Daily IAS Prelims 26th October ,2016

1.Consider the following about Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC).
1. It consists of Pacific Rim economies.
2. It promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region by
promoting common trade standards across the region.
3. It is an affiliate member of the G-8.
4. All economies have an equal say in APEC and decision-making
is reached by consensus.
5. There are no binding commitments or treaty obligations other
than those agreed voluntarily by member economies on a case
to case basis.
Select the correct answer using the codes below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
c) 3, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2 and 5 only

Solution: b)

2.“Sea floor spreading” is caused by
a) Constant volcanic eruptions at the ocean floor
b) Sinking mantle
c) Weight of the ocean bed and the water above it
d) Presence of Seabed methane
Solution: a)
Learning: Constant eruptions at the crest of oceanic ridges cause the
rupture of the oceanic crust and the new lava wedges into it, pushing the
oceanic crust on either side. The ocean floor, thus spreads, known as sea floor spreading.

3.Consider the following about Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY).
1. It promotes institutional deliveries among pregnant women.
2. It integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery
care.
3. It is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS).
Select the correct answer using the codes below.
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)

Justification: As per the latest report on maternal health, India
accounted for 15% the total maternal deaths in the world in 2015 second
only to Nigeria with 45,000 women dying during pregnancy or
childbirth.
Statement 1: The JSY was launched as part of the National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM) in 2005 to improve maternal and neonatal health by
promotion of institutional deliveries (childbirth in hospitals).
JSY has led to reduction of prevalent differences in access to maternal
care between individual people of higher or lower socioeconomic status.
Statement 2: The cash assistance to the mother is given mainly to meet
the cost of delivery. It is ideally to be disbursed at the delivery institution
itself.
Statement 3: It is 100% centrally sponsored. The Yojana has identified
ASHA, the accredited social health activist as an effective link between
the Government and the poor pregnant women in 10 low performing states.

4. If a river in India is to be converted into National Waterways
(NWs), it is done via a/an
a) Central Executive fiat
b) Legislation
c) Constitutional amendment only
d) Order of the State Government

Solution: b)

Learning: India has huge natural geographical potential for inland
waterways as 14,500 km of river channels are navigable.
• Development inland waterways can spur industrial growth and
tourism potential along the waterway especially in plain areas of
North India.
• The statutory status to the inland waterways would pave for
investments in inland waterways transportation sector which has
been neglected in the past.
• Parliament had enacted a legislation allowing 106 rivers across the
country to be converted into National Waterways (NWs) in
addition to the existing 5 such NWs.
• The law was enacted in a bid to boost movement of goods and
passengers via rivers and reduce transportation costs substantially.

5.Which of the following gases contribute to global warming?
1. Methane
2. Water Vapour
3. Nitrogen
4. Ozone
5. HFC-23
Select the correct answer using the codes below.
a) 1, 2 and 4 only
b) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
c) 3 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Solution: b)

Justification: Statement 1, 2 and 4: Besides carbon dioxide, other
greenhouse gases are methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide, CFCs and
ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are man-made industrial chemicals
used in air conditioning etc. CFCs are also damaging the ozone layer.
Statement 3: It is not a greenhouse gas, similar to how oxygen is not a
GHG, but ozone is.
Statement 5: India recently announced that it will eliminate the HFC-23
gas, a potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential, as part
of its commitment to combat the threat emanating from climate-
damaging HFCs.

6. “Hunar Haat”, an exhibition of handicrafts and embroidery made by the artisans at 'India International
Trade Fair' is going to organised by
a) Ministry of Culture
b) Ministry of External Affairs
c) Ministry of Finance
d) Ministry of Minority Affairs

Ans. (d)

7.Yemen has been frequently in the news for civil and military wars by Saudi Arabia. Which of the
following strait connects Red sea to the Gulf of Aden which adjoins Yemen.
a) Oman strait
b) Yemen strait
c) Bab al Mandab strait
d) Strait of Hormuz

Ans. (c)

Explanation: This strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the
Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The Bab-el-Mandeb acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

8.Consider following statements in regard to 'The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016'.
1. This year's Prize awarded to Bob Dylan for having created new poetic expressions within the great
American song tradition.
2. He is the first songwriter to win the award.
3. The Nobel Prize in Literature 1913 was awarded to Rabindranath Tagore from India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Ans. (d)

Explanation: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 won by US music legend Bob Dylan, whose poetic lyrics
have influenced generations of fans.
He got prize for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition. He’s the
first songwriter to win the award.
Titbits: The Nobel Prize in Literature 1913 was awarded to Rabindranath Tagore (largely for Gitanjali) for his
profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought expressed in his own English word.