RD's IAS ACADEMY: November 2012

Topics to be covered from Hindu Paper dated on Thursday November 29^th

Topic	Page No.
UPA resigns itself to FDI vote	1
France or Mittal, who will blink first?	1
Cashing in on schemes for poor	10
For a watershed moment	11
Why Kolar gold mine never became a repository	17
Seas rising 60% faster than UN forecast	17
Why certain zones are prone to railway accidents	17
Animals and bigger in colder climates	17
How bacteria avert the ‘tragedy of the commons’	17

Citizenship laws in force

The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939: A law meant to provide for the registration of foreigners in India.

· The Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992: Issued in suppression of the Resgistration of Foreigners rules 1939, rules made under the 1939 Act.

· The Foreigners Act, 1946: An Act to confer upon the central government certain powers in respect of foreigners.

· The Foreigners Order, 1948: An Order made under Section 3 of the 1946 Act for power in grant permission to depart from India.

· The Foreigners (Tribunals) Orders, 1964: An Order made under Section 3 of the 1946 Act to committee tribunals to determine if a person is a foreigner.

· The Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920: An Act to take powers to require passports of persons entering India.

· The Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950: Rules made under the 1920 Act.

· The Passport Act, 1967: An Act to provide for the issuance of passports and travel documents to regulate depature from India.

· The Citizenship Act, 1955: An Act to provide for the acquisition and determination of Indian citizenship.

· The Citizenship Rules, 2009: Rules made under the Citizenship Act 1955.

Godji Temple

Godji Temple is situated in the Payadhuni Pydhoric area of Mumbai. This Jain temple celebrated the 200^th year of its inception in 2012. Godji is one of the 1008 names of Parshvanath, the 23^rd Tirthankar of Jan religion.

The temple was established in Payadhuni in Vikram Sanval 1868 (1812 AD). It has been renovated recently with marble. The temple has 226 visible pillars, 16 chambers of worship, 155 idols of precious metals and 83 marble idols. The circular dome in centre stands tall without any support. They idol of Parshvanath in the temple is a major source of attraction. It is believed that the toughest challenges of life can be resolved by offering prayers to Bhagavan Parshvanath at the Godji temple.

The temple also has a vast library of ancient and modern literature in several languages which include handwritten manuscripts, literature in ancient languages like Sanskrit, Ardhamagadhi, Prakaut.

Genetical modified crops

Genetically modified crops (or biotech crops) are plants whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. The plant is generated in a laboratory by altering its genetc makeup by adding one or more genies to its genome.

In support

ª No documented adverse effects. Only claims, no study.

ª European Union studied GM crops for 10 years, says they are safe.

ª Food demand increase.

The counterview

ª GM crops have created super words in Chennai America, their heartland.

ª Entire gene pool, native varietics will get contaminated.

ª 10 year review of Bt cotton has been unfavourable.

Maize yield comparison

ª Current hybrids 18 quintal acre

ª New hybrids being demonstrated in Punjab 30 quental acre

ª GM maize in US 40 quintal acre

Tadoba reserve

In an encouraging development, 65 tigers have been found to be inhabiting areas in and around the ‘Tadoba Andhari tiger Reserve (TATR).

There are at least 65 tigers in the area, excluding the 20 odd cubs sighted in the area, which is quite encouraging. The figure has been reached after the tiger monitoring exercise held in the reseve between 1 April and 31 May 2012, during which the movements of felines in various parts under the TATR were monitored by as many as 94 camera traps.

Questions

1.Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs inaugurated the 7th Heads of Indian Missions (HoMs) conference on 17 September. The conference is organized by the M/o Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) every year to discuss the issues related to protection and welfare of Overseas Indian workers. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs announced revised Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) scheme, which includes:

1.Assistance towards boarding expenses per head by HOMs is enhanced from 15 to 30 days.

2.Payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault.

3.Providing support to local Overseas Indian Associations to establish Overseas Indian Community Centres in countries that have populations of Overseas Indians exceeding 2,00,000.

4.Providing support to start and run Overseas Indian Community-based student welfare centres in Countries that have more than 20,000 Indian students' presence.

Which of the above sentence/sentences is/are true revised Scheme?

(a)1, 2 and 3(b)2, 3 and 4

2.India on 18 September 2012 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in New Delhi, to establish an institutional framework for their ongoing cooperation in the field of election management and administration. What is the name of this country?

(a)Egypt(b)South Africa

(c)Turkey(d)Afghanistan

3.Consider the following sentences regarding UIDAI's Iris Authentication proof of concept.

1.The UIDAI has successfully conducted the proof of concept Iris authentication study in Mandya district of Karnataka.

2.The study brought out the high accuracy levels (above 99.2%) achieved by iris authentication.

The correct sentence/sentences is/are

(a)Only 1(b)Only 2

4.Scientists have developed a new cutting edge technique which automatically permits one computer in a virtual network to monitor another for intrusions, viruses or malware that cause malfunction. It sends computer data to a world outside its home, and bridges the gap between computer hardware and software systems. What is the nickname of this technique?

(a)Space Marker(b)Data travel

(c)Space travel(d)Space Soft

5.Consider the following sentence/sentences about spoof Ig Nobel award.

