DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ – 1 November 2024

Answer C

Deccan Plateau

• It covers an area of about five lakh sq km.
• It is triangular in shape and is bounded by the Satpuraand the Vindhya in the north-west, the Mahadev and the Maikal in the north, the Western Ghats in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the east.
• Its average elevation is 600 m.
• It rises to 1000 m in the south but dips to 500 m in the north.
• Its general slope is from west to east which is indicated by the flow of its major rivers.
• Rivers have further subdivided this plateau into a number of smaller plateaus.

Answer B (1^ST STATEMENT IS INCORRECT)

Rivers in Peninsular Plateau

• The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, and Tapti or Tapi rivers are among India’s peninsular rivers.
• They collectively drain a sizable section of rural India. In the life of Indians, these rivers have religious and cultural importance.
• The Kaveri Riveris another name for the Cauvery River. It is one of the Hindu rivers that are considered sacred.
• The river’s headwaters are in theWestern Ghats Mountain Range, in Talakaveri in Karnataka’s Kodagu District. The river flows from the south Deccan hills to the southeast lowlands.
• TheGodavari is South India’s longest and largest river. The Dakshina Ganga is another name for it.
• The Godavari is India’s second-longest river, behind the Ganga.
• The river originates in the Maharashtra district of Nashik. The river empties out into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Mahanadi Riveris a significant river in Eastern India. The river runs about 900 kilometres.

Answer C

Semiconductor Manufacturing in India

1. Need for Domestic Manufacturing of Semiconductors:
   • Semiconductors and displays are the foundation of the modern electronics industry.
   • They power a wide range of electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, and automotive sensors.
   • India depends heavily on semiconductor imports, leading to import dependency.
2. Reducing Import Dependency:
   • India currently does not produce any semiconductors, resulting in a heavy reliance on imports.
   • The demand for semiconductors in India is expected to reach around USD 100 billion by 2025, up from the current demand of USD 24 billion.
3. Overcoming Supply Chain Disruption:
   • The absence of local semiconductor manufacturing had a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
4. Geopolitical Significance:
   • Trusted sources of semiconductors and displays hold strategic importance in the current geopolitical scenario.
   • These components are crucial for the security of critical information infrastructure.

Steps Taken by the Government to Promote Indigenous Semiconductor Industry

5. India Semiconductor Mission:
   • It is established as the nodal agency for implementing schemes related to the semiconductor and display ecosystem.
   • Global experts in the semiconductor and display industry will lead the mission.
   • It will develop long-term strategies for a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem.
6. Semiconductor Design Companies:
   • Support will be provided to 100 domestic semiconductor design companies for ICs, chipsets, SoCs, etc.
   • The scheme aims to foster the growth of at least 20 such companies with a turnover exceeding Rs. 1500 crore in five years.
7. Semiconductor Fabs and Display Fabs:
   • The scheme offers fiscal support of up to 50% of project costs for setting up semiconductor fabs and display fabs in India.
   • Collaboration with State Governments to approve applications for greenfield fabs.
8. Fiscal Support:
   • The Central Government has introduced incentives for the entire electronics supply chain, including electronic components, sub-assemblies, and finished goods.
   • A total commitment of Rs. 2,30,000 crore (USD 30 billion) to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing with semiconductors as a foundational building block.

Answer C

What is an Anti-Defection Law?

• The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament (MPs)/Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for leaving one party for another.
• It was added to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule in 1985 to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties.
• Popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act, it was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
• It outlines provisions for the disqualification of elected members on grounds of defection to another political party.
• It was enacted in response to the toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs after the general elections of 1967.

Does not Penalize Group MP/MLAs:

• The law allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e., merge with) another political party without facing penalties for defection.
• It does not penalize political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators.
• The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, requires at least two-thirds of a party’s members to support a “merger.”

Implications:

• Disqualified members can stand for elections from any political party for a seat in the same House.
• Disqualification decisions are referred to the Chairman or Speaker of the House and are subject to judicial review.
• The law does not provide a timeframe for the presiding officer to decide a defection case.

Grounds for Defection:

• Voluntary Give Up: If an elected member voluntarily gives up party membership.
• Violation of Instructions: If a member votes against the party’s direction without permission.
• Elected Member: If an independently elected member joins a political party.
• Nominated Member: If a nominated member joins a political party after six months.

How Does Defection Affect the Political System?

• Subversion of Electoral Mandates: Legislators elected by one party may switch to another, undermining the electoral mandate.
• Affects Government Functioning: Defection can lead to instability in the government and affect administration.
• Promotes Horse Trading: Defection promotes horse-trading of legislators, contrary to democratic principles.

Challenges with Anti-Defection Law:

• Paragraph 4 of the law: Allows party mergers with the support of two-thirds of members without seat loss but lacks clarity on the national or regional level.
• Undermining Representative Democracy: Legislators are bound to follow party directions, weakening their independent judgment and accountability.
• Controversial Role of Speaker: No clarity on the timeframe for action in anti-defection cases, leading to delays.
• No Recognition of Split: The law recognizes ‘mergers’ but not ‘splits,’ creating exceptions.
• Only Allows Wholesale Defection: Amendments are needed to prevent wholesale defection.
• Affects Debate and Discussion: The law emphasizes party discipline over debate and discussion in the parliamentary process.

Answer :

(c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct as blood is indeed a type of connective tissue.

Statement 2 is also correct as squamous epithelium is found in the skin, lining of the mouth, and lung alveoli, serving various functions.

Therefore, both statements are correct.