IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - Mar 05, 2016

1)   Radio Waves have wavelength ranging from

a. 100km to 1000km
b. 1mm to 100km
c. 0.1mm to 1mm
d. 1nm to 1mm
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 1mm to 100km

Explanation:

  • Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies from 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz.
  • Corresponding wavelengths ranging from 1 millimeter to 100 kilometers.
  • Like all other electromagnetic waves, they travel at the speed of light. Naturally occurring radio waves are made by lightning, or by astronomical objects.
  • Artificially generated radio waves are used for fixed and mobile radio communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems, communications satellites, computer networks and innumerable other applications.


2)   The Living and Learning Design Centre has been started in which state?

a. Gujarat
b. Bihar
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Rajasthan
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Gujarat

Explanation:

  • This one-of-its-kind textile museum and training center has been established to preserve the indigenous and traditional crafts, embroidery being one among them, practiced for centuries by the various communities in Kutch.
  • The Living and Learning Design Centre (LLDC) is in Paddher village, 18km from Bhuj city, Gujarat.
  • Shrujan Trust started this centre.
  • The textile museum also showcases other arts and crafts, including pottery, brass works, toys, jutis, weapons, etc, from various Kutch communities.


3)   The oldest fossil of any land-dwelling organism yet found is of a

a. Fungus
b. Bacteria
c. Fly
d. Lizard
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Fungus

Explanation:

  • Scientists have identified the oldest fossil of any land-dwelling organism yet found — an early type of fungus from 440 million years ago which likely kick—started the process of rot and soil formation, encouraging the growth and diversification of life on land.
  • This early pioneer, known as Tortotubus , displays a structure similar to one found in some modern fungi, which likely enabled it to store and transport nutrients through the process of decomposition.
  • Although it cannot be said to be the first organism to have lived on land, it is the oldest fossil of a terrestrial organism yet found.
  • Before there could be flowering plants or trees, or the animals that depend on them, the processes of rot and soil formation needed to be established.
  • Fungi played a key role in the move to land, since by kick-starting the rotting process, a layer of fertile soil having nutrients could eventually be built up, enabling plants with root systems to establish themselves, which in turn could support animal life.


4)   Fertigation is

a. New way of disaster mitigation
b. Fermentation of alcohol
c. Using fertilizers in irrigation system
d. Method to extract iron from ferrous (iron) ores
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Using fertilizers in irrigation system

Explanation:

  • Fertigation is the injection of fertilizers, soil amendments, and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system.
  • Fertigation is related to chemigation, the injection of chemicals into an irrigation system. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably however chemigation is generally a more controlled and regulated process due to the nature of the chemicals used.
  • Chemigation often involves pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, some of which pose health threat to humans, animals, and the environment.


5)   A pilot project Unified Package Insurance Scheme (Bhartiya Krishi Bima Yojana) would soon be launched. Which of the following insurances are parts of it?

1) Crop Insurance
2) Cattle Insurance
3) Student safety Insurance
4) Life Insurance


a. 1, 2, 4
b. 1, 3, 4
c. 2, 3, 4
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:

  • The policy would flaunt nine features with mandatory crop insurance. However, farmers have to choose at least four other features to avail subsidy under crop insurance section, according to a draft prepared by the Finance Ministry.
  • The proposed policy packages various products like crop insurance, health cover, personal accident insurance, livestock/cattle insurance, insurance cover for agriculture implements like tractors and pumpsets, student safety insurance and of course, life insurance.
  • The scheme aims at providing financial protection to farmers, thereby ensuring food security, crop diversification and enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector besides protecting farmers from financial risks, says the draft.
  • The cover will be for one-year except for agriculture insurance (which will be bi-annual separately for Kharif and Rabi crops) and will be renewable from year to year.
  • The policy is designed to take care of the insurance needs of farmers associated with agriculture activities and it also provides yield based crop insurance to the farmer based on his ownership rights of land and sown crop, says the draft.
  • Apart from covering both the personal assets of farmers like the dwelling, it also contains other assets which help him earn a living such as milch cattle, pump-sets and tractors.
  • The policy also provides protection to farmers and their family members in case of the accidental death/disablement, hospitalization due to illness and accidental insurance protection of their school/ college going children and providing for education fee to students in case of death of the parent. Moreover, it provides life insurance cover to farmers and their family members, says the draft.


6)   Biopharmaceutical is

a. Use of medicines to tackle biological agents causing diseases
b. Drug from biological sources
c. Drugs manufactured from microorganisms only
d. Drugs for treating diseases by microorganisms only.
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Drug from biological sources

Explanation:

  • A biopharmaceutical, also known as a biologic(al) medical product, is any pharmaceutical drug product manufactured in, extracted from, or semi synthesized from biological sources.
  • Different from chemically synthesized pharmaceuticals, they include vaccines, blood, or blood components, allergenics, somatic cells, gene therapies, tissues, recombinant therapeutic protein, and living cells used in cell therapy.
  • Biologics can be composed of sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids or complex combinations of these substances, or may be living cells or tissues.
  • They are isolated from natural sources—human, animal, or microorganism.


7)   The first Masala bonds raised by International Finance Corporation (IFC) for investment in India are from which country?

a. Mauritius
b. UK
c. China
d. Japan
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Japan

Explanation:

  • International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, launched its first Uridashi Masala Bond, mobilizing 300 million rupees (or $4.3 million) directly from Japanese household investors to promote private sector development in India.
  • The three-year bond builds on IFC’s pioneering Masala bond program, which has raised the equivalent of $1.7 billion from international investors for investment in India.
  • Masala bonds are rupee-denominated instruments sold only to offshore investors, while Uridashi bonds are sold to Japanese household investors.
  • Proceeds from IFC’s Uridashi Masala bonds will be used to support private sector investment in India.
  • J.P Morgan is the sole arranger of the bonds. Daisen Hinomaru Securities Co. Ltd is the distributor of the bonds.
  • India is IFC’s largest client country. In addition to strengthening local capital markets in India, IFC is focused on boosting financing in infrastructure and logistics, promoting financial inclusion, and expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare.