Ans: C

Exp: 

The campus of Nalanda University was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

About Nalanda University:

• • Nalanda University is the most ancient university on the Indian Subcontinent.
  • Statement 1 is correct: It was founded by Kumar Gupta of the Gupta dynasty in Bihar in the early 5th century.
  • The university flourished for 600 years until the 12th century.
  • It was a center of learning, culture, and intellectual exchange.
  • Subjects such as medicine, Ayurveda, Buddhism, mathematics, grammar, astronomy, and Indian philosophy were taught there.
  • International Influence: Nalanda had students from far-flung regions such as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Hsuan Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim, visited India to study at the Buddhist university of Nalanda in Bihar and collect Buddhist texts.

• Decline and Rediscovery:

• • Statement 3 is correct: Nalanda University was destroyed in the 12th century AD, in 1193, by Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak’s general Bakhtiyar Khilji.
  • The university was rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and later identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.
• Modern Status:
  • Nalanda is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • A contemporary institute, Nalanda University, was established at Rajgir.
  • It has been listed as an “Institute of National Importance” by the government

Ans: C

Exp: 

The Union Cabinet gave its nod to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by 5.35% to ₹2,300 per quintal for the upcoming 2024-25 kharif marketing season, a decision that comes ahead of Assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi.

About Minimum Support Price (MSP):

• Statement 1 is correct: It is a price set by the government to ensure that farmers receive a guaranteed minimum price for their agricultural produce. 
  • The purpose of MSP is to provide price stability and income security to farmers, especially in times of market fluctuations or low prices.
• MSP is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity, etc.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs.

Statement 3 is correct: MSP declared twice a year for 23 commodities.

Ans: B

Exp:

India has been ranked 63rd on a global Energy Transition Index 2024 released by the World Economic Forum.

About World Economic Forum: 

• • Statement 1 is incorrect: It is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It is recognised by the Swiss authorities as an international institution for public-private cooperation.
  • Mandate: It is committed to improve the situation of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

• Few Major Published Reports:

• • Statement 2 is correct: Energy Transition Index, Global Competitiveness Report, Global Gender Gap Report, Global Risk Report, Global Travel and Tourism Report, and Global Risks Report.

Ans: A

Exp: 

The State of Global Air report 2024, published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), an independent U.S.-based research organisation, in partnership with UNICEF, indicates about half a million child deaths in 2021 linked to indoor air pollution.

State of Global Air report 2024: 

• Air Pollution is a significant silent threat, causing nearly 464 deaths of children under five in India and 2,000 young lives daily worldwide. It ranks as the second leading health hazard for children worldwide, surpassing poor sanitation and inadequate clean water.
• Over eight million deaths in 2021 were attributed to air pollution, affecting both children and adults.
• Statement-I is correct: Primary Culprit – PM2.5: Fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, known as PM2.5, are responsible for over 90% of air pollution-related deaths globally. 
• Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I: These particles infiltrate the bloodstream, impacting organs and contributing to diseases from lung and heart conditions to diabetes and dementia.

Ans: A

Exp: 

World Refugee Day is annually celebrated globally on June 20th.

About World Refugee Day:

• World Refugee Day is observed globally on June 20th of every year as a day to remember refugees who have been driven to flee from their own country. 
• Statement 1 is correct: The UN General Assembly took a global approach about the refugee crisis in 2000, designating June 20th as World Refugee Day. 
  • This day has become a powerful tool to raise awareness, build support, and celebrate the contributions of refugees everywhere.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: World Refugee Day is a critical platform to champion the rights established in the 1951 Refugee Convention.
• The theme of World Refugee Day 2024 is “For a World Where Refugees Are Welcomed”.