Ans: A

Exp:

Ahead of the financial year’s closure, State governments mobilised a record ₹50,206 crore through the auction of State Development Loan (SDL) bonds.

Statement 1 is correct: SDLs are bonds that are issued by the state government to manage their state finances and fund their fiscal deficit.

• Each state is allowed to issue securities up to a certain limit per year.

Statement 2 is incorrect: SDLs are issued in the primary market through normal auctions conducted by the RBI and traded in the secondary market.

• Interest is serviced at half-yearly intervals and the principal is repaid on the maturity date.
• SDLs are traded at a spread above the benchmark G-sec security of the same tenor. The spread is based on the state finances.

Ans: B

Exp:

Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR)  is using green energy to provide adequate water to wild animals, including tigers and their prey, during the hot summer season.

Statement 1 is correct: It is the only tiger reserve in Bihar, located in the West Champaran District. 

Statement 2 is correct: It  has also been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Indian Bird Conservation Network. 

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Kali River flows through Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state  in India. It flows through the Kali Tiger reserve (not Valmiki Tiger Reserve).

• The Reserve is located at the India-Nepal border on the bank of river Gandak.

Rivers Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan, and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve.

Ans: C

Exp:

The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a comprehensive ban on all forms of asbestos including chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos.

Option 1 is correct: Asbestos is highly resistant to heat and fire. 

• It has been historically used in various applications where high temperatures are encountered, such as insulation around pipes, fireproof clothing, and in building materials like roofing.

Option 2 is correct:  Asbestos has excellent Insulation properties.

• It can effectively prevent the transfer of heat or electricity and it has been used in insulation materials for buildings and electrical systems.

Option 3 is incorrect:  Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to vaporise or become airborne at normal temperatures.

•  Asbestos is not volatile; rather, it is durable and heat-resistant.

Option 4 is correct: Asbestos is chemically inert, meaning it does not react with most chemicals. 

• This property makes it useful in applications where chemical resistance is required, such as in the manufacture of chemical-resistant gloves and protective suits.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations established in 1950.

• • It is responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics.

• It was established by the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization, signed on 11 October 1947 and ratified on 23 March 1950.

Statement 2 is correct: WMO divides the world into six regions for the purpose of coordinating meteorological activities, known as WMO regions.

World Meteorological Congress: comprising representatives from all member nations, serves as the highest governing body of the World Meteorological Organization. It convenes at least once every four years to establish overarching policies and enact regulations.

Ans: C

Exp:

GeM Sahay, an initiative launched by Government EMarketplace (GeM), brings a complete financing solution for Proprietorships on GeM. It is a financing opportunity being made available to GeM sellers to avail financing against their GeM Purchase Orders (PO).

Statement 1 is correct: The loans provided under this initiative are collateral free loans ( unsecured loans)

•  They are provided on the basis of the  GeM (Government-e-Marketplace) data.

Statement 2 is correct: Under GeM Sahay, loans can be granted instantly and without requiring the consent of any buyers.

• GeM Sahay is not a factoring product. There is no buyer involvement.
•  No fee is associated under GeM Sahay, apart from the interest rate charged by the lenders.