August 30-2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

All options are correct

• Sanitation workers in India face hazardous conditions and systemic issues due to their seasonal work in stormwater drains and lack of recognition as manual scavengers.
• Legal and institutional framework for Sanitation workers include:
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (Revised): Abolished untouchability and made it a cognizable and non-compoundable offence.
  • Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993: Banned the employment of manual scavengers and deemed it a cognizable offence.
  • Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR): Banned manual scavenging and broadened the definition to include cleaning septic tanks and railway tracks.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Bonda tribe is a Munda ethnic group who live in the isolated hill regions of the Malkangiri district of southwestern Odisha near the junction of the three states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.

Statement 2 is correct

• Also known as ‘Remo’ (meaning “people” in the Bonda language), they are included in the list of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) identified by the Government of India.
• They are one of the oldest and most primitive in mainland India and are the first forest settlers in India.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Typhoon Shanshan caused huge destruction in Japan, killing and injuring many people.
• The tropical Cyclones in known as typhoons in Philippines islands, eastern China and Japan.
• Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones:
  • Size and Shape: Tropical cyclones have symmetrical elliptical shapes (2:3 ratio of length and breadth) with steep pressure gradients. They have a compact size—80 km near center, which may develop up to 300 km to 1500 km.
  • Wind Velocity and Strength: Wind velocity, in a tropical cyclone, is more in poleward margins than at center and is more over oceans than over landmasses, which are scattered with physical barriers. The wind velocity may range from nil to 1200 km per hour.
  • Path of Tropical Cyclones: These cyclones start with a westward movement but turn northwards around 20° latitude. They turn further north-eastwards around 25° latitude, and then eastwards around 30° latitude. They then lose energy and subside.
• Tropical cyclones follow a parabolic path, their axis being parallel to the isobars.
• Coriolis force or earth’s rotation, easterly and westerly winds influence the path of a tropical cyclone.
• Tropical cyclones die at 30° latitude because of cool ocean waters and increasing wind shear due to westerlies.

Answer: (b) Japan; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched SHe-Box portal.
• SHE-Box portal is a centralised portal for registering and monitoring complaints of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It serves as a centralised repository of information related to Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) formed, encompassing both the government and private sectors.

Statement 3 is correct

• It offers a common platform to file complaints, track their status, and ensure a time-bound processing of complaint by ICs.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• India poses a significant threat to grassroots democracy, particularly in ensuring timely and fair elections to panchayats and urban local governments (ULGs).
• Despite the constitutional mandate provided by Articles 243K and 243ZA, SECs often face challenges in exercising their authority, leading to delays in elections and undermining the democratic process.
• Challenges:
  • Disputes with State: The Karnataka SEC filed a contempt petition against the Karnataka government for delaying the delimitation process for panchayat elections.
  • Litigation and Delays: SECs had to resort to legal action to enforce their mandates. E.g. The Supreme Court struck down an ordinance by the Andhra Pradesh government that hindered panchayat elections.
  • CAG Findings on Urban Local Governments: 70% of ULGs did not have elected councils, often due to the disempowerment of SECs.
  • Lack of Empowerment in Ward Delimitation: Only 11 out of 34 States and Union Territories have empowered their SECs to conduct ward delimitation, affecting a mere 35% of India’s population.
• Necessary Electoral Reforms:
  • Par with Election Commission of India: The Supreme Court in Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad emphasized the need for empowering SECs similarly to the ECI.
  • A three-member SEC, appointed by a committee comprising the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice of the High Court, is recommended.
  • Fixed Delimitation Intervals: Delimitation of ward boundaries and reservations should occur at fixed intervals, such as once every 10 years, to prevent arbitrary actions by State governments.
  • Empowerment in Delimitation and Reservations: SECs should have exclusive powers over ward delimitation and reservations for seats in local governments, including positions like mayors and presidents.
  • Addressing Malpractices in Local Elections: SECs should be entrusted with the election of key positions within local governments to prevent malpractices by State-appointed officers. E.g. The 2024 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Mayor election highlights the need for SEC oversight to ensure fairness.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It has replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).
• It is a central sector scheme launched in 2022.
• It aims to eliminate manual scavenging by providing financial and technological support for mechanized cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
• The scheme is implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) for a period of 3 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26).

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium