This is the current affairs of 16 February 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. The Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme by declaring it unconstitutional on the basis of which article of the Constitution?
a. Article 11(4)(A)
b. Article 5(2)(B)
c. Article 19(1)(A)
d. Article 21(5)(C)
Answer: c. Article 19(1)(a) [This Article guarantees the fundamental right to free speech and expression, including the right to access information]
– Under the leadership of Chief Justice Deepak Chandrachud, the Constitutional Bench of 5 judges of the Supreme Court declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional and cancelled it.
– Date of verdict: February 15, 2024
– Implementation date of the Electoral Bond Scheme: January 2, 2018
– Provisions of this scheme: Permission to political parties to receive anonymous donations
– Under which article was it declared unconstitutional: Article 19(1)(a)
– Maintaining the secrecy of bonds is unconstitutional. This scheme violates the right to information.
Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution:
– This article guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, including the fundamental right to access to information.
– The Right to Information Act is also based on this article.
Decisions taken by the Supreme Court:
– Declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional.
– Cancelled amendments made in the Income Tax Act and Representation of People Act, which had made donations anonymous.
– Amendments in the Company Act are arbitrary and unconstitutional, opening the door for unlimited funding by companies to political parties.
– SBI to provide details of political parties’ bonds cashed, including the date of encashment.
– SBI to provide all information to the Election Commission by March 6, 2024, and the Election Commission to publish it on its official website by March 13.
– The argument of curbing black money behind maintaining the secrecy of political donations is incorrect. It violates the right to information.
– Keeping citizens’ political affiliations private is also included in the fundamental right to privacy.
About the Electoral Bond Scheme:
– The Central Government notified the bond scheme on January 2, 2018.
– According to the provisions of the scheme, any citizen alone or in conjunction with someone else can purchase electoral bonds.
– It is a type of promissory note, also referred to as a bank note, that can be purchased by any Indian citizen or company. It was issued by SBI.
– The bond can be donated to the preferred political party, provided the party has received at least one percent of the votes and meets other eligibility criteria.
– Its specialty was that the anonymity of the donor or company making the donation was maintained through the bond.
– The buyer could purchase bonds ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1 crore.
– Within 15 days of purchasing the bond, the donor had to cash it from a verified bank account of the party through the Election Commission.
– The scheme faced a challenge in the Supreme Court in 2017. The hearing began in 2019, and the verdict came in February 2024.
Controversy surrounding the Electoral Bond Scheme:
– In 2017, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley claimed during the presentation of the Electoral Bond Scheme bill in Parliament that it would bring transparency to funding received by political parties and election processes. It would help curb black money.
– On the other hand, opponents argue that the identity of the buyer of electoral bonds is not disclosed, which could potentially make them a means for the use of black money in elections.
– Some allege that this scheme was introduced with the focus on big corporate houses, allowing them to donate to political parties without disclosure. This allows these corporations to donate as much as they want without revealing their identity.
Beneficiary party of the Electoral Bond:
– The BJP benefited the most from the introduction of the Electoral Bond Scheme.
– Since 2018, BJP has received the highest amount of donations via electoral bonds.
– Over 6 years, BJP received electoral funding of Rs. 6,337 crore through electoral bonds, while Congress received Rs. 1,108 crore.
Top three parties receiving the most Electoral Bonds:
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2. Which visit did PM Modi make to Qatar during his tenure in February 2024?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fourth
Answer: b. Second
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first trip to Qatar in 2016.
– He then arrived in Qatar for his second trip in February 2024.
– The Indian Prime Minister’s second trip to Qatar occurred a few days after Qatar released eight Indians. These Indians had initially been sentenced to death in Qatar but were later pardoned by the Amir of Qatar.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
– Both leaders exchanged ideas to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, finance, and technology.
Prior to this, a meeting between the two – leaders took place during the COP28 summit in December 2023.
Economic Relations:
– In 2023, India and Qatar completed 50 years of diplomatic relations.
– Bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to over $20 billion in 2022-23.
– Qatar invested $1.5 billion in India in 2023, while India invested $450 million in Qatar.
– More than 15,000 Indian companies are operating in Qatar.
Trade Relations:
– Qatar is India’s largest LNG supplier.
– Over 48% of India’s global LNG imports come from Qatar.
– 29% of India’s LPG requirement is imported from Qatar.
– Indian company Petronet has renewed a contract to purchase 7.5 million metric tons of LNG annually from Qatar for 20 years starting from 2029.
Defense Relations:
– India and Qatar conduct military exercises named ‘Ja’yar Al Bahar.’
Cultural Relations:
– More than 800,000 Indians reside in Qatar, making them the largest expatriate community in Qatar.
– In the year 2019, ‘India-Qatar Year of Culture’ was celebrated.
