Ans: D

Exp: 

INS Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, participated in the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr with the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al Seeb off Goa from 13 to 18 October 24. 

Exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr:

• • Statement 1 is not correct: Participants: India and Oman
    • Statement 2 is not correct: Indian Navy: INS Trikand, Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft
    • Royal Navy of Oman (RNO): RNOV Al Seeb
• First Exercise: Naseem-Al-Bahr initiated in 1993.
• Significance: Symbolises long-term strategic relations between India and Oman.
• Oman’s Unique Role: First Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to conduct bilateral military exercises with India.
• Statement 3 is not correct: In 2024 Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr with the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al Seeb was conducted off Goa from 13 to 18 October 24. 

Ans: B

Exp: 

• Statement 1 is correct: The Baobab trees belong to the genus Adansonia, which includes eight different species.
• Statement 2 is not correct: DNA studies suggest that the Baobab trees first originated in Madagascar around 21 million years ago, and their seeds spread to Australia and Africa via ocean currents.
• Statement 3 is correct: Baobab trees are known for their great heights (up to 50 meters) and long lifespans (up to 2,000 years).

Ans: B

Exp:

A week after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s decision to assign additional charge of Managing Director, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), to an Agriculture Ministry official, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) entrusted charge of the post to an official of the Ministry of Cooperation.

About National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)

• NAFED is an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
• Statement 2 is correct: It was founded on 2 October 1958 to promote the trade of agricultural produce and forest resources across the nation.
• Statement 1 and 3 is not correct: It is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).

Ans: C

Exp:

The regional assembly of Portugal’s Azores Islands approved the creation of the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals well ahead of time.

About Azores Islands:

• Statement 1 is not correct: Location: Group of nine islands in the North Atlantic region.
• Statement 2 is correct: Volcanic origin
  • Island group lies above the Azores Triple Junction: A junction where three of the world’s main tectonic plates (Eurasian, North American, and African) meet.
• Statement 3 is correct: Mountain: Mount Pico, Located on Pico Island, is the highest point on the archipelago

Ans: A

Exp:

The 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is set to begin in Cali, Colombia from 21st Oct 2024.

About Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

• Statement 1 is correct: The CBD was made available for signature on June 5, 1992, during the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit and officially came into force on December 29, 1993.
• Ratification: The CBD has been ratified by 196 countries. Notably, the United States is the only UN member state that has not ratified it.
• Statement 2 is correct: CBD is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity.
• Coverage: The CBD covers all habitats, species, and genetic resources, addressing biodiversity at various levels, including ecosystems. It also extends its scope to biotechnology-related issues.
• Statement 3 is not correct: COP16 to be held in the Colombian city of Cali from October 21-November 1, 2024.