Ans: B

Exp:

In its Annual Report, RBI said rationalization of various guidelines will be a priority, with an emphasis on continuous synchronization of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) operating framework with the evolving macroeconomic environment.

Internationalization of the Indian Rupee

• Internationalization of rupees is a process that involves increasing use of the local currency in cross-border transactions.
• It involves promoting the rupee for import and export trade and then other current account transactions followed by its use in capital account transactions.
• The primary aim of the RBI in rationalizing regulations related to the internationalization of the Indian Rupee is to enable the settlement of bilateral trade in local currencies. Hence, option (b) is correct.
• This move is intended to reduce dependency on foreign currencies like the US Dollar for trade settlements and enhance the role of the Indian Rupee in international trade.

Ans: A

Exp:

A volcano, known as Sundhnuksgigar, in southwest Iceland erupted recently, leading to evacuations of the small fishing town of Grindavik and the popular geothermal Blue Lagoon spa.

Why is Iceland so Volcanically Active?

• Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect: Location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge:

• • • Iceland is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is part of the longest mountain range in the world and located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
    • Tectonic Plates: The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are moving apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

• Presence of a Hot Zone (Hotspot):

• • A hotspot is an area inside the Earth where magma is significantly heated.
  • Impact on Volcanic Activity: The presence of a hotspot beneath Iceland contributes to its enhanced volcanic activity.
  • Magma Rise: The hotspot heats the magma, making it less dense and causing it to rise towards the surface, leading to frequent eruptions.

Different kinds of volcanoes:

• According to the British Geological Survey, the type of volcano depends on the viscosity of the magma, the amount of gas in the magma, the composition of the magma, and the way the magma reaches the surface.
• two broad types of volcanoes: a stratovolcano and a shield volcano. 
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Stratovolcanoes have steep sides and are more cone-shaped than shield volcanoes have a low profile and resemble a shield lying on the ground.

Ans: C

Exp:

About P hacking:

• P-hacking is also known as data dredging, data fishing, and data snooping.
• P hacking is the manipulation of data analysis until it produces statistically significant results, compromising the truthfulness of the findings. Hence, option (c) is correct.
• Objective: The primary aim of p-hacking is to achieve statistical significance, which can lead to the publication of misleading or false-positive results.
• P-hacking undermines the integrity of scientific research by compromising the reliability and truthfulness of findings. It distorts the scientific process and can lead to erroneous conclusions.
• Common Practices: P-hacking encompasses various techniques, including selectively reporting outcomes, excluding inconvenient data, and exploring multiple statistical tests until a significant result is found.

Ans: B

Exp:

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted the earliest-known galaxy, one that is surprisingly bright and big considering it formed during the universe’s infancy — at only 2% its current age.

About James Webb Telescope:

• • The James Webb Space Telescope  is an orbiting infrared observatory that will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, with longer wavelength coverage and greatly improved sensitivity.
  • Statement 1 is correct: Developed by:  NASA with the assistance of the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
  • Launched in :It was launched in  2021, with the mission duration of 5-10 years
  • Statement 2 is correct: Location in space: It is placed at Lagrange point 2, approximately 1.5 million km beyond Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
  • Size: Webb’s primary mirror is approximately 6.5 metres in diameter, giving it a significantly larger collecting area than the mirrors of the current generation of space telescopes.
  • Wavelength: It will provide wavelength coverage from 0.6 to 28 microns (the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum).

• Objectives: 

• • Statement 3 is incorrect: Search for the first galaxies and luminous objects formed after the Big Bang.
  • Determine how galaxies evolved from their formation until now.
  • Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems.
  • Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems, including our own Solar System, and investigate the potential for life in those systems.

Ans: D

Exp: 

Recently, Global food policy report 2024: Food systems for healthy diets and nutrition was released by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

• • Established: 1975
  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C
  • Purpose: Provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.
  • Affiliation: It is a research centre of CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network.

• Strategic Research Areas:

• • Fostering Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Supply: Focuses on ensuring a sustainable food supply in the face of climate change.
  • Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for All: Works towards promoting access to healthy diets and nutrition for everyone.
  • Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry: Aims to create inclusive markets and efficient trade systems for the food industry.
  • Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies: Concentrates on transforming agricultural and rural economies for better productivity and sustainability.
  • Strengthening Institutions and Governance: Works on strengthening institutions and improving governance in the agricultural sector.