Quantitative Aptitude Quiz-3: Questions on Alligation

India and Singapore have signed Second Protocol amending Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in New Delhi. Its provisions will come into effect on 14th September, 2018.

Second Protocol amending CECA

It will help to boost bilateral trade between India and Singapore. It formally brings to closure negotiations on second review of CECA. It will give effect to provisions agreed between India and Singapore during closure of second review of CECA. It will give effect to provisions agreed between India and Singapore during closure of the second review of CECA.

Background

CECA was first comprehensive agreement covering trade in goods, services and investments signed by India with any of its trading partners. It was signed in June, 2005 and its first review was concluded in October, 2007. The second review was started in May 2010. In closing second review, India and Singapore had successfully reached mutual understanding and agreement. They also had agreed to expand coverage of tariff concessions, liberalize Rules of Origin, rationalize Product Specific Rules and include provisions on Certificate of Origin and Cooperation on its verification. These measures will further facilitate trade between India and Singapore and also improve utilization of CECA. The conclusion of second review was announced during state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore in June, 2018. Now, both countries are exploring the possibility of launching the 3rd Review of India-Singapore CECA in September, 2018.

India-Singapore Trade

Singapore is second largest trading partner of India within ASEAN and India is largest trading partner of Singapore in South Asia with bilateral trade of US $17.7 billion in 2017-18. Singapore’s trade with India constitutes about 21.8% of our total trade with ASEAN and 2.3% of our global trade.  India had trade surplus of US $2.73 billion with Singapore in 2017-18.

Indian Air Force (IAF) launched Trans-Himalayan Mountain Terrain Biking Expedition (THE MTB) as part of its celebration of 86th Anniversary on 8 October 2018. The expedition was started on 17 Aug 2018 from Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in Ladakh for Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh. DBO and Kibithu are two forward most outposts of India in North and in East with DBO being highest airfield in the world located altitude of 16614 feet.

The MTB

The aim of MTB expedition is to promote spirit of adventure among Air Warriors to undertake daunting challenges and ‘Go Green’ initiative. The team for expedition consisted of 18 Air warriors (12 riders and 06 support staff) which also include two women officers. It is led by Wg Cdr S Sharathchandra.
The team covered distance of more than 4500 km through mountain terrain passing through states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This is for first time IAF has undertaken mountain terrain biking expedition of such magnitude. Under this adventure expedition, IAF team will undertake involves camping and living outdoors, managing and surviving on  their own in snow, rain and extreme climatic conditions throughout the expedition.