Test: India Year Book - 1 - UPSC MCQ

Ans: c

Explanation: The per capita income in real terms (at 2011-12 prices) during 2015-16 is likely to attain a level of `77431 as compared to `72,889 for the year 2014-15. The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at 6.2 per cent during 2015-16, as against 5.8 per cent in the previous year.

Ans: c

Explanation: The Government of India has approved crop development programme on cotton, jute and sugarcane for enhancing productivity under National Food Security Mission-Commercial Crops (NFSM-CC) from 2014-15. Under this scheme, the thrust is on transfer of technology through frontline demonstrations and trainings.

Ans: b

Explanation: Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for more than 55 per cent of the population of the country. In 2014-15, despite erratic and deficient monsoon, the production of foodgrains, as per the Advance Estimates, is 253.16 million tonnes. This record production was achieved through effective transfer of latest crop production technologies to farmers under various crop development schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW). This is backed by remunerative prices for various crops through enhanced Minimum Support Prices (MSP) in successive years.

Ans: c

Explanation: Kisan Call Centres (KCC) have been in operation since 2004 with the basic aim of providing information to farming community through toll free telephone number (1800 180 1551) on all seven days a week from 06.00 AM to 10.00 PM.

Ans: c

Explanation:

Lalit Kala Akademi, August 1954

Sangeet Natak Akademi, 1961

Sahitya Akademi, march 1954

Ans: b

Explanation: Kathak is a classical dance form revitalized as a result of Mughal influence on Indian culture.

Ans: c

Explanation: The Anthropological Survey of India is a premier research organization under the Ministry of Culture.

Ans: d

Explanation: The eight core infrastructure supportive industries, namely, coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity with a total weight of 37.90 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) have registered a growth of 3.7 per cent during 2014-15.

Ans: a

Explanation: The salient features of the MPLADS scheme are (i) MPLADS is a Plan scheme fully funded by Government of India, under which funds are released in the form of Grant in-aid, as special Central Assistance to states; (ii) In 1993-94 when the scheme was launched an amount of Rs. 5 lakh per MP was allotted which was enhanced to Rs. 1 crore per annum from 1994-95 per MP and Rs. 2 crore from 1998-99. This was further increased to Rs. 5 crore from 2011-12 per constituency. It is released in two instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each by the Government of India directly to the District Authorities for execution of the eligible works recommended by the MPs by following the established procedure of the concerned state government; (iii) The funds released under the scheme are nonlapsable i.e the funds not released in a particular year will be carried forward for making releases in the subsequent years subject to eligibility; (iv) Examining the eligibility, sanctioning, funding, selection of implementing agencies, prioritization and overall execution and monitoring of the scheme at the ground level has been done by the district authorities; (v) The Lok Sabha members shall recommend works in their respective constituencies; The elected members of the Rajya Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the state from which they are elected. Nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can recommend works for implementation anywhere in the country.

Ans: d

Explanation: The Trade Facilitation Agreement contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

Ans: b

Explanation: The main objectives of the SEZ Act are: (a) generation of additional economic activity; (b) promotion of exports of goods and services; (c) promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources; (d) creation of employment opportunities; (e) development of infrastructure facilities.

Ans: c

Explanation: Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) is Africa’s largest economic community comprising 19 member states namely Burundi, Comoros, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Ans: a

Explanation: Panchayat Sanchar Seva Kendras are opened at Gram Panchayat Headquarters where Post Offices do not exist. This scheme is implemented by Gram Panchayats through an agent appointed by them.

Ans: b

Explanation: ‘Project Arrow’, an initiative to transform Department of Posts into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive difference to quality and efficiency of service to the customers, was conceived in April, 2008.

Ans: b

Explanation: Speed Post was started in August 1986 for providing time- bound and express delivery of letters and parcels weighing upto 35 kg between specified stations in India.

Ans: a

Explanation: National Pension Scheme, earlier know as New Pension System (NPS), for common citizens has been introduced by Government of India w.e.f May 1, 2009. India Post is a point of presence for the National Pension System (NPS) for common citizens. Subscribers (any Indian citizen) in the age group of 18 to 55 can join NPS and contribute till the age of till age of 60.

Ans: c

Explanation: To harness the benefits of cloud technology, DeitY has initiated a project named as ‘MeghRaj’ for creating a Government of India cloud (GI Cloud) computing environment at the national level. This will act as a common repository of cloud-based infrastructure resources and applications available on demand.

Ans: a

Explanation: Electronic Transactions Aggregation and Analysis Layer (e-Taal) is a web portal developed by NIC for aggregation and analysis of e-Transaction statistics of central and state level e-governance projects.

Ans: c

Explanation: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is the national nodal agency set up under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to respond to computer security incidents as and when they occur. It provides Incident Prevention and Response services as well as Security Quality Management Service.

Ans: b

Ans: a

Explanation: Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was created in the year 2000 by the Central Government under the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended) to settle and adjudicate disputes involving licensor, licensee, and a group of consumers. In January, 2004 the jurisdiction of TDSAT was extended to include broadcasting and cable services besides telecommunication services. The jurisdiction of TDSAT is exclusive and an appeal against its order lies to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on points of law only. Statutory appeal does not lie against the interim order of TDSAT. TDSAT exercises both original as well as appellate jurisdiction. It is an expert body and comprises of a Chairperson and two Members. TDSAT is not bound by the provisions of Civil Procedure Code. It has formulated its own Procedure (TDSAT Procedure, 2005) which is simple and is based on the principles of natural justice.

Ans: b

Explanation: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) was incorporated on February 28, 1986 under the Companies Act as a wholly owned Government Company and on April 1, 1986 assumed responsibility for the control, management and operation of the telecommunications network in Delhi and Mumbai. MTNL is the principal provider of fixed line telecommunication service in these two metropolitan cities, and for GSM mobile services. MTNL is providing dial up internet services in Delhi and Mumbai under separate nonexclusive license agreement. MTNL launched Broadband service based on the state of the art ADSL2+ technology in the year 2005. MTNL launched 3G services on December 11, 2008 against the spectrum allotted in August, 2008.