Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 03-06-2023

Q1. Which of the following statements are correct with regard to the ‘Bima Vahak’ of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)?

1. It is a core component of its ‘Insurance for all by 2047’ goal

2. Bima Vahak will be the crucial last-mile connect for insurers

3. Bima Vahak will be in the form of a field force comprising corporate as well individual Bima Vahaks, primarily comprising women

Select the answer from codes given below

a. Only one

b. Only two

c. All three

d. None

Answer (c)

Explanation:

IRDAI eyes insurance push in rural areas with ‘Bima Vahak’

• Publishes draft guidelines on the dedicated distribution channel, primarily comprising women, to cater to insurance needs in villages; insurers could tailor plans to meet financial protection needs

• IRDAI’s plan to improve insurance awareness and penetration in the hinterland is all set to gain momentum with the insurance regulator issuing draft guidelines for Bima Vahak, a dedicated distribution channel to reach out to every Gram Panchayat.

• A core component of its ‘Insurance for all by 2047’ goal, Bima Vahak will be the crucial last-mile connect for insurers in the form of a field force comprising corporate as well individual Bima Vahaks, primarily comprising women, who can gain the trust of locals for the distribution and servicing of insurance products.

• However, insurers will remain responsible for ensuring KYC and AML compliance with respect to the policies sourced through the Bima Vahaks, according to the draft guidelines that will be open for comments up to June 22.

• “Bima Vahak holds immense promise and will be a powerful force to enhance insurance inclusion. With the Bima Vahaks engaging with the diverse needs in every Gram Panchayat, insurers can adapt their offerings to provide comprehensive coverage and address financial protection needs,” said Prashant Tripathy, MD and CEO of Max Life Insurance.

Q2. Which of the countries share a border with Turkey?

1. Syria

2. Iran

3. Bulgaria

Select the answer from codes given below

a. Only one

b. Only two

c. All three

d. None

Answer (c)

Explanation:

It's neighbour to the northwest is Bulgaria; Greece to the west; Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east; Georgia to the northeast; Syria to the south; and Iraq to the southeast.

Q3. Which of the following statements are correct about the city of Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh?

1. It was the seat of the Holkar dynasty.

2. It is situated on the banks of river Narmada

3. It was a centre of handloom weaving since the 5th century

Select the answer from codes given below

a. Only one

b. Only two

c. All three

d. None

Answer (c)

Explanation:

Situated on the banks of river Narmada, Maheshwar appeals to both the pilgrim as well as the tourist in you. If you happen to drive through the main road of Maheshwar, which also serves as a state highway, you may come across several mesmerising sights of the holy River Narmada, its rich history, and the reflection of the Maratha and Malwa empires that ruled over years.

The glorious city of Maheshwar sits on the banks of the holy river Narmada and is mentioned in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. At the dawn of Indian civilization, it was known as Mahishmati, the capital of King Kartivarjun. This holy town was revived to its ancient position of importance by the Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. The town also holds the distinction of being the capital of Rajmata Ahilya Devi Holkar's empire during the 18th century.

After the death of Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb in 1707, the area of Indore, Maheshwar, and nearby Omkareshwar was acquired by Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder of the Holkar dynasty and a prominent cavalry commander in the Maratha Confederacy. He was then succeeded by his widowed daughter-in-law, Rajmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. The pious queen was known for her charitable and religious work.

The famed fortress, long and well-documented history, rich traditions and beautiful temples in this treasure trove calms the soul. Alongside these attractions, man-made creations please the eyes of every visitor. It is also said to be the place where Adi Shankaracharya is said to have defeated Mandan Misra in philosophical dialectics in the 8th century AD.

Mandana Misra was a perfect ritualist with more than half of his life dedicated to learning and preaching and mimansa. Adi Shankara being young and inexperienced, Mandana himself reasoned that it would be unfair to debate with a youngster in his twenties and allowed Shankara to choose his judge. Shankara was quick to decide that none but Mandana Misra's wife herself can be the most appropriate judge for the debate. The debate commenced and continued for months reaching a point where Mandana Misra was almost ready to accept defeat. Ubhaya Bharati, wife of Mandana Misra then interfered and declared that to defeat a man in debate the opponent should also defeat his wife.

MAHESHWARI SAREE

A center of handloom weaving since the 5th century, Maheshwar has been producing exquisite Maheshwari sarees and fabric. Introduced almost 250 years ago by Rani Ahilyabai, these sarees are renowned throughout India for their unique weave. Found mostly in cotton, the typical Maheshwari sarees are available with a plain body or stripes and sometimes even with checks in several variations.

A few decades ago, the art of weaving a Maheshwari Saree was almost at its deathbed. However, it was revived by the current Scion of the Holkar family with a paltry grant from the Indian Central Welfare Boards in 1979. They started a weaving project involving the local women and called it the Rehwa Society.

Q4. Which of the following statements are correct?

1. All judges of the Supreme Court are equal in terms of their judicial powers.

2. The CJI enjoys special administrative powers such as constituting Benches and assigning matters and references for reconsideration of a larger Bench.

