Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

• In the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, a loss and damage fund to help vulnerable countries cope with the impact of climate change has been officially launched.
• Statement 1 is correct: 
  • In COP-21, which was held in Paris in 2015, each country decided the level and kind of effort it would undertake to solve the climate change problem. These actions were referred to as nationally determined contributions (NDC).
  • COP-21 focused on keeping global temperature below 2.0 degree Celsius above pre-industrial times and endeavoured to limit them even more to 1.5 degree Celsius.
• Statement 2 is correct:
  • The COP-24 was held in  Katowice, Poland in 2018. Its main aim was to finalise the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement and the parties reached an agreement on the Paris Rulebook.

Option (a) is correct.

Explanation:

• Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), aiming to investigate the polarization of intense X-Ray sources. 
• Statement 1 is not correct: 
  • The XPoSat spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650 km altitude), carrying two scientific payloads. 
• Statement 2 is not correct: 
  • The primary payload of XPoSat is POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), which was developed by the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, with support from various ISRO centres.
  • The secondary payload is the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload, which was developed by the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO.
• Statement 3 is correct: 
  • The mission life is expected to be approximately five years. 
  • The payloads onboard XPoSat will observe the X-Ray sources during the spacecraft’s transit through the Earth’s shadow, i.e., during the eclipse period.

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation:

• Recently, the World Malaria Report 2023 has been published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ specialised agency for Health.
• Statement 1 is not correct: 
  • As per the report, contrasting the global trend, India continued to witness a decline in malaria cases and deaths in 2022. There were around 33 lakh malaria cases and 5,000 deaths in India last year, a decrease of 30% and 34 % respectively compared with 2021.
• Statement 2 is not correct: 
  • Globally, an increase in malaria cases and deaths in 2022 have been recorded. There were 249 million cases in 2022, 5 million more than in 2021.
• Statement 3 is correct: 
  • Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasitic protozoa, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

• Recently, the central government has approved the terms of reference for the 16th Finance Commission (FC).
• Set up under Article 280 of the Constitution, FC is a constitutional body formed by the President of India to give suggestions on centre-state financial relations. 
• It is characterised by consultations with all levels of government, thus strengthening the principle of cooperative federalism. 
• It consists of a chairman and 4 other members to be appointed by the President.
• Statement 1 is not correct: Its recommendations are advisory in nature, not binding on the government. 
• Statement 2 is not correct: The Finance Commission consists of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the president. They hold office for such a period as specified by the president in his order. They are eligible for reappointment. 

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

• Nearly 30 lakh workers die every year globally due to work-related accidents and diseases, according to a new report prepared by the International Labour Organization (ILO). 
• ILO came into existence in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles.
• It aims to Promote internationally recognized human and labour rights.
• It was the first affiliated specialised agency of the United Nations in 1946.
• India is a founding member of the ILO and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• India has ratified following  ILO conventions which include:
  • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
  • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
  • Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
  • Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
  • Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
  • Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)