IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Oct 07, 2016

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• During inventory creation each bridge is assigned a unique identification number or National Identity Number based on the state, RTO zone and whether it is situated on a National Highway, State Highway or is a district road.
• Then the precise location of the bridge in terms of latitude-longitude is collected through GPS and based on this, the bridge is assigned a Bridge Location Number.
• Thereafter, engineering characteristics like the design, materials, type of bridge, its age; loading, traffic lane, length, width of carriage way etc. are collected and are used to assign a Bridge Classification Number to the structure.

ANSWER: Denotes importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity

Explanation:

• In addition to the structural rating, the bridges are also being assigned Socio-Economic Bridge Rating Number which will decide the importance of the structure in relation to its contribution to daily socio-economic activity of the area in its vicinity.
• Structural rating of the bridge structure is done on a scale of 0 to 9, and each bridge is assigned a Structural Rating Number.
• The rating is done for each component of the structure like integral and non-integral deck, superstructure, substructure, bank and channel, structural evaluation, deck geometry, vertical clearance, waterway efficiency etc.

ANSWER: An international organisation

Explanation:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) for capacity building programmes in the field of rural development has been approved the Union Cabinet.
• The MoU for the triennium 2015 - 2017 is being signed under which capacity building programmes for AARDO member countries will be organized every year during the triennium at various Institutions of Excellence in India such as National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR), institutions governed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and others.
• The AARDO is an inter-Governmental organization established in 1962 with the objective of promoting cooperation among the countries of the African - Asian Region in the direction of eradicating thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty in the region.

ANSWER: New Delhi

Explanation:

• African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) headquarters are in New Delhi.
• It was formed in 1962, is an autonomous inter-governmental organization.
• India is one of the Founder Members of the Organization and is the largest contributor in terms of membership contribution apart from contributing by way of providing 70 fully paid training scholarships for Human Resource Development Programme under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) to the Organization.
• AARDO currently has 31 countries of the African - Asian Region under its fold.
• Since the year 2009, India is continuing to provide an Additional Contribution of US$ 600,000 to AARDO for each triennium 2009-2011 to expand its scale and scope of the Capacity Building Programmes of AARDO for the benefit of Member Countries.

ANSWER: 2, 3, 4

Explanation:
Asian members of African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) -

• People's Republic of Bangladesh
• Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Republic of India
• Republic of Iraq
• Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of Lebanon
• Malaysia
• Sultanate of Oman
• Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
• State of Palestine
• Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Republic of the Philippines
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Republic of Yemen
• Associate Member - Korea Rural Community Corporation, R O Korea

Japan was one of the founding members. Some sources denote Japan as members (Wikipedia). Official AARDO site does not mention Japan as current member.

ANSWER: 1, 2, 4, 5

Explanation:
African members of African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO)

• Burkina Faso
• Arab Republic of Egypt
• Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Republic of Gambia
• Republic of Ghana
• Republic of Kenya
• Republic of Liberia
• Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Republic of Malawi
• Republic of Mauritius
• Kingdom of Morocco
• Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Republic of Sierra Leone
• Republic of the Sudan
• Republic of Zambia

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household.
• The Bill also provides for Guardianship for minors.
• A person between the age of 12 to 18 years who has sufficient maturity in understanding and managing the affairs of his HIV or AIDS affected family shall be competent to act as a guardian of another sibling below 18 years of age to be applicable in the matters relating to admission to educational establishments, operating bank accounts, managing property, care and treatment, amongst others.
• The Bill requires that "No person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status except with his informed consent, and if required by a court order".
• Establishments keeping records of information of HIV positive persons shall adopt data protection measures.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• There are no financial implications of the Bill. Most of the activities are being already undertaken or can be integrated within the existing systems of various Ministries under training, communication and data management, etc.
• The Bill makes provision for appointment of an ombudsman by State Governments to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and penal actions in case of non-compliance.
• The Ombudsman need not be a separate entity, but any existing State Government functionary can be deputed or given additional charge.

ANSWER: All are among those

Explanation:
The Bill lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them are prohibited. These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to:

• employment,
• educational establishments,
• health care services,
• residing or renting property,
• standing for public or private office, and
• Provision of insurance (unless based on actuarial studies).
• The requirement for HIV testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited.

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

• Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) have backed the initiative of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and agreed to establish a joint mechanism for financing of infrastructure projects.
• The Russian Direct Investment Fund together with sovereign wealth funds from its peers among the BRICS developing nations aims to form a joint fund to invest in infrastructure projects.
• The relevant agreement was signed by RDIF, Indian group IDFC, Brazil's BTG Pactual, Chinese fund Silk Road, and Development Bank of Southern Africa during the BRICS summit in Ufa.
• The parties agreed to jointly look for and fund infrastructure projects that contribute to greater trade, economic and investment cooperation among BRICS states.
• The RDIF originally put forward its proposal to set up the infrastructure projects funding mechanism at the BRICS summit in Brazil in 2014.
• Established in June 2011, the RDIF is in charge of encouraging investment primarily in Russian companies jointly with leading foreign financial and strategic investors.
• RIDF now has become sovereign fund of Russia.