Option (b) is correct

Explanation: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) expands from 5 to 11 with admission of six new members viz. Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Argentina.

• Statement 1 is correct: The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia in September 2006 and the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1st BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. After a series of high level meetings, the 1st BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16 June 2009.
• Statement 2 is not correct: At a joint media briefing in Johannesburg, Leaders of the BRICS decided to expand the grouping and admit six new members. Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Argentina will become part of BRICS with effect from January 1, 2024.

Option (d) is correct

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Panama Canal is a 50-mile long engineering wonder connecting the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. 
• Statement 2 is correct: The Kara Strait or Kara Gates is a 56 km wide channel of water between the southern end of Novaya Zemlya and the northern tip of Vaygach Island. This strait connects the Kara Sea and the Barents Sea in northern Russia.
• Statement 3 is correct: Bering Strait linking the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea and separating the continents of Asia and North America at their closest point. 

Option (b) is correct

Explanation:

• The Bay Area and various regions of Central and Southern California experienced destructive winds  due to a phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara effect.
• The phenomenon where two tropical cyclones orbit each other and potentially merge is known as “Fujiwhara effect”. 
• It is characterised by the interaction between tropical storms formed around the same time in the same ocean region with their centres or eyes at a distance of less than 1,400 km, with intensity that could vary between a depression (wind speed under 63 km per hour) and a super typhoon (wind speed over 209 km per hour).
• This phenomenon can lead to changes in  trajectories and intensities of cyclones as they influence each other’s movement.

Option (a) is correct

Explanation:

• Under the initiative known as project AMBER, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in partnership with Generation India Foundation (GIF) and Amazon Web Services India Private Limited (AWS India), is delivering training in ‘cloud’ skills to 1,500 individuals. 
• It covers fundamental AWS cloud skills as well as practical career tips, including resume writing and interview preparation.
• The initiative will introduce newcomers to the job market and support individuals in kickstarting prosperous careers in cloud-related fields.
• Moreover, it will enable companies to enhance their competitive advantage by gaining access to sought-after skilled individuals, thereby benefiting both the workforce and communities at large.

Option (c) is correct

Explanation:

• The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP).
• Bharat NCAP aims to improve road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
• Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their carsto be  tested as per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
  • AIS are the technical automotive standards for India. 
  • The India Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMRV) provide the basis for the conditions under which automotive products in India can obtain a Type Approval Certificate for the Indian market. 
• Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupant (COP).
• Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase-decision.
• It will provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.
• Statement 1 is correct: Bharat NCAP is voluntary in nature.
• Statement 2 is correct: It is applicable to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat with gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kgs. 
• Statement 3 is correct: Only the base model of a particular variant will be tested under it.