1st July 2025

Explanation - As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, the Election Commission allots symbols for anyone contesting in polls. A person contesting on behalf of a recognised political party will inherit the party's symbol. An independent candidate or someone contesting on behalf of an unrecognised political party has to approach the Commission and get a symbol allotted from the list of 'free' symbols available. 

• A candidate will have to provide three symbols from the free list at the time of submission of nomination papers, one of which will be allocated to him/her. 

• Any choice other than from the EC's list will be summarily rejected. 

• In the case of a recognised political party, the Commission allows it to 'reserve' a symbol. 

• For example, if a political party recognised in a particular State wishes to contest in elections in another State, it can 'reserve' the symbol being used by it. 

• The Commission will oblige, provided the symbol is not being used by anyone else. 

• Two or more recognised political parties can have the same symbol provided they are not contenders in the same State or Union Territory. 

• Both Federal Party of Manipur and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) use 'Rising Sun' as their symbol. 

• But if one of the parties wish to open their account in the other State, it will have to contest on a different symbol. 

Explanation - Both are incorrect. The ECI may derecognise a political party if it has not polled at least 6% of votes or won two seats in the State elections. In case of a national party, it should have polled minimum 6% votes and 2 MLAs in at least four States. Until 1997, unrecognised parties would lose their symbols. Later, the EC modified its order to allow them to retain its symbol. 

Explanation - A party has to fulfil any of the following conditions for recognition as a state party — 

• A party should secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to the state legislative assembly and win at least 2 seats in that state assembly. 

• A party should secure at least 6% of valid votes polled in an election to Lok Sabha and win at least 1 seat in Lok Sabha. 

• A party should win a minimum of three per cent of the total number of seats or a minimum of three seats in the Legislative Assembly, whichever is higher. 

• If it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned. 

• If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the Lok Sabha from the state or to the legislative assembly of the state. This condition was added in 2011. 

Explanation - Trachoma is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis which affects the eyes. It is contagious; spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, nose or throat secretions of infected people, if left untreated it causes irreversible blindness. It is found in communities who are living in poor environmental conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has termed Trachoma as a neglected tropical disease and its estimation suggests that 150 million people worldwide are affected by Trachoma. Initiatives of Government of India — The Government of India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963 and later on Trachoma control efforts were integrated into India's National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB). As a result, in 2017, India was declared free from infectious However, surveillance continued for trachoma cases in all the districts of India from 2019 onwards till 2024. The National Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT only) Survey was also carried out in 200 endemic districts of the country under National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) from 2021-24, which was a mandate set by WHO in order to declare that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. To eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, WHO recommends the SAFE strategy. The SAFE strategy includes: Surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis); Antibiotics to clear the infection, particularly the antibiotic azithromycin;Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement, particularly improving access to water and sanitation. 

Explanation - Football for Schools (F4S) Programme is an ambitious programme run by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in collaboration with UNESCO, It aims to contribute to the education, development and empowerment of around 700 million It seeks to make football more accessible to both boys and girls around the world by incorporating football activities into the education system, in partnership with relevant authorities and stakeholders. It has been designed to promote targeted life skills and competencies through football and contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other priorities. The F4S Programme is aligned with global sport, education and health policies, including UNESCO's Kazan Action Plan, the Education 2030 — Incheon Declaration and Framework of Action, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA). Objectives of the Football for Schools Programme — Empower learners (boys and girls) with valuable life skills and competencies Empower and provide coach-educators with the training to deliver sport and life-skills activities Build the capacity of stakeholders (schools, MAs and public authorities) to deliver training in life skills through football Strengthen the cooperation between governments, MAs and participating schools to enable partnerships, alliances and intersectoral collaboration It was launched in mid-2019 with pilot projects in Puerto Rico and Lebanon. In India, the programme is implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (DoSEL), with support from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Sports