3. The CJI is known as the ‘Master of the Roster.’

4. The CJI can veto a decision of other judges in the constitution bench of the court

5. The CJI can never author a minority opinion of the Court

Select the answer from codes given below

a. Only two

b. Only three

c. Only four

d. All five

Answer (b)

Explanation:

First Amongst Equals

Within the constitutional scheme of things, all judges of the Supreme Court are equal in terms of their judicial powers. However, the CJI enjoys special administrative powers such as constituting Benches and assigning matters and references for reconsideration of a larger Bench. The CJI is known as the ‘Master of the Roster.’ This is why he is regarded as ‘first amongst equals’ in relation to companion judges. But in any given Bench including the CJI, the vote or power given to the CJI is the same as that given to his companion judges. History is replete with examples of the CJI authoring a minority opinion of the Court. The most recent such order was the one passed by the Supreme Court in the Economic Weaker Sections quota dispute where the then CJI, Justice U.U. Lalit, along with Justice S. Ravindra Bhat authored the minority opinion of the Court. Most Commonwealth countries such as the U.K., Australia and Canada have this system in place. And countries which don’t, such as the U.S., instead have a system where all the judges collectively exercise power and render decisions since they sit en bloc. Thus, they reflect the collective strength of the Court and not of Benches, as is the case in India. In India, the legitimacy of the power of Master of the Roster has been hotly debated, and has been, from time to time, reaffirmed to the extent of administrative decisions for the smooth functioning of the Court. By no stretch of imagination does the present order of the CJI fall within the powers envisaged under the ‘Master of the Roster’ system. It is ironic that a judgment which emphasised on abiding by the statutory procedure for investigation and bail was effectively undone by a doubtful procedure that is completely alien to both the Constitution as well as the Supreme Court Rules. The interim order raises concerns because, in the near future, if the government is displeased with the order of one Bench, it can simply go before the CJI to get the decision stripped of all its legal sanctity instead of re-convincing the same Bench in a review.

Cause For Concern

Despite the administrative usefulness of the ‘Master of the Roster’ system, the many recorded instances of abuse are a cause for concern. Just five years ago, four senior judges of the Supreme Court alleged serious infirmities and irregularities in the administration and assigning of cases for hearing to Benches of the Court. The powers vested in the CJI by his virtue of being the Master of the Roster are unending. It is impractical to lay any limits on these powers, meant for the smooth administrative functioning of the Court. It is imperative that the CJI himself refrains from expanding his powers as Master of the Roster; the practice of constituting Benches and allocating cases should be completely computerised and left out of the hands of the CJI.

The CJI’s powers as the Master of the Roster are meant only for administrative decision-making. The order has the effect of enlarging the powers of the CJI on the judicial side and of creating an unprecedented intra-court appellate mechanism within the Supreme Court in total disregard of the established procedure, which is a review petition. The instant order has also dulled the bright line prohibiting the Court of the CJI from assuming that it is superior to all other Benches.

Q5. The country “Solomon islands” is situated in the

a. Indian ocean

b. Pacific ocean

c. Atlantic ocean

d. Red sea

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Q6. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of the decade-long Operation Barkhane in Africa. It mainly focused on insurgency in region of

a. Sahara

b. Sahel

c. Congo

d. Kenya

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Operation Barkhane

• France began its military operations in the Sahel in 2013. Titled Operation Serval, it was limited to targeting Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda who took control of northern Mali.

• However, in 2014, the mission was scaled up, renamed Operation Barkhane and was aimed at counter-terrorism.

• The objective was to assist local armed forces to prevent the resurgence of non-state armed groups across the Sahel region. Around 4,500 French personnel were deployed with the local joint counter-terrorism force.

• French operations had two objectives in the Sahel. First, to liberate Mali from the insurgency in the north and second, to see through counter-terrorism operations in West Africa, including the neutralisation of key terrorists.

Has France achieved its objectives?

• In its major successes, France regained Mali’s northern regions from the extremists in 2014 through Operation Serval.

• The 2014 success led to the inception of Operation Barkhane aimed at counter-terrorism in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad. However, Operation Barkhane saw a series of failures.

• First the region, despite the operation, witnessed the growth of new groups affiliated to terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State.

• Second, the failure of the operation led to a humanitarian crisis.

Q7. Which of the following is the nearest place to the Siliguri corridor?

a. Pangong lake

b. Chushul

c. Chumbi valley

d. Galwan valley

Answer (c)

Explanation:

• China is expanding its chain of model villages or Xiaokang

(moderately prosperous) villages close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), opposite Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, including in the Chumbi Valley which faces the strategically crucial Siliguri corridor, according to defence sources. This is in addition to continuing its infrastructure development and additional deployments along the LAC.

• At Pangda in the Chumbi Valley, where a Xiaokang village was set up earlier, a new village is coming up spread in two clusters.

• Similarly, opposite Uttarakhand, the construction of two such villages in the Churup area, located 11 km from the LAC, is nearing completion.

• There is a possible connection between the Yangtse faceoff and Xiaokang villages. This will give the dual-use nature of these 628 villages established all along the LAC. Then these villages are staging areas for build up.