Daily Questions Challenge for IAS PRE (CSAT) Exam (05 November 2015)

Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.

1. The fundamental duties of Indian citizens are mentioned in

(a) Part IV of the constitution
(b) Part IV-A
(c) Part III-A
(d) In schedule IV-A

2. The idea of fundamental duties is derived from

(a) American constitution
(b) British
(c) Russian
(d) None

3. Fundamental duty was incorporated on the recommendation of the

(a) Shah commission
(b) Administrative reforms Commission
(c) Santhanam committee
(d) Swaran Singh committee

4. Consider the following statements:

1) 86th Amendment Act 2002 stated that the state shall endeavor to provide early childhood care and education (ICCE) for all children until they complete the age of six years.
2) The amendment to Hindu Succession Act of 2005 state that the daughter is given a share in the ancestral property.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 & 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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:: CSAT (Paper -2) ::

The intention of the Union Human Resource Developmen tMinister to improve the quality of higher education is in the right direction. However, his reoent announcement on the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) Bill to scrap the concept of deemed universities should be made applicable only to new institutions that aspire for this status. To apply the bill to the existing universities will mean hijacking a sound concept that has supported the growth of the higher education system. There are good deemed universities offering innovative degree programme, engaging in quality research leading to publications, and providing high-quality teaching. The government’s role must be to identify and encourage such deemed universities and similar institutions by conferring the deemed university status. To eliminate a time-tested policy without diagnosing the reason for its sickness will be counterproductive of the main objective of achieving qualitative growth in higher education.

The Radhakrishnan Commission (1948-49) devoted a chapter in its report to deemed universities and thus was born the concept of deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. It was in the best interest of higher education that the Commission encouraged the creation of deemed universities. It insisted on first hand appraisal of competence, spirit and achievement and not on arbitrary rules and regulations during the time of conferment of the status. Between 1956 and 2004, 92 institutions were granted the deemed university status. Between 2004 and 2009 an additional 36 institutions, excluding NITs, were notified as deemed universities. This five-year-period saw an explosive growth (by 40 per cent) in their number.

The virus that spread during 2004-09 was in the manner the status was conferred - ignoring the conceptual purpose of deemed universities and the relevant provisions in the statutory bodies. It is undeniable that the ad hoc, arbitrary and nontransparent process between 2004-09 has damaged the systemThis is the right time to set right these anomalies and ensure that the deemed university system is put on the right track. But removing the very concept of deemed university as envisaged in the proposed bill will only perpetuate inefficiencies.The proposed billwill only put the system back in a olosely regulated and regimental framework with little scope for innovation and academic independence. Just as there are bad deemed universities, there are equally bad government universities. Why should a good concept be messed up by the creators and then scrapped because itwasmessed up? Misuse and abuse of power (by some government and private participants) has rattled the boat. The governmentmust steer the boat through troubledwaters without destroying it. It is easy to destroy but difficult to create.

1. Find the statement that is TRUE.

(a) To diagnose the reason for sickness of deemed university will be counterproductive of achieving qualitative growth in higher education
(b) To improve the quality of higher education NCHER Bill is made applicable to new institutions that aspire for status
(c) Removing the very concept of deemed university as envisaged in the proposed bill will only perpetuate efficiency
(d) The objection to the manner the deemed university status was conferred seems valid

2. Which of the following best explains the intention behind the author’s use of the word ‘the virus’?

(a) It reflects the indiscriminate use of this Article of the Constitution
(b) Although the propaganda of making deemed university is sensible - but that’s not the same as the goal of quality education
(c) When you use this Act, you actually do the opposite of what is intended ie reduce the quality of education
(d) Using the charters granted by the head of the state, actually lead to an unchecked explosive growth of such institutes.

3. Find the statement that is FALSE.

It is deniable that the ad hoc, arbitrary and non-transparent process between 2004-09 has damaged the system
The proposed bill is harmful to the existing system with no scope for innovation and academic independence
Misuse and abuse of power by some government and private participants has rattled the boat
To apply the bill to the existing universities will mean destroying a sound concept that has supported the growth of the higher education system

4. Which of the following is the most likely title of a longer article in which the passage might have appeared?

(a) “The Education Policy: A Merger of Thinking Styles”
(b) “Who Deserves Credit for the Education Policy?”
(c) “Deemed University Act : A Struggle for Existence”
(d) “NCHER Bill: The Balancing Act”

Write and Discuss Your Answer with Q.No in Comment Box at the Bottom of Post.

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