UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Calcutta HC seeks affidavit on midday meal contract

Q1. The PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, which provides hot cooked meals to school children, is implemented at the Union level by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • B. Ministry of Education
  • C. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q2. As per the Cabinet-approved framework for PM-POSHAN (2021-22 to 2025-26), hot cooked meals are provided to approximately how many children studying in elementary classes (in addition to pre-primary/Bal Vatika children)?

  • A. About 8.0 crore
  • B. About 9.5 crore
  • C. About 11.80 crore
  • D. About 14.5 crore

Q3. Which one of the following writs is issued primarily to secure the production of a detained person before the court and their release from unlawful detention?

  • A. Mandamus
  • B. Quo warranto
  • C. Certiorari
  • D. Habeas corpus

Q4. With reference to the recent West Bengal proposal to entrust midday meal preparation in Kolkata schools to ISKCON, consider the following statements: 1. The proposal covers government/sponsored schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, whereas the ISKCON-linked Akshaya Patra Foundation is already an implementing partner of PM-POSHAN in several states. 2. Unlike the existing menu, the proposal replaces eggs with vegetarian protein sources such as paneer and pulses. 3. The proposal was floated by ISKCON, and the State government has already formally notified its acceptance. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The proposal covers government/sponsored schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, whereas the ISKCON-linked Akshaya Patra Foundation is already an implementing partner of PM-POSHAN in several states.
  2. Unlike the existing menu, the proposal replaces eggs with vegetarian protein sources such as paneer and pulses.
  3. The proposal was floated by ISKCON, and the State government has already formally notified its acceptance.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Regarding the Public Interest Litigation before the Calcutta High Court on the ISKCON midday meal proposal, which of the following statements is/are correctly identified?

  1. The matter was heard by a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court.
  2. The Bench directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit on the proposal.
  3. The proposal pertains to midday meal preparation in Kolkata schools.
  4. The State's counsel informed the court that the proposal had already been fully implemented across all schools.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Consider the following High Courts. Which of the following is/are correctly identified as High Courts that possess ordinary original civil jurisdiction?

  1. Calcutta High Court
  2. Bombay High Court
  3. Madras High Court
  4. Allahabad High Court
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. In the context of the higher judiciary, the term 'Acting Chief Justice' of a High Court most precisely refers to a judge who is:

  • A. appointed by the President under Article 223 to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice when it is vacant or the Chief Justice is unable to perform them
  • B. appointed for a fixed short tenure to clear pending cases before a regular Chief Justice is chosen by the collegium
  • C. the senior-most judge who automatically becomes permanent Chief Justice without any Presidential appointment
  • D. a retired Chief Justice recalled temporarily under Article 224A to preside over the High Court

Q8. Who is regarded as the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)?

  • A. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
  • B. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
  • C. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
  • D. Swami Vivekananda

Q9. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which grew out of an ISKCON kitchen, functions as an implementing partner of which one of the following programmes?

  • A. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)
  • B. PM-POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
  • C. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
  • D. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

Q10. The Akshaya Patra Foundation, described as the world's largest NGO-run school meal programme, began serving mid-day meals from an ISKCON kitchen in Bengaluru in which year?

  • A. 1995
  • B. 2000
  • C. 2004
  • D. 2010

Q11. The Sub-Group of Chief Ministers constituted under NITI Aayog for the rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes examined how many then-existing Centrally Sponsored Schemes?

  • A. 30
  • B. 50
  • C. 66
  • D. 42