FRAMED FROM “THE HINDU”
Q.1 Which of the following best describes Forward linkages with respect to the economic activity ?
1. These refer to the transactions with the consumers
2. For food processing industry, these linkages are associated with the primary processing centres
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. A
Forward linkages :
-These refer to the transactions with the consumers
– These linkages are associated with the retail stores
Backward linkages :
-These refer to the transactions with the suppliers
-For food processing industry, these linkages are associated with the primary processing centres
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018
Q.2 With reference to the news what is Blockchain Bond ?
A) It is the new debt instrument issued by World Bank by using ledger technology
B) It is a type of bond purchased by buyers interested in earning a revenue stream from the British pound or sterling
C) Republic of Seychelles has launched the Bond, a novel financing initiative which taps into capital markets to fund ocean-related environmental projects
D) It is the bond issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees, rather than the local currency
Ans. A
The World Bank is turning to blockchain to help it raise money.
The international lender is planning to issue what it says is the world’s first global blockchainbond, a notable mainstream endorsement of the emerging technology.
Blockchain is best known as the technology underpinning bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It serves as a digital record of financial transactions.
The World Bank has hired Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBAUF) to manage the bond, which is expected to raise as much as 100 million Australian dollars ($73 million).
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018
Q.3 Which among the following is/are modified Operational Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ?
1. Only Perennial horticulture crops are included on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY
2. Farmers will be paid 11 % interest by insurance companies
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. D
-Farmers will be paid 12 % interest by insurance companies
-State Governments will have to pay 12 % interest for delay in release of state share of subsidy
-It includes Perennial horticulture crops on pilot basis under the ambit of PMFBY
-It provides add on coverage for crop loss
-Release of upfront premium subsidy
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Q.4 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana, consider the following statements :
1. It is a life insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 years
2. The annual premium of Rs.12 will be paid by the Union government
3. The benefit includes Rs. 2 lakhs in case of death due to any cause
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) 1 & 3
B) Only 3
C) 1 & 2
D) 1,2,3
Ans. B
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana is a accident insurance scheme which includes age between 18 to 50 years
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a life insurance which includes age between 18 to 70 years
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs.12 will be paid by the Union government
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan jyoti Bima Yojana : The annual premium of Rs.330 will be paid by the Union government
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Q.5 With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, consider the following statements :
1. Institutional treatment is the part of this Scheme
2. It will cover over 10 crore people for secondary & tertiary care hospitalization
3. Members of the family should not be more than 5 to be eligible for the scheme
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) 1 & 3
B) Only 2
C) 2 & 3
D) 1,2,3
Ans. B
1st statement : Institution treatment means a hospital, nursing facility, or other. It is a fabricated statement
3rd statement : It is also wrong. It is not the feature of this scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), under Ayushman Bharat umbrella
at Ranchi, Jharkhand. The scheme aims to provide annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to 10.74 crore beneficiary
families i.e. over 50 crore beneficiaries across India. It is touted as world’s largest healthcare scheme that will serve
beneficiary population that equals 27-28 European countries and almost equal to population of Canada, Mexico and US put
together. The scheme will become operational from September 25, 2018 i.e. on birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay.
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018
Q.6 With reference to the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme, consider the following statements :
1. It is proposed to cover all the oil seeds for which minimum support price is notified
2. It does not involve any physical procurement of the crops
3. All the payments will be done directly into registered bank account of the farmer
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) Only 2
B) 2 & 3
C) 1 & 2
D) 1,2,3
Ans. D
The Niti Aayog has released a three-year agenda for the Centre. Of the several things it has touched upon, one is
agriculture, with a focus on doubling farmers’ income. The think-tank has recommended reforms in the APMC Act and tenancy
laws and tweaks to the eNAM (electronic National Agriculture Market). It has also suggested ‘Price Deficiency Payment’
system to address the gaps in Minimum Support Price (MSP) based procurement of crops.
What is it?
Under Price Deficiency Payment, farmers are proposed to be compensated for the difference between the government-
announced MSPs for select crops and their actual market prices. For crops such as rice and wheat where it is effective
now, MSP announcements will continue. For other targeted crops, price deficiency payments will be made. However, it has
to be noted that there may be a cap on the extent to which the Centre will bridge the gap between MSP and market price.
Niti Aayog has said that the farmer may be entitled to the difference up to say, 10 per cent. To avail this benefit, each
farmer would have to register with the nearest APMC mandi and report the total area sown. The subsidy may be paid via
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the farmer’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Why is it important?
The key benefit from the price deficiency payment is that it will reduce the need for the government to actually procure
food crops, transport and store them and then dispose of them under PDS. The difference between the support and market
prices can instead simply be paid in cash to the farmer. Price deficiency payment can also keep India’s bill on food
subsidies under check, believes Niti Aayog. India’s food subsidy schemes have frequently come under the WTO scanner.
