Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

In the backdrop of a viral deepfake video of an actor, the Union Minister of State for Information Technology said that deepfakes are a dangerous and damaging form of misinformation.

• Deepfake AI is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) used to create convincing images, audio and video hoaxes. The term describes both the technology and the resulting bogus content, and is a combination of deep learning and fake.
• Deepfakes often transform existing source content where one person is swapped for another. 
• They also create entirely original content where someone is represented doing or saying something they didn’t do or say.
• The greatest danger posed by deepfakes is their ability to spread false information that appears to come from trusted sources. 
• Social engineering: It uses psychological manipulation to trick users into making security mistakes or giving away sensitive information. 
  • With the help of deepfakes, fraudsters can plan social engineering attacks that appear to come from a friend or colleague, someone we know and trust and whose motives do not need to be questioned.
• IT Act 2000: Section 66E of the act is applicable in cases of deepfake crimes that involve capturing, publishing or transmitting a person’s images in mass media, violating their privacy. 
  • This offense is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ₹2 lakh.

Option (a) is correct.

Explanation:

The Supreme Court recently voiced its concern over Governors not acting on bills passed by state legislatures, and directed Solicitor General for the details of action taken by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on the bills cleared by the assembly.

• Statement 1 is correct: Every ordinary bill, after it is passed by the legislative assembly in case of a unicameral legislature or by both the Houses in case of a bicameral legislature either in the first instance or in the second instance, is presented to the Governor for his assent. He has four alternatives:
  • He may give his assent to the bill, the bill then becomes an act.
  • He may withhold his assent to the bill, the bill then ends and does not become an act.
  • He may return the bill for reconsideration of the House or Houses. If the bill is passed by the House or Houses again with or without amendments and presented to the governor for his assent, the governor must give his assent to the bill. Thus, the governor enjoys only a ‘suspensive veto’.
  • He may reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
• Statement 2 is not correct: Every money bill, after it is passed by the state legislature (unicameral or bicameral), is presented to the governor for his assent. He has three alternatives:
  • He may give his assent to the bill, the bill then becomes an act.
  • He may withhold his assent to the bill, the bill then ends and does not become an act.
  • He may reserve the bill for the consideration of the president.
  • Thus, the governor cannot return a money bill for the reconsideration of the state legislature.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation: 

• Aurora Borealis recently appeared in Bulgaria for the first time.
• Statement 1 is not correct: These lights are most commonly observed near Earth’s magnetic north and south poles.
• The auroras can be explained as an interaction of the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field. 
• The solar wind consists of charged particles emanating from the Sun. These are captured by the Earth’s magnetic field and drawn towards the poles at a very high speed.
• The phenomenon occurs when the particles collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere (the ionosphere), transforming kinetic energy into visible light.
• This results in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.
• Statement 2 is not correct: These lights are called aurora borealis or northern lights near the North Pole and aurora australis or the southern lights near the South Pole.
• Statement 3 is not correct: The phenomenon occurs in the ionosphere layer of the atmosphere.

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct:  The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the LEAP AHEAD (Launchpad for Tech Entrepreneurs towards Accelerated Growth and Pioneering AHEAD) initiative in collaboration with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Delhi-NCR. 
• Statement 2 is correct:  The LEAP AHEAD initiative is a pan-India programme designed to support startups that show early traction and are in the growth stage.
• It aims to bolster tech startups by offering them access to funding, mentorship, and global connections.
• Statement 3 is correct:   It offers startups an array of benefits including: 
  • an intensive three-month hybrid mentorship program
  • the opportunity for one-on-one mentorship with investors and industry experts
  • funding of up to ₹1 crore in a co-investment model

Option (d) is correct

Explanation: 

• Recently, The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has released its Ecological Threat Report for 2023, revealing alarming findings about the increasing ecological threats faced by countries around the world. 

Key Findings of the Report:

• Escalating Ecological Threats
  • Rising Numbers: By 2050, the number of people in countries facing severe ecological threats will surge from 1.8 billion to 2.8 billion.
  • Hotspot Regions: Over half of these countries are located in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Vulnerability and Resilience
  • Wide Analysis: The report encompasses 221 countries and 3,594 sub-national areas, covering 99.99% of the global population.
  • Growing Vulnerability: The number of countries with low resilience facing severe ecological threats has increased to 30, with sub-Saharan Africa most affected.