IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - May 06, 2016

ANSWER: Women

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Women & Child Development has been administering ‘Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP) Scheme’ since 1986-87 as a ‘Central Sector Scheme’.
• The Scheme was reviewed and revised in 2014 to impart training to women in modern skills as well as traditional ones, to meet the demands of changing society.
• The STEP Scheme aims to provide skills that give employability to women and to provide competencies and skill that enable women to become self-employed/ entrepreneurs. The Scheme is intended to benefit women who are in the age group of 16 years and above.
• Assistance under the STEP scheme will be available in any sector for imparting skills related to employability and entrepreneurship, including but not limited to the following: Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Processing, Handlooms, Tailoring, Stitching, Embroidery, Zari etc, Handicrafts, Computer & IT enabled services, Gems & Jewellery, Travel & Tourism, and Hospitality.

ANSWER: Coal Thermal> Hydro> Renewable>Gas Thermal

Explanation:

• The Coal Based Generation Capacity is 62.13% of the total installed capacity.
• Hydro is 14.35%; Renewable energy is 13.02%; Gas Thermal is 8.22%; Nuclear is 1.94%; Diesel thermal is 0.33%.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Census 2011 reported 32.23 percent illiteracy rate, in 7 and above age group in rural areas of the country, compared to 41.26 percent in 2001thus showing a decrease in illiteracy rate by 9.03 percentage points.
• Likewise, as per Census reports, the number of non-literate girls in the age group of 7-14, in rural areas of the country, has decreased by 1.22 crore from 2.53 crore reported in 2001 to 1.31crore in 2011.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• In order to improve the female literacy rate in the country, “Saakshar Bharat”, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is being implemented in rural areas of States and UT that had adult female literacy rate of 50 per cent and below as per Census 2001, including left wing extremism affected districts, irrespective of their literacy rates, with special focus on women and other disadvantaged groups.
• In order to ensure greater participation of girls in elementary education, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has targeted interventions for girls which include opening of schools in the neighborhood to make access easier for girls, appointment of additional teachers including women teachers, separate toilets for girls, teachers’ sensitization programme to promote girls participation, gender sensitive teaching learning materials including textbooks.
• In addition, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas have been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks where the female rural literacy is below the national average to provide for residential upper primary schools for girls.
• Under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) several provisions viz. construction of separate toilets for girls, construction of residential quarters for teachers, curriculum reforms, conducting self-defence training for the girls, special programme for empowerment of girls, stipend for girls with disabilities, vocationalisation of secondary education, girls hostel, etc. have been made for improving girls education and effectively addressing female literacy rate.

ANSWER: Yoga Education in Universities

Explanation:

• A committee was constituted by the Government on yoga education in universities under the chairpersonship of Prof H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana, Samsthana, Bengaluru.
• The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the committee included identification of courses and programmes in yogic art and science and the level at which it can be offered; to determine the eligibility qualifications for students for joining yoga education programme at different levels; to prescribe recommendations for qualifications for faculty of yoga etc.
• It has recommended seven programmes for implementation in universities viz. (i) Certificate Course in Yoga (CCY) of 6 to 12 months duration; (ii) Bachelors of Science (Yoga)-BSc.(Yoga) of 3 to 6 years; (iii) Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga (PGDY) of 1 to 2 years; (iv) Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy(PGDYT) of 1 to 2 years; (v) Masters of Science (MSc.)- Yoga of 2 years to 4 years; (vi) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)-Yoga of 3 to 5 years; and (vii) Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)- Yoga of 4 to 6 years.
• The committee has also prescribed the qualifications for faculty of yoga. The committee has made other recommendations for promotion of yoga in universities.

ANSWER: 1, 3, 4

Explanation:

• Currently there are 12 Earth Observation Satellites namely, Resourcesat-2, RISAT-1, RISAT-2, Cartosat-1, Cartosat-2, Cartosat-2A, Cartosat-2B, Oceansat-2, SARAL, Kalpana-1, Megha-Tropiques and INSAT-3D.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:

• 13 Communication Satellites namely, INSAT-3A, INSAT-3C, INSAT-4A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-4CR, GSAT-6, GSAT-7, GSAT-8, GSAT-10, GSAT-12, GSAT-14, GSAT-15 and GSAT-16.
• 7 Navigational Satellites namely, IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F & 1G.
• 2 Space science Satellites namely Mars Orbiter Mission & Astrosat.

ANSWER: 2, 3, 4

Explanation:

• Commonly observed contaminants in groundwater are – Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, Iron, Bacteria, Phosphates and heavy Metals.
• Sources of contamination – Pollution by landfills, septic tanks, leaky underground gas tanks and from overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.

ANSWER: Alloxan

Explanation:

• Alloxan, a chemical is allegedly used in the manufacture of refined flour.
• Alloxan is used in laboratories to induce diabetes in rats and to test the efficacy of anti-diabetic medicines but no tests have been scientifically done to detect its presence in India.
• Alloxan has been banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Delhi-based central body that has the final say on what additives are permissible in food.
• Alloxan’s chemical existence has been known since the 19th century, when it was discovered in human excretions, indicating that it could be synthesised in the body.
• Alloxan’s structure mimics that of glucose, which allows it to be absorbed by the pancreas and once inside the organ, it destroys insulin-producing beta cells.
  However, according to the American Chemical Society, it cannot be taken up by the human pancreas, though it has been shown to be associated with liver and kidney toxicity.