Daily Current Affairs MCQ- October 22, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to place before it within six weeks the information regarding preventive, corrective and remedial measures taken by the state governments, so far, in compliance with its earlier judgments on hate speech.

Legal Provisions of Hate Speech:

• Hate speech has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech.
• Indian Penal Code (IPC) Provisions:
  • Under Section 153A of IPC, ‘promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’, is an offence punishable with three years’ imprisonment.
  • Section 505 of IPC makes it an offence to making “statements conducing to public mischief”.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951:
  • Section 8 disqualifies a person from contesting election if he is convicted for indulging in acts amounting to illegitimate use of freedom of speech and expression.
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955:
  • Section 7 penalizes incitement to, and encouragement of untouchability through words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise.
• Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988:
  • Section 3(g) prohibits religious institution or its manager to allow the use of any premises belonging to, or under the control of, the institution for promoting or attempting to promote disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which seeks to extend the jurisdiction of Indian courts to the icy continent, became the first Bill to be cleared by the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament.

The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty.

Antarctic Treaty System:

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), are a set of arrangements made for the purpose of regulating relations among states in the Antarctic.

Major components of the ATS include:

• Antarctic Treaty (1959)
• Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972)
• Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980)
• Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991)

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Foreign exchange reserves fell by $7. 5 billion to $572 billion during the week ended July 15, according to data released by the RBI.

Foreign exchange reserves (Forex Reserve)

• Foreign Exchange reserves or Forex reserves are assets such as foreign currencies, gold reserves, treasury bills, etc retained by a central bank or other monetary authority.
• RBI is the custodian of the Foreign exchange reserves in India.
• It checks the balance payments and influences the foreign exchange rate of its currency and maintains stability in financial markets.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Commerce and Industry Minister Sh. Piyush Goyal emphasized that Hon’ble Prime Minister has set a target of 75% procurement to be made through GeM by 15th of August and 100% procurement to be made through GeM by the end of the current financial year.

• Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India which was envisaged by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
• The initiative was launched on August 9, 2016 by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with an objective to create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers.
• The portal has transformed public procurement in India by driving its three pillars viz. inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency.
• GeM has about 61,440 Government Buyer Organizations and about 47.99 Lakh Sellers & Service Providers with a rich listing of over 41.44 lakh Product Offerings and 1.9 lakh Service offerings.
• All states (except Sikkim) have already signed MoUs with GeM. As many as 239 CPSUs are also registered on GeM and making significant procurement through GeM Portal.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Government of India has several initiatives to provide financial and medical support to all pregnant women including women belonging to economically weaker sections during their pregnancy and delivery in Government hospitals.

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme for promoting institutional delivery.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) entitles every pregnant woman to free delivery, including for caesarean section, in public health institutions along with the provision of free transport, diagnostics, medicines, other consumables, diet and blood.
• Over 25,000 ‘Delivery Points’ across the country have been strengthened in terms of infrastructure, equipment, and trained manpower for provision of comprehensive RMNCAH+A services.
• Surakshit Matratva Ashwasan (SUMAN) for providing assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides pregnant women a fixed day, free of cost assured and quality Antenatal Care on the 9th day of every month.
• LaQshya (Labour room Quality improvement Initiative) to improve the quality of care in Labour room and Maternity operation theatres to ensure that pregnant women receive respectful and quality care during delivery and immediate post-partum.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Government today said the setting up of the Regional Benches of the Supreme Court in different parts of the country is under examination of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court and the decision is awaited.

• The Eighteenth Law Commission in its 229th Report suggested that a Constitutional Bench be set up at Delhi and four Cassation Benches be set up in the Northern region at Delhi, the Southern region at Chennai/Hyderabad, the Eastern region at Kolkata and the Western region at Mumbai.
• The Chief Justice of India in 2010, found that there is no justification for setting up benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi. However, the Apex Court, in another writ petition has found it proper to refer the matter to Constitutional Bench for authoritative pronouncement.
• The matter is sub-judice.
• Article 130 of the Constitution of India provides that the Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Government said the doctor-population ratio in the country is better than the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

• In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834 whereas WHO standard is 1:1000.
• The Minister said as per the National Medical Commission, there are 138009 registered allopathic doctors besides 565000 AYUSH doctors. The Minister said there are over 34 lakh registered nursing personnel and 13 lakh allied and healthcare professionals in the country.
• The Minister further said the government is taking all possible measures for increasing the availability of doctors in the country, which include increasing UG and PG medical seats.

Hence both statements are correct.

The 68th National Film Awards were announced by Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

• Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan and Tamil actor Suriya have jointly bagged the National Film Award for the year 2020 for best actor for their roles in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior and Soorarai Pottru.
• Aparna Balamurali won the award of best actress for her role in the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru.
• The award for Best Hindi film went to Toolsidas Junior and award for Best Feature Film was given to Soorarai Pottru.
• Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior won the Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
• Testimony of Ana bagged the Best Non-Feature Film award.
• Best film on Social Issues award went to 'Justice Delayed but Delivered' and Three Sisters.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after completing the special mentions under which the members raised issues of public importance.

• Special Mentions are made by Members of Parliament on matters of public importance with the permission of Honorable Chairman Rajya Sabha, under Rule 180B.
• The Minister concerned with the subject matter is required to respond in writing by intimating the Member within 30 days of the factual position or the action taken/proposed to be taken.

This instrument evolved later on. There was no specific provision in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha in regard to the mentioning of matters of urgent public importance in the House by members till 1 July 2000.

• Hence both statements are correct.

India at the recently concluded high-level UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, assured the world community that it is committed to protecting at least 30 per cent of her lands, waters and oceans, and thus adhere to its commitment of 30X30 by 2030 in a mission mode.

About 30×30 target

• The 30×30 target implies protection of at least 30 % the of world’s land and ocean by 2030.
• It is a global target that aims to halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.
• High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People has been formed in 2021 to promote an international agreement on 30×30 target.
• Recently, India officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.