IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Jan 13, 2016

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- If LPG consumer does not have an Aadhaar number, then he can directly receive subsidy in his bank account without the use of Aadhaar number.
- This option which has now been introduced in the modified scheme ensures that LPG subsidy is not denied to an LPG consumer on account of lack of Aadhaar number.
- In this option, Either consumer can Present bank account information (bank account holder name /account number /IFSC code) to the LPG distributor for capture in LPG database OR Present LPG consumer information (17 digit LPG consumer ID) to his bank.

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Defense Minister is chairman of Defense acquisition council.
- Minister of State for Defense, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Defense Secretary, Secretary Defense Research & Development, Secretary Defense Production, Chief of Integrated Staff Committees (HQ IDS), Director General (Acquisition) and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff are members of Defense acquisition council.
- It is high-level body with the aim of fast-track procurement process of the armed forces by optimally utilizing the available budget.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- RuPay debit card are provided under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PYMJDY).
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella organisation for all retail payments system in the country, has relaxed the condition for RuPay
- Cardholder who has swiped the debit card even once in 90 days will be entitled to insurance cover.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Veerabhadran Ramanathan discovered that human-produced gases and pollutants other than CO2 have a huge power to alter the Earth's climate.
- By acting on them it is possible to make a short-term dent on the rate of global warming.
- Ramanathan found that one tonne of CFCs traps as much heat in the atmosphere as 10 tonnes of CO2.
- Scientists at the time believed carbon dioxide to be the only human-produced greenhouse gas.
- But after Ramanathan's work, it was revealed that other gases such as methane and HFCs were also potent greenhouse gases.

ANSWER: Australia

Explanation:
- India signed an agreement with Australia that will give people more freedom to move between Australia and India, knowing their pension rights will be recognized and protected.
- Australian residents living in India will be able to claim the Australian - Age Pension without having to return to Australia, while Indian residents living in Australia will have access to Indian retirement pensions.
- Australia now has 30 international social security agreements around the world to support people living and working in more than one country, including with countries like Austria, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the US.
- The Agreement signed in November 2014 came into operation on January 1, 2016.

ANSWER: Arvind Panagariya

Explanation:
- The Union government has constituted a five-member high-level committee chaired by NITI Ayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya to monitor the Rs 90,000 crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
- Other members of the committee : Railway Board Chairman AK Mittal, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shantikanta Das and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Amitabh Kant.
- The members of committee will look into the overall operations and technical issues of the project, its strategic importance for bilateral relation, financial outlay and the ‘Make in India’ component respectively.

ANSWER: Ministry of Finance

Explanation:
- Directorate General of Safeguards investigates the existence of threat of market disruption to domestic industry as consequence of increased import of an article into India
Depending upon threat it recommends Safeguard duties.
Safeguard duty is a WTO - compatible temporary measure that is brought in for a certain time frame to avert any damage to a country’s domestic industry from cheap imports.

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- In May 2007, the OECD decided to open accession negotiations with Russia but in March 2014, the OECD halted membership talks in response to Russia's role in the 2014 Crimean crisis.
- OECD has permanent secretariat at Paris.
- India features into Enhanced engagement countries.
- OECD originated as the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC),led by Robert Marjolin of France, to help administer the Marshall Plan in 1948

ANSWER: NPCI

Explanation:
- Bharat Bill Payment System(BBPS) is an integrated bill payment system in India offering interoperable and accessible bill payment service to customers through a network of agents, enabling multiple payment modes, and providing instant confirmation of payment.
- BBPS would provide bill payments through commerce portals and online payment aggregators provided they choose to be a part of the Bharat Bill Payment System and offer bill collection and payment services to their clients.
- National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) would act as the central nodal authority for Bharat Bill Payment System overlooking all complaints as well as audit of payment procedures.