[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 21 December 2021 ) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Election Commission is a constitutional authority whose responsibilities and powers are prescribed in the Constitution of India under Article 324.
• The Election Commission is insulated from executive interference.
• It is the Commission which decides the election schedules for the conduct of elections, whether general elections or by-elections.
• It is the Commission which decides on the location of polling stations, assignment of voters to the polling stations, location of counting centres, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres and all allied matters.
• The decisions of the Commission can be challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court of India by appropriate petitions.
• By long-standing convention and several judicial pronouncements, once the actual process of elections has started, the judiciary does not intervene in the actual conduct of the polls.

Refer: Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/questioning-the-impartiality-of-the-election-commission/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Since its inception in 1950 and till 15 October 1989, the election commission functioned as a single member body consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner. On 16 October 1989, the president appointed two more election commissioners to cope with the increased work of the election commission on account of lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 years. Thereafter, the Election Commission functioned as a multimember body consisting of three election commissioners.
• Any other election commissioner or a regional commissioner cannot be removed from office except on the recommendation of the chief election commissioner.
• EC determine the territorial areas of the electoral constituencies throughout the country on the basis of the Delimitation Commission Act of Parliament.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/questioning-the-impartiality-of-the-election-commission/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the superintendence, direction and control of the entire process for conduct of elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the offices of President and Vice-President of India. Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950.
• The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
• The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament. If elections are being held only for the Parliament, the expenditure is borne entirely by the Union Government while for the elections being held only for the State Legislature, the expenditure is borne entirely by the concerned State.In case of simultaneous elections to the Parliament and State Legislature, the expenditure is shared equally between the Union and the State Governments.
• For Capital equipment, expenditure related to preparation for electoral rolls and the scheme for Electors’ Identity Cards too, the expenditure is shared equally.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/questioning-the-impartiality-of-the-election-commission/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Delimitation is undertaken by a highly powerful commission. They are formally known as Delimitation Commission or Boundary Commission.
• These bodies are so powerful that its orders have the force of law and they cannot be challenged before any court.
• The commissions’ orders are enforced as per the date specified by the President of India. Copies of these orders are laid before the Lok Sabha or the concerned Legislative Assembly. No modifications are permitted.
• While the current boundaries were drawn on the basis of the 2001 Census, the number of Lok Sabha seats and State Assembly seats remained frozen on the basis of the 1971 Census.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/211056/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Under Article 82,the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
  • Under Article 170,States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.
• S2: The main task of the commission is redrawing the boundaries of the various assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies based on a recent census. The representation from each State is not changed during this exercise. However, the number of SC and ST seats in a state are changed in accordance with the census.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/211056/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
• The NDPS Act has since been amended thrice – in 1988, 2001 and 2014.
• The Act extends to the whole of India and it applies also to all Indian citizens outside India and to all persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/ndps-bill-2021-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• China has claimed Taiwan through its “one China” policysince the Chinese civil war forced the defeated Kuomintang, or Nationalist, to flee to the island in 1949 and has vowed to bring it under Beijing’s rule, by force if necessary.
• While Taiwan is self-governed and de facto independent, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland.
• Under the “one country, two systems” formula,Taiwan would have the right to run its own affairs; a similar arrangement is used in Hong Kong.
• Presently, Taiwan is claimed by China, which refuses diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the region.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/india-taiwan-relations/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogenwhich has no carbon footprint.
• Yellow hydrogenis a relatively new phrase for hydrogen made through electrolysis using solar power.
• Pink hydrogenis generated through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.
• Grey Hydrogenis hydrogen produced using fossil fuels such as natural gas.
• Blue hydrogenis created from fossil sources, where the carbon emissions are captured and stored.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/green-hydrogen-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Act was enacted to meet the obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), because India is a party of the convention meeting.
• Enacted for the conservation of biological diversity and fair, equitable sharing of the monetary benefitsfrom the commercial use of biological resources and traditional knowledge.
• The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals.
• It seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
• The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies.
• The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/changes-to-biological-diversity-act-2002/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: What is Open Acreage Licensing Policy?

• Launched under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in 2017.
• Under OALP, companies are allowed to carve out areas they want to explore oil and gas in.
• Companies can put in an expression of interest (EOI) for any area throughout the year but such interests are accumulated thrice in a year. The areas sought are then offered for bidding.
• It provides uniform licences for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbons, enabling contractors to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources.
• Fields are offered under a revenue-sharing model and throw up marketing and pricing freedom for crude oil and natural gas produced.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/12/21/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-december-2021/