Current Affairs MCQs [ 22 and 23 Nov 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers

Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad sumant.magadh@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/SumantKM/

With reference to the selection process of judges at International Court of Justice, consider the following statements: 1. Candidates are need to be first nominated by the national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration. 2. Judges are elected candidates by an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and Security Council. 3. More than one judge of a country can elected to the International Court of Justice. Which of the statements given above is / are correct? a. 1 and 2 only

The Court is composed of 15 judges serving in their individual capacities. • Candidates are first nominated by the

national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

• From the list of candidates, judges are elected to nine-year terms by an absolute majority in both the General Assembly (97 votes) and Security Council (8 votes).

• The timing of elections is staggered so that the GA elects a third of the Court once every three years.

b. 2 and 3 only c. 3 only d. 1, 2 and 3

Ans A

• The judges do not represent their nations but act as independent agents, there cannot be more than one judge of each nationality.

With reference to the International Court of Justice, which of the following statements is/are correct? a. One-half of the court is elected every four years b. Judges are eligible for re-election c. All state parties to the statute of the court have the

right to propose candidates Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 and 3 only b) 2 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: c.

The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.

In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies. In order to ensure a measure of continuity, one third of the Court is elected every three years.

With reference to the International Criminal Court, consider the following statements: a. It is the primary judicial

branch of United Nations.

b. It was formed under the Rome Statute.

c. India is one of its founding members.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only

• International Criminal Court (ICC) was set up after the ad hoc tribunals to deal with Rwanda war crimes proved ineffective.

• International Court of Justice - ICJ

• is the primary judicial branch of United Nations

• settles legal disputes and provides advisory opinions submitted to it by its member states.

• The ICC began functioning on 1 July 2002, the date that the Rome Statute entered into force. The Rome Statute is a multilateral treaty which serves as the ICC's foundational and governing document. States which become party to the Rome Statute, for example by ratifying it, become member states of the ICC.

• ICC, a criminal court is based on the principle of complementarity.

• ICC was not created to supplant the authority of national courts.

(d) 2 and 3 only Ans B

• It ensures that those who commit serious human rights violations are held accountable. India is not a member of ICC.

International Court of Justice = ICJ o principal judicial organ of UN o established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations o began work in April 1946. o The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague

(Netherlands). o settles legal disputes and provides advisory opinions submitted to

it by its member states. o ICJ is a civil court. o It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages

are English and French. o UNSC enforces its court’s rulings. o Composition: 15 judges elected for 9 years term by the UNGA and

UNSC. o Of the six principal organs of UN, it is the only one not located in New

York. Jurisdiction: o As stated in the UN Charter, all 193 UN members are automatically

parties to the Court’s statute. o Non-UN members may also become parties to the Court’s statute. o Once a state is a party to the Court’s statute, it is entitled to

participate in cases before the Court. However, being a party to the statute does not automatically give the Court jurisdiction over disputes involving those parties.

International Criminal Court – ICC o was set up after the ad hoc tribunals to

deal with Rwanda war crimes proved ineffective.

o ICC is a criminal court. o ICC is based on the principle of

complementarity. ICC was not created to supplant the authority of national courts. However, when a state’s legal system collapses or when a government is a perpetrator of heinous crimes, the ICC can exercise jurisdiction. ICC is a court of last resort.

o USA opposed the ICC for fear that it will be used politically against U.S. nationals.

o ICC ensures that those who commit serious human rights violations are held accountable. Justice helps promote lasting peace, enables victims to rebuild their lives and sends a strong message that perpetrators of serious international crimes will not go unpunished.

ICJ ICC ESTABLISHEMENT YEAR

1946 2002

RELATIONSHIP WITH U.N

Official court of U.N, commonly known as “World Court”.

Independent. Not governed by U.N. Can receive referrals from UNSC. Can initiate prosecution without UN action.

HEADQUARTERS Peace Palace , Hague Hague JURISDICTION U.N Member states. Can give advisory

opinions to UN bodies. Cannot try individuals. Applies International Law

Individuals accused of international crimes. Uses International Law, as war crimes violate Geneva Convention.

