UPSC EXAM QUIZ 28.11.2024

Explanation:

• Telangana government is considering the formation of a joint consultative committee on industries with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and implementing new policies on Global Capability Centres (GCC), IT and industries. The aim of this committee is to address industrial challenges in the state.

GCC Policy

• The Telangana government will soon release a new policy for Global Capability Centres (GCC). The aim of this policy is to establish Hyderabad as a major location for global companies.

Main Objectives

• To make Hyderabad an attractive hub for global companies.
• To give priority to sectors like Life Sciences and Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI).

Explanation

• Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, visited Norway along with senior officials. The main objective of the visit was to strengthen the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and Norway, open up the large market of EFTA countries for Indian exports of goods and services and to advance efforts for early realisation of $100 billion investment.

Trade and Economic Partnership Agreements

• Signature: TEPA is signed between India and four EFTA countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland in March 2024.

EFTA offers

• Provides duty exemptions on 92.2% of tariff lines.
• Covers 99.6% of India’s exports.
• Includes market access for 100% of non-agricultural products and tariff concessions on processed agricultural products (PAP).

Explanation:

• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying released the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024 (BAHS) on the occasion of National Milk Day (26th November).
• It is based on the outcomes of the Integrated Sample Survey (ISS) (March 2023–February 2024) and shows trends in major livestock products like milk, eggs, meat, and wool. ISS is an annual, large-scale survey conducted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• It covers 15% of the villages across the country and estimates livestock numbers and production data for major products, including milk, meat, wool, and eggs.
• National Milk Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien who made India self-sufficient in milk output through the white revolution.

Explanation:

• Supreme Court upheld the inclusion of the words socialist and secular in the Preamble of the Constitution through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
• Under Article 368, Parliament can amend other provisions of the Constitution including the Preamble.
• The right to freedom of religion (Articles 25-28) provides the right and freedom to profess, practice and propagate the religion of one's choice.
• Secularism was upheld as a unique feature of India (with equal respect for all religions by the state), referring to the SR Bommai case, 1994.
• Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution prohibit discrimination against citizens on religious grounds. It also guarantees equal protection of the law and equal opportunity in public employment.
• Article 44 allows the government to strive for a Uniform Civil Code and is not restricted by the word secular in the Preamble.
• Socialism as practised in India aims to achieve the goal of economic and social upliftment of the citizens.
• This does not restrict the right to private entrepreneurship and business, which is considered a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g).

Explanation:

• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the ban on the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) for five more years.
• The ULFA is an armed militant organisation active in Assam that aims to separate Assam from India.
• The ULFA was formed in 1979 to "restoration of sovereignty of Assam" through armed struggle.
• The ULFA was first banned in 1990 and the ban has been renewed from time to time, the ban time limit was last extended in 2019.
• According to Section 35 of the UAPA, 967, if any organisation or individual promotes terrorism or separatism, the government can declare them illegal or terrorist.