DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ – 5 November 2024

Answer:

(a) 1 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct.Nemo judex in sua causa refers to the principle that no person shall be a judge in their own case, especially in instances involving a potential conflict of interest.
• Statement 2 is incorrect.India does not have codified rules governing recusals. The decision to recuse rests solely on the judge’s conscience and discretion.

Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct; Tranquebar, Serampore, and the Nicobar Islands were indeed Danish colonies in India.

Statement 2 is correct; Serampore served as the primary headquarters for the Danish in India.

Statement 3 is incorrect; the Danish involvement in India began with Marcelis de Boshouwer’s appeal for military assistance against the Portuguese, not the Dutch.

Answer B (2^ND STATEMENT IS INCORRECT)

Metamorphic Rocks

• The word metamorphic means ‘change of form’.
• Metamorphism is a process by which recrystallisation and reorganisationof minerals occur within a rock. This occurs due to pressure, volume and temperature changes.
• When rocks are forced down to lower levels by tectonic processes or when molten magma rising through the crust comes in contact with the crustal rocks, metamorphosis occurs.
• In the process of metamorphism in some rocks grains or minerals get arranged in layers or lines. Such an arrangement is called foliation or lineation.
• Sometimes minerals or materials of different groups are arranged into alternating thin to thick layers. Such a structure in is called banding.
• Gneissoid, slate, schist, marble, quartzite are some examples of metamorphic rocks.

Causes of Metamorphism

• Orogenic (Mountain Building) Movements:Such movements often take place with an interplay of folding, warping and high temperatures. These processes give existing rocks a new appearance.
• Lava Inflow:The molten magmatic material inside the earth’s crust brings the surrounding rocks under the influence of intense temperature pressure and causes changes in them.
• Geodynamic Forces:The omnipresent geodynamic forces such as plate tectonics also play an important role in metamorphism.

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: (b) 2 only

Explanation:

The Treaty of Mangalore, signed in 1784, did not effectively resolve the ongoing conflicts between Tipu Sultan and the British. Tensions persisted, and the war was triggered when Tipu Sultan, aiming to establish his political supremacy over the Deccan, attacked Travancore—an ally of the British and the primary source of pepper for the East India Company. This act was perceived as a violation of Tipu Sultan’s sovereign rights and led to the commencement of the Third Anglo-Mysore War.