Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 122.

• The Ministry of Environment will implement National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) across 122 cities in the country to reduce air pollution.
• NCAP targets to achieve 20 to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 across the country.
• The number of good quality air days has increased to 218 in 2020 against 106 in 2016, and the number of poor quality air days decreased to 56 in 2020.

The correct answer is Directive Principles of State Policy.

Key Points

• The provisions relating to the promotion of international peace and security are mentioned in the Indian constitution as a part of Directive Principles of State Policy.
• Article 51 of the Constitution which is a Directive Principle of State Policy directs the state to promote international peace and security and maintain just and honourable relations between nations.
  • It further directs the state to respect International law and treaty obligations and settle disputes peacefully.
• Article 51 honourable relations between nations, respect for international law and treaty obligations, as well as settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

Additional Information

• Fundamental Duties :
  • The fundamental duties of citizens were added to the constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the government.
  •  The fundamental duties were increased to eleven by the 86th Amendment in 2002, which added a duty on every parent or guardian to ensure that their child or ward was provided opportunities for education between the ages of six and fourteen years.
• Directive Principles of State Policy :
  • The Directive Principles of State Policy, embodied in Part IV of the Constitution, are directions given to the state to guide the establishment of economic and social democracy, as proposed by the Preamble.
  • The Directive Principles may be classified under the following categories: Ideals that the state ought to strive towards achieving; directions for the exercise of legislative and executive power; and rights of the citizens which the State must aim towards securing.

The correct answer is U.S. Constitution.

Important Points

The correct answer is 1 only.

Confusion Points

• The Northern Zonal Council, The Central Zonal Council, The Eastern Zonal Council, The Western Zonal Council and The Southern Zonal Council are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
• In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.

Key Points

• Zonal Councils:
  • The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. 
  • There are 5 five Zonal councils:
    • The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
    • The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
    • The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.
    • The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
    • The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • North-Eastern Council
    • In addition to the above Zonal Councils, a North-Eastern Council was created by a separate Act of Parliament i.e. the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
    • Its functions are similar to those of the zonal councils, but with few additions.
    • Its members include Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Sikkim.
  • While forming these zones, several factors have been taken into account which includes:
    • The natural divisions of the country, the river systems and means of communication, the cultural and linguistic affinity, and the requirements of economic development, security, and law and order.
    • They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.
• Composition:-
  • Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • Vice-Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
  • Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
  • Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission (which has been replaced by NITI Ayog now) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries, and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
  • Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

• The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
  • ​Hence statement 1 is correct.
• In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.
  • ​NALSA issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.

​​​Additional Information

• Objectives of Legal Services Authorities are:
  • Provide free legal aid and advice.
  • Spread legal awareness.
  • Organize lok adalats.
  • Promote settlements of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms. Various kinds of ADR mechanisms are Arbitration, Conciliation, Judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat, or Mediation.
  • Provide compensation to victims of crime.
• Persons Eligible for Free Legal Services:
  • Women and Children
  • Persons with disability
  • Member of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes
  • Industrial Workmen
  • Persons in custody
  • Victims of natural disasters, ethnic/caste violence, industrial disaster
  • Victims of Human Trafficking or Begar
  • Persons with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000/- or as notified by the Central/State Governments.​