Prelims Mantra (Day-18)

Delimitation in India:

• • Delimitation means process of fixing number of seats and boundaries of territorial constituencies in each State for Lok Sabha and Legislative assemblies.
  • It is done by ‘Delimitation Commission’ that is set up by an act of Parliament.
  • Orders issued by Delimitation Commission become final and cannot be challenged in any court.
  • Delimitation Commissions (four times) — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
  • President appoints a Delimitation Commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, and comprising Chief Election Commissioner or his representative, and State Election Commissioners.
  • In addition, associate (or co-opted) members are appointed for each state or Union Territory undergoing delimitation. These members are sitting MPs appointed by Speaker of Lok Sabha and MLAs appointed by Speaker of Legislative Assembly concerned.
  • Associate members provide inputs and advice, but do not have decision-making powers or the right to vote, if voting is required on any issue.
  • Article 82 and Article 170(3) – readjustment of seats in Lok Sabha & Legislative Assembly after each census.
  • Number of seats in Lok Sabha, based on 1971 Census, was fixed at 543, when population was 54.8 crore.
  • 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 froze allocation of seats in Lok Sabha to states and division of each state into territorial constituencies till year 2000 at 1971 level.
  • This was extended up to 2026, by 84th Amendment Act of 2001. It also empowered government to undertake readjustment & rationalization of territorial constituencies in states on basis of population figures of 1991 census.
  • 87th Amendment Act of 2003 provided for delimitation of constituencies on basis of 2001 census & not 1991 census.
  • Representation of the People Act (1950) deals with allocation of seats and delimitation of constituencies for purpose of elections to House of People and Legislatures of States, qualifications of voter at such election and preparations of electoral rolls.

 

Navratna companies:

• • Government upgraded Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) as country’s 25th and 26th Navratna companies respectively.
  • All seven listed Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) of the Indian Railways now have Navratna status. The Indian Railways have a total 12 CPSEs.
  • Navratnas are second category of central government-owned ‘Ratna’ companies, placed between the Maharatnas and the Miniratnas.
  • The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) of the Ministry of Finance picks the CPSEs for Navratna status.
  • Six indicators are considered.
  • If a CPSE has a composite score of 60 or higher for all six indicators and has obtained an Excellent or Very Good MOU rating in three of the last five years, it is eligible to be considered for Navratna status.
  • Effect of Navratna status – greater financial autonomy, can form joint ventures and subsidiaries, enter into mergers or acquisitions without direct government intervention.

 

Miyawaki technique:

• • Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki devised Miyawaki technique in 1970s, aimed at restoring native forests in Japan deteriorated due to urban development over time.
  • Focusing on native plants, Miyawaki developed a unique afforestation method to create small, dense pockets of forests, mirroring the natural ecosystem of any region.
  • Because plants are so close together, they shoot up quickly, competing for sunlight. Thus, they grow to their full length within three years, compared to much longer periods natural forests take.
  • Benefits – Grow in limited space in urban areas, carbon sequestration, regulate local temperature, counter ‘heat island’ effect, provide shade.

 

Wallace line:

• • It is boundary between Oriental and Australian faunal regions, proposed by 19th-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.
  • It extends from Indian Ocean through Lombok Strait (between islands of Bali and Lombok), northward through Makassar Strait (between Borneo and Celebes), and eastward, south of Mindanao, into Philippine Sea.
  • Many fish, bird, and mammal groups are abundantly represented on one side of Wallace Line but poorly or not at all on other side.
  • Reason – As Sulawesi islands broke off from Asia and drifted apart, ancestral species on each island would have become isolated and evolved independently.

 

What is carbon intensity?

• • Carbon intensity is a useful way to measure how much carbon a particular sector is emitting and how it has increased or decreased over time.
  • For example, carbon intensity of steel sector can be measured as number of tonnes produced per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.
  • Country’s carbon intensity can be understood by dividing growth in GDP per capita by amount of carbon dioxide emitted.

 

What is artificial intelligence?

• • It refers to field of computer science which aims to make computer systems think, reason, learn, and act to solve a complex system like humans.
  • It was established in 1956 at small workshop at Dartmouth College (United States), organised by a young mathematician named John McCarthy.
  • The term artificial intelligence was coined by McCarthy.

 

What is machine learning?

• • To enable computer systems to imitate the way that humans learn & perform tasks autonomously (meaning, without instructions), machine learning (ML) is used.
  • ML is implemented by training computers on data so that they can make predictions about new information.
  • Example of real-life application – Companies such as Spotify or Netflix use machine learning models to track user’s behaviour to recognise patterns in their listening and viewing history and then use this data collection to accurately predict which artists or films they may enjoy.

 

Zorawar:

• • It is the light tank indigenously designed developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  • Named after military general, Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who served under Jammu’s Raja Gulab Singh in 19th Century.
  • Weight – maximum 25 tonnes, which ensures it can be transported by air.
  • It will be able to fire at high angles of elevation.
  • It will be equipped with all the modern technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Drone Integration.
  • It is expected to be inducted into Indian Army by 2027.

 

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana:

• • It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme launched by Government of India to provide social security to unorganised workers.
  • It ensures a minimum monthly pension of ₹3,000 after the age of 60 for workers who belong to the unorganised sector and have a monthly income of up to ₹15,000.
  • Age Requirement: 18 to 40 years.
  • It was introduced in the Interim Budget 2019.
  • It is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Common Service Centres e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV) for seamless implementation.
  • LIC is Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
  • Government of India matches the worker’s contribution on a 1:1 basis.
  • If the beneficiary passes away, spouse receives 50% of the pension amount as a family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.

 

Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats (MWFGP):

• • Launched by Ministry of Panchayati Raj in March 2025.
  • Aim – to establish at least one Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat in each district, serving as a beacon for gender-sensitive and girl-friendly governance practices.

PRACTICE MCQs

Q1. Which of the following technologies enable computer systems to imitate the way that humans learn, and perform tasks autonomously?

a) Artificial Intelligence

b) Machine Learning

c) Internet of Things

d) Blockchain technology

Answer: B

Q2. Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana:

1. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme to provide social security to unorganised workers.

2. It is administered by the Ministry of Labour.

3. Government of India matches the worker’s contribution on a 1:1 basis.

4. Beneficiary should be between 21 to 40 years of age.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 3 only

b) 1, 2 and 3 only

c) 3 and 4 only

d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: B

Q3. Which of the following statements is incorrect about delimitation in India?

a) Delimitation Commission is set up through an Act of Parliament.

b) Chairperson of Delimitation Commission is a Retired Supreme Court judge.

c) 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 froze allocation of seats in Lok Sabha till 2026.

d) Representation of the People Act (1950) deals with allocation of seats and delimitation of constituencies.

Answer: C

Q4. Which of the following correctly describes the Wallace Line?

a) It is the boundary between our solar system and outer space.

b) It is the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico.

c) It is the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

d) It is boundary between Oriental and Australian faunal regions.

Answer: D

Q5. Consider the following statements about Delimitation Commission:

1. It has been set up four times till the date.

2. President appoints a Delimitation Commission.

3. Orders issued by Delimitation Commission become final and cannot be challenged in any court.

How many statements given above are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

Answer: C

 

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