Ans: A

Exp: 

At the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance meeting of newly elected Members of Parliament, Prime Minister of India paid his respects to the Constitution of India by touching the book to his forehead. 

• Statement 1 is correct: B.R. Ambedkar and the framers of the Indian Constitution chose the parliamentary system over the presidential system:
• Statement 2 is correct: Responsibility and Accountability:

• • The parliamentary system ensures that the executive (Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) is accountable to the legislature (Parliament). Thus, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
  • The executive’s survival depends on maintaining the confidence of the majority in the lower house (Lok Sabha).

Daily assessment of responsibility occurs through mechanisms like questions, debates, and motions in Parliament.

Ans: B

Exp: 

India set to be the 6th country to have its own Deep Sea Mission. 

About Deep Ocean Mission (DOM):

• Statement 1 is correct: DOM is India’s ambitious program for underwater exploration, primarily implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• It is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021, it has a budget of nearly ₹4,077 crore over a five-year phased implementation.

Mission pillars: 

• Technology Development: Includes developing technologies for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible capable of reaching a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean, with a focus on mining polymetallic nodules.
• Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: Involves ocean observations and models for understanding and projecting future climate changes.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Aims at developing technological innovations for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity.
• Deep-Ocean Survey and Exploration: Focuses on identifying potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
• Statement 2 is correct: Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean: Aims to harness energy and freshwater resources from the ocean.
• Marine Station for Ocean Biology: Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology to promote talent and opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.

Matsya 6000 Submersible:

• Statement 3 is incorrect: Matsya6000 is India’s flagship deep-ocean submersible designed to reach a depth of 6,000 meters.
• It accommodates a crew of three members and is equipped with scientific sensors and tools for observations, sample collection, and experimentation.
• It is designed to withstand high pressures and has propellers for movement in all directions, viewports for crew observation, and communication through acoustic systems.
• Matsya6000 combines features of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote vehicles (AUVs).
• India aims to join other countries that have successfully conducted deep-ocean crewed missions, such as the USA, Russia, China, France, and Japan.

Ans: A

Exp:

The 18th Lok Sabha will hold its first session from June 24 to July 3, during which the new Speaker of the House will be elected. Until this happens, a pro-tem Speaker will be chosen to swear in the new Members of Parliament.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: As provided by the Constitution, the Speaker of the last Lok Sabha vacates his office immediately before the first meeting of the newly-elected Lok Sabha. 
  • Therefore, the President appoints a member of the Lok Sabha as the Speaker Pro Tem. Usually, the seniormost member is selected for this. The President himself administers oath to the Speaker Pro Tem.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Speaker Pro Tem has all the powers of the Speaker. He presides over the first sitting of the newly-elected Lok Sabha. 
  • His main duty is to administer oath to the new members. 
  • He also enables the House to elect the new Speaker.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the office of the Speaker Pro Tem ceases to exist. Hence, this office is a temporary office, existing for a few days

Ans: B

Exp:

Ahead of the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024,  Sustainable Development Report calls for a United Nations 2.0 to strengthen global cooperation and financing for sustainable development

About Sustainable Development Report:

• It is a global assessment of countries’ progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• It is published by a group of independent experts at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• SDSN was launched in 2012 to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for sustainable development and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ans: D

Exp: 

Acknowledging that cyberspace has emerged as a crucial and challenging domain in modern warfare, the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan released India’s first joint doctrine for cyberspace operations during a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

About Chief of Defence Staff:

• CDS is in the rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief.
• Statement 1 is correct: The CDS is the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister on all tri-Services matters.
  • He is also the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC).
• Statement 2 is correct: The post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a committee of defence experts headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar.
• The Chief of Defence Staff will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created within the Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
• Statement 3 is correct: CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.