IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Apr 06, 2016

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• Savings that remain unclaimed in Employees’ Provident Fund and Public Provident Fund accounts and other small savings schemes for seven years, will be diverted to finance a Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund, according to new rules notified by the Finance Ministry on March 18.
• The Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund was announced in the last Budget. Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation termed the move as unconstitutional.
• Officials said that unclaimed deposits of PF contributors cannot be diverted for any other purposes, as per the EPF Scheme, 1952.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Nautilus pompilinus, the pelagic marine mollusc with one of the oldest animal lineages on the planet.
• The palm-sized adult animal, which could live up to 20 years in ocean depths.
• Marine fisheries experts have recommended that the species shall be listed in CITES considering the rarity of the animal and its poor regeneration capacity.
• The species is commonly known as pearly nautilus considering the pearly nacre on its external shell. The animal has a chambered shell with limited mobility.
• It’s commonly found in ocean depths of 700 metres.
• Earlier researches have pointed out that the “low egg number, late maturity, long gestation and long life span of the Nautilus make the species vulnerable.”

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• The species has been accorded legal protection by including it in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The hunting or possession of the animals included in the Schedule is a punishable offence in the country.
• Some animals, which die a natural death may float in water and land in shores, which are picked up by collectors. The fancy look and the shiny lustre make it a collector’s item. The shells are believed to be fetch high price in trade. There are reports of the shells, which are washed ashore, collected and clandestinely traded.
• The species has relatively small population and are vulnerable to fisheries and also anthropogenic activities. Yet, no scientific data is available on its population in India. The species has not been currently assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, says a scientific report.
• The inclusion of the animal in the CITES list would ensure a global regulation in its trade. It would also extend the legal cover globally for the species, which is considered as rare link to the evolutionary history of animals.
• It is yet to be included in CITES.

ANSWER: Divert some water to Hoogly River

Explanation:

• The purpose of the barrage is to divert water from the Ganges to the Hooghly River for flushing out the sediment deposition from the Kolkata harbour without the need of regular mechanical dredging.
• It is for preservation and maintenance of Kolkata Port by improving the regime and navigability of the Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system.
• Farakka Barrage is a barrage across the Ganges River, located in the Indian state of West Bengal, roughly 16.5 kilometres (10.3 mi) from the border with Bangladesh near Chapai Nawabganj District.
• According to the World Commission on Dams, a key difference between a barrage and a dam is that a dam is built for water storage in a reservoir, which raises the level of water significantly. A barrage is built for diverting water, and raises the water level only a few feet; they are generally built on flat terrain across wide, often meandering rivers.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The jurisdiction of the rules have been extended beyond Municipal area to cover, outgrowths in urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, Port and harbour, defense establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance .
• The jurisdiction of the rules have been extended beyond Municipal area hence the word ‘Municipal’ has been removed.
• The SWM rules, 2016 emphasises source segregation of waste, a basic need for channelizing the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Ministry of Power shall fix tariff or charges for the power generated from the Waste to Energy plants based on solid waste and ensure compulsory purchase of power generated from such Waste to Energy plants by DISCOMs.
• This will make the waste to energy plants economically viable and improve the gainful utilization of waste.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources shall facilitate infrastructure creation for Waste to Energy plants and provide appropriate subsidy or incentives for such Waste to Energy plants.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The issue of collection and disposal of sanitary waste like diapers, sanitary pads and other disposal items have been addressed.
• The manufacturers or Brand owners of sanitary napkins and diapers shall provide a pouch or wrapper for disposal of each napkin or diapers along with the packet of their sanitary products.
• Imposition of user charge and fine will improve waste collection and management and strengthen the financial position of local authority.
• User fee for solid waste management, spot fine for littering / have been introduced which shall be as specified in the bye-laws of the local bodies.

ANSWER: Ministry of Urban Development

Explanation:

• Being the nodal Ministry on the subject Solid Waste Management, more responsibilities have been assigned to MoUD.
• MoUD shall formulate National Policy and Strategy on Solid Waste Management including policy on Waste to Energy in consultation with stakeholders within 6 months from the date of notification of these Rules; review of the measures taken by the States and local bodies, undertake training and capacity building of local bodies and other stakeholders; providing technical guidelines and project finance to States, UTs and local bodies on solid waste management to facilitate meeting timelines and standards.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Non-recyclable waste having calorific value of 1500 K/cal/kg or more shall not be disposed of on landfills and shall only be utilized for generating energy either or through refuse derived fuel or by giving away as feed stock for preparing refuse derived fuel.
• High calorific wastes shall be used for co-processing in cement or thermal power plants.
• The State Pollution Control Board shall be responsible for review of implementation of these rules, grant / renew authorization for waste treatment and disposal facility, monitor environmental standards, regulate Inter-State movement of waste, submit Annual Report to CPCB.
• The CPCB shall co-ordinate with SPCBs and review the implementations, publish guidelines for maintaining buffer zone restricting any residential, commercial or any other construction activity from the outer boundary of the wasteprocessing and disposal facilities for different sizes of facilities handling more than 5 tons per day of solid waste.