Q 1. According to “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India Report 2021, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The highest rate of crime against women in 2021 was registered in Haryana followed by Odisha, Assam, Telangana and Rajasthan.
- Nagaland stood out with the lowest number of crimes against women registered in the past three years.
- Among Union Territories, Delhi had the highest rate of crime against women in 2021.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B)
Recently, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India Report 2021.” The report tabled figures for “Crime Against Women”, “Suicide” and “Crime Rates”.
Statement 1 is not correct: According to the report, the highest rate of crime against women in 2021 was registered in Assam followed by Odisha, Haryana, Telangana and Rajasthan.
- Rajasthan showed a marginal decrease in the actual number of cases while the three other states (Odisha, Haryana and Telangana) marked an increase.
- In terms of the actual number of cases registered in 2021, UP tops the list followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct: Nagaland stood out with the lowest number of crimes against women registered in the past three years.
Statement 3 is correct: Among Union Territories, Delhi had the highest rate of crime against women in 2021 at 147.6%.
Q 2. Which of the following statements is correct about the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021?
- The Government had notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 to regulate OTT platforms.
- The Rules established a soft-touch self-regulatory architecture with a Code of Ethics and a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism for OTT platforms.
- Every publisher should appoint a Grievance Officer based in India for receiving and redressing grievances in 30 days.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Inter-Departmental Committee constituted by the Ministry constitute the third-tier Oversight Mechanism.
Answer: (A)
Recently, a report was released by SBI Research, which said that the OTT (Over-The-Top) market is set to become a Rs 12,000-crore industry by 2023, up from Rs 2,590 crore in 2018.
Option (A) is correct: In February 2022, the government notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 to regulate OTT platforms.
- The rules establish a soft-touch self-regulatory architecture with a Code of Ethics and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism for OTT platforms.
- Every publisher should appoint a Grievance Officer based in India for receiving and redressing grievances in 15 days.
- Also, every publisher needs to become a member of a self-regulating body. Such a body will have to register with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and address grievances that have not been resolved by the publisher within 15 days.
- The Ministry of Information Broadcasting and the Inter-Departmental Committee constituted by the Ministry constitute the third-tier Oversight Mechanism
- They provide for self-classification of the content without any involvement of the Central Board of Film Certification.
Q 3. Which of the following ports was given to China by Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease after Sri Lanka failed to repay Chinese loans?
A. Galle Port
B. Oluvil Port
C. Trincomalee Port
D. Hambantota Port
Answer: (D)
Recently, Sri Lanka’s envoy in India said India-Sri Lanka should build a framework to discuss maritime concerns like the Chinese satellite and missile tracking ship, the Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota Port.
Option (D) is correct: Hambantota International Port Group is a Public Private Partnership and a Strategic Development Project between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort). Hambantota port was given to China by Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease after Sri Lanka failed to repay Chinese loans. It is seen as a case of Chinese “debt trap” Diplomacy.
Q 4. With reference to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), consider the following statements:
- It was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1963 after the Santhanam committee’s recommendation.
- It has the power to register any fresh case involving officials of the central government or a private person in the state without the consent of the state government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (A)
Recently, Bihar’s newly formed government called for withdrawing the general consent to the CBI.
Statement 1 is correct: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating police agency in India. It has its origin in the Special Police Establishment set up in 1941 to probe bribery and corruption during World War II. It was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1963 after the Santhanam committee recommendation. It functions under the Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances, Government of India.
Statement 2 is not correct: The CBI is governed by The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946. It must mandatorily obtain the consent of the state government concerned before beginning to investigate a crime in a state. It means the CBI will not be able to register any fresh case involving officials of the central government or a private person in the state without the consent of the state government. The state government’s consent to CBI can be either case-specific or general. General consent is usually given by states to help the CBI in the seamless investigation of cases of corruption against central government employees in their states.
Q 5. Which of the following statements are correct about the Bail provisions in India?
- The CrPC does not define the word bail but only categorizes offences under the Indian Penal Code as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’.
- The CrPC empowers magistrates to grant bail for bailable offences as a matter of right.
- The right to default bail is not merely a statutory right, but part of the procedure established by law under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.
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: (A)
Recently, the Supreme Court has reiterated that bail is the rule and jail is the exception.
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) does not define the word bail but only categorises offences under the Indian Penal Code as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’. The CrPC empowers magistrates to grant bail for bailable offences as a matter of right. This would involve release on furnishing a bail bond, without or without security.
In the case of Non-bailable offences, a magistrate would determine if the accused is fit to be released on bail. Non-bailable offences are cognisable, which enables the police officer to arrest without a warrant.
Statement 3 is not correct: Default Bail is a right to bail that accrues when the police fail to complete the investigation within a specified period in respect of a person in judicial custody. It is also known as statutory bail. Right to default bail under Section 167(2), CrPC is not merely a statutory right, but part of procedure established by law under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.