This is the current affairs of 4 & 5 June 2023. Here are 10 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which country opened 102 secret police stations in 53 countries of the world?
a. India
b. China
c. Iran
d. Russia
Answer: b. China
– China has established 102 secret police stations in 53 countries around the world. A covert judicial system is also operational there.
– A group called “Safeguard Defenders” in Spain has revealed this.
– The German Minister stated on May 15, 2023, that despite objections, China is conducting police activities in their country.
– The American investigation agency, FBI, raided a secret police station in April 2023 and arrested several Chinese individuals.
– Among the 52 countries with China’s secret police stations, powerful nations like the United States, Britain, Germany, and Canada also have them.
– Now there is a confrontation between Western countries and China on this issue. These countries are taking action to remove Chinese secret police stations.
Why did China establish secret police stations?
– According to an investigation conducted by the Spanish group Safeguard Defenders, China refers to them as “service stations.”
– China claims that these service stations have been established for administrative work for Chinese citizens, such as renewing Chinese driving licenses, passport renewal, assisting citizens, etc.
– China has claimed that it established these service stations due to the increasing incidents of “online fraud” by Chinese citizens worldwide.
– In fact, after the COVID-19 pandemic, China passed the “Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law (ATTOFL)” in September 2022, holding foreign Chinese citizens accountable for such crimes.
What is China actually doing?
– According to Safeguard Defenders, the reality is that China is doing something else entirely.
– Through these stations, China is exerting control over Chinese individuals spread throughout the world who oppose President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.
– These police stations also crack down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities associated with foreign Chinese individuals.
– Many innocent Chinese citizens have been placed on the suspicious list, leading to harsh actions under ATTOFL (the law).
– Reports suggest that ‘suspects’ are often trapped in fraud through threats, trafficking, and intimidation.
– Chinese police stations often cut off electricity and water supply to their homes or the homes of their relatives.
– The Ministry of Public Security in China itself has admitted that by July 2022, they had reached around 230,000 Chinese ‘suspects’ involved in online fraud.
– China’s secret police stations have persuaded these Chinese individuals to return to China from abroad.
– China has also created a list of nine countries where it believes Chinese people engage in fraud. These countries include Turkey, the UAE, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Expansion of China’s secret police worldwide
– According to the newspaper ‘The Hindu,’ in January 2022, China established the first batch of 30 secret police stations in 25 cities of 21 countries to target ‘suspicious foreign Chinese individuals.’
– This includes Canada, the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Ireland, the UK, Suriname, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Japan, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Korea, Sri Lanka, Ulan Bator, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.
Global concern regarding China’s secret police
– China’s aggressive actions through these police service stations have raised concerns among several countries regarding their treatment of foreign nationals.
– It is believed that China is using these centers to bypass bilateral extradition treaties, local jurisdiction, and United Nations regulations to establish alternative policing and judicial systems in other countries.
– In November 2022, twelve countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany, initiated investigations to determine if Beijing has established such centers within their territories.
Actions taken by countries
– On May 15, 2023, the German government informed China that it has two foreign police stations operating within its territory. Prior to this, Germany had also requested China to shut down the country’s secret police stations in November 2022.
– In April 2023, the FBI in the United States arrested two Chinese individuals and closed down secret police stations.
– In December 2022, two foreign Chinese service stations in Prague were shut down by officials from the Czech Republic.
– Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also confronted China over its “secret police stations” within their respective territories.
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2. Under whose chairmanship did the Central Government set up a judicial commission to probe the Manipur ethnic violence?
a. Justice Ajay Lamba
b. Justice Rakesh Verma
c. Justice Vijay Golati
d. Justice Vikram Kashyap
Answer: a. Justice Ajay Lamba
– The central government has constituted a three-member inquiry commission under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Ajay Lamba.
– The other two members are retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the 1982 batch and retired IPS officer Alok Prabhakar from the Telangana cadre of the 1986 batch.
– The state government had recommended the formation of this judicial commission to the central government.
98 people lost their lives
– In the Manipur ethnic violence, from May 3 to June 4, 2023, a total of 98 people have lost their lives. Hundreds of houses have been burned down.
– More than 35,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
What will the inquiry commission do?
– The commission’s task is to investigate the violence, its causes, and determine responsibility.
– The commission will submit its report within 6 months.
– It will also examine whether adequate administrative measures were taken to prevent and address the violence and disturbances.
Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-2 blocked, Home Minister makes an appeal
– On June 4, 2023, Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the people of Manipur to lift the blockade on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-2.
– This is to ensure the delivery of food, medicines, petrol/diesel, and other essential supplies to the people.
– The national highway is crucial for the transportation of goods to the valley regions in Manipur.
