IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Jan 22, 2016

ANSWER: Mauritius

Explanation:
The issues discussed for cooperation in MSME sector were in the areas of capacity building through training of trainers, surveys on potential areas, managerial and technical skills, marketing, exhibitions & trade fairs exchange of business missions, setting up of business incubators, easy access to finance, clusters initiative, etc. It was also agreed to formulate an action plan in the area of coir, khadi and handicraft sectors in addition to the above areas. Government of Mauritius has exclusively offered to India for transfer of biofarming technology and also exchange of cooperation in the health sector.

ANSWER: Chenab

Explanation:
Tawi River divides Jammu into two. It joins Chenab in Pakistan. J&K govt is planning to build a lake on river Tawi. World Bank (IDA) assistance of US$ 250 million for Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project was signed between Government of India and the World Bank. The project will focus on restoring critical infrastructure using international best practice on resilient infrastructure. The primary beneficiaries would be the communities in the districts of Jammu & Kashmir that were affected by loss of public service infrastructure that will be restored and improved under the project. By strengthening disaster risk management systems and institutions, the project will benefit the entire affected region. The project has seven components: (i) Reconstruction and strengthening of critical infrastructure; (ii) Reconstruction of roads and bridges; (iii) Restoration of urban flood management infrastructure; (iv) Restoration and strengthening of livelihoods; (v) Strengthening disaster risk management capacity; (vi) Contingency Emergency Response; and (vii) Implementation Support.

ANSWER: 1, 3, 4

Explanation:
Trained in Bharatnatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattom, she was educated at Shantiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore. She was married to the architect of India's space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai. She was a Padma Bhushan recipient. Besides being a classical dancer, she was a poet, writer and environmentalist and played a leading role in the social and art scene in Ahmedabad. She was one of the first classical dancer to turn to choreography. She started Darpana Dance Academy at Usmanpura.

ANSWER: Complains against misleading advertisements

Explanation:
The government launched a dedicated portal to help consumers register their grievances against misleading advertisements. It enables consumers to register their grievances against misleading advertisements in six key sectors viz. food and agriculture, health, education, real estate, transport and financial services. The complaints lodged are taken up with the relevant authorities or the sector regulators and the consumer is informed after the action taken. Currently, the Centre is running the 'National Consumer Helpline' where consumers can lodge telephonic complaints regarding their grievances. On a pilot basis, 'Grahak Suvidha Kendra' - a one stop centre that will provide a host of services to consumers under one roof - was also launched in six cities - Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Delhi. Such centres will be set up in every State in a phased manner. They will provide guidance to consumers regarding consumer laws, rights of the consumers, procedure of approaching Consumer Courts and various other consumer related issues including quality assurance and safety of products.

ANSWER: District Collectors

Explanation:
The Government has announced that the process of granting Environmental Clearance for sustainable sand mining and mining of minor minerals has been decentralized. The Ministry has created District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) for proper monitoring of sand mining. In consultation with the State governments, the Ministry has also prepared guidelines for sustainable sand mining. For the first time, Environmental Clearance power of the Ministry is being delegated at District level Committee headed by District Magistrate or District Collector for mining lease area upto 5ha for individual lease and 25ha in cluster. Four-member District Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) is responsible for grant of environmental clearance for Category ‘B2’ Projects for mining of minor minerals, for all the districts in the country. The Chairperson of DEIAA will be District Magistrate or District Collector and the Member Secretary will be Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer. The other two members are DFO and Expert to be nominated by Divisional Commissioner. (Major minerals are those specified in the Schedule appended in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the common major minerals are calcite, clay, coal, quartz, etc. Minor minerals are those specified in the Schedule appended in minor mineral concession rules and the common minor minerals are limestone, decorative stones, etc.) The power of granting environmental clearances for leases up to five hectares have been delegated to district committees for the first time, among other steps, including the monitoring of mined-out material through information-technology-enabled services.

ANSWER: Frog

Explanation:
A class of frogs that grow in tree holes and, as tadpoles feed on eggs laid by their mother have been discovered in the north-east region. The new frog has been christened Frankixalus Jerdonii and was once considered a species lost to science. Frogs of the newly described genus Frankixalus , were relatively large (between 37–50 mm long) with big, bulging eyes and blunt snouts and are found on forest canopies and inside bamboos slits. Due to insufficient food resources in tree holes, the mother exhibits “remarkable parental care” by laying unfertilised eggs to feed her tadpoles. Tree frogs occur across sub-Saharan Africa, China, much of tropical Asia, Japan, the Philippines and Sulawesi.

ANSWER: Maharashtra

Explanation:
Maharashtra will be the first state in the country where women employees in government jobs can avail up to 180 days’ maternity leave while having a baby through surrogacy. While several courts across the country have in recent months ordered that such leave be granted in specific cases, the state government is the first to issue a government resolution to the effect. The existing maternity leave rules provide for 180 days’ maternity leave to pregnant women and 90 days for women adopting children (as childcare leave).

ANSWER: 10

Explanation:
Presently there are 10 tribal areas - The North Cachar Hills District, The Karbi Anglong District, The Bodoland Territorial Areas District, Khasi Hills District, Jaintia Hills District, The Garo Hills, District, Tripura Tribal Areas District, The Chakma District, The Mara District, The Lai District.

ANSWER: 9

Explanation:
At present nine states of India have scheduled areas. These are: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan. The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in these states.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in any state except the four states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, on the other hand, deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.