IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Nov 13 & 14, 2016

ANSWER: Andhra Pradesh (former)

Explanation:

• Andhra Pradesh may have been known previously as the ‘rice bowl’ of the country.
• Four important rivers of India, the Godavari, Krishna, Penna, and Thungabhadra, flow through the state and provide irrigation.
• Rice is the major food crop and staple food of the state.
• The state is also a largest producer of eggs in the country and hence, it is nicknamed as "Egg Bowl of Asia".

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP) – a part of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana” (RKVY) which is the only comprehensive initiative to support millet production.
• A key feature of INSIMP is giving input kits, comprising urea and pesticides; costing Rs 2,000-3,000 depending on the type of crop; and seed kits, comprising hybrid seeds to the farmers.
• These kits are supplied by nodal agencies in a state, and are, in turn, procured from various manufacturers.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• One key aspect of the scheme is the post-harvest handling of millets, involving establishment of units for processing and value-addition. Composite millet processing centres, costing Rs 4,00,000, that handle de-stoning, de-hulling, flaking and rava- making, are to be established across the country towards this end.
• Millets are among the oldest food grains. For generations, farmers have been cultivating millets using mixed-farming techniques.
• Despite the proven advantages of mixed-farming systems, INSIMP is trying to promote intensive mono-cropping of millets.
• Green Revolution style, high external-input agriculture is being advocated through this scheme and the use of chemical inputs is being promoted.

ANSWER: Millets

Explanation:

• Millets are rich sources of minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium.
• These also contain appreciable amounts of dietary fibre and various vitamins (ß- Carotene, niacin, vitamin B6 and folic acid); high amounts of lecithin are useful for strengthening the nervous system.
• Therefore, a regular consumption can help to overcome malnutrition among majority of our Indian population.
• These have often been called the coarse grains; however, due to their nutritional contributions, these are now being referred as ‘nutria-millets/nutria-cereals’.
• The Central government launched the Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millet Promotion (INSIMP) in 2011-12 to promote millets as “nutri-cereals”.

ANSWER: Ganga

Explanation:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $500 million loan to build a 9.8 km long road bridge across the Ganges River to improve transport connectivity between North and South Bihar and for better link between the State Capital, Patna, and the surrounding areas. This will be India’s longest river bridge.
• The new Ganga Bridge, to be located near Patna, will span both channels of the Ganges River and serve as an alternate route to the existing Ganga Bridge.
• The project will also build viaducts, embankments, and toll and service facilities, and will link to national highway networks.

ANSWER: Bharatmala Pariyojana

Explanation:

• A programme entitled ‘Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme’ (LEEP) is aimed to enhance the freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions.
• It comes under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Bharatmala is a name given to ambitious road and highways project of Modi Government.

ANSWER: Rajasthan

Explanation:

• The state government is exploring ways to develop an artificial inland port in Jalore by bringing in Arabian Sea water into Rajasthan through Gujarat.
• If implemented, Rajasthan will become accessible by water transport and will be able to shed the tag of a landlocked state.
• It would be connected to the Arabian Sea by developing a channel along the Kutch Creek.
• Planning though is in the initial phase but officials claim that the project is feasible.
• The navigation channel would be at least 300 metre wide and about 25 metre deep. It would start from the tip of Lakhpat at Kori Creek in Arabian Sea, run through the Rann of Kutch and join Sanchore, 135 km from district headquarters of Jalore.

ANSWER: Gujarat

Explanation:

• The Gulf of Khambhat (also known as the Gulf of Cambay)[1] is an inlet of the Arabian Sea along the west coast of India, in the state of Gujarat.
• It is about 130 kilometres (80 mi) miles in length, and divides the Kathiawar peninsula to the west from the eastern part of Gujarat state.
• The Narmada, Tapti, Mahi and Sabarmati rivers drain into it.
• It is known for is oil and related resources.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

• ONGC estimates India’s shale gas reserve in the range of 500 to 2000 trillion cubic meters.
• Cambay is one of the basins that have been identified as potentially-bearing shale resources.
• But apart from the Cambay basin, the ONGC will also explore Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery and Vindhyan sedimentary basins for shale gas in the near future.
• Major regions of availability are Gujarat, Rajasthan, central India, KG Basin and offshore areas in Bay of Bengal.

ANSWER: Gujarat

Explanation:

• Following the successful drilling of the country’s first shale gas exploratory well near Jambusar about 60 km from Vadodara, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has decided to drill more wells in Cambay region of Gujarat.
• The data from the first well near Jambusar has given ONGC more leads for further exploration.
• Shale gas in Cambay region is estimated to have a shale gas potential of 20 TCF (trillion cubic feet).
• India has recoverable shale gas reserves of around 90 TCF, which can satiate India’s energy demand for 26 years.