Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 11th July 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The State of West Bengal in their lawsuit against the Union Government primarily argued about "constitutional overreach" by the Union Government in deploying the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) without obtaining prior consent. This case highlights the ongoing debate about the balance of power between the central and state governments and the issue of federal principles as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Statement 1: Incorrect. The CBI operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, not the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Statement 2: Correct. The CBI was established by an executive order of the government and is not a statutory body as it is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

Statement 3: Correct. According to the DSPE Act, the CBI requires the state's prior consent to investigate cases within its jurisdiction. This is a crucial aspect of maintaining the federal balance between the Centre and the states.

Thus, statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option C the correct answer.

1. Anti-Corruption Division: Investigates cases against central government employees and public servants under state governments. This is correctly matched. The Anti-Corruption Division investigates cases against central government employees and public servants under state governments when the cases are entrusted to the CBI by the state.

2. Economic Offences Division: Handles cases of conventional nature such as offences relating to internal security. This is incorrectly matched. The Economic Offences Division investigates financial crimes, bank frauds, money laundering, and illegal money market operations, not conventional crimes like internal security offences.

3. Special Crimes Division: Investigates financial crimes, bank frauds, and money laundering. This is incorrectly matched. The Special Crimes Division handles cases of conventional nature such as offences relating to internal security, espionage, narcotics, and psychotropic substances.

4. General Consent: Required for the CBI to seek fresh permission every time it enters a state for investigation. This is incorrectly matched. General consent means the CBI does not need to seek fresh permission every time it enters the state for investigation. General consent is given to facilitate smooth investigation without needing case-wise permissions.

Thus, only the first pair is correctly matched. Hence, the answer is Option A: Only one pair.

Let's analyze both statements:

Statement-I:

"The withdrawal of general consent by a state government stops all CBI probes within that state."

• This statement is incorrect. When a state withdraws general consent, the CBI cannot initiate new investigations in that state without specific consent. However, it does not stop ongoing investigations or those directed by a court.

Statement-II:

"The CBI can continue to probe in old cases and cases given to it by a court order even after the withdrawal of general consent."

• This statement is correct. The withdrawal of general consent does not affect cases that are already being investigated by the CBI or cases where a court has specifically directed the CBI to investigate.

Conclusion:

• Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Thus, the correct answer is:

Option 3: Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

The primary objective of the GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) is to address challenges in shipyards and promote technology development through startups. By nurturing startups in the country, this scheme aims to seek solutions for shipyard-related problems and promote technological advancements in the maritime sector, aligning with the 'Make in India' and 'Start-up India' policies of the Government of India.

Statement 1 is correct. GAINS 2024 aims to address challenges in shipyards and promote technology development through startups nurtured in the country. This aligns with the objectives of the scheme as outlined.
Statement 2 is correct. GAINS 2024 aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ policies of the Government of India, promoting domestic innovation and self-reliance.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The development of approximately 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within the proposed timeframe is a target of the ADITI Scheme (2024), not GAINS 2024.
Hence, the correct answer is Option B.

Let's examine the statements in detail:

Statement-I: GAINS 2024 aims to address challenges in shipyards and promote technology development through startups nurtured in the country.

• This statement is true. GAINS (Global Accelerated Innovation Network for Shipyards) 2024 is indeed focused on addressing challenges in shipyards and supporting technology development through startups.

Statement-II: The ADITI Scheme (2024) targets the development of approximately 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within the proposed timeframe.

• This statement is true. The ADITI Scheme is aimed at fostering the development of critical and strategic deep-tech technologies.

Since both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I (as they refer to different programs with different objectives), the correct answer is:

2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, primarily aims to protect the rights of Muslim women who have been divorced by, or have obtained a divorce from, their husbands. It provides for matters connected with or incidental to their divorce, including provisions for maintenance, mehr (dower), return of property, and the rights of children born out of the marriage until they reach the age of two years. This question tests the understanding of the key objectives of the Act and the legal protections it offers to divorced Muslim women.

• Statement 1 is incorrect because India and Austria established diplomatic relations in 1949, not 1979.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the trade volume between India and Austria has been growing steadily, not declining.
• Statement 3 is correct as both countries collaborate in various international organizations such as the United Nations, focusing on issues like climate change, sustainable development, and global peace.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 3 Only.

1. India-Austria Diplomatic Relations: Established in 1949 - Correct. India and Austria established diplomatic relations in 1949.

2. Trade Volume: India exports engineering goods to Austria - Correct. Trade between India and Austria includes engineering goods among other items.

3. Cultural Programs: Festival of Austria in India - Incorrect. The correct cultural program is the Festival of India in Austria.

4. Economic Cooperation: Focus on digital infrastructure and innovation - Correct. The focus of economic cooperation includes digital infrastructure and innovation.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is not. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs.