IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Jan 24 & 25, 2016

ANSWER: Pigeon Pea

Explanation:
Pigeon pea is Arhar. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi has released PADT-16, a variety of arhar that yields about 20 quintals/ha and matures in 120 days against 160-180 days taken by the presently used varieties.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
‘Seema Darshan’ is a unique initiative being taken up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, in which school children are visiting the border areas of our country and present before our soldiers and troops an array of performances showcasing the tradition and culture of our country through traditional songs and dances. Child artists would demonstrate to the jawans how they are preserving and taking forward the cultural legacy of that country for which the armed forces are constantly on the vigil and also protecting and guarding its borders. This kind of programme will not only inspire children but also boost the morale of our soldiers. The main objective of the programme is to provide the students with a first-hand experience of the prevailing security environment in the border areas. The other objectives are to foster patriotism and nationalism among the students and to provide an opportunity for the children to experience the border environment.

ANSWER: 1 and 2

Explanation:
As part of this initiative, students of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti will be participating in a programme, in which 30 students each would be visiting Akhnoor and Attari Borders. During the visit the students will be taken to the detailed Army Unit in Akhnoor and BSF Unit at Amritsar and visit to the Museum/War Hero Gallery etc. will be arranged for the students. ‘Seema Darshan’ is a unique initiative being taken up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, in which school children are visiting the border areas of our country and present before our soldiers and troops an array of performances showcasing the tradition and culture of our country through traditional songs and dances.

ANSWER: Ranchi

Explanation:
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hoisted the largest tricolor in the country atop the tallest pole at Pahari Mandir in Ranchi on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The flag is 66 feet in height, 99 feet in width and it is hoisted on a 293 feet tall pole. The National flag, weighing 80 kg, will remain hoisted 24-hours from Saturday onward, as twenty sodium vapour lights will illuminate it during night. Until now Faridabad had the tallest National flag at the height of 246 feet.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Jharkhand on Saturday opened India's third defence university - Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University - designed to develop professional manpower in the field of security science and management to cope with the threat of internal and external security, terrorism, economic offences and cyber-crime. Jharkhand became third state after Gujarat and Rajasthan to open defence varsity.

ANSWER: Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a new train, Mahamana Express, connecting Varanasi and New Delhi through Lucknow in 14 hours. The train, named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University, is equipped with modern facilities such as bio-toilets in every coach and LED screens in air-conditioned compartments.

ANSWER: 130

Explanation:
Sri Lanka has been placed at the 73rd rank with an HDI value of 0.757. In the previous year’s report, it occupied the 74th place. Since the end of the civil war in 2009, the country’s rank went up by five. The report, which studied a total of 188 countries and territories, has determined the HDI values by assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. According to the document, the region of South Asia includes Iran too, apart from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives. While Iran is ahead of Sri Lanka, standing at 69th rank, the Maldives is ranked 104th. India and Bhutan fall under the category of medium human development countries and Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan come under the group of low human development countries. India is placed at 130th rank and Pakistan, 147th. As for the growth rate during 1990-2014, South Asia’s figure was 1.38, the highest among all regions.

ANSWER: Bangladesh

Explanation:
Top government leaders of India and Bangladesh are expected to attend the ‘grand inauguration’ in Tripura of the international gateway to import internet bandwidth from Bangladesh. State-run BSNL completed all work this week to establish optic fibre cable (OFC) link with the Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL). BSNL and BSCCL had signed an agreement on transmission of high speed Internet (up to 40 GB bandwidth) from Cox Bazar in southeast Bangladesh to benefit connectivity in Tripura and other north-eastern States. Both completed the OFC joint at Akhaura border in Agartala earlier this month. The BSNL had earmarked Rs. 20 crore for the project installation and is to pay Rs. 7.2 crore annually to BSCCL for hiring bandwidth.