IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Dec 19 & 20, 2015

ANSWER: Stratosphere

Explanation:
Putting Ballon in stratosphere has many advantageous
Stratosphere has relatively low wind speeds and minimal turbulence.
Google also claims that it can model, with reasonable accuracy, the seasonal, longitudinal, and latitudinal variations in wind speeds within the 18–25 km stratospheric layer.

ANSWER: India

Explanation:
- TAPI is the 1,814-kilometre pipeline will run from gas fields in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.
- It start from the Galkynysh gas field.
- In Afghanistan, TAPI pipeline will be constructed alongside the Kandahar–Herat Highway in western Afghanistan
- Then it pass via Quetta and Multan in Pakistan.
- The final destination of the pipeline will be the Indian town of Fazilka, near the border between Pakistan and India.

ANSWER: 25 micrograms per cubic metre

Explanation:
- The World Health Organization recommends 25 micrograms per cubic metre as the maximum safe level.
- Major components of PM: sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water.
- It consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air.
- The most health-damaging particles are those with a diameter of 10 microns or less, (= PM10), which can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs.
- Chronic exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Annual Human Development Index ranks 188 countries according to life expectancy, education and income or standard of living.
- Norway ranked top, followed by Australia, Switzerland and Denmark
- Niger, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea are placed at very bottom of the list.
- In the Central African Republic, life expectancy is as low at 50.7 years, and Niger reported a mean schooling time of just 1.5 years.

ANSWER: All

Explanation:
- Mammals are warm blooded animals.
- They also posess hair, three middle ear bones, mammary glands, and a neocortex (a region of the brain).
- Sea lions are sea mammals found in subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

ANSWER: Manali

Explanation:
- Center for Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).
- It is located near Manali, Himachal Pradesh its primary function is research in the field of snow and avalanches to provide avalanche control measures and forecasting support to Armed forces.
- SASE is also actively participating in Indian Antarctic Programme with ongoing research activities in the areas of Antarctic Surface Energy Balance and monitoring of Glaciers.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
- Maitri is second permanent settlement on Antarctica by India set up in 1989.
- Maitri accomplished the mission of geomorphologic mapping of Schirmacher Oasis.
- Bharati is the third Antarctic research station commissioned by India after Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri.

ANSWER: Both

Explanation:
Tri – Ratnas:

1. Right Faith
2. Right Knowledge
3. Right Conduct

Principles of Jainism:

1. Ahimsa (Non-violence)
2. Satya (Truthfulness)
3. Achaurya (Non-stealing)
4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
5. Aparigraha (Non-possession, Non-materialism)