UPSC (IAS) Preparation - Only most important current affairs for UPSC / IAS /UKPSC

29 January 2017

Solution for UKPCS/UKPSC 2016 PRE GS2 CSAT PAPER

Tentative solution of csat paper set D

1B
2-C
3-D
4-A
5-C
6-D
7-D

8-B
9-C
10-D
11-B
12-B
13A
14C
15A
16C
17-B
18-B
19-B
20-C

21-
22-B
23-A
24-B
25-D
26-C
27-C
28
29-B
30D
31

32C
33B
34B
35A
36 C
37D
38C
39B
40D
41C

42D
43B
44A
45B
46C
47A
48B
49C

50C

51B

52C

53B

54D

55B

57A

58D

59D

60C

61B

62B

63D

64 B

66A

67D

68A

69A

70A

72C

73C

74C

75B

76D

77C

78D

79C

80C

81D
82

84B

86B

87D

88B

89D

90A

91A

92D

93C

94C
95C
96D
97C
98B
99C
100C

Solution for UKPCS/UKPSC 2016 PRE GS1 PAPER

Solution for UKPCS/UKPSC 2016 PRE GS1 PAPER
UKPCS/UKPSC 2016 PRE GS1 PAPER SOLUTION

1-A
2-B
3-D
4-B
5-C
6-B
7-B
8-D
9-C
10-B
11-C
12-A
13-AWave energy is the main cause of coastal erosion. http://www.indiaspend.com/cover-story/45-of-indias-coastline-facing-erosion-34881

14-D
15-B,40,075 km
16-A
17-B
18-C

19-D
20-B
21-A
22-B
23-C
24-D ,http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/v5(3)/B050307013.pdf
25-C https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Binsar+Sanctuary/@29.6293583,78.8664788,8z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x39a0ca660a2a0739:0x79f3300289241f23!8m2!3d29.7043863!4d79.7572116
26-A
27-D
28 -D*

29-B
30-C
31-A
32-D
33-B
34-D
35-C
36-B
37-B
38-A
39-C
40-A* NAME IS N P NAVANI AS PER UKPSC SITE.THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THEIR FIRST CHAIRMAN.
41-C

42-D
43-D
44-C
45-B
46-C
47-C
48-A
49-C
50-D
51-A
52-B
53-C
54-B
55-B
56-B

57-B
58D
59-A
60-B
61-A,6238CR,http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ukhand-tables-rs-40422-20-cr-budget-focuses-on-education-roads-116031101079_1.html
62-D
63-A
64-C
65-C
66-A
67-D
68-C
69-B
70-D
71-B
72-D
73-C
74-D

75-C
76-D
77-A
78-B,India's rank remained unchanged at 8th last year among the top 30 leading exporters of commercial services respectively. This list was topped by the US in both exports and imports. In imports, India positioned 10th.
79-C
80-D
81-A
82-B
83-C
84-D,Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to prevent money-laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from money-laundering. PMLA and the Rules notified there under came into force with effect from July 1, 2005
85-B
86-A
87-A
88-B
89-A
90-C

91-D
92-B
93-
94-D
95-B
96-A
97-B
98-A
99-C
100-C
101-B
102-C
103-A
104-B

105-B
106-A
107-B
108-A
109-B
110-
111-A
112-
113-D
114-A
115-C
116-B
117-A
118-B
119-D
120-C

121-A
122-D
123-C
124-B
125-D
126-A
127-C
128-D
129-A
130-B
131-C
132-A
133-B
134-D
135C

136-B
137-A
138-A
139-D
140-C
141-C
142-B
143-A
144-A
145-D
146-C
147-A
148-A
149-C
150-A

26 January 2017

IIMs to be declared as Institutions of National Importance

IIMs to be declared as Institutions of National Importance

Cabinet approves Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2017

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Indian Institute of Management(IIM) Bill, 2017, under which the IIMswould be declared as Institutions of National Importance which will enable them togrant degrees to their students.

