Current Affairs Quiz 20 January 2024

Answer: B

Correct Answer : C

Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System
Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) is a voting system designed to enable remote voting for individuals who are unable to physically vote at a polling station. The system combines electronic transmission and postal services to facilitate the electronic delivery and return of ballots. Here are some key features of the ETPBS:
• Service Voters: The ETPBS is primarily used for service voters, who are members of the armed forces, central armed police forces, and state police forces, as well as government employees posted outside their constituencies.
• Electronic Transmission: Registered service voters receive their postal ballots electronically through the ETPBS. They can download the electronic ballot along with a declaration form and covers.
• Ballot Registration: Once the service voter has received the ETPB, they can register their vote on the ballot as per their preference.
• Return of Ballot: After registering their vote, the service voter is required to send the completed ballot, along with the attested declaration form, to the returning officer of their constituency via ordinary mail.
• Attested Declaration Form: The declaration form included in the postal ballot needs to be signed by the voter in the presence of an appointed senior officer who will then attest it.
• Legal Amendment: The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was amended in 2016 to allow service voters to use the ETPBS for casting their votes.

Answer: C

About Nanhi Pari Programme
• ‘Nanhi Pari’ is a scheme to provide a one-stop solution to parents, eliminating their need to visit various offices to obtain documents.
• The programme aims to complete essential services such as provision of a birth certificate, Aadhaar card registration, and opening a bank account for girls delivered in government hospitals in the district before mother and baby are discharged.
• It aims to get registration for schemes for girl children and motherssuch as the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, the Ladli scheme, and  Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana done at the hospital itself.
• The basic objective of most of these schemes is to protect the life of the girl child and to provide a safe environment and education facilities for them. 

Significance of the Programme
• The programme makes the procedure of applying for schemes as simple as possible for both children and moms;
• Parents would no longer have to go from one place to another in order to apply for important programmes.
• The programme also strives to promote institutional deliveries in addition to ensuring that schemes reach their intended recipients and preserving the rights of girls.
• This will reduce the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate.

Correct Answer : A

About Wilful Defaulter:
• Wilful defaulters are entities that have the ability to repay money but intentionally fail to do so.
• The concept of ‘Wilful Defaulter’ was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through its Master Circular, which defined the term and provided guidelines for banks and financial institutions to determine instances of wilful default.

Criteria for Wilful Default:
According to the RBI, a wilful default is deemed to have occurred in the following circumstances:
• When there is a default in repayment obligations by a unit (company/individual) despite having the capacity to repay, indicating a deliberate intention not to repay the loan.
• When funds obtained for a specific purpose are diverted for other uses.
• When funds have been siphoned off and not utilized for the intended purpose, without any justifiable assets to account for the usage.
• When assets purchased with lenders’ funds are sold off without the knowledge of the bank/lender.
• In cases where group companies of wilfully defaulting units fail to honor guarantees or letters of comfort provided to lenders when invoked, such group companies are also considered wilful defaulters.

Consequences of being a Wilful Defaulter:
• Banks and institutions are required to submit the list of suit-filed accounts of wilful defaulters to Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) on a quarterly basis.
• Banks report the names of current and former directors associated with the defaulter at the time of classification, which serves as a warning to other financial entities.
• A wilful defaulter is prohibited from starting a new business for a period of five years from the date of being declared as such.
• Lenders are expected to initiate legal action, including criminal proceedings if necessary, against the defaulting borrowers/guarantors, expediting the recovery process.
• Banks and institutions have the authority to change the management of a wilfully defaulting company.
• While there is no specific law for legal action against wilful defaulters, banks can initiate action under existing laws such as the SARFAESI Act, Companies Act, 2013, Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, etc.
• Overall, the designation of wilful defaulter carries significant consequences for the entities involved, aiming to discourage deliberate non-repayment and promote accountability in the financial system.

Ans: c