REVISION QUESTIONS: Important Questions for UPSC Prelims – 2016

Solution: a)

Learning: LEDs use significantly less energy than even CFLs, and do not contain mercury, phosphorous and sulphur.

• But LEDs do have a dark side. A study published in late 2010 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found that LEDs contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially dangerous substances like nickel. It also contains copper.
• Some of the worst offenders were low-intensity red LEDs, which were found to contain up to eight times the amount of lead, a known neurotoxin
• White LEDs contain the least lead, but still harbor large amounts of nickel, another heavy metal that causes allergic reactions in as many as one in five of us upon exposure. And the copper found in some LEDs can pose an environmental threat if it accumulates in rivers and lakes where it can poison aquatic life.

Q Source: LED Replacement Program of the government

Solution: a)

Justification: Kuttanad (a Ramsar site) is a delta region of about 900 sq. km situated in the west coast of Kerala State, India.

• The area is a larger mosaic of fragmented landscape patches and varied ecosystems such as coastal backwaters, rivers, vast stretches of paddy fields, marshes, ponds, garden lands, edges, corridors and   remarkably networked water ways.
• The Kuttanad Below Sea-level Farming System (KBSFS) is unique, as it is the only system in India that practices rice cultvation below sea level.
• The major land use structure of KBSFS is flat stretches of rice fields in about 50,000 ha of mostly reclaimed delta swamps.
• The rice fields, which are popularly known as “Puncha Vayals” exist in three landscape elements: Karapadam (upland rice fields), Kayal (wetland rice fields) and Kari (land buried with black coal like materials).
• Farmers of Kuttanad have developed and mastered the spectacular technique of below sea level cultivation over 150 year ago.
• They made this system unique as it contributes remarkably well to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services including several livelihood services for local communities.
• The below sea-level farming practised in Kuttanad is of great interests to countries such as Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

Q Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/global-centre-for-below-sealevel-farming-soon/article8047556.ece

Solution: c)

Justification: Statement 1: Banaras weaves are synonymous with rich, heavily patterned, mostly silk with gold or silver zari threads ornamented fabric. Tanchoi was said to have been brought to India through Chinese traders in 19^th Century which was later adapted by Indian weavers. Very intricate designs in multi-colour are interwoven in satin weave. The specialty of this saree lies in its smooth texture. Silk is used both in warp and weft.

Statement 2: Pochampally is a well known Cotton and Silk Ikat weaving centre in Telagana State, located just 50 km from Hyderabad. The colours of Pochampalli Ikat fabrics are mesmerizing and even more astonishing is the simple method they use to produce bold geometrical designs of flowers, birds and animal pattern. http://www.indiahandloombrand.gov.in/pages/downloadFile/pochampally-ikats-saree.pdf

Statement 3: Jamdani is a weaving technique of figured cotton textiles. Jamdani is a fine cloth figured with geometric or floral designs.

Due to this superfine cloth, handloom weaving had become a fine art in 15th and 16th century. Later in 17th century, this Jamdani fabric was also used for dresses. Presently, Jamdani fabrics are produced in weavers concentrated areas of Burdwan, Nadia districts in West Bengal on frame.

Statement 4: This fabric is named after the village ‘Baluchar’ located on the bank river of Bhagirathi in Murshidabad district, West Bengal and presently known as Jiaganj. Baluchari weaving was flourished during the period of Musid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal, an erstwhile Hindu Bramin who embraced Islam and these textiles are famous for their elaborate ‘anchal’ (palloo). It has been eulogized as the “loveliest and most charming of all silks of India”.

Statement 5: It is located in Kerala. Please refer the Q Source for details.

Q Source: http://www.indiahandloombrand.gov.in/pages/know-your-products

Solution: d)

Justification: Godavari, also known as Dakshina Ganga has following tributaries:

Left Bank: Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, Purna, Kadam, Pranahita, Indravati, Taliperu, Sabari

Right Bank: Nasardi, Darna, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair, Kinnerasani

Purna, Pranhita, Indravati and Sabari River are major tributaries covering nearly 59.7% of the total catchment area of the basin. Pranhita is the largest tributary covering about 34% of its drainage basin.

Manjira is the longest tributary and holds the Nizam Sagar reservoir. Purna is a prime river in the water scarce Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

Q Source: Map based questions

Solution: b)

Justification: The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events, otherwise known as CUORE, is searching for a yet to be observed process called neutrinoless double beta decay.

