DNA

DEEP NEWS ANALYSIS

DNA-Current Affairs MCQ-48

30.07.2023

NEWS
HEADLINES

WHAT
UPSC ASKS

Historical
Background

Future
*Only for free circulation.

Strategy

Critical
Analysis
Challenges &
National Solutions
Interest
1. Consider the following Pairs

Rivers Country
1. Helmand River Pakistan
2. Aras River Turkey
3. Teesta River Bangladesh

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the above

2. With reference to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), consider

the following statements
1. It is a 7,200-kilometer Multi-Mode Transit System that connects Asia and Africa
2. It is a long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight.
3. The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and
Russia via ship, rail and road

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

3. Consider the following statements the Border Roads Organization

1. It was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
2. It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
3. The executive arm of the BRO, the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF)
 How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

4. Which of the following organizations releases the Global Multidimensional Poverty

Index (MPI) 2023?
(a) World Economic Forum (WEF)
(b) World Bank (WB)
(c) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(d) Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

5. Consider the following Pairs

Disputed Area Disputed Nations

1. Galwan Valley Nepal

2. Saltoro Ridge Pakistan
3. Kachchatheevu Island Bangladesh

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the above

6. Rohtang Pass, sometimes seen in the news, is mentioned in the context of the
affairs of which one of the following?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Assam
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Sikkim
7. Consider the following statements regarding the Global Biofuels Alliance
1. It aims to facilitate cooperation and intensify the use of sustainable biofuels,
including in the transportation sector.
2. It to be established by United Nations

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

8. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The East Asia Summit (EAS) was established in 2005 as an

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led initiative.

Statement-II: It aims to strive for joint cooperation between the members to confront
threats emanating from terrorism, extremism, and separatism

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct
explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the
correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

9. India is a member of which among the following?

1. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
2. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
3. Australian Group (AG)
4. Wassenaar Arrangement (WA)
 Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) None of the above

10. Who was Mangal Pandey, and what is he famously known for?
(a) A prominent freedom fighter during India's struggle for independence
(b) An influential leader in the Indian National Congress
(c) A soldier who played a significant role in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857
(d) A prominent leader of Indigo revolt 1856

11. Which city, known for its historical and cultural significance, is located on the banks
of the Gomti River?
(a) Varanasi
(b) Lucknow
(c) Allahabad
(d) Gaekwads

12. Which one of the following has been constituted under the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974?
(a) Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB)
(b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
(c) National Green Tribunal (NGT)
(d) National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

13. Which of the following organizations releases the Women's Empowerment Index
(WEI)?
(a) World Economic Forum (WEF)
(b) World Bank (WB)
(c) Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
(d) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
14. Consider the following statements the Sundarbans
1. It is a vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of
Bengal spread over India, Myanmar and Bangladesh
2. It is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers
3. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
4. The vegetation of the area is moist tropical forests and tidal forests.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Statement 1 is CORRECT and Statement 2 is INCORRECT

(b) Statement 2 is CORRECT and Statement 1 is INCORRECT
(c) Statement 1 is CORRECT and Statement 3 is INCORRECT
(d) Statement 2 is CORRECT and Statement 4 is INCORRECT

15. “Tankai Method” heard in the news, related to

(a) Stitched shipbuilding Method
(b) Metal Work in ancient India
(c) Wood craft method of Rajput dynasty
(d) Clay modelling method of Sonpur region

16. Where is the Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary located in India?

(a) Assam
(b) Sikkim
(c) Bihar
(d) Odisha

17. With reference to Multilateral Development Banks, consider the following statements
1. It is an international financial institution consisting of member nations from
developing countries only.
2. It loans and grants to member nations to fund projects that support their social
and economic development.
3. They work with governments and the private sector to create the conditions for
investment and transformation.
 How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

18. Consider the following statements about the International Energy Agency (IEA)
1. It is an autonomous Intergovernmental Organisation established in 1974 in Paris,
France.
2. It established in the wake of the oil crisis of 1973-1974, to help its members
respond to major disruptions in oil supply.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

19. “Shanan Hydro Power Project” sometimes mentioned in the news, related to
(a) Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
(b) Haryana and Uttarakhand
(c) Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
(d) Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh

20. “Global Stocktake” sometimes mentioned in the news is associated with which of the
following?
(a) Minamata Convention
(b) Paris Agreement
(c) Montreal Protocol
(d) Basel Convention
21. “Operation Kavach” sometimes mentioned in the news, related to
(a) It is a commonly used metric to measure computational performance
(b) It is primarily intended to save the youth from the menace of drugs.
(c) It was an Indian military operation to take the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir.
(d) It is an evacuation mission to bring back all the Indian nationals who are currently
stranded in Ukraine.

