Ans: B

Exp:

Option 1 is incorrect: The Space sector is not prohibited from Getting FDI. Recently, 100% FDI has been allowed in the space sector.

Option 2 is incorrect: FDI is permitted in the Animal husbandry Sector. 

• 100% FDI permitted through automatic route and government approval route various activities.

Option 3 is correct: Chit Funds are prohibited for getting FDI. 

• Some of the other sectors where FDI is prohibited in are:

• • Lottery Business including Government/private lottery, online lotteries, etc. 
  • Gambling and Betting including casinos etc.
  • Nidhi company
  • Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs)

Ans: C

Exp:

According to ISRO, CE20 cryogenic engine is now human-rated for Gaganyaan missions. CE20 cryogenic engine powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions.

• Human-rating refers to rating a system that is capable of safely transporting humans.

• According to ISRO, the ground qualification tests for the human rating of the CE20 engine involved: life demonstration tests, endurance tests, performance assessment under nominal operating conditions as well as off-nominal conditions w.r.t thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tank pressure.

Ans: C

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from both commercial product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. 

There is no universal agreement on the size. The U.S. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the European Chemical Agency define microplastic as less than 5 mm in length.

As a pollutant, microplastics can be harmful to the environment and animal health.

Statement 2 is correct: Microplastics have been detected in marine organisms from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, drinking water and even in human blood. 

• The standard water treatment facilities cannot remove all traces of microplastics. 
• The microplastics in the ocean can bind with other harmful chemicals before being ingested by marine organisms.
• It is not yet clear if these microplastics can cross over from the bloodstream to deposit in organs and cause diseases. 

Ans: B

Exp:

At the inaugural of the 9th annual Raisina Dialogue, the Greek PM suggested starting with the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) despite the Gaza war. 

Statement 1 is correct: The IMEC  was launched during India’s G-20 chairmanship.

The proposed IMEC will consist of Railroad, Ship-to-Rail networks and Road transport routes . The routes will extend across two corridors:

• The East Corridor – connecting India to the Arabian Gulf,
• The Northern Corridor – connecting the Gulf to Europe.

Statement 2 is correct: The ports to be connected via this corridor are:

• India: Mundra (Gujarat), Kandla (Gujarat), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai).
• Middle East: Fujairah, Jebel Ali, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE as well as Dammam and Ras Al Khair ports in Saudi Arabia.
• Israel: Haifa port.
• Europe: Piraeus port in Greece, Messina in South Italy, and Marseille in France.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The project includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US.

• The corridor aims to improve connectivity between India, the growth economies of the Middle East and Europe.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

• Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is an independent think tank based in New Delhi with three centres in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Raisina Dialogue is India’s annual flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the international community.

• It is hosted in New Delhi.

• The 9th edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from 21-23 February, 2024.
• The theme of the 2024 edition is “Chaturanga: Conflict, Contest, Cooperate, Create”