IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Apr 20, 2016

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Sites in UNESCO World Heritage Sites List -

• Agra Fort
• Ajanta Caves
• Ellora Caves
• Taj Mahal
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
• Sun Temple, Konârak
• Kaziranga National Park
• Keoladeo National Park
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
• Churches and Convents of Goa
• Fatehpur Sikri
• Group of Monuments at Hampi
• Khajuraho Group of Monuments
• Elephanta Caves
• Great Living Chola Temples 12
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
• Sundarbans National Park
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
• Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
• Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
• Mountain Railways of India
• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
• Red Fort Complex
• The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
• Western Ghats
• Hill Forts of Rajasthan
• Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
• Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
The Archaeological Survey of India has identified 25 monuments for Adarsh Smarak Scheme for upgradation of tourist related amenities. These monuments would be provided necessary tourist facilities including wi-fi, security, signages, encroachment free area, interpretation centres showing short films about the importance of monuments and signboards of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mentioning the slogan ‘Swachh Smarak: Swachh Bharat’. The salient features of the scheme are as under:

• To make monument visitor friendly.
• To upgrade/provide wash rooms, drinking water, signages, cafeteria and wi-fi facility
• To provide Interpretation and audio-video centres
• To streamline waste water and garbage disposal and rain water harvesting system
• To make monument accessible to differently abled
• To implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

ANSWER: 1, 2, 3

Explanation:
The list of monuments are as follows -

S.NO.	NAME OF MONUMENT	STATE
1.	Rang Ghar, Sibsagar	Assam
2.	Vaishali- Kolhua	Bihar
3.	Humayun’s Tomb	Delhi
4.	Qutb Complex	Delhi
5.	Red Fort	Delhi
6.	Rani-ki-Vav, Patan	Gujarat
7.	Rock-cut Temples, Masroor	HimachalPradesh
8.	LehPalace	Jammu & Kashmir
9.	Martand Temple	Jammu & Kashmir
10.	Hampi, Bellary	Karnataka
11.	Pattadakal Group of Monuments	Karnataka
12.	Elephanta Caves, Mumbai	Maharashtra
13.	Daultabad Fort	Maharashtra
14.	Mandu	Madhya Pradesh
15.	Khajuraho	Madhya Pradesh
16.	Konark Temple	Odisha
17.	Kumbhalgarh Fort, Kelwada	Rajasthan
18.	Shore Temple Mahabalipuram	Tamil Nadu
19.	Brihadeshwar Temple, Thanjavur	Tamil Nadu
20.	Taj Mahal, Agra	Uttar Pradesh
21.	Group of Monuments at Fatehpur Sikri, Agra	Uttar Pradesh
22.	Sravasti	Uttar Pradesh
23.	Sarnath, Varanasi	Uttar Pradesh
24.	Jageshwar Group of Temples	Uttarakhand
25.	Hazardwari Palace, Murshidabad	West Bengal

ANSWER: Humayun’s Tomb

Explanation:

• Humayun’s tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
• The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's son Akbar.
• It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.
• It is first to have Persian Double dome structure.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• Gayal is also known as Mithun.
• ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRCM), Jharnapani, Medziphema, Nagaland is the only institute of its kind in the world solely dedicated to the conservation, propagation and development of Mithun.
• Gayal is distributed in Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Burma and in Yunnan, China.
• The ICAR-NRCM farm has established modern scientific facilities for the rearing of Mithun under a semi-intensive system that comprises of various farmer-friendly technologies developed by the institute namely feed block, mineral block, area specific mineral mixture and low-cost feed formulation using industrial by-products.

ANSWER: Bovine

Explanation:

• Mithun is a unique large semi-domesticated animal of the bovine family, endemic to the North-eastern States of India.
• It is state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• Gayals play an important role in the social life of the people in Arunachal Pradesh. Marriages are not fixed until the bridegroom's family gives at least one gayal to the bride's household.
• In Nagaland, the animals are kept semi-wild, and live in herds, being watched over by special caretakers assigned by the villages or the owner of the herd.
• They respond to a horn kept specially for the individual caretaker or actual owner to call them. From birth until the time of butchering or market, the Mithun remain in the herd, and roam mostly freely throughout the forests.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• In an innovative measure aimed at staff welfare, Ministry of Railways has directed railway administration to develop an online system for the redressal of grievances of Railway Employees both serving as well as retired.
• The IT Department of Indian Railways has developed this system which will be called “NIVARAN” and will come into operation by 24.06.2016.
• Under this system, railway personnel will be able to submit his grievances online and can also track the progress in resolution or disposal of the grievances.
• The main focus areas of the grievance redressal will be reimbursement of medical claims, pension claim, compassionate appointment and improvement in staff quarters.
• The Railway Ministry has also directed the Railway Administration to create a provision or mechanism in this system for “appeal” against a particular decision of an authority.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• 100 villages dominated by SCs in the country will be selected under Jal Gram Scheme for water conservation.
• Jal Gram is a scheme under Jal Kranti Abhiyan of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, in which two water starved villages will be selected from every district in the country for all round development of water resources.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s contribution in the field of management of India’s water resources is not widely known.
• During his tenure as Member (Labour) of the Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942-1946), Dr. Ambedkar steered formation of a definite All-India Policy for the development of water resources in the country.
• In order to further this task, he laid foundation of Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission (CWINC) which was forerunner of the present day Central Water Commission (CWC).
• Dr. Ambedkar advocated the concept of River Valley Authority or corporation for integrated development of the rivers.
• He introduced the concept of multi-purpose development of river basin in the country and his efforts in this direction have culminated with multipurpose development of Damodar, Mahanadi and other rivers immediately after independence.
• He was instrumental in inclusion of Entry 56 of List 1 and introduction of article 262 regarding the adjudication of disputes related to waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:

• Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), an apex body to advise the Government in the consumer related issue has expressed concern over quality of drinking water being supplied through pipeline and has recommended mandatory standards for drinking water irrespective of its source.
• At the moment Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has a standard only for bottled water. CCPC has said that the FSSAI should formulate standards for water being supply through pipeline also and should monitor its quality.
  
• The Consumer Affairs Ministry said that “Grahak Suvidha Kendras” set up are being directed to take up consumer complaints with the sector regulators or consumer courts on behalf of consumers. They said that so far 5 such centres have been set up in Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Delhi. More will be set up in other parts of the country soon.