Ans: B

Exp:

In the Budget speech, the Finance Minister said, Government will formulate a plan, Purvodaya, for the all-round development of the eastern region of the country.

About Purvodaya: 

• The ‘Purvodaya’ concept was first publicly aired by PM Modi during a meeting in Paradip in 2015, after he had dedicated a refinery to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
• Government will formulate a plan, Purvodaya, for the all-round development of the eastern region of the country covering
  •  Bihar, 
  • Jharkhand, 
  • West Bengal, 
  • Odisha and 
  • Andhra Pradesh.  
• This will cover human resource development, infrastructure, and generation of economic opportunities to make the region an engine to attain Viksit Bharat.

Ans: C

Exp:

The Supreme Court recently pronounced a split verdict on the validity of the Centre’s 2022 decision granting conditional approval for environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard crops.

GM Mustard (Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11): 

• GM Mustard, specifically Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), is a genetically modified variant of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) mustard. 
• Development and Origin:
  • DMH-11 was developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University.
  • Statement 1 is correct: It resulted from a cross between the Indian mustard variety ‘Varuna’ and the East European ‘Early Heera-2’ mustard.
• Genetic Modification: DMH-11 contains two alien genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) isolated from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
  • These genes confer pest resistance and allow for cross-pollination and hybridization.
  • Statement 2 is correct: The first hybrid developed using the GE pollination control mechanism is DMH-11.
• Yield: DMH-11 has demonstrated approximately 28% higher yield compared to the national check and 37% higher yield than zonal checks.

Ans: A

Exp: 

Researchers have used James Webb Space Telescope observations to conduct detailed examinations of the atmospheric conditions on brown dwarfs, specifically a pair that orbit each other around six light years from Earth, quite close by cosmic standards. 

About Brown dwarfs:

• • Brown dwarfs are celestial objects that are too large to be considered planets but too small to sustain nuclear fusion reactions in their cores, which is the hallmark of stars.

• Formation:

• • • Statement 1 is correct: Brown dwarfs form from the collapse of gas and dust clouds, similar to the process that forms stars. 
    • However, they do not gather enough mass to ignite hydrogen fusion in their cores.

• Characteristics:

• • Statement 2 is incorrect: Mass: They have masses between those of the largest gas giant planets and the smallest stars, typically between 13 and 80 times the mass of Jupiter.
  • Size: Their diameter is roughly comparable to that of Jupiter, despite their greater mass.
  • Temperature: Brown dwarfs are cooler than most stars, with surface temperatures ranging from about 300 to 2,500 K.
  • Atmosphere: Their atmospheres can contain elements such as hydrogen, helium, water vapour, methane, and carbon monoxide, with temperatures at the cloud tops around 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (925 degrees Celsius).
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Light Emission: Brown dwarfs emit light due to their sheer heat and not because of nuclear fusion at their core, which differentiates them from true stars.

Ans: C

Exp: 

In the Union Budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government would develop a ‘climate finance taxonomy’ to enhance the availability of capital for climate adaptation and mitigation. This will help India achieve its climate commitments and green transition.

India’s climate commitments: 

• Statement 1 is correct: India aims to achieve net-zero economy by 2070. 
• Statement 2 is incorrect: It has also pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030, from the 2005 level. 
• Statement 3 is correct: India has committed to achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 as well.

Ans: D

Exp: 

The Polavaram project was declared a national project despite there being no efforts to address the project-displaced people, rehabilitation issues etc. 

Eligibility criteria for inclusion of a project under National Projects (NP) scheme:

1. Statement 1 is correct: International projects, where usage of water in India is required by a treaty or where planning and early completion of the project is necessary in the interest of the country. or
2. Statement 2 is correct: Inter-State projects which are dragging on due to non-resolution of Inter-State issues relating to sharing of costs, rehabilitation, aspects of power production etc., including river interlinking projects. or
3. Statement 3 is incorrect: Intra-State projects with additional irrigation potential of more than two lakh hectare and with no dispute regarding sharing of water and where hydrology is established. or 
4. Statement 4 is correct: Extension, renovation and modernization (ERM) projects envisaging extension/ restoration of irrigation potential of 2 lakh hectare.

However, mere eligibility of a project does not entitle its inclusion under the NP scheme. Inclusion is also dependent upon approval of Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose projects of DoWR, RD&GR as per laid down procedure, investment clearance, recommendations by High Powered Steering Committee, availability of funds as well as Government priorities at that time, etc.

About Polavaram Project:

• It is an under-construction multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the Eluru District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
• The project has been accorded National project status by the Union Government of India
• It is being constructed based on the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (1969), which issued its final award in 1980.
• The reservoir also spreads to Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
• It covers the Papikonda National Park of Andhra Pradesh.
• It will facilitate inter-basin water transfer from the Godavari to the Krishna through a link canal.