TYPES OF CASES • Sovereignty, • boundary disputes, • maritime disputes,

• Genocide, • crimes against humanity, • war crimes,

• trade, natural resources, human rights, treaty violations, treaty interpretation, etc.

• crimes of aggression.

DERIVES AUTHORITY FROM

States that ratify the U.N. Charter become parties to the ICJ Statute. Non-UN member states can also become parties to the ICJ by ratifying the ICJ Statute.

Rome Statute

APPEALS ICJ decision is binding. UNSC can review if states do not comply.

Appeals Chamber, according to Rome Statute.

FUNDING U.N funded contribution from state parties to the Rome Statute; voluntary contributions from the U.N; voluntary contributions from governments, international organizations, individuals, corporations and other entities.

Of the following principal organs (among the six) of the United Nations, which is the only one NOT located in New York, USA? a) General Assembly b) Trusteeship Council c) International Court of Justice d) Economic and Social Council Solution: c

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) • is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). • It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations. • The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). • Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not

located in New York (United States of America). • The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal

disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.

• The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. These organs vote simultaneously but separately. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies. This sometimes makes it necessary for a number of rounds of voting to be carried out. For instance, the re-election of Justice Dalveer Bhandari required 12 rounds of voting.

Which of the following tiger reserves are located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh? a. Orang b. Kamlang c. Corbett

Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 2 only d) 2 and 3 only Solution: c. Orang, the tiger reserve in Assam (the 49th such reserve to be notified in India) Kamlang Tiger Reserve in Arunachal is the 50th and latest to be notified.

The “Broadbased Trade and Investment Agreement”, sometimes in the news, is related to the economic affairs of a) India and the European Union b) SAARC and APEC c) India and the African Union d) ASEAN+6 Solution: a. India-EU free trade talks for the Broadbased Trade and Investment Agreement

Madhukar Gupta Committee, recently seen in news, was constituted to recommend measures for: (a) encouraging deep sea fishing. (b) strengthening border protection. (c) broadening of tax base. (d) preventing forest fires. Ans B

The Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Madhukar Gupta = to strengthen border protection and address vulnerabilities in fencing along the Indo-Pakistan border. • The Committee has given its

recommendations broadly on the issues of

o Threats and Border Protection,

o assessment of force level,

o deployment on the border,

o infrastructure and technology issues for protection of border and administrative issues.

With reference to Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY), consider the following statements: a. Under the scheme, Self Help Groups will

operate road transport service in backward areas.

b. 10 percent interest will be charged on the loan amount that will be provided to Self Help Groups.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect? a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 or 2

Ans B

• The Self Help Groups under AGEY will operate road transport service in backward areas. This will help to provide safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (such as access to markets, education and health) for the overall economic development of backward rural areas.

• there will be no interest charged on the loan amount that will be provided to Self Help Groups under the scheme.

The ‘Rovuma gas field’, to be developed in collaboration with OVL (ONGC Videsh Limited), belongs to a) Russia b) Mozambique c) Somalia d) Venezuela Solution: b. It is an offshore block; it is one of the largest natural gas discoveries in offshore East Africa and has the potential to become one of the world’s largest LNG producing hubs.

With reference to the judgment delivered by the 5-judge Constitution Bench on the practice of instant talaq, which one of the following statements is NOT correct? a) Gender justice was not the basis of the majority judgment b) The minority view included a justification for the practice, by way of it having been in vogue for over 1,400 years c) The majority view held that triple divorce is not an essential part of Muslim Personal Law d) The majority of judges concurred that triple divorce was recognised and regulated by the Shariat Act, 1937 Solution: d.

What is triple talaq? ‘Triple Talaq’ or ‘Oral talaq’ is a procedure of divorce mentioned under the Sharia Law which is a body of the Islamic law. Under this, a husband can divorce his wife by pronouncing ‘Talaq’ thrice. What is the issue? • The constitution allows Muslims, the biggest religious minority group in

the country, to regulate matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance through their own civil code.

