IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Sep 07 & 08, 2016

ANSWER: Sindhudurg

Explanation:

• A survey conducted by the rural development ministry with the support of the India Quality council between May and June 2016 have revealed encouraging results.
• Among the 75 districts and 70000 families that were surveyed, Sikkim leads the table followed by Himachal Pradesh then comes Kerala followed by Haryana in the fourth position. Bihar is last on the list.
• As far as districts go, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra tops the list along with a few other districts in the North-east, while Mandi district leads in the special category states.

ANSWER: Pink houses are houses with toilets

Explanation:

• The villagers started painting the houses with toilets in pink colour to give them distinction.
• Villagers along with the Sarpanch took the plunge to clean every nook and corner of Nanaksagar.
• People planted saplings, modified the drainage system and made pits to collect the garbage.
• The houses having toilets were painted in pink colour so that they can be distinguished from other houses.
• Even the households which did not have toilets earlier started constructing them and it didn't take long for the whole village to be dressed in pink.
• Nanaksagar village has shown what people can achieve if they take a collective decision to improve their surroundings.
• It is prohibited to throw garbage here and there in the village and fine is imposed if anyone is found violating the rule.
• This is an example of what constructive things can be achieved with positive peer pressure and social pressure.

ANSWER: Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders that can result in the abnormal formation of hemoglobin.
• Symptoms depend on the type and can vary from none to severe.
• Often there is mild to severe anemia (low red blood cells). Anemia can result in feeling tired and pale skin.
• There may also be bone problems, an enlarged spleen, yellowish skin, dark urine, and among children slow growth.
• Thalassemia is a hereditary disorder that affects the growth of the child.
• The child suffering from thalassemia major requires lifelong blood transfusion.
• Counselling and testing may be done in case of family history of thalassemia. Genetic testing before conception is required for high risk cases.
• Thalassemia can be detected and diagnosed in the foetus with the help of Genetic testing.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Coalbed methane (CBM or coal-bed methane), coalbed gas, coal seam gas (CSG), or coal-mine methane (CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds.
• In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
• The presence of this gas is well known from its occurrence in underground coal mining, where it presents a serious safety risk.
• Unlike much natural gas from conventional reservoirs, coalbed methane contains very little heavier hydrocarbons such as propane or butane, and no natural-gas condensate. It often contains up to a few percent carbon dioxide.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Coalbed methane is distinct from a typical sandstone or other conventional gas reservoir, as the methane is stored within the coal by a process called adsorption.
• The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining the inside of pores within the coal (called the matrix).
• The open fractures in the coal (called the cleats) can also contain free gas or can be saturated with water.
• Gas contained in coal bed methane is mainly methane and trace quantities of ethane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and few other gases.
• Intrinsic properties of coal as found in nature determine the amount of gas that can be recovered.

ANSWER: It is related to oil and gas

Explanation:

• Produced water is a term used in the oil industry to describe water that is produced as a byproduct along with the oil and gas.
• Oil and gas reservoirs often have water as well as hydrocarbons, sometimes in a zone that lies under the hydrocarbons, and sometimes in the same zone with the oil and gas.
• Oil wells sometimes produce large volumes of water with the oil, while gas wells tend to produce water in smaller proportion.
• To achieve maximum oil recovery, water flooding is often implemented, in which water is injected into the reservoirs to help force the oil to the production wells.
• Much produced water is brine, and has total dissolved solids too high for use as drinking water or in agriculture.
• Some produced water contains heavy metals and traces of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), which over time deposits radioactive scale in the piping at the well.
• Metals found in produced water include zinc, lead, manganese, iron, and barium.

ANSWER: Sanskrit

Explanation:

• The UN Charter, seminal treaty of the United Nations, has now been translated into Sanskrit.
• The United Nations Charter was signed on June 26 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organisation, and came into force on October 24 1945.
• The Charter is available in all six official languages of the UN.
• The charter has been translated by Dr Jitendra Kumar Tripathi, Secretary of the Lucknow-based Akhila Bharatiya Sanskrit Parishad.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:

• The Heritage Circuit in state of Madhya Pradesh, covers Gwalior- Orchha- Khajuraho-Chanderi-Bhimbetka-Mandu with total project cost of approximately Rs. 100.00 Crore.
• The project envisages world class infrastructural development of the sites which includes developing a Theme Park and Convention centre in Khajuraho, Sound and Light Show in Mandu. Site Illumination, Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centres and parking area are other intervention proposed in the circuit.
• The Heritage Circuit in Uttarakhand is on developing Tourism Infrastructure in Jageshwar-Devidhura-Katarmal-Baijnath sites with total project cost of approximately Rs.83 Crore.
• The highlights of project in Uttarakhand are development of Eco Log Huts, Sound and Light Show and Upgradation of Temple Pathways.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• Coastal circuit in State of Tamil Nadu envisages development Chennai- Mamamallapuram-Rameshwaram-Manpadu–Kanyakumari with total project cost of approximately Rs.100 Crore has been approved.
• Sound and Light Show, development of Beach amenities, Construction of Pedestrian Bridge connecting Vivekanand memorial with Tiruvalluvar Statue are major highlights of project.
• Ramayana Circuit in State of Uttar Pradesh envisages development of two destinations viz. Chitrakoot and Shringverpur. The Project cost for this circuit is approximately Rs.70 Crore for development of Parikrama marg, food Plaza, Laser Show, Foot Over Bridge connecting MP and UP part of Chitrakoot, development of Ghats, Tourist Facilitation Centre and Parking area.
• Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh also includes Ayodhya for which the State Tourism Department of Uttar Pradesh is preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR)
• North East circuit in State of Sikkim with approximate project cost of Rs.95.50 Crore includes development of eco log huts, cultural centre, paragliding centre, craft bazaar, base camp for mountaineering and meditation hall.

ANSWER: District

Explanation:

• World's largest river island, Majuli in Assam has been made a district.
• Assam Chief Minister has formally upgraded Majuli to a district from sub-division.
• With this, the number of districts in Assam has gone up to 35.
• Several decisions including the infrastructure development of the river island were adopted.
• Majuli covers an area of around 340 miles and is one of the prime tourist destinations of North East.
• Nearly 1 lakh 60 thousand people reside at the river island.