Today in History (October 23rd, 1954)
An agreement was signed in Paris that provided for West German sovereignty and allowed West Germany to rearm and enter NATO
Let’s Revise
A) What does Article 21A of the Indian Constitution pertain to?
A) Right to Privacy
B) Right to Education
C) Right to Equality
D) Right to Freedom of Speech
Answer: B)
Explanation: Article 21A guarantees the right to free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years.
B) In which year was Article 21A inserted into the Indian Constitution?
A) 1947
B) 1950
C) 2002
D) 2010
Answer: C)
Explanation: Article 21A was added to the Constitution by the 86th Amendment Act in 2002.
C) Which age group is covered under Article 21A for compulsory education?
A) 3 to 6 years
B) 6 to 14 years
C) 14 to 18 years
D) 18 to 21 years
Answer: B)
Explanation: Article 21A mandates the provision of free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years.
D) What does Article 28 of the Indian Constitution address?
A) Freedom of Speech
B) Freedom of Religion
C) Prohibition of religious instruction in certain educational institutions
D) Right to Privacy
Answer: C)
Explanation: Article 28 deals with the prohibition of religious instruction in institutions wholly maintained out of State funds.
E) Which type of educational institution is not allowed to provide religious instruction under Article 28(1)?
A) Private schools
B) Government-funded institutions
C) Missionary schools
D) Minority educational institutions
Answer: B)
Explanation: Article 28(1) prohibits religious instruction in educational institutions wholly maintained out of State funds.
F) What does Article 30 of the Indian Constitution pertain to?
A) Right to Equality
B) Right to Freedom of Speech
C) Right of Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
D) Right to Education
Answer: C)
Explanation: Article 30 provides minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
G) Who can exercise the rights provided under Article 30?
A) All citizens
B) Majority communities
C) Religious and linguistic minorities
D) Government officials
Answer: C)
Explanation: The rights under Article 30 are specifically granted to religious and linguistic minorities.
Summary of Today’s News
Modi’s Meeting with Putin, India offers every assistance
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia.
• Modi reiterated that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means.
• India supports the restoration of peace between Ukraine and Russia and is committed to providing all possible assistance to end the crisis.
BRICS Summit:
• Modi participated in the 16th BRICS summit hosted by Russia in Kazan.
• The summit has drawn global attention as a sign of Russia’s leading position despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Meeting with Iranian President:
• Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
• Expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia.
• Discussed the Chabahar port, the North-South Transport Corridor, and the situation in Afghanistan.
• Emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to protect civilians.
Reception in Kazan:
• Modi was received by Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan.
• Given a traditional Tatar welcome in Kazan, the largest city and capital of Tatarstan.
• Driven to the bilateral meeting with Putin in an Aurus car.
Release of Indian Nationals:
• Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed the early release of Indian nationals fighting for the Russian military in Ukraine.
• The embassy is pursuing around twenty cases with the Russian side for early release and repatriation to India.
Future Cooperation:
• The 25th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on trade, technical, and cultural cooperation will be held in November in New Delhi.
• India will open two new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg
Expanded BRICS:
• The BRICS summit in Kazan is the first to convene in its expanded shape after the Johannesburg summit in 2023.
• New members include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE.
Global Attention:
• The summit is seen as a sign of Russia’s leading position despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Putin’s Meetings:
• Ahead of the BRICS summit, Putin hosted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Moscow.
• Discussed serious issues calmly.
Other Leaders in Kazan:
• Leaders from China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Bangladesh attended the summit.
Air quality in Delhi remains ‘very poor’ Government in action mode
Air Quality Status:
• Air pollution in Delhi remains in the ‘very poor’ category.
• Expected to remain ‘very poor’ till Friday.
• AQI was 327 on Tuesday, up from 310 the previous day (CPCB data), 24 hours average
Government Actions:
• Water sprinkling to be increased to control road dust pollution.
• Deployment of 6,200 additional MCD workers to clean road dust.
• Water sprinkling at various hotspots to be increased, with dust suppressant powder mixed in.
Transportation Measures:
• Metro services to increase by 40 additional trips (currently at 4,200 trips).
• DTC buses to reduce intervals to encourage public transport usage.
• Directions given to NDMC and MCD to increase parking charges or explore alternative methods to discourage private transportation.
Further Actions:
• Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced these measures.
• Rai wrote to the Transport Ministers of NCR States to prevent diesel buses from entering Delhi.
Index of Economic Freedom-2024
Why in News?
• The 2024 Economic Freedom of the World Report, has been released by the Fraser Institute, which assesses economic freedom in 165 jurisdictions.
About
• According to the report the top three countries are Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland with the highest levels of economic freedom for the year 2022.
• India’s rank is 84th in the latest report.
• The ranking is based on 42 variables, covering areas such as government size, property rights, monetary policy, and trade freedom.
• The report has highlighted the global decline in economic freedom over the past three years.
• Countries with high economic freedom show significantly better economic outcomes. For example, their GDP per capita is on average 7.6 times greater than that of countries with low economic freedom.
• Other benefits in these countries include longer life expectancy, lower poverty rates, and higher happiness levels.
India Leads Its Neighbors in Economic Freedom Rankings 2024
The Economic Freedom of the World annual report ranks India as the top country among its neighbors, with Nepal in second place.