Following are the salient features of the Bill:

i. IIMs can grant degrees to their students

ii. The Bill provides for complete autonomy to the Institutions, combined with adequate accountability.

iii. Management of these Institutions would be Board driven, with the Chairperson and Director of an Institution which will be selected by the Board.

iv. A greater participation of experts and alumni in the Board is amongst otherimportant features of the Bill.

v. Provision has also been made for inclusion of women and members from Scheduled Castes/Tribes in the Board.

vi. The Bill also provides for periodic review of the performance of Institutions by independent agencies, and placing the results of the same on public domain.

vii. The Annual Report of the Institutions will be placed in the Parliament and CAG will be auditing their accounts.

viii. There is also a provision of Coordination Forum of IIMs as an advisory body.

Background:

Indian Institutes of Management are the country's premier institutions imparting best quality education in management on globally benchmarked processes of education and training in management. IIMs are recognized as world-class management Institutions and Centers of Excellence and have brought laurels to the country. All IIMs are separate autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Act.

Being societies, IIMs are not authorized to award degrees and, hence, they have been awarding Post Graduate Diploma and Fellow Programme in Management. While these awards are treated as equivalent to MBAs and Ph.D, respectively, the equivalence is not universally acceptable, especially for the Fellow Programme.

Cabinet approves ratification of the Second Commitment Period of Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to ratify the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of Green House Gases (GHGs). The second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 2012. So far, 75 countries have ratified the Second Commitment Period.
In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India's leadership in the comity of nations committed to global cause of environmental protection and climate justice. Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by India will encourage other developing countries also to undertake this exercise. Implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under this commitment period in accordance with Suslainable Development priorities will attract some investments in India as well.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) seeks to stabilise Green House Gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would minimize interference with the climate system. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) in the atmosphere, the Kyoto Protocol places commitments on developed nations to undertake mitigation targets and to provide financial resources and transfer of technology to the developing nations. Developing countries like India have no mandatory mitigation obligations or targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
Background
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and the 1st commitment period was from 2008-2012. At Doha in 2012, the amendments to Kyoto Protocol for the 2nd commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were successfully adopted for the period 2013- 2020. Developed countries have already started implementing their commitments under the 'opt-in' provisions of the Doha Amendment.
India has always emphasized the importance of climate actions by developed country Parties in the pre-2020 period. Besides, it has advocated climate actions based on the principles and provisions of the Convention, such as the principle of Equity and Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR & RC).

The annual index of Transparency International issued on Wednesday for 2016 placed India with Brazil and China in the 40th position.

: A major international index of corruption and transparency has placed India on the watch list for its inability to curb mega corruption scandals and petty bribery. The annual index of Transparency International issued on Wednesday for 2016 placed India with Brazil and China in the 40th position. India’s condition showed growth with inequality, it said.
“India’s ongoing poor performance with a score of 40 reiterates the state’s inability to effectively deal with petty corruption and large-scale corruption scandals,” said Transparency International. The impact of corruption on poverty, illiteracy and policy brutality showed that not only was the economy growing but so was inequality.
India’s current ranking, putting it in the high corruption zone, has drawn critical observations from transparency campaigners. Nikhil Dey of People’s Campaign for Right to Information said the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not done enough on the issue of Lokpal and whistleblower protection.
“A lot of scams in the previous government were unearthed with the help of the right to information that the government itself allowed. But the present government has done nothing to boost the anti-corruption structure. The demonetisation process is the latest indicator of the lack of transparency in the system, where even the Reserve Bank of India is not able to spell out the exact details of the operation,” Mr. Dey said. “Growth with inequality is disastrous on its own. But in the case of India, such a growth also legitimises corruption,” he warned.

South Asia had performed poorly. Bangladesh at 27th and Nepal at 29th positions were slotted in the highly corrupt section. Pakistan, at 32, also came in the red zone. Afghanistan ranked 15th was in the “highly corrupt” list with South Sudan, North Korea and Libya.

The organisation recognised China’s recent anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping which had been targeting ‘tigers and flies’ and slotted it alongside India. China’s latest score was an improvement of three points. India, though it improved two ranks, remained in the same red-zone of corruption.

Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana - 2017

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its post-facto approval for launching of Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 (VPBY 2017). It is a part of Government’s commitment for financial inclusion and social security.

