11 AUGUST CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding “collegium” for appointment of
Judges

1. The President must assent to or return for reconsideration of the advice
   regarding appointment of Judges within three months.
2. Initiation of the proposal for appointment in case of the High Court must be
   made by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Solution: b)
   Explanation:
   On the Supreme Court collegium clearing the recommendees, the Union Law
   Ministry has to put up within three weeks the recommendations to the Prime
   Minister who would advise the President on the appointment. However, no time
   limit has been prescribed for action by the Prime Minister and the President. 1 is
   incorrect
   Initiation of the proposal for appointment in case of the High Court must invariably
   be made by the Chief Justice of that High Court. 2 is correct
   Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Subordinate courts:
3. The organisational structure and Jurisdiction of these courts are laid down by
   the centre.
4. The High court has administrative control over these courts.
5. The Judges of these courts can be removed after the motion seeking their
   removal is passed by the concerned state legislature by simple majority.
   Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
   a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 3 only
   c) 1 and 3 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: c)
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   Explanation:
   The organisational structure, jurisdiction and nomenclature of the subordinate
   judiciary are laid down by the states. Hence, they differ slightly from state to state.
   Broadly speaking, there are three tiers of civil and criminal courts below the High
   Court. 1 is incorrect.
   As the head of the judiciary in the state , the High Court has got an administrative
   control over the subordinate judiciary in the state in respect of certain matters,
   besides its appellate and supervisory jurisdiction over them. 2 is correct.
   Removal procedure of judges of Subordinate courts is not mentioned in the
   Constitution. A district judge or additional judge may be removed from his office
   by the governor on conformation from the high court collegium. 3 is incorrect.
   Q3. Which of the following organisations is/are the product of the Bretton Woods
   system?
6. World Bank
7. International Monetary Fund
8. World Trade organisation
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
   a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1 and 3 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: a)
   Explanation:
   The Bretton Woods System: The Bretton Woods Conference held in 1944 set up
   the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and re-established
   a system of fixed exchange rates. 1 and 2 are correct
   The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that
   is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations. The WTO
   officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed
   by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and
   Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948. It is the largest international economic
   organization in the world. 3 is incorrect
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   Q4. Consider the following statements with respective to PM-DAKSH Yojana
9. Under the scheme skill development training programmes are provided only
   for marginalized persons of SC (Scheduled Caste), Denotified tribes.
10. It is implemented by National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development
    Corporation (NSFDC) and few other corporations under Ministry of Skill
    Development and Entrepreneurship.
    Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Solution: b)
    Explanation:
    PM-DAKSH Yojana
    • Under this, eligible target groups are provided with the skill development
    training programmes.
    • Marginalized persons of SC (Scheduled Caste), OBC (Other Backward
    Classes), Economically Backward Classes, Denotified tribes, Sanitation
    workers including waste pickers, manual scavengers, transgender and other
    similar categories are eligible under the scheme.
    • It is implemented by the three Corporations under the Ministry of Skill
    Development and Entrepreneurship.
11. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC),
12. National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC),
13. National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation
    (NSKFDC).
    Q5. With reference to the draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021, consider the following
    statements:
14. It proposes to leave the management and administration of the major ports to
    the Board of Major Port Authority for each port, constituted by the Major Ports
    Authorities Act, 2021 and to State Maritime Boards for the management and
    administration of all non-major ports in each State/UT.
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15. It require every coastal State and Union Territory to constitute a State Maritime
    Board.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Solution: c)
    Explanation:
    The present draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021 was circulated on 10th June, 2021 for
    stakeholders’ comments, prior to the 18th meeting of Maritime States Development
    Council (MSDC) scheduled on 24th June 2021.
    • The draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021 proposes to leave the management and
    administration of the major ports to the Board of Major Port Authority for
    each port, constituted by the Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021 and to State
    Maritime Boards for the management and administration of all non-major
    ports in each State/UT.
    • It require every coastal State and Union Territory to constitute a State
    Maritime Board, if it does not already exist through State statutes and, which
    empower the said State Maritime Boards with uniform powers and functions
    including planning, development, supervisory, administrative and
    adjudicatory powers and functions.
    • Hence both statements are correct.
    Q6. With reference to the Gogra, consider the following statements:
16. Hot Springs is a campsite and the location of an Indian border checkpost in the
    Chang Chenmo River valley in Ladakh near the disputed border with China.
17. Gogra is actually in a branch valley of the Changchenmo watered by the
    Khugrang River, northwest of Hot Springs.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
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    Solution: c)
    Explanation:
    After the talks on July 31, India and China have taken one more step towards
    restoring peace and normalcy on the LAC by disengaging at Gogra.
