QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 28 August 2019

Solution: b)

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and 25 States to respond to a writ petition for a direction to establish Right to Information (RTI) web portals across all States to enable citizens, especially those living abroad, to file RTI applications online.

The Central government established an online RTI portal whereby any Indian citizen, including Non-Residential Indians (NRIs), can apply for information under the RTI Act with the desired Ministry or Department under the Central government. An applicant can also pay the requisite fee through online payment in this portal and submit the RTI application.

Only Maharashtra and Delhi have set up RTI portals.

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Solution: c)

Solution: d)

NITI Aayog has launched the Fourth Edition of Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards, in collaboration with the United Nations.

The WTI Awards, since its inception in 2016, has been recognising and celebrating stories of exemplary women from across India. The theme for WTI Awards 2019 is “Women and Entrepreneurship”, in continuation with last edition’s theme that recognizes women entrepreneurs who are breaking the glass ceiling and challenging stereotypes, through businesses and enterprises and are providing innovative developmental solutions to building a dynamic New India.

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a Government of India initiative by NITI Aayog to promote and support aspiring as well as established women entrepreneurs in India, assist and handhold them in their journey from starting to scaling up and expanding their ventures.

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            Solution: a)

Momentum for Change is an initiative spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat to shine a light on the enormous groundswell of activities underway across the globe that are moving the world toward a highly resilient, low-carbon future. Momentum for Change recognizes innovative and transformative solutions that address both climate change and wider economic, social and environmental challenges.

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Solution: c)

• Committees are platforms for threadbare discussion on a proposed law.
• Committee meetings are ‘closed door’ and members are not bound by party whips, which allows them the latitude for a more meaningful exchange of views as against discussions in full and open Houses where grandstanding and party positions invariably take precedence.
• Most committees are ‘standing’ as their existence is uninterrupted and usually reconstituted on an annual basis; some are ‘select’ committees formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist. Some standing committees are departmentally related.

Advantages of having such committees:

• The deliberations and scrutiny by committees ensure that Parliament is able to fulfil some of its constitutional obligations in a politically charged environment.
• They also help in obtaining public feedback and building political consensus on contentious issues.
• They help develop expertise in subjects, and enable consultation with independent experts and stakeholders.
• The committees perform their functions without the cloud of political positioning and populist opinion.
• These committees allow the views of diverse stakeholders.
• They function through the year.
• They also offer an opportunity for detailed scrutiny of bills being piloted by the government.
• They increase the efficiency and expertise of Parliament.
• Their reports allow for informed debate in Parliament.