• If this process is observed, this would teach us something very interesting about the tiniest standard model particle the neutrino. It would tell us that unlike the other standard model particles, the neutrino is its own antiparticle.
• This unusual property may mean that the neutrino provides the mechanism in the early universe that leads to the matter anti-matter asymmetry we see in the universe today.
• There are several experiments searching for neutrinoless double beta decay.
• The CUORE collaboration will use tellurium crystals instrumented as bolometers (detectors measuring heat) to measure the energy of the two electrons that are the result of the double beta decay.
• In September 2014, as part of the testing of the CUORE dilution refrigerator, scientists in the CUORE collaboration cooled a copper vessel with a volume of one cubic meter to 6 mK (−273.144 °C) for 15 days, setting a record for the lowest temperature in the universe over such a large contiguous volume.

Q Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUORE

Solution: b)

Learning: It is also found at one or two sites in Bhutan, and a few in Myanmar. It is inherently rare, and populations have never been known to be very high.

Threats are Loss and degradation of lowland forests and wetlands through direct exploitation and disturbance by humans.

Q Source: MoEF Website

Solution: a)

Learning: Like other countries around the world, India too has a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for advertising content – The Advertising Standards Council of India, ASCI founded in 1985.

• The three main constituents of advertising industry viz advertisers, advertising agencies and media came together to form this independent NGO.
• The aim of ASCI is to maintain and enhance the public’s confidence in advertising.
• Their mandate is that all advertising material must be truthful, legal and honest, decent and not objectify women, safe for consumers – especially children and last but not the least, fair to their competitors.
• There is no other non governmental body in India which regulates the advertising content that is released in India. If an ad that is released in India seems objectionable, a person can write to ASCI with their complaint.
• ASCI’s team consists of the Board of Governors, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) and its Secretariat.

Q Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Patanjali-faces-flak-from-ASCI-for-misleading-ads/articleshow/52458261.cms

Solution: d)

Learning: The IEA was founded in 1950 as a Non Governmental Organization, at the instigation of the Social Sciences Department of UNESCO.

• It has since its creation maintained information and consultative relations with UNESCO and is since 1973 a federated member of the International Social Science Council.
• Its aim from the beginning has been to promote personal contacts and mutual understanding among economists in different parts of the world through the organization of scientific meetings, through common research programs and by means of publications of an international character on problems of current importance.
• The IEA is governed by a Council, composed of representatives of all Member Associations as well as a limited number of co-opted members.

Q Source: International NGOs

Solution: b)

Learning: Do not be confused between Stockholm declaration and Stockholm Convention. The latter deals with PoPs.

The Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, or Stockholm Declaration, was adopted June 16, 1972 by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at the 21st plenary meeting as the first document in international environmental law to recognize the right to a healthy environment.

Q Source: Major agreements on environment

Solution: c)

Justification: He introduced the reforms in the army and started the system of branding the horses “Dagh” and biometric information about the soldiers “Chehra”.

• Regular muster for army was introduced by him.
• He confiscated the lands granted to nobles and checked free grants of lands.
• He forbade them to marry among each other’s families and hold celebrations. To know about the revenue arrears and collect them, he introduced a new department of Diwan-i-mustakhraj.

He also took following measures:

• Establishment of separate markets for foodgrains cloth, horses, fruits etc
• Reorganised the Spy system
• Introduced the first permanent standing army of India
• Abolition of Iqtas of royal troppers and the payment of their salaries in crash.

Q Source: Satish Chandra: Medieval India

Solution: d)

Learning: All are linked with the DoPT. Please refer to the link in Q Source.

About CAT: In spite of the elaborate system of rules and regulations, which govern personnel management, there are Government employees who feel aggrieved by the Government decisions.

The courts used to take many year to decide these cases and litigation was expensive. In order to provide speedy and inexpensive justice to employees aggrieved by Government decisions, the Government set up the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in 1985, which now deals with all cases relating to service matters which were previously dealt with by courts up to and including the High Court.

Q Source: http://persmin.gov.in/DOPT_AboutUs_Responsibilities.asp

Solution: a)

Learning: The Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) is distributed in undisturbed scrub jungle with open areas.

• Jerdon’s Courser is endemic to Andhra Pradesh. However, 19th century records do attribute its presence in the neighbouring areas of the state of Maharashtra.
• Threats are clearing of scrub jungle, creation of new pastures, growing of dry land crops, plantations of exotic trees, quarrying and the construction of the Telugu-Ganga Canal. Illegal trapping of birds is also a threat.

Q Source: MoEF Website

Solution: a)

Learning: Finance Ministers of the ‘Vulnerable Twenty’ (V20) representing close to 700 million people from 20 countries around the globe, hold their inaugural meeting during the World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings last year.

The new group called for a significant mobilization of public and private finance for climate action at the international, regional and domestic level ahead of the COP21 talks in Paris.

The V20 was created to share and scale up innovative approaches to climate finance developed by those countries most affected by climate change.

