IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - May 08 & 09, 2016

ANSWER: 14 days

Explanation:

• There is the 14-day rule disallowing research on human embryos beyond fourteen days after fertilization.
• This is a law in some countries including Canada, the U.K. and Spain and falls under the list of recommended scientific regulations in countries such as India, the U.S., Japan and China.

ANSWER: 14 days

Explanation:

• In a major breakthrough in human embryology, researchers have breached the 7-day limit to studying human embryos outside the maternal womb.
• The improved techniques employed by them in nurturing the “blastocyte,” a small hollow ball of cells formed after fertilization of the egg by the sperm in the lab, allowed them to study the molecular and cellular development that occurs during the first 14 days after fertilization.
• Being able to clinically observe the blastocyte beyond seven days is important because this is the time when the blastocyte normally attaches itself to the mother’s womb in a process termed implantation.
• Over the next few days, the blastocyte undergoes a differentiation process into three basic cell layers (called gastrulation) from which the bodily structures of the embryo, and, eventually, the individual, are derived.

ANSWER: By then the embryo shows signs of biological identity

Explanation:

• The fourteenth day is an important day in the development of the embryo because it is when the “primitive streak,” a faint band of cells marking the head-to-tail axis, is formed.
• The primitive streak is the first indication that the embryo has developed a biological identity, because, before this stage, the embryos can divide in two.
• This has therefore been chosen as the point to draw the line for human embryo research.
• Being able to clinically observe the blastocyte beyond seven days is important because this is the time when the blastocyte normally attaches itself to the mother’s womb in a process termed implantation. It is not exactly on the 14^th day.

ANSWER: The way things were before

Explanation:

• Status quo ante is Latin for "the way things were before" and incorporates the term status quo.
• In law, it refers to the objective of a temporary restraining order or a rescission in which the situation is restored to "the state in which previously" it existed.

ANSWER: The previous Chief Minister will not be restored as soon as the President’s Rule is revoked (even if temporarily) as he is yet to prove his numbers.

Explanation:

• The previous CM would not be automatically restored as Chief Minister when President’s rule is lifted for the duration of the floor test. This is because the test is for him/her to prove his/her majority.
• In case former Chief Minister is unable to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly, the baton would go to the Governor to invite the leader of the majority group to form a new government.
• The floor test can also be held for a limited purpose like allowing a chance to the previous Chief Minister to prove his majority in the House. It can also be a “composite” one between two rival parties.

ANSWER: Bacterial Blight

Explanation:

• The wild varieties of pomegranate that have survived in the Himalayan region for centuries have now helped scientists in developing a hybrid pomegranate variety that has resistance to the deadly disease of bacterial blight.
• Bacterial blight has turned out to be a major destroyer of this premium fruit crop, especially in south India.
• The commercial varieties of this crop are high yielding and have attributes such as quality, softness of seeds and bright colour. The commercial varieties, however, lack resistance to the bacterial blight. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has introduced disease-resistance traits from the wild varieties into the commercial varieties through hybridisation
• The new hybrid variety may turn out to be a boon for pomegranate growers as over 60 per cent of the fruit crop is being lost every year in the country owing to bacterial blight.
• The disease-resistant variety is also bound to contribute to the environment-friendly cultivation of this crop by substantially reducing the quantum of pesticides being sprayed to protect it.
• Blight refers to a specific symptom affecting plants in response to infection by a pathogenic organism. It is a rapid and complete chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as leaves, branches, twigs, or floral organs. Accordingly, many diseases that primarily exhibit this symptom are called blights.

ANSWER: Would be made public if in public interest

Explanation:

• The taxman can reveal information related to taxpayers disclosing previously concealed income under the Budget’s Income Declaration Scheme, if it is deemed to be in public interest.
• An amendment to this effect has been made in the Finance Bill of 2016 approved by the Lok Sabha.
• Tax experts said the amendment is aimed to allay any misconceptions that the government would keep such taxpayers' details confidential under any circumstance.
• The Income Declaration Scheme offers people with undisclosed income to declare it by paying a penal tax rate of 45 per cent on such income. The final version of the Finance Bill okayed by the Lok Sabha has imported Section 138 of the Income Tax Act into the declaration scheme's ambit.
• The key to this, according to tax experts, is the objectivity of the Chief Commissioner. The discretion has been given to the Chief Commissioner who is a very senior authority and he has to see if it is in public interest to share the information.

ANSWER: Brahmaputra/Barak Basin

Explanation:

• There is a wide disparity in basin-wise water availability due to uneven rainfall and varying population density in the country.
• The availability is as high as 14057cu m/year per capita in Brahmaputra/Barak Basin and as low as 307 cu m/year/person in Sabarmati basin.
• Ganga basin has around 1061.74 cu m/year/person and Godavari basin has 1486.01 cu m/year/person availability.
• Any situation of availability of less tan 1000 cu m per capita is considered by international agencies as scarcity conditions.