Ans: A

Exp:

Dhudmaras Village, located in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, has been selected for the Best Tourism Village Upgrade Programme (BTVUP) under the United Nations Tourism for Rural Development Programme (UNTRDP) by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Hence statement 2 is correct. 

• Statement 2 is correct: The UNTRDP focuses on promoting development, inclusion, and innovation in rural areas through tourism to combat challenges like depopulation and unsustainable practices.
• Statement 3 is correct: The Best Tourism Villages initiative recognizes rural tourism destinations for their contributions to cultural, natural, and sustainable practices.

About  UNWTO:

• Establishment: 1975
• Headquartered:  Madrid, Spain, Hence statement 4 is incorrect.
• Aim: it promotes responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism.  
• Members:  It has 159 member countries, including India.
• Objective:  it serves as a global forum for tourism policy, advocates the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and aligns tourism with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Ans: D

Exp:

The Teesta Valley remains highly vulnerable, with only six months before the 2025 monsoon, which could worsen the situation.Both Sikkim and West Bengal are addressing disaster management within their respective state boundaries. 

• Lack of a landscape-level approach hinders effective, coordinated mitigation efforts

About Teesta River: 

• • The Teesta River originates from the Pauhunri Glacier in the eastern Himalayas, located in Sikkim, India. It flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it merges with the Brahmaputra River system.While China has a geographic presence near the origin of many Himalayan rivers, the Teesta does not flow through China, Bhutan, or Nepal.  Hence Option d is Correct.

• Teesta river water conflict is one of the most contentious issues between India and Bangladesh.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Government of Chhattisgarh, on advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), notified the Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve across Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur and Balrampur districts of Chhattisgarh. 

• • The Guru Ghasidas- Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve becomes the 56th Tiger Reserve to be notified in the country. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.

• Chhattisgarh is now home to 4 Tiger Reserves, the three other tiger reserves: Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati.

• • The tiger reserve, encompassing a total area of 2829.38 sq.kms, includes a core/critical tiger habitat of 2049.2 sq.kms, comprising the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary, and has a buffer of 780.15 sq.kms. 
  • This makes it the third largest tiger reserve in the country after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.
  •  The newly notified tiger reserve is contiguous with the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh forming a landscape complex of nearly 4500 sq.kms. Further, the tiger reserve is connected to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to the West and Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand to the East.

• The reserve lies partly in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and partly in the Baghelkhand Plateau with varied terrains, dense forests, streams and rivers favourable for harbouring a rich faunal diversity and contains critical habitats for the tiger.

Ans: B

Exp:

The ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative, launched by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and coordinated by the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (BRIC-NIBMG), focuses on the genome sequencing of bacterial species found in India. 

• The initiative has been developed to harness the microbial potential of India and make the annotated genome sequences freely available to the public, researchers, and industries.

Key Features of the Initiative:

• Focus on Bacterial Genome:
  The initiative targets sequencing and annotating the genomes of unique bacterial species isolated in India, highlighting their roles in various ecological and human systems.
• Applications in Diverse Fields:
  • Environment: Microorganisms play critical roles in biogeochemical cycles, organic waste degradation, and toxic pollutant removal, helping maintain planetary homeostasis.
  • Agriculture: Bacteria assist in nitrogen fixation, nutrient cycling, soil fertility, pest control, and stress response in crops, thus boosting agricultural productivity.
  • Human Health: Microorganisms are vital for digestion, immunity, and even mental health. They outnumber human cells in the body and play a crucial role in disease resistance and overall health.
• Genome Sequencing and Data Sharing:
  • The initiative will sequence bacterial genomes, annotate them, and release them publicly, making data accessible for scientific research and industrial applications.
  • A detailed graphical summary, genome assembly, and annotation details will accompany the sequencing data to facilitate easy understanding and application.
• Industrial and Scientific Innovations:
  • The sequencing data can uncover the genome-encoded capacities of bacteria, such as producing important enzymes, antimicrobial compounds, or other bioactive molecules, promoting innovations in medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Ans: C

Exp:

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development addressed the inaugural session of the Global Soil Conference 2024 in PUSA, New Delhi. 

• Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS), New Delhi under the aegis of International Union of soil Sciences, Italy in collaboration with Indian council of Agricultural Research, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi organised the conference.
• The theme of the Global Soil Conference 2024 is the “Caring Soils Beyond Food Security: Climate change mitigation & Ecosystem Services” highlights the importance of soil health in mitigating climate change, supporting ecosystem services, and going beyond food security in addressing global sustainability challenges. Hence Option C is Correct.