Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Brazil, Russia, India and China are the founding members. South Africa, the smallest member in terms of economic clout and population, was the first beneficiary of an expansion of the bloc in 2010 when the grouping became known as BRICS.

Statement 2 is incorrect: BRICS countries account for more than 40% of the world population and a quarter of the global economy. The six new countries – Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – are set to join BRICS in January 2024.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: China has more than 25% of the voting share, followed by India and Russia. Thus voting share is not equal among the founding members.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The specific proposal for AIIB was floated in October 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a Southeast Asian visit, focused on the infrastructure needs of Asia.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The bank’s priorities also include private capital mobilization and encouraging partnerships that stimulate private capital investment, such as those with other multilateral development banks, governments, and private financiers.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) leads global action to tackle money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing. The 39-member body sets international standards to ensure national authorities can effectively go after illicit funds linked to drug trafficking, the illicit arms trade, cyber fraud and other serious crimes.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India is not a founding member of FATF. India became a FATF member country in 2010. The FATF’s decision-making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year and holds countries to account if they do not comply with the Standards.

Statement 3 is incorrect: If a country is put on the blacklist of FATF, then there may be economic sanctions on it, but it is not impossible to get funds from International organisations.

Ans: C

Exp: 

Statement 1 is correct: The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Statement 2 is correct: All Arctic Council decisions and statements require consensus of the eight Arctic States. The Ottawa Declaration defines these states as Members of the Arctic Council. The eight States have territories within the Arctic and thus carry the role of stewards of the region. Their national jurisdictions and international law govern the lands surrounding the Arctic Ocean and its waters.

Statement 3 is correct: Thirteen (13) nations are observers in the Arctic Council which include France, Germany, the Italian Republic, Japan, The Netherlands, People’s Republic of China, Poland, India, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom. In 2014 and 2016, India’s first multi-sensor moored observatory in Kongsfjorden and the northernmost atmospheric laboratory in Gruvebadet, Ny Alesund, were launched in the Arctic region. Until 2022, India has successfully conducted thirteen expeditions to the Arctic.

Ans: A

Exp:

The document New India @75 vision has the following objectives for inclusive growth:

• To have a rapid growth, which reaches 9-10% by 2022-23, which is inclusive, clean, sustained and formalized. Hence, Option 1 is correct 
• To Leverage technology for inclusive, sustainable and participatory development by 2022-23.
• To have an inclusive development in the cities to ensure that urban poor and slum dwellers, including recent migrants, can avail of city services.
• To make schools more inclusive by addressing the barriers related to the physical environment (e.g. accessible toilets), admission procedures as well as curriculum design. Hence, Option 2 is correct 
• To make higher education more inclusive for the most vulnerable groups.
• To provide quality ambulatory services for an inclusive package of diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care, close to the people.
• To prepare an inclusive policy framework with citizens at the center.

National Security Strategy is not part of the inclusive growth under the New India @75 vision document of NITI Aayog. Hence, Option 3 is incorrect