16 MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. With reference to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, consider the following statements: [Delhi Edition Page: 1]

1. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 proposes to amend Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the 1991 Act.
2. The Bill gives discretionary powers to the L-G even in matters where the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is empowered to make laws.
   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 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) moved a Bill in the Lok Sabha in which it proposed that the “government” in the National Capital Territory of Delhi meant the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi.
• The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 proposes to amend Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the 1991 Act.
• Section 44 of the 1991 Act says that all executive actions of the L-G, whether taken on the advice of his Ministers or otherwise, shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the L-G.
• The Bill gives discretionary powers to the L-G even in matters where the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is empowered to make laws.
• The proposed legislation also seeks to ensure that the L-G is “necessarily granted an opportunity” to give her or his opinion before any decision taken by the Council of Ministers (or the Delhi Cabinet) is implemented.
• Delhi is a Union Territory with a legislature and it came into being in 1991 under Article 239AA of the Constitution inserted by the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991.
• As per the existing Act, the Legislative Assembly has the power to make laws in all matters except public order, police and land. • Hence both statements are correct.

Q2. Bhaona is a traditional form of entertainment, with religious messages, prevalent in:
a) Karnataka
b) Bihar
c) Punjab
d) Assam

Solution: (d) Explanation:
The Congress in Assam has tweaked Bhaona for a political statement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens.
• Bhaona is a traditional form of entertainment, with religious messages, prevalent is Assam.
• It is a creation of Sankardeva, written in the early sixteenth century.
• The plays of bhaona are popularly known as Ankiya Nats and their staging is known as bhaona.
• The bhaonas are written in the Assamese and Brajavali languages.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q3. With reference to the Project RE-HAB, consider the following statements: [Delhi Edition Page: 8]

1. It is an initiative of Greenpeace International.
2. It intends to create “bee fences” to thwart elephant attacks in human habitations using honeybees.
   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:
A pilot project launched in Kodagu, Karnataka entails installing bee boxes along the periphery of the forest and the villages with the belief that the elephants will not venture anywhere close to the bees and thus avoid transgressing into human landscape. This idea stems from the elephants’ proven fear of the bees.
• An initiative of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) intends to create “bee fences” to thwart elephant attacks in human habitations using honeybees.
• The pilot project was launched at four locations around Chelur village in Kodagu district by KVIC. These spots are located on the periphery of the Nagarahole National Park and Tiger Reserve, known conflict zone.
• Project RE-HAB is a sub-mission of the KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
• Between 2015 and 2020, nearly 2,500 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks across India, of which 170 human fatalities have been reported in Karnataka alone, says the KVIC.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q4. With reference to the None of the Above (NOTA), consider the following statements: [Delhi Edition Page: 10]

1. Supreme Court, in the PUCL v Union of India (2013) directed the ECI to introduce NOTA in direct elections to allow voters to register their protest if none of the candidates is acceptable to them.
2. NOTA has only symbolic value in a direct election.
   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 asked the Centre and the Election Commission of India to respond to a plea that fresh elections should be conducted in constituencies where the highest number of votes polled are NOTA (None Of The Above).
• The petition said candidates ‘rejected’ by voters should not be fielded again in the fresh polls.
• Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde expressed doubts initially about the feasibility of the petition to arm the electorate with the “right to reject” and nudge political parties to present voters with a better choice of candidates to pick from.
• Chief Justice Bobde said if voters kept rejecting candidates, Parliament/Assembly seats would continue to remain vacant, affecting legislative functioning.
• But the petition argued that “if voters are given the power to reject, political parties will take care to field worthy candidates in the first place.”
• Supreme Court, in the PUCL v Union of India (2013) directed the ECI to introduce NOTA in direct elections to allow voters to register their protest if none of the candidates is acceptable to them.
• NOTA has only symbolic value in a direct election. Regardless of NOTA numbers, candidate polling most votes is elected.
• However, it is a step towards encouraging political parties to field candidates with integrity.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q5. Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass is a high mountain pass in which of the following mountain range? [Delhi Edition Page: 10]
a) Pir Panjal range
b) Shiwalik Range
c) Karakoram Range
d) Zanskar range

Solution: (d) Explanation:
For the first time ever, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started work on reopening the crucial Baralacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh much before schedule to restore connectivity to Leh in Ladakh.
• Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range, connecting Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh, situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
• The pass also acts as a water-divide between the Bhaga river and the Yunam river.
• The Bhaga river, a tributary of the Chenab river, originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few of kilometers from the pass towards Manali.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q6. With reference to the Great Indian Bustard, consider the following statements: [Delhi Edition Page: 10]

