Economics Miscellaneous (Part – II)

Total Questions: 50

1. 'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of the affairs of: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2016.]

(a) African Union
(b) Brazil
(c) European Union
(d) China

Correct Answer: (d) China

Solution:The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), formerly known as One Belt One Road or OBOR for short, is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations. 'Belt is short for the 'Silk Road Economic Belt', referring to the proposed overland routes for road and rail transportation through landlocked Central Asia along the famed historical trade routes of the Western Regions; whereas 'Road' is short for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road', referring to the Indo-Pacific sea routes through South- east Asia to South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

2. Yamuna Expressway runs between: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

(a) Noida to Greater Noida
(b) Greater Noida to Agra
(c) Lucknow to Agra
(d) Agra to Allahabad

Correct Answer: (b) Greater Noida to Agra

Solution:Yamuna Expressway, also known as Taj Expressway is a 6-lane, 165.5 Km long-access controlled expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

The 165 Km long Yamuna Expressway has been developed by the Jaypee Group under Public-Private - Partnership. The Concession Agreement between TEA and JIL (Jaiprakash Industries Limited) as the Concessionaire was executed on 7th Feb, 2003.
The Expressway cuts in half the travel time from New Delhi to Agra, the city that is home to India's top tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal. Apart from providing a fast travel corridor between New Delhi and Agra, the Expressway opens up avenue for industrial and urban development of the region. The Yamuna Expressway corridor is bound to have huge impact on the economic and industrial growth not only of Uttar Pradesh but adjoining states e.g. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana in the coming years

3. Which among the following statements are true about 'Urja Ganga' project? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

1. It is a gas pipeline project.

2. It was launched in October 2016.

3. It runs from Iran to India.

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

Codes:

(a) Only 2 and 3 are correct
(b) Only 1 and 2 are correct
(c) Only 1 and 3 are correct
(d) All 1, 2 and 3 are correct

Correct Answer: (b) Only 1 and 2 are correct

Solution:Urja Ganga gas pipeline project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, 2016 in his constituency Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The project is committed to provide the household members health safety by providing clean fuel with the piped cooking gas to cities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Assam.

The project is also known as Jagdishpur - Haldia & Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline Project (JHBDPL) project.
This pipeline will connect six districts in Bihar to the National Gas Grid. The project will provide access to clean natural gas for industries, CNG for vehicles and PNG for homes, promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
Total length of pipeline under Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project is approx. 3,384 km, out of which 766 km of pipeline is in Odisha state and the balance 2,618 km is in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Assam.
The seven main station cities include Varanasi, Patna, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as the major beneficiaries of the project.
The project is being implemented by GAIL.

4. On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]

1. Ceiling fans

2. Electric geysers

3. Tubular fluorescent lamps

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3

Solution:The Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on 1st March, 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 with the primary objective of reducing energy intensity of the Indian economy. On this point of view a scheme named Standards and Labelling Pro- gram was launched in May, 2006. The objective of Standard and Labelling Program is to provide the consumer an in- formed choice about the energy saving and thereby the cost saving potential of the marketed household and other equipment. This program is currently invoked for equipments/appliances like Room Air Conditioner, Ceiling Fan, Colour Tele- vision, Computer, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Tubular Fluorescent Lamp (TFL), Electric Geysers, Micro- wave Oven, Domestic Gas Stove, Led Lamps, High Energy Li-Battery etc.

5. Regarding 'DigiLocker', sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]

1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.

2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under 'Digital India' programme launched in 2015. DigiLocker aims at 'Digital Empowerment' of citizen by providing access to authentic digital documents to citizen's digital document wallet. The issued document in DigiLocker system are deemed to be at par with original physical documents. It allows user to access his e-documents irrespective of his physical location.

6. Which of the following online portals has been launched by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India for small traders? [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

(a) e-traders
(b) e-lala
(c) e-urban
(d) e-urban-dev

Correct Answer: (b) e-lala

Solution:With an aim of promoting interests of small businesses and traders, Ministry of Urban Development in November, 2015 launched e-lala, an e-commerce portal of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), to promote business-to-business and trader-to-customer transactions within a city.

e-traders: These are electronic systems, other than a recognised stock exchange, on which transactions in eligible instruments like securities, money market instruments, foreign exchange instruments, derivatives, etc. are contracted.

7. SEMFEX scheme has been introduced by: [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 1999]

(a) RAJSICO
(b) RFC
(c) RIICO
(d) RSMDC

Correct Answer: (b) RFC

Solution:SEMFEX Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Defence for providing loans to the ex-military men. In Rajasthan, Rajasthan Financial Corporation (RFC) provided loans under this scheme.

The Self Employment Scheme for Ex-Servicemen (SEMFEX) is a scheme designed to help ex-servicemen, disabled personnel, and war widows resettle and earn a livelihood by undertaking agricultural or non-farm activities in rural areas. It provides a comprehensive credit package, including refinance for both block capital and working capital for one operating cycle

8. Which one of the following Union Ministries is implementing the Biodiesel Mission (As Nodal Ministry)? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Ministry of Agriculture
(b) Ministry of Science and Technology
(c) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(d) Ministry of Rural Development

Correct Answer: (d) Ministry of Rural Development

Solution:Ministry of Rural Development is the Nodal Ministry for implementing the Biodiesel Mission. The experiments to produce Biodiesel from Jatropha seeds were held in Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh etc.

Biodiesel: Biodiesel is a liquid fuel produced from vegetable oils and animal fats through transesterification.
It is used as a replacement or as a blending with petroleum-based diesel in various combinations such as B5, B20, 8100, etc.
820 (commonly used due to cost-effectiveness, low emissions and compatibility with conventional engines) is a blend containing 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel.
8100 (less commonly used) is a pure biodiesel.

9. Which one of the following companies has started a rural marketing network called 'e-choupals'? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2005]

(a) ITC
(b) Dabur
(c) Procter and Gamble
(d) Hindustan Unilever

Correct Answer: (a) ITC

Solution:

e-Choupal was launched by India Tobacco Company (ITC) in the year 2000. ITC's Agri Business Division has conceived e-Choupal as a more efficient supply chain, aimed at delivering value to its customers on a sustainable basis. e-Choupal has become the largest initiative among all internet-based interventions in rural India. ITC has taken care to involve farmers in the designing and management of the entire e-Choupal' initiative. India Tobacco Company (ITC) is one of India's foremost private sector companies with presence in FMCG, Hotels, Packaging, Paperboards and Specialty papers, Agri & IT Businesses.

10. The Visa-on-Arrival Scheme (VoA) was started in the country in January 2010 on pilot basis. Which of the following countries was not in this list in this year? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

(a) Japan
(b) Philippines
(c) Finland
(d) Singapore

Correct Answer: (b) Philippines

Solution:Initially, in January 2010 Visa on Arrival (VOA) scheme was introduced for citizens of five countries, namely Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore. In January 2011, the VOA scheme was extended to citizens of six more countries, viz., Combodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia and Myanmar. To make travel to India trouble-free and unforgettable for foreign tourists, the Government of India launched e-Tourist visa scheme on November 27, 2014.

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