QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 12 JANUARY 2018

Solution: c.

Justification for Statement 1: “The journey of Buddhism as a pan-Asian creed and later a worldwide following began 2,500 years ago right here in Bihar. That voyage of Buddhism to the rest of the Asian continent carried more than just the Dharma-Dhamma tradition. It carried a rich cargo of knowledge and learning. It carried arts and crafts. It carried meditation techniques and even martial arts. Eventually, the many roads that the determined monks and nuns – those men and women of faith – carved out came to carry both culture and commerce. They became among the earliest transcontinental trade routes.. Long before the term became popular, Buddhism was the basis for an early form of globalisation – and of interconnectedness in our continent.”

Justification for Statement 2: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, while addressing the Bihar State Legislative Assembly, in March 2006 mooted the idea of reviving the university.. Almost simultaneously, a proposal termed the “Nalanda Proposal” was forwarded to Government of India by Singapore.. The State Government of Bihar quickly adopted the visionary idea and consulted the Government of India on the way ahead.. Since the hallmark of the ancient Nalanda was its internationalism, the Government of India decided to share this proposal with the leaders of the East Asia Summit.

About Nalanda: https://www.nalandauniv.edu.in/about-nalanda/history-and-revival/;

Source/Improvisation: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=175551;

Solution: c.

Before 15 August 1947, peaceful negotiations had brought almost all states whose territories were contiguous to the new boundaries of India, into the Indian Union. The rulers of most of the states signed a document called the ‘Instrument of Accession’ which meant that their state agreed to become a part of the Union of India. Accession of the Princely States of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur proved more difficult than the rest.

A few days before Independence, the Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh, signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian government on the assurance that the internal autonomy of Manipur would be maintained. Under the pressure of public opinion, the Maharaja held elections in Manipur in June 1948 and the state became a constitutional monarchy. Thus Manipur was the first part of India to hold an election based on universal adult franchise.

Chapter ‘Challenges of Nation Building’, Politics in India since Independence, NCERT;

Improvisation: http://pibregional.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1516426;

Solution: a.

In a major digital initiative to help plan the traffic flows and optimize freight operations, Ministry of Railways have launched Smart Freight Operation Optimisation & Real Time Information (SFOORTI) App for Freight Managers which provides features for monitoring and managing freight business using Geographic Information System (GIS) Views and Dashboard. Both passenger and freight trains can be tracked over Zones/Divisions/ Sections can be viewed through this application.

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=175545;

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Solution: b.

• The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the NDIAC to conduct arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings.
• The International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) is a registered society to promote the resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods (such as arbitration and mediation). Through this bill, the ICADR will be transferred to the government. The government will then notify the takeover of ICADR by the NDIAC.
• Under the Bill, the NDIAC will consist of seven members including among others, a Chairperson who may be a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, or an eminent person with special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration.
• The key objectives of the NDIAC include among others, promoting research, providing training and organising conferences and seminars in alternative dispute resolution matters.

http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/ND%20International%20Arbitration/Bill%20Summary%20-%20NDIAC.pdf;

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/professionalising-arbitration/article22422443.ece;

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Solution: d.

Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel last year, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, stood out for his decision not to visit the Palestinian territories… The decision, India had said, came from a determination to “de-hyphenate” relations with Israel and Palestine. This was underlined in the India-Israel joint statement, which didn’t refer to the two-state solution, didn’t mention the status of Jerusalem, and didn’t even call for an early resumption of the Israel-Palestine peace process.

From the joint statement (http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/28593/IndiaIsrael+Joint+Statement+during+the+visit+of+Prime+Minister+to+Israel+July+5+2017): “The two Prime Ministers discussed the developments pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process. They underlined the need for the establishment of a just and durable peace in the region. They reaffirmed their support for an early negotiated solution between the sides based on mutual recognition and security arrangements.”

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-road-still-runs-through-ramallah/article22422860.ece;

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