Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 1st November 2024 - CLAT MCQ

DANA stands for "depresión aislada en niveles altos," which translates to isolated high-altitude depression. This weather pattern occurs when cold air descends over warm Mediterranean waters, creating significant atmospheric instability that leads to heavy rainfall and severe weather conditions. Understanding DANA is crucial for predicting and managing the extreme weather events it causes, especially in southern and eastern Spain.

The polar jet stream is a fast-moving wind current that can detach pockets of cold air and allow them to descend over the Mediterranean region. This descent creates a stark temperature contrast with the warm air, causing rapid rises of moist air and leading to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds associated with DANA events. This interaction significantly contributes to the intensity of rainfall experienced during such weather phenomena, demonstrating the complex dynamics of atmospheric elements in weather formation.

A significant criticism of the Electoral College is that it causes presidential candidates to concentrate their campaign efforts on swing states—those that could reasonably be won by either major political party—while neglecting states where one party has a clear majority. This focus can lead to a disproportionate influence of certain states on the election outcome, which some argue undermines the principle of equal representation for all voters.

The U.S. Electoral College elects the President and Vice President primarily through a two-step process: first, the electors are selected by popular vote in each state, and then those electors cast their votes for the President and Vice President. This system was designed to ensure that the selection of the nation's leaders incorporates both popular support and state representation, balancing the influence of populous states with smaller ones.

The upcoming Census is vital for delimitation as it provides the most recent population data needed to redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly constituencies. This ensures equitable representation based on population shifts. Additionally, the Census results are necessary for implementing the women's reservation quota, which mandates that 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies be reserved for women. This connection underscores the importance of accurate population data in shaping democratic representation.

A high vacancy rate in judicial positions is a significant cause of case pendency in Indian courts. With High Courts facing a 30% vacancy rate, existing judges are under immense pressure, leading to delays in the judicial process. Filling these vacancies is essential to increasing the efficiency of the judiciary. The judge-population ratio plays a crucial role in determining how quickly cases can be processed, and addressing these vacancies is a step towards alleviating the backlog.

The basic structure doctrine, established in the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973, asserts that certain fundamental aspects of the Constitution, including federalism, cannot be amended by Parliament. This doctrine serves as a critical check on central power, ensuring that states retain significant rights and autonomy, thus reinforcing the principle of decentralized governance. An interesting fact is that this case set a precedent for how the Indian judiciary interprets constitutional amendments and the balance of power between the Centre and the states.

President Droupadi Murmu emphasized that delays in the court system create significant challenges for poor and rural individuals seeking justice. These delays contribute to a sense of uncertainty, particularly for those already facing barriers in the legal system due to their economic or geographic circumstances. By reducing these delays, the aim is to make justice more accessible and timely for vulnerable communities. Additionally, ensuring access to justice is a fundamental aspect of upholding the rule of law in any society.

India's federal structure is characterized by an emphasis on unbreakable unity, as indicated in the Constitution, while the United States allows for distinct state sovereignty. In India, the central and state governments have overlapping powers within a unified framework, which is designed to address the country’s vast diversity and maintain national unity. An additional fact to note is that this design of federalism in India aims to mitigate regional disparities and promote social cohesion, contrasting with the historical context of states' rights in the U.S.

The Indian Electoral College for electing the President employs the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which allows electors to rank candidates in order of preference. This method is designed to ensure that the elected candidate receives a majority of support while maintaining the confidentiality of votes. In contrast, the U.S. Electoral College typically follows a winner-takes-all approach in most states, where the candidate with the most votes receives all electoral votes from that state, which can lead to a different dynamic in electoral outcomes.