IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Oct 30, 2015

ANSWER: France

Explanation:
- Indian and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conserve, develop and publicize written heritage, at the National Library in Kolkata.
- This will entail development of digital co-operation, sharing of technical and other expertise, competency and skill-building and cultural co-operation between the two countries.

ANSWER: 1,3

Explanation:
- The Western Ganga kings showed benevolent tolerance to all faiths but are most famous for their patronage toward Jainism resulting in the construction of monuments in places such as Shravanabelagolaand Kambadahalli.
- Western Gangas began their rule during a time when multiple native clans asserted their freedom due to the weakening of the Pallava empire
- They initially ruled from Kolar and later, moved their capital to
Talakadu on the banks of the Kaveri River.
- The defeat of the Western Gangas by Cholas around 1000 resulted in the end of the Ganga influence over the region.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- He was Digambara Acharya.
- After a 12-year famine, Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya migrated to south India.
There were five Shruta Kevalis in Jainism - Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu.
After him, the Sangha split into two separate teacher-student lineages of monks. Digambar monks belong to the lineage of Acharya Vishakha and Shvetambar monks follow the tradition of Sthulabhadra.

ANSWER: To simplify income tax laws

Explanation:
- Govrnment has formed nine-member panel under former Delhi High Court judge to simplify income tax laws
- The committee comprises of VK Bhasin, former law secretary; Vinod Jain, Chartered Accountant; Rajiv Memani, Consultant; Ravi Gupta, Senior Advocate; Mukesh Patel, Tax Advocate; Ajay Bahl, Consultant; Pradip P Shah, Investment Adviser; Arvind Modi, IRS; Vinay Kumar Singh, IRS.

ANSWER: PMO

Explanation:
- The Atomic Energy Commission is the governing body of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE),Government of India. - The DAE is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.
- The Atomic Energy Commission was set up in August 1948 to look after atomic energy activities in the country.
- Sekhar Basu was appointed as the chairman of AEC replacing Ratan Kumar Sinha.

ANSWER: Cold front

Explanation:
- When the cold front is passing, winds become gusty and there is a sudden drop in temperature, and heavy rain, sometimes with hail, thunder, and lightning.
- Warm front Forms when a moist, warm air mass slides up and over a cold air mass. As the warm air mass rises, it condenses into a broad area of clouds. A warm front brings gentle rain or light snow, followed by warmer, milder weather.

ANSWER: Hydrogen

Explanation:
- The hydrogen atoms have a strong magnetic moment, so they line up in the direction of magnetic field
- When the body is exposed to a strong magnetic field, the nuclei of the hydrogen atoms are directed into order – stand "at attention".
- When submitted to pulses of radio waves, the energy content of the nuclei changes. After the pulse, a resonance wave is emitted when the nuclei return to their previous state.
- The small differences in the oscillations of the nuclei are detected.
- By advanced computer processing, it is possible to build up a three -dimensional image that reflects the chemical structure of the tissue, including differences in the water content and in movements of the water molecules.

ANSWER: Maldives

Explanation:
- Minicoy are locally known as Maliku is the southernmost atoll of the archipelago of Lakshadweep, India.
- It was the northern most atoll of historical Maldives before mid 16th century.
- Maliku Atoll has been under Indian administrations since mid 16th century.
- India and the Maldives signed a maritime boundary treaty whereby Maliku was placed on the Indian side of the boundary.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- The Indus Waters Treaty is brokered by the World Bank
- The Indus System of Rivers comprises three western rivers the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab and three eastern rivers - the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi.
- According to this treaty, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which constitute the eastern rivers, are allocated for exclusive use by India before they enter Pakistan.
- Pakistan has exclusive use of the western rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Indus but with some stipulations for development of projects on these rivers in India.

ANSWER: Chenab

Explanation:
- It is a power project on the Chenab River in the southern Doda district of the Indian controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- After construction began in 1999, Pakistan claimed that design parameters of Baglihar project violated the Indus Water Treaty.
- It is a river-run power projects with limited reservoir capacity.
- World Bank appointed Professor Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss civil engineer, to adjudicate the difference.

ANSWER: Nepal

Explanation:
- Kalapani is in Darchula District, Nepal and Pithoragarh district of India.
- Although claimed by Nepal, Kalapani has been administered by India's Indo-Tibetan Border Police since the 1962 border war with China.

ANSWER: 5,2,6,3,4,1

Explanation:
Order of precedence:

1. Members of Parliament - 21
2. Prime minister - 3
3. Former Prime minister- 7
4. Holders of the Bharat Ratna- 7A
5. Vice- President- 2
6. Former President - 5

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!

ANSWER: Indus River

Explanation:
- The Shyok River flows through northern Ladakh in India and the Ghangche District of Gilgit–Baltistan, spanning some 550 km.
- It originates from the Rimo Glacier, one of the tongues of Siachen Glacier.

ANSWER: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

Explanation:
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was Established in 1942
- Autonomous body and India's largest research and development (R&D) organization
- Conducrts R&D in the fields of aerospace engineering, structural engineering, ocean sciences, life sciences, metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environment.

Director general:- Dr. P. S. Ahuja

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
- It made the entire southeast region polio free.
- In 2014, only 3 countries Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan remain polio-endemic.
- India’s offered help on polio eradication which has been accepted by Afghanistan, but Pakistan is yet to communicate its decision.
- Most of last year's cases of Polio were in conflict areas like Somalia and Syria, where polio had previously been eradicated.