IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 29 & 30, 2015

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Astra is the first air to air missile developed by DRDO.
- It is a beyond-visual-range missile
- It is capable of engaging at ranges of 37 km or beyond.
- Active radar homing (ARH) is a missile guidance method in which a missile contains a radar transceiver
- Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km)

ANSWER: Kerala

Explanation:
- Alathur is a village and gram panchayat in the Palakkad District, state of Kerala
- An initiative was designed to encourage farmers to switch over to organic methods of cultivation, under a project to convert Kerala into a fully organic State by 2016.
- By the end of the next economic year, the Alathur block will produce all fruits and vegetables for its residents based on the requirement.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Olive ridleys are the smallest of the sea turtles, weighing up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and reaching only about 2 feet (65 centimeters) in shell length.
- Olive ridleys have nesting sites all over the world especially on tropical and subtropical beaches.
- During nesting, they use the wind and the tide to help them reach the beach.
- Females lay about a hundred eggs, but may nest up to three times a year.
- The nesting season is from June to December.
- They feed on jellyfish, snails, crabs, and shrimp.
- They will occasionally eat algae and seaweed as well.

ANSWER: Arctic Ocean

Explanation:
- Russia has built a giant military base in the far northern Arctic where 150 soldiers can live autonomously for up to 18 months.
- The building erected on the large island of Alexandra Land, which is part of the Franz Josef Land archipelago
- Named the "Arctic Trefoil", or three-lobed leaf, the sprawling three-pointed structure is coloured red white and blue like the Russian flag.
- The base is a permanent structure located on the 80th parallel north and has an area of 14,000 square metres (150,000 square feet).

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- It is situated in the town of Lakshmeshwara, about 40 km from Hubli, the temple complex is over 1,400 years old.
- The Infosys Foundation has contributed Rs 4.5 crore towards the architectural and cultural restoration of the temple, including repair of ancient structures.
- Infosys Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Conservation of Heritage and Rural Education (CHARE) in 2012 for the conservation of the Somanatheshwara temple.

ANSWER: Syria

Explanation:
- The Geneva II Conference on Syria is a United Nations-backed international peace conference on the future of Syria
- The aim is to end the Syrian Civil War, by bringing together the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to discuss the clear steps towards a transitional government for Syria with full executive powers.
- The conference took place on 22 January 2014 in Montreux and on 23–31 January 2014 in Geneva (Switzerland).
- It is pursued by UN peace envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in cooperation with the United States and Russia.
- The second round of negotiations took place on 10–15 February 2014.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Recommendations of Deepak Mohanty committee:

- The committee has recommended phasing out interest subsidy on farm loans, and move towards universal insurance scheme for all crops.
- Universal crop insurance scheme covering all crops should be introduced starting with small and marginal farmers with a monetary ceiling say of Rs 200,000. The insurance should be mandatory for all agricultural loans
- It further said commercial banks may be enabled to open specialised interest-free windows with itimsimple products like demand deposits and to offer products based on cost plus financing and deferred payment, deferred delivery contracts on the asset side.
- Installing more ATMs in rural and semi-urban centres will create more touch points for customers.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- 50 or more farmers will form a cluster with 50 acre land to carry out organic farming under this scheme
- In 3 years, around 10,000 clusters will form covering 5 lakh acre area under organic farming; farmers will have no liability for expenditure on certification.
- Organic farming will also be promoted via traditional resources as part of the scheme
- Linkages will be formed between organic products and the market
The scheme will also increase domestic production and certification of organic produce through the medium of farmers
- It has budget ooylay of INR 300 crore in 2015-2016

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- There are ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms starting on 1 January, with five replaced each year.
- The African Group is represented by three members
- The Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and Western European and Others groups is represented by two members.
- The Eastern European Group is represented by by one member.
- Traditionally, one of the seats assigned to either the Asia-Pacific Group or the African Group is filled by a nation from the Arab world.