Ans: A

Exp:

Recently, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, launched the BHARATPOL portal developed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi .

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: The growing footprint of transnational crimes including cyber-crime, financial crimes, online radicalization, organized crimes, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc, necessitates rapid and real-time international assistance in criminal investigations. To address this challenge, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has developed BHARATPOL Portal, accessible through its official website, which will bring all the stakeholders on a common platform.
• Statement 2 is Correct: The Bharatpol portal is a centralized digital platform aimed at improving collaboration between Indian law enforcement agencies and international counterparts. By enabling real-time information sharing, it facilitates quicker and more efficient responses to criminal activities that cross borders.

BHARATPOL Portal:

• Developed by the CBI, accessible via its official website
• Brings all stakeholders onto a common platform
• Streamlines requests for international assistance, including INTERPOL notices (e.g., Red Notices)
• Enhances field-level efficiency for police officers in addressing crimes and security challenges

Ans: A

Exp:

Recently, the 2024 Baku Climate Conference redefined the global climate treaty by eliminating the post-colonial distinction between “donors” and “recipients.” It proposed establishing an alternate global sustainability forum, emphasizing that developing countries should take control of their own destinies.

• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) is a guiding principle in international climate agreements that recognizes that countries have different responsibilities for environmental degradation based on their historical contributions. 
• Developed countries have contributed more to global emissions and have greater economic and technical capacity to address climate change. 
• CBDR was established as Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration at the 1992 Earth Summit. It is enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. 
• The UNFCCC puts CBDR into practice by differentiating responsibilities based on economic welfare. For example, the Kyoto Protocol set legally binding emission limitations for Annex I countries, which are developed countries. 
• The CBDR principle has been influential in climate change legislation, such as the United Kingdom’s Climate Change Act. In 2019, the UK amended the Act to establish a net-zero goal for 2050, taking into account the country’s status as a rich economy. 
  • Hence, option A is Correct.

Ans: C

Exp:

Recently, the Supreme Court slammed the chronic delay shown by the Centre and States in appointing Information Commissioners to decide citizens’ rights under the Right to Information Act. Several Information Commissions in the States have been defunct since 2020, and some have stopped accepting petitions under the Right to Information Act.

• Statement 1 is Correct: The CIC was established by the Central Government in 2005, under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). 
  • It is not a constitutional body.

• Statement 2 is Correct: Appointment by President on PM-led committee’s recommendation: They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
  • The Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners.
• Statement 3 is Correct: It is the duty of the Commission to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person regarding information requested under RTI, 2005.
  • The Commission can order an inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds (suo-moto power).
  • While inquiring, the Commission has the powers of a civil court in respect of summoning, requiring documents etc.

Ans: A

Exp:

Recently, the 2024 Global Water Monitor Report, produced by an international team of researchers, highlights the devastating impact of climate change on the Earth’s water cycle. 

• • It reveals how disruptions in water circulation between the ground, oceans, and atmosphere have led to extreme weather events, including heavy precipitation, severe floods, and droughts, affecting billions globally in 2024. The report is based on data from ground stations and satellites, focusing on water variables such as soil moisture and rainfall. 
  • The water cycle is driven by solar energy and gravitational forces. Energy from the sun heats up bodies of water, causing evaporation. Water evaporates, cools, and condenses into clouds. Eventually, the accumulated water falls back to Earth as precipitation, replenishing rivers, lakes, and groundwater supplies.
    • Solar energy: The sun’s energy heats up bodies of water, causing evaporation. 
    • Gravity: Gravity causes water to flow downward on land, and causes rain, snow, and hail to fall from clouds. 
    • Precipitation: Precipitation replenishes rivers, lakes, and groundwater supplies. 
    • Groundwater recharge: Precipitation directly affects groundwater recharge. 
    • Surface water levels: Precipitation directly affects surface water levels. 
  • Climate change is affecting the water cycle. Warming global temperatures increase the rate of evaporation and precipitation. Some areas may experience heavier than normal precipitation, and other areas may become prone to droughts.

• The water cycle is powered by solar energy, which enables evaporation, transpiration, and other processes crucial for the movement of water in all its phases. Hence, both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Ans: B

Exp: 

Recently, a winter storm in the United States has caused the deaths of at least five people, with widespread disruptions including school closures, hazardous road conditions, and power outages. 

• The National Weather Service has warned of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail in some areas. The extreme weather is attributed to the southward expansion of the polar vortex.
• Statement 1 is Correct: The polar vortex is a large area of low-pressure and cold air that swirls like a wheel around both of the Earth’s polar regions. The term “vortex” refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles.
  • There are two types of polar vortex: tropospheric and stratospheric.
  • The tropospheric polar vortex occurs at the lowest layer of the atmosphere — it extends from the surface up to about 10 km to 15 km — where most weather phenomena occur.
  • The stratospheric polar vortex occurs at around 15 km to 50 km high. Unlike the tropospheric polar vortex, the stratospheric polar vortex disappears during the summer and is the strongest during the autumn.

• Statement 2 is Correct: A weakened Polar Vortex can cause extreme cold weather in mid-latitude regions. 
  • These events cause rapid warming of the stratosphere, weakening the vortex and often causing parts of the cold Arctic air to move southward. This leads to severe winter weather in the mid-latitudes because the cold air masses are no longer contained and can reach regions usually unaffected by such frigid temperatures. 
• Statement 3 is Incorrect: It always exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter.