• 14 Feb 2024

Mild Earthquake Strikes Singrauli

Why in News?

Recently, a mild earthquake struck the region of Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh.

• Singrauli is known for its coal mines and power plants.

Key Points

• According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake's epicenter is located at a depth of 5 kilometers beneath the earth's surface.
  • Magnitude: 3.5
  • Latitude: 24.55
  • Longitude: 82.78

• Earthquake: An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.
• Epicenter: The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicenter. It is the first one to experience the waves. It is a point directly above the focus.
• Focus: The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake, alternatively, it is called the hypocentre. The energy waves traveling in different directions reach the surface.
• National Center for Seismology (NCS): It works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring of earthquake activity in the country.

Bihar Floor Test

Why in News?

Recently, the Janata Dal (United) coalition government in Bihar won the confidence motion by 129 votes.

Key Points

• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD’s) three Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were seen sitting on the ruling party benches in the Bihar Assembly.
• The RJD leader raised a point of order, taking objection to party MLAs sitting among members of the ruling party, ahead of voting on a no-confidence motion.
• The RJD coalition government won the motion of confidence for his government after the resolution was supported by 129 MLAs.
• The Bihar assembly also passed the no-confidence motion against Bihar Assembly Speaker and RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary.
  • The no-confidence motion against the leader was passed with the support of 125 members.
• However, no ruling was given on the point of order by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari, who was in the Chair.

Point of Order

• A member can raise a point of order when the proceedings of the House do not follow the normal rules of procedure.
• A point of order should relate to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of the House or such articles of the Constitution that regulate the business of the House and should raise a question that is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
• It is usually raised by an opposition member in order to control the government. It is an extraordinary device as it suspends the proceedings before the House.
• No debate is allowed on a point of order.

No-Confidence Motion

• This is a motion moved in the Lok Sabha (and not in the Rajya Sabha) to test the confidence of the government.
• The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
• If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must resign.
• No-confidence motions are significant political events that usually occur when there is a perception of the government losing majority support.

Floor Test

• It is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the Chief Minister (CM) of a State, he/she can be asked to prove the majority in the House.
  • In case of a coalition government, the CM may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a majority.
• In the absence of a clear majority, when there is more than one individual staking claim to form the government, the Governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority to form the government.
  • Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. The numbers are then considered based only on those MLAs who were present to vote.

Investment in Uttar Pradesh Experiencing a Significant Surge

Why in News?

The Prime Minister of India will perform “bhoomi pujan” to bring an investment of ₹10.11 lakh crore to ground at the Groundbreaking Ceremony (GBC) being organised at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan (IGP) in Lucknow from 19^th to 21^st February, 2024.

Key Points

• The projects involve more than 14,000 units in various sectors such as non-renewable energy, information technology, automobile, and film city.
• This is going to be a quantum leap in terms of investment from ₹60,000 crore at the first groundbreaking ceremony held in Lucknow on July 29, 2018 to ₹10.11 lakh crore now.
• The state government has also prepared an exhibition on Artificial Intelligence (AI), featuring a team from ETH Zurich University, Switzerland.
• The film city project, which will be set up in over 230 acres of land with an investment of ₹ 1,500 crore, is one of the most attractive investments in the state.

Evangelists Arrested in Rajasthan for Alleged Mass Conversion Attempt

Why in News?

Recently, an incident happened in Rajasthan, where two evangelists were arrested and eight others were detained for allegedly trying to convert hundreds of people to Christianity by offering them money and healing.

Key Points

• The incident took place in Bharatpur, where the evangelists had organised a large-scale programme with 450-500 people.
• The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), claimed that the evangelists used objectionable language against Hindu gods and misleading people.
• The police arrested two of the evangelists, identified and booked them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for promoting enmity, outraging religious feelings, and causing hurt.
• The police also detained eight other people held under preventive measures of section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and later released on bail.

Preventive Detention

• Preventive detention means detention of a person without trial and conviction by a court.
• Its purpose is not to punish a person for a past offense but to prevent him from committing an offense in the near future.
• The detention of a person cannot exceed three months unless an advisory board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.
• Protection:
  • Article 22 grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained.
    • Article 22 has two parts—the first part deals with the cases of ordinary law and the second part deals with the cases of preventive detention law.

Freedom of Religion

• Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.
  • Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion).
  • Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs).
  • Article 27 (Freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any religion).
  • Article 28 (Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions).

Lymphatic Filariasis

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the first phase of the Bi-annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign for Lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination.

Key Points

• Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) caused by infection with filarial parasites transmitted through mosquitoes.
• In 2021, approximately 882.5 million people in 44 countries lived in areas requiring preventive chemotherapy to halt the spread of infection.
• LF is a serious public health problem in India. Currently, there are 345 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts in 20 states and union territories of the country.
  • 75% of MDA districts are from 5 states Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Odisha and Telangana.
• LF is more prevalent among the urban poor and affects all segments of the rural population.
• The infection starts in childhood and accumulates through adulthood, resulting in irreversible chronic disease conditions.
  • The disease inflicts stigma, mental suffering, social deprivation and economic loss and is a major cause of poverty in the affected communities.
• It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms:
  • Wuchereria bancrofti (responsible for 90% of the cases)
  • Brugia malayi (causes most of the remainder of the cases)
  • Brugia timori (which also causes the disease)
• India's Initiatives:
  • MDA Campaign twice a year synchronized with National Deworming Day (10th Feb and 10th August)
  • India is committed to eliminating LF by 2027, three years before the global target.