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1. Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY).
1. The PMRPY scheme is targeted for workers earning wages upto Rs. 1,50,000/- per month.
2. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and is operational since August, 2016.
3. This scheme has a dual benefit, where, on the one hand, the employer is incentivised for increasing the employment base of workers in the establishment, and on the other hand, a large number of workers will find jobs in such establishments.
4. A direct benefit of the scheme is that these workers have access to social security benefit through Provident Fund, Pension and Death Linked Insurance.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) All of the above
Answer-b
Explanation
Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
The Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY), the flagship scheme of the Union Government for employment generation, crossed the milestone of one crore beneficiaries on January, 2019.
The scheme “Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana” (PMRPY) was announced in the Budget for 2016-17.
The objective of the scheme is to promote employment generation.
The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Under the scheme employers would be provided an incentive for enhancing employment by reimbursement of the 8.33% EPS contribution made by the employer in respect of new employment.
The PMRPY scheme is targeted for workers earning wages upto Rs. 15,000/- per month.
Significance of the scheme:
PMRPY has a dual benefit –
The employer is incentivised for increasing the employee base in the establishment through payment of EPF contribution of 12% of wage, which otherwise would have been borne by the employer.
A large number of workers find jobs in such establishments.
A direct benefit of the scheme is that these workers have access to social security benefit through Provident Fund, Pension and Death Linked Insurance.
https://pmrpy.gov.in/
2. Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Scheme (PM-SYM).
1. It is a central government scheme targeted at unorganized workers.
2. The person should be within the age limit of 18-55 to be eligible for the scheme.
3. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, under which the subscriber would receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer-c
Explanation-
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Scheme (PM-SYM)
PM-SYM which was recently announced in the Interim Budget-2019 will be implemented from February 15, 2019 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
PM-SYM is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and Community Service Centers (CSCs). LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out.
This scheme seeks to benefit around 42 crore workers from the unorganized sector of the country.
Eligibility
The unorganised workers (home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, landless labourers and similar other occupations) whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less.
The Subscriber should belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years.
The subscriber will be required to have a mobile phone, savings bank account and Aadhaar number.
They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
He/She should not be an income tax payer.
Salient Features
Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.
Contribution: The subscriber’s contributions shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account.
PM-SYM functions on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government.
3. Which of the following Dam and their country of location are correctly matched?
Dam Country of location
1. White Nile dam Sudan
2. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Egypt
3. Aswan dam Ethiopia
Which of the above given pair(s) is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer-a
Explanation-
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
It was formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam.
It is a gravity dam whose construction began in 2011 on the Blue Nile tributary in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the Nile’s waters flow.
When complete, the Grand Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia is building, will be Africa’s biggest hydroelectric power plant.
Why does Ethiopia want such a big dam?
The dam is at the heart of Ethiopia’s manufacturing and industrial dreams. When completed, it is expected to be able to generate a massive 6,000 megawatts of electricity.
Ethiopia has an acute shortage of electricity, with 65% of its population not connected to the grid.
The energy generated will be enough to have its citizens connected and sell the surplus power to neighbouring countries.
Ethiopia also sees the dam as a matter of national sovereignty.
The dam project does not rely on external funding and relies on government bonds and private funds to pay for the project.
The country has been critical of what it considers foreign interference in the matter.
Nile River Basin: 11 countries
Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Nile river is the longest river in the world. Its length is about 6,670kms.
Important tributaries are Blue Nile and White Nile.
Important dams
White Nile dam on White Nile in Sudan
Sennar dam on Blue Nile in Sudan
Aswan dam on Nile River in Egypt
Under construction Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Blue Nile in Ethiopia.
4. Which of the following passes and its location of State/UTs are correctly matched?
Passes State/UT
1. Zojila Ladakh
2. Shipki La Sikkim
3. Nathu La Himachal
4. Bomdi La Arunachal
Choose the correct option.
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
Answer-b
Explanation-
5. Consider the following statements regarding the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
1. IOC is a non-governmental international organisation which came into existence in 1894.
2. It is the supreme authority of Olympic Movement and is headquartered at Athens, Greece.
3. It acts as a catalyst for collaboration between all parties of the Olympic family and shepherds success through a wide range of programmes and project
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer-c
Explanation-
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
It is a non-governmental international organisation which came into existence in 1894.
It is the supreme authority of Olympic Movement and is headquartered at Lausanne, Switzerland.
Objectives of IOC
The IOC has the aim of ensuring the regular holding of the Olympic Games and fostering Olympism and the Olympic movement. Olympism, is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining, in a balanced whole, the qualities of body, will and mind.
Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
The goal of the Olympic movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair-play.
Structure of IOC
The IOC is a permanent organisation that elects its own members. Each member must speak French or English and be a citizen of or reside in a country that has a National Olympic Committee. With a very few exceptions, there is only one member from any one country. Members were originally elected for life, but those elected after 1965 must retire at 75.
The IOC is the final authority on all questions concerning the Olympic Games and the Olympic movement.
It was for the first time that 204 National Olympic Committees represent their countries at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Executive Board which meets four-five times a year to manage the IOC’s affairs has a President elected for an eight-year term and four Vice-Presidents who are elected for a four-year term. There are usually six members on the Executive Board. These members are elected for a four-year term.
The administration is carried under the authority of a Director-General and a Secretary-General.
The Olympic Charter is the codification of the fundamental principles, rules and bye-laws adopted by the IOC. It governs the organisation and operation of the Olympic movement and stipulates the conditions for the celebration of the Olympic Games.
Activities of IOC
Under the supreme authority of the IOC, the Olympic movement encompasses organisations, athletes and other persons who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter.
The criterion for belonging to the Olympic movement is recognition by the IOC. The activity of the Olympic movement is permanent and universal. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the athletes of the world at the great sport festival, the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Summer Games take place during the first year of the Olympiad (period of four years) which they are to celebrate. They are the exclusive property of the IOC, which entrusts their organisation to a host city seven years in advance. The programme of the Games must include at least 15 of the total number of Olympic sports (sports governed by recognized International Federations and admitted to the Olympic programme by decision of the IOC at least seven year before the Games).
https://www.olympic.org/the-ioc