IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 15 & 16, 2016

ANSWER: 1947

Explanation:

• With the growing use of Aadhaar in transactions related to services like Banking, Government Welfare Schemes, etc., the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), launched a revamped version of its Toll-free helpline number: 1947, to help residents get quick access to information about Aadhaar.
• The free of cost helpline 1947 will be available 24x7 throughout the year on IVRS mode.
• The Aadhaar toll-free helpline 1947 will among other things, enable residents to locate an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre, know generation status of an Aadhaar number (after enrolment) and help retrieve Aadhaar details of any person who has lost his/her Aadhaar or hasn’t received it through post.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The National Student Startup Policy, formulated by AICTE, aims to create 100,000 technology based student start-ups and a million employment opportunities within the next 10 years.
• The policy plans on achieving this by developing an ideal entrepreneurial ecosystem and promoting strong inter-institutional partnerships among technical institutions.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is operating a scheme titled “Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD)” to promote women entrepreneurs.
• The scheme envisages economic empowerment of women through trade related training, information and counselling activities related to trades, products, services, etc.
• Under the scheme, there is a provision for Government of India grant up to 30% of the loan/ credit maximum up to Rs. 30.00 lakh as appraised by lending institutions/ banks.
• The lending institutions/ banks would finance loan assistance for a group of women through NGOs for undertaking non- farm activities.

ANSWER: UAV

Explanation:

• Maiden test flight of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM – II), a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV has been successful.
• TAPAS 201, the MALE UAV has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Bangalore-based premier lab of DRDO with HAL-BEL as the production partners.
• TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours.
• It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.
• Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) of DRDO has developed the data link for the UAV.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• India is a member of the following two regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs): SAFTA and India-ASEAN CECA on goods, services and investment.
• India is still negotiating other FTAs like - India – Canada FTA; India-European Union Broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (India-EU BTIA); India – European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA); India - New Zealand CECA; India - Thailand CECA; India - Mauritius CECPA, etc.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• An Optional Travel Insurance Scheme on a pilot basis for one year has been launched w.e.f 01/09/2016 for the railway passengers who book e-ticket through official website of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
• Under the scheme reserved passengers who expire or are disabled permanently or partially due to train accident and untoward incidents during train journey will be entitled to sum assured as per the details given below.
• The objective behind the scheme is to maximize compensation to the passengers for the loss caused to them by train accident and untoward incidents.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:
The amount of compensation to be given to passengers are as follows -

• In case of Death- Rs.10 lakh
• Permanent Total Disability – Rs. 10 Lakh
• Permanent Partial Disability – Rs.7.5 Lakh
• Hospitalization Expenses for Injury – Rs.2 Lakh &
• Transportation of mortal remains – Rs.10 Thousand

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• The trade data with FTA partners, prior to and after implementation of the agreement indicates that there has been a significant increase of our trade.
• Moreover, studies also indicate that increase in share of imports of raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods could lead to enhanced efficiencies in domestic production and thus contribute to greater exports.
• The overall effect on trade of an FTA is positive and statistically significant.
• The free trade agreement (FTAs) do provide opportunities for export of agricultural (including processed) products of interest for macro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The Government is developing or planning to develop 5 Industrial Corridors in the country, as follows:

• Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) covering the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) covers the States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
• Bengaluru Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC) covers the States of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) covers the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) covers the States of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
The salient features of merger and the benefits likely to accrue therefrom are broadly given below:

• Ministry of Railways will continue to function as a departmentally run commercial undertaking;
• A separate Statement of Budget Estimates and Demand for Grant will be created for Railways;
• A single Appropriation Bill, including the estimates of Railways, will be prepared and presented by Ministry of Finance to Parliament and all legislative work connected therewith will be handled by Ministry of Finance;
• Railways will get exemption from payment of dividend to General Revenues and its Capital-at-charge would stand wiped off;
• Ministry of Finance will provide Gross Budgetary Support to Ministry of Railways towards meeting part of its capital expenditure;
• Railways may continue to raise resources from market through Extra-Budgetary Resources as at present to finance its capital expenditure;
• The presentation of a unified budget will help present a holistic picture of the financial position of the Government;
• Merger of Rail Budget with Union Budget would facilitate multimodal transport planning between highways, railways and inland waterways; and
• It will allow Ministry of Finance greater elbow-room at the time of mid-year review for better allocation of resources, etc.