1. India, effectively the only home of the bustards, now harbours less than 150 individuals in five States.
2. It is listed in Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
   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: (a) Explanation:
The Supreme Court intervened on behalf of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustards over the birds falling dead after colliding with power lines running through their dwindling natural habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Black crown on the forehead contrasting with the pale neck and head. The body is brownish and the wings are marked with black, brown and grey.
• They feed on grass seeds, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and sometimes even small rodents and reptiles.
• Distribution:
o India, effectively the only home of the bustards, now harbours less than 150 individuals in five States.
o Today, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small population also occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
o It is the State bird of Rajasthan.
• Habitat:
o Bustards generally favour flat open landscapes with minimal visual obstruction and disturbance, therefore adapt well in grasslands.
o They avoid grasses taller than themselves and dense scrub like thickets.
• Conservation status:
o Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972, o Listed in Appendix I of CITES, o Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Recent development:
• A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde will examine on a priority basis whether overhead power cables can be replaced with underground ones to save one of the heaviest flying birds on the planet.
• The court found further that an alternative mechanism — to install flight bird divertors — to guide the birds away from the power lines would be expensive.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q7. Which of the following country is the second largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia according to Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI)? [Delhi Edition Page: 10]
a) China
b) Germany
c) Iran
d) India

Solution: (d) Explanation:
Arms imports decreased by 33% between 2011–15 and 2016–20 while India continues to remain the second largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia, according to a report from Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• The overall drop in arms imports between 2011–15 and 2016–20 was due to complex and lengthy procurement processes, combined with attempts to reduce its dependence on Russian arms by diversifying its network of arms suppliers.
• Russia was the largest arms supplier in both years. However, Russia’s deliveries dropped by 53% between the two periods and its share of Indian arms imports fell from 70 to 49%.
• France and Israel were the second and third largest arms suppliers in 2016–20. India’s arms imports from France increased by 709% while those from Israel rose by 82%.
• The U.S. was the fourth largest supplier in 2016–20.
• Combat aircraft and associated missiles made up more than 50% of arms imports.
• Arms imports by Pakistan between 2011–15 and 2016–20 decreased by 23%.
• China accounted for 61% of its imports in 2011–15 and for 74% in 2016–20.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. With reference to the Allocation of Symbols to Political Parties, consider the following statements: [Delhi Edition Page: 8]

1. A party/candidate has to provide a list of three symbols from the EC‟s free symbols list at the time of filing nomination papers.
2. Among them, one symbol is allotted to the party/candidate on a firstcome-first-serve basis.
3. When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission decides on assigning the symbol.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) 3 only
   d) All the above

Solution: (d)
Explanation:
Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968
• The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognise political parties and allot symbols.
• Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, it can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.
• The legal status of Paragraph 15: Under Paragraph 15, the EC is the only authority to decide issues on a dispute or a merger.
• The Supreme Court upheld its validity in Sadiq Ali and another vs. ECI in 1971.

Types of Symbols
• As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2017, party symbols are either:
• Reserved: Eight national parties and 64 state parties across the country have “reserved” symbols.
• Free: The Election Commission also has a pool of nearly 200 “free” symbols that are allotted to the thousands of unrecognised regional parties that pop up before elections.

Allocation of Symbols to Political Parties
• A party/candidate has to provide a list of three symbols from the EC‟s free symbols list at the time of filing nomination papers.
• Among them, one symbol is allotted to the party/candidate on a firstcome-first-serve basis.
• When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission decides on assigning the symbol.

Q9. What does the following refer to? [Delhi Edition Page: 13]

1. Fordow
2. Arak
3. Natanz
4. Parchin

a) Himalayan Species
b) Nuclear sites of Iran
c) New Planets
d) None of the Above

Solution: (b)
Explanation:

Q10. Which of the following comes under GST? [Delhi Edition Page: 9]

1. LPG
2. Kerosene
3. Light Diesel oil
4. Petrol

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 only
d) All the above

Solution: (b) Explanation:
Inclusion of Petrol and Diesel under GST
• As of now LPG, kerosene, naphtha, furnace oil, and light diesel oil are under GST.
• Five other petroleum products viz. crude oil, high speed diesel, motor spirit (petrol), natural gas, and aviation turbine fuel lie outside the GST.