[Mission 2022] Insta– QUED ( Questions from Editorials ) 19 November 2021

Solution: c)

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) can designate individuals as “terrorists” under the amended anti-terror law that was passed by the Parliament in 2019.

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), enacted in 1967, was first amended in 2004, 2008 and 2013.

The UAPA as amended in August 2019 gave the MHA the power to designate individuals as terrorists.

Initially in 1967, the Act concerned itself with banning “unlawful” associations alone and had no mention of terrorism. “Unlawful activity” was defined as activities including speeches, writings etc that supported secessionist claims or questioned India’s sovereignty.

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Solution: c)

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for sedition. The Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, under the British Raj.

Solution: a)

Civil Services Board (CSB) was set up to decide postings and transfers of officers belonging to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The civil services board is headed by chief secretary of a state.

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Solution: d)

India is a signatory and party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with Head Quarters at The Hague, Netherlands.

The Convention is a universal, non-discriminatory, multi-lateral, disarmament treaty which prohibits the development, production, stock-piling and use of chemical weapons and monitors its elimination in order to secure chemical weapons free world.

India signed the treaty at Paris on 14th day of January 1993. India, pursuant to provisions of the Convention enacted the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000. As on date, 193 countries are parties to the Convention (Four UN states are not party: Egypt, Israel, North Korea and South Sudan).

India was the First State Party to secure the distinction of chemical weapon free state Party by destructing all its stockpile of its chemical weapons amongst all State Parties of the Convention.

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Solution: c)

US President Joe Biden is soon expected to sign a law-making June 19, or “Juneteenth”, a national holiday recognised by the federal government, commemorating the end of slavery after the American Civil War (1861-65).

Juneteenth– the portmanteau of June and nineteenth– is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the US, observed on June 19 every year. At present, it is recognised as a holiday in 47 US states and the District of Columbia. It is also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day.

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