UPSC Editorials Quiz : 6 May 2024

Option 5 is incorrect.

Sudan, or North Sudan officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the northeast, Ethiopia to the southeast, Libya to the northwest, South Sudan to the south, and the Red Sea.

Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 enables the High Court to declare an election void on certain grounds (Conviction of certain offences, Corrupt practices, Failing to declare election expenses, Interests in government contracts or works). The aggrieved person can appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court.

Blue Line:

The Blue Line is a border demarcation established by the United Nations in 2000 after Israeli troops withdrew from southern Lebanon. It serves as the boundary between Lebanon and Israel, aiming to prevent conflicts and provide a basis for security arrangements in the region.

The Phanigiri Buddhist artefacts, discovered in 1942 and dating from 200 BCE to 400 CE, are currently showcased at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in an exhibition called “The Tree and Serpent.”

Phanigiri, often referred to as the “hillock of snake hood,” is a small village approximately 150 km from Hyderabad, with significant historical and spiritual significance in Buddhism.

Findings at Phanigiri:

Remarkable findings at Phanigiri are a set of thoranas, which are stone gateways, and one of these thoranas displays both Mahayana and Hinayana schools of Buddhist thought, suggesting coexistence despite philosophical differences.

Phanigiri provides evidence of the deification of Buddha and a transition towards canonization and ritual in Buddhist practices.

The artefacts from this site, including a limestone carving of Buddha wearing what appears to be a Roman toga, are considered highly important and are now part of the exhibition in New York.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

IMEC is a proposed multimodal transportation network that would connect India to Europe via the Middle East. It has gained support from the World Bank.

The IMEC is still in the early stages of planning, and its exact route has not yet been finalized. However, the longest transportation corridor in the world is the Trans-Siberian Railway, which is over 9,200 kilometers long. The IMEC is expected to be shorter than the Trans-Siberian Railway.

More about IMEC EC:

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC)
Participating Countries	India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, USA, EU
Objectives	IMEC seeks to boost trade, clean energy, and economic growth while providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Part of	It is part of the Partnership for Rail and Shipping Corridors Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) and focuses on enhancing global trade and cooperation through critical infrastructure development.
Corridor Components	Railway lines (make trade between India and Europe 40% faster).
	Electricity cable and a clean hydrogen pipeline to foster clean energy trade.
	High-speed data cable to link innovative digital ecosystems in the world and create business opportunities
Corridor Segments	Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf, Northern Corridor connecting Arabian Gulf to Europe
Benefits for India	Enhancing food security, regional supply chains, trade accessibility, environmental considerations, economic cohesion, job creation, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
	Reliable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network connecting India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.
	It offers India a crucial role in global commerce, digital communication, and energy networks vis-à-vis China’s BRI
	Geographical Advantage: It firmly positions India along the trade route spanning South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia, and Europe.