QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 21 DECEMBER 2017

Solution: b.

Opposition parties have come together to oppose the Uttar Pradesh Control of Organized Crime (UPCOC) Bill, 2017 introduced by the State’s BJP government. They say it could potentially be used as a tool to suppress rivals, settle political vendetta and target specific communities.

• The Bill was drafted by the BJP government after an “intensive study” of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in Maharashtra.
• While the Yogi Aditynath government has described the proposed law as a remedy against organised crime, the Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati demanded its rollback, claiming it could be used “as a political weapon” to “oppress” the poor, Dalits, OBCs and religious minorities. Incidentally, a similar law was passed by the Uttar Pradesh government during Ms. Mayawati’s rule in 2007-08, but it was withdrawn after the then President Pratibha Patil refused to give it her assent.
• Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also opposed the law, saying it was only being brought to “deceive the people (“UPCOCA will not improve law and order)” and “intimidate leaders of other political parties.”

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/upcoca-tabled-opposition-fumes/article22119811.ece;

Solution: d.

What is the Law Commission?

Law Commission of India is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body. It is truly an ad hoc and advisory body whose work is to do research and make recommendations for law reforms such as amendments and updations of prevalent and inherited laws. None of these recommendations is binding upon the Government.

Composition of the Law Commission

It is a convention that a retired judge of Supreme Court heads India’s Law Commission. Apart from the Chairperson, its membership primarily comprises legal experts, who are entrusted a mandate by the Government.

https://www.gktoday.in/gk/law-commission-of-india/;

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cleaning-up/article22084026.ece;

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Solution: c.

Although Law Commission has not been provided by the Constitution, yet it is inspired by various parts of Constitution such as Fundamental Rights and DPSP particularly article 39A, which says that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice.

Further, one of the mandates of the Constitution was the continuation of pre-Constitution Laws (Article 372) till they are amended or repealed. This mandate necessitated the need of a Central Law Commission which could recommend repeal, revision and updating of the inherited laws to serve the changing needs of the country.

St

https://indiankanoon.org/doc/74529/;

https://www.gktoday.in/gk/law-commission-of-india/;

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cleaning-up/article22084026.ece;

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Solution: a.

As of today, seven states have Legislative Councils. These are Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar  Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

http://www.thehindu.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-2017/though-defeated-dhumal-in-contention/article22077477.ece;

Solution: c.

The White Helmets, officially known as Syria Civil Defence, is a volunteer organisation that operates in parts of rebel-controlled Syria and in Turkey.

https://www.whitehelmets.org/en;

Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/syrian-baby-becomes-symbol-of-siege/article22084841.ece;