IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Aug 25, 2016

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• The Bill will regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Surrogacy Board at the central level and State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the State and Union Territories.
• The legislation will ensure effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial surrogacy and allow ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples.
• All infertile Indian married couple who want to avail ethical surrogacy will be benefited.
• The Bill shall apply to whole of India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The government had recently said in Parliament that provisions are being made in the draft Bill to make parentage of children born out of surrogacy “legal and transparent”.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The major benefits of the Act would be that it will regulate the surrogacy services in the country.
• While commercial surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile couples will be allowed on fulfilment of certain conditions and for specific purposes.
• As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.
• The 228th report of the Law Commission of India has also recommended for prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian citizens by enacting a suitable legislation.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Single parents, homosexual couples, live-in relationships couples will not be allowed altruistic surrogacy.
• Unmarried couples too are barred from opting for surrogacy.
• The minister said that if you have a biological child or an adopted child, then altruistic surrogacy won't be allowed. The minister said that this clause was put in place to ensure that there is no different treatment for the two kids while they're being raised, or later to avoid fights over property.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• The rights of surrogate mother and children born out of surrogacy will be protected.
• Altruistic surrogacy will only be allowed for Indian citizens, not NRIs or OCI card holders.
• Only legally wedded couples can have kids with surrogacy.
• The government had recently admitted that in the absence of a statutory mechanism to control commissioning of surrogacy at present, there have been cases of pregnancies by way of surrogacy, including in rural and tribal areas, leading to possible exploitation of women by unscrupulous elements.
• India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries and there have been reported incidents concerning unethical practices, exploitation of surrogate mothers, abandonment of children born out of surrogacy and rackets of intermediaries importing human embryos and gametes.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Advantages of District Reserve Force (DRG) -

• Well conversant with the inhospitable terrain and dense forests of Bastar.
• They are emotionally attached to the region as they belong to this place. They are fighting Maoists efficiently because of their inherent motivation for doing so.
• Having a bond with the tribals, they are better mentally-conditioned to handle them. They are fighting Maoists efficiently because of their inherent motivation for doing so.
• Many of the recruits in DRG are surrendered Naxals and having served with the outlawed CPI (Maiost), they are aware of the movement of the ultras in forests, their schedule, habits and operational pattern.
• They are considered immensely “flexible” when it comes to combat situations. Well-trained forces follow standard operating procedures. These surrendered cadres don’t follow rules, and thus are better equipped to guerilla warfare in the jungles.
• DRG’s good local information network helps them to launch operation based on specific inputs.
• Moreover, having a rough idea about the shelters of rebels in the forests in different seasons, probable locations of their transit camps, sources of Maoist’s logistical support in different villages and good tuning with local people also help DRG’s men to plan their operations.

ANSWER: Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA)

Explanation:

• In a landmark initiative by Navy WIVES Welfare Association (NWWA), an agreement has been signed with the reputed Tata Institute of Social Sciences, School of Vocational Education, Mumbai to provide diploma/ degree courses in Early Child Development Education, enabling naval wives to be professionally qualified and work as Pre-primary school teachers.
• Students enrolled for this course shall undergo a work involved training program which will enable them to gain skills by practicing real- time in the Kindergarten schools.
• This program has been started in NWWA centers of Delhi and Mumbai, and will soon be implemented in the naval bases of Visakhapatnam and Kochi also.
• Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), the Community support system of Indian Navy has been involved in multifarious welfare activities aimed towards improving the quality of life within the naval community and outside too.

ANSWER: India

Explanation:

• India will host the 1st BRICS Film Festival.
• Malayalam movie Veeram to be the opening film for the festival.
• The Film Festival being organized would act as a platform for people of the film industry of member countries to explore areas of cooperation in the domain of “cinema, culture and cuisine”.
• The festival would celebrate the excellence of cinema by rewarding film makers, actors, producers and directors.

ANSWER: Pig

Explanation:

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) initiated the mechanism for “Registration of Animal Germplasm” through National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
• Tenyi Vo are indigenous pigs reared in Nagaland mainly for pork production.
• Tenyi Vo pigs have strong and long tapering snout, small erect ears and bright alert eyes. Adult body varies from 35 to 50kg.
• Nicobari pigs are indigenous pigs of Nicobar Islands and are reared by Nicoabri tribes since time immemorial.
• They are fast runner. Adult body varies from 26 to 61kg.
• Doom pigs are distributed in Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts of Assam state.
• These are black in colour and have short concave snout. Adult body variesfrom 36 to 50kg.

ANSWER: Goat

Explanation:

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) initiated the mechanism for “Registration of Animal Germplasm” through National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
• Teressa Goat is an indigenous goat breed maintained by Nicobari tribal farmers of Nicobar group of islands.
• These goats are generally tall, sturdy, brownish or dark tan or black or white in colour with white and black patches. Adult body varies from 15 to 79kg.
• Kodi Adu goats are native to Thoothukudi & Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu.
• These are tall, long, lean and leggy animals with compact body. They are reared mainly for meat. Adult body varies from 15 to 59kg.