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(GK Current Affairs & National Relationship)
 
Passage-1 
SC mandates authorities to provide detainees all relevant documents in a comprehensible language, upholding personal liberty and fair representation rights.
The Supreme Court on Thursday set stringent standards for authorities imposing preventive detention, making it mandatory to furnish all relevant documents and statements to the person being detained, in a significant ruling that bolsters personal liberty.
The decision emphasised the constitutional guarantee of personal freedom, and stressed the necessity for detainees to be provided with a fair and effective opportunity to challenge detention orders. (ANI)
The decision, delivered by a bench headed by justice Bhushan R Gavai, emphasised the constitutional guarantee of personal freedom, and stressed the necessity for detainees to be provided with a fair and effective opportunity to challenge detention orders.
The bench, which also comprised justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan, ruled that the failure to supply all relevant documents and statements, especially in a language the detainee is conversant with, hampers their right to effectively contest the detention and, by extension, the constitutional right of effective representation.
Emphasising that the liberty of an individual is paramount and should be guarded zealously, the judgment set a high bar for detaining authorities, obliging them to not only inform detainees of the grounds of their detention but also ensure that all essential materials are provided in a
comprehensible format. It further highlighted that authorities must guard against arbitrary actions and ensure that the rights of individuals under preventive detention are respected at every stage.
The 60-page judgment, authored by justice Gavai, held that the processes governing such detentions must adhere strictly to constitutional safeguards and that the prison authorities as well as the competent authority in the central government are obligated to decide a detainee’s representation with “utmost expedition”.
 
  1. What is preventive detention?
    1. Detention of a person after conviction by a court of law.
    2. Detention of a person without trial and conviction, based on suspicion.
    3. Detention of a person for a specific period, without any legal grounds.
    4. Detention of a person during wartime, with a fair trial. 
  2. In which countries is preventive detention primarily a wartime measure?
    1. India and Pakistan
    2. China and Russia
    3. Britain, United States, and Canada
    4. France and German
  1. Which constitutional article provides for preventive detention in India?
    1. Article 19
    2. Article 21
    3. Article 22
    4. Article 32 
  1. What was the recent significant ruling by the Supreme Court regarding preventive detention?
    1. It declared preventive detention unconstitutional.
    2. It reduced the maximum period of preventive detention.
    3. It made it mandatory to furnish all relevant documents and statements to the detained person.
    4. It allowed preventive detention only in cases of national security. 
  1. Which of the following is NOT an example of a law under which preventive detention can be ordered?
    1. The National Security Act
    2. The Indian Penal Code
    3. The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act
    4. State-level preventive detention laws 
  1. What is the primary purpose of preventive detention?
    1. To punish individuals for past crimes.
    2. To deter future criminal activity.
    3. To protect public safety and national security.
    4. To rehabilitate offenders. 
  1. Which part of the Indian Constitution deals with fundamental rights?
    1. Part I
    2. Part II
    3. Part III
    4. Part IV 
  1. What is the basic structure of the Indian Constitution?
    1. The preamble and the fundamental rights
    2. The directive principles of state policy and the fundamental duties
    3. The fundamental rights and the directive principles of state policy
    4. The preamble and the directive principles of state policy 
  1. What is the role of the Supreme Court in ensuring the protection of individual liberty in cases of preventive detention?
    1. It can only review the legality of the detention order.
    2. It can review the legality of the detention order and can also order the release of the detainee.
    3. It has no role to play in such cases.
    4. It can only order the release of the detainee if the detention is illegal. 
  1. What is the significance of the Jaseela Shaji vs the Union of India, 2024 case?
    1. It upheld the constitutionality of preventive detention.
    2. It strengthened the safeguards for individuals detained under preventive detention.
    3. It weakened the powers of the state to detain individuals.
    4. It abolished preventive detention in India. 


Passage: 2
In 2014, India took a collective pledge to ensure cleanliness, health, and hygiene for all its citizens through the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). This nationwide campaign, driven by the vision of a clean India, has transformed sanitation across both urban and rural landscapes, making cleanliness a priority for millions. By promoting sustainable waste management practices, the mission has empowered communities, improved public health, and sparked a cultural shift towards hygiene. A study in Nature estimated that the SBM programme has been instrumental in averting 60,000– 70,000 infant deaths annually since its launch. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, by 2025, an additional 677.3 million people in India are expected to benefit from improved health and well-being compared to 2018.
Swachh Bharat MissionWhile the impact of SBM on public health has been widely documented, its contribution extends far beyond. When governments and communities invest in public health and hygiene, they build infrastructure and institutions that have a ripple effect on multiple aspects of development. By focusing on long-term behavioural change and sustainable impact rather than short-term outputs like toilet construction, SBM has set a movement in motion that will continue to influence health, education, livelihoods, economic growth, women’s empowerment, and the environment in the distant future too
 
