Indian Governance and Policy

Statement: Should legal professionals of India have the right to go on strike? Arguments: 1. No, India is already facing a backlog of about 3 crore cases countrywide due to frequent strikes of lawyers. Another strike will only enhance the grievance of the aggrieved clients.

1. Yes, legal professionals are also a part of our society. If they feel that their dignity, independence and integrity has been lowered, strike would be the only meaningful weapon for them.

Which of the following was/were not a feature of the IGF at this time?

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the following question.

Netheads build, run and protect the internet. They often profit from it too. More than 2,000 of them from more than 100 countries descended on Nairobi this week for the latest Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a conference organised under United Nations auspices. The ponderous official theme was the internet “as a catalyst for change”, with a lot of nodding to WikiLeaks and the Arab spring. The reality outside the conference hall, the UN headquarters in the Kenyan capital, was more striking. Kenyans nowadays often go online on their mobile phones. Surfing the web is getting faster and cheaper by the day. The internet is no longer a geeks' affair in the rich world, but woven into the fabric of business and life even in the poor one.
The IGF is not a typical UN meeting with a carefully staged agenda and much diplomatic protocol. All participants had the same right to take the floor. Government suits had to listen patiently to the complaints of internet activists. And the end of the shindig was not marked by a finely tuned communiqué, but by a workshop dedicated to what the organisers should do better.
All this makes the IGF an unusual grouping. It is in effect a poster child for what insiders like to call the “multi-stakeholder” model. All involved have a say and decisions are taken by “rough consensus”. This approach has worked for the internet so far, but it is increasingly under attack. Governments now want to be given the last word on contentious issues rather than being merely treated as just another stakeholder.

The latest Internet Governance Forum (IGF) conference held at Nairobi was organised by

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the following question.

Netheads build, run and protect the internet. They often profit from it too. More than 2,000 of them from more than 100 countries descended on Nairobi this week for the latest Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a conference organised under United Nations auspices. The ponderous official theme was the internet “as a catalyst for change”, with a lot of nodding to WikiLeaks and the Arab spring. The reality outside the conference hall, the UN headquarters in the Kenyan capital, was more striking. Kenyans nowadays often go online on their mobile phones. Surfing the web is getting faster and cheaper by the day. The internet is no longer a geeks' affair in the rich world, but woven into the fabric of business and life even in the poor one.
The IGF is not a typical UN meeting with a carefully staged agenda and much diplomatic protocol. All participants had the same right to take the floor. Government suits had to listen patiently to the complaints of internet activists. And the end of the shindig was not marked by a finely tuned communiqué, but by a workshop dedicated to what the organisers should do better.
All this makes the IGF an unusual grouping. It is in effect a poster child for what insiders like to call the “multi-stakeholder” model. All involved have a say and decisions are taken by “rough consensus”. This approach has worked for the internet so far, but it is increasingly under attack. Governments now want to be given the last word on contentious issues rather than being merely treated as just another stakeholder.

Which of the following best explains why IGF is a ‘multi-stakeholder model'?

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the following question.

Netheads build, run and protect the internet. They often profit from it too. More than 2,000 of them from more than 100 countries descended on Nairobi this week for the latest Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a conference organised under United Nations auspices. The ponderous official theme was the internet “as a catalyst for change”, with a lot of nodding to WikiLeaks and the Arab spring. The reality outside the conference hall, the UN headquarters in the Kenyan capital, was more striking. Kenyans nowadays often go online on their mobile phones. Surfing the web is getting faster and cheaper by the day. The internet is no longer a geeks' affair in the rich world, but woven into the fabric of business and life even in the poor one.
The IGF is not a typical UN meeting with a carefully staged agenda and much diplomatic protocol. All participants had the same right to take the floor. Government suits had to listen patiently to the complaints of internet activists. And the end of the shindig was not marked by a finely tuned communiqué, but by a workshop dedicated to what the organisers should do better.
All this makes the IGF an unusual grouping. It is in effect a poster child for what insiders like to call the “multi-stakeholder” model. All involved have a say and decisions are taken by “rough consensus”. This approach has worked for the internet so far, but it is increasingly under attack. Governments now want to be given the last word on contentious issues rather than being merely treated as just another stakeholder.

Directions: The statement below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the given arguments is/are ‘strong'.

