Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 2 January 2025 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Amid a huge row over a scheme that promises a monthly stipend to unemployed women, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a new scheme that offers a monthly honorarium of ₹18000 to Hindu and Sikh priests. The former Delhi chief minister said the registration for the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana will begin on Tuesday.
"Today I am making an important announcement regarding a scheme. The name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the 'granthis' of the Gurudwara. They will be given an honorarium of about ₹18,000 per month. This is happening for the first time in the country. The priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation. They never paid attention to their family and we never paid attention to them," Kejriwal said at a press conference.
Kejriwal said he would kickstart the scheme after visiting the Hanuman Temple in Delhi's Connaught Place.
"Registration for this scheme will begin tomorrow. I will be visiting Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place tomorrow to start the registration of this scheme," he added.
Mahila Samman scheme row
Earlier this month, Arvind Kejriwal launched the Mahila Samman scheme which offered a stipend of ₹2100 per month to unemployed women. AAP leaders started a registration drive for the scheme. However, the next day, the government’s women and child development (WCD) department advertised that the “Mahila Samman” scheme was “non-existent” and urged residents not to share personal data.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) later claimed the officers involved in the fiasco were under BJP's pressure. The party also vowed action against them. The BJP, on the other hand, alleged fraud and claimed that AAP and the Delhi government weren't on the same page.
Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena later ordered an inquiry against private persons allegedly collecting personal details of women in the name of enrolling them for the proposed scheme of the ruling AAP in Delhi.
Saxena ordered the inquiry based on a complaint by Congress leader and party's New Delhi Assembly seat candidate Sandeep Dikshit.
The Delhi Police has formed multiple teams to identify camps which are allegedly gathering personal details of women in the name of Mahila Samman Yojana, a senior official said on Sunday.
[Excerpt from HT "What is ‘Pujari Granthi Samman’ Scheme?" Dated 02/01/25]

Q1: Why does Kejriwal emphasise that priests “never paid attention to their family and we never paid attention to them”?
(a) To justify why priests should be excluded from welfare schemes
(b) To highlight the historical neglect of priests’ economic needs
(c) To argue that priests should stop focusing on rituals
(d) To suggest that priests already receive adequate financial support

View Answer  

Ans: (b)

“They never paid attention to their family and we never paid attention to them” → indicates neglect of priests’ families and lack of support.

Q2: What triggered the Lt. Governor’s decision to order an inquiry into the Mahila Samman Yojana?
(a) Complaints from unemployed women about missing stipends
(b) AAP’s allegation that BJP was pressuring officials
(c) A complaint by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit
(d) The announcement of the Pujari Granthi Samman scheme

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
“Saxena ordered the inquiry based on a complaint by Congress leader … Sandeep Dikshit” → direct cause.

Q3: Which of the following statements is BEST supported by the passage?
(a) The Mahila Samman scheme was unanimously supported by all government departments.
(b) Delhi Police was tasked with identifying camps collecting women’s data.
(c) Priests received continuous financial assistance for the last ten years.
(d) The BJP fully endorsed the AAP’s Mahila Samman initiative.

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
“The Delhi Police has formed multiple teams to identify camps …” → directly supports (b).

Q4: Which assumption underlies AAP’s claim that officers opposing the Mahila Samman scheme were “under BJP’s pressure”?
(a) Officers act independently of political influence
(b) Any departmental opposition must be politically motivated
(c) The BJP has no interest in women-related schemes
(d) Departmental officers do not coordinate with the ruling party

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
AAP’s statement “officers involved … were under BJP’s pressure” → assumes opposition = political pressure.

Q5: Kejriwal’s announcement of the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana immediately after the Mahila Samman row illustrates which reasoning pattern also seen in the passage?
(a) The BJP alleging fraud soon after AAP announced women’s stipends
(b) The WCD department distancing itself immediately after AAP’s registration drive
(c) Sandeep Dikshit’s complaint being filed soon after the Lt. Governor’s speech
(d) Delhi Police forming inquiry teams before any complaint was made

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
“AAP leaders started a registration drive … However, the next day, the WCD department advertised … ‘non-existent’” → shows quick response to preceding action, paralleling Kejriwal’s timing.