Even in the meeting held in March this year, there were questions raised on the minimum support price programmes for
wheat, sugarcane and pulses, by the US, EU and Australia.
These countries see India’s procurement subsidies as trade-distorting. In recent years, the government has been seeing
the accumulation of large food grain stocks in its godowns over and above the buffer requirement. This entails storage
and wastage costs that add on to the subsidy bill.
FRAMED FROM THE HINDU -SEPTEMBER 2018
Q.7 Recently Government has hiked customs duties of several items to curb imports of non-essential goods. Which among the following items are exempted under the custom duty ?
1. E-cigarettes
2. Aviation turbine fuel
3. Decorative sheets
4. Beeds & Bangles
Which of the options given above is/are correct ?
A) 2,3,4
B) Only 1
C) 1 & 3
D) Only 4
Ans. B
Custom Duty
S.no Item
1. Air Conditioner
2. Refrigerators
3. Washing Machines (Less than 10kg)
4 Compressor for ACs, Refrigerators
5. Speakers
6. Footwear
7. Radial car tyres
8. Non-industrial diamonds
9. Diamonds (semi-processed)
10. Lab grown diamonds
11. Cut, polished coloured gem stones
12. Jewellery- precious metal or metal clad with precious metal
13 Goldsmith or Silversmith wares – precious metal or metal clad with precious metal
14. Shower bath, bath, sink, wash basin of plastic
15. Plastic items- boxes, case, containers, bottles, insulated ware
16. Kitchenware, tableware, household items of plastic
17. Other plastic items- office stationary, fitting for furniture, decorative sheets, statuettes, beads and bangles
18. Trunks, suitcases, brief cases, travel bags and other bags
19. Aviation turbine fuel
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Q.8 With reference to the Price Support scheme, consider the following statements :
1. Physical procurement of the oilseeds , pulses & Copra will be done by NAFED & Food Corporation of India
2. Procurement expenditure & losses due to procurement will be borne by the State government
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans.A
Procurement expenditure & losses due to procurement will be borne by the Union government as per norms
Physical procurement of the oilseeds , pulses & Copra will be done by Central Nodal agencies with the proactive role of
the State governments.
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Q.9 India has recently signed COMCASA Agreement . What is/are the consequence/consequences for India by signing the agreement ?
1. It allows the India to transfer electronic systems & ensure secrecy of its C4ISR systems
2. By signing the agreement India would have to buy American Military equipment
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. D
-It allows the US to transfer high tech electronic systems & ensure secrecy of its C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications
, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) systems.
-By signing the agreement, It is not mean that India would have to necessarily buy American Military equipment.
Explanation :
It is one of the three foundational defence pacts that needs to be signed by a country in order to obtain high-tech
military hardware from the US. Before COMCASA, India had signed only one of these agreements – Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) – in 2016. The two countries are yet to begin talks on the third agreement – Basic
Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).
2. The agreement will give Indian military access to function on high-end secured and encrypted communication equipment
which are installed on American platforms obtained by Indian Armed Forces. These platforms include C-130 J, C-17, P-8I
aircraft, and Apache and Chinook helicopters.
3. The act is usually known as the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). But, it
was changed to COMCASA to signify its India-specific alterations.
4. It will also provide a legal framework for the transfer of encrypted communication security equipment from the US to
India. It is believed to be safer and more secure than the system that India uses right now. “Signing of Communications
Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) will enable India to access advanced technologies from USA,” Defence
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while addressing the media.
5. The agreement was pending for almost ten years. One of the major reasons for this was the fear that India may
compromise its operational independence. Critics had also pointed out that the agreement could jeopardise India’s
established military ties with Russia and access to their weapons systems.
The agreement is also of political significance with the general elections scheduled to take place next year. In 2016,
the BJP government had to face a lot of criticism from the opposition parties for signing LEMOA.
These agreements and Donald Trump administration’s decision to give India STA-1 status (Strategic Trade Authorization-1)
shows the country’s importance in the US strategic calculus.
“We’ll be meeting PM Modi on how to advance relationship in the new era of growth under his leadership and President
Trump. We had many productive and forward thinking conversations on our bilateral relationship and our shared future,”
Pompeo said after ‘2+2’ talks.
Q.10 With respect to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which among the following is NOT correct?
A) It is a social welfare scheme to provide LPG connections in BPL households
B) The scheme was launched in the year 2015
C) The Government has set a target of 5 crores LPG connections under the Yojana
D) The objective of the scheme is to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel
Ans. B
– The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a welfare program of the government of India, launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.
The stated objective of the program is providing 50,000,000 LPG connections to women from families below the poverty line.
