IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 27 & 28, 2015

1)   Which of the following statements is/are correct about Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2015?
1. The arbitration amendment seeks to make the process of alternate dispute resolution for businesses simpler and quicker.
2. Any challenge to an arbitral award that is made before a Court, must be disposed of within a period of one year.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The bills are a step towards attracting foreign investors into a system where commercial disputes are settled quickly.
- The arbitration amendment will seek to impose a time limit of 12 months within which the proceedings will be completed.
- Courts hearing appeals from arbitral awards will dispose of cases within a year.


2)   Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015?

1. It has doubled the wage ceiling for calculating bonus to Rs 7,000 per month for factory workers and establishments with 20 or more workers.
2. It also increased eligibility limit for payment of bonus from the salary or wage of an employee from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to enhance the monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs 7,000 per month from existing Rs. 3,500
- The Payment of Bonus Act 1965 is applicable to every factory and other establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed on any day during an accounting year.


3)   Farzad B gas field is located in -

a. Kazakastan
b. Uzbekistan
c. Afghanistan
d. Iran
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Iran

Explanation:
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd (OVL) had discovered the Farzad-B gas field in 2008 in the Persian Gulf.
- A consortium comprising Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), India Oil Corporation (IOC) and Oil India signed an agreement with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in 2002 to develop the Farzad-2 block of the Farsi field.
- ONGC quit the contract because of India's fear of displeasing the United States.
- But with Iran's sanction lifting, India is hopeful about potential opportunity available in Iran's upstream oil and gas business.


4)   EMERCOM is National Crisis Management Centre of -

a. Germany
b. Russia
c. Japan
d. Norway
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Russia

Explanation:
- EMERCOM or "Emergency Control Ministry" was established in 1994.
- It is a multi-level coordination centre designed to provide inter-agency coordination, and alert people about the threat of emergency situations.
- The capabilities of the NCMC include state of the art real-time monitoring, data collection, analysis and modelling. It uses global navigation satellite systems and global monitoring technologies based on remote sensing.


5)   Which of the following statements is/are correct about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana?

1. It provides houses for rural poor.
2. Transgenders , widows, members of the lower income groups and urban poor, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be granted preference in PMAY.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- Under PMAY, it is proposed to build 2 crore houses for urban poor including Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups in urban areas by the year 2022.
- This Mission has four components viz., In-situ Slum Redevelopment with private sector participation using land as resource, Affordable Housing through Credit Linked Subsidy, Affordable Housing in Partnership with private and public sector and Beneficiary led house construction/enhancement.


6)   Which of the following statements is/are correct about Smart Cities Mission?

1. 500 cities and towns, with a population of one lakh and above each accounts for 73% of urban population is target of smart cities.
2. It has a a Central Outlay of Rs.48,000 cr for the next five years.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:
- 500 cities and towns, with a population of one lakh and above each accounts for 73% of urban population of the country and are also the main focus of the Government under AMRUT to ensure basic infrastructure while Under Smart Cities Mission, quality of life will be enhanced in 100 identified cities.
- Smart Cities Mission aims at development of entire urban eco-system of cities covering physical, social, economic and institutional infrastructure.
- The objective is to enable better living and driving economic growth for the benefit of all sections.
- This will be implemented through enhancing infrastructure in already built up areas and adopting smart solutions, redevelopment by demolishing already built up areas with fresh layouts for intensive land use and smart solutions, Pan-city projects for the benefit of all citizens like e-governance and appropriate smart solutions.
- Greenfield projects can be taken up for accommodating people outside existing cities.


7)   What is the purpose of AMRUT?

a. Providing basic infrastructure
b. Provide affordable housing loans
c. Ensuring quality infrastructure
d. Ensuring clean and sustainable environment
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Providing basic infrastructure

Explanation:
- Under AMRUT, focus will be on providing basic infrastructure like providing tap water and sewer connections to every urban household, solid waste management, provision of roads and public transport.
- Promotion of urban reforms to improve urban governance will also be supported.
- This Mission seeks to enable urban local bodies meet service level benchmarks in respect of various services.
- 500 cities with a population of above one lakh each would be included in AMRUT.


8)   Which of the following statements is/are correct about NITI aayog?

1. A serving IES officer can become a part time member of Niti Aayog.
2. A union minister can become a full time members of Niti Aayog


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: None

Explanation:
- Maximum of two from leading universities research organizations and other relevant institutions can become part -time members of Niti Aayog on rotational basis.
- Maximum of four members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister can become Ex-officio members of Niti Aayog.
- Currently economist Bibek Debroy, former DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat and Agriculture Expert Professor Ramesh Chand are full time members of Niti Aayog.
- With NITI Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar’s extended tenure coming to an end , Amitabh kant was appointed as CEO of Niti Aayog.