UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 06 March 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• Only statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• Context: The Supreme Court ruled that MPs and MLAs can’t claim immunity for bribery. Article 105(2) and 194(2) protections have been overturned.
  • The case involved Sita Soren (daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren) accused of taking bribes for the vote.
• S2: The parliamentary privileges do not extend to the President who is also an integral part of the Parliament. Article 361 of the Constitution provides for privileges for the President.
• S1 and S3: Originally, the Constitution (Article 105) expressedly mentioned two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings. With regard to other privileges, it provided that they were to be the same as those of the British House of Commons, its committees and its members on the date of its commencement (ie, 26 January, 1950), until defined by Parliament.
• The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 provided that the other privileges of each House of Parliament, its committees and its members are to be those which they had on the date of its commencement (ie, 20 June, 1979), until defined by Parliament. This means that the position with regard to other privileges remains same. In other words, the amendment has made only verbal changes by dropping a direct reference to the British House of Commons, without making any change in the implication of the provision.
• It should be noted here that the Parliament, till now, has not made any special law to exhaustively codify all the privileges. They are based on five sources, namely, 1. Constitutional provisions, 2. Various laws made by Parliament, 3. Rules of both the Houses, 4. Parliamentary conventions, and 5. Judicial interpretations.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/03/05/sc-revokes-immunity-for-mps-and-mlas-in-the-bribery-case/

Ans: (a)

Explanation

• Context: India has made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty, with less than 3% of its population now living below the poverty line, according to the latest data from the World Poverty Clock.
• This achievement aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending extreme poverty by 2030.
• World Poverty Clock: It is a tool to monitor progress against poverty globally and regionally, created by an NGO, World Data Lab.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/03/05/world-poverty-clock/

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• Context: The Home Minister launched the National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation Limited (NUCFDC), serving as the umbrella organization for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).
  • The initiative aims to modernize and strengthen the UCB sector, benefiting both banks and customers.
• The National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) was established based on the recommendation of the Vishwanathan Committee on Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• NUCFDC is registered with the RBI as a non-deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), and UCBs can voluntarily subscribe to its capital
• The key objectives of NUCFDC include expanding the number of credit societies and UCBs, facilitating dialogue between banks and regulators, providing liquidity to UCBs, establishing IT infrastructure for shared use by members to enhance service offerings, and more.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/03/05/national-urban-co-operative-finance-and-development-corporation-limited/

Ans: (c)

Explanation

• Context: The report on the Status of Leopards in India was recently released by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The leopard (IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES Appendix-I; Schedule-I in WPA), scientifically known as Panthera pardus, is the smallest member of the Big Cat family and is highly adaptable to various habitats. It is nocturnal and preys on smaller herbivores like chital and wild boar. Melanism, resulting in black skin and spots, is common but often mistaken for a different species called the black panther. Leopards inhabit a wide range from Africa to Asia, including the Indian subcontinent.

Refer; https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/03/05/status-of-leopards-in-india/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Bureau of Energy Efficiency 22nd Foundation Day: Celebrated on March 1, 2024, the 22nd Foundation Day commemorates the establishment of the organization under the Ministry of Power, with the goal of reducing energy intensity in the Indian economy.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/03/05/state-energy-efficiency-index-seei-2023/