IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Jan 16, 2016

ANSWER: New Delhi

Explanation:
This is Northern India’s first permanent exhibition on nuclear power, built in the national capital which is going to be opened to the public at National Science Centre (NSC). The exhibition, titled ‘Hall of Nuclear Power – Atoms Serving the Nation’ is spread over an area of about 700 sq. m., with over 60 permanent exhibits, covering various aspects of nuclear energy, with prime focus on nuclear power plant safety and applications for human welfare, which include nuclear medicine, food irradiation, as well as several other day-to-day applications of nuclear energy. Scientific information about nuclear power generation, its basics, and non-power uses of nuclear and radiation technology has also been showcased at the gallery.

ANSWER: Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan

Explanation:
Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan is attributed to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Jai Jawan Jai Kisan is attributed to Lal Bahadur Shashtri. Today’s Agriculture is not only a source of livelihood but leading to job or entrepreneurship development. Today’s farmers cannot be self-reliant only by using old farm techniques because Agro- inputs are costly and in order to use new agricultural technologies, there is necessity of more investment. That is why, it is necessary that our farmers should use low cost based agricultural technology to get more crop yield and increase their income, so that the slogan given by the PM “JAI KISAN JAI VIGYAN” can be fulfilled. Indian Council of Agricultural Research celebrated ‘Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan’ Week from 23 December to 29 December 2015 on the birth anniversary of former Prime Ministers Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Late Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh. The celebration was organized keeping in view their immense contribution for promoting use of science for the welfare of farmers.

ANSWER: Distribution of improved seed varieties to farmers at their doorstep through post-offices.

Explanation:
The government's agro-research body Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has already initiated a pilot project in 20 rural districts. In this postmen will supply seeds of improved varieties of crops to the farmers in far-flung areas. Owing to its success and popularity, this scheme is being extended in 100 districts of 14 states with the association of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. This will provide improved seed to farmers at their doorsteps.

ANSWER: Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship

Explanation:
The Bharat Fund is a public-private-academia partnership set up by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE). The objective of the fund, inter-alia, is to support and provide funding (grants, seed capital, venture capital) and business support to innovation-driven start-ups that solve real problems faced by the masses of India through technology-enabled and rapidly scalable solutions and will focus on – healthcare and life-sciences (including biotech, medical devises), sustainability (energy, agriculture, environment, water), and digital technologies (especially in manufacturing, design). The Bharat Fund shall be managed and coordinated by CIIE at the IIM, Ahmedabad. Recently the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), along with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), announced its participation in the Bharat Innovation Fund.

ANSWER: Training course for ASHAs

Explanation:
Mobile Academy is a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge base of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and improve their communication skills. Mobile Academy offers ASHAs a training opportunity via their mobile phones which is both cost-effective and efficient. It reduces the need to travel – sometimes great distances – and provides them the flexibility they need to learn at their own pace and at times they find convenient. Mobile Academy is being launched in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.

ANSWER: Scheme regarding child birth and child care

Explanation:
Kilkari, which means ‘a baby’s gurgle’, delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, child birth and child care directly to families’ mobile phones from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child is one year old. Kilakri is being launched in Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and High Priority Districts (HPDs) of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the first phase.

ANSWER: Only 1 and 2

Explanation:
Four mobile health (mHealth) services – Kilkari, Mobile Academy, M-Cessation and TB Missed Call initiative are a part of the Government’s Digital India programme in line with the government’s commitment to prioritize public health and strengthen citizen-centric health services by leveraging India’s expanding mobile phone penetration. Kilkari, which means ‘a baby’s gurgle’, delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, child birth and child care directly to families’ mobile phones. Mobile Academy is a free audio training course to refresh the knowledge base of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Together, these services aim to improve family health – including family planning, reproductive, maternal and child health, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene – by generating demand for healthy practices by empowerment and capacity building at the individual and community level, and by creating an enabling environment.

M-Cessation aims at reaching out to those willing to quit tobacco use and support them towards successful quitting through text messages sent via mobile phones. When offered along with traditional services, M-Cessation has been found to be cost-effective in comparison to traditional options for cessation support. This is first time in the world that such a two way service is being provided as part of any mHealth initiative.

Under TB Missed Call initiative, a helpline with a toll free number will provide information, counseling and treatment support services for TB. Under this campaign the callers can give a missed call or call for free to get information related to TB symptoms, treatment services available, address and contact details of the nearest treatment facility etc. Initially the service will be available to people in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi.

ANSWER: Rajasthan > Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Maharashtra

Explanation:
The installed capacity of solar power in India crossed the milestone of 5,000 MW. The cumulative installed capacity has reached to 5,130 MW. The state of Rajasthan stands 1st in the country with 1264 MW, followed by Gujarat (1024MW), Madhya Pradesh (679 MW), Tamil Nadu (419 MW), Maharashtra (379 MW) and Andhra Pradesh (357 MW). The Government has set the ambitious target of generating 100 GW of solar power by the year 2021-22 under the National Solar Mission.

ANSWER: Advisory services for startups

Explanation:
The first SBI InCube Branch has come up in Bengaluru. SBI InCube will be a one-stop advisory services facility for entrepreneurs but will not offer loans to startups for now. This specialized branch aims to understand and address banking needs of a Startup Business. SBI InCube would advise entrepreneurs on several issues from setting up a company to taxation matters, asset and liability products, foreign exchange services, remittances and cash management.

ANSWER: Agriculture

Explanation:
The Government has introduced new scheme ‘Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA)’ so that rural youth may get attracted towards farming to curb rural migration. The purpose is to establish economic models for youth in the villages so that youths get attracted in agriculture and overall rural situation is improved. The objectives of ARYA project are (i) To attract and empower the Youth in Rural Areas to take up various Agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income and gainful employment in selected districts, (ii) to enable the Farm Youth to establish network groups to take up resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing, and (iii) To demonstrate functional linkage with different institutions and stakeholders for convergence of opportunities available under various schemes/program for sustainable development of youth. ARYA project will be implemented in 25 States through KVKs, one district from each State. In one district, 200-300 rural youths will be identified for their skill development in entrepreneurial activities and establishment of related micro-enterprise units in the area of Apiary, Mushroom, Seed Processing, Soil testing, Poultry, Dairy, Goatry, Carp-hatchery, Vermi-compost etc., KVKs will involve the Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes as Technology Partners.