Ans: C

Exp: 

• India’s recent signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement — better known as the High Seas Treaty — has drawn both praise and scepticism from maritime observers.
• Statement 1 is correct: The high seas are areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the exclusive economic zones of coastal countries as defined in  the 1958 Geneva Convention.
• These are areas outside the national jurisdiction of any country because of which the treaty is also known as the agreement on BBNJ. 
  • The High Seas Treaty has often been compared with the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change in its significance and potential impact.
• These areas beyond national jurisdiction are the global common oceans open to all for internationally lawful purposes such as navigation, overflight, laying submarine cables and pipelines, etc.
• Statement 2 is correct: The high seas comprise 64% of the ocean surface, and about 43% of the Earth. 
• Despite covering more than two-thirds of the global ocean, only 1.44% of the high seas are protected. 

Ans: B

Exp:

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the likely intensification of the existing deep depression into a cyclone and hitting the Tamil Nadu coast over the coming two days.

• Once intensified, the storm will be identified as Fengal, a name proposed by Saudi Arabia. 

• • Cyclones are big, swirling masses of air rotating around a centre of low pressure.

• Statement 1 is correct:  In the northern hemisphere, cyclonic winds blow counter-clockwise, while in the southern hemisphere, they blow clockwise.

• Statement 2 is correct: Cyclones weaken rapidly over land or colder ocean waters

• Statement 3 is not correct: Typhoons form in the Western Pacific.

• Sea level atmospheric pressure falls continuously from the periphery to the center of the cyclone.
• Cyclones fall into two main categories: tropical cyclones and extra-tropical cyclones.

Ans: C

Exp:

• Taking serious note of vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC) and state information commissions (SICs), the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre and the state governments to apprise it about the steps taken to fill up the posts.
•  Central Information Commission is a statutory body constituted under the provision of Section-12 of RTI Act 2005,  the Central Government constitutes a body to be known as the Central Information Commission.
• Statement 1 is correct: It was constituted under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). 
  • Hence, it is not a Constitutional body but a Statutory body and works under the Ministry of Personnel
• The CIC shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary.
• Jurisdiction:  It extends over all Central Public Authorities.
• Appointment Process of CIC/IC: The selection committee of CIC/IC consists of 

• The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
• The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
• A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

• Statement 2 is correct: CIC and ICs (at the central and state levels) will hold an office for a term of three years.   
  • CIC is not eligible for reappointment.
  • Oath of Office:  Administered by the President of India.

Ans: D

Exp:

The milk production in the country saw an increase of 3.78% during 2023-24 over the estimates of 2022-23, according to the ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics – 2024’ prepared by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

• BAHS -2024 is based on the outcomes of the Integrated Sample Survey (2023 – 2024)
• The Survey generates crucial data on the production estimates of Major Livestock Products (Such as Milk, Eggs, Meat, and Wool) which plays a pivotal role in policy formulation in the livestock sector
•  Statement 1 is correct: India is leading in milk production globally whereas 2nd in Egg production
• Statement 4 is correct: Top five milk producing States: 
  • Uttar Pradesh (16.21%) followed by Rajasthan (14.51 %), Madhya Pradesh (8.91 %), Gujarat (7.65 %), and Maharashtra (6.71 %)
•  Statement 2 is correct:  State wise Egg production 
  • Andhra Pradesh (17.85%) followed by Tamil Nadu (15.64 %), Telangana (12.88%), West Bengal (11.37%)
• Statement 3 is correct:  State wise Wool Production 
  •  Rajasthan (47.53%) followed by Jammu & Kashmir (23.06%), Gujarat (6.18%), Maharashtra (4.75%) and Himachal Pradesh (4.22%)

Ans: A

Exp:

The Supreme Court asked the Union government to place on record the report prepared by a committee negotiating a dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of the Pennai-yar river Water

• It is also known as Dakshina Painakini in Kannada and Thenpennai or Ponnaiyar or Pennaiyar in Tamil is a river in India. 
• Statement 1 is correct: It originates on the eastern slope of Nandidurg Mountain which is located in the Chennakaseva Hills of Karnataka 
• It flows through Karnataka to enter Tamil Nadu to finally enter the Bay of Bengal.
• Statement 2 is not correct: Its 77% drainage basin of the river lies in Tamil Nadu.
• It is the second longest river in Tamil Nadu, with a length of 497 km, after the Kaveri.
• Statement 3  is correct: The important tributaries of the river include Markandanadhi, Kambainallur and Pambar.