Current News and Affairs

Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Chhau dance” option2=”Durga puja” option3=”Garba dance” option4=”Kumbh mela” correct=”option3″]

The correct option is C.

Garba dance of Gujarat was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2023, making it the latest inclusion among the given options at that time.

Other options and their inscription years are: Chhau dance (2010), Durga puja in Kolkata (2021), and Kumbh Mela (2017). As of December 2023, India has 15 elements inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO :

• 1. Shantiniketan
• 2. Rani-ki-Vav
• 3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
• 4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one” option2=”Only two” option3=”Only three” option4=”All four” correct=”option2″]

The correct option is B, as only two properties from the list were included in 2023.

In 2023, India successfully inscribed two properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List: Shantiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (including temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somanathapura). Rani-ki-Vav in Patan, Gujarat, was inscribed in 2014. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya, Bihar, was inscribed in 2002.

As of 2023, India has a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, consisting of 34 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and 1 mixed site. Shantiniketan became the 41st site and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas became the 42nd site.

Consider the following pairs :

	Country	Reason for being in the news
1.	Argentina	Worst economic crisis
2.	Sudan	War between the country’s regular army and paramilitary forces
3.	Turkey	Rescinded its membership of NATO

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Only one pair” option2=”Only two pairs” option3=”All three pairs” option4=”None of the pairs” correct=”option2″]

The correct option is B, as only two of the given pairs are correctly matched.

The pair “Argentina – Worst economic crisis” is correctly matched, as Argentina has been experiencing severe economic challenges including high inflation and debt issues. The pair “Sudan – War between the country’s regular army and paramilitary forces” is correctly matched, as significant conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in 2023. The pair “Turkey – Rescinded its membership of NATO” is incorrectly matched, as Turkey remains a member of NATO.

Argentina’s economic crisis is characterized by hyperinflation, high poverty rates, and sovereign debt issues. The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 and has caused a major humanitarian crisis. Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and is a strategically important member of the alliance.

Who of the following is the author of the books “The India Way” and “Why Bharat Matters” ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bhupender Yadav” option2=”Nalin Mehta” option3=”Shashi Tharoor” option4=”Subrahmanyam Jaishankar” correct=”option4″]

Both books, “The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World” (2020) and “Why Bharat Matters” (2024), are authored by Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s current Minister of External Affairs.

Dr. S. Jaishankar is a prominent author on foreign policy and India’s global positioning.

Dr. Jaishankar is a career diplomat turned politician. His writings offer insights into India’s foreign policy perspectives, geopolitical strategies, and civilizational identity, drawing from his extensive experience in diplomacy and government.

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II : Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I” option2=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I” option3=”Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect” option4=”Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct” correct=”option4″]

Statement-I is incorrect because Venezuela is still grappling with a severe economic crisis that has led to widespread emigration. Statement-II is correct as Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Statement-I inaccurately portrays Venezuela’s economic situation and migration trends, while Statement-II correctly identifies its status regarding oil reserves.

Venezuela’s economy has suffered significantly from hyperinflation, shortages of goods, and political instability, resulting in millions of Venezuelans leaving the country in recent years. While oil reserves are vast, mismanagement and international sanctions have impacted oil production and export, contributing to the economic woes rather than preventing them.

Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.
Statement-II : The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I” option2=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I” option3=”Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect” option4=”Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct” correct=”option3″]

Statement-I is correct: The European Parliament recently approved the Net-Zero Industry Act. This act is a key part of the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan. Statement-II is incorrect: The European Union’s target year for achieving carbon neutrality is **2050**, not 2040. While the Net-Zero Industry Act aims to strengthen the EU’s domestic manufacturing capacity for clean technologies, the goal is tied to meeting the 2050 climate target, not necessarily developing *all* technology domestically by 2040.

– The Net-Zero Industry Act was proposed by the EU Commission and approved through the EU legislative process.
– The Act aims to boost the manufacturing of strategic net-zero technologies within the EU.
– The primary EU target for climate neutrality (net-zero emissions) is set for 2050.