The scheme will be implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) during the current financial year to provide social security during old age and protect elderly persons aged 60 years and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions. The scheme will provide an assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of return of 8% per annum for ten years, with an option to opt for pension on a monthly / quarterly / halfyearly and annual basis. The differential return, i.e., the difference between the return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per annum would be borne by Government of India as subsidy on an annual basis.

VPBY-2017 is proposed to be open for subscription for a period of one year from the date of launch.

National Awards for Best electoral practices for the year 2016

President confers National Awards for Best electoral practices for the year 2016

Election Commission of India celebrates 7th National Voters’ Day with theme “ Empowering Young & Future Voters”

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that there has been some talk about simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in political circles. If initiative is taken by Election Commission and political parties arrive at a consensus, reform is possible. He said such a move can reduce inconvenience in terms of expenditure and management. The President said this while speaking at the 7th National Voters’ Day Celebrations here today.

Pointing out that in the last General Elections in 2014, over 66% of the total electorate of 834 million voted, the President congratulated the Election Commission on the successful conduct of this huge exercise. He also congratulated Indian voters for exercising their right to vote and showing utmost maturity in doing so.

The President said the Election Commission requires unflinching support as they are trying to motivate young people in excising their most fundamental democratic right of voting. It is essential that the Election Commission should be an independent and competent institution. Over the years, the Election Commission of India has proved to be so and is appreciated all over the world.

The President said he was confident the Election Commission can maintain its existing standards and continues to improvise and evolve. The Election Commission has made a unique contribution to strengthening the bedrock of Indian democracy. We can take legitimate pride in the fact that we are the largest democracy in the world.

In his address , Dr Nasim Zaidi , the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said that the Election Commission will lay special focus on Future Voters under Systematic Voter Education Programme in the year 2017 and onward. Dr Zaidi hoped that the first time and future voters will get encouraged to be part of electoral process. In India, over 62 million persons fall in the age group of 15 to 17 years and have been coined as future voters. Every year, 20 million persons out of the future voters turn 18 to become first time voters, Dr Zaidi added. Considering Future voters as a focus group , the CEC said that the Commission has launched a unique programme this month called “Interactive School Engagement” . As on date 11,000 schools and 23 lakh student across the country have been covered under this engagement.

Listing out several initiatives taken by the Commission during 2016 , Dr Zaidi said the Commission reignited public and political debate on the issue of long pending electoral reforms by releasing in public domain, a compendium of all pending reform proposals . First ever global conference on voter education was organised where New Delhi Declaration on voter education was released and a Voter Information Communication and Education Net or VOICE.Net was launched .

Dr Zaidi congratulated young and future voters, all officers and other organizations who received national awards for outstanding and successful management and contribution to the elections in 2016. The CEC also mention special contribution of Shri SK Mendiratta , Legal Advisor of ECI for rendering exceptional services over 53 years. This year the Commission also recognized the honorary work being carried out by four professors from premier IITs and working with the Commission under the banner of Technical Evaluation Committee, the CEC added.

On the occasion, the President presented Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to five new young voters and felicitated six future voters . The President also conferred National Awards for Best electoral practices for the year 2016 to the twelve officers . In addition , the awards under special category , Best State , National CSO award , National Award for Government Department & National Media Award were also presented .

The Chief Election Commissioner released the book “ Unfolding Indian Elections- Journey of living democracy” and presented first copy to the President . This book has been brought out by the Election Commission of India and Publication Division , Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

The Election Commissioners Shri AK Joti and Shri OP Rawat , representatives of political parties, former CECs , heads of 15 Election Management Bodies , international organisations and officers of ECI attended the National level function.

National Voters’ Day ( NVD)

25th January , celebrated as the National Voters’ Day . This year marks the 7th NVD with theme “ Empowering Young & Future Voters” . NVD aims at increasing enrolment of voters , especially newly eligible young voter (18-19 years) & ensure universal adult franchise for all . NVD is being celebrated since 2011 on 25th January , the foundation Day of Election Commission of India ( 25th January ,1950).