UPSC Prelims 2021
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 Only

WaterCredit is an initiative of Water.org that uses microfinance tools to empower individuals to access water and sanitation solutions through small loans, enabling them to meet their needs without depending on subsidies. It is not a WHO or World Bank initiative.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: WaterCredit applies microfinance principles to the water and sanitation sector, providing small loans to individuals and households for water and sanitation infrastructure.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: WaterCredit is an initiative of Water.org, an international non-profit organization, not a global initiative launched under the aegis of WHO and World Bank.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The program aims to empower poor people to access water and sanitation through affordable financing, reducing their dependence on subsidies and enabling sustainable solutions.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 3 only

This question tests knowledge of labor laws and rights applicable to casual workers in India. Statement 1 is incorrect as EPF coverage is not automatic for all casual workers, while statements 2 and 3 are correct based on Supreme Court rulings and payment of wages regulations.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Not all casual workers are automatically entitled to Employees Provident Fund coverage. EPF coverage applies to establishments with 20 or more employees, and casual workers must have rendered continuous service (at least 240 days in a year or 206 days for 5-day week offices) to qualify for regularization and EPF benefits.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Supreme Court has ruled that casual workers are entitled to regular working hours and overtime payment as they fall within the definition of 'employee' under various labor laws including the EPF Act, which defines employees broadly to include those engaged directly or indirectly in an establishment's work.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Under the Payment of Wages Act and related regulations, the government can issue notifications mandating that specific establishments or industries must pay wages only through bank accounts to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation.

📝 Short Notes: Rights of Casual Workers in India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only

The Laureus World Sports Awards, instituted in 2000, have honored exceptional athletes across various sports. Statement 2 is incorrect because tennis players, not Formula One drivers, have dominated the awards.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Tiger Woods won the inaugural Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2000 at Monte Carlo, becoming the first-ever recipient of this prestigious honor.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Tennis players have won the Sportsman of the Year award 11 times (Roger Federer-5, Rafael Nadal-2, Novak Djokovic-4), while Formula One drivers won only 4 times (Michael Schumacher-2, Sebastian Vettel-1, Lewis Hamilton-1), making tennis the dominant sport, not Formula One.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Roger Federer holds the record with five Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2018), making him the most decorated individual in this category.

📝 Short Notes: Laureus World Sports Awards

• Inception: Established in 2000 by Daimler and Richemont to honor sporting excellence worldwide
• First Ceremony: Held in Monte Carlo, Monaco in 2000
• Main Categories: Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Team of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sporting Moment of the Year
• Record Holders: Roger Federer (5 Sportsman awards), Serena Williams (5 Sportswoman awards)
• Voting: Winners selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy comprising over 70 legendary athletes
• Indian Winners: Sachin Tendulkar (2011 for Indian cricket team's World Cup win), Vishwanathan Anand (nominated multiple times)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

The question asks to identify statements that are not correct. All three statements contain inaccuracies regarding Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards. Statement 1 incorrectly classifies these awards as titles under Article 18(1), Statement 2 incorrectly mentions a single suspension, and Statement 3 incorrectly states a maximum limit of five awards.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are not titles under Article 18(1) of the Constitution; they are civilian honors that do not confer any legal privileges or status, as clarified by judicial interpretation.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Padma Awards were suspended not once but four times—in 1978, 1979, 1993, and 1997—due to various controversies and government decisions.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The general guideline restricts Bharat Ratna to a maximum of three recipients per year, not five; this limit was exceeded in 1999 (four awards) and 2024 (five awards).

📝 Short Notes: Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 only

This question tests knowledge about the 32nd Summer Olympics held in Tokyo in 2021. Statement 1 is incorrect as the official motto was different, while Statement 2 correctly identifies the new sports added to the Games.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The official motto for the 32nd Summer Olympics (Tokyo 2020) was "United by Emotion", not "A New World". The motto "A New World" was used for the Rio Olympics 2016.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Under new IOC rules, Tokyo Olympics included six new sports: Baseball/Softball, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate, and Sport Climbing, along with new mixed-team events in traditional sports.

📝 Short Notes: Tokyo 2020 Olympics (32nd Summer Olympics)

• Year & Location: Held in Tokyo, Japan in 2021 (postponed from 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic)
• Official Motto: "United by Emotion"
• New Sports Added: Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate, Baseball, and Softball (6 new sports)
• Innovation: First Olympics to allow host cities to propose additional sports under new IOC flexibility rules
• Other Additions: New mixed-team events in traditional sports like athletics, swimming, and judo; new forms of basketball (3x3) and cycling (BMX freestyle)
• Context: Rio 2016 Olympics used the motto "A New World" and was the 31st Summer Olympics

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

The finalists for the ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021) were determined based on the Percentage of Points (PCT) earned, not the absolute number of matches won. This system was adopted to ensure fairness given the varying number of matches played by different teams due to COVID-19 disruptions.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The finalists were decided by the Percentage of Points (PCT) earned from total points contested, not by the number of matches won.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: New Zealand was ranked ahead of England due to a higher PCT (70.0% vs 64.1%), even though England won more matches (11) than New Zealand (7) during the tournament cycle.

📝 Short Notes: ICC World Test Championship

• Format: The ICC World Test Championship is a league competition for Test cricket, featuring the top nine Test-playing nations competing over a two-year cycle.
• Points System (2019-2021): Teams earned 120 points for a win, 60 for a draw, 40 for a tie, and 0 for a loss in each Test series.
• Percentage of Points (PCT): PCT = (Points Won / Points Contested) × 100. This metric was used for rankings to account for unequal matches played.
• COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic led to series cancellations and postponements, making PCT the fairest ranking criterion instead of absolute points or wins.
• Inaugural Final (2021): New Zealand defeated India at Southampton to become the first World Test Champions.
• Qualified Teams (2019-2021): India (PCT 72.2%) and New Zealand (PCT 70.0%) qualified for the final.