Hello Aspirants,

From today , I will be starting a new series i.e. "PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER" , apart from my MCQs series.

In the series , each day, I will be posting some EXTRA factual information (related to History, Culture, Economy, Polity, S&T, Environment, Current Affairs etc) about a particular topic.

THIS will provide you that "extra" edge in prelims , looking at the dynamic nature of this exam.

Thanks,
CSR

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 1

(Topic: IR/society/development)

COPENHAGEN CONSENSUS

* It is a project that seeks to establish priorities for advancing global welfare using methodologies based on the theory of welfare economics , using cost - benefit analysis.

* It was conceived and organized around 2004 by Bjern Lamborg

* The project is run by the Copenhagen Consensus Center , which is an independent NGO.

* The project considers possible solutions to a wide range of problems , presented by experts in each field.

* Three Copenhagen Consensus has happened till now
a)Copenhagen Consensus 2004
b)Copenhagen Consensus 2008
c)Copenhagen Consensus 2012

* The Copenhagen Consensus 2012 - identified several "nutritional interventions" as some of the most high-yielding of all possible development assessments

Q.478) Consider the following about Calling Attention procedure.

1. It is a notice by which a member calls the attention of a minister to any matter of urgent public importance.

2. Prior Permission of Speaker is not required.

3. The minister may make a brief Statement or ask for sometime an hour or a day for the reply

4. The "Calling Attention" procedure also exist in the Rajya Sabha.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 2

Topic: Modern History ( Revolt of 1857)

PEEL COMMISSION

1. Set up after 1857 Revolt.

2. To look after the military affairs of British India

3. Recommendations of Peel Commision ----
a) Native Army should be composed of different nationalities and castes ( as it felt that a homogeneous Arny would be a risk in future & more prior to the revolt, the recruitment was more of upper Hindu caste)

b) It was decided to divide regiments into class companies and this eventually led to the theory of "Martial Races of India" ( post 1857 - regiments of dogras , Gujjars , Gorkhas, Sikhs , Kumaons, Mahars ets )

c) recommended that proportion of Indian to British soldiers in India should not be greater than 3:1 ( this was adhered till Second World War )

d) Commision also recommended that soldiers should be enlisted for general service.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 3

Topic : Modern History (personalities/dyarchy/Govt of India Act, 1919)

Lionel George Curtis

1. British official & Author ; & advocated British Empire Federalism.

2. He is known as the "Father of Dyarchy". ( it's not Montague-Chemsford )

3. His ideas concerning Dyarchy were important in the development of the Government of India Act, 1919.

4. His writings influenced the evolution of the "Commonwealth of Nations" (IR topic)

5. The "Round Table Group" was started by Lionis Curtis and his friends in South Africa after 1906 and it played a very significant part in bringing dyarchy and various elements in the Govt of India Act, 1919.
Curtis requested Sir William Duke who had been the Lt. Governor of Bengal to present his views relating to India. His views were formulated in the "Duke Memorandum", which was a precursor to the Government of India Act, 1919.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 4

Topic: Modern history

AZAD HIND RADIO :

* A propaganda radio service that was started under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Bose in Germany in 1942.

* To encourage Indians to fight for freedom

* Though initially based in Germany, it's headquarters shifted to Singapore and later to Rangoon following the course of the war in South East Asia.

* Languages - English, Hindi , Tamil , Bengali , Marathi , Punjabi , Pashto and Urdu .

* It said the All-India Radio as anti-indian radio.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 5

Topic: Schemes (CA/contemporary)

Startup Sangam Initiative

* under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas ( not under Ministry of Commerce, since "Startup India" comes under Ministry of Commerce )

* to develop new business models , marketing plans, technology and innovations in heavy & oil gas industry.

* 10 oil and gas PSU's have setup Rs 320 crore venture capital to encourage startups based on innovative ideas in the energy sector

* Startups in technology field --- will get 30 months to submit proof of concept

Startups in business field --- will get 18 months to submit proof of concept

* These oil & gas PSUs will buy out these projects submitted by selected startups in given time frame based on merit to do more investment.

Hello Aspirants,

Full test no.4 (under CSR Advanced Test series-2021) is now live and available in the website-.

www.csrclasses.in

Go to Menu , click on "Advanced Test Pdf" .

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 6

Topic: Economy

LIBOR :

* benchmark rate that represents the interest rate at which banks offer to lend funds to one another in the international inter bank market for short term loans

* It stands for London Interbank Offered Rate and serves as the first step for calculating interest rates on various loans throughout the world.

* In 2014, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) took over the administration of the LIBOR ,changing its name to ICE LIBOR.

* LIBOR is now administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) & is based in 5 currencies --- Dollars , Euro , Pound , Yen , Franc

* Previously, LIBOR was administered by British Banker's Association.

* However , LIBOR will not be published anymore after end-2021 and market participants are strongly encouraged to transition to other risk free rates.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 7

Topic : Environment / energy efficiency / Acts

Energy Conservation Act , 2001

* The act provides for the legal framework , Institutional arrangement and a regulatory mechanism at the Centre and state level to embark upon energy efficiency drive in the country.

* Five major provisions of EC Act relate to --
- designated consumers
- Standard & Labelling of appliances
- Energy Conservation Building codes (ECBC)
- Creation of an institutional setup ( i.e. BEE - Bureau of Energy Efficiency established in 2002 )
- Establishment of Energy Conservation Fund

* The Act empowers the central govt and in some instances , the state govt to ------

a) specify energy consumption standards for notified equipment & appliances

b) direct mandatory display of label on notified appliances

c) prohibit manufacture,sale,purchase and import of notified equipment/appliances not conforming to energy consumption standards

d) prescribe energy conservation building codes for efficient use of energy

e) notify energy intensive industries , other establishments & commercial buildings as designated consumers.

* The state govt may amend the energy conservation codes prepared by the Central govt .

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2010

1. The central govt may issue the energy savings certificate to the designated consumer whose energy consumption is less than the prescribed norms and standards in accordance with the procedure as may be prescribed

2. The designated consumer whose energy consumption is more than the prescribed norms and standards shall be entitled to purchase the energy savings certificate to comply with the prescribed norms & standards

3. The Central govt may, in consultation with BEE, prescribe the value of per metric ton of oil equivalent of energy consumed

4. Commercial buildings which are having a connected load of 100 KW or contract demand of 120 kVA and above come under the purview of ECBC under EC Act.

Q.481) Consider the following statements.

1. BR Ambedkar was the only one who represented the depressed classes at the Round Table Conferences (RTC).

2. Ambedkar wanted separate electorates for the depressed classes from the very beginning of his political career.

PRELIMS FACT BOOSTER - 8

Topic: governance

National Statistical Commission (NSC) :

1. Set up in 2005 through a government resolution , after the recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee

2. came to effect in 2006.

3. Mandate --- to evolve policies , standards in Statistical matters.

4. Composition :
* Part-time Chairperson
* Four Part-time Members
* Ex-officio member ( CEO of Niti Aayog)
* Secretary to the Commision - he is the "Chief Statistician of India". He is also the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

5. The National Statistical Commision is a advisory/recommending body that helps to better the Statistical system in India.

6. The NSC was the governing council of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).

[ However , now the NSSO & the CSO have been merged into an overarching body - NATIONAL STATISTICAL OFFICE (NSO) under the Minister of Statistics & Programme Implementation ]

* Recent news : MosPI released a draft National Statistical Commision Bill, 2020 in public domain for feedback .

- This bill seeks to establish NSC as the nodal , autonomous and Statutory body for all core Statistical activities.

- It also proposes the NSC to be a body corporate.