Q Source: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/10/08/vulnerable-twenty-ministers-more-action-investment-climate-resilience-low-emissions-development

Solution: c)

Justification: Tons River, Yamuna’s largest tributary, rises in high Bandarpoonch mountain, and has a large basin in Himachal Pradesh. It meets Yamuna below Kalsi near Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• Hindon River, originates in the Saharanpur District, from Upper Shivalik in Lower Himalayan Range, is entirely rainfed and flows through Muzaffarnagar District, Meerut District, Baghpat District, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, before joining Yamuna just outside Delhi.
• Ken and Betwa are other tributaries.
• Chambal River is Yamuna’s longest tributary flows through Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from its source in Vindhya Range, near Mhow and supports hydro-power generation at Gandhi Sagar dam, Rana Pratap Sagar dam and Jawahar Sagar dam, before merging into the Yamuna south east of Sohan Goan, in Etawah district, shortly thereafter followed by another tributary, the Sindh River.
• Sasur Khaderi River, known as Sasur Khaderi is a tributary in Fatehpur district.

Q Source: Map based question

Solution: b)

Learning: The Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) is a rare bustard species that is very well known for its mating dance.

• Among the tall grasslands, secretive males advertise their territories by springing from the ground and flitting to and fro in the air.
• Habitat are mainly grasslands occasionally interspersed with scrublands.
• Distribution: It is Native to only 3 countries in the world – Cambodia, India and Nepal.
• Threats are Ongoing conversion of the bird’s grassland habitat for various purposes including agriculture is mainly responsible for its population decline.

Q Source: MoEF Website

Solution: d)

Learning: The Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha, and its representative. He is the guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as a whole and its committees.

• He is the principal spokesman of the House, and his decision in all Parliamentary matters is final.
• He is thus much more than merely the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. In these capacities, he is vested with vast, varied and vital responsibilities and enjoys great honour, high dignity and supreme authority within the House.
• He can allow a ‘secret’ sitting of the House at the request of the Leader of the House. When the House sits in secret, no stranger can be present in the chamber, lobby or galleries except with the permission of the Speaker.
• He also acts as the ex-officio chairman of the conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies in the country.
• He appoints the chairman of all the parliamentary committees of the Lok Sabha and supervises their functioning. He himself is the chairman of the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the General Purpose Committee.

Q Source: Indian Polity: M Laxmikanth

Solution: d)

Justification: The Palas built many viharas in which a large number of Buddhist monks lived.

• The Palas had close trade contacts and cultural links with South-East Asia. The trade with South-East Asia.
• The Pala rulers also had close cultural relations with Tibet. The noted Buddhist scholars. Santarakshita and Dipankara (called Atisa) were invited to Tibet and they introduced a new form of Buddhism there.
• As a result, many Tibetan Buddhists flocked to the universities of Nalanda and Vikramasila for study.

Q Source: Satish Chandra: Medieval India

Solution: c)

Justification: A joint sitting cannot be called for a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill.

GST is a money bill as it deals substantially with taxes (going into the Consolidated Fund of India). It is also a constitutional amendment bill.

India-Bangladesh Land boundary Agreement bill was also a constitutional amendment bill.

Q Source: Current events

Solution: d)

Justification: The members can move resolutions to draw the attention of the House or the government to matters of general public interest. The discussion on a resolution is strictly relevant to and within the scope of the resolution.

Resolutions are classified into three categories:

• Private Member’s Resolution: It is one that is moved by a private member (other than a minister). It is discussed only on alternate Fridays and in the afternoon sitting.
• Government Resolution: It is one that is moved by a minister. It can be taken up any day from Monday to Thursday.
• Statutory Resolution: It can be moved either by a private member or a minister. It is so called because it is always tabled in pursuance of a provision in the Constitution or an Act of Parliament.

Statement 2 and 3: Resolutions are different from motions in the following respects:

“All resolutions come in the category of substantive motions, that is to say, every resolution is a particular type of motion. All motions need not necessarily be substantive. Further, all motions are not necessarily put to vote of the House, whereas all the resolutions are required to be voted upon.”

Q Source: Indian Polity: M Laxmikanth

Solution: c)

Learning: First Reading: An ordinary bill can be introduced in either House of Parliament. The member who wants to introduce the bill has to ask for the leave of the House. When the House grants leave to introduce the bill, the mover of the bill introduces it by reading its title and objectives. No discussion on the bill takes place at this stage.

• Later, the bill is published in the Gazette of India. If a bill is published in the Gazette before its introduction, leave of the House to introduce the bill is not necessary.
• The introduction of the bill and its publication in the Gazette constitute the first reading of the bill.
• In the Second Reading the bill receives not only the general but also the detailed scrutiny and assumes its final shape. Hence, it forms the most important stage in the enactment of a bill. In fact, this stage involves three more sub-stages, namely, stage of general discussion, committee stage and consideration stage.

Q Source: Indian Polity: M Laxmikanth