Option(a) is correct

Explanation:

• India has sought the latest trade data from the five Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) nations as both sides intend to initiate discussions on a free-trade agreement (FTA),
• Eurasian Economic Union comprises five countries — the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
• Russia is the largest country in the bloc as well as the biggest trade partner, with a share of 98 per cent in 2022-23.

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation:

• Recently, the National Event on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) was held in Mumbai.
• Statement 1 is correct: PMMVY is a Maternity Benefit Programme being implemented as per provisions under Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India is nodal ministry for the scheme.
• It has been revised and incorporated as a component of Mission Shakti from 1st April 2022, as PMMVY 2.0.
• Statement 2 is not correct: It provides partial compensation for the wage loss in cash incentives so that the woman can rest adequately before and after delivery of the first living child.
• The scheme seeks to promote positive behavioural change towards girl child by providing additional cash incentive for the second child, if that is a girl child.
• Statement 3 is correct: In Case of Miscarriage/ Stillbirth, the beneficiary would be eligible to claim the remaining instalment (s) in case of any future pregnancy.
• Statement 4 is correct: A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.
• Benefits under PMMVY
  • Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments.
  • 1st instalment of Rs 1000 on early registration of pregnancy.
  • 2nd instalment of Rs 2000 after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC).
  • 3rd instalment of Rs 2000 after childbirth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT, and Hepatitis B, or its equivalent/substitute.

Option (a) is correct.

Explanation:

In order to control food inflation, several export restrictions were introduced by the government of India. In many mandis of Punjab-Haryana, prices of basmati for farmers have been low compared to what they were when exports were fully open.

• Statement I is correct: Inflation is an increase in the prices of goods and services. Central Bank (Reserve Bank of India) is an apex bank in an economy which is entrusted with the task to control, regulate and supervise the entire banking operations of all the commercial banks including formulation and implementation of monetary policy in the economy.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) controls (increase or decrease) the money supply in India by using monetary policy tools.
  • RBI acts to control inflation through its monetary policies.
• Statement II is correct: Controlling the money supply in an economy is a common way to control inflation. When the money supply decreases, demand for goods also decreases, which causes prices to fall.
  • The repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks and financial institutions.
  • The RBI increases the repo rate when they need to control prices and restrict borrowings.
• Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I: The goal of contractionary monetary policy of RBI is to decrease the rate of demand for goods and services. So, higher interest rates can be used to decrease inflation and move the economy back to the price stability.
  • Higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing money, which discourages consumers from spending on some goods and services and reduces businesses’ investment in new equipment.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

A Chinese communist party delegation has visited the Solomon Islands signaling the flourishing cooperation between China and the Pacific nation.

• Solomon Islands: It is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean which consists of a double chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls. The main islands of the group are large and rugged, rising to around 7,644 feet at Mount Popomanaseu on Guadalcanal. They lie in two parallel chains running northwest-southeast. Geologically, the Solomon Islands are part of the volcanic arc extending from New Ireland in Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu.

• Cook Islands: It is a self-governing island state in free association with New Zealand, located in the South Pacific Ocean. Its spread to an area is nearly as large as Greenland. Niue, the westernmost of the islands, is an administratively separate state.
• Hawaii: Hawaii (U.S.) with an area of around 10,438 square km continues to grow as Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, continues to pour lava into the ocean. The island is formed by five volcanoes (Hualalai, Kilauea, Kohala, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa) that are connected by lava ridges. Mauna Loa, located around 40 km west of Kilauea, is considered the world’s largest volcano and the two volcanoes have been designated a World Heritage site.

Option (c) is correct.

Explanation:

• Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve comprises two important protected areas of the region viz. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, which are contiguous to each other in the Western Ghats in the region of Anshi-Dandeli-Sharavathi valley in Karnataka.
• Pair 2 is not correctly matched: The Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in the Telangana State along the banks of river Godavari, forming part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands. The reserve is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges, and has a diverse habitat comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams and water bodies.
• Pair 3 is correctly matched: Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located in the foothills of Himalayas on the north-west corner of Bihar, spread over Northern part of the West Champaran district. The terrain is undulating with rich soil. Rivers Gandak, Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve. By and large, the reserve is spread over lower Shivalik region with a deep water table.

• Pair 4 is correctly matched: Similipal Tiger Reserve is located within the Mayurbhanj District, in the Northern-most part of Odisha. The steep side faces the Bay of Bengal and runs northwards to finally merge with Chhota Nagpur. The water level is high and the tract is woven with perennial water sources converging