• The Supreme Court has been examining how much it can interfere in Muslim laws governing family-related issues as it hears a plea to end the practice which permits Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying talaq three times.

What is the centre's stand on this issue? • Centre is opposed to the Muslim practice of triple talaq. • It has also described this practice as “misplaced in a secular country.”

• The centre says “gender equality and the dignity of women are not negotiable”

• The Central government as a part of its written submissions to the Supreme Court has stated that since gender equality is part of the basic structure of the Constitution, Muslim women cannot be denied this right.

Gender justice was not the basis of the majority judgment.

• It says “even theocratic states have undergone reforms in this area of law” which reinforces that these practices cannot be considered an integral part of practice of Islam.

Triple Talaq Issue Facts: • According to a study, 92% of Muslim women in India want oral triple talaq to go. • National Commission of Women (NCW) : Triple talaq was a “highly misused” custom and Government should scrap it

to protect the rights of Muslim women

• The ‘triple talaq’ has been abolished in 21 Islamic theocratic countries including Pakistan. • The largest percentage of divorces takes place among Muslim women. It was 1.59 among Muslim men, among Muslim

women, it was more than three and a half times higher - 5.63

• SC has declared practice of triple talaq unconstitutional, illegal and void and not protected by Article 25 (Freedom of Religion).

What activists say? • Women’s rights activists have long called for reform of the Muslim personal law which they say discriminates against

women. • What they want instead is a well-defined law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce and child marriage. • Campaigners say the “triple talaq” practice is unconstitutional because it violates the right to equality.

Why triple talaq should be abolished? • In spite of protests by Muslim women and activists world-wide the procedure is still prevalent in most countries. • There are several instances where ‘triple talaq’ has enabled husbands to divorce their wives arbitrarily, devoid of any

substantiation. • Oral talaq or ‘triple talaq’ delivered through new media platforms like Skype, text messages, email and WhatsApp have

become an increasing cause of worry for the community. • The ‘triple talaq’ has been abolished in 21 countries including Pakistan, but is still prevalent in India. • The Centre reasons that these practices are against constitutional principles such as gender equality, secularism,

international laws etc. • The government also argues that when these practices are banned in Islamic theocratic countries, the practices could

have absolutely no base in religion and are only prevalent to permit the dominance of men over women. What is National Commission of Women's view? NCW is of the view that the traditional custom of triple talaq should be banned in an effort to protect the rights of Muslim women and it cannot be linked to the Uniform Civil Code. According to the commission, Muslim women feels disempowered because of the practice of triple talaq What does the court say? • The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the practice of triple talaq (Talaq-e-bidat) among Muslims is unconstitutional

and violates the rights of women enshrined in constitution. • High Court also held that No Personal Law Board is above the Constitution i.e. it was indirectly referring to All India

Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)

What is the road block in front of courts? • If SC subject triple talaq as an aspect of personal law to constitutional norms, SC will have to overrule 1951 judgement

of the Bombay HC (subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court in another case) called State of Bombay v. NarasuAppa Mali

• In that case, SC held that uncodified personal laws may not be scrutinised for fundamental rights violations

SC final verdict: • Struck down the controversial Islamic practice of instant talaq. • Talaq is arbitrary and whimsical mode of ending marriage violated Muslim women’s fundamental right to equality. • Talaq should be erased from the 1,400-year-old Sharia-dictated divorce manual. • Supreme Court issued the direction after observing that even theocratic Islamic States had corrected their Shariat to

banish instant talaq. • Supreme Court ordered the government to frame a ruling to address the issue of Muslim women under the yoke of

triple talaq

• Verdict compared triple talaq to social evils such as sati, infanticide and devadasi system, which were cast out by way of legislation and not by judicial orders.

The Logistics Sector was recently granted Infrastructure status. This will cause 1.India’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index to improve 2.India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index to improve 3.Job creation to receive an impetus Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: d

• the logistics cost in India is very high compared to developed countries.

• High logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export market.

• Development of logistics would give a boost to both domestic and external demand thereby encouraging manufacturing and ‘job creation’.

• This will in turn be instrumental in improving country’s GDP.

