Ans: D

Exp: 

Prolonged exposure to coal mining pollutants has resulted in widespread respiratory and skin diseases among the workers and people in six districts in India, where coal extraction is a major occupation, says a survey published by the National Foundation for India.

Diseases caused by coal mining:

• Respiratory Diseases:

• • • Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung Disease): Caused by inhaling coal dust, leading to lung damage and scarring.
    • Option 1 is correct: Chronic Bronchitis: Persistent inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
    • Emphysema: A condition that damages the air sacs in the lungs.
    • Option 2 is correct: Asthma: Chronic respiratory condition causing airway inflammation and difficulty breathing.
    • Silicosis: Caused by inhaling silica dust, common in mining operations.
    • Lung Cancer: Increased risk due to exposure to carcinogenic substances in coal dust.

• Skin Diseases:

• • Option 3 is correct: Eczema: Inflammatory condition causing itchy, red, and cracked skin.
  • Option 4 is correct: Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, often due to irritants or allergens.
  • Option 5 is correct: Fungal Infections: Such as athlete’s foot, often due to the damp conditions in mines.

Ans: B

Exp:

South African scientists injected radioactive material into live rhinoceros horns to make them easier to detect at border posts in a pioneering project aimed at curbing poaching.

About the Project Rhisotope:

• The initiative, known as the “Rhisotope” project, aims to make rhino horns easier to detect at border posts. Hence, Option (b) is correct.
• Researchers injected “two tiny little radioactive chips” into the horn of a rhino.
• The radioactive material renders the horn useless for human consumption but does not harm the animal or the environment.
• The dose is so low that it has no impact on the rhino’s health.
• The project involves 20 live rhinos, and the injected material is strong enough to trigger detectors installed globally at international border posts.

Ans: A

Exp: 

South India’s first and the country’s largest leopard safari was inaugurated by Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP).

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Mudumalai National Park: It is a national park in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Valley of Flowers National Park: Located in Uttarakhand, India. Famous for its alpine flowers and diverse flora.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Silent Valley National Park: Located in Kerala, India. Known for its pristine tropical rainforests and rich biodiversity. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Bannerghatta National Park: located near Bangalore, Karnataka, in the hills of the Anekal range. In 2002 a portion of the park became a biological reserve, the Bannerghatta Biological Park.

Ans: B

Exp: 

NATO’s 32 nations appointed outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the alliance’s next head, handing him the job at a crucial moment with Russia on the march in Ukraine and U.S. elections looming.

About NATO: 

• • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance.
  • Statement 1 is correct: NATO was established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C. by 12 founding member countries from Europe and North America.
  • Statement 2 is correct: It was established with the primary goal of providing collective defence against potential aggression, particularly from the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Sweden deposited its Instrument of Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty on 7 March 2024, becoming NATO’s 32nd member country. The alliance currently consists of 32 member countries. Most recent additions were North Macedonia in 2020 and Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

• Objectives:  

• • Cooperation: To provide a unique link between these transatlantic countries, enabling them to consult and cooperate on political and military issues.
  • Limiting threat: To counter the threat of erstwhile Soviet Union’s possible expansion attempts in Europe.
• Underlying Principle: Principle of Collective Defence: NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. 

Ans: A

Exp:

Investments through participatory notes in the Indian capital markets rose to Rs 1.49 lakh crore at the end of March from the previous year’s level driven by a strong domestic macroeconomic outlook.

About P-notes:

• Statement 1 is correct: P-notes are Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs) issued by registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who want to participate in the Indian stock markets without directly registering themselves.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: These are financial instruments used by investors and hedge funds to invest in Indian securities, and no registration is required with the Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• P-notes have Indian stocks as their underlying assets. This means that they represent an indirect ownership in Indian equities.
• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) are non-resident entities or individuals who invest in Indian securities, including shares, government bonds, corporate bonds, and other financial instruments.