QUBITs January 2019 1. Which organisation is responsible for declaring monuments of national importance? 2. Where is the Punj Tirath located? 3. Why Bhima- Koregaon battle is famous? 4. What is the Polar Vortex? 5. What is the Curative Petition? 6. What is the issue of Chakma and Hajong Communities? 7. Who is appointing Authority of the LOKPAL? 8. What is the role of the National Anti-profiteering Authority? 9. What does Section 126 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 talk about? 10. What is DNA Profiling? 11. What is the aim of the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)? 12. What is the Performance Grading Index developed by the government? 13. Why Formalin is used in Fisheries? 14. Which Union Ministry has launched the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-2023)? 15. What are Neglected Tropical Diseases? 16. What is the Programme for International Student Assessment? 17. What is the Institutes of Eminence scheme? 18. What is the Convention 189 of the International Labour Organization? Which organisation is responsible for declaring monuments of national importance? News: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently declared that it ​ ​ has added six structures to the list of monuments of national importance, taking the total number to 3,693. QuBits What is an Ancient Monument? According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any structure, sculpture, inscription, etc., which is in existence for not less than 100 years is termed ancient. When did Archaeological Survey of India come into existence? 1. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was formed in 1861 by a statute passed into law by Canning, with Alexander Cunningham as its first Archaeological Surveyor, to excavate and conserve India’s ancient built heritage. 2. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. 3. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972. Where is the Punj Tirath located? News: The provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in northwest ​ Pakistan has declared the ancient Hindu religious site of Panj Tirath in Peshawar as national heritage. QuBits: ​ 1. Panj Tirath, which got its name from the five pools of water present there, also contains a temple and a lawn with date palm trees. 2. It is believed that Pandu, a mythical king in the Mahabharata, belonged to this area and Hindus used to come to these pools for bathing during the month of Karteek and worship for two days under the trees. Why Bhima- Koregaon battle is famous? News: The clashes took place between Dalits and Maratha communities ​ in Bhima Koregaon of Maharashtra on 1 January 2018. QuBits: ​ 1. The people of Dalit communities gather in Bhima Koregaon in large numbers on 1 January every year to pay tribute to the Dalit heroes who died in the war between the British and the Peshwas on 1 January 1818. The Peshwas were defeated in this battle of Bhima Koregaon. 2. The Battle took place when the forces of Maratha ruler Peshwa Baji Rao II fought with those of the British East India Company in which the majority of soldiers belong to Mahar at Bhima Koregaon, named so for being situated on the bank of River Bhima. 3. In the memory of Battle, the British built squared-pillar to pay homage to the martyr soldiers, which is popularly known as ‘Koregaon Pillar’ that symbolises the courage of Mahar Regiment. The names martyrs soldiers of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon were engraved on the pillars and soldiers were honoured with a medal by the British in 1851. This battle ended the Peshwa System and the British got the power of this country of India. What is the Polar Vortex? News: In late January 2019, a severe cold wave caused by a weakened ​ jet stream around the Arctic polar vortex hit the Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. QuBits: ​ 1. The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth's North and South poles. 2. The term vortex refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air close to the poles (left globe). 3. Often during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the polar vortex will become less stable and expand, sending cold Arctic air southward over the United States with the jet stream (right globe). What is the Curative Petition? News: Curative Petition becoming a delaying tool in the Hands of ​ Nirbhaya case Convicts QuBits: ​ 1. A curative petition, in simple words, is the final and last option for the people to acquire justice as mentioned and promised by the Constitution of India. The concept originated from the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs. Ashok Hurra and Anr. 2. Its objectives are twofold- avoid a miscarriage of justice and to prevent abuse of process. 3. The court clearly stated that such kind of petitions must be rare instead of regular and to ensure it, the court in its guidelines to file the petition stated that to file such a petition a gross violation of a principle of natural justice by the court needs to be proved by the contending party, unlike other petitions. 4. The concept of the curative petition is supported by Article 137 of the Indian Constitution. It provides that in the matter of laws and rules made under Article 145, the Supreme Court has the power to review any judgement pronounced (or order made) by it. Such a petition needs to be filed within 30 days from the date of judgement or order. 5. A curative petition is usually decided by judges in the chamber unless a specific request for an open-court hearing is allowed. What is the issue of Chakma and Hajong Communities? News: The CAA 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to six minority ​ communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — without valid documents from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of stay in India. Indigenous groups in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram feel it will legitimise claims of refugee groups QuBits: ​ 1. The Chakmas and Hajongs are ethnic people who lived in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, most of which are located in Bangladesh. Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists, while Hajongs are Hindus. They are found in northeast India, West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. 2. The Chakmas and Hajongs living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts fled erstwhile East Pakistan in 1964-65 since they lost their land to the development of the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River. 3. In addition, they also faced religious persecution as they were non-Muslims and did not speak Bengali. They eventually sought asylum in India. 4. The Indian government set up relief camps in Arunachal Pradesh and a majority of them continue to live there even after five decades. According to the 2011 census, 47,471 Chakmas live in Arunachal Pradesh alone. 5. The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to six minority communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians — without valid documents from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of stay in India. Locals are concerned as this bill seeks to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees. Who is appointing Authority of the Lokpal? News: President Ram Nath Kovind had on Saturday administered the ​ oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the country's first Lokpal. QuBits: ​ 1. Lokpal is a multi-member body, that consists of one chairperson and a maximum of 8 members. 2. Chairperson of the Lokpal should be either the former Chief Justice of India or the former Judge of Supreme Court or an eminent person with impeccable integrity and outstanding ability, having special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management. 3. Out of the maximum eight members, half will be judicial members and minimum 50% of the Members will be from SC/ ST/ OBC/ Minorities and women. 4. The judicial member of the Lokpal either a former Judge of the Supreme Court or a former Chief Justice of a High Court. 5. The non-judicial member should be an eminent person with impeccable integrity and outstanding ability, having special knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law and management. 6. The term of office for Lokpal Chairman and Members is 5 years or till the age of 70 years. 7. The members are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. 8. The selection committee is composed of the Prime Minister who is the Chairperson; Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a Judge nominated by him/her and One eminent jurist. What is the role of the National Anti-profiteering Authority? Context: ​ 1. Any reduction in the rate of tax on any supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit should be passed on to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices. 2. However, it has been the experience of many countries that when GST was introduced there has been a marked increase in inflation and the prices of the commodities.