Ans: D

Exp: 

India ranked 10th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025, maintaining its position among the top global performers despite a two-place drop. 

• The ranking reflects India’s low per capita emissions, rapid adoption of renewables, and ambitious climate goals, even as it faces challenges with coal dependency and growing energy demand.

About CCPI:

• It has been published  annually since 2005 by think tanks  Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International.
• It tracks the progress of the world’s largest emitters in terms of emissions, renewables, and climate policy. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.
• The CCPI evaluates countries based on four categories: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use, and Climate Policy.

Key Findings of the CCPI Report

• • The first three positions were left vacant as no country scored a “very high” rating.
  • Denmark (4th), Netherlands (5th), and the U.K. (6th) ranked highest for their robust climate policies and actions.

• India ranked 10th on a list of over 60 countries, while India is among the high performers, it is not the only G20 country in this category. The United Kingdom (U.K.), another G20 member, is also a high performer in the CCPI rankings. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

• China and the United States, world largest and Second largest emitters, ranked poorly at 55th and 57th, respectively, due to coal dependency and insufficient climate policies.
• India is the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter,  and India’s per capita emissions (2.9 tCO2e) are far below the global average (6.6 tCO2e). Hence Statement 3 is Incorrect.
• The four lowest-ranked countries in the CCPI are Iran (67th), Saudi Arabia (66th), the United Arab Emirates (65th), and Russia (64th), all four among the world’s largest oil and gas producers.

Ans: A

Exp:

A growing coalition of governments and civil society organisations is advocating for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FF-NPT), aimed at phasing out fossil fuels and promoting a just transition to renewable energy

• Statement 1 is correct: The FF-NPT is inspired by nuclear weapon treaties and seeks to legally bind nations to halt fossil fuel extraction and manage a just transition to renewable energy.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The FF-NPT was conceptualized in 2016 and officially launched in 2019, not at the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.
• Statement 3 is correct: The treaty emphasizes an equitable reduction of fossil fuel production, prioritizing wealthier nations for the transition.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: While India is committed to renewable energy goals and net-zero by 2070, it has not been explicitly mentioned as endorsing the FF-NPT framework.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Union government granted permission for tungsten mining in Arittapatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu recently.

• • Arittapatti,( Madurai) is Tamil Nadu’s first and India’s 35th Biodiversity Heritage Site. 

• Tungsten mining risks devastating local ecosystems, displacing communities, and violating people’s rights. 

• • Statement 1 is incorrect: Total tungsten ore reserves in India: ~89.43 million tonnes (containing ~1,44,650 tonnes of WO₃). Karnataka holds the largest tungsten reserves in India, accounting for 41%, not Andhra Pradesh.

• Major distribution:

• • Karnataka (41%)
  • Rajasthan (27%)
  • Andhra Pradesh (17%)
  • Maharashtra (11%)
• Statement 2 is correct:  Tungsten is one of the 30 critical minerals identified by India for its strategic importance.
• Statement 3 is correct: China is the largest producer of tungsten globally, followed by Vietnam, Russia, and North Korea. 

Ans: B

Exp:

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network” (VISION), aimed at nurturing education, skill development, and innovation among underprivileged children.

About VISION Portal → 

• “Viksit Bharat Initiative for Student Innovation and Outreach Network” → Focused on education, skill development, and innovation → Targeted at underprivileged children. 
• Mission: To create an Innovation Fund for VISION that seeks to support and promote innovative, technology-enabled projects by students. 
• Aim: Foster creativity, enhance technical skills, and contribute to positive societal impact besides driving technological advancements, & empowering the next generation. 
• Role of Technology → Enables access to resources for IIT and Civil Service exam preparation → Demonstrates potential for bridging rural-urban divides. Highlighted Importance of Public-Private Partnerships. Hence Option 3 is Correct.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Ministry of Science and Technology recently launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) data bank that is aimed at propelling innovation and boosting the country’s national security.

• It was launched at the 7th Edition of the ASSOCHAM AI Leadership Meet 2024.
• The event, themed “AI for India: Advancing India’s AI Development – Innovation, Ethics, and Governance”, showcased India’s strategic roadmap for harnessing the transformative potential of AI.

About  AI Data Bank:

• Statement 1 is correct: The AI Data Bank provides high-quality, diverse datasets to researchers, startups, and developers, fostering the creation of scalable AI solutions.
• Statement 2 is correct: The AI Data Bank will enhance “national security through real-time analytics of satellite, drone, and IoT data”,  is one of its key objectives.
  • It also aligns with the country’s goal to utilise AI for predictive analytics in disaster management and cyber security.
• Statement 3 is correct: The initiative addresses challenges like algorithmic bias and data privacy, ensuring ethical and responsible use of AI.