Test: India Year Book - 4 - UPSC MCQ

Correct Answer:D

Orissa: is the largest bauxite producing state accounting for more than half of the total production of India. The total recoverable reserves in the state are estimated at 1,370.5 million tones. The main bauxite belt is in Kalahandi and Koraput districts and extends further into Andhra Pradesh.

Major bauxite resources are concentrated in the East Coast bauxite deposits in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh

Answer: b

Explanation: Hematite and magnetite are the most important iron ores in India. About 59 per cent hematite ore deposits are found in the Eastern Sector. About 92 per cent magnetite ore deposits occur in Southern Sector, especially in Karnataka. Of these, hematite is considered to be superior because of its higher grade. Indian deposits of hematite belong to the Precambrian Iron Ore Series and the ore is within banded iron ore formations occurring as massive, laminated, friable and also in powdery form.

Answer: b

Explanation: Diamond occurrences are reported since prehistoric times in the country. Presently, diamond fields of India are grouped into four regions:

1) South Indian tract of Andhra Pradesh, comprising parts of Anantapur, Cuddapah, Guntur, Krishna, Mahaboobnagar and Kurnool districts;

2) Central Indian tract of Madhya Pradesh, comprising Panna belt;

3) Behradin-Kodawali area in Raipur district and Tokapal, Dugapal, etc. areas in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh; and

4) Eastern Indian tract mostly of Odisha, lying between Mahanadi and Godavari valleys.

Answer: c

Explanation: The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur is a “ Centre of Excellence” set up in 1989 as a joint venture of Ministry of Mines, Government of India and UNDP with a view to provide major R&D support system for the emerging modern aluminium industry in India. The Centre became functional since 1996. It is the only institute of its kind in India pursuing the cause of R&D from bauxite to finished product under one roof. The Centre caters to R&D needs of both primary and secondary aluminium producers in the basic and applied areas of bauxite, alumina and aluminium. JNARDDC has made key contribution in the areas of beneficiation, characterization, technological evaluation, upgradation of bauxites, reduction of energy consumption and environmental pollution by the effective utilization of aluminium industry residue materials such as red mud, dross and scrap, etc. and process modeling for the overall interest of the aluminium industry and the nation as a whole.

Answer: c

Explanation: The National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms was set up in August, 2011 to achieve twin goals of (i) increasing access by reducing delays and arrears; and (ii) enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities. The Mission is pursuing five strategic initiatives: (i) outlining policy and legislative changes (ii) reengineering of procedures and court processes (iii) focussing on human resource development, (iv) leveraging information and communication technology and tools for better justice delivery and (v) improving infrastructure. The Mission has adopted a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration which, inter-alia, involve better infrastructure for courts including computerisation, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases.

Answer: c

Explanation: In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ministry of Law and Justice, is implementing a decade long programme on Access to Justice for Marginalised People (2008-2017). The project extends to the eight UNDAF states of Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. This project focuses on strengthening access to justice for marginalised people by developing strategies that address barriers to accessing justice in legal, social and economic domains. The project is presently in the second phase of implementation. The first phase expanding from 2008 to 2012 made significant contributions. Some of the achievements of phase I include: (i) legal literacy initiatives reaching over 20 lakh people from marginalized communities on awareness of their legal rights; (ii) inclusion of legal literacy in the adult literacy programme under the National Literacy MissionScheme (Sakshar Bharat); (iii) training of over 7,000 paralegals from various backgrounds; and (iv) a first-ever study conducted in India on legal aid clinics run by law schools and needs assessments of several State Legal Services Authorities to enable a better understanding of the barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing justice. The second phase of the project extends over five years from 2013 to 2017. In this phase, the project aims to build upon the achievements of previous phase and continues to work on creation of demand for justice and ensuring its supply.

Answer: c

Explanation: The first Delimitation Commission in India was constituted in 1952, the second in 1962 and the third in the year 1973. The third delimitation exercise - based on 1971 census - was completed in the year 1975. The present delimitation, based on 2001 census, has been undertaken after 30 years. The population has increased by almost 87 per cent and the nature of constituencies in the country, by and large, had become malapportioned.

