IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Oct 04, 2016

ANSWER: BRICS Network University

Explanation:

The ‘New Delhi Declaration on Education’ by BRICS declared to


• Share the best practices available in BRICS countries on collaboration in education, research and innovation through the BRICS Network University.
• Organize an annual conference of the BRICS Network University in the country of the current BRICS Chair;
• Develop an enabling framework to promote research cooperation and knowledge transfer among BRICS countries in collaboration with other BRICS initiatives;
• Encourage active involvement of the participating universities in the BRICS-NU
• Facilitate mobility of students and scholars, and encourage exchange of teaching faculty, especially those working in the areas relating to the six domains identified for cooperation within the BRICS Network University

ANSWER: 1, 2, 4

Explanation:
Some features are -

• Use information and communication technologies (ICTs) for improving access to education, enhancing the quality of teaching-learning process, teacher development, and strengthening educational planning and management.
• Encourage more universities to participate in the BRICS University League to facilitate student mobility and collaborative research
• Expand technical and vocational education and skills development programmes, for facilitating acquisition of skills and competencies by young people and adults for enhancing their employability and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship
• Identify a nodal institution within each country and create an institutional network to share ICT policies, Open Educational Resources and other e-resources, including e-Libraries, among BRICS member countries

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• It is expected to expand BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BRICS TVET) program to enhance employability and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among youth
• Strengthen coordination within the BRICS TVET program Working Group to:
  (a) Develop national reports,
  (b) Share experiences relating to workforce demands and supply of skilled personnel in BRICS member countries,
  (c) Undertake skill gap analysis in consultation with industry/employers for designing TVET programmes,
  (d) Study skill qualification framework in different countries and draft a BRICS TVET qualification framework, and
  (e) Undertake studies to evaluate outcomes of TVET interventions and suggest policy responses.
• The Working Group will meet at least once a year.

ANSWER: Education

Explanation:

• The Incheon Declaration, which was adopted in May 2015 at the World Education Forum 2015, represents the firm commitment of countries and the global education community to a single, renewed education agenda - Education 2030 - which is holistic, ambitious and aspirational, leaving no one behind.
• Calling for bold and urgent action to transform lives through a new vision for education, the Declaration entrusts UNESCO, as the United Nations’ specialized agency for education, to continue its mandated role to lead and coordinate the Education 2030 agenda.
• The heart of Education 2030 lies at the country level and governments have the primary responsibility for successful implementation, follow-up and review. Country-led action will drive change, supported by effective multi-stakeholder partnerships and financing.

ANSWER: Rani ki Vav

Explanation:

• 11 institutions and organisations have been felicitated by Prime Minister for significant work to ensure cleanliness. These were:
• Chandigarh and Mysurr (Clean Cities in million plus population category),
• Gangtok (Cleanest Tourism Destination),
• Pune Municipal Corporation and SWaCH Cooperative Society(Best in Solid Waste Management),
• Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat (Cleanest Cultural Heritage Site),
• Surat Railway Station(Cleanest Station),
• Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research & Education,
• Chandigarh (Cleanest Hospital),
• Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh (ODF and Cleanest district in hilly areas),
• Sindhugurg district, Maharashtra (ODF and Cleanest district in plain areas) and
• National Cadet Corps, NCC(Exemplary nation-wide cleanliness activities)

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• In compliance of Budget Announcement 2016-17, a Sub Quota of 33% for women in allotment of each of the reserved catering units is being introduced on Indian Railways in order to extend economic empowerment for women.
• In compliance of Budget Announcement 2016-17, a process of giving weightage to district Domicile Holders for commercial licenses at stations is being proliferated at all stations over Indian Railways.
• The proliferation would help to build local ownership and rural empowerment along with socio – economic development.
• The weightage to district domicile holders is being proliferated for allotment of Catering Units at all categories of stations.
• The proliferation of weightage to district Domicile Holders at all category of stations will ensure protection of livelihood of the small vendors.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Paris Agreement pertains to post-2020 climate actions. In the pre-2020 period, developed countries are to act as per Kyoto Protocol and some developing countries have taken voluntary pledges.
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to ratify the Paris Agreement (on Climate Change) on 2nd October 2016, the day of Gandhi Jayanti.
• Paris Agreement was adopted by 185 nations last year on 12th December 2015 and India signed the Paris Agreement in New York early this year on 22nd April 2016.
• A total of 191 countries have signed to the Paris Agreement so far. As per the provisions of the Paris Agreement, the treaty will come into force as and when 55 countries contributing to 55 % of total global emission ratify the agreement.
• So far, 61 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval accounting in total for 47.79% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.
• India’s decision to ratify the agreement will take the number of cumulative level of emission of countries that have ratified the agreement so far to 51.89%.

ANSWER: Indirect taxes

Explanation:

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved ‘Project SAKSHAM’, a New Indirect Tax Network (Systems Integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).
  It will help in:
  1. Implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST),
  2. Extension of the Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) and
  3. Other taxpayer-friendly initiatives under Digital India and Ease of Doing Business of Central Board of Excise and Customs.
• All Taxpayers/lmporters/Exporters/Dealers under various indirect tax laws administered by CBEC- presently about 36 lakhs, likely to go up to over 65 lakhs after introduction of GST.
• CBEC's IT systems need to integrate with the Goods & Services Tax Network (GSTN) for processing of registration, payment and returns data sent by GSTN systems to CBEC, as well as act as a front-end for other modules like Audit, Appeal, Investigation. There is no overlap in the GST-related systems of CBEC and GSTN.
• This IT infrastructure is also urgently required for continuation of CBEC's e-Services in Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax, implementation of tax¬payer services such as scanned document upload facility, extension of Indian Customs Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) initiative and integration with Government initiatives such as E-Nivesh, E-Taal, e-Sign.