IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 25 & 26, 2015

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015 seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962
- The act will overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.
- The Bill amended the definition of government company with a view to expand its scope to include such joint-venture companies as may be formed between NPCIL and other PSUs.
- The Bill enable the Central Government to issue license to such joint-venture companies to set up nuclear power plants, take measures for safe operation and ensure safe disposal of nuclear material.
- The Bill further provides for cancellation of license in case the licensee ceases to be a government company.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Pawan Kumar Agarwal was appointed as CEO of FSSAI.
- Ashish Bahuguna is chairperson of FSSAI.
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi.
- The agency also has 8 regional offices located in Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin and Chennai, 4 referral laboratories and 72 local laboratories located throughout India.

ANSWER: USA

Explanation:
- US politicians have approved a measure to lift the 40-year ban on crude oil exports.
- US oil producers will now be able to sell crude to the already saturated international market.
- the ban was imposed after Arab oil embargo that had sent global shooting up of oil prices in 1974.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Kailash Satyarthi won Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
- Mother Teresa received Nobel Peace Prize for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace
- In 2003, she was beatified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta".
- A second miracle was credited to her intercession by Pope Francis, in December 2015, paving the way for her to be recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- All pending suits and applications relating to commercial disputes involving a claim of Rs one crore and above in high courts and civil courts stood transferred to the relevant Commercial Division or Courts.
- Commercial Divisions are to be set up in those high courts which are already exercising ordinary original civil jurisdiction such as Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Himachal Pradesh high courts.
- Commercial Divisions will exercise jurisdiction over all cases and applications relating to commercial disputes.
- The Commercial Division shall have territorial jurisdiction over such area on which it has original jurisdiction. Commercial Courts, which will be equivalent to district courts, are to be set up in states and Union Territories where the high courts do not have ordinary original civil jurisdiction.
- Commercial disputes: Dispute related to transactions between merchants, bankers, financiers, traders, etc. Such transactions deal with mercantile documents, partnership agreements, intellectual property rights, insurance, etc.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Shipping and navigation on inland waterways comes under Union list.
- The Bill repeals the five Acts that declare the existing national waterways. These five national waterways are now covered under the Bill.
- The Schedule of the Bill also specifies the extent of development to be undertaken on each waterway.

ANSWER: Afghanistan

Explanation:
- Salma Dam is an under construction hydroelectric and irrigation dam project located on the Hari River in Chishti sharif District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan.
- After the damage in civil war, the reconstruction of the dam was first initiated by an Indian company (WAPCOS Ltd.) in 1988.
- But the project was left incomplete for a significant period of time due to the ongoing instability caused by the civil war.
- Cabinate approved the reconstruction and completion of Salma Dam Project in Afghanistan at the revised cost estimate of Rs.1,775.69 crore
- The project has potential to irrigate 75,000 hectares of land, and is scheduled to be completed by June 2016.

ANSWER: Mozambique

Explanation:
- About 75 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves found in offshore Rovuma Area-1, where Indian firms led by ONGC Videsh Ltd hold a total of 30 per cent stake
- An estimated USD 18.4 billion will be required to bring first set of discoveries in Rovuma Area-1 on to production and convert that gas into liquid (liquefied natural gas or LNG) for ease of shipping to consuming nations like India.
- OVL had in 2013 bought Videocon's 10 per cent stake in the Rovuma Area-1 for USD 2.475 billion.
- Rovuma Area-1 Offshore Mozambique Block (Block Area 1) is located along the coasts of northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania in the Indian Ocean.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The scheme would cover development and management of inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)
- It seeks to bring 'blue revolution' in the country.
- The scheme would stimulate growth of the subsidiary and allied industries and growth of other related economic activities, especially in the coastal regions, leading to many direct and indirect benefits to the entire fisheries sector.
- The scheme has 6 broad components: National Fisheries

Development Board (NFDB) and its activities:
1. Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture
2. Development of Marine Fisheries
3. Infrastructure and Post Harvest Operations
4. Strengthening of Database & Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector
5. Institutional Arrangement for Fisheries Sector
6. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) and other need-based interventions.