Option (c) is correct.

Explanation:

• The Horn of Africa is facing deadly floods due to El Nino-linked ‘above average’ rains.

Horn of Africa:

• It is the easternmost extension of African land and is generally defined as the region that is home to the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, whose cultures have been linked throughout their long history. 

Somalia: 

• It is the easternmost country of Africa, on the Horn of Africa. 
• It extends from just south of the Equator northward to the Gulf of Aden and occupies an important geopolitical position between sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of Arabia and southwestern Asia. 
• It is bounded by the Gulf of Aden to the north, by the Indian Ocean to the east, by Kenya and Ethiopia to the west, and by Djibouti to the northwest. 

Option (d) is correct 

Explanation: The Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL), set up by the RBI, has raised concern over the rise in bank financing for non-banking finance companies.

What are Non-Banking Financial Company NBFCs?

• Statement 1 is not correct:  NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business chit business 

What  is not considered under NBFCs?

• Statement 2 is not correct: Any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
• Statement 3 is not correct: NBFC cannot accept demand deposits. A demand deposit is money deposited into a bank account with funds that can be withdrawn on-demand at any time. 
• Statement 4 is correct: NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;
• Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

With increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, there is the question whether India would take action in the Strait of Malacca or the Andaman Sea.

• Strait: A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water. They are similar to canals, but canals are built by people.
• Pair 1 is correctly matched: Strait of Malacca is a waterway connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean). It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east.
• Pair 2 is correctly matched: Bering Strait links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea and separating the continents of Asia and North America. The U.S.–Russian boundary extends through the strait.
• Pair 3 is not correctly matched: Strait of Gibraltar, channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and Morocco.

Option (b) is correct.

Explanation:

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2023. According to the report, India has made tremendous progress in improving TB case detection.

About Global TB Report:

• It provides a comprehensive assessment of the TB epidemic and of progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, at global, regional and country levels. 
• This is done in the context of global TB commitments, strategies and targets.

Major Findings of the Global TB Report 2023:

• India’s efforts have resulted in a reduction of TB incidence by 16% in 2022 (from 2015). 
• The mortality of TB has also reduced by 18% during the same period in India and globally. 
• The WHO has made a downward revision of the TB mortality rates from 4.94 lakhs in 2021 to 3.31 lakhs in 2022, a reduction of over 34%.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation:

Recently, a large part of the hill collapsed into the reservoir of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. 

About Brahmaputra River:

• The Brahmaputra is one of the largest rivers in the world. 
• The river originates from the Kailash ranges of Himalayas at an elevation of 5300 metres. 
• After flowing through Tibet it enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam and Bangladesh before it joins the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries of Brahmaputra:  
  • North Bank: Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (North) Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Aie, Sonkosh. 
  • South Bank: Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran.