Daily Quiz

Solution (b)
Explanation:
• A complaint alleging sexual harassment has been filed in Kolkata against West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, however, Constitutional immunity bars the police from naming the Governor as an accused or even investigating the case.
• Article 361 of the Constitution that deals with immunity to the President and the Governors states that they “shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers and duties…”
• The provision also has two crucial sub-clauses:
1. No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be initiated or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during the term of his office. (Statement 1 is correct)
2. No process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President, or the Governor of a State, shall issue from any court during his term of office. (Statement 2 is correct)
• In the landmark 2006 ruling in Rameshwar Prasad v Union of India, which outlined the immunity enjoyed by the Governor “even on allegation of personal malafides,” the Supreme Court held that “the position in law, is that the Governor enjoys complete immunity.”
• No civil proceedings in which relief is claimed against the President, or the Governor of a State, shall be instituted during his term of office in any court in respect of any act done or purporting to be done by him in his personal capacity, whether before or after he entered upon his office as President, or as Governor of such State, until the expiration of two months next after notice in writing has been delivered to the President or the Governor, as the case may be, or left at his office stating the nature of the proceedings, the cause of action therefor, the name, description and place of residence of the party by whom such proceedings are to be instituted and the relief which he claims. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/in-the-world-of-spycraft-why-national-interest-trumps-all-9304549/

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• A ‘standard’ is a set of technical requirements or agreed technical descriptions which cover ideas, products or services and make sure that technologies interact and work together.
• A Standard Essential Patent (SEP) is a patent granted for technological invention which is essential for implementation and working of a standard. (Statement 1 is correct)
• SEPs are widely used in the telecommunications sector as it is a highly standardized industry primarily driven by the requirement for interoperability between communication devices. The operation of 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), 5G, and WiFi networks is dependent upon numerous patented technologies. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• The process of setting standards in the technology sector is largely privatised and dominated by “standard setting organisations” (SSOs) run largely by private technology companies. Countries such as India have very little influence over how standards are set or how SEPs are licensed.
• The concept of SEPs ushered in India first in 2011, when Ericson 2011 objected to the importation of handsets by Kingtech Electronics (India). This was the initiation of SEP litigation in India.
• Although, the Patent laws in India neither contain a special provision for SEPs nor lays down any specific criteria or terms and conditions to be complied with while licensing a patented technology, it does restrain a patentee (proprietor of the patent) from abusing its patent right and engaging in practices that unreasonably restrain trade. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-judiciarys-shadow-over-standard-essential-patents/article68132782.ece

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Unlike normal passports, which have dark blue covers and are valid for 10 years (for adults), diplomatic passports have maroon covers, and are valid for five years or less. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• Holders of such passports are entitled to certain privileges and immunities as per the international law, including immunity from arrest, detention, and certain legal proceedings in the host country. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The MEA’s Consular, Passport & Visa Division issues diplomatic passports (‘Type D’ passports) to people falling in broadly five categories: those with diplomatic status; government-appointed individuals travelling abroad for official business; officers working under the branches A and B of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), normally at the rank of Joint Secretary and above; and relatives and immediate family of officers employed in IFS and MEA.
• Typically, the MEA issues visa notes to government officials going abroad for an official assignment or visit. But in the recent case of Prajwal Revanna, no such note was issued.
• This is because Germany is among the 34 countries with whom India has operational visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic passports.
• India has similar agreements with countries such as France, Austria, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Iran, and Switzerland.
• Nonetheless, a person should apply for a prior political clearance for a private visit. According to the latest bulletin issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, “Members, when using a diplomatic passport, are required to apply for prior political clearance directly to MEA.
• The government can revoke diplomatic passport only after a court order to that effect. As per the Act, the passport authority may impound or revoke a passport if the holder is in wrongful possession, if it was obtained by the suppression of material information; or if the passport authority deems it necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, or friendly relations of India with any foreign country. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/flight-of-prajwal-revanna-how-diplomatic-passports-visa-regimes-work-9304621/#:~:text=Lastly%2C%20diplomatic%20passports%20are%20also,the%20term%20of%20the%20MP.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, launched in October 2023 to study the metallic asteroid Psyche in the asteroid belt, has achieved a major milestone. The spacecraft successfully tested a new laser communication technology called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), designed by researchers at the University of Arizona. (Option d is correct)
• On April 8, 2024, when Psyche was approximately 140 million miles away (1.5 times the Earth-Sun distance), it transmitted engineering data back to Earth using the DSOC laser system at an impressive data rate of up to 25 Mbps. This exceeded the project’s goal of achieving at least 1 Mbps at that vast distance.
• The DSOC system aims to enable much faster data transmission compared to traditional radio communications for future deep space exploration missions. During the test, it demonstrated laser communications can operate effectively over such immense distances, promising broadband internet-like speeds.
• Despite being so far from Earth, the University of Arizona’s laser technology on Psyche successfully interfaced with the spacecraft’s radio transmitter, allowing it to beam the data directly to ground control using the laser downlink.
• NASA scientists were elated that the Arizona university-designed optical communications demo seamlessly transmitted duplicated spacecraft data at near-broadband speeds, validating the technology for potential use on future robotic and human exploration of the solar system and beyond.
• Meanwhile, the Psyche spacecraft remains stable and healthy as it continues its journey towards the Psyche asteroid between Mars and Jupiter after this pioneering achievement in deep space laser communications.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/science/news/nasa-gets-mysterious-signal-from-deep-space-140-million-miles-away-explains-what-it-means-11714643255399.html

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Statement-I is correct: It describes the use of liquid nitrogen in food packaging to increase shelf life. Liquid nitrogen is introduced into packages where it evaporates, expands, and displaces oxygen that could otherwise promote microbial growth and spoilage.
• Statement-II is correct: Liquid nitrogen expands approximately 700 times its volume when it evaporates, effectively displacing oxygen in the packaging.
• In this case, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I because the primary utility of using liquid nitrogen in food packaging relies on its ability to expand upon evaporation, displacing oxygen, which reduces oxidation and microbial growth, thereby enhancing the shelf life of the product.

Additional Important Facts about Liquid Nitrogen:

• Cryogenic Properties: Liquid nitrogen maintains a very low temperature of -196 degrees Celsius (-321 degrees Fahrenheit). This property is utilized in various applications, from medical treatments to food processing.
• Safety Precautions: Handling liquid nitrogen requires strict safety measures. It can cause severe frostbite or cryogenic burns upon contact with skin and should only be used in well-ventilated areas to prevent the displacement of breathable air.
• Medical Uses: Liquid nitrogen is employed in cryotherapy for treating skin conditions and removing tissues such as warts or precancerous lesions. It is also essential in cryopreservation for storing various biological specimens.
• Culinary Uses: In culinary applications, liquid nitrogen is used for its rapid freezing capabilities and dramatic visual effects, though safety is paramount to prevent injuries from ingestion or contact.
• Industrial Uses: It is also used industrially to cool materials for easier machining, in electronics for achieving superconductivity, and in many other innovative applications.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/liquid-nitrogen-in-foods-draws-tamil-nadus-ire-yet-again/article68131692.ece#