Miscellaneous (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-III

Total Questions: 34

1. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

List-IList-II
(a) Apico AandolanP. Hegde
(b) Chipco AandolanS.L. Bahuguna
(c) Narmada Bachao AandolanMedha Patkar
(d) Silent Valley AandolanBaba Aamte

 

Correct Answer: (d)
Solution:Baba Aamte was associated with the conservation of Wildlife and Narmada Bachao Aandolan, but in the context of Silent Valley Movement, Dr. Salim Ali's name remained in the limelight.

Silent Valley Movement was introduced in late 1970s and early 1980s which was an environmental campaign focusing on protecting the Silent Valley. It focused on protecting the dense, untouched tropical rainforest in Kerala's Palakkad district from being submerged due to a proposed hydroelectric project. Rich in biodiversity and home to rare species like the lion-tailed macaque, the forest was under threat from development that would have permanently damaged the ecosystem.
The movement began in 1973, when environmentalists, scientists, writers, and local communities came together to oppose the hydroelectric project. Their efforts eventually led to the cancellation of the dam and the declaration of Silent Valley as a national park in 1984.

2. To whom the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is military advisor on Tri-services matters? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (c) Defence Minister of India
Solution:Chief of Defence Staff is military advisor to Defence Minister of India on Tri-Service matters. The first CDS Late General Bipin Rawat took office on 1 January, 2020 and Incumbent CDS is General Anil Chauhan.
  • General Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981 and has served a range of staff and operational appointments including that of Director General of Military Operations.
  • The CDS post has been vacant for over nine months since the death of the first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat in a chopper crash in December 2021.
  • This is the first instance since independence, of a three-star Lieutenant General rank officer taking over as a four-star General after retirement.
  • The Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces (CDS) is the military head and permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • The Chief of Defence Staff is the highest-ranking uniformed officer on active duty in the Indian military and chief military adviser to the Minister of Defence.
  • The Chief also heads the Department of Military Affairs

3. What is not true in reference to Chief of Defence Staff? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (c) He is Chairman of Defence Acquisition Council
Solution:

The maximum age limit to Chief of Defence Staff post is 65 years. He is permanent Chairman of Chief of Staff Committee and he is member of Defence Planning Committee. However Defence Minister is Chairman of Defence Acquisition Council and National Security Advisor (NSA) is Chairman of Defence Planning Committee.

4. Which of the following is not correctly matched? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (c) Armoured Corps Centre and School - Jabalpur
Solution:Armoured Corps Centre and School is situated in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra not in Jabalpur (M.P.) So the pair in option (c) is incorrect while the remaining others are correctly matched is responsible for technical and tactical training for personnel from the Indian Army and friendly foreign nations, covering everything from recruit training to maintaining records from their service start to post-retirement. The center was established to train the personnel of the Royal Tank Corps and continues to induct modern technology to provide training for forward-area operations.

5. In Indian Navy, the equivalent of an army lieutenant colonel is: [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (c) Commander
Solution:The different ranks of the Indian Army are as follows -
Indian ArmyIndian NavyIndian Air Force
GeneralAdmiralAir Chief Marshal
LieutenantVice-AdmiralAir Marshal
General
Major GeneralRear AdmiralAir Vice Marshal
BrigadierCommodoreAir Commodore
ColonelCaptainGroup Captain
LieutenantCommanderWing Commander
Colonel
MajorLieutenantSquadron Leader
CaptainCommanderFlight Lieutenant
LieutenantSub-LieutenantFlying Officer

6. The number of operational commands of the Indian Army is (as of June 1999): [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (c) 6
Solution:The operational commands of Indian Army as of June 1999, were 5 which are 6 at present. These are as follows:
CommandHeadquarters
Western CommandChandi Mandir, Chandigarh
Eastern CommandKolkata
Northern CommandUdhampur (J & K)
Southern CommandPune
Central CommandLucknow
South Western CommandJaipur (functional from August 15, 2005)

7. Border Security Force came into existence in: [48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (a) 1965
Solution:
  • Known as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories, BSF is a primary border-guarding organisation of India.
  • BSF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CSPFs) of the Union of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965, "for ensuring the security of the borders of india and for matters associated therewith.
  • BSF currently stands as the world's largest border guarding force with 186 battalions and 2.57 lakh personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, artillery regiments, and commando units.
  • The BSF has a separate camel and dog wing that lets them expand their reach into varied terrain such as the India-Pakistan border in the Rann of Kutch.
  • BSF is the only CAPF to have its own Air Wing, Marine Wing, and artillery regiments, which support the General Duty Battalions in their operations.

8. Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for guarding on borders of which countries? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) - 2018]

Correct Answer: (c) Pakistan and Bangladesh
Solution:The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) commonly known as Paramilitary forces guard the six different international borders.
  • Border Security Force (BSF) - Indo-Pakistan & Indo-Bangladesh Border.
  • Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) - Indo-China Border
  • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) - Indo-Nepal and Indo Bhutan Border
  • Assam Rifles - Indo-China and Indo-Myanmar Border.

9. With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre.) 2023]

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security.
3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guard Battalions have been raised in some States.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:Home Guards are a voluntary force to assist the police in controlling civil disturbance and communal riots. They are raised by the State governments under State Acts. Thus the Central Government does not directly raise Home Guards. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect. In addition to assisting the police maintain internal security, home guards can also assist the community in times of emergency such as air raids, fires, cyclones, earthquakes, and epidemics. Various Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have been raised in the border States viz. Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal to serve as an auxiliary to Border Security Force for preventing infiltration on the international border/coastal areas. Hence Statement 2 and 3 are correct.

10. Internal Security Academy is located at – [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (a) Mount Abu
Solution:The Internal Security Academy was established under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India at Mount Abu (a hill station in the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan).
  • To train the officers for these challenges, the Academy has welcomed eminent speakers from diverse fields to discuss topics relating to internal security to refresh the members with the current developments in the area and to implement innovative techniques and methods to resolve these challenges effectively.
  • The CRPF, one of the biggest Paramilitary Forces in the world, has an immense duty to protect the country's complex internal security, along with the State Police Forces and other security forces.
  • The mission is multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, and includes the correct orientation of the staff, the use of advanced equipment/gadgetry, and perfect synergy with all stakeholders.
  • The force has the advantage of having extensive expertise in coping with challenges in various areas of the world at one time or another.
  • This expertise is to be communicated amongst field-level officials and modified in the light of evolving political/social/technological developments to further improve the pace and technical reaction at a time of crisis.