UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for March 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 With reference to the Senior Citizens Act, consider the following statements: 1. It allows parents (age 60 and above) who are unable to maintain themselves “from his own earnings or property owned by him” to file a suit for maintenance against their children or relatives (legal heirs). 2. The act does not place an obligation on these children or relatives to meet the parents’ needs. 3. The Act gives parents an avenue to receive maintenance even after transferring or gifting their property. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The Supreme Court rejected a suit filed by a senior couple to evict their son from their home by invoking the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (Senior Citizens Act). The Act provides a streamlined process for senior parents — often neglected and lacking financial support — to file suits seeking maintenance from their children. — Though the Act does not directly grant parents the authority to expel their children or relatives from their house, the Supreme Court has construed the clause governing property transfers to authorise such eviction orders in certain instances. — The Senior Citizens Act allows parents (60 and older) who are unable to support themselves "from his own earnings or property owned by him" to launch a maintenance claim against their children or relatives (legal heirs). Hence, statement 1 is correct. — It obligates these children or relatives to address the parents' requirements "so that such parents may lead a normal life". The Act also creates specific tribunals to hear these lawsuits, as well as appellate tribunals to hear challenges to any rulings issued. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — Crucially, Section 23 of the Act allows parents to collect support even after they transfer or donate their property. A senior citizen may donate or transfer property with the stipulation that the receiver "shall provide the basic amenities and basic physical needs" under Section 23(1). If this criteria is not met, the transfer "shall be deemed to have been made by fraud, coercion, or under undue influence" and might be declared void if the senior citizen petitions the tribunal. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. QUESTION 2 Consider the following statements: 1. The online real-money gaming companies are denoted as “reporting entities” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. 2. A reporting entity, under PMLA, has to furnish information about its clients and transactions to Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Centre is nearing completion of a move that would subject online real-money gaming companies such as Dream11, Games24x7, and Winzo to stricter obligations such as know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, as well as tracking and reporting suspicious transactions. — The proposal, spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and forwarded for inter-ministerial deliberations, might result in online real-money gambling companies being designated as "reporting entities" under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. — PMLA classifies financial institutions – banks, financial intermediaries, or individuals carrying on a defined business or profession — as reporting entities, imposing specific record-keeping and reporting requirements. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Under PMLA, a reporting entity must provide information about its clients and transactions to the Ministry of Finance's Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND), as well as comply with a number of compliance obligations, such as keeping a record of all transactions, documents proving the identity of its clients and beneficial owners, and account files and business correspondence relating to their clients. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. QUESTION 3 Which of the following indicator themes are covered under the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj? 1. Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods in Panchayat 2. Socially Secured Panchayat 3. Panchayat with Good Governance 4. Women-Friendly Panchayat 5. Clean and Green Panchayat Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 (c) 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Explanation — The government has created a Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) that ranks over 2.16 lakh panchayats based on their performance and progress towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. — PAI is prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj after reviewing panchayats' performance on several indicators spanning nine SDG themes, including poverty eradication and improved livelihoods. The ranking will be divided into five categories: Achiever (90-100), Front Runner (75-90), Performer (60-75), Aspirant (40-60), and Beginner (below 40), based on a 0-100 scale. — The nine SDG themes are: Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods in Panchayat; Healthy Panchayat; Child-Friendly Panchayat; Water Sufficient Panchayat; Clean and Green Panchayat; Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure; Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat; Panchayat with Good Governance; and Women-Friendly Panchayat. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. QUESTION 4 With reference to Section 69A of the IT Act, consider the following statements: 1. It allows the Centre to issue orders blocking any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource. 2. For blocking content under Section 69A, the Centre must deem it “necessary”. This “necessity”, however, is only justifiable under grounds provided in Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — Elon Musk-owned X has argued that the government’s “misuse” of the provision bypasses safeguards available under other provisions of the IT Act — namely Section 69A — that are specifically meant for the purpose of content moderation. — Section 69A of the IT Act allows the Centre to issue orders blocking “any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource”, but unlike 66A, it contains safeguards against misuse, as the SC had noted in Shreya Singhal. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Note: In Shreya Singhal v Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the IT Act which criminally punished, among other things, sending false information “for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience”. — For blocking content under Section 69A, the Centre must deem it “necessary”. This “necessity”, however, is only justifiable under grounds provided in Article 19(2) of the Constitution which “imposes reasonable restrictions” on the freedom of speech “in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with Foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence”. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. QUESTION 5 With reference to the rights of minorities, consider the following statements: 1. Only religion-based minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. 2. The State shall not, in granting aid to educational institutions, discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — Article 30 of the Constitution of India provides for the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. — All minorities, regardless of religion or language, have the right to create and run educational institutions of their choosing. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — When enacting any law providing for the compulsory acquisition of any property of an educational institution established and administered by a minority, the State must ensure that the amount fixed by or determined under such law for the acquisition of such property does not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed. — The State shall not discriminate against any educational institution in awarding funding because it is managed by a minority, regardless of religion or language. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Source: Constitution of India) Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 106) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 105) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 105) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 105) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 105) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 105) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
