Ans: C

Exp: 

Rainfall in the second half of monsoon season (August-September) is most likely to be ‘above normal’ as there is strong possibility of formation of La Nina conditions by the end of this month, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

About La Niña:

• • La Nina means the Little Girl in Spanish. It is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti-El Nino, or simply “a cold event.”
  • It is cooling of the ocean surface, or below-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean along the Peruvian Coast strengthening the cold Humboldt current.
  • Statement 1 is Incorrect: La Niña conditions enhance the rainfall associated with the Southwest monsoon, but have a negative impact on rainfall associated with the Northeast monsoon.

• Statement 2 is Correct: La Niña can lead to increased rainfall and thus increases the potential for floods in India, especially during the monsoon season.

• Statement 3 is Correct: La Niña can lead to increased sea surface temperatures off the coast of Somalia due to the displacement of warm water westward.

• Impact: In reverse from El-Nino, Indonesia and South Asia receive higher rainfall while it  decreases over the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.  
  • The normal easterly winds along the equator become even stronger. 

Ans: C

Exp: 

In a landmark judgement, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court reframed how the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) quota may operate — for the very first time since reservations were introduced in the Constitution in 1950.

Article 341 of the Indian Constitution:

• Clause (1): This clause grants the President of India the authority to specify, by public notification, the castes, races, tribes, or groups within them that shall be considered as Scheduled Castes in relation to a particular State or Union territory. If it pertains to a State, the President must consult the Governor of that State before making such a specification.
• Clause (2): This clause empowers the Parliament of India to amend the list of Scheduled Castes specified in the President’s notification under clause (1). 
  • Statement 1 is incorrect: Once a notification is issued under clause (1), it cannot be varied by any subsequent notification unless it is done so through a law enacted by Parliament.
  • Statement 2 is correct: The Parliament can do so by enacting a law that either includes or excludes any caste, race, tribe, or groups within them from the list. 
• Statement 3 is correct: In a recent ruling, SC permitted states to create sub-classifications within the SC and ST categories for the purpose of wider protections — through fixed sub-quotas — to the most backward communities within these categories. 

Ans: A

Exp: 

Following the death of three UPSC aspirants at Rau’s IAS Study Circle — a coaching centre — in Delhi on July 27, police arrested seven people. Kathuria and others were booked under charges including Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Culpable homicide:

• Statement 1 is correct: Culpable homicide refers to an act of causing death by doing an act with the intention of causing death or with the knowledge that such an act is likely to cause death.
  • The charge can be invoked in cases of negligent acts leading to death.
• It is a lesser offense compared to murder, primarily due to the absence of premeditation or a lesser degree of intent.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Culpable homicide not amounting to murder can also be charged in cases involving indirect actions, such as negligence or lack of safety measures, leading to death.

Ans: B

Exp: 

India has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council — one of the three bodies set up by the 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) bloc,” the Commerce Ministry said.

About Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Genesis: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched by the U.S. President Joe Biden in May 2022.
• Statement 2 is correct: Objective: To collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Member Countries: It currently includes 14 partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.
• Pillars: The IPEF comprises four pillars of cooperation namely: Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy.

Ans: C

Exp: 

South African authorities will resort to trial vaccinations of Cape fur seals in the wake of the first documented rabies outbreak in a marine mammal population. 

About Rabies:

• Statement 1 is correct: Rabies is a serious public health problem in over 150 countries and territories, mainly in Asia and Africa. It is a viral, zoonotic, neglected tropical disease that causes tens of thousands of deaths annually.
  • It affects the central nervous system, leading to severe brain disease and death if untreated.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Transmission occurs via saliva, often from dogs or wild animals.
  • It’s present worldwide except in Antarctica, with most human deaths in Asia and Africa.
• Prevention:
• Statement 3 is correct: It is a vaccine-preventable disease.
  • Vaccinating dogs (including puppies) is crucial to prevent transmission to humans.
  • Humans exposed to rabies should receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) promptly.
  • PEP includes wound care, human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and rabies vaccines.