IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - June 02, 2016

1)   India Posts Payments Bank will have how much Government equity?

a. 51%
b. 75%
c. 100%
d. 49%
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 100%

Explanation:

  • The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) as a Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts, with 100% Government of India (GOI) equity.
  • All citizens, especially 40% of the country's population that is outside the ambit of formal banking in the country will benefit from this project. The project will be rolled out in the entire country in a phased manner.
  • Its services will be available across the country through 650 payments bank branches, linked post offices and alternative channels riding on modern technology including mobiles, ATMs, PoS/ m-PoS devices, etc. and simple digital payments.
  • Setting-up of the IPPB to further financial inclusion was one of the budgetary announcements during 2015-16. The Department of Posts had obtained the "in-principle approval" of the RBI in September 2015 to set up the India Post Payments Bank.


2)   Which of the following will be the services provided by the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)?

1) Basic banking
2) Payments Services
3) Remittance Services


a. 1, 2
b. 1, 3
c. 2, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

  • The proposal will further the cause of financial inclusion by providing basic banking, payments and remittance services and facilitate financial services like insurance, mutual funds, pensions and access to credit in tie-up with third party financial providers with special focus on rural areas and the unbanked and under-banked segments.
  • It will generate new employment opportunities for skilled banking professionals and will generate opportunities for propagating financial literacy across the country.
  • It will create the largest bank in the world in terms of accessibility and in time, will encourage the move towards a less cash economy.
  • The India Post Payments Bank will leverage the Department’s network, reach, and resources to make simple, low-cost, quality financial services easily accessible to customers all over the country.


3)   Under the Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) component of Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (Urban) minimum how much area needs to be enhanced so as to be eligible for the subsidy?

a. 10 sq. mt.
b. 9 sq. mt.
c. 6 sq. mt.
d. 15 sq. mt.
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 9 sq. mt.

Explanation:

  • Under Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (Urban), minimum addition of 9.0 sq.mt of carpet area to the existing house will be required to be eligible for Central assistance under the ‘Beneficiary Led Construction’ component of the housing mission.
  • Under BLC, beneficiaries will be assisted for construction of new houses and enhancement of existing houses to make them more livable. A minimum addition of 9.0 sq.mt of carpet to the existing pucca or semi-pucca house shall now be ensured for being eligible for Central assistance of Rs.1.50 lakh per beneficiary.
  • Beneficiaries in slums which are not being redeveloped can be covered under this component if beneficiaries have a Kutcha or Semi-Pucca house.


4)   Which of the following is/are true?

1) The new guidelines under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) component of PMAY (Urban), mandated that after the required enhancement, total carpet area shall not be less than 21 sq.mt and must not be more than 30 sq.mt.
2) This enhancement shall include pucca construction of at least one habitable room or room with kitchen/bathroom /toilet


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

  • A minimum addition of 9.0 sq.mt of carpet to the existing pucca or semi-pucca house shall now be ensured for being eligible for Central assistance of Rs.1.50 lakh per beneficiary.
  • This enhancement shall include pucca construction of at least one habitable room or room with kitchen/bathroom /toilet as per the National Building Construction Norms.
  • The new Guidelines also mandated that after the required minimum of 9.0 sq.mt carpet area enhancement, total carpet area shall not be less than 21 sq. mt. and must not be more than 30 sq. mt.
  • Under BLC component of PMAY (Urban), eligible beneficiaries already owning pucca or semi-pucca houses are enabled to undertake enhancement of such homes to make them more liveable.


5)   The priority themes of the Sendai Framework are

1) Understanding disaster risk
2) Improving disaster risk governance
3) Disaster preparedness


a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

  • Prime Minister released the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP). This is the first ever national plan prepared in the country.
  • It aims to make India disaster resilient and significantly reduce the loss of lives and assets.
  • The plan is based on the four priority themes of the “Sendai Framework,” namely: understanding disaster risk, improving disaster risk governance, investing in disaster risk reduction (through structural and non-structural measures) and disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster.


6)   Which of the following are features of National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)?

1) It can be implemented in a scalable manner in all phases of disaster management
2) The plan has centralized approach helping in coordination.
3) The plan covers all phases - prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.


a. 1, 3
b. 1, 2
c. 2, 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 1, 3

Explanation:

  • The plan covers all phases of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. It provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government.
  • The plan also spells out the roles and responsibilities of all levels of Government right up to Panchayat and Urban Local Body level in a matrix format.
  • The plan has a regional approach, which will be beneficial not only for disaster management but also for development planning.
  • It is designed in such a way that it can be implemented in a scalable manner in all phases of disaster management.
  • It also identifies major activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, etc. to serve as a checklist for agencies responding to a disaster.
  • It also provides a generalized framework for recovery and offers flexibility to assess a situation and build back better.
  • To prepare communities to cope with disasters, it emphasizes on a greater need for Information, Education and Communication activities.


7)   Under the National Disaster Management Plan which of the following are among the five thematic areas for actions for Disaster Risk Reduction?

1) Inter-Agency Coordination
2) Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction – Structural Measures
3) Capacity Development


a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
For each hazard, the approach used in this national plan incorporates the four priorities enunciated in the Sendai Framework into the planning framework for Disaster Risk Reduction under the five Thematic Areas for Actions:

  • Understanding Risk
  • Inter-Agency Coordination
  • Investing in DRR – Structural Measures
  • Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures
  • Capacity Development.


8)   World’s longest rail tunnel is in

a. Russia
b. Japan
c. Switzerland
d. China
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Switzerland

Explanation:

  • In Switzerland, the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel, running under the Swiss Alps has been inaugurated.
  • The 57-kilometer long Gotthard Base Tunnel will connect northern and southern Europe and shorten travel time for many rail routes.
  • It overtakes Japan's Seikan tunnel, which measures 53.9 kilometres, as the longest rail tunnel in the world.