  1. When was the Swachh Bharat Mission launched?
    1. October 2, 2014
    2. November 15, 2014
    3. December 25, 2014
    4. January 1, 2015
  2. What is the primary goal of the Swachh Bharat Mission?
    1. To provide clean drinking water to all
    2. To promote renewable energy sources
    3. To make India clean and free from open defecation
    4. To improve public transportation
  3. Who launched the Swachh Bharat Mission?
    1. Mahatma Gandhi
    2. Narendra Modi
    3. Manmohan Singh
    4. Indira Gandhi
  4. How many sub-missions are there under the Swachh Bharat Mission?
    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
  5. What is the focus of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)?
    1. Urban sanitation
    2. Rural sanitation
    3. Industrial waste management
    4. Water conservation
  6. What is the target year for achieving the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission?
    1. A. 2020
    2. 2025
    3. 2030
    4. 2019
  7. What is the significance of October 2, 2019?
    1. Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary
    2. Independence Day
    3. Republic Day
    4. World Environment Day
  8. What is the main objective of SBM-U 2.0?
    1. To achieve 100% ODF status in urban areas
    2. To progress beyond ODF to ODF+ and ODF++
    3. To provide clean drinking water to urban areas
    4. To promote industrial growth in urban areas
  9. What is the role of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the Swachh Bharat Mission?
    1. To oversee rural sanitation
    2. To promote industrial development
    3. To implement SBM-Urban
    4. To regulate water resources
  10. What is the concept of a circular economy in the context of SBM-U 2.0?
    1. A linear economy model
    2. A model that promotes recycling and reuse
    3. A model focused on economic growth
    4. A model that prioritizes industrialization
 
Passage:3
The newly approved Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), set to provide an assured pension to 23 lakh eligible central government employees, will bring an additional financial burden of Rs 6,250 crore per year to the exchequer. The UPS, effective from April 1, 2025, will increase the government's contribution from the current 14 percent to 18.5 percent, reported PTI, quoting Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Despite the government's increased contribution, employees' contribution will remain unchanged at 10 percent of their basic salary. Additionally, employees retiring before March 31, 2025, under the National Pension System (NPS), will receive an arrear of Rs 800 crore if they opt for UPS.
The NPS, in effect from January 1, 2004, is a contributory scheme while pension scheme prior to this was defined where the government promised to pay 50 per cent of the last-drawn basic pay, irrespective of the corpus.However, UPS envisages to provide assured pension depending on the length of the service as in this case the pension payout is linked to the corpus accumulated.
 
  1. Who approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)?
    1. The Supreme Court
    2. The Finance Commission
    3. The Parliament
    4. The Narendra Modi-led NDA government
  2. Which state has become the first to implement the Unified Pension Scheme?
    1. Gujarat
    2. Tamil Nadu
    3. Karnataka
    4. Maharashtra
  3. What is the minimum qualifying service period for a pension under the UPS?
    1. 5 years
    2. 10 years
    3. 15 years
    4. 20 years
  4. What percentage of the average basic pay is the pension for employees with 25 or more years of service?
    1. 25%
    2. 35%
    3. 40%
    4. 50%
  5. What is the provision for family pension under the UPS?
    1. 50% of the employee's pension
    2. 60% of the employee's pension
    3. 70% of the employee's pension
    4. 100% of the employee's pension
  6. What is the minimum guaranteed pension per month for employees with at least 10 years of service?
    1. ₹5,000
    2. ₹7,500
    3. ₹10,000
    4. ₹12,500
  7. What is the purpose of pension?
    1. To reward high-performing employees
    2. To provide financial security to retired government employees
    3. To encourage early retirement
    4. To reduce government expenditure
  8. Which constitutional article deals with pensions for Supreme Court judges?
    1. Article 125(1)
    2. Article 125(2)
    3. Article 148(1)
    4. Article 148(2)
  9. Which constitutional article empowers the Parliament and state legislatures to regulate the conditions of service of civil servants, including pensions?
    1. Article 308
    2. Article 309
    3. Article 310
    4. Article 311
  10. What is the primary benefit of the Unified Pension Scheme?
    1. It simplifies the pension process.
    2. It provides higher pension benefits.
    3. It reduces the government's pension burden.
    4. All of the above. 
 
Passage:4
Udham Singh was a survivor of the Jallianala Bagh massacre. He planned revenge against former Punjab lieutenant governor O’Dwyer and assassinated him in 1940. Several of his belongings continue to be in London and elsewhere and there has been a demand to bring them to his memorial in Punjab.
Legend has it Udham Singh, a low-caste Sikh boy from Sunam, who, after his railway crossing watchman father’s death was taken in by the Central Khalsa Orphanage at Amritsar, was present at the at the massacre site.
“The moment he pulled the trigger, he became the most hated man in Britain, a hero to his countrymen in India, and a pawn in international politics. Joseph Goebbels himself would leap
upon Udham’s story and use it for Nazi propaganda at the height of the Second World War. In India today, Udham Singh is for many simply a hero, destined to right a terrible wrong.”
This is how author Anita Anand sums up patriot Udham Singh (1899-1940), who indeed is a hero to Indians for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 in Amritsar, as she traces his dramatic journey from the east to the west to avenge a grave wrong in her latest book ‘The Patient Assasin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj’, due to be released in India of April 13, the centenary of the blood-drenched Baisakhi a hundred years ago. It has already been released in the UK and is making ripples.
 
