IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 01 & 02, 2016

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:
The Chairperson and the whole-time members shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office as such, except with the previous approval of the Central Government, accept:

(a) Any employment either under the Central Government or under any State Government; or
(b) Any appointment in any covered service provider.

ANSWER: Mumbai

Explanation:

• Department of Atomic Energy does not have its headquarters in the national capital.
• It is in Mumbai.
• So to spread more awareness about the activities of the department in the northern India, the concept of setting up "Hall of Nuclear Power" recently at Pragati Maidan was inspired.

ANSWER: Geneva

Explanation:

• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) was created in December 1999.
• The successor to the secretariat of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, it was established to ensure the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
• UNISDR is led by a United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG) and has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 5 regional offices (Africa: Nairobi, the Americas: Panama City, Arab States: Cairo, Asia-Pacific: Bangkok and Europe: Brussels) and other field presences in Addis Ababa, Almaty, Bonn, Incheon, Kobe, New York-UN Headquarters, Rio de Janeiro and Suva.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• UNISDR is part of the United Nations Secretariat and its functions span the social, economic, environmental as well as humanitarian fields.
• UNISDR supports the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted by the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction on 18 March 2015 in Sendai, Japan.
• UNISDR’s vision is anchored on the four priorities for action set out in the Sendai Framework: understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
• UNISDR coordinates international efforts in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and guide, monitor as well as report regularly on the progress of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, following the Hyogo Framework for Action.
• It convenes the biennial Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction with leaders and decision makers to advance risk reduction policies and supports the establishment of regional, national and thematic platforms.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• The nationwide programme will provide fixed day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care to pregnant women on the 9th of every month.
• Pregnant women can now avail of a special antenatal check-up in their second or third trimesters at Government health facilities provided by gynaecology specialists/ physicians with support from private sector doctors to supplement the efforts of the Government sector.
• These services including ultrasound, blood and urine tests will be provided in addition to the routine antenatal check-ups at the identified health facility/outreach in both rural and urban areas.
• One of the aims is to identify and follow-up on high risk pregnancies in order to reduce MMR and IMR.
• It is a voluntary scheme and private sector doctors are urged to contribute to it.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) is aimed to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates through safe pregnancies and safe deliveries.
• The national programme will provide special free antenatal care to about 3 crore pregnant women across the country in order to detect and prevent high risk pregnancies.
• The scheme is targeting women who have not received or dropped out of ANC check-ups and a minimum package of investigations and medicines such as IFA and calcium supplements would be provided to all pregnant women attending the PMSMA clinics.
• Apart from diagnostic and treatment services, counselling pregnant women is critical especially in cases of high-risk pregnancies. Counselling will also be done.

ANSWER: New Delhi

Explanation:

• The first International Agrobiodiversity Congress will be held in the national capital where 900 delegates from 60 countries will discuss conservation of genetic resources.
• The conference, to be held here on November 6-9, is being organised by the Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources and Biodiversity International, a CGIAR Research Centre headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• The Congress will lead to discussion and knowledge sharing on issues for efficient management of gene banks, science-led innovations in genetic resources, crop diversification, issues relating to quarantine, biosafety and biosecurity and intellectual property rights.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Agrobiodiversity is defined as the variety and variability of animals, plant and micro-organism that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.
• It includes all species that are closely inter-woven in an agricultural ecosystem.
• In the first International Agrobiodiversity Congress, in New Delhi, a road map will be prepared to enhance food, nutrition and health security by optimal utilisation of agrobiodiversity while protecting agro-ecosystems.
• The Congress is expected to adopt "Delhi Declaration on Agrobiodiversity management and use". It seeks to develop a network of partnerships to strengthen biodiversity management system at national, regional and global levels.

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

• The Department of Consumer Affairs has decided to launch two new schemes related to Swachh Bharat Mission.
  (i) Clean Consumer Fora
  (ii) Clean Market.
• Under the scheme "Clean Consumer Fora" financial assistance will be provided to Consumer Fora for sanitation facility while under the "Clean Market Scheme" the Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) will be associated and asked to adopt a market place where they can carry out awareness activities on Swachhta and also cleanliness of the market place in association with the market association/local authorities including provision of sanitation facilities for consumers and with exclusive sanitation facilities in each market place for street vendor.
• Financial assistance will be provided to VCOs.
• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has proposed exclusive zone for street vendors in each city. The Ministry has decided to pursue the State Governments to allocate a place and to provide sanitation facility to ensure clean and hygienic food to consumers.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The following funds shall be constituted for the Corporation,

(a) a fund for Deposit Insurance provided by the Corporation to the insured service providers, called the Corporation Insurance Fund;
(b) a fund for meeting the expenses of carrying out resolution of insured service providers, called the Corporation Resolution Fund; and
(c) a fund for all other functions of the Corporation called the Corporation General Fund.

The funds under this section shall be credited in the following manner,

(a) premium for Deposit Insurance collected from insured service providers, in the Corporation Insurance Fund;
(b) fees for resolution collected from the covered service provider in the Corporation Resolution Fund; and
(c) all other fees in the Corporation General Fund.