Daily Questions Challenge for IAS PRE (CSAT) Exam (18 December 2015)

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1. Consider the following statements and mark the option which is true.

(i) The first Anglo Maratha war fought due to conflict for power betwen narayan Rao and Raghunath Rao.
(ii) Mamlatdar was the subedar of bigger provinces under the Peshwas.
(iii) During the invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali nominal Head of the Maratha Army was Viswas Rao.

(a) i & ii
(b) i & iii
(c) all of the above
(d) none of the above

2. Consider the following statements and mark the option which is correct.

(i) Dadu Dayal was a devotee of Nirankar Brahma & staunch supporter of Nirguna school of Bhakti cult.
(ii) Guru Nanak started Langar & his work was compiled in the Adi Granth.
(iii) Chaitanya was the most radical disciple of Ramananda.

(a) ii & iii
(b) all of the above
(c) 1 & 2
(d) none of the above

3. Consider the following statements and mark the option which is correct.

(i) Shankar dev is also famous as Chaitanya of Assam.
(ii) Tulsidas depicted Rama as the incarnaton of Vishnu.
(iii) Nimbarkacharya published the Theory of Dwaith Advaitvad (Dualism - non Dualism).

(a) ii & iii
(b) i & ii
(c) all of the above
(d) none of the above

4. Which of the following, literally means ‘Wondering Dervishes’?

(a) Kubrawiyya order
(b) Qalandariya order
(c) Chisti order
(d) Shattariya order

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:: CSAT (Paper -2) ::

The intention of the Union Human Resource DevelopmentMinister 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 ean 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 firsthand 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 Removing the very concept of deemed university as envisaged in the proposed bill will only perpetuate efficiencies
(c) Removing the very concept of deemed university as envisaged in the proposed bill will only perpetuate efficiencies
(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 thisArticle 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.

(a) It is deniable that the ad hoc, arbitrary and non-transparent process between 2004-09 has damaged the system
(b) The proposed bill is harmful to the existing system with no scope for innovation and academic independence
(c) Misuse and abuse of power by some government and private participants has rattled the boat
(d) 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”

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