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Q 1. With reference to the Indian judiciary, consider the following statements:
- A Constitution Bench is a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it.
- Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India without the prior permission of the President of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither I nor 2
Answer: (a)
Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI), assured there will be at least one Constitution Bench functioning throughout the year in the Supreme Court.
Statement 1 is correct: A Constitution Bench is a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it. These benches are not a routine phenomenon. A vast majority of cases before the Supreme Court are heard and decided by a bench of two judges (called a Division Bench), and sometimes of three.
Statement 2 is not correct: As per Article 128 of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Justice of India may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court with the following qualifications:
- Who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Who has held the office of a Judge of a High Court and is duly qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Ad hoc judge
When there is a lack of quorum, the CJI can appoint a judge of high court to the SC bench. Such a step can be taken only with the prior permission of the President and consultation with the CJ of the concerned high court. While performing this duty, the newly appointed judge receives the salary, powers and privileges of a judge of the SC.
Q 2. With reference to the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, consider the following statements:
- The rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
- The rules will enable the setting up of a mechanism and centralized online portal for the exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither I nor 2
Answer: (c)
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) notified the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
Statement 1 is correct: The rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for the collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries. They are also responsible for the use of recovered materials from waste into new batteries. The rules cover all types of batteries, including Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries, and industrial batteries.
Statement 2 is correct: The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilized in the collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries. The rules will enable the setting up of a mechanism and centralized online portal for the exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers.
Q 3. Chabahar Port is located in:
- Gulf of Oman
- Persian Gulf
- Gulf of Aden
- Red sea
Answer: (a)
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways visited the Shahid Beheshti port at Chabahar in Iran to review the progress of development.
Option (a) is correct: Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in south-eastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. It serves as Iran’s only oceanic port and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, each of which has five berths.
Q 4. Which of the following is/are the Impact of the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV)?
- The height of the stunted plants showed a reduction from 1/2 to 1/3rd than the normal plants.
- These plants had shallow roots and could be easily uprooted.
- These plants were observed in almost all the cultivated varieties in the farmer’s fields.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Recently, the scientists at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) decoded the mystery disease which hit the paddy crop causing “dwarfing” of the plants.
Option (d) is correct: Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV) is named after Southern China where it was first reported in 2001 and was found to be the factor causing the disease. The incidence of stunting was more pronounced in early sown paddy crops, irrespective of the variety. In severely infected rice fields, the infected plants showed withering.
- The height of the stunted plants showed a reduction from 1/2 to 1/3rd than the normal plants.
- These plants had shallow roots and could be easily uprooted.
- These plants were observed in almost all the cultivated varieties in the farmer’s fields.
The SRBSDV is transmitted by a white-backed plant hopper (WBPH) in a persistent circulative and propagative manner. In addition to rice, SRBSDV also infects different weed species as nymphs of WBPH can transmit the virus more efficiently as compared to adults. Since there was no corrective measure for the viral disease, farmers should regularly monitor the crop for the presence of WBPH and a few plants should be slightly tilted and tapped 2-3 times at the base at weekly intervals.
Q 5. With reference to Seti River, consider the following statements:
- It originates from the glaciers around the twin peaks of Api and Nampa on the south-facing slopes of the main Himalayas.
- The river finally joins the Karnali in Nepal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither I nor 2
Answer: (c)
India is to develop two hydropower projects in Nepal, namely the West Seti Hydropower Project and the Seti River Hydropower Project.
Statement 1 is correct: The Seti Gandaki River is also known as the Seti River or the Seti Khola. The Seti River is a river in western Nepal. It originates from the glaciers around the twin peaks of Api and Nampa on the south-facing slopes of the main Himalayas. The area is near the tri-junction of the borders of Nepal, India (Uttarakhand), and China.
Statement 2 is correct: The river finally joins the Karnali or Ghagra River (which is Nepal’s longest river).
