Ans: C

Exp:

Context: Canada’s partners in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance – the US, the UK, and Australia – have backed Canada’s investigation about an alleged link between the Indian government and the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and called on New Delhi to cooperate in the probe.

• • The ‘Five Eyes’ is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network shared by over 20 different agencies of five English-speaking countries — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.  

• France is not a member of the ‘Five Eyes’.  Hence answer C Is Correct.

• • It is both surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT). 
  • Intelligence documents shared between the member countries are classified as ‘Secret—AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US Eyes Only,’ which gave the group its title ‘Five Eyes.’
  • The alliance evolved  around  WWII to counter the Soviet threat in the Cold War. The U.S. and U.K. collaborated successfully in deciphering German and Japanese codes during the war.
  • In 1946, the alliance was formalized to share intelligence on signals intelligence (SIGINT). The British-U.S. Communication Intelligence Agreement (BRUSA), now known as the UKUSA Agreement, was signed between U.S. and U.K. intelligence boards.
  • The agreement was later extended to include “second party” countries: Canada joined in 1948, Australia and New Zealand became part of the alliance in 1956.
  • The treaty focused on communication intelligence, enabling the unrestricted exchange of intelligence products in six areas:
• Collection of traffic
• Acquisition of communication documents and equipment
• Traffic analysis
• Cryptanalysis
• Decryption and translation
• Information about communication organizations and practices.

Ans: A

Exp:

Context: In a landmark Assam accord 1985 SC verdict, the Supreme Court on October 17 2024, upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Section 6A was added to the Citizenship Act, 1955. It defines who is considered an Indian citizen in Assam by setting a cut-off date for citizenship eligibility.  It says that all persons of “Indian origin” who entered the state before January 1, 1966 and have been “ordinarily resident” in Assam ever since “shall be deemed to be citizens of India”.

Statement 2 is Correct: Section 6A, added in 1985 to implement the Assam Accord, provides a legal mechanism for the categorization and regularisation of immigrants in Assam:

• • Pre-1966 Residents: Individuals of Indian origin who entered Assam before January 1, 1966, and have lived there continuously are automatically recognized as Indian citizens.

• 1966-1971 Entrants: Those who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971, are allowed to register as residents, subject to detection as foreigners.

• • These residents are granted citizenship rights, but with a significant restriction: they are excluded from electoral rolls for a period of 10 years from the date of detection and regularization. 
  • This provision delays their participation in voting but allows them to remain in the state legally.
• Post-1971 Entrants: Individuals who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, are regarded as illegal immigrants and are not eligible for citizenship or regularization under Section 6A.

Ans: C

Exp:

Context: The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has recommended the inclusion of all antibiotics in the definition of new drugs in the New Drugs and Clinical Trial (NDCT) Rules, 2019.

About The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB):

• • It is the Highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in India. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
  • Establishment: As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It is part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).  Hence statement 3 is Correct.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• Function: It advises the Central Government and the State Governments on technical matters arising out of the administration of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, of 1940 and to carry out the other functions assigned to it by this Act. 

• CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

Ans: B

Exp: 

Context: The Ministry of Culture in association with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is set to observe the International Abhidhamma Divas (17th October) while celebrating the recent declaration of Pali as a classical language by the Government of India.

• Abhidhamma Divas commemorates the day when Lord Buddha descended from the celestial realm, Tāvatiṃsa-devaloka, to Sankassiya (now Sankisa Basantapur) in Uttar Pradesh. The Asokan Elephant Pillar, a historical marker at the site, marks this significant event.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Abhidhamma, or “Higher Teaching” of the Buddha, provides a profound and systematic analysis of mind and matter. 

• It offers a detailed framework for understanding the nature of existence, addressing the processes of birth, death, and mental phenomena in a precise and abstract manner.

• To convey these intricate concepts, the Abhidhamma developed a specialized vocabulary in Pali, forming the basis of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. 

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Unlike the more conventional teachings in the Sutta Piṭaka, which use everyday language, the Abhidhamma adopts a specialized and analytical approach to explore reality. 

• This technical language serves as a guide to gaining insight and achieving liberation, facilitating a deeper understanding of ultimate realities and the workings of the mind.

Statement 3 is Correct:  According to Theravāda Buddhist texts, Buddha first taught the Abhidhamma to the gods in the Tavatimsa heaven, including his mother, and later conveyed these teachings to his disciple Sariputta, who expanded upon them in the six core books of the Abhidhamma Piñaka.

• These texts cover various topics, such as moral and mental states, aggregates, causal relationships, and the path to emancipation, forming a comprehensive system for understanding the mind and achieving spiritual growth.
• The seven treatises of the Abhidhamma Piñaka, notably the Paññhāna, delve into causal relations with unparalleled depth, showcasing the Buddha’s profound insight. The meticulous analysis provided by these texts has made the Abhidhamma an essential tool for practitioners seeking to develop insight and grasp the essence of Buddha’s.

Ans: A

Exp: 

Pair 1 is Correctly Matched: The International Energy Agency’s flagship World Energy Outlook, published every year, is the most authoritative global source of energy analysis and projections. It identifies and explores the biggest trends in energy demand and supply, as well as what they mean for energy security, emissions and economic development.

Pair 2 is not Correctly Matched: Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report 2024 is published by World bank. This report offers the first post-pandemic assessment of global progress toward these interlinked goals, and explores potential pathways out of today’s polycrisis – an environment where multiple and interconnected challenges are impacting the world simultaneously. 

• The report’s messages are presented around progress in terms of the goals, pathways to move forward, and priorities depending on where countries stand on the interlinked goals.

Pair 3 is not Correctly Matched: The International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST) hosted a Global Report Launch and Webinar on January 9th, 2024, for the release of our report “Just Transition, Just Finance: Methodology and Costs for Just Energy Transition in India”. 

• The report has been developed recognizing the need for an empirical basis to determine the cost of just energy transition, which can help countries to develop just transition plans, make necessary investments, and foster global partnerships for securing finances.

Pair 4 is not Correctly Matched: GHI is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The index is published by Concern Worldwide, an Irish humanitarian organisation, and Welthungerhilfe, a German aid agency.

• India has been ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, placing it in the “serious” category for hunger levels.