Today in History (November 16th, 1979)
November 16th is celebrated as National Press Day in India to mark the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI) on November 16, 1979. The day is a celebration of a free and responsible press in India, and the PCI’s role in maintaining and improving journalism standards.
Let’s Revise
1. Who won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital?
a) Edmund de Waal
b) Gaby Wood
c) Samantha Harvey
d) Margaret Atwood
Answer: c)
Explanation: Samantha Harvey won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, a story set on the International Space Station.
2. What is the novel Orbital about?
a) The history of the Booker Prize
b) A day on the International Space Station
c) The life of an astronaut
d) The effects of COVID-19 on Earth
Answer: b)
Explanation: Orbital is set on the International Space Station (ISS) over a single day, depicting the beauty of Earth as seen from space.
3. When was Orbital written?
a) During the COVID-19 lockdowns
b) In the year 2020
c) After the Booker Prize announcement
d) During space exploration missions
Answer: a)
Explanation: The novel was written during the COVID-19 lockdowns, inspired by watching footage of Earth from space.
4. What did the judges praise about Orbital?
a) Its scientific accuracy
b) Its “intensity of attention” to the fragile world and the human experience
c) Its commercial success
d) Its innovative narrative style
Answer: b)
Explanation: The judges praised Samantha Harvey’s writing for its intense focus on the fragility of the world and human experience.
5. What is the Booker Prize?
a) An award for scientific achievements
b) A prestigious literary award for the best novel in English
c) An award for short story collections
d) A global award for translated works
Answer: b)
Explanation: The Booker Prize is a prestigious award given annually to the best novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.
6. When was the Booker Prize established?
a) 1990
b) 1980
c) 1969
d) 2000
Answer: c)
Explanation: The Booker Prize was established in 1969.
7. What is the International Booker Prize?
a) A prize for the best novel in English
b) An award for the best non-fiction book
c) An award for translated fiction
d) A prize for short story writers
Answer: c)
Explanation: The International Booker Prize celebrates translated fiction, and short story collections are also eligible for consideration.
8. Who receives the £50,000 prize in the International Booker Prize?
a) Only the author
b) Only the translator
c) The author and translator share the prize equally
d) The publisher of the book
Answer: c)
Explanation: The £50,000 prize is split evenly between the author and the translator of the winning novel, recognizing the importance of literature in translation.
Summary of Today’s News
Guidelines on Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector
• Overview: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued detailed guidelines to tackle the problem of misleading advertisements in the coaching sector.
Purpose of the Guidelines
• These guidelines have been introduced due to increasing concerns about false or misleading claims made by coaching centers, including exaggerated success rates, deceptive guarantees, and unfair contract terms that negatively impact students.
• Such practices often deceive students, influencing their decisions by hiding essential details or making false promises.
Key Definitions in the Guidelines
• Coaching: Refers to academic support services, including education, guidance, instructions, study programs, or similar activities. However, it excludes counseling, sports, dance, theater, and other creative pursuits.
• Coaching Center: A facility that is established and operated by any individual or group to provide coaching services to more than fifty students.
• Endorser: As defined in the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 (Clause 2(f)).
Main Provisions of the Guidelines
• Advertisement Regulation: Coaching institutes are prohibited from making false claims about:
• The courses offered, including their duration, faculty qualifications, fees, and refund policies.
• Success rates, exam rankings, job security guarantees, and selection promises.
• Assured admissions, guaranteed high scores, or certain promotions.
• Accurate Representation: Institutes must provide truthful information about their infrastructure, facilities, and resources. Any misleading claims about the quality or standard of their services are strictly banned.
• Collaboration with National Consumer Helpline: Coaching centers must align with the National Consumer Helpline, enabling students to easily report complaints related to deceptive advertisements and unfair practices.
• Fair Use of Testimonials: Institutes cannot use the names, photographs, or testimonials of successful candidates without obtaining their consent after selection.
• Avoidance of False Urgency: Coaching centers are prohibited from creating a false sense of urgency, such as implying limited availability of seats or overstating demand for courses.
• Enforcement and Penalties: Violations of these guidelines will be considered a breach of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Central Authority has the authority to impose penalties and take strict actions against offenders.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the previous 1986 law, broadening its scope to address consumer concerns more effectively.
• The Act covers offenses such as providing false information about the quality or quantity of goods or services, including misleading advertisements.
• The Act, which came into effect in July 2020, enhances consumer rights and offers mechanisms to protect them.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
• Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the CCPA to promote, safeguard, and enforce consumer rights.
Powers and Responsibilities of CCPA:
1. Investigate violations of consumer rights and initiate complaints or legal action.
2. Order the recall of unsafe products or services.
3. Mandate the cessation of unfair trade practices and misleading ads.
4. Impose penalties on manufacturers, endorsers, or publishers of misleading advertisements.
SVASTIK Initiative
• During a recent conference, jointly hosted by CSIR-NIScPR and Gurugram University, the importance of the SVASTIK initiative was emphasized.
About SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge)
• Launched by: CSIR-NIScPR (National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research).
• Objective: To bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and contemporary science by demonstrating the scientific basis behind various traditional practices.
• How it works: SVASTIK focuses on identifying traditional knowledge across diverse fields such as agriculture, medicine, and the environment.
• A team of researchers and experts works together to rigorously validate these practices through scientific research and analysis.
• The validated information is then disseminated to the public through multiple platforms.
Exercise ‘Poorvi Prahar’
• The Indian Army is currently conducting a high-intensity tri-services exercise, Poorvi Prahar, in the forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
About the Exercise
• Goal: To enhance the combat readiness of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force in conducting Integrated Joint Operations within the region’s challenging mountainous terrain.
Key Elements:
• Deployment of advanced fighter jets, reconnaissance platforms, helicopters, and M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers.
• The use of cutting-edge technologies, including Swarm Drones and Loitering Munitions.
Significance:
• The exercise showcases India’s advancements in modern warfare technologies.
• It strengthens the country’s ability to conduct coordinated, multi-domain military operations.
• It also bolsters India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.
