[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 15 December 2021 ) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S2: The works under Char Dham Pariyojna are being implemented on Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode of contract. These projects are being implemented by 3 executing agencies of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, viz, Uttarakhand State PWD, Border Road Organization (BRO) and National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
• S1: The strategic Char Dham highway project, which has a 900-km road, aims to provide all-weather connectivity to four shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand.

• S3: The projects also include mitigation measures/ stabilisation of chronic landslide & sinking spots/zones as standalone project or part of road widening projects to avoid land slide and safety of road users. Bio engineering methods like hydro seeding are being used for vegetative growth on fragile slopes for their stability. All these measures shall safeguard the highway and habitation against natural calamity.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/char-dham/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
• The names are recommended by the Collegium.
• The collegium sends its final recommendation to the President of India for approval. The President can either accept it or reject it. In the case it is rejected, the recommendation comes back to the collegium. If the collegium reiterates its recommendation to the President, then he/she is bound by that recommendation.
• Appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office.
• Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior most Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with other Judges as envisaged in Article 124 (2) of the Constitution would be made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/women-judges/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Judges Enquiry Act (1968) regulates the procedure relating to the removal of a judge of a high court by the process of impeachment.
• A removal motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.
• The Speaker/Chairman may admit the motion or refuse to admit it.
• If it is admitted, then the Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a three-member committee to investigate into the charges.
• The procedure is same for a SC judge.
• After the motion is passed by each House of Parliament by special majority, an address is presented to the president for removal of the judge.
• Finally, the president passes an order removing the judge.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/women-judges/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Indian constitution provides for a provision of Supreme Court under Part V (The Union) and Chapter 6 (The Union Judiciary).
• Articles 124 to 147 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers and procedures of the Supreme Court.
• The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President. The CJI is appointed by the President after consultation with such judges of the Supreme Court and high courts as he deems necessary.
• What is the Collegium system?
  • The Collegium of judges does not figure in the Constitution. It is the Supreme Court’s invention.
  • Constitution says judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President and speaks of a process of consultation.
  • Therefore, Collegium is a system under which judges are appointed by an institution comprising judges.
  • Collegium also recommends the transfer of Chief Justices and other judges.
• How did this come into being?
  • ‘First Judges Case’ (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective. However, the CJI’s opinion should have primacy.
  • Second Judges Case (1993) introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”. It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the Supreme Court.
  • Third Judges Case (1998): SC on President’s reference expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues
• Oath or Affirmation
  • A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, before entering upon his office, has to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the President, or some other person appointed by him for this purpose. In his oath, a judge of the Supreme Court swears:
    • to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;
    • to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India;
    • to duly and faithfully and to the best of his ability, knowledge and judgement to perform the duties of the Office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and
    • to uphold the Constitution and the laws.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/women-judges/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: About PAC:

• S1: The PAC is formed every year with a strength of not more than 22 members of which 15 are from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha.
• The term of office of the members is one year.
• S2: The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Since 1967, the chairman of the committee is selected from the opposition.
• S3: Its chief function is to examine the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) after it is laid in the Parliament.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/public-accounts-committee-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Does the Reserve Bank regulate all financial companies?

• Housing Finance Companies, Merchant Banking Companies, Stock Exchanges, Companies engaged in the business of stock-broking/sub-broking, Venture Capital Fund Companies, Nidhi Companies, Insurance companies and Chit Fund Companies are NBFCs but they have been exempted from the requirement of registration under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934 subject to certain condition.
• What are systemically important NBFCs?
• NBFCs whose asset size is of ₹ 500 cr or more as per last audited balance sheet are considered as systemically important NBFCs. The rationale for such classification is that the activities of such NBFCs will have a bearing on the financial stability of the overall economy.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/co-lending-model-bank-nbfc-co-lending/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• They are the largest of the Naga tribes.
• In Nagaland, they inhabit the Mon District—also known as ‘The Land of The Anghs’.
• The Anghs/Wangsare their traditional chiefs whom they hold in high esteem.
• Facial tattooswere earned for taking an enemy’s head.
• They are known in Arunachal Pradesh as the Wanchos (‘Wancho’ is a synonymous term for ‘Konyak’).
• Other unique traditional practices that set the Konyaks apart are:gunsmithing, iron-smelting, brass-works, and gunpowder-making. They are also adept in making ‘janglaü’ (machetes) and wooden sculptures.
• Festivals:Aoleng, a festival celebrated in the first week of April (1-6) to welcome the spring and also to invoke the Almighty’s (Kahwang) blessing upon the land before seed-sowing, is the biggest festival of the Konyaks. Another festival, ‘Lao Ong Mo’, is the traditional harvest festival celebrated in the months of August/September.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/15/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-december-2021-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority has been fulfilling its mandate within the ambit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for strengthening tiger conservation in the country by retaining an oversight through advisories/normative guidelines, based on appraisal of tiger status, ongoing conservation initiatives and recommendations of specially constituted Committees.
• Set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
• Functions of NTCA are as follows:
  • Ensuring normative standards in tiger reserve management.
  • Preparation of reserve specific tiger conservation plan.
  • Laying down annual/ audit report before Parliament.
  • Instituting State level Steering Committees under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister and establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
  • According approval for declaring new Tiger Reserves.

Refer: https://ntca.gov.in/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
• The Nagoya Protocol addresses traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources with provisions on access, benefit-sharing and compliance. It also addresses genetic resources where indigenous and local communities have the established right to grant access to them. Contracting Parties are to take measures to ensure these communities’ prior informed consent, and fair and equitable benefit-sharing, keeping in mind community laws and procedures as well as customary use and exchange.

Refer: https://www.cbd.int/abs/