QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 04 August 2017

Solution: c.

• In Rajya Sabha, amendments were moved by the opposition, including one for the inclusion of a woman member and a minority member in the commission. The amendments needed to be passed with a simple majority, and it did with a 74-52 margin. But that is when the situation changed. The amendments had passed with a simple majority but for the clause amended to become part of the Bill, it needed a two-third majority since it was a Constitution amendment Bill.
• After several reminders from the chair to the members that the passed amendments could not be un-passed and that the only hope for the entire Bill lay in the House voting together on the relevant clause — this meant that the government would have to vote ‘Aye’ on the clause amended at the Opposition’s behest — and suspension of business for a few minutes to evolve consensus, the clause had to be dropped since it could not secure the requisite majority.

IE: Key clause in Constitution 123^rd Amendment Bill falls for lack of numbers;

PRS MPR July 2017;

Ch-10, Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth;

Solution: b.

Some of the salient features of the recommendations are as below:

• DNA Profiling Board – A statutory body: A DNA Profiling Board be constituted, which would undertake functions such as (among others) laying down procedures and standards to establish DNA laboratories and granting accreditation to such laboratories (not responsible for establishing laboratories)
• Only for identification: DNA profiling would be undertaken exclusively for identification of a person and would not be used to extract any other information. Further no bodily substances will be taken from a person unless the consent is given for the same;
• DNA Data Bank: The Bill proposes a National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks (for the states). The Data Banks will be responsible for storing DNA profiles received from the accredited laboratories; and
• Penalties: The violators of the provisions would be liable for punishment of imprisonment, which may extend up to three years and also a fine which may extend up to Rs two lakhs.

PRS July 2017 MPR;

IE: the new DNA tech bill;

LCI: Report 271;

Solution: c.

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 24, 2017. It seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to insert provisions for handling cases related to stressed assets. Stressed assets are loans where the borrower has defaulted in repayment or where the loan has been restructured (such as by changing the repayment schedule). It will replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017.

For details of the amendments, refer to: PRS: The Banking Regulation (amendment) bill, 2017; PRS July 2017 MPR;

Solution: b.

The Bill amends the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 by extending the deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for their appointment.

• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, is effective from 1st April, 2010. It envisages free and compulsory elementary education to every child in the age group of 6-14 years.
• The Proviso to Section 23(2) of the Act specifies that all teachers at elementary level who, at the commencement of this Act, did not possess the minimum qualifications as laid down under the RTE Act, need to acquire these within a period of five years i.e., 31st March, 2015.
• However, several State governments have reported that out of a total number of 66.41 lakh teachers at the elementary level, 11.00 lakh are still untrained.
• In order to ensure that all teachers, in position as on 31st March, 2015, acquire the minimum qualifications prescribed by the academic authority, it is necessary to carry out appropriate amendment in the RTE Act, 2009 to extend the period for such training for four years up to 31st March, 2019.

PRS July 2017 MPR;

PIB; Th;

Solution: c.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India released an audit report on the electrification projects in Indian Railways. Trains on Indian Railways are hauled either by diesel locomotives or electric locomotives. As on March 31, 2016, 42% of the total railway route length has been electrified.

PRS July 2017 MPR;

Solution: a.

In India, the share of oil and gas in energy consumption in 2015-16 was 26% and 6.5%, respectively. While the consumption of each has registered a sharp increase, production has increased only moderately. In order to improve the supply of oil and gas, the government must encourage capacity expansion and setting up of new refineries, preferably at coastal locations (the most appropriate reason for this is that India has a heavy dependence on oil and gas imports and also that export of refined petroleum products is an important contributor to India’s export earnings).

• Petroleum refining does not lead significant weightloss, unlike the aluminum/copper/sugarcane/timber processing.
• Virtually all the by-products can be used. Therefore, refineries can be set up
  • near the raw material or
  • near the market or
  • at an intermediate break of the bulk location (ports/coastal locations)

Mrunal: Petroleum Refineries: Location;

Improvisation: PRS July 2017 MPR;