Ans: B

Exp:

• Each House of Parliament and its Committees collectively and members of each House individually enjoy certain rights, privileges, and immunities without which they cannot perform their functions efficiently and effectively. The object of parliamentary privilege is to safeguard the freedom, authority, and dignity of Parliament.
• Statement 1 is incorrect: Both houses of the Parliament have separate committees on Privileges. The Lok Sabha committee consists of 15 members, while the Rajya Sabha committee consists of 10 members. The committee also states the procedure to be followed by the House in giving effect to the recommendations made by it. When a question of privilege is referred to the Committee by the House, the report of the Committee is presented to the House by the Chairman or, in his absence, by any member of the Committee.
• Statement 2 is correct: The functions of this committee are semi-judicial in nature. It examines the cases of breach of privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate action.  Its function is to examine every question involving a breach of privilege of the House or of the members of any Committee thereof referred to it by the House or by the Speaker. It determines with reference to the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and makes suitable recommendations in its report.

Ans: A

Exp:

• The water quality of 30 rivers in Karnataka was monitored at 107 locations during the years 2019 and 2021, out of which 41 locations on 17 rivers were found to be non-compliant with the prescribed water quality criteria with respect to BOD. Riverine pollution refers to the pollution of river water from human activities and other sources.  Rivers naturally transport organic and inorganic pollutants. Some examples of river pollution causes include:
  • Nutrients (such as phosphorus and nitrate)
  • Chemicals (such as heavy metals)
  • Groundwater pollutants (from pesticide use in agriculture)
  • Oil spills or wastewater seeping into the ground
• The maximum number of polluted river stretches are in:
  • Maharashtra (55)
  • Madhya Pradesh (19)
  • Bihar and Kerala (18 each)
  • Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (17 each).

Ans: D

Exp: 

• The Indian National Hydrographic Office (INHO), located at Dehradun, is the sole national authority mandated with the responsibility of the publication of nautical charts and other publications for navigation at sea. As part of its international responsibilities, the office provides coverage for Maritime Safety Information (MSI) in the region NAVAREA VIII comprising of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal. India is providing hydrographic assistance to maritime nations of the region. This includes joint hydrographic surveys with onboard training, structured training at the National Institute of Hydrography (NIH), Goa, and specialised courses for Multibeam and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) production training at NHO. INHO has carried out hydrographic surveys in:
  • Maldives
  • Mauritius
  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • Myanmar
  • Sri Lanka
  • Seychelles

Ans: C

Exp:

• Articles 371 to 371-J in Part XXI of the constitution contain special provisions for twelve states viz., Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka. The intention behind them is to meet the aspirations of the people of backward regions of the states to protect the cultural and economic interests of the tribal people of the states or to deal with the disturbed law and order condition in some parts of the states or to protect the interests of the local people of the states. Originally, the Constitution did not make any special provisions for these states. They have been incorporated by the various subsequent amendments made in the context of the reorganisation of the states or conferment of statehood on the Union Territories. The states and articles are:
  • 371 – Special provision with respect to the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat
  • 371A – Special provision with respect to the state of Nagaland
  • 371B – Special provision with respect to the state of Assam
  • 371C – Special provision with respect to the state of Manipur
  • 371D – Special provisions with respect to the state of Andhra Pradesh or the state of Telangana
  • 371E – Establishment of Central University in Andhra Pradesh
  • 371F – Special provisions with respect to the state of Sikkim
  • 371G – Special provision with respect to the state of Mizoram
  • 371H – Special provision with respect to the state of Arunachal Pradesh
  • 371-I – Special provision with respect to the state of Goa
  • 371J – Special provisions with respect to the state of Karnataka
• The state of Kerala does not enjoy any special provision under the Constitution of India as of now.

Ans: B

Exp:

• Statement 1 is correct: The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) is an independent intergovernmental organisation with its seat in the Villa Aldobrandini in Rome. Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernising, harmonising, and co-ordinating private and, in particular, commercial law between States and groups of States and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles, and rules to achieve those objectives.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Membership of UNIDROIT is restricted to States acceding to the UNIDROIT Statute. UNIDROIT’s 65 Member States are drawn from the five continents and represent a variety of different legal, economic, and political systems as well as different cultural backgrounds. The Institute is financed by annual contributions from its Member States, which are fixed by the General Assembly. Extra-budgetary contributions may be made to fund specific projects or activities.
• Statement 3 is correct: According to the UNIDROIT Statute, the Institute shall have an Administrative Tribunal. In accordance with Article 7bis of the UNIDROIT Statute, the Administrative Tribunal has jurisdiction over disputes between the Institute and its officers, employees, or their beneficiaries, particularly concerning the interpretation or application of the Staff Regulations. If contractual disputes arise between the Institute and third parties, they will be submitted to the Tribunal, subject to the explicit recognition of its jurisdiction in the contract.