UAE
News – PM meets Dubai Crown Prince; India-UAE to enhance defence cooperation
- UAE was established on – 1971, by merging 7-emirates
- Seven Emirates: The UAE comprises Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah
- Capital – Abu Dhabi
- Largest City – Dubai
- Currency – UAE Dirham
- Type of Government – constitutional monarchy
- UAE – do not have any major rivers
- Over 3.5 million Indians live in the UAE, 35% of its population
- India and UAE have joint military exercises – Desert Flag
APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES OF HIGH COURT
News – Only 12% of judges in High Courts have declared assets: data
- Constitutional Provision – Article 217
- Appointed by – President in consultation with
- Chief Justice of India
- Governor of the State
- Chief Justice of the High Court
- The High Court Collegium, led by the Chief Justice of the High Court, initiates recommendations
- The qualifications for becoming a High Court judge-
- Must be a citizen of India
- Held Judicial Office for at least 10 years
- Have been an advocate of a High Court for 10 yrs
- Maximum Age – 62 yrs.
- No Minimum Age
SECULARISM
News – Secularism is core to Cong. value system, Rahul tells party colleagues
- Definition – Secularism is an ideology that emphasizes the separation of religion and the state
- It has broadly two meanings:
- Separation of religion from the state i.e. Dharm Nirpekshta.
- Equal respect to all religions by state i.e. Sarva Dharma Samabhava.
- The Indian constitution aims for a secular state where-
- All religions are treated equally and
- Govt maintains a Principled Distance approach
WESTERN vs INDIAN SECULARISM
|
Western Secularism |
Indian Secularism |
|
Complete separation between religion and the state. |
Giving equal respect to all religions. |
|
The state cannot give financial support to educational institutions run by religious communities |
Indian Constitution permits partial financial support for religious schools and infrastructure by the state. |
|
It has no place for the idea of state-supported religious reform. |
Indian secularism is compatible with the idea of state-supported religious reform. |
|
Individual rights are at the forefront. |
It not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with the religious freedom of minority communities |
AADHAR
News – New Aadhaar app with facial authentication in testing phase: Vaishnaw
- About – A 12-digit unique identification number
- It links an individual’s biometric (fingerprints, iris scans) and demographic data
- Issued by – Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Governed by – Aadhaar Act, 2016
- Aadhar is not a proof of citizenship
- Applications-
- Used for Direct Benefit Transfers
- financial inclusion through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
- e-KYC for mobile connections, banking
AGASTHYAMALAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
News – SC directs CEC to survey forests in Agasthyamalai for encroachments
- Location – southern end of the Western Ghats, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Recognized as – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2016
- Home to tropical evergreen forests, grasslands, and wetlands
- Biodiversity-
- Flora: Over 2,254 plant species
- Fauna: Tigers, elephants, grizzled giant squirrels, etc
- Cultural Importance – Inhabited by the Kani tribe
- Major rivers originating here – Thamirabarani, Karamana, and Vaigai
BREAKDOWN OF PETROL PRICES
News – The government hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel
MCQs
1. Capital of UAE is?
A. Abu Dhabi
B. Dubai
C. Riyadh
D. Damascus
2. Maximum age for a HC judge is?
A. 60 yrs
B. 62 yrs
C. 65 yrs
D. 70 yrs
3. Aadhar number is issued by?
A. RBI
B. Min. of Home Affairs
C. Prime Ministers Office
D. UIDAI
4. “Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve” is located at which place?
A. North India
B. West India
C. South India
D. North-East India
5. “Desert Flag” is joint military exercise of India with which country?
A. Saudi Arabia
B. USA
C. France
D. UAE