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. Mahesh Kumar Singla committee has been appointed to consider the Schedule Tribe status to six communities of which of the following states?
a. Odisha
b. Assam
c. Maharashtra
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: b
Explanation:
The Union Government has constituted a committee to consider Scheduled Tribe status to six Communities of Assam. These six Communities are Koch Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and Adivasi (Tea Tribes). Mahesh Kumar Singla will be the head of the committee and currently he holds the office of Special Secretary (Internal Security) Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key facts of the committee
• The committee has been constituted by Union Home Ministry in consultation with the Government of Assam.
• It has been tasked to recommend the modalities for granting of Scheduled Tribe status for the required reservations to the 6 Communities in Assam.
• It will also look into modalities for shifting the existing reservation for these communities from Other Back Class (OBC) status to ST for protecting their interests to ensure fairness of reservations.
2. Which State/UT became the first state in the country to launch the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a public health programme for school children?
a. Delhi
b. Telangana
c. Maharashtra
d. Odisha
Answer: a
Explanation:
Delhi on 29 February 2016 became the first state in the country to launch the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a public health programme for school children.
The HPV vaccine protects people against the group of 150-odd HPVs, some of which can cause cervical cancer.
3. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March 2016 cleared the proposal to acquire two more Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). These surveillance aircraft will be bought under a tripartite agreement with
a. Russia and China
b. Israel and US
c. Japan and Israel
d. Israel and Russia
Answer: d
Explanation:
The CCS chaired by Mr. Modi, cleared the proposal to acquire two more Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) at a cost of Rs. 7,500 crore under a tripartite agreement with Israel and Russia.
The AWACS are advanced radars mounted on an aircraft to give 360 degree coverage to detect incoming aircraft and missiles at long ranges.
India had procured three Phalcon AWACS, Israeli radars mounted on Russian IL-76 transport aircraft, in 2003 at cost of $1 billion.
Current Affairs for IAS Prelims 2016 : February 2016 Questions
4. Which of the following bills that Parliament passed to empower Union government to revise the limits of liability for airlines and compensation as per the Montreal Convention.
a. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015
b. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015
c. The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015
d. The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015
Answer: d
Explanation:
Rajya Sabha on 3 March 2016 passed the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill seeks to empower Union government to revise the limits of liability for airlines and compensation as per the Montreal Convention.
With this, both the Houses of Parliament passed the bill that was introduced in Lok Sabha on 7 August 2015 by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation. Lok Sabha passed the bill in December 2015.
5. Which of the programme was launched by UNHCR, UNICEF Twenty as support hubs for children and families along the most frequently used migration routes in Europe?
a. Brown Dots
b. Blue Dots
c. Red Dots
d. Green Dots
Answer: b
Explanation:
UNHCR, UNICEF launched a Twenty Child and Family Support Hubs, known as Blue Dots in February 2016. These support centres will acts as a special support centres for children and families along the most frequently used migration routes in Europe. They will also help in protecting the growing numbers of children and others with specific needs arriving in Europe.
Key characteristics of Blue Dot hubs
• The hubs aim to support vulnerable families on the move, especially the many unaccompanied or separated children at risk of sickness, trauma, violence, exploitation and trafficking.
• The hubs will be located in selected strategic sites - border entry/exit points, registration sites, some strategic urban centres - as well as through mobile/outreach teams.
• The first hubs are now operational or about to open in Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.
• All the 20 Blue Dot hubs will be operational within the next three months.
6. Chapchar Kut festival celebrated in which of the following states?
• Assam
• Mizoram
• Kerala
• Tami Nadu
Answer: b
Explanation:
The day is the second Friday of March, 2005 on which the most joyful festival of the Mizos - Chapchar Kut - is celebrated every year. Standing in the ground were hundreds of Mizo damsels and energetic young-men dressed in their colourful attires all poised to perform the colourful Cheraw dance, thus heralding the start of the festival for the day.
Chapchar Kut literally means - a festival held during the period when the bamboos and trees that have been cut down are being awaited to dry to be burnt for jhumming. During this brief layoff period of jhumming, the Mizo ancestors could have all the time for themselves. They spend their leisure hunting games, fishing, et al. The Chapchar Kut festival evolved sometime between 1450 -1600 A.D. when the Mizo forefathers inhabit Lentlang. In the olden days, the festival could last for days and in the run up to the grand finale, there are well laid down steps to be followed. Everyone in the village has a role to play; of course, the youths were most involved in every stage of the preparation and in the festival itself. Designed to be a festival of joy, all disputes and differences that may be there in the community should be settled; even altercation between married couples was a taboo during the celebration of the festival.
7. Which of the following states has recently announced the inclusion of Widow Marriage under state government’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana?
a. Madhya Pradesh
b. Haryana
c. Odisha
d. Bihar
Answer: a
Explanation:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 8 March 2016 announced inclusion of widow marriage under the state government’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. The announcement made on International Women's Day in Bhopal aims at promoting marriage of widows.
While announcing that marriages will also be solemnised under the Yojna, CM Chouhan said that two lakh rupees will be sanctioned for widow marriage.
Besides, he also announced that to prevent violence against women, state government will open Usha Kiran Centres in every district of the state.
8. Which of the following two agencies of United Nations have jointly launched the Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage?
a. FAO & UNFPA
b. UNFPA & UNICEF
c. WHO & FAO
d. UNFPA & WHO
Answer: b
Explanation:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have jointly launched the Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage.
It is a multi-country initiative and is part of a global effort to prevent girls from marrying too young. It will help protect the rights of millions of the world’s most vulnerable girls by involving families, communities, governments and young people. It will support those already married as girls in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East where child marriage rates are high.
Current Affairs for IAS Prelims 2016 : January 2016 Questions Set II
9. Which one of the following is not one of the provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015 that was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 10 March 2016?
a. Imprisonment of up to 3 years for fraud builders
b. Setting up of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA)
c. 45 days time for RERA to dispose of the complaints
d. Mandatory registration of all projects in each State
Answer: c
Explanation:
Lok Sabha on 15 March 2016 passed the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015. The Bill seeks set up a Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for the orderly growth of the real state sector.
The bill aims at protecting the interests of the large number of aspiring house buyers and enhances the credibility of construction industry. Earlier, it was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 10 March 2016.
The bill seeks to create a set of rights and obligations for both the consumers and developers. The mandatory registration for projects has been brought down to 500 sq m area, or those comprising eight flats. It also provides for a clear definition of carpet area and a system that would require the consent of two-thirds of the buyers in case there are changes in project plans.
10. Which of the following services is launched by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in March 2016 under Railways Cleanliness Drive?
a. Make it Clean
b. Swachh Rail
c. Clean it Up
d. Clean My Coach
Answer:
Explanation:
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 11 March 2016 launched an online Clean My Coach service. The service allows travelers to get their compartments cleaned by sending an SMS or by using an app or a designated website.
The service was launched through Video Conferencing from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi/Northern Railway, Mumbai Central/Western Railway and Lucknow Jn/North Eastern Railway.
