1. Consider the following statements about the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI).
1. TRAI is a statutory body.
2. One of the main objectives of TRAI is to provide a fair and transparent policy environment
which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition in the telecom sector.

Answer: C
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established
in 1997 by an Act of Parliament, called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act,
1997, to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom
services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
● TRAI's mission is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in
the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in
emerging global information society.
● Statement 2 is correct: One of the main objectives of TRAI is to provide a fair and
transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates
fair competition in the telecom sector.
● The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance in 2000, establishing a Telecommunications
Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and
disputes functions from TRAI.
○ TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee,
between two or more service providers, between a service provider and a group of
consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction, decision or
order of TRAI.

2. With reference to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme, consider the
following statements.
1. PLI aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in
domestic units.
2. At present, the scheme is restricted to mobile phones manufacturing, pharmaceutical drugs
and food products sectors.

Answer: A

Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) aims to give companies
incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units.
● Apart from inviting foreign companies to set shop in India, the scheme also aims to
encourage local companies to set up or expand existing manufacturing units.
● The central government had for the first time notified the PLI scheme for mobile phones
and allied component manufacturing in 2020.
● Statement 2 is incorrect: Later, the government announced expansion of the PLI scheme
to include more than 10 sectors including automobile and automobile components,
pharmaceutical drugs, textile products, food products, high efficiency solar photo-voltaic
modules, white goods such as air conditioners and LED bulbs, speciality steel products,
drones and drone components, etc.
Why is the production linked scheme needed?
● The PLI schemes have been introduced as a key element of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat
package to transform the manufacturing landscape of the Indian economy and integrate it
into the global supply chains.
● The strategy behind these schemes is to offer companies incentives on incremental sales
from products manufactured in India, over the base year.
● They have been specifically designed to boost domestic manufacturing in sunrise and
strategic sectors, curb cheaper imports and reduce import bills, improve cost
competitiveness of domestically manufactured goods, and enhance domestic capacity
and exports.
● PLI Scheme is designed to create a complete component ecosystem in India and make India
an integral part of the global supply chains.
● The PLI scheme is expected to boost production worth an estimated $500 billion in five
years since its introduction.

4. Consider the following statements about the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
1. The IWC is responsible for setting catch limits for commercial whaling with the exceptions of Norway and Iceland.
2. The Commission also conducts activities related to cetacean conservation.
3. India is not a party to the IWC.

Answer: A
Explanation:
● The International Whaling Commission was established under the 1946 International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to provide for the proper conservation of
whale stocks and orderly development of the whaling industry.
● Statement 1 is correct: The IWC is responsible for setting catch limits for commercial
whaling (with the exceptions of Norway and Iceland). Norway and Iceland establish their
own catch limits but must provide information on their catches and associated scientific
data to the Commission.
● Statement 2 is correct: The Commission also conducts activities related to cetacean (e.g.,
whale, dolphin) conservation.
● Statement 3 is incorrect: Currently, there are more than 80 contracting governments
(including India).

5. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Right to Information Act, 2005?

Answer: C

Explanation:
● Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, Public Authorities are required to make
disclosures on various aspects of their structure and functioning.
○ This includes: (i) disclosure on their organisation, functions, and structure, (ii)
powers and duties of its officers and employees, and (iii) financial information.
● The intent of such suo moto disclosures is that the public should need minimum recourse
through the Act to obtain such information. If such information is not made available,
citizens have the right to request it from the Authorities.
● This may include information in the form of documents, files, or electronic records
under the control of the Public Authority. The intent behind the enactment of the Act is to
promote transparency and accountability in the working of Public Authorities.
Who is included in the ambit of ‘Public Authorities’?
● The RTI Act defines “public authorities” in Section 2(h).
● A “public authority” means any authority or body or institution of self- government
established or constituted
○ by or under the Constitution;
○ by any other law made by Parliament;
○ by any other law made by State Legislature;
○ by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes
any –
○ body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
○ Non-Government organization substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds
provided by the appropriate Government. Hence, statement A is incorrect.

Section 8 of the RTI 
● This provides for exemption from disclosure of information that are more valid in
reasons 
○ Which would affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic,
scientific or economic interests of the State;
○ Which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal;
○ Which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;
○ Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property;
○ Information received in confidence from foreign government;
○ Information which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person; etc.

How is the right to information enforced under the Act?
● The Act has established a three tier structure for enforcing the right to information
guaranteed under the Act.
● Statement B is incorrect: The first request for information goes to the Central/State
Assistant Public Information Officer and Central/State Public Information Officer,
designated by the Public Authorities.
● Statement C is correct: These Officers are required to provide information to an RTI
applicant within 30 days of the request. If information sought concerns the life or liberty
of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.
● Appeals from their decisions go to an Appellate Authority.
● Appeals against the order of the Appellate Authority go to the State Information
Commission or the Central Information Commission. These Information Commissions

consist of a Chief Information Commissioner, and up to 10 Information
Commissioners.
Section 4(2) of the RTI
● It mandates that different authorities and government departments should voluntarily
disclose (suo motu) much information to the public at regular intervals through
various means, including the internet, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of
this Act to obtain information.
Fee
● Statement D is incorrect: There is an application fee that varies for the Centre and for
States.
● For public authorities under the Central Government, this is Rs. 10.