Ans B

Exp: 

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers for fixing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for RABI Season 2024 on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers.

Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Regime

• Under the NBS regime – fertilisers are provided to the farmers at the subsidised rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilisers.
• Statement 3 is Incorrect: Also, the fertilisers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.
• Statement 1 is Incorrect: NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilisers so that optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1) of NPK fertilisation is achieved.
• Statement 2 is correct: It is being implemented from April 2010 by the Department of Fertilisers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.

Ans. A

Exp: 

Recently, the Supreme Court has dismissed curative petitions filed by telecom companies (including Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices) against a 2019 ruling of the Court regarding payment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues.

About Curative Petition: 

• • A curative petition is a legal recourse available after the dismissal of a review plea against a final conviction.
  • Constitutionally, a final ruling of the Supreme Court can typically be challenged only through a review petition, and even then, only on narrow procedural grounds. However, the curative petition serves as a sparingly used judicial innovation to rectify a grave miscarriage of justice.
  • It aims to prevent miscarriage of justice and deter abuse of the legal process.
  • These are typically decided by judges in chambers, though open-court hearings may be granted upon specific request.

• Its legal basis or governing principles were established by the Supreme Court in the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs Ashok Hurra & another Case, 2002.

Ans. D

Exp:

As Manipur’s Tamenglong district gears up to welcome its winged guests, Amur falcon (Falco Amurensis), the district administration recently imposed a ban on hunting, catching, killing and selling of the bird, locally known as ‘Kahuaipuina’, with immediate effect.

About Amur falcon: 

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Amur falcon is listed as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The Amur falcon is also protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and is listed in Schedule IV of the law. 
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Doyang Lake in Nagaland is better known as a stopover for the Amur falcons during their annual migration from their breeding grounds to warmer South Africa. Thus, Nagaland is also known as the Falcon Capital of the World.

Ans. C

Exp: 

In a major push to transform India’s dairy cooperative sector, the Union Minister Amit Shah recently unveiled ‘White Revolution 2.0’, a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering women farmers and creating job opportunities.

About ‘White Revolution 2.0’:

• • The programme focuses on four key areas – empowering women farmers, enhancing local milk production, strengthening dairy infrastructure, and boosting dairy exports. 
  • Statement 1 is correct: Under White Revolution 2.0, the government aims to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperative societies by 50 per cent over the next five years.
  • Statement 2 is correct: The plan involves setting up and strengthening 100,000 new and existing district cooperative societies, multi-purpose district cooperative societies, and multi-purpose PACS, which will be linked to milk routes with necessary infrastructure.

• Initially, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will fund the initiative from its own resources, providing Rs 40,000 per M-PACS to 1,000 M-PACS.

Ans: D

Exp: 

Some facts about the Red Sea:

• Six countries bordering the Red Sea are: Saudi Arabia, Yemen , Egypt , Sudan , Eritrea ,  Djibouti 
• Islands:  Dahlak Archipelago, the Farasan Islands, and Zubair Archipelago.
• Key ports of the Red Sea: Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Port Sudan (Sudan), Djibouti Port (Djibouti), Aqaba Port (Jordan).
• Bab el Mandeb Strait:  Located at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, connecting it to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
• Strait of Tiran: Situated at the northern end of the Red Sea, separating the Sinai Peninsula from the Saudi Arabian coastline and providing access to the Gulf of Aqaba.