• The decision to grant the logistics sector ‘infrastructure status’ will enable the Logistics Sector to • avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with

enhanced limits, • access to larger amounts of funds as External

Commercial Borrowings (ECB), • access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies

and pension funds and • be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure

Financing Company Limited (IIFCL). The Logistics Sector was granted Infrastructure status. What is the reason for this grant? What are the benefits of infrastructure status? What is the reason for this grant? • High logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Indian goods

both in domestic as well as export markets. • Thus, development of logistics would give a boost to both

domestic and external demand thereby encouraging manufacturing and job creation.

• It will also reduce the cost of capital in transportation and warehousing.

• It also seeks instrumental in improving country’s GDP

What are the benefits of infrastructure status? • Infrastructure industries get longer maturity loans compared

to typical manufacturing sector.

Infras : o Railways tracks, roads bridges, airport

facilities, transmission and distribution facilities

o Telephone lines

o Telecom network

o Pipelines(oil, gas water)

o Port facilities

o Canal networks

o Sewage, Sanitation

o Power generating plants

o Production of crude oil

• They are also eligible for slightly higher equity ratios while applying for the loans.

• They can do refinancing with specialised lenders like IDFC, IIFCL, etc.

o Purification of water

o Building of ships/aircrafts/vehicles

What are the benefits of the logistic sector after the infrastructure status? • It will enable the logistics sector to avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with enhanced limits

• Give access to larger amounts of funds as external commercial borrowings (ECB)

• Give access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies and pension funds and

• It will be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Limited (IIFCL)

What is logistics infrastructure? • Logistics infrastructure means and includes multi-modal logistics park comprising inland container

depot (ICD) with minimum investment of 50 crore and minimum area of 10 acre, cold chain facility with minimum investment of 15 crore and minimum area of 20,000 square feet, and/or warehousing facility with investment of minimum 25 crore and minimum area of 1 lakh square feet.

Which among the following sectors/sub-sectors have been accorded Infrastructure status by the government? o Sports o Communication o Affordable housing o Irrigation

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans D

• For addressing the issue of deficit of sports infrastructure in the country, Sports has been included in the harmonized master list of infrastructure sub-sectors so that the sports sector becomes eligible for obtaining long term financial support from banks and other financial institutions on the same principle as is available to other infrastructure projects.

• Water & Sanitation is an infrastructure sector which includes Solid Waste Management, Water supply pipelines, Water treatment plants, Sewage collection, treatment and disposal system, Irrigation (dams, channels, embankments etc.), Storm Water Drainage System, Slurry Pipelines.

• Communication is an infrastructure sector which includes Telecommunication (Fixed network), Telecommunication towers and Telecommunication & Telecom Services.

• Government has also awarded infrastructure status to affordable housing. Infrastructure status will ensure easier access to institutional credit and help in reducing developers’ cost of borrowing for affordable projects. According infrastructure status will further simplify approval process for affordable projects, create clear guidelines and increase transparency in the segment.

SEBI recently issued a circular naming many listed firms as suspected “shell companies”. What are shell companies? a) A company whose stocks are not made available for active trading by its board of directors for reasons not disclosed b) As defined by the Companies Act 2013, it is an entity that is set up illegally in order manipulate share prices c) It is a non-operational company, that is, it does not have active business operations or assets d) None of the above Solution: C

• There is no clear definition of shell companies in India. The term is not defined under the Companies Act, 2013. • In the US, however, the Securities Act defines a shell firm as one that has no or nominal operations and assets. The assets must consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents with very little other assets. In other words, a shell company should not have active business operations or assets. • The Centre may be coming down hard on shell companies, but interestingly not all shell companies are illegal. Some were formed to raise funds to promote startups. But as they say, even one bad apple can spoil the bunch. • Given the umpteen instances of individuals and corporates abusing shell companies, either to avoid tax or use them as conduit for money laundering, these are generally viewed as dubious and questionable enterprises.

