Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 24-05-2023

Q1. Which of the following statements are correct with respect to the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Mission?

1. It is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission to make multiple flybys of Jupiter’s satellites.

2. It will study Ganymede’s intrinsic magnetic field and its interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (c)

Explanation:

• It was launched on April 14, 2023, on an Ariane 5 from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

• JUICE or the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Mission is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission that will make multiple flybys past Jupiter’s moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa before going into orbit around Ganymede.

• The mission will help scientists understand more about Jupiter and its system, with a focus on finding out whether Ganymede can host life.

• The primary science objectives for Ganymede (most of these apply to Callisto as well) are:

(1) Characterization of the ocean layers and detection of putative subsurface water reservoirs;

(2) Topographical, geological and compositional mapping of the surface;

(3) Study of the physical properties of the icy crusts;

(4) Characterisation of the internal mass distribution, dynamics and evolution of the interiors;

(5) Investigation of the exosphere; and

(6) Study of Ganymede’s intrinsic magnetic field and its interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere.

• For Europa, the focus is on the chemistry essential to life, including organic molecules, and on understanding the formation of surface features and the composition of the non-water-ice material.

Q2. Consider the following statements about Indo-Islamic style of architecture

1. Both forms have the same architecture especially in respect to ornamental decoration and the open court.

2. The Muslim style of construction was based on arches, vaults and domes.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (c)

Explanation:

• Indo-Islamic architecture begins with the Ghurid occupation of India at the close of the 12 century A.D. The Muslims having inherited a wealth of varied designs from Sasanian and Byzantine empires and being naturally endowed with good taste for buildings, never failed to adapt to their own requirements the indigenous architecture of almost every foreign country that they conquered.

• The most important factors common to both forms of architecture, especially in respect of mosques and temples, were that to both styles, ornamental decoration was very vital and that the open court in many cases was surrounded by colonnades.

• The prayer chamber of the mosque was spacious, whereas the shrine of the temple was comparatively small.

• The mosque was light and open, whereas the temple was dark and closed.

• The difference between the lay-out of a temple and a mosque is explained by the essential difference between the Hindu and Muslim forms of worship and prayer.

• The Muslim style of construction was based on arches, vaults and domes, on columns and pyramidal towers or slender spires, called trabeate.

• A tower or minaret, originally intended for the muazzin to call the faithful to the prayer, later assumed a mere architectural character.

• A gallery or compartment of the prayer hall or some other part was screened off to accommodate the ladies who observed purdah

• The main entrance to a mosque is on the east, and the sides are enclosed by cloisters (liwans). A tank is provided for ablutions usually in the courtyard of a mosque.

• In the Hindu style of construction spaces were spanned corbels, held together by making courses project, each further than the one below, so that the open span was gradually reduced to a size which could be covered with a single slab or brick.

Q3. Which of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with the offence of sedition?

a. 144

b. 124-A

c. 295A

d. 153C

Answer (b)

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court directed the Centre and states to keep in abeyance all pending trials, appeals, and proceedings with respect to the charge framed under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with the offence of sedition, till the central government completes the promised exercise to reconsider and re-examine the provision.

• The central government had initially defended the colonial provision, but later told the apex court it was reviewing it.

• Section 124A defines sedition as – “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added…”

The provision also contains three explanations:

• The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity;

• Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtaining their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section;

• Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

Q4. With reference to the co-operative societies, consider the following statements:

1. Cooperatives are covered under union list subject under the Constitution and they come under the union government's jurisdiction.

2. They are formed at the grassroots level by people to harness the power of collective bargaining in the marketplace.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (b)

Explanation:

• The Lok Sabha referred the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment), Bill, 2022 to a joint committee of Parliament.

• Cooperatives are organizations formed at the grassroots level by people to harness collective bargaining power in the marketplace. This can mean different kinds of arrangements, such as using a common resource or sharing capital, to derive a common gain that would otherwise be difficult for an individual producer to get.

• Cooperatives are a state subject under the Constitution, meaning they come under the state governments’ jurisdiction, but there are many societies whose members and areas of operation are spread across more than one state. For example, most sugar mills along the districts on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border procure cane from both states. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• In agriculture, cooperative dairies, sugar mills, spinning mills etc. are formed with the pooled resources of farmers who wish to process their produce.

• Amul from Gujarat is perhaps the best-known cooperative society in India, but the numbers show their prevalence, there are nearly 2 lakh cooperative dairy societies and 330 cooperative sugar mill operations across the country.

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to the Supreme Court of India

1. The majority verdict by a larger bench will prevail over even a unanimous decision by a bench of lesser strength.

2. The number of judges constituting the majority on the larger bench should always be more than the number of judges on the smaller bench.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (a)

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court ruled that a majority verdict by a larger bench will prevail over even a unanimous decision by a bench of lesser strength, although the number of judges constituting the majority in the former may be less than or equal to the number of judges on the smaller bench.

• Example: A seven-judge bench, (4:3) ruling by the court will prevail over a unanimous five-judge bench verdict.

• The court said that “in view of Article 145(5) of the Constitution, the concurrence of a majority of the judges at the hearing will be considered as a judgement or opinion of the court. It is settled that the majority decision of a Bench of larger strength would prevail over the decision of a Bench of lesser strength, irrespective of the number of judges constituting the majority.”