PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- BASED INTERVENTIONS

Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 1 only

With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. A. The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.
2. B. The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.
3. C. It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.
4. D. Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.

Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization :

1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 2 only
2. B. 3 only
3. C. 1 and 2
4. D. 2 and 3

With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 2 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

1. A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
2. B. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
3. C. Ministry of Rural Development
4. D. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct ?

1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026.
2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. 2 only
3. C. 1 and 3
4. D. 2 and 3

Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?

1. A. Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others
2. B. Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at the appropriate time and affordable cost
3. C. Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds
4. D. Identifying the entrepreneurs in the village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies

Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India :
1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4. Irular and Konda Reddi Tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. A. 1, 2 and 3
2. B. 2, 3 and 4
3. C. 1, 2 and 4
4. D. 1, 3 and 4

Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

1. A. Operation Sankalp
2. B. Operation Maitri
3. C. Operation Sadbhavana
4. D. Operation Madad

Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:

1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.

Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.

"In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development." Critically evaluate.

Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of 'paradox of poverty'.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) implements various Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) based schemes and programs across India. What is the primary objective of these interventions as stated in the article?

1. A. To establish advanced research facilities in metropolitan cities.
2. B. To enhance national defense capabilities through indigenous technology.
3. C. To promote socio-economic development and improve livelihoods of disadvantaged sections.
4. D. To provide direct financial aid to all citizens for technological upgrades.

With reference to the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) initiatives for socio-economic development, consider the following statements: 1. All programs of DST are implemented in a competitive, merit-based mode across all States and Union Territories. 2. The Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division primarily focuses on urban infrastructure projects. 3. Financial support is exclusively extended to government-run Research and Development (R&D) labs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 1 and 2 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

The Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division of DST, through its verticals like STRC, focuses on specific areas for inclusive socio-economic development in tribal regions. Which of the following best describes the collective functions of these verticals?

1. A. Providing direct cash transfers and subsidies to tribal communities.
2. B. Regulating mining activities and resource extraction in tribal areas.
3. C. Advancing sustainable livelihoods, promoting innovation, and building community capacity.
4. D. Establishing large-scale industrial zones to create employment opportunities.