Option (a) is correct

Explanation:

• Recently, the sixth anniversary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury was observed.
• Statement 1 is not correct: The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty that seeks to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic (caused by humans) emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
• The Convention covers all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, controlling and reducing mercury across a range of products, processes and industries. This includes controls on:
  • mercury mining
  • the manufacture and trade of mercury and products containing mercury
  • disposal of mercury waste
  • emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
• Statement 2 is correct:  India has ratified the Convention.
• Uses of Mercury: 
  • Measuring devices (barometers, hygrometers, manometers, thermometers, sphygmomanometers)
  • Switches and relays
  • Fluorescent light bulbs and High Pressure Mercury Vapour lamps
  • Batteries, cosmetics, pesticides, biocides and pharmaceuticals

Option (d) is correct

Explanation:

• Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) is an online platform available to the citizens 24×7 to lodge their grievances to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery. 
• It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and States.
• Developed by: National Informatics Centre (Ministry of Electronics & IT [MeitY]), in association with Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG) and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• The following matters are out of purview of ‘Centralized Public Grievance Redress And Monitoring System’ are:
  • Sub Judice cases or any matter concerning judgment given by any court.
  • Personal and family disputes
  • RTI matters

Option (c) is correct

Explanation:

• Recently, a report summarizing the first phase of implementation of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) was released.
• Inclusive Conservation Initiative is a global project that aims to support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in their efforts to protect and manage their lands, territories and resources that are rich in biodiversity and ecosystems. 
• The ICI is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by Conservation International (CI) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as joint GEF Implementing Agencies.

Option (d) is correct

Explanation:

• Recently,  India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sharing of IndiaStack.
• IndiaStack is a collection of open Application Programming interfaces (API) and digital public goods that aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
• The following APIs are considered to be a core part of the India Stack.
  • Aadhaar Authentication
  • Aadhaar e-KYC
  • eSign
  • Digital Locker
  • Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
  • Digital User Consent – still work in progress.

Option (a) is correct

Explanation: 

• Indian rupee reached its lowest-ever closing point accompanied by a four-month peak in the yield of the 10-year Indian government bond influenced by a rise in the dollar index and US Treasury yields.
• Bonds are essentially a loan to bond issuers. The return realised by a bond investor is called the yield.
• Statement 1 is correct:  Bond yield is dependent on the interest rate in the market. When interest rate goes up then (bond price goes down and) bond yield goes up.
• Statement 2 is not correct: Rise in bond yields results in lower bond prices, leading to losses for bondholders.