UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

PRELIMS 2019 SPECIAL

LECTURE 62

MCQs – CURRENT AFFAIRS

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Q. Consider the following statements regarding “Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facility” :

1. India has 5 operational Strategic Petroleum Reserve government facility.

2. ONGC manages all the Strategic Petroleum Reserve government facility.

3. Visakhapatnam SPR facility has the largest underground storage compartment in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 3 Only

c) 2 & 3 Only

d) All of the above

Answer: B

QUESTION 1

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QUESTION 1

To ensure energy security, the Government of India had decided to set up 5 million metric tons (MMT) of strategiccrude oil storages at three locations namely, Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur (near Udupi). These strategicstorages would be in addition to the existing storages of crude oil and petroleum products with the oil companiesand would serve as a cushion during any external supply disruptions. Government mooted the concept ofstrategic petroleum reserves in 1998.

1

In the 2017-18 budget, it was announced that two more such caverns will be set up Chandikhole in Jajpur districtof Odisha and Bikaner in Rajasthan as part of the second phase.

2

The construction of the Strategic Crude Oil Storage facilities is being managed by Indian Strategic PetroleumReserves Limited (ISPRL), a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil IndustryDevelopment Board (OIDB) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

3

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In 1990, as the Gulf war engulfed West Asia, India was in the throes of a major energy crisis. By all accountsIndia’s oil reserves at the time were adequate for only three days. While India managed to avert the crisis then,the threat of energy disruption continues to present a real danger even today.

4

Q. With reference to “Mega Food Park Scheme(MFPS)”, consider the following statements:

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is responsible for this scheme.

2. It is based on “Cluster” approach and envisages creation of state of art support infrastructure in a

well-defined agri/ horticultural zone.

3. Acquiring the 50 acres of land by the developer is mandatory under MFPS.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 & 2 Only

b) 3 Only

c) 2 & 3 Only

d) All of the Above

Answer: C

QUESTION 2

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a

QUESTION 2

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Cremica Food Park is the first mega food park of Himachal Pradesh. The Park is located at Village Singhain UnaDistrict of Himachal Pradesh. It is set up at a cost of Rs 107.34 crore.

1

a

QUESTION 2

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To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of thesupply chain with particular focus on perishables, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing MegaFood Park Scheme in the country. It was launched in 2008.

1

The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on “Cluster” approach and envisages creation of state of art supportinfrastructure in a well-defined agri/ horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units along withwell-established supply chain.

2

Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and facilities for primaryprocessing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) and CollectionCenters (CCs).

3

The MFPS scheme envisages a onetime capital grant of 50% of the project cost (excluding land cost) subject to amaximum of Rs. 50 Crores in general areas and 75% of the project cost (excluding land cost) subject to a ceiling ofRs. 50 Crores in difficult and hilly areas i.e. North East Region including Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhandand ITDP notified areas of the States.

4

Limited to non-land component of the project and project is done on 50-50-50 scheme {Rs. 50 Crore grant byGovernment; 50 acre land is needed; 50 crore minimum investment to be done by park developer}

5

Q. Consider the following statements regarding “Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP)” :

1. It part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

2. Exploration fields offered under this policy is based on profit-sharing model.

3. This policy allows explorer to choose exploration fields according to their capabilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 & 2 Only

b) 2 Only

c) 1 & 3 Only

d) All of the above

Answer: D

QUESTION 3

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a

QUESTION 3

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The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has launched the third bidding round under the Open AcreageLicensing Policy (OALP), offering 23 hydrocarbon blocks covering over 31,000 sq km for exploration. With thelaunch of the third bidding round, more than 1,20,000 sq km has now been made available for exploration in lastone year under the OALP.

The 23 blocks offered now are spread across states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha,Assam, West Bengal, Nagaland, Tripura, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Some blocks are also ineastern and western offshore.

1

The OALP, a critical part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, provides uniform licences forexploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbons, enabling contractors to explore conventional as well asunconventional oil and gas resources.

Fields are offered under a revenue-sharing model and throw up marketing and pricing freedom for crude oil andnatural gas produced.

2

Under the OALP, once an explorer selects areas after evaluating the National Data Repository (NDR) and submitsthe Expression of Interest (EoI), it is to be put up for competitive bidding and the entity offering the maximumshare of oil and gas to the government is awarded the block.

NDR has been created to provide explorers’ data on the country’s repositories, allowing them to choose fieldsaccording to their capabilities.

3

Q. Which of the following ministries has launched “e-cocoon mobile app”?

a) Ministry of Agriculture and farmers welfare

b) Ministry of Rural Development

c) Ministry of Textiles

d) Ministry of Science & Technology

Answer : C

QUESTION 4

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a

QUESTION 4

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It is a mobile application launched by the Ministry of Textiles for quality certification in silkworm seed sector. It will be used by the Seed Analysts and Seed Officers nominated under Central Seed Act for system and product

certification through real time reporting. India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk. India’s silk production

capacity is expected to reach about 38,500 tonnes by 2020 from the current level of 32,000 tonnes.

1

Q. Consider the following statements about Forest Rights Act, 2006:

1. It recognises Right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity and

cultural diversity.

2. This Act can act as a potential tool to address the issues of Conservation and management of the

Natural Resources and conservation governance of India.

3. For the first time Forest Rights Act recognises and secures Community Rights or rights over

common property resources of the communities in addition to their individual rights.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 & 3 Only

c) 3 Only

d) All of the above

Answer : D

QUESTION 5

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QUESTION 5

The Odisha State Food Commission has again asked the State government to expedite implementation of the ForestRights Act, 2006, that would help ensure food and nutritional security to the vulnerable section of society.

1

The act was passed in December 2006. It deals with the rights of forest-dwelling communities over land and otherresources. The Act grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities, partiallycorrecting the injustice caused by the forest laws.

2

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Title Rights: Ownership to land that is being farmed by tribals or forest dwellers subject to a maximum of 4 hectares;ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family, meaning that no new lands aregranted.

3

Use Rights: Forest dwelling communities have user rights to minor forest produce (also including ownership), tograzing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.

4

Relief and development rights: to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or forced displacement; and to basicamenities, subject to restrictions for forest protection.

5

Forest management rights : to protect forests and wildlife.6

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Thank You and Happy Learning