IAS Current Affairs is more tended towards the Current Affairs Analysis and their Backgrounders. The current event is only the tip of the iceberg and the UPSC Civil Services Exam asks about the background of that event. The Political, Economical and the Sociological dimensions of the current affairs are also important for the IAS Exam. These Current Affairs questions are framed keeping in view the pattern of IAS Exam.
1. In which of the following states, the Union Government has made decision to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute?
a. Himachal Pradesh
b. Assam
c. Maharashtra
d. Sikkim
Answer: d
Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 5 February 2016 decided to set up the National Organic Farming Research Institute in Sikkim.
The decision to this effect was taken by the Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh and Sikkim Agriculture Minister Som Nath Paudyal in New Delhi. The institute will be established by upgrading the existing Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Gangtok.
The setting up of the institute is of primary importance for Sikkim as it was declared as the first organic farming State in the country in January 2016 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
2. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘project sunrise’:
I. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on 6 February 2016 launched the Project Sunrise in Imphal, Manipur.
II. The project seeks to improve interventions against human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in eight north east States.
III. Under the project, needles and syringes will be made available through secondary distributors such as Government health care facilities, preferred healthcare providers, non-traditional outlets and peer volunteers.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on 6 February 2016 launched the Project Sunrise in Imphal, Manipur.
The project seeks to improve interventions against human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in eight north east States.
Features of Project Sunrise
• It seeks to improve coverage, quality and scale of HIV interventions among PWID, Female Injecting Drug Users (FIDU) and spouses of PWID.
• It is a 5-year programme aimed at complementing the ongoing National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
• It will be implemented in 20 districts of 8 north eastern states at an estimated cost of 70 crore rupees.
• Under the project, needles and syringes will be made available through secondary distributors such as Government health care facilities, preferred healthcare providers, non-traditional outlets and peer volunteers,
• It includes lower threshold strategies to improve Opoid Substitution Therapy (OST), coverage and sensitization workshops for law enforcing officials.
• It also includes HIV intervention in prison settings and will adopt the National Human Resource reduction strategy.
3. The ‘Surya Kiran 2016’, a military exercise held in Pithoragarh between India and which of the following country?
a. Nepal
b. Sri Lanka
c. Bangladesh
d. Myanmar
Answer: a
Explanation:
The Nepal army was being represented by officers and troops of the elite Shree RudraDhoj battalion while an infantry battalion is participating on behalf of the Indian Army. The combined battalion-level exercise is being conducted under the aegis of the Panchshul Brigade of the Central Command.
This was the 9th India-Nepal combined exercise. During the combined training, emphasis was laid on upgrade of tactical and practical skills by sharing each other’s experiences and also on enhancing inter-operability in jungle warfare and counter terrorism operations in mountain terrain. The role and importance of Armed Forces in disaster management in both the countries has assumed increasing significance in the recent years. Therefore, focus has been laid on humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, including medical and aviation aspects.
Current Affairs for IAS Prelims 2016 : January 2016 Questions Set II
4. The Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, world’s largest solar power plant, was opened this year in which of the following country?
a. Turkey
b. Egypt
c. Morocco
d. Ethiopia
Answer: a
Explanation:
World’s largest Single Rooftop Solar Power Plant with capacity of 11.5 MegaWatt (MW) was inaugurated at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh at Beas, in Amritsar, Punjab. It was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on 18 May 2016.
5. For which of the following regions the Union Government has released the Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 in February 2016?
a. North-east
b. Bhundhel Khand
c. Ghoorkha land
d. North Andhra
Answer: a
Explanation:
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has released the Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for north-east India.
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has consciously and constantly focused efforts towards making hydrocarbons a tool to enable social and economic development. One such initiative has been the Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North East Region. It undertook series of consultations with the state governments while drafting the vision document. CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory has been the knowledge partner to develop the respective Vision report. The states covered under this vision are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
6. Consider the following statements regarding the National Framework for Elimination of Malaria 2016-2030:
I. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on 11 February 2016 released the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 at New Delhi which outlines India’s strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030.
II. NFME document defines goals, objectives, strategies, targets and timelines to eliminate malaria from the country. It will serve as a roadmap for advocating and planning malaria elimination from the country in a phased manner.
III. One of the objectives is to reduce incidence of malaria to less than 1 case per 1000 population in all States/UTs and the districts and malaria elimination in 31 states/UTs by 2024.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on 11 February 2016 released the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 at New Delhi. The framework outlines India’s strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030.
NFME document defines goals, objectives, strategies, targets and timelines to eliminate malaria from the country. It will serve as a roadmap for advocating and planning malaria elimination from the country in a phased manner.
The milestones and targets are set for 2016, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2027 and 2030 by when the entire country has sustained zero indigenous cases and deaths due to malaria for 3 years and initiated the processes for certification of malaria elimination status to the country.
7. As per the United States Chamber of Commerce’s 2016, India's rank in Intellectual Property Index is?
a. 36
b. 37
c. 38
d. 39
Answer: b
Explanation:
As per the data released recently regarding the Intellectual Property Index (IPI) by United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC), India was ranked 37th among the surveyed 38 countries. These 38 countries benchmarked in the 2016 index accounts for nearly 85% of the global GDP. Venezuela ranked lowest below India at 38th position with 6.42 points on the index.