22. Which of the following countries does not share a border with Cambodia?
(a) Vietnam
(b) Thailand
(c) Laos
(d) Malaysia

23. With reference to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), consider the following
statements
1. It was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against
climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions
2. The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in
Gurugram.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

24. Consider the following statements the Bal Gangadhar Tilak

1. In 1926, He founded the Independent Labour Party.
2. Tilak founded the All-India Home Rule League in April 1916
3. He was the founder of the Deccan Education Society in 1884,
 How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

25. “Abaucin” sometimes mentioned in the news, related to

(a) It is a synthetically produced alternative fuel
(b) It is a newly identified antibiotic
(c) It is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders
(d) It is an informal bloc of industrialized democracies
Answers
1. Answer :(b)
Helmand River
• The Helmand is Afghanistan’s longest river.
• Origin: It originates near Kabul in the western Hindu Kush mountain range and
flows in a southwesterly direction through desert areas before emptying into Lake
Hamun, which straddles the Afghanistan-Iran border.
• It is a vital source of water for the region, supporting agriculture, livelihoods and
ecosystems in the region

Teesta River
• Teesta river is a major right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as
Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh.
• It originates in the Himalayas near the Tso Lhamo Lake, in Sikkim and flows to
the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
• River basin Distribution: The major portion of the river basin lies in India and
only 17% of it is in Bangladesh.
• The river joins the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh before it flows into the Bay of
Bengal after meeting with the Ganges and the Meghna.

Aras River
• It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and
Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between
Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, finally, through Azerbaijan where it
flows into the Kura river.

Source: https://theprint.in/diplomacy/iran-vs-afghanistan-why-helmand-water-
sharing-dispute-is-boiling-over-decades-after-treaty/1600694/
2. Answer :(b)
Statement 1 is INCORRECT

• It is a 7,200-kilometer Multi-Mode Transit System that connects ship, rail, and

road routes for moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central
Asia, and Europe.

Statements 2 and 3 are CORRECT

• It is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving
freight.
• Regions involved: India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and
Europe.
• From St Petersburg, North Europe is within easy reach via the Russian
Federation. The estimated capacity of the corridor is 20-30 million tonnes of
goods per year.
• The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and
Russia via ship, rail and road.
 Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1892221

3. Answer :(c)
All statements are CORRECT

• It was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for

coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and
the North Eastern border regions of the country.
• It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
• BRO is regarded as a symbol of nation-building, national integration and an
inseparable component in maintaining the security and integrity of the country.
• The executive arm of the BRO, the General Reserve Engineer Force
(GREF), is a combined force consisting of members of the Army and GREF.
• It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works
comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has
endeared itself to the people.

Source: https://bro.gov.in/

4. Answer :(c)
• Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023 has been released by the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty
and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
• The MPI measures “interlinked deprivations in health, education and
standard of living that directly affect a person’s life and wellbeing”.
• Global Outlook:
o Globally, 1.1 billion people (18% of the total population) out of 6.1 billion
people are acutely multidimensionally poor and live in acute
multidimensional poverty across 110 countries.
o Sub-Saharan Africa has 534 million poor and South Asia has 389 million.
o These two regions are home to approximately five out of every six poor
people.
o Children under 18 year old account for half of MPI-poor people (566 million).
 o The poverty rate among children is 27.7%, while among adults it is 13.4 %.
• Outlook for India
o Poverty in India: India still has more than 230 million people who are poor.
o The UNDP defines, “Vulnerability — the share of people who are not poor but
have deprivations in 20 - 33.3% of all weighted indicators — can be much
higher.
o India has some 18.7% population under this category.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/video/multidimensional-
poverty-index-2023-where-does-india-stand/article67132983.ece

5. Answer :(a)
• Saltoro Ridge: The Saltoro Mountains mountain range is a subrange of the
Karakoram Heights or of Saltoro Ridge.
o They are located in the heart of the Karakoram, on the southwest side of the
Siachen Glacier.
o They are claimed as part of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory by India
and as part of Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan.
o In 1984, India assumed military control of the main peaks and passes of the
range, with Pakistani forces into the glacial valleys just to the west

