PRELIMS 2017 REVISION TEST 12

Solution: a)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 39

Through Smart India Hackathon 2017, HRD ministry is keen on reaching out to all technology institutions in India and challenge students to offer innovative solutions to some of the daunting problems faced by our nation.  The Hackathon will have nearly 500 problem statements in all which will be published on innovate.mygov.in.  In this regard, the ministry has unveiled the first set of 250 problem statements received from various ministries that the students will be required to solve during the Hackathon.

Solution: b)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 43

With the launch of AirSewa, passengers will be able to register their grievances through the mobile app or a web portal. The users will have the facility to upload voice or video along with an elaborate description of their issues. They will be given a unique reference number for each of their reported grievances which would also be communicated through an email as well as an SMS. The Users can track the status and response to these grievances through the mobile application as well as the web application based on the reference number provided. Once the grievance is closed the user has an option to provide his feedback and rate the overall experience and satisfaction.

This government site is beautifully designed. Check here – http://airsewa.gov.in/

Solution: c)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 44

The scheme National Mission on Bovine Productivity ‘e-pashuhaat’ portal has been developed for connecting breeders and farmers regarding availability of bovine germplasm. Through the portal breeders/farmers can sell and purchase breeding stock, information on all forms of germplasm including semen, embryos and live animals with all the agencies and stakeholders in the country has been uploaded on the portal.  Through this portal, farmers will be aware about the availability of quality disease free bovine germplasm with different agencies in the country.  The portal will lead to propagation of high genetic merit germplasm.

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=154398

https://epashuhaat.gov.in/?module=p_marketplace&action=Animals

Solution: a)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 54

At the high-level meeting, Ministers and Government Representatives adopted the “Colombo Declaration,” which gives way to the forthcoming Southern Route Partnership as the main coordination mechanism for counter narcotics initiatives in this region.

Maritime routes account for a significant part of Afghan opiates trafficked to Africa and South Asia. The Southern Route from the Makran coast to transit points along the East African coast and South Asian islands has become a major supply route for the distribution of Afghan opiates. The jurisdictional limitations on the high seas make the maritime route a convenient option for the distribution of narcotics across the Indian Ocean.

The increase in volumes of heroin detected on the coastlines of Eastern Africa and Southern Asia indicate the growing importance of the Southern Route. The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which patrols the Western Indian Ocean region, seized over 9300 kg of high purity heroin on dhows over the last three years, strengthening the evidence that large volumes of heroin cross the Indian Ocean.

In response to the increase in criminality on the maritime domain, UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), spearheaded the establishment of the Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime (IOFMC) in late 2014. The IOFMC brings together littoral states of the Indian Ocean region intending to strengthen regional cooperation and counter criminal activity in the maritime domain.

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2016/November/indian-ocean_-colombo-declaration-adopted-to-coordinate-anti-drugs-efforts.html

Solution: d)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 54

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratle_Hydroelectric_Plant

The Ratle Hydroelectric Plant is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station currently under construction on the Chenab River, downstream of the village of Ratle in Doda district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The project includes a 133 m (436 ft) tall gravity dam and two power stations adjacent to one another. Water from the dam will be diverted through four intake tunnels about 400 m (0.25 mi) southwest to the power stations. The main power station will contain four 205 MW Francis turbines and the auxiliary power station will contain one 30 MW Francis turbine. The installed capacity of both power stations will be 850 MW.[1][2] On 25 June 2013, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the dam. The project is expected to be complete in February 2018.[3] Pakistan has frequently alleged that it violates the Indus Water Treaty but the World Bank has not found fault with it.

Solution: a)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 56

India is the first non-member of the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to have signed such a deal with Japan. The deal will help India access Japan’s nuclear market.  The deal includes the option that Japan can give a year’s notice before terminating it in case India breaks the nuclear testing moratorium that it had extended to the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008.  The deal is significant as it will help guarantee Japan’s continued support to India’s civil nuclear programme.  The deal will bring Japan into the Indian nuclear market where France and Russia have already have a strong presence.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/Japan-has-option-to-scrap-N-deal/article16443048.ece

Solution: b)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 63

https://www.ft.com/content/5b5cd5d0-c14d-11e6-9bca-2b93a6856354

Giving a trading partner “market economy status” (MES) implies accepting that its domestic prices are largely set by open competition rather than the government. Crucially, in trade law it is easier to impose antidumping and countervailing duties against imports from a non-market economy. The aggrieved importing nation can pick an “analogue country” with which to make price comparisons rather than having to use data from the trading partner.

Solution: a)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 65

The core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. A legal body with universal membership specializing in commercial law reform worldwide for over 40 years, UNCITRAL’s business is the modernization and harmonization of rules on international business.

