IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 1 & 2, 2015

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Sun dogs are a member of a large family of halos, created by light interacting with ice crystals in the atmosphere.
- Sun dogs typically appear as two subtly colored patches of light to the left and right of the Sun, approximately 22° distant and at the same elevation above the horizon as the Sun.
- They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright.
- Sun dogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the Sun is close to the horizon.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Most non metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
- Graphite is unusual because it is a non-metal that conducts electricity.
Oxygen, carbon, sulphur and chlorine are examples of non-metal elements.
- Eleven non-metals are gases at room temperature, including oxygen and chlorine.
- One non-metal, bromine, is a liquid at room temperature.
- The other non-metals are solids at room temperature, including carbon and sulphur.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- It is also known as Azadirachta indica
- It is native to India and the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Neem is a key ingredient in non-pesticidal management (NPM), providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides.

ANSWER: Dadabhai Naoroji

Explanation:
- Dadabhai Naoroji's work focused on the drain of wealth from India into England through colonial rule.
- One of the reasons that the Drain theory is attributed to Naoroji is his decision to estimate the net national profit of India, and by extension, the effect that colonisation has on the country.
- Through his work with economics, Naoroji sought to prove that Britain was draining money out of India

ANSWER: 1,3,4

Explanation:
- Spring time tribal festivals are Phagu, Phagua and Phagun Parab while Bihu is autumn festival.
- Bihu denotes a set of three different cultural festivals of Assam and celebrated by the Assamese diaspora around the world.

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Ordinance can be promulgated when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session.
- Ordinances must be approved by Parliament within six weeks of reassembling or they shall cease to operate
- The apex court has said that the president or the governor is free to decide whether circumstances indeed exist for introduction of ordinance.
US and British constitution does not have provision for promulgating Ordinance

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- NABARD is an apex financing agency for the institutions that provides investment and promote the various developmental activities in rural areas.
- It has replaced the Agricultural Credit Department (ACD) and Rural Planning and Credit Cell (RPCC)
- It provides Core banking solution to co-operative banks

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is treated with medication.
- It’s not a contagious disease, it does not spread by touch.
- It is characterized by epileptic seizures.
- The cause of most cases of epilepsy is unknown.
- Epileptic seizures are the result of excessive and abnormal cortical nerve cell activity in the brain.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- It results in no pigmentation in skin, eyes and hairs.
- Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus and amblyopia.
- Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers.
- An organism with only a diminished amount of melanin is described as leucistic or albinoid.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Vitamin D refers to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc.
- UVB light are useful source of Vitamin D. 75 to 80 per cent of body’s Vitamin D supply is met by sunlight.