IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - May 12, 2016

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Education Cess is 3%.
• Education cess was initiated in 2004 as an addition to income tax. The aim of this cess was to support government's finances for providing children with access to basic education.
• The Education Cess comprises 2% Primary Education Cess and 1% Secondary & Higher Education Cess.

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

• The Primary Education Cess is credited to Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh (PSK) and is used to meet part of expenditure on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) & Mid Day Meal (MDM) Schemes.
• There is no separate fund to credit Secondary and Higher Education Cess and funds required for secondary and higher education are directly allocated through Budgetary provisions.

ANSWER: Paddy

Explanation:

• The scientists of NRRI, Cuttack have developed CR Paddy 310 for the first time in the world which contains 11% protein while other species of rice generally contain protein only 6-7%.
• NRRI is carrying out researches on Doubled Haploid. They are developing a technique which after having been successful will lead the farmers not to purchase the seed of hybrid rice species from the market. Through this technique the properties of hybrid rice will be transferred to other rice species.
• NRRI, Cuttack has developed a very important mobile app named as “rice expert” through which farmers will get information about the different pests inflicting loss to their paddy farmers, new trends, nimetode, diseases related to paddy, different species of rice under different rice, agricultural devices and different activities after harvesting on their fields.

ANSWER: Providing methodology of scientific farming and a new technology to every village

Explanation:

• A new scheme ‘My Village My Pride’ has been initiated to provide the methodology of scientific farming and a new technology to every village.
• For this purpose, all the experts of Agriculture University and ICAR Institutes spreads all over the country have been invited.
• Under this Scheme, 20,000 agriculture scientists have been engaged to adopt a village which is also involved to pay awareness to adopt the ways of sophisticated scientific farming and their implementation.
• 78 scientist of NRRI are in touch with farmers after having selected almost 92 villages. They are providing multi-dimensional information and sophisticated benefits to the farmers within prescribed time frame.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• The Government has launched a web-based application on Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) – www.iwms.nic.in for better management of waste.
• It will provide an opportunity to all the industries dealing in hazardous waste, to apply online. The user-friendly application can also track the movement of hazardous waste and will also help in ensuring its proper management.
• In addition to being a single window access, this application is expected to expedite the way the permission is granted and way the analysis could be done not only for authorization and consents, but also for import/export permission under the rules.

ANSWER: TCS

Explanation:

• The Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) launched mKRISHI Mobile APP for their benefit, the first of its kind in India.
• At the click of a smartphone button, the APP will alert remote farmers to cloud formation, rainfall and temperature, besides guiding them on the measures to be taken to protect the crop.
• mKRISHI APP will provide easy tool for book-keeping, advisory and weather information services. The Android application, developed by MPEDA and TCS innovation lab, Mumbai, will help farmers adopt the latest technologies and improve productivity.
• It will also help in fisheries. Scientific information on water parameters in tanks, feed supply, shrimp growth and atmospheric condition will be provided to aqua farmers by experts under the project.

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

• The new Scheme National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBB&DD) was launched during 2013-14 by merging four existing schemes i.e. Intensive Dairy Development Programme (IDDP), Strengthening Infrastructure for Quality & Clean Milk Production (SIQ&CMP), Assistance to Cooperatives and National Project for Cattle & Buffalo Breeding with the budget provision of Rs.1800 crore for implementation during 12th Plan.
• The objective of the scheme is to enhance productivity of milch animals and create dairy infrastructure for improved procurement, processing and marketing of milk.
• Under this scheme, there is provision for rehabilitation assistance to improve the condition of sick milk cooperatives by providing a central grant up to 50 % of the cost of the rehabilitation project with a maximum financial ceiling of Rs.5.0 crore.

ANSWER: 2, 3

Explanation:

• Alcohol prohibition in India is in force in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland and parts of Manipur; as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014.
• Bihar banned alcohol sale on 1 April 2016.
• All other Indian states and union territories permit the sale of alcohol.
• Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu have previously enforced, but later repealed prohibition.

ANSWER: Antibiotic

Explanation:

• The newer evidence based approaches like empowering ANM to give injection Gentamycin, Injection Vitamin K at birth, Kangaroo Mother Care for preterm newborn and strengthening of care of sick newborn services have been incorporated in India Newborn Action Plan (INAP).
• This medication is used to prevent or treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. Gentamicin belongs to a class of drugs known as aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
• Clinical studies have shown Gentamicin (gentamicin injection pediatric) Injection to be effective in bacterial neonatal sepsis; bacterial septicemia; and serious bacterial infections of the central nervous system (meningitis), urinary tract, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract (including peritonitis), skin, bone and soft tissue (including burns).