Answer: d

Explanation: The use of electors’ photo identity cards by the Election Commission was started in 1993 throughout the country to check bogus voting and impersonation of electors at elections. The electoral roll is the basis for issue of EPICs to the registered electors. The electoral rolls are normally revised every year with 1st January of the year as the qualifying date. Every Indian citizen who attains the age of 18 years or above as on that date is eligible for inclusion in the electoral roll and can apply for the same. Once he is registered in the roll, he would be eligible for getting an EPIC. The scheme of issuing the EPICs is, therefore, a continuous and ongoing process for the completion of which no time limit can be fixed.

Answer: d

Explanation: In order to have a uniform wage structure and to reduce the disparity in minimum wages across the country, a concept of National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) was mooted. The NFLMW has been revised from time to time primarily taking into account the increase in the Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers. The NFLMW was revised from time to time. The Central Government, has recently revised the NFLMW from 100/- to 137/- per day with effect from 1st July 2013. It however, needs to be noted that the National Floor Level Minimum Wage, is a nonstatutory measure.

Answer: a

Under the Shram Suvidha Portal, the government would allot Labour Identification Number (LIN) to nearly six lakh firms and allow them to file online compliance for 16 out of 44 labour laws by simplifying the process through introduction of just a single online form. The LIN web portal will operate through a unique LIN or Shram Pehchan Sankhya for each employer and will provide for the e-filing of annual returns by employers.

Answer: d

Explanation: During 2015-16, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc. The main objective of the scheme are as: a) achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub district level water use plans); b) enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet Ko Pani); c) enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (more crop per drop); d) enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices; e) ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of ground water, arresting runoff, providing livelihood options and other NRM activities

Answer: b

Explanation: The Government promulgated the policy for Greenfield Airports in 2008. This policy aims to streamline the approval process to facilitate strengthening and augmenting of airports infrastructure in the country. It also attempts to make the approval process more transparent and predictable.

Answer: a

Explanation: GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) is an augmentation system to enhance the accuracy and integrity of GPS signals to meet precision approach requirements in civil aviation and it is being implemented jointly by AAI and ISRO in three phases. Technology demonstration system is to be upgraded to a full operational capability system in the second and third phase. GSAT IV being fabricated by ISRO will carry GAGAN payload. The footprint of this satellite will cover a vast geographical area from Africa to Australia and hence would facilitate expansion of the service area of ‘GAGAN’ far beyond Indian airspace. When implemented, this would replace most of the ground based navigational aids and it would be possible to provide precision approach and landing guidance up to category 1, to aircraft hitherto not available due to terrain conditions precluding the provision of Instrument Landing System. AAI is undertaking upgradation and modernization of 35 non-metro airports in the country in a time bound manner as per government’s decision.

Answer: b

Explanation: The Setu Bharatam programme for building bridges for safe and seamless travel on national highways was launched in 2016. The Setu Bharatam programme is to make all national highways free of railway level crossings by 2019. This is being done to prevent the frequent accidents and loss of lives at level crossings. The Minister informed that 208 railway over bridges (ROB) railway under bridges (RUB) are to be built at the level crossings at a cost 20,800 crore as part of the programme. The details of 208 ROBs are as : Andhra Pradesh-33, Assam-12, Bihar-20, Chattisgarh-5, Gujarat-8, Haryana-10, Himachal Pradesh-5, Jharkhand-11, Karnataka-17, Kerala-4, Madhya Pradesh-6, Maharashtra- 12, Odisha-4, Punjab-10, Rajasthan-9, Tamil Nadu-9, Uttarakhand-2, Uttar Pradesh-9, West Bengal-22.

In addition to this, about 1,500 old and worn down bridges are also to be improved by replacement/widening/strengthening in a phased manner at a cost of about 30,000 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also established an Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) at the Indian Academy for Highway Engineer in Noida, U.P. The aim is to carry out conditions survey and inventorization of all bridges on national highways by using mobile inspection units. 11 consultancy firms have been appointed for this purpose. Inventorization of 50,000 bridges had already been done.