IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 11 & 12, 2016

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
Chairperson: The Union Finance Minister of India . The members are -

• Governor Reserve Bank of India (RBl),
• Finance Secretary and/ or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA),
• Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS),
• Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance,
• Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
• Chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA),
• Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA),
• Chairman, Forward Markets Commission (FMC),
• Recently Forward Markets Commission (FMC) has been merged into SEBI.
• Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, DEA, will be the Secretary of the Council,
• The Chairperson may invite any person whose presence is deemed necessary for any of its meeting(s).

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The functions and responsibilities are -

• Financial Stability
• Financial Sector Development
• Inter-Regulatory Coordination
• Financial Literacy
• Financial Inclusion
• Macro prudential supervision of the economy including the functioning of large financial conglomerates
• Coordinating India's international interface with financial sector bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Financial Stability Board (FSB)and any such body as may be decided by the Finance Minister from time to time.
• The institutional structure for India’s Financial Inclusion/ Literacy programme is unique as it has an apex body in the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), headed by the Finance Minister of Government of India, mandated, inter alia, to focus on attaining financial inclusion/ literacy goals.

ANSWER: Leather

Explanation:

• CSIR has come out with a “Game changing technology” for enabling the Indian leather sector achieve the set target of USD 27 billion by 2020 by making leather processing environmentally sustainable.
• This “Waterless chrome tanning technology” is a first of its kind technology to reduce chromium pollution load.
• Significance of this technology is that a) it completely eliminates two processes before and after tanning, b) eliminates the use of water in tanning, c) reduces the total dissolved solids in wastewater from this process by 20% and also d) brings down the usage of chromium by 15-20%, resulting in material saving.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• International Conference on Decarbonisation of Indian Railways - Mission Electrification is organised by Institution of Railways Electrical Engineer (IREE) in partnership with ASSOCHAM India.
• Indian Railways is looking forward to make Railways greener by electrifying rail tracks.
• Railways will change significantly with the initiatives to produce greener energy.
• Electricity consumption will be reduced under Mission Electrification through the adoption of energy efficient appliances/equipment.
• Indian Railways has set a target of 40% of cumulative electricity generation capacity through renewable energy by 2030.
• The Conference also projected Indian Railways as an attractive investment destination considering its plans for huge investment in next 5 years towards modernization of its electrified network and use of renewable energy.

ANSWER: Saving Energy Consumption

Explanation:

• A mobile app ‘RAIL SAVER’ was launched which is expected to reduce energy consumption by 15 – 20%.
• RAIL SAVER stands for Railways System For Analysis Of Vidyut Energy.
• This app is only for Indian Railways internal users.
• The authorized user of “Railsaver” mobile app can enter Energy consumption any time anywhere. Various graphical and tabular reports are visible to all the officials at Divisional, Zonal and Railway Board level.
• “Railsaver” mobile app will help officials to track their Divisions and Substation’s Energy consumption and Energy trends which will further help them to develop strategies for Energy conservation.
• The “Railsaver” mobile app will be beneficial to Railway Officials for doing effective Energy Management.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Kharai Camels are found in Kutch, Gujarat.
• Kutch's 'swimming camels' have got recognition as a separate breed of camels.
• Gujarat is the only home to Kharai camel who have adapted to the extreme climate of rann and shallow seas and high salinity. As per latest counting, the state has 6,200 camels out of which around 2,200 are found in areas such as Lakhpat, Abdasa, Mundra and Bhachau in Kutch whereas the remaining are seen in South Gujarat near Aliya Bet.
• As the breeds having less than 10,000 population are identified as endangered, it can get special recognition and care. The move will also throw light on the life of maaldhari community whose livelihood is intertwined with that of the animal.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The Kharai camel grazes on saline/mangroves and is tolerant to saline water.
• Kharai Camel can live in both coastal and dry ecosystems.
• It can swim up to three kilometers into the sea in search of mangroves, their primary food.
• The camel is distinct from other camels because of its rounded back, long and thin legs and small feet.

ANSWER: Electric Plane

Explanation:

• NASA has developed and successfully flight tested a battery-powered plane with 10 engines that can take off and land like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft.
• It could be used for small package delivery or vertical take-off and landing, long endurance surveillance for agriculture, mapping and other applications. A scaled up version would make also a great one to four person size personal air vehicle
• One other advantage to the GL-10 besides its versatile vertical take-off and landing ability is its noise or lack of it.