UPSC QUIZ 07.02.2024

Explanation:

• Uniform Civil Code (UCC) draft report was approved by the Uttarakhand Cabinet and is likely to be tabled in the state assembly on 6th February 2024, as a bill for enactment.
• The UCC drafting committee was led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai.
• The UCC is a proposed set of common laws for all residents of Uttarakhand, regardless of their religion, caste, or gender.
• Article 162 of the Indian Constitution indicates that the executive power of a State extends to matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws.
• In view of the provisions of Entry 5 of the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule, the constitution of a Committee to introduce and implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) per se cannot be challenged as ultra vires.
• Entry 5 of the Concurrent List deals with “marriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy, and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution subject to their personal law.
• This implies that the state government of Uttarakhand can enact UCC within its territory.

Explanation:

• The 22nd Law Commission has recommended significant changes in the law to deal with damage to public property on February 2, 2024.
• The Law Commission has submitted its report titled "Review of the Law on Prevention of Damage to Public Property" to the Government of India.
• Keeping in mind the seriousness of the issue and the loss it would cause to the country's revenue, the Law Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of this issue.
• The report suggests measures ranging from tampering with evidence to imposing fines equal to the market value of damaged public property.

Highlights of 284th report

• People involved in damaging public property should get bail only after recovering an amount equal to the damage caused by them.
• The Commission has recommended amendments in the 'Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984'.

Explanation:

• Ravinder Reddy and Dr. Muralidhar Reddy have discovered Mesolithic rock paintings in Seetamma Loddy, Telangana.Seethamma Loddy is located at Gattusingaram in Peddapalli district.
• The rock paintings found here belong to the Mesolithic period (10,000-12,000 years ago) and the early historic period (1st BC to 6th century). They were found on a large sandstone rock in the forest.
• A fossil stone containing shells has also been found which suggests that the site is approximately 65 million years old.
• Dr. Muralidhar Reddy has described the site as a “diamond mine” of rock paintings, like Pandavula Gutta located in Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district.

Pictures found on rock paintings

• There are depictions of human figures on it.
• Both men and women are performing group dance in line and round patterns.
• Everyone is holding each other's hands and wearing special types of shoes.
• A picture of a person with a bow and arrow has been found.
• Several handprints of different sizes in red color were found in some of the paintings.
• Some white and yellow handprints have also been found, which are rare.
• Among other figures, footprints of some animals like deer, antelope, tortoise, wild cat, carnivores, monkeys, wild lizards are prominent.

Explanation:

• A committee constituted by the Government of Maharashtra to ensure the effective implementation of the Sickle Cell Disease Control Program.
• Instructions were issued by the state government to form committees at the state, district, and taluka levels and entrust them with the important task of screening, treatment, and prevention of sickle cell disease.
• In history, this initiative is being seen for the first time.
• It has been specially designed to meet the healthcare needs of rural, remote, and tribal areas.
• The government aims to provide quality health services to sickle cell patients, including antenatal check-up facilities.
• The committee is tasked with setting standards for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease and providing the necessary technical support.
• The overarching goal is to complete the eradication of sickle cell disease from the country by 2047.
• As part of the National Health Campaign since 2008, the state has provided systematic screening, specific diagnosis through HPLC testing, and provision of free diagnosis, necessary treatment, and medicines.
• Currently, sickle cell patients face challenges due to the unavailability of basic medicines, especially in tribal communities like Nandurbar and Gadchiroli.
• To control such irregularities, the state health department will submit monthly reports to the Centre.

Explanation:

• Development projects totaling Rs 11,600 crore were inaugurated in Assam by PM Narendra Modi.
• Several infrastructure initiatives jointly funded by the state and central governments were unveiled at a function held at the playground of the Veterinary College in Khanapara, Guwahati.
• Notable projects included the Kamakhya temple corridor (Rs 498 crore), a six-lane road connecting the new airport terminal in Guwahati (Rs 358 crore).
• This also includes upgrading the Nehru Stadium to FIFA standards (Rs 831 crore), and a new sports complex at Chandrapur (Rs 300 crore).
• PM Modi also launched the second phase of 'Asom Mala' roads, which involves upgrading and construction of 43 roads along with 38 concrete bridges, requiring a total investment of Rs 3,444 crore.
• In addition, the foundation stone of the integrated new building of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,250 crore, was laid.
• The PM also laid the foundation stone for the proposed Karimganj Medical College and Hospital (Rs 578 crore) and Unity Mall in Guwahati (Rs 297 crore).
• The inauguration of the four-lane road from Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur, developed at a cost of Rs 1,451 crore, and another four-lane road from Dolabari to Jamuguri, constructed at a cost of Rs 592 crore, was also laid by PM.