Today in History ( January 2nd,1754)
Robert Clive attacked and annexed Calcutta from Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Let’s Revise
Q.1) What does SpaDeX stand for?
a) Space Deployment Experiment
b) Space Docking Experiment
c) Space Development Experiment
d) Space Data Exchange
Answer: b)
Explanation: SpaDeX stands for Space Docking Experiment, as mentioned in the article, marking a significant step in India’s space exploration capabilities.
Q.2) From which center did the PSLV-C60 rocket launch?
a) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
b) Satish Dhawan Space Centre
c) Indian Space Research Centre
d) ISRO Propulsion Complex
Answer: b)
Explanation: The PSLV-C60 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Q.3) What is the purpose of the SpaDeX mission?
a) To test new rocket engines
b) To demonstrate spacecraft rendezvous and docking technology
c) To test communication satellites
d) To conduct astronomical studies
Answer: b)
Explanation: The SpaDeX mission aims to demonstrate crucial technologies for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking.
Q.4) What decision has the Taliban made regarding NGOs in Afghanistan?
a) NGOs must increase women’s employment
b) NGOs must cease operations
c) NGOs must close if they employ Afghan women
d) NGOs must stop working with international organizations
Answer: c)
Explanation: The Taliban plans to close all national and foreign NGOs employing Afghan women.
Q.5) What does the UN Security Council report regarding Afghan women?
a) Increased support for Afghan women workers
b) Decreased prevention of Afghan women humanitarian workers from performing duties
c) Increased prevention of Afghan women humanitarian workers from performing duties
d) No change in the situation of Afghan women workers
Answer: c)
Explanation: The UN Security Council reported increased prevention of Afghan women humanitarian workers from performing their duties.
Q.6) When did Sheikh Hasina flee to New Delhi?
a) January 2024
b) August 2024
c) December 2024
d) March 2024
Answer: b)
Explanation: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi during anti-government protests in August 2024.
Q.7) What charges does Sheikh Hasina face?
a) Corruption and financial misconduct
b) Conspiracy, mistreatment, and killing of protesters
c) Terrorism and espionage
d) Environmental violations
Answer: b)
Explanation: Hasina faces charges of conspiracy, mistreatment, and killing of protesters, labeled as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Q.8) What is the principle of trial in absentia?
a) The accused must be present for trial
b) The trial can proceed without the accused being present
c) The trial is held in a foreign country
d) The trial must be delayed until the accused is present
Answer: b)
Explanation: Bangladesh’s Code of Criminal Procedure allows trials in absentia, and this principle is also used by the ICC.
Q.9)What could India allow as a possible solution for Hasina’s trial?
a) An in-house arrest with video conferencing participation
b) Complete freedom for Hasina in India
c) Immediate trial in India
d) Permanent asylum in India
Answer: a)
Explanation: India could allow in-house arrest of Hasina and ensure her participation in the trial via video conferencing.
Q.10) Which international court could intervene in the case if Hasina’s rights are in danger?
a) International Criminal Court (ICC)
b) United Nations International Court of Justice
c) International Court of Arbitration
d) World Trade Organization Court
Answer: a)
Explanation: Bangladesh is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and the ICC could intervene if Hasina’s rights are in danger.
Q.11) What is the role of the rendezvous process in spacecraft docking?
a) Aligning spacecraft in the same orbit and reducing velocity
b) Connecting two spacecraft physically
c) Launching the spacecraft into space
d) Providing fuel to spacecraft
Answer: a)
Explanation: Rendezvous is the process of aligning spacecraft in the same orbit and reducing the distance and velocity between them.
Summary of Today’s News
Ukraine Halts Transit of Russian Gas to Europe
• Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko announced the halt on Wednesday morning.
• The halt is “in the interest of national security.”
• This aligns with Europe’s decision to phase out Russian gas.
• Kyiv has stopped the transit after the pre-war transit deal expired at the end of last year.
Key points:
• “This is a historic event. Russia is losing markets and will incur financial losses.”
• Vowed that Kyiv would not allow Moscow to use transits to earn “additional billions… on our blood, on the lives of our citizens.”
