Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 7-star
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Urban cleanliness and solid waste management have become central themes in India due to programmes such as Swachh Bharat Mission. The Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities is a framework introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to systematically assess how clean and garbage free Indian cities are. This question asks about the star rating scale used in this protocol, which is important for understanding both policy design and the type of questions that appear under government schemes in exams. The correct rating system in this protocol ranges up to 7 star status.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The protocol mentioned is specifically called the Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities.
- It was launched on 20 January 2018.
- The question asks about the rating system applied to cities under this protocol.
- The options include several different star based scales such as 3 star, 4 star, 5 star, 6 star, and 7 star.
Concept / Approach:
The protocol envisions cities progressing through stages of cleanliness, eventually reaching the highest 7 star rating if they meet stringent criteria across various indicators like waste segregation, door to door collection, scientific processing, and visible cleanliness. A candidate needs to remember that the scheme does not stop at 3 or 5 stars, but uses an extended 7 star system to motivate continuous improvement. Many exam preparatory materials summarise this protocol by explicitly mentioning that cities will be evaluated on a 7 star rating framework, which is the key phrase to keep in mind while answering.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recognise that the question is about a government protocol linked to Swachh Bharat and urban cleanliness.
2. Recall that the Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities uses a graduated star based rating to classify city performance.
3. Review standard current affairs notes which state that the rating system goes up to 7 star status.
4. Compare the options and identify which one mentions a 7 star scale.
5. Select 7 star as the correct rating system used by this protocol.
Verification / Alternative check:
Candidates may remember graphics or charts from government presentations where cities were shown progressing from 1 star to 7 star levels. Some articles also mention this as a unique feature of the protocol, because most familiar rating systems, such as hotel ratings, commonly use 5 stars, while this urban cleanliness framework extends further. If the candidate can recall seeing such a mention of a 7 star garbage free city, it serves as a strong confirmation that the correct answer is 7 star and not the more commonly guessed 5 star scale.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A 3 star scale would be too narrow and does not match the description given in official documents about this protocol.
A 4 star system is also not associated with the Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities, although 4 star ratings are used in some unrelated sectors.
A 5 star framework is common in hotels, services, and even some rating schemes, but the garbage free cities protocol deliberately extends the scale beyond 5 stars.
A 6 star system is not the officially notified scale for this protocol; the widely publicised maximum is 7 star.
Common Pitfalls:
A very common mistake is to assume that the rating must be out of 5 stars because that pattern is so familiar in daily life. Many candidates mark 5 star simply out of habit without revisiting the study material. Another pitfall is to overlook that the government sometimes uses extended scales in flagship schemes to emphasise excellence beyond usual benchmarks. To avoid this, aspirants should carefully note unique numbers or features when reading about government programmes. Remembering that urban garbage free city ratings go up to 7 star is one such important detail.
Final Answer:
Under the Protocol for Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities, urban local bodies are evaluated on a 7-star rating system.
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