Solution (b)

Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President under Articles 124(2) and 217 of the Constitution. The President is required to hold consultations with such of the judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts as he may deem necessary.

Collegium System: It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of India and comprises four other seniormost judges of the court. 

A High Court collegium is led by its Chief Justice and four other seniormost judges of that court.

In the third Judges case, 1998 the Supreme Court laid down guidelines for the functioning of the coram for appointments and transfers – this has come to be the present form of the collegium, and has been prevalent ever since.

This opinion laid down that the recommendation should be made by the CJI and his four seniormost colleagues, instead of two. It also held that Supreme Court judges who hailed from the High Court for which the proposed name came, should also be consulted.

It was also held that even if two judges gave an adverse opinion, the CJI should not send the recommendation to the government.

Critics argue that the system is non-transparent, since it does not involve any official mechanism or secretariat. It is seen as a closed-door affair with no prescribed norms regarding eligibility criteria or even the selection procedure. There is no public knowledge of how and when a collegium meets, and how it takes its decisions.

Article Link: Collegium recommends nine judges for Supreme Court

Solution (d)

The New Development Bank (NDB) is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB is in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The main objectives of the NDB are:

• Promote infrastructure and sustainable development projects with a significant development impact in member countries.
• Establish an extensive network of global partnerships with other multilateral development institutions and national development banks.
• Build a balanced project portfolio giving a proper respect to their geographic location, financing requirements and other factors.

In India NDB has committed funding to a number of major infrastructure projects in India, including the Mumbai Metro rail and many renewable energy projects, besides a $1-billion emergency assistance loan for economic recovery post Covid-19.

Only 5 countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) hold membership in NDB. All countries have equal voting weightage in NDB.

Article Link: Horizon of NDB should be expanded to strengthen social infra

Solution (b)

The original Constitution did not contain provisions with respect to tribunals. The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added a new Part XIV-A to the Constitution. This part is entitled as ‘Tribunals’ and consists of only two Articles–Article 323 A dealing with administrative tribunals and Article 323 B dealing with tribunals for other matters.

Under Article 323 B, the Parliament and the state legislatures are authorised to provide for the establishment of tribunals for the adjudication of disputes relating to the following matters:

• Taxation
• Foreign exchange, import and export
• Industrial and labour
• Land reforms
• Ceiling on urban property
• Elections to Parliament and state legislatures
• Food stuffs
• Rent and tenancy rights

Article Link: SC asks govt. to show material justifying reasons for introducing Tribunal Reforms Bill

Solution (c)

India, in collaboration with the UN launched a technology platform to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers who are operating in an increasingly complex and risky environments across the world.

The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.

India has contributed USD 1.64 million for this project.

UNITE Aware is a situational awareness software programme that will utilise modern surveillance technology for real time threat assessments to peacekeepers and help them enhance their security. This will access live video and satellite imagery, and in very volatile circumstances can also deliver early warnings to peacekeepers. It can also record data on critical incidents and events and follow daily operational activities.

Using the platform, the entire peacekeeping operation can be visualised, coordinated, and monitored on a real time basis.

India has developed the technology platform in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.

Article Link: Jaishankar announces rollout of tech to help protect U.N. peacekeepers

Solution (d)

Tiwa is an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the states of Assam and Meghalaya in northeastern India. They are also found in some areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland. They are recognized as a Scheduled tribe within the State of Assam.

Tiwa people celebrate several occasions and festivals. The main festivals of the Tiwa tribes are: Three Pisu (Bihu), Borot utsav, Sogra puja, Wanchuwa, Jonbeel Mela, Kabla, Khelchawa, Langkhon Puja, Yangli Puja, etc

Article Link: Tiwa Tribe and Wanchuwa festival