Qatar:
– Capital: Doha
– Amir: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
– Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
– Population: 2.7 million
– Currency: Qatari Riyal
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3. For the first time, a special type of drone was used to fire tear gas on which protesters?
a. Farmer
b. Student
c. Politician
d. None of These
Answer: a. Farmer
– For the first time in India, tear gas was used on protesting farmers through drones.
– In February 2024, to stop farmers at the borders of Punjab and Haryana, the ‘Tear Smoke Unit’ of paramilitary forces and police used drones to deploy tear gas on the farmers.
– These drones were developed by ‘Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited’ (DRIISHYA).
– These drones are designed for surveying, infrastructure, and agricultural work along international borders such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.
– Drones are specifically used during special campaigns to blind terrorists and infiltrators.
– The drone-based tear gas launcher is also known as the ‘Drone Tear Smoke Launcher.’
It was introduced by the BSF in 2022.
How do drones work?
– This drone is capable of firing multiple munitions simultaneously.
– It is operated remotely.
– It is equipped with a tear gas firing gun, which is fired at protesters from a special height to avoid physical injury.
– Tear gas dispersed by drones covers an area of 400 to 500 meters.
– Smoke shells are fixed in it.
– It is being used to maintain law and order against protesting farmers.
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4. When is International Child Cancer Day celebrated?
a. 12 February
b. 13 February
c. 14 February
d. 15 February
Answer: d. 15 February
– This day was first celebrated in the year 2002 by Childhood Cancer International.
– Among the most common types of childhood cancer are leukemia, brain cancer, lymphoma, solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and bone tumors.
Note – Cancer Day is observed every year on February 4th.
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5. Who became the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of IRCTC?
a. Vinod Kumar
b. Sanjay Kumar Jain
c. Ajay Sahu
d. Rakesh Aggarwal
Answer: b. Sanjay Kumar Jain
– IRCTC: (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited)
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6. When is World Hippo Day celebrated?
a. 12 February
b. 13 February
c. 14 February
d. 15 February
Answer: d. 15 February
2024’s Theme
– The Mighty Hippo: A Semiaquatic Wonder
– The Hippopotamus, or “Hippo,” is one of the most vulnerable large mammals.
– Today, the estimated population of hippos worldwide is between 115,000 and 130,000.
Note – World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide on June 5th.
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7. Wholesale inflation rate has come down to the lowest level in the last 3 months, what was it in January?
a. 0.27%
b. 1.27%
c. 2.27%
d. 3.27%
Answer: a. 0.27%
– The cause of this decline is a reduction in the prices of both food items and manufactured products.
Who releases the Wholesale Price Inflation Report?
– The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
– This falls under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
(Note – Retail inflation is released by the NSO.)
What is Wholesale Price Inflation?
– This inflation rate is based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
– The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the prices paid by wholesalers in the wholesale market to other businesses.
– These prices are related to business conducted in the wholesale sector.
(Note – Retail inflation is determined by the Consumer Price Index)
Commerce and Industry Minister: Piyush Goyal
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8. Which state government has declared ‘Gupteshwar Forest’ as Biodiversity Heritage Site?
a. Odisha
b. Jharkhand
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Bihar
Answer: a. Odisha
– The Odisha government has declared the Gupteshwar forest in Koraput district as its fourth biodiversity heritage site.
– This jungle is located near the Gupteshwar Shiv Temple within the Dhondarkhol Reserved Forest in the Jeypore forest division.
Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Odisha:
– Gupteshwar Forest, Koraput
– Mandasaru, Kandhamal
– Mahendragiri, Gajapati
– Gandhamardan, Bolangir
About Gupteshwar Forest:
– The Gupteshwar forest covers an area of approximately 350 hectares.
– Local people perform worship and rituals here, and the area is home to many species of flora and fauna.
– The Odisha Biodiversity Board has released a list which includes 608 species of fauna and 182 species of flora in this site.
– Gupteshwar’s limestone caves serve as habitats for eight species of bats out of the 16 found in southern Odisha.
– Additionally, there is floral diversity here. The government has allocated a sum of 3.5 million rupees for creating awareness and planning activities in this area.
– Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar
– Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
– Governor: Raghuvir Das
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9. Indian athlete and hammer thrower Rachna Kumari was banned for how many years on doping charges?
a. 4
b. 12
c. 10
d. 5
Answer: b. 12
– The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended hammer thrower Rachna Kumari for a second time for violating anti-doping rules, imposing a ban of 12 years.
– Rachna has been banned by the International Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) because she failed several doping tests.
– Samples were collected from her on September 24, 2023, in Patiala and on November 1.
– Prior to this, Rachna had already been suspended from 2015 to 2019.
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10. India and which country signed a protocol of agreement for construction of additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) site?
a. USA
b. China
c. France
d. Russia
Answer: d. Russia
– KKNPP in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu (TN), is a joint initiative between India and Russia.
– It is a major project for bilateral technical and energy cooperation.
– Signatories: Alexey Likhachev, Director-General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Russia), and Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of India and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of the Government of India.