  1. On what date did Sardar Udham Singh assassinate Michael O'Dwyer?
    1. July 31, 1939
    2. July 31, 1940
    3. August 15, 1947
    4. January 26, 1950
  2. Where was Sardar Udham Singh born?
    1. Amritsar
    2. Lahore
    3. Sunam
    4. Delhi
  3. What was the name of the orphanage where Udham Singh and his brother were raised?
    1. Anand Ashram
    2. Central Khalsa Orphanage
    3. Ramakrishna Mission
    4. Arya Samaj
  4. What was the major political event that influenced Udham Singh?
    1. The Indian National Congress
    2. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
    3. The Quit India Movement
    4. The Non-Cooperation Movement
  5. What was the purpose of the Rowlatt Act?
    1. To grant independence to India
    2. To empower the government to arrest and detain Indians without trial
    3. To protect the rights of Indian citizens
    4. To promote education in India
  6. What was the occasion of the gathering at Jallianwala Bagh?
    1. To celebrate Diwali
    2. To protest against the Rowlatt Act
    3. To welcome a visiting dignitary
    4. To organize a cultural festival
  7. Who ordered the firing at Jallianwala Bagh?
    1. Michael O'Dwyer
    2. Reginald Dyer
    3. Gandhiji
    4. Bhagat Singh
  8. Which revolutionary organization was Udham Singh associated with?
    1. The Indian National Congress
    2. The Hindu Mahasabha
    3. The Ghadar Party
    4. The Arya Samaj
  9. What was the sentence given to Udham Singh for his crime?
    1. Life imprisonment
    2. Death penalty
    3. Exile
    4. Fine
  10. Why is Sardar Udham Singh remembered?
    1. For his contribution to Indian literature
    2. For his work in the field of science
    3. For his role in the Indian freedom struggle
    4. For his philanthropic activities 
 
Passage:5
State Local Self Government Department (LSGD) Minister, M B Rajesh, on Sunday in an official event here announced the achievement of ‘A’ which earned the place in the 'Literature' category of the UCCN.
Rajesh described ‘A’ as a city with a soul, characterised by humanity, harmony, a strong sense of justice and freedom of expression.
"These core values have given birth to the vibrant art of ‘A’," Rajesh said.
The minister said the efficient functioning of the ‘A’ city corporation played a major role in bagging the 'City of Literature' tag from UNESCO after beating cities with rich cultural history like Kolkata.The state government also announced that from coming year, June 23 will be celebrated as the 'City of Literature' Day of ‘A’, a place known for literary greats like late S K Pottakkad and Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.
On this day, special awards will be announced in six categories, a statement issued by the LSGD said.
 
  1. Which Indian city was the first to be designated as a UNESCO City of Literature?
    1. Delhi
    2. Kolkata
    3. Hyderabad
    4. Kozhikode
  2. In which year was Kozhikode designated as a UNESCO City of Literature?
    1. 2022
    2. 2023
    3. 2024
    4. 2025
  3. Which Indian city is designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Music?
    1. Mumbai
    2. Chennai
    3. Gwalior
    4. Both B and C
  4. What is the primary goal of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network?
    1. To promote tourism
    2. To protect cultural heritage
    3. To foster creativity and innovation
    4. To support sustainable urban development
  5. How many creative fields are represented in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network?
    1. 5
    2. 6
    3. 7
    4. 8
  6. When was the UNESCO Creative Cities Network launched?
    1. 2000
    2. 2004
    3. 2008
    4. 2012
  7. What is the theme of World Cities Day 2024?
    1. Sustainable Cities
    2. Smart Cities
    3. Green Cities
    4. Youth leading climate and local action for cities
  8. Which Indian city is designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts?
    1. Jaipur
    2. Varanasi
    3. Srinagar
    4. All of the above
  9. Which Indian city is designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy?
    1. Hyderabad
    2. Bengaluru
    3. Kolkata
    4. Delhi
  10. Which Indian city is designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Film?
    1. Mumbai
    2. Chennai
    3. Kolkata
    4. Hyderabad 
  11. What is the general theme of World Cities Day?
    1. Better City, Better Life
    2. Smart Cities for All
    3. Sustainable Urban Development
    4. Climate-Resilient Cities 
  12. Which country was the first to have a city designated as a UNESCO City of Literature?
    1. India
    2. France
    3. Germany
    4. Czech Republic