Solution: c)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 66

The AIIB was established as a new multilateral financial institution aimed at providing “financial support for infrastructure development and regional connectivity in Asia.”  It was founded in October, 2014, and will have its headquarters in Beijing.  Its goals are also to boost economic development in the region, create wealth, prove infrastructure, and promote regional cooperation and partnership.  The value of AIIB’s authorized capital amounts to $100 billion, with almost $30 billion invested by China.  The bank expects to lend $10 billion to $15 billion a year for the first five years of its operations, beginning in the second quarter of 2016.  India is an influential member of the AIIB as it has the second-largest voting share and percentage of shares (next only to China) in the multilateral institution that has 57 member countries.

Solution: a)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 70

Third definition is of Venture Funds.

Angel funds refers to a money pool created by high networth individuals or companies (generally called as angel investors), for investing in business start ups. They are a sub-category of venture capital funds with strict focus on startups, while venture capital funds generally invest at a later stage of development of the investee company. In India the term Angel Funds is defined in SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) (Amendment) Regulations, 2013. Here, Angel fund is defined as a sub-category of Venture Capital Fund under Category I- Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) that raises funds from angel investors and invests in accordance with the rules specified in Chapter III –A of SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) (Amendment) Regulations, 2013

Solution: c)

Insights current affairs Nov 2016, Page 75

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed the opening of “Islamic window” in conventional banks for “gradual” introduction of Sharia-compliant or interest-free banking in the country.  In this regard, both the Centre and the RBI have been exploring the possibility of introduction of Islamic banking for a while now to ensure financial inclusion of those sections of society that remain excluded due to religious reasons.

What is Islamic banking?

Islamic or Sharia banking is a finance system based on the principles of not charging interest. The charging of interest is prohibited under Islam

Solution: c)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 3

What is the ‘Debt-To-GDP Ratio’

The debt-to-GDP ratio is the ratio of a country’s public debt to its gross domestic product (GDP). By comparing what a country owes to what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio indicates the country’s ability to pay back its debt. Often expressed as a percentage, the ratio can be interpreted as the number of years needed to pay back debt if GDP is dedicated entirely to debt repayment.

BREAKING DOWN ‘Debt-To-GDP Ratio’

Economists have not identified a specific debt-to-GDP ratio as being ideal, and instead focus on the sustainability of certain debt levels. If a country can continue to pay interest on its debt without refinancing or harming economic growth, it is generally considered to be stable. A high debt-to-GDP ratio may make it more difficult for a country to pay external debts, and may lead creditors to seek higher interest rates when lending.

If a country is unable to pay its debt, it defaults, which could cause a panic in the domestic and international markets. The higher the debt-to-GDP ratio, the less likely the country will pay back its debt and the higher its risk of default. While governments may strive to have low debt-to-GDP ratios, government borrowing may increase in times of war or recession; this is a macroeconomic strategy attributed to Keynesian economics.

Read more: Debt-To-GDP Ratio http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/debtgdpratio.asp#ixzz4h9yqdvrs

Solution: b)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 6

The ECI issues an appropriate notification for the due constitution of the House. • With this, the process of elections is complete and the President, in case of the Lok Sabha, can then convene the house to hold its sessions. • The Governors of the concerned states, in case of State Assemblies, convene the sessions.

Solution: d)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 9

GRIHA is an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.

Throughout their life cycles, from construction to operation and then demolition, buildings consume resources and emit wastes either directly in the form of municipal wastes or indirectly as emissions from electricity generation. • GRIHA attempts to minimize a building’s resource consumption, waste generation, and overall ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits / benchmarks. • GRIHA attempts to quantify aspects such as energy consumption, waste generation, renewable energy adoption, etc. so as to manage, control and reduce the same to the best possible extent. • It evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a ‘green building’.

Solution: d)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 27

Unlike other classical plays in Sanskrit, the play does not borrow from epics or mythology. The characters of Śūdraka are drawn from the mundane world. It is peopled with gamblers, courtesans,thieves and so on. The protagonist of the play Chārudatta does not belong to the noble class or royal lineage. Though Vasantasenā is a courtesan, her exemplary attitude and dignified behavior impress the audience. The nobility of the characters does not stem from their social conditioning but from the inner virtues and behavior.

Solution: b)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 35

It is found in Part III (Fundamental Rights) and Part IV (DPSP)

The 97th constitutional amendment act gave a constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies and made the following changes in the constitution: • It made the right to form co-operative societies a fundamental right (Article 19). • It included a new Directive Principle of State Policy on promotion of co-operative societies (Article 43-B). • It added a new Part IX-B in the Constitution which is entitled “The Co-operative Societies”.

