Ans: D 

Exp:

The West Bengal government sought an urgent hearing of its pending appeal against a Calcutta High Court decision striking down the inclusion of several castes, largely Muslim communities, in the State’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) list

What is NCBC?

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

• It has the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.
• Previously NCBC was a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

What is the Structure of NCBC?

• Statement 2 is Incorrect:  The Commission consists of five members including a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members is determined by the President.

Ans: B

Exp:

After taking a substantial haircut in a debt restructuring proposal of Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd (SIIL), State Bank of India (SBI) has proposed to invest in the preferential share issue of the defaulting company.

Statement 1 is correct: Haircut in banking refers to the lower-than-market value placed on an asset when it is being used as collateral for a loan. 

• In the case of loan recovery, it is the difference between the actual dues from a borrower and the amount he settles with the bank.  

Statement 2 is incorrect: The size of the haircut is largely based on the risk of the underlying asset. Riskier assets receive larger haircuts.

Ans: B

Exp: 

By 2050, NASA scientists project that daily tides will submerge half of the main atoll of Funafuti, home to 60% of Tuvalu’s residents, where villages cling to a strip of land as narrow as 20 m in parts.

About Tuvalu:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Tuvalu, formerly the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation in the Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and Australia. It is a volcanic archipelago comprising three reef islands and six true atolls. 
• Statement 2 is correct: It is the fourth smallest country globally, with the highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. It is often referred to as the first country that will be totally submerged, due to climate change.

Ans: A

Exp:

According to the dashboard of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s website, out of the 2,424 dumpsites having more than 1,000 tonnes of legacy waste identified across the country, remediation has been completed in only 470.

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Phases:

• SBM Phase I (2014-2019):

• • • Goal: Eliminate open defecation by constructing 100 million toilets.
    • Achieved ODF (Open Defecation Free) status by October 2, 2019.

• SBM-U 2.0 (Urban Phase II) (2021-2026):

• • • Statement 1 is correct: Aims to make all cities garbage-free by 2026.
    • Continued focus on sustaining ODF status and solid waste management.

• SBM (Urban) is being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MHUA). 

• SBM-G Phase II (Grameen – Rural):

• • Targets ODF Plus status by 2024-25.
  • Focus on sustaining ODF and managing solid and liquid waste.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Ans: C

Exp:

India recently signed the US-led 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) bloc’s agreements on a clean and fair economy. 

• Launched on: 23rd May 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
• Statement 1 is correct: Objective: Enhance economic engagement and cooperation among partner countries to foster growth, economic stability, and regional prosperity in the pacific region.
• Member Countries: 14 members including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam.
  • Statement 3 is correct: These 14 partners represent 40% of global GDP and 28% of global goods and services trade.

IPEF Pillars:

• Statement 2 is incorrect: Not all IPEF partner countries, including India, are part of all four pillars. India, for instance, participates actively in three pillars (Supply Chain Resilience, Clean Economy, Fair Economy) but holds observer status in the first pillar, which focuses on Fair and Resilient Trade.
  • India’s Position in IPEF: India has joined Pillars II, III, and IV but holds observer status in Pillar I.