogen and Helium formed sometime later. The gases condensed under gravitation and formed the galaxies of the present-day universe.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20
Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

All PDF available on the Samajho app.

https://samajho.com/upsc/a-doubtful-green-understanding-the-deficiencies-in-forests-mapping-7th-march-2023-upsc-daily-editorial-analysis/

A doubtful green - Understanding the deficiencies in forests mapping | 7th March 2023 | UPSC Daily Editorial Analysis

Q. With reference to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), consider the following statements:

1. It was launched by India at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
2. It is an intergovernmental organisation.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

What is the CDRI?

◾️The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions.
◾️It addresses the challenges of building resilience into infrastructure systems and the development associated with it.
◾️Since its inception, 31 countries, 6 international organisations and 2 private sector organisations have joined CDRI as members.

◾️Statement 1 is correct. The Prime Minister of India launched CDRI during his speech at the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019.
-The Prime Minister had initially announced India’s intention to work with partner countries and key stakeholders to form a coalition working towards the goal of improving the disaster resilience of infrastructure at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in November 2016 in New Delhi.
-Since the AMCDRR, the Government of India has advocated for the issue of DRI and organized a series of consultations, advocacy efforts, and preparatory work at various regional and international forums.

◾️Statement 2 is incorrect. CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academic and knowledge institutions.
- At present, it is not an intergovernmental organisation, which is ordinarily a treaty-based organization.

◾️ Recent developments: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the categorisation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as an ‘International Organisation’. The Cabinet has also signed the Headquarters Agreement (HQA) with CDRI for granting it the exemptions, immunities and privileges as contemplated under the United Nations (Privileges & Immunities) Act, 1947.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.

Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. The first Saturday of every July is celebrated as the International Day of Cooperatives.
2. The World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) report is published by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (Euricse).
3. The formation of a cooperative organisation is not a fundamental right in India.
4. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 is related to Cooperatives.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

◾️Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations (UN) International Day of Cooperatives is observed on the first Saturday of July each year.
- International Co-operative Day is an annual celebration of the co-operative movement observed on the first Saturday in July since 1923 by the International Co-operative Alliance.
- On December 16, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in resolution 47/90 "the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives, marking the centenary of the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance."
- Since 1995 the United Nations' International Day of Co-operatives has been observed jointly alongside International Co-operative Day.
-International Day of Cooperatives 2022: This year will mark the 100th International Day of Cooperatives, also known as Coops Day.
- This year’s theme for International Day of Cooperatives is - “Cooperatives Build a Better World."

◾️Statement 2 is correct. The World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) report is published by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (Euricse).
- WCM is a project designed to collect robust economic, organizational, and social data about cooperatives worldwide.
- The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is a non-governmental co-operative federation or, more precisely, a co-operative union representing co-operatives and the co-operative movement worldwide.
- It was founded in 1895 to unite, represent and serve co-operatives worldwide.
- The Alliance maintains the internationally recognised definition of a co-operative in the "Statement on the Co-operative Identity".
- The ICA represents 318 cooperative federations and organisations in 112 countries.

◾️Statement 3 is incorrect. Originally, this was not a fundamental right. Later, The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right (Article 19).

◾️Statement 4 is correct. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 granted co-operative societies constitutional status and protection.
- It made the following three constitutional amendments:
1. It established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right (Article 19).
2. It included a new directive Principle of State Policy on the Promotion of Cooperative Societies (Article 43-B).
3. It added a new PartIX-B to the Constitution titled "The Co-operative Societies" (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT).

◾️Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld a 2013 judgement of the Gujarat High Court and struck down certain provisions of the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.

Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

Q. With reference to the food safety, consider the following statements:

1. Codex Alimentarius is a "Food Code" jointly developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation.
2. India is a member of this initiative.
3. FSSAI has developed the State Food Safety Index.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

▪️Statement 1 is correct. The Codex Alimentarius or the Food Code is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This commission is a joint intergovernmental body of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation.

▪️Statement 2 is correct. India is a member of Codex Alimentarius. Currently it has a total 189 members.

