IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 3, 2015

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- In 2004, the Government of India decided to move from a defined-benefit pension system to a defined-contribution pension system.

- Defined-benefit pension system: -
A defined benefit plan identifies the specific benefit that will be payable to you at retirement.

- Defined- contribution pension system: -
A defined contribution plan specifies how much money will go into a retirement plan today.

ANSWER: Alps

Explanation:
- The whole area, including other glaciers is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.
- It is located in Switzerland.
- It is under threat from the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Aletsch Glacier could almost vanish by 2100 due to global warming

ANSWER: South China Sea

Explanation:
- The nine-dashed line is also called as a nine-dotted line or U-shaped line or nine-dash map.
- It refer to the demarcation line used initially by the government of the Republic of China(ROC / Taiwan) and subsequently also by the government of the People's Republic of China(PRC), for their claims of the major part of the South China Sea(SCS)
- The contested area in the SCS includes the Paracel Islands,the Spratly Islands, and various other areas including the Pratas Islands, the Macclesfield Bank and the Scarborough Shoal.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The Shangri-La Dialogue(SLD) is a "Track One" inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies(IISS).
- It is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific states.
- The forum gets its name from the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore where it has been held since 2002.
- The participants have included Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, East Timor, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- All over India, May 21st is observed as Anti Terrorism Day in the memory of former Indian PM Mr Rajiv Gandhi. It was this day in 1991 wheb Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE terrorists.
- The National Unity Day was observed across India on 31 October 2015 to commemorate the birthday of Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
- Sardar Patel handled effectively the integration of the princely states with his diplomatic skills and foresightedness.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Jarawas, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese are other Protected Aboriginal Tribe in Andaman & Nicobar have Negroid features.
- Shompen tribe lives in interior of Great Nicobar Island.
- The Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) has come up with the first authentic demographic database of the Shompen tribe.
- The Shompens are primarily hunter-gatherers and also practise a little bit of horticulture and pig rearing.

ANSWER: 2,3,4

Explanation:
Norway is not a member state of the European Union (EU), it is closely associated with the Union through its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA), in the context of being a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member.
Schengen Area encompasses most EU States, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom.
However, Bulgaria and Romania are currently in the process of joining the Schengen Area.
Of non-EU States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- Andrei Sakharov was a Russian nuclear physicist, Soviet dissidentand human rights activist.
- Sakharov later became an advocate of civil liberties and civil reforms in the Soviet Union, for which he faced state persecution
- He won Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.
- The Sakharov Prize, which is awarded annually by the European Parliament for people and organizations dedicated to human rights and freedoms, is named in his honour.
- Raif Badawi is the laureate of this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Badawi is a Saudi Arabian blogger, human rights activist and author of the website Free Saudi Liberals.

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Governor of RBI is eligible for reappointment.
Composition of board of directors of RBI:
1. Governor and not more than four Deputy Governors to be appointed by the Central Government;
2. Four Directors to be nominated by the Central Government, one from each of the four Local Boards as constituted by section 9;
3. Ten Directors to be nominated by the Central Government; and
4. One Government official to be nominated by the Central Government.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- VGF is administered by the Ministry of Finance with suitable budgetary provisions to be made in the Annual Plans on a year-to- year basis.
- The amount of VGF will be equivalent to the lowest bid for capital subsidy, but subject to a maximum of 20% of the total project cost.
- In case the sponsoring Ministry/State Government/ statutory entity propose to provide any assistance over and above the said VGF, it will be restricted to a further 20% of the total project cost.