Today in History (November 5^th, 1889)

On November 5, 1941, the Combined Japanese Fleet was issued Top-Secret Order No. 1, which directed them to execute a plan to bomb Pearl Harbor, as well as target areas including Malaya (now known as Malaysia), the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines in just over a month’s time.

Let’s Revise

1. What is the main theme of the First Asian Buddhist Summit?
A) “Unity Through Buddhism: A Global Perspective”
B) “The Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia”
C) “Buddhist Philosophy and its Modern Relevance”
D) “Buddhism and its Influence on Western Societies”

Answer: B)
Rationale: The theme of the summit reflects India’s “Act East Policy,” focusing on collective, inclusive, and spiritual development in Asia, emphasizing the role of Buddha Dhamma in strengthening the region.

2. Who is leading the inauguration of the First Asian Buddhist Summit?
A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
B) President Droupadi Murmu
C) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar
D) Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar

Answer: B)
Rationale: The inauguration of the First Asian Buddhist Summit is led by President Droupadi Murmu.

3. First Asian Buddhist Summit took place in which country?
A) Japan
B) China
C) India
D) South Korea

Answer: c)
Rationale: The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaobration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is organizing the First Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) on 5^th – 6^th November, 2024 in New Delhi. The theme of this summit is on ‘Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia’.

4. What is the primary cause of tuberculosis (TB)?
A) Bacteria
B) Virus
C) Fungus
D) Parasite

Answer: A)
Rationale: Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body.

5. Which of the following is the most common symptom of active tuberculosis?
A) Severe headache
B) Chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum
C) Sudden weight gain
D) Skin rash

Answer: B)
Rationale: The most common symptoms of active tuberculosis include a persistent cough, sometimes with blood in the sputum, night sweats, fever, and weight loss.

6. How is tuberculosis primarily transmitted?
A) Through direct contact with skin
B) By inhaling droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
C) Through contaminated water
D) By eating undercooked meat

Answer: B)
Rationale: TB is an airborne disease, transmitted through the inhalation of tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

7. Which of the following is a major risk factor for developing tuberculosis?
A) Regular physical activity
B) Weakened immune system
C) High water intake
D) Low-fat diet

Answer: B)
Explanation: People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, are at higher risk of developing active tuberculosis if exposed to the bacteria. Other risk factors include poor nutrition, close contact with infected individuals, and living in crowded conditions.

Summary of Today’s News

SC to consider ‘perpetual ban’ on firecrackers in Delhi as pollution peaks

1. Supreme Court’s Concern: The Supreme Court of India is considering imposing a “perpetual ban” on the use of firecrackers in Delhi due to pollution levels reaching an all-time high during Deepavali.
2. Delhi Government’s Responsibility: The court has asked the Delhi government to decide whether to impose a permanent ban and has ordered them to submit affidavits explaining why previous firecracker bans were not enforced effectively.
3. Plans for 2025: The court has requested the Delhi government and Police Commissioner to outline specific measures to enforce a ban on firecrackers in 2025.
4. Pollution Levels: Pollution in Delhi spiked to higher levels than in 2022 and 2023 during Deepavali, exacerbated by the use of firecrackers and farm fires, as reported by the Centre for Science and Environment.
5. Air Pollution Act Amendments: Justice Oka pointed out that the recent amendments to the Air Pollution Act (from April 2024) weakened penalties for violators, leading to ineffective enforcement of the firecracker ban.
6. Amicus Curiae Submission: Senior advocate Aparajita Singh noted that farm fires significantly contributed to the pollution, with the number of farm fires rising sharply during Deepavali.
7. Future Actions: The court has directed Punjab and Haryana to report on the number of farm fires in October and scheduled the next hearing for November 14.

In essence, the court is pushing for more stringent measures and better enforcement against firecracker use, particularly to combat rising pollution levels in Delhi.

High Court tells jail authority to decide plea on lack of facilities for visiting lawyers

1. Court’s Direction: The Delhi High Court directed the Director General (Prisons) to address a plea concerning the lack of facilities for lawyers visiting clients in Tihar jail, and to decide on the matter within four weeks.
2. Lack of Facilities: The petition, filed by Shyam Sunder Aggarwal, highlighted multiple issues faced by lawyers, such as waiting outside in extreme weather, lack of basic amenities (clean drinking water, toilets), and no parking facilities for advocates.
3. Tihar Jail Conditions: The petitioner claimed that all 16 jails in the Tihar complex lack essential facilities, despite vacant land available for parking and development.
4. Government’s Response: The court noted that the Delhi government was unwilling to make any investments in improving jail facilities, commenting on its policy of minimal expenditure.
5. Previous Pleas Ignored: The petitioner mentioned that previous complaints to the Bar Council of India, Bar Council of Delhi, and the Director General (Prisons) had not received a response.

In essence, the court is urging the authorities to quickly address the poor conditions faced by visiting lawyers at Tihar jail and improve the basic amenities provided.

The workplace culture in India, needs reforms

1. Anna Sebastian’s Tragedy: The death of Anna Sebastian, a chartered accountant allegedly due to work stress, highlights the issue of toxic workplace culture in India. Her mother’s statement, “our children are still working like slaves,” underscores the deep-rooted problems.
2. Corporate Silence: Despite the tragedy, the corporate world has remained largely silent on the issue, as many firms face similar problems and would hesitate to criticize others.
3. Toxic Work Culture: Indian private sector workplaces often foster long hours, employee burnout, and exploitation. Management focuses on maximizing profits, sometimes at the expense of employees’ well-being, using jargon like “organizational stretch” and “performance culture” to justify the pressure.
4. International Comparison: Unlike the U.S., where long work hours are common, European countries like France (35-hour workweek) prioritize work-life balance. The U.S. and Indian contexts are starkly different, with India’s lower per capita income and challenging living conditions exacerbating work stress.
5. Unprofessional Boss Behavior: In India, employees often face unprofessional or even abusive behavior from bosses. Unlike in the U.S. and Europe, where employees can sue for mistreatment, such recourse does not exist in India.
6. Fairness and Inequality: Employees often feel they are not treated fairly, with issues like biased performance evaluations, “weeding out dead wood,” and a pay system that disproportionately benefits top management, fueling resentment and toxicity.
7. Public vs. Private Sector: Public sector firms tend to have better workplace cultures with more job security, more balanced pay, and less blatant inequality compared to private sector firms, which have a more toxic environment.
8. Corporate Solutions: Corporates may offer superficial solutions like new codes of conduct or work-life balance programs, but these rarely address the root issues. Boards of directors, often disconnected from the reality of employees’ experiences, fail to make meaningful changes.
9. Need for Regulation: To address the worst excesses of corporate culture, regulation seems necessary. Regulation could hold boards accountable, promote employee engagement, and improve work environments.
10. Defining Moment: Just as the Nirbhaya case prompted changes in women’s safety laws, Anna Sebastian’s death could serve as a turning point for addressing workplace culture in India.

In conclusion, the article calls for a systemic change in India’s corporate culture, emphasizing the need for regulation, accountability, and better treatment of employees.