IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - July 21, 2016

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Following additional amenities have been provided in Deen Dayalu coach:

• Water filtration system to provide potable water.
• Provision of cushioned luggage racks.
• Provision of additional hand hold in doorway area.
• Provision of coat hooks.
• Provision of bio-toilets.
• Toilet occupation indication display board.
• Enhanced mobile charging facility.
• LED lights.
• Fire extinguishers with anti-theft arrangement.
• Enhanced capacity dustbins.
• Water level indicator
• Interior paneling with Aluminium composite panels.
• Exterior painting with orange color bands (Z-shaped) and Anti-Graffiti coating.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• Under Universal Immunization Programme of the Government of India, vaccines are given to children against vaccine preventable diseases.
• These vaccines are against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Tuberculosis, Measles, Hepatitis B, Meningitis and Pneumonia due to Haemophilus Influenzae type B.
• In addition, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis is carried out in endemic districts and vaccination against Rotavirus diarrhoea is provided in four states (Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh).

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The Department initiated Project Insight to strengthen the non–intrusive information driven approach for improving tax compliance and effective utilization of information in tax administration.
• The Income Tax Department has signed a contract with L & T Infotech Ltd for implementation of Project Insight.
• This integrated platform would play a key role in widening of tax-base and data mining to track tax evaders.
• The new technical infrastructure will also be leveraged for implementation of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Inter Governmental Agreement (FATCA IGA) and Common Reporting Standard (CRS).
• A new Compliance Management Centralized Processing Centre (CMCPC) will also be setup as part of the Project for handling preliminary verification, campaign management, generation of bulk letters/notices and follow-up.

ANSWER: Drones in agriculture

Explanation:

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has formulated a collaborative research project entitled “SENSAGRI: SENsor based Smart AGRIculture”.
• The major objective is to develop indigenous prototype for drone based crop and soil health monitoring system using hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) sensors. This technology could also be integrated with satellite-based technologies for large scale applications.
• Drone technology based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has ability for smooth scouting over farm fields, gathering precise information and transmitting the data on real time basis.
• This capability could be used for the benefit of farming sector at regional/local scale for assessing land and crop health; extent, type and severity of damage besides issuing forewarning, post-event management and settlement of compensation under crop insurance schemes.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Government has prepared and launched Disaster Management Plan (DMP) for protecting animals and preventing and mitigating loss of livestock resources during various disasters.
• DMP is divided into three parts a) Pre-disaster preparedness, b) Disaster response and c) Post-Disaster Plan.
• Pre-disaster preparedness includes detailed action plan relating to dissemination of early warning, identification of vulnerability amongst livestock, animal vaccination, feed and fodder supply and capacity building of different stake-holders in disaster management etc.
• Disaster response component includes strategy/action plan relating to effective and prompt response, rescue of livestock, feed & fodder supply, measures against epidemics and diseases and maintenance of Sanitation etc.
• Post disaster component include strategy for treatment of sick animals, disease surveillance, disposal of carcass, restoration and restocking of livestock population.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Some important recommendations are -

• There should be much better coordination between the Finance Commission and the Planning Commission. The synchronisation of the periods covered by the Finance Commission and the Five-Year Plan will considerably improve such coordination.
• Finance Commission division in the Ministry of Finance should be converted into a full-fledged department, serving as the permanent secretariat for the Finance Commissions.
• The Governor should have the right to sanction for prosecution of a state minister against the advice of the Council of Ministers, if the Cabinet decision appears to the Governor to be motivated by bias in the face of overwhelming material.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
The issues which created tensions and conflicts between the Centre and states are:
(1) Mode of appointment and dismissal of governor;
(2) Discriminatory and partisan role of governors;
(3) Imposition of President’s Rule for partisan interests;
(4) Deployment of Central forces in the states to maintain law and order;
(5) Reservation of state bills for the consideration of the President;
(6) Discrimination in financial allocations to the states;
(7) Role of Planning Commission in approving state projects;
(8) Management of All-India Services (IAS, IPS, and IFS);
(9) Use of electronic media for political purposes;
(10) Appointment of enquiry commissions against the chief ministers;
(11) Sharing of finances (between Centre and states); and
(12) Encroachment by the Centre on the State List.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:

• Anandpur Sahib Resolution and West Bengal Memorandum demanded that the Centre’s jurisdiction should be restricted only to defence, foreign affairs, communications, and currency and the entire residuary powers should be vested in the states.
• West Bengal Memorandum was in 1977.
• Anandpur Sahib Resolution was in 1973.
• Rajamannar Committiee appointed by Tamil Nadu Government in 1969, proposed in 1971 that the provision that the state ministry holds office during the pleasure of the governor should be omitted; Certain subjects of the Union List and the Concurrent List should be transferred to the State List; the residuary powers should be allocated to the states; and All-India services (IAS, IPS and IFS) should be abolished.