UPSC QUIZ 26.09.2023

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider its 1998 judgment in the PV Narasimha Rao case.The Supreme Court has decided to constitute a larger bench of seven judges for this.
• The case deals with the interpretation of Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution, which extends parliamentary privilege and immunity to members of Parliament and State Legislatures against criminal prosecution on bribery charges for any speech or vote in the House.
• The decision was taken in another case related to bribery charges against an MLA, who had relied on Article 194(2) for quashing the charge sheet and criminal proceedings.

Case of PV Narasimha Rao v/s State,1998

• The P V Narasimha Rao case refers to the 1993 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) bribery case. In this case, Shibu Soren and some of his party MPs were accused of taking bribes to vote against a no-confidence motion against the then P V Narasimha Rao government.
• No-confidence motions are significant political events that usually occur when there is a perception of the government losing majority support.
• The Supreme Court had quashed the case against the JMM MPs, citing immunity under Article 105(2) of the Constitution.

Explanation:

• Recently, 5th meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was convened, between Indian External Affairs Minister and his Philippines counterpart.
• India and the Philippines are exploring various avenues to enhance their defence cooperation, with a particular emphasis on maritime security.

Major Highlights of the Meet

• Both Ministers expressed keen interest to continue to work together on defense cooperation, including through the regular or upgraded official-level interaction among defense agencies, opening of a resident Defense Attache office in Manila, consideration of India’s offer for concessional Line of Credit to meet Philippines’ defense requirements.
• Both countries aim to cooperate on maritime domain awareness (MDA), joint patrols, and information exchange to enhance MDA capabilities.
• Emphasizing the utility of MDA, the Ministers called for the early operationalization of the standard operating procedure for the White Shipping Agreement between the Indian Navy and the Philippines Coast Guard.

Explanation:

• Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of a vibrant orange coloured deep water marine fish from Digha Mohana in West Bengal.

Fish Species is Discovered

• The new species, commonly known as gurnards or sea-robins, belongs to the family Triglidae.
• Fish is named Pterygotrigla Intermedica, it has characters quite similar to species like Pterygotrigla hemistictus. There are a total 178 species of the Triglidae family worldwide.
• A distinct pectoral-fin with black membranes on the inner surface, a white posterior margin, and three small white spots basally in the fin.

Explanation:

• National Medical Commission (NMC) in India achieved a remarkable 10-year WFME accreditation status.
• This recognition reflects NMC's strong commitment to maintaining high standards in medical education and accreditation.
• All 706 existing medical colleges in India will get WFME recognition.
• New medical colleges established within the next 10 years will automatically receive WFME recognition.
• It aims to enhance the quality and standards of medical education in India by aligning it with global best practices.

International Opportunities for Indian Medical Graduates

• Indian medical graduates can now undertake postgraduate training and practice in countries requiring WFME accreditation such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
• This recognition is expected to enhance the international reputation of Indian medical schools and professionals.

Explanation:

• Parliament successfully passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, which provides for the reservation of one-third of the total seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislatures, and the Delhi Assembly.
• The Women's Reservation Bill called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, got approval in the Rajya Sabha with an overwhelming majority on September 21, 2023, as 214 members voted in favor of it, while none opposed it.
• The Lok Sabha already passed the Women's Reservation Bill with overwhelming support as 454 MPs voted in favor, while only two MPs opposed it. Speaker Om Birla had formally announced the passage of the bill in the lower house.