Statement: It is a good idea for Gurgaon police to have announced Tuesdays as car free days on its five major corridors. Arguments: I. Yes, as it will increase the frequency of metro rides, encourage shared journeys and improve shuttle services. II. No, as it will increase the burden on public transport system.

Health and sanitary conditions in slums are far below the acceptable norm of human habitat in Indian cities and towns.

Directions: Given below is a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity.

Mark answer (1) if the inference is ‘definitely true’. i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
Mark answer (2) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (3) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
Mark answer (4) if the inference is ‘probably false’, though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (5) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.


In its most ambitious bid ever to house 6–crore slum dwellers and realize the vision of a slum-free India, the government is rolling out a massive plan to build 50 lakh dwelling units in five years across 400 towns and cities. The program could free up thousands of acres of valuable government land across the country and generate crores worth of business for real estate developers. Proliferation of slums has had an adverse impact on the GDP growth for years. Slum dwellers are characterized by low productivity and susceptible to poor health conditions. The government believes that better housing facilities will address social issues and also have a multiplier effect and serve as an economic stimulus.

Cities and towns of developed countries are free from slums.

Directions: Given below is a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity.

Mark answer (1) if the inference is ‘definitely true’. i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
Mark answer (2) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (3) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
Mark answer (4) if the inference is ‘probably false’, though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (5) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.


In its most ambitious bid ever to house 6–crore slum dwellers and realize the vision of a slum-free India, the government is rolling out a massive plan to build 50 lakh dwelling units in five years across 400 towns and cities. The program could free up thousands of acres of valuable government land across the country and generate crores worth of business for real estate developers. Proliferation of slums has had an adverse impact on the GDP growth for years. Slum dwellers are characterized by low productivity and susceptible to poor health conditions. The government believes that better housing facilities will address social issues and also have a multiplier effect and serve as an economic stimulus.

Majority of the slums in cities and towns in India are on prime private properties.

Directions: Given below is a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity.

Mark answer (1) if the inference is ‘definitely true’. i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
Mark answer (2) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (3) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
Mark answer (4) if the inference is ‘probably false’, though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (5) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.


In its most ambitious bid ever to house 6–crore slum dwellers and realize the vision of a slum-free India, the government is rolling out a massive plan to build 50 lakh dwelling units in five years across 400 towns and cities. The program could free up thousands of acres of valuable government land across the country and generate crores worth of business for real estate developers. Proliferation of slums has had an adverse impact on the GDP growth for years. Slum dwellers are characterized by low productivity and susceptible to poor health conditions. The government believes that better housing facilities will address social issues and also have a multiplier effect and serve as an economic stimulus.

Development of land occupied by slums in cities of India will not have any effect on the common public.

Directions: Given below is a passage followed by several possible inferences which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity.

Mark answer (1) if the inference is ‘definitely true’. i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts given.
Mark answer (2) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (3) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.
Mark answer (4) if the inference is ‘probably false’, though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts given.
Mark answer (5) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.


In its most ambitious bid ever to house 6–crore slum dwellers and realize the vision of a slum-free India, the government is rolling out a massive plan to build 50 lakh dwelling units in five years across 400 towns and cities. The program could free up thousands of acres of valuable government land across the country and generate crores worth of business for real estate developers. Proliferation of slums has had an adverse impact on the GDP growth for years. Slum dwellers are characterized by low productivity and susceptible to poor health conditions. The government believes that better housing facilities will address social issues and also have a multiplier effect and serve as an economic stimulus.

Directions: In the question below, a set of four statements is given, followed by five answer options to categorize these statements as facts, inferences and judgments. Consider the statements and decide which of the choices is true.

J: Judgment: If it is an opinion or estimate or anticipation of common sense or intention. I: Inference: If it is a logical conclusion or deduction about something, based on the knowledge of facts.1. The gruesome episode of Nandigram has compelled the Central government to review its SEZ policy and to scrap the ceiling; the states have been directed to buy land from the farmers at the floor rate.

1. In specifying the floor rate, the state government will be a mere facilitator in the land acquisition process.
2. Over the years, corporates and industrialists have been paying low rates for the land that commands greater market value, and this has resulted into the Nandigram catastrophe.
3. Floor rate in the eastern region is just Rs. 5 lakh per acre, whereas it is Rs. 20 lakh is Haryana.