Q. 1 Karnataka State Assembly wishes to amend the VB Gram G Act (a Central Act) in its application to the state of Karnataka. Is this constitutionally permissible?
A) No, because the VB Gram G Act is a Central Law and states cannot alter its provisions.
B) Yes, the State Assembly can pass such an amendment, but it requires the assent of the Governor of Karnataka only.
C) Yes, the State Assembly can pass such an amendment, but it must receive the assent of the President of India to prevail over the Central Act.
D) No, because Employment is a subject under the Union List.
Answer
Answer: C
Since “Employment and Unemployment” is a subject in the Concurrent List (Entry 23), the Karnataka State Assembly can legislate on it. However, if the State law alters or conflicts with the existing Central Act (VB Gram G Act), the State law must be reserved for the President’s consideration and receive his assent under Article 254(2) to be valid in Karnataka.
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Q. 2 Suppose the Karnataka State Assembly passes a bill titled “The Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee (Repeal) Bill” to stop the implementation of VB G RAM G in the state. The bill receives the Governor’s assent. What is the legal status of this Act?
A) It is valid and MGNREGA ceases to operate in Karnataka.
B) It is void because a State Legislature cannot repeal a Central Act without the specific assent of the President of India.
C) It is valid because the State Legislature has exclusive power over “Rural Development” (State List). D) It is void because MGNREGA is part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
Answer
Answer: B Under the doctrine of repugnancy (Article 254), a State law that conflicts with a Central law on a Concurrent List subject is void. To effectively “repeal” or negate the Central Act’s application in the state, the State Bill would need the President’s assent (Article 254(2)). The Governor’s assent is insufficient to override a Central Parliamentary law.
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Q.3 A State law on a Concurrent List subject has received the President’s assent and currently prevails over a Central Act in that State. Does Parliament retain any power over this specific State law?
A) No, Parliament permanently loses jurisdiction over that specific matter in that State.
B) Yes, but Parliament can only amend the law if the State Assembly passes a resolution requesting it.
C) Yes, Parliament can enact a law at any time to add to, amend, vary, or repeal the law made by the State Legislature.
D) No, Parliament must wait for the President to revoke his assent before acting.
Answer
Answer: C , The Proviso to Article 254(2) explicitly states that nothing prevents Parliament from enacting a law at any time on the same matter, including a law that adds to, amends, varies, or repeals the State law, even if the State law had previously received Presidential assent
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Q.4 Consider the following statements regarding the establishment of ‘Vulture Safe Zones’ (VSZs) in Tamil Nadu:
- The first VSZ is proposed to be established in the Moyar River Valley.
- The Moyar River Valley is a critical biome located within the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
- The initiative is being implemented under the ‘Vision Document for Vulture Conservation (VDVC) in Tamil Nadu 2025-30’.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 2 and 3 only
Answer
Answer: C (1 and 3 only) The Moyar River Valley is located in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, not Agasthyamalai. It is a crucial corridor connecting the Eastern and Western Ghats.
——————————————————————————————————————–Q.5 The Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) primarily aim to mitigate the threat of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Which of the following best describes the physiological impact of Diclofenac on vultures?
A) It causes thinning of eggshells, leading to reproductive failure.
B) It causes renal failure and visceral gout when vultures feed on treated carcasses.
C) It destroys the nesting habitat by contaminating the water table.
D) It reduces the vulture’s ability to digest bones, leading to starvation.
Answer
Answer B, Diclofenac is toxic to vultures. When they consume the carcass of an animal treated with the drug shortly before death, it causes kidney (renal) failure. This leads to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in their internal organs, a condition known as visceral gout, which is fatal.
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Q.6 Consider the following statements regarding Strobilanthes kunthiana (Neelakurinji):
- It is a shrub endemic to the Shola forests and grasslands of the Western Ghats.
- It is listed under Schedule III of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022).
- The species is known for its annual blooming cycle during the monsoon season.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer
Answer: (b)
Statement 3 is incorrect: Neelakurinji blooms once in 12 Years, not annually.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, Neelakurinji has been included in Schedule III (Protected Plants), making its destruction or uprooting a punishable offense.
UPSC Prelims One-Liner
| Term | Brief Description | Key Context / Relevance |
| Vikas Engine | A liquid-fuelled rocket engine designed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. | Powers the core stages of India’s launch vehicles like PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3. |
| Majorana Particles | A particle that is its own antiparticle. (neutral charge). | Researched for building stable, fault-tolerant Quantum Computers. |
| Neelakurinji | A shrub endemic to the Western Ghats that blooms once every 12 years. | Classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List (2024 update). |
| KABIL | Khanij Bidesh India Ltd; a JV of NALCO, HCL, and MECL under the Ministry of Mines. | Mandated to identify and acquire critical mineral assets (Lithium, Cobalt) overseas. |
| Diclofenac | A veterinary painkiller (NSAID) highly toxic to vultures. | Banned by the Govt of India to prevent the extinction of Gyps vultures. |
| Moyar Valley | An ecological corridor in the Nilgiris connecting the Western and Eastern Ghats. | Critical habitat for tigers and hosts the largest vulture nesting colony in South India. |
| BioE3 | Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment Policy. | Aims to build a $300 billion Bioeconomy by 2030 via high-performance biomanufacturing. |
| ITSAR | Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements notified by the DoT. | Security standards that telecom equipment must meet under the MTCTE regime. |