Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – February 19-20, 2023 [Mock Test]
March 6, 2023 March 6, 2023
1. With respect to the Collegium system, consider the following statements:
- It is an extra-constitutional body.
- Under it, the Chief Justice of India along with four senior-most Supreme Court judges recommend appointments and transfers of judges.
- The government cannot also raise objections and seek clarification regarding the Collegium’s choices.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:- Under the Collegium system, the Chief Justice of India along with four senior-most Supreme Court judges recommend appointments and transfers of judges.
- A High Court Collegium, meanwhile, is led by the incumbent Chief Justice and the two senior most judges of that court.
- The Collegium system is not rooted in the Constitution. Instead, it has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court.
- In this system, the government’s role is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) if a lawyer is to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court. The government can also raise objections and seek clarification regarding the Collegium’s choices, but, if the Collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound, under Constitution Bench judgments, to appoint them to the post.
2. Consider the following pairs of important places and respective countries:
- Sharm e-Sheikh – Egypt
- Honiara – Japan
- Ukhrul – Solomon Island
- Kherson – Ukraine
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 4
[B] Only 1 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 & 4]
Notes:- Sharm el-Sheikh is an Egyptian resort town between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea.
- The Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. Its capital, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
- The Khangkhui, locally called Khangkhui Mangsor, is a natural limestone cave about 15 km from Ukhrul, the headquarters of Ukhrul district. Excavations carried out by Manipur’s archaeologists had revealed the cave was home to Stone Age communities. The cave was also used as a shelter by the local people during the Second World War after the Japanese forces advanced to Manipur and the adjoining Nagaland.
- Kherson is a strategic location for Russia and Ukraine. It is situated in the northwest of the Dnipro River, the province shares borders with Donetsk, Crimea and the Black Sea.
3. Consider the following pairs of ports and respective countries:
- Xel Ha – China
- Ostia – Rome
- Hepu – Egypt
- Jaffa – Israel
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 4
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 & 4]
Notes:- Lothal was nominated in April 2014 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.
- It is the only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
- Its heritage value is comparable to following ancient port-towns around the world-
- Xel Ha (Peru)
- Ostia (Port of Rome)
- Carthage (Port of Tunis) in Italy
- Hepu in China,
- Canopus in Egypt
- Gabel (Byblos of the Phoenicians),
- Jaffa in Israel,
- Ur in Mesopotamia
- Hoi An in Vietnam