Galwan Valley

• The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff in Pangong Tso,
Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.
• A sizable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian
side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso.
• The actions on the northern bank of Pangong Tso are not just for territorial gains
on land, but enhanced domination of the resource-rich lake.
• The stand-off at Ladakh’s Galwan Valley has escalated in recent weeks due to
the infrastructure projects that India has undertaken in the recent years. India is
building a strategic road through the Galwan Valley - close to China - connecting
the region to an airstrip.
Kachchatheevu Island
• It is an uninhabited off-shore island in the Palk Strait originally owned by a king of
Ramnad (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu).
• The island is used by fishermen to dry their nets. During the British rule, it was
administered jointly by India and Sri Lanka.
• In the early 20th century, Sri Lanka claimed territorial ownership over the
islet, so in 1974 India ceded the island to Sri Lanka, through a joint
agreement.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/tamil-national-alliance-rejects-sri-
lankan-presidents-offer-of-13th-amendment-minus-police-
powers/article67095098.ece#:~:text=The%20Tamil%20National%20Alliance%20(TNA,d
evolution%20%E2%80%9Canother%20hollow%20promise%E2%80%9D.
6. Answer :(c)
Rohtang Pass: Kullu-Lahul-Spiti
• This is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It has excellent road transportation.
• This pass connects Kullu, Spiti and Lahul.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-ultra-runner-highlights-deteriorating-
conditions-at-rohtang-pass-4168155

7. Answer :(a)
Statement 1 is CORRECT
• To facilitate cooperation and intensify the use of sustainable biofuels, including in
the transportation sector.
• The alliance will place emphasis on strengthening markets, facilitating global
biofuels trade, development of concrete policy lesson-sharing and provision of
technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide.
• It will also emphasize the already implemented best practices and success
cases.
Statement 2 is INCORRECT
• India, Brazil and the US as leading biofuel producers and consumers will work
towards establishing Global Biofuels Alliance.(Not United Nations)

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1940523
8. Answer :(c)

Statement-I is CORRECT but Statement-II is INCORRECT

• The EAS was established in 2005 as an Association of Southeast Asian Nations
led initiative.
• The EAS is the only leader-led forum in the Indo-Pacific that brings together all
key partners to discuss political, security and economic issues of strategic
importance.
• The EAS operates on the principles of openness, inclusiveness, respect for
international law, ASEAN centrality, and ASEAN’s role as the driving force.
• The idea of an East Asia Grouping was first proposed by then Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1991.
• The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005.
• The EAS has six priority areas of cooperation: environment and energy;
education; finance; global health issues and pandemic diseases; natural
disaster management; and ASEAN connectivity.(Not Security)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jaishankar-meets-top-chinese-
diplomat-wang-yi-discusses-issues-on-peace-tranquillity-in-border-
areas/article67080519.ece

9. Answer :(c)
• India is now a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime, the
Wassenaar Arrangement and now the Australia Group, three of four non-
proliferation regimes. The only one remaining is the Nuclear Suppliers Group,
which is stonewalled due Chinese objections.
• India is not a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/boost-for-nsg-
membership-india-joins-australia-
group/articleshow/62568821.cms?from=mdr
10. Answer :(c)
• Mangal Pandey, born on July 19, 1827, in Nagwa village, Uttar Pradesh, played
a pivotal role in the First Indian War of Independence.
• On March 29, 1857, at the Barrackpore military cantonment near Calcutta, he
defiantly rebelled against British officers by refusing to use the controversial
Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat.
• This courageous act served as a catalyst, inspiring countless others to rise
against British colonial rule, ultimately leading to the widespread Indian
Rebellion of 1857.
• His arrest and subsequent execution on April 8, 1857, by British authorities
only further fueled public outrage and united various communities in
opposition to British rule.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mangal-pandey-birth-
anniversary-10-achievements-of-the-brave-indian-
revolutionary/articleshow/101936403.cms?from=mdr

