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Showing posts from June 5, 2017

Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams – 24 December 2016

Q.1- China-Pakistan Economic corridor starts from Xinjiang and ends at which of the following places? A. Gwadar B. Lahore C. Islamabad D. Gilgit Q.2- Which of the following ports are matched correctly with their country? 1. Chabahar : Iran 2. Hambantota : Sri Lanka 3. Gwadar : Bangladesh A. 1,3 B. 1,2 C. 2,3 D. All Q.3- Which of the following will help in increasing cashless transaction? 1. Linking bank accounts with Aadhar card. 2. Providing direct benefit transfer for schemes A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both D. None. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Answer 1-A, 2-B, 3-C

Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams – 23 December 2016

Q.1- Which of the following is correct regarding NGT? 1. It's chairperson should be retired or serving High court or Supreme Court judge only 2. It looks cases environmental protection only 3. Present chairperson is justice swatanter Kumar. A. 1,2 B. 2,3 C. All D. 3 only Q.2- Article 239 AA is related to which of the following? A. Special power given to State of Jammu and Kashmir B. Special power to State of Manipur C. Special power to NCT Delhi and Puduchery D. Special power to NCT Delhi only Q.3- Which of the following is/are correct regarding National Company Law Tribunal? 1. National Company Law Tribunal was established by companies act,2013 2. Its principle bench is situated at Mumbai A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both D. None. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Answer 1-D, 2-D, 3-A

Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams – 2 June 2017

Ques- Which of the following correctly defines maitri? A. Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica B. Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Arctic C. Maitri is India's first permanent research station in Antarctica D. Maitri is India's first permanent research station in Arctic Ques- Which of the following is correct regarding Indian Internet users? 1. India has close to 35 crore internet users 2. Out of all internet users, 50% is through mobile. A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both D. None Ques- Which of the following is necessary for Paris climate deal to be implemented? 1. Atleast 80% countries should sign it. 2. Atleast 55% of emmissions contributing countries should sign the deal. A. 1 only B. 2 Only C. Both D. None. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Answer  1-A, 2-B, 3-B

UN Ocean Conference: a roadmap for sustainable use of oceans (downtoearth,)

The United Nation’s Ocean Conference is set to commence at the body’s headquarters in New York on June 5, world environment day. The meeting is a step ahead in achieving the world’s 14th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14)—conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. It will see participation from over 5,000 delegates and continue till June 9. The UN plans to finalise the text for its zero draft “Call for Action” by the end of the conference, along with reports of seven partnership dialogues planned during the meeting. In addition, stakeholders have been invited to give voluntary commitments to ensure that the oceans remain clean and provide a robust blue economy. SDG 14 specifies targets to manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems; set up as system to regulate harvesting of fish and end overfishing; conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas and prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribu

On World Environment Day, CSE releases analysis of how India has warmed from 1901 till 2017 (downtoearth)

First animated climate spiral showing the warming of India Annual mean temperature in India has increased by 1.2 degrees C since the beginning of the 20th 2016 was second warmest year on record with temperature of 1.26 degrees C higher than Winter (Jan-Feb) of 2017 was hottest in recorded history with temperature of 2.95 degrees higher than the baseline. India is witnessing higher frequency and intensity of extreme weather events – draughts, floods, heat waves etc.--- because of rapidly increasing temperature. Along with this India Warming analysis from CSE, Down To Earth releases its State of India’s Environment in Figures – a unique collation of data on environment-development issues, in the form of an e-book The e-book covers subjects ranging from environmental crime and climate change to air pollution and water contamination To see the INDIA WARMING spiral and understand what it says and means, please join Down To Earth's Facebook page  our FACEBOOK LIVE session with Su

Farmers will bear the brunt of climate change (downtoearth)

have districts that are highly sensitive to climate change Sensitivity is the degree to which a region gets affected by climate-related stimuli, such as climate variability and the frequency and magnitude of extremes events like cyclone and drought. It is determined by demographic and environmental conditions of the region. Most districts in north-western India are highly sensitive to climate change impacts. Eastern, north-eastern, northern and west coast of the country have relatively low sensitivity. Exposure 21 states* have districts that are highly exposed to climate change risks Exposure is defined as the nature and degree to which a system is exposed to significant climatic variations. It includes parameters, such as maximum and minimum temperatures and the number of rainy days. High to very high exposure is observed in the districts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, north-eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir. Di

State of India's Environment 2017 In Figures (eBook) (downtoearth)

State of India's Environment 2017 In Figures is India's first and only e-book that not only communicates environmental issues through facts and figures, but arms readers with insights and perspectives to help you form an informed opinion on issues that matter. Backed by over 25 years of data-driven and research-based journalism and curated by veteran data journalists, this annual publication makes a statement on state of environment through meaningful infographics. It compares India's development with global parameters, while giving State-wise environmental performance within the country.

