Ans: B

Exp:

Context: The 54th GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs in New Delhi.

About GST Council:

• • It is a constitutional body formed under Article 279A(1), enacted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
  • According to Article 279A(4), the GST Council recommends the GST rates for the Union and the States.
  • Composition of GST Council (Article 279A(2)): The GST Council brings together representatives from the Centre and the States to oversee the nationwide implementation of GST. 
  • Its membership includes:

• Chairperson: Union Finance Minister

• Member: Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or finance

• Members nominated by each State Government, typically in charge of finance or taxation

• Vice-Chairperson elected from among the Council members (Article 279A(3))

• Decision Making Process: The GST rates are jointly determined by the states and the central government during GST Council meetings.
• The GST Council requires at least half of its total members to be present to conduct a meeting.  Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.
• Decisions are made based on a majority of no less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of members present and voting. Hence Statement 3 is incorrect.
• The central government’s vote carries a weight of one-third of the total votes cast, while all states collectively hold the remaining two-thirds weightage.

Ans: C

Exp:

Context: Department-related Standing Committees of Parliament are likely to be finalised by September 20.

About Parliamentary committee:

• A Parliamentary committee is a committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected or appointed from amongst the members of the house or nominated by the Speaker or Chairman. 
• Constitutional Provision: India’s parliamentary committees derive their authority from the Indian Constitution under Article 105 (powers and privileges) and Article 118 (regulation of business). Hence statement 1 is correct.
• A Parliamentary Committee can either be a Standing Committees or an Ad hoc Committee. 
• Standing Committees are of permanent nature and are constituted for a fixed tenure. Hence statement 2  is correct.
  • Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings, Business Advisory Committee, Rules Committee are the examples of standing committees.
• Ad hoc Committees are of temporary nature and constituted for specific purposes and cease to exist after the completion of tasks assigned to them. Hence statement 4  is correct.
  • Advisory Committees and Inquiry Committees are an example of these committees.
  • Select Committees are a category of ad hoc or temporary committees established with the specific purpose of examining and scrutinizing particular Bills. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
  • Its membership is limited to MPs from one House.
  • These committees are dissolved once their designated task has been fulfilled.

Some of the power and functions of the Parliamentary committees:

• • Reviewing and scrutinising the work of the government
  • Power to summon ministers and officials

• Examination of bills

• To make recommendations

Ans: B

Exp:

Context: Ukraine’s Government is keen for New Delhi to sign on to the Swiss Peace Summit document, which would entail reversing India’s previous decision in June to disassociate from it.

About Swiss Peace Process:

• The Swiss Peace Process is a  diplomatic effort aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, utilising Switzerland’s neutral status as a platform for dialogue and negotiation. Hence statement 1 is Incorrect.
• It includes a series of international summits and meetings hosted in Switzerland, known for its neutrality and diplomatic mediation capabilities. The primary goal is to establish a framework for peace that addresses the core issues of the conflict and involves all relevant stakeholders. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• A significant event in this process was the Bürgenstock Summit, held in  June , 2024, which followed a series of four earlier international meetings. This summit aimed to consolidate international support and outline actionable steps toward resolving the conflict. Despite the absence of Russian representatives, the summit brought together delegates from 92 nations and several international organisations.
• India has maintained a cautious stance regarding the Swiss Peace Process and has not endorsed the Joint Communiqué from the Bürgenstock Summit because of Russian non-participation. India’s position reflects its broader diplomatic strategy of balancing relations with both Russia and Western countries, while advocating for a resolution that involves direct dialogue between the conflicting parties. Hence Statement 3 is incorrect.

Ans: C

Exp:

Context: In a first, critically endangered elongated tortoise spotted in Aravallis.

About the elongated tortoise: 

• • The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) is also known as Sal Forest Tortoise.
  • Habitat: It is widely distributed over eastern as well as northern India and Southeast Asia.
    • The tortoise, found in the Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests, is distributed across Southeast Asia from northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh in the west, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and all of Indochina, north to Guangxi Province of China and south to Peninsular Malaysia.

• Conservation Status:

• • IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule IV
• Threat: Hunted for food, local use such as decorative masks and international wildlife trade.

Ans: D

Exp:

• During the recent Indian visit of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu DhabiIn a first, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation. 
• The deal between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the ENEC (Emirates Nuclear Energy Company)-led Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Maintenance took place.
• During the August 2015 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE, both countries had agreed to cooperate in “peaceful use of nuclear energy”, including in areas of “safety, health, agriculture, and science and technology.”
• Alongside the nuclear cooperation MoU, several other key agreements were signed between India and the UAE. These include:
  • Long-Term LNG Supply: An MoU between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited for long-term LNG supply.
  • Strategic Petroleum Reserve: An agreement between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL).
  • Production Concession Agreement: Urja Bharat and ADNOC signed an agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1.
  • Food Parks Development: An MoU between the Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) for the development of food parks in India, seen as an extension of the I2U2 grouping that includes Israel and the United States.
• So far Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) for co-operation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy have been signed with the following eighteen (18) countries: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Czech Republic, European Union, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam and Ghana.