11. Answer :(b)

• The Gomti River, a significant tributary of the Ganga River, has become the
center of a contentious issue surrounding its perennial status and
protection.
• The Irrigation department of the Uttar Pradesh government in September 2020
declared the Gomti as a "non-perennial river," drawing criticism from water
experts and river rights activists.
• The river's dire need for protection is further highlighted by a report from the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ranking the Gomti as the fifth most
polluted river in the country as of 2022.
• Lucknow, city, capital of Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It is located roughly
in the centre of the state, on the Gomati River about 45 miles (72 km)

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/urbanisation/dte-exclusive-2020-
order-on-floodplain-zoning-declaring-gomti-non-perennial-river-draws-flak-90655
12. Answer :(a)
The Central Pollution Control Board
• CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974
under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry
of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986.
• Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981
o To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the
States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution
o To improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in
the country.

Source: https://cpcb.nic.in/

13. Answer :(d)

Women's Empowerment Index (WEI)

• The WEI is a composite index developed by UN Women and UNDP.

 • It measures women's empowerment across five dimensions: life and good
health, education, skill-building and knowledge, labor and financial inclusion,
participation in decision-making, and freedom from violence.
• The WEI captures women's power and freedom to make choices and seize life
opportunities

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/only-1-women-live-in-countries-
with-high-gender-parity-female-empowerment-un-report-90685

14. Answer :(b)

Statement 1 is INCORRECT
• It is a vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of
Bengal spread over India and Bangladesh on the delta (world’s largest) of the
Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.
• It contains the world’s largest mangrove forests
Statements 2, 3 and 4 are CORRECT
• The Sundarbans is located on the delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna
rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
• This Biosphere Reserve includes Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Sundarban National
Park (core area), Halliday Island and Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuaries with
Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary forming its buffer area.
• It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Flora: The vegetation of the area is moist tropical forests and tidal forests.
• Fauna: It is home to Royal Bengal Tiger, Estuarine Crocodile, Gangetic Dolphin,
Water Monitor Lizard etc.
• The Sunderbans Delta is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by
tigers
 Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/barges-carrying-fly-ash-
from-india-to-bangladesh-eroding-sundarbans-bengal-minister-90742

15. Answer :(a)

• The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy sign a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to revive the “ancient, stitched shipbuilding method
(Tankai method).
• The Indian Navy will oversee the implementation and execution of the entire
project.
• The 'stitched shipbuilding method' is a traditional boat building technique that
involves sewing the planks of a boat together with cord or wire instead of using
nails or screws.
• This method is still used in some parts of the world for building small boats.
• It is a 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding known as the ‘stitched
shipbuilding method’.
• The stitched ship holds significant cultural value in India, given its
historical importance and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1940808

16. Answer :(a)

• Recently, violence erupted in Assam's Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary,
resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to six others, including forest
guards.
• Important Facts about the Wildlife Sanctuary include: About: It is a part of the
Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosystem.
o Location: South bank of the Brahmaputra River.
o Fauna: This sanctuary is home to the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros,
tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, wild pig, and elephants.
o The bird list includes the Bengal Florican (highly endangered), Black-necked
Stork, Mallard, Open billed Stork, Teal, and Whistling Duck among others.
 o Due to several wetlands it is an ideal breeding place for several species of
migratory birds during the winter season.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-assam-eviction-flare-up-leaves-
mother-of-2-dead-what-was-the-need-to-shoot-8847244/

17. Answer :(b)

Statement 1 is INCORRECT
• An MDB is an international financial institution consisting of member nations from
developed and developing countries.

Statements 2 and 3 are CORRECT

• MDBs provide loans and grants to member (especially poor/ developing) nations
to fund projects that support their social and economic development.
• The role played by MDGs:
o MDBs have a key role to support the needed reforms and resources.
o They work with governments and the private sector to create the conditions
for investment and transformation.
o They are the most effective institutions to provide low-cost, long-maturity
financing, to mitigate and share risks (in the most efficient way) faced by
private investors

Source: https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/The_Triple_Agenda_G20-
IEG_Report_Volume1_2023.pdf

18. Answer :(c)

Both statements are CORRECT
• It is an autonomous Intergovernmental Organisation established in 1974 in Paris,
France.
• It mainly focuses on its energy policies which include economic development,
energy security and environmental protection.
• These policies are also known as the 3 E’s of IEA. IEA Clean Coal Centre is
dedicated to providing independent information and analysis on how coal can
 become a cleaner source of energy, compatible with the UN Sustainable
Development Goals.
• Established in the wake of the oil crisis of 1973-1974, to help its members
respond to major disruptions in oil supply.

