10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: March 26, 2020

The Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh invoked the National Security Act (NSA) 1980 against three men accused of killing a cow near Kharkhali village. This and a spate of recent cases, in which different State governments have invoked the stringent provisions of the NSA to detain citizens for questionable offences, have brought the focus back on the potential abuse of the controversial law. Put simply, the NSA empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security. The maximum period for which one may be detained is 12 months. But the term can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence. Post-independence India got its first preventive detention rule when the government of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru enacted the Preventive Detention Act of 1950. The NSA is a close iteration of the 1950 Act. After the Preventive Detention Act expired on December 31, 1969, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, brought in the controversial Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in 1971 giving similar powers to the government. Though the MISA was repealed in 1977 after the Janata Party came to power, the successive government, led by Mrs. Gandhi, brought in the NSA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a large global trial, called SOLIDARITY, to find out whether any can treat infections with the new coronavirus for the dangerous respiratory disease. It’s an unprecedented effort—an all-out, coordinated push to collect robust scientific data rapidly during a pandemic. The study, which could include many thousands of patients in dozens of countries, has been designed to be as simple as possible so that even hospitals overwhelmed by an onslaught of COVID-19 patients can participate.

MPLADS is a central sector scheme. Its aim is to provide funds to MPs to execute certain developmental projects to meet the urgent needs of their constituents. Ex-drinking water facilities, education, etc. An MP is entitled to Rs. 5 crore per annum to identify and fund developmental projects. The Fund is non – lapsable. The role of the MP is only recommendatory in nature. The implementation of the project is done by local authorities. Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works in the state from where they have been elected. Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is the nodal ministry to implement the scheme.

Earlier, the region was separately called as Anshi National Park and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. Later, both of them together were included under Project Tiger. Hence, it became Kali Tiger Reserve. Reason behind the Name Kali River, which forms the major source of water for Uttara Kannada (Karnataka), flows through the tiger reserve. Since these regions come under the Kali River Basin, it was named as Kali Tiger Reserve. Nature at Kali Tiger Reserve Kali Tiger Reserve comprises of tropical rainforests. Hence, it supports numerous animals’ species. This belt of Uttara Kannada district is a part of the Western Ghats. Apart from the concentration of Tigers, it is one of the places where you can spot Black Panther. Yes, Kali Tiger Reserve is known for housing many tigers, black panthers and elephants. Since the reserve is spread across a region, it is hard to spot these exotic animals. However, elephants are a common sight here.

Recently, US authorities have put out tsunami warnings after an earthquake has struck Russia’s Kuril Islands. It is a volcanic archipelago which separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. It forms part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire. The Islands are currently under Russian administration. However, they are also claimed by Japan.