IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Aug 02, 2016

ANSWER: ELISA

Explanation:

• Because the ELISA can be performed to evaluate either the presence of antigen or the presence of antibody in a sample, it is a useful tool for determining serum antibody concentrations (such as with the HIV test or West Nile virus).
• Dr Dennis E Bidwell and Alister Voller created the ELISA test to detect various kind of diseases, such as malaria, Chagas disease, and Johne's disease. It is also used for Chikungunya.
• Since the clinical appearance of both chikungunya and dengue are similar, laboratory confirmation is important especially in areas where dengue is present. Chikungunya is not a contagious disease.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Government has approved a proposal for setting up an Institution for promotion of nutrition through milk/milk products (especially for children) utilizing Corporate Social Responsibility funds of NDDB’s subsidiaries and other voluntary donation.
• Subsequently , NDDB registered a trust/ society known as ‘NDDB Foundation for Nutrition’(NFN) to implement this initiative known as “Giftmilk” to improve child nutrition thought consumption of milk & milk products by providing milk free of cost.
• The supply of milk / milk product would be facilitated through dairy cooperatives only.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• As per Census 2011, Sixty five percent (65%) of the total female workers in India are engaged in agriculture.
• Of the total cultivators (118.7 million), 30.3% are female.
• Out of 144.3 million agricultural labourers 42.6 % are Women.
• In 2001, female agricultural labourers were 21% which increased to 23% in 2011.

ANSWER: India

Explanation:

• India is hosting the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).
• The summit in November will focus to eliminate the illicit trade of tobacco products in which delegates from 180 countries will take part.
• According to the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Cancer Registry data, the estimated number of cancer cases in the country stood at 14.5 lakh in 2016.
• Based on this report, the percentage of tobacco-related cancers is 43.8 among males, 16.0 among females and 30.1 of the population as a whole.
• Generating awareness on harmful effects of tobacco use is the key national and state-level activity under the National Tobacco Control Programme.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Large industrial houses, whose income from non-banking sources is over 40 per cent of total, will not be eligible to set up a universal bank in the country.
• However, they are allowed to pick up 10 per cent stake in banks.
• In the final guidelines on on-tap licensing, the central bank has allowed individuals with 10 years of experience in banking and finance, as well as business groups with 10 years’ track record to promote universal banks.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• The bank shall open at least 25 per cent of its branches in unbanked, rural centres.
• The bank should maintain a capital adequacy ratio of 13 per cent in the first three years of operation as compared to 9 per cent in existing banks.
• NBFC, which is a part of the group where the non-financial business of the group accounts for 40 per cent or more in terms of total assets/gross income, is not eligible.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Setting up a non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) has not been made mandatory for individuals and standalone promoting entities that do not have other group entities.
• For others, the RBI has mandated that at least 51 per cent stake in the NOFHC should be owned by the promoter group.
• The promoters should hold a minimum of 40 per cent stake in the bank, locked-in for a period of five years, but the stake should be brought down to 15 per cent within 15 years.
• After setting up the bank, the NOFHC will not be allowed to set up any financial services entity for three years.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:

• The planned amendments will seek to withdraw the 1 per cent additional tax (entry tax) proposed earlier;
• Guarantee the States full compensation over a period of five years for any losses from the shift to the new tax;
• Propose a new mechanism for dispute resolution, in which the States will have greater say;
• Introduce fresh assurance in the amendment that the GST rate will neither lead to revenue losses for states not hurt the consumers.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• HCV is a transmissible disease — it spreads the same way as HIV — and if not treated can lead to chronic conditions of the liver such as liver cirrhosis, cancer or failure.
• With an estimated disease burden of 8.7 million patients, HCV kills nearly six times as many people as HIV.
• Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food, water or by casual contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Deposits that remain unclaimed for over seven years in savings instruments such as EPF, Public Provident Fund (PPF), Post Office Savings Accounts, Post Office Recurring Deposit Accounts and National Savings Certificates, are to be diverted to finance a new Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
• The EPFO board members were informed that the Finance Act of 2016, notified on May 14, had an overriding clause that renders any provisions of any other laws related to the issue, such as the EPF Act of 1952, ineffective.