UPSC Prelims 2019
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 3 only

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 increased paid maternity leave to 26 weeks for the first two children, but reduced it to 12 weeks for women with two or more surviving children. Statement 3 correctly identifies this reduced entitlement provision.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Women are entitled to 26 weeks of paid leave (not 6 months split equally), with a maximum of 8 weeks pre-delivery leave, not 3 months (12 weeks).

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Act mandates 4 crèche visits daily (including rest intervals), not 6 visits, for establishments with 50 or more employees.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Women with two or more surviving children receive reduced paid maternity leave of 12 weeks instead of 26 weeks.

📝 Short Notes: Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — NITI Aayog

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was launched in 2016 under NITI Aayog, India's premier policy think tank, to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. AIM establishes Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools and Atal Incubation Centres to nurture innovation from grassroots to startups.

📝 Short Notes: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• Parent Body: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
• Launched: 2016 by the Government of India
• Objective: To create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across India
• Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs): Established in schools to foster innovation and scientific temperament among students through hands-on learning
• Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): Set up to provide world-class infrastructure and support to startups and entrepreneurs
• Target: Students, innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups across various sectors
• Support Provided: Mentorship, funding, infrastructure, and networking opportunities for innovative ventures

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — an early human species

Denisovans refer to an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans that lived in Asia tens of thousands of years ago. They were first identified through DNA analysis of fossil remains found in the Denisova Cave in Siberia, making them a significant discovery in human evolutionary studies. Unlike other ancient human groups, Denisovans are known primarily through genetic evidence rather than complete skeletal fossils.

📝 Short Notes: Denisovans and Human Evolution

• Discovery: Denisovans were first identified in 2010 from a finger bone and teeth found in Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.
• Classification: They are an extinct group of archaic humans closely related to Neanderthals, who diverged from modern humans around 500,000-600,000 years ago.
• Geographic Range: Evidence suggests Denisovans lived across a wide area of Asia, from Siberia to Southeast Asia and possibly the Pacific islands.
• Genetic Legacy: Modern humans, particularly Melanesians, Southeast Asians, and Aboriginal Australians, carry 3-5% Denisovan DNA, indicating interbreeding occurred.
• Physical Features: Limited fossil evidence suggests they had larger teeth and jaws than modern humans, adapted to harsh environments.
• Significance: Their discovery revealed that human evolution was more complex than previously thought, with multiple hominin species coexisting and interbreeding.