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.]

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]

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.

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:

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.

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.

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:

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]

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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]

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.