This is the current affairs of 25th March 2023. Here are 10 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
PDF Download: Click here
1. Using the provisions of which Article of the Constitution, ‘Rahul Gandhi’ was disqualified from the Lok Sabha?
a. Article 58
b. Article 102
c. Article 106
d. Article 147
Answer: b. Article 102
– This article comes under Part 5 of the Constitution.
– The Speaker of the Lok Sabha used Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution in Rahul Gandhi’s case.
– Under this article of the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi was declared ineligible under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
————
2. Under which law ‘Rahul Gandhi’ was disqualified from the Lok Sabha?
Answer: Representation of the People Act, 1951
– Rahul Gandhi was a Member of Parliament from the Wayanad (Kerala) constituency in the Lok Sabha.
– On March 24, 2023, the Lok Sabha Secretariat declared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ineligible to continue as a Member of Parliament.
– The decision to declare him ineligible was taken a day after he was found guilty of contempt of court by a Surat court.
– Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the House since the day of his sentence, which was March 23.
– The decision to disqualify Rahul Gandhi was taken under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, based on the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution.
– As a result, he will not be able to contest elections for six years after completing his sentence.
Article 102 of the Constitution:
This article deals with the disqualification of Members of Parliament from any House of Parliament. Its Part 1 deals with the reasons for declaring a Member of Parliament ineligible –
– Part 1 (a): If the MP holds an office of profit under the Government of India or any State Government.
– Part 1 (b): If the MP has been declared mentally unsound by a court.
– Part 1 (c): If the MP is an undischarged insolvent.
– Part 1 (d): If the MP is not a citizen of India, or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, or has taken an oath of allegiance or adherence to a foreign state.
– Part 1 (e): If the MP becomes ineligible under any law made by Parliament or any law made under its authority.
What is the Representation of the People Act, 1951?
– The Representation of the People Act, 1951 is a law for the conduct of elections to the Houses of Parliament and to the Legislative Assemblies of each State or their respective Houses.
– The law deals with the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the Houses, corrupt practices and other offenses in connection with the elections or arising out of doubts and disputes related to such elections.
Under which section of the Representation of the People Act, action is taken?
– Under Section 8(3) of this law, Rahul Gandhi was declared ineligible.
– It states, “a person who has been convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years, shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.”
How does disqualification work?
– Disqualification can be reversed if a higher court stays the conviction or an appellate tribunal decides in favor of the convicted legislator.
– The stay on the conviction cannot be granted under Section 389 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but is related to the conviction itself.
Supreme Court order on the disqualification law
– However, until 2013, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 was not as strict.
– At that time, Section 8 (4) of this law provided that disqualification would only take effect ‘after three months have elapsed’ from the date of conviction. – During that period, a Member of Parliament or Legislative Assembly could appeal against a sentence in the High Court.
– However, in the ‘Lily Thomas vs Union of India’ decision in 2013, the Supreme Court declared Section 8 (4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 unconstitutional.
– This decision allowed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to immediately declare Rahul Gandhi disqualified.
Rahul Gandhi himself had tore the ordinance paper
In 2013, when the Manmohan Singh government brought the ordinance to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision.
– On September 24, 2013, the Congress government called a press conference to praise the ordinance.
In the same press conference, Rahul Gandhi arrived and said – This ordinance is nonsense and should be torn up and thrown away.
– He tore up a copy of the ordinance. After this, the ordinance was withdrawn.
– As a result, many politicians, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, were disqualified from Parliament.
————
3. Naval Exercise ‘Konkan 2023’ was conducted between the Navy of India and which country?
a. France
b. United Kingdom
c. Germany
d. USA
Answer: b. United Kingdom
– ‘Konkan 2023’ is a biennial naval exercise.
From 20th to 22nd March 2023, the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom participated in this exercise.
– The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Trishul took part in the exercise.
– Indian Navy Chief – Admiral R. Hari Kumar
————-
4. Pradeep Sarkar, who passed away on 24 March 2023, was which of the following?
a. Film director
b. Music director
c. Cricketer
d. Politician
Answer: a. Film director
– Pradeep Sarkar has directed several films, including successful ones like “Parineeta” and “Mardaani”.
– He was born on April 30, 1955, in Kolkata.
————
5. Which country has been made the new member of BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)?
a. USA
b. Japan
c. Pakistan
d. Egypt
Answer: d. Egypt
– The notification to include Egypt in the New Development Bank (NDB) was issued on March 22.
– The NDB was established in 2014 by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
– The bank was created to provide assistance for rapid development through infrastructure, innovation in emerging economies, and cutting-edge technology.
– Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay were included in the NDB in September 2021.
Members of the New Development Bank
– Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay
Egypt
– President – Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
– Capital – Cairo
– Currency – Egyptian pound
————
6. Who became the new head of BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)?
a. Marcus Troyjo
b. Dilma Rousseff
c. maria de silva
d. none of these
Answer: b. Dilma Rousseff
– Dilma Rousseff is a former President of Brazil.
– She is new President (head) of the BRICS New Development Bank.
————
7. Where was the regional office of International Telecommunication Union opened in India?
a. New Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Hyderabad
d. Kolkata
Answer: a. New Delhi
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new regional office and innovation center of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on March 22, 2023.
– ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations for information and communication technology.
– Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
– India signed an agreement with ITU to establish a regional office in March 2022.
– It is located in the Center for Development of Telematics building in Mehrauli, New Delhi.
– This office will cater to the needs of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran, with the goal of improving coordination among nations and promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.
————
8. Who became the winner of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023?
a. Max Verstappen
b. Fernando Alonso
c. Lewis Hamilton
d. Sergio Perez
Answer: d. Sergio Perez
– Sergio Perez is in first place. He is a Mexican racing car driver who drives for Red Bull Racing.
– Max Verstappen is in second place.
———–
9. When is the International Day of the Unborn Child celebrated?
a. March 23
b. March 24
c. March 25
d. March 26
Answer: c. March 25
– The International Day of the Unborn Child was established by Pope John Paul II on the second Sunday of every October. The aim of this day is to raise awareness about the safety of the unborn child and abortion.
– The theme for 2023 is “Every Life is Precious: Celebrating the Unborn”
———–
10. When is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed?
a. March 23
b. March 24
c. March 25
d. March 26
Answer: c. March 25
– This day is proclaimed by the United Nations.
March 25 is annually observed as this international day by the United Nations.