IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 01 & 02, 2015

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of 53 member states.
- The members were mostly territories of the former British Empire.
- London Declaration recognised King George VI as Head of the Commonwealth.
- CHOGM is a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations.
- Venue for CHOGM 2015 : Malta
- 6th Secretary - General of the Commonwealth of Nations - Patricia Scotland.
- Also first female Secretary - General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Patricia Scotland will replace Kamlesh Sharma as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth from 2016.
- She is the first female Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- Elections are held for post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
- Commonwealth Secretary-General is the head of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the central body of Commonwealth of Nations.
- He/She represents the Commonwealth publicly.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Bharat Stage emission standards are based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000.
- Bharat stage III norms have been enforced across the country since 2010.
- While Bharat stage IV emission norms have been in place in 13 major cities, since April 2010.
- All new cars bought must be Euro 6 compliant from September 2015.
- The aim of the Euro 6 - Lower levels of harmful car and van exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (THC and NMHC) and particulate matter (PM).

ANSWER: 2019, 2021

Explanation:
- According to the roadmap earlier laid down by the Auto Fuel Policy, BS-V norms were to be implemented from April 1, 2022 and BS-VI from April 1, 2024.
- Bharat Stage emission standards are based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000.
- India had enforced Bharat stage III norms across the country since October 2010. In 13 major cities, Bharat stage IV emission norms were put in place since April 2010.
- Currently, BS-IV petrol and diesel are being supplied in whole of Northern India covering Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and parts of Rajasthan and western UP.
- The rest of the country has BS-III grade fuel.
- From 2016, all of Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra-Nagar-Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar will get BS-IV fuel.
- For the rest of the country is scheduled to get supplies of BS-IV from 1 April, 2017.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- International Solar Alliance (ISA ) is conceived as a coalition of solar resource rich countries to address their special energy needs.
- ISA will promote solar technologies and investment in the solar sector to enhance income generation for the poor and global environment.
- ISA will develop innovative Financial Mechanisms to reduce cost of capital
- It will formulate projects and programs to promote solar applications.
- Also it will build a common Knowledge e-Portal and facilitate capacity building for promotion and absorption of solar technologies and R&D.

ANSWER: 1,2,3,5

Explanation:
- Through the initiative, 20 countries are committing to double their respective clean energy research and development (R&D) investment over five years.
- A separate private sector-led effort that has pledged to invest extraordinary levels of private capital in clean energy, focusing on early-stage innovations.
- This parallel initiative by Bill Gates includes a coalition of over 28 significant private capital investors from 10 countries, and will be called Breakthrough Energy Coalition.
- Participating countries include France, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada,China, Chile, Denmark, Indonesia,India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the UAE ,UK and USA.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The IMO was established in Geneva in 1948
- Headquarter - London
- IMO has 171 Member States and three Associate Members.
- Functions : Provides regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.
- India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

ANSWER: Revamping of the IITs joint entrance examination (JEE)

Explanation:
Recommendation of Ashok Misra committee:

1. Single entrance examination for both the IITs and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), with no weightage to school board marks and doing away with the JEE (Main).
2. Entrance exam would follow the pattern of the current JEE (Advanced), and would test the knowledge of students in physics, chemistry and mathematics.