Ans: C

Exp:

The war between Ukraine and Russia has threatened the European bison population with extinction. 

Statement 1 is incorrect: The European bison, also known as wisent, is one of the world’s most endangered large mammals and the herbivore is protected on the European level, while African elephants are the largest mammals living on Earth’s surface.

• They play an ecological role in maintaining a mosaic of forested areas and landscapes crucial for ensuring the survival of biodiversity, building resilience against climate change and helping to maintain ecological corridors.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Between 1988 and 1996, European bisons were classified as vulnerable. From 1996 until 2008, they were considered endangered. Since 2000, their populations have increased. The European bison was classified as vulnerable in 2008 and near threatened as of 2020.

Ans: B

Exp:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its weather satellite INSAT-3DS board spacecraft Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F14, nicknamed the ‘naughty boy’.

Statement 1 is incorrect: INSAT-3DS is a collaborative effort between ISRO and the India Meteorological Organisation (IMD), that will be fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). 

• Purpose: It is designed for enhanced meteorological observations and monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning.

Statement 2 is correct: The Launch Vehicle used is Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14). 

• The GSLV aims at deploying the INSAT-3DS into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Ans: D

Exp: Recently, India and Colombia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Sharing Successful Digital Solutions implemented at population scale for Digital Transformation. 

• • Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America and is bordered by:
    • Northwest: Panama
    • South: Ecuador and Peru
    • East: Venezuela
    • Southeast: Brazil 
  • Maritime Borders: Colombia shares its maritime borders with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

• It is also bounded by the Caribbean Sea in the north and by the Pacific Ocean in the west. 

• • Colombia is the only South American country that has coastline on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 

• Bogotá is the capital of and largest city in Colombia.

Ans: B

Exp:

Recently, a writ petition was filed in the Madras High Court and the court passed an order asking the Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to take all steps to regulate the Maasi Magam festival in order to ensure minimal disturbance in the tiger reserve.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is located at the junction of the Eastern and the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu.

Statement 2 is correct: A 200-year-old temple- the Aadhi Karuvannarayar Bomma Deviyar temple is located inside a forest falling under the Bhavanisagar Range of the Sathyamangalam Division in STR.

Statement 3 is correct: Members of the Uppiliya Naicker community gather in large numbers in the Aadhi Karuvannarayar Bomma Deviyar temple during the Maasi Magam festival held in the forest every year.

Ans: D

Exp:

Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of marine amphipod — a shrimp-like crustacea of genus Parhyale — from the Chilika Lake of Odisha.

Statement 1 is correct: Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lake with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast of India.

• It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent and is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the country.

Statement 2 is correct: On account of its rich biodiversity, Chilika lake was designated as a “Ramsar Site”, i.e. a wetland of International Importance. Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were recognised as the first Ramsar sites in India. 

• The Nalaban Island within the Chilika Lake is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.