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1.The "Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996" (PESA) was enacted to:
- AGrant urban local bodies the power to collect taxes in metropolitan cities.
- BExtend the provisions of Panchayati Raj institutions to Scheduled Areas, recognising tribal self‑governance.
- CCreate a uniform civil code for all tribal communities.
- DNationalise tribal lands for industrial development.
Explanation
PESA empowers Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas to manage natural resources and make decisions, thereby protecting tribal autonomy and cultural diversity.
2.The "Kerala Model" of development is often cited as an example of successful communal harmony because:
- AKerala has a higher proportion of Hindus than any other state.
- BThe state adopted a uniform civil code early on.
- CIts high social indicators are achieved despite a religiously diverse population with near‑equal Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities.
- DKerala abolished all caste‑based reservations.
Explanation
Kerala's impressive human development indicators coexist with a pluralistic society comprising Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, demonstrating that inclusive policies can mitigate communal tensions.
3.The 'Integrated Child Development Services' (ICDS) scheme primarily aims at which of the following components?
- AHealth, Nutrition, and Pre‑school Education
- BHigher Education Scholarships
- CVocational Training for Adolescents
- DUrban Infrastructure Development
Explanation
ICDS provides a package of services – supplementary nutrition, health check‑ups, immunisation, and non‑formal pre‑school education (Anganwadi) – targeting children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
4.As per the 2011 Census, which state had the highest proportion of tribal population?
- AMadhya Pradesh
- BMizoram
- CJharkhand
- DRajasthan
Explanation
Mizoram recorded a tribal population of over 95%, the highest proportion among all Indian states and Union Territories.
5.The 'Khadir' and 'Khadir Basti' schemes in Kerala are examples of empowerment initiatives aimed at:
- AImproving urban slum infrastructure
- BProviding livelihood to fisher‑folk and marginal farmers
- CEstablishing IT parks in rural areas
- DPromoting renewable energy in remote villages
Explanation
Khadir and Khadir Basti schemes focus on water‑logging prone lands, providing irrigation and livelihood support to marginal farmers and fisher‑folk, thereby enhancing their economic empowerment.
6.The concept of 'intersectionality' in feminist scholarship is most useful for:
- AAnalyzing how caste, class, religion, and gender simultaneously shape women's experiences of oppression in India.
- BAdvocating for a uniform legal code that treats all women identically regardless of social background.
- CMeasuring the numerical representation of women in corporate boardrooms.
- DPromoting a single‑policy approach to address gender disparity in education.
Explanation
Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, examines how multiple axes of identity—such as caste, class, religion, region, sexuality, and disability—intersect with gender to produce distinct forms of discrimination and privilege. In the Indian context, this framework helps scholars and policymakers understand why policies that address gender alone may not benefit Dalit women, tribal women, or women from lower socioeconomic strata equally, thereby guiding more nuanced interventions.
7.Which of the following is a criticism frequently levelled against the use of 'reservation' as a tool for social empowerment?
- AIt leads to over‑representation of backward groups in the private sector.
- BIt creates a permanent underclass by institutionalising dependence on quotas.
- CIt reduces the quality of education in elite institutions.
- DIt is unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Kesavananda Bharati case.
Explanation
Critics argue that reservation may institutionalise a sense of entitlement and dependence, potentially hindering the development of merit‑based empowerment; however, the Supreme Court has upheld reservations within constitutional limits.
8.The term "Hindutva" was popularised by which of the following leaders?
- AMahatma Gandhi
- BB. R. Ambedkar
- CVinayak Damodar Savarkar
- DJawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar authored the seminal work "Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?" (1923), laying down the ideological framework that later influenced organisations like the RSS and BJP.
9.Which of the following is NOT a right guaranteed to persons with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?
- ARight to equal opportunities in education
- BRight to free legal aid
- CRight to reservation in private sector jobs
- DRight to accessible public transport
Explanation
The RPWD Act, 2016 provides reservation in government jobs (up to 4% for certain categories) but does not mandate reservation in private sector employment. The other options are explicitly covered under the Act.
10.The term 'urban sprawl' primarily refers to:
- AThe rapid increase in the number of megacities above 10 million inhabitants
- BUnplanned, low‑density expansion of cities into surrounding rural land
- CThe vertical growth of high‑rise residential buildings in city centres
- DThe migration of rural populations back to villages
Explanation
Urban sprawl is the spread of a city and its suburbs over more and more rural land, typically characterized by low‑density, automobile‑dependent development, leading to infrastructure and environmental challenges.
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