IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - May 28, 2016

ANSWER: Power generation

Explanation:
Uses of Bagasse -

• Burn in boilers to generate power
• Sell to paper manufacturers
• Use to make press board
• Research on use of bagasse to make ethanol
• But, in India, largest use is for generation of power.

ANSWER: Bagasse

Explanation:

• Cogen is cogeneration.
• The concept of simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy is called cogeneration.
• It produces two forms of energy from a single fuel source. One of the forms of energy must always be heat and the other may be electrical or mechanical energy.
• Almost all sugar mills in India are traditionally using cogeneration by using bagasse as a fuel.
• Bagasse has good calorific value and burns very easily. Sugar industry requires electricity and steam in the production process. Here bagasse is being burnt in boilers to produce steam for its use in the process and turbine generator for power generation. After self-consumption, the surplus electricity will be available for sale to the grid.

ANSWER: Lakshadweep

Explanation:

• Lakshadweep became first Union Territory (UT) to sign “24x7 Power for All” document.
• The document chalks out a plan to increase solar capacity of the region from 2.15 MW to 8.45 MW. At present, 10 inhabited islands of Lakshadweep are being fed by diesel mostly.
• As a part of energy efficiency measures, 1 lakh LED bulbs will be distributed by UT administration through Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Incandescent lamps/CFL bulbs will be replaced with LED bulbs under UJALA programme. Additionally, replacement of 3000 conventional street lights with LED street lights is also being taken up.
• With aim to provide each household access to electricity, 24x7 Power supply by 2019, the ‘Power for All’ programme is a major step in this direction.
• Government of India have taken a joint initiative with respective State Governments for preparation of State specific documents for providing 24x7 power supply to all households /homes, industrial & commercial consumers and adequate supply of power to Agricultural consumers as per state policy.
• As on date, because of the joint efforts of State Governments and Government of India, 22 States have already signed the ‘24x7 Power For All’ Documents. Implementation of the plan envisaged in the document is under progress, which is being jointly monitored by the State and the Central Government.

ANSWER: Sports

Explanation:

• The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has urged the states and Union Territories to take necessary steps to popularize and promote the sport of Football in their territory.
• ‘Mission 11 Million’ programme has been formulated and will be launched in coordination with FIFA in about 30 cities across the country.
• The primary objective of the programme is to engage more than 11 million children in activities relating to Football. It said, the programme is likely to be launched in October, 2016.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• President of India outlined a vision of a people-centric partnership with China and suggested eight steps to realize this goal.

These include:
(i) enhancing mutual trust and mutual respect,
(ii) expanding youth exchanges,
(iii) promoting greater cooperation and co-production of audio-visual media,
(iv) fostering greater intellectual and cultural exchanges,
(v) expanding tourism contacts,
(vi) encouraging greater civil society interaction on developmental challenges,
(vii) stronger cooperation in multilateral fora and
(viii) broader trade and investment ties.

ANSWER: Overall Zero Energy Buildings

Explanation:

• Ministry of Power and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched India’s first integrated web portal designed to promote and mainstream Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in India.
• The portal is www.nzeb.in.
• A first of its kind, the portal provides complete information about Net Zero Energy Buildings as well as how to achieve near-zero energy status through the use of efficient lighting and equipment, integration of renewable energy technologies and best practice design strategies.
• In addition, the portal hosts the NZEB Alliance, an industry-wide body setup to drive the Indian markets toward highly energy-efficient buildings.

ANSWER: Those that generate as much energy as they use

Explanation:

• Net Zero Energy Buildings are those that generate as much energy as they use.
• Net or nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) are highly efficient buildings with extremely low energy demand, which is met by renewable energy sources. Such buildings produce as much energy as they consume, accounted for annually.
• In order to achieve their net zero energy goals, NZEBs must first sharply reduce energy demand using energy efficient technologies, and then utilize renewable energy sources (RES) to meet the residual demand.

ANSWER: Minorities

Explanation:

• Government of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing the scheme Nai Udaan- Scheme for Support to Minority Students for preparation of Main Examination, who clear Prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, State Public Service Commissions, etc.
• The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial support to the minority candidates clearing prelims conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission and State Public Service Commissions to adequately equip them to compete for appointment to Civil Services in the Union and the State Governments and to increase the representation of the minority in the Civil Services.
• Taking forward the concept of Digital India the Ministry also launched Nai Udan Portal.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• The Council is assisted by a secretariat called the Inter-State Council Secretariat. This secretariat was set-up in 1991 and is headed by a secretary to the Government of India. Since 2011, it is also functioning as the secretariat of the Zonal Councils.
• Under the Constitution, the jurisdiction of each state is confined to its own territory. Hence, it is possible that the acts and records of one state may not be recognised in another state. To remove any such difficulty, the Constitution contains the “Full Faith and Credit” clause which lays down the following:

(i) Full faith and credit is to be given throughout the territory of India to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of the Centre and every state.
(ii) The expression ‘public acts’ includes both legislative and executive acts of the government.
(iii) The expression ‘public record’ includes any official book, register or record made by a public servant in the discharge of his official duties.