QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 06 November 2018

Solution: c.

Chapter ‘President’, Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth: Every ordinance issued by the President during the recess of Parliament must be laid before both the Houses of Parliament when it reassembles. If the ordinance is approved by both the Houses, it becomes an act. If Parliament takes no action at all, the ordinance ceases to operate on the expiry of six  weeks  from  the  reassembly  of  Parliament. The  ordinance  may  also  cease  to  operate  even  earlier than the prescribed six weeks, if both the Houses of Parliament pass resolutions disapproving it. If the Houses  of  Parliament  are  summoned to  reassemble  on  different  dates,  the  period  of  six  weeks  is calculated from the later of those dates. This means that the maximum life of an ordinance can be six months and six weeks, in case of non-approval by the Parliament (six months being the maximum gap between  the  two  sessions  of  Parliament).

Improvisation: TH;

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Solution: d.

The Maoris are often in the news (ex: last year, river Whanganui – long revered by the Maoris – was the first to be granted the same legal rights as a person).

BBC: About 175,000 people were eligible to vote in Sunday’s referendum New Caledonia (France), east of Australia, where indigenous Kanaks make up 39.1% of the population. Final results showed that 56.4% chose to remain part of France while 43.6% voted to leave.

BBC: The Angami tribe in the north-eastern Indian state of Nagaland gave up their ancient tradition of hunting to protect wildlife. They gave up what was an important source of livelihood some 20 years ago in order to create a more stable ecosystem for future generations.

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Solution: c.

Some observations in the report:

• India is suffering from “the worst water crisis” in its history with about
  • 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress;
  • 2 lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water.
• By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country’s GDP.
• With nearly 70 per cent of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th among 122 countries in the water quality index.
• Currently, 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.
• There is an imminent need to deepen understanding of water resources and usage.

IE; Improvisation: TH;

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Solution: d.

PRS CAG Report Sumary: There was inadequate focus on surface water based schemes and 98% of the schemes, including piped water schemes continued to be based on ground water resources. The CAG also noted that operation and maintenance plans were either not prepared in most states or they had deficiencies in them. This led to schemes becoming non-functional. The CAG recommended that focus should be placed on effective works and contract management to ensure that works are completed in time as per the contractual terms. Delays attributable to contractors should be penalised and accountability should be enforced.

Table source: TH;

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Solution: c.

Sections 153A, 295A of IPC and 69A of IT Act are valid and legal still. Sections 497 and 303 of the IPC have been struck down by the SC.

Source/Improvisation: TH;

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