• Briefly considered continuing gas flows if payments to Russia were withheld until the war ends.
• Gazprom’s Statement:
• Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom said it “has no technical and legal possibility” of sending gas through Ukraine due to Kyiv’s refusal to extend the deal.
• Pre-War Agreement:
• Even during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian natural gas flowed to Europe under a five-year agreement.
• Gazprom earned money from gas, and Ukraine took transit fees.
• Gas Supply Routes:
• Russia supplied nearly 40% of the EU’s pipeline natural gas before the war.
Gas flowed through:
• Baltic Sea pipeline
• Belarus and Poland pipeline
• Ukraine pipeline
• Black Sea pipeline through Turkiye to Bulgaria
Energy Crisis
Post-War Developments:
• Russia cut off most supplies through Baltic and Belarus-Poland pipelines.
• Baltic pipeline sabotaged; although details are murky.
Impact on Europe:
• Caused an energy crisis in Europe.
• Norway and the U.S. became the two largest suppliers to fill the gap.
The Sorry State of India’s Parliamentary Proceedings.
Disruptions in Parliament
• Competitive disruptions by both the Opposition and the Treasury benches.
• Recently-concluded winter session was a travesty.
• More adjournments than discussions.
• Hardly any work was done.
• Session adjourned with widespread sentiment of letting down the people of India.
• Duelling demonstrations by MPs led to accusations of assault and injury on both sides.
Precedent and Decline of Civility
• Precedent as a reason for the sorry state.
• Shyam Benegal and Shashi Tharoor served on a round table of eminent Indians in 2007.
• Group called for strict enforcement of rules for higher standards of decorum and debate.
• Speaker Somnath Chatterjee disabused the group of their illusions.
• Disruptions seen as part of democratic rights by an outnumbered Opposition.
• Suspending or expelling MPs not an easy option.
• Decline of civility in parliamentary practice.
• Speaker Meira Kumar’s decency and gentility abused by a belligerent Bharatiya Janata Party.
• Wrong to expel unruly Opposition members without an all-party consensus.
• Speakers Sumitra Mahajan and Om Birla more willing to suspend members.
• Mr. Birla denuded the Lok Sabha of all opposition while steamrolling several Bills through the 2023 winter session.
• Adjournment preferred to expulsion.
Acrimony Between Government and Opposition
• Acrimony prevails between the government and the Opposition.
• Traditionally, a sense of civility reigned in politics.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s stories of Jawaharlal Nehru’s courtesy.
• Rajiv Gandhi contriving to get Vajpayee medical attention in the United States.
• P.V. Narasimha Rao sending Vajpayee to Geneva as the head of the Indian delegation to a United Nations meeting on Kashmir.
• Breakdown in the relationship of trust between government and Opposition.
• Both sides equally guilty.
• BJP politicians argued the case for disruption when in Opposition.
• Disruption now seen as wasteful and condemnable by the ruling party.
• New golden rule of Indian politics: do unto them what they did unto you.
Public’s Diminished Expectations
• Public’s diminished expectations from parliamentarians.
• Skilled debaters and orators held sway in the past.
• Ram Manohar Lohia, Nath Pai, George Fernandes, Madhu Limaye, Piloo Mody, and Minoo Masani.
• Disconnect between electability and parliamentary performance.
• MPs judged by their leaders on qualities other than effective parliamentarianism.
• Talent exhibited in television studios instead of the floor of the House.
• Public judges representatives by constituent services and local political weight but not based on their capabilities to be a good parliamentarian.
Disruption and Contempt
• Parliamentary standards in free fall for a generation.
• MPs have limited interest in legislation.
• Prefer to disrupt proceedings rather than debate principles.
• BJP government refuses to reach out to the Opposition.
• Government treats Parliament as a noticeboard for announcements and a rubber stamp for legalising decisions.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi rarely attends Parliament.
Conclusion
• Diminishing of Parliament deeply damaging to democracy.
• Custodians allowing Parliament to be robbed of value.
• Public will not miss Parliament when it is gone.
• Diminishing of Parliament deeply damaging to India’s democracy.
• What will remain if we loose democracy in Parliament?
