UPSC Prelims 2023
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Only three

The Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy is a comprehensive initiative addressing both nutritional and non-nutritional causes of anaemia in India. Out of the four statements, three are correct while Statement 1 is incorrect as it mentions calcium supplementation instead of Iron Folic Acid supplementation.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The strategy provides prophylactic Iron Folic Acid supplementation (not calcium) to pre-school children, adolescents, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The strategy promotes delayed cord clamping for at least 3 minutes (or until cord pulsations cease) at birth to improve infant iron reserves up to 6 months.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Periodic deworming is provided to children (1-19 years) bi-annually on National Deworming Day (10th February and 10th August) and to women of reproductive age and pregnant women.

✅ Statement 4 – Correct: The strategy addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis through integrated screening and treatment.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

Among the four statements about Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), only statements 2 and 3 are correct. JSY is a centrally sponsored scheme under NHM aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional deliveries among poor pregnant women through cash incentives.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: JSY is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM), not a state health department intervention.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The primary objective of JSY is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting safe institutional deliveries among poor pregnant women.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: JSY provides cash incentives to promote institutional delivery, particularly targeting BPL, SC, and ST households.

❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Providing free public health facilities to sick infants up to one year is a feature of Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), not JSY.

📝 Short Notes: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

• Launch Year: 2005 under National Rural Health Mission (now NHM)
• Nature: 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme with conditional cash transfer
• Primary Objective: Reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional deliveries
• Target Beneficiaries: Pregnant women from BPL families, SC/ST communities, especially in Low Performing States (LPS)
• Cash Assistance: Varies by state category (LPS vs HPS) and rural/urban areas; includes assistance for ASHA workers
• Distinction from JSSK: JSSK (2011) provides free delivery services, transport, and care for sick newborns up to 1 year; JSY focuses on cash incentives for institutional delivery

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

Both statements are individually correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. The curative focus of India's public healthcare system stems from historical policy priorities and resource allocation patterns, not from the constitutional decentralization of health services.

✅ Statement-I – Correct: India's public healthcare system has historically emphasized curative care through hospitals and dispensaries, while preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative services receive limited budgetary and infrastructural support.

✅ Statement-II – Correct: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, 'Public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries' fall under the State List (Entry 6), making States primarily responsible for organizing and delivering health services.

Relationship: The decentralized administrative structure (Statement-II) describes the constitutional framework for health governance but does not cause or explain the curative-heavy approach (Statement-I). The latter is a result of policy choices, funding models, and infrastructure development priorities rather than federalism itself.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Only two

Among the six countries listed, only Hungary and Romania share a land border with Ukraine. Hungary borders Ukraine to the southwest, while Romania shares a border to the south. The other four countries—Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, and Lithuania—do not share direct land borders with Ukraine.

Country-wise Analysis:
✅ Hungary – Shares border: Located to the southwest of Ukraine with a common land boundary.
✅ Romania – Shares border: Located to the south/southwest of Ukraine with a significant land boundary.
❌ Bulgaria – No border: Located south of Romania; separated from Ukraine by Romania.
❌ Czech Republic – No border: Located in Central Europe, west of Ukraine, with no direct boundary.
❌ Latvia – No border: Located in the Baltic region, north of Ukraine, separated by Belarus.
❌ Lithuania – No border: Located in the Baltic region, northwest of Ukraine, separated by Belarus.

📝 Short Notes: Ukraine's Land Borders

• Ukraine shares land borders with seven countries in total.
• Among the given list, only Hungary and Romania are Ukraine's neighbors.
• The Czech Republic is close but separated by Slovakia.
• Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania) are separated by Belarus.
• Bulgaria lies south of Romania and has no direct access to Ukraine.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

The 44th Chess Olympiad 2022 was indeed India's first time hosting this prestigious event, held in Mamallapuram near Chennai. The official mascot was correctly named 'Thambi' (Tamil for younger brother). However, the trophies are reversed: the Open section receives the Hamilton-Russell Cup, while the Women's section receives the Vera Menchik Cup (named after the first Women's World Chess Champion).

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The 44th Chess Olympiad 2022 was the first time India hosted this event, held in Mamallapuram/Chennai from July 28 to August 9, 2022.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The official mascot was named 'Thambi', a Tamil word meaning 'younger brother', representing Tamil Nadu's culture and hospitality.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Open section trophy is the Hamilton-Russell Cup, not the Vera Menchik Cup.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: The Women's section trophy is the Vera Menchik Cup, not the Hamilton-Russell Cup.

📝 Short Notes: Chess Olympiad Trophies

• 44th Chess Olympiad 2022: First held in India at Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu (July 28 – August 9, 2022)
• Record Participation: Nearly 190 teams in Open and over 160 teams in Women's section
• First-ever Torch Relay: The Olympic torch was carried across multiple Indian cities before the event
• Multiple Indian Teams: As host nation, India fielded multiple teams in both sections
• Winners 2022: Open section - Uzbekistan; Women's section - Ukraine

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — Only two

The question asks to identify correctly matched pairs of sports awards with their descriptions. Out of the four pairs given, only Pair 1 (Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) and Pair 3 (Dronacharya Award) are correctly matched, making the correct answer 'Only two'.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is indeed given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over a period of the last four years.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Arjuna Award is given for outstanding performance over the previous four years (not lifetime achievement); the Dhyan Chand Award is given for lifetime achievement in sports.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Dronacharya Award is correctly described as an award to honour eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams.

❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is given to corporate entities, NGOs, and sports bodies for sports promotion and development (not to individual sportspersons after retirement).

📝 Short Notes: National Sports Awards of India