Today in History (June 28^th, 1919)

28 June 1919 – The First World War ended with the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty.

Let’s revise

A) “The Great Nicobar Betrayal” has been written by ____

1. Rajesh Uppal
2. Pankaj Shekhsaria
3. Ramesh Chandra Kaushal
4. Yogesh Kumar

Ans. (2)

B) Which channel divides the Andman and Nicobar Islands?

1. 9 degree
2. 10 degree
3. 18 degree
4. 20 degree

Ans. (2)

C) Which is the capital city of Andman & Nicobar Islands?
Ans. Port Blair

D) Bannerghatta Biological Park is in _______
Ans. Karnataka

E) Which is the largest leopard safari in India?

1. Jim Corbet national park
2. Manas national park
3. Giri National Park
4. Bannerghatta national park

Ans. (4)

F) The scientific name-specific species of Leopard is _____

1. Panthera pardus
2. Panthera tigris
3. Panthera lionis
4. None of the above

Ans. (1)

G) Who recently became the youngest male tennis player to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces (hard, grass, and clay)?

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Carlos Alcaraz

Ans. (4)

H) Who was the youngest female player to achieve winning a Grand Slam on all three surfaces?

1. Maria Sharapova
2. Ashleigh Barty
3. Steffi Graf
4. Serena Williams

Ans. (3)

I) The Australian open is played on ______court.

1. Clay
2. Hard
3. Grass
4. Mat

Ans. (2)

J) Who has been elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?
Ans. Om Birla

Summary of Today’s News

Presidential Address in the Parliament-18th Lok Sabha

• In her first address to Parliament following the Lok Sabha election results, President Droupadi Murmu urged MPs to rise above partisan politics regarding paper leaks in medical and government exams.
• She assured that the Union government is committed to investigating and addressing these irregularities, emphasizing efforts to improve the exam process.
• Additionally, she highlighted concerns about the Emergency imposed in 1975, describing it as a significant attack on the Constitution.
• Articles 86 and 87 of the Indian Constitution deal with the President’s right to address Parliament and the specifics of the President’s Special Address, respectively.
• Since the Constitution’s commencement, the President has not exercised the provision to address a single House or both Houses together under Article 86.
• The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, amended Article 87 to no longer require the President to address both Houses at the commencement of every session, but only at the start of the first session after a general election and at the beginning of the first session each year.

Reasi and the ‘years-old’ issue of cross-border terror

• Date & Significance: The attack occurred on June 9, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking for his third term.
• Casualties: Nine pilgrims were killed and 41 injured.
• Similar Past Incident: Echoes the May 23, 2014 attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, also close to Modi’s swearing-in.
Attack Objective
• Target: Designed to embarrass and enrage India and its Prime Minister.
• Perpetrators: Linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist group.
Historical Context
• Long-standing Issue: India has faced terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for nearly 35 years.
• Inspiration: Pakistan drew lessons from the Afghan Jihad, believing similar tactics could pressure India in Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Role
• Commitment: Pakistan’s army and political leaders have consistently supported the “Kashmir cause.”
• Support: Both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto endorsed separatism and terrorism in J&K.

India’s Strategic Responses

Initial Response
• Early 1990s: India developed counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism strategies.
• Diplomatic Stance: Pakistan conditioned dialogue on Kashmir-focused engagement.
Mid-1990s Shift
• Confidence Building: By mid-1990s, India was more confident in handling terrorism in J&K.
• Elections in J&K: Holding Assembly elections in 1996 signaled the beginning of political activity alongside counter-terrorism measures.

Diplomatic and Military Strategies

Composite Dialogue
• Initiation: Agreed mechanics of bilateral composite dialogue in 1998.
• Issues: Included ‘terrorism and counter-narcotics’ among eight engagement issues.
• Challenges: Pakistan’s unwillingness to address terrorism concerns.
Diplomatic Efforts
• Prime Ministers’ Approach: Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Modi pursued diplomacy from 1998 to 2016.
• Public Opinion: Indian public often demanded military action after major terrorist attacks.
• Key Incidents: Mumbai 2008 attack, 2001 Parliament attack, and subsequent diplomatic responses.
Military Actions
• Post-Pulwama Strike: Balakot aerial strike in 2019 marked a significant military response.
• Doctrine of Pre-emption: India’s stance on pre-emptive strikes against imminent terrorist threats.
• Surgical Strikes: Limited military actions, such as after the Uri attack in 2016.

Global and Future Strategies

International Perception
• Recognition: Major powers acknowledge Pakistan’s use of terrorism.
• Evidence Sharing: India has provided material evidence linking Pakistani groups to attacks.
Diplomatic Initiatives
• Post-Reasi Strategy: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s commitment to addressing cross-border terrorism.
• International Community: Emphasis on international recognition of terrorism as a step on the escalatory ladder between nuclear-armed nations.
Refining Definitions
• Unacceptable Terrorism: India needs a clear definition of what constitutes an ‘unacceptable’ terror attack for consistent and strategic responses.