Today in History (13^th May 1952)

Rajya Sabha’s first sitting was held on 13th May 1952. It is the Upper House of the Parliament of India.

Let’s revise

A) The Constitution of India under Article ____, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, is often interpreted to include the right to bail as part of the fair and just legal process.

1. 18
2. 23
3. 21
4. 14

Ans. (c)

B) Which Article of the Indian Constitution is related with equality before law?

1. 19
2. 14
3. 15
4. 16

Ans. (b)

C) India withdrew its last remaining soldiers stationed in the_____

1. Sri Lanka
2. Philippines
3. Maldives
4. Mauritius

Ans. (c)

D) Who is the current President of Maldives?

1. Mohamed Solih
2. Abdulla Yameen
3. Mohamed Muizu
4. None of the above

Ans. (c)

E) Which of the following states have the extension of Aravalli hills?

1. Uttarakhand
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Delhi
4. None of the above

Ans. (c)

F) Banas river rises from _____

1. Aravalli hills
2. Vindhya range
3. Satpura Range
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

G) Luni river rises from the ________

1. Aravalli hills
2. Jayantia hills
3. Vindhya range
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

H) Which one is the highest peak of Aravalli hills?

1. Guru Shikhar
2. Amsot peak
3. Karoh peak
4. None of the above

Ans. (a)

I) “Mammoth” World’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) plant has been established in ____

1. China
2. Japan
3. Iceland
4. India

Ans. (c)

J) UNESCO recently celebrated 70th anniversary of adoption of Hague Convention. It was adopted in 1954. It is associated with_____

1. Protection of Cultural Property
2. Protection of child rights
3. Protection of water resources
4. Protection of girl child

Ans. (a)

Summary of Today’s News

After schools, hospitals, now IGI airport in Delhi receive bomb threats

Before few days several hospitals got bomb threat and now Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi received bomb threats through emails on Sunday.
The bomb threats were reported from Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-3, Burari Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Dabri’s Dada Dev Hospital and Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital in Civil Lines, Guru Nanak Dev Eye Hospital, Gramin Swastha Prashikshan Sansthan in Najafgarh, ILBS in Vasant Kunj.
The security agencies have traced the domain of the emails to Russia. The suspects might have used the dark web. The dark web is an encrypted online content that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others.
Multiple teams have been deployed for search operations and security has been beefed up at various places.

In A.P., women voters return saris and seek valuable gifts

Women voters have returned saris at the house of a village-level leader of a political party, at Pinapalle village in Kothapeta Assembly in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
Their grouse is that the saris given to them are of less value than the gifts distributed to others in the area. They have demanded gifts and money of equal worth.

Govt. will spend rupees 2 cr. per km on roads along China border

• Roads sanctioned under Vibrant Village Programme (VVP):
  • Total of 113 roads sanctioned in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim
  • Distribution: 105 roads in Arunachal Pradesh, 5 in Uttarakhand, 3 in Sikkim

• Lack of road connectivity:
  • Approximately 168 villages along the China border lack road connectivity
  • GPS-enabled vehicle tracking devices to be installed to monitor construction activity

• Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) overview:
  • Approved by Union Cabinet on February 15, 2023
  • Coverage: 2,967 villages in 46 border blocks of 19 districts
  • Objectives: Stop migration, gather intelligence from border villages

• Budget allocation for VVP:
  • Total budget: ₹4,800 crore for FY 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26
  • Allocation for road construction: More than half, approximately ₹2,500 crore

• Chinese activity:
  • Expansion of model villages near Line of Actual Control, opposite Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, reported in December 2022.

‘U.K. media warns Apple over plans to block ads’

• British newspaper groups caution Apple against “web eraser” tool.
• Financial Times reports potential risk to journalism’s financial sustainability.
• Apple’s Safari browser in iOS 18 update to include AI-based privacy feature.
• Feature to remove ads and unwanted website content.
• News Media Association expresses concerns over impact on digital revenues.

Oleander

Two temple boards in Kerala have banned use of oleander flowers in temple offerings. It was due to the death of a 24-year old woman after accidentally chewing some oleander leaves.
Oleander Plant

• Oleander is highly toxic due to the presence of cardiac glycosides in all parts of the plant, including leaves, stems, flowers, and roots.
• Symptoms of oleander toxicity include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, irregular heart rate, and in severe cases, death. Poisoning can occur through ingestion, inhalation of smoke from burning the plant, or skin contact.
• Despite its danger, oleander remains popular in landscapes for its attractive flowers and drought resistance.

Utility
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India acknowledges the traditional utilization of certain components of the oleander plant in Ayurveda for managing diverse skin conditions and in crafting various remedies. Historical records detail its efficacy in addressing persistent skin ailments and other health issues. Nonetheless, healthcare professionals caution against its unmonitored usage due to its narrow therapeutic range and considerable toxicity.