IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 10, 2015

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party, which contested the 1937 Bombay election to the Central Legislative Assembly.
- Ambedkar was Law Minister in Nehru’s first cabinet after Independence.
- The 'Hindu code bills' were several laws passed in the 1950s that aimed to codify and reform Hindu personal law in India.
- Due to differences of opinion with Nehru on Hindu Code Bill, he resigned in 1951.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) is a centrally sponsored scheme that replced Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).
- It is a rural sports initiative to promote youth and social development through sports.
- Funding is shared by the Union and State Governments funding on a 75-25 proportion, respectively. The proportion of Central funding for Northeast Indian states stands at 90%.
- Under the RGKA scheme, construction of a sports complex in each block of the country both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines on land measuring about six - seven acres at a Total cost of Rs.1.60 crore (Rs.80 lakh each for outdoor playfield and indoor sports hall) will be undertaken.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Kala Utsav is organized by Ministry of Human Resource Development.
- It aims to increase awareness about various Indian art forms and the “country’s rich heritage” among school children.
- It also seeks to enhance the life skills of the participants and prepare them as agents of Indian culture.

ANSWER: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Explanation:
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘Nishant’.
- It is developed by ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment), a branch of DRDO.
- Its aim was to provide Army with indigenous systems for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
- Four of the UAVs were inducted in 2011 after a long delay and at least three were crashed so resulted in cancellation of further orders.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises will be chairman of National Council for Electric Mobility.
- National Council for Electric Mobility (NCEM) has adopted the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP 2020).
- The NEMMP 2020 has set a target of 6-7 million units of new vehicle sales of full range of electrified vehicles, along with resultant savings of liquid fuel of 2.2 – 2.5 million tonnes to be achieved in 2020.
- This will also result in substantial lowering of vehicular emissions and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 1.3% to 1.5% in 2020.

ANSWER: Single Digit Neo-natal Mortality Rate (NMR) by 2030

Explanation:
- INAP was launched in September 2014.
- It is for accelerating the reduction of preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths in the country.
- Its goal is attaining ‘Single Digit Neo-natal Mortality Rate (NMR) by 2030’ and ‘Single Digit Still Birth Rate (SBR) by 2030’.
- Currently, there are estimated 7.47 lakh neonatal deaths annually.
- The neo-natal deaths are expected to reduce to below 2.28 lakh annually by 2030, once the goal is achieved.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- National De-worming Day is observed on 10th February 2015.
- Helminths are a group of parasites commonly referred to as worms and include schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths. Such infections are among the most common infections in developing countries.
- To reduce the worm burden, WHO recommends periodic drug treatment.
- The new De-worming Initiative of the Health Ministry aims to de-worm all pre-school and school-age children (enrolled and non-enrolled) between the ages of 1-19 years.

ANSWER: Health

Explanation:
- Kayakalp Award is given to Public Health facilities as a national initiative to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health facilities.
- Under this initiative public health-care facilities shall be appraised and such public healthcare facilities that show exemplary performance meeting standards of protocols of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control will receive awards and commendation.
- It also applies to develop and put in place systems and procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols etc.

ANSWER: Anil Baijal

Explanation:
CSR norms : Came into effect from 1 April 2014.
- Entities having at least Rs.5 crore net profit or Rs.1,000 crore turnover or Rs.500 crore net worth would come under its ambit.

Recommendations:

1. Uniform tax treatment for all corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities carried out under the new Companies Act.
2. Leniency towards non-compliant firms in the first 2-3 years of this law.
3. Government cannot and should not maintain a data bank of CSR implementing agencies and that responsibility should be left to the concerned company’s board or CSR committee.
4. CSR norms should not be applicable to not-for-profit (Section 8) companies.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Paumachariu of vimalasuri is Jaina version of Ramayan.
- The Dashratha Jataka in Pali is a Buddhist version of Ramayan.
- Ramavataram, popularly referred to as Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kamban during the 12th century.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Kolleru is fresh water lake in Andhra Pradesh.
- Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari delta.
- The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers.
- Atapaka Bird Sanctuary is home to pelicans.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- The First World Climate Conference was held in 1979 in Geneva and sponsored by the WMO. It was one of the first major international meetings on climate change.
- IPCC was first established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

ANSWER: Ministry of Defense

Explanation:
- HAL is government-owned corporation is primarily involved in the operations of the aerospace industry.
- Headquarter:Bangalore
- It was founded in 1940 As Hindustan Aircraft by Walchand Hirachand with help of Government of Mysore.
- In March 1941, the Government of India became one of the shareholders in the Company holding 1/3 of its paid-up capital and subsequently took over its management in 1942.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- BASIC countries : Brazil, South Africa, India and China.
- They are world’s major emerging economies and some of its largest carbon emitters.
- BASIC countries have committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit, including a possible united walk-out if their common minimum position was not met.
- BASIC countries have called for a Paris climate agreement in line with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

ANSWER: 1 and 4

Explanation:
- Su-35 is a fighter jets developed by Russia.
- China will buy 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets in a deal worth more than $2 billion.
- The deal will make China the first foreign buyer of the Su-35, one of Russia’s most advanced military aircraft.
- The acquisition of 24 Su-35 planes would greatly extend China’s reach over the South China Sea as Su-35 are best accommodated to take off from short run-way.
- The Irbis-6 radars on the Su-35 can track the state-of-the art American jet F-35 stealth fighter nearly 90 kilometres away.