Today in History (June 22^nd, 1897)

On 22nd June, 1897 – British colonial officers Charles Walter Rand and Lt. Charles Egerton Ayerst were assassinated in Pune, Maharashtra, India by the Chapekar brothers and Mahadeo Vinayak Ranade, who were later caught and hanged.

Let’s revise

A) Which Indian states do not share land border with Myanmar?

1. Assam, Meghalaya
2. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
3. Nagaland, Mizoram
4. Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh

Ans. (1)

B) Which option represents the mountains between India and Myanmar?

1. Patkai Range, Naga Hills, and Chin Hills
2. Garo, Khasi, Jayantiya hills
3. Manipur hills and Khasi hills
4. Garo hills and Manipur hills

Ans. (1)

C) Kuki zo tribe belongs to which state?

1. Manipur
2. Sikkim
3. West Bengal
4. Assam

Ans. (1)

D) What is correct about the pro tem speaker?

1. It is elected by the newly formed Lok Sabha
2. It is appointed by the previous speaker
3. It is nominated by the main opposition party
4. It is appointed by the President of India

Ans. (4)

E) Who have been appointed as pro tem speaker for 18th Lok Sabha?

1. Bhartruhari Mehtab
2. Om Birla
3. Rahul Gandhi
4. Radha Raman Sharma

Ans. (1)

F) The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous agency under the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of India. It was established in_____

1. 2018
2. 2021
3. 2017
4. 2023

Ans. (3)

G) Who have become the head of NATO?

1. Mark Rutt
2. Klaus Iohannis
3. Victor Orban
4. None of the above

Ans. (1)

Summary of Today’s News

“EC Initiates Preparations for Upcoming Assembly Elections in J&K and Three States”

• The Election Commission has begun the groundwork for conducting Assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• This will be the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and its reorganization into two Union Territories.
• Delimitation of constituencies and updating of electoral rolls are underway, with July 1, 2024, set as the qualifying date.
• The Supreme Court has mandated the completion of polls in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar have emphasized the significance of these elections, highlighting the enthusiastic voter participation seen in recent Lok Sabha polls.

“Delhi HC Stays Bail Order for Kejriwal in Excise Policy Case”

• The Delhi High Court has temporarily stayed the bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, following an urgent plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
• The court’s decision came after a day-long hearing, during which the ED argued that it was not given sufficient opportunity to present its case in the trial court.
• Representing Mr. Kejriwal, senior advocates opposed the stay, suggesting that only if the court found substantial reasons should he be sent back to jail.
• Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain reserved the order for a few days to review all records thoroughly before making a final decision.

“Cancellation of UGC-NET Raises Concerns Over PhD Admissions and Academic Calendar”

• The cancellation of the UGC-NET 2024 exam has sparked concerns from the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) about the potential delays in PhD admissions and disruptions to academic calendars.
• This year marked the first instance where UGC-NET scores were to be used for PhD program admissions, amplifying the impact of the cancellation.
• The JNUTA emphasized the psychological toll on students who must now prepare for a retest. The decision to cancel the exam, made by the Education Ministry following integrity concerns highlighted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has led to calls for transparency about the breach and a return to the previous JNU entrance examination system.

“Russia-North Korea Pact Signals New Cold War Dynamics”

• The recent security pact between Russia and North Korea, promising mutual assistance in case of aggression, signals a revival of Cold War-era alliances. Facing sanctions and Western opposition, both nations aim to challenge the Western-led global order.
• This pact elevates their relationship to a de facto alliance, with Russia potentially aiding North Korea’s defense sector.
• The agreement underscores Russia’s strategy of aligning with U.S. adversaries, including Iran and China.
• Consequently, it is likely to strengthen the trilateral partnership of Japan, South Korea, and the U.S., deepening the geopolitical divide reminiscent of a new cold war.

“New Law Against Organized Cheating in Exams”

• The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, has been enacted, imposing stringent penalties for malpractices in government recruitment exams. Effective from June 21, the law prescribes up to five years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore for offenses such as leaking exam papers, aiding candidates unlawfully, and tampering with digital systems.
• Additionally, service providers involved in conducting compromised exams face hefty fines and a four-year ban. However, the recently canceled UGC-NET 2024 exam, currently under investigation, will not be covered by this new legislation.