Daily Quiz | 26 March 2024

Explanation:

• • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) recently announced the launch of the BhashaNet portal at the Universal Acceptance Day (March 28). 
    • The theme of the event was "BhashaNet: Impetus Towards Universal Acceptance",
  • Statement 1 is correct:  The portal aims to advance digital inclusion and promote Universal Acceptance (UA) across India.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: 

• • The portal will provide resources and information in multiple Indian languages, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Developers and businesses can access tools and guidelines to help them assess and improve the UA readiness of their applications and systems.
  • The portal will showcase best practices and case studies from organizations that have successfully implemented UA, serving as a source of inspiration and guidance for others.
• Importance: 
  • Universal Acceptance ensures that all domain names, including new top-level domains, Internationalized Domain Names and email addresses are treated equally and can be used by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. 
  • BhashaNet portal aims to make .in (dot in) universally accepted domain.
  • The initiative aims to narrow the digital gap and foster greater inclusivity on the internet for individuals from diverse regions and backgrounds across India.

Explanation:

• •  Statement 1 is incorrect: The Election Commission has introduced vote-from-home for citizens aged 85 and above. 

• Eligibility: 

• • • Eligible voters include individuals aged 85 years and above.
    • Persons with disabilities (PwD) with a certified handicap of at least 40%.

• Voting Procedure:

• • • These voters can utilise Form 12D to inform the assistant returning officer concerned of their inability to physically attend the polling station to cast their vote.

• Two polling officials, accompanied by a videographer, will visit eligible voters' residences to facilitate the voting process.

• Prior notification of the visit will be sent via SMS to the mobile numbers provided in the application.

• Opting for Vote-from-Home: Once eligible voters opt for VfH, they forfeit the opportunity to cast their votes at polling stations on election day.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: If a voter is not present during the initial visit, voting personnel will make subsequent attempts to facilitate voting at the given address. However, failure to avail of the VfH opportunity will result in the forfeiture of the voter's chance to cast a ballot.

Explanation:

• • Statement 1 is incorrect: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has recently approved setting up of Bima Sugam.

• Statement 2 is correct:

• • • Bima Sugam shall be established by a not-for-profit company formed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.

•  E-commerce Platform for Insurance: Bima Sugam functions similarly to an e-commerce platform, facilitating the sale of insurance products from various companies.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: Comprehensive Coverage: Bima Sugam will onboard all companies offering life and non-life insurance products, providing a wide range of options for policyholders.

• End-to-End Digital Journey: From purchasing policies to renewals, claim settlements, portability, and grievance redressal, Bima Sugam aims to offer a seamless digital experience for policyholders.

• Unified Platform Integration: Bima Sugam will integrate with government databases, insurers, intermediaries, and insurance repositories to fetch customer details, offer product information, and facilitate buying and servicing of insurance policies.

 Single Interface for Stakeholders: Serving as a single interface, Bima Sugam enables customers, intermediaries, and agents to connect and transact across insurers (life, health, non-life), promoting transparency, efficiency, and collaboration throughout the insurance value chain.

Explanation:

• Earth Hour:  

• • Earth Hour” was observed on March 23 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm (IST). 
  • Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007.
  • Earth Hour, a world initiative, is an annual event encouraging people to raise awareness about climate change and promote energy conservation. 
  • It is observed annually on the last Saturday of March. 
  • To observe the day, people around the world switch off their lights for an hour as a symbol of committing to the planet Earth.
  • The day was initiated and organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which aimed to encourage individuals worldwide to come forward to preserve energy.

Explanation:

• • Statement 1 is incorrect: These are trusts set up by companies with the objective to distribute the contributions received from other companies and individuals to the political parties.  The companies which are registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 are only eligible to make an application for approval as an electoral trust, as per  the ADR report. 

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Who can contribute to electoral trusts?

• • • An individual who is a citizen of India
    • A company registered in India
    • An association of persons (Indian residents)

• Who cannot contribute to electoral trusts?

• • • An individual who is not a citizen of India
    • Other electoral trusts (approved under the Electoral Trusts Scheme)
    • Contributors without PAN
    • NRIs without a passport number

• Statement 3 is incorrect:  The names of electoral trusts, currently, do not indicate the name of the company/group which set up the trusts.

• • For administrative expenses, the electoral trusts are permitted to set aside a maximum of 5 percent of the total funds collected during a financial year.
  • The remaining 95 percent of total income of the trusts, including any surplus from the previous financial year, is required to be distributed to eligible political parties.

• Laws/Rules governing the functioning of electoral trusts:

• • Rule 17CA of Income Tax Rules, 1962 inserted in 2013, lists the functions of electoral trusts approved by the Central Bureau of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
  • The Central Government, also launched ‘The Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013, which specified the eligibility and procedure for registration as an electoral trust, apart from laying down the format for their registration.