– It starts from Dimapur in Nagaland and passes through Naga and Kuki hill districts in Manipur.
– Since Manipur does not have railway connectivity yet, the national highway is a lifeline for the transportation of essential commodities.
Manipur:
CM – N. Biren Singh
Governor – Anusuiya Uikey
Capital – Imphal
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3. How many fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs have been banned by the central government in June 2023?
a. 10
b. 13
c. 14
d. 78
Answer: c. 14
– On May 4, 2023, the central government imposed a ban on 14 fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines through a gazette notification.
– These medicines include several drugs for headaches, body aches, cold, fever, bacterial infections, and asthma.
– The government has classified them as unsafe drugs.
– Previously, in 2016, the central government had banned 344 FDC medicines.
What does Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) medicines mean?
– According to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO),
FDC refers to medicines that are made by combining more than one active ingredient (drugs).
– For example, a popular FDC medicine, Sumo, is made by combining nimuselide and paracetamol.
Why did the central government impose a ban on 14 FDCs?
– The central government had received recommendations from a special expert committee stating that these 14 FDCs have no therapeutic justification and pose risks to people due to their side effects.
– Several of these medicines were being sold and purchased without a prescription.
– Therefore, a ban has been imposed on the usage, sale, and distribution of these FDCs.
FDCs on which the ban has been imposed:
1- Salbutamol + Hydroxyethyltheophylline (Atofiline) + Bromhexine
2- Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Citrate + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Menthol (100mg + 40mg + 2.5mg + 0.9mg), (125mg + 55mg + 4mg + 1mg), (110mg + 46mg + 3mg + 0.9mg), and (130mg + 55mg + 3mg + 0.5mg) per 5 ml
3- Phenytoin + Phenobarbitone Sodium
4- Chlorpheniramine + Codeine Phosphate + Menthol Syrup
5- Salbutamol + Bromhexine
6- Paracetamol + Bromhexine + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Guaiphenesin
7- Dextromethorphan + Chlorpheniramine + Guaifenesin + Ammonium Chloride
Nimesulide + Paracetamol dispersible tablets
9- Amoxicillin + Bromhexine
10- Folic Acid + Promethazine
11- Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol
12- Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Codeine Syrup
13- Ammonium Chloride + Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan
14- Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol
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4. Which agency has been recommended by the Ministry of Railways to investigate the Odisha train accident?
a. NIA
b. CBI
c. CAG
d. ED
Answer: b. CBI
Odisha government says – Not 288 but 275 people died in the accident.
– Pradeep Jena, the Chief Secretary of Odisha, said that it is not 288 but 275 people who have lost their lives in the accident.
– He mentioned that some bodies were counted twice, which resulted in an error in the number of fatalities. A total of 1,175 people were injured in the accident.
CBI investigation will be conducted into the incident.
– Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the CBI investigation in Balasore, Odisha.
– He stated that the accident occurred due to changes in electronic interlocking.
– When asked whether he can comment on whether the accident happened due to a technical or human error or due to anti-social elements, Vaishnaw said, “It is not appropriate to comment on this… Commenting is possible, but not appropriate… I can only say something after submitting my report to the independent agency (CRS).”
– It was not clear from the Rail Minister’s statement whether it was a result of human negligence being termed as “human error” or if there was a possibility of deliberate action or sabotage.
– Later, Jaya Verma, a member of the Railway Board, said, “Initially, it seems there was a malfunction in the signal.”
What did the member of the Railway Board say?
– Railway Board member Jaya Verma said that only the Coromandel Express had an accident.
– There was a freight train standing on the outer line of the Bahraich Bazaar station.
– The Coromandel Express, which was traveling from Haldia to Chennai, went on the same loop line where the freight train was standing.
– The Coromandel Express had a strong collision with the freight train.
– After the collision, the freight train did not derail from the tracks. The engine of the Coromandel Express climbed onto the freight train, and the coaches fell onto the third track.
– The Bengaluru-Haldia Express coming on the third track collided with the coaches of the Coromandel Express.
– At that time, both express trains were within the speed limit (less than 130 kilometers per hour).
– Since the freight train was loaded with iron, the Coromandel Express suffered the most damage.
– That’s why the Coromandel Express had the highest number of casualties.
About tech Kavach
– The collision prevention technology Kavach was not installed on this route.
– It was developed in India in 2012. With the help of this device installed in the engine and tracks, the overspeeding of trains is controlled.
– In this technology, if any danger is detected, the train automatically applies brakes. The purpose of this technology is to ensure that trains do not collide, regardless of their speed.
– The Safety Integrity Level 4 certified Rail Kavach has been developed by the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO).
The first trial took place in 2012 during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh government.
