The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to contest Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly polls under the party symbol and the name ‘NCP-SP.

A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant further asked the Election Commission not to allot the symbol to any other party or independent candidate.

The court permitted the breakaway Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister to continue using the other symbol, which was the original party symbol of the undivided NCP, for the present.

The Deputy CM’s group has been directed to issue a public notice in the newspapers in English, Marathi, Hindi editions declaring that the issue regarding allocation of the symbol was sub judice in the Supreme Court, and his group was allowed to use the symbol “subject to the final outcome of the proceedings” in court.

Source – https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/sc-allows-sharad-pawar-s-

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Passage 2

In a damning open letter to literature and human rights group PEN America, several eminent writers have announced their decision to boycott this year’s PEN World Voices Festival citing the group’s failure to adequately address the war in Gaza.
Naomi Klein, Michelle Alexander, Hisham Matar, Isabella Hammad, Maaza Mengiste, Zaina Arafat and Susan Muaddi Darraj are among the signatories of the letter that also urges other writers to reconsider their decision to participate in the event.
“In the context of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, we believe that PEN America has betrayed the organisation’s professed commitment to peace and equality for all, and to freedom and security for writers everywhere,” the letter reads.
The letter also calls out PEN America’s reluctance to join other human rights organisations in demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Source- https://thewire.in/world/several-eminent-

20th MAR 2024

First Name

Passage 1

1. The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Sharad Pawar faction to contest Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly polls under the which party symbol?

A. Trumpet

B. Hammer and Flag

C. Leaves and Ribbon

D. Clock

2. The court permitted the breakaway Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister to continue using which of this symbol, which was the original party symbol of the undivided NCP?

A. Trumpet

B. Hammer and Flag

C. Leaves and Ribbon

D. Clock

3.The deputy CM mentioned in the passage is?

A. Sharad Pawar

B. Hemant Pawar

C. Ajit Pawar

D. Sanjay Raut

4. The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers which of this to recognise political parties and allot symbols?

A. Supreme Court

B. Election Commission

C. National Electoral Board

D. High Court

5. Which of this is incorrect?

A. Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968: Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, EC can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.

B. The EC is the only authority to decide issues on a dispute or a merger under the order. The Supreme Court (SC) upheld its validity in Sadiq Ali and another vs. ECI in 1971.

C. This applies to disputes in recognised national parties only.

D. Before 1968, the EC issued notifications and executive orders under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

Passage 2

6.Since which year does the PEN America Literary Awards have honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature?

A. 1957

B. 1963

C. 1969

D. 1972

7. Which of this is incorrect about the PEN Awards?

A. PEN America Literary Awards honor the most outstanding voices in literature across diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, science writing, essays, sports writing, biography, children’s literature, and drama.

B. With the help of their partners, PEN America confers over 12 distinct awards.

C. It also gives fellowships, and grants each year, awarding over $370,000 to writers and translators annually.

D. None

8. . Last year, On March 2, 2023, Chhattisgarh's senior writer and eminent contemporary Hindi litterateur ______ was awarded the prestigious PEN Award for 2023 for achievement in international literature.

A. Vinod Kumar Shukla

B. Hari Krishna Gour

C. Krishna Sobti

D. Nirmal Verma

9. The award is given at The Town Hall at?

A. Washington

B. Los Angles

C. New York

D. Miami

10. The festival is touted as one of the world’s most high profile literary events and has been organised annually since the year?

A. 2001

B. 2003