Q.1-5. In the following passage there are blanks each of
which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and
against each five words have been suggested, one of which fits the blanks
appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Ever since the internet started (1) ordinary citizens with tools that democratise information,
governments across the world, including India, have been looking at ways and
means to control the online world through some form of regulation. This has
given rise to (2) laws and
provisions, such as Section 66 (A) of the Information Technology Act 2000,
which was misused so often that the Supreme Court had to step in and (3) the law. The new draft Geospatial
Information Regulation Bill 2016, proposed by the ministry of home affairs,
falls into this category of blunderbuss legislation. The main problem with this
Bill is that it is vague, has a wide remit and leaves too much room for
subjective interpretation — a situation tailor-made for potential misuse and
harassment of common citizens. Under the proposed law, anyone who wishes to
publish any geospatial information on India will need a license from a security
vetting authority. In addition to data acquired through satellites and other
aerial platforms, geospatial information has been defined in such a manner that
it encompasses even photographs taken by individuals depicting natural or
manmade physical features. So the law could be interpreted in a manner that
would make it mandatory for individuals to take a licence if they want to click
pictures of the Taj Mahal with their smartphones and upload it to a social
networking site. The penalties for failure to obtain a license are severe —
fines of up to Rs. 100 crore, or up to 7 years in jail. Clearly, the policy has
been ill-thought out because if a majority of Indians decided to obtain
licenses, no single agency has the capability required to handle all this data.
The ministry of home affairs has defended the proposed Bill
by arguing that it is aimed at ensuring that companies such as Google depict
India’s territorial boundaries correctly. For example, there have been
instances in the past when Google has shown Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed
territory. The Centre is also concerned about satellite images of sensitive areas
being freely available on digital maps. These concerns may be valid from a
national security point of view but it does not justify (4) an overreaching law that requires scrutiny of all digital
images taken by individual citizens. The proposed Bill is also contrary to
Prime Minister’s vision for Digital India and Smart Cities, both of which
require a huge amount of geospatial data. If companies and individuals involved
in these projects have to take licenses and permits, then another important
reform goal — reducing red tape — would come a cropper.
India does need a geospatial policy to protect its national
interest but the current draft Bill is a non-starter. Perhaps, the Bill drafted
by the department of science of technology offers a better starting point as it
at least recognizes the different uses of geospatial data. While adequate
measures to protect security concerns must be taken, the Centre should not (5) to using a sledgehammer to crack
open a peanut.
Q.1. Choose the correct option for (1).
01. empowering
02. deposing
03. enervating
04. authorize
05. invigorate
Q.2. Choose the correct option for (2).
01. ductile
02. pliable
03. libertarian
04. bendable
05. draconian
Q-3. Choose the correct option for (3).
01. agree
02. keep
03. scrap
04. economize
05. harmonize
Q.4. Choose the correct option for (4).
01. promulgating
02. advertise
03. disseminate
04. annunciate
05. decree
Q.5. Choose the correct option for (5).
01. dodge
02. resort
03. ascension
04. debilitate
05. avoid
Q.6-10. Which of the Phrases (1), (2) (3) and (4) given
below each sentence should replace the phrases printed in bold in the sentence
to make it grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct as it is given and
no correction is required, mark (5) as the answer.
Q.6. The move of the government was prompted by sluggish tax
revenues and mounting spend commitments.
01. mount spent
requirements
02. mounted spends requirements
03. mounted spend requirements
04. Mounting spending requirements
05. No correction required
Q.7. The party started distributing tickets six months
before the election dates were announced giving the candidates enough time to groom their
constituencies.
01. no time to groom
02. some time to grooming
03. much time for grooms
04. such times to groom
05. No correction required
Q.8. In case a person needs to carry cash amounting to over
Rs 2.5 lakh, the concerned persons
will have to inform the IT department in advance.
01. the concern person
02. the concerns person
03. the concerned person
04. the concern persons
05. No correction required
Q.9. It is for colleges and the government to find off about fake admissions and take
action.
01. find out about fake
02. finds out about fake
03. found out about fake
04. found on about fake
05. No correction required
Q.10. A candidate will be banned from election if a charge
sheet for heinous offence is filed
against him.
01. Heinous offence are filed
02. heinous
offensive is filed
03. heinous offences is filing
04. heinous offence is files
05. No correction required
ANSWERS
1. 1
2. 5
3. 3
4. 1
5. 2
6. 4
7. 5
8. 3
9. 1
10. 5
