DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 September 2021
National Conference on Accessible Elections
- The Election Commission of India today organised a virtual National Conference on Accessible Elections 2021 with the objective to assess the present accessibility policies and discuss strategies for addressing barriers to enhance participation in electoral process for voters with disabilities.
- The virtual conference was attended by Chief Electoral Officers, Civil Society Organisations representing various disabilities and representatives from Government Ministries and Institutions.
- Reaffirming Election Commission’s commitment to make elections more inclusive, accessible, and voter friendly for PwDs, Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Sushil Chandra said that the Commission values the decision making role of primary stakeholders – the voters including persons with disabilities, who can and should play a key role in electoral process.
3rd State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
- Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has released the 3rd State Food Safety Index (SFSI).
- Also, 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans (Food Safety on Wheels) have been flagged off to supplement the food safety ecosystem across the country.
- The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to measure the performance of states on five significant parameters of Food Safety.
- The parameters include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
Exercise Samudra Shakti
- The third edition of maritime exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ between India and Indonesia will be conducted from 20th-22nd September 2021 in the Sunda Strait.
- In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise.
- The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between the two navies.
National Florence Nightingale Award 2020
- President Ram Nath Kovind today conferred the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020 to Deputy Director General of Military Nursing Service Brig S V Saraswati. She has been conferred the award in a virtual ceremony for her immense contribution to the MNS as nurse administrator.
- Brig Saraswati as a renowned operation theatre nurse, has assisted in more than 3,000 lifesaving and emergency surgeries and has trained residents, operation room nursing trainees and auxiliary staff in her career. National Florence Nightingale Award is the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve for selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Completes 53 years in Service to the Nation
- India’s premier intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is observing its 54th foundation day.
- Established in 1968 to handle the nation’s international intelligence affairs, RAW came into force after the China-India War in 1962.
- At present, the intelligence arm operates under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office.
- Until 1968, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was responsible for India’s internal intelligence and handled external intelligence.
- However, after the 1962 China-India war and Indo-Pakistani war in 1965, India established a separate and distinct external intelligence organization – the Research and Analysis Wing.
- In 1968, then India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed R. N. Kao as the first director of RAW. Started with 250 employees and a budget of $405,600, RAW undertook two major missions:
- To maintain awareness about the military and political activities in the neighboring countries, primarily China and Pakistan
- Promote the control of military equipment supplies into Pakistan
International Day of Peace
- The International Day of Peace, sometimes officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
- It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access.
- The day was first celebrated in 1981 and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.
- The International Day of Peace 2021 Theme is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.”
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- ______of the Indian constitution deals with elections and establishes a commission for these matters.
- Part XIV
- Part XV
- Part XX
- Part XI
ANSWER: B
- Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission.
- Article 324
- Article 325
- Article 326
- Article 327
ANSWER: A
- No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll-on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
- Article 14
- Article 325
- Article 21
- Article 327
ANSWER: B
- Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be based on adult suffrage.
- Article 324
- Article 325
- Article 326
- Article 327
ANSWER: C
- Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures.
- Article 368
- Article 352
- Article 356
- Article 327
ANSWER: D
- Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.
- Article 32
- Article 33
- Article 12
- Article 329
ANSWER: D
- Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners have a fixed tenure
- Six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
- Six years, or up to the age of 66 years, whichever is earlier
- Five years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
- Five years, or up to the age of 66 years, whichever is earlier
ANSWER: A
- Which of the following elections are not held by ECI
- President of India
- Vice President of India
- State Assembly
- Panchayat Raj Institutions
ANSWER: D
- Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in India are manufactured by
- Election Commission of India
- Electronics Corporation of India Limited
- DRDO
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
ANSWER: B
- He was Second Chief Election Commissioner of India
- Sukumar Sen
- Kalyan Sundaram
- S. P. Sen Verma
- Nagendra Singh
ANSWER: B
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