Current Affairs for IAS Prelims 2016 : January 2016 Questions
8. In which of following cities the ‘Make in India’ centre inaugurated recently in February, 2016?
a. Mumbai
b. Bangalore
c. Ahmadabad
d. Delhi
Answer: a
Explanation:
Kicking off the 'Make In India Week', Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Make In India Centre at the MMRDA Grounds of Mumbai along with Swedish Prime Minister Kjell Stefan Lofven and the Prime Minister of Finland, Juha Petri Sipila.
Revolving around the theme of innovation, design and sustainability, the Make In India Centre showcases some of the country's most innovative and trendsetting products and manufacturing processes before the world for the first time after global launch of the 'Make In India' initiative in September 2014.
The Make in India initiative was launched globally in September 2014, as part of the Government of India’s renewed focus on invigorating the country’s manufacturing sector. The landmark initiative has made a tremendous impact on the investment climate of the country, and reflects in the significant growth of overall Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
9. Which of the following committee was constituted for to look into the issue of promotion policy in Indian army?
a. BC Roy Committee
b. Ajai Vikram Singh Committee
c. PK Pahwa Committee
d. A Mukherjee Committee
Answer: b
Explanation:
The Supreme Court on 15 February 2016 upheld the Union Government’s Command Exit Model (CEM) of preferential promotion. The 2009 CEM aimed at lowering the age of battalion and brigade commanders as well as improvement in career aspirations of military officers.
While upholding the CEM, the apex court bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Kurian Joseph directed the Union Government to create 141 additional posts of colonel for combat support stream to accommodate officers who are eligible for promotions.
On the basis of the Kargil Review Committee report that was constituted under the chairmanship of K Subrahmanyam in 2000, a panel headed by former Defence Secretary Ajai Vikram Singh was set up in 2001. It was set up to look into the issue of army promotion policy with two main objectives: reduction in age of battalion and brigade commanders as well as improvement in career aspirations of military officers.
10. The joint military exercise named LAMITYE 2016 was conducted in February this year between which of the following two nations?
a. India & Japan
b. India & Nepal
c. India & Russia
d. India & Seychelles
Answer: d
Explanation:
LAMITYE 2016, the 7th joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) began on 15 February 2016. It was a 2-week long exercise till 28 February 2016 and conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) in Victoria, Seychelles.
Features of Exercise LAMITYE 2016:
• Lamitye, which means friendship in Creole dialect, will be conducted with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two countries.
• LAMITYE 2016 is the 7th biannual exercise since its inception in 2001.
• In 2016 exercise, the Indian contingent will comprise of an Infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces.
• The SPDF will be represented by 20 personnel from Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and 32 from Seychelles Infantry.
• The concluding phase of the exercise will incorporate a tactical exercise will be witnessed by senior military officers from both the countries.
11. Consider the following statements regarding the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme of the Union Government of India:
I. The TOP Scheme under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was formulated with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
II. The focused disciplines of the scheme were Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling, Shooting and Yatching.
III. The selected athletes will be provided financial assistance for their customized training at sports institutes and other necessary support.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The TOP Scheme under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was formulated with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
The focused disciplines of the scheme were Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling, Shooting and Yatching. The selected athletes will be provided financial assistance for their customized training at sports institutes and other necessary support.
Anju Bobby George, the former long jump world champion, was on 24 November 2015 appointed as the chairperson of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
12. Which of the following states plans to introduce ‘contract farming’ in the State for making the agriculture more lucrative?
a. Kerala
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Sikkim
d. Punjab
Answer: c
Explanation:
The Denzong Agricultural Cooperative Society Limited (DACS) launched the Contract Farming program at Daragaon, Turuk, and South Sikkim.
DACS has taken up the Contract Farming of poultry broiler with Turuk Poultry Livestock Cooperative Society, a cooperative comprising of progressive local youth of Turuk, South Sikkim at the cost of Rs 10.28 lakh. Under the arrangement, DACS will provide funds in two phases for purchase of 8000 day-old chicks and required feed and medicines for the beneficiary poultry farmers. Further, as the DACS provides full assurance to buy back the produce, the farmers do not have to worry about the market.
13. With which of the following country India signed the third agreement on Standard Operating Procedure for conducting maritime coordinated patrols?
a. Bangladesh
b. Singapore
c. Sri Lanka
d. Myanmar
Answer: d
Explanation:
Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy on 16 February 2016 signed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) at the Tri-Service Headquarters in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With this signing of SOP, Myanmar became the third country with which India has signed a formal agreement for maritime coordinated patrols.
The signing of SOP reflects growing naval interaction between India and Myanmar. It will facilitate smooth conduct of coordinated patrols between two neighbours that share a long maritime boundary in the strategically significant Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
The SOP was signed during the closing ceremony of the 4th IMCOR that was successfully held by the two navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.
The Current Affairs practice questions for UPSC IAS Prelims Exam have been continuously provided by us. In order to keep UPSC IAS aspirants updated we are committed to provide valuable questions for the preparation of UPSC IAS Prelims as well as IAS Mains Exam. The Current Affairs questions we are providing have been meticulously developed in a chronological order of the events happened in recent past. Such questions are going to be very useful for both UPSC IAS Prelims as well as IAS Mains Exam.