The often-heard term “Shadow Bank” refers to a. All non-banking financial institutions b. A banking entity that performs all transactions online without a physical presence c. Financial institutions that fall outside the purview of regular banking system and skips stern government regulation d. All financial entities operating in tax havens Solution: c These institutions (for e.g. Manappuram Finance, Capital First and Shriram Transport Finance) perform banking like activities done by NBFCs, but are not regulated by RBI. They need not follow statutory limits like CRR, SLR etc. They operate only under certain guidelines issued by RBI/SEBI, IRDA etc.

UPSC Prelims 2015 The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measure' and 'Peace Clause' appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the (a) Food and Agriculture Organization (b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (c) World Trade Organization (d) United Nations Environment Programme Ans C

The term ‘peace clause’ has been frequently in news related to the affairs of World Trade Organisation (WTO). With reference to this,

• The ‘peace clause’ said that no country would be legally barred from food security programmes even if the subsidy

which of the following is/are correct? 1. It said that no country would be legally barred from food security programmes even if the subsidy breached the limits specified in the WTO agreement on agriculture. 2. It is a temporary relief measure provided to countries like India who procure food grains directly from farmers at Minimum Support Prices to carry on Food Security Programme. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1 only b. 2 only c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor

breached the limits specified in the WTO agreement on agriculture.

• This ‘peace clause’ was expected to be in force for four years until 2017, by which time the protagonists hoped to find a permanent solution to the problem.

• The term ‘peace clause’ has been a cause of disquiet ever since India dug in its heels on the issue of domestic food security in the recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, leading to a deadlock.

• India thinks the WTO should not have a say in India’s policy of buying food grains at a fixed price from farmers and supplying it below cost to the poor but developed nations disagree.

• After the developing and emerging nations clashed on the issue last year, they cobbled together a temporary ‘peace clause’ in Bali last December.

With reference to “Chilka Lake”, recently in news, which of the following statement is/are correct?

a. It is Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon. b. It is situated along the east coast of India in the

state of West Bengal. c. The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species of

Chilika lake. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a. 1 and 2 only b. 2 and 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. 1, 2 and 3

Ans C • Lakhs of migratory birds have made their way to

the Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.

• It is situated along the east coast of India in the state of Odisha

• The Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species of Chilika lake.

The “Namami Barak Festival” belongs to which of the following state of India?

a. Manipur b. Assam c. Arunachal Pradesh d. Mizoram

The first ever Namami Barak festival was = celebrated at Barak Valley in Assam. • Namami Barak is an attempt to pay tribute to the

River Barak and to showcase of Barak’s potential and possibilities to emerge as a hub of trade and commerce.

• The cultural heritage of the valley together with its cuisine, fauna and flora, socio-economic and civic splendor were showcased before the global audience during the festival.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a free trade agreement between India and which of the following country?

a. South Korea b. Iran c. Japan d. US • The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a free trade

agreement between India and South Korea.

• The agreement was signed on August 7, 2009

With reference to the ‘Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’ recently in news, consider the following statements 1.It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and market economy 2.OECD is an official United Nations Observer Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2

• The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organization with 35 member countries, founded in 1960 to stimulate economic progress and world trade

• It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members.

• Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.

• OECD is an official United Nations Observer

Which among the following constitute what is known internationally as the ‘Big Three’ among Credit Rating Agencies? o Standard & Poor’s o Moody’s o CARE Ratings o ARC Ratings

Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 b) 1 and 2 only c) 3 and 4 only d) 1, 2 and 4 Solution: b. The ‘Big Three’ are • Standard & Poor’s

• Moody’s

• Fitch Group

Consider the following rivers: o Barak o Lohit o Subansiri

Which of the above flows / flow through Arunachal Pradesh? a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: b. • The Barak is an important river in Manipur and Mizoram. • River Tsangpo emerges from the foothills of the Central

Himalayas near Namcha Barwa under the name of Siang or Dihang. Entering India and flowing southwest, it receives its main left bank tributaries, viz. Dibang or Sikang and Lohit; thereafter, it is known as the Brahmaputra.

• River Subansiri flows in Arunachal Pradesh; it is a right-bank tributary of River Brahmaputra.