UPSC QUIZ 01.07.2024

Explanation:

• Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir has said that those aiding terrorists in India or in Jammu and Kashmir should be prosecuted by the investigating agencies under the Enemy Agents Ordinance, 2005 instead of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Enemy Agent Ordinance

• Introduced in 1917 by the Dogra Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• The term 'ordinance' reflects the nomenclature for laws used during the Dogra era.
• Post-Partition Evolution: The ordinance was re-enacted in 1948 as a law by the Maharaja in exercise of his law-making powers conferred by Section 5 of the Constitution Act of Kahmir, 1939.
• Legal Basis: The Enemy Agent Ordinance was subsequently protected by inclusion in the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution of 1957, particularly under Section 157.

Explanation:

• India has been put in the 'regular follow-up category' by the global anti-money laundering body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• This decision was taken at the plenary meeting of the FATF held in Singapore from 26-28 June 2024. The meeting discussed issues relating to money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.
• It also reviewed the performance of 17 countries on their compliance and action on the FATF mandated actions on anti-money laundering issues, anti-terrorism financing, and anti-proliferation financing.

India among five countries to be kept in regular follow-up category

• During the Singapore meeting, the FATF reviewed India’s performance in implementing the provisions regarding anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing and anti-proliferation financing.
• India, along with Russia, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, was kept in the ‘regular follow-up' category. One country was put on the grey list, and the remaining countries were kept in the' enhanced follow-up' category.

Explanation:

Russia for the first time sent two trains laden with coal through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to India.

International North-South Transport Corridor

• INSTC is a 7,200-kilometer Multimode Transit Route linking the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran and onward to northern Europe via St. Petersburg in Russia.
• It connects ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.

Explanation:

• Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution inaugurated the 64th Council Meeting of International Sugar Organization (ISO) at Bharat Mandapam (New Delhi).
• A workshop on “Sugar and Biofuels-Emerging Vistas” was organised during the meeting which was attended by international delegates, Indian sugar mill officials, industry associations and technical experts.
• It discussed the future of global sugar sector, biofuels, sustainability and role of farmers.
• India is the largest consumer of sugar in the world and the second largest producer of sugar after Brazil.Sugarcane is the second most important feedstock for ethanol production in the world (after corn).

Explanation:

• South Korea launched its first space agency.
• South Korea has plans to make a Mars landing by 2045.
• President Yoon Suk Yeol said it plans to spend 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) until then on space exploration.
• The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) will lead the country’s “space economy”.
• South Korea’s first lunar lander is planned for 2032.
• With the launch of the Nuri rocket in May 2023, South Korea became the seventh nation to possess its own space launch vehicle and satellite development technology.
• By 2027, South Korea plans to conduct at least three more space launches. Plans to launch military satellites are also in place.
• North Korea attempted to launch a rocket on May 27, 2024, but was unable to place its second military spy satellite into orbit.
• Japan was the fifth nation to send a lander to the moon in January.
• India was the fourth country to land on the moon last year.