Solution: d)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 38

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian regions. Membership expanded to 18 countries including the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Asia_Summit

Solution: d)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 44

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-political-map-2000px.jpg

Important countries which lie between Equator and Tropic of Capricorn include: Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Indonesia, Australia (parts of it) etc

Solution: d)

Insights Prelims Tests 2017, Test 20, Q 56

The Government of India had set up a National Population Stabilization Fund (NPSF) in the year 2004-05 with a one-time grant of Rs.100 crore in the form of a corpus fund. This is now known as JansankhyaSthirata Kosh (JSK). To empower the NPSF, Government of India has set up Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK).  This is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. JSK can take all the policy related decisions. It can raise contributions from organisations and individuals that support population stabilisation.JSK implements two schemes, namely, Santushti and Prerna.

The details of schemes, funds allocated, released etc. are as follows:

SANTUSHTI  STRATEGY

Santushti is a strategy of Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) for the highly populated states of India viz Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh & Odisha.  Under this strategy, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh, invites private sector gynaecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership mode. According to this Scheme,   an accredited private Nursing Home/ Hospital can sign a tripartite MOU between the State Health Society as 1st party, accredited private health facility as 2nd party and JSK as the third party .Upon signing the MOU the private hospitals/nursing homes shall be entitled to incentive by JSK whenever it conducts 10 or more Tubectomy/Vasectomy cases in a month. The accreditation is done by the district and approved by the State Health Society.

PRERNA STRATEGY

In order to help push up the age of marriage of girls and space the birth of children in the interest of health of young mothers and infants, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (National Population Stabilization Fund) has launched PRERNA, a Responsible Parenthood Strategy in seven focus states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

The strategy recognizes and awards couples who have broken the stereotype of early marriage, early childbirth and repeated child birth and have helped change the mindsets of the community.

In order to become eligible for award under the scheme, the girl should have been married after 19 years of age and given birth to the first child after at least 2 years of marriage. The couple will get an award of Rs.10,000/- if it is a Boy child or Rs.12,000/- if it is a Girl child. If birth of the second child takes place after  at least 3 years of the birth of first child and either parent voluntarily accept permanent method of family planning within one year of the birth of the second child, the couple will get an additional award of Rs.5,000/- (Boy child) / Rs.7,000/- (Girl child). The amount of award is given in the form of National Saving Certificate (NSC). The scheme is meant only for BPL families.

Solution: b)

Jharkhand is the largest coal producing state in the coun­try followed by Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana (previous part of Andhra Pradesh) and Maharashtra.

1. Jharkhand: 38% of the total reserves of India are found in this state. Darla is the most important and most productive coal field in India. The field accounts for 100% of the country’s prime coking coal production. Other significant coal producing regions of this state are Bokaro, North Karanpura, South Karanpura, Giridih, Ramgarh, Daltonganj and Rajmahal.
2. Orissa (Odisha): Orissa account for around 13.4% of the country’s total production. Talcher and Ranapur Himgir are the two important coal fields. Talcher accounts for nearly 3/4th of the total coal reserve of the state.
3. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh: Major coal fields are Korba, Umaria, Singrauli, Chirmiri and Sohagpur. Other coal fields include Pench Kanhan, Mohpani, Sonhat, Jhilimili, Bisrampur, Raigarh and Tatapani – Ramkola.
4. Andhra Pradesh: The major coal producing districts are Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, East Godavari and West Godavari. Major coal fields are Tandur, Singareni, Kothagudem and Ramagundam.
5. Maharashtra: The major coal fields are found in Nagpur-Wardha region. The important mining areas are – Wardha, Ballarpur, Chanda and Kampati.
6. West Bengal: Raniganj is the largest coal field of West Bengal and the second biggest in India in terms of total reserve. The coal fields of Asansol are also famous. Recently a large coal field has been discovered in Mejia in the Bankura district.

Tertiary coalfields:

Assam accounts for 63% of the total tertiary coal reserves. Major coal fields in Assam are the Makum, Nazira, Mikir Hills and Dilli-Jeypore. Of these, the Makum is the most developed field. Among the other fields West Darrangiri, Langrin and Bapung in Meghalaya, Namchik in Arunachal Pradesh and Borjan in Nagaland are important.

Lignite coalfields:

Lignite coal is mainly produced in two states – Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Small lignite coal fields are also found in Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. Neyveli is the lignite field in Tamil Nadu which is located in South Arcol district. Neyveli is the largest lignite coal mine of India. This field supplies fuel for thermal power generation in Tamil Nadu.

Source: http://www.importantindia.com/11751/major-coal-producing-states-in-india/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining_in_India#Distribution_of_coal_reserves_by_states