QUESTIONS DURING QUESTION HOUR IN PARLIAMENT

Why is in news?

• Trinamool Congress MP MahuaMoitra welcomes answering questions from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee pertaining to ‘cash for query’ allegations against her.
• Different types of questions
• There are four different types of questions: starred, unstarred, short-notice questions and questions addressed to private Members.

Starred question:

• A starred question is asked by an MP and answered orally by the Minister-in-charge.
• Each MP is allowed to ask one starred question per day.
• Starred questions have to be submitted at least 15 days in advance (so that the Minister-in-charge has the time to prepare the answers).
• Only 20 questions can be listed for oral answers on a day.
• When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon.

Unstarred question:

• An unstarred question receives a written reply from the Ministry.
• These also need to be submitted at least 15 days in advance.
• Only 230 questions can be listed for written answers in a day. Unstarred questions don’t permit any follow-up questions.

Short notice questions:

• Short notice questions are ones pertaining to a matter of urgent public importance. They can be asked with less than 10 days’ notice, with reasons for the short notice.
• They are answered orally, followed by supplementary questions.

Question to a private Member:

• The question to a private Member is addressed to the MP themselves.
• It is asked when the subject matter pertains to any Bill, Resolution or any matter relating to the Business of the House for which that MP is responsible.

VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

Why is in news?

Ministry of External Affairs asserted that India did not violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by asking 41 Canadian diplomats to be repatriated.

About the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was adopted in 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria.
• This treaty lays down the rules and regulations of diplomatic relations between countries and also the privileges that diplomats enjoy in other countries.
• The treaty entered into force in April 1964.
• There are 192 parties to the convention.

 DHORDO – UNWTOs BEST TOURISM VILLAGE

• Dhordo has been conferred the prestigious title of the Best Tourism Village by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
• With this, Dhordo is now one of the 70 villages from nearly 40 countries that enjoy this prestigious title.
• Dhordo received this title at the Best Tourism Village – 2023 award ceremony.
• It was organised by the UNWTO at the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on October 19, 2023.
• Dhordo is a village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
• It is well-known for being the gateway to the Great Rann of Kutch.

UNWTO

• The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• It promotes responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
• It is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
• It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.
• It provides leadership and support in advancing knowledge and tourism policies.

STAR RATING FOR SOLAR PANELS

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) manages the ‘star rating’ scheme.
• It is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Power.
• Star rating energy efficiency scheme has been expanded for solar panels.
• A solar panel with efficiency of 17% to 18% will be rated 1-star, 18% to 20% 2-star and so on.
• Panels will be rated 5-star for efficiency greater than 22%.

INDIA’S FIRST

‘GREEN ENERGY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE’

• The iconic Shore Temple in Mamallapuram has become the country’s first green energy archaeological site.
• The monument will be lit up by solar power generated by three 10-kw solar plants.
• Basic facilities like drinking water is provided to the tourists through a solar-operated reverse osmosis (RO) plant.

About Mamallapuram

• Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a historiccityand UNESCO World Heritage site in Tamil Nadu, India. During the reign of the Pallava dynasty, between the 3rd century CE and 7th century CE, it became an important centre of art,architectureandliterature.
• During the Pallava dynasty, it had become an important center of architecture, art, and culture.
• It is a magnificent example of Dravidian culture and ancient civilizations of the Tamils.
• It is full of the treasures of sculpture and architecture.
• All 4 types of sculptures of India (Cave Temples, Carved Monoliths, Masonry temples, Sculptured scenes or Bas relief) are found here.

OPERATION CHAKRA-II

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched Operation Chakra-II to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes in India.
• It has partnered with Microsoft and Amazon as well as with national and international agencies to combat and dismantle infrastructure of illegal call centres.
• This operation was initiated after the registration of five separate cases of cyber-enabled financial fraud, including a ₹100-crore crypto scam.

CHINA – WORLD’S TOP GRAPHITE PRODUCER

• China said it will require export permits for some graphite products to protect national security.
• China is the world’s top graphite producer and exporter.
• It also refines more than 90% of the world’s graphite.
• It is used in virtually all EV battery anodes.
• It is the negatively charged portion of a battery.

About Graphite:

• Graphite is a mineral composed of stacked sheets of carbon atoms with a hexagonal crystal structure.
• It is the most stable form of pure carbon under standard conditions.
• It is very soft, has a low specific gravity.
• It is relatively non-reactive.
• It has high electrical and thermal conductivity.
• It occurs naturally in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• It can also be created synthetically by heating materials with high carbon content.