[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 30 August 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country (Article 324).
• It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.
• The Election Commission shall consist of the chief election commissioner and such number of other election commissioners, if any, as the President may from time-to-time fix.
• Presently, it consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
• The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from his office in the same manner and on same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• The Constitution has not prescribed the qualifications (legal, educational, administrative or judicial) of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not specified the term of the members of the Election Commission.
• The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/eci-point-of-contention-between-the-government-and-the-judiciary/

Ans; (b)

Explanation:

• About The SEC is responsible for conducting free, fair, and impartial elections to the local bodies within a state.
• Appointment of SECs Appointed by the Governor.
• Powers: Article 243K(1) It vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) in the State Election Commission, headed by a State Election Commissioner appointed by the Governor.
• Tenure: Article 243K(2) It states that the tenure and appointment of the State Election Commissioner will be directed by the law made by the state legislature.
• Removal The State Election Commissioner has the status, salary and allowance of a Judge of a High Court and cannot be removed from office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/eci-point-of-contention-between-the-government-and-the-judiciary/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• As the superintendence and control over all aspects of the election process is vested in the EC, it exercises direction and control over civil servants deployed for election-related work. This means that bureaucrats engaged in the administrative aspects of elections, including police officers with law and order duties, are also amenable to the EC’s jurisdiction.
• This power enables the EC to monitor both the manner in which civil servants perform their election-related duties, and prevent activities which may be seen as partisan.
• The EC often cites its vast powers under Article 324 to transfer or suspend officials during election time, even though they normally come under the disciplinary purview of the government of India or the State governments. There have been instances of the EC transferring not only Returning Officers, but also Commissioners of Police and Superintendents of Police.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/eci-point-of-contention-between-the-government-and-the-judiciary/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• The Election Commission’s annual exercise to revise the electoral roll concluded on January 5 with the publication of the final electoral roll with January 1, 2023 as the qualifying date. Additions, deletions and changes to entries on the rolls were incorporated during the Special Summary Revision (SSR) 2023 that started in July 2022.
• This revision was the first one since the government amended the election laws to allow four qualifying dates every year — January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. Those who turn 18 after January 1 were also asked to submit their registration forms during the SSR so they may be included in the rolls as and when they qualify. These new electors would be included during quarterly updation.
• The final electoral rolls were available on most state Chief Electoral Officers’ websites for electors to search their names on.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/eci-point-of-contention-between-the-government-and-the-judiciary/

Ans: (a )

Explanation:

• The first successful human landing on the Moon was on the Near Side, in the Sea of Tranquility. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed their lunar module, Eagle, on July 20, 1969. They spent about two and a quarter hours exploring the lunar surface before returning to the command module, Columbia. Columbia then made a successful journey back to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969.
• The Near Side of the Moon is the side that always faces the Earth. It is more heavily cratered than the Far Side, and it also has more maria, or dark plains. The maria are thought to have been formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. The Near Side also has more mountains and valleys than the Far Side.
• The Far Side of the Moon is the side that never faces the Earth. It is much less heavily cratered than the Near Side, and it has no maria. The Far Side is also thought to be more geologically active than the Near Side.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/near-vs-far-side-of-moon/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The correct statement is D. Astronauts have visited the Moon multiple times. The first successful human landing on the Moon was in 1969, and there have been a total of 12 people who have walked on the Moon.
• The other statements are not true. The Moon does not have its own light source. It reflects sunlight, which is why we can see it in the night sky. The Moon’s gravity is about one-sixth of that of Earth. This means that you would weigh about one-sixth of your weight on the Moon. The Moon’s surface is not completely smooth and featureless. It is covered in craters, mountains, and valleys.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/near-vs-far-side-of-moon/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Chokuwa rice, also known as Magic rice, is a distinctive part of Assam’s culinary heritage and has recently been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its uniqueness.
• A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a label or recognition that is given to products that possess unique qualities, reputation, or characteristics that are essentially attributable to their geographical origin. This tag indicates that the product has a specific quality, reputation, or other characteristics that are closely linked to the geographic area of its production. It provides protection to producers of these unique products against unauthorized use of the GI and helps consumers identify genuine and authentic products. GIs can cover a wide range of products, including agricultural produce, handicrafts, manufactured goods, and natural goods. Therefore, option B is the correct choice as it accurately captures the essence of a Geographical Indication tag.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/magic-rice/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) has created an open-source software named the National Carbon Registry for effectively managing national data and processes related to trading carbon credits.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/national-carbon-registry/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: Primatologists have proposed a solution to address the division caused by a 1.65-km long railway track within the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in eastern Assam, dedicated to the western hoolock gibbon.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/hollongapar-gibbon-sanctuary/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• About Gibbons:
• It is the smallest and fastest ape and is found in tropical and subtropical forests in Southeast Asia. The hoolock gibbon, unique to India’s northeast, is one of the 20 gibbon species on Earth, with an estimated population of 12,000.
• All 20 gibbon species, including the hoolock gibbon, are at a high risk of extinction due to dramatic declines in their distribution and populations since 1900, leaving only small populations in tropical rainforests.
• Threats: The primary threat to the hoolock gibbon in India is the felling of trees for infrastructure projects.
• Initiatives: The Global Gibbon Network (GGN) aims to protect and conserve gibbons and their habitats by promoting participatory conservation policies and actions.
• Aaranyak, a non-profit conservation organization based in Assam, India, is one of the founding organizations of the GGN from seven countries.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/08/30/hollongapar-gibbon-sanctuary/