Source: https://www.iea.org/

19. Answer :(a)

• Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are set for a face-off as the 99-year lease on the
Shanan hydropower project situated at Jogindernagar in Mandi district of
Himachal Pradesh.
• Shanan Power Project
o The 110 MW Shanan power project was envisaged by Col. Battye, the then
Chief Engineer of the Government of Punjab, in 1922.
o It was given to Punjab on a 99-year lease by the then ruler of Mandi, Raja
Joginder Singh Bahadur, which would end on March 2, 2024.
o The Shanan project was allocated to the State of Punjab in accordance with
the provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.
o Under the Act, the Shanan project was allocated to Punjab State by the
Ministry of Irrigation and Power, Government of India.
o Himachal Pradesh’s Stand: Himachal Pradesh wants the project handed over
to the State expiry of the lease period.
o Punjab’s Stand: The Punjab Government is prepared to take legal recourse to
retain it saying that the project is in continuous ownership and possession of
the Punjab Government

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/himachal-
pradesh-and-punjab-appear-set-for-a-face-off-over-the-shanan-power-
project/article66915481.ece
20. Answer :(b)
Global Stocktake
• Mandated by the 2015 Paris Agreement, the global Stocktake (GST) is an
exercise, which assesses progress in fighting climate change and bridges the
adequacy gap.
o It aims to increase global response in greenhouse gas emissions
reduction, adaptation, finance, and technology availability.
• Current Stocktake and Course Correction
o The ongoing Stocktake is the first exercise under the Paris Agreement, meant
to happen every five years. Scientific evidence shows that current actions are
inadequate to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
o The world needs to cut emissions by almost half by 2030 from the 2019 levels
to achieve the target, but current levels lead to a 3-degree Celsius rise by
2100.

Source: https://unfccc.int/topics/global-stocktake

21. Answer :(b)

• Operation Kavach is primarily intended to save the youth from the menace of
drugs.
• Although the focus is to take stringent action on the supply side, it is also
appealed to society to create awareness and reduce the demand of drugs

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/operation-kavach-delhi-
police-illicit-drugs-in-delhi-101684145968008.html

22. Answer :(d)

• Cambodia is a country located in the southeastern part of the Indochina
Peninsula in Southeast Asia, it shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Laos
in the northeast, Thailand in the west and northwest, and has a coastline at
the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest.
 Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/cambodia-
elections-2023-explainer-
8855597/#:~:text=Polls%20opened%20in%20a%20one,the%20world'
s%20longest%2Dserving%20premiers.

23. Answer :(c)

Both statements are CORRECT
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an action-oriented, member-driven,
collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.
• Its basic motive is to facilitate energy access, ensure energy security, and drive
energy transition in its member countries.
• The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts
against climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions.
• Headquarters: The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set
up in Gurugram.

Source: https://isolaralliance.org/
24. Answer :(b)
Statement 1 is INCORRECT
• In 1936, Babasaheb Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party.

Statements 2 and 3 are CORRECT

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, born on 23rd July 1856, was a freedom fighter, lawyer, and
educationist known as Lokmanya Tilak.
• Founder of the Deccan Education Society in 1884, he also established the
Fergusson College in 1885.
• Tilak emphasized the need for self-rule or swarajya and popularized the slogan
"Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!" Tilak joined the Indian National
Congress in 1890 and played a significant role in the Surat Split in 1907,
advocating complete independence or swarajya.
• He propagated the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement to promote Indian self-
reliance.
• Tilak founded the All-India Home Rule League in April 1916, aiming for Hindu-
Muslim unity through the Lucknow Pact in 1916.
Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/this-quote-
means-tilak-swaraj-is-my-birthright-8856330/

25. Answer :(b)

• Abaucin is a newly identified antibiotic that has shown potential in
combating highly resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.
• It is a “species-selective”, it only disrupts the growth of A. baumannii, not any
other Gram negative bacteria.
• It is known to compromise the normal function of a protein called CCR2
• What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
o Antimicrobial resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms, such as
bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, to withstand the effects of
antimicrobial drugs, rendering them ineffective in treating infections.
Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-07-2023-vaccines-could-avert-half-a-
million-deaths-associated-with-anti-microbial-resistance-a-year