QUIZ – 2016: Insights Current Affairs Quiz- 57

Solution: d.

The right to raise a question of privilege shall be governed by the following conditions, namely:

• not more than one question shall be raised at the same sitting;
• the question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence; and
• the matter requires the intervention of the House.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-to-move-privilege-motion-against-smriti-irani/article8290288.ece

Solution: c.

The Attorney General of India is entitled to speak and take part in the proceedings of a house of the Parliament or any of its Committees. The Constitution extends Parliamentary Privileges to the AGI and members of such committees as well.

Page 22.34 Indian Polity 4^th Edition by M Laxmikanth

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-to-move-privilege-motion-against-smriti-irani/article8290288.ece

Ans: d.

Ocean acidification arises when nearly 25 per cent of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere and absorbed by the oceans reacts with water to form carbonic acid. The carbonic acid thus produced leads to ocean acidification by decreasing the pH of the ocean, reducing the concentration of carbonate ion (which is essential for organisms such as corals and clams to build their shells and skeletons) and a decreased aragonite mineral saturation state (“a measure of the availability of dissolved carbonate and calcium ions”).

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/landmark-experiment-improves-coral-calcification-by-7/article8289731.ece

Ans: a.

Why does a mosquito get infected by Zika virus while it is unharmed by HIV and other deadly viruses?

The blood sucked by a mosquito goes straight into its digestive system and not in its blood stream. Unlike mosquito borne diseases, HIV is unable to replicate within the mosquito’s gut as it has no T cells over there and therefore is broken down very soon. HIV must have blood as medium to further proliferate.

The mosquitoes thus remain unharmed by HIV. Not only this, they can not transfer the HIV into any person as they have no mechanism to inject back the HIV from their guts to human body. On the other hand, the Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus.

NCERT 12^th Class Biology: HIV enters into helper T-lymphocytes (TH), replicates and produce progeny viruses. The progeny viruses released in the blood attack other helper T-lymphocytes. This is repeated leading to a progressive decrease in the number of helper T-lymphocytes in the body of the infected person. During this period, the person suffers from bouts of fever, diarrhoea and weight loss. Due to decrease in the number of helper T lymphocytes, the person starts suffering from infections that could have been otherwise overcome such as those due to bacteria especially Mycobacterium, viruses, fungi and even parasites like Toxoplasma. The patient becomes so immuno-deficient that he/she is unable to protect himself/herself against these infections.

Solution: b.

“The Union Law Ministry has obtained legal opinion that a Constitution amendment to revisit the Supreme Court’s role would be impermissible as it would change the court’s character under the Constitution. The opinion appears to disfavour a suggestion by the Law Commission in its 229th Report (2009) that if necessary Article 130 (“The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places, as the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint”) may be amended to implement its suggestion that Cassation Benches may be set up in four regions, while the Constitution Bench sits in Delhi.”

Article 136 is the option ’a’.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/reworking-the-supreme-courts-role/article8292595.ece

Solution: d.

“…Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told The Hindu that since Mr. Rai had retired as the CAG, he could not be “rewarded” with a new government job. “Does it not violate Article 148(4) of the Constitution,” Mr. Surjewala asked, adding the CAG was not eligible to take any post-retirement job under the government…”

Chapter 45 Indian Polity 4^th Edition by M Laxmikanth

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rais-appointment-is-unconstitutional-congress/article8293333.ece

—

Clarification regarding Question 5, Quiz 56:

This is what the State of Food Insecurity in the World, 2015 report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (which has been used by the Economic Survey) has to say about undernourishment in India and China:

“Most countries in Southern Asia have made progress towards the international hunger targets, even if the pace has been too slow for them to reach either the WFS or the MDG targets, including, for example, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As these countries constitute a large share of the region’s population, they account for the low overall performance – India still has the second-highest estimated number of undernourished people in the world………. China is still home to an estimated 134 million people facing hunger, and the country with the highest number of undernourished people.”

So the answer for question 5 is correct (viz. as asked in the question, statement 2 only is incorrect). The Economic Survey (along with the corrigendum) – one can consider the data/stats/facts given in it to be gospel truth. Do NOT go wrong with such data/stats/facts.