IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Feb 18, 2016

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• India does not allow cultivation of any genetically modified food, and has rules that are supposed to ensure that imports contain no trace of GMOs.
• But an explosion in the use of GM crops worldwide means that purity grade has become harder to attain and, with a growing risk of the supply chain being contaminated, underlines the vulnerabilities faced by countries trying to stay GM free.
• Even a shipment containing a handful of genetically altered seeds could cross pollinate with local varieties and mean that in India's case farmers end up illegally growing GM crops.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary, located in Kolleru Lake on the borders of Krishna and West Godavari districts, has been identified as the largest spot-billed pelican home in the world.
• Spot-billed pelicans, also known as grey headed pelicans.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Captive flight trials of an advanced, state-of-the-art Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) are planned by the missile technologists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• The air-to-surface tactical missile being developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) will target the enemy’s air defence capabilities by attacking radars and communication facilities
• The range of the missile is 100 to 125 km and it will be mounted on combat aircraft Sukhoi (Su-30) and Tejas-Light Combat Aircraft.
• The missile picks up the radiation or signals of radars and communication facilities and homes on to the targets to destroy them.
• The entire missile is being developed indigenously, including the seeker.
• Only a few countries, including the U.S. and Germany, have ARMs at present.
• The dual pulse propulsion system could be configured with other air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles.

ANSWER: Ministry of Mines

Explanation:

• ‘Operation Khanij Khoj’ of Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been launched. It is also called Operation Uncover.
• 'Operation Khanij Khoj' is to be implemented in two selected areas in the country. It is focused on probing deep seated mineral deposits. The main components of this initiative would involve characterizing India's geological cover, investigating lithospheric architecture, resolving 4D geodynamic and metallogenic evolution, as well as detecting and characterizing distal footprints of ore deposits.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• The ‘Operation Khanij Khoj’ project of GSI launched during the meeting is targeting concealed and deep seated mineral deposits. GSI has planned two projects in (i) Northern parts of Arravallies and Bundelkhand craton; (ii) Western and Eastern Dharwad cratons.
• GSI has initially identified 100 blocks for reconnoitory survey. Once the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP) is approved, these blocks will be put on e-auction for undertaking regional exploration by private companies.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• ENVIS portal has been launched recently. The challenge before Environment Information System (ENVIS) is to find out new ways to reach out to people and how to popularise science and sustainable practices.
• A new initiative ENVIS portal runs parallel with the Digital India Objective, which works on improving the digital literacy in the environment sector and deliver services digitally all over the country.
• The digitization of valuable data covering the broad spectrum of subjects on environment will serve as an asset in generating feature rich repository of information. Bringing all ENVIS Centres under one roof will also facilitate convergence in data dissemination.
• Environmental Information System (ENVIS), a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry has been implemented since 1982. The purpose of the scheme is to integrate country-wide efforts in environmental information collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination through ENVIS websites, which are dedicated to different interesting themes.

ANSWER: Mustard

Explanation:

• Mustard is India’s largest source of edible oil.
• Unlike soyabean, which has only 18 per cent oil content, and groundnut, more than 50 per cent of whose kernels are either consumed directly or exported, rapeseed/mustard is one crop that is a ‘true’ oilseed. With annual production of around 2.4 million tonnes (mt), mustard accounts for a quarter of the country’s average edible oil availability of 9.4 mt from indigenous sources (see chart).
• Mustard would be central to any strategy aimed at reducing India’s reliance on edible oil imports.
• The fact that it is a rabi crop with almost 75 per cent area under irrigation — as against barely 25 per cent in groundnut and one per cent for soyabean — and having roughly 40 per cent oil content, makes mustard the most suitable candidate for ushering in a ‘yellow revolution’.

ANSWER: Cooch Behar

Explanation:

• In a historic pact between India and Bangladesh, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves (Chhitmahals) in Indian Territory and 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh territory were exchanged with effect from July 31, 2015.
• The move altered the geography and demography of the district of Cooch Behar.
• With a view to carry out consequential geographic and demographic alterations vis-à-vis the electoral mosaic of the affected areas, the Election Commission requested to amend Section 11 of the Delimitation Act and Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act to enable it to carry out limited delimitation of constituencies in the affected areas.
• Since the newly acquired area has become part of the Indian Territory, it is required to make delimitation exercise within the limited constituency area before the ensuing state Assembly elections in West Bengal.