Option (a) is correct

Explanation:

• The 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics was shared by three scientists—Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier—for their “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
• Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons.
• Attosecond pulses allow scientists to capture ‘images’ of activities that happen in incredibly short time spans. 
• As a result, scientists can use such pulses to explore short-lived atomic and molecular processes implicated in fields like materials science, electronics, and catalysis.
• The laureates have been awarded the Prize for experiments that have allowed scientists to produce ultra-short pulses of light, with which they can finally ‘see’ directly into the super-fast world of electrons.

Option (c) is correct 

Explanation: 

• According to the National Center for Seismology, the magnitude 6.2 quake strikes Nepal at a depth of 5 km. 
• The quake was also felt in parts of India including its capital New Delhi and the surrounding regions.
• Statement 1 is correct: All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere.
•  Earthquake waves are basically of two types — body waves and surface waves.
• The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new sets of waves called surface waves.
• Statement 2 is  correct: There are two types of body waves- P and S-waves. 
  • P-waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface. These are also called ‘primary waves’. The P-waves are similar to sound waves as they travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials.
  • S-waves arrive at the surface with some time lag, they can travel only through solid materials.
• Earthquake waves get recorded in seismographs located at far off locations. However, there exist some specific areas where the waves are not reported. Such a zone is called the ‘shadow zone’.

Option (b) is correct 

Explanation: 

• The Madagascar government likely used the Cytrox-developed Predator spyware to conduct political domestic surveillance ahead of the country’s presidential election, according to research by Sekoia.
• Spyware is loosely defined as malicious software designed to enter a device, gather sensitive data, and forward it to a third party without the user’s consent. 
  • For Example: Pegasus
• While spyware may be used for commercial purposes like advertising, malicious spyware is used to profit from data stolen from a victim’s device. 
• Spyware is broadly categorized as trojan spyware, adware, tracking cookie, and system monitors.
• While each type of spyware gathers data for the author, system monitors and adware are more harmful as they may make modifications to a device’s software and expose the device to further threats.

Option (d) is correct.

Explanation: 

• The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has entered into a collaboration with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to launch a $600 million India-Japan Fund (IJF).
• NIIF is a sovereign wealth fund, which was founded in 2015 to provide an investment platform for international and Indian investors.
• It provides long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure sector.
• Statement 1 is not correct: While the government holds a 49% stake in the fund, 51% is held by domestic institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, international pension funds and others.
• Statement 2 is not correct: The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Option (a) is correct.

Explanation: 

• The Central government has banned two Tripura-based organisations and all its factions under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),1967.
• Statement 1 is not correct: The act gives the Central Government the power to notify an individual as a ‘terrorist’ under Schedule IV of the Act. 
• Prior to the Amendment, only organisations could have been designated this way and individuals were not covered.
• Statement 2 is not correct: The National Investigation Agency (NIA)was set up after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks under National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
• Statement 3 is correct: UAPA act was added to the schedule of the NIA Act. The NIA is given  jurisdiction to investigate offences covered in the act. NIA has been  empowered to investigate offences outside India.