IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Jan 3 & 4, 2016

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- The government is scaling up of budget from Rs 600 crore to Rs 5,000 crore for implementation of Grid Connected Rooftops systems over a period of five years upto 2019-20 under National Solar Mission (NSM)
- This will support installation of 4,200 MW Solar Rooftop systems in the country in the next five years
- The capital subsidy of 30 per cent will be provided for general category States/UTs and 70 per cent for special category States including i.E., North-Eastern States including Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- The Government has revised the target of National Solar Mission (NSM) from 20,000 MW to 1,00,000 MW by 2022.
- Of that, 40,000 MW is to come through grid connected solar rooftop systems. The approval will boost the installations in a big way and will act as a catalyst for achieving the goal of 40,000 MW.
- CFA of 15 per cent of the benchmark cost will be provided to solar rooftop projects built under residential, institutional (schools, educational institutions, medical colleges and hospitals and R & D institutions – both public and private), government (both central and state government organsiations as also all Panchayati Raj buildings) and social sectors (old age homes, orphanages, common service centres and welfare homes, etc)

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- NATGRID is an intelligence sharing network that collates data from the standalone databases of the various agencies and ministries of the Indian government.
- It can be used as counter terrorism measure that collects and collates a host of information from government databases including tax and bank account details, credit card transactions, visa and immigration records and itineraries of rail and air travel.
- This combined data will be made available to 11 central agencies: Research and Analysis Wing, the Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Financial intelligence unit, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Board of Excise and Customs and the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- In 1982 the IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling.
Currently, Japan, the Russian Federation and a number of other nations oppose this moratorium.
- Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has continued to hunt whales inside the outhern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in accordance with a provision in the IWC charter permitting whaling for the purposes of scientific research.

ANSWER: A K Bhargava

Explanation:
Recommendations of A K Bhargava committee:

- Legitimate traffic management practices should be allowed yet tested against Net Neutrality core principles.
- Improper prioritisation will not be permitted, paid or otherwise.
- The specific approach of India towards Net Neutrality should take into account global best practices which serve specific needs of the nation
- The primal aim of India’s Net Neutrality principle should be towards the reasonably priced broadband, quality broadband,universal broadband for citizens
- User rights on Internet need to be ensured so ISP/Telecom providers do not limit the ability of the user to receive, send, transmit or post legal content, app or service online or restrict lawful internet activity use.
- OTT or over the top app services should be really encouraged and obstacles in their progress should be eliminated.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Jnanpith Award award was instituted in 1961.
- It is given to any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India.
- Till 1982, the awards were given for a Magnum opus produced by a writer.
- But then, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian literature.
- Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhary was chosen for Jnanpith Award.

ANSWER: Medicine

Explanation:
- Bidhan Chandra Roy Award was instituted in 1976 in memory of B. C. Roy by Medical Council of India.
- The Award is given annually in each of the following categories: Statesmanship of the Highest Order in India, Medical man-cum-Statesman, Eminent Medical Person, Eminent person in Philosophy, Eminent person in Science and Eminent person in Arts.
- It is presented by President of India in New Delhi on July 1, the National Doctors' Day.

ANSWER: 2 and 4

Explanation:
- Comfort women were women and girls who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during World War II.
- In 1993, the government of Japan officially acknowledged the presence of wartime brothels.
- On December 28, 2015, Prime Minister Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye reached a formal agreement to settle the dispute.
- Japan agreed to pay ¥1 billion to a fund supporting surviving victims while South Korea agreed to refrain from criticizing Japan regarding the issue and to work to remove a statue memorializing the victims from in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- 3D printing is based on methods of applying a 2D image on a 3D surface, a system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed.
- 3D scanning is the process of analyzing and collecting data of real object; its shape and appearance and builds digital, three dimensional models.
- 3D Printing employs additive layer processes, where successive layers of materials are laid down in different shapes.