MLC Daily Current Affairs – 18 May 2024

Today in History (18^th May 1974)

On May 18, 1974, India conducted its first successful nuclear test, code-named “Smiling Buddha,” at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. This significant event marked India as the world’s sixth nuclear power.

Let’s revise

A) Prevention of Money Laundering Act was enacted in ____

1. 2003
2. 2008
3. 2014
4. 2019

Ans. (a)

B) __________ in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance is responsible for investigating the cases of the offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

1. The Directorate of Enforcement
2. Central Bureau of Investigation
3. National Investigation Agency
4. Financial Intelligence Unit

Ans. (a)

C) Who is the current director/chief of the Enforcement Directorate?

1. Rahul Navin
2. Sonia Narang
3. Monika Sharma
4. Nirmala Sitaraman

Ans. (a)

D) Who is the Solicitor General of India?

1. Tushar Mehta
2. Kapil Sibbla
3. R. Venkataramani
4. Mukul Rohtagi

Ans. (a)

E) Find correct statement about Solicitor General of India

1. It is a constitutional body
2. It has been mentioned under Article 76
3. It is the highest Law officer of Government of India
4. It is a statutory body instead of constitutional body

Ans. (d)

F) Find incorrect statement about Attorney General of India

1. He/she is the highest law officer of Government of India
2. It has been mentioned under Article 76
3. He/she advises the government on legal issues
4. He/she is directly appointed by the Minister of Law and Justice

Ans. (d)

G) Ukraine peace conference will take place in________

1. Ukraine
2. Russia
3. Switzerland
4. India

Ans. (c)

H) The south west monsoon first comes at_______

1. Rajasthan
2. Kerala
3. Tamil Nadu
4. Maharashtra

Ans. (b)

I) The rainfall in states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh is received majorly from____

1. South west monsoon
2. Retreating monsoon
3. Western disturbances
4. None of the above

Ans. (b)

J) Who recommended that the Election Commission of India should be given the powers to deregister the political parties in certain cases?

1. Prime Minister of India
2. The Law Commission of India
3. The Goswami Committee
4. The President of India

Ans. (b)

K) Who is the highest goals scorer in international football?

1. Sunil Chhetri
2. Ronaldo
3. Messi
4. Daei

Ans. (b)

L) Who is the only footballer of India who received the Khelratna Award?

1. Sunil Chhetri
2. PK Benerji
3. Subrata Pal
4. Gurupreet Singh Sandhu

Ans. (a)

Summary of Today’s News

Why delay in uploading turnout data on the website, SC asks EC

• The Supreme Court has questioned the Election Commission (EC) about the delay in uploading authenticated, scanned, and legible account of votes recorded booth-wise after each phase of polling in Lok Sabha elections.
• Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, leading a three-judge Bench, inquired why the EC doesn’t upload this data promptly when it’s available from Polling Officers in the evening after polling is completed.
• Rules 49S and 56C (2) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 mandate the preparation of Form 17C (Part I) format by the Presiding Officer to account for votes recorded.
• NGO Association for Democratic Reforms filed an application alleging delay in publishing voter turnout data for the first two phases of polling in the Lok Sabha elections, also highlighting discrepancies in initial turnout percentages released by the EC.
• Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the EC, accused the application of being a deliberate attempt to disrupt the polls, citing a previous Supreme Court judgment on EVM security and election conduct.
• The court granted time to the EC to respond and scheduled the case for May 24, just before the sixth phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections.
• The petition emphasized that EC published the voter turnout data for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections significantly late, 11 days after the first phase and four days after the second phase.

Switzerland government hopes India’s presence in Ukraine Peace Conference

• India has not yet confirmed its attendance at the upcoming Ukraine Peace Conference in Switzerland, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Swiss Foreign Secretary Alexandre Fasel has met with Indian counterparts in Delhi to encourage India’s participation in conveying messages to Moscow and playing a larger role in future peace summits.
• India, along with other BRICS countries (minus Russia), is seen as having the potential to act as intermediaries between Russia and Western countries due to their good contacts with both sides.
• The Swiss conference, scheduled for June 15-16, aims to establish a framework or roadmap for initiating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, rather than proposing specific peace plans.
• India has stated that it will decide on its participation after the conclusion of the election process in the first week of June.
• Despite India’s indecision, Fasel remains hopeful that India will ultimately participate and contribute to the conference, as there is international and bilateral expectation for India’s involvement.

Nepal also to ban Indian spice brands over safety concerns

• Nepal has joined other jurisdictions in banning the import and sale of two popular Indian spice brands, Everest and MDH.
• The ban comes after reports indicated that some products from these brands contained ethylene oxide, a pesticide known to cause cancer.
• Hong Kong and Singapore had already implemented similar bans on products from these brands the previous month.
• This move highlights concerns about food safety and the presence of harmful substances in consumer products.
• Officials in Nepal took action to protect consumers from potential health risks associated with the contaminated products.

China-Russia partnership is not directed against anyone

• Russian President Vladimir Putin completed a two-day visit to China, highlighting the growing strategic ties between the two nations.
• Putin underscored his personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and emphasized their joint effort to present an alternative to U.S. global influence.
• During his visit, Putin praised the increasing bilateral trade and toured a China-Russia Expo in Harbin, China.
• He also visited the Harbin Institute of Technology, known for its close collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army.
• Harbin, capital of China’s Heilongjiang province, has a historical connection with Russia, reflected in its architecture like the St. Sophia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church.
• Putin described his talks with Xi as “substantive,” expressing gratitude for the extensive discussions held.
• He emphasized that the China-Russia partnership aims at enhancing the development and well-being of their respective countries’ citizens, not targeting any specific nation.
• While not naming the U.S. directly, Putin indirectly criticized those opposing the Moscow-Beijing relationship, suggesting the emergence of a multipolar world and advocating for a natural evolution of global decision-making processes.

AFI to penalise coaches for athletes’ doping offence

• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has decided to hold coaches accountable for doping violations committed by their athletes.
• AFI President Adille Sumariwalla announced the decision after discussions with stakeholders over six months, aiming to address the doping menace.
• Coaches of athletes found guilty of doping will face similar sanctions, including suspension, prohibition from entering stadiums, and removal from any official positions they hold.
• Athletes are now required to declare their coaches’ names in doping control forms, and all coaches must be registered with the AFI.
• Olympic-bound athletes will participate in a coaching camp in Poland starting from July 5.
• AFI plans to decentralize coaching camps post-Olympics, organize competitions at state and district levels, enhance technical conduct during meets, and digitize merit certificates to prevent forgery, utilizing the Government’s Digilocker app.