▪️Statement 3 is correct. FSSAI has developed the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States on five parameters of food safety.

New Development: Every Year, 7th June is observed as World Food Safety Day. Food safety is gaining momentum due to the recent COVID19 crisis and immunity buzz. Thus basic initiatives, international and national levels, are important.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.
Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+
▪️ The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has launched SHRESHTA (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High School in Targeted Areas) scheme.

▪️ The goal of this scheme is to provide quality education and opportunity to SC category students.

▪️ Its basic motive is to uplift the socioeconomic status of the SC peoples by providing high quality education to their children in the best private residential schools in the country. Admission will be provided in 9th and 11th class of CBSE affiliated private schools.

▪️ Eligibility :
- SC students currently (AY 2021-22) studying in class 8th & 10th.
- Annual income of the family should be upto Rs. 2.5 lakh.
- Selection will be done through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), which will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).

Samajho Tips:
▪️ These kinds of questions are classical questions in Prelims. Here we can follow two way approach as follows :
▪️ Direct Interpretation: In this approach we directly interpret given keywords as per language rules. In the above question, the keyword is SHRESHTA. Now the direct Hindi meaning of this keyword is elderly people, as in Hindi we say that our father and mother or elderly persons are shreshta one. If we follow this approach our answer can be either A or B.
▪️ Indirect Interpretation: In this approach we indirectly interpret given keywords as per intelligent mix of our knowledge and language rules. Now the meaning of SHRESHTA can be taken as to become great. If we follow this approach our answer can be either C or D.
-We are left with two pairs of possible answers. Here comes the role of practice and study. A properly studied and sufficiently practised student will understand that option D is vague. So eliminate it.
-Now in the remaining 3 statements, by practice and study, you will learn that if majority options are based on Direct approach, then answer comes out to be one with Indirect approach. (and vice versa)
▪️ These are not tricks or random guess work. It is based on proper analysis of UPSC Prelims PYQs, proper study and sufficient practice. The increasing randomness of prelims makes it necessary to develop such skills.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.
Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

Q. With reference to Neobanks, Consider the following statements :

1. A neobank is a kind of digital bank without any branches.
2. They have a bank licence of their own, issued by RBI.
3. At present, RBI doesn't allow banks to be 100% digital.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

▪️RBI is taking a hard look at the neobank business model which is entirely based on fintechs. New developments in the financial sector are important for prelims.

▪️Statement 1 is correct. A neobank is a kind of digital bank without any branches. Rather than being physically present at a specific location, neobanking is entirely online.

▪️Statement 2 is incorrect. In India, neobanks don't have a bank licence of their own. They have to tie up with a licensed bank for their operations. RazorpayX, Niyo, Jupitor, etc are the examples of some Neobanks in India.

▪️Statement 3 is correct. RBI mandates physical presence of banks. Thus RBI doesn't allow banks to be 100% digital yet. RBI also spoke about the need for digital banking service providers to have some physical presence as well.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.
Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2

Q. With reference the Sant Tukaram, consider the following statements:

1. Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.
2. The work of Sant Namdev and Kabir had a major influence on his works.

#Solution #Samajho #SPR+

▪️Statement 1 is correct. Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage. Sant Tukaram and his work are central to the Warkari sect spread across Maharashtra. His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement.
▪️Statement 2 is correct. The work of Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Eknath, Sant Namdev and Kabir had a major influence on his works. His teachings were regarded as Vedanta based.

▪️New development: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town of Dehu in Pune district.

▪️About Shila Mandir:
- Shila Mandir is a temple dedicated to a slab of stone (shila) on which Sant Tukaram meditated for 13 days when challenged about the authenticity of the Abhyangs he had written.
- Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, and that for centuries has been the starting point of Wari, the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur.

This Question was asked in SPR+ Crash Course.
Join here: https://premium.samajho.com/purchase?product=20

All PDF available on the Samajho app.
Samajho's android app: https://bit.ly/3H9hva1

Samajho's ios app: https://apple.co/3H8ZJE2