Showing questions for August 23, 2025
- Total: 20 questions
Question 11 Aug 23, 2025
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Who was granted interim protection from arrest by the Supreme Court in connection with an FIR filed by Assam Police over a news article?
Siddharth Varadarajan and Karan ThaparThe Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Siddharth Varadarajan and Karan Thapar, journalists from The Wire, in connection with an FIR filed by Assam Police. The FIR was registered under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly endangering India’s sovereignty through articles on 'Operation Sindoor'. Despite prior protection in a Morigaon Police FIR, the Guwahati Crime Branch issued fresh summons, prompting the plea. The bench expressed concern over repeated FIRs and assured they were 'watching' the situation. The court emphasized the need to follow due process while protecting journalists from coercive actions in multiple related cases.
Question 12 Aug 23, 2025
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Who did the Enforcement Directorate name as the 'mastermind' of an illegal sand mining syndicate in Jharkhand?
Ankit RajThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Ankit Raj, son of former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Sao, as the 'mastermind' of a systematic illegal sand mining syndicate. The case involves 16 FIRs by Jharkhand Police related to illegal mining, extortion, and disruption of government work. The ED alleges that the syndicate continued mining after licenses expired in 2019, mixing illegal sand with legal stock to evade detection. They used a complex network to launder ₹3.12 crore in proceeds through cash deposits and financial transactions. Properties worth ₹3.02 crore have been attached, and a chargesheet was filed under PMLA in Ranchi.
Question 13 Aug 23, 2025
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Which former official filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking re-verification of the Assam NRC?
Hitesh Dev SarmaHitesh Dev Sarma, the former Assam NRC Coordinator, filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking comprehensive re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. He alleged large-scale irregularities and errors in the final NRC list, undermining its credibility. The Supreme Court issued notices to the Union and Assam Governments, the current NRC Coordinator, and the Registrar General of India. Senior Advocate Manish Goswami, representing Sarma, stressed the need for an error-free NRC for national integrity. The court’s decision to hear the plea has reignited debate on the controversial NRC process, which left many residents in legal uncertainty.
Question 14 Aug 23, 2025
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Cotton candy or fight over fibre: What is the primary reason the Indian government temporarily waived import duties on cotton, according to the textile industry?
To make Indian textile exports more competitive in global marketsThe textile industry welcomed the duty waiver as a necessary step to counter the impending 50 per cent punitive tariff by the US, which would otherwise make Indian exports less competitive compared to Bangladesh and Vietnam, both facing only 20 per cent tariffs. The industry had long demanded removal of the 11 per cent import duty to stabilize cotton prices and ensure smooth production. With yarn purchases already down by half, the move is seen as crucial to maintaining export volumes. The government’s short-term relief aims to support exporters ahead of the festival season when demand spikes. This measure applies only to existing or in-transit orders, not new imports after September 30.
Question 15 Aug 23, 2025
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What does the term 'shadow fleet' refer to in the context of global oil trade, as discussed in the article?
A network of tankers using deceptive practices like disabled tracking systems and shell companies to evade sanctionsThe 'shadow fleet' consists of hundreds of tankers, many old and purchased from European owners, now operating under flags of convenience like Liberia or Panama. These vessels often disable their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to become invisible and use shell companies to hide ownership. They are used by nations like Russia and Iran to bypass Western sanctions on oil exports. Cargo is frequently transferred at sea to 'clean' ships to obscure origin. India’s Nayara Energy has reportedly used such fleets to import Russian crude despite European sanctions.