Option (a) is correct.

Explanation: 

• The entire Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor spanning the 1,337 km Ludhiana in Punjab and Sonnagar in Bihar is complete. Commercial operations on the full corridor are likely to start in November 2023.
• Dedicated Freight Corridor  is a high speed and high capacity railway corridor that is exclusively meant for the transportation of freight, or in other words, goods and commodities.
• DFC comprises two arms: Eastern DFC and Western DFC, designed to revolutionize freight transportation and ease congestion on the Indian Railway network.

Option (d) is correct

Explanation: 

• According to the paper “Tea Scenario 2023” of Indian Tea Association (ITA),  tea industry is passing through a phase of acute financial crisis with prices not keeping pace with the rising costs of production.
• Tea Cultivation is an example of plantation agriculture. It is also an important beverage crop introduced in India initially by the British.
• Climatic Conditions: 
  • The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. 
  • Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year. (Statement 1 is correct)
  • Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala,  Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura

Option (b) is correct

Explanation: 

• Recently, the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) from G20 nations adopted a roadmap for regulating crypto assets proposed by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at their meeting at Marrakesh in Morocco. 
• A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security.
  • For Example: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
• Statement 1 is not correct: It is a decentralised currency, meaning it is not controlled by any government or institution.
  • The decentralised system of cryptocurrency makes it faster and cheaper to transfer money. 
• Statement 2 is correct: Transactions with cryptocurrency are recorded on a public digital ledger called blockchain.
• By using Cryptocurrency it gets easy to transfer money without any involvement of banks and other financial institutions.

Option (c) is correct.

Explanation:

Higher oil prices can be mitigated in the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries if an agreement comes up with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

• The ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).
• The 10 member states of ASEAN are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,  and Vietnam.

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation:

Recently, the World Organisation for Animal Health approved self declaration of freedom from avian influenza in India in specific poultry compartments. 

• Statement 1 is not correct: Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild birds. The disease is caused by infection with avian influenza A viruses. Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces. 
  • Spread: Avian influenza viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide. They can also infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. 
  • Infects Humans: Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections to avian influenza viruses can lead to infection and disease in humans, ranging from mild, flu-like symptoms or eye inflammation. 
• Statement 2 is correct: India’s approach to controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza  (HPAI) follows a “detect and cull” policy as outlined in the National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza. 
  • This comprehensive response includes the humane destruction of infected and exposed animals, eggs, feed, litter, and other contaminated materials. 
  • Additional Measures: Involves restricting the movement of poultry and poultry products, disinfection and clean-up of infected premises, and a Post-Operative Surveillance Plan (POSP). 
  • Vaccination: Vaccination against HPAI is not permitted in India.