13 MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. The tenure and appointment of the state election commissioner is directed as per the law made by the state legislature.
2. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the President.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 & 2
   d) None of the above

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Statement 2 is incorrect.
State Election Commission:
The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities (Articles 243K, 243ZA).
The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
• Article 243K(1): It states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.
• Article 243K(2): It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature.
o However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.
• As per Article 243(C3) the Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, makes available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC.
• Part-IX and Part-IXA were incorporated through the amendment no.73 and no.74 in the constitution of India covering provisions regarding the Panchayats and Municipalities respectively.
• These parts cover constitutions of Panchayats and Municipality including their elections by the State Election Commission.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue within the United Nations.
2. It has a shared objective of ensuring a free, open and prosperous IndoPacific region.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 & 2
   d) None of the above

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
• It is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
• It has a shared objective of ensuring a free, open and prosperous IndoPacific region.
• The idea of grouping was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. The Iran nuclear deal was signed between Iran and the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) plus Germany.
2. The Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain,
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 & 2
   d) None of the above

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
Only statement 2 is correct.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
• The Iran nuclear deal (formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was signed between Iran and the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) plus Germany and the European Union.
• Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for relief from the US and other economic sanctions.
• The P5+1 refers to the UN Security Council’s five permanent members (the P5); namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; plus, Germany.
• The United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA objecting to the Iran’s ballistic missile program or its involvement in regional conflicts, sunset clauses of the deal which critics say provide Iran with a patient pathway to acquiring nuclear weapons.

Q4. With reference to the BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI), consider the following statements:

1. The theme of BRICS this year is -“BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus”.
2. The term “BRIC” is believed to be coined by OECD.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 & 2
   d) None of the above

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
The BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) leads held their first meeting under India’s Chairship from 9-11 March 2021.
• The theme of BRICS this year is -“BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus”.
• India, under its Chairship in 2021, presented the calendar of events for BRICS CGETI 2021.
• The deliverables proposed are on (i) BRICS Cooperation on Multilateral Trading system including cooperation for the TRIPS Waiver proposal at WTO; (ii) Framework for Consumer Protection in E-Commerce; (iii) Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) Resolution Mechanism; (iv) Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) etc.
• BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Originally the first four were grouped as “BRIC” (or “the BRICs”) before the induction of South Africa in 2010.
• The term “BRIC” is believed to be coined by Goldman Sachs. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q5. With reference to the meningitis, consider the following statements: 1. World Health Assembly recently endorses the 1st ever resolution on meningitis prevention and control.

2. The disease can be caused only by viruses.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 & 2
   d) None of the above

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
World Health Assembly endorses the 1st ever resolution on meningitis prevention and control.
• Meningitis is a serious infection of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• The disease can be caused by many different pathogens including bacteria, fungi or viruses, but the highest global burden is seen with bacterial meningitis.
• Several different bacteria can cause meningitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis are the most frequent ones. N. meningitidis, causing meningococcal meningitis, is the one with the potential to produce large epidemics.
• The bacteria that cause meningitis are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers.
• Despite successful efforts to control meningitis in several regions of the world, meningitis continues to be a major global public health issue causing up to 5 million cases each year.
• The meningitis belt in Africa is the most vulnerable to recurrent outbreaks, but meningitis kills people of all ages in all countries.
• The Defeating Meningitis Roadmap addresses all types of meningitis, regardless of the cause, but particularly targets the main causes of acute bacterial meningitis (meningococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, and group B streptococcus).
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.