Daily Current Affairs Prelims Quiz 05-08-2021 - (Online Prelims Test) 1) Which of the following statements regarding the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021, is incorrect? a. The Chairperson of the Commission, established through this bill, will have a tenure of 5 years or till the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier b. The Bill dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in the NCR in 1998 c. In case of conflicts, directions of the Commission, established through this bill, will prevail over the orders of the respective state governments, and the CPCB d. The Commission may collect an environmental compensation from farmers causing pollution by stubble burning Answer : a The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 The Bill provides for the constitution of a Commission for better co-ordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems related to air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas. Adjoining areas have been defined as areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, adjoining the National Capital Territory of Delhi and NCR, where any source of pollution may cause adverse impact on air quality in the NCR. The Bill also dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established in the NCR in 1998. The Chairperson and members of the Commission will have a tenure of three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The central government will constitute a selection committee to recommend appointments of members of the Commission. The Committee will be headed by the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Commission will be the sole authority with jurisdiction over matters defined in the Bill (such as air quality management). In case of conflicts, directions of the Commission will prevail over the orders of the respective state governments, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), state PCBs, and state-level statutory bodies. Contravention of provisions of the Bill, or orders and directions of the Commission will be punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or fine of up to one crore rupees, or both. The Bill excludes farmers from the scope of these penalties. However, the Commission may collect an environmental compensation from farmers causing pollution by stubble burning. This compensation will be prescribed by the central government. Appeals against the Commission’s orders will lie with the National Green Tribunal. 2) Consider the following statements: 1. Under Article 30 of Indian Constitution, Parliament, by law, can restrict or abrogate the rights of the members of the armed forces. 2. For the first time, Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, made strikes by government employees explicitly illegal in India. 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 : d Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 The Minister of Defence has recently introduced the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, in Lok Sabha. The bill provides for the maintenance of essential defence services so as “to secure the security of nation and the life and property of the public at large” and prevent staff of the government-owned ordnance factories from going on strike. The Bill seeks to empower the government to declare services mentioned in it as “essential defence services” and prohibit strikes and lockouts in any industrial establishment or unit engaged in such services. This is not for the first time that strikes by government employees are being made explicitly illegal by the government. The Madhya Pradesh (and Chhattisgarh) Civil Services Rules, 1965, prohibit demonstrations and strikes by government servants and direct the competent authorities to treat the durations as unauthorised absence. Constitutional Provisions Under Article 33 of the Constitution, Parliament, by law, can restrict or abrogate the rights of the members of the armed forces or the forces charged with the maintenance of public order so as to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and maintenance of discipline among them. Thus, for the armed forces and the police, where discipline is the most important prerequisite, even the fundamental right to form an association can be restricted under Article 19(4) in the interest of public order and other considerations. 3) Consider the following statements with respect to Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) 1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the Central Share would be funded from Nirbhaya Fund. 2. They were established through the Protection of children against sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, for expeditious disposal of cases of rape. 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 Fast Track Special Courts The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO Courts from 2021 to 2023. The Union Government enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 to bring more stringent provisions and expeditious trial and disposal of cases of rape and Protection of children against sexual offences (POCSO) Act. This led to the establishment of the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) in 2019 as Centrally Sponsored Scheme. FTSCs are dedicated courts that ensure swift dispensation of justice and, it strengthens the deterrence framework for sexual offenders. The Central Share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund. 4) Consider the following statements with respect to Commercial Crew Programme 1. It is a partnership to develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective human transportation to and from the International Space Station (ISS). 2. It is an initiative of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in partnership with American private industry. 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 The launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) or the Crew Space Transportation-100 (CST-100) has been postponed. This spacecraft is part of an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program It is a partnership to develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective human transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry. NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX as commercial partners for this program in September 2014 to develop transportation systems for transferring crew from the US to the ISS. 5) Consider the following statements with respect to National Child Labour Project (NCLP) 1. It is a Central Sector Scheme in which children in the age group of 5-8 years are withdrawn from work and put into NCLP Special Training Centres. 2. PENCiL is a dedicated online portal to ensure the effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of NCLP Scheme. 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 National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme It is a Central Sector Scheme. Under this Scheme the District Project Societies (DPS) are set up at the district level under the Chairmanship of the Collector/District Magistrate for overseeing the implementation of the project. Under this Scheme, the children in the age group of 9-14 years are withdrawn from work and put into NCLP Special Training Centres. The NCLP Training Centres will provide them with bridge education, vocational training, mid- day meal, stipend, health care etc. before being mainstreamed them into formal education system. The children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Further, to ensure the effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of NCLP Scheme, a dedicated online portal named PENCiL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is developed. Under this Scheme, funds are provided directly to the District Project Societies who in turn engage and allocate the funds to NGOs/Voluntary Agencies/Civil Societies Organisation etc. for running of Special Training Centres. 6) Consider the following statements with respective to Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 1. According to the act opinion of three registered medical practitioner is required for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation. 2. It states that State-level medical board’s opinion is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities. 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 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device. The Bill allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason. Opinion Needed for Termination of Pregnancy: 1. Opinion of one registered medical practitioner (instead of two or more) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation. 2. Opinion of two registered medical practitioners for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation. 3. Opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities. Every state government is required to constitute a Medical Board, These Medical Boards will consist of the following members: 1.