Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 7th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I is correct. According to the anti-defection law in India, a nominated legislator cannot join any political party within six months of being appointed to the House. This provision is aimed at preventing immediate defections by nominated members.
Statement-II is also correct. The law indeed does not specify any specific time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. This lack of a strict timeline has been a point of criticism due to potential delays and uncertainties in the decision-making process regarding defection cases.
Therefore, both statements are factually correct, but Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I.

- Statement 1: The Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024 does not include OTT content in the definition of 'internet broadcasting services'. Instead, OTT platforms are termed 'publishers of online curated content'. Hence, this statement is incorrect.

- Statement 2: The Bill mandates the establishment of a Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) to evaluate and certify content compliance with the prescribed code. This is in line with the new three-tier regulation structure introduced by the Bill. Hence, this statement is correct.

- Statement 3: The Bill aims to validate the code of ethics prescribed under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, despite the legal challenges it faces. Hence, this statement is correct.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

Both statements are accurate. Statement-I highlights the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, whereas Statement-II mentions the provision of free essential medicines and diagnostic services at these centers. While both statements are correct, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I, as the services provided at the centers do not inherently relate to the establishment of the centers themselves. Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

The Anti-Defection Law, introduced through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985, aims to address political defections that destabilize governments. It provides measures to curb such activities by imposing consequences on members who voluntarily resign from their political party or vote against their party's directives. This law was implemented to ensure stability in the political system and prevent frequent government collapses due to defections.

Remember, the Anti-Defection Law was a response to the increasing trend of political defections that were seen as detrimental to the stability of governments. It sought to discourage such behavior and maintain the integrity of the democratic process by holding elected representatives accountable to the parties they represent.

1. Indexation Benefit - Adjusts the purchase price of an asset according to inflation. - Correct. Indexation benefits help in adjusting the purchase price of an asset according to the prevailing inflation rate, allowing taxpayers to calculate the capital gains more accurately.

2. Long-Term Capital Gains Tax - Tax on gains from assets held for more than 12 months. - Incorrect. Long-term capital gains tax applies to assets held for more than 12 months for listed securities. However, for other assets, the period is 24 months.

3. Short-Term Capital Gains Tax - Tax on gains from assets held for less than 24 months. - Incorrect. Short-term capital gains tax applies to gains from assets held for less than 12 months for listed securities and less than 24 months for other assets.

4. Capital Gains Tax - Tax on the sale of an asset calculated as the difference between the sale price and the purchase price. - Correct. Capital gains tax is indeed calculated as the difference between the sale price of the property and its purchase price.

Thus, pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

Answer: Option B: Only two pairs

Statement 1 is correct: The indexation benefit does allow taxpayers to adjust the purchase price of a property according to the prevailing inflation rate, which helps in accurately determining the real gain after inflation adjustment and thus paying taxes only on the real gains.

Statement 2 is correct: For properties acquired before July 23, 2024, taxpayers indeed have the option to either pay LTCG tax at 20% with the indexation benefit or at a new reduced rate of 12.5% without the indexation benefit. This change was introduced to give taxpayers a choice following amendments made by the government in the Finance Bill.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The holding period for different types of capital assets to qualify as long-term is not standardized to 12 months. In the Budget 2024, it was specified that there will be two holding periods: 12 months for listed securities and 24 months for other assets. The 36-month holding period was removed, but it does not mean that all assets have a 12-month holding period.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Ayushman Bharat Scheme - National Health Policy 2017: Correct. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was initiated following the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017.

2. Health and Wellness Centres - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: Incorrect. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are a separate component of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, distinct from Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

3. Ayushman Bharat Cards - 2018 Initiative: Correct. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which includes the issuance of Ayushman Bharat Cards, was launched in 2018.

4. Gender Equity in Treatments - 48% females availed treatments: Correct. Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, 48% of the treatments were availed by females, demonstrating gender equity.

Explanation:

- The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was indeed initiated based on the National Health Policy of 2017, making the first pair correct.

- Health and Wellness Centres are not the same as PM-JAY; they are a separate initiative under Ayushman Bharat, making the second pair incorrect.

- The Ayushman Bharat Cards were part of the 2018 initiative, making the third pair correct.

- With 48% of treatments availed by females, the scheme upholds gender equity, making the fourth pair correct.

Let's examine each statement for accuracy:

1. Ayushman Bharat Scheme includes the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which offers health insurance coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs annually to economically disadvantaged families for secondary and tertiary care. - This statement is correct. The PM-JAY component of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme provides health insurance coverage up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.

2. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat provide free essential medicines and diagnostic services, teleconsultation facilities, and health promotion activities. - This statement is correct. HWCs are designed to provide comprehensive primary health care, which includes free essential medicines, diagnostic services, teleconsultation facilities, and health promotion activities including Yoga.

3. The recent data indicated that individuals aged 70 years and above accounted for nearly 14% of the total expenditure under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. - This statement is correct. According to the data, individuals aged 70 years and above constituted nearly 14% of the total expenditure under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

Therefore, all three statements are correct. Hence, the correct answer is: Option D

The Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024 primarily focuses on defining digital news broadcasters and establishing a code of ethics for them. This bill aims to regulate digital news content creators by validating a code of ethics and introducing a Content Evaluation Committee to ensure compliance with the prescribed guidelines. By broadening the scope to include digital news, the bill addresses the evolving landscape of news dissemination through online platforms, bringing them under a regulatory framework to maintain standards and accountability.

The primary objective of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is to provide health insurance coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs annually to over 10 crore economically disadvantaged families for secondary and tertiary care. This initiative aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal number 3, emphasizing the principle of "leave no one behind."