IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 31, 2015

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Earlier, the government planned the implementation of BS V and BS VI emission norms nationwide by 2020 and 2024 respectively.
- In view of the deteriorating air quality, the new norms are planned to be introduced in new vehicles from 2020 and 2022.
- According to the draft notification, old vehicles will need to switch to Euro V and Euro VI norms from April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2021 respectively.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The government will invest Rs 20,000 crore into the NIIF from the Budget, with another Rs 20,000 crore expected to come from private investors. The government's share of the NIIF's corpus is envisaged to be under 50%.
- Government's contribution/share in the corpus will be 49% in each entity set up as an Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) and will neither be increased beyond, nor allowed to fall below 49%.
- The whole of 49% would be contributed by Government directly.
- Rest is open for contribution from others.
- Cash-rich Central Public Sector Enterprises (PSUs) could contribute to the Fund, which would be over and above the Government's 49%.
- Similarly, domestic pension and provident funds and National Small Savings Fund may also provide funds to the NIIF.
- NIIF may utilize the proceeds of monetized land and other assets of PSUs for infrastructure development.

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Greenfield project lacks any constraint imposed by prior work where as Brownfield project has constraints from prior work.
- Example : Industrial land would have industrial waste in it and have contamination so you would have to put some extra amount of work initially to make it for use.

ANSWER: Russia

Explanation:
- India and Russia to jointly manufacture Kamov 226 helicopter under 'Make In India'
- State owned HAL is believed to have piped a proposal by the Anil Ambani owned Reliance Defence as the main partner for the contract that is expected to cost over $ 1 billion.
- The State Corporation Rostec will organize in India the production of the Russian Ka-226T and its modifications in the amount of not less than 200 units.
- The agreement also provides for the maintenance, operation and repair of helicopters and providing them with technical support.

ANSWER: 3,4,5

Explanation:
- International North-South Transport Corridor is a joint venture between Iran, India, Russia and Azerbaijan.
- It will connect India to Central Asia through Iran via rail, road and ship network.
- The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road.
- The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali and etc.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Under base rate system, the individual bank is free to determine its own base rate.
- Bank is free to adopt a formula, as long as RBI feels it is consistent.
Banks have to publish the Base rate on their website.
- HDFC Bank, the country's second-largest private sector lender, has cut its base rate by 5 bps to 9.3% bringing its rate at par with State Bank of India.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) is a special purpose vehicle managing roll out of the project.
- A committee set up under the Telecom Ministry has remodelled the Rs. 21,000-crore National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) started under the UPA government to connect all 2.5 lakh village panchayats with high-speed broadband network.
- Under BharatNet, there is a scope to connect urban households (by state government) with broadband speed of up to 20 megabit per second, while NOFN was limited to village panchayat-level only.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
The panel, headed by former finance secretary Vijay Kelkar, recommended setting up independent regulators for PPP projects in various sectors and pushed for amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act to clarify the difference between cases of graft and genuine errors in decision-making.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The highest balance a bank can hold per customer is Rs 1 lakh, against the Mor panel’s recommendation of Rs 50,000.
- While payment banks won’t have to have a quarter of their branches in un-banked rural areas (as applicable for existing banks), they should have at least 25 per cent of their access points in such areas.
- The minimum paid-up capital required for both categories would be Rs 100 crore, of which the promoter would have to contribute at least 40 percent initially, with a five-year lock-in period.
- They would also have to maintain a capital adequacy ratio of 15 percent, though under Basel-I norms.
- If promoter shareholding exceeds 40 percent, it has to be cut to this level within three years of operations, 30 percent within 10 years and 26 percent within 13 years.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The Scheme of Mega Food Park was launched to provide modern infrastructure for food processing units in the country on pre-identified cluster basis.
- The scheme envisages financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid at 50% of the eligible project cost in general areas and @ 75% in difficult areas, subject to a maximum of Rs.50.00 crore per project.
- Presently, 39 Mega Food Parks have been granted approval. Out of these, 5 Mega Food Parks have become operational and remaining are under implementation.
- During the current year, 16 Mega Food Park projects have been given in-principle approval, 9 Mega Food Parks have accorded final approval and 1 project at Nalbari (Assam) has been made operational. 3 projects at Jangipur (West Bengal), Khargon (Madhya Pradesh) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) are likely to be operationalized by 31stMarch, 2016.