The Net-Zero Industry Act is intended to make the EU’s economy more resilient and competitive in the transition to clean energy, reducing reliance on imports for crucial technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. The 2050 climate neutrality target is enshrined in the European Climate Law.

Consider the following statements :

• Statement-I : India does not import apples from the United States of America.
• Statement-II : In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority.

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

[amp_mcq option1=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I” option2=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I” option3=”Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect” option4=”Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct” correct=”option4″]

Statement-I claims India does not import apples from the United States of America. This is incorrect. India has historically been a market for US apples, although trade volumes and tariffs have fluctuated due to policy changes and trade disputes. Statement-II states that in India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. This is correct. India has regulations under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and rules thereunder that govern the import of genetically modified organisms and products, requiring approval from bodies like the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

– India is a significant importer of various agricultural products, including fruits.
– US apples are among the fruits imported into India, albeit subject to trade dynamics.
– India has a regulatory framework in place for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products.
– Import of GM food requires specific regulatory approval in India.

Trade relations between India and the USA involving agricultural products like apples have been subject to discussions and tariff adjustments. Regarding GM food imports, India maintains a cautious approach, and rigorous risk assessment and approval processes are mandated by law before any GM food item can be imported.

Consider the following statements :

• Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
• Statement-II : There have been military takeovers/coups d’état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.

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

[amp_mcq option1=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I” option2=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I” option3=”Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect” option4=”Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct” correct=”option1″]

Statement-I claims there is instability and a worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This is correct; the region faces severe challenges from terrorism, inter-communal violence, organized crime, and the impacts of climate change. Statement-II states that there have been military takeovers/coups d’état in several Sahel countries recently. This is also correct; countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad have experienced coups or attempted coups in the past few years. The military takeovers have often exacerbated existing instability and security problems by disrupting governance, weakening state institutions, and sometimes fueling further conflict. Therefore, Statement-II provides a significant explanation for the situation described in Statement-I.

– The Sahel region is a vast area south of the Sahara Desert facing multiple crises, including security.
– Recent years have seen a rise in successful military coups in several Sahelian nations.
– Military takeovers often destabilize political systems and can worsen security environments by creating power vacuums or diverting resources.

The instability in the Sahel is a complex issue driven by various factors, including poverty, weak governance, ethnic tensions, environmental degradation, and the spread of extremist groups. The recent wave of coups has been a major blow to democratic transitions in the region and has further complicated international efforts to address the security crisis.

Which one of the following is the correct description of “100 Million Farmers”?

[amp_mcq option1=”It is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aims to increase farmer resilience.” option2=”It is an international alliance and a network of individuals and farming organisations interested in supporting and strengthening the development of the organic animal husbandry.” option3=”It is a digital platform fully integrated with service providers and built on blockchain that lets buyers, sellers and third parties trade fertilizers quickly and securely.” option4=”It is a platform with the mission of encouraging the farmers to form Farmer Product Organisations or Agribusiness Consortiums, thus facilitating the access to global open markets to sell their products.” correct=”option1″]

The “100 Million Farmers” initiative is a global program, notably supported by organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF). It aims to support farmers, particularly smallholders, in adopting sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices. The core goals include improving farmer livelihoods, enhancing food security, and making food systems more sustainable and resilient to climate change. Option A accurately captures the broad objectives of such an initiative: transitioning towards environmentally sustainable practices (net-zero carbon, nature-positive) and building resilience among farmers. Options B, C, and D describe more specific or limited initiatives related to agriculture (organic animal husbandry, fertilizer trading platform, FPO promotion) that do not fully encompass the scope and ambition of a large-scale program like “100 Million Farmers”.

– “100 Million Farmers” is a major global initiative related to sustainable agriculture.
– Its focus is on environmental sustainability (net-zero, nature-positive) and farmer resilience.

Initiatives like “100 Million Farmers” often involve multi-stakeholder collaborations, bringing together governments, businesses, NGOs, and farmers themselves, to drive large-scale transformation in agricultural practices and value chains. They typically focus on a range of interventions including capacity building, access to technology, finance, and markets for sustainably produced goods.