Technology to ease phantom limb pain (hindu,)

Scientists use virtual reality for therapy Scientists have developed a virtual reality (VR) technology that can relieve the sensation of phantom limb pain by tricking the brain into thinking that it is still in control of a missing limb. “The tactile representation of different body parts are arranged in the brain in a sort of map,” said Bo Geng, from the Aalborg University in Denmark. “If the brain no longer receives feedback from an area, it tries to reprogramme its signal reception map. That is the most common conception of how phantom limb pain occurs,” Ms. Geng said. Tests have shown that phantom limb pain can be relieved if the brain is tricked into thinking that the amputated limb is still attached to the body. By placing a mirror at an angle in front of the chest you can create the visual illusion that the body is symmetrical. The method has proven effective in a number of amputees and is the foundation for the new VR technology. By using VR it is possible to creat

GSLV Mark III to open up 4-ton satellite launch market for India’ (hindu)

The heavy-lift GSLV Mark III rocket, slated to be launched by space agency ISRO tomorrow, would open up opportunities for India to launch 4-ton class of satellites of foreign countries, according to a senior space scientist. Tomorrow’s launch of the first developmental flight of the rocket is a “great milestone” as ISRO is almost doubling the capacity to launch satellite from 2.2-2.3 tons to 3.5-4 tons, former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said. “Today if India has to launch communication satellites beyond 2.3 tons, we have to go abroad (to launch them). We (will) have self-reliance in launching communication satellites (once GSLV Mk III becomes operational), and also we will be able to attract foreign customers,” he said. “It’s rather a simpler vehicle, and a vehicle with better payload fraction. And it’s going to be future workhorse vehicle (of ISRO),” he said. Mr. Radhakrishnan was closely associated with the GSLV Mk III programme, approved in 2000, as director of VSSC (Vi

The milk you drink may be laced with detergents

Gap between milk production and demand is what incentivises adulteration India may be the largest producer of milk in the world but is the milk really safe? A study which analysed samples in Delhi found that it contained “harmful adulterants”, the most common among them being starch, chlorine, hydrated lime, sodium carbonate, formalin and ammonium sulphate. Milk producers are known to use these substances to scrimp on milk portions and prepare “synthetic milk” by mixing urea, caustic soda, refined oil and common detergents. Adulterated milk is linked to a range of health hazards which include gastrointestinal disorders, renal and skin diseases, eye and heart problems, and cancer, according to the study which will be published later this month in the peer-reviewed Current Science. Results of study For their study, the researchers, led by Brototi Roy and colleagues at Maitreyi College in Delhi, randomly collected 75 milk samples (packaged and unpackaged) from different regions o

Need for corrective action (hindu)

Revised estimates show that demonetisation hurt, but a deepening investment slowdown remains the challenge India’s economic growth estimates lately seemed out of sync with the dampened feel-good sentiment in the economy. The GDP was growing at a world-beating rate, the stock market was booming, but little on the ground suggested that people were feeling better off. Consumption and investment behaviours suggested probably not. So when in February this year, the state statistical apparatus estimated that the impact on the economy of demonetisation was muted, doubts were cast on its credibility. Dissonance between the statistics and ground reports considerably reduced in the latest released batch of data into which the updated Index of Industrial Production was plugged in. The GDP data for the fiscal year 2016-17 present a sharp picture of the state of the economy. GDP growth has slowed for the first time in five years, in 2016-17, to 7.1%. The economic recovery that was gathering

European variation (hindu )

With global politics in a flux, India must make a careful choice of coalitions it forges Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Germany, Spain, Russia and France brings into sharp focus the shared dilemma India and Europe face with America’s shifting policies, and the resultant flux on the world stage. Mr. Modi’s first stop in Germany came a day after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s strong comments aimed at President Donald Trump, that Europe could no longer ‘depend’ on traditional partners. Europe’s disappointment with Mr. Trump at the G-7 and NATO summits was three-fold: his refusal to reaffirm NATO’s Article 5 on ‘collective defence’; his warning on the trade deficit with Europe; and his expected decision to pull America out of commitments in the Paris Agreement on climate change. For the past few months India has faced a similar disappointment as the U.S. has forged closer ties with China, indicating what Mr. Modi called a loosening of the world order, while the U.S. has targeted In

GST countdown (hindu )

There is still no clarity whether the loose ends can be tied up in time for the July 1 deadline The Goods and Services Tax Council has finalised the rates at which tax will be levied for almost all products and services under the tax regime, just four weeks before the July 1 deadline for rollout. The decisions amount to a balancing act between competing demands. The Council has set the tax rate on gold, silver, diamonds and other jewellery at 3%, while uncut diamonds will attract a ‘notional’ duty of 0.25%; a credit can be claimed for exports of such diamonds after they are polished and cut in India’s gem clusters. Footwear and readymade textiles will have differential tax slabs based on sale price (with a concessional 5% for footwear below ₹500 and clothes below ₹1,000). But oddly, no such distinction has been made for mass consumption items such as glucose biscuits. Textiles, leather, diamonds and food processing already are, or have the potential to be, India’s biggest employment