Ans: C

Exp:

• • Brazil’s Amazon rainforest experienced a significant 30.6% decrease in deforestation compared to the previous year.

• The Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, crucial for global climate regulation and biodiversity.

• It covers over 2 million square miles and spans across nine countries: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Option (c ) is correct.

• Carbon Sink: It absorbs massive amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change.

• Water Tower: The Amazon is a vital source of freshwater for South America, influencing global weather patterns.

• Biodiversity Hotspot: It is home to millions of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the region.

• Indigenous Communities: Numerous Indigenous communities rely on the Amazon for their livelihoods and cultural heritage.

Ans: D

Exp:

The central government, in 2023, imposed a ‘Net Borrowing Ceiling’ (NBC) on the State of Kerala to restrict the maximum possible borrowing that the State can make under the law. 

• Statement 1 is not correct: Chapter II of Part XII of the Constitution deals with the borrowing powers of the Centre and States. 
• Statement 2 is not correct: Article 292 speaks about the borrowing power of the central government which entitles the central government to borrow loans upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Statement 3 is not correct:  Article 293 empowers the State government to borrow within the territory of India upon the security of the consolidated fund of the State.
  • Article 293 of the Constitution is adopted from Section 163 of the Government of India Act, 1935. 
• In both cases, the extent of borrowing may be fixed from time to time by a law enacted by Parliament and the State legislature, respectively.

Ans: C

Exp:

ICAR-NRC Equine in Hisar Haryana, Earns Prestigious WOAH Reference Laboratory Status.

• Statement 2 is correct: Equine piroplasmosis, caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasites Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, affects horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras and poses a serious threat to the health of these animals, with significant economic impact. 
• Statement 1 is correct:It has a reported seroprevalence rate of 15-25% across India. In certain high-risk regions, this prevalence can reach up to 40%, resulting in severe economic losses due to decreased productivity, health deterioration, and restrictions on the movement and export of equines. 

Ans: D

Exp:

The 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 29) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.

• Azerbaijan is located at the junction of Eastern Europe and Western Asia along the southern flanks of the Caucasus Mountains. 
• It is situated both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
• Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia in the north, Georgia in the northwest, Armenia and Turkey in the west, and Iran in the south.
•  It is bounded in the east by the Caspian Sea.

Ans: D

Exp:

For the first time in 15 years, set a new global climate finance goal, known as the “New Collective Quantified Goal” or NCQG. 

• Statement 1 is correct:The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is a key element of the Paris Agreement, designed to set a new financial target to support developing countries in their climate actions post-2025.
• Statement 2 is correct: The NCQG seeks to fill persistent gaps in climate finance, building on the $100 billion target set in 2009 and aiming to provide a more realistic and ambitious financial framework.
• The NCQG aims to foster global partnerships and enhance trust and cooperation among nations, which is crucial for successfully implementing the Paris Agreement.