IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Apr 05, 2016

ANSWER: Farm Land Leasing

Explanation:

• The NITI Aayog is all set to propose a Model Act for freeing up of farm land through leasing.
• The Act is meant for States that plan to legalise farm land leasing. State governments are expected to improvise it to suit the local socio-political requirements.
• Land ownership will remain secure and will revert to the owner and in case the parcel of land is sold before the tenure of the lease is complete, the rights of the tenants will be secure.
• No changes will be made in the land records.
• Attestation of the lease is proposed to be done at the level of the sarpanch, local bank official or notary. The Model Act proposes that farmers and farmer groups be allowed to lease out land.
• The definition of ‘farm land’ is proposed to be broadened to include food processing.
• The Model Act proposes quicker litigation process in case of disputes, by suggesting recourse through criminal proceedings and special tribunal.
• It is expected that the dispute settlement will be taken up at the level of the Gram Sabha, Panchayat and Tehsildar.
• At present, only land owners can avail of crop insurance schemes or loans. Also, disaster relief in case of drought and crop damage is provided only to the owners and not cultivators.
• The Model Act will enable share croppers to receive such benefits and relief. Lessee cultivators could raise crop loans on the basis of expected produce.

ANSWER: Indian Red Cross Society

Explanation:

• App on iOS and Android platforms is based on the ‘banking’ concept. It is part of a larger digital blood banking initiative that the Indian Red Cross Society has rolled out along with J. Walter Thompson India.
• It will initially be launched in Bengaluru.
• The app has been designed to encourage blood donations and ensure availability.
• To maintain stock, blood banks depend heavily on replacement donors. Even if a person finds the right group in a bank, the blood is usually made available only with the replacement.
• The app is meant to avoid all these hassles.
• The app would enable people to deposit their blood on a regular basis. Blood can be withdrawn whenever needed.
• Users can open a Blood Bank Account at any Red Cross-affiliated Blood Bank. The account can be created through the app and a unique account number will be assigned to each individual.
• The app will record the required information, track the account and provide timely reminders on when the next savings (blood donation) is due.
• Users can make ‘Blood Transfers’ to their near and dear ones at the click of a button. You can even transfer blood to a friend’s account just as you transfer funds.
• It will allow blood bank account holders to keep track of the blood deposit cycle on the digital platform.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The Constitution has not fixed the tenure of a judge of the Supreme Court. However, it makes the following three provisions in this regard:

1. He holds office until he attains the age of 65 years. Any question regarding his age is to be determined by such authority and in such manner as provided by Parliament.
2. He can resign his office by writing to the president.

• Chief Justice of High Court and high Court Judges hold office until they attain the age of 62 years. Any questions regarding his age is to be decided by the president after consultation with the chief justice of India and the decision of the president is final.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The proposed legislation seeks to provide an appropriate institutional mechanism, both at the Centre and in each State and Union Territory, to ensure expeditious utilization in efficient and transparent manner of amounts realized in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purpose. This would mitigate impact of diversion of such forest land.
• The proposed legislation also seeks to provide safety, security and, transparency in utilization of these amounts, which currently are being kept in Nationalised Banks and are being managed by an ad-hoc body. These amounts would be brought within broader focus of both Parliament and State Legislatures and in greater public view, by transferring them to non-lapsable interest bearing funds, to be created under public accounts of the Union of India and each State.
• The proposed legislation will also ensure expeditious utilization of accumulated unspent amounts available with the ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• Utilization of these amounts will facilitate timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, for which these amounts have been realised. Apart from mitigating the impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will also result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in rural areas, especially in backward tribal areas.

ANSWER: Chandigarh

Explanation:

• Chandigarh became the second kerosene-free city , after Delhi on the back of increased supply of cleaner cooking fuel like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and progress in rural electrification.
• Ahmedabad, Baroda, Puducherry and some cities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will be declared kerosene-free very soon.
• Kerosene is primarily used for cooking and lighting.
• Increased use of LPG and electrification of villages have helped to bring down kerosene use.

ANSWER: Kerala

Explanation:

• Situated in Thrissur district, the Cheraman Juma Masjid is believed to be the first mosque built in India by Arab traders around 629 AD, and symbolic of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times.
• According to oral tradition, Cheraman Perumal was the Chera King and a contemporary of the Holy Prophet who went to Arabia and embraced Islam after meeting the Holy Prophet at Mecca.
• Some years later, he sent letters to his relatives and the ruling chieftains of Malabar through his friends Malik bin Dinar and Malik bin Habib who, along with their companions, were then given permission by the local rulers to build the mosque at Kodungallur.
• It was built by Malik Deenar, an Arab propagator of Islam and a follower and contemporary of Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
• The mosque has an ancient oil lamp that is always kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old. People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering.
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, gifted His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, a gold-plated replica of the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• For the first time, Rules have been made to distinguish between Hazardous Waste and other wastes.
• Other wastes include: Waste tyre, paper waste, metal scrap, used electronic items, etc. and are recognized as a resource for recycling and reuse.
• These resources supplement the industrial processes and reduce the load on the virgin resource of the country.
• India has banned the import of solid plastic waste, including PET bottles, as part of new hazardous waste management rules that aims to prevent the country from becoming a dumping yard for industrialised nations.
• Among other items banned for import are waste edible fats and oil of animals, household waste, tyres for direct re-use purpose, solid plastic wastes, including PET bottles, waste electrical and electronic assemblies scrap and other chemical wastes especially in solvent form.
• PET bottles are used by the fibre industry in India and import of plastic waste (PET bottles) is preferred because that ensures bulk availability. But India itself has a huge amount of plastic waste including PET bottles that remain uncollected and harm environment. These rules will ensure their collection and reduce load on our pollution.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• The ambit of the Rules has been expanded by including ‘Other Waste’.
• Waste Management hierarchy in the sequence of priority of prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, recovery, co-processing; and safe disposal has been incorporated.
• Procedure has been simplified to merge all the approvals as a single window clearance for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes.
• Responsibilities of State Government for environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes have been introduced as follows:

1. To set up/ allot industrial space or sheds for recycling, pre-processing and other utilization of hazardous or other waste
2. To register the workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and other utilization activities.
3. To form groups of workers to facilitate setting up such facilities;
4. To undertake industrial skill development activities and ensure safety and health of workers.