– The first testing of the Kavach, also known as TCAS (Train Collision Avoidance System), was conducted in October 2012 during the Manmohan Singh government. This testing, held in Hyderabad, was referred to as “Path Breaking Technology.”
– Despite the successful testing in 2012, neither the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) nor the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government expedited work on this technology.
– After 10 years, in March 2022, once again, the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Chairman of the Railway Board conducted separate tests by traveling on different trains to examine this technology.
Even a year after the trial, the Kavach technology is installed in only 65 locomotives.
– In May 2022, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the implementation of safety shields for locomotives to prevent rail accidents.
– Even after a year, the process of installing shields has only begun in Secunderabad, out of the 19 railway zones. There are a total of 13,215 electric engines in the country, but only 65 locomotives have been equipped with shields.
– The cost of installing the shields ranges from 30 lakh to 50 lakh rupees per kilometer.
– The expenditure on this technology in other countries is only a quarter of what is spent in India.
– It is coming to light regarding the Odisha rail accident that it occurred due to the failure to receive proper signals.
– If the engines of the Coromandel Express and Bangalore-Howrah Superfast trains had been equipped with shields, this accident could have been averted in a similar manner.
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5. When is World Environment Day celebrated?
a. 4 June
b. 5 June
c. 6 June
d. 7 June
Answer: b. 5 June
– Theme for the year 2023 : #BeatPlasticPollution
Host Country
– Every year a host country is decided. The day is organized by Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands.
– Plastic has become a major problem in the world.
– Over 400 million tons of plastic is produced every year, half of which is designed for single-use purposes.
– Less than 10% of it is recycled.
– An estimated 19-23 million tons of plastic is dumped into lakes, rivers, and oceans.
– Today, plastic clogs our landfills and finds its way into the oceans, releasing toxic fumes when incinerated.
– Due to these reasons, plastic has become one of the most serious threats to the planet Earth.
– Not only that, microplastics are entering our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.
– Many plastic products contain hazardous substances that can pose a threat to our health.
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6. When is the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression observed?
a. 4 June
b. 5 June
c. 6 June
d. 7 June
Answer: a. 4 June
– The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression to raise awareness about children who are victims of physical, mental, and emotional exploitation worldwide.
– In fact, it originated on August 19, 1982, when the violence in Israel resulted in Palestinian and Lebanese children becoming victims of war aggression. Palestine appealed to the United Nations to take action on this issue. Since then, this day has been proclaimed.
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7. Who became the first woman Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)?
a. Maria Joseph
b. Rani Verma
c. Ata Edu
d. Celeste Soulo
Answer: d. Celeste Saulo (resident of Argentina)
– The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has elected Argentina’s Celso Saulo as its first female Secretary-General.
– The leadership election for the World Meteorological Congress takes place every four years.
About WMO:
Established: 1950
Member Countries: 193
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
– WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
– It is responsible for international cooperation in the fields of meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
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8. In which city the National Training Center for FSSAI has been established, which has been inaugurated by the Union Health Minister?
a. Patna
b. Ghaziabad
c. Chennai
d. Lucknow
Answer: b. Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
– FSSAI – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
– Central Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the National Training Center of FSSAI.
– Training will be provided here in the field of food safety and standards.
– This training will be given to employees, officials, and private employees involved in the food industry.
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9. India’s first deluxe train ‘Deccan Queen’ celebrated 93rd anniversary of operation on which route?
a. Mumbai – Pune
b. Delhi – Mumbai
c. Mumbai – Chennai
d. Lucknow – Delhi
Answer: a. Mumbai – Pune
– This train was also known as the “Dakshin Ki Rani” (Queen of the Deccan).
– The operation of the train began on June 1, 1930, between Mumbai and Pune under the name “Deccan Queen.”
– At that time, the name of the railway company here was the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, which later became known as the Central Railway.
– Since the start of its operation, several changes have been made to the train.
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10. Which state government launched the ‘Mo Ghara’ scheme?
a. Punjab
b. Odisha
c. Bihar
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: b. Odisha
– The Odisha government has launched the Mo Ghar Yojana in June 2023.
– Under this scheme, the objective is to convert the dilapidated houses of the poor into pucca houses.
– The state government hopes that approximately four lakh people in the state can benefit from this scheme.
– Under this, beneficiaries will be provided loans up to three lakh rupees, which will have to be repaid in easy installments over the next 10 years. The government has set certain mandatory eligibility criteria for this.
– It is estimated that more than two thousand crore rupees will be spent on this within the next two years.
The scheme will provide additional benefits, especially to the SC/ST community and disabled individuals.
Odisha:
CM – Naveen Patnaik
Governor – Ganeshi Lal
Capital – Bhubaneswar