    • It has taken 12 rounds of military-level talks to see both sides disengage and
    put in place buffer zones in the Galwan Valley, the site of the June 2020
    clash that marked the worst violence since 1967, Pangong Lake, and now
    Patrolling Point 17 in Gogra.
    • The disengagement process at PP17 took place on August 4 and 5, with a
    return to permanent bases.
    • The next round of talks will discuss PP15 in Hot Springs. Demchok, where
    China has transgressed in relatively smaller numbers than the deployments
    seen in Pangong Lake, also remains unresolved.
    • Beijing has appeared unwilling to discuss the strategically significant
    Depsang plains, where the Chinese side has been blocking Indian patrols.
    • Hot Springs is a campsite and the location of an Indian border checkpost in
    the Chang Chenmo River valley in Ladakh near the disputed border with
    China.
    • Gogra is actually in a branch valley of the Changchenmo watered by the
    Khugrang River, northwest of Hot Springs.
    • Hence both statements are correct.
    Q7. “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”
    is an initiative of which of the following union ministry?
    a) Ministry of Home Affairs
    b) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
    c) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
    d) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
    Solution: d)
    Explanation:
    The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment informed Parliament
    about SCHEMES FOR BEGGARS.
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    • The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme
    “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”,
    which includes sub scheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive
    Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
    • The focus of the scheme is on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities,
    counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic
    linkages of the persons found to be engaged in begging.
    • Ministry has released an amount of Rs. 1.50 crore to National Backward
    Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) for conducting skill
    development programmes for the persons engaged in begging. So far, 514
    persons engaged in Begging have been provided skill development training.
    Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
    Q8. With reference to the 127th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2021, consider the
    following statements:
18. The Bill seeks to restore the power of State governments to identify OBCs that
    are socially and educationally backward.
19. The Supreme Court in its order on Maratha reservation, upheld the 103nd
    Constitutional Amendment Act and empowered only the Centre to identify OBCs
    that are socially and educationally backward.
    Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Solution: b)
    Explanation:
    The Lok Sabha passed the 127th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2021, which seeks
    to restore the states’ power to make their own OBC lists.
    • The Bill seeks to restore the power of State governments to identify OBCs
    that are socially and educationally backward after a Supreme Court order in
    May 2021 empowered only the Centre to do so.
    • The amendment was thought necessary because the SC, in its order on
    Maratha reservation, upheld the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
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    • It inserted Articles 338B and 342 A (with two clauses) after Article 342, which
    said the President of India, in consultation with the Governors, would specify
    socially and educationally backward classes, taking away the powers of State
    governments to do so.
    • The bill should be considered as the 105th Constitution Amendment bill after
    being renumbered.
    Hence both statements are correct.
    Q9. With reference to the criminalization of polity, consider the following
    statements:
20. The Supreme court had directed political parties to publish the criminal history,
    if any, of their election candidates on the homepage of their websites.
21. The Supreme court recently ordered the Election Commission of India to launch
    a dedicated mobile app for voters to get details of the criminal history of the
    candidates.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Solution: c)
    Explanation:
    The Supreme Court warned Parliament that the nation is losing patience with the
    advent of criminals in politics even as it imposed fines on major political parties for
    covering up from voters the criminal past of the candidates they fielded in the Bihar
    Assembly poll last year.
    • The court had directed political parties to publish the criminal history, if any,
    of their election candidates on the homepage of their websites under the
    caption ‘Candidates with criminal antecedents’ within 48 hours of their
    selection.
    • The court said it did not take political parties much time to flout its February
    2020 judgment, which directed them to prominently publish the criminal
    antecedents of their candidates in newspapers and on social media accounts,
    including Twitter and Facebook.
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    • The court further ordered the Election Commission of India to launch a
    dedicated mobile app for voters to get details of the criminal history of the
    candidates at the touch of a button. The Commission should also form a
    separate cell to monitor political parties on their compliance with the court’s
    judgment.
    Hence both statements are correct.
    Q10. Recently seen in news, Pusa Decomposer Technology is developed by:
    a) ICAR – Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI)
    b) IIT, Madras
    c) CSIR
    d) Greenpeace
    Solution: a)
    Explanation:
    Multiple efforts have been made to demonstrate the new low cost capsule i.e. Pusa
    Decomposer Technology developed by ICAR – Indian Agriculture Research Institute
    (IARI), New Delhi for crop residue management across the country as given below:
    • IARI has licensed this technology to 12 companies for mass multiplication
    and marketing of the Pusa Decomposer. In addition, ICAR – IARI, New Delhi
    has produced about 20000 packets of Pusa decomposer at its own facility for
    use by the farmers.
    • A weekly You Tube channel of IARI named Pusa Samachar also regularly ran
    the programme on “Pusa Decomposer Technology” for the benefit of farmers.
    Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.