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Today in History (November 18th, 326)
Old St. Peter’s Basilica consecrated in Rome (stood 4th – 16th century), later replaced by current Basilica.
Let’s Revise
1. What is the primary aim of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)?
a) To regulate consumer prices
b) To promote consumer rights
c) To enforce government tax policies
d) To provide free goods and services to the public
Answer: b)
Explanation: The CCPA’s main objective is to protect the rights of consumers, prevent unfair trade practices, and address false or misleading advertisements.
2. When did the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 come into force?
a) August 9, 2019
b) July 20, 2020
c) January 1, 2020
d) October 10, 2020
Answer: b)
Explanation: The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was notified on August 9, 2019, but it came into force on July 20, 2020.
3. Who is the head of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)?
a) Minister of Consumer Affairs
b) Chief Commissioner
c) Director-General
d) President of India
Answer: b)
Explanation: The CCPA is headed by a Chief Commissioner, supported by two other commissioners who handle matters related to goods and services.
4. Where is the headquarters of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPa)?
a) New Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) Kolkata
d) Bangalore
Answer: a)
Explanation: The CCPA was established in July 2020 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and is based in New Delhi.
5. Why was the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 introduced?
a) To improve business practices
b) To reduce taxes on consumers
c) To replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and protect consumer rights
d) To regulate consumer spending
Answer: c)
Explanation: The Act replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and introduced provisions to protect the rights of consumers from unfair trade practices, false advertisements, and violations.
6. What powers does the CCPA have to protect consumers?
a) Can only provide consumer counseling
b) Can make interventions, recall products, and impose penalties for misleading advertisements
c) Can enforce higher taxes on products
d) Can ignore consumer complaints
Answer: b)
Explanation: The CCPA has the authority to take actions such as recalling products, ordering refunds, discontinuing unfair practices, and imposing penalties for false advertisements.
7. What is the Nodal Ministry for the CCPA?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
c) Ministry of Law and Justice
d) Ministry of External Affairs
Answer: b)
Explanation: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is the nodal ministry responsible for the CCPA.
8. What happens if a person publishes false or misleading advertisements according to the CCPA?
a) The CCPA can grant an extension to the publisher
b) The person may face penalties or be ordered to discontinue the advertisement
c) The publisher is given a chance to correct the advertisement
d) The CCPA has no jurisdiction over advertisements
Answer: b)
Explanation: The CCPA ensures that false or misleading advertisements are stopped and penalties are imposed on those who publish them.
9. CSIR-NIScPR and Gurugram University has taken SVASTIK initiative, it is associated with____
a) Art and Craft training
b) To Promote Indian Art and Culture
c) To promote space science and technonlogy
d) Create the bridge between Indian traditional knowledge and modern sciences
Answer: d)
Rationale: To bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern science, highlighting the scientific underpinnings of various traditional practices. In the recent conference, jointly organized by CSIR-NIScPR and Gurugram University highlighted the significance of SVASTIK initiative.
10. Poorvi Prahar was recently in news, what is this?
a) Operation by CRPF to wipe out naxalism
b) Operation by CISF to counter drugs trafficking
c) Military exercise of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force
d) Initiative by Indian Railways to counter derailment of trains
Answer: c)
Rationale: “Poorvi Prahar” is a tri-service military exercise to secure India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.
Summary of Today’s News
Performance Audit Report on the Implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act by CAG
Context
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has released a performance audit report examining the implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.
About the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act
• The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which came into effect in 1993, aimed at promoting democratic decentralization.
• It established self-governing urban local bodies (ULBs) at the grassroots level, ensuring greater democratic participation in urban governance.
• The Act empowered ULBs to carry out 18 specific functions, as listed in the 12th Schedule of the Constitution.
Audit by CAG
• The CAG’s performance audit aimed to assess whether ULBs were adequately empowered through the devolution of resources to effectively carry out these 18 functions.
• Audits were conducted between 2014 and 2021, covering 393 urban local bodies across 18 states.
Key Findings from the CAG Report
• Devolution of Functions: Of the 18 functions listed in the 12th Schedule, 17 were devolved across the 18 states. However, only 4 of these functions were effectively devolved with full autonomy. These include management of burial grounds, public amenities, animal welfare, and regulation of slaughterhouses.
• Full Devolution: Only 9 states—Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, and Tripura—have devolved all 18 functions to ULBs.
• Fiscal Health Concerns: ULBs depend heavily on external grants for their revenue. Only 32% of their total revenue is self-generated, with the rest coming from state and central government grants.
• Revenue-Expenditure Gap: There is a 42% gap between the revenue and expenditure of ULBs in the 18 states.
• Staff Shortages: Despite rapid urban population growth, most ULBs lack sufficient staff to manage their responsibilities effectively.
• Reservation for Women: In 6 of the 14 states, 50% of the seats in city councils were reserved for women, surpassing the constitutional requirement of 33%.
• Ward Delimitation: Only 4 out of 15 states—Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu—have empowered State Election Commissions with the authority to handle ward delimitation, while the rest of the states delegate this responsibility to the state government.
• Direct Elections for Mayors: Only 5 states—Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand—have provisions for the direct election of mayors.
Recommendations
• Municipal Elections: Municipal elections should be held every five years to ensure continuous governance.
• Planning Committees: Planning committees should be constituted to curb unregulated urbanization.
• Fiscal Management: State finance commissions should be empowered to improve fiscal management for ULBs.
• Scientific Budgeting: ULBs should be encouraged to prepare more realistic, scientifically grounded budgets based on accurate projections of available funds.
• Release of Funds: State governments should ensure that grants allocated to ULBs are released in full and on time.
• Delegation of Power: State governments should consider delegating more authority to ULBs, especially regarding staffing decisions and recruitment.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments established local self-governance in rural and urban areas of India, respectively.
• These amendments added two new parts to the Constitution: Part IX for Panchayats (rural local bodies) and Part IXA for Municipalities (urban local bodies).
• ULBs are local governing bodies that manage towns and cities with specified populations. They are granted various powers and responsibilities by state governments, primarily relating to public health, infrastructure, safety, welfare, and development.
• ULBs primarily receive funding from state and central government grants.
• The term of office for a ULB is five years, with elections to the next body held before the current term expires. If the body is dissolved, elections must be held within six months.
• Each state has its own Election Commission that oversees municipal elections.
The 4B Movement
Background
• The 4B Movement emerged in South Korea, gaining traction after the ‘MeToo’ and ‘Escape the Corset’ movements.
• It represents a rejection of patriarchal structures and certain societal norms related to gender.
What is the 4B Movement?
• “4B” stands for four “Nos,” with “B” being a shorthand for “no” in Korean. These are:
• “biyeonae”: No dating men
• “bisekseu”: No sex with men
• “bihon”: No marrying men
• “bichulsan”: No having children
• In some cases, the movement is extended to “6B4T,” which includes rejecting companies perceived as misogynist, rejecting fandom cultures, and dismissing beauty standards driven by the male gaze.
Reasons for the Movement
• The 4B movement stems from a radical feminist perspective that views heterosexual relationships as inherently oppressive. Its supporters argue that women must break free from these structures to achieve true independence and happiness.
• Advocates of the movement believe that until men actively work toward a gender-just society, women should not engage with them in romantic or reproductive capacities.
Impact
• In 2021, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol criticized the movement, arguing that it hindered healthy relationships between men and women.
• By June 2024, South Korea declared a “demographic national emergency” due to a declining birth rate. Critics have suggested that the 4B movement may be contributing to this decline.
