QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 10 OCTOBER 2017

Solution: c.
Gujarat’s agri-GDP registered an unprecedented growth of 8 per cent per annum during 2002-03 to 2013-14, way more than the all-India figure of 3.3 per cent per annum. Gujarat’s agri-growth was even higher than that achieved by Punjab during the Green Revolution’s heydays (5.7 per cent per annum during 1971-85).
• First, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government’s bold decision to allow the commercial use of Bt cotton became a catalyst for change, from which Gujarat benefited the most.
• Second, the Bt cotton seeds came from a global seed company — Monsanto — in association with an Indian partner Mahyco, and then multiplied by several licensees. Today, the Centre is creating conditions that may force companies like Monsanto to quit.
• Third, basic infrastructure to farmers — irrigation, power and roads – were provided to farmers.
• Fourth, good marketing institutions propelled Gujarat agriculture, especially its dairy industry (AMUL).

Examples of maximum and minimum yield in 2013-14 of some major crops across states in India:
• Rice: Punjab – 3952 kg/ha; MP – 1474 kg/ha;
• Wheat: Punjab – 5017 kg/ha; Andhra – 500 kg/ha;
• Tur: Bihar – 1667 kg/ha; Andhra – 542 kg/ha;

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-agriculture-sector-of-india-indian-farmers-gdp-4881016/;
Volume 2, Economic Survey 2014-15 (Previous ESs: http://indiabudget.nic.in/previouses.asp);
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Solution: d.
Purpose of the award: Recognition of outstanding Indian work in science and technology.

Only 16 women scientists have won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award since its inception in 1958. The award is the highest research award given to a scientist, under 45 years of age, for research carried out in India. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research administers this award.

http://ssbprize.gov.in;
Source/Improvisation: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/scientific-research-in-india-women-scientiests-women-of-science-4881037/;
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Solution: c.
According to the IMF website (https://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/eds.aspx) India is represented at the IMF Executive Board by an Executive Director, currently Subir Vithal Gokarn, who also represents three other countries, viz. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. (the PIB link below states indirectly that Nepal is a part of this constituency as well, but it must be a mistake as this has never been the case in the past and can be verified with the IMF link provided above).

About the Executive Board: The IMF’s 24-member Executive Board takes care of the daily business of the IMF. Together, these 24 board members represent all 189 countries. Large economies, such as the United States and China, have their own seat at the table but most countries are grouped in constituencies representing 4 or more countries (an example: India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka form one constituency). The largest constituency includes 24 countries.

About the IMF governance structure: https://www.imf.org/external/about/govstruct.htm;
Improvisation: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=171497;

Solution: a.
Regarding Statement 1: With the use of web-portals, mobile apps, or in-home displays, customers can monitor and potentially lower their energy consumption.

Regarding Statement 2: Traditionally utilities know about an outage when they receive complaints from affected customers. Service restoration requires utility crews to identify the area and rectify the fault a time consuming and expensive process. The Bureau of Indian Standards requires all smart meters to be capable of sending ‘last gasp’ and ‘first breath’ messages, which inform utilities when power has failed or resumed. This will reduce outage restoration times leading to financial savings and improved customer satisfaction.

Regarding Statement 3: With meter data time stamped at 15 minute intervals, AMI enables near real-time estimation of customer demand. This improves utility load forecasting and enhances their ability to procure the right volumes of power. Utilities can also implement time-of-use (ToU) tariffs for different categories of customers and encourage load shifting with demand response programs. These measures could reduce utility exposure to expensive power during the peak hours.

Additional Information: India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) is a public private non-partisan initiative of the Ministry of Power (MoP), Government of India for accelerated development of smart grid technologies in the Indian power sector. ISGF was set up in 2010 to provide a mechanism through which academia, industry, utilities and other stakeholders could participate in the development of Indian smart grid systems and provide relevant inputs to the government’s decision making.

For a detailed understanding of AMI benefits and challenges, refer: http://www.indiasmartgrid.org/reports/AMI%20Roll-Out%20Strategy%20and%20Cost-Benefit%20Analysis%20for%20India_ISGW2017.pdf;
Improvisation: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=171541;

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Solution: d.
On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the European Union (EU), and Iran reached a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.

US Department of State: JCPOA;
Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fix-or-nix-iran-nuclear-deal-israel/article19829793.ece;
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Solution: d.
The first one was proclaimed in Ballia, UP; there also emerged such parallel governments in Tamluk, Bengal and Satara, Maharashtra.

Refer Page 466 (CH: QIM and the INA), India’s Struggle for Independence, Bipan Chandra;
Improvisation (article in local edition of the Hindu): http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/seeking-to-keep-memory-of-esur-struggle-alive-75-years-on/article19824751.ece;