1.Two Japanese researchers won the spoof Ig Nobel acoustic prize for developing the SpeechJammer, a device that confuses and stifles a person speaking by sending the speaker a delayed recording of their own voice.

2.The science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research gives in 10 categories as a parody of the Nobel Prizes, was held at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre.

3.It was the Fifth straight year for an Ig Nobel prize to go to Japanese recipients.

The correct sentence is/are:

(a)1 and 2(b)2 and 3

Topics to be covered from Hindu Paper dated on Wednesday November 28^th

Topic	Page No.
No move to dump nuclear waste in kolar mines: NPCIL	1
Hyping one threat to hide another	10
Morsy decrees trouble	10
A Chinese opportunity that India Tourism misses	11
In French steel town, anger against Mittal, hope for bailout	11
Only Crammers need not apply	11
Cash transfer scheme is a game-changer: Chidambaram	12
Sibal snowed in with issues of free speech	12
Eurozone and IMF secure deal on cutting Greek debt	15
Makdives to scrap GMR airport deal	15
India outlook stable:Moody’s	15

Todays current affairs

Authorities in Britain and Pakistan are working on plans to run a bus service between Brimingham, home to a large Pakistani population, and ----- in Pok.	Mirpur
A survery by a UN panel indicated that India has around ----- million ageing people.	90
The high – level committee on financing of infrastructure headed by ----- Pitched for 100 percent FDI in the telecom sector. The limit at present is ----- per cent.	Deepak Parekh, 74
Standard and Poor’s (S&P) lowered the growth forecast for India to ------- Per cent for this fiscal, citing “Volatile” global economic situation	5.5
According to the World Dvelopment Report 2013, the global economy needs to create an additional ---- Million new jobs to absorb the increasing working – age population.	600
The British and Scottish governments signed a historic deal that will to allow Scotland to hold a referendum in ---- (year) on wheather it wants to remain Part of the United kingdom or secede from the 300 – year- old political union.	2014
According to a study, ----- per cent of Indians are at rist of cardio vascular disease.	74
The Union Cabinet granted approval for increase of FDI limit in the insurance sector from the persent 26 per cent to ---- per cent.	49
Aiming to provide legal and social protection to hindu women from marriage- Relatled cheating, the --- Parliament passed the hindu marriage registrastion law.	Bangladesh
The financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commisssion headed by ----- Suggested setting up of a financial redressal agency to address consumer complaints against companies across the financial sector.	BN Srikrishna
GSAT – 10, The country’s newest and heaviest satellite, was launched from the ---- launch pad recently.	Kourou
----- is the new Prime Minister of Libya.	Ali Zeidan
India has ----- million undernourished people, according to the newly launched Global Food Security Index (GFSI).	224.6
Ethiopia’s ruling party, EPDRF, named ---- as its new leader after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenwai recently, Expand EPDRF.	Haile Mariam Desalegn, Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front
------, one of India’s endangered mascot species, is no longer on ‘The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates’ list.	Lion-tailed macaque
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for a University of Buddhist and Indic Studies at	Sanchi
------ has been appointed chairman of ICC’s Cricket Committee by the game’s governing body, replacing West Indies great Clive Lloyed.	Anil kumble
Russia extended its lease of a key military base in --- (Country) for 30 years in a deal that strengthens Moscow’s strategic position in the region ahead of NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan.	Tajikistan

Questions

1. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), based at Chennai, a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an affordable cochlear implant (also known as a bionic ear).
2. It will cost around 1 lakh rupees which is similar to imported device which costs about 8 lakh rupees.
3. India is now the fifth country besides US, Austria, Australia and France in the world to produce such a complex device.
Which of the above statement is/are incorrect:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

2. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Institute for Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development (NIESBUD),and IFC International Finance Corporat-ion, a member of the World Bank Group, for jointly undertaking different Projects relating to entrepreneurship development in India.
2. NIESBUD is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
3. The ultimate objective is to create a cadre of Master Trainers who would, in turn, replicate the model to impart training for MSME Sector in a much bigger way.
Which of the above statement is/are incorrect:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of these
3. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have agreed to hold the Presidential and Legislative elections quickly.
2. The meeting was held between Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Chief Khaled Meshal in Doha.
3. Fatah controls West Bank while Hamas rules Gaza. The two rival factions signed an agrrement in April 2011 which called for holding polls simultaneously in West Bank and Gaza stripes by May 2012.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) 3 only

4. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has published its 12th India State of Forest Report 2011 of the forest cover in the country since 1987.
2. The India State of Forest Report is recognized as the authoritative assessment of the country's forest resources.
3. It is based on interpretation of satellite data from the indigenous IRS-P6-LISS III sensor.
4. Mizoram tops with 90.68% followed by Lakshadweep with 84.56.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4(d) 3 only

5. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the advance estimates of national income at constant (2004-05) and current prices, for the financial year 2011-12.
2. The economic growth is likely to be around 6.9 per cent in 2011-12. It was 8.5 per cent in the last fiscal.
3. Government data says this is mainly due to sharp slowdown in the manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

RD's IAS ACADEMY

